Author's Note: This idea was originally going to be part of the same series as Practice to Deceive, but I couldn't find a way to fit it into the series to my liking, mostly because I would need an entire new backs story.

Disclaimer: I don't owe Code Geass or Ladyhawke, they both belong to their respective owners.

Warnings: Character death

The Demon of Avalon

Prologue: Murder in Avalon

"There is a smell of murder. The walls drip with blood."
– Agamemnon, Aeschylus

Lelouch grunted as he was shoved against the barn wall, closing his eyes as he felt Suzaku press against his back. Lelouch swallowed back a whimper, pressing his forehead against the wood. He could feel Suzaku breathing heavily against the back of his neck, the captain of the guards completely still otherwise. Lelouch leaned back into Suzaku's warmth, taking what felt like his first breath since Suzaku had pulled him from the keep. He still couldn't think too long without remembering the room.

There had been so much blood…

He shivered, feeling Suzaku's hands slip around his waist, probably an attempt to steady him. Lelouch just shook his head, reaching for Suzaku's wrist. "Suzaku-"

"Spread out! Find them!" Lelouch jumped at the sound of Jeremiah Gottwald's voice. He pushed away from the barn wall in panic. There was no time to explain what had happened. No one would believe him, not with Bishop Calares screaming about blasphemy and evil. Not even Jeremiah, not after his beloved Marianne had been brutally murdered.

The sound of guards running past made him flinch back. They wouldn't be able to get out with all of the guards surrounding the keep. If they didn't move soon, any escape through the town would be blocked as well. But that was Suzaku's plan, told to him as they were running out of the castle. Lelouch didn't care; he just had to get back to Nunnally. Something was going on and his little sister had to be protected.

He was almost turned and ran back to the keep, but Suzaku's hands around his waist kept him where he was. Lelouch narrowed his eyes, nearly sobbing when he couldn't pull away. "Suzaku, it's Nunnally."

"I know Lelouch, but Jeremiah will keep her safe."

"I can't just leave her!"

"Then you'll die. You can't come back from that." Suzaku got a better hold of his waist. "I promise you will come back Lelouch. I promise."

Lelouch stared at Suzaku. He could trust Suzaku. He had always been able to trust Suzaku. Suzaku had served their family well for all the years that he had been in Avalon. He had done his best to protect them and had never failed until now. Even now, Lelouch couldn't blame Suzaku completely. The plot had been an inside job, one that Lelouch hadn't even known about until he had walked into the room and seen Calares leaning over his mother's dead body. But this time, Lelouch just couldn't listen to him.

He clawed at Suzaku's hand, nearly succeeding in escape when Suzaku lifted him bodily and hauled him into the barn. Suzaku tossed him to one side, Lelouch grunting as he knocked against one of the stalls. When he looked up again, Suzaku was pulling tack into Lancelot and Gawain's stalls.

Lelouch pushed away from the stall. "Suzaku stop." When his plea went unanswered, Lelouch took a step forward. "I order you to stop!"

"No. I'll get you out of here and then I'll come back to protect Nunnally. I swear that nothing will happen to her."

"They'll kill you."

"And then Nunnally will be safe." Suzaku paused in pulling the girth tight on Lancelot's saddle. "One of their suspects will be dead, the one that they care the most about. You can hide yourself away and everyone will forget about you."

"I'm not leaving Nunnally."

"You have to. I promised that I would protect you. I swore an oath. Don't make me go back on my oath." Suzaku gave him a meaningful look, Lelouch having to look away after a moment. Suzaku wouldn't be backing down, and Suzaku was a force to be reckoned with when he had made up his mind. Lelouch hung his head, taking a deep breath.

Suzaku wouldn't let him go back to Nunnally, so running was suddenly a real option. Lelouch knew he should be making plans, but his mind was still in the upstairs room of the keep and the blood that had stained the floor. And his mother's blank stare…

"Lelouch." Suzaku shook him out of another reverie, pulling him towards Lancelot's stall. He passed Lelouch the reins before going to tack up Gawain. Lelouch just stared at the grey horse he was holding, letting Suzaku talk at him. "We'll ride towards the woods. There should be some small villages that we can resupply from. I'll get you across the border and come back for Nunnally then. I won't let her be killed, Lelouch."

He just nodded, too wrung out to fight anymore. The guards were still running around outside and it was only a matter of time before they were found. Lelouch leaned forward to rest his forehead against Lancelot's neck. Despite all of Suzaku's plans they were going to get caught. Lelouch closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He was about to tell Suzaku his realization when Gawain's reins were thrust into his hands. He stared at the reins, shaking his head.

Suzaku was ahead of him, pushing him out of the barn and into position. Suzaku even boosted him onto Gawain's back. "I'm taking you with me, Lelouch. Don't argue."

He stared at Suzaku, watching the captain of the guards swing into Lancelot's saddle. Suzaku glared at him before urging Lancelot into a gallop. As always, Gawain followed. After years of being trained together, Gawain and Lancelot knew to stay close to each other. Lelouch just held onto Gawain, keeping his eyes locked on Suzaku's back.

Suzaku led them the round about way, sticking close to the wall. The guards must have spread out, sending most of their number to look through the town because there was no one to challenge them. Suzaku kept them on course in the shadow of the wall until they reached the bridge. Only then did Suzaku charge out into the open.

While most of the guards must have left, there were still a few arranged around the bridge. The guards looked surprised as he and Suzaku galloped past them, although they didn't wait too long before sounding the alarm. Suzaku didn't seem to notice the shouts behind them. He turned Lancelot east, heading for the forest there. It would still mean one day out on the plains, but it was better than the two days in the open if they headed straight for the border. Suzaku knew what he was doing, so it was a relief to be able to zone out and not think. Thinking always led him back to the room and his mother's dead body.

Lelouch looked up at the chorus of shouts that came from his right, spotting the group of guards led by Jeremiah returning from the village. Accompanying them was Bishop Calares on horseback. The sight of the group made Suzaku pull Lancelot up, Gawain galloping a few strides past him before slowing to a stop. Lelouch turned around in his saddle to look at the group, swallowing harshly. They had to move or they would get caught. But the group threatening them was supposed to be Suzaku's command. He was the captain of the guard, given the title by Marianne for his loyalty and they were supposed to listen to him. Lelouch felt the faint stirrings of annoyance but they died quickly, overwhelmed by fear. None of the guards would listen to Suzaku any longer, because he was one of the suspects of Marianne's murder. Suzaku had always been able to protect him easily before, now there was no guarantee.

Lelouch had only been unsure if he would live a few times in his life and he thought that those times had ended when they had come to Avalon. He had thought that they would be safe.

He was startled back into action when Suzaku rode up beside him, slapping Gawain's flank. "Get going Lelouch!"

Gawain squealed and bolted, Lelouch twisting slightly so he could see the guards that were still behind him. Suzaku and Lancelot blocked his view for a moment before the other horse passed them, Lancelot taking his place in front again. Then Lelouch could see how the guards ran after them. The futility of their task seemed to dawn on them because they slowed, Jeremiah making a sweeping motion back to the keep. But Calares kept up the chase. Lelouch turned his attention back to the front, loosening his hold on Gawain's reins to give the horse his head.

The black horse increased his speed until he was running alongside Lancelot, Lelouch checking Gawain's speed to keep him from passing the other horse. The two of them might think of the run as a race, but neither he nor Suzaku could risk exhausting the two horses or injuring them. Gawain and Lancelot were their only hope of escape. With horses, they could cover the distance in two days instead of the three or four it would take on foot.

From the way Suzaku was checking under his arm, he was keeping track of Calares' progress behind them. Suzaku looked up and met his gaze, jerking his head to the left. He was probably going to try and lose Calares the best they could in the dark. As soon as they got away from the flat plain that surrounded Avalon and the village, the plains became hills that ran to the mountains in the north. If they got to the side of the hills that was more in shadow, then there was a chance that Calares wouldn't see them or want to risk his horse.

Lelouch glanced over at Suzaku, trying his best to offer a smile. It was the only thanks to Suzaku he could manage at the moment. Suzaku was risking everything to get him out of Avalon. It had been his duty to arrest Lelouch when Calares had demanded it, but Suzaku had gotten him this far. Suzaku was risking his life not only by escorting Lelouch to the border but returning to watch over Nunnally. Lelouch could not imagine an end that would allow Suzaku to live. His friend was giving up everything, just because Lelouch had asked him to. He flinched and ducked his head. He would never know the day that Suzaku died but Lelouch was sure that Suzaku's dead body would taunt him as well.

He looked up at a shout, grabbing for Gawain's reins as a line of men stood up along the top of the first hill. Lelouch pulled Gawain around, sending him down the line to the left. Behind him, he could hear Suzaku shouting at the men, trying to get them to move. Apparently, they had no loyalty left for their captain, because Suzaku shouted one last insult at them before turning Lancelot after Gawain.

It didn't take long for him to catch up with Lelouch, Suzaku drawing even and keeping the two horses running side by side. "No matter what happens, Lelouch, keep riding."

Lelouch turned his head to glared at Suzaku, feeling a bit childish as he shouted back, "You promised!"

"I'll try, Lelouch. But you're more important."

Lelouch wanted to shout back that the idea was ridiculous. Suzaku might not have been born a vi Britannia, but he was just as important. But Suzaku wouldn't have wanted to hear that from him. Suzaku was fully in his mindset of the captain of the guards where Lelouch's safety was the priority. He could do nothing else but nod.

Suzaku guided them the long route to the hills, their original plan made useless by the measures that Jeremiah had taken to keep them close to Avalon. Because of the change, they were forced to slow down their horses, Lelouch leaning over in the saddle a fraction as he caught his own breath. Suzaku was still on high alert, twisting around in the saddle as he looked for another trap. Lelouch almost wanted to tell him to calm down. They were safe where they were, with the hills protecting one side of them. Jeremiah's guards couldn't have followed them, not as dark as it was. Besides, Jeremiah would have ordered them back to the castle to look after Nunnally and the people there. Even Calares would have turned back. The murder of Marianne did not fall into the matters of the church, even if it had been done by one of her officials.

He slumped in the saddle, the events of the day rushing in on him. Lelouch reached up to rub his eyes, biting back the need to ask Suzaku to stop. They couldn't stop until they were far enough away from Avalon that the search parties sent out the next day wouldn't come to find them. It might mean riding through the night, something that Lelouch wasn't sure he could do. The shock from his mother's murder and the adrenaline from their pursuit were meshing together to create exhaustion. Lelouch jerked his head up as he nodded off again, digging his nails into his palm.

Suzaku glanced back at him, offering Lelouch a smile. "We'll stop as soon as we cross over that line of hills."

Lelouch wearily looked up to where Suzaku was pointing. He couldn't make out the hills in the dark, but he would trust Suzaku. He let his head drop again, rocking with the motion of Gawain's walk. For the first time since he had found his mother dead, his mind was blissfully blank. Lelouch allowed himself to close his eyes, sure that he wouldn't be able to keep them awake for much longer.

He wasn't sure if he actually fell asleep or had been lulled into some sort of trace because the next thing Lelouch became aware of was the sound of hoof beats. Lelouch sat up and turned, his eyes widening as he saw a shadow moving through the hills. He turned around in time to see Suzaku kicking Lancelot back into a gallop, gathering a handful of mane as Gawain followed.

Whoever was following them was sure to have the advantage, their horse was probably fresh. Both Gawain and Lancelot had rested, but the horses were tired and unsure of their footing in the rolling plains. Lelouch glanced under his arm, watching with dread as the rider gained ground on them. They were both going to be hauled back to Avalon and killed. Nunnally was going to have to watch him die and spend the rest of her life believing whatever lie Bishop Calares told her. And then she was going to be married off to the man that their uncle declared a good match. There was even a chance that she would have to leave their home.

He and Suzaku crested the next rise, Lelouch seeing the flash of moonlight off Suzaku's sword as the captain drew it. Lelouch slowed Gawain down, the stallion prancing in place as Lelouch tried to keep him close to Suzaku. "What are you doing?"

"The horses can't run any further. We have to take advantage now or we'll be dragged back." Suzaku glanced at him. "I'm not going to fight to the death, Lelouch."

"You're not doing this without me."

"Lelouch-" Suzaku cut himself off as Lelouch leaned over and grabbed a handful of Suzaku's shirt. He opened his mouth to shout at Suzaku, but found that he couldn't. All he could think about was the fact that he would lose Suzaku, his one friend. Even if they did make it to the border, Suzaku would turn back and ride to his death. Lelouch got a better hold of Suzaku's shirt, just able to shake his head.

Carefully, Suzaku pulled free from Lelouch. "I'm a soldier, Lelouch. This is expected from me."

"Don't die. Don't you dare die."

Suzaku smiled, reaching up to thread one hand through Lelouch's hair. For a moment, he looked like he was going to lean closer, but a shout from in front of them drew their attention.

Lelouch jerked back, frowning when he saw that Bishop Calares had been the one to follow them. The bishop sneered at Lelouch before holding out a hand towards Suzaku. "Captain Kururugi, if you give up the murderer I will escort you back to Avalon."

"No."

"You won't be harmed; you have my word on that."

Suzaku lifted his sword. "You will not get Lelouch. He is the Lord of Avalon and innocent of the accusations you've laid against him. He wouldn't have killed his mother."

"Do you not see that he's been driven mad? He will kill us all if he gets the chance. He's been infected like the rest of those vermin."

"Be careful in how you speak about our lord."

"He is nothing but a murderer!" Calares gestured violently with one arm, his horse snorting and skittering to the side. "Marianne was killed by magic, it is the only thing that could have killed someone like her. Lelouch was the only one in the room with her when she died."

"Lies."

"It's true." Calares stared at Suzaku for a moment before laughing. "But I see that you won't believe me. You weren't there when she was killed, you just came running when you heard the shouts. You're too infatuated by him that you can't see the truth. Did he command you to do that, like he commanded the others?"

Lelouch saw Suzaku hesitate at that, the sword in his hand shaking. Lelouch switched his grip on the reins to one hand. It would be better if he ordered Suzaku to go back to Avalon. Then Nunnally would have a sure protector. But he had no power to make Suzaku obey, just scathing words that Suzaku had long gotten used to. Instead, he would have to make sure that there was no battle. If Suzaku managed to injure or kill the bishop than no place in Britannia would be safe for them, the church would make sure of that.

He started to back Gawain away, the motion attracting the attention of Calares. The bishop nearly snarled, urging his horse closer only to have Suzaku block his path. Calares recoiled at the sight of the sword, staring past Suzaku at Lelouch for a moment before pointing at him. "You will not escape this, not with what you know."

Suzaku turned his head just enough for Lelouch to see one eye. "Lelouch?"

Lelouch could only shake his head. Suzaku was waiting for an order, but he couldn't give either of the orders that would satisfy them. He just knew that they had to run, because Calares wasn't trying to pull Suzaku to his side. He was just trying to distract Suzaku long enough to kill him. It was obvious enough that Suzaku would never believe the lies that Calares came up with to justify Marianne's murder, the ones he was just trying out so they would be rehearsed when he spoke to the people of Avalon. With so much at risk, Calares wouldn't afford to allow anyone who believed Lelouch to go free.

The order to run was on his lips when Calares gestured at the two of them, shouting in a language that Lelouch only caught fragments of. What he could pick up were bits of the language that the church used in masses, but the rest were gibberish to him. But he didn't let himself wonder for long. He didn't recognize the words, but he recognized the order. It was just like what had happened to his mother, Calares muttering a chain of what sounded like nonsense words and then Marianne had collapsed to the ground, bleeding from her mouth. Lelouch reached out for Suzaku only to have his friend urge Lancelot forward.

Calares stopped his chanting to scream in pain as Suzaku slashed his sword at the bishop's shoulder. Calares curled up, pressing one hand on his bleed shoulder, looking up at them. "You dare attack a man of god?"

"You dare accuse your lord of murder?"

The bishop snorted and pushed himself upright again, taking his hand from his shoulder and tracing figures in the air. It was different from the first chant and the spell that Calares had used to kill Marianne. There were flashes of runes in the air, illuminated for a moment before they disappeared into thin air.

Calares had written five symbols when the horses started to scream and buck. Lelouch leaned forward, trying to pull Gawain's head up when he was thrown over the stallion's head. The air was knocked out of him as he hit the ground. Lelouch stared up at the sky, hearing Suzaku screaming his name and Calares chanting continue but not quite processing it. He was shaken out of his stunned reverie by Suzaku, his friend kneeling beside him. Lelouch reached up to grab onto Suzaku's upper arm, hauling himself to his knees and staring at Calares.

They had no horses, both Lancelot and Gawain had run away from the building magic, leaving no way for them to escape. He didn't think running would help them either, Lelouch didn't know the range that he had to work with. He had only seen magic worked once at close range. He didn't even know what the spell would do.

He shivered and turned his head so he could rest it against Suzaku's chest. Lelouch felt Suzaku grip him tighter for a moment before his friend relaxed, probably coming to the same conclusion that Lelouch had. Suzaku curled defensively around him, but that was the only move that he made. With that as his signal that Suzaku had finally admitted defeat, Lelouch sighed and closed his eyes.

They only got a moment of piece before a harsh wind buffeted them, sending them falling to the ground. Lelouch grunted as his head smacked against the ground, the stars spinning briefly above his head before everything went black.

Rivalz paused in the middle of sneaking out, glancing over at where his mother was sprawled out on the bed. She had spent the entire day weaving cloth for the merchants that were leaving to trade in the south. He sure that, if he lifted her hands, he would see that she had more blisters. The only good thing about their situation was that she was happy away from her former husband. Thomas Cardemonde was safely in jail for deserting the army, leaving his family alone. At least there wouldn't be any more beatings. Rivalz was sure that his mother wouldn't stand for those any longer.

Instead, they were eking out a life on the northern border of Britannia, a station removed from their old life. His mother seemed happier here, far away from the small village they had come from. Living on the Ashford estate was going them a world of good. Even if they were better off now, it didn't mean that everything was taken care of.

The man that his mother worked for was fair, as was their landlord, but they were still just barely coming out even. Maybe when they had more stored away Rivalz would be able to relax. Until then, he would continue to do everything he could to keep them safe and happy.

Rivalz shrugged on a cloak to defend against the chill of the night. It wasn't a holiday and he had been unable to leave the house in time to catch the crowd coming from the church. The men had probably already gone to the one tavern in the village. He would have to risk getting caught as he pushed through the crowds inside the alehouse. But he would still have to wait until more time had passed, when everyone was too drunk to notice a hand relieving them of their purse. Until then, he had free time.

He smiled to himself as he turned towards the keep. No one would question his presence there; he had brought enough deliveries there to be waved through. He might had be chance to snatch some extra food from the kitchens of the keep if he was lucky enough. His mother would appreciate the delicacy. It would also give him the chance to look in on the Ashford family. They would still be entertaining the few guests that still remained before the winter closed in over the north.

He tugged the cloak into a better position, striding off toward the keep. There were only a few people out, even less than normal. Rivalz would have been wary if he hadn't been so focused on seeing Milly Ashford. Lord Ashford's daughter was one of the better parts of his life in the village. She didn't know him personally, but the few smiles that she gave him were enough to brighten up his day. The chance to earn a few honorable coins and see Milly was too good to pass up.

A harsh gust of wind had him pulling up his hood. Rivalz tuck himself away from the best he could, hissing between his teeth. The wind off the mountains to the north was the only thing he could complain about. Rivalz preferred the warm months, longer than the ones that they got in the north. Even now fall was pushing into winter, which would mean snow. Rivalz shivered, glancing up at the sky. He couldn't see any clouds, but he could imagine them moving in. There were still a few things that he and his mother had to do in preparation for winter.

"One side!" The shout had him jumping automatically to one side before he recognized the sound of hoof beats. He peeked out from underneath his hood, watching the rider flash by. He thought he saw the symbol of Avalon on the rider's cloak, but he couldn't be sure. It was hard to tell with the only illumination coming from the nearest houses and shops. Rivalz sighed and lowered his gaze, tracking the rider down the street by the sound of his shouts. "One side! One side!"

Rivalz trailed on the heels of the rider, hesitating when he saw that the rider had galloped through the gate that led to the castle itself. The horse was standing in the courtyard, being held up by a confused stable boy. The rider was already inside. Rivalz shifted from foot to foot, before making up his mind. A rider this late going for the castle at a gallop could only mean important news, but he couldn't be sure whether it was good or bad. The only way to find out would be to stick around.

He walked into the courtyard, smiling at the stable boy before taking the horse's reins. "You want to listen in?"

The boy nodded and took off at a run. Rivalz smiled to himself and stroked the horse's neck, taking the time to look over the horse in the better light.

It was definitely from Avalon, Rivalz stroking over the patch on the saddle cloth. Everyone in the north knew about Charles vi Britannia, the brother of the current emperor, and how he and his wife had been shipped as far from the capital as possible. Rivalz pulled his fingers away from the eagle symbol, standing on his tip toes to look over the horse's neck. No one was coming out, and the horse was from one of the richest lords in the north. Rivalz worked a hand into one of the saddlebags, jerking it out when he heard someone coming towards him.

Rivalz turned around, waving at the man that was coming his way. The stable master nodded at him before taking the horse. "I would get out of here if I were you. They're starting to panic."

"Why?"

"Lady Marianne has been killed."

"By who?"

The stable master shrugged. "They say it was her son. The bishop saw the boy kill her. The messenger came to warn us about the chance of the boy heading our way and to imply that there could be more of them out there. I'd be careful if I were you, Rivalz, there's going to be a lot of people on the hunt because of this."

"Me?"

"Listen, I was young and desperate once and you seem like the kind. So I'd keep your hands out of the saddlebags for a while." Rivalz gaped at him, the man shrugging and continuing on. "And watch your enemies. Things like this always cause problems."

Rivalz nodded and let go of the horse. He turned on his heel and ran back to his house, all thoughts of a few extra scraps of food and money gone. Tonight was a night to stay in with his mother, while the guards roamed the streets. His alternate form of getting money would have to wait until everything was settled. They would survive until then, he was sure of it; there was plenty of time until the winter. He pulled the cloak more tightly around him and settled down into a fast walk. He wanted to be home long before people started pointing fingers.

"Lady Nunnally, they have returned." Nunnally looked up at the sound of Mrs. Lohmeyer's voice. She shifted in her seat, nodding slowly. The woman took a step back, standing behind Nunnally as Jeremiah and Bishop Calares walked into the room.

She opened her mouth to speak, but could only sob out a syllable. Jeremiah was kneeling by her side in a moment, gently patting her hand. Nunnally wanted to wave him away, but she didn't have the strength to. Her mother was dead and Lelouch had been the one suspected of murdering her. What was worse was that he there had been magic, something forbidden for years. And nothing made sense, because Lelouch would have never harmed Marianne. Their mother was everything to him.

"Magic often changes people." Nunnally stared at Bishop Calares in confusion before realizing that she had spoken some of her thoughts out loud. The bishop swayed in place, looking around the room. "It corrupts the soul and poisons the mind until something makes them snap. There's a reason that the church outlawed magic all those years ago."

"But Lelouch…"

Calares shook his head. "I've been watching your brother since Lord Charles died and his behavior has become very suspicious. Think of everything that has happened since then. All hostilities with Nippon stopped abruptly. The disease that was weaker here than the rest of the northern castles. The drought that lasted until Suzaku came back. The fact that Suzaku was promoted to captain of the guards over men like Jeremiah. The mere fact that Suzaku and your brother got along so well after years of arguing. That Genbu Kururugi, the man that betrayed your entire family, died suddenly. There are more events that just don't add up if you think about it."

Nunnally found herself nodding along, easily convinced by the evidence that she had been presented with. There had been too many things in the past few years that had made little sense, but Nunnally doubted that life ever made much sense. Magic being the reason made sense, but Nunnally couldn't accept that her brother would do such a thing. She shook her head and looked up at the bishop. "Why?"

"Who knows?" Calares looked away from her, staring at the tapestry in the room. He was silent for a long while, Nunnally already looking to Jeremiah for a full report when the bishop spoke again. "But didn't you brother argue with Lady Marianne about going to Pendragon?"

"Yes, but that was because of…" She trailed off as she realized what she was saying. Lelouch would do anything for her whether not he was asked for his help. He had wanted to go to Pendragon to see if there was anything that the doctors in the capital could for her legs. There had been rumors that someone could help her walk properly again. But Marianne had forbidden them to go to Pendragon. She had always said that their lives were not worth the risk it would be to return.

Nunnally looked between Jeremiah and Calares, trying to make up her mind. She kept getting stuck on the fact that her mother was dead and Lelouch was their main suspect. And then there was magic to consider, the way knowing that made everything worse. Nunnally couldn't quite process the events of the night, she just couldn't think.

She dropped her head into her hands, giving up. "What should I do?"

"We should try and catch up to them in the morning. In the meantime, you must stay inside the castle. Jeremiah will lead a search team and there will be guards for you here."

"But, he's not the captain."

"Positions will be filled later. Our first priority is catching Lelouch and Suzaku." Calares took a step forward. "Let me handle the details until we have the situation under control. You can mourn as much as you need to."

"Thank you."

"Of course my lady." Calares bowed and motioned for Jeremiah. The guard stood up and left the room, Nunnally resisting the urge to reach out for him.

She was safe in the castle; Jeremiah would have spread the guards around to keep her safe. There was no reason she would feel unsafe alone, but she usually would have had Lelouch by her side. With her constant gone, she was at a loss. The best thing for her to do was to listen to those who had the situation under control.

Nunnally reached up for Mrs. Lohmeyer, trying not to show her distress that she didn't reach out in return. She swallowed and lowered her hand. "I need to go to bed. This is…it's too much."

"As you command." Mrs. Lohmeyer bowed, waving to the servants that crowded around the door. Nunnally reached out to the closest one, using his shoulder to heave herself upright. She paused for a moment, dragging her bad leg under her. At this point, both of her legs would be equally as bad within a few months. She could barely get around the castle on her own now and it would be a torture when the other leg gave out. Nunnally ducked her head and sucked in a quick breath before limping down the hall to her room.

Tomorrow she would attempt to make some sense of her situation. Others were bound to be in a panic, and Nunnally was the only one remaining who could watch out for them. She would have to be in top form when Lelouch was finally brought in to face his punishment. Nunnally swallowed harshly at the thought, glad that the servant didn't comment on the way that she tightened her grip on him.

She wasn't sure she would be able to sentence her brother to death, even if it was the right thing to do. She needed to be sure, without a shadow of a doubt, that Lelouch was not the one that had killed their mother. Nunnally trusted Jeremiah and Calares, but Lelouch was her brother, there were bonds of loyalty between them. After all, they were all they had left in the world with both their parents gone. There were things that Lelouch had promised her, things that Nunnally wanted to make sure weren't lies.

Nunnally only realized that she was biting her lip when she tasted blood. She quickly licked her lip, looking up as the servant guided her into the room. She muttered a thanks and limped over to her bed. Nunnally had been ready for bed when the news had first came in, so it was just a matter of slipping between the sheets and finding sleep again. She was sure that sleeping wouldn't be too hard, she just wanted to find a place where everything was not so messed up that she could no longer make sense of the world.

She didn't register the servant bowing and shutting the door, rolling onto her side and staring at the wall. Nunnally shivered, closing her eyes and pulling the covers over her head. She was sure that Mrs. Lohmeyer would come to check her later in the night, and she didn't want to be subjected to a lecture. Nunnally knew how to act like a proper lady, but she was going to cry for her mother and her brother. No one could tell her that she couldn't mourn for the brother that she had known before he had been corrupted. She pressed her cheek harder against the pillow, doing her best to muffle her sobs so they wouldn't echo around the room.

Lelouch groaned and lifted his head from the ground. His head ached like he had spent the night drinking and close to the smoky fireplace. Lelouch carefully pushed himself onto his elbows, looking around as he tried to recall the events of the night before. His fingers tightened in the dried grass when his memory came back to him.

His mother had been murdered and Suzaku had saved him from the guards that had turned on him. They had tried to escape across the plains, but they had meet Bishop Calares and…

He frowned when his memory refused to give up the details. He must have hit his head at that moment, because the details were still unclear. Lelouch just remembered being afraid, which was a summary of the entire night before. He shifted, managing to sit up before he had to stop. Lelouch lifted a hand to his head as he looked around.

Gawain and Lancelot were grazing a little distance away, still tacked up but not tied to a picket line. Lelouch frowned, pursing his lips to whistle for his horse. If he and Suzaku had reached a place where they could camp, they would have tied the horses up so they wouldn't wander away in the night. In that case, then there would have been signs that they had made camp. And Suzaku wouldn't have let them make camp on the top of one of the rises, not while they were on the run. Lelouch licked his lips, deciding not to whistle. There was no way to be sure that the guards from Avalon would be looking for them close by. He doubted that Suzaku had any standing with them anymore.

He intended to get to his feet, but his head protested the move. Lelouch flopped back to the ground, taking a deep breath. He would have to wait until his head stopped pounding to move, but they would have a limited time. If they still wanted to reach the border, they would have to move. They would have to make the forest by nightfall. Lelouch glanced up at the sky, the corner of his mouth twitching up. The sun was just starting to rise, so they would have a little bit of time. The guards would wait until the sun was fully risen, they weren't going to risk their horses.

Lelouch turned to look for Suzaku, freezing when he saw his friend writhing on the ground. Ignoring his headache, Lelouch crawled over to Suzaku, grabbing onto his shoulder. At a loss of what to do, Lelouch shook Suzaku. He stopped when Suzaku rolled onto his back.

Suzaku stared up at Lelouch in panic before he arched his back, clawing at his arms. Lelouch reached down to tug Suzaku's hands away, holding them away so Suzaku couldn't injure himself. He took a deep breath, trying to keep his mind away from the images of sorcerers working magic and the torture they caused. There were no sorcerers near Avalon, the church wouldn't have let them live. But that didn't mean that someone had snuck out to where they had been and cast a spell while they were unconscious.

He leaned over, pinning Suzaku's wrists to the ground. "Suzaku, what happened?" Suzaku could just shake his hand, reduced to silence by whatever pain he was suffering. Lelouch glanced around before growing impatient. "I need to know what happened. Are you hurt? Who did this to you?"

For a moment, it looked like whatever had happened had abated, Suzaku slumping back to the ground. Lelouch let go of his wrists, watching as Suzaku flopped against the ground. The reprieve didn't last long.

Suzaku suddenly arched up again, clawing at the dried grass as his whole body spasmed. Lelouch reached for him only to jerk his hands back as the sun climbed over the horizon. He had to raise a hand to block his eyes from the glare of the sun, tensing at the strange sensation that settled over him, like cold water had dripped down his spine. Lelouch looked back at Suzaku as the sunlight hit him.

Suzaku tensed at the first contact of the sunlight, his eyes widening before he screeched.