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Chapter 2: Old Friends, New Ally
You struggled to maintain your composure as you stood in front of the class, not because you were nervous about you identity being revealed, but the pair of violet eyes you knew so well staring back at you. It was your best friend Prince Lelouch Vi Britannia, alive and well despite being abandoned in a war zone 7 years ago by his no account father. Every fiber in your being shook, desperate to know if this was the real Lelouch or a ghost sent to haunt you for wanting to fight along side the Black Knights. You restrained yourself and kept up a false smile until the teacher came to you rescue.
"That will be all Ms Avalon, please take a seat next to Lelouch,"
Or not.
Lelouch raised his hand and you took the seat next to him. The hair on the back of your neck stood on end as you got a closer look of him. It was definitely him. He looked over to you and smiled.
"Nice to meet you (Y/N). I hope you like Ashford Academy," you smiled.
"Thank you. Lelouch was it? I was hoping you could help me find a friend of mine who is also a student here,"
"Perhaps you could describe him?"
"Why do you assume it's a boy?"
"I think we both know the answer to that question,"
And for the rest of class, you acted like complete strangers. You took diligent notes and listened closely to the lecture, trying desperately to block out the boy next to you. As soon as the bell rang, you sprang from your seat and rushed for the door. Your eyes darted back to your prince, who was looking at you, waiting for some kind of sign. You gripped your earring and turned it clockwise 3 times before heading out towards where you believed the roof would be. In your youth, you and Lelouch had come up with many different signals for each other, that way, you wouldn't have to speak and potentially give away your location. Your parents had been thrilled at your cunning, though frustrated when you refused to tell them what each sign meant. Quietly, you exited onto the roof and leaned against the rail, waiting patiently until you heard the door open. Once again, your (E/C) orbs clashed with violet ones. You smiled before crossing your right arm over your chest and placing your fist near your shoulder in a salute.
"It's been a while, your highness," Lelouch stared for a minute before shaking his head and joining you on the other side, laughing.
"It's has been a while hasn't it old friend. Don't bother with that highness stuff. I didn't expect it back then and I surely do not expect it now,"
"Oh you know I was only teasing,"
"What are you doing here?"
"What? Not happy to see me?"
"You and I both know that's not the reason,"
"A personal mission so to speak, but I doubt this is the safest place for us,"
"I'm really happy you're alive,"
"Alive?" You thought for a minute he had known about the Avalon's demise, but then quickly realized he meant the assassination of Queen Marianne. Those who knew the Avalon's deaths were those who worked closely with them in the castle, and even still they didn't know the truth.
"The bullet only went through muscle tissue, nowhere near my spine, and not even deep enough to hit anything vital. Only a few months of physical therapy and I was up like nothing had happened," Lelouch took your hand in his.
"You didn't have to do that. You could've died," you laughed.
"I'm surprised you don't remember what our relationship was suppose to be inside the castle walls. I am your knight, as such, putting myself in danger for you is par for the course,"
"Am?" You knelt to him and saluted once more.
"Since that day, nothing has changed. I remain to serve and protect you," he smiled.
"What did I just say about formal greetings, I'd prefer to have my friend over my knight," you nodded and stood up.
"Understood," you both shared a good laugh before he took you by the hand.
"Come on, there's someone I want you to see, and I'm sure she'll be happy to see you too,"
The ravenette led you through the halls of the academy and you made a mental note to memorize the layout in case of emergencies, or when you'd need to get away. Eventually, you came upon a house and were brought inside. You took a look around.
"What is this place?"
"It's where we live now. The Ashfords were kind enough to take us in and hide us,"
"We?"
"Lelouch?" A small voice came from the other room, a voice you knew well. A girl with her eyes shut close bound to a wheelchair came into the room and your heartache. The gunshot had rendered you unconscious for days, long enough for Lelouch and Nunally to be exiled, so you had not seen the full extent of the damage done to Nunally from the attack, only knowing she had been blinded and crippled. It destroyed you mentally to know such a fate fell on such a sweet innocent girl like the princess.
"I thought I heard another voice. Is someone else here big brother?" Lelouch smiled and took his sister's hand.
"Yes Nunally, it's someone we haven't seen in a while and I thought you'd like to see her," Lelouch motioned for you to come over. You knelt be his side as he guided your hand into his sister's. Nunally looked confused, unable to recognize the hand. It was then Lelouch realized his mistake: Nunally wouldn't have to memorize (Y/N)'s during the time she had been with them like Suzaku, after all, she had her sight then. You decided to try something else.
"I'm grateful to see you again your highness,"
Nunally froze. The voice was undoubtedly one she knew all too well. The young girl teared up.
"(Y/N)?" You smiled though she was unable to see it.
"Yes, hello again Nunally," the blind girl hugged the knight as tightly as she could.
"You're okay! I'm so happy!"
"Oh come on, it was just a bullet, in my back..that knocked me out for several days. Nothing to worry about!" Nunally's smile grew bigger.
"I'm glad it didn't kill your sense of humor either," Lelouch smirked.
"Now that is something truly bullet proof," you raised an eyebrow at him while still smiling.
"Is that insult or a compliment?"
"Yes,"
You punched him on the shoulder happily before Nunally asked you a question.
"Why are you here (Y/N)? Surely a Knight of Avalon would be needed at the castle," you scrambled for an answer.
"Well, I'm here as a result of recent attacks,"
"You're here because of the Black Knights?" Lelouch pieced together. You nodded.
"Indeed," it wasn't a total lie. He grimaced for some reason. Nunally gripped your hand tighter.
"You need to be careful then. The Black Knights are very clever!"
"No need to worry princess, it takes a lot to kill an Avalon," your own words sent needles to your heart as you looked at Lelouch.
"Can I speak with you in private Lelouch?"
"Um, ok. Nunally, will you excuse us?"
"Of course, as long as (Y/N)'s promises to come visit!"
"I will. Please excuse us," Lelouch led you into what looked like his room, though he had checked it thoroughly first, as if he were expecting someone was there. While he continued to search, you caught sight of something he had put on the nightstand: two pieces of gold you recognized. The cufflets were small lions, a gift from you for Lelouch's birthday. You smile.
"I can't believe you still have these old things,"
"They've become my good luck charm so to speak. So, your here on an assignment from the emperor to destroy the Black Knights I assume," he was leaning against a wall, not looking you in the eye and frowning. You could almost feel the waves of contempt coming off him at the mention of that man. Your hair covered your eyes as you shook your head.
"No, I'm here on personal assignment. The emperor has no idea I'm even here," Lelouch looked bewildered.
"What? Exactly how long do you expect you can be here without him finding out?"
"Quite some time to be honest," he rolled his eyes.
"I doubt he wouldn't notice a member of his most elite group of combatants was missing,"
"Lelouch...the rest of my family is dead," he looked at you for a moment in shock, as if processing what you had said before finally snapping out of it.
"What!? What happened!? Was there another attack!?" You gritted your teeth.
"There was no attack. The Avalon's would never fall to outside threats! We were murdered, on orders of the man we swore allegiance to!" Lelouch face fell. He didn't understand. The Avalon family was made of the finest and most skilled fighters in the world, not someone you would want disposed of, especially if one managed to escape.
"Why would he kill your family. You've served the royal family since Britannia's formation!" You bash your fist against the nightstand.
"My father stood up for you and Nunally and the emperor took that as a sign of insubordination. One request to reconsider his decision after countless years of service and victories, and were put down like wild animals," Lelouch mind raced with emotion: horror, dismay, sadness, hatred, but most of all anger. Anger towards his father, and the other guards who acted on this order, but mostly towards himself.
"Joshua...stood up for us?" You nodded sadly.
"He noticed how upset I was after I found out about your exiled an asked the emperor to reconsider his decision to send you into exile and bring you home. He said he'd think about it and that night the other members of my family were slaughtered in our private quarters,"
"How did you get away?"
"You remember Calvin right?"
"That guard that always let us slip into the garden to play? Yeah,"
"He saw what was happening, and him and a few men loyal to my father helped me to escape since I was still recovering. He got me out of the country and raised me in secret. I'd be dead without him and those men,"
Lelouch still couldn't believe what he was hearing: the Avalons had been dead for years now and no one knew? It was impossible!"
"Why didn't anyone say your family was dead!?"
"My guess is it would look suspicious. The most skilled group of knights in the entire world, only beneath the emperor, all killed in one night? It would not only strike down morale, but if word got around what really happen and for what reason, who's to say what other knights and soldiers would do as a result?" Lelouch rubbed his chin.
"Indeed, their loyalty would waver if they found out a simple request would get them and their families killed,"
"Exactly. But I'm still alive, I can still keep my family's legacy going,"
"Why are you really here (Y/N)?"
"Isn't it obvious? I'm joining the Black Knights," Lelouch's heart stopped. (Y/N) was in a different league all her own. Years in exile would only make train harder, making her skill invaluable to his cause, but... he didn't want her to be put in danger. She had almost lost her life protecting him, and now the knowledge of Joshua Avalon begging his father to send him and his sister home result in the deaths of his personal knights? She had already lost too much because of him! He couldn't let her go ahead with this!
"Are you insane!? I can't let you do this and get yourself killed! Why even tell me this?" she smiled at him.
"Because I trust you. I know you won't tell because you hate your father just as much as I do,"
"This is crazy! You could live your life in peace! You could stay here and take care of me and Nunally! It could be like it used to!"
"No...you and I both know it couldn't," His heart ached. He desperately sought words to try and convince his friend not to throw away her life, only for her to turn her back on him and head towards the door.
"This is decision Lelouch. I won't ask you to stop worrying, but I will ask you not to try and stop me,"
"(Y/N)..." she turned back and smiled again.
"We should head back to class before people become suspicious. I'll wait outside," she closed the door behind her, leaving him alone. He fell to the bed and punched it.
"Damnit!"
"Why is this a problem?" CC emerged from the closet where she had hidden.
"Her skills and knowledge of Britannia's military force would be vital to your plan. Or are you not willing to use this one Britannian pawn in order to further your goals because of your feelings?" He glared at the witch.
"Do not speak of her like that! I owe her too much to let her go through with this!" CC shook her head.
"I see, so you do have feelings for her. In any case, I doubt you'll be able to convince her otherwise, so why not keep her close at hand when she does join the Black Knight," Lelouch sighed before standing up and heading towards the door.
"That's exactly what I plan to do,"