The Death of Empress-Marshal Therese Aulclair (An Alternate Future)
You were dragged through the muddy field of the final battlefield that marked the end of an era.You knew as well as anyone else with a mind as great as yours.
Waterloo, a muddy plain with hills overlooking a flatlands, with two monstrous armies clashing for the fate of the world. Because one man, willed the world to listen to him. And the world was not ready for him.
It was almost poetic at this point, that a woman who started her career as a surveyor, had told him that this place was the best place to attack the enemy.
But you were wrong. It was a strange thing to think of now… But you had accepted that fact when the battle was over, and the Prussians had taken you prisoner.
The Grande Armée was shattered by the coalition forces, for a second time. The Prussians, not the British had finally broken the Old Guard of Napoleon, and your own Republican Guard.
Wellington of course would take the credit, that was something you knew when you met the man once, in London, when you had rescued Tallyrand from assassins. It was quite a predicament, and having to trust Arthur Weslly was not something you had ever thought you would do, under any circumstances.
But he helped you, believing you were another woman, Tallyrand's lover, and innocent to the politics that had plagued Europe, and it seemed Tallyrand had said something that shook the General to the core, both of beliefs and his own personal honor.
Your uniform from Robespierre, that gift from so long ago, was in tatters, the sleeves torn, the leggings ripped, holes from pistol shots covered much of the loose fabric.
Hardly befitting for a Marshal of the Grande Armée
, but it was all you had now. That and you reputation.
The Prussian von Blucher looked at you and spat in your face. "Let me kill her."
Wesley nodded. "No." He replied, the order clear and the british soldiers pointed weapons at his men to be sure no one would kill you. "She is our prisoner, and she shall be treated as such."
"This whore has ravaged the German countryside under Napoleon's orders, killing thousands of men in battle." The Prussian replied. "He has ruined dozens of officers, professionally and personally with her tactics, both terrorizing the citizens and nobility alike."
Somehow you managed to smile. "Yes. Chamans was quite efficient at his job. But during the war, I could not control my men as I wanted… otherwise there would not have been such unnecessary deaths… The nobles I have no regret putting to the sword, I shall admit General. As for the officers, they should have learned from Brunswick's mistakes, and let their anger cloud their judgement. Their downfall was their own."
That earned you a punch into the face. "WHORE!"
The British soldiers pointed weapons at him, to keep him from attacking you further.
Arthur helped you to your feet. "My apologies."
"Thank you." You replied with your broken English.
You were escorted to the prisoner's tent, with the survivors of the Grande Armée.
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You arrived in Paris with a fanfare of love and mourning. The entire city it seemed was pleading for your life, as you were brought towards the court of Louis XVIII, the recently returned Bourbon king of France.
Paris had changed since you first came to it as a young girl, now as a woman nearing fifty, you saw the grandeur as victory was gained, and it's fear, as you had returned in defeat.
The court was filled with many Austrian and Prussian nobles, and the survivors of the Purges by the Republican government almost thirty years ago now.
The Trial was a quick one. But you were not going to go down quietly.
"Gentleman of the Chamber of Peers of France." You started as you maintained the dignity of your rank, that of Marshal and Empress. It was quite a strange thing to think of, even after all those years of marriage. You had despised Napoleon when he took power and even threatened to kill him, deprive him of a general, and of his wife.
But he had helped bring true republicanism, not the anarchy of Robespierre to prominence. He had a prime minister, an elected Parliament, suffrage for women… even as he claimed to be emperor, he never gave into Tyranny.
There were moments yes… but you were there to remind him of his duty.
"The charges brought before me, are ludicrous. Treason: For my entire adult life, I have done nothing but serve the nation of France, in whatever shape, whatever form, whatever government, because I believed in France. I believed in many things in my life, as a youth I believed only the revolution could save Europe. As I grew older, it was my husband, Napoleon, and his reforms. Now I only see that France will always change, no matter who leads it. My only regret is that you do not believe the same." You stated. "That if you kill me, all you will prove is that none of you are loyal to France."
The chamber of Peers was moved. But nothing changed.
The vote was clear. There was no need to pressure them, no need to remind the world that you were a woman, a hero and a savior of France several times over.
Death was your sentence.
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Your last request was to write a letter to your Five children. They were far away, safe in Italy, with friends, allies, and family.
You remembered Brian and the Kingdom of Italy he had founded in the two years since he had taken the throne with Murat before Murat died.
The House of Auclair would rule Italy, as Brian ruled as king, with a parliament, as he so promised to give to the people of Italy, that much was agreed upon when Brian betrayed you and Napoleon when you returned from Elba.
You did not blame Brian for the betrayal of your trust, nor did Napoleon in the end.
He was saddened, but you told him that Brian now had a duty to Italy, not to him.
He would protect your children from the entire world if he had to… he owes you and Napoleon that much at least.
My Dear Children: Napoleon, Jacques, Alexis, Angélique, Thérèse
When you receive this letter, I will be dead, and my body will be buried with my father, and his family, not in the grand tombs of France, or a mausoleum that Napoleon wished to build for our family, so that we may never be separated, even in death.
Your father has been exiled to St. Helana, but I was not allowed to join him. The Prussians in court and abroad made sure of that. Their anger and hatred fill their hearts and all they want is for a woman who caused them so much grief to die. To soothe their aching hearts and destroyed pride.
The people of France begged the king not to, but his anger at me is as strong as the Prussians. I represent your father, I represent the Republic of France… I represent France in a way. The mother who brought it into the modern world.
They want to break your father, the same as I broke those generals in the field. I am sure my death will destroy him, for that I am certain.
They cannot break me, my spirit, or my belief in France, so they must kill me instead.
You Uncle Brian will protect you, for that I know for certain, so do not fear death.
I wish for you not to weep for me when the news reaches you. I only ask that you do not seek revenge. There are far better and greater things to focus your life on, than that.
Promise me that and I shall watch over you in Heaven in whatever you do.
Live your life, long and true and we shall meet again.
Your loving mother-
Thérèse Auclair-Bonaparte
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The men refused to follow the orders of the king and dismantled the guillotine.
"We shall give you the death you deserve, Marshal." the General replied. "Your orders Marshal!?"
You nodded to them and saw a crowd of soldiers, civilians, and citizens of France. They looked at you. It seemed the entire city came to watch you die.
"People of France. I have one final order to give as your Empress and your Marshal. Follow no god but the one in your heart, follow no man you do not believe in! But fight for France always! No matter her enemies, no matter your friends, no matter where destiny may lead you. The world is changing, so be ready, and change with it as well!" You shouted.
"Soldiers of France." you saluted to them. "Prepare a firing Squad! I am sentenced to death by France, and you shall carry it out."
The soldiers were surprised. "Marshal!" A soldier asked.
"Follow my order!" You screamed and the men, after hesitation, did the same. Their attention was on you, their weapons ready, to kill you.
"This is my final order to you, soldiers of France! You shall obey it faithfully, and without hesitation! When I give the order, you will shoot me in the heart! You shoot me and I will die! Soldier! FIRE!"
The muskets fired, without hesitation and slugs went through your chest.
You fell. And in a moment you would die.
But your final words would carry on for generations.
The Bourbons of France would die that day, and the Revolution would begin anew.
This time, it would be for good.
The people would rule, with no masters but themselves to guide them. They would struggle, they would fight, and they would fall.
But they would never bow to a King they themselves did not choose.
That was what you hoped for at least as you shut your eyes for the final time.
AN: Enjoy this omake of the "Mostly canon future" where Thérèse married Napoleon in his youth instead of Josephine, and where Thérèse had a knack for destroying Prussian armies.
Edit: So What do you think?
