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"Everyone, leave us alone."
For a few seconds the hall was silent, no one expected the Queen to comply with Mr Holmes' request.
An appeal. For a private conversation with Your Majesty.
The silence lasted, but the people obeyed the order, one by one they all bowed and left the throne room.
"The order includes you, Mycroft." The Queen's voice sounded as solemn as before, her gaze fixed sternly on the elder Holmes leaving no room for reconsideration.
"It is clear." Bowing in acceptance Mycroft left the hall with His Majesty and his younger brother.
In his mind Mycroft thought of all the silly requests Sherlock could make, all obviously involving Count Moriarty.
Mycroft was curious, things that caught his brother's interest were rare - the same was true of himself - and middle Moriarty at this point was almost an obsession for Sherlock. Perpetuating all his thoughts and interfering with his actions.
Yes. Mycroft was morbidly curious about what his brother would ask the Queen. Perhaps Sherly would ask the Count for a pardon to prevent him from going to the gallows or an exile in a neighboring country.
But little could be done to save the middle Moriarty in his opinion, the few times they met Mycroft could clearly see the death wish in the Earl's eyes. Equally blank stare could also be seen in Albert but that is beside the point. Even if Sherly managed to save the other from his sentence, nothing could be done to change the will of either of the Moriarty brothers.
With one last look, Mycroft left the room in his curiosity and displeasure. Perhaps his brother is finally taking the nets of his own life or else he should prepare to pick up and fit Sherly's broken pieces... Mycroft couldn't tell until the meeting with the Queen was over.
⚜⚜⚜
"Do you know why I allowed your appeal? A meeting with me without witnesses is a very bold request, Mr Holmes, even for the nobles it would be absurd."
"That's really bold of me, Your Majesty. And thank you." Sherlock bowed in thanks, for a man who had earned his reputation as rude and unscrupulous he at this point looked like a perfect gentleman. "But I must say I don't know why it's allowed."
When Sherlock finished speaking, silence descended, now with a new kind of unease that left Sherlock not knowing what to do next.
"I'm curious." The Queen's gaze was amused. "Why would a detective, a man who has sworn allegiance to truth and justice... want to save a murderer?" The Queen's voice came out higher than standard, almost like an accusation. Sherlock swallowed hard. "Not just any murderer, but the crime lord. William James Moriarty." The Queen took a deep breath, as if the phrase alone had taken all the air out of her lungs, before Holmes defended him she continued "Despite your best intentions in committing such crimes does not take away the burden of being heinous crimes. A mass murderer, who takes lives in cold blood. And who must pay the price for what he has accomplished."
When the Queen's speech ended the air was heavy and the hall was darker, no matter if it was barely midday and the sun was shining on the royal garden.
Sherlock's fists clenched in frustration, this was not how he imagined his appeal to the Queen. The arguments presented would make any jury and judge give the accused a death sentence. Liam would be damned, no matter how good the defense.
Sherlock took a deep breath. He couldn't give up, he couldn't give up on Liam, he couldn't give up on William Jam-
He could give up William James Moriarty.
Sherlock Holmes will give up on William James Moriarty.
"I don't want to save William James Moriarty." With that sentence Sherlock returned to his initial determination. "Your Majesty is correct Earl Moriarty must pay the price for his crimes, tomorrow at dawn William James Moriarty will die before all London and I will guarantee that myself." The determination in his voice burned like embers, but his gaze was cautious and gentle. "My plea is not to save William James Moriarty."
"I appeal to you to save the man I love, Your Majesty. Save Liam." The end of the request sounded like a gasp and a prayer.
"The Man You Love..." The Queen leaned forward, circling her wrist, urging Sherlock to continue.
..
...
.....
"When we first met, Liam thought I was presumptuous, arrogant, and foolish. With good reason. And I saw him as a shrewd and talented gentleman, but false and a little mischievous."
"Besides, a part of me always knew that Liam and I were on opposite sides of the board... However, when we put pettiness, competition and other things aside, we discovered something better."
"We discovered a friendship."
"Liam and I tried to fool each other for a while, with silly games, murder cases, and offbeat math lessons. We pretended to compete to see who was the best at deductions, wrestling, and so on, but all this time, we just liked being together. and we couldn't get away."
Sherlock sighed, looking away from the Queen, catching his breath, he wished his Liam was here. He wanted to see the expression on his face as he spoke so passionately about them, Sherlock wanted to see Liam's blood red eyes widen in surprise. He wanted to see how Liam would react when he admitted he loved him.
So Sherlock tossed that thought away, he would talk to Liam later and repeat every word said today.
"I've never been a man who liked to flirt, chat or converse in the slightest with any other human being. But with Liam... Conversation flows naturally. His laughter brings me joy..."
"Meeting a beautiful person is one thing, but meeting your best friend in the most beautiful of people is something else entirely."
"So many terrible things had to happen for me to realize that I love him. And that I want him by my side for the rest of my life..."
"So I beg you to let William James Moriarty die, but allow me to save Liam and keep him safe for the rest of my life."
The queen looked almost satisfied as she listened to the speech and Sherlock radiated pride and passion.
"Even if I make such an appeal, what's to stop Moriarty from taking his own life?" The Queen questioned, playing her last rebuttal card and Sherlock cringed, dreading that question.
Hesitantly, Sherlock thought of all the little joys he'd had in his encounters with Liam, how his real laugh was clunky and not elegant, how his taste for food was sometimes questionable, how his favorite color was blue despite always wearing it. red and earth tones, like…their duet together looked perfect.
"I know Liam wants to live... He just needs support. All he needs is someone to listen to him when his mind is full, someone to support him unreservedly, but also to help him carry his burdens as if they were your own."
"If Liam lets me, I'll be whatever he needs. But only if he lets me." No longer hesitating Sherlock faced the Queen. "Your Majesty, will you carry out my appeal and allow Liam to live a new life by my side?"
⚜⚜⚜
"Your Majesty."
"Good afternoon Mycroft." The Queen greeted him and motioned for Mycroft to sit beside her in the garden. "I know what you want to ask, and yes I have answered your brother's appeal."
"Your Majesty, have you granted pardon to Count Moriarty?" Mycroft felt agitated briefly, pardon would have been granted to the Moriarty family or just middle brother.
"No."
Mycroft looked confused and Queen laughed at her clerk.
"Someone told me a long time ago that you were the smartest of the Holmes family, Mycroft. But lately I'm beginning to believe otherwise." Mycroft's expression changed from confused to offended in milliseconds. "Unlike you Sherlock knows what he wants."
"And what does my little brother want that made him sound so assertive?" asked Mycroft, obviously becoming more and more displeased.
"A marriage certificate."