This is why Court Cards are a little tricky, they can represent the person you are reading for, someone in their life (and could meet in a future position), qualities they need to take on and also a situation. I think you have to go with how you feel about it and how it fits!
In your spread first of all think of the question or topic you are reading on because it should relate back to that or is it a general reading? If I got your reading come up, I would compare the Queen of Swords in the present situation and the Emperor in the future. For example, if this is a love or romance reading she is the Queen of Swords at the moment (single, maybe widowed, independent) but in future she might meet an Emperor figure who would change her Queen of Swords energy. That's just one example and they can be tricky to work out, it's true.
Go with how you feel about it and anything you notice in the pictures!