The truth settled over the forest like falling snow.
Heavy.
Silent.
Impossible to ignore.
No one spoke.
Not the soldiers.
Not Rowan.
Not Jack.
Even the wind seemed unwilling to disturb the moment.
---
Elsa lowered her head.
"...Thank you."
The words were quiet.
Almost too quiet to hear.
---
The spear warrior looked surprised.
"So... my mother wasn't alone."
---
He slowly shook his head.
"No."
---
"She died believing someone would protect me."
---
"...Yes."
---
A faint smile appeared on Elsa's face.
Sad.
Warm.
"My father kept that promise."
---
The spear warrior closed his eyes.
He could almost picture it.
A weak adventurer.
No talent.
No fame.
Raising a child the entire world feared.
For fifteen years.
---
"I lost."
The old warrior whispered.
---
Jack looked toward him.
"What?"
---
"I believed strength protected people."
The spear warrior smiled bitterly.
"But Edward..."
He looked at Elsa.
"...proved love can protect someone far longer."
---
Silence.
---
Then—
A voice came from the army.
"LORD COMMANDER!"
A knight rode toward them in panic.
He dismounted immediately.
---
"The council demands the execution order be carried out immediately!"
---
The atmosphere changed.
---
The messenger handed over a sealed scroll.
The spear warrior opened it.
Read.
Then quietly closed it again.
---
"What does it say?"
Jack asked.
---
The old warrior answered without emotion.
---
"If Elsa refuses surrender..."
A pause.
"...everyone within the forest is to be killed."
---
Silence.
---
Even the soldiers behind him looked disturbed.
---
Rowan laughed softly.
"They're thorough."
---
Elsa slowly looked toward the distant army.
Thousands of soldiers.
Thousands of people.
Most of them frightened.
Many with families waiting at home.
---
Then she looked at Rowan.
---
"If I leave..."
---
"They'll follow."
Rowan answered.
---
"If I stay..."
---
"They'll attack."
---
"If I surrender..."
---
"They'll kill you eventually."
Jack finished.
---
There wasn't a good choice.
Only different tragedies.
---
Elsa smiled sadly.
"My father always found another answer."
---
Jack looked down.
"He did."
---
"He would've smiled."
Rowan added.
---
"And somehow convinced everyone to eat dinner first."
---
Even the spear warrior gave a faint laugh.
---
The memory of Edward seemed strangely alive among people who had known him.
---
Then Jack stepped forward.
---
"No."
---
Everyone looked at him.
---
"I won't let this happen again."
---
The words were calm.
Certain.
---
Fifteen years ago...
He chose the kingdom.
Over Edward.
---
Today—
He made a different choice.
---
Jack turned toward the army.
---
"I'm going to speak to the king."
---
The messenger stared at him.
"That's impossible."
---
Jack ignored him.
---
"If they want blood..."
He looked back toward Elsa.
"...they'll have to start with mine."
---
The soldiers murmured.
---
Rowan smiled faintly.
"There he is."
---
The spear warrior looked at Jack for a long moment.
---
Then—
Without a word—
He stepped beside him.
---
Jack blinked.
---
"...What are you doing?"
---
The old warrior answered quietly.
---
"I've spent sixteen years running from one mistake."
---
He looked toward the army.
---
"I'm tired."
---
Elsa's eyes widened slightly.
---
The two greatest heroes of the kingdom.
Standing together.
Against their own army.
---
Not for glory.
---
For one girl.
---
Jack looked toward Elsa.
---
"Edward called me his brother."
---
His voice trembled.
---
"I don't deserve that anymore."
---
A long pause.
---
"But..."
---
He placed his hand over his heart.
---
"...allow me to protect his daughter."
---
Elsa couldn't answer.
---
Because tears gathered in her eyes.
---
Not from sadness.
---
From hearing someone finally say the words Edward never lived long enough to hear.
---
**His daughter.**
---
Not a dragon.
Not a calamity.
Not a monster.
---
Just...
Edward's daughter.
---
For the first time since his death—
Someone else had claimed her as family.
---
Far across the battlefield, war drums began to sound.
Deep.
Steady.
Unforgiving.
---
The council had made its decision.
---
And so had Jack.