“What we don’t need is the Princess,” Laurent muttered under her breath.

“Marksinna, I told you that if you said –” Tove started but I stopped him.

“Wait.” I stood up straighter. “She’s right.”

“She’s right?” Wila was confused.

“If we get rid of the Princess, the whole scene changes,” Aurora said as it occurred to her. “The King has been coming for her this whole time, and in the painting, he finaly succeeds. If we give her to him, the painting goes away.”

Nobody said anything, and by the confused, worried expressions on both Wila and Tove’s face, I’d say that even they were considering it. It was hard not to. If it was only one of them dead, they probably would stil fight to keep me here, but everyone is dead. My life is not more valuable than al of theirs.

“You’re not giving him my daughter,” Elora said firmly. She grabbed onto the back of the chair and pushed herself up. “That is not an option.”

“If I’m going to end up dead anyway, at least I should spare the people,” I said.

“You wil find another way,” she insisted. “I am not sacrificing you for this.”

“You’re not sacrificing anything,” I said. “I am wilingly doing this.”

“No,” Elora said. “That is a direct order. You wil not go to him.”

“Elora, I know the thought of losing your child is unbearable,” Aurora said as gently as she could. “But you need to at least consider what’s best for the kingdom.”

“If you won’t, then we’l have you overthrown,” Laurent said.

“Everyone in the kingdom would stand behind me if you were going to lead us al into certain death.”

“Death isn’t certain!” Elora snapped. “Overthrow me if you want. Until then, I am your Queen, and the Princess isn’t going anywhere.”

“Elora, why don’t you sit back down?” Garrett said gently and walked over to her.

“I wil not sit down.” She slapped his hands away when he reached out for her. “I am not some feeble old woman. I am the Queen, and I am her mother, and I have a say in what happens here!

In fact, I have the only say!”

“Elora,” I said. “You’re not thinking this through. You always told me that the good of the kingdom came first.”

“Maybe I made a mistake.” Elora’s once dark eyes, looking almost silver now, darted around the room. I’m not sure she could realy see anything anymore. “I did everything for this kingdom.

Everything. And look what’s become of it.” She stepped forward, although I don’t know where she intended to go. Her legs gave out from under her, and she fel to the ground. Garrett tried to catch her, but he moved too late. She was unconscious by the time she hit the floor.