The Queen's Admiral

Chapter 52: The Enchantress

I shut my eyes and resigned my life. This dark Godmother—whoever she was—was right. There was no chance for me to survive, not with the wound I sustained. Killing me was a mercy. It would end all my pain and Admiral Westergard can be free to escape and help Aunt Elsa.

I recalled the nightmare I had once of Admiral Westergard ending my life by stabbing me through the heart. Was that a premonition of what would come to pass? He would be the one to kill me after all, though the circumstances were different. I now gladly offer my life for him to take.

I wish I could tell him to strike at me once, sure and swift so I would barely feel a thing, but my throat was in so much pain I couldn't speak. I opened my eyes and saw him recoil at the dagger and the dark woman that gave it to him.

"I won't do this," he told her as he threw the dagger away. "Ask me to do anything but not this!"

"There is nothing, either one of us can do to save him, Hans," the Godmother said. "You've killed before. You know how to do it as painless as possible. Slit his throat and be done with it. Those animals outside, they're called hyenas. They're some of the most vicious scavengers in this land. They won't be as kind to him if they find him alive."

"I promised Elsa I will keep him safe," he uttered with conviction even as his voice choked with unshed tears. "I will neither be his murderer nor leave him here to die."

"Stubborn idiot!" she muttered. "Then you will both die! And before you do you're going to make it difficult for me because I am forced to protect you, you ungrateful brat!" She paced around furiously around him for a few moments before she came back at him and started berating him like a nagging wife.

"If you want to save your Snow Queen and the rest of your kingdom you need to live and warn her against your crazy brother!" she hissed at him. "Or has that completely slipped your selfish little pigheaded, insanely heroic mind!"

"I can never face Elsa and tell her I killed her nephew after I've sworn to protect him," he replied softly as he crouched down next to me and held my hand.

She shook her head and began massaging her temples. Then, she sat down beside him and her expression changed to one of sadness as she whispered: "She doesn't need to know."

He stared at me intently and I wished with all my might I could speak to reassure him. I wanted to tell him I forgive him for doing this. I welcome my death in his hands. This was my final service to my aunt, to my family and to my country.

He released my hand, got up and picked up the dagger. I waited for him to strike me with it but he only stared at the gleaming object in his hand. "But I will know," he said. He put the dagger in his pocket. "There is another way."

He turned to the Godmother. "As you promised Aurora to protect her named heir, I call on you to protect mine. I name—"

"Wait!" the Godmother gasped with sudden wide-eyed panic. "What are you doing? You do know what this means?"

"Yes," he said with a wretched smile on his lips as he glanced at me. "You're going to heal him, get him to safety and help him get to Elsa."

If it was possible the Godmother seemed to turn even paler. Her lip trembled and a single tear fell down her cheek. "Adam... Adam chose a worthy heir..." she whispered.

"Cheer up Godmother," Admiral Westergard said as if in jest. "You don't have to deal with your most troublesome, ungrateful godson anymore." He stood before her and continued solemnly: "As you promised Aurora to protect her named heir, I call on you to protect mine. I name Fredrik Bjorgman, crown prince of Arendelle my heir."