Revelation

Stigma of Betrayal

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"Are you okay, Lord Jack? We're almost at Fort Tadhg."

"Yeah, I'm fine. Let's just keep going."

The journey to Fort Tadhg was long and arduous. Trekking through craggy terrain and in forests that made Jack's spine shudder, it was a miracle when they finally saw the large edifice up ahead, looming and intimidating in all of its glory and making Jack feel very insignificant and small.

"There'll probably be a lot of Hndans there," North said.

"You're right. All the means more to get in contact quickly-"

"But," North interrupted, "Lord Jack, are you not a traitor in their eyes?" he questioned. "Given the circumstances, it seems likely that they'll attempt to kill you without hesitation."

Jack grimaced. "You're right. And I'm aware of that. But it doesn't matter if they want my head on a stake or not. I'm determined to at least try to reach out to them once more."

"Is everything all right?" Elsa asked, walking up beside them. When the two men nodded, she gave a loud exhale, looking up ahead at the fort. "This won't be easy, you know."

Jack gave a humorless smile. "Never said it was going to be."

"Just don't forget about the curse," Elsa reminded him. "We mustn't talk about that country."

"Of course," Jack said. "But even if we can't talk about it, let's still give it our all to acquire their help." He then added as a sort of an afterthought, "If they want to end this war as much as us, surely they'll give us a chance and hear us out."

"We're almost there, Lord Jack; Fort Tadhg is just a few miles away. Would you like to rest for now?" Snow White asked.

"Sure. I bet everyone else is tired as well," Jack said. "We can rest for half an hour, but after that, it's onward to Fort Tadhg.

"If our words can reach the hearts of all the Hndans, then they'll definitely lend us their aid."

..~..

Walking up to the large stone entrance of Fort Tadhg, Jack was surprised to see not a soul in sight.

Fort Tadhg, huh? he thought. Odd. It's awfully quiet for a place like this... Is anyone even here...?

Just as those words came out of his mouth, footsteps approached them. A stern "ahem" came from the newcomer.

Jack's eyes widened. "Kai!"

"Lord Jack," Kai said coolly, "or should I say, traitor. How dare you show your face here after all you've done?

"The same goes for you, Lady Elsa," he accused, looking at the other royal coldly. "You were warmly accepted and raised as a princess in the land of Hnda... But yet in a crisis as dire as this, you so quickly turned your back on us. Did this country mean nothing to you?"

Elsa stared at the ground, refusing to make eye contact with him.

"You're wrong, Kai!" Jack jumped in. "We haven't betrayed this country!"

"The nerve of you to say that-!"

"The true enemy isn't me or Elsa, or even the Kingdom of Euna!" he continued helplessly. "If we could all act rationally and talk-"

"Oh, you're one to say for all of us to act rationally, Lord Jack," Kai growled. "Honestly, that day in the battlefield? I'd hardly consider that a good example. You might as well have no voice because I refuse to listen to your ridiculous begging; your excuses are useless!"