A tear ran down the king's face. He lowered it and pressed Lyanas grandfathers hand against it. "I
thank you."
At last Lyana felt the pressure fall from her heart and wiped her eyes dry overjoyed. After all these years of self-flagellation, King Ulric seemed at last free from his guilt.
Her grandfather looked at them both blissfully. "Finally I'm free as well." He stood up and stepped
back a little, but in the process he stumbled over the swords on the floor and lost his footing. Before
he could fall over the railing of the bridge, however, King Ulric grabbed his cloths and kept him
from falling. The sun princess breathed a sigh of relief.
"Father!" A loud scream rang out and Lyana just saw how the Sun King rushed towards them with
his sword drawn. To him it must look like King Ulric was trying to overthrow his father.
Without hesitation, she threw herself in front of the Ice King with her arms outstretched. But her
father realized too late what she had done and so Lyana felt the blade of his sword enter her body.
"Lyana!" She heard a loud voice. A terrible pain spread across her stomach. Panting, she staggered
back and fell. But instead of falling to the hard ground, she fell into the arms of King Ulric. Was it
he who had called her name? She had never seen such despair in his face before. Was it because of
her?
Slowly she let her gaze slide down. Her stomach felt so strangely warm and it was difficult for her
to breathe. When she saw the blood-soaked dress, she couldn't help but think "ah, that's why he's
looking at me like that". But she didn't regret her decision.
"Lyana, my child!" Shouted the Sun King, completely beside himself. In the meantime Afram had
also reached them and wanted to reach for Lyana.
"Don't touch her!" Roared King Ulric, looking at him wildly.
But her cousin was upset as well. "She is dying!"
The Ice King just shook his head. "No. Not again." Gently he picked her up and ran back to his
castle with her in his arms. Both Afram, his uncle and Lyanas grandfather looked uncertain but
finally followed him.
When they arrived at the castle, they met Baridi and Alisen, whose eyes fell directly onto the
injured princess. Alisen let out a scream. If the valet hadn't supported her, her legs would probably
have given way. "Your Majesty, what happened?" Asked Baridi, who was no less shocked.
"We don't have time for explanations!" He said gruffly. Lyana had already lost way too much blood.
Without stopping, he continued until he reached his sister's garden. Only then did he put Lyana
gently on the floor so that she could lean against the wisteria. The others arrived closely followed
and stood around Lyana and the Ice King. None of those present dared to say anything, they all just
quietly shed their tears.
But King Ulric didn't notice any of this. He put both hands on the tree trunk. "Please hear me. I beg
you."
At first nothing happened, only the quiet sobbing of the maid could be heard. But then it suddenly
got dark. Thick clouds moved in front of the sun and it became so dark, as if it were already night.
Little by little lights came out of the tree and began to fly around King Ulric and Lyana. "Thank
you," King Ulric began to speak to the lights and bowed deeply to them. "I ask you to save the life
of the Sun Princess. If she hadn't tried to save my life, she wouldn't be in this position now." His
voice began to tremble.
There was a low hum, it sounded like a sweet melody. That was also what made Lyana open her
eyes again. She believed she was already dead because everything around her was dark, but then
she saw the glow of the tree spirits and recognized where she was. Naturally, her eyes searched for
King Ulric. When she saw him, however, she doubted her sanity. The proud, terrifying man she had
met in the woods that time was gone. This man threw himself on his knees in desperation and
begged the tree spirits to save her.
At that moment she remembered Nevis' words. Whoever asked the tree spirits for something, had to
pay for it with something that was just as valuable. "Ul ... Ulric," she breathed. It was difficult for
her to speak and the pain got worse, but she had to stop him.
Although her voice was very weak, the king heard her and quickly took her hand. "Lyana," his
voice was so gentle that she almost came to tears. She would never have thought that hearing her
name from the man she loved would make her so happy. "Don't ... do it," she asked, feeling his hand
shaking.