While the children admire the paintings, Bumva looks back in relief to see Mel and Will rejoining them.

Luis and Tuzah run ahead to find themselves in the throne room of the former Queen of Albarino. In the next room, two long tables are put together for their lunch.

"This is where Garth and the Skeleton Queen fought each other."

"Good riddance to that pathetic knight," the young half orc holds back a spit.

"Good thing dad was here to set things right," Emilia sneaks in behind them.

They almost jump out of their shoes from her immediate presence.

"Don't scare us like that, hermana!" Luis complains.

"Are you afraid she will come back from the dead?" Emilia squints at her little brother.

"I-I'm not scared of her!"

"Who knows? Her spirit may roam this place," she whispers to continue tormenting her sibling.

"We are part of the strongest family. We can take her!" Tuzah's shaking legs betray her words.

"Stop scaring them, Emilia," Jaime walks in.

"Mom and dad mentioned he purified the queen's body and her servants so they can rest without interruption," Esmerelda informs her youngest siblings.

Tuzah and Luis exhale in relief. Bumva walks in and sets a large pot on the table. She pulls the lid off to reveal a Spanish stew of white beans and pancetta. The savory aroma penetrates their noses. Luis and Tuzah's mouths water.

Mel sets the table and Bumva lets her. Maybe it will calm her down.

Shatter! The bowl she had dropped and broke on the floor.

"Are you okay, mom?" Jaime asks. The others are concerned for her.

"I'm sorry! Don't come near me," she crouches down to pick up the pieces.

"Wait, mi amor," Will readies his mandolin.

"Bowl that has broken in piece,
Reform back so soup may not decrease."

The pieces of the bowl form back together and the cracks magically seal like it never happened. Mel picks it up with shaky hands and sets it on the table.

"I'm not feeling too well. Go ahead and eat," she tells the others before walking away from them.

Emilia stands in her way and places the back of her hand against her forehead. "You don't seem too hot, mama. Are you tired?"

"I am."

Will finds her arm. "I will take her to her room." She lets him lead her away. 

"Feel better, mama!" Luis calls out to her. Mel kills the smile that's about to form on her face. The stroke on her arm from the bard almost makes the guilt subside.

"This way, mi amor," she directs by pulling him to the left.

Opening the door, fresh maroon linen is laid out on her bed. Will finds the bed with his foot and helps her sit down.

"I'm going to get you some soup."

Before he can turn, she pulls him back into her. She wraps her arms around him as if to tell him to stay with her. Her body trembles like a leaf against his. He embraces her back and kisses the top of her head numerous times. He hums an improvised melody to soothe her emotional pain. She focuses on the tone and closes her eyes.

---

Meanwhile, Bumva takes charge to avoid worrying everyone. She serves the soup to everyone and eats a bit.

"Mmmm, so good. Don't let it get cold," she encourages the families.

They finally eat to Bumva's joy.

She then stirs up a fun conversation. "So Gulak.....when will you two be a couple?"

"After he serenades me," Ghulnea answers with glee. The half orc happily wraps an arm around her.

"Just don't make me a grandmother too soon," she playfully warns.

"I can't wait to be an aunt!" Esmerelda exclaims.

The thought of children makes Gulak's face almost turn crimson.

Jaime takes advantage. "Just be careful since she's smaller than you."

"He won't have any problem since I was easy with your dad," Bumva jests.

Jaime's whole face wrinkles up. "Gross!"

"I didn't need that image in my mind," Emilia groans while rubbing her eyes.

"What are they talking about?" Tuzah asks. Luis asks Esmerelda with his eyes.

"Nothing you should know about until you're older," Will Jr interjects.

"It's boring anyways," Gash adds. The youngest siblings understand and let the topic pass.

Bumva scoops some soup into a bowl. "I will be right back."

Before she can take another step, two pairs of footsteps are heard coming towards them. Her eyes widen as Will and Melody return back to them. Mel leans on Will's body to keep her upright.

Esmeralda stands up. "Mom, are you okay?"

Mel regains the strength to stand on her own from the squeeze of her husband's hand.

"I will be, Esmie. Thanks for the comida, Bumva." She takes the hot soup and tilts it up to her lips. The others are perplexed as she drinks it all down without choking.

Will hands her his handkerchief and she wipes her mouth. A burp escapes her mouth. "Excuse me."

"H-How can you do that?" Jaime asks her.

"Are you alright?" Emilia narrows her eyebrows.

"I'm alright. I need to be honest with you about something. My name isn't Melina. It's Melody."

Their children and Ghulnea stare at her, thinking it's some kind of joke. There's no humor behind her voice.

"I am the former Skeleton Queen," she announces to them.

"There's...no way that you are, mom. She's dead and you're here," Emilia argues with her logic.

Melody walks over to William and lifts him over her head with one hand. They notice her arm isn't even trembling. They blink multiple times as she sets him back down.

"She's right," Bumva supports her to their surprise.

"Here's what actually happened......"

With Will and Bumva's testimonies, everyone knows the truth. Jaime, Emilia, Esmerelda, and Luis are flabbergasted from the flood of truth that went through them. To think that their mother was the most fearful entity that the kingdoms had ever faced. Gash, Jr, Tuzah, and Gulak are bewildered. Ghulnea's eyes stare off in the distance as the information is a lot to take in.

Luis' mind processes and something nags him. "What did you give up, father?"

"What do you mean by that?" Gash asks him.

"Phineas taught me that strong spells require a sacrifice. If she was half-human-"

"I gave up some magic and half my life force," William admits.

His eyes well up. "Why?"

All of his children look at him, fighting back tears that ultimately come out. Ghulnea holds Gulak up as best as she can.

"Because I loved her. I gave her a choice if she wanted to rest with her people or be with me. She chose love and I don't regret it all."

"How long? How long do you have left?" Jaime's voice wavers.

"10 more winters. The same goes for Mel because she wanted to rest with me. Don't hate her, please."

"Did you know, mother?" Tuzah asks her.

The orc's lips quiver in response. Their hearts collectively sink beyond the floor. They jump out of the chairs and embrace their father with all that they have except for Jaime.

Will tries to wrap his arms around all of them. Tears dripping and sniffling occupy the banquet hall.

"I don't want you to die!" Luis yells.

"I know."

"It's not fair!" Emilia yells between tears. Mel looks down in shame, but they had to know the truth at some point.

"There has to be something we can do!" Gulak looks at his mother. She sadly shakes her head.

He squeezes his father as a lifeline to keep him from sinking to the floor.

"I know it must hurt. I don't regret the decision I made because I'm proud of you all. You are my blood," Will tells them.

Mel sees Luis approaching her. She can't look away from his crying, magenta eyes. He latches onto her which makes her heart skip a beat. Emilia and Esmerelda bury their heads into her shoulders.

Luis grips her dress. "I hate magic!"

"Don't. It allowed me to have you and your siblings. I'm fortunate to be your mother. At least, I will see you all grow up," she brushes the hairs of their heads.

Bumva holds onto her children and husband through this difficult time. Jaime glares at his mother and father.

"Why won't you hug them?" Bumva snarls at him. She holds back her full anger as sadness is the main driver.

He storms away from them. "You're not my mother!"

Mel wants to go after him, but Will goes ahead. He follows his son's footsteps to a balcony overlooking the city.

Jaime's body trembles. "Don't touch me!"

The bard goes to say something but hears tears dripping down. Heavy exhales as he tries to fight back what's eating at him since the revelation. William gives him time to collect himself.

"I know why you did it, but I hate you for it."

The blind bard walks to his left side. "All I ask is that you don't hate tu madre. I will bear your hatred-"

A sudden embrace stops his sentence. Jaime sinks to his knees and Will follows after him.

"I hate that I won't make you proud as a man. Everyone in the family has something. Luis and his magic, Emilia and her discipline, Jr and Gash have their rite of passage, Esmie will be a great farmer along with Tuzah. And Gulak can sing. I have nothing!"

Will's arms wrap tighter around his son. Jaime tries to push him away.

"I'm just an embarrassment. All I do is get into trouble and make mom angry. You're William Bennett, one of the strongest mages in all the land. What if I can't live up to your name?" He raises his sorrow filled eyes at him.

"I am not ashamed of you, nor will I ever be."

"How when you don't have that long?! What if I never amount to anything before you die?" His voice breaks into pieces. He finds his father's hand wiping away his tears.

"You don't have to live up to my name. None of you do. You are free to be what you want to be. All I want is for you to be happy."

"But I want to make you and mom proud of me. That's what a good kid would want, right?" He argues.

"Mijo, I will always be proud of you. Your happiness makes me glad. Your mother is the same way. I didn't know I placed that burden on you. I'm sorry."

Hearing him apologize makes Jaime more angry...at himself. 

"Let go of that anger. You and your siblings each got something from me, Mel, and Bumva. I know you got a good heart from me."

"What do you mean?"

"I was actually nearby when you told off that girl for what she said about Gash."

Jaime's eyes shot open. He didn't remember seeing him around. "You heard that?"

"You defended him even after getting smacked. I could almost feel that pain."

This makes his son chuckle. "It stung. I guess I won't be a ladies' man like you were."

"It was fun, but I'm glad I married your mom and Bumva. I can't imagine my life without them. They gave me one of the best blessings: being your father."

Jaime happily smiles as he embraces his father with a lighter heart. They stay in that hold for a long time until his son lets go.

"What do we do now?"

"Enjoy the most out of each day," his father ruffles his hair. Jaime chuckles but doesn't fight it.

They get up to rejoin the others, but Melody is waiting for them. Jaime runs to her and hugs her as well.

"I love you, mama. I want you to know that."

"I love you too. I'm sorry if I was harsh the other day. I didn't want that tribe to hurt you."

"I understand," his hug lingers. "Does grandma and grandpa know?"

"I told them before you and your siblings were born," she answers.

Will's ears perk up as he can hear the steps of the rest of his family. He can hear Ghulnea walking with Gulak in hand. "Come out, everyone!"

Jaime is surprised to see the rest of the family step out from the side. "Did you hear-"

"No, Bumva stopped us from coming over. We followed mom from a distance."

"And don't worry. I won't tell anyone else," the dwarf tells them.

Jaime sighs out of relief and hugs each sibling tightly. He steps before Bumva and hugs her as well. "I'm sorry about what I said. You're my mom, too."

Her emerald eyes widen and tear up. She squeezes him off the ground, but careful not to crack his back. She sets him back down.

"Do you want to explore the rest of the castle?" The former Skeleton Queen asks them. They all nod in agreement. Luis and Tuzah lead Will by the hands. Mel shows them the royal library, the kitchen, the training area, the distillery, and the garden.

Before it gets too late, Mel and Bumva light some torches and shows them some rooms to stay in. Mel and Bumva carry their blind husband away while Ghulnea stays with the girls.

"Why not stay with her?" Gash jests.

"I haven't come up with a song yet," Gulak stammers while blushing.

His brothers stifle their laughter before going to bed.

William lays in bed between his wives. He finds Mel's hand and lifts it up for a kiss. "How do you feel?"

"I...feel better. Thank you both for your support."

"Anytime," Bumva yawns while wrapping an arm around Will's torso as Mel rests her head on his chest.

The orc notices a peaceful smile on the former Skeleton Queen's face before falling asleep. The truth that haunted her had set her free.