Jack and I headed back to the palace and we made our way to Pompous Queen's chambers to resolve the issue of Jane's resignation.

"Oh, you two, you're still awake. Today has been the most relentless day. I know I'm Queen but still..." O Pompous One droned on as she strode into the room, "Is everyone really that crippled?"

Jack glared daggers at her. She'd hit a nerve and she knew it.

"I-I didn't mean-" she started.

"What didn't you mean?" Jack bit back, cutting her off.

"How could you be so heartless to Jane?!" I interrupted them.

She let out a disgruntled sigh.

"No more politics!" she groaned.

"That woman gave her life to you, your father -all her waking hours!" Jack spat.

"She said 'no' to me," she shrugged in response.

"So what?! you cant' just enjoy people when it suits you! Use them up and toss them aside!"

"People serve a purpose. Business and for pleasure-"

"No! We don't all exist for your benefit!"

"You exist because Jane was paid to re-build you! By me! The fact that you've developed feelings for someone doesn't make you any less my property!" she spat in anger, glaring daggers at me.

I glared right back at her, stepping up to stand beside Jack. I grabbed onto his hand.

"Oh, so the only way I can love Dawn is if you don't own me?" he shot back.

"How do you even know she returns those feelings?" she challenged, silencing him.

You could cut the tension in the air with a knife.

"How could you ask you such a question?" he asked, gripping my hand tighter.

"It's true... I can prove it,"

"Then prove it!" he bit out.

A moment of silence passed before Langwidere spoke up.

"You're free. I release my hold on you," she said, her eyes went to mine then, "Will you leave him like everyone else? Now that he's not privileged anymore? Now that the wealth is gone?"

I scoffed and broke free from Jack to stand in front of her.

"Don't you dare say that! I've been living under your rule for quiet some time but make no mistake, Langwidere, you do not know me!" I spat in her face, threatening her, "You do not know how I grew up, how I was raised. You only know what you see me as now today but you do not know me! I wouldn't leave him if you paid me all the gold in the Kingdom... I will never leave him! And not even you, Your Highness, can make me!"

With those last words, I grabbed Jack's hand and propelled him out the doors of the palace. The cool night air hit me in the face and I breathed it in gratefully as we walked down the sidewalk.

"Did you really mean that back there?" Jack asked suddenly and I glanced over at him.

Slowly, I nodded.

"I did... I won't leave you, Jack. Not ever." I told him softly.

He smiled in the darkness and just as his lips were about to meet mine, soldiers started to walk up to the palace, shoving past us. And then I saw him. And I knew Jack and I had to leave. The Wizard was here.