Metz's face was contorted into that of a pained parent who had to bury their deceased child.

"My village… we stayed out of conflicts that didn't involve us. We kept to ourselves, hunting our game and growing our crop. We didn't mess with anyone. Then one day a delegation from a group calling themselves the Protectorate approached the gates. We welcomed them in, as was tradition. I should've noticed it sooner, the way they were looking around when they came. They went to every shop and bought something, be it food, weapons, or skins. Before they arrived to speak to our chief, they walked every path. They weren't a delegation, they were the first scouting party," Metz said as he began to cry.

"Please, take your time, you don't have to tell the whole story if it's that painful for you," Willow said, holding his hand in hers, squeezing it.

"No. I must tell this tale, even if it's the last action I take before death. So the delegation met with the chieftain and they left without incident. It only took three weeks until things started to go awry. First our village's game was being killed off. Then half of our crops burned down. This happened over three years. Then, four years after the visit we encountered our first attack. They shot flaming arrows and incendiary rounds at our buildings. They all burned down. We grabbed our weapons and decided to move, but we were attacked once more. They first targeted the weak and ill, those who we had to leave behind. Then they targeted our kin, killing any children who were left behind. And when it was only the fit and youthful, we were overrun. There weren't enough of us to really fight back, so we surrendered. They slaughtered the women and remaining children, and took the men."

"What happened to you?" Willow asked.

Metz cupped Willow's cheek and gave her a loving kiss. "I was one of the sick ones they left behind. I played dead and stalked the rest of my people, keeping my distance. I managed to kill a few before I had to escape," he explained.

"What do you want to do now?" Willow asked.

"I… I want to kill them, those who killed my people," Metz said with a snarl. Willow tightly grabbed his arm leaning on him. It seemed to calm him down, his arm wrapping around her.

Weiss and Whitley were sitting in the front pews along with other higher-ups in The Protectorate. Weiss was wearing a pretty white dress with light blue highlights. Whitley wore a black suit with grey details. On the platform there were three figures. First was Winter, wearing a light blue wedding dress that accentuated her breasts and hips, her hair let down and unrestrained in its usual ponytail. The second was Pandorus, in a light green suit with black cufflinks. The third was a Protectorate priest wearing pure white robes.

"Do you, Winter Schnee, take this man, Pandorus Timidis, as your lawfully wedded husband?" the priest asked.

Winter wore a genuine smile as she gave her answer. "I do."

"And do you, Pandorus Timidis, take this woman, Winter Schnee, as your lawfully wedded wife?"

Pandorus' smile was more timid, but still genuine as he gave his answer. "I do."

"I now pronounce you husband and wife!" the priest proclaimed with excitement with a smile. "You may now kiss the bride," he said as he closed the book.

Winter reached over to Pandorus as her lips gently pressed against his. Their embrace was tight and loving, something that was foreign to the eldest Schnee sibling.

The two of them walked down the aisle. "So does this mean you will protect my siblings?" Winter asked with a stern tone.

"Yes. They are now my family, and unlike my birth family, no one will suffer," his tone as serious as hers.

"What do you mean, unlike your birth family? Did you kill them you monster?!" she hissed.

He shook his head. "I will explain everything to you and your siblings after the celebration. The reason why I created the Protectorate, and why I will protect you three."

Winter nodded, not quite believing him. The party started as everyone started dancing on the hardwood floor. Winter and Pandorus danced, Weiss with Whitley, Whitley with Winter, Weiss with Pandorus. Once the party started to die down, Pandorus approached the Schnee siblings and beckoned them into a luxurious room with a couch and some recliners. Pandorus sat in one of the recliners. He motioned for the three Schnee's to take a seat. Winter took a recliner while Weiss and Whitley sat on the couch.

"Why did you marry my sister?!" Weiss shouted.

"What do you intend to gain from marrying into our family?" Whitley asked.

"I did it to protect you two. Your sister was concerned with your safety since your father arrived and was trying to take you back. So I gave her a deal: Marry me and I'll protect you two and so that's what happened. Whitley, you'll be enrolled in officer's school, as far away from the front lines. And Weiss you will be a combat instructor. I know your treatment wasn't the best. And I know I've been awful you three but I want to make it up to you since we're now family."

"You mentioned your family, mind elaborating on that?" Winter asked.

Pandorus sighed as he took a glass and pulled out a glass of whiskey. "Is it alright if I have a drink? This is something that I don't like to think about so a drink helps loosen my lips."

"Sure, but just one drink, two at most," Winter said as she put a hand over Pandorus'.

"Alright, thank you. So I mentioned my family. They… weren't the kindest to me, but they were family. One day the entire settlement I was born and raised in was raised to the ground. I remember the bandits skinning my friends alive. I… can never forget their screams…" he said as he took a sip from his whiskey. "Well I managed to get home and my parents had joined up with the bandits. They had left me there to die in that settlement. But they left me with some unfortunate… markings. That chaos, that slaughter, it proved one thing to me: this world needs order. It is lost and horrific without it. And to bring order I have united half of this continent under a single flag. Does that clear everything up?"

Whitley and Weiss nodded. Pandorus put down his glass as he got up. "Well you two are welcome to stay but Winter and I will be consummating the marriage," Pandrous said as he scooped her up and carried her to the bed.

"So, what now?"

"We can have some fun in bed, I'm looking forward to having a child with you. I'd… like to apologize for all the things I've done. My parents never showed me any affection they uh…" Pandorus stammered as he opened the door. Winter began to disrobe and so did Pandorus, but he kept his shirt on.

"What are you doing? Take off your shirt!" she giggled as she began to take it off for him. But that was when the laughter for the night stopped as what she saw made her gasp. His entire chest and back were covered in whip scars. He fell to his knees and cried. Winter got on her knees and looked into his eyes for the first time. "They never hugged me. They never kissed me. I… They never loved me, did they?" Winter looked at the broken man in front of her, her husband. She brought him to bed where they spooned.

"Pandorus, all I know is that, for some reason, I love you." Winter genuinely wanted to help him, but she didn't know how.