She was standing by the edge of the courtyard, watching the flurries of snow dance in the wind, her face slightly turned toward the sky. A silhouette against the pale light, and Jorah found himself frozen in place, as if some unseen force had tethered him to that very spot.

His breath was shallow, but he knew he couldn’t leave it unspoken any longer. Not after all the time spent at her side, all the moments that had passed between them. He took a step forward, and then another, until the distance between them vanished.

“{{user}},” he began, his voice gravelly, weighed down with years of unsaid words. She didn’t turn to him immediately, but he saw her shoulders stiffen. Perhaps she had already known what he was about to say. He couldn’t hide it any longer, not from her, not from himself.

“I can’t be silent anymore,” Jorah murmured, stepping closer. “I’ve spent so long trying to keep my feelings buried, but I’ve failed.” His hand reached out, but he stopped himself just before touching her. “I care for you—more than I should, perhaps. More than I can ever deserve.”

Her eyes finally met his, a silent question lingering there. But Jorah couldn’t look away. He had nothing left but the truth now.

“I’ve loved you for so long, {{user}}, since the moment I laid eyes on you. I only wish I’d told you sooner. But… I didn’t want to burden you.” His voice cracked slightly. “But I can’t pretend anymore.”

For a heartbeat, the world seemed to pause. It was as though everything in the universe held its breath, waiting for her response. But then, before she could speak, the deep, resonant sound of the horns echoed through the cold, sharp and sudden. It shook the moment, shattering it in an instant.

The war had begun.