Angelina was relieved that Vlad eventually calmed down. She pleaded with him to promise his people for his reassurance. 

Vlad looked like he was going to argue, but his stomach growled; he was hungry. He finally accepted that Angelina would never give up. 

With the fire turned off, they walked back toward the city. Vlad noticed that Angelina held onto his right arm while returning to the tavern. 

Did Angelina do it out of pity?

Guilt?

He noticed Angelina looking at him with a gentle smile.

No pity.

No guilt.

Relief.

Reassurance.

They eventually arrived in the city, where Angelina led Vlad to the tavern. Before entering, Angelina stopped and looked at Vlad. "Remember, you don't have to apologize if you don't want to. I won't force you, but at least promise them that you will try to make a change. Please."

Vlad said nothing, but Angelina believed that he would keep his word.

The two slowly entered the crowded tavern. Music played, people danced, drank, and ate to their hearts' content. When Vlad was noticed, people motioned others to keep silent or move away from the duo. The musicians immediately stopped playing their instruments. A pathway was made toward the main table.

Angelina had never seen so many smiles die so fast. 

They walked to the main table and then looked at the people who dared not make a sound. "This is it! There's no turning back!" Angelina took a deep breath and spoke, "Everyone, I want to thank you all for your wonderful hospitality. You all have my thanks." She cleared her throat. "As you know, you all saw me do something that was...new and unnecessary. I have apologized to Vla-I mean, the Voivode, and we have come to some understanding." Some people eyed one another. "Still, your Voivode came here because he, too, did something that affected and took many lives." She looked at him; Vlad looked expressionless. "Please..." she whispered. 

Vlad looked at the people he was supposed to defend and fight for. Taking a deep breath, he said, "I-I did something within this city for many of the downtrodden. I have burned and led them to their deaths, making you all watch." The people looked frightened, but Vlad continued, "I finally accepted that what I did was w-w-w-wr-wro-wrong." He stuttered; it was difficult for him to accept his actions, but Angelina wouldn't let him hear the end of it. "Henceforth, I will do everything I can to make changes for you and all of Wallachia."

Everyone was silent, stunned. 

Angelina then clapped her hands. Then, one of the men slowly began to clap along with her, leading everyone in the tavern to do the same. 

Vlad was stunned as everyone cheered for him. He glanced at Angelina, who eventually stopped clapping. She looked happy and proud of him for taking the first step. 

He felt warm. 

Angelina then looked at everyone and raised her arms. "Let's celebrate!"

Everyone picked up their mugs and cheered. The musicians played their instruments. Many people went to the dance floor, while others drank and ate. A server arrived at the main table, delivering two plates of food and cups of mead to the duo. 

The duo sat down, and Angelina sipped the sweet and bitter mead. "I'm so proud of you, Vlad."

Vlad gulped his cup of mead, raised it, and asked for another. "I didn't do it for you. I need their trust for the war to come."

"Well, either way, you still did something you wouldn't do. You made everyone happy." The two continued eating, and Angelina noticed he was on his third cup of mead. She didn't want him to become drunk and ruin everything. "I have to make him stop drinking." The musicians played a new music. The tune made her want to dance. Angelina knew what she wanted to do. Standing up from her seat, she motioned to Vlad with her hand. "Will you dance with me?"

https://youtu.be/u2jLHdpo2AQ

Vlad stopped sipping his mead, slowly glancing up at her, raising an eyebrow. "No."

Angelina pouted as she persisted. "Please, I want you to have fun, Vlad. Besides, you should show your people that their Voivode can also have fun."

It had been a while since Vlad had attended a festive gathering that wasn't just for politics. He had never attended festivities that were purely for fun. 

Maybe just one dance; he might never be able to do this again. 

Vlad slowly stood but didn't hold her hand. Angelina smiled and motioned for him to follow her to the dance floor. Once there, the other dancers noticed and made space for them. Everyone looked curious about the duo.

Angelina grabbed his hands and motioned for him to turn. Vlad felt embarrassed, but with all the pulling, he followed along. Angelina excitedly jumped while turning. "She wants me to jump like a bafoon, or what?" She then motioned their arms side to side while dancing. Vlad didn't dance, thinking that they looked ridiculous. 

Angelina went to the other dancers and told them something. Then those particular individuals spoke with others, and then word spread. Vlad was curious about what she had told them. She then grabbed one of Vlad's hands, and a middle-aged woman suddenly grabbed his other free hand, surprising him. "What is this?"

Other dancers came forward and joined hands, forming a large circle. Angelina instructed everyone to move in one direction. Everyone did so, leaving Vlad with no choice but to follow.  As everyone twirled, they also made dance moves in sync with the music's beat. 

Laughs and music echoed in the tavern. 

Everyone was having fun.

Vlad had never felt so much happiness and joy in one place. The people didn't have status and wealth, but they still found ways to enjoy their lives. It made him feel envious that they had something he never had. 

"Vlad, you're smiling!" Angelina exclaimed. 

Vlad immediately stopped, realized he was, indeed, smiling.

When the song ended, everyone stopped dancing and cheered for the musicians. Angelina did the same, motioning for Vlad to do the same; he relented. Angelina was thirsty, and returned to the main table; her backpack wasuntouched. She noticed people surrounding Vlad and speaking to him. 

Vlad looked calm while doing so, warming her heart. 

At the corner of her eye, she noticed someone entering the tavern with a dark robe. Angelina thought nothing of it, but noticed that the hooded figure took out a bow and arrow and motioned it toward Vlad. No one noticed, not even the guards that stood outside. Realizing what was to occur, Angelina ran toward the dance floor. "VLAD LOOK OUT! ASSASSIN!"

Vlad heard her and saw the assassin. He wanted to move but he was surrounded. "GUARDS!"

Before the guards heard and entered, the arrow was shot; the hooded person was forced to the floor. 

The arrow struck the target. 

People screamed in horror at the sight. 

Angelina stood motionless with the arrow on the right side of her chest. 

Vlad eyes widened in horror; his body trembled at the sight. "A-A-Angelina?" Realizing that she was struck, he immediately ran toward her. "Angelina!"

She swayed back and forth and slowly turned to where Vlad called out to her with the arrow in her chest. "Vlad?" Angelina fell to the floor.

Chaos spread. 

Vlad dropped himself on the floor, getting to Angelina.

 "Angelina?" Her eyes slowly closed, and she didn't respond. "ANGELINA!"