Merida's POV
I stared at the shadow spear protruding from Aldric's chest, my brain struggling to process what I was seeing.
Why?
Why would the shadow-Maeve attack Aldric? He was the one who had unleashed her, who had given her exactly what she wanted. They should have been allies in this chaos.
Aldric seemed just as confused as I was. He looked down at the spear with genuine shock, his ancient features twisting with disbelief. "What... how dare you..."
He reached back, trying to grab the spear and pull it free. But shadow-Maeve just cackled, a sound that was nothing like my daughter's laugh. This was pure malice, pure joy in causing pain.
"Surprised?" she purred, twisting the spear deeper. "Did you really think I would be your pet?"
Aldric finally managed to yank the spear out, dark blood spraying across the torn ground. He spun to face her, fury replacing shock. "You ungrateful little—"
"DIE!" shadow-Maeve screamed.
