Tatterfell prepares Jude for the confrontation with the serpent, warning that Jude is still badly wounded. Taryn, Vivi, and the Roach bring Jude ancient queenly armor from the treasury, including scale mail shaped like ivy leaves, bracers, boots, shoulder plates, and a branchlike helm. The Roach also gives Jude strands of hair, which Jude keeps beside the hairs taken from Madoc.

As Elfhame’s forces assemble, Jude reveals her intended strategy to herself: Lord Jarel meant to trick Jude into using her own hair on the bridle, which would bind Jude to the serpent and allow Jarel to control them both. Instead, Jude has tied Madoc’s and Jarel’s hair to the bridle, planning to bind them once the serpent is bridled. Jude recognizes that this would make her a queen of monsters, but she is prepared to win by becoming worse than her enemies.

Baphen warns that the future is completely obscured, meaning the coming event will permanently reshape everything. The Bomb reports that the serpent has been spotted near the Crooked Forest, and Grima Mog sets the military formation: Elfhame, Madoc’s army, and the Court of Teeth will drive the serpent toward Jude. Jude rides out with the golden bridle, surrounded by armies from several courts while Vivi, Oriana, Heather, Oak, councilors, and courtiers remain at the palace.

Jude approaches the enormous serpent alone and speaks to Cardan inside it. The serpent rushes toward Jude but stops close enough for Jude to touch its scales. Faced with the reality of trapping Cardan forever, Jude rejects the bridle and chooses love over control. Jude draws Heartsworn, the blade borrowed from Severin, and cuts off the serpent’s head, apparently killing Cardan and devastating herself.

Lord Jarel attacks Jude, but Grima Mog blocks him, and the Bomb kills him with arrows from the trees. Battle breaks out with the Court of Teeth, but Nicasia arrives from the sea with merfolk and selkies, declaring that the Undersea honors its treaty with the land and the queen. Madoc then forces Jude to look at the serpent’s body, where a glow reveals Cardan emerging alive, naked, blood-covered, restored, and reborn.

The gathered Folk kneel to Cardan, including Grima Mog, Roiben, and even former enemies. Madoc privately tells Jude that he will bow to her alone. Cardan declares the curse broken and the king returned, his presence powerful enough to crack the earth, and Jude runs into his arms.