Iris and Roman sit together at Marisol's kitchen table with their typewriters, struggling to begin their account of the recent attack. Roman suggests either a chronological narrative of their experience or profiles of soldiers; Iris opts to write the attack narrative while Roman transcribes soldier stories. They settle into a shared rhythm, exchanging playful banter that softens their reluctance as memories of the trenches and Roman’s near-death resurface.

When Iris voices guilt over feeling happiness amid war, Roman assures her that joy is not a crime and that she is worthy of love and hope. He promises he will not leave her unless she asks him to. Their quiet work is interrupted by an evacuation siren; Iris freezes until Roman steadies her, identifying the rumbling as lorries. The alarm persists as vehicles arrive and the town stirs into action.

An armed woman bursts into the house calling for Marisol; Iris recognizes her as Keegan, Marisol’s wife and a captain newly arrived with troops. Keegan orders dash-packs gathered and takes Iris to the infirmary. On the way, Keegan explains that Dacre will assault nearby Clover Hill and likely Avalon Bluff within a day, so the residents are being evacuated east while volunteers may stay to defend the town.

At the infirmary, Keegan and Marisol reunite emotionally. Amid evacuation preparations, Marisol wants Iris and Roman to seek safety, while Attie declares she will stay to help. Keegan then gives Iris a misdirected letter addressed to her. Iris opens it to learn from Lt. Ralph Fowler that Forest was wounded at Lucia River, evacuated from Meriah, and reassigned to a new auxiliary force after his company perished; Forest is alive and still fighting.

Overjoyed, Iris returns to Roman and shares the letter. She tells Roman she now intends to remain in Avalon Bluff, hoping to help defend the town and possibly cross paths with Forest. Roman immediately commits to staying with her despite his injury, refusing Peter’s offer of a ride as lorries depart and the streets grow quieter.

Back at Marisol’s kitchen, Iris and Roman find the terrace doors open and notice muddy boot prints on fallen pages and across the garden, indicating someone entered the house and trampled the carefully tended beds during the chaos. Iris smooths the tracks, wanting the garden perfect before Keegan returns. The siren from Clover Hill finally falls silent.