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“I can’t really have been dead,” Wulfric said for the tenth time. He could not believe it. He expected Anna to tell him, that it was a joke. But she just smiled and snuggled up next to him in bed on the opposite side of his stab wound. Wulfric rested his head on her hair, closed his eyes and breathed in the scent of salt and nuts mixed with lavender, the scent of her.
The last thing he remembered was the fight with Nicholas Lewinus. Then he had woken up with Anna’s hand in his and felt happier than he had ever felt before. He had the feeling that nothing could separate them from now on.
“It doesn’t matter what you think,” Anna finally said. “I know what’s real. But I’m so glad that you’re back.”
She moved a bit to look him in the eyes, then kissed him gently on the mouth. Wulfric moved to make the kiss deeper but had to break it off to moan with pain when the motion made his wound hurt.
“You should get some sleep,” Anna said and gently pushed him back on the pillow.
“I don’t want to sleep,” Wulfric said. “I want to stay awake and be with you.”
“I’ll stay right here with you,” Anna said and took his hand, laying back down beside him.
Moments later Wulfric was fast asleep.
***
When he woke up the next time it was night. Anna was sleeping next to him in the bed. Her hand was resting in his. He gently squeezed it, not wanting to wake her, but she opened her eyes anyway.
“Are you okay?” she whispered.
He nodded, then he felt his stomach rumble.
“I’m starving though,” he said with a slight smile.
Anna got up and had a servant to bring them food. They talked for a little and once again she told him what had happened.
As Anna fell asleep next to him Wulfric thought of how grand it was of Martha to have helped Anna bring him back to life. He knew that she had been furious with him for what happened to Elena. He would have to go see her and thank her properly when he was well. Anna had told him, that Martha had not wanted to accept a payment, but he had to find a way to repay her somehow. He pondered how he could repay her as he fell asleep again.
***
When Wulfric woke up again it was day. Even though the curtains were closed the room was bright. He moved his hand to the other side of the bed, but it was cold. Then he looked around the room, but it was empty too.
“Anna?” he called and could hear how scared he sounded. Like a child that was afraid of the dark, calling for his mother. But he could not shake the feeling that it had all just been something that he had imagined. The relief was almost tangible when Anna appeared in the doorway, looking concerned. In three quick paces she was by his side.
“What’s wrong?” she asked breathlessly.
“Nothing,” Wulfric said and felt silly. “I just woke up and you weren’t there.”
Anna smiled and quickly kissed him.
“I was just in the next room. Jonathan and Maria are here,” she said as the two of them appeared in the doorway.
“Maybe you should consider a bath, Rosenkranz. You truly stink,” King Jonathan said as he walked towards the bed and grabbed Wulfric’s hand.
Wulfric smiled.
“I’ll think about it, Your Majesty,” he said.
“Lord Rosenkranz,” Queen Maria said and stepped up next to her husband. “I... We can’t tell you how happy we are that you’re recovering so well.”
Wulfric smiled thankfully, but had no time to say anything before Anna said:
“He still doesn’t believe that he was dead.”
She looked at Wulfric with a smile.
“I probably wouldn’t either, if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes,” King Jonathan said. “Only Anna believed that it was possible to save you...”
“And according to the wise woman she was the only one that was able to,” Queen Maria finished her husband’s sentence.
“Really?” Wulfric said, Anna had not mentioned anything about that. “How come?”
Anna blushed when she looked at him.
“Because I love you, and that’s the strongest kind of magic apparently.”
Wulfric could not say anything but simply held on to her hand. He could feel his eyes fill with tears, but he did not want to cry in front of the king and queen.
“So, when’s the wedding?” King Jonathan inquired with a beaming smile on his face.
“As soon as possible,” Anna and Wulfric said in unison and the tension was broken when the four of them laughed.