Chapter 6
HONOR WHEN YOUR STORY HAS REACHED A QUIET PLACE.
IT WON’T LAST.
Catching frogs to feed the swans.
Skipping stones.
Watching the swans take to the air.
Marveling; they always come back.
* * *
Setting snares in the woods.
Harvesting berries.
Harvesting nuts.
Harvesting mushrooms.
Sinking your teeth into a glorious peach, only to feel horrified and let Gertrude finish it.
“You can eat this. I’m not as hungry as I thought I was. Really, you go ahead.”
Feeling relief when your belly whines.
* * *
Sitting with Gertrude while she sews.
Singing to comfort her as she bleeds.
Bandaging her hands when she gives up.
Holding her while she cries.
“Of course you can do this. Of course you can. I’d help you, if the curse would let me. I’d do it for you, even.”
Collecting thorns for Gertrude to sew into the six curse-breaking shirts.
Gathering wood for Gertrude’s hearth.
Kneading dough so she won’t have to.
Warming each other on rainy nights.
Dueling with tree branches.
* * *
Falling asleep against the body of the swan who changed your life.
Holding that swan in your lap.
“I wish I could figure out your True Name. I’ll call you Favorite, in the meantime. Oh, don’t act surprised—you know how I feel. I suppose you feel that way about me, too.”
Telling Favorite and Gertrude stories.
Wandering into the woods with Favorite waddling at your feet.
“Hurry up! My best adventuring companion.”
Collecting rabbits from your snares.
“Gertrude needs the meat more than I do. I’m fine.”
* * *
Freezing when you cross paths with a bear.
Favorite honking so fiercely the bear doesn’t know what to do.
Favorite biting the bear’s nose, and making it run away.
Offering Favorite your share of peas for the next three days.
“Gertrude, do you think I look too appetizing? Do you think the bear wanted to eat me?”
* * *
Trailing a turtle as it leaves the lake.
Collecting its eggs the moment it leaves the den.
Bringing the whole clutch home to Gertrude.
Savoring them together over the next few days.
“Don’t worry, Favorite, I’d never eat your eggs. Not that you can lay any, anyway.”
* * *
Favorite grabbing you by the pant leg and tugging you into the lake with him.
Swimming, splashing, diving.
“You don’t think any fish will want to eat me, do you?”
Splashing, diving, swimming.
Feeding Favorite mussels from the palm of your hand.
Diving, swimming, splashing.
Trying to feed Favorite’s brothers.
Laughing when they scorn you, as they always do.
“Favorite, you’re the only one with princely manners… or maybe the only one without. I’m a peasant, after all. Not very princely to spend time with the likes of me.”
Wondering what it will be like when he’s human again.
Wondering if you’ll still get along.
Wondering what his face might look like.
“You know, I didn’t think I could have a family again. I didn’t know a family could make you feel wanted. I’ll be here when you’re human again. I’ll be here always.”
Wondering: Would a kiss break his curse?
Kissing his beak.
Seeing a prince-turned-swan staring at you, still a swan.
“Sorry. I thought it might work. That always fixes everything in the stories. I guess I should have known better, huh?”
* * *
Racing Favorite across the lake.
Drying off when the sun goes down.
Carrying him inside.
Making dinner with Gertrude.
Holding Favorite while Gertrude sews and bleeds and silently cries.
Keeping Favorite still when he tries to leap at Gertrude.
Making a balm for the blisters.
Watching her sleep.
Looking at Favorite.
Communicating, with a glance, that you both wish you could do this for her.
Cleaning the hovel while she sleeps.
Doing every chore with Favorite’s help.
Laying down to sleep with Favorite tucked against your head.
Laying down to sleep with Favorite tucked beneath your arm.
Laying down to sleep with Favorite balanced on your lap.
Laying down to sleep with Favorite sitting right on top of your heart.
Feeling so happy you don’t think it can end.
Feeling so happy there’s no possibility except for it to end.
* * *
In this way, three months pass.