Chapter 21

In the blink of an eye Anna felt Gabriel's lips on hers. Strangely for her, she somehow learnt his kiss was much more than she actually needed or wanted from him that very moment – but the way he smiled at her… she could not object. It was me who asked for this kiss, after all. She could not believe it, still hearing Gabriel's words ringing in her ears. This simple request was something Anna never thought herself capable of making… until now.

"What is it, my love?" Gabriel stopped for a moment, looking at her with concern.

"No… nothing," she whispered, embracing him. Oh- the princess remembered all of a sudden that she should not have done it, as the pain she managed to ignore for some time struck her again. But she did not move away from him this time, trying to bury the nearly improper pain in kisses. She could almost say that she succeeded. The strong feelings that have overtaken Anna were almost frightening. Is this what love is all about? She had wanted to say so many things, but right now they seemed nothing more than empty expressions. So she just lost herself in another kiss. I love you.

Gabriel was happy. More than that, he felt he was blessed to have the princess by his side. To be with her, to love and to be loved by her. Anna the brave, Anna the strong, Anna the unpredictable… He caught himself thinking of more words – beautiful words – to describe her. Not once did Gabriel think about seeing her as a weak person. Having seen so many people he knew how to distinguish between both the strong and the weak. I don't want to leave you. I cannot, I won't leave you. I love you, Anna.

"Gabriel-" The princess opened her eyes and smiled, feeling and seeing Gabriel so close to her. Anna's voice seemed no louder than the wind to him. Gabriel was surprised he could still understand her.

"Anna?"

She gave a laugh, biting her lip. "I know I shouldn't talk like that… But I'm afraid I love you too much," her last words disappeared within a kiss. I hope I never lose you.

"So do I, Anna…" Gabriel found her name now sounded like the most beautiful music in his head.

Anna, Anna, Anna…

"Anna… can you get any more perfect?"

"Gabriel." Anna threw him an affectionate glance, accompanied by a sweet smile. She really saw no reason to say anything more.

The princess flinched when Gabriel accidentally touched her hand. "Forgive me", he smiled apologetically at her.

"There's no reason for you to apologise," Anna smiled back at him, chasing away the unpleasant thoughts that were about to enter her mind again. However, one memory still slipped through… the memory of the minutes, hours… days when she did not know whether she would survive the day, and of all the pain she had felt. It made her tremble, and the princess shrank back. Gabriel smiled at her understandingly, when she sat down on an armchair carefully, trying not to touch anything. It appeared to Gabriel Anna did it obliviously... or maybe she just wanted to get closer to the burning candles – he had already noticed that watching their flames had some kind of soothing effect on the princess. But you should be relaxed now. Everything is all right, nobody is hunting us- Gabriel smiled at the thought. The princess switched her look from the candles to Gabriel, her face lighting up with an unconscious smile.

"You must find me strange," she spoke, when Gabriel came closer.

"Strange? No, just a little unpredictable," he smiled. "Don't you think you should have a rest? This day brought way too many events to us…"

Probably he's right. "I indeed think I should – and I will, just now, though I'm sure you must be much more tired than I am."

"Do you want me to call the girl to help you with your dressing?" Gabriel threw a meaningful glance to her hands.

"Oh… yes, thank you," Anna looked at him thankfully, not actually perceiving the meaning of his words. "Goodnight, Gabriel." "Goodnight, Anna."

At the moment she was about to leave, Carl entered the room. He seemed very excited. "Good evening. Both of you are still here, and that's great, for I have brought you something," he placed some letters on the table. "I don't think these are of importance to us, though," he winked at the princess. "Luckily for me…" she grinned, having scanned through the contents of the given letters in less than a minute. "Invitations to events I never attend," she placed them back on the table, avoiding to meet the friar's look. She was tired, and only wanted to go to bed now.

"So… What were you two… doing?" Carl's voice fell, when he saw Anna smiling at him – he was sure he saw a complaint in that look.

"That's a very clever question… A subtle one, even." Gabriel shrugged at him.

Anna threw him an indecipherable glance, that way puzzling the friar completely.

The glance was accompanied with a doubtful smile, which could have been understood either as a misunderstanding of what he said or as a reaction to a bad joke. Either way, Carl felt uncomfortable.

Seeing the apologising look in his eyes, Anna gave him the nice smile he was used to seeing. She thought it best to ignore Carl's question. "I don't know what is wrong with both of you – or with every man around me – why can't they learn to knock before coming in…" Anna looked at Gabriel and gave him a meaningful look – it was enough to see that he remembered the day of their abandoned departure as well as she did.

"Wait." The friar's words were now directed at Anna. Carl finally noticed her bandaged hands, and looked at the princess inquiringly. Feeling he needed to react to it somehow, he said the first words that he could think of. "How did this happen?"

"Well…" Apparently, Anna didn't feel like explaining anything.

"I'll explain this to you later," Gabriel said to Carl, fixing his look on Anna. Do you want me to help you? There was no need to say it aloud, as the princess shook her head. "You don't have to. In fact, I would prefer if you allowed me to deal with these- these small difficulties which may arise… completely on my own," she winked, giving both him and the friar a small confident smile. "Besides, I am tired… Goodnight, Carl, goodnight, Gabriel-

In a moment she the princess hurried out of the room, the sound of her steps dying away in a few seconds.

"Does that mean "I am tired"? Carl looked askew at Gabriel.

"Don't ask me," Van Helsing shrugged, dreamy look appearing on his face for a moment. "I don't think I'll ever be able to understand her fully." And I am very happy about it.