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Another portrait showed King Tobias with his queen some forty-five years after his coronation, Prince Richard and his bride Princess Lirael, their son Prince Corentin, a slim, handsome youth with an infectious smile, and two of his three young sisters. According to the placard, the portrait was done before his fourth sister and second brother were born. Alexander studied this portrait for long minutes, taking in every detail of their faces. “What a beautiful family,” he murmured to himself. “I am glad.”

There was a portrait of Alexander himself as a youth, with Tobias by his side. Alexander stood in a regal pose, his dark, curly hair pulled back with a velvet ribbon. His right hand thumb was hooked in his belt, and his left hand rested on his young brother’s shoulder. “I remember posing for that,” Alexander said quietly. “I was sixteen, I think, and Tobias was eight. He was getting restless, and I kept tickling his ear to make him wiggle, and Father tried to fuss at us but he kept laughing.”

Without a word, Gytha slipped her hand into his. She studied the portrait, glancing at Alexander’s profile at intervals. In the portrait, his dark eyes were bright with mirth, and his lips turned up in a sunny smile. But Alexander’s attention was entirely on the faces of his brother and his parents.

At last Gytha said, “He loved you.”

Alexander nodded jerkily. “I…I did not know how much seeing this, reading that he remembered me, would soften my grief. I will miss my family all my life, but I…can…grieve with joy, knowing they were happy.” He looked down at Gytha, his eyes red and damp. “The Creator was good to me, even in this.”

She smiled up at him and then, gently, slipped her arms around his waist. When she put her head against his chest, she could feel his heartbeat, strong and steady. He put his cheek against her hair and breathed deeply. “Thank you, Gytha.”

Chapter 19

Though the political discussions had concluded, they did not depart the city immediately. For another week, they remained as guests of the crown. The palace physician had examined them both and prescribed a great deal of rest, sunlight, and good food, and they were provided with all of these. They were shown several balconies protected from the wind on which they rested in warm early summer light. Nourishing, delicious food and drink were brought to them at short intervals. One morning after breakfast, with the early light warm upon their faces and gilding the city below, Alexander told Gytha that he intended to spend much of the day conversing with Mr. Stepanov. At her surprised look, he said, “He has maintained his humanity through more years of affliction than I endured,though his hardship is different, and he offered a listening ear if I wanted it.

“I do. I remember him as a man of great integrity, though I did not recognize his other qualities when I was a child. If he has no advice for me, then I will still benefit from letting him decide that rather than forgoing any chance of benefiting from his wisdom.”

“I thought him rather frightening,” Gytha admitted. “Though I suppose Miss Woodward is not one to suffer a cruel man to accompany her as he does.”

Alexander laughed softly. “She is not, but I thought ill of him, too. He spoke kindly to me. I think I would like to hear of another man’s courage. To know a brave, compassionate man, and to spend time with him, is to be reminded that it is possible to be brave and compassionate. I feel in need of courage. Mine is worn quite thin.”

Gytha, feeling rather courageous and bold herself, took both his hands in hers. “I don’t doubt your courage.” She looked up at his dear, sweet face, illuminated by the morning and smiled. “But I am glad if he can encourage you, and I will be even more glad when we see my family and they have the chance to love you, too.”

Alexander smiled down at her. “Thank you, Gytha. I would like to see your family again.”

When he returned that evening from his visit with Mr. Stepanov, he looked more relaxed and hopeful. He was still gaunt and pale, with tired eyes, but the fatigue and grief seemed to weigh on him less.

“Was it a good conversation?” Gytha asked.

“It was.” He smiled ruefully and settled in the chair across from her. “Someday I may be brave enough to tell you some of what I told him, of my fear and despair and the utter desolation of believing my torment would never end. Of thetemptation to end it myself.” He swallowed and looked away. “Telling him helped me put it a little behind me, so that I could think of who I want to be for you.”

“You can tell me when you want to.” Gytha leaned forward. “But you don’t have to. I am glad it helped you, though.”

He met her eyes and smiled again, sweet and sincere. Then he leaned forward to take her hands. He pressed one to his cheek and sighed, as if a great burden had been lifted from his shoulders. “I know. I did not want to put the weight of it on you, but I did not think I could bear it myself. Mr. Stepanov is strong enough for a hundred men, and he gave me what I needed: a good deal of courage to find my way back to living again, a compassionate ear, and wise words about love and sacrifice.” He shifted, close enough that she almost thought he intended to kiss her. But he hesitated. “I don’t know who I am anymore, other than that I am free. But I don’t really know what that means.” His dark eyes held hers, and if he still looked worn and tentative, he no longer had that shattered look that had so grieved her.

“I have loved you since I met you, but I intend to love you more fully and more deeply with every day that passes. I will fail, I am sure of it, but my mind is set upon this end, Gytha. I cannot promise I will make you happy, but I will promise to love you before myself, forever and always. Will you still you have me?”

“I already said I would!” Gytha laughed, and Alexander’s smile widened.

For another two weeks, they stayed in Eleria to rest and regain their strength. Alexander showed Gytha some of his favorite places and told her of his memories of his family. Even in the melancholy moments, when Alexander’s voice choked with grief over those he had lost, there was a sweetness between them that grew by the day.

At last they determined to leave. They bid the princess and all their friends in the palace farewell and set off in human form until they reached the cover of the woods. Then they transformed into bears and ran toward the mountains, their steps quickened by magic.

Chapter 20

For three weeks they traveled, transforming every now and then just to prove to themselves that they could. They made camp and had long, quiet talks by a campfire, enjoying the crackling of the wood and the sound of the breeze whispering through the tree branches above them. Their pace was easier than when Alexander had sped north with Gytha, but still they covered ground far more quickly than Gytha could have imagined.

At last they reached the top of a hill, and Alexander stopped, his great white head turned toward Gytha. “This is where I stood when I saw you for the first time.”

Gytha strode up to stand beside him. Her bear form felt more familiar now, and with her animal senses, she could perceive more of the town than she could see. The voices of themen by the river were almost clear, though they were far down the hill and out of sight among the trees. The lake Alexander had painted was visible in the distance, though it would be out of sight once they descended into the valley. The scents of pine and spruce and loam mingled with the faint hint of woodsmoke.

With a huff, Alexander transformed from a bear into a person, and Gytha followed. He slung the pack over his shoulder and looked at her.

“I’m terrified,” he said abruptly.

Gytha blinked. “All this time, and all the courage you’ve shown, and you’re terrified now? Why?” She stepped closer, looking up at him.

“Your family has every reason to hate me,” he said, gripping the straps of the pack as if to steady himself. “I took you away from them. Dare I ask your father for your hand in marriage?” He looked across the valley at their little homestead nearly hidden in the trees, and his jaw tightened. Then he looked back at her. “For you, Gytha, I can face anything.” And he smiled, sweetly and shyly, and put out one hand.