Page 7 of How To Survive This Fairytale

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.