Ehrhart

Anastasia Does Return

Anastasia and her father rested together in the clearing.

"I'm sorry, my daughter," the huntsman said after a minute or so. "You must understand, I tried-"

"It's not your fault, Father," Anastasia cut in. "You couldn't have broken the Queen's spell on your own."

"I feel so... weak..." the huntsman murmured, allowing his daughter to lean on his chest sadly.

"Father, when I was looking for you in the woods, I found a cottage of dwarves."

"Of... dwarves?"

"Yes. And Father... they were the dwarves from the night Mother died."

The huntsman said nothing, but he looked into the glade as if the ghost of Anastasia's mother might walk out and greet them.

"They were very kind to me. And one dwarf allowed me to use four drops of his blood to break the spell on you."

"What was his name? If I am ever to see him, I would like to offer him my greatest gratitude."

"His name is Dopey. And he was here earlier, but when Snow White woke me with the true love's kiss, he was gone."

The huntsman's brow wrinkled in concern. "I am sorry to hear that."

Anastasia stood. "Father, we can't return to the palace. Especially since you don't have Snow's heart."

The huntsman's eyes widened, and he pulled the jeweled case out from a pocket in his tunic. "Stasia, how could you possibly know about that?"

Anastasia shrugged off the question like it didn't matter. "We need to go somewhere."

"What about that cottage of dwarves you mentioned earlier?"

"No," Anastasia said. "I can only think of one place to go."

They locked eyes.

"Father," Anastasia said. "I think it's time I introduced you to Lohr am Main."