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Ana was hugging the coat that she herself had demanded from her evil uncle as a condition to avoid a forced marriage.
"I'll marry you if you get a coat made with more than a hundred skins of different animals," she had told him, convinced that the task would be impossible.
But he was wrong. His uncle succeeded. One night, with a malicious smile, he handed her the coat.
"Here you go, girl." Your coat. Now leave the excuses and be my wife.
That same night, Ana fled. He took his coat and escaped the cruel fate that had been set for him. He ran until he lost his breath and went into the forest, without direction or hope, until he found him: the king. Tall, handsome, with eyes that looked at her with a mixture of compassion and kindness that she had never known. He offered her help and a place to stay. Ana accepted, grateful, and for the first time in a long time, she felt that she could breathe.
Time passed. Ana found a new home inside the castle. She became the real cook, a hardworking, respected and loved woman.She had his twins, Butternut and Pie, who were his daily joy. The king had his daughter, Raven, and although each had his own life, Ana couldn't help but think that they were destined for more. To something that never became.
That afternoon, after a tiring day, Ana locked herself in her rooms. She had said she was unwell, but the truth was different. The door rang and took her out of her thoughts. He stood up, put his coat on a chair and opened the door.
The king appeared, worried.
"I heard you were sick." Can I accompany you to the doctor? Or, if you prefer, we can call him to come to the castle.
—It's not necessary, Your Majesty. Tomorrow I'll be fine.
"You won't be better off in these four walls." Come on, Ana," he said with a warm smile. A walk through the gardens will do you good. The fresh air and the sun can lift any spirit.
Ana forced a smile and accepted. They walked in silence, enjoying the landscape and mutual company.
If things had been different, they would walk hand in hand. He would govern and she would be by his side, as queen and companion. They would have beautiful children. But if that had happened... there would be no Butternut or Pie. Neither Raven. And that thought hurt him.
"Are you sure you're okay?" the king asked softly.
"Yes... I just have a lot of things on my mind," he replied, without looking at him completely.
He didn't insist. He simply continued walking next to her, accompanying her in her silence.
The afternoon passed and the night came.
"It's getting late," he said in a low voice. We'd better go in for dinner.
"If you give me fifteen minutes, I'll have dinner ready," Ana said, starting to stand up.
"Today is your day off." Don't worry, I'll take care of dinner.
"Are you going to take care of it?" Then we'll order food... or eat sandwiches.
Once in the kitchen, the king opened the freezer, examined its contents and took out two packages with a satisfied smile.
—Fish and chips.
—Fish and chips?
"It's a culinary classic," he said solemnly.
When dinner was ready and the table served, they both sat hungry and happy.
"I think something is missing," Ana said, looking around.
"You're right," he replied, opening the fridge to take out a bottle. You can't enjoy a good plate of fish and chips without a glass of beer.
"That's not what I was referring to, but I'm not going to discuss that argument."
Ana did not know when they finished the second bottle, nor when they threw themselves on the carpet of the large royal dining room, between laughter and anecdotes.
"Do you remember when Raven turned the table into ashes?"
"Oh, yes." It was when he only had his powers. I almost had a heart attack that day. I loved that round table... King Arthur made them fashionable, you know?
"They grow so fast... Pie and Butternut went to their first school camp. But yesterday they were babies.
"You never get used to them growing up." Raven will be eighteen soon, and I still can't believe it.
The laughter went out. The silence returned, comfortable, enveloping. Ana got up, somewhat staggering.
"I think... I should go to sleep."
"Yes, I'll go with you."
They walked through the dark corridors of the castle. The king held her tenderly when she lost her balance a little. When they got to her room, he helped her sit on the bed.
"You need water," he said, filling a glass on the bedside table. And this for the hangover. Believe me, you'll appreciate it tomorrow.
Ana looked at him with her eyes narrowed.
"You take very good care of me." Thank you.
He smiled.
"Always."
Looking for a blanket to cover her, the king approached a chair. That's when he saw it. The coat. Hanging discreetly, like a forgotten memory.
He stopped.
"Do you remember this coat?" Ana said, getting a little closer to her face.
"Yes, I do remember." I didn't think you still had it... although, why wouldn't you? It's yours, in the end, isn't it? - he said as he squeezed his coat and brought it closer to his nose.
Ana touched his hand. It was so soft and subtle. She asked.
"Do you think about destiny?" In our destination? In what would have happened if she didn't show up?
The king sighed and looked into her eyes.
"I guess I thought about it at some point." I think it's normal to think about what could have been. If instead of choosing to turn right, you go to the left... or if you simply park your horse. But you must also be in the present. I'm not the kind of man who drowns in the past or in a hypothetical world.
Ana looked at him. He was right, but he was sad. Because if they were supposed to be together, if the great book showed that they would get married and live a happy marriage, why wasn't that way? She wanted to kiss him, tell him that they should be together because that's how it was written, but she didn't. He did it first.
It was such a warm kiss, so calm, serene, but at the same time so strong, so passionate. It was new, but at the same time, old. He was spontaneous, but at the same time he seemed to be destined.