Page 109 of The Life of Anna-Tenth Anniversary Edition: Act 2

“Yes, mein Herr,” she said softly, looking back at the floor.

Wilhelm reminded Anna of the names of the other Elders: Edwin of Bavaria, Gerhard of Saxony, Justin of Berlin, Juergen of North Rhine-Westphalia, Hansjoerg of Lower Saxony, and Oswin of Hamburg. She had “met” them all before she’d married Alex, but hadn’t spent much time with them.

“How long have you been having dreams about Alex?” Wilhelm asked.

“Since I was twelve.” She spoke to the floor.

“Please look at who is addressing you, Anna,” Wilhelm rebuked lightly.

She looked up, her face burning. “Yes, mein Herr.”

“And they began after your parents died?”

Anna nodded. “Yes, mein Herr.”

“Tell us about them,” Hansjoerg said.

Anna told them about seeing Wilhelm and Alex fighting, and then appearing in Alex’s room. The memories were sad, but not as painful as they had been.

“And this is really what happened?” Hansjoerg asked Wilhelm.

Wilhelm nodded. “Ja. Alex saw her a year later for the first time. We did not see her in my office, but...” He gave a wry smile. “It was a heated argument.”

“Did you have other dreams?” Edwin asked.

Anna nodded and told them about seeing Alex throughout the years, including a few days before they met in real life.

“Did you dream of him once you had met?” Oswin asked.

“A few times,” she said. “When he left to come back here, I dreamed of him, but they weren’t dreams. They were real. He called me after one because he was worried.” Anna swallowed back tears, unsure of how many more questions she could answer without starting to cry.

“And then you began to dream of him once... you learned he was dead?” Wilhelm asked in a very gentle voice.

Anna nodded. “I started dreaming of an empty room for several nights and then...” She looked at the floor. “I went home and... wasn’t in touch with reality for a while.”

The Elders continued questioning her and Anna tried her best to keep her composure. But when they started asking for more and more details about what Alex did and said in her dreams, she broke down and sobbed. A woman came in a few minutes later and took Anna back to her room to rest and eat lunch. She curled up on the bed after she ate and stared at the white lace curtains dancing in the breeze coming in through the open window. Her heart ached as she thought of Alex.

Wilhelm came in a while later and sat behind her on her bed, stroking her hip. “Are you alright, Anna?”

Anna rolled onto her back and looked at him. “I’m sorry, Wil—Master,” she said softly. “I tried not to cry.”

He nodded and smiled sadly. “I know, Anna. I know. It is alright.” He stroked her hair. “I know the questions are difficult, but they are necessary. We are not trying to hurt you. Do you understand that?”

She nodded. There was no sign of malice in any of their faces when they asked their questions. If anything, they looked incredibly sympathetic. “May I ask why you are asking?”

Wilhelm grimaced. “You may ask, but I do not have an answer to give you. Your dreams are... intriguing.” He sighed. “We just need to know about them. Does Devin know you dream of him?”

“No. I’ve never told him. He’s never asked.”

“Gut.” Wilhelm looked pleased. “I would ask you to keep it that way.”

“Yes, Master.”

He studied her face carefully and then his eyes traveled down her body. She was reminded of her pregnancy. Should she tell him? He had a right to know, but would he be angry?

“Master?” she whispered.

“Ja, mein Liebling?”

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