Margarete laid Annalena regally on the bed. She placed Annalena's hands on top of each other over her stomach and brushed the hair out of her face. Greta stood by the door, growing impatient with her stepdaughter. Margarete gave Annalena a chaste kiss on her forehead before looking at Greta. Her stepmother came over and handed her the vial.

"Touch the rim to your mouth, almost like a kiss, then pour the contents into her mouth," Greta informed, popping the cork off. Margarete took the pale pink liquid and looked into the bottle. She knew nothing of potions, and she also had no reason to believe Greta. However, Margarete felt desperate and her mind was clouded with the fear that she would never again talk to Annalena.

Margarete kissed the mouth of the bottle gently before bringing it to Annalena's lips. She closed her eyes for a moment, gathering her certainty, and poured the contents down Annalena's throat. Margarete could see Annalena's skin regain its color as her breathing deepened. She cried for Annalena as she woke. However, as her eyes started trying to open, Margarete felt faint and numb. She looked up at her stepmother, who cackled and disappeared before her eyes. However, Margarete turned to Annalena and smiled as she started to wake.

"Margarete?" Annalena asked, seeing her at the side of her bed. Margarete gave a weak smile as she started to fade. Annalena jumped from the bed, cupping Margarete's cheeks. "Margarete? What happened?"

"I saved you," Margarete smiled softly, her strength leaving her. Annalena saw the empty antidote bottle and sobbed, starting to understand what Margarete had done, what Greta had done. 

"No, no, no," Annalena pleaded over and over again, holding Margarete in her arms. Margarete looked up at her and smiled the best she could. Her arms were limp and useless as she wanted to touch Annalena's cheek once more. Her vision started to fade as Annalena pleaded.

"Tell the boys I love them," Margarete whispered, trying not to cry anymore. Annalena nodded as Margarete craned her neck slightly, staring at Annalena. "I love you, my Annalena."

"I love you, too," Annalena sobbed as Margarete faded, her eyes shuttering as they closed. Margarete went limp, her breathing shallow and worrisome. Annalena sobbed as she held Margarete, never willing to let go. 

Annalena wasn't sure how long it was until the boys showed up, or how long they were standing there. She was distracted with Margarete, and the men let her mourn for a little while. After what seemed like forever, Gunter gently pried Annalena from Margarete's body and led her downstairs. She struggled against him for a moment before sobbing into his shoulder. It was all her fault that Margarete had been poisoned, and she should have figured that Greta was going to pull something like that.

Gunter stayed by her side as she cried and sulked, unsure what he should do. There wasn't much comfort he could give, as he was grieving as she was. There were no words of comfort that he could offer. Margarete wasn't dead, as she was still breathing, but she couldn't wake up. She was in a limbo state, and that scared him more than death. It wasn't the end, it was a stop, and he hadn't experienced it. Annalena had, and he guessed that it was horrifying and unbearable.

Hours passed before Annalena calmed down enough to be able to hold a conversation without sobbing or falling silent. Ottomar showed first, and Gunter stood, afraid of what his brother was going to say. Annalena looked at Ottomar, unsure how she would react to him. Only Gunter had asked the questions so far, so she was unfamiliar with Ottomar's interrogations. However, he walked across the room, he wrapped his arms around her and held her gently, his shoulders shaking.

"I'm so sorry," Annalena murmured as she wrapped her arms around him as well. "I'm so sorry."

"It's okay," Ottomar whispered as he pulled away. "You weren't the one that was supposed to protect her."

"She's in that state because of me," Annalena argued as Ottomar smiled.

"No, she's in that state because of that witch. You weren't the one that created the poison or the antidote. And Reinhold told me what you did to save him and us," Ottomar informed as Annalena realized that Reinhold was awake when the deal was going down. Annalena found herself embarrassed and upset. "We will get to the bottom of this and free Margarete from that spell. Will you help us?"

"I will," Annalena answered before sniffing. Ottomar smiled and nodded as Gunter relaxed.

"Well, you better get that winter dress done so we can go out and find that witch shack," Ottomar suggested as she nodded. "I'll send in Reinhold in a little bit. He wants to see you, as well."

"I would like to see him as well," Annalena whispered as Ottmar nodded. He stood up and said something to Gunter before leaving. Gunter sat next to Annalena, who talked to each of the brothers in turn to help calm her down. 

She swore to each of them after Ottomar that she would find the cure and wake up their mother. She would get that wench Greta to reverse the curse so that Margarete would wake up again. It would become Annalena's obsession.