Megan Whalen Turner: "Dia mengulurkan tangan dan menyentuh wajah raja,...

"Dia mengulurkan tangan dan menyentuh wajah raja, menangkupkan pipinya di tangannya. "Hanya mimpi buruk," katanya, suaranya masih kasar. Suara ratu itu keren. "Betapa memalukannya," katanya, menatap lengannya yang cacat. Raja melihat ke atas, dan mengikuti tatapannya. Jika memalukan bangun seperti anak kecil berteriak dari mimpi buruk, betapa memalukan alasan suami Anda terbangun menjerit. Senyum cepat mengunjungi wajah raja. "Aduh," katanya, mengacu pada lebih dari rasa sakit di sisinya. "Aduh," katanya lagi ketika ratu mengumpulkannya ke dalam pelukannya."

--- Megan Whalen Turner

Versi Bahasa Inggris

She reached out and touched the king’s face, cupping his cheek in her hand. “Just a nightmare,” he said, his voice still rough. The queen’s voice was cool. “How embarrassing,” she said, looking at his maimed arm. The king looked up then, and followed her gaze. If it was embarrassing to wake like a child screaming from a nightmare, how much more embarrassing to be the reason your husband woke screaming. A quick smile visited the king’s face. “Ouch,” he said, referring to more than the pain in his side. “Ouch,” he said again as the queen gathered him into her arms.