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When she was a child, Maria had no one who would sing lullabies to her. She had always felt mildly deprived because of this and made a point to sing to the younger children of Captain von Trapp before their bedtime and their naps. Marta was the first to become very insistent on this routine. If she was preparing for bed Maria was singing. Not long after, Gretl took her hints from Marta and also begged Maria for song before bed. Or a nap. Or nearly any time they were in the nursery for longer than a few minutes. And this is what Maria found herself doing, not a day after she had been fired, and then reprieved, for Gretl as the girl settled down for her nap.
She finished the last chorus of a song about a wayfaring stranger and checked her sleeping ward. The little girl had her hand firmly wrapped around her doll, Polly, and was deep in sleep. Without making a noise, something she had only just learned how to do around small sleeping children, Maria left the room to return to the six other children waiting for her.
She ran down the stairs to meet the children. As soon as she entered the drawing room she was bombarded by the children and their questions:
"Can't we go outside, even if it's raining?" Kurt was always keen to be as messy as he could.
"No, I want to stay inside and read, please Fraulein Maria?" Brigitta never left to go anywhere without a book in her hand.
"You remember what father said, we're to send Fraulein Maria to his office." Liesl's voice broke through the others, and Maria found her face falling. She had been at the Von Trapp mansion without the Captain for so long, she had forgotten that he might want to know what she had planned for the day.
"Well, then I'd better go see him. I want you all to think about what we can do while it's raining. Something inside." She added, seeing Kurt's hopeful face, "And something, if at all possible, that we can all take part in!" With that, Maria turned on her heel and marched across the hallway to the Captain's office.
"Come in, Fraulein." The Captain's voice sounded before she had even knocked and she allowed herself to wonder briefly if he knew everything that went on in his household or if she was just plain loud.
"You wished to see me, Captain?" She asked, standing in the doorway. Without looking at her, he beckoned her forward from his seat at his desk. She took one large step forward. She was taking her example from Frau Schmidt, whom she had only seen standing partially in the room.
"Yes." He still had not looked at her, "I did."
He finished writing and placed his pen on the desk before he turned to glance at her. He chuckled slightly.
"Please, I promise this to be very different from our last encounter." He waved her in again, this time standing. He fixed his coat and stood up straighter, eyeing her dress yet again. The Captain had a curious habit of looking her over every time he saw her. She couldn't imagine how many dresses she would have to make before he found one he felt he could approve.
She stepped in again and was nearly standing next to him. He gave her his trademark smirk. She sighed knowing he still didn't think she looked like a governess. He walked passed her and closed the door gently. This puzzled her, and she began to worry he had changed his mind again and was simply going to ask her to pack her bags; regardless of what he said to the contrary.
He smiled again as he walked back past her and extended his arm towards a chair in the center of the room, inviting her to sit down. She nodded her thank you and took the opportunity to remove her eyes from the Captain and look around the room. Everything in it was made almost entirely of wood - the bookshelves, the furniture, the desk, were all hand made with beautifully intricate ornaments. The bookshelves were extensive and there was a part of her that wished to go up and look through all the material. She wondered what a Captain of an Imperial Navy would read. She looked back at the Captain as he maneuvered his desk chair to sit in front of her.
His hands were folded in front of him and he leaned forward. She unconsciously mimicked his posture and waited for him to speak. He took a moment to collect his thoughts.
"Captain?" She asked, she could not helping feeling slightly impatient. Her abilities in reading the Captain's actions had grown, and she knew that anything that warranted a closed door and a quiet Captain usually meant something of grave importance.
"Hmm? Oh yes," He laughed lightly, obviously startled by her lack of decorum. Strangely, that laugh always sent chills through her body. He began, "I'm sorry to have to share this with you, it's not pleasant, I'm afraid, no, not pleasant at all."
Her eyes squinted in worry and she inclined her head closer to him. He was speaking rather softly.
"I'm not sure how aware you are, of current events, but there have been terrible things happening." He swallowed and looked her directly in the eyes. She nodded, she had seen various headlines and had overheard some of his political discussions with Herr Deitweiler. She knew the world was in a slight panic. But she wondered what any of it could do with her.
"Yes, Captain." She waited for him to continue.
"To put it simply, the Nazis are gathering more and more troops from all across Europe. Their wish is for new military leaders to join them, support their cause" He let out a deep breath, "Military leaders retired or otherwise."
She realized he was talking about himself and tried to ignore the painful direction she saw his words taking.
"If these military leaders refuse to join, they are killed," she inhaled sharply and he moved closer, his low voice almost vibrating in her chest, "and so are their families."
She gasped, moving physically away from him as though he had threatened her and not simply given frightful foreboding news. Her hand went to her chest as she stared at him, searching his eyes, praying what he was suggesting was not true.
"Captain, have they - "
"They have not spoken with me, but they will." He stood up and started pacing in front of her. She nearly joined him, the tension being too much. Instead, she turned in her seat to follow his movements. Her eyes never left his face. "Should they call for me, I need my children prepared to leave, instantly."
"Of course, Captain." She took a calming breath, "But, is this likely to happen soon? Would you like me to tell the children?"
"No, absolutely not." The Captain raised his voice as his eyes sharpened, "My children are not to be made aware of anything, I do not want them to go through their days in fear. As for when this is likely to happen, I cannot say. But, if it happens while you are still here, I need to know that I can rely on you."
"Absolutely, Captain." her reply was instant. He stopped pacing to turn and look at her. He seemed surprised at her eagerness.
"Fraulein, it is very likely you will have to leave Austria," His eyes pierced her own, "and, for that matter, Nonnberg." She understood: he had to make sure she was aware of the risk, of the loss she might endure for the sake of his children; that he could well and truly count on her.
"Austria does not hold a monopoly on convents, Captain. The children's lives are far more important than that." He nodded to her response and then confused her by smiling. It was a real smile, his full smile. It was a smile that she found impossible to resist returning.
"Thank you, Fraulein." His eyes were twinkling like they had the day before, when he heard his children singing. She suddenly realized how warm the room had become.
"Is that all, Captain." She did not want to sound dismissive of such dire events, but the children were expecting her, and she knew they feared her termination as their governess as much as she did. They would be restless until she returned. The Captain paused a moment in his pacing, still staring at her. She felt as though the heat from his gaze was warming her face.
"Yes, Fraulein." He nodded to himself, and made his way back to his desk. "I shall keep you informed of any necessary preparations." His voice had returned to its normal timbre and his smile had been replaced with his typical smirk.
She stood, feeling dismissed, but not entirely sure. The Captain waved to the door. "You may go, Maria."
She returned to the drawing room, where the children begged her to teach them a new song. It was the one activity they could all agree upon. It was only in the middle of explaining the proper way to yodel that she realized the Captain had called her by her given name, sans the Fraulein. She found herself smiling a bit broader than usual for the rest of the day.
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