Note: I did have my initial second chapter written, but then I decided to give you another filler instead of leaping right into the story. So this just carries straight on from the first chapter. Thank you all so much for the feedback! All of them really do help motivate me into writing more. If updates are a little scarce, I apologise, but I'm only a few weeks away from exams at the moment, so a lot of time is being spent on those. I'll try and give you the next chapter sometime before the end of this week.
Rating: T
Words: 2,226
Scars to Heal, Mountains to Climb
After Georg had moved across to join the group, still gathered in the music room, all of the children looked at their father. Smiles across their faces, they all looked expectantly as he touched their cheeks affectionately. All seven children gathered around their parents, embracing the inevitable warmth they had been missing for the past few weeks. Their silence was comfortable, and as Max stood to one side he watched over the new family with a contented smile.
It was Kurt who broke the silence within the group, pulling a slip of paper from his shorts pocket and moving to stand beside his father. "Look, Father! Look, Mother!" he held the sheet in front of them both. "We're going to sing in the festival tonight." Kurt exclaimed in happiness, and soon afterwards the rest of his siblings were talking about the festival excitedly.
"What?" asked Maria, surprised at their sudden announcement. She knew her new husband would not be particularly fond of this idea. With Brigitta still clutching her side, she watched as Georg stepped forward and took the sheet from his youngest son's hand.
His eyebrow raised, and his face turned to look at Max disapprovingly.
"Well, what can I say? The committee heard them, they were a sensation. You know that too, Georg." Max's attempt to argue with his friend turned out to be a futile one.
"No, Max! My children do not sing in public."
Max, looking defeated, merely sighed. "Well, it was worth a try."
Georg and Maria then dismissed the subject and, turning to their children, announced that there may be something waiting on the terrace to their liking. "Alright, surprises for you all on the terrace."
The room soon emptied, and the only ones left were the three adults and Liesl. She began to edge closer to Maria, and her new mother could understand that she required to speak with her. Ever since she had arrived at the villa as a governess, herself and Liesl had maintained a rather good friendship. Since being told that the sixteen-year-old did not need a governess, Maria had become a governess and so much more to the maturing girl. They had spoken on many occasions, the first being the night after the terrible thunderstorm that had sent all of the children running to their governess' room for comfort. Liesl acknowledged Maria as the older sister she had never had. Over the years where her father had shied away from his children, Liesl had learnt to take care of her siblings. She had calmed their fears during thunderstorms and comforted them if they had experienced a bad day at school.
But no one had ever been there for her. No one had ever given her the opportunity to speak about her feelings, especially when it came to boys at school, and one in particular.
Maria made eye contact with her oldest daughter, and gave her an encouraging smile. Linking arms with her, she turned to her husband who gave her a small nod and then led the two of them into the comfortable sitting room.
"Mother? That sounds so nice, I like calling you that," Liesl spoke sweetly, her eyes adoringly looking up at the new woman who had now become a permanent fixture in their lives.
"I like hearing it."
"Mother, what do you do when you think you love someone? Or, when you stop loving someone?" Liesl stopped, and then looked closely at her mother. Maria gave her an encouraging look, telling her to reveal anything she wanted. "Or, when they stop loving you?"
Maria sighed, and took hold of her daughter's hand so she could pull her down onto the cushioned seat.
"Well, you cry a little and then, wait for the sun to come up." Maria watched her oldest daughter as she spoke, waiting for her reaction. "It always does," she then added with emphasis and a warm smile.
"Do you really think so?" asked Liesl, a wide and enthusiastic smile playing across her lips. Her eyes also lit, looking forward to the future with this new information. It was almost as if she was thrilled to learn that life could continue.
"You're only sixteen," murmured Maria lightly, but loud enough for Liesl to hear. "There are always going to be new chances that you can decide whether to take. I was once told to climb every mountain, and follow every rainbow until you find your dream." The wise words came flooding back to Maria in this moment, and as she recalled the reasoning for such advice her heart fluttered. Not with nerves, but with happiness. She had since returned and married the man she loved. Subconsciously, a small smile appeared on her lips.
"Who told you that?"
"The Reverend Mother," responded Maria as she was broken from her reverie. Absorbing Liesl's expression filled with such awe, she continued. "That was just before I returned to you all."
Liesl's eyes suddenly widened, although she attempted to remain subtle. But Maria had seen, and she nodded whilst still smiling. Liesl knew why her new mother had left them so abruptly - she knew why she had left to return to the abbey during the party. With this new knowledge of her mother's own experiences, Liesl could understand that the advice she had just been given would indeed work.
The sixteen-year-old reached out a hand, which Maria took warmly in her own.
"Maybe I should wait a few years," suggested Liesl.
"You have so much love to give. There's no harm in waiting until you find the right person."
"But how will I know?"
Maria glanced towards the hall, her eyes falling on her husband's study door. She did this with wanton love and affection. Then, Maria turned to face Liesl again. "You'll know, trust me."
Liesl gave her mother a smile of gratitude, and then rested her head gently on the back of the cushioned seat. As her eyes drifted to the artistically decorated ceiling, her mind wandered onto Rolfe for a brief moment. Their time together had been wonderful. Liesl would never deny herself that. All of their stolen moments in the villa gardens, mostly hidden away from the house to not risk being spotted by her interested, but nosy, siblings or her father's surprise appearance. They had laughed about how secret they were being.
Then Liesl began to recall her first kiss. She remembered the night all too well. It was the night of the thunderstorm, and the night Maria had brought herself closer to them all with a song about raindrops, kittens and strudel. But as she began to imagine Rolfe that night, the image of him earlier that day swam through her mind. Then she remembered the telegram for her father, still in her pocket…
"Mother!" Liesl instantly stood. "I have this telegram for father."
"He's in his study," Maria replied, smiling. "I can take it to him if you want? That way you can go and see your surprise on the terrace."
Her daughter's eyes widened at the mention. Maria could only laugh and before they both left the room together, she gave her a small wink.
As Liesl made her way out to the terrace, Maria approached her husband's study door. She had only been in here a few times. Before the wedding Maria and Georg had shared a few kisses and tender moments in here. With confidence that she would perhaps have been lacking before the wedding, Maria knocked on the strong, wooden door.
He called for her to enter immediately.
Maria had always felt awestruck at the sight of his own, little room. The books that lined two of the four walls gave the room a certain nostalgic feel. It was a good feel, Maria had always thought that a room without books was incomplete. She had even found an old Bible copy in here, and he had told her to take it, and any other books she wanted.
The room still had that feel as she entered, but it was not the books that her eyes first lay upon. Georg and Max were stood beside each other in the centre of the room, but it was her husband that seemed to be the dominant participant of their conversation. She could only guess that he was still voicing his displeasure at Max entering their children into the festival.
It seemed Maria had been right in her assumptions, because as Georg opened his mouth to end their conversation he spoke, "Max, the children will not be singing tonight."
The tone in his voice told his friend to leave, but in a polite manner. Max understood the need for the two of them to be alone, however before closing the door behind him he turned. "You must try and work with these people, Georg. It will only end badly for you all if you don't."
At this, Georg's head snapped up. "Max!"
The older gentleman sighed and shook his head, and before Georg could say anything else Max closed the door and left the newly married couple alone.
Once the door had closed, Maria met her husband's eyes.
"If you're going to agree with him…" warned Georg.
"No, I wasn't," responded Maria in a gentle tone. She was not surprised by his comment. "You can never be less than what you are. And that's all I'll ever ask of you."
"You don't think I'll be putting us in danger?"
Maria shook her head, her eyes never leaving him. "I know you'd never do that."
"You have so much faith," he muttered, casting his eyes to the ground and moving across to stand by his thick, oak desk. It seemed that Georg was starting to believe this country would fall into the clutches of the Third Reich easily, and that he doubted his own capabilities.
At this Maria moved to stand beside him, ignoring the returning aches in her head, and moved her hand to rub his back comfortingly. "And when, may I ask, have you given me reason to doubt my faith in you?"
Georg shrugged. He now stood facing his desk, with Maria standing directly behind him.
Maria decided to move her arms to his shoulders, bringing herself closer to him. The new contact then prompted her to speak again, "You're a rational man, Georg. You build your judgement on the information you have, therefore you'll always have reason to doubt something. But that doesn't mean I will ever doubt you."
It took Georg a few moments for these words to sink in, but when they did he turned and embraced his wife fully. She could feel as he held onto her tightly that this was his way of thanking her, presumably for easing his worries and to ensure that she had faith in him always.
When they pulled apart, Maria remembered the telegram and drew it from her suit pocket.
"Liesl asked me to give you this."
Georg took it, voicing his thanks with a gentle kiss to her lips. Maria then moved to sit on the small two-seater chair that was placed in the room whilst Georg leant back against his desk, opening the telegram.
It was as Maria sat down that she felt another wave of dizziness wash over her, and as her headaches had ceased to leave, she pressed her hand to her forehead in a feeble attempt to prevent them. It was unsuccessful, so she merely closed her eyes and breathed deeply.
Georg did not notice his wife's discomfort, because all of his attention was now focused on the telegram. He shook slightly, his knuckles flexing and relaxing as anger began to fill inside him. He breathed steadily, trying to keep calm in front of his wife.
Keeping his eyes focused on the piece of paper, he spoke in a solemn tone, "It's Berlin," then he stopped, and without looking up he knew that he had caught his wife's attention. He heard the movement against the fabric of the seat. "I've been requested to…" he trailed off, unable to voice the words that caused a discomforting lurch in his stomach. "They want me to report to Bremerhaven tomorrow."
Maria had now joined his side and had taken his arm.
"To join them would be unthinkable… But to refuse them would be, fatal for all of us."
As his body acknowledged her touch, Georg finally looked up. Maria suddenly saw all of the fear in his eyes, and she knew instantly that this would be a struggle. It would be a challenge, and her husband would need her now, perhaps more than ever for the rest of their lives.
She could not find the words that felt sufficient enough. Maria had no idea what to think.
"Get the children together," Georg spoke calmly. "Don't say anything that will worry them."
Maria nodded slowly, swallowing nervously. "OK."
"I'll speak with Max. We'll have to leave Austria, and this house tonight."
The last word was spoken almost as a whisper, almost as though her husband could not quite believe this was all happening. Husband and wife then created another sturdy embrace, their arms locked tightly around the other, knowing that their path ahead would be filled with an abundance of obstacles, all determined to trip them up no matter how hard they tried.
Disclaimer: I should probably do one. But 'The Sound of Music' and all of its characters belong to 20th Century Fox, and anything that you recognise is also likely to not be mine.
I hope you enjoyed!