Austrian Folk Dances
Part One – The Ländler
Chapter VI
A/N:"Or perchance, when the last little star has left the sky, shall we still be together with our arms around each other, and shall you be my new romance? On the clear understanding that this kind of thing can happen shale we dance, shall we dance, shall we dance?" Rodgers & Hammerstein.
My usual thanks to Mellie, my beta!
Disclaimer: I do not own "The Sound of Music", etc.
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A child no more! a maiden now--
A graceful maiden, with a gentle brow;
A cheek tinged lightly and a dove-like eye;
And all hearts bless her as she passes by.
Mary Howitt
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After he went back inside with his guests, Maria went to the maze, to try to recover her composure. At first, she considered going up to her room, feigning a headache. But soon she chastised herself for being such a coward. There were, of course, the children to consider – she could not just vanish before they said their goodbyes to the guests. So, she stayed outside amidst the trees and bushes, taking solace in her solitude. She meandered on the grounds trying to think of anything but the Captain. She remained hidden from the guests and the children until her heartbeat returned to a certain degree of normalcy. Then she returned to face the rest of the night.
Back to the terrace, she had to smile when she found Friedrich and Liesl attempting a waltz.
"Why didn't you children tell me you could dance?"
Kurt provided the answer. "We were afraid you'd make us all dance together – " he attempted a mock dance step, " - the Von Trapp Family Dancers!"
"I can´t say that the thought would not have crossed my mind, Kurt!"
The other children laughed, and Maria joined them.
This is why I am here, she thought. This is what I should remember. The children are the only ones who matter, the only ones I should worry about – at least until September. I cannot allow other thoughts to distract me from the purpose I was sent here for – to help them prepare for a mother.
The music stopped, the guests applauded. Maria gazed inside the ballroom, and saw Captain von Trapp, walking among his guests. He looked as if he was searching for someone. The orchestra began playing again, a different rhythm. That attracted the children's attention to the ballroom, and they peered inside. The same melody that Maria had heard that morning, wafted to her ears again. She smiled at her own foolishness of dancing with an imaginary partner then.
"What's that they are playing?" Brigitta asked.
The children of Austria´s greatest patriots did not recognize one of their country´s most beloved dances – the thought briefly crossed Maria´s mind. But then she remembered Frau Schmidt´s words, on the day of her arrival, just before her first confrontation with the Captain.
"The Von Trapp children don't play. They march. Ever since the Captain lost his poor wife, he - he runs this house as if he were on one of his ships again. Whistles, orders. No more music, no more laughing. Nothing that reminds him of her... even the children."
Yes, how could Brigitta known about the Ländler if there had been virtually no music in the house since she was Marta´s age? "It's the Ländler. It's an Austrian folk dance," Maria explained.
"It is nice – I like it!" exclaimed Louisa, causing Maria to smile. Louisa so rarely admitted she liked anything!
"It is a peasant´s dance, and very, very Austrian," Liesl commented. "Mother used to love it! It is meant for courtship, you know."
"Show me." Kurt turned to Maria, imploring her to be his guide.
"Oh, Kurt, I haven't danced that since I was a little girl."
I did it this morning, by myself, but I don't think it counts, she thought.
"Oh, you remember. Please."
"Well –" She hesitated. It was one thing, dancing it by herself. Dancing with a partner was another matter entirely, even if the partner in question was the eleven year old son of her employer.
"Please," the boy repeated, pleadingly.
Is any female immune to the charm of a von Trapp male?, she wondered seeing a hint of the boy's father in his façade.
"All right, come on over here." They moved to the center of the terrace. The other children whispered excitedly among themselves, as if sensing that something very special was about to happen.
"Now, you bow and I curtsy," she instructed, taking her flowing skirts and performing a graceful movement.
"Like this?" the boy asked, bowing, just like he had seen his father to some of the guests.
"Good! Now, we go for a little walk - this way," she instructed with a gesture.
She took Kurt's hands and began leading him into a dance step.
"One, two, three. One, two, three."
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When the Captain came out from the ballroom, his eyes fell upon six of his children. They were staring open mouthed at the center of the garden, where their Fräulein was introducing his youngest son to the intricacies of one of Austria's most beloved folkloric dances. Not with much success, however, although he had to give his son credit for trying.
Georg von Trapp smiled, and for a number of reasons.
He smiled because he felt inexplicably amused. Because dancing – or, at least, trying to teach a child how to dance – was one of the things his governess obviously did not excel at.
There it is, one thing that I can do better than her, he thought. At least as far as the children were concerned.
He remembered the sound of Agathe´s laughter when he had introduced Liesl to the first steps of the waltz, when she was about Brigitta´s age. He never knew if he had succeeded because of his eldest daughter's natural grace and elegance – which he always believed was inherited from her mother -, or because he was actually good in leading a female into a dance, no matter her age.
His wife had said, jokingly:
"You know, Georg, if you ever loose your fortune and become one of those impoverished noblemen we hear so much about, you can always make good money teaching the young ladies of Viennese society how to waltz and play the piano… although I am not sure I would like that very much. They would all fall head over heels in love with their instructor and try to seduce you away from me."
His answer to her had been a mock scowl, just before he removed baby Gretl from her arms and handled her to Liesl. Then he lead Agathe in a waltz around the ballroom, while the children watched them The look in their eyes then was remarkably similar to the one they had now, while watching their governess. And Agathe had laughed. Her laughter was so different than Fräulein Maria's, and no less honest, but it was as delicate and contained as Agathe herself. It was the kind of women's laughter one usually heard in society's salons. He remembered that once his vibrant young governess had laughed so hard at something Kurt had said, that she doubled over, and there were tears in her eyes. The liveliness that was Maria was evident even in her laughter.
He focused his full and complete attention in the dancing pair again. This was not a sophisticated waltz. It was a simply, country dance, a peasant's dance, usually described by connoisseurs as a courtship ritual. Agathe had not been familiar with it until he taught her, during their engagement. He knew that many of his guests were probably sneering at his choice of music, but he wanted his party, like all others he had hosted in the past, to reflect he love for his country. And so, the other reason he had to smile was because it occurred to him that this was how the Ländler should be danced. Not in an aristocratic ballroom, with dancers wearing elaborate gowns that kept them from moving as they should. Maria's dress may not have been perfect for the party, but it was perfect for the Ländler, she was perfect for it, the perfect embodiment of the country that he loved.
"One, two, three, step together. Now, step hop. Step hop. Now, turn under. Whoop, not quite."
His smile broadened, when he noticed that his Fräulein had not taken into account the obvious difference in height with her partner. The pair was dancing their way back towards him.
"This way. Hop, step, hop, and under… Hmm -- uh –"
He saw Maria straining her back, bending backwards, trying to reach Kurt's hands over her head, but without success. To his right, some of the children giggled.
Why exactly am I so bent on doing this? Georg asked himself, pulling on his impeccable white gloves with determined gestures. Fate had granted him a second chance, and he had decided not to waste it. Was it only to defy the "thou shall not dance with the governess" rule? Was it to convince himself that he could lead a woman – any woman – in a dance? Or was it because of Austria… no, not because of Austria, he had to admit to himself.
He had not planned on dancing at his own party, at least not more than the rules of etiquette demanded of him. He would dance the required first waltz with Baroness Schraeder, his guest of honor and most probably his future wife, and that would be all, if he could avoid it. The truth was that he had lost his taste for dancing when he lost Agathe. Even after he had met Elsa, he agreed to dance only to amuse her, but never himself. She had indeed brought him back to life, but not back to the dance floors. Dancing, just like his piano music, was too intimately linked to the painful past memories.
But he had to admit that Agathe had nothing to do with whatever was happening to him tonight. For the first time, he admitted to himself that, as far as the little Fräulein was concerned, the painful memories rarely intruded. He wasn't sure if it was the house full of guests, his new-found closeness with his children, or their governess. He wanted to dance with Maria before the night was over, and he conceded to himself that he had made that decision the moment he saw her entering the ballroom that evening.
"Kurt, we really have to practice!"
The governess's laughter reminded him of his intentions. Time to show them all how this is done, he thought. Time to show her how to dance like an Austrian.
Cutting in, he poked on his son's shoulder.
"Do allow me, will you?"
"Mm-hm," said Kurt, walking away to join the other children, glowing with pride because his father had just treated him like a man when he interrupted the dance with his Fräulein.
A gentleman should make certain to ask a lady for the honor of a dance with her, for an honor it is; and it is hers to bestow, he remembered his mother instructing him when he was still a boy of Friedrich´s age who was more interested in war ships and U-boats than in the intricacies of ballroom etiquette.
For the second time that evening, he extended her his gloved hand.
--
Maria turned around, her eyes wide. He did not have to say the words again - "May I have this dance - Fräulein Maria?" Other words he had said earlier echoed in her mind once more.
"Before this party is over, you will dance with me, Fräulein, as you were meant to dance with me."
Deep inside, she regretted not taking his hand fast enough before. This time, her hesitation, although was still there, though much more brief. She placed her small hand into his much larger, gloved one.
The gloves…
Liesl had briefly told her how complicated the glove etiquette was – the sixteen year old was already practicing for when she would be allowed to wear them. Maria noticed that he had his gloves on while he was standing at the receiving line, and then while he danced with the Baroness. She had not noticed when he had removed them, but he did not have them on while they talked earlier. The way he had deliberately pulled them on earlier when he asked her to dance, the look in his eyes as he had extended his hand, the way her heart fluttered as she saw her bare hand reaching for his… it had all seemed so… unreal.
They started dancing, and after only a few steps, she began to regain her confidence.
So this is how the Ländler is supposed to be danced, Maria thought briefly, unaware of the fact that she was echoing his thoughts. Not with another girl partner, not with an eleven year old boy, no matter how adorable her previous partners in the dance had been. Is this what I missed for not having danced with Stefan when I was Kurt's age?
She did not think so.
Amused, she thought of the girl who had been preferred by Stefan, secretly wishing that they both could see her now, dancing with a sea captain.
The Ländler is a dance of courtship, her teacher had recited all those years ago, when she was a child. It was almost like play-acting, the man guiding the woman through the intricate steps, the woman teasing and trying to escape him, as they got closer and closer. Maria allowed herself to be guided, concentrating, at first, on the dance itself, rather than in the disturbing presence of the Captain. And it was a relief to realize that, at first, he was doing just the same. I wager that he too has not danced this in a while, she thought. Dreamily, she allowed the music to take over her feet, as she danced with a grace and skill that she did not even know she possessed. His hands on her waist guided her to the next step, and the next, and she never hesitated, never faltered. Suddenly, all the worries, all the frightening new feelings she had been experiencing vanished, and in their place there was lightness in her spirit that she had not felt in a while – probably since that morning in the mountains, before the Reverend Mother summoned her.
No matter what happens, always in future, the Ländler will always mean to me a playful dance in a moonlit garden with Captain Georg Ritter von Trapp, decorated officer of the Imperial Navy as my partner, she thought. They may take the anchor brooch that he had pinned on her, the memory of this night would always be with her.
The dance proceeded, both of their moods light. The Captain clapped his hands as Maria danced around him. Then she stopped, teasingly, and he danced around her. With their eyes, they exchanged a silent conversation, words that would never pass their lips passed through their gazes.
"I said that you were meant to dance with me, didn't I?" he said, shaking his head and smiling after they successfully performed a particularly difficult step. "I said that you would be dancing with me before the night was over…"
"And I knew you would be right one of these days," Maria's eyes answered.
Unfortunately, Maria's carefree mood would not last for long. When the dance required that the Captain walk a few feet in front of her, so that he would blindly reach for her hand over his shoulder, she remembered just what was about to come. The next steps would bring them closer and closer together, in an intricate succession of arm tying movements. Gone was her smile, and her flushed face betrayed all her worries. As for the Captain, his face bore the same intensity, and Maria would have noticed that, only if she were brave enough to look at him.
No! Don't look at him, she told herself. You will be fine if you just don't look at him. Keep your eyes anywhere else but on his – it has worked before, it won't fail you now. Don't look, Maria's mind kept screaming, whatever happens, don't look at him. Her gaze was fixed on the enameled cross around his neck.
But she looked – in spite of herself. And what she saw made her dizzy, as the world around them disappeared and the night air surrounding her crackled with electricity. He was so close, his eyes were so intense, and his gaze was so disarming. You should see that this girl is properly and thoroughly kissed Peggy's words haunted her. She held her breath in anticipation –of what, she wasn't quite sure. She had never fancied the idea of kissing a man, but here in this moment, she could think of nothing else, even though she was vaguely aware of his seven children watching them. Is this what Peggy was trying to get her to realize? Is this what she was meant to feel?
The effect lasted only for a second, and as soon as she recovered her senses, their hands parted, and she stepped back, troubled, but still unable to tear her gaze from his.
"I don't remember any more," she said, their gazes still locked.
"Your face is all red," said Brigitta, and the spell began to be broken.
"Is it?" Maria touched her face. It burned, like if she had a fever. "I don't suppose I'm used to dancing," she said.
The Captain smiled tenderly. He had smiled at her like that before, but not with such intensity. The music ended, the guests applauded, but they still seemed to be lost in their own private world.
The Baroness, deciding that she had seen enough, walked over to the Captain.
"Why, that was beautifully done. What a lovely couple you make."
"Yes," he said simply.
Yes. Maria told herself that this couldn't be happening, not to her.
"You dance extremely well, Maria," Elsa said. "And Georg here was never able to resist a good dancer. What a perfect match. Isn't that true, darling?" she asked him. He remained silent, still looking at Maria. The Baroness kept talking. "The Ländler was always a favorite of yours, wasn't it? You both looked… enraptured."
It was the word – enraptured – that finally broke the spell. Maria was overcome with shame, and she was only glad that the moonlight disguised the color of her face. The Baroness sounded almost… jealous. But how could a woman as sophisticated as the Baroness be jealous of her?
"I think it's time the – uh - children said good night," the Captain finally spoke. There was still softness in his voice that was unknown to Maria.
Goodnight – goodnight? Was it really that late already? Is this how Cinderella felt when she heard the first stroke of midnight? "Yes. We'll be in the hall in a moment. We've got something very special prepared, right?" she said, turning to the children.
"Right. Yeah. Yes. Let's go. Come on."
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A/N: Thank you all for your reviews!