Chapter Twenty-Five: Fleeting Time

In the village square, the clockmaker heard urgent knocking at his door.

Clara: (Calling out) Uncle Drosselmeier! Uncle Drosselmeier! Please wake up! You have to help! Uncle Drosselmeier! Please help!

Lights were lit within the Drosselmeiers' home. While Clara continued to pound at the door, it opened. She thought the old family friend could not have possibly reached downstairs so quickly, and she was right…

Hans: (Concerned) Clara? Clara?! What is it?!

The robed boy quickly invited the fretting girl inside. He took the candle from her trembling hand and put it aside as she quickly put her arms over his neck; her damp face burrowing under his chin as he confusedly embraced her.

Clara: (Sobbing) Oh, Hans! It's Bianca! She's... she's gone!

Hans: Gone? Gone where?

Clara: (Looks up at Hans) Bianca's been taken… by the…

Clara stopped. She was distracted as Drosselmeier soundlessly came in the shop room already dressed. His eye sees the child wearing only a coat over her nightgown… this brought back a recent incident.

Drosselmeier: (Concerned) Clara?! V'hy are you here so late? You must be so cold. Let me bring you a robe.

But the girl rushed over to the man, her hands clinging to his arms with so much worry. Again the elder recalled that post-Christmas morning.

Clara: (Sobbing) Oh, Uncle Drosselmeier! He's back!

Drosselmeier: Who is back, my dear?

Clara: The Mouseking!

Hans' face almost appeared pale at that astonishing claim

Hans: (Stammers) No-No, it-it… (Shakes his head) It can't be… I slayed that menacing mouse!

Drosselmeier: Yes, Clara. My nephew's curse v'uz broken.

Clara: I don't understand it myself, but the Mouseking is alive! Oh please! You must believe me! You must!

The boy took the girl's cold hands rubbing them till they were warm.

Hans: Of course we do, Clara. (Thinks for a moment) But… the last thing I remember… that vile rodent was slain and he was STILL after you! You needed my help and… I… I couldn't move… and… (Trails off)

Han's eyelids were tightly closed from the horrid flashback of his beloved being attacked by the huge, mad mouse. And as the Nutcracker Prince, all he could do was watch the terrifying scene as he changed back to non-living wood on Gingerbread Castle's floor… calling out her name…

Clara ran her fingers up his cheek; catching his tear.

Clara: It's alright, Hans… I'm alright now.

The girl goes back to hugging the worried lad, this time consoling each other. Both took a deep breath together.

Clara: I know the Mouseking has Bianca. I've found her cameo and it was shrunken down to size. The toy castle was lit and playing music… its doors were open… Pavlova was so scared… then I heard the Mouseking laughing and… Oh, Hans! I'm so frightened for her! (Sobs)

All her beloved could do, was hold her closer to him. Hans looked up at his Uncle with love and panic in his wide, dark blue eyes. Drosselmeier rubbed the crying girl's back and she reluctantly stepped back from the boy whose big heart was weeping for her sadness.

Drosselmeier: (Urgently) Hans get dressed! You must act quickly!

His nephew nodded and patted Clara's hand. He gently kissed her knuckles and ran up the stairs in seconds. Meanwhile, the girl wipes her tears as the magician went to his desk, hurryingly searching for something in one of its drawers that he unlocked with a key that he already had in hand.

Clara: (Sniffs) Oh, Uncle Drosselmeier! If I only told Bianca the truth like she wanted, this wouldn't be happening!

Drosselmeier: (Walks up to her) There, there, Clara.

Clara: I didn't tell her about the Mouseking or your nephew being the Nutcracker Prince because Ma 'ma said they were only fairy stories. I didn't think Bianca would believe me either… (Covers her face) Oh... this is all MY fault!

Hans: (Stern) No, this isn't, Mistress Clara! If anyone is to blame, it's the Mouseking!

The dressed lad had returned to the shop room. He walked up to the young girl and held a small pair of women's shoes.

Hans: Please, take these, Clara. They were my Mother's. I hope they fit. (Kneels) Please, allow me…

The concerned boy saw the anxious girl in her bedroom slippers and didn't want her to catch ill. Clara gave a small smile as she let Hans exchange her footwear, but the tears still would not stop coming.

Hans: Are the shoes comfortable?

Clara: Yes. (Sniffs) Yes, they are. Thank you, Hans. You always put me first.

Hans: (Lightly smiles) Always, Clara.

Drosselmeier held up a tiny velvet bag. His nephew quickly realizes what it was and Clara takes the sashed sack. The old clockmaker looks at his nephew who knows what to retrieve next. The early teen runs into another room while the girl stares and feels the little bag.

Clara: Uncle Drosselmeier? Will this..?

Drosselmeier: (Gently finishes) Yes, the contents will help you and Hans to pass into the Land of the Dolls to reach Bianca… and the Mouseking.

Clara: Oh, Uncle Drosselmeier, I'm so confused! Why would the Mouseking take Bianca?

The elder patted the tensed girl's shoulders.

Drosselmeier: My dear, have you and your cousin ever shared a mirror together?

The child paused briefly and put her hands to her face.

Clara: (Gasps) The Mouseking thinks she's me! Oh, why does he have to be so cruel!?

Drosselmeier: Because… Cruelty only knows vengeance. But… kindness shows only mercy.

Clara's auburn eyebrows raised and she gave a quick shook of her head from that explanation.

Clara: The Mouseking, kind? How? No one would show mercy to the Mouseking!

The old clockmaker gave an assured smile and his unpatched eye seemed to twinkle at the troubled girl.

Drosselmeier: (Whispers) Yes, you're quite right my dear… 'No one'… v'ould.

Clara's wide deep blue eyes quizzically looked at the peculiarly wise man.

Clara: Uncle Drosselmeier..?

Suddenly, Hans came back; in his right hand was an old sword that belonged to his family. The early teen put the blade in its sheath and attached the case to his belt. Clara seeing Hans with the sword… she could not decide whose life was in most danger… her cousin or her beloved. She put her hands to her chest, still holding the magic filled, sashed sack.

Clara: Hans..?

Hans: Clara, I must-

Drosselmeier: (Gently interrupts) I'm sorry, but you two must reach the castle without delay. (Points to the bag) The spell will end at sunrise. Please hurry… (Holds up a candle lamp) time is fleeting…

They both hugged the sincere elder and his nephew took the lighted lamp. Hans and Clara held hands as to not lose one another in the darkness, heading back towards the Stahlbaum home.

As they raced their speeding hearts against the clock to bring back Clara's compassionate cousin, through the crack of the open front door, the old magician watched the urgent young pair's figures running off in the wintry distance.

Drosselmeier: (Speaks softly) Time that v'uz, time shall be. But waste it not ere it wastes thee…

And giving Clara's and Han's footprints in the snow a quick glance, Elisa Christian Drosselmeier smiled hopefully as the door slowly closed on its own, without a sound.