A/N: I am well aware that the show they go to see is not created until fifty years later, but I'm not the only author who puts in songs and shows from different times into their fanfiction. This show is brilliant, and so many things about it are going to be used later to open Maria's eyes, as you will see.
A Time in Vienna
In the early evening of the fourteenth of November, three women were prettying themselves up for an evening at the theatre. They were in the home of Herr and Frau Amman in Vienna, Frau Amman being Max Dettweiler's sister. Philemona was doing Liesl's hair in the master bathroom, while Maria was changing into her gown in the adjoining master bedroom.
"There you are, dear," said Philemona, setting down the hot curling iron and turning it off. She then picked up two small silver combs with emeralds and arranged them in Liesl's loose, chestnut curls so they were held back from her eyes. "Oh, these go so beautifully with your dress."
Liesl, who could barely believe that was her reflection in the mirror, raised a hand to gently touch one of the heirloom combs she wore. They had belonged to her mother, and her father had given them to her on her seventeenth birthday five days ago. She didn't know which present had been better: her mother's combs, or the surprise of being able to come to Vienna with her parents for a night to see a show followed by dinner, with Dominik, Uncle Max and Auntie Phil. For the first time, she was being treated, not as a child, but as a young woman.
Perhaps this was a really lucky night. "Auntie Phil, it looks beautiful!" she said genuinely, but then said in her sweetest voice. "Are you sure I can't just wear a little make-up?"
"No!" The response came simultaneously from Philemona behind her and Maria from the bedroom. This caused all three of them to laugh.
"Your father would have my head, Liesl," called Maria from the bedroom. "I don't want him to regret letting me convince him to give you that ticket."
"All right, all right," said Liesl, putting on her white gloves. A thought occurred to her. "Did he really not want me to come, Mother?"
"Oh, it wasn't like that, Liesl," said Maria, still in the bedroom. "Of course he's glad you're here."
"I think he just is having a hard time believing his little girl is growing up," said Philemona, kissing Liesl's head. "And my, you're growing up beautifully."
Liesl smiled and blushed, ducking her head as she stood up to see her full reflection in the mirror. The sea-foam green gown was truly flattering on her, the sleeves ending just above the elbow and the V-neckline extremely modest. The only jewelry she wore were the combs in her hair and the simple silver cross necklace she'd had all her life.
"Why aren't you wearing any make-up, Mother?" asked Liesl, looking at herself from different angles.
"Because I won't let her," said Philemona firmly. "Even if she wanted to –"
"And I don't!" called Maria.
"Both of you are too young and too beautiful to wear make-up; it would be completely unnecessary."
Liesl knew she was right, but still sighed as she said, "If you say so."
Philemona merely smiled: she had been exactly the same at Liesl's age – wanting to be as grown up as possible.
"And you're dress is gorgeous, Auntie Phil!" exclaimed Liesl, looking again at Philemona.
The older woman gave a grand twirl, her dark red dress sparkling in the bathroom lights. "Oh, thank you! I just had to wear something this color considering the show we are seeing – I hear the red rose is the most important symbol."
About five minutes later, the three men waiting in the front hall in their tuxedoes and coats heard feminine footsteps coming down the main staircase.
First came Philemona, her coat open to reveal her flashy dress. Her husband, Kristoph, smiled at the sight of his wife, and kissed her hand. "A vision, as you always are."
"I know," said Philemona with a charming smile. "But it's not me who is the star tonight. Come down, my dear!" she called up the stairs, and down came Liesl, her coat draped over her arm, looking very pretty and grown-up.
"Oh, Liesl! You look lovely!" exclaimed Max, holding out his hands to her. She smiled and accepted his kisses on her cheeks.
"Yes, you do," confirmed Kristoph, wrapping an arm around his wife.
Georg was silent as of yet, looking at his daughter with emotion in his eyes. Liesl caught her father's gaze and stepped up to him nervously, hoping that he would not suggest she change. "What is it, Father?"
Georg gave a small but meaningful smile to his eldest daughter. "For a moment, I could have sworn I was looking at your mother."
Now Liesl's eyes filled, and father and daughter embraced. In the meantime, Maria, who was wearing her coat tightly around her, came down unnoticed and watched the touching exchange with a small smile. It warmed her heart to see both how proud Georg was of his daughter and how it was becoming easier to think of his lost wife.
"Are we all ready?" asked Philemona enthusiastically, clapping her hands and giving a grand gesture to the door. "Let us go to the theatre!"
Originally, the party of six had planned to get there early so that Maria could meet Dominik and wish him luck. But traffic and the fact that they arrived when everyone else seemed to arrive at the Opera House meant they did not enter inside until ten minutes before curtain, when the orchestra was warming up.
Georg came in last, after tipping the valet, and looked around the crowded lobby to find his party. After handing his coat to an attendant, who gave him a ticket for it, Georg finally spotted the five of them on the landing of the staircase that led to their balcony. Max, Philemona, and Kristoph waved to him, and Liesl motioned for him to climb up.
But Georg's attention was captured by the fifth person and the only one not waving at him. Instead, she was looking all around her in awe. With her coat off, Georg could now see that Maria wore a blush-rose gown made of a diaphanous, floaty material. Elegant off-the-shoulder straps left her shoulders and neck completely bare, and her short hair provided a beautiful view. Around her neck, she wore the string of pearls he had given her through Philemona the night of the autumn ball, and she was wearing long white gloves.
Her gaze fell on him and, even though her cheeks went the color of her dress at his awe-filled gaze, she smiled. Georg seemed to snap out of his chance and hurried up the stairs to take her arm. The other four of their party had watched this, and were all smiling secret smiles.
Once all six were comfortably settled in their private balcony, with a perfect view of the stage and the orchestra pit, they began to rifle through their elegant programs.
Maria barely knew anything about this show they were about to see: The Phantom of the Opera. She knew that the show was based on a French novel by Gaston Leroux of the same name. When she asked Georg to borrow it, so she would know more about the plot of this show, Georg had told her it would be better if she let herself be surprised. He himself had read it, and he was eager to see how she would react to her first theatre show.
So Maria looked in the program for some information, so she wouldn't be scrambling for background facts once the players came out. She gathered that the story took place in Paris at the famous Opera House there, with a prologue starting fifty years before the action of the play. The title gave her the impression this was a ghost story – she hoped she would enjoy it.
Well, I think I'll enjoy it at least a little, since this is my first show. And look at this theater, it's beautiful! Indeed it was: plush red velvet seats, walls painted gold, a beautiful mural painted the domed ceiling. The only odd thing was that a covered chandelier was on the stage, with the chord sloping up to the top of the dome. Obviously it was meant to be hanging up there eventually. This is going to be interesting, to say the least.
Maria turned to Georg when she felt him tap her shoulder. He was holding out a pair of opera glasses – but they looked more like really elegant binoculars to her – for her to take. "Thanks," she said with a smile, taking them.
But before she could lean back in her seat, Georg leaned towards and whispered in her ear. "You're a stunning vision tonight," he breathed.
She blushed, the feeling of his warm breath on her ear and neck making her shiver slightly. As a thank you, Maria smiled before looking through the opera glasses. She soon found her brother, sitting at the organ and looking around the audience. Knowing what he was looking for, Maria lowered the glasses and leaned forward, gripping the railing and raising herself up slightly in her seat, to make herself more visible.
Finally, he saw her, and a radiant smile lit both their faces. Maria blew kisses to him with both hands and he did the same. He gave a small wave to everyone else in the balcony. They waved back; Liesl blew him a timid kiss. In response, he covered his cheek with a modest smile before turning back to his instrument.
A minute later, the lights dimmed and the show began, with the prologue progressing in lighting that seemed to devoid everyone of color. The story was set, the chandelier was introduced, and Maria felt that the tension could be cut with a knife.
"Gentlemen!" the auctioneer on the stage called. The cover was dramatically called off, the lights of the chandelier ignited and suddenly the vast Opera House was filled to the brim with the piercing chords from the organ. Everyone seemed to be pushed back in their seats by the sheer power of those notes. Maria could not take her eyes away from her brother, while everyone else seemed to watch the chandelier rise into the air. She saw how dynamic her brother was when playing this amazing music.
And amazing it was; it pierced her body like a knife clean through. From the moment that music began, Maria was swept away into an eye-opening world. She would not emerge back into reality the same person.
Liesl walked slowly down the stairs with the rest of her party after the show had ended and the orchestra had stopped playing the curtain call. An after-party and reception was to be held in the grand lobby and just as grand reception rooms, and Dominik had written where in the lobby to meet him after the show. So that was where the party was now headed.
The seventeen-year-old's head was swimming with images and sounds from her first real adult theatre show. It had all been so amazing! Remembering that it was her new mother's first show as well, Liesl turned her head to look at Maria walking beside her. But her mother seemed to be lost so deep in her thoughts that Liesl didn't want to break her out of her trance.
The lobby and adjoining rooms were crowded with patrons and the audience simply raving about the production. The six of them finally managed to make their way to the pillar in the lobby where Dominik had told them to go. They didn't have to wait too long before a tall, familiar figure with curls was coming towards them in a tuxedo, tails and a great big smile.
Liesl's reaction upon seeing him was something she had felt once before for a person, and it made her heart lift, a huge smile cross her face, and her feet took a step forward.
But she went no further, because she realized just what she was feeling. And it scared her for so many reasons. The last time she'd had a reaction to someone like this had been last summer with Rolfe, but even that didn't compare to what she was feeling now; this was a bit stronger.
Oh, no…She'd suspected it might come to this, but she'd prayed it wouldn't. After all, this was her new mother's brother, which made him her uncle in a way. Yes, there was no connection of blood between them, even Maria and Dominik, but even still, she'd just turned seventeen and he was twenty-one. That wasn't much of an age difference in numbers, but now it certainly seemed so, especially since she was still in the category of "the children." How on earth could he return her feelings?
As much as she didn't want it, Liesl couldn't say her feelings surprised her. It had been him, along with Maria, who had helped her through the dissolution of her relationship with Rolfe. When she had found out he was a member of the Nazi party, their relationship had faded fast, and it became clear to Liesl that his interest in her had faded while his devotion to the party deepened. It hurt that her first romantic relationship had ended like this.
The promise of writing to tell how his sister was doing had turned into a steady, mutual correspondence that not only helped Liesl with the Rolfe situation, but also made for her another best friend. She liked to think he had found the same in her, considering the quantity and quality of their letters.
But it wasn't until the moment she saw him coming towards her, for the first time in three months, that she realized she had a crush. Which is why she stopped herself from rushing to congratulate him. Instead, she watched as he came towards them and embraced Maria, who rushed to him, while everyone else exclaimed their praises and congratulations.
But when he finally came to her, with happiness in his eyes on seeing her again, Liesl suddenly felt very reassured. Crushes were fleeting, as her experience of getting over Rolfe had taught her, but friendships were forever. She would soon get over this little infatuation, while her friendship with him that she had come to value so much would not go away.
This realization and looking at him caused a great relief and joy to sweep over her, so Liesl was able to hug him tightly and congratulate him with all of her heart.
A little while later, brother and sister decided to take a walk by themselves to catch up, so they walked away around the lobby. Liesl suddenly remembered that she had forgotten one of her gloves in their opera box, so she excused herself to go and get it. Thankfully, the ushers were very nice and she was able to get back in and out without difficulty, pulling her glove back on again.
But as she came down into the lobby again, at the bottom of the stairs she found herself face to face with an equally shocked Elsa Schraeder.
Safe to say that both women were shocked to see each other. Perhaps Elsa had the right to be more nervous, seeing as she was in her own city and Liesl was not. Either way, they were surprised. Seeing each other again, a dominant emotion rose in both: in Liesl, anger; in Elsa, guilt.
"Oh, Liesl, dear!" said Elsa, immediately trying to act as if nothing at all were amiss in their running into each other. "What in the world are you doing here?"
"I came to see the show," said Liesl, who was surprised at how cold and soft her voice had become. "Along with my parents. You remember them, I'm sure?"
Elsa's scared smile faltered for a moment. "Your…parents? Then your father is here? But parents means…y-you have a new mother?"
"Oh, yes," said Liesl, taking a step towards Elsa. "Thankfully, I got the best new mother I could ever get, ions better than you ever would have been. But it breaks my heart that she became my mother because of what you did to her and Father."
Elsa's eyes widened a little in surprise. "So…he married her…"
"What did you expect, Baroness?" asked Liesl, not knowing that she was stepping closer to Elsa, her voice steadily rising. "For us to just lie back and accept the poison you spread about us? What else could they do, could we do, to make it stop? You spread lies about my father and mother, and you hurt them, my brothers, my sisters and me. What did we do to you? What did my mother ever do? You did this just because father didn't want to marry a witch like you?"
Elsa's eyes were as wide as saucers now, as well as her skin becoming even whiter than it was. She flitted her eyes around to find that several people close by had stopped conversing to look at them in confusion. She turned her gaze back to the seventeen-year-old and said, in a hurt voice, "You think that's the only reason why? Even though what I said was false, why did I see your dear father kissing that woman the day we came back from Vienna?"
Liesl had not expected to hear that. She almost backed up a step. "What?" she gasped. "You're lying still, why in the world should I believe you?"
"Liesl, what's going on?"
Like angels of mercy, Maria and Dominik had come upon them in their walk, having spotted Liesl by herself. "Who are you talking t–"
Maria's speech disappeared when she saw whom Liesl had been talking to; she looked shocked and then livid. Elsa, in turn, looked just as shocked to see Maria dressed in a fine gown, gloves and pearls. "Baroness Von Trapp," said Elsa, in a soft tone that tried to retain both dignity and distaste.
"How dare you…" said Maria, in a quiet voice she had never used before, because it was so full of venom. She barely felt Dominik gasp at his recognition of who it must be. But his presence did make her act. "Dominik, take Liesl away, please."
Dominik immediately nodded and took Liesl's arm gently. "Come on, Liesl, let's go."
For a moment, it looked like Liesl would resist, but seeing the firm looks of Maria and Dominik she knew it would be best if she left, though her mind was spinning with questions. So she allowed Dominik to lead her away towards her father, Uncle Max, Aunt Philemona and Uncle Kristoph.
"Just who do you think you are?" hissed Maria, stepping up to Elsa; she had never felt so angry with anybody before, even Georg. "You've caused enough damage and you're trying to cause more to an innocent teenager? Will you not stop until we're all bowing to you and saying your lies are true?"
Elsa didn't say anything for a moment, just looked Maria up and down as if she hadn't heard her at all. There was anger and hurt in her eyes, also in her voice. "I can't believe he married you."
Maria was surprised and almost insulted that this was what Elsa said; she didn't like her tone at all. So she unknowingly repeated words that Liesl had used earlier. "What on earth did you expect to happen? That Georg would do nothing to protect the reputations of his children? That I would do nothing? It was the best solution we could all think of to clean up your mess."
"My mess?" asked Elsa indignantly. "You're certainly painting yourself with the pastel victim colors. Then why is it when I saw Georg kiss you like no one's business, you didn't pull back or resist?"
"Because he caught me off guard and by complete surprise!" responded Maria indignantly. "Would you expect a man to do that in the middle of a heated argument the second day you know him?"
Elsa just snorted, forgetting all about the fact that they were in public now. "What a convincing, charming act you're putting on. Don't tell me you didn't have this in mind all along."
"What are you talking about?"
"This is a lucky break for someone with your background. Of course you would jump at the chance to get your claws into Georg, you being a low-down, common, peasant b–"
"Now would be an excellent time for you to be very, very quiet, Elsa."
Maria had been so focused on the wrath in Elsa's face that she had not seen Georg, Max, Philemona and Kristoph approach them, with Dominik and Liesl trailing behind. Maria watched the horror spread on Elsa's face as Georg whispered those words fiercely into her ear from behind.
Exhaling in relief, Maria watched Elsa turn around very slowly to face Georg's livid face. He spoke softly, with loathing laced in every syllable. "You're very lucky we are in public and you are of the female gender – I cannot bring myself to call you a lady, for you are nothing of the kind after what you've done. You don't come near me, my wife, or my children again." He shifted his gaze to Maria, and his expression immediately softened as he held out his hand. "Come, Maria."
Without hesitation, Maria took his hand and they all began to walk away. But before they got too far, Maria suddenly stopped and turned back towards Elsa, letting go of his hand. Looking at Elsa and the hurt, heartbreak, shame and anger on her face, Maria could finally see her clearly through her façade.
"I should want to throw you off a cliff, but all I can feel for you is pity. I'm sorry if you've been hurt, but no one deserves to be falsely gossiped about, and it's especially not fair when children must carry the stain with their parents. I know now your main objective in doing this was to make yourself feel better, a victim, but you don't, do you? It's clear to me now that your loneliness and self-loathing are punishment are suffering enough. You are nothing but pathetic. Keep away from my family, and may we never meet again."
And with that, she gave the pathetic Baroness one last look of pity, turned on her heel, and walked with her party out of the Opera House. On the way out, in view of Elsa, Georg grasped her hand and she held it right back.
When all six had come out of the Opera House, coats wrapped around them and the valet getting their car, Dominik said his good-byes.
He shook Georg's hand. "I can't tell you how grateful I am that you brought my sister here to see me play."
"It was my pleasure," he said humbly.
Dominik gave him a small smile, and said quietly just to Georg, "I know you've been taking good care of her when you had every opportunity not to. You showed that tonight, and I'm glad I got to see it."
Georg smiled. "She deserves nothing less."
Dominik nodded. He briefly embraced Max, shook Kristoph's hand and Philemona kissed his cheeks.
He went to Liesl and immediately took her shoulders. "Are you all right now?" he asked with concern in his eyes.
Liesl gave a shaky smile and nodded. Dominik hugged her and whispered for her to write. Then he came to his sister and they exchanged a fierce, happy, relieved embrace. "I'm so proud of you," whispered Dominik.
Maria smiled and kissed his cheek. "I'm even more proud of you, brother; you played beautifully tonight."
They pulled apart and Georg said, "Will you spend your Christmas holidays with us, Dominik?"
"I would not miss it for the world!" said Dominik with a grin.
"Does that invitation include your best friend?" said Max with an eager smile, prompting a playful slap from his sister.
Georg rolled his eyes. "Why bother when you always include yourself. What about you two?"
"I think we can arrange something," said Kristoph, looking at his wife.
"Yes, we will definitely come down at least for the Eberfields' New Year's Ball."
"Then we have a lot to look forward to," said Georg with a smile, and soon everyone was smiling, truly happy.
Upon coming back to Kristoph and Philemona's house, everyone seemed to silently agree that the night was over and it was time for bed. Coming up the stairs, Liesl took Maria's hand and asked if they could talk after they had changed.
So, twenty minutes later, Maria left hers and Georg's room with instructions for him not to wait up for her and went to Liesl's room. She found the seventeen-year-old sitting with crossed legs on her bed with a troubled expression on her face.
When Maria had sat down on the bed facing her and taken her hands, Liesl said, "Something the Baroness told me before you arrived is really troubling me. When she first said it, I just assumed it was another lie. But when I told Dominik about it, he changed the subject quickly, so it must be at least a little true, as much as I can't believe it…" She took a deep breath and looked hard at Maria. "Mother, did Father kiss you that day we all fell in the lake, and is that why you ran away?"
Maria's heart broke that Elsa had stooped so low as to tell Liesl, but she didn't allow herself to feel angry just yet. She knew Liesl enough to know that she would see through any lie she would try to tell. The damage had been done; the only thing Maria could do was to bandage up the wound as best she could.
So she heaved a deep sigh and said, "After you children went inside, your father and I got into a very heated argument about the seven of you, and how you should behave. He kept telling me to be quiet, but as I went on telling him how all of you had changed and wanted their father, he got angrier and angrier to the point where his frustration snapped. That kiss was an outlet for it, I know now, and I'm grateful now that he did that as opposed to something else. And yes, I ran because of it; he didn't fire me."
As gentle as her explanation could be. Liesl looked shocked and her eyes were filled with tears and comprehension at the whole situation. Urgently, Maria took Liesl's hands and looked straight into her eyes.
"You must understand, Liesl: he was in a terrible place at that time, just as he'd been in a terrible place for the past three years. What he did was the result of shutting away his grief and emotions for so long that they forced themselves out. And he's paid for it, and learned from it. Remember what he did when he came back in the house and heard you all singing. Has he given you any cause since then to fear or distrust him?"
Liesl shook her head slowly, her mother's words having the desired effect.
Maria gave a soft smile, and wiped a tear off of Liesl's face. "No one is perfect, even parents. Don't hold it against your father; I don't anymore, and I've forgiven him. He's a much better person and in a much better place than he once was. All right?"
Liesl took a deep shuddering breath, but nodded. "All right." They embraced, and they both knew the air was cleared now.
About an hour later, Maria came out of a sleeping Liesl's room. They had raved about the show for a while before Liesl asked to be a child again, wanting a lullaby.
Maria returned to the pensive state she had entered into right after the show's curtain had come down, before it had been shattered by the appearance of Elsa. She was in such a trance that it seemed like one moment she was walking down the hallway, and the next thing she knew she was in hers and Georg's room, standing at the window with moonlight streaming in, Georg asleep on the bed and the door shut.
Images and sounds filled Maria's mind, though her body was dead tired and her eyelids were heavy. One song that kept playing over and over again in her head was the song of seduction the Phantom had sung to Christine, almost like a lullaby:
Softly, deftly, music shall surround you,
Feel it, hear it, closing in around you,
Open up your mind, let your fantasies unwind,
In this darkness which you know you cannot find:
The darkness of the music of the night.
Let your mind start a journey to a strange new world.
Leave all thoughts of the life you knew before.
Let your soul take you where you long to be!
What was this world the tortured man had sung about? Maria felt like her face was pressed against a glass door that led to it, but she didn't have the key.
In the window reflection, she saw Georg approach her from behind, his own eyelids heavy, and felt him place a hand on his shoulder.
Perhaps the key wasn't out of her grasp.
Only then can you belong to me…
"Is Liesl all right?" he asked softly.
"Mm-hm, she's all right," she responded with equal exhaustion.
He placed his other hand on her other shoulder. "Are you?"
She gave the ghost of a smile. "Yes."
Thinking of the song again, she thought of Georg. Not only had the show opened up her eyes to many things, but her conversation with Liesl had as well. She hadn't known she'd forgiven Georg in her heart until she told Liesl. It was like a weight off her heart. And the conversation with Elsa, combined with the past months – especially his week of confinement with a pinched nerve – had opened her mind to something else:
She had real feelings for this man.
Wanting to be sure, still thinking of the show, Maria took his left hand from her left shoulder, and wrapped his arm around her until she rested her head in the crook of his elbow. She clutched that arm, letting herself lean back against him. His other arm wrapped around her too, gently holding hers. She closed her eyes in exhausted surrender.
Exhaling and pressing his cheek against hers, he gently swayed them, rocked them, back and forth, by shifting from one foot to another.
Floating...
Falling...
Sweet intoxication...
After a long moment, Georg breathed in her ear. "Let's go to bed; you're worn out."
Maria opened her eyes a bit and their arms fell to their sides. "All right."
But even in bed with Georg fast asleep, Maria remained awake for a few moments longer, looking at him.
She never thought she would have these kinds of feelings for a man, even though she couldn't quite define them. She wanted to come closer and rest against him, feel his arms around him again, but she had no nerve for it.
Falling asleep, Maria found comfort in the fact that his birthday was coming near the end of the month.
A/N: Song is "The Music of the Night" - recommend listening to this (Michael Crawford version please) and the overture of the show; imagine you were Maria, and how it would effect you.
