None of the characters in this story is mine.

I hope you enjoy this story and when you do, let me know.

Zorpelstilskin

chapter 1

The tavern was closed this day. It was a special saint's day, and Victoria was not permitted to open the tavern this day.
It was a beautiful early spring day, and she was invited to spend the day at the De la Vega hacienda. Victoria had decided, however, to put this rare day off to good use.
The tavern was getting busier with overnight guests every month, and so Victoria had made up her mind to clean Ramon's room, so she could rent it out as well.

Shortly after, Victoria had taken over the tavern. She had moved herself to her parent's former bedroom. And turned hers, and Francisco's in guest rooms. But she always had wanted to keep a room reserved, for if one of her brothers came back home.
That had never happened in the past years. And she had required more rooms having to sent people away several times the last couple of months. An extra room would give her more income.

And so that was why she had been cleaning the room for hours. Over the years, the room had slowly started to use for storage.
Victoria already sorted out things she did not want to use any more in a pile for the mission, and things she wants to save moved to other places. Victoria now opened the closest that turned out to be almost empty except for some old clothes and blankets. Victoria placed them on the pile for the mission. On a shelf were standing some books. She smiled when she was a child, Victoria had liked to read and read aloud by her mother. Her mother used to tell bedtime stories to her and her brothers.
Looking at the books, Victoria decided to keep them. Maybe one day she could read them to her children. She lifted the pile to carry the books to her bedroom. She would look later this day what kind of books they were.

Entering the room again, she took the mattress off the bed. And with much effort, she managed to get it to the balcony where with the use of the carpet- beater, Victoria beat on it till most dust was out of it. Coughing, she slapped some more times on the mattress. What a great way to get rid of some frustrations. She missed her brothers, yes they did write to her often, and she had seen Ramon in Devils fortress a little over ten months ago. She still missed having a family around her.

The De la Vega's almost felt like family, Don Alejandro being like a father to her, and she knew Diego saw her as the sister he never had. Victoria so much wanted a family of herself.
Dios, now the dust made her eyes tear. Knowing very well, it was not only the dust that had made her eyes watery. It was the easy way out of it.

She left the mattress on the balcony. And put oil on the closest and the bed in Ramon's former room. After that, she cleaned the floor and walls, placed the mattress back on the bed and made it. Satisfied by the result, she looked a proving around the room. Next market day, she would buy some small things to decorate the room some more, and then it would be perfect to rent out.

Walking back to the main room, Victoria looked at the time. It was later than expected, quickly, she started to make some preparations for her overnight guests. They would expect dinner served in less than an hour. Even if she was closed, she still needed to prepare three meals a day for her overnight guests. Arroz con pollo it was going to be.
Victoria poured in a large glass of lemonade for herself being thirsty after an afternoon of hard work in the small room.

Two hours later, she washed the dishes from her guests, and she would have the rest of the day off. It was a perfect time for a stroll across the plaza.
There was no one to be seen outside. And Victoria walked over to the plaza without knowing where she was going. Until she noticed she was walking in the direction of the graveyard.

Victoria regretted not thinking of going here when she had left the tavern. And didn't have brought with her some flowers to place on her mothers and grandparents grave. She stopped near the tombstone.

Maria Escalate, beloved wife and mother 1772- 1807

Ten years it had been when her mother got executed. Only because she had done what she felt every person should have done. Take care of someone injured.
At first, the former alcalde Vicente Cortez had been his name had refused to allow her mother to be buried in the graveyard by the church. It was thanks to Don Diego, supported by Don Alejandro and some other influential citizens of the pueblo. All had challenged the alcalde at that time. They used their influences to allow her family to bury her mother properly.
The woman had paid with her life the price for her helping someone. It was up to God now, for Maria Escalante had done her sentence on earth. And if the family wished, she should be buried in the right way. Luckily also padre Benitez had approved, and so it was that her mother laid her beside her parents in law to rest for eternity,

"Mama," Victoria whispered to herself, "I still miss you so much. I miss Francisco and Ramon. I hope one day they come back to Los Angeles. And I hope one day I will have a family of myself."

It was then she heard some noise behind her. It was padre Benitez. "Please, forgive an old man, señorita Victoria, for overhearing you."

Victoria smiled she loved the old Padre. It was a good man. Always willing to help and listen, never to judge. Only giving advice and comfort. "I only want my family near me. I miss my brothers so much. Why is that so much to ask for, Padre?"

Padre Benitez felt sorry for the young woman. Life had not been easy on her. Having lost her mother at a young age. Her father and brothers left her, to take care of the tavern when she was just 15 years old. The men, joining the revolutionary. "The hardest tasks in life, the Lord only gives to his best pupils my dear. But he is always here, to help you. Never forget that."

"Thank you, Padre. For these words. They do comfort."

"That was my intention, Victoria. You are a strong and brave woman. Many men think women can not be strong. I have walked on this earth long enough to know that women are stronger than most men. And you are one of the strongest women I have ever met." Together Victoria and Padre Benitez walked in the direction of the garden of the mission.
"Last night, a contribution was made, to the church's poor box. By the amount of it, my guess is Zorro had captured some robbers again and donated their stolen money."

Zorro had not been in the pueblo for almost three weeks, so Victoria was pleased to hear some news of her hero. "It has been some weeks since Zorro has last seen. I hope you are right, Padre, and that nothing has happened to him."

"Yes, the alcalde is keeping himself low profile this last couple of months, and there had not been much need of our town hero. I like to think of that as a blessing. Maybe the alcalde will learn..., someday."

"You think that could be. That there will be a day, Zorro is no longer needed, and he can be free?"

"You are waiting for that day to come?"

"Si padre, Zorro had promised to reveal himself once he is no longer needed. I hope for that day to come soon, so he and I can be together."

The Padre thought about how to answer. Everyone in the pueblo knew of the romance between the masked hero and tavern owner. He had his suspicions about who Zorro was. He did not want to admit to himself what he suspected. For if you didn't know, you could not betray. He also knew about the feelings between Victoria Escalante and Zorro.
Zorro had confessed to him once and had told him of his biggest fears. That had been the final clue the Padre had needed to know almost for sure Zorro's identity. The Lord works mysteriously's, so maybe it was up to him to help the two people come closer. God must have intended the two of them to be together of that he was sure. "God works in mysterious ways, Victoria. Do not forget.
I believe you and Zorro are supposed to be together. But maybe you are looking at it the wrong way."

"What do you mean, Padre?"

"Very simple, you always want to find out who Zorro is. Maybe you should stop doing that and ask yourself which man you hope is Zorro. If you and his feelings are as genuine as you claim. Then you are not meant for the legend. But you are meant for the man hiding behind the mask."

Victoria needed to think about this remark. The Padre was always true in his advice. "I know I love the man behind the mask padre. I do love his courage and ideas about justice. And I love the way he always helps everyone and stands up against those who have bad intentions. That is the man behind the mask. The man I love."

"Si, Victoria, you admire the man. You know..., I pity him. Do not forget he is also a man who must have doubts or what he does, is the right thing. A man who wants to protect what he believes in with his own life. Whenever he puts on that mask and ride, he never knows for sure, or he will survive."

Victoria wanted to interrupt.

"I know he is a smart man, and he fights in a way I have never seen anyone do before. But every time he rides, there is a chance this time a bullet may injure him. Or that a bandit does fight better than he is. Or that in some other way, he is injured or killed. Every time he puts on that mask, there is a chance all he has fought for, or he believes in, is lost because he doesn't survive this one ride.
Yes, Zorro is a hero, a legend and a myth. But underneath all that, he is just a man like all others. You do not believe he rides as Zorro all day, do you?"
Padre Benitez glanced at the young woman. Some things he said made her question he could tell. So he went on.
"No, of course not. Like everyone else, he also has times that he is himself. Maybe sometimes enjoying a nice spring evening in this garden as we do now. Or maybe, he has dinner in your tavern. Listen to gossip laughs with friends and family. At the same time, he always has in the back of his head a little voice. It tells him that one wrong move, one wrong word, can betray him.
Zorro always has to look behind his back to be careful not to be recognized and never allowed by himself to show his true self. Never relax completely, always on his guard.
He is a hero Victoria, lots of caballero's wish they were him. They wish they could fight like him, dare to stand up like him.
But you know what, Victoria? I meant what I said. I do not envy the man. I am not jealous of his skills. He gives up everything for the pueblo, and no one ever sees it. For the one who is, will know he is Zorro. And that..., can cost him his life and the life of the people he loves.
No, I pity the man. And I hope that he has people close to him that can comfort him when he thinks it is all hopeless. For yes, I think he sometimes wonders why he is doing this."

"I have never thought of that, Padre." Victoria felt tears burning in her eyes. The Padre was right. Underneath the mask was hiding a man. With feelings as fear and despair. It must be terrible to always be on your guard, never been able to allow yourself for one second to lose control. For if you did, it could mean your death sentence.

"Not many people have, I suppose. For most of us, he is just the great hero. But if you truly love him. You want to see the man behind the mask just as much as you want to see the hero. If you search for the man Victoria, maybe you can find the hero." With that last remark, Padre Benitez walked back to his church, leaving the young woman behind. Making a small prey that he had not said too much..., or too less.

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