Disclaimer: As I listen to The Lonely Goatherd I realize that I could never own The Sound of Music.
Author's Note: Oh wow…the response I got from the last chapter…please allow me to ramble for a bit…
I do ensure a happy ending...for I do believe that endings are happy ones, what kind of world would this be if they weren't?…lol. Anywho…I must confess that my whole entire purpose for writing this fic was to split them up…why? You'll see. I actually started writing this from a chapter that is coming in the future and have pretty much worked my way backwards….so yeah….we shall have a happy ending, but sometimes sadness needs to come first….now that I have explained those few things lets continue!
I Trust In My Heart-
-Chapter Fourteen: Through the Iron Gates
Maria walked towards the heavy iron gates. When she reached them she almost looked back, but didn't. She knew if she did the tears that threatened to fall would come down in buckets. She would not let them see her cry, especially Him. No, she would not look back even if it pained her more than anything.
She pushed them open with all her might, feeling extremely weak. She let them fall close behind her and she turned down the road. Her first trek down this all two familiar road flashed before her. She remembered running, it was the only way she had been able to get rid of the nerves she had felt. Nerves for tending after seven children, seven wonderful children. She sniffed.
"I have confidence…" she said laughing bitterly remembering the small mantra she had repeated over and over again as she made her way to the villa for the first time. "in confidence alone…" she huffed angrily and kicked a rock.
Her mind then went to traveling down this road weeks ago, with a different dread in her heart, but a lighter step. She had been coming back from fleeing the first time. She remember how through her entire walk the Reverend Mother's words rang through her mind. 'You must live the life you were born to lead'.
Suddenly Maria was standing on the terrace staring at the Captain once again. She remembered the look in his eyes after seeing her for the first time again after her flee. She didn't know what it had been then, but in retrospect she knew exactly what it was. Love. Desire. Passion. Joy. Happiness. Love…
She and the Captain were standing in the Gazebo gazing into the other's eyes, whispering sweet nothings finally free to express themselves as they had always wanted too. Nothing could have gone wrong.
But it did…
"Is this what she meant?" Maria asked no one, looking at the sky as she walked. "Am I to lead a life of unhappiness? Is this the life I was born to lead?"
She kicked another rock and finally let her tears flow freely.
There was a ring at the abbey gate. Sister Bertha quickly went to answering it. Ah, she thought, this must be the new postulant. As she neared the Sister realizes that the silhouette looked oddly familiar. There was also the blonde hair shimmering in the morning sun. Why, she hadn't seen hair like that since-
"Maria!" she woman gasped, quite shocked that this ex-postulant was standing at the gates with her carpet bag. But there was something different about Maria now. Her figure was hunched over and she was shaking slightly, nothing like Maria was.
She reached the gates and opened them, "Maria,"
Maria looked up. "Hello Sister" Sister Bertha could see that she had been crying, her face was tear stained and red. Not to mention the fact that a new batch of tears were welling in her eyes. The Sister held out her arm, touching Maria slightly on the arm, for she seemed to be in a far off place. When her hand made contact with Maria the young woman collapsed into the nuns arms.
"My dear child, what happened?" Sister Bertha whispered.
It was done. The wedding plans had been cancelled. He had called the local paper to tell them to post the news that the wedding was cancelled. He even arranged for letters to be sent to those invited, informing them as well.
How had he gone wrong? How could he have been so foolish? So completely and utterly wrong. Yesterday had been a stressful day indeed, and he admitted that his mind hadn't been in the right place, but what prompted him to call off his engagement to the one woman he never wanted to let go? Jealousy? Anger?
There was a knock on his study. "Come in" he muttered. He half expected to see Maria come into the room, as she always did, smiling brightly. Instead, though, he was met with a sight he would have liked to forget.
Standing in the door way, only sticking half his body in the room was Ubel. He was smirking, and his voice was smooth and calm. "Just came to say good bye as I'll be leaving. Terribly sorry about everything." and with that the man who seemingly ruined everything was gone.
That's why you did everything, Georg thought to himself. Yes, it was Ubel's fault. Georg should have known from the beginning that he was up to something, and yet he had trusted the man…his friend. No, it was entirely Ubel's fault. But then, why did Georg not believe the fact. Because it's not true he thought the blame is mine.
There was another knock on his door. "Come in"
Liesl walked in this time. Georg noted how much she resembled an adult at that very moment. Maria had been right, Liesl was changing into a woman right before his eyes. Had it not been for Maria Georg truly wouldn't be able to recognize Liesl in a year or two.
"Father?" her voice was quiet and tired, but most of all sad.
"Yes, Liesl?"
"I uh, ripped my dress." she said, stepping into the room. "We were walking through the garden and it got caught on a rose bush."
Georg looked at her and nodded. "We'll have to get you a new one. The next time we go into town you can get the material you want."
"Uh, Father?"
"Yes."
"I don't know how to make dresses….neither does anyone else."
Georg sighed, how had Maria done it all? "Of course. Well, you can still pick out a material at a dress makers."
Liesl nodded. "Thank you Father." she turned to leave. When she reached the door, she went quickly back to her father, engulfing him in a hug from behind. "I love you, Father." she said.
Georg patted her arm. "I love you too."
Reluctantly Liesl let go, and walked from the room.
Soon after Liesl had left, Georg followed her in her tracks. The children where sitting outside, by the lakes side, sticking their feet into the cool water. The soft gentle tone of their singing voices met his ears. They were quiet and sad. "These are a few of my favorite things."
Georg smiled at their choice of song.
'When the dog bites.' Georg saw Ubel kissing Maria.
'When the bee stings' Maria's words as she left his study the previous night.
'When I'm feeling bad,' Maria walking through the front gates.
'I simply remember my favorite things, and then I don't feel so bad.'
Georg sat on the terrace, watching the children and letting their voices consume him. He patted his pockets as thoughts of Maria washed over him. He thought of his favorite things.
It had been three days since Maria had left. She was staying in a spare room at the abbey, graciously provided to her by the Reverend Mother. Maria had promised to help out in anyway she could while she stayed there. After all, it was only temporary. Maria would get a job and one she had enough money to support herself she would find her own home. Home is where your heart his. The saying ran through Maria's mind. Well, maybe not home, for her heart would always lie else wear. It was more of a residence, really.
Maria was walking along the streets of Salzburg, her carpet bag clutched tightly in her hand. She would go apply for a job today. Maria was rather excited, despite her recent state of being. She had never had a job before, except for being a governess to the von Trapp's. But this job was different, she wasn't sent there by the Reverend Mother, she wasn't sent their on God's errand. No, she was sent there because she wanted to go.
Maria walked up to the dress shop. Suddenly, her excitement turned to dread. What on earth was she doing! She had never had a job before! Except for becoming a governess! But that was different, she had a house and food and room there. This…this was a shop. Maria had only ever made clothes for herself and for the children, not for anyone else. What if they didn't like her clothes?
Despite the sudden fear that rose in her, Maria stepped into the shop, a small bell ringing.
The shop was small and new, having only just opened the week before. Material upon material lined the wall. Different hues of reds and blues and colors Maria had never seen before. Think fabrics, thin ones. Delicate silks and comfortable cotton.
Maria walked up to the small counter that was towards the back and looked around, trying to see anyone. "H-h-hello?" she called, feeling foolish because it seemed that no one was there.
"What? OH! Coming!" a voice said from behind a curtain handing directly in front of Maria on the other side of the counter. No sooner did the voice speak did a boisterous woman came out. The woman was shorter than Maria, and a bit stocky. Her cheeks were rosy and her small nose resembled a small tomato. She looked to be in her mid-thirties.
"Welcome! How can I help you?" she said, cheerfully.
"Well, I saw your sign in the window for help and came here in hopes of a job." Maria said, uneasily not exactly sure what to say.
"OH! Wonderful!" the woman exclaimed. "Tell me, what's your name?"
"Maria Kutschera." Maria said, stifling a laugh at the woman's blatant enthusiasm.
"Well, hello Maria! I'm Ida Rowley."
"It's nice to meet you."
"And you as well, dear. Tell me, did you bring a sample of your work like I asked?"
Maria nodded, and bent over. She opened her carpet bag and pulled out some dresses. Lying them on the counter. Ida's eyes widened.
"These are wonderful!" the woman said, running her hands along the dresses, examining them closely. "The needle work is amazing! Though, this one here," she pointed to the one Maria had worn the day she and the children fell into the lake. "Why is the color so weird.
Maria blushed. "I uh, fell into a lake." she said.
Ida looked at her, and laughed a little. "I won't ask." Maria smiled. "Do you have more?"
"There's this one." Maria said, pulling out the blue dress she had worn when Georg had proposed to her. Maria set it on the counter and Ida examined it. Maria never really let go of it thought, for fear of it disappearing before her.
"Absolutely wonderful"
"Thank you."
"This material is so thin an delicate, and yet look at it. No nooks anywhere."
"Do you have anymore?"
Maria paused. "Well, yes." she was hesitant. She hadn't known why she brought the dress with, but she had and she was beginning to regret it.
"May I?" Ida asked.
"Of course." Maria bent down and pulled out the dress. Ida's eyes widened to the size of saucers.
"Oh my." Ida said, taking the dress and stepping out from the counter to look at it in better light. "I've never seen a wedding dress more beautiful than this." Ida said, her hand running over the smooth material.
With the sun and lights hitting the dress the room seemed to brighten. "You can thank the material for that." Maria said, looking at the dress with sad eyes.
"Oh no my dear. The way its made. The style, absolutely wonderful. Did you create it yourself?"
"I suppose. I just kind of put it together."
"It's wonderful. It must look amazing on."
Maria nodded. "It sure does." she said quietly.
"May I inquire to who it was made for?" Ida asked, cautiously. She could tell that this young Maria had something bothering her.
"Hm, oh, no one special really. Just someone I know…"
"Has the wedding already occurred? I can't imagine someone wanting to give this up, even if it was for the amount of time for me to look at it when the wedding hasn't happened."
"There won't be a wedding." Maria said quietly, feeling uncomfortable.
"Oh," Ida said, sympathetically. "Give my condolences to the girl."
"I'm sure she gratefully accepts it." Maria's eyes were staring at the dress while Ida stared curiously at Maria.
"Well!" Ida broke the silence. She set the dress on the counter. "Welcome aboard!"
"Really!" Maria couldn't believe it.
"Really. With dresses like yours honey this place will be booming with customers!" Ida giggled and hugged Maria tightly. "My first employee!"
And for the first time in days Maria laughed.
Author's Note: Well, did you like it? Let me know!
Megs: lol. It shall be fixed…don't worry! Thanks bunches!
Pim Pam Poentje: Thank you for the review!
MaryAnne: I hope Georg's reaction wasn't too out there and that this chapter explains it….I'll give Ubel a kick…lol…thanks for reviewing..
Barbara: Glad you changed your mind about the story! Thanks bunches!
The Marauders 3: I'm SO sorry I disappointed you! Do forgive me! But I promise things will get better! Much better! Thanks though…oh and I think fan fiction is the only thing I don't procrastinate about…lol
Cremated affection: Good to know I can capture emotion….glad you like it! Thanks bunches…
JeNNiFer07: Thanks a lot!
Writrfreak15: Yes, both men are rather dumb…lol…thanks a lot! Glad you like it!
I luv Julie Andrews: did you really cry? Oh goodness…They'll get back together soon enough…thanks a lot!
Myfairlady: Will do and thanks!
Well…that's it for now! Hope you all enjoy!
Until next time,
Your humble author,
The Lonely Goatherd