Chapter 3
Here's an update! Hope it satisfies everyone! I don't really know where this is going...but here it is :) Sorry it took me so long!
Elsa knocked on Georg's door.
"Come in," Came his weary response.
Elsa opened the door and slipped inside. Georg's face hardened when he saw her.
"What is it now, Elsa?" He asked, his voice cold and distant.
"I wanted to apologize, again. I know I was wrong, but I couldn't help myself. You know how I am, right Georg? I mean, we've known each other for years…"
Georg sighed. She's right. I should have known she would have done that. "Yes, you're right." He brought his hands to his face in fatigue. "I'll see you in the morning, hmm?"
Elsa smiled. "Alright" She left the room.
Maria finished packing her bag, and was going to leave when she spotted a dress that she had forgotten to pack. Slowly, she picked it up. It was the dress that she had worn when the fight took place. The fight that changed her life…and the Captain's. At the thought of the Captain, she felt herself getting angry again.
Suddenly, a word from the Reverend Mother came to her. She remembered the time she had been angry with one of the sisters for, she couldn't remember what, but the Reverend Mother had said, "Maria, you must remember that it is a sin to get angry, and to judge others."
"…it is a sin to get angry" The words kept echoing in her head. Maria immediately felt shame. I'm sorry, Lord. Maria whispered. Immediately, she felt a peace come over her. Suddenly, she knew what she must do.
Going to her closet, she began unpacking her things, one at a time. She was determined to put into action what the Abbey had taught her to do. She would be kind, and act like nothing happened. She would continue to be kind to the Baroness, and the Captain. Just then, she KNEW that somehow the Captain didn't really dislike her religion. She just knew it. With that thought in her mind, she finished unpacking, and fell onto her bed, where she fell fast asleep.
The next morning, Elsa came down the stairs to find all seven of the children, Georg, AND their governess present at the dining table.
Maria saw her first.
"Good morning, Baroness. I trust you slept well?" Maria asked politely.
The Baroness looked at Maria, astonished. "Uh, yes I did." She fumbled.
She looked at Georg, afraid that he found out what she did.
He smiled at her and said, "Wonderful. Care to join us for breakfast?"
Relieved, she nodded, and sat down at her place.
Within minutes of the silence that swept over the room, the children announced that they were going to go for a walk before time for lessons. Georg hurriedly dismissed them. The children left the room, leaving Maria, Georg, and Elsa.
Maria smiled at both of them, and said that she was going to join the children. She was just about to stand when Georg said, "Fraulein, stay here please. There's something that I would like you to here."
Surprised, Maria settled back into her chair. She waited for him to continue.
"Elsa, I find that your actions last night made it quite clear that we are not compatible for each other. Therefore, I think it would be best if we went our separate ways. You're welcome to stay here for as long as you want, until you can head back to Vienna."
Elsa didn't look surprised. "That's fine." Was all she said. I knew there was no way I could separate those two. Oh well…
Maria cleared her throat. "Uhh, Captain?" Georg turned to look at her.
"What does that have to do with me?"
"Oh yes. Well, it looks like the children will need you until the end of the summer after all! That is, if you're interested in staying."
Maria's face lit up. "Oh yes, sir! That would be fantastic."
Georg smiled at her enthusiasm. "Good! It's settled then."
Maria excused herself, leaving Elsa and Georg to themselves. The two looked at each other awkwardly. Finally, Elsa spoke.
"I know that something is going to happen between you and her. So I suggest that you make it happen soon, or else she'll be gone." With that, she left the room.
The Captain just sat there, dumbfounded. What did she mean?
Outside, Maria and the children were having fun playing tag. The sound of their cheerful laughter was music to Georg's ears. He watched them from a window, a peaceful smile pasted on his face.
Elsa walked into the room, her bag in her hand. "Georg," Elsa said, informing him of her presence. Georg turned, startled. "Oh, Elsa. Leaving so soon?" Elsa nodded. "It's better this way. Good bye, Georg. I wish you all the best." With that, she walked away from his life. Forever. Georg watched her go. "Good bye…" He whispered.
Few hours later...
The children were upstairs, doing their lessons for the day.
"I'm tired." Complained Kurt.
"I hate geography." Grumbled Louisa.
Brigitta just sighed with contentment. she was working on something she enjoyed- reading.
Maria sighed as she heard the complaints.
"Children, it's only for a while longer. If you all finish soon, we'll go on a picnic, ok?"
The children immediately set to work. Within a half hour, they were all done.
"We're done!" The children shouted.
Maria laughed. "So i see. Alright, picnic time, as I promised."
THe children cheered. They hurriedly put their things away, went downstairs to get some food, and put on their playclothes in record time.
When all of the children were finished, they went downstairs to wait for Maria.
"Hurry up, Fraulein!" They chorused.
"I'm coming, I'm coming!" Maria answered. As soon as she appeared, the chlildren practically dragged her outside, where they walked to their favourite place- the mountains.