AN: Firstly let me say that you have my heartfelt hopes that all of you and your loved ones are safe and well.
To be honest, I haven't felt much like writing while in lockdown, but then I was inspired by one of our fabulous writers to sit down at the computer. This update is for 29TvG who not only weaves wonderful stories for the fandom, but in my eyes, is one of the real-life superheroes of our age. She's a hospital doctor working exhausting shifts in her country. I don't have adequate words to express my admiration and gratitude for her and everyone else who has been helping us through this horrible time. Bless them all.
This chapter is set the day of the Festival
Chapter 24: Comfort
ooooOOOOoooo
Georg blinked his eyes open. It was morning, but he was tired. The late night discussion with Maria had led to a restless night of frustrated longings for her. He remembered ruefully how he had tortured them both by reciting fragments from the Song of Solomon. Such exquisite torment, such agonized anticipation. One week! In one week she would be his wife.
All of last night's worries had evaporated like the morning mist over the lake in a blaze of sunshine. All the pitch-black thoughts, the vortex of doubts had vanished. It was as if Maria had taken him by the hand and led him into the light. In the clear light of day he could acknowledge that he needed her desperately, and he could no more wait long, uncertain months to marry her than he could fly to the moon.
He stretched luxuriously, feeling like the luckiest man alive. Then he heard the singing drifting to him and he smiled. His bride-to-be was practicing for the Festival this evening. As much as he hated the thought of her being on stage, he knew she would captivate her audience. Her performance at the ball had already proven that.
She was practicing her vocal scales, arpeggios rising and falling in monotonous regularity. Still, even that repetitious sound could move him, touch him deeply inside, as if her singing reached into his very soul. Placing his hands beneath his head on the pillow, he smiled with the smug satisfaction of an addict who is aware that his voracious cravings can be constantly filled and replenished now that she was his.
For a moment the perilous future loomed on his horizon, but with determination he pushed it away. Damn the Nazis to hell. He was not going to let the Anschluss steal the next short period of bliss from him by encroaching on his thoughts constantly. He would need every joyful memory to comfort and fortify him as he faced the long bleak winter ahead when the Anschluss arrived.
He got out of bed. Time to get dressed and find his fiancée.
ooooOOOOoooo
Georg watched, arms folded, leaning in the doorway. Maria was alone. She had her back to him practicing her breathing exercises in the library, holding her diaphragm, inhaling deeply and letting out a great whoosh of air. She tried a few notes. With an exasperated "Oh!" she reached out to play a note on the piano. Georg moved stealthily behind her, anticipation leaping within him like an over-eager puppy. He wrapped his arms around her from behind, making her squeal softly in startled delight.
"Oh it's you," she gave a breathless laugh.
"Who did you think it was?" He brought his mouth to the pale smoothness of her neck, relishing the taste of her creamy skin, hoping that he would be able to keep things under control for a few stolen moments before breakfast.
There was no answer, as she submerged herself in the bliss of his mouth on her neck. Her sigh came out in a soft moan, the sound resonating through him.
"Why don't l help you with your breathing exercises, my love." He placed his hands on her flat abdomen, marveling at her slender waist. "Now breathe," he commanded playfully, knowing she couldn't breathe at all.
"Oh you! I can't do anything when you touch me like that!" She laughed, reveling in the sunburst of pleasure at his touch and the dark velvet of his voice in her ear once again. "You're not helping at all," she scolded.
Leaning back against him, her hand went up to reach behind her, tangling in his hair, her face pressed lovingly into his neck. Then she turned in his arms to face him.
He had a smile that stopped her heart. His mouth had always fascinated her, with its lopsided slant, so expressive of his feelings. It could be a tight forbidding line when he was dripping sarcasm and icy derision, it could be a tender quirk when he was talking to the children, filled with loving amusement. But now it held an intensely sensual shape that she knew belonged only to her. She touched it with her fingers, tracing its beautiful outline, then reached up to kiss him.
As swiftly as that, passion exploded like a fork of lightning, the storm of desire swirling around them.
They were both lost in each other, enclosed in an iridescent bubble where nothing else existed except their need for each other. One drugging kiss after another. Blind and deaf to everything around them, neither heard the door open as Frau Schmidt bustled in with her usual brisk efficiency, thinking Maria was alone.
"Fraulein, I've brought you -"
CRASH
There was a deafening clatter as she dropped a tea tray with expensive china. She stood, stunned, at the sight of them in a passionate kiss.
"…some tea," she finished in a daze, her hand at her throat.
For once in his life, Georg was slow to respond, though he and Maria broke apart abruptly as if doused with icy water. He heard Maria's distressed gasp as she hurriedly stepped away from him.
Frau Schmidt continued to stare at him, aghast. In the appalling silence before he could react, he could tell she was battling with herself. But then he saw her straighten, stiffening visibly, bristling with indignation, as if she had decided it was worth the price of losing her job to berate him about his shocking behavior.
Damn, damn, damn. Her scandalized expression told him very clearly that he was about to hear her opinion about lecherous employers taking advantage of their lovely young staff. She opened her mouth but he stopped her with his hand as he saw Franz arrive to see what the commotion was about. Stepping gingerly over the smashed crockery he went to the door.
"It's alright Franz, Frau Schmidt just tripped on the rug. She's fine. I'll call you when I need you." He dismissed the butler but not before the other man had taken in the scene with narrow-eyed speculation, quickly masked.
Shutting the door he turned back. Frau Schmidt finally found her voice, her words falling like stones into the silence.
"Captain this is disgraceful!" Her voice quivered with outrage. "I have never-"
"Wait, please, Frau Schmidt. It's not as bad as it looks. Let me explain." He held up placating hands. "I want you to know that," he paused, sending a tender smile to Maria, "I am the happiest man in all Austria because Fraulein Maria has agreed to be my wife."
Frau Schmidt was once again stunned into silence. Forgetting her usual professional etiquette she sank into a chair as she tried to absorb the news.
Maria watched her anxiously. She was trembling with reaction at being caught kissing her Captain by the housekeeper. Suddenly the doubts crowded in, the worries clamoring over each other, as she viewed their relationship from Frau Schmidt's perspective. Surely the housekeeper must be dismayed at the idea of the two of them getting married.
On the face of it they were completely unsuited to each other; their backgrounds were too different. An aristocrat, a decorated naval hero, marrying his governess? It was unheard of. How could a mountain girl acquire the airs and graces needed to become a baroness? Despite all the lessons the children and Max had given her in how to be a lady, how could she possibly fit into his first wife's shoes, when the first baroness had been born and bred into her role?
The fretful doubts continued to churn in her head. Maria didn't know anything at all about throwing grand parties and living the gilded life of an aristocratic lady. Even more, Frau Schmidt knew how high-spirited and impulsive Maria was. She must think that the prospects were very dim for Maria being able to make a mature, sophisticated man happy, especially one so ingrained in discipline and order. Anxieties and insecurities piled upon Maria, overwhelming her, as the housekeeper remained silent, staring at the floor, flabbergasted.
But then she finally looked at Maria, and her gaze softened. She gave her a smile full of warmth and approval.
"Well that is simply wonderful news. The very best news in many long, sad years. Captain, Fraulein, may I congratulate you both. I couldn't be happier."
She got to her feet and walked to Maria, whose eyes were already awash with tentatively happy, relieved tears. She patted her hand. "I have witnessed how this house has transformed into one filled with joy and music and laughter. It's been a miracle. It's all thanks to you Fraulein Maria."
Touched, Maria hugged her even though she knew that she was over-stepping the boundaries of their roles. She was probably going to be a very unconventional, overly familiar baroness, but Frau Schmidt did not seem to mind. Her eyes were watery too. They both sniffed, then laughed self-consciously.
Georg felt a surge of appreciation for his dedicated, highly efficient housekeeper. All these years she had been a stalwart in his house, quietly capable, calmly getting tasks done, even when he had been at his lowest ebb. She had often had to cover for his many failings as father: organizing presents, birthday teas and Christmas celebrations, and she had done so without judgement. In all the years she had worked for him they had both maintained their professional boundaries, so it was surprising to see the open affection between his housekeeper and Maria. But then, perhaps it wasn't so surprising. Maria's warm, generous spirit touched all those around her, breaking down barriers.
He spoke gratefully. "Thank you Frau Schmidt. We haven't told anyone else yet. Herr Detweiler knows but we thought it best to tell the children after the Festival tonight."
"That's probably wise, Captain."
"And, er….Frau Schmidt, the wedding will be very soon. But I assure you, it is not for any untoward reason. It is merely circumstance." He didn't go into details.
Frau Schmidt seemed to understand far more than she let on. "Don't worry Captain. I will be the soul of discretion. And I will ensure that when you tell the staff, none of them will engage in any unseemly gossip."
She had a faint twinkle in her eyes. "Now, I better get back to the kitchen. I dare say Herr Detweiler and the children will be fully occupied with the pastries that chef has made for breakfast. I'm sorry about the teapot sir. I'll send one of the maids in to clear up the broken pieces in about twenty minutes."
She closed the door quietly, as the Captain nodded to her gratefully for the discreet way she was giving them a few precious moments of privacy.
Georg let out a huff of relief. "Phew, I thought she was going to resign after twenty years of loyal service, but not before raking me over hot coals for my debauched behavior with my beautiful governess."
He chuckled. "I think she was ready to bundle you straight back to the Abbey. No doubt she would be prepared to organize a battalion of fierce nuns to protect you from my dastardly clutches." Only now was he able to feel amused over the little drama.
Maria didn't share his amusement. She looked worried again.
"What's wrong?"
Maria bit her lip. "Well it's starting to dawn on me that I don't think I'll make very good baroness. I haven't thought of it before but I don't have the faintest idea how to run a household, or-".
"Nonsense, you already have Frau Schmidt's respect and support. She is genuinely affectionate towards you. She was absolutely delighted with the news. She will help you learn everything. Now stop worrying. I do enough worrying - and about important things - for both of us."
He gave her dangerous smile, filled with wicked promise. "Why don't you come here. We need to continue your musical practice."
With a puff of laughter, Maria flew into his arms and once again the world dwindled to the compass of his passionate embrace, where nothing existed outside of the delicious torment of yearning they induced in each other.
ooooOOOOoooo
Twenty minutes later, Georg left Maria, exhilaration in his every step as he passed the maid on the way to clean up the smashed porcelain. He kept a sober expression as he nodded to her, wondering if the delightful flush on Maria's lovely cheeks would have abated in time. How he adored her. One week couldn't come soon enough.
As he strode down the stairs, an overpowering, almost cloying scent reached him. He stopped in astonishment in the anteroom.
"What the devil is all this?" he asked Max
Max was looking at what seemed like at least a dozen bouquets of flowers in a vivid array of colours. They lay on the table, a vibrant profusion of blooms, everything from roses and carnations to tiny bundles of lily-of-the-valley and edelweiss.
Max greeted him cheerfully. "Good morning Georg, you're looking well this morning. I see Maria was able to banish all your doubts last night."
He stroked his mustache with a complacent smile. "It's going to be a marvelous day, I can just feel it in the air. The Festival will be a triumph for Maria."
Georg didn't respond, he was still looking suspiciously at the flowers.
Max explained helpfully. "These are all for her. Aren't they splendid? They've been arriving since first light. They're from well-wishers for her performance at the Festival tonight."
Georg's good mood evaporated as quickly as water sizzling on hot coals. He could feel his hackles beginning to rise, knowing they must be from some of her admirers from the ball. He grimly touched a blush-pink rosebud just beginning to unfurl its delicate silky petals to reveal its exquisite beauty. It reminded him of the beautifully blossoming sensuality of his bride-to-be. Dammit all, she was his. The nerve of those men, sending her flowers! Possessiveness and jealousy seeped into his blood like a bitter poison, inflaming his temper.
But Max was his usual oblivious self. He held up a large bouquet of lilies, perfuming the air with its heavy fragrance. "This is from that prince she danced with at the ball. "May God be smiling on you this evening, Fraulein Maria. Ferdinand."
Georg's jaw clenched. He picked up, what, in his prejudiced view, was a vulgar display of gaudy orange chrysanthemums.
Max read the attached note. "It's from that chap - Freddy Einsfeld-Hugel. He was the one gazing forlornly through the gates the other morning, waiting to see her. It's a quote from Goethe: "Fill your heart to overflowing, and when you feel profoundest bliss, then call it what you will: Good fortune! Heart! Love! or God! I have no name for it! Feeling is all; the name is sound and smoke, beclouding Heaven's glow.""
Max grinned. "My goodness, he's still quite smitten isn't he?"
Max turned, but Georg had gone, turning on his heel to stalk off in silent, blistering fury. Max addressed the chrysanthemums, "Well you've certainly put him in a foul mood."
Maria arrived minutes later, gasping in surprise at the gorgeous display. "Oh how lovely!"
Max smiled. "Good morning my dear, you are looking as fresh and delightful as a sprig of edelweiss. How are you feeling about this evening?"
"I'm awfully nervous." She clutched her belly where a thousand butterflies seemed to have taken up residence inside. "But where did all these beautiful blossoms come from?"
"They're from your various supporters from the ball, wishing you luck for tonight."
Maria looked astonished "For me? They're so beautiful!"
Max looked smug. "I knew that having you sing at the ball would whet everyone's appetite for more. It was a master stroke on my part."
Remembering the ball, Maria looked concerned. "Did er…"
"Yes, Georg has seen the flowers." He grinned. "I think perhaps you may need to go and "soothe our savage beast" once more."
Maria nodded slowly, turning to leave, but then she said, "I'll need to write thank you notes to the senders. It was very kind of them. But maybe we could donate the flowers to the hospital to brighten up the day of many more people?"
Max smiled. "I'll see to it. You certainly understand your future husband well. We should leave shortly for the Festival. You'll need to rehearse and discuss the scores with the musicians."
Maria peeked into Georg's study. He was working on a document. His face looked chilly and remote, such a contrast to the teasing, passionate man of only half an hour ago. She remembered how he had frozen her out at the ball. His eyes had been like ice. Ice that burned.
At the time she had no idea that it was because he had been jealous. It still astonished her that a man like him could feel such possessiveness, but it tugged at something in her that he could feel that way about her. Rightly or wrongly, it made her feel cossetted. No-one had ever been displayed such strong emotions about her before. Looking at him now, he reminded her of the pictures of the snow-capped volcanoes she had seen in books: on the outside, glacial, but inside a seething, molten cauldron.
"Hallo," she murmured softly.
He looked up and smiled at her, but the smile didn't reach his eyes.
Her heart ached at the way he was trying not to give in to the unpleasant feelings and upset her. She walked over to him and he leaned back in his chair. She perched on his lap, uninvited, and wrapped her arms around his neck and held him close. Sighing with contentment, she whispered her love in his ear, then stroked his face lovingly. He responded warmly but still stiff with reserve and suppressed emotions.
"I have a surprise for you,"
He raised eyebrows. "Oh?"
She had an impish smile. "Georg."
He looked puzzled and she laughed softly.
"I've been practicing your name,"
He chuckled quietly. "Well done, but actually I think I prefer 'darling'"
She tangled her fingers in a lock of hair near his ear. "I'm going to give the flowers to the hospital, Captain Georg darling." She tried unsuccessfully to draw a smile from him at her silly pride over her accomplishment over his name.
He shrugged. "You can if you want to, but there's really no need for that." His feigned indifference was so endearing that Maria kissed him tenderly.
"So you don't mind about the flowers?"
"The hell I don't!" he growled immediately. And that seemed to crack through the ice, the hot blooded man was back, and to her delight he was kissing her possessively.
Although she could have stayed there like that for hours or even forever, finally she broke away, breathless. "I have to leave to go to the Festival rehearsal now."
"How are feeling about it?"
"Terribly nervous, but I all I have to do is sing for you. Just like I did at the ball."
"Ah, Maria, the gifts you give me."
"Well, I have to give you something back, after all, you're giving me seven priceless gifts. Now, I really have to go or Max will burst in at any moment."
"I'll come and see you back-stage before you go on." The promise was sealed with a kiss.
ooooOOOOoooo
Maria bustled about in her room getting ready, packing her gown, gloves, opera cape. She was starting to feel like a bundle of nerves and tried to calm herself with breathing exercises, but she still felt on edge. Finally she was ready, heart thudding with anxiety, stomach churning.
Georg was in the hallway with all seven over-excited children. They were making a huge din in their high-spirited eagerness to support her. As she came down the stairs his eyes met hers in a tender moment of intensely private communion. It was only for a second, surely unnoticed, yet it seemed to set Brigitta and Louisa off into a fit of giggles. Maria looked at them, puzzled. Surely they didn't know anything?
Georg took control, quietening their exuberance. "Alright all of you. It's time to wish Fraulein Maria well for her performance. You'll see her this evening. We can visit her backstage."
He continued to speak over the chorus of cheers.
"In the meantime I'm going to be spending the day with you. And I hope that doesn't mean you are going to try to drown me in the lake again."
He looked at them with a mock fierceness that made them fall about in laughter, remembering when they had all tumbled out of the rowboat. Maria's heart swelled, looking at their beloved faces. For a moment she forgot her stress in the blissful comfort of knowing that this family would soon be hers.
Max brought the car around and Georg opened the door for her, managing to brush his fingers with hers secretly. The simple gesture, just a gentle, magical clutch of his fingers, conveyed so much love she wanted to weep.
Max drove off as the children ran after the car, shouting their good wishes. The two little ones were waving so vigorously that it brought a tear to Maria's eye.
"Er… Maria, I was thinking," Max sounded unusually troubled. She looked at him curiously as he shifted uncomfortably.
"Well I was thinking that whatever happens today, perhaps you shouldn't mention to Georg that I took a bet with Sascha Petrie that you would win the Festival. I suspect he will take a rather dim view of that, especially now that you're engaged."
Maria smiled. "I won't say a word to him," she promised solemnly. "Besides, Sascha assured me at the Ball that he regretted the wager himself. He said he would happily pay to fix the roof of the orphanage no matter what the outcome this evening."
"Did he? Hah! That scoundrel was no doubt trying to woo you away from me. Such a shameless thief! Still, if he's agreed to pay the bet already…."
"Well, really, since gambling is a sin, perhaps your penance should be to pay half of it yourself." Maria's eyes were full of amusement, enjoying teasing him. "You've already told me how concerned you are about the orphanage after all."
Trapped by his previous words Max looked appalled, then finally grumbled a reluctant "Alright." He muttered to himself, "I wonder if Georg would give me a loan."
Maria laughed.
For the rest of the car ride into town, Max briefed her on the logistics, and the technicalities of lighting and sound.
"You'll be given one full rehearsal and then you will have several hours free until this evening." He drew up outside the Felsenreitschule, showing his pass to be let in.
Maria took a moment to gaze in wonder at the beautiful baroque structure from outside, before walking through the archway into the stone interior. After the busy, noisy clatter of the modern street outside, strolling inside the theatre was like stepping back in time to an earlier magical era, to a period when the Prince Archbishops ruled Salzburg. The dozens of imposing arcaded arches hewn from the rock wall, three stories high, provided a dramatic backdrop to the stage, leaving her spellbound.
Maria touched the cold stone walls, feeling that surely they must contain evocative echoes of all the legendary productions held here over the centuries. She looked around in awe, humbled by the thought that she was actually going to be singing in such a glorious setting. It seemed unbelievable.
Inside was a hive of activity, as various technicians, musicians, performers and production assistants prepared for the night's event. She was soon caught up in it. Max was in his element, organizing, directing, instructing. After conferring with the conductor in the orchestra pit it was Maria's turn to rehearse, trying out various positions on the stage with the lighting engineers at the same time. Her taut nerves made her stumble over a few notes and there were a few glitches and restarts. She fervently hoped that it would all be smoothed out for the actual performance. Then her turn was over and she wandered backstage where Max had arranged a small room for her to put her things.
Sighing in wonder she sat down in her room, still finding it hard to believe she was actually a part of this magical event.
Her reverie was broken by a knock. She opened the door to see a wall of flowers, carried by a hapless delivery person, hidden from view.
"Delivery for Fraulein Rainer," a familiar voice with a broad accent mumbled from the flowers.
"Eliza! Oh it's so good to see you." Maria was thrilled to see her dear friend as she peeked out with a big smile, from the blooms.
"But what's all this?" More flowers? Goodness, she was being spoilt. The hospital will be pleased she thought.
"Well your Cap'n called this morning and asked Frau Meyer to deliver the freshest, most beautiful blossoms to Fraulein Rainer at the amphitheatre, so 'ere I am." She handed Maria a note.
Maria read it eagerly. It had quotes from Plato. "Every heart sings a song, incomplete, until another heart whispers back. Those who wish to sing always find a song. At the touch of a lover, everyone becomes a poet." All my love, G."
Her eyes glistened with unshed tears at the sweet gesture. She buried her nose in the heavenly scent.
Eliza was elated. "Now Maria you 'ave to tell me everything! I nearly fell off me chair, I did, when you called with the news. Didn't I tell you the Cap'n loved you? It was so bloomin' obvious! I'm so glad 'e finally declared 'imself to you. And now you're getting married! You're going to be a Captainess!"
She was practically squealing with excitement and Maria had to laughingly hush her in case anyone overheard them. They sat together and Maria told her everything: from singing at the ball and all the misunderstandings when she danced with the Captain; the mysterious disappearance of Baroness Schraeder; to the waltz he had arranged in his ballroom when he declared his love. After that there was the conversation with the Reverend Mother to gain her permission to marry quickly, and then the wedding to be held in a tiny mountainside church in a week's time.
Eliza listened, misty eyed, enthralled with the romance of it all. "Ooooh, it's like a fairytale! So loverly. I just knew 'e was a fine man."
"Yes he is," Maria replied, startled to find her voice breaking on the last word. To Maria's surprise and horror she found herself bursting into tears.
"Oh Maria! Whatever is the matter?" Eliza wrapped her arm around Maria's shoulders as she wept, great shuddering sobs that shook her whole body. A detached part of Maria was unnerved to realise that all the terrible fears for her Captain, which she had thought she had so successfully quashed for the next couple of weeks of happiness, were merely lying close to the surface, ready to break through. Perhaps her anxieties about her performance had helped to crumble the carefully constructed edifice of her control, bringing forth the anguish.
When the storm of weeping had abated somewhat, she told Eliza that Georg intended to send her and the children away while he stayed behind to fight for Austria.
Eliza looked worried and shocked. "But the Nazis are unbeatable."
"I know."
"Can't you stop 'im?"
"I can't ask him not to. I don't think he could live with himself if he didn't do something. I can't burden him with my fears, he has enough to cope with. I just have to try to be brave like his first wife. I don't know how she managed to send him off to war for all those years in the Great War."
Her mouth quivered with emotions as she continued. "I keep trying to tell myself that countless women have been sending their beloved husbands or sweethearts, sons and brothers off to war throughout the ages. But it doesn't help much. It still feels as if no-one else could have possibly experienced this dreadful despair. It's not very noble or courageous of me."
"But you are brave, facing all this. Just remember 'e is a famous war 'ero and all. With all those medals 'e is bound to come back safe and sound, just like in the last war."
"Oh I do hope so Eliza. But I am so terribly frightened for him. I can't bear the thought of losing him."
She dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief, then caught sight of her tear-ravaged face in the mirror and gave a shaky laugh. "Heavens, Max will be cross when he sees my shiny nose and red eyes. I can't go on stage like this."
"The performance is hours away," Eliza consoled her.
Maria forced a watery smile. "I'm sorry to be such a goose. I thought I had all of the worries buried for the moment."
"You just cry all you like, don't you worry about that."
For an awful moment, Maria wondered whether the anguish would break through again and she might actually start crying in the middle of her performance. Oh please Lord, give me strength to get through this evening.
Eventually Maria calmed down enough to insist Eliza go back to work, even though Eliza was reluctant to leave her. Maria reassured her she was fine and that she would see her in the evening.
Eliza squeezed her arm as she said goodbye. "I got me-self a front row seat, so you'll see me cheering like mad. You're going to be wonderful, I just know it I do. And I can't wait to come to your wedding next week." She assured her gently, "I'll add me prayers to yours for your Cap'n."
"Thank you Eliza. Bless you."
When she left, Maria suddenly realised exactly where she wanted to be. It was a little far but she had time. Throughout her life she had always gone there for solace, and to sound out ideas about what to do with her life. Whenever she was at a crossroads she would visit there first and then usually a path would open up for her in her mind. Being in that place never failed to give her tranquillity and courage.
An hour later she stood outside the gates of a tiny cemetery in a small hamlet on the outskirts of Salzburg, nestled at the foot of the Untersberg. She walked through the meandering paths where nothing could be heard except birdsong and the gentle rustle of leaves in the trees. It was a beautiful, peaceful spot.
She stopped at a humble little white cross with black gothic lettering.
"Hallo Mama and Papa," she whispered into the breeze caressing her face. As she always did when she was here, she could feel their comforting, loving presence in her soul. "I've got so much to tell you."
Kneeling at the graveside she spoke softly, telling them all her news. Joyfully, she told them that she was getting married and would be making them grandparents seven times over. She smiled as she told them how she had met her Captain, and how in spite of her ridiculous deceit they had still fallen in love. Her parents knew her penchant for mischief so she was sure they wouldn't be surprised.
Then she told them about each of their new grandchildren: Liesl, full of romantic dreams, budding into womanhood; Friedrich, striding along the path to becoming a man with the guidance of his father; Louisa, brooding but fiercely loving just like her father; incorrigible Kurt with his mischievous grin, always ready with a prank; Brigitta the bookworm with a bountiful imagination; and the two little ones whose giggles and unstinting affection could soften the hardest heart.
In a labour of love she cleaned the splatters of mud from the recent rainfalls off the cross, until it sparkled in the sunshine. Then she placed the flowers Georg had sent her. They lay across the grave like a lavish carpet in a gorgeous palette of colours. It warmed her to see it.
With her heart full of love she told her parents all about their future son-in-law and his bravery. She felt as if her parents were there with her, tenderly wrapping her in their arms. It made her feel stronger and at peace.
"I have to go now because I'm going to be performing at the Festival. Isn't that astonishing? Wish me luck," she asked softly. "I have to take the children out of Austria for a while Mama and Papa. I don't know when we can come back but I hope it won't be too long. I know you will always be looking over me though."
She smiled at how much better she felt. As a little girl, the few times she had come here she had been filled with a bewildered, wrenching grief, but as the years passed the raw pain tempered until eventually, coming here restored her and gave her the strength and serenity to face whatever was ahead.
The sun was lowering in the sky and Maria knew she should start heading back. She said a prayer in their name.
"Please watch over your future son-in-law." Kissing her fingertips first, she tenderly traced her fingers over their names. She was sure she could feel their adoring embrace as she left the cemetery.
It was time for the show to begin.
ooooOOOOoooo
AN: Thank you for reading and I would love to know your thoughts.
To guestMaria05, thank you for the review, and you're right – I did fudge Roumanian history. My apologies :)
Keep safe and stay strong everyone. xx