"Litora, multum ille et terris iactatus et alto Vi superum, saevae memorem Iunonis ob iram.."

Elise repeated the passage to Moritz. His lips formed the words as she spoke. "Multa quoque et bello passus, dum conderet urbem... Arma virumque cano, Troiae qui primus ab oris.. what does it all mean?"

"Hmm?"

Elise put a blade of grass in the book and closed it with a sigh. "What does the passage mean, Moritz?" The boy shrugged. "D-Don't ask me. I can barely say the words."

He turned his attention to pulling bits of grass from the earth. Elise gazed over her right shoulder. Melchior was scribbling something down in a book furiously. His mouth moved at every other scribble, his eyes full of intent.

Otto and Georg leaned against a tree opposite of Elise and Moritz, drawing on a scrap piece of paper leant to them by Melchior. Her older brother and Ernst sat on the side of the pond, the blonde reading something to Ernst, who was shaking like a leaf. Elise looked upwards, smiling as a leaf drifted down to the earth. She giggled quietly as the dark red leaf trickled down her nose and landed on her chest.

The fifteen year old pinched the leaf and blew on it. Mortz sputtered in shock for the leaf floated to his face. He laughed uncomfortably while Elise giggled in delight. She looked up at the sun. "It is such a lovely day, hm Moritz?" "Y-Yes, it is."

Melchior rolled his eyes at the cliche of a conversation starter. The two teenagers did not notice, only focused on the bright blue sky.

"Do you boys always come here to study?" Moritz shook his head wildly. Elise laughed at his jerky head motion. "Does your head always shake like that, Moritz?" Moritz knew she was teasing him, but grew defensive. "N-No! Never!"

The girl raised an eyebrow causing her to look remarkably like Hanschen, decided Moritz. "Alright, no need to be defensive now! I'm only trying to make conversation."

"S-Sorry," apologized the student.

Elise reach over Moritz for the Latin book. She noticed how his face reddened like a tomato when her hand traveled above his pelvis. "U-Uh, Elise?" The mentioned girl furrowed her eyebrows in confusement at Moritz's discomfort. "What? What can possibly be the matter, Moritz?" She opened her arms presenting the environment around her. "There's nothing wrong with this day, with me, with anyone here! Yet, you stutter and mumble like a shy child clinging to his mother's skirts."

Moritz avoided her glare, instead focusing on his fingers playing with a blade of grass. "I"m sorry," he muttered. "I'm j-just a little n-nervous around n-new people." His eyes cast downwards, fixing on Elise's sky-blue stockings. They complimented her dark blue dress and doll-like skin perfectly. "Lovely," he said aloud. "Pardon?"

Moritz pulled at his collar nervously. His heart dropped at Elise's amused face. "I didn't quite hear you, Herr Stiefel. What were you saying?"

"E-Er, ille. Ille. I w-was saying the p-passage ment-tally," he stammered. Hanschen's sister nodded slowly and smiled at him. "Good for you! Speaking of your Latin, we should go back to it." The pages flipped quickly as Elise scanned the passages. "Ille...et terris iactatus et alto Vi superum...etcetera etcetera. This isn't interesting." The girl rose to her feet saying," You know this already. Just do not fret about it and you shall be fine." Elise smiled supportively at her new aquaintance.

She turned her back to Moritz. "Hanschen! Hanschen!"

The blonde rolled his eyes, amusing his dark-haired companion. "Ignore her, Ernst," he crooned. "Now, where did we leave Perseus?"

"BROTHER! BROTHER, DEAR!"

"Wh-What are you trying to do?" Elise whipped her head to face Moritz. Her teeth flashed into a grande smile. "To spite him. It's quite entertaining, you see." Her pale hand jutted out to Moritz. "Come on." Moritz continued staring at her stockings for a minute before returning to reality. "W-What?"

"There's only one thing Hanschen hates more than me bothering him."

"What is that?"

Moritz was pulled onto his feet by the younger Rilow. Elise's eyes twinkled with amusement, stunning the student.

She looked so much like Ilse at that moment. Beautiful young Ilse who left him to suffer through this teenaged existence just a year and a half ago. She left him standing there the moonlight by the pond watching her hair fade in with the black night as she ran into the trees. His heart ached. Ilse, he mourned mentally. Why did you leave us?

"Ready?"

Torn away from his thoughts, Moritz focused on Elise's concerned look. "Are you alright, Moritz?" He swallowed and nodded in response. "Good." Moritz's palm sweat as Elise locked her hand in his. "Just follow me," she whispered, pressing something into his free palm.

"Oh Hanschen, dear!"

The grunting Hanschen turned from Ernst to face his sibling. "Wha-" A projectile landed right on his forehead, leaving him momentarily stunned. "ELISE!" Moritz Stiefel lowered his hand with wide eyes. "Run, RUN!" Elise tugged the amused Stiefel along as her brother gave chase. The two teenagers erupted into giggles while they circled around the large tree to the reeds. "GET BACK HERE THIS MINUTE, YOU IMPETUOUS CHILD!" Melchior coughed and stuck out his shoe, tripping Hanschen over onto the abandoned Latin book.

"Hanschen!" Ernst rushed over to his tutor, ignoring the other boys' laughter at Hanschen's misfortune. "Took quite a tumble there, eh Herr Rilow?" Hanschen glared at Melchior. He felt Ernst's hand on his shoulder jump away when another projectile landed on his clothing. Hanschen took the item in his two fingers to examine. It was a small acorn, the size of his fingernail. His temper flared while his cheeks burned with embarressment and anger. "ELISE, YOU AND HERR STIEFEL HAD BETTER RUN. WHEN I FIND YOU, YOU'RE DEAD!" As he uttered this warning, a third acorn bounced off his face followed by girlish laughter. "ELISE RILOW!"

Elise doubled over cackling. Moritz unsuccessfully tried to hold back laughter. Elise fell over onto Moritz's lap still holding her stomach. "D-Did you s-see his f-face! Oh God, h-he looked like a c-complete-" She could not finish for her giggles bubbled over her words. Moritz's hand covered her lips in an effort to quiet her. He felt her flinch in surprise and her lips pressing against his hand as she scolded him

"S-Shh, listen."

Leaves crunched in front of the hiding tricksters. The girl squirmed in the Stiefel boy's arms as if she were attempting to turn invisible, thus avoiding the approaching stranger. Both their hearts beat wildly in that time. Those who peered from above and into the children's minds and souls could see why their hearts were in sync with each other. Though, the children themselves did not know it yet.

The shadow lurked around the corner of the reeds. Their hearts stopped when the shadow's arm came into view. Be still, my heart instructed the girl, for a fear with two reasons.

Moritz clutched onto her with the strength his weak body could muster. His weight transferred to his knees as did Elise's. They moved as one, so in sync with one another. "Elise, Moritz, bist du hier?" The duo sprang to their feet and galloped away from the slim figure of Georg. "ELISE!" Said girl burst into screams, not of fear, but of amusement.

She felt so free, so in control. This is what freedom feels like she mused to herself as her newfound friend took her into an unfamilliar wooded area. Having the say in your actions, running wild and free. Getting the choice to torment others without pain of punishment. The last thought was foolish, she realized. She would have to return home sooner or later. And Hanschen would be waiting. Punishment already decided and ready to be served.

"Here we are."

They were in a clearing far away from the pond. Elise caught her breath looking at the scenery around her. It was almost like in the fairy tales Mama had read her. The illustrations always contained the circle of trees around a small spot where the heroine met her prince/villan. It continued to be a favorite setting of Elise. She never thought a clearing like this was right in her hometown. "Oh goodness," she breathed. Moritz let her hand slip from his grasp before checking the path behind them. He knew it was a little prank, but he feared Hanschen's rage. He remembered how Elise's elder brother had yelled and fumed, how his face grew as red as blood when the acorn hit.

"Moritz!" Elise waltzed over to him gracefully, taking his hand in hers again. "Isn't it lovely here? Look and listen."

She twirled into his arms then out again. The older boy was confounded. The girl closed her eyes and began to hum a slow tune. She danced with herself, spinning around in a circle. Her dark dress floated upwards revealing more of those intriguing sky-blue stockings. His eyes traveled up her legs to her slim thigh. His heart palpitated and breath quickened.

Leaves rustled around the two. Moritz was entranced by the dancing girl. She was lost in her own little world. A saddened smile crossed his face. "Ilse.."

Elise stopped twirling. "Beg pardon?"

"O-Oh, nothing, Lise. Just nothing." "No, what is it? What did you say, Moritz?" The boy shyly glanced down at his shoes. "It's just..you remind me of an old friend." Lise was intrigued. "Really? Anyone Hanschen or I know?" "H-Hanschen knew her as well." But not as well as I did...

"What happened to her?" "Wh-What do you mean, Lise?"

She stepped over to him. "Your eyes. They're sad, lost. Something happened to her, Moritz, didn't it?" He ran a hand through his messy hair, a nervous habit of his. "...I don't know." His eyes glistened and breath hitched. "I-I don't know. She was b-bruised all over and bleeding from her nose and lip. Her dress was torn off h-her-"

Words caught in his throat. It was too painful to remember. The memory of Ilse standing in the moonlight, her breast nearly shown through her ripped nightgown. The corner of her lip crusted over with dried blood and covered with a fresh layer of blood from her nose. Her eyes were both black and blue along with her arms. He'd washed her face gently with his jacket. She'd pleaded with him to let her go. It pained him. To this day, it pained his heart.

"M-Moritz?"

He felt her touch on his cheeks. His body flinched from the unfamiliar touch of Elise's hand on his face. Her finger trailed down to a tear. "I'm sure she is alright now," she whispered reassuringly. Moritz licked his chapped lips before pressing them together. His eyes lowered to meet Lise's. "I certainly hope so." He hadn't heard from her in months. No one knew where Ilse was living currently. Most people in this town didn't give a damn. They were all convinced that her father had been doing the right thing by punishing her in such a manner..

Pale arms wrapped around his neck. The Rilow girl's head pressed into the space between his chin and chest.

His arms awkwardly surrounded her. "Moritz, I'm sorry for questioning you like this." His chin sat on top of her head, eyes staring out into the wooded area. "No, it's alright," cracked his voice. A dark shadow passed above them. The sky turned cloudy. Elise's body shivered against Moritz's. Her dress was thin he realized.

"Here."

Moritz put his coat around Lise's shoulders. She threw him a questioning look. "Y-You look cold," he stammered, embarrassed. Her cheeks tinged pink. "Yes, a little. I wish it were still summer. I love the warmth so much." She smiled at him while brushing back a stray piece of hair. "Do you like the summer as well?" "The spring," he replied. "Why is that, Herr Stiefel?" They began to stroll throughout the clouded forest.

"The symbolism of it, I s-suppose." Seeing her confused expression, Moritz rushed to explain. "You s-see, spring is the start of new l-life. The new flowers come out and new offspring are b-born into the world. W-We also celebrate Easter in the spring, the Resurrection of Christ."

"I see," she nodded.

They walked together in silence. Their fingers intertwined knowingly. The wind blew through the forest again. Lise's body suddenly shivered. "A-Are you still cold?" Her head nodded. Then she uttered a sneeze. "Gesundheit! You know, we better start back before you fall ill."

Her hand clutched onto Moritz's arm desperately. "I don't want to go back. Don't make us. We were having such a lovely time getting to know one another." "Yes, but Hanschen would kill me if you were to become sick. You are also supposed to leave with him, remember?" Her expression became one of absolute horror. "Oh Gott," she breathed. She dropped her hand and darted away. "Elise! L-LISE!" Moritz ran after her.

"Elise Rilow, where in God's name have you been?"

Elise placed her hand on her chest and breathed in deeply. Hanschen was leaning against a tree with a cowering Ernst beside him. She bowed her head, preparing for the worst to come. "With Moritz Stiefel, brother," she told him in a monotone. "Obviously, seeing as you two were the ones who fled the scene after pelting me and my classmates with acorns!" The brother stalked over with a furious expression plastered on his features.

"You completely embarrass me by acting like a child. Then you shame Father and Mother by running off with Moritz Stiefel, who is about the most idiotic boy in the town!" "Herr Stiefel is not an idiot, brother," snapped Elise. "He is quite a nice young man who is well-spok-" Her brother's iron hold on her wrist cut her off. Lise moaned as Hanschen's grip tightened over her boney wrist. "You do not have the slightest idea about how young men think. You could have shamed our family by..cavorting with Moritz Stiefel."

She didn't understand. "Cavorting? Hanschen, what do you-?"

"Enough! You are coming home with me this instant, Elise! And you should behave otherwise I will inform Father of your shameful actions." Her face turned white with fear. Elise looked back. "Moritz," she called out softly. Hanschen tugged her forwards and away from the pond. A frightened Ernst followed the siblings.

Meanwhile, the young Moritz Stiefel peered from behind the bushes. He felt completely horrible. He desperately wanted to follow them and receive the punishment from Hanschen. A simple slap wouldn't even faze him. His father had dealt worse wounds to his psyche.. Moritz rose to his feet in preparation to chase after the group.

"Stop it."

"M-Melchi."

Melchior put his hand on Moritz's shoulder. "She'll be fine," assured Melchior. "H-How do you know this? Y-You don't k-know what happens in the Rilow h-household, Melchi," argued Moritz. Melchior only sighed.

"You're right, I don't know for certain what goes on. But I do know that Hanschen is an expert on working the system to his advantage. He won't tell his father, but he will hold this over Elise for as long as they are living with their parents."

"Willkommen zu Hause, Vater."

Hanschen bowed to his father then presented Ernst. "This is my classmate, Ernst Robel. He was having some difficulty with the Latin, so I invited him back to the house. I hope that you do not mind." Her Rilow smiled at his son, the spitting image of himself, before turning to the nervous Ernst. "Very nice to meet you, Ernst." "T-Thank you, Herr Rilow," stammered Ernst. Hanschen nudged Ernst to bow, which he did clumsily. Herr Rilow chuckled before turning to his wife.

"Ah, meine beloved Frau," he greeted his wife, kissing her on the cheek. Frau Rilow curtsied low."My dear husband, how was your trip?" "Tiring, but we have made plans for future businesses all in Munich. We are planning on speaking with some businessmen in Frankfurt next month."

"Father, that is wonderful. Mama, we are missing someone," Hanschen commented as they sat down at the dining table. Herr Rilow looked around the table. "Ah, yes! Where is my daughter, Gisela?" Frau Rillow excused herself before going up the staircase to her daughter's room.

She found her daughter sitting on the windowsill, her bare legs dangling from it. "Elise, child, what are you doing?" "Mama," Elise called out in shock. She swung her legs around facing her mother. "Mama," she exclaimed. "Child, get down from there! You will expose yourself. And why are you not wearing your beautiful stockings I picked out for you?" Elise obeyed her mother and stood in front of her. "I'm sorry, Mama. But the breeze is so lovely today! I hate being inside again instead of outside."

"Well, Elise, you have to be inside for a while. Your Papa has arrived home from Munic and is missing you."

Elise nodded her head and pulled on her sky tights. "No, not like that! You'll rip them!" Her mother helped straighten out the tights gently. "Mama, can I ask you a question?" "Yes, child, but quickly. Your father is expecting us." Elise closed her hands over her mother's own ones. "Mama, how did you meet father?" Frau Rilow raised an eyebrow at the question her daughter was so eager to have answered. "You know how we met, child. My father and his father introduced us at a tour of Frankfurt factories."

That wasn't enough to satisfy her. Elise brushed back her hair and knelt besides her mother. "Mama, did you like him immediately? Did you know you wanted to marry him when you first saw him?" Blush coated the elder woman's face. "Goodness, Elise, what has gotten into you to ask such a question? And on a day like this at this point in time! Come, we must greet your father!"

"Mama!"

"NOW!"

Elise groaned and obeyed her mother. She straightened out her blue dress as her mother waited impatiently. "I am coming, Mama," she assured the woman. "Hurry, child! I would hate to keep your father waiting after such a long journey home!" Frau Rilow flounced out the room as Gretchen entered with fresh linens.

"You had better hurry, Fraulein Rilow," commented the maid. "You know your Mama does not like to be kept waiting." Elise took one last look at herself in the mirror. "Child, you look beautiful. Now hurry and go downstairs." "Gretchen? Gretchen, can I ask you a question?" "Not now, dear! Your mother will have my head for keeping Herr Rilow from seeing his daughter."

"But she never answered my question! I'm so confused and I need someone to tell me!" Elise sat on her bed, jostling the sheets. Gretchen threw her arms out. "You have always been a dificult child." Elise grinned.

"Now, what is your question?"

"Gretchen, how do you know you like someone? How do you feel when you see someone you find...attractive?"

Gretchen's cheeks flushed pink with embarrassment. "Why, Fraulein Rilow! Why do you ask such a question?" Her teeth bit down on her lip gently. "W-Well, you do know how I was out with Haschen and his friends this morning, right?" Gretchen nodded in agreement. "W-Well, I..spoke to one of his classmates for most of the time." The older woman smiled knowingly. "Is he a handsome young boy?" "Oh, yes!" She cursed herself internally at her eager reaction. "W-Well, he did look a little disheveled. There were dark shadows underneath his eyes and his clothes were all rumpled." "And how did you feel when you were with him?"

How did she feel? Elise honestly did not know the answer to that question. She knew when they were alone in the woods she had felt something strange. "I don't know," murmured the girl. Her hand covered her stomach. "I felt...odd. My stomach would drop when he spoke to me. My heart would flutter about like a bird. I couldn't help but smile at him." She looked at the maid, confused. "Does this mean I am to marry him? Are we chosen by God?"

"Goodness, Elise! Fifteen years of age and already thinking of marriage!" Gretchen took hold of Elise's hands and stood her up. "No, miss. It does not mean that you and this boy are meant for marriage. You do feel something for him." At Elise's horrified expression, the elder woman squeezed her hands. "Oh, it is not sinful! We all feel something special for certain people at one point in our lives. Now, your mother will have me fired for keeping you up here any more. Come!"

"Gretchen! Wait!" "Yes, child?" Elise brushed her hair back out of habit. "What...What am I supposed to do about my feelings?"

Gretchen sighed deeply and grabbed Elise's hand. "It is up to you to decide." The maid tugged Elise down the stairs into the dining room.

"Es ist mein kind!"

Elise went to embrace her Papa, kissing both his cheeks. "Hallo Father!" She smiled at him, her Mama, Ernst, and then Hanschen. Her smiled faded as Hanschen smirked at her, raising his eyebrows. "Come now, Elise! I have not seen you in nearly two months and you have grown like a weed!" Blush coated her cheeks at the comment. Her arms covered her chest. The elder man chuckled at his daughter's embarrasment. "Oh my girl, I did not mean to make you blush! Now come, sit on my lap and tell me about your day."

"Well, Father," interrupted Hanschen theatrically. "Ernst and I met our classmates and we all went down to the pond to study our Latin." He cast a look at Ernst, who was smoothing out his pants so no crease could be seen. "And Elise joined us, right Ernst?"

"H-Huh? O-Oh, yes, she did." Ernst gave Elise a pleasent grin. "And Elise helped us greatly!" Hanschen smirked at Ernst. "No, she did not assist us." He raised his eyebrows again at his sister. "Rather, she spent the most time 'tutoring'-" "Everyone!" Elise turned to her father, putting a hand on her collarbone. "I helped everyone with the Latin. Even Melchior Gabor, Papa," she lied quickly. "Melchior Gabor required tutoring? We are speaking of the atheist Melchior Gabor who challenges his teachers in everything and the priest at every Sunday mass," asked Frau Rilow.

"Y-Yes, Mama," answered Elise.

"She also tutored Moritz Stiefel," sniggered Hanschen. Elise went pale. Herr Rilow looked at his daughter with a blank expression. The girl could not tell if that was a good or bad sign. "Moritz Stiefel? Now where have I heard of the name?" "Darling, he is the son of Frederick and Helga Stiefel," Frau Rilow commented. "He is the one who always falls asleep during the sermon at mass," interjected Hanschen once more.

She could not believe Hanschen! He was putting Moritz down in front of the entire family and Ernst! "Well, he is up all night studying," retorted Elise sharply. "And how do you know that, sister?" "Because he told me, brother!"

"Kinder!"

The two siblings quit squabbeling and looked down. Elise stood up off her Papa's lap and held her hands in front of her. "Sorry, Papa," apologized the girl. "But in my defense, Moritz Stiefel is a nice boy. He is kind and a good student." A snort of amusement was uttered by the blonde Rilow boy. "Hanschen," scolded Ernst quietly. Hanschen rose to his feet and bowed to his father. "Pardon Ernst and I, Father, but we must resume studying our Latin and Greek." Ernst followed Hanschen out the dining room and up the stairs to Hanschen's study.

"Elise, you were speaking to Moritz Stiefel?"

"Yes, Papa."

"And how was he to you?"

Elise smiled. "He was kind, a little nervous, but kind. He is a good student, despite what Hanschen may say against him."

"Did you spend time with him?"

"Y-Yes. I helped him study his Latin earlier today. I think I may want to help him again, though." The father raised his eyebrow. "Oh?" The daughter nodded slowly. "Yes. He would benefit from my help."

Herr Rilow stood in front of his daughter. His light blonde hair shone in the sunlight, as he stood near the window in the large dining room. "Elise, I would prefer it if you did not spend much time with Moritz Stiefel." His daughter shot him a questioning look. "But why? He is a kind person." "Darling, your Papa does not mean to stop speaking to him all together. He is only asking that you spend more time focused on your lessons and less on...Moritz Stiefel," explained her mother.

Elise reentered her room a few minutes later very confused.

Why did her Papa and Mama want her to reduce her time being spent with Moritz Stiefel? Had Hanschen told them about the prank? No, he couldn't have..

She sat on her window seat once more and looked out onto the empty road in the distance. As she thought of the skittish boy she had befriended, her heart swelled. A smile graced her lips as the wind blew and encircled her.

Her slim body sprinted from him. Her laugh carried on the wind, booming from all corners of the woods.

"Moritz, Moritz," she called.

He looked all around. The wind rustled the leaves and swept around his body. She materialized out of nothing. In her fragile hands she held a single red leaf. Her pale lips blew it into his face. "Moritz," she giggled.

He was in the classroom. The blonde turned to him. Her dress was just barely reaching her knee. Her hips swayed teasingly as she crossed to the podium. It shrunk down. Her toned legs climbed over them, giving his eyes a full view of the sky blue stockings. His heart raced like a horse in a race. She straddled his hips and placed her hands on his shoulders.

He couldn't help but moan as she gently kissed his lips. God, there was nothing like the taste of her. He inhaled her sweet scent. She smelled of nature, of the daffodills that grew in the meadow come springtime.

His hips bucked up to hers when her hand began unbuttoning his white shirt. He uttered a gasp of pleasure. His hand brushed in her long blonde hair. Her hand stopped at his groin. An arrow shot out, causing his face to redden with embarrassment. Her lips curled into a smile. She breathed: "Give me that hand, please, and the itch you can't control."

His pants loosened and she expertly spread her hand across his chest and downwards. "Let me teach you how to handle all the sadness in your soul."

She knew him. She knew his heart. She knew the darkness that threatened to consume him. The pressure. She could help him release the pressure...

"Oh we'll work that silver magic and we'll aim it at the wall."

Her teeth grazed on his earlobe.

"Love make you blind, kid, but I wouldn't mind at all."

He cried out in complete pleasure..

"Elise!"

He awoke in a mess.

It was the second time the dream had come to him.

But this time, it truly frightened him.

He rose from his bed and silently slipped into the bathroom. Once he was washed clean of his own seed, he looked into the mirror. How could he dream of her like this? It was Hanschen Rilow's sister, for God's sake! He felt shame, but then it disappeared. His heart pounded with joy at the thought of his lips on hers, his fingers searching her young body.

No.

He bowed his head and murmured a prayer. He was confused, full of regret and sin. What did this all mean?

He would have to ask Melchior about it in the morning.