Chapter One

Arrivals of Various Natures

Jakob Grimm bolted through the bustling village of Marbaden, his face split in a delirious grin as he shouted the good news to anyone who would listen. Several people replied to him, making comments or giving congratulations, but their words fell on deaf ears as Jakob continued on his mad race. His feet finally brought him to a stone-and-wood hut, and without knocking he pushed the door open and skidded to a stop inside.

"Will?" Jakob shouted, glancing around the room for his elder sibling.

Wilhelm Grimm walked through from the other room, a closed leather book in his hands. "Jake, what's got you so-?" But Wilhelm never got to finish his sentence as Jakob charged across the room and engulfed his brother in a bone-crushing hug.

"Will, you have to come," Jakob demanded as he released his brother. Not giving him a chance to speak, Jakob grabbed the elder Grimm's arm and ran out of the door, dragging a confused Wilhelm behind him.

"Jake, what is going on?" Wilhelm called as he raced along behind his brother. Jakob was a rather imaginative person and he wanted to be sure he wasn't being pulled away from his work for some fantastical reason.

"It's Angelika," Jakob yelled back over his shoulder, not slowing his pace. Comprehension suddenly lit Wilhelm's eyes and he quickened his gait to keep up with his younger sibling. A few minutes later they finally slowed to a stop outside a large hut, the sounds of murmured voices and pained cries coming from inside. Jakob settled instantly to pacing anxiously outside the front door, and Wilhelm perched on a pile of logs nearby and tried not to laugh as he watched his brother. Knowing it was going to be quite the wait, Wilhelm drew out the little book he'd brought with him and retrieved the quill from between the pages. His eyes pored over the pages and he bit the tip of his tongue in concentration, occasionally scratching out lines that he disliked.

Eventually Jakob noticed his brother's actions and wandered over in curiosity. "What are you doing?"

"I liked some of your stories so much I thought I'd try my hand at it," Wilhelm explained. He sighed and laid his quill in his lap as Jakob pried the book from his hand. The younger Grimm perused the pages in interest, and when he had finished he bobbed his head thoughtfully.

"That's a wonderful story, Will," Jakob said. The competitive side neither of them had completely outgrown was grudging to admit that Wilhelm was at least as talented as he was at storytelling. "Where'd you get the idea?"

"Where do you think?" Wilhelm asked, casting his gaze at the distant forest. Jakob grimaced and nodded, also eyeing the looming forest that edged the village. Even though the Mirror Queen had been destroyed and her enchantment over the woods had been removed, the woods still filled everyone with fear and wonder. Very few people dared to enter the forest even to this day.

The Grimms' attention was diverted to the wooden door as the sounds on the other side changed drastically. There were gasps of pain and then suddenly a piercing cry split the morning air. Jakob jumped up and resumed his feverish pacing, and Wilhelm tucked away his book and watched the door expectantly.

Long minutes later the door swung open and an aged woman strode out with a smile on her face. Jakob was so embroiled in his pacing that he didn't even notice her until she cleared her throat and said, "Mister Grimm?" The younger brother glanced up and hurried over, bouncing on the balls of his feet in nervous anticipation. Wilhelm rose and placed a calming hand on his brother's shoulder to steady him. "You may go in now. She's-"

Jakob didn't even stay until the end of the sentence, dashing passed the woman and almost knocking her aside in his eagerness. Wilhelm helped to steady the woman, who was laughing. "Sorry, he's a bit excited," Wilhelm offered.

"They always are," the woman replied. "Well I'll be off. Everything went well, and she's a real beauty."

"Thank you," Wilhelm said sincerely and then rushed into the house. Jakob was kneeling at Angelika's side, his hands grasping her arm lovingly. Angelika's face was glistening with sweat, but a pleased smile decorated her face. Clutched in her arms was a bundle of blankets, concealing the newborn infant. Jakob was speechless, staring at this new life-form in amazement as though she was a creature of his fantasy come to life.

Wilhelm grinned as he approached the little family and leaned in to survey the child in her mother's arms. "Oh my little child, you are more beautiful than I imagined," he whispered lovingly. Jakob glanced up at his, his brow furrowed. "Angelika never told you?" Wilhelm asked in disbelief. "The child is mine, not yours. Sorry brother, but you always knew I'd get the girl in the end."

Jakob glanced from the child to his brother and then punched him in the stomach. "You sot," he said, shaking his head.

Wilhelm stumbled backwards, laughing. "You're just so gullible," he said in defence of the joke. Angelika rolled her eyes at the pair of them and went back to tending to the child. Changing the subject, Wilhelm nodded toward the infant girl and asked, "What will you name her?"

"Do you have any ideas, my briar rose?" Jakob asked Angelika. She shook her head, but watched him hopefully. They all knew that the imaginative Grimm would come up with something brilliant.

Jakob took off his glasses to rub the bridge of his nose thoughtfully. It was several minutes later before he replaced them and gazed affectionately at the infant. "What about Aurora?"

"It's beautiful," Angelika agreed, stroking the child's cheek. "Aurora."

"Amazing," Wilhelm said, and nudged his brother's shoulder. "Sometimes you aren't as stupid as I though, Jake."

Jakob was too busy admiring his child to respond, but on the inside he beamed with pride at what he knew was a compliment.

. . . . .

Later that week all four Grimms were seated around the table, enjoying a celebratory dinner, when suddenly Wilhelm cleared his throat. Jakob glanced at him with a raised eyebrow, wondering what could put such a serious expression on his brother's face.

"What do you think of my settling down?" Wilhelm asked, and the unexpected question caught even Angelika's attention.

"You?" Jakob asked in surprise. Of all the people to settle down, he never expected his headstrong brother to be one to want that life. "Do you have someone in mind?"

"Not necessarily," Wilhelm admitted. "There are two lasses here in town that have caught my eyes, but I didn't mean I was settling down right away. I just wanted to know if it seemed like an impossible lifestyle for me."

"What's going on here, Will?" Jakob asked suspiciously. "You've never asked my opinion or advice before."

"There's nothing going on," Wilhelm said grumpily. "It was just a question. It's just that with everything that's been happening to you, I wondered if that's something I will ever have, or if Fate has decided I'm unfit for such things."

"Of course not," Angelika interrupted. "I think you would make a very good husband and father, so long as you find a woman you love." Wilhelm gazed at Angelika; part of him had always thought she may be his woman, but she was more suited for Jakob in the end.

"Thank you," Wilhelm said softly. "Now the problem is just to find a woman I can love."

"You will find her," Jakob assured him. "There must be some lass in this world who can put up with you."

"Aye, maybe a lass from one of your faerie tales can come for me," Wilhelm said jokingly.

"Maybe," Jakob nodded mysteriously. Wilhelm laughed shortly. "Remember beans, dear brother." Wilhelm rolled his eyes. Since the events in the Forests of Marbaden, Jakob had taken to reversing the old provocation, reminding the elder Grimm that magic did exist.

"Well then give me one of your beans and I can plant it and grow myself a pretty lass," Wilhelm said with a shake of his head.

A heavy knocking on the door made they all jump in surprise. Aurora began to whimper softly, and Angelika hurried to calm her. Wilhelm lifted an eyebrow at Jakob, and the latter rose to answer the door. He opened it with a casual hello and finished with a muffled shout as the figure outside the door leapt at him, wrapping him tightly in its arms.

"What the-" Wilhelm cursed, jumping to his feet and moving closer. Then the figure spoke and Wilhelm fell back, laughing as understanding hit him.

"Oh Mister Grimm-y, so good to see-a you again," the man in black shouted cheerfully, his voice thickly accented.

"Cavaldi?" Jakob asked, his voice coming in a crushed gasp as the Italian man squeezed him. Wilhelm's laughter redoubled and he fell back against the table.

"Sì, sì, it is I, Cavaldi," the man responded, finally releasing Jakob and stepping back. The Italian torturer was garbed in all black except for the shining silver armour he still wore. His toupee was firmly in place, covering his head in a thick mat of wavy brown curls, and his face was currently split with a broad, toothy grin.

"Cavaldi, it's good to see you well," Wilhelm said, attempting to stifle his laughter.

"You-a too, Grimm-y," Cavaldi answered, hurrying to wrap Wilhelm in an embrace as well. "You-a look good. And I-s still wears pretty armour, see-a? Cavaldi not-a forget."

"Yes, I saw that," Wilhelm chuckled. "It fits you well. Has it served you well?"

"Sì, very well," Cavaldi replied, stroking the breastplate affectionately. Suddenly he spotted Angelika and her child, and a wild exclamation left him. "A Grimm-y baby? How magnifico. What is the name? Wilhelm Junior?

"Her name's Aurora," Jakob answered, a slight edge to his voice. "And I would never name my child after that fool." Wilhelm shot a stubborn glance at him but the effect was tarnished by his smile.

"Ah, the child of Jack-ob. Eccellente!" Cavaldi dashed back to the younger Grimm and hugged him again. "So magnifico! I very happy for-a you."

"Thank you," Jakob said, his grin returning. The proud father crossed the room to stand next to Angelika and gazed at Aurora rapturously. Cavaldi followed like a timid puppy. As he approached, Angelika rose and kissed his cheek in welcome. After he had saved the lives of the brothers Grimm and herself, she had taken a kinder disposition to the torturer.

"You look-a very pretty, signora Grimm," Cavaldi said delicately. He still held a guilty place in his heart as he remembered that he had nearly taken her life more than once while working for General Delatombe. "Your baby, she is-a very bella."

"Thank you, Mercurio," Angelika said with a smile. The Italian man flushed slightly.

"So what has brought you back to Marbaden?" Wilhelm asked, conveniently breaking apart the awkward silence.

"I wished to see-a the Grimm-ies," Cavaldi said grandly, beaming at the brothers. "Also, I come-a for my work."

"Ah, so you found another job?" Jakob asked eagerly.

"Sì," Cavaldi nodded. "I deliver wares for wealthy businessman in-a Frankfurt. Very importante job."

"That's wonderful, Cavaldi," Wilhelm said jovially, patting the Italian man on the shoulder. "I am glad you could find such a suiting job."

"The Grimm-ies find job as well?" Cavaldi inquired.

"Not particularly," Jakob admitted. "We made enough money from our past – occupation – to survive for a long time without work. Right now we are simply living as storytellers."

"Damn good storytellers, I might add," Wilhelm inserted, making Jakob laugh. "We have told your story dozens of times to the children in town, Cavaldi. It is a marvel you were not greeted with a parade when you showed up."

This time the blush on Cavaldi's cheeks was pronounced and he smiled modestly. "I not want-a such attention. It was Grimm-ies who save day."

"Aye," Angelika agreed, "but it was you, Cavaldi, who saved the Grimms."

"Precisely," Wilhelm concurred. "So, how long will you be in town for?"

"Not-a very long," the Italian sighed. "Only a few days while-a business is sorted, then I continue on-a to Hamburg."

"That's unfortunate," Wilhelm shrugged. "Well, you must accompany me down to the inn for a pint."

"Magnifico," Cavaldi grinned.

"Will you be joining us, Jake?" Wilhelm asked, his mood lightened at the thought of a good mug of beer.

Jakob turned his inquiring gaze to Angelika, who smiled fondly. "Go along, Jakob," she encouraged. "Aurora and I will be fine. Go, have a good time."

"That we will," Wilhelm assured her boldly.

"Goodnight, my briar rose," Jakob said softly, embracing his wife. "I shan't be too late." Then he kissed his drowsing daughter on the brow before following the others out the door.

. . . . .

Down at the inn, the air was thick and rowdy. Groups of men were clustered around the tables, drinking heavily from mugs and playing games of chance. The room was filled with the flickering light of the tallow candles set on each table, and the heady smell teased the nose. As the trio entered, several men called out welcomes to the brothers, their words slurred under the influence of the alcohol.

Cavaldi and Jakob sat down at an unoccupied table close to the bar and Wilhelm went to get drinks. He returned quickly, bearing three mugs topped with white froth. The men toasted their good fortune to be reunited and in health, and drank deeply. Hours passed far into the night as they drank, talking of all that had happened in the years since they'd last been together.

"How did-a you manage to stay in Germany?" Cavaldi asked interestedly. "There were posters for your arrest in-a every town I passed through."

"Simple," Wilhelm answered with a shrug. "We stayed in Marbaden for a short while, until the soldiers arrived. Then we left. We disappeared into other countries not controlled by the damned French. Not long after we left, the French started to lose ground. We fought with the Russians to gain back their lands, then returned to Germany to do the same. After Germany was freed from Napoleon's grasp, we came back to Marbaden."

"And Jack-ob married," Cavaldi said with a sly smile.

Jakob grinned and his face reddened. "Yes, shortly after we came back. We've been married for nearly a year now."

"Magnifico," the Italian said, his voice muffled as he lifted his mug again. "Magnifico."