Five

Maria woke naturally at seven o'clock the next morning; this was the normal time she would wake up at the villa. She felt happy that she had woken up on time, and refreshed after the first good night of sleep she'd had in two weeks. Sitting up, Maria looked out her window, and sighed. Grey clouds covered the sky completely, and the mountain girl could practically smell the rain coming. Well, I suppose any outdoor plans will have to be delayed.

She took a bath – a luxury the abbey didn't have – and then dressed in her favorite blue dress. Like the other dresses she had made for herself while at the villa, this dress she had left behind the night of the party. She hadn't wanted to take anything she hadn't brought with her from the abbey. Perhaps it was because she did not want to bring painful memories, or because she did not want to give the prettiest clothes she had ever had away. Either way, it had been a selfish act, but she couldn't deny that she was happy she hadn't taken them back with her.

The Baroness had once told her that, when wearing this dress, the Captain couldn't keep his eyes off her. Once that thought had made her feel ashamed and confused; now, the thought gave Maria a little tingle of excitement. She had never thought of herself as pretty before, and, for the first time in her life, she wanted to be pretty.

If only she knew that Georg already saw her as what she was: beautiful.

Just as Maria had joyed in putting the children to bed, she joyed in waking them up. She would not let the gloomy day outside get her down, or keep the children down. Today started a new chapter in her life, hopefully a happy one. She would see the Captain again, they would have a proper talk, and maybe – just maybe – he would return her feelings a little bit.

But when she and the children came downstairs, the sight of a somber Max greeted them. This was a rare sight for everyone. "We should all go in the library," was all he said before he motioned for them to follow him to that very room. Maria and the children did indeed follow. While the children muttered among themselves in confusion, Maria was silent, a great dread falling upon her.

Before she entered the study, she could hear the sound of the radio. Through the static, a voice could be heard; the most horrible voice could be heard. The voice was male, more shouting than speaking, in rough German with such ferocity it turned Maria's blood cold. She knew, after hearing and reading so much about this man, that the voice could only belong to one person. Sure enough, when they were all in the study, it became abundantly clear what it was: Hitler's address to Austria, the newest official part of his empire.

Just as she had been warned yesterday, the Anschluss was now official. Austria was legally dead. She turned to the window and covered her eyes, from which tears were coming down. Oh, Captain…I prayed it would never come to this…I don't know which is worse: my heart breaking over you, or this: my heart breaking for you.

Thinking of the Captain made Maria lift her head up quickly and wipe her tears away. Only one question now dominated her mind: Where is he? Turning around, she caught Max's gaze, and mouthed the question. Max just shook his head sadly and shrugged. Maria unconsciously grabbed onto the curtains of the window with one hand, in order to keep from collapsing. Now she felt very afraid. She and Max exchanged the same terrified question in their glance: What are we going to tell the children? The two of them then looked at the seven young Von Trapps. They all stood around the radio, the expressions on their faces ranging from confused fear on the little ones and understanding fear on the older ones.

When the speech ended, and the thunderous applause on the radio filled the little library, Frau Schmidt came into the room with a folded piece of paper in her hand. She knew what had just been said on the radio; she and the maids, Hedwig and Martina, had been listening to the broadcast in the kitchen. They weren't any happier about the news than the people in the library. When she came in, everyone turned their attention to her, eager for a distraction after the devastating news.

"This telegram has just come for the family," said Frau Schmidt. She knew that the Captain had not come home yet, and therefore didn't know just who to give the telegram to.

Thankfully, Liesl answered that question for her. She took the telegram from Frau Schmidt and held it out for Maria to take. "Please read it to us, Fraulein."

Maria was surprised at the gesture, but incredibly touched. If she had only been regarded as the governess, then she would not even be part of the conversation. Now Liesl was acknowledging the fact that Maria had become a true part of the family.

"But where is Father?" asked Gretl. "If the telegram is for the family, then he should be here."

"I think this telegram is from your father, little one," said Maria softly as she looked at the contents of the telegram. After exchanging a sad, confused look with Max, she read the telegram aloud to everyone in the room.

Dear children – STOP – Offered a post in the navy of the Third Reich – STOP – Must report to naval base in Bremerhaven, Germany at once. – STOP – No time to say good bye. – STOP – My deepest apologies, and be good while I am away. – STOP – Sincerely, Your Father.

A minute of stunned silence followed the end of the message, and then the seven children could no longer restrain themselves. The little ones began to cry at the news that their beloved father had left without even saying goodbye. The older children were much angrier about this, especially the nature of his good-bye and the fact that he hadn't even told them this would happen! Max and Frau Schmidt could do nothing to silence or calm the distraught Von Trapps.

Maria, however, remembered what she carried in her pocket. She pulled out the whistle the Captain had given her on her first day at the villa, and blew on it. Instantly, the seven children became silent and still, staring at their governess in disbelief. She could hardly blame them, since she had not so much as touched this whistle since she had thrown it into her side-table drawer her first evening at the villa.

"I'm sorry, children, but I didn't want to shout," she said, pocketing the whistle again. "Now, if you could settle down for a moment, I believe your uncle Max and I can explain a few things, if not everything, to you." As she spoke, she gazed pointedly at Max, her expression reading, Help me out here!

Max immediately complied and came to stand beside her while the children either sat on the sofa or stood near it. Frau Schmidt, who knew better than to eavesdrop, left the room to help the cook and maids with breakfast.

"Children," began Max, speaking in as calm and reassuring of a voice as he could. "Yesterday, your father was told that some Nazi party members here wanted to have a meeting with him that night. Because he knew the Anschluss would be made official today, he knew that his being recruited into their navy was a very real possibility."

The children now realized why their father's goodbye had been so drawn out, and they were glad to know why. But Louisa, who was still fuming, said, "Why didn't he tell us? We have a right to know if he was going to just disappear like that!"

"Louisa, be fair," said Maria firmly. "He was never told this could happen. All they told him was that they wanted to meet with him, nothing more. All your father had to go on was a feeling, an instinct, a warning. If he knew for sure that he would be recruited, and so quickly, of course he would have told you. He did not want to get you worried, especially if his fears proved to be unfounded and only a meeting took place."

Louisa still was very upset, but she nodded in understanding and stood at the window, her arms crossed.

"But…why?" said Kurt. "Father doesn't like them at all. Why would he fight for him?"

"He wouldn't…if he had a choice," said Friedrich sadly, as he hung his head.

"I'm afraid Friedrich is right," said Max sadly. "With the Nazis now in power, and Austria now a part of Hitler's empire, Georg, as an Austrian citizen, would have no choice but to fight for them if the order came in. If he refused, he would be putting himself and you children in harm's way." The younger children looked confused at this, and Max added grimly. "If the Third Reich cannot stand anything, it is those who oppose them and their ideologies."

"But…" Marta broke the silence after a moment, in her small, timid voice. "When will he be coming back?"

Max and Maria exchanged the saddest glance of all. This was the question they had feared the most. Maria held out her arms for the little girl, and Marta immediately rushed into them. "I don't know, Marta," she said. "I truly don't know."

Now all of the children looked quite frightened. The thought of losing their father, when he had just come back into their lives, was almost more than they could bear. Louisa was now silently crying by the window. Gretl, who hated seeing anyone cry, walked to Louisa and hugged her round the middle. Louisa hugged her back, glad of the silent gesture.

"Fraulein," said Liesl, who looked quite pale. "Is that why you came back when Father asked? In case this happened?"

Maria nodded. "Yes, that was the reason he called me. He wanted to make sure you children were being taken care of for however long he was away. But even if he had come back last night, I would still be here."

The children all allowed themselves to find relief in this. Knowing their beloved Fraulein would never leave them again was just what they needed to hear now.

"Why did he send that telegram?" said Brigitta, pointing to the paper in Maria's hands. "The message was so unlike Father – I mean, as he's been since you came, Fraulein. He signed it 'sincerely,' and the words were so cold and detached!"

"I think I can explain that, Brigitta," said Max, taking the telegram from Maria to look at it. "You see, your father's beliefs about the Nazis are not a secret to them. So, even though Georg is now serving under them, they still must keep a close watch on him, in case he is a spy or a traitor. That means they will most likely listen to his conversations, watch his every move, and even read his mail. This is his way of protecting you all."

After a minute, Brigitta slowly nodded in understanding, and so did the other children.

A heavy, mournful silence fell over the library. Nobody knew what to say or do. Only the little ones were crying now, while the other children determinedly stopped themselves. It took a lot for Maria not to cry, too. But as she looked at these seven devastated and frightened children, Maria felt a new love and determination warm her heart. Thinking of their absent father, Maria gladly accepted the weight of responsibility for these children on her shoulders. She would make their father proud, just as his children would.

Taking a deep breath, she clapped her hands once for attention. When all seven pairs of eyes were on her, she said in a firm but gentle voice, "Come, children. It's time for breakfast. Frau Schmidt made blueberry pancakes this morning. Your father would want you to enjoy them, especially since he claims blueberries are his favorite fruit. Then, after breakfast, we can decide what to do today."

Through their misery, the children did indeed feel hungry. Grateful for the distraction, they all slowly got up and slowly left the room, heads down and hands joined. Maria sighed after they left, and rubbed her forehead. This is not going to be easy… When she felt a comforting hand on her shoulder, she turned to Max, who was looking at her with a proud, reassuring gaze.

"I think I will give my sister a call," he said thoughtfully. "She is one of those people who can make smiles appear when smiles are what are needed most. She is due for a nice, long visit to Salzburg, anyway."

Maria had heard many tales of Max's sister Philomena, whom the children affectionately called "Auntie Phil." She was eager to meet her in person, and Maria was very grateful for Max's suggestion. Any distraction for these children – and for herself – was sorely needed. "Thank you, Max."

After breakfast, the children all went to wash up before going to the drawing room, where Fraulein Maria had asked them to all go when they were done. When they had left the dining room, Frau Schmidt approached Maria. After making sure they were alone, Frau Schmidt held something out for Maria to see. It looked like a small ring of keys, some big and some quite small.

"What are these for, Frau Schmidt?" asked Maria. Did the older woman wish for Maria to get her something?

"The Captain told me to give you these if he would not be coming home," said Frau Schmidt in a low voice. "After what happened this morning and that telegram, I have no qualms about following that order."

Stunned, Maria reached out and took the ring of keys, looking at them and not recognizing any of them. "What are they for?"

"His private rooms, and what lies in them," said Frau Schmidt. "He told me that you are free to access anything that any of these keys open while he is away." With a warm look for the stunned Maria, Frau Schmidt left the room.

Without a second thought, Maria pocketed the keys, putting them right by the whistle. She now realized that she had pulled the whistle out that morning in the hopes that she could give it back to the Captain when he returned, hopefully to throw away. But she would have to hold onto it a little longer now, and she would guard these keys with her life now.

But Maria would have to wait until the children were in bed to go and explore. Now she had to fetch something from a special box in the library.

It was now pouring rain outside, just as the clouds had promised. A gloomy morning reflecting the gloomy hearts in the villa. It seemed like God was mourning, not only for the Von Trapp family, but for Austria too.

When all seven children and Maria were settled in the drawing room, the memory at the forefront of all of their minds was the evening when the Captain had sung 'Edelweiss' for the first time. This was a special memory for all of them that had happened in this very room.

For a few seconds, Maria closed her eyes and remembered how he had looked at her. He imagined he was looking at her like that again now, silently asking for something. While she did not know what he was asking then, she knew what he was asking now.

Opening her arms for the children to come closer, she said in a voice filled with love for all of them, "I know how you feel, children: the anger, the worry, and the frustration most of all. You have every right to feel them, but you cannot let them control you. Think of your father, and try to do what he would want you to do. He would not want you to mope around and stop everything. He would want you to keep living your lives in the best way you can, so he can be even more proud of you than he already is. And we must pray now, and wait, and hope, that a letter will come from him soon, which would mean we can write back." Holding the little ones close, who were clinging to her on the sofa, she said, "I love you all so much, and so does your father. I am not going anywhere. I will try my best, and I need you to do the same. Will you promise me that?"

It did not take long for all of the children to answer in the affirmative, whether in a nod or a hug or a few words. They loved their Fraulein just as much, and would do anything to make her and their father proud.

Satisfied, Maria smiled. "Now, I know it is raining today, but I've found something to occupy our time." From behind her back, she pulled out a book and showed it to them. "I know you and your father are reading Alice in Wonderland right now, but I'm not nearly as good at doing those voices he does. So, I found this book in that special box of books your father wants you to read. It's a fairly new one, having only been published in the last year, and is quite popular in England."

Brigitta read the cover aloud: "The Hobbit, or There and Back Again. What's it about?"

"And what's a hobbit?" asked little Gretl, trying out the new word.

Maria laughed. "From what I've read from the book jacket, it's the story of a man going on a great adventure and then home again." She smiled at the children, and they all seemed to share her silent message: Think of your father. "As for what a hobbit is, we're just going to have to find out, right?"

All of the children laughed for the first time that day, and eagerly nodded. Feeling just a little bit of peace, Maria began the story for her attentive audience.

"In a hole in the ground, there lived a hobbit…"

A/N: No, I am not ashamed of making a plug for one of my favorite books, and yes, it had been published for nearly a year by the time my story starts.

I'm afraid this story is going to take a pause until after Christmas. I know where I'm going with it, but I need time to write the Christmas surprise I have planned for you all. So you be good and leave me lots of reviews!