The Nutcracker King (Coming From Darkness #1)

Chapter 9 Part 2: Marie

"Marie, where are you?" Father's voice echoed in the dark, lonely house. For once, Mother wasn't crying. It had been a week since Fritz... since Fritz was gone, and mother had cried constantly. No wonder sister Luise was in no hurry to come back. She had written that her little girl had caught a cold, and her husband would not let her leave. Not until the child was better. Her mother had sniffled as Marie read the letter and announced, "Your father was the exact same way. And he is a doctor." It was one of the few times that Mother did not cry.

Not that Marie blamed Mother for her tears; she felt the same way too. Struggling out of Fritz's bed, she made her way to the door.

"I'm in Fritz's room," she called down the hallway.

"Oh," came the voice of her father, followed by a clearing of the throat. "Well, young Herr Schmidt is here, again. He's in the drawing room, but if you don't wish to talk to him..."

"I'll be there," Marie said quickly. She rushed to her room, shut the door and quickly changed into a simple dress. Truth be told, her parents had refused entry to most visitors who came, feeling like they were merely here to gawk at their misfortune, but as Herr Heinrich was a close friend of Fritz, he was allowed to visit.

Marie moved as quickly as decency allowed. When she entered the drawing room, she saw Herr Heinrich sitting patiently by the table, his eyes fixed on something outside. Marie coughed softly, and he immediately jumped up.

"Demoiselle Marie, you're looking better today," he said with a warm smile on his face. At his words, she returned his smile and took a seat at the table. When she had seated, Herr Heinrich sat down and turned his head back to the window.

"Thank you. Have you heard anything from the Hussars?" she asked hopefully.

Herr Heinrich shook his head. "They have found nothing. Soon, they will give Fritz back."

"Does that mean they're giving up?"

"Never," Herr Heinrich said vehemently. "Fritz was a Hussar, and he was well-liked. You can be sure not a single one will rest until they find his murderer. They simply wish to let your family get some peace."

"Thank you," Marie said softly. Silence overtook the room.

The two were in no hurry to speak. The first day he had visited, Marie couldn't muster the words to speak, and she was grateful that he did not force her too. He simply sat there until the sun had set, then as he left, told her of his intention to come again.

They sat there quietly, until Marie found the words to speak. "What are you looking at?"

Herr Heinrich turned back to Marie, meeting her eyes. "I was looking at world outside this window. It's just the sort of day that Fritz would have liked."

Marie sighed, "Yes, he would."

Herr Heinrich hesitated for a while before continuing, "Forgive my directness, but how are you sleeping?"

Beneath the table, Marie clenched her dress in nervous fingers. She had not spoken of the true reason behind her refusal to sleep in her own room, but instead spun a tale of missing her brother.

"Demoiselle Marie, are you feeling alright?"

Every time he visited, Marie considered telling him the truth, thinking of the way he listened to her the first time they met. She decided to muster up her courage.

"Herr Heinrich, do you remember the story I told when we first met, of the Nutcracker?"

Herr Heinrich looked puzzled. "I do, but what does that have to do with Fritz?"

"It's the Nutcracker. He k—," Marie paused. Her careless words had already cost Godfather Drosselmeier and Fritz their lives. She would not make that mistake again. "No, it's nothing, forgive me. I'm fine. I still miss Fritz, but being in his room is a comfort. It sounds strange, but his room, it's Fritz."

Herr Heinrich looked worried, but very kindly ignored Marie's lapse. "I understand. When I broke the news to our friends, it was in a place we frequented and none of them could believe it. That place was too full of him, of his memories for us to believe he is gone."

They spent most of the day in that manner, speaking very little, but sitting quietly together. It wasn't till the evening sun came and the shadows crept up that Herr Heinrich suddenly turned to Marie.

"Demoiselle Marie, I must beg for forgiveness, but I can't keep quiet any longer. It is insensitive of me, but soon, I will not be able to visit you so freely. Will you do me the honour of becoming my wife?" he said in a rush, his eyes shining.

Marie burst into tears at his words. As selfish as it was, this was the answer to her prayers. She would marry the kind Herr Heinrich and forget the terrible Nutcracker. She was already halfway to loving Herr Heinrich, and she knew that in time, she would come to love him wholeheartedly.

Unfortunately Herr Heinrich misunderstood her tears. "My apologies, Demoiselle Marie. I should not have upset you so. I will leave now." He got up, but before he could leave, Marie reached out and clasped his hand.

"Yes," she choked out. At that one word, Herr Heinrich's countenance changed and he pulled her into his embrace.

"Demoiselle Marie, good sir!" the shocked voice of cook rang out. "I come in to start a fire and what do I find? The audacity! We are in mourning, Demoiselle Marie, how could you forget?"

"Oh no, Cook," Marie said, rushing to her, "Herr Heinrich has just proposed, and I have accepted."

Immediately, Cook turned and fled. Within a few minutes, Mother and Father rushed into the room.

"Marie, is this true?" Her mother grabbed her hands, her face flushed. "You've agreed to marry him?"

Marie nodded and her father tried to interject, but mother waved him aside. "Thank the Lord," she murmured, holding her close. "He is a good man, and a good friend of Fritz's."

Seeing no other choice, her father walked over to Herr Heinrich and welcomed him into the family. That evening was the closest thing to normal Marie experienced since the death of Fritz. They did not have a big celebration, but Marie remembered sitting next to Herr Heinrich, and feeling protected by his warmth.

Mother smiled, not constantly, but she smiled and did not cry. Her father brought out a bottle of wine he had been saving up, and everyone, including Marie, was allowed a glass. Sitting there, talking about the future, Marie was hopeful that she would be able to put this nightmare behind her.

*******

That night, as Marie prepared to sleep, Mother hustled her back into her room.

"Please mother, I don't want to sleep in my room." Marie pleaded.

"Nonsense, Marie. You're engaged now, it's not appropriate for you to sleep in your brother's room. What would Herr Schmidt, I mean, Herr Heinrich, and his family think?"

Her mother spoke firmly, and Marie allowed herself to be persuaded by the re-appearance of her before-Fritz mother. A few nights wouldn't hurt, and anyway, soon she would be leaving the house.

But to be safe, Marie pulled the sheets over her head and curled up into a ball, trying to look as small as possible.

It did not work.

"Demoiselle Marie?"

Marie tensed at the sound of that voice.

"Go away Nutcracker," she whispered. "I am to be married soon."

She heard footsteps, and when the room was still again, Marie sat up and looked around. The Nutcracker was gone. Marie breathed a sigh of relief and settled down to sleep. 

Da da dummmmmm. The question is: will the Nutcracker finally give up?