From Darkness

Chapter 16: Marriage

Rain poured in a rhythmic pounding against the tall windows of the rococo style house. Beethoven's most beloved piano sonatas softly played in the background, while Grandmother Gerda brought to the table her famous roast pork. Ivy sat next to her grandfather at the brightly lit dining table.

On Ivy's other side sat Sara, Kristian's fiancée. She was a teacher, a Berlin native. She was tall, graceful, with long flowing golden hair and kind, light brown eyes. She seemed like a very sweet girl. Ivy didn't see her too often, mainly at dinners and gatherings, but she could tell that Sara loved her brother. Kristian had proposed to her recently, over a year after meeting her.

"How come I never knew that you are French, Opa?" Ivy said.

"His name being Antoine didn't  give you any clues?" Kristian teased.

"Well his surname is Neumann, would you say that's a French name, brother?" Ivy asked.

"That's right, my darling. My surname makes it easy to assume I'm from here, but I was indeed born in Haguenau, and to a French family. To be quite fair, that town is so close to the German border that although we consider ourselves French, our ancestry is quite Germanic," Grandfather Antoine replied.

"Was it part of our country in the past? Do the people there speak German or just French?" Ivy eagerly asked.

"I believe it was, yes. The people of Haguenau speak both languages, curious girl," he smiled.

"That is fascinating Opa, I would love to visit Haguenau some day," Ivy said.

"Perhaps you can... Your grandmother and I own a little cottage there, you see. We visit it now and again, although after the war we don't go as much."

"How did you and Oma meet?" Ivy asked.

"Oh dear! We met in Paris, I was not much older than you are now. But that is a story for another day," Grandmother Gerda dismissed.

"Is that why we have some family in Paris?" Kristian asked.

"Yes, it is. Which reminds me, your brother sends you his regards, Simone. Speaking of which... I am still surprised by how calm France and Britain stayed through all that," Antoine said.

"It's not so surprising, I think. They simply don't want to stir up trouble, none of us do," Peter told him.

"I agree, but to send troops marching into the Rhineland like that, I mean, that was a bold move... The French armies on the other side of the Rhine could have easily attacked," Antoine replied.

"But what is there to attack for? Militarizing the Rhineland? Breaking the Treaty of Versailles? It was a cruel punishment of a treaty anyway, it was meant to be broken. Our country is getting its honour back, and the French and British can't stop us," Kristian said.

"Nonsense, Kristian. Your grandfather is right. The Führer gambled, and he won, but he gambled nonetheless," Peter frowned.

"Let us speak of more pleasant topics, you men will discuss political affairs to no end," Simone interrupted.

"Yes, but not the damn Olympics! How are the wedding plans coming along? Did you choose a gown yet? And what about the location?" Grandmother Gerda asked.

"Not yet, finding the right gown is proving difficult. We were thinking of St. Hedwig's Cathedral. It's a bit of a stretch to book, but Kristian says he can arrange it," Sara said. Kristian smiled and squeezed her hand which was in his.

"St. Hedwig's is beautiful! You know, I am expecting great-grandchildren as soon as you two are married," Gerda exclaimed.

"Let the young ones be, woman. They've heard you tell them that a hundred times now," Antoine rolled his eyes.