Enchanted in Time (Enchanted After Thirty #1)

Chapter 15

15

T hey set off the following day in the early morning hours. In addition to a lantern, they also brought two bags. One contained provisions for the road, while the other held towels, a knife, and clothes for the prince along with Hannah’s red pouch with her useless cell phone and her keys. They had planned to leave the night before. With fear and anxiety driving them both, they wanted to finish the task as quickly as possible. The bear prince, however, had first wanted to carry his father’s body to the royal chamber. “If this is, in fact, the last time that this day shall run its course, then we cannot leave him lying here. I shall lay him to rest on his cushions until I can see to a proper burial befitting his station. After that, we can be on our way.”

He had asked Hannah if she wouldn’t rather rest for two or three hours before they set out. She looked pale, and he knew that the road ahead was long and hard. She had flatly refused and stressed that she wouldn’t sleep until she was back with her children. But upon returning to the castle kitchen after laying down his father’s body, the bear prince had found her fast asleep on a corner bench. He had brought her some pillows and blankets to make sure she was comfortable, and then he had laid himself down by her feet on the kitchen floor, for any of the furnishings would have broken under his weight.

He didn’t get a wink of sleep, and would have preferred to have left immediately and alone. But he didn’t know how the spell that had brought Hannah there would work, and his godmother had insisted that Hannah remain by his side and break the curse together with him so he could be saved and she could return to her children. And he had no desire to block her way back.

And now they were heading through the castle garden to the west gate, the way to the forest and the brick path. Maximilian had the bags slung over one of his giant paws, and they were dangling like handbags from his furry arm. On top of that, he was walking on his hind legs. He looked so much like a stork that Hannah had trouble suppressing a grin. When they came to the fountain, Hannah insisted on saying good morning to her children.

“They’re still sleeping!” the bear said, growling and pointing to the summer sun, which had just appeared above the timberline.

“Maybe they’re not. And then they’ll be wondering why I’m not yet home.” She leaned over the side of the fountain and peered into the water. “Frieda, are you there? Are the children already awake?”

“Shhhh!” A sound bubbled up from the water. “Your little angels are still asleep.”

“Did Leon have nightmares? A lot of times, he’ll wake up in the middle of the night crying, and?—”

“No, my dear, he slept through the night like a log. But if you keep yelling, you’ll wake him right up.”

This was clearly not what Hannah wanted to do. “All right, I’ll call the next time we come to a stream.”

“Call?” the bear asked, befuddled.

“That’s the word we use.”

“All right, good luck.” Frieda yawned and did not utter another sound.

Hannah and the bear prince marched onward to the western gate. Behind them, the sun was climbing higher and higher, and with it, the dawn of a new day appeared. They arrived at the high castle wall, where an ornate key was hanging on a hook beside an old wooden door. The bear tried to grab the key, but his paws were too big.

“I’ll do it!” Hannah stood on her tiptoes to reach the key. Her heart was pounding as she slipped it into the lock. “Now what were you saying about the enchanted, dangerous forest?”

“There’s no need to fear. I’ll protect you.”

She looked up in surprise and found herself gazing into the prince’s sea-green eyes. There it was—the shoulder, the rock, the support she’d had to do without for five long years. The bear’s face had gradually grown so familiar that she thought she would be able to tell him apart from other bears. But his face was hard to read. Who could decipher the expression of a brown bear?

What dangers did the enchanted forest have in store for them? she wondered. What creatures would be lying in wait for them?

The bear gently placed his paw on her shoulder. “Ready for the big adventure?”

Hannah nodded. With firm resolve, she turned the key, opened the door, and stepped through the gate, her head held high. They walked side-by-side along the narrow trail that led down the hill where the castle stood and looked out over the dense wood. The forest floor was strewn with purple flowers and rising from the ground were mighty tree trunks with roots so large they were nearly as tall as Hannah herself. The dense, leafy tops of the trees were so immense that they loomed above like a rooftop. The golden light that filtered through the leaves gave the scene such an idyllic air that Hannah couldn’t help but wonder what there was to fear.

She approached the forest and took a deep breath. The beguiling scent of the blossoms rose up to her nostrils and conjured a smile to her lips. It made her feel lighter and got her to forget all her cares. She wanted only one thing: to lie down and relax on the purple carpet of flowers. Treading lightly, she bounded over to the sea of blossoms, with each step more and more carefree as she giggled like a little girl. At last, she reached the glorious flowers. She caressed the delicate petals and, bending down even lower, she inhaled their bewitching scent deep into her lungs—when something grabbed her by the waist and pulled her back.

“Hey, what are you doing?” she cried. “I was about to lie down there! It was just so comfortable and harmonious, I?—”

“Those flowers are dangerous!” the bear bellowed. He speedily carried her off, away from the flowery carpet. “You almost fell for their trap!”

“Fell for their trap?” Hannah began to giggle, but the farther they got from the appealing flowers, the more ridiculous she felt. “Put me down!”

The bear set her down on the grassy slope. Her head began to ache. She shook herself, and she felt as if she were freeing herself from a stupor.

“That is drunkweed.”

“Drunkweed?” She was about to giggle, but she’d lost the urge somehow. “What is that exactly?”

“The vivid colors of the blossoms secrete an enchanting scent that will cast a spell over any creature that’s not on its guard. Once you’ve lain down on them and their scent has permeated all your pores, you’ll no longer be able to break free of the stupor.”

Hannah could feel the goosebumps creeping up her back at the mere thought. “And then what?”

“It’s a vine that wraps itself around your body until there’s nothing more to see. After that, the plant will use you as?—”

Hannah gulped. “I can imagine.”

“You have to be on your guard in this forest. Stay close to me. Do not walk ahead or veer off to the side. The first thing we need to do is to get on the brick pathway. As long as we’re on the path, we can walk through the woods without worrying.”

“All right.” She refused to think anymore about what might have happened, and she followed the bear along the hillside.

“Wait for me just a moment,” he said. “I’ll check to see where it’s safe to get onto the path.”

Hannah nodded. She watched in astonishment as he lowered himself onto all fours and tore into the forest. Was the animal in him getting stronger? Or had he simply determined that he could move faster that way?

He returned a moment later. “The entrance is over there. But there are some creeper plants along the way, and they’re not as safe as they look.” He gauged Hannah’s height and the length of her scratched-up legs, as if estimating how high and far she could jump. Hannah blushed under his candid gaze. When was the last time a man had looked at her so closely?

“They grow too close together,” he said. “You won’t be able to clear them. It would be best if you got on my back and I carried you to the path.”

She had to get on his back? On the back of a brown bear?

“I won’t hurt you. Just trust me. Come on.”

He lay down flat on the ground. She climbed onto his back hesitantly. She didn’t want to cause him any pain, and the heels of her red shoes were pressing so hard against his leg that she feared she had injured him.

“Grab onto my fur. Now up. You don’t have to be so careful!”

Hannah dug into his fur, pulled herself up, and sat down on his back as she tried to steady herself.

“Now hold on tight!”

And off he went. He bounded over the wild and rampant vines, past bewitchingly fragrant flowers and appetizing mushrooms. Hannah clung to his shaggy fur and pressed her legs against his body. She focused straight ahead, keeping her gaze on the woods until they spotted the brick pathway between the broad trunks of the trees. A moment later, the bear landed on it with one great leap.

“All right, now off! I’m not an animal!”

Hannah smiled to herself as she slid down off his back and onto the bricks. She saw how sharply their red color contrasted with the forest floor. The path was the width of two large steps, and it led into the enchanted forest. The bear prince stood up on his hind legs again, and together they trekked deeper into the woods.

Hannah looked around on all sides, astounded. The colors were of such an intensity that the forest was glowing. The green of the leaves on the trees reminded her of newly sprouted shoots in springtime. The enormous treetops that towered above them were so thick and dense that not even a sliver of blue sky flashed forth between them. The birds were twittering, but she didn’t see a single one. Where were they hiding? Their call seemed to come from the side, but Hannah took care not to stray from the path to go looking for them.

They passed a carpet of yellow blossoms, although she had only been faintly aware of their scent. It was enticing but not strong to the point that she felt engulfed by it. Were these decoy plants as well? Luckily, there was this path, or they likely would not have gone thirty feet into the forest without succumbing to one of its many temptations.

They made their way down the brick path, and after a while, there were fewer and fewer creeper plants and fragrant flowers growing by the side until they had completely vanished from the forest floor. Instead, there was a profusion of wild ferns, grasses, and moss.

“It seems to have gotten harmless from here on out,” Hannah said, reflecting out loud. “Just smell the air—these plants don’t give off a scent that confuses your senses. It smells normal, just like any other forest.”

“We’ve made it past the outer ring of the woods, which is supposed to keep travelers from getting inside. But that does not mean that the forest is any less dangerous! So stay on the bricks, and you’ll be all right.”

“What makes the forest so dangerous? Are there other wild creatures aside from the wolves? Brown bears perhaps?” She winked at the bear prince.

“Forest gnomes and boggarts.”

“Forest gnomes? That sounds cute.”

“They’re not—trust me. They’re very quick to feel attacked. And even though they’re extremely small, you must never make the mistake of underestimating them.” The bear peered through the tall trees, but nothing stirred, and it seemed they were alone. “I can’t tell you who all lives in this forest, but they’re not the harmless creatures you’re familiar with. Still, as long as we stay on the path?—”

“... we’ll be all right—got it.” Curious, Hannah followed the bear’s gaze. It was darker off to the sides of the path, as though the trees were denser there. “Has this forest always been dangerous?”

The bear growled and shook his head. Hannah grinned. It looked funny when this wild creature behaved like a human being.

“No, it used to be just a normal forest. My ancestors would often go hunting here. But something changed after the night of the ball when my father rejected Mirabelle and she fled out here to the woods. It was as if the forest had taken her side. At first some people died, and then nobody came into the forest anymore. My father had them clear a wide strip and build a small road through the woods so that we would not be cut off from the rest of the world. No one ever dared travel through the forest again unless they took that road.”

“Interesting,” Hannah mused. “That must have been the small road that the coach took to bring me here, right?”

Maximilian growled in agreement.

“Mama? Are you there?” Leon’s high little voice rang out.

Hannah froze. “Leon?” She looked around but couldn’t see any puddles or streams. “Leon? Where are you?”

“Is that your child?” the bear growled.

“Yes, yes, my son!”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes!” She was about to leave the path and look for her little boy, but the bear held her back.

“Stay on the bricks!”

“Mommy? Mommy?”

“That’s Emi! Emi, Leon, where are you?” Frantic, Hannah looked in every direction. “Where is the water? Where are my children?”

Once more, she lifted her foot off the bricks and was about to set it down on the forest floor, but the bear jumped beside her. “Stay where you are!”

“But my children!”

“Those are not your children!”

“Oh, that’s nonsense—of course, they are! I know their voices!”

“No, trust me, they’re not!”

“And if they are?”

“No! Friederike the Enchantress would never lure us into the forest with their voices. It must be a boggart or something. It’s trying to lead you off the path and deeper into the forest!”

“But what if...” Hannah’s heart was racing. What if her elderly neighbor had harmed them after all, and this was a cry for help?

“No!” The bear grabbed her by the shoulders, lifted her up, and forced her to look at him. “Where are your children? Think!”

Looking into his sea-green eyes calmed her racing pulse. Still unsure, she answered, “They’re at home with Frieda. They’re probably still asleep. I’m sure it’s barely seven o’clock.”

“And what did my godmother drill into our heads about what to be mindful of in this forest?”

“That we should never leave the path.”

“So do you think there’s the slightest chance that she would still try to make contact through a water source that’s off the path?”

Hannah took a deep breath and shook her head. “Probably not.”

“Then if I put you down now, will you stay on the bricks?”

“Yes.”

The bear set her back down on the ground. Slowly, he took his paws off her arms as if he were afraid she might panic and charge off. But Hannah kept her wits about her and took deep, calm breaths. And now that she was thinking clearly again, she no longer heard her children’s voices.

“What was that? Who was imitating my children’s voices?”

“It must have been a boggart. They can look into your heart and see what you most long for.”

“But how do they know what Emi and Leon sound like? I’m their mother. I know their voices like no one else. And I could swear that those were my two children calling from somewhere in the woods—and not an imitation!”

“Boggarts can see, hear, feel, and taste whatever you love. Whatever you hold in your heart.”

“What do these boggarts look like? So I can recognize them?”

“Hardly anyone knows their true form. But if you see a dark, dense mist and notice any lights or unusual sounds, like familiar voices, then one of them has got to be near.”

She looked around on every side but couldn’t detect any mist of that sort. “And they can imitate anyone?”

“Anyone! Now let’s get going! Who knows how far it is? We mustn’t waste time.”

Hannah shuddered. Now, for the second time, she had almost allowed herself to be lured into the forest. Was she so unstable? So easily fooled? So naive? She pondered as she trotted along beside the bear prince.

They walked for a while but encountered nothing exciting. Hannah took care not to look too far into the forest and not to inhale too deeply or listen too closely for what was hiding there. She focused her eyes on the brick path, which seemed to go on and on without end, when she suddenly had a thought.

“You know, this forest really isn’t that big. It’s too bad it’s enchanted. Otherwise, we would have to be nearing the end.” She laughed out loud. “And then we would arrive in some city from the past. How exciting! I’d be able to see coaches and the very first cars driving around! Do they have those yet?”

“You mean automobiles?” growled the bear. “They do. I’ve even ridden in one a few times!”

“I could even have tracked down one of my ancestors,” Hannah mused, “and given him some stock tips. But no, my family is not from this area. They live too far away. Although I could send them a letter: ‘Best regards from the future.’” She grinned. “Oh, no, that wouldn’t work either. This must be about the time my ancestors emigrated to America. The letter wouldn’t get to them in time anyway.” She looked at Maximilian. “My great-grandfather just took his daughter by the hand and, bringing everything in his possession, they boarded the first ship that would sail that day. Can you imagine?”

The bear prince merely growled as she went on with her story.

“My grandma Anna, who was the daughter I mentioned, told me that they emigrated shortly after her mother died. But then my parents returned to Germany before I was born. I grew up here, although my father—he’s American—always dreamed of going back to his native land. And once I was all grown up and standing on my own two feet, they did go back.”

“And how is it that you have three children and no husband?” The bear glanced at her hand again. She wasn’t wearing a wedding ring, and he looked at her quizzically. His question didn’t sound judgmental, and he looked at her in an unconcerned way rather than watching her furtively like most other people who were looking for a juicy piece of gossip to pass along. This suddenly loosened her tongue, and for the first time in five years, she spoke freely about Andrew and his death.

“Andrew was the love of my life. We met when we were in college. We were so in love and so happy, like I had never experienced before. We both wanted to have children early so that we would have time to enjoy them. Most of my friends told me that I should first move up in my job so that once I came back from maternity leave, I could jump right in and have a career and not wind up behind a cash register somewhere. But I always wanted to first have kids and then, when they didn’t need me so much anymore, to build something of my own. Andrew got a great job offer after graduation, so we were able to make our dream come true right away. We had Marco and were very happy. Three and a half years later, Emi came along, and our happiness was complete.

“But then... then my husband got into an accident. Someone rammed into his car while he was on his way to see a client. The hospital called us immediately. But it was too late. By the time we got there, he was no longer conscious, and soon after I sat down by his side, he died. It was as if he had been waiting for me.”

A single tear welled up and trickled down her cheek. But it was the only one. She took a deep breath. It felt good to talk about it with a stranger. It felt good to talk about Andrew. And it felt good to think of the good times as well, of the years they had had together.

“I’m so sorry,” the bear growled. And she believed him.

“Thank you. By the time I went out to tell my children what had happened, I was just going through the motions. I felt as if all the life had been drained from me, as if Andrew had taken my soul with him. It wasn’t until after his funeral that I realized I was pregnant. At first, I was desperate and cursed God, but when Leon began to stir in my belly, I found life again through him.” She smiled, and as she looked at the bear prince, she thought she saw him smile as well.

“Leon brought a sense of joy back into our home. Marco had been very sad after Andrew’s death. Emi was still too little to understand, but she had also been very quiet and had nightmares every night. When Leon was born, it felt like a part of Andrew had returned, and the little rascal made us laugh so much that Emi and Marco also finally came out of their shells.”

“And you? Did you come back to life as well?”

Hannah thought for a while. “I love my children more than anything. They’re my life. I never want to be away from them again, and I don’t regret that we had them so early. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have had anything left of Andrew. But I would be lying if I said that managing all this by myself was easy. Every day, there’s a new challenge. Most of the time, I just do what I have to do and fall into bed at night, exhausted. I often wish there were someone by my side, someone to make the decisions with me, to be a parent with me, to help me shoulder the responsibility for my three sweet peas.” A wry smile crossed her lips, and she shrugged. “I guess you can’t have it all in life.”

“Look!” The bear pointed to a puddle right by the side of the path. “There’s your chance to say good morning to your sweet peas,” he quipped, but there was also a hint of warmth and compassion in his voice, as if he were trying to understand how she felt being far away from her children.

Hannah’s eyes lit up, and with three large strides she was right next to the water. She kneeled down and bent over the puddle. “Frieda? Emi? Marco? Leon? Are you there?”

The surface blurred, and colors and contours started to appear. They became clearer and clearer until the faces of all three children were plainly visible.

“Hey, Mom!” Marco said, waving.

“Mommy! There you are!” squealed Emi. How Hannah had missed those dimples.

“Is that the prince behind you, Mama, or is it a real bear?” Leon asked in his high little voice.

Hannah laughed. “Allow me to introduce you.” And turning slightly to the side, she motioned to Maximilian to come crouch down beside her. “This is Prince Maximilian von Lichtenberg, aka the grumpy brown bear.”

The bear prince uttered a deep growl, though the children’s bright laughter made him smile.

Amused, Hannah watched his expression and then turned back to her children. “Did you sleep well? Are you all right? Have you had breakfast yet?”

Frieda appeared behind the children and chuckled. “Everything’s fine, dear Hannah. No need to worry at all. We’re doing splendidly, aren’t we, children?”

“Yeaaaaaah!” Emi and Leon cried at once.

“It’s all good, Mom. No nightmares last night,” Marco confirmed, as if he were now the guardian of the two younger kids.

“We’re going to the playground now. Frieda promised!” Emi said, beaming, as Leon nodded in agreement.

“I’ll make sure they don’t fall off anything!” Marco added.

Well, well, since when had he become so responsible? Had her absence awakened that side of him? Relieved, Hannah gave him a big smile. “Thanks, big guy! Kids, it looks like I’m going to have to stay a little longer.”

“Frieda already explained that,” Emi replied. “You’re there to save the prince. But isn’t the prince supposed to save the princess?”

Hannah laughed and looked at the bear, who uttered another deep growl. “Don’t worry, children,” he said. “If an evil being appears, I’ll be there to save your mother!”

“Don’t scare them,” Hannah whispered.

But Leon was already swinging his fists in the air. “Oh, yeah, that sounds exciting! You have to tell us all about it, Mama!”

Hannah smiled. “All right.”

“Now we need to let them move on,” Frieda warned. “You do understand that, don’t you, my angels?”

“Yes!” Emi cried. “Bye, Mommy!”

“Kissy, Mama!” Leon exclaimed.

“Later, Mom!”

“Bye, you three. I love you.” But by then the water had already blurred, and all she could see was the reflection of the leaves and branches above. Hannah sighed.

“They’re doing fine!” Maximilian growled, then patted her on the shoulder with his paw. It was a gentle pat—he didn’t want to hurt her—and something he hadn’t felt before shot through him. He cleared his throat. “Let’s move on so you can be back with them that much sooner.”

Hannah reluctantly tore herself away from the puddle and stood up again. She marched onwards beside him through the forest, always keeping her feet on the red brick path.