Page 66 of Enchanted in Time
“She probably chose Friederike the Enchantress because she knew about the curse, and she was hoping she would help protect her son.”
“Could be. It’s still strange, though, that Friederike the Enchantress agreed. She hates children.”
Hannah shook her head in disbelief. That made no sense. The woman she knew, her neighbor Frieda, had behaved like a typical grandma to her children. She was kind and lenient, infinitely patient and affectionate. Had it all been an act? Could you fake that sort of thing?
Hannah’s pulse quickened. How were her children doing? Hannah thought back to the last few conversations she’d had with them. They hadn’t looked sad or upset when she had spoken with them through the magic mirror. And her children had never been able to fool her. She was their mother! She would have known if Frieda were treating them badly. Or would she?
Luckily, Marco was there. He was already older and very bright. He would protect his younger siblings... but against an enchantress? How would he manage to do that?
“Why on earth did she send you here?” Irmgard’s question interrupted Hannah’s dreary thoughts. “Do you have magical powers?”
Hannah shook her head. “I wondered the same thing at first. She told me I needed to help break the curse, and then I could return.”
“There must be something about you, or she wouldn’t have chosen you.”
“Maybe she deliberately picked me because she figured that, deep down, as a single mother of three, I was yearning to go on a retreat or adventure. She probably thought she would have an easy job of it with me—and she probably did.” Hannah was clinging so tightly to Irmgard’s mane that her knuckles were turning white. Had she really seemed so desperate, so miserable?
“If she had randomly picked someone, then it would definitely not have been someone whose children she would have to babysit in the meantime. Why didn’t she come here herself?”
“If only I knew.” Yes, if only she knew. Why had Frieda chosen her? She had moved in next door about six months before, and since then she had been cozying up to her and her children every day. Well, of course—the best way to get to a mother was through her kids. That must have been obvious even to a woman who didn’t like kids.
She had purposely moved in next door to her and spoiled her children, and in that way, with each passing day, Hannah had grown a little more used to her presence and trusted her a little more. Until the letter arrived and she had invited her into the apartment—and then left her children in her care as well.
As she was having these thoughts, Hannah suddenly started to scream—so loudly that, under normal circumstances, she would even have frightened herself. Three ravens flapped theirwings and, emerging from the top of a spruce, made raucous squawking sounds as they flew overhead.
Irmgard slowed, came to a halt, and turned her head slightly toward Hannah. But Hannah would not stop. She screamed and screamed as all her anger at Frieda and, most of all, at herself poured out. She had to scream, or she would have exploded. She had to let out her anger, to blow off steam to be able to think clearly at all.
She jumped down from the unicorn’s back, dropped to her knees, and held her face in her hands. The screaming subsided. She huddled on the ground, totally still, until the first silent tears welled up in her eyes. One after the other, they streamed down her cheeks, leaving wet trails on her face. Irmgard nudged her gently with her muzzle and rubbed her head as if she were trying to pet her.
“I’ve abandoned my children. All these years, I’ve guarded them like a lioness guards her cubs. No one could come too close. I knew I was the only one who would keep them safe. And then I suddenly let a total stranger talk me into leaving my kids alone. Oh, Irmgard, what have I done? How could I? What kind of mother am I?”
“We all make mistakes. And we’re here in this world to learn. Don’t torture yourself, dear Hannah. Even mothers can’t always see what’s coming.”
“I’ve always been watchful and overprotective. I wouldn’t even let my boss Ines look after those three. I never wanted them to feel neglected or foisted off onto someone else. They should know that I love them more than anything. Even if I am all they have, I always wanted them to know that they had a safety net under them.”
“Calm down, you haven’t?—”
“I would never have left them alone if Frieda hadn’t forced herself on me like that and the children hadn’t begged me toleave them with her so I could go to the ball and dance with a prince.”
“The kids wanted to stay with her? The kids knew her?”
“Of course, or I never would have gone!”
“And they weren’t afraid of her? Of her big teeth and fierce look?”
Hannah raised her head and knit her brow. She had never seen a fierce look on her neighbor’s face. She shook her head. “The kids like her.”
Irmgard whinnied. “Incredible! But there you go! If they’re not afraid of her, then she’s treating them well. I can hardly picture it, but that must be the case.”
“I hope and pray you’re right.” Hannah folded her hands and sent a quick prayer to heaven.Please, Andrew,she inwardly implored her dead husband,watch over our children until I’m home again! I promise that this is the first and last time I’ll ever abandon them.
“What were her reasons for choosing you?” Irmgard asked.
Hannah shook her head. “I haven’t the faintest idea.” She thought a bit. “Maybe because I recently told some acquaintances that there had to be a Prince Charming waiting for me somewhere as well...”
Why had Frieda chosen her? How long had she been planning this? Hannah brushed a loose strand of hair from her forehead and tucked it behind her ear. “And why didn’t Frieda find out about the Evil and Mirabelle’s soul long ago?”
“Hmm?” Irmgard snorted.
