Page 70 of Enchanted in Time
“What happened back then?”
“I don’t know!”
“You can’t remember even a little?”
“Remember what?”
“Well, whatever it was that made you more forgetful.”
“I’ve always been like that. Came into the world that way!” The unicorn laughed as she whinnied and swished her tail.
Had she lost the thread yet again?Hannah decided to postpone the conversation until later. She would be all too happy to help her new friend. Something must have happened to trigger these random bouts of forgetfulness. A trauma perhaps. Something horrible that she was repressing. If only Hannah could figure it out... Maybe she could talk to Irmgard about the experience, and this would help her get better. But right now was not a good time for a psychological analysis. First, they needed to find the fireflower.
Irmgard galloped along the narrow mountain path even faster than before. In the distance, they could see a crossroads, with one of the paths leading up the mountain.
“I’m sure there’s something that’s lurking there, Irmgard. We need to be on our guard!”
Irmgard neighed in confirmation and galloped onward. Just a few more yards to the crossroads. What was awaiting them there? The forest gnomes again? Or something else?
“Irmgard...” murmured a voice that only the unicorn could hear. “Irmgard...”
“Who’s there?”
Hannah jumped. “Are you hearing a voice? It has to be a boggart! Don’t listen to it! No matter what it tries to whisper in your ear, it isn’t true. We’re here, and you need to come with me up Rupertsberg to find the fireflower—so your herd can stay in this magical forest!”
“Irmgard...” the strange voice in the unicorn’s head murmured again. “I can take you to her. I can bring you to where you most want to be right now. I know where she is!”
“Where is she? Tell me!” The unicorn was snorting as she looked frantically around the barren mountain landscape.
“Where is who?” Hannah asked as she stroked Irmgard’s mane. “Don’t let yourself be led astray. Remember, all the unicorns are safe. The two of us are the only ones here—no one else. Whatever is calling you, whatever the voice promises, don’t listen!”
Hannah looked around. The crossroads was just a few steps away. Apart from the barren crag, there was nothing to see. No mist, no figure. Was it a boggart calling the unicorn, or was it the Evil in person?
The voice in Irmgard’s head continued to cajole her, “You blame yourself so much for what happened back then. I know all about it. I can get rid of your guilt. I can reconcile you with yourself and your little girl. I can take you to her!”
The tears welled up in Irmgard’s eyes. She blinked them away. “No, you can’t!” she cried out loud. “My foal is no longer alive!”
“I’m sorry—what? What foal?” Hannah’s mind was racing. There it was: the fateful blow of fate that Irmgard had been repressing, the reason why her problematic forgetfulness had grown so bad. She’d had a foal. And it seems her foal had died.
Hannah forced herself to stay calm. She needed to support Irmgard, to stand by her, mother for mother. She stroked her neck and could feel the unicorn’s racing pulse. “Irmgard, don’tlet it seduce you. It’s the Evil that’s speaking to you. No matter what it promises you, don’t listen! Don’t get involved! It wants your soul—it wants to lure you into eternal darkness. Your child would not have wanted that.”
“My little girl, my foal...”
A flood of glistening tears came pouring out of the unicorn’s eyes, and Hannah’s heart went out to her. She threw her arms around Irmgard’s neck and held her close. “I’m here, Irmgard, I’m right here beside you. You don’t need anyone else to support you. You’re strong. All mothers are strong—you know that.”
Irmgard’s memory awakened, and she remembered what had happened. She remembered that terrible time, the loss, and how she’d tried to suppress it all. That was how the rift between her and the herd had come about. She’d heaped so much blame upon herself and withdrawn so much that she hardly ever engaged with the others anymore.
“Come, Irmgard...” the voice murmured. “Come... here is your foal. I can see her!”
The voice was coming from farther away. Irmgard just had to go straight ahead and over the crossroads, and she would be there. Should she take a quick look? Maybe she really was there...
“I’m right beside you, Irmgard,” Hannah whispered directly in her ear, and the voice of her newfound friend brought the unicorn back from her sorrowful memories. Hannah gently stroked her neck. “I’m right here!”
Irmgard snorted, tensed her muscles, and shook her mane. “Hang on tight, Hannah!” She leapt onto the crossroads and directly toward the path leading straight ahead to the voice. But then she darted to the side and trotted up the path to Rupertsberg.
A strong wind arose and tried to push her back, but Irmgard held her ground. Inch by inch, she fought her way up until the path made a slight turn and the mountain wind died down.
“Evil unicorn!” Irmgard could hear the forest gnomes’ little voices squealing around her hooves again. “Must capture it! Want to roast it! Must never starve in the winter!”
