Page 55 of Enchanted in Time
“But there’s one thing I’ve been wondering,” Hannah said, brushing a strand of long hair from her face and tucking it behind her ear. “If all you unicorns knew this story, why didn’t Frieda find out about it long ago?”
“Frieda?” The unicorn blinked and gave her a blank look.
Impatient, Hannah simply ignored it. “I can’t imagine that that stubborn woman didn’t consult every last inhabitant of the forest to help her godson. If every unicorn knew about it?—”
Irmgard neighed and shook her silvery, shimmering mane. “I only just found out myself. The other unicorns don’t know about it yet.”
“How did you find out about it?”
“I’ve been watching Mirabelle for some time. At night, she’s plagued by terrible visions, and when she feels that no one is watching, she talks to herself or a ghost.”
“Do you think she’s speaking with her mother in her head?”
Irmgard neighed loudly. “Exactly.”
Hannah thought for a moment. That, of course, would explain why Frieda hadn’t heard about it.
Irmgard stamped the ground with her front hooves excitedly. “I’ll come with you if you’re trying to save the prince.”
“Isn’t your herd waiting for you somewhere?” Hannah replied, though she immediately regretted her question. The forest would be much less frightening and dangerous with this noble, pure creature by her side.
Irmgard shook her head, which tossed her mane about. “I travel alone.”
“Alone? Don’t unicorns live together in herds like horses?”
“Normally, yes, but I set forth on a mission.” The unicorn thrust out her broad chest. “The forest is changing. Every year, it gets darker and more threatening. A lot of unicorns are pressuring our lead stallion to move away. But I don’t want to leave the forest. I’m searching for a solution so we can stay! Maybe I’ll find the answer by your side.”
Hannah beamed. “I’m glad. So that’s why you travel alone. Is that why you’ve been watching Mirabelle?”
Irmgard nodded, and Hannah observed this human gesture of hers with astonishment. “Since Mirabelle has been living in the forest,” Irmgard continued, “the way it’s structured has changed. I thought she might have a secret.”
“But why did no one go with you? Your mission is obviously of great importance and will affect the future of your entire herd.”
Irmgard looked down at the ground and hung her head. Even her tail seemed to sag all the way down to the ground. “My mission is only one reason I travel alone. I set out to acquire wisdom.”
Hannah was listening closely. “Why? Is that something all unicorns do? Is it a kind of initiation rite?” Weren’t all unicorns wise?
“No, that was my own decision.”
“And why is that?”
Irmgard pawed the ground with her hooves and snorted. “I’m very... forgetful—or so the others say. But it’s notthatbad. I’m a little absent-minded sometimes. My memory is not quite as good as the other unicorns’, and some of them have teased me about it and tried to exclude me. They claim that only a trulypure and noble unicorn, whose noble head is full of knowledge, is allowed to travel with the herd.”
She snorted again. “They also claim that I’m too young, that I lack experience and knowledge. But if I go with you, I’ll gain experience and knowledge! And if, on top of that, I can find a solution that allows us to stay in this forest, which for centuries has been our ancestors’ home, then I’ll be a respected member of my herd!” Her tail was swishing wildly, and she was neighing loudly and happily.
Was that a unicorn laugh?
“Dear Anna?—”
“Hannah!”
“Dear Hannah, may I accompany you?”
Hannah laughed out loud. “May you accompany me? I’m honored that you want to come with me! I would love it!”
The unicorn smiled and was beaming even more than before.
How could anyone ostracize such a good, kindhearted creature? Hannah shook her head, unable to understand. Apparently, even the wisest creatures were not immune to vanity.
