Chapter 121: Chapter 99

Julia

 

After a while, they met other survivors of the village in the forest. Three teenagers between thirteen and fourteen, one teenager carried a baby about ten months old, and the others the two toddlers. With them were a handful of children between the ages of four and nine. Two adults accompanied them. The joy was great when they all met. Julia watched the happy faces of the elves and for the first time, she felt something like relief.

Leopold sighed contentedly. "These are all the children who were missing", he murmured, wiping a tear from his eyes. "Everyone made it!"

"Children were missing..." She sighed. "There are still so many missing. Right?"

Leopold pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Yes. Many are missing, Juli. But look how many are here."

Julia nodded.

Josefine looked at the group skeptically and hid behind her uncle. Fiete smiled and talked to her reassuringly. Peter stood with the two. He seemed undecided. As if he didn't know what to do. Finn had climbed off Marko's back and hugged Julia.

"So there are more survivors? Do you think the eldest is also somewhere in the forest?", he asked quietly.

"Is it bad if I hope not? I do not know... He was so terrible. I hope I never meet him again." Julia combed her fingers through Finn's hair. "Just like Inga."

"Maybe they are... dead."  Finn pressed himself closer to her. "Maybe only we are left."

"Yes. Maybe", Leopold agreed. "But in this case, these children have lost their families." He could not take his eyes off the newcomers. "It's my fault."

Marko growled softly. He nudged Finn with his nose and pressed himself against him and Julia. Another growl could be heard from him.

"No, Leo." Julia couldn't agree with him. "It wasn't your fault... At least not alone. It wasn't your plan. Not your idea. You have... You’re not to blame. It was the elder's plan. He used you."

But Leopold shook his head.

"What will become of these children now?", asked Finn. "Those who are alone."

"Others will take care of them." Leopold ruffled his hair. "But first, we all need a new home."

They watched as the adults took care of the orphaned children, then the group continued. It was not very far from the border. Maybe they would reach it in the evening. Or the next morning. Finn had climbed back on Marko's back and Josefine walked alongside Julia and Leopold. Hand in hand with Julia. Fiete and Peter walked right behind them and talked about the life of dragons in the desert.

After a few hours, they had to take another break. The children were tired and the adults restless. A thunderstorm came up and they needed shelter. But where would they find one?

The first raindrops found their way through the dense canopy and the group looked for places close to the trees so as not to get wet.

"There's a cave here!", shouted Pepe after some time. He and his father had moved quite a bit away from the group. And indeed! Between several trees was the entrance to a spacious cave where the entire group found shelter from the thunderstorm.

They sat close together. Finn sat on Julia's lap with his legs over Marko's wolf body so that no one would accidentally push him. Marko slept soundly and snored softly. Julia sat next to Leopold and leaned tiredly against him. Again and again, they heard the loud thunder of the thunderstorm, at which Finn flinched. Peter had also fallen asleep. Josefine had turned into a cat again. Just like her uncle. The two cats snuggled up to Julia, just like Finn. Fiete licked lovingly over Josef's dark fur. Gisele, Lavinia, and Maleen sat next to Peter and they talked to Liam. Pepe played with the little elf, who giggled softly.

"I hope the thunderstorm stops soon", Gisele said. "I'm not a fan of caves!"

 

Lea

 

Should she go home? She didn't want to hear another word about a possible engagement. There was no one Lea was interested in. She was content alone. Wasn't it enough that her little sister had disappeared? And her younger brother? Weren't a broken wedding and a wedding in the swamp enough? Wasn't it enough that Fritz would get married? And what was this stupid demand on the two not to have children? That was not her mother's decision. The Queen’s. And even if Fritz married a witch, there was no guarantee that his children would be witches and wizards. It was even more likely that they were mortals. Maybe one witch. One magician. Rarely parents had more than one immortal child. Had her mother lost her mind in her long life?

Such crazy nonsense!

Lea didn't want to get married. Never.

And Cleo? She was sure that her sister loved Charlotte. The two had always been inseparable. And how Cleo looked at her best friend... That's how Fritz looked at Paula. No. Her mother, the Queen, would probably never accept that. If she was so cruel to Fritz, what would she do if Cleo and Charlotte wanted to get married?

The people may marry whomever they want, or not at all, but the nobility? Us?

And mom doesn't need heirs to the throne. She plans to reign forever! So what is the point of all this!

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Why doesn't she leave us alone?

Lea had enough of it. But she couldn't leave. Not as long as her siblings had disappeared. Would Cleo bring them back soon? And then? What then? She trusted her mother to try to marry Peter off to another witch... Or to disown him. If she needed to do that at all. Maybe Peter never came back. And Julia?

Would she come home? Without Peter?  No. I don't think so. If Peter goes, Julia goes too. Congratulations, Mom. You scared them off. Paul, Ingried, Peter and probably Julia.

Julia. Did I do something wrong? But what? I have always supported you... Will you come home?

Elves had kidnapped Julia. Was her servant behind it? The elf Cleo had chosen? Was it Leopold? But how? Had the two wolves helped him? If so... Wasn't it Lea's fault that Julia had been kidnapped?

Is it my fault? And Cleos? Have we allowed that to happen?

I'm sorry, little sister.

Please.

Come home.

Forgive me.

There was a knock on her room door. "Lea? Don't you want to come out now?", she heard her mother's voice. "It's starting to get silly. May I come in?"

Reluctantly, Lea opened the door and let her mother into her old room. Agathe wrinkled her nose. "When was the last time you let your room be cleaned up?" Lea's room was messy. Her bed was not made and her things were scattered on her dresser and table. The bedspread, which used to lie over the sofa, lay on the floor.

"I only let them in when they brought me food. What do you want? Mom?"

"I'm worried about you, of course, my darling. You've been angry long enough. It's time for you to stop. You can help me with my work. I have a few letters that need to be answered and sorted. Will you help me?"

"Letters?" This is your solution? Or is that supposed to be an excuse... No, Mom. You don't see any reason to do that, do you? You've lost your mind, right? And I was too blind to notice. "Is there any news from Cleo?"

You should not reign forever.

"Not yet. No. But it can't be much longer. She punishes these elves for me and gets my little one back." Agathe smiled contentedly. "My little one will be back with us soon."

Lea grimaced. "Punished? How so? Are they going to prison?"

"That would not be sufficient punishment, no. There are now Julia's former guards. They are cleaning there. Maybe they will do justice to this work."

"I heard there was an attack on the night Julia was allegedly kidnapped? And the guards rushed there? I've heard a few guards talking about it."

"I'm sure this was a red herring. And these fools fell for it. Unfortunately, we cannot interview the attackers. They were struck down. The guards were injured and did not look for Julia. No. They licked their wounds and left the work to the academy!" Agathe snorted. "And Sophie? Too old for her job. I dismissed her. She was probably drugged."

"Drugged?" Then Julia's servants were behind it! "How terrible."

"I summoned the headmaster of the academy. He will arrive here tonight. I plan to have him replaced at the Academy. Lea? Sweetheart? What do you think about running the academy for a while? Until we find a new principal?"

"Me?" Lea hadn't expected that. "Principal? But what about finances? The hospitals..."

"Just for a while. I think you're the right one for that. Friedrich can take care of the finances of the hospitals for so long." Agathe pressed a kiss to her temple. "Do you agree? We can… Talked together... with the old Principal."

"All right", Lea agreed. "I'm taking over the task for a while. I don't mind doing something else for a while. Finances are a bit boring in the long run. And when Julia is back, I'll keep an eye on her."

"Then we agree? Wonderful. I didn't expect anything else. When Julia is back, she needs new servants. And a new housekeeper. And more guards. But with you at the academy, I'm reassured. You can leave in just a few days. After all, we still have to arrange one or the other thing... The old headmaster will need time to clear his office and apartment for you..."

New servants. Is this a good idea? Right after her servants, or just one of them, kidnapped her? "Maybe you'll send her some normal servants? No bound ones?", suggested Lea.

"Maybe. We'll see. And now come. Work is calling."

Please, Julia. Please come home.

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