Chapter 123: Chapter 101

 

Fritz

 

"Do you think we can plant a vegetable garden? I always wanted one", Paula looked out of the living room window of his villa. She had to speak loudly to drown out the sounds of the conversion. Craftsmen hurried past them from time to time.

"A vegetable garden?" Fritz frowned. "What for? I have enough money to buy everything we need."

"That's not the point. I just want to have one. I want to plant vegetables. It doesn't have to be a large vegetable garden. But a small one?"

"If that's what you want. Good. I'll let you plant a small vegetable garden."

"And roses! Your garden is so bare. Only meadow. I want roses and an apple tree!" Paula tugged at his sleeve. "Will you grant me this wish too?"

"Of course." He kissed her. "I'm thinking about having a small well built in the front yard..."

"A well? How wonderful. I'd like that!" Paula smiled. "A simple one? Or a romantic one?"

Fritz played with her curls. Did he deserve such a wonderful wife? "Simple. I think we already have enough romance with a rose garden. But we can also have some roses planted in the front yard. But not too many. I would like to keep the front yard simple."

"What a pity!" Paula crossed her arms. "But simple is better than now. Your front yard is very lifeless. But this house is a dream. I love the wallpapers!"

The wallpaper in his villa was also kept simple. They were only very discreetly patterned and kept in bright, friendly colors. Just like his furniture. Fritz planned to leave the decisions about the furnishing and the choice of the wallpapers for the extension to Paula. She didn't want to change anything about his décor, and he appreciated that, but he suspected that she wanted a little more 'romance' in the house.

"This villa will be a magnificent family home", he announced. No matter what my mother thinks of it.

"We really resist her?", Paula's eyes sparkled. "Once we're married? Or?"

"That's what we do. After the wedding. It's time for my mother to wake up from her illusions. I know she loves my siblings and me. In her own way. But she is also selfish and unable to accept that we have a will of our own. Sometimes it seems to me that she loves herself more than us. You've seen it. She ignored Peter's will. Instead, she fulfilled Babette von Steinhof's every wish. And why? Because Babette did exactly what she wanted. If you do what mother wants, you will be rewarded. And Friedrich, that fool, helped her. He's not a bad person, but he's a fool."

"That sounds terrible. My parents always encouraged me in my decisions..."

"That Julia was kidnapped, that's her fault!" Fritz grimaced bitterly. "She has taken slavery too far. At some point, the elves had to defend themselves... Elves and werewolves started the war. Yes. But that was so long ago. Mother only stirs up their hatred. History repeats itself. Right? These revolts... I wouldn't be surprised if this turns into a war. And I will not support a war. I’m a doctor. A healer! I protect lives. I don't take them."

"When the queen hears that..." Paula grinned. "She would think you belong to the rebels."

"Not yet. No. They kidnapped a child... My little sister. I cannot join such a rebellion. Some limits must not be crossed. I had tried to talk Cleo and Lea out of giving Julia slaves. But they didn't listen to me... Slavery should be abolished."

"I agree," Paula said. "But let's wait and see how the situation develops. Let's get married and feign obedience to your mother."

"Pretend?"

"Yes. Pretend. That's right. I have a few friends who are involved in the uprisings. Humans. And no, I didn't know that the elves wanted to kidnap your sister. But I know that my friends are involved in organizing the uprisings. I don't know their exact tasks."

"You hadn't told me about that... Paula? You don't think?" Fritz threw up his hands over his head. "Are you considering joining the uprising?"

"Don't you?" Paula snorted. "Your mother forbids us to have children. Regardless of whether we want them or not, this is brazen! What impudence! What does she allow herself? Is she still in her senses?"

"So... You’re considering it? Even though they kidnapped Julia? She is still a child! A teenager. Just like her servants. What does she have to do with the adult’s war?"

"Nothing. And I hope she's okay. The uprisings must be restructured. The rebels need a better network. Allies. Maybe we can help? And prevent more children from being harmed for a higher goal. My friends can give us access to the rebels... What do we have to lose?"

"Our lives!" Fritz did not like the plan. And yet... Was he allowed to remain inactive? "Let's wait and see. I don't want you to risk your life. But yes. Things must not remain as they are. Angry slaves make mistakes. And mother isolates them more and more from each other... They need a secure network... And money... And..."

Paula grinned. "Now you sound like a rebel."

"Do you like that?"

"I find it very appealing!" She winked at him. "Very, very, very appealing! We could start ignoring your mother's demands! ... Unfortunately, there are craftsmen in the house!" Paula stuck out her tongue and ran away.

"Hey!" Laughing, Fritz followed her and the two ran through the entire house. Past the craftsmen. Paula was quick. But Fritz was faster. In the kitchen, among all the pots and pans, he caught her. "I've got you!" He wrapped his arms around his squeaking fiancée and kissed her.

 

Julia

 

"Should we scare the dragons away?", she heard someone murmur.

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"No. This is too dangerous! Be quiet!! What if they hear you? Do you want to end up as dragon food?", someone else hissed. "We can't scare them away. We are more likely to end up as a dragon’s meal. To be honest... I'm glad they're on our side, but I'd rather stay away from them. They are scary to me."

Julia turned to the two elves, two teenagers, and gave them reproachful looks. All the elves behaved kindly towards her. There was no ridicule. No hostility. They had accepted her. Julia was one of them. Just like Marko and Finn. But Josefine and Fiete? Most of the elves kept their distance and whispered to each other. Had the two burned the other villagers when they flew into the village? There was a lot of speculation about this. Josefine barely remembered what had happened. But Fiete had assured Julia that his niece had not killed any elves. No.

Those who had not made it into the forest had fallen victim to the soldiers. Not the black dragon.

Cleo.

Julia thought she had seen her. Was her sister still alive? And if not... She looked at Josefine, who was talking to Leopold. She looked so innocent. No. Even if Cleo was no longer alive, it wasn't Josefine's fault. Julia would never blame her. If Cleo was no longer alive, it was her own fault. And her mother's. Not that of a fourteen-year-old dragon child.

Hanno and Flora had also noticed the bad murmurs. There weren't many who talked against the dragons, but there were there. The two elves had already asked some of them about it, but it had brought nothing. Quarrels arose in the group of refugees.

Or am I just imagining it? Because of what happened to me?

They were under stress. Perhaps quarrels were inevitable. But maybe Julia could do something about it. Yes. If she had to, she would. But she hoped it didn't have to be. That it remained at whispering. She couldn’t the elves to be afraid. Julia was also afraid. Not of the dragons, no. But since she was kidnapped, every rustle frightened her.

"Is everything alright?", asked Finn worriedly. Leo and Josefine immediately looked at her.

"Yes. I’m good. Don't worry," Julia replied quickly. "It's nothing."

"Really?" Finn sniffed the air. "You don't smell like everything is fine!"

Marko snorted and tugged at her coat. A soft, questioning whining could be heard from him.

"It's nothing, really." She stroked his soft ears.

"Are you sure?" Leopold came to her and hugged her. "You can talk to us, Juli."

Can I do that? Should I?  "I know, thank you."

Leo kissed her hair.

"How sweet", Peter whistled behind her. Julia and Leo turned to him with red faces. Next to Peter walked Fiete, who looked at the two with friendly eyes. Peter, on the other hand, grinned broadly. "Will I get a kiss too?", he asked while winking at Leopold. Marko snorted. It sounded like laughing.

"No", Leo replied, turning around again.

"How mean!" Peter pouted. "But my smoochie! I want one too!"

The next moment, Fiete pressed a kiss to his cheek. "There you have your kiss!" He laughed softly. Peter blinked and rubbed his cheek.

"Juli? A big reptile kissed me!", he murmured.

Fiete grinned triumphantly and winked at her. Then he stuck out his tongue at Peter. It was thin and split. Like the tongue of lizards and snakes. Josefine also had such a tongue, Julia had seen it when Josefine stuck out hers.

Smiling, she turned forward again.

"Your brother deserves this!", announced Josefine.

"Definitely!", she agreed.

"There's a stream close to us!", shouted Flora from the very front. "Let's take a short break here. In a few hours, we should be at the border!"

A lot of approval followed and the group settled down at the small, clear stream. Many were thirsty because their own supplies were exhausted.  Those who had a jug or similar with them filled it with water. Mushrooms, and fortunately not poisonous ones, grew on and around the trees. There were plenty. Therefore, some elves started a campfire, and others collected small branches and mushrooms so that they could all roast mushrooms on the fire.

Fiete and Josefine wanted to sit away from the group a bit, but Julia didn't want to hear about it. The elves had to see and understand that they were not in danger. Therefore, Julia asked the two to make contact. Josefine just shook her head and hugged Julia. Fiete, on the other hand, found the idea funny and with a mischievous expression, he sat down with the group of elves who had spoken out most against the dragons. Julia heard him ask the overwhelmed elves for their opinion on ringed socks.

This wasn't quite what Julia had imagined, but at least the 'dragon enemies', as she called the small group of elves, were now forced to talk to Fiete. Not that they would answer him... No. They just stared at him. Peter watched the spectacle with interest. Fiete pulled up one of his trouser legs and presented the elves with an unrestrained ringed sock.

Good heavens. Fiete!

But after a few minutes, the situation eased and the elves were willing to deal with the strange topic.

Is that enough?

Or am I just imagining the whole thing? Am I worrying unnecessarily?

She stroked Josefine's hair.

 

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