#and tomorrow will be one year since we harvested this field and afterwards we went home for dinner

[deepwoundsandfadedscars]

.

[fruandfro]

The Perfect Gift

Rating: G

Pairing: Anna and Kristoff

Summary: Anna’s birthday is coming up soon. However, Kristoff is called away for an ice harvesting emergency. To make things worst, he has not gotten Anna’s birthday gift yet. Can Kristoff find Anna’s gift in time?

Hello everyone! This was my submission to Frozines. There is great content in there, so be sure to check it out at @frozines! 

The Perfect Gift

           It was a beautiful June morning in Arendelle. The sky was blue with a few stray white clouds moving across. The sun was beating down on the town square as Arendelle citizens went about their day. At the center of the square stood a tall statue commemorating late royals, King Agnarr and Queen Iduna. On the stoop of the statue sat a young man with broad shoulders and shaggy blond hair with a pensive look on his face. Next to him was his reindeer, looking very worried for his owner. Kristoff had received word from the ice harvesters that one of the ice storage houses had sustained damages and posed a risk to their harvest. If nothing was to be done, they risked losing three months worth of harvest.

Being Arendelle’s Official Ice Master and Deliverer, Kristoff would have to travel to the storage house, assess the damage, and oversee the repairs. It would take about half a day to travel to that specific storage house and repairs may take more than two weeks depending on the damage. This would not have been a problem had it not been for the fact that Anna’s birthday was in two days.

Since this was Anna’s first birthday as Queen, everyone was planning a huge birthday party. Even Elsa and some of the Northuldra were in Arendelle to help out. Anna had, at first, pushed back against a big celebration, but relented after seeing how much everyone wanted to make her happy.

           Kristoff let out a heavy sigh as he thought about what to say to Anna.

“Should I say ‘Hey Anna, I’m really sorry but there seems to be a problem at one of the storage houses and I would be gone for two weeks’? Nah, that sounds too casual. Or maybe I should say ‘Anna, I know you want me to be with you on your birthday, but it seems I cannot make it.’ No, that just sounds plain mean.”

Sven gave Kristoff a look that said, “Just tell her everything. She would understand. And besides, Elsa has people to help her now, so don’t worry.”

“You’re right. At least she has people to help her carry the presents….”

Kristoff groaned even more when he realized that he had not gotten Anna a birthday present.

“Sven, I completely forgot to get Anna’s birthday present! With all the planning and now this, I don’t think I have enough time to get her one!”

Sven snorted and shot him an exasperated look.

“I know, I know! I should have done it earlier, but what do I get for a queen?”

           Just then, the woman in question came bounding towards them. Anna was wearing her casual queen outfit that she wore when she went into town. It was similar to her formal queen outfit, the one that always makes Kristoff’s heart soar as it reminds him how far Anna had come in her life. It also made Kristoff’s heart ache even more when he thought about breaking the bad news to her.

Anna opened her arms wide, and Kristoff responded by opening his arms up and bracing for her impact. He caught Anna in his arms and hugged her tightly, savoring the feel of her body and her scent. He could never get enough of Anna.

“Hey you,�� said Anna.

“Hey,” he replied, but it wasn’t as cheerful.

Anna picked up on his change in tone and looked up at him.

“Hey, is everything okay?”

He took a deep breath to prepare himself.

“Anna, I just got a report that one of the ice storage houses has been damaged. I need to go this afternoon to assess the damage.”

“But you’ll be back tonight right?”

“Yes, but it’ll only be to gather supplies for the repairs. We have to move quickly or else we’ll lose the harvest.”

“How long would the repairs take?”

“From the report, it seems it will be a two week job.”

“Two weeks…..?”

Kristoff did not miss the disappointed tone in Anna’s voice.

“I’m sorry. I know you were looking forward to having everyone there at your party-”

“No, it’s okay Kristoff. The kingdom comes first and we need to make sure the citizens are fine.”

Kristoff sighed heavily and grabbed Anna’s hands in his.

“I really love you, Anna. I wish I could be there for your big day.”

He brought her hands to his lips and left a lingering kiss on them.

“I know you do, but it cannot be helped. Don’t worry, I will be okay. I have everyone here to celebrate. You just worry about saving that harvest and getting back to me safely. That’s all I wish for.”

Kristoff sighed and gave a small “okay”. Then, he gave a quick peck to Anna’s lips and quickly went to gather his things for the travel.

******

By late afternoon, Kristoff and Sven had arrived at the storage house.  The ice harvesters Kristoff oversaw were already there. Kristoff approached a man around the same height and build as him, wearing the standard ice harvester’s uniform. The only difference was that this man had darker hair and eyes, and looked  to be in his mid forties.

Henrich Sorenson had worked the ice fields for over 20 years and was one of the most experienced and well respected ice harvesters out there. Kristoff still remembered the time when he carved a huge ice sphere and accidently pushed it down a hill. Henrich still told the younger ice harvesters about how in doing so Kristoff had almost destroyed a village with the ice sphere. It had been his idea of putting their sleds in front to stop it that saved the village from destruction. Kristoff wished Henrich would quit telling that story, but let it go after a few younger ice harvesters started asking him to teach them how to carve ice spheres.

“Hey Henrich! I’m here. What is the status?”

“It does not look good. Come take a look for yourself.”

As Kristoff approached, he could see that the front left part of the roof had collapsed in. It had missed the harvest thankfully, but now the hole was letting the summer heat into the building. To make things worse, the whole roof would have to be replaced to make sure another collapse would not happen. The blizzards that hit the kingdom in the past winter and the unseasonably long rainy season that had caused the wood to rot. It hadn’t had time to dry completely and caved in.

“We’ll need to replace the whole roof. Henrich, how many men do you have?”

“Well, I have ten guys available now. I could round up another five men, but they live farther out and would need to travel for about a day to reach here.”

“Okay. Have one of your men go round the rest of your men up. First, let’s cover up the hole to prevent more heat from getting in. Then, we’ll move the harvest to another ice storage house. The nearest one is ten minutes away. We will need to move them fast. How many wagons do we have?”

“All of us have our wagons here.”

“Perfect. Let’s get one of the wagons filled, and have one person transport it to the other ice house. We’ll continue this process with each wagon until all the ice is moved. Henrich, you and I stay behind to load the ice. Everybody ready!?”

“Ready!!!”

“Then let’s start!”

They first covered up the hole using a large tarp, and started to load the first wagon afterwards. It took them a little over an hour to completely move the whole harvest over, but luckily, most of the harvest made it over perfectly intact. They spent the rest of the remaining afternoon making estimates for the repairs. Kristoff did not return home until late evening when most of the castle had already turned in for the night. He hoped Anna had gone to bed after a long day of her duties, but was surprised to see her sitting on a barrel in the stables. She was wearing her green nightgown and wrapped in a thick blanket to keep warm. Kristoff’s heart warmed at the scene before him.

“Hey, welcome home!”

“You didn’t have to wait up.”

“I know, but I wanted to. How does it look up there?”

“Not good. The whole roof would need to be replaced and that would take about two weeks. We were able to save the harvest though.”

“That’s good to hear. Would you be able to push back the repairs?”

“Unfortunately, no. That ice house is the main storage house that we use to deliver ice to Arendelle. Where we are currently storing them is further from Arendelle and can risk the ice melting before it gets to town. Replacing the roof sooner will help our profits in the long run.”

“I see. What do you need to pack? I can get the stable hands to help you get ready for tomorrow.”

“I would like that. Actually, can you help me get some lumber ready?”

“Consider it done! Just let me know how much you need.”

Kristoff gathered Anna in his arms and gave her a huge hug. He still couldn’t believe how lucky he was to have Anna in his life. It reminded him that he had still not gotten Anna a birthday present yet, and there was no time left.  

Oh well, if he could not get anything for her, at least he can still give his love to her.

“Thank you. I love you.”

“I love you, too. Now let’s go upstairs and get some rest. You have busy days ahead of you.”

******

Early the next morning, Kristoff set off with Sven to the ice house. He was halfway to his destination when something caught his eye. Something was shining in the distance. He pulled Sven to a stop and got out the wagon. Kristoff carefully approached the shiny object. However, what he found was not an object, it was the sun’s reflection off a pool of water. Kristoff took in the scenery and smiled.

“This will be the perfect gift for Anna. I’m sure she would love it.”

Kristoff marked the path by cutting marks into nearby trees and left for the ice house.

When he arrived, about fifteen ice harvesters had gathered and were preparing to start the repairs. He was surprised to see the amount of supplies already delivered there. He chuckled, realizing that Anna really held up her promise. For the rest of the day, they worked to remove the rest of the roof and measure the lumber.

The next day, everyone got up bright and early to continue with their work. It was  Anna’s birthday and Kristoff knew everyone could see the disappointment on his face. Henrich suggested that Kristoff take the day off and go celebrate his fiancé’s birthday with her, but  Kristoff refused, saying that the job was more important and that he could celebrate with her later.

Just when Kristoff finished speaking with Henrich, he noticed a figure dressed in white approaching the site. As the figure got closer, he realized it was Elsa and he wondered what she was doing there since she should be with Anna.

“Hello Kristoff.”

“Hi Elsa! What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be with Anna?”

“I came to gather all of you for a special meeting with Queen Anna.”

“Special meeting? What does she want to discuss?”

“Come with me.”

Everyone followed Elsa as she led them through the woods. Kristoff was wondering what Anna wanted to talk about. Did she want to discuss the repairs?

When they came to a clearing, Kristoff could not believe his eyes. It seemed that all of Arendelle and Northuldra were there and that they had set up a birthday celebration in the woods! Rows of tables were set up with white table clothes, napkins, plates, and forks. On some of the tables were refreshments, various deserts, jams, and fruits from Arendelle and Enchanted Forest. The center table had a gigantic three-tier chocolate cake decorated with sunflowers and crocuses, similar to the one he saved two years ago. Music and laughter filled the area as the citizens mingled with each other. When the group approached, they were pulled into the festivities.  Kristoff searched for Anna, but didn’t have to look too long as she came running towards him.

“Hey Kristoff! Glad you can make it?”

“Anna, what…What is this?”

“I decided to have my birthday here where every citizen can attend. After all, it doesn't feel right that some of my citizens can’t enjoy my big day.”

“You are the best person I have ever known. Thank you.”

Soon it was time to cut the cake. Everyone sang Happy Birthday to Anna and wished her a long and prosperous reign. Soon, everyone was mingling with each other and enjoying the food there. With everyone busy, Kristoff decided it was the right time to give Anna his gift. After letting Elsa know, he took Anna’s hand and started leading her towards the area.

As they approached their destination, Kristoff told Anna to cover her eyes and not to peek Anna was excited about what Kristoff was planning to show her. She let Kristoff lead her forward, and then heard him say “Now!”

When Anna uncovered her eyes, she gasped when she saw the scenery in front of her.  There was a small pool with a small waterfall and a tall willow tree next to the pool. Anna realized that this was the place she and Kristoff had passed through when they were searching for Elsa after she froze Arendelle. It was also the place where they met Olaf. After the Great Thaw, they had tried to find the place again but couldn’t remember the path to get there.

“Happy birthday Anna. This is my gift to you.”

“Kristoff…” Anna whispered.

She was so moved, she could hardly say anything back. She felt tears fall down her cheeks. Her silence started to make Kristoff nervous.

“Anna, do you like it?”

“Like it? I love it! Thank you Kristoff!”

She jumped into Kristoff’s arms and together they spun the way she liked . As Kristoff put her down, Anna tiptoed up and met his lips in a soft kiss. They held each other and savored the kiss for a few minutes before separating.

“So Anna, what do you want to do here? We have about fifteen minutes before we need to head back.”

“How about we just sit under the tree and listen to the sounds of nature.”

“That sounds great.”

“Also, let’s come back here when you are done with the repairs. I want to make this place our spot.”

Kristoff gave her a wide smile. “You got it.”

They situated themselves under the willow tree and let out contented sighs. Together they enjoyed the sound of the water falling into the pool and the summer breeze whistling through the tree branches.

This place was definitely the perfect gift.

[2021animalfarmfanficg2]

Yes, master.

Nina Muszkat, n27 e Rebeca Golombek n32 - 9ºE

Synopsis: 

What if the narrative from the book "Animal Farm" was told from a different point of view? From the perspective of the Mollie, Muriel the goat, Boxer, or even the cows? Well, we are going to revisit the story of Napoleon, the big boar who supposedly freed all animals and led them through the revolution, but from another angle. 

Jess was born in a caring family, with many brothers and sisters. On his first birthday, he was recruited, or better, taken away from his mother, to become one of Napoleon's pupils, one of the puppies he so "generously" raised. But he was different from the others, he had a pure heart and a sharp mind, which didn't really please his superiors. 

In this tale, we are going to walk side by side with Jess, since the moment he was born, up to his final mission. In the book Animal Farm, he didn't have the space to be himself, maybe in another reality he could. 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fanfiction:

It was summer, soon after the hay harvest. Jessie and Bluebell were just welcoming into the world nine lovely sturdy puppies, between them, Jess. He was the smallest of his three brothers and five sisters, but the most generous and caring. His pure heart and sharp mind were what made him stand out, and the first thing anyone would notice about him. 

The couple months that followed were wonderful; The whole family was together, Jess bonded with his joyful brothers and sisters, they ran all day long on the vast fields, it was perfect. Until one night. Jessie, Bluebell and all the puppies were peacefully sleeping, when Napoleon entered their stall. After that, it all happened really fast. Without any explanation, or time to think, before they knew it, the puppies were gone. 

Jess woke up in despair. Confused and scared, he started walking around, but didn't recognize where he was. Soon, he found his siblings:

- Do you know where we are?

The other puppies were sitting still, in silence, paralized by fear. None of them answered Jess's question. Footsteps were approaching. A big shadow appeared and as it got closer, the sound got louder and louder. The ground shook intensely and the only dim light in the room made it evident; Napoleon was there.

Jess and his siblings exchanged frightened looks for a couple of seconds, when they heard a loud stump.

- Excuse me, my dear beautiful puppies. Since we are all gathered here, and that's how it's going to be for a few days, I might as well explain some ground rules. As you should know, I'm Napoleon, the father of the revolution that saved you from a miserable life under the rule of humans. From now on, you shall hear me very closely - feeling uneasy, Jess opened his mouth to ask something - First rule, no interrupting. Whenever I talk, you listen, it's as simple as that. Got it? Second rule, you will have two meals a day, one at the time you wake up, and other in the evening. Now for the third, and most important rule, you shall never, under any conditions, leave this room. - And that went on for the next three hours, or maybe four, Jess even lost count.

Days went by and the puppies started getting used to their new life. Everyday they woke up at seven o'clock, had their breakfast, spent their morning having lectures from Napoleon, which was followed by lunch and then a whole afternoon of practicing physical activities. Months went by and they started getting up at 6 am, sometimes had breakfast, spent their morning having lectures from Napoleon, afterwards had lunch, spent half the afternoon having more lessons and half of it, including some of the night time doing physical exercise. Jess found this change in routine odd, but said nothing. 

A year had passed and Napoleon's puppies didn't have a vague memory of how their life had been before meeting their beloved master. Jess, on the other hand, missed his old life with his parents too much just to forget.

- Why have we spent so much time without seeing our parents? Where are they? - questioned Jess - Will we ever see - when he was interrupted by a loud stump on the floor. - Are there more questions? No? Great, now go to sleep, my dear pupils. We have a long day waiting for us tomorrow.

The sun hadn't even risen, when the pupils were awakened by a whistle. 

- Everyone on their feets, quickly! Today we are pursuing our most important mission to this day. For that, you will learn thoroughly, step by step, the strategy needed. Follow me.

Napoleon led them to the classroom. There, he started drawing on the black board, as was usual. The well behaved pupils followed his every move, paying close attention to what Napoleon said:

- This is how we'll work. - said the boar pointing to the map he drew -  Next week, all animals will be reunited in the big barn for our weekly reunion, where I will be debating with our enemy. You are all familiar with him, and know how dangerous he is. Right? - most of the dogs nodded fiercely - You will wait right next to the entrance of the barn, where the meeting will happen, and when you hear this sound - Napoleon uttered a high-pitched whimper - you will know it's time. 

Jess looked over to his brother and sisters, hoping some of them would be thinking the same as him, but instead, they looked with amazement at Napoleon. The plan was pure madness, his parents had taught him that no animal should ever kill another animal, or that's what he thought. Jess couldn't even recognize his siblings anymore, they had gotten savage, ferocious, almost wild. Napoleon continued to describe the plan and as the week went by, and afterwards, proceeded to make the dogs get physically prepared. There were two hours of running, three of biting training, and four for high-pitched whimper recognition and action everyday. The clock marked 02:00 AM when Napoleon finally said:

- Now, pupils, you are fully prepared. 

 They all went to sleep peacefully, and it was at that moment that Jess saw the beauty in Napoleon's plan, he finally understood his purpose. 

Rays of sunlight coming through the only window, together with the boar's heavy stomping woke them up.

- Today is the day comrades! We are finally getting what we deserved from the beginning! Get ready to perform, Snowball will be sorry to ever think of building that stupid windmill. 

The time came for the Animal Farm reunion, and the dogs knew exactly what to do. They just sat there quietly, waiting for their master's signal. The discussion started to heat up. Snowball was defending the windmill's construction, and when he had just convinced the animals of his ideias, Napoleon stood up. He then uttered a high-pitched whimper of a kind no one had ever heard him utter before. 

At this there was a terrible baying sound outside, and nine enormous dogs wearing brass studded collars came bounding into the barn. They dashed straight for Snowball and leading them was Jess, the most ferocious and brutal. When he was just about to reach the pig to dig his teeth into his neck and end it once and for all, Snowball escaped into the dark night. All Jess was able to do was scratch him, but for that Napoleon was satisfied. His main goal had been achieved; without Snowball, he could alone rule Animal Farm. The dogs returned to the big barn and stood rigidly around Napoleon, where they stayed for the rest of their lives.

[underthewingsofthblackeagle]

Chapter 6: Days of Bliss, Part 13

A day full of light and shadow (1)

         Fraser was right. It was almost eleven o'clock when they reached the estate. The conversation with Henry Beauchamp had lasted longer than he had thought, and on the way back they had to drive slowly because driving on the bumpy country roads in the dark was not without danger.          As he stepped out of the coach, he wondered if there would be cold water in the bathroom of the Servant's house. All day long it had been very warm and his clothes were sticking to his body. He did not want to go to bed that way.          Shortly afterwards he entered in the bathroom and was not disappointed. Mrs. Ribonet had actually provided cold water for him. She also had put towels, soap, and a fresh shirt for him on the table beside the buckets full of water. He should not forget to thank her the next day. But then he stopped abruptly. Louise Ribonet could not have provided these things for him. Since the early evening the housekeeper had been lying in the bed of Grete Jakobi's guest-room and was hardly able to move. He himself had carried her there with the help of three other men on a provisional stretcher. It was probably Grete Jakobi who had made sure that all these things were ready for him. He leaned against the wall and breathed slowly in and out, in and out, in and out. Slowly he calmed down.

(”Wassereimer” by Anniepan)

         The cold shower had made him awake. He felt refreshed. After returning to his room, he opened the windows to let the cool evening air in. With astonishment, he heard how loudly the crickets chirped. It seemed to him as if he would hear them for the first time this summer. It was good that the stress of the harvest was now almost over and that a little more ease came back into his life. There would still be a lot of work in the weeks following the harvest. But they were no longer so dependent on the weather and could take more time to do what had to be done. At last he would have more time for Claire, and if everything went well tomorrow night, he might be able to spend much more time with her in the next weeks.  And there was nothing he wanted more than that.

         Once again his thoughts went back to the morning of this day. Immediately after her arrival she had come to his office. He had expected her and hoped that she would come to him. He wanted to tell her that she should not get herself into such a dangerous situation again. But then everything went quite different as he had wished for. What he had said and how he had said it created a great misunderstanding and finally a quarrel between them. But suddenly she had turned to him and asked for his forgiveness. It had been this moment when he had recognized it. He had seen it on her glassy face. She had understood him. She had looked into his heart and she had really understood him. Not only in her mind, but in her heart and in her soul. He would have liked to fall to his knees before her, his heart full of gratitude. But at that moment, both of them were already sitting on the floor of his office, weeping and laughing, happy that everything was all right again.

         Shortly afterwards they broke up to pursue their duties. Pauline was waiting for Clair in the kitchen and he himself had to appear for breakfast with the Baron. After breakfast Fraser had briefly gone to his room to get some things. When he returned to the hall, Pauline was about to clear the table: 

         "Mr. Fraser, the Baron wants you to come to his office immediately, and he has commissioned Heinrich Konrad to take the men to the fields today." 

         "Thank you, Pauline," Fraser replied astonished. Why hadn't the Baron informed him about these things at breakfast? 

         As Fraser entered the Baron's office, the latter sat behind his desk and Claire sat on a chair in front of it. 

         "Ah, Mr. Fraser. Now we are complete. Please take a seat." 

         The Baron pointed to a second still empty chair, which also stood in front of the desk. Then he rose, went round the desk, and stood before them. Leaning against his desk, he said:

         "We must discuss some very important things. But first I would like to thank Ms. Beauchamp for her courageous efforts in the house of the Modereggers. Claire, you have not only kept the life of Mrs. Moderegger and her child. You have also set something in motion for which I have been working without success for years. For years, I've been trying to build a better relationship with Ernst Moderegger, both personally and for business. I never succeeded and I do not know why. But when he came here yesterday with you, we had a short but very good conversation and he will come to visit me next week so we can discuss the start of our business relationship. That means a lot to me and I would like to show you my gratitude." 

         He took a small leather bag from the desk and while he handed it to Claire, one could hear the sound of the coins in it. Fraser calculated that the size and weight of the bag indicated that it contained 25 silver coins. One could buy a very good horse and a lot of food with such a sum. It was also the sum of 15 monthly salaries for a head servant.

         "Thank you, that is very gracious …" 

         "But?" asked the Baron, looking at her with interest. 

         "All the money I earn I have to hand over to my father and he keeps it for my dowry." 

         "This means that you can't use the money for yourself right now?" 

         "Yes," she answered reluctantly. 

         "All right, Claire. You will get no money from me. Tell me, what should I buy for you?" 

          He had understood! Her face beamed, and without he noticed it, Fraser's face also shone. 

         "If it is possible, your High-Well borne, I would like to have a book. I heard you are well acquainted with the bookseller in Marschen, Mr. Sturmfels?" 

         The Baron smiled. 

         "Yes that's right. Mr. Sturmfels is a good friend of mine. What book do you like to have, Claire?" 

         She reached into her pocket and pulled out a piece of paper she unfolded. Then she read: 

         "Hendrik van Deventer: Neues Hebammen-Licht: in welchem aufrichtig gelehret wird, wie alle unrecht liegende Kinder, lebendige oder todte, blos mit den Händen in ihr rechtes Lager zu bringen, und glücklich heraus zu ziehen, welches die vielen Kupffer deutlich vor Augen stellen; Alles aus eigener Erfahrung von dem Herrn Autore erfunden, den teutschen Chirurgis und Hebammen zum Besten aus dem Lateinischen ins Deutsche übersetzt." [1]         

         "Yes! A book about the work of midwives! I knew it," Fraser thought. "I knew she would do anything to learn more about it. I knew it!" 

         "Oh, that's a very long title, Ms. Beauchamp! Could you please give me the paper? I will give it to Mr. Sturmfels and ask him to get the book for you," the Baron said. 

         "Thank you Sir. Thank you so much." 

         Claire handed him the paper, still beaming. After putting it into the inner pocket of his Jacket, von Trebitsch went on: 

         "Then there is something else that we have to talk about. Ms. Durant informed me this morning that her mother is ill. The doctor is not sure what she is suffering from. Pauline asked me to release her for the next few weeks. Today and tomorrow, a  neighbour can take care of her mother, but then ... I told her that she is free to go, but then we need another help for the household." 

         Paul von Trebitsch looked at her expectantly. 

         "Claire, is it possible that you help us for another month?" 

         "Sure, but …" 

         "Yes?" 

         "I would like to do it. Really. But you know you have to ask my father and even if he allows it ... I'm not a good cook. Breakfast is not a problem, but ..." 

         "Oh, both should not be a problem, Claire. I will speak to your father. And concerning the cooking, Mrs. Ribonet is now free again after the harvest work is done. She will take over the cooking while you take care of the household and the garden. What do you think?" 

         "That would be great, Sir!" 

         "Yes, another month, another month!" Fraser's joy knew no limits. He had to use his whole strength to control his emotions; otherwise he would have jumped and danced for joy through the whole room. 

         Then von Trebitsch turned to him: 

         "And what about you, Mr. Fraser? Do you have any objections against my decision? Is it all right for you that Ms. Beauchamp is working for us for another month? Or do you want us to hire another woman instead of her?" 

         "I? No, no! I'm absolutely … ohm … no, I'm all right with ...  your decision, Sir. Ms. Beauchamp did a very good job, she should stay." 

         Paul von Trebitsch had caught him red-handed and he knew he was babbling stupid things, but right now it was difficult for him to coordinate his thoughts and feelings at the same time. Fortunately the Baron turned to Claire again:

         "Well, I'll write a short letter to your father, which you can take with you tonight. We will talk together tomorrow evening. I'm sure he'll allow it." 

         "Thank you Sir," she answered. 

         "All right, then you can both now go to work." 

         They stood up almost at the same time, leaving the room one after the other. On his way to the Baron's office, Fraser had seen that the door of the library stood open. Perhaps von Trebitsch had forgotten to close it properly. He grabbed Claire's right arm and dragged her with him into the library. As he hugged her with one arm, he turned the key in the door lock with his other hand. 

(”Bibliothek” by  Free-Photos)

         "One. More. Month. One. More. Month. Just. For. Us," he said, sealing every single word with a kiss. Everyone more demanding than the one before. 

         "Would you please grant me some air?" 

         "Sure, but only some." 

         "One more month for us, Claire!"

         "If my father allows it." 

         "He will. It is an emergency situation. He can not refuse the Baron's request. That would be extremely rude." 

         "Oh, you know, he can be rude …" 

         "Yes, but he will not be rude to his High Well-borne." 

         He smiled and kissed her forehead. 

         "Another month. Another month for us, Claire! I'm so grateful."

         "I'm grateful too. But I'm sorry for Pauline's mother." 

         "Yes … I hope it's not that serious." 

         But before he could even think about it, she had already pulled him back to her. He felt her open lips. Her tongue invited him to follow her. Then he forgot all around him for a moment. When they broke again, a wide smile crossed her face. 

         "Where shall I start, Claire, where?"

         She looked at him questioningly. 

         "Should I drown in your awesome eyes first?” he asked while he gently stroked a curl from her face.          “Or in your glorious smile?”

         His right hand softly touched her cheek.          “Or in those wonderful kisses, which almost make me lose my mind?”

         His hands slid over her back and pulled her closer to him.

         “Tell me, my beloved, where should I start?" 

         She did not answer, but pulled his head closer. As his lips touched her again, he felt her tender fingers sank into his hair. 

         "One day," she whispered breathlessly, "one day you will drown in my whole being and I in yours and no one will ever be able to separate us again." 

         "I can't wait to make you my wife, Claire," he replied, breathlessly as well. 

         "I am your wife," she said with determination in her voice and in her eyes. "I vowed to you and you vowed to me. Don't you remember? We just have not made it public. And the little that is missing ... We'll only become what we are." 

         " You're right, Claire. Thank you for reminding me," he whispered. "This harvest time is always so stressful. I have to be careful that the work does not consume me. Even with those wonderful times we had in between, it's not enough." 

         "Yes, we need more time. There's so much that I have to tell you ..." 

         "Saturday, Claire, the work on the fields will be finished and next week, I try to make more room in my schedule." 

         Before she could answer, they heard a man's voice in the hall calling for Fraser. 

         "I'm on my way," he shouted. To Claire, he said: "You stay here some more minutes, and when we are gone, you can go to the kitchen." 

          He kissed her a last time, then he quietly unlocked the door and entered the hall. Claire could hear him talking to a man. While she was waiting for the men to leave the hall, so that she was able to return to the kitchen unobserved, she walked along the bookshelves standing on the left long side of the room. A book, bound in dark blue leather, at the bottom of the last shelf, caught her attention. She bent down and pulled it out of the shelf. Then she saw that in the wall behind the book there was a kind of button with a ring. She was tempted to pull it, but then she decided against it and put the book back in its place. She had to talk to Jamie first. When she returned to the door, she heard someone close the main door. Then she knew the men had left the hall. Carefully she opened the door of the library and left the room. 

         Fraser had left the manor and had followed the servant into the stable. There he had examined a mare that refused to feed. After he had given instructions to the man, he had ridden to one of the fields to relieve Heinrich Konrad from his post and to supervise the work there.

         The rest of the day had been relatively quiet. But several hours later, maybe three hours before dinner, this ease was interrupted again. Fraser had just helped some men stretch a large linen cloth over a carriage load when he heard Max Budde's voice. He turned and saw the boy jump off a horse. As he ran towards him, he shouted: 

         "Mr. Fraser, Mr. Fraser! You must come home immediately! Mrs. Ribonet has fallen down the stairs and has broken a leg. Ms. Beauchamp says it looks very bad. Maybe she dies. The doctor has already been informed. But Ms. Beauchamp urgently needs your help." 

         He had left the men with some instructions. Then he had mounted his horse and together with Max he had ridden back to Balfenberg in a hurry. What he saw in the court made him tremble. At the end of the stairs lay Mrs. Ribonet on a stack of thick blankets. Her left lower leg was provided with a bandage, but blood trickled through the fabric. Louise's face was painfully distorted. Claire knelt next to her, talking calmly to the housekeeper. When she saw him, she stood up. At that moment he noticed the blood stains on her dress.

         "Oh no, not again!" He had seen many horrible wounds. But seeing how much Louise suffered caused him nausea. And then these blood spots on Claire's dress, on the dress of his wonderful ... wife. He closed his eyes for a moment, swallowed, then turned to Claire:

         "Ms. Beauchamp, what has happened?"

         "Mrs. Ribonet has slipped and fallen down the stairs: She is seriously injured. The lower leg is broken and the bone has pierced the skin. I'm waiting for the doctor. Mr. Seltin has to operate it. I tried to stop the bleeding, but as you can see ... We should prepare everything so that the doctor can perform the surgery when he comes." 

         "Tell me, how can we help?" 

         "We need a ladder that we can use as a stretcher, and then four men have to carry her into the house. But carefully! The stretcher must be held straight. We'll put her on the table in the hall. There, Dr. Seltin can perform the surgery." 

         Fraser managed to find a suitable ladder. With the help of some other men, he carried Louise into the hall. There, Pauline had already spread some blankets and a pillow on the table so they could place Louise on it. Although the men were as carefully as possible, the action caused her great pain. Some time later, Dr. Seltin arrived. Claire sent the men out of the hall. Then she gave Pauline some more instructions. Meanwhile, Dr. Seltin pulled out his jacket and unpacked his medicine case. Fraser saw some devices that reminded him of the tools he had seen at the working place of a military doctor. The memory horrified him and he turned his face away. 

         "Mr. Fraser?" 

         "Yes, Ms. Beauchamp?" 

         "Please leave the hall. I will assist Dr. Seltin. Please, you and the other men, stay at the court. We might need your help sooner or later. Pauline will bring you some sandwiches and tea." 

         He did not know how long they had been waiting in the court. After eating with the other three men, he paced the court, quietly praying that Louise would stay alive while going through the whole process, and that she would recover. At some point Johann Sattler had come to take Pauline home. Fraser had asked her to inform Henry Beauchamp and that he would make sure that Claire would come home safely. Some time later the door to the hall had opened and Claire had called him. She had told him that the men could come to take Louise to Grete Jakobi's guest room. It had been difficult to transport the housekeeper on the stretcher to the first floor of the Bailiff's house. But they had done it. Dr. Seltin was quartered in the living room for the night. The next morning Louise was to be taken to Marschen with a carriage. There she would stay at the ward of Dr. Seltin until she recovered fully. 

Notes: [1] Hendrik van Deventer: “A new light for the midwives, in which sincerely it is taught how all the wrongly placed children, living or dead, can be brought into the right place, only with hands, and drawn out safely. Many copper pictures show it clearly. Invented by the author, translated into the German, for surgeons and midwives from the Latin the best way possible." (sic!)  [Published 1731/1740 in Jena/Germany by Johann R. Cröker] Hendrik van Deventer was a dutch Pioneer of women's health an medicine. His work 'Manuale operatien' (1701) was translated into English, French and German, and was a standard work of obstetrics for around 100 years. The inner pelvic size, the Deventer diameter (diameter obliqua), and the Deventer method (placing during prolapse of the umbilical cord) are named after him.                    

[underthewingsofthblackeagle]

Chapter 6: Days of Bliss, Part 6

A sacrifice denied

         They had sat silent for a moment, until suddenly a noise from Fraser's stomach became audible, and he could no longer conceal his hunger.          "Time for lunch," Claire said, reaching for the saddle-bag containing the packet of sandwiches.          After they had finished their meal, Claire put back the cloth into which Pauline had wrapped the sandwiches. Fraser took the opportunity to continue the conversation:          "You had some more questions? Or did you ask all of your questions?" 

         She looked at him and felt that there were questions in his mind as well. And then she decided that her question could wait.

         "In general yes, but what about you? It seems to me, that you …" 

         "Yes, there is something … I wanted to ask you."          He looked down and swallowed. Then he took a deep breath and said: 

         "We both know that there will be trouble when your father learns that I want to marry you ... Claire, what would you say if ...  I go to your father, to ask for your hand and tell him at the same time that I am willing to convert?" 

         At last it was out. It had been difficult for him to express this idea. But it had been far more difficult for him to make this decision. For days he had struggled with himself. For days he had been wondering again and again whether he would, if he did so, betray his family, his upbringing, his tradition. But in the end his love for Claire had overcome all the arguments that spoke against it. After all, he would not give up his faith in God; he would only change from one religious practice to another, right?          And why should he care for the Pope? Why care for this old man in Rome, who gave asylum and support to a madman like Bonnie Prince Charlie, who did not care for the lives of thousands of his people?          Much more important than the opinion of some cleric far away with no connection to the struggles of his personal life was the question, what his family, especially his sister, would say about his decision. But did Jenny have to know about it at all? Ever since she had tried to pair him with this possessive, manipulative lassie, the trust that had existed between them since their childhood had been damaged - severely damaged.

         He had found a way in which his letters could reach her and he had written to her regularly, since he had arrived in Balfenberg. But he had only written to her about things that were of a general nature, or of things that could affect her and the family. They knew that he had found work and that he was well. He had let her know that he had found some friends. And in one of his last letters he had informed her among other things that he could provide for the family, if necessary, an accommodation and a livelihood by the help of those friends. Again and again he had talked in his letters about his work with the animals and in the fields and how much pleasure his work gave him. They had to assume that he had found work as a servant somewhere in Prussia. And in the beginning this was the truth. Once or twice a year he had even sent a book for his sister or his brother in law. He had sent novels or books on agriculture. Franz Sturmfels had obtained these books from abroad for him. But above all else he had been silent. Neither did they know his exact dwelling place, nor did they know his true position. And more important, he had not written in any of his letters about what moved his heart. He did not have to. There were plenty of topics to exchange. How did the children do? What progress did they make? How was the last harvest? What could they do to increase the yield? There were plenty of topics to talk about without really having to say anything personal. The superficiality of the communication hurt him. But he also knew that it was better so. At least at the moment.

(”Handschrift” by cocoparisienne)

         "Jamie? Jamie, are you listening to me?" 

         Claire's voice brought him back into the present. 

         "Forgive me, I was in thought, what did you say?" 

         "You asked me what I would say if you tell my father that you wanted to convert."          "Yes."          "My answer to your question is: Please, don't do it!" 

         While he looked at her with wide eyes, she put a hand gently on his left arm. 

         "But Claire, if it saves you anger and pain and ..."          "It will not help, quite the opposite."

         She knew her father and sadly she knew how he would react.          "But why? What can he have against my love for you and that I am willing to do this for you, for his daughter ..." 

         With pain she saw the despair that his face revealed. She put her right hand in his neck, pulled him to her and kissed him. Then she leaned her forehead against his.

         "Jamie, I never thought I could love you more, but now ... I know that this would really be a sacrifice for you and … I … I would never have asked for it." 

         She let go of him, breathed deeply and looked at him:          "But even if you do that, it's not going to change anything. If you'd been converted a year or two ago, and if we had met afterwards, then my father would recognize you. But now, he would say, you are doing that just because of me, not because you are convinced about the doctrine. And let's be honest - you would do it because of me and not because you suddenly realized that everything you believed so far was wrong, right?" 

         His face showed a mixture of sadness and hopelessness, but he nodded.          "Never before was I ready to ..."          "I know and I will never forget it. I can't imagine how painful it must be when you are ready to give it all ... and then your sacrifice is rejected …But please, always remember, that it was not rejected by me." 

         "I know and I will always remember that," he said, gently stroking her hand. 

(”Liebe” by  4924546)

         She was right. It was very painful. Even giving all was not enough. This knowledge left only one feeling in his soul: hopelessness. Because he did not know how to cope with it right now, he changed the subject: 

         "You had some other questions?" 

         "Only one," she answered. 

         "And that was …?"

         She noticed how she blushed and looked aside. Then she said softly: 

         "It was very soon, that you … made it clear … that you …said you love me."

         "Do you think that was wrong?" 

         "No, no, absolutely not. But … some years ago … my mother said to me, to tell someone …  to confess love to someone … is a very serious matter and one should not do that too hastily. I do not mean you were not serious when you told me ... but I'd like to know why you told me so soon …" 

         "There were several reasons. I told you that I wanted you since the first time I saw you and that I loved you since our first talk in the garden. I knew that you were the woman I wanted to marry, the woman with whom I wanted to spend my whole life."

         He took her face in his hands and kissed her. He leaned his forehead against hers and whispered: 

         "Claire, life is so ephemeral, so fragile. People we love are still among us today and tomorrow they are gone forever. My brother died, my mother died and then my father and every time I asked myself, if I ever told them, how much I loved them." 

         He swallowed hard, and then he continued: 

         "At the Battle of Culloden Moor, I lost many friends and also relatives. Some were very close to me. When, after the battle, I came back to myself and realized what I had lost, I asked myself again if those who were near to me knew what I felt for them. As you know, I had to leave my country shortly thereafter. On the way to France, it became clear to me that I would probably not return to my home country for many years, and I wondered if I ever told the members of my family who are still alive how much I love them. Three times I had asked myself this question, and at that moment I promised myself that I would never again wait to tell someone I really love what I feel. Claire, I can be dead tomorrow. I can fall from the horse and break my neck. Perhaps, however, a kind of ulcer grows in me as in Wilhelm Jakobi's body? Who knows that? But whatever happens, I wanted and I want you to know how much I love you. And so … when I was sure … I told you." 

         He felt her lips approaching his and he melted into her kiss. Later, when they let each other go, she said: 

         "You were right and I'm grateful you told me so soon. I do not want to miss a day knowing it." 

         She smiled and went on: 

         "Do you often think about your family and do you know how they are doing?"

         "Yes, I often think of them, and as far as I know, they are well right now. They have gone through a hard time. The harvests in the last few years have not been so good, but now it seems to be better. But, of course, the English still press them very hard." 

         "Is it hard to maintain contact?" 

         "There is a safe way of exchanging our letters. Ten hours on horseback south of here, there is a small monastery. I ride there about once all three or four month, and then leave my letters to my family with the abbot. A monk takes them to France, where he gives them to my uncle Alexander at the Abbey of St. Anne de Beaupré. My uncle then sends my letters to my family in Scotland, with a monk. And my family sends their letters to France to the abbey. From there a monk takes the letters back with him to the monastery here. We pay for it, of course. And in the winter there is no exchange of letters possible. But this is the safest way." 

         "Why can not you just send your letters on the normal way with a stagecoach?" 

         "There are several reasons why I chose this way. On the one hand, I wanted to protect my family. Nobody knows what happens when a letter from me falls into the hands of the English. For them, I am still a wanted man, who is sought after for murder and high treason. Even if I were to write about everyday things, they would use everything to threaten my family. The less my family knows, the safer they are."

(”Klosterkirche Doberlug / Brandenburg” by  jenszhonk)  

         He paused for a moment, and Claire saw that he was fighting with himself, whether he should go on or not. Suddenly he reached for her hands and held them tight. Then he looked away from her at the water of the little creek and said:

         "My sister ... Jenny .... she is the only living relative of my family. After my father died, only Jenny was there ... she was always there ... took care of everything. I owe her very much. But then ..." 

         His grip on her hands tightened. 

         "… Jenny had tried to pair me with one of those women you saw in your dream. She did it in a quite manipulative way. They appealed to my sense of responsibility, they tried to impose a burden on me which was not my own, but I would have recognized it almost too late. … I think Jenny did it for a single reason. She wanted to prevent me from leaving. In truth, she wanted to bind me to herself by this relationship. I think she was really terrified that I would leave. I can honestly say that I would have stayed, and would have borne everything if she honestly told me, that she needed me. But when she wanted to pair me with this girl, she gave me just another reason to go away. It was one more reason that drove me out. ... I still love her, she is my sister and you know, there is no way of not loving your family. No matter what they do to you. But I can not trust her anymore as I used to." 

         He paused again. 

         "I've often wondered if it's good that I keep silent in my letters about the things, that are most important to me ... But I think its better that way ... When the King was here, Paul and I talked with him about some plans that we might be able to implement. He was very interested and was very open to our plans. But at the end of our conversation he said something that I have never forgotten: 'Gentlemen, keep silent about these plans. For he who reveals his intentions too early, brings them to failure. For he gives time to his enemies and to people full of envy. Whoever can remain silent can get to beautiful conquests.' I have often thought about this statement and I can only say there is a lot of truth in it. Sometimes you have to be silent in front of people who are close to you and who you love, even if it's painful." 

         "I understand you, I understand you very well. I would like to share my joy with my father, but I know that if I say even one word about you, I will only kindle his anger. And who knows what ideas he gets when he gets angry."

[underthewingsofthblackeagle]

Chapter 1: Finding Freedom from Oppression, Part 5

 A work in progress (1)

        The next morning Fraser was awakened by loud knocking at the door.

        "Mr. Fraser, wake up, breakfast is served soon in the hall.“

       It was Louise’s voice that came through his door. If she had not awakened him, he would have slept until noon. He felt refreshed and could not remember when he had slept so well since he left Scotland. Fifteen minutes later he entered the hall, where von Trebitsch stood at the table.

        "Good Morning, Mr. Fraser.”

        "Good Morning, Your High Well Born.“

        "Sir is enough.”

        "As you wish, Sir.”

        "Did you sleep well?“

        "Yes, thank you.”

       "And have you made up your mind? Can you agree with the principles we talked about yesterday? And can you adjust your life to the rhythm we live here?“

        "Yes, I agree with what you said and if you allow it, I will be happy to stay and work for you."

        "Very good! One year from today on!“

        "One year from today on.”

        The men sealed their contract with a handshake.

        Then von Trebitsch said:

       "Sit down. Today we have breakfast together, than I have to go. You can take time to rest or do whatever suits you. I will be back for lunch at twelve o'clock and want you to join me.“

        While he spoke the housekeeper brought the breakfast.        

    (”Eier” by  tookapic)

"Louise will be here if you need anything, just go to her and ask.”

        After the meal von Trebitsch left the house. A young man brought him a saddled horse and then the Baron rode away.

       Fraser thanked Louise for breakfast, asked for a fresh jug of water, and returned to his room. He lay down on his bed and before he knew, he had fallen asleep again. When he woke up several hours later, he was a bit worried because he did not know what time it was. He hurried to the main house. The horse of the Baron was tied to a post standing near the staircase. In the hall he met Louise.

        "Am I late?“

        "No. Ten minutes, but stay here and take a seat.”

        Shortly thereafter von Trebitsch arrived.

        After dinner the Baron said:

        "We will go for a ride; I would like to show you my land.“

       When they arrived in front of the house there stood already a saddled horse for Fraser beside the Baron’s horse. During the next few hours, Fraser received an overview of the estate and the work related to it. It was already dawning when the men returned. Louise had prepared dinner in the hall for them. Later they retired to the Baron’s office. For a while, they sat together, had a glass of wine, the Baron smoking his pipe. Fraser asked further questions about the various areas of the administration of the estate and von Trebitsch was only to happy, to answer him. Fraser tried to combine the many information he had received in the short period of his stay to a large whole. He was silent for a while and his face must have taken a serious expression without him noticing it, for the Baron asked:

        "What worries you?"

        "Nothing. I was just thinking this morning about what you told me last night - about the King's father. I have disobeyed my father as a child from time to time, and he had disciplined me, but I do not believe he would ever have done something like this to me. What would you have done?"

            "First of all, I am grateful that I am not a King. I am grateful that I do not have to shoulder this heavy responsibility. Imagine you have to take responsibility for millions of people. As the father of our King, Friedrich Wilhelm I, acended the throne, he inherited a kingdom that was financially almost ruined. His father, Friedrich I, had wasted the money of the nation for his own luxury. Friedrich Wilhelm I used all his strength not only to preserve the kingdom, but to rebuild it from scratch. Imagine, then, that in the midst of such a struggle for the survival of your kingdom the Crown Prince, your successor, the kingdom's future, the future of your House, runs away!  But not only is your firstborn son - your heir, the one for whom you do all of this - trying to run away and asking the sovreign of a foreign power to shelter him. Officers at your own court, men you once trusted, do everything to help him to run away!  I'm glad I've never been in such a situation."  

           The Baron's pipe had gone out, he emptied it and stuffed it again. After he had kindled it anew, he said:  

           "But if you ask me how I had raised my own child, I would say that I had followed the advice of St. Paul. He says, 'You fathers do not provoke your children to anger.'[1] I believe it is better to win the heart of a man in advance than to punish him for disobedience afterwards. Hearts are overcome by love, but hardness alienates them. I would have done everything to win the heart of my son. I would have liked him to obey me because he loved me, because he trusted me, as a response to my love for him, not because he feared the punishment."  

         As he spoke these words, the Baron's eyes had become glassy. In the morning Fraser had pondered also on the question, why von Trebitsch was still buying land and thus securing the influence of future generations, where he did not have a direct heir. But he refrained from asking this question because he did not want to remind the Baron even more of the son he had lost.    

        Before they said good-night, von Trebitsch informed Fraser:

       "Tomorrow we’ll have breakfast with Wilhelm Jakobi, my Bailiff. I want you to work directly under his oversight. He speaks French, so the language will be no problem. He’s a tough man and I’m sure, he will put you through the fire as we say here. He will want to see if you are a man of words only or a man of deeds. Do not be discouraged. Just do as he tells you. And if you have questions, ask him. It’s better to ask than to make a mistake.”

        "I will not disappoint you.“

        "I’m sure. Good night.”

        "Good night, Sir."

        "Ah, Mr. Fraser?"

        "Sir?"

        "In Prussia, most things go very slowly and one needs a good deal of endurance. But sometimes things can speed up very fast. And in that case, it would be helpful, if one has made the most out of the slow times. I would like you to keep that in mind. Good night."

           "I will. Good night."  

           Monday morning he arrived just in time in the hall, where von Trebitsch and an older man, not much larger than the Baron, were already waiting for him. Above his high brow the older man wore his dense, full, white hair combed backwards, his ears free. His white eyebrows were barely visible. These made his vividly awaken gray-blue eyes all the more distinct. His large, straight nose went into an impressive white moustache, which was attached to a whisker on the right and left. which also joined to a right and left to a whisker.

        The Baron introduced the men to each other. They sat down at the table and Louise brought the breakfast. With interest, Fraser followed the conversation of the two men during the meal. At a young age he had learned the language. But since he had had little opportunity to employ it, he now spoke only rudimentarily German. Yet he was still able to understand many things from what was said. From the conversation he learned that surrounding kingdoms and duchies had introduced severe penalties against the recruitment of their subjects. It was obvious that Wilhelm Jakobi had had no success in recruiting new workers. All the more grateful were he and von Trebitsch about the surprising Scottish newcomer.

        Then the men continued the conversation in French, so that he could participate in it. Jakobi asked numerous questions to find out what Fraser knew about the management of a farm and cattle-raising. After breakfast Fraser’s first day began with a ride. At the side of Jakobi, he could observe how the latter visited the fields and pastures to inspect the work or herds there. Afterwards, Jakobi explained to him certain peculiarities or points, to which he had to pay particular attention. Then they rode to a forest area, which, as Fraser knew from his tour with the Baron, also belonged to Balfenberg’s estate. There they met a group of workers who sawn a series of large tree trunks, which had already been felled some time ago.

        Afterwards they rode back to Balfenberg, where lunch was waiting for them at noon. Half an hour later Jakobi sent Fraser for a break to his room, not without pointing out that he was waiting for him at two o'clock on time (“A Prussian punctuality is five minutes ahead of time.”). Every day after the noon break, Jacobi always made a walk through the stables and storage buildings of the estate. He took Fraser with him, introduced him to the other employees, explained the individual buildings and for what they were used. Again he pointed out those things that needed special attention. Then the men went into the Bailiff’s house. There they were already expected by Jakobi’s wife Grete. Jakobi introduced them to each other and led Fraser to his office. After his wife  had brought tea, the Bailiff explained to him how the administration of the estate was structured. Shortly before six o'clock, he closed the journal, in which the figures of last year’s harvest were recorded and wished Fraser a good evening. He went over to the hall, where Louise was ready to serve dinner. The Baron appeared and - after a short greeting - he asked:

        "How was your day?“

       "Long and exhausting,  but also good and interesting. I learned a lot. Could I get some paper and ink, please? I’d like to write down some notes.”

        "Sure.“

        During the meal, the men talked about what Fraser had seen and experienced on that day and later the Baron handed over some sheets of paper, a small inkwell and a quill to him.

        "You can keep it and use it. If you need more, let me know.”

        Fraser thanked von Trebitsch, and the men said good bye.

(”Rinderherde” by  molnar)

         The next day went like the previous one. Together with Jakobi, Fraser inspected the fields, the work in the forest and the herds. In the afternoon Jakobi continued to familiarize him with the tasks and management of the estate. At dinner, von Trebisch asked him questions about his day’s course and whether he had gained new knowledge. This daily routine was repeated for almost eight weeks until the harvest. It was only interrupted by the work-free Sundays. But for this day von Trebitsch had come up with something special. In his second week on Balfenberg, the Baron explained to him that he had hired a language teacher, who would come to Balfenberg every Sunday afternoon to train him in German.

        On the following Sunday, a lean, friendly man appeared on estate Balfenberg shortly after lunch. The Baron introduced him as Benjamin Kohen, the rabbi of a small Jewish community in Marschen. He spoke and wrote six languages and was therfore - in von Trebitsch’s eyes - exactly the right teacher.

        At two o'clock, the Baron led Kohen and Fraser in the library, where paper, ink, a jug of water, and two mugs already stood on a table. Then he left the men. At four o'clock, Louise brought tea and biscuits. Shortly before six o'clock a cheerful-looking Kohen stepped out of the door of the library. Behind him came Fraser, who looked as if he had fought a four-hour swordfight.

        The Baron said goodbye to Kohen. Then he turned to Fraser:

        "You look a bit tired. Come on, let’s eat.“

        After dinner, when he had regained strength, Fraser asked:

        "Why do you do that? It certainly costs you a sum of money.”

       "Let that be my concern. I need good employees. To be a good employee, you have to speak the language. There are some people with whom you can speak French here, but you can not speak French with everyone. I want you to be able to communicate with everyone. So: Learn! I care for everything else.“

        "As you wish.”

        "No. As I order you.“

        "Yes, Sir. As you order me.”

        "Good night, Mr. Fraser.“

        "Good night Sir.”

       This night, Fraser dreamed of Kohen, asking him questions about the German grammar. In his dream he fled the library and tried to hide himself in one of the horse stables. But then one of the horses began to speak to him, asking him: ‘Fraser, what is the meaning of Königlich Preussisches Garderegiment?’ When he could not answer immediately, the horse shook its head, and said, 'If children can speak this language, Fraser, it can not be so complicated!’ Then he woke up.

       Two more weeks later von Trebitsch and Jakobi started to speak less and less French and more and more German with him. The Baron was pleased with Fraser’s progress, but he said nothing to him.

Notes: [1] Ephesians 6:4 ESV