Girl in the Red Hood

by Brittany Fichter

  "About what you said in the cave earlier, that you couldn't understand why I love you...." Liesel had been lightly tracing the contours of his face in the dark, but as he uttered these words, she stopped, suddenly fully awake. "Do you really believe that?"

  "I guess...," she stuttered. "You just spent so much time-"

  "Would you stop?" Kurt gently covered her mouth with his hand until she playfully shoved it off. "What I meant to say was that you don't understand what it meant when you came into my life. I never saw you as a burden. Liesel, you were freedom to me!"

  "Why?" Liesel asked breathlessly.

  "From the first time I saw you, you had a spark in your eyes. You can't understand what growing up here was like...how disorienting it could seem. But the light I saw in your soul was an anchor. It pulled me out of the pack's constant darkness, drew me toward the light of the life hoped for. And Liesel?"

  "Mm?" Liesel was wide awake, but she lay quietly, drinking in the warmth of the moment. Being in his arms, listening to the soothing rumble of his voice without the threat of disaster looming above their heads constantly was intoxicating. She could have stayed there forever.

  "Do you know a spark does?" Smiling into the dark, Liesel mumbled a no. He leaned closer, whispering right into her ear. "It creates a flame. And today, that flame saved a village."

  "So," Liesel sat up on her elbows, giving up on sleep for the moment. "What do we do now?"

  "Well, I think your grandparents might be interested in hearing how things turned out." At that, Liesel bolted straight up.

  "Really? Oh, Kurt! That would be...I can't even describe how happy that makes me!" Kurt laughed.

  "We'll need to see everyone off who wants to go, help them find a true trade if they want to go." His voice fell a little. "And we'll need to take care of my father." Garrit had regained his consciousness that afternoon when the wedding bells rang, according to the caretaker who had been placed at his side.

  "I have the feeling some might remain," Liesel said, thinking back on how Keegan and a few of the others had remained silent as they'd discussed leaving the forest earlier that evening. And she didn't even want to think about what Johan would do without even his wolf self to turn to when he was lonely.

  "But I promise you this. The moment the people can do without us, we're leaving," Kurt lay down again and drew her close again. Liesel drew as near as she could.

  "And then?"

  "We're never looking back."

  EPILOGUE

  Leaving the forest took longer than Liesel would have liked, but anything was livable after what she had endured for the past seven years. The people of the pack were animated, joyful in the wake of Kurt and Liesel's miracle. But as their capacity for joy had grown, so had their capacity to fret and worry Kurt to death. Every man and woman, it seemed, was suddenly at a loss for what to do with themselves. The menial jobs and gardens and cottages that had once sustained them were suddenly too dirty and insignificant to keep them a moment longer. And as Garrit was still recovering, the responsibility of setting the people at rights after being suppressed for two hundred years fell upon Kurt's shoulders.

  "Foolish woman!" Kurt stomped in one day, shaking his head and muttering to himself incoherently. In the midst of the constant crisis that seemed to be perpetually developing in the suddenly too small village, the members of Kurt's family had chosen to stay together in the large cabin while things were set to rights. It was a good thing, too, as everyone else was so intent on either leaving or rebuilding their own decrepit houses that there wasn't a spare work animal to be found. Even Ward was short on horses. Kurt had done his best to negotiate for the individuals and families who wished to leave. Because they'd never had much need for gold, and under the spell no one had cared enough to create many tradeable goods, he had to promise that his charges would pay back their loans in labor. It had taken him weeks to find enough carts and horses to borrow to get everyone moved, and now it seemed that not even what he'd wrangled would be enough.

  "Who is it this time?" Lora rolled her eyes and tossed her big brother a biscuit. Kurt caught it and slumped down onto one of the stools, his head making a thumping sound when it hit the table. He left it there as he answered in a muffled voice,

  "Mrs. Fisch is convinced she can't move to Ward without a wooden cart." Sitting back up, he threw his hand in the air in frustration. "It's less than an hour's walk! But she wants me to take the cart from the Abel family the day they move so she can use it."

  "The Abels have four children under the age of five," Keegan frowned as he looked up from the wood block he was carving. The tall young man had been even quieter than usual since the wedding. Liesel felt they might be good friends if he ever decided to speak more than a sentence at a time to her. A thoughtful look crossed his face. "I'm helping Mrs. Fisch's neighbor move, too. Do you think Mrs. Fisch would be willing to go sooner?" Kurt stared at his brother for a moment.

  "Come with me tomorrow. I could use your help."

  "No," Keegan shook his head, staring at the table again. "I need to take-"

  "I can care for Father," Lora raised an eyebrow and smiled knowingly. Keegan gave her a long look before mumbling something about Kurt having it all in hand. It took an entire evening of cajoling before he would even consider leaving the house to help Kurt. When Liesel asked Kurt why later, he said,

  "My brother has always looked up to my uncle. Playing a part in his plan, the failed wedding, my capture...they all made him even less confident in himself than he already is." He'd sighed. "Whether he knew her or not, Keegan exchanged vows with the girl from Ward. She was his wife. And he was the reason she died such a horrible death. It will take time before he's ready to move on."

  If Keegan was a mess, Johan was worse. It had always seemed as if everyone would benefit from the removal of the spell, but after weeks of watching Johan help others move and then disappear by himself at the end of every day, Liesel could stand it no longer. She watched and waited one day, about a month after the spell had been lifted, until she saw him on his daily walk out of the town. Grabbing the basket of apples she'd bartered for at Ward's market, she set out to follow him.

  He walked farther than she first thought he might, until he was deep in the woods where there was neither sign nor sound of anything human. Just when Liesel thought her feet might fall off from walking so far, Johan sat on a fallen log, lit his pipe, and just stared into the trees. Wordlessly, Liesel went and sat beside him. When she held out one of her apples, he took it and turned it slowly in his hands, examining the fruit without really seeing it.

  "Seems ungrateful to the Maker," he finally said, letting out a gusty sigh, "but I miss it." Liesel said nothing, just watched the old man carefully. "At least the wolf was able to swallow up some of the shame. In that form, I could at least forget about losing her for a little while." Liesel's heart hurt as she looked into the weathered face that stared down blindly as a single tear gathered in the corner of his eye. They sat like that for a long time. There were no words Liesel could think of that would help. She knew nothing of losing a child. And she hadn't realized how much he had relied on the form that everyone else hated. Silently, she called out to the Maker, asking Him to give Johan something, some sort of closure to the pain, some sort of hope.

  Johan was still weighing heavily on Liesel's mind the next day as she set out on an errand of a different sort. Though she had been keeping busy, trying to help Kurt in whatever ways she could, there was someone she needed to thank before they left the woods.

  Now that the spell was broken, the people of Ward would at least speak with her. Though they weren't exactly friendly, they were willing to help her find her person of mystery.

  "Paul?" The mayor rubbed his chin thoughtfully. He was one of the only individuals who seemed to go on as if nothing had happened, and he hadn't helped delivered Liesel to a pack of wolves. "A hunter, you say? I think I do remember someone by that name. He lives a ways off, half a day's ride on horsebac
k. What do you want him for?"

  "It's a long story," Liesel shook her head. "How do I find him?" The next morning, Liesel had slipped out of the cabin before anyone else was awake. She was sure Kurt wouldn't be keen on her riding so far by herself, but she tried to comfort him in her note by assuring him she would be home before dark. The mayor's directions were correct, much to Liesel's relief. After about three hours of riding straight west, Liesel came upon a little cabin in the middle of the great forest. It was surprisingly well-kept for something so deep in the woods. Praying she was right, and that this truly was the hunter's house, she timidly dismounted her horse and knocked on the door.

  "Yes?" A woman with graying brown hair answered the door. She looked confused, but Liesel thought she had kind eyes.

  "I...I'm looking for a man named Paul," Liesel tried to sound confident. "I was told this is where he lives...?"

  "Aye," a man answered as the door opened wider. Sure enough, it was him. He looked a little older, perhaps, but Liesel could never have forgotten the face of the man who had risked his life to save her from the wolf.

  "I don't know if you remember me," she tried to smile, "but while you were out hunting seven years ago, I had been bitten by a wolf and-"

  "Ah, yes!" Recognition lit his eyes. "You were the girl I brought back to Ward! Come in, please! My wife will get you something to drink. Joseph!" he barked. A boy who looked to be about ten or so ran up to them. "Get our guest's horse to the stable. See it's taken care of." Liesel's trepidation quickly melted as she walked into the cozy, glowing cabin. It was simple, but neat. The fire roared, and stew was cooking above it. A few other children, older and younger, showed themselves as Liesel seated herself in one of the comfortable wooden chairs offered her.

  The hunter's family was just as kind as he had been that first night, but nothing struck Liesel as out of the ordinary until Liesel asked where they were from. As she listened, however, her heart began to pound, and she had the sudden, desperate need to return home.

  The next day, Liesel was at Johan's house before he was even awake, banging on his door. She had been right. Kurt wasn't very happy with her at all when she'd returned the night before. When she insisted she was taking Johan back with her the next day, however, he relented a bit. When she told him why she needed to take Johan back with her, he grew nearly as giddy as she was.

  "Be careful though, Liesel," he cautioned her after sharing her initial excitement. "If you're right, this will be the answer to our prayers. If it's not though, it just might kill him." Liesel thought about that as she waited impatiently for Johan to answer her knock. She had nearly chickened out of telling him, but the conviction that she was right was too strong for her to give up. Convincing Johan to accompany her out into the forest wasn't difficult at all. Until they reached the cabin once again.

  "Ho, now. What are we doing here?" Johan had stared at the cabin uneasily. Liesel smiled, remembering Johan's aversion to meeting new people.

  "There's someone here I think you should meet," Liesel answered, already knocking on the door. She wasn't going to give him a chance to get nervous and escape into the woods by waiting too long. The hunter's wife answered the door again. She smiled when she saw Liesel, but her smile wavered and then disappeared when she saw Johan. The old man stood as though chained to the ground, as though vines had grown up and around him. The woman and the old man stared at one another for a long time before she finally whispered,

  "Do I know you?" Johan tried to speak, but it took him a moment to gather the breath.

  "Probably...probably not," he had to stop and lick his lips. "But I could never forget..." He stopped and looked at Liesel, the confusion and hope warring in his eyes. Liesel just smiled and nodded. "Hanne?" As if in a trance, the woman nodded. Then her eyes widened as though terrified.

  "Papa!"

  ***

  Though the large cabin made Johan a bit wary, he was immediately enchanted with his daughter's family. He insisted on taking Liesel home, but she knew it killed him to leave his daughter even for that. As she waved goodbye to him for the last time, she knew the Maker had answered one more prayer. Johan had finally found his peace.

  Unfortunately, pain wasn't so easily resolved for the others Kurt and Liesel helped. Keegan still doubted everything he said or touched. Much to his surprise and everyone else's, however, once the young man showed his hand at managing the anxious villagers, he proved to excel. It was only a few weeks before Kurt made the announcement at supper that he wanted to hand down the leadership to Keegan. Keegan's brown eyes had grown large.

  "But Father-" he had started, but Kurt just shook his head.

  "Father is recovering, yes. But you know he won't be able to lead anymore, Kee. Those who stay here will need someone strong. You can ask him for advice, but the people need you." Keegan had continued to argue, but Kurt wouldn't hear of it. After supper that night, he took his little brother on a long walk.

  "Well, did he accept?" Liesel asked anxiously when they got back. Keegan's acceptance was the key to their escape from the forest. The people couldn't be left alone in the state they were in, and though Garrit was healing, there was no assurance he would ever be fit to lead the people again. Kurt's grin was so broad words were unnecessary. Liesel nearly shrieked with joy. It had only been a few months since the wedding, but she was more ready than ever to leave the dark confines of the woods.

  Leaving the woods, when they finally did go, was surreal. Liesel half expected sentries from Ward to appear on the dirt road and order them back. But they made it out, and their first stop was Tag, to thank the Beckes, and then Weit. Given the circumstances of their departure, they agreed that it would be best not to appear in the town itself, but Liesel wanted to make amends with her grandparents before they set off on their own journey. As they rode up to the grand house once again, Liesel nearly trembled for fear of what her grandparents would say, not that they could separate the happily married couple. And even if they had come to terms with her choice, she wondered what the town had to say about them remaining at the vineyard. But she wanted their blessing. She wanted to see the happiness in their eyes at her marriage, something they'd never worn for her mother.

  Ilsa wept even harder at Liesel's return than she had at her speedy escape. Bernd was the most surprising, however. He'd walked out of the cabin and down the hill stoically behind his wife, as always, leaning on his staff. As Liesel and her grandmother embraced and cried in one another's arms, he asked Kurt,

  "It's over? For all of them?" Unsure of how he would react, Kurt simply nodded. Bernd swallowed hard, and to everyone's surprise, fell to his knees and began to weep. Everyone stopped to stare as the big man cried, and in that moment, Liesel knew that all was forgiven. The nightmare was over. Her grandparents could shed the guilt they'd born for so many years.

  "But what about the town?" Liesel had asked them over supper. "They couldn't have wanted you to stay after what happened."

  "No," Ilsa had turned her tea cup in her hands. "No, they weren't happy at all."

  "In fact," Bernd snorted, "they wanted to run us out of town."

  "What stopped them?"

  "The minster, of all people," her grandfather chuckled. "He told them all that if we left, they'd have no wine for the holy sacraments in church."

  "They leave us alone now more than ever," Ilsa smiled wryly. "Not that being alone ever bothered your grandfather."

  So it was with joyful hearts that Liesel and Kurt soon departed. Though she knew they would miss her and she them, Liesel knew her grandparents were happy for her. Before she mounted her horse, Liesel handed her grandmother her beloved book. Ilsa reverently took it, lovingly tracing the leather spine with her hand. To Liesel's surprise, however, she handed it back to Liesel with a twinkle in her eye.

  "There are empty pages in the back. I want you to write your own stories here so your children can see. And if you ever decide to come home, your dear old grandmother, as well."

  "We don'
t know when we'll return," Liesel said apologetically as Kurt loaded their little cart. Ilsa just smiled and took a lock of Liesel's yellow hair, stroking it with affection.

  "Go where the Maker leads you. You'll return when He appoints. Who knows where else He has work for you to do? You're so young, love. You're just getting started."

  And so they had journeyed, and their journey led them right to the edge of the sea.

  "Kurt, I can see them!" Liesel pointed to the ocean, having climbed as close to the edge of the bluff she dared while Kurt unloaded the cart. "Come see! Quickly, before they go!"

  "I won't be able to see you or the merfolk if I don't get a fire going soon," Kurt shook his head in false annoyance as he went to join her. Despite his protests, it wasn't long before the fire was built and strips of meat were smoking over it, and Liesel sat quietly, mesmerized by the smell of the sea and the wetness in the air that floated all around then. Kurt added some logs to the fire before coming over and sitting next to Liesel on the back of the cart. Without breaking her gaze at the glittering ocean that moved without ceasing, Liesel reached back and grabbed his hands, rubbing them contentedly while she closed her eyes and simply existed. Kurt fingered the garnet ring he'd purchased for her from a trader they'd met back in Ward on their way out of the forest.

  "This bluff would be a lovely place for a house," he said. Liesel laughed and poked him. Kurt had been saying that about every place they'd stayed since leaving her grandparents' home. Each night, he said it, and each night, she reminded him that they hadn't yet seen the ocean.

  "No, it wouldn't," Liesel shook her head. It took every bit of effort not to burst as she waited for his reply.

  "And why not?"

  "Cliffs aren't good places for children." When Kurt didn't reply, Liesel finally turned and looked at him.

  "Wait...you mean it?" Kurt immediately looked down at her dress, but Liesel just laughed again. It would be a while before he would be able to tell just by looking.