CHAPTER ONE – THE BALL
The day Theodora Knight (Teddy) watched her sister get married off to a stranger out of her will, she swore a thing like that would never happen to her, her whole life her father had insisted and spent more money on matrons for his daughters to learn the manners of a lady at court, beauty and vain things were the only things that mattered. Learning to be nice to men of valor and wealth,
"You should protest against this Felicia, there's no way to get married to a man twice your age is right there's something we can do," Teddy said as she watched her sister gather her things together, the wedding had been an arrangement, a man from Serbia and believed to be in the army, was coming to marry her off,
"There's nothing I can do, father has waited patiently for me to be off age, I pray for you Teddy, when the time comes you will need this courage to say no boldly to his face," Felicia said throwing her clothes into a box.
They grew up in a rigid home where their father made all decisions and any kind of resistance from them or their mother earned them a beating or two.
"I hope I never have to face this,"
The sound of her father's car driving into the courtyard, made her jump, on nights he returned from late-night drinking parties, he lined his sisters up and told them stories of the wealth the men in the army amassed and how they would be lucky and very honored to be married to one of the soldiers in Hitler's army. Teddy watched the car drive to a halt, she prepared her mind, her long line of sisters had reduced to just her and her little sister. From the stories he told her, she knew she was next in the line of getting married off.
"Hello, Teddy," Her father beamed at her as he entered the living room, the living room was wide-spaced and had enough room to hold a dance ball, the chairs were all Victorian and the tables were neatly carved and imported from Paris, Teddy sat still with the knitting wool on the floor and the knitting pins working furiously on a sweater she planned to use for the coming winter,
"Hello, Father, Good evening," Teddy answered and raised her head slightly, He looked drunk but in control and she was grateful for that, on nights when he returned drunk, many vane words were flying out of his mouth,
"Call your mother, there's an evening ball tomorrow at my friend's home, Von Behrens, and we have been invited, you shall come along," Mr. Knight said as he slumped into one of the chairs, he took off his hat and dropped his walking stick resting on the stool next to him,
"But Father I am not feeling too well, I don't think I can come along, I would love to sit this one out," Teddy replied, she knew the answer would be no, but she knew how this would play out already and she already made up her mind to say no to whatever suitor asked her for her hand in dance,
"You will be fine by morning Theodora, now call your mother, I have something more important to discuss," Mr. Knight replied with his voice rising.
Knowing her father very well, Teddy knew best not to protest at things like this, she picked her wool and pins and climbed up the stairs first she called her mother and then entering her room, she took off the big gown she was mandated to wear at all times by her father, dropping the gown on the floor, she climbed in bed and drifted off to sleep.
Morning came a bit too soon and she wished the night was longer, maids were outside the door waiting to get her ready for the ball. She knew this, they all waited outside to hear any sound at all to suggest she was awake, knowing this, Teddy tiptoed to the other side of the room picked up her favorite Charles Dickens novel, and started reading, as she read her mind drifted off to the paid maids her father spent so much on to make sure she looked beautiful, not that he cared about their wellbeing and needs, he cared more about their face, making sure she looked beautiful and pleasing to the influential men was his goal.
"Fine you guys can come in," Teddy said and almost immediately the door swung open and a team of maids rushed in with a dinner gown and shoes and all she needed for the invite, the ball was not near in hours to come but then the whole day would be dedicated to getting her ready.
The doors to the home of Von Behrens swung open as they walked in, night parties like these were essential only to help the men discuss the happenings at the war front and Teddy attended these things mostly to stand next to a bunch of men and listen to them talk of who was winning the war and what strategies have been put in place. As she walked in she tried to find a nice spot with her eyes for where to stand and listen to the details of what brought her out.
"Theodora, remember to be courteous to the men and please keep your rage and temper aside, relax and enjoy the ball," Mr. Knight said placing his hands on hers, Teddy looked up at her father and looked into her mother's eyes, her mother rarely spoke and she felt like she was being trapped with her father in the marriage she wished she could help but sadly there was nothing she or anyone else could do,
"I will Father," She replied,
"Very well then, scoot away, I need to dance with my wife," Mr Knight made a light joke leading his wife to the dance floor.
Teddy walked over to a side of the ball and stood next to a group of youngsters talking about the war, she imagined them to be soldiers as well, maybe not captains and generals, but these were the ones that fought in the fields, they didn't sit under camp tents and give directions.
"We would never have made it out of there alive, I wonder why we are having this party to celebrate a victory that is not ours," One of the young soldiers said, Teddy tried to steal a glance at him, he looked a bit too young to be in the army, but his body did not match his young looking innocent face,
"Why would you say so, the forces retreated," another said, he took a sip from his glass and the others gave him a scornful look, he was not one of the soldiers fighting on the battlefield so he had no idea what it was like,
"I watched a lot of them die and in the end, the rebels retreated in pity after seeing us all die, this feels like a sport to them," the innocent-looking soldier spoke up again,
The conversation was not going the way Teddy expected, they were all talking about losses, she preferred the older men talk, they always boasted of victories and gave hope, but these youngsters only mourned losses, she turned her attention to the dance floor and watched the dancing,
"Hello, Good evening, Fair Lady," The innocent soldier with the big body said as he tapped on her shoulder,
"Good evening," Teddy replied absent-mindedly, mingling and making small talk was not her thing, she always tried to be rude in most cases to drive them off, but it never worked,
"I'm Blaine, I noticed you were listening in on our conversation, I was wondering why you would be interested in war stories they have nothing but gloom and doom to be talked about," Blaine said, pausing to dust off an invincible insect that landed on his arm, or maybe he was just fond of doing stuff like that,
"Well the way you guys talk about it, it feels like it's nothing but gloom, listening to the captains talk it all seems exciting," Teddy replied still not looking up,
"Nothing is exciting about wars Miss?" He asked drawing out the s expecting Teddy to give her name,
"Theodora Knight, Teddy if you please,"
"Ahan, I could tell it was you, I knew it was you," Blaine said as a smile of satisfaction drew across his face,
"Do I know you?" Teddy asked,
"No you don't, but we know you," Blaine said and looked back at his friends still discussing,
"How?"
"The Knight House is just on the road we use to march off, and we spot you every morning sitting by the window always in a blue dress knitting, in a way seeing you there when we pass is nice, we look forward to it daily," Blaine said taking a sip from his glass of wine,
"Oh, I see," Teddy said,
"So Teddy, would you like to dance?" Blaine asked, he stretched his hand hoping for a yes, Teddy stalled, she had never danced before on any of these balls but looking at the fine soldier and everything, she felt inclined to, his looks were pleasing enough, but she hesitated,
"I would feel really happy knowing I danced with the Lady of Knight House if I don't survive this war," Blaine said, he had a look of plea in his eyes and Teddy felt pleased to know that she was regarded as that important,
She slipped her hand in his and walked off to the dancefloor, she danced following his rhythm and though she stepped on his legs a few times, he laughed and continued dancing,
"You are not bad at this," Teddy remarked,
"And you are," he said laughing, she laughed and continued dancing, she saw her father standing with Von Behrens and his son Karl, they talked and pointed at her. The marriage arrangement was going on already and she knew it, this was how it went, she looked at Karl, he was tall and looked older than her in many ways, his height, his gait, and his beard.
"It's about to happen," Teddy said under her breath,
"What was that?" Blaine asked,
"I'm about to be married off," Teddy said and paused her dancing, she walked out of the dance floor and Blaine followed her, she had barely reached a drink and Karl walked up to her, Blaine saw this happen and stopped his tracks and turned to rejoin his friends.
"Hello, I'm Karl, would you like to dance," His voice sounded deep and he brandished his gun proudly on the side of his war suit, he had a large black belt running from his shoulder to his waist,
"No, I would not," Teddy replied and walked out, she ignored her father's looks looked him in the eye, and walked out of the hall.
As Teddy walked out of the hall, she remembered Felicia's words the day she packed her things together, "I pray for you Teddy, when the time comes you will need this courage to say no boldly to his face" As she stood outside her eyes went misty. Once again Mr Knight had succeeded in marrying her off, like cattle being sold off in a slaughterhouse.
Teddy walked to where the car was parked and tapped on the glass the driver opened the door, she entered the back seat,
"Take me home, you can come back for them,"
"But Miss, I was instructed to wait here,"
"My father is in there, probably finalizing plans to marry off to a man in Hitler's army, would you like to be on my bad side when I have two soldiers at my beck and call," Teddy said with anger and pain rising in her, her eyes were glowing red and misty at the same time. The driver drove off and her sisters' words kept sounding in her ears.
CHAPTER TWO – THE WEDDING ARRANGEMENT.
Mr. Knight expected this to happen he had already made counter plans in case Teddy tried to be hard about it, he felt he had everything under control and all he just wanted was to give his daughters the best life and the only way that could happen was if he sorts out the best husbands for them, but then they would never know, neither would they understand the pains he had to go through to get things done for them,
"Your daughter is truly the feisty one," Von Behrens said, as Karl his son walked towards them,
"She will come around, you know how the teens are, I just need to talk to her, we shall get the wedding done and over with, I suppose the Fuhrer needs your son back at Obersalstberg," Mr Knight said while extending his hand for a handshake.
"Yes he does, Karl plays a key role in his inner circle and remembers nobody must know this, not even your daughter his wife," Von Behrens said taking his hand for the shake,
"It is not in her place to know what he does for a living Von; I shall see you by the morning, Good night," Mr Knight said.
Mr and Mrs Knight left the gathering and Mrs Knight hoped she could do something about it, watching her daughters getting married off at an early age like that was not something she could support but her role was merely that of a looker, she had no say in the scheme of things, she only obeyed her husbands' demands.
Mr Knight had arranged for another driver to be available; he had anticipated Theodora to do something like this, he only smiled at how predictable his daughters could be, the drive home was quiet as the two had nothing to say. The car drove into the Knight House and parked right under the porch, close to the door.
Mr. Knight braced himself at what was to come, at first, he would try the subtle plea and later he would have to resolve to brute force, both ways he must make the Von Behrens an inlaw. The doors swung open and he walked in Teddy was seated in the living room, her knitting pin in hand and the wool on the floor, she worked furiously, showing all her anger in the work she was doing.
"You left the ball Theodora is something the matter?" Mr Knight asked, feigning ignorance,
"I will not marry him, Father and I mean it, I'm not going to let you marry me off like some cattle in the slaughterhouse," Teddy said with anger rising, she squeezed the knitting pin and she heard them crack under pressure,
"Calm down love, what are you talking about?" Mr Knight pressed further,
"I will not be part of this arranged marriage you have between the Von, I am not going to marry Karl," Teddy said looking into her father's eyes,
"But why?" Mr Knight sat on the armchair right next to hers, he dropped his walking stick and sighed, making up his mind for the talking he was about to do,
"Everything is a reason to not marry him, Father, he is older than me, I have no idea who he is and you are already going to make me marry him, don't you care about me Father, about what I want," Teddy said, she had decided to mix both anger and plea, she knew she used to have a soft spot in her father's heart but at this point, she hoped it would jolt him into changing his mind,
"But Theodora, I know what is best for you, maybe you don't know it but I know what is the right fit for you that is why I believe getting married to Karl tomorrow is the best thing for you," The tension in the room was getting thicker, her voice nearly hit the roof,
"TOMORROW!? Father, I can't get married tomorrow, I don't even this man, do you even care at this point what I think?!" Teddy yelled her voice rising, she was not going to let this happen not to her,
"Listen now Teddy, I have instructed the maids to pack your gowns and dresses, a wedding dress lies in wait upstairs, tomorrow morning you shall wake up and get dressed and the wedding will be done, get your mind into it, this is going to happen and you can't stop it, Good night," Mr. Knight picked up his walking stick and walked out of the room.
Teddy fell on the chair and looked at her mother, she looked powerless, and she felt both anger and pity for her,
"How old is he?" she asked in a low whisper,
"45,"
"And I'm 17,"
Teddy said and walked out of the living room, like her father had said, her clothes had been parked and she had no power over them, she thought of escaping, but that never worked, their home stood high on a hill, the only way in and out was through the gates.
She lay in bed after taking off her gown, this was it, there was nothing she could do, her sister had warned her, and she had blamed her for not protesting against it, but here she was and she could not protest, she lay in bed and cried her eyes out, hoping and praying for a miracle, she closed her eyes and sleep fell upon her, her eyes closed and the last thing she looked at before she closed her eyes, was her carefully packed box of clothes, everything she owned had already been packed when she left for the ball with her father, she never knew this she had stayed at the living room to wait for their return.
************
The wedding ceremony was grand, the hall that had played dance room to the guests of Von Behrens had been automatically redecorated over the night to look so beautiful, the guests filed in and out, holding plates of meals and wine glasses, the church ceremony had been rushed over, the priest blessed the union and they left immediately, the whole time Karl only beamed smiles of approval whenever he looked at Teddy, Teddy had in return maintain a straight face, she did not attempt to make any conversation or even smile, whoever looked at her face could see she was in pain.
The reception was splendid the men drank and cheered Karl as though he had found a perfect new toy to play with, Teddy strolled over to where the drinks were sampled, and as she looked at the table filled with different bottles she contemplated which she could drink to numb the anger boiling inside her,
"You should drink this one if you want to die, and this one if you want to get drunk, one shot is enough," Teddy turned to the voice behind her, it was Blaine, she looked at him and smiled for the first time, she looked at his suit and wished she was getting married to him and not the 45-year-old man standing far from her,
"I think I would rather kill myself," Teddy said returning to her blank expression,
"I do understand, arranged marriages seem to be the thing in this era, I hope my kids don't go through this," Blaine said,
"You have kids?" Teddy asked
"Of course not, I'm not married, I mean whenever I have them I will not put them through this," Blaine said and handed her a glass of wine,
Teddy took it down in one shot and closed her eyes to welcome the burning sensation she expected the drink to have, but she felt nothing,
"What drink was that?" Teddy asked,
"Sweet White Wine, it's not alcohol, I need you ready for this dance," Blaine said dropping his glass,
"What dance?" Teddy asked dropping hers,
"I suppose it won't be a crime to dance with your friend," Blaine said, stretching out his hand,
"I think it will be Blaine," Karl's voice came behind them, his breath was thick with beer, Teddy took her hand to her nose to hold her breath,
Teddy looked behind him touched the tip of his hat in a salute and bowed his head, Karl looked at him with a mean look he looked as though he wanted to reach for him and strangle him,
"I mean no disrespect, sir, I shall leave now,"
"Yes you will, and in the future don't ask for her hand in a dance, she is mine and I want you to stay away, understood?" Karl said his voice rising as he spoke,
"Yes sir!" Blaine replied nearly shouting,
"Perfect,"
Teddy watched the whole scene unfold and she knew for the first time what she was getting into, Karl was an egoistic person, a drunk, and also likely to be a very controlling and mean person all in one.
"It's time to go home now Teddy, the Fuhrer would like to see my new bride," Karl said stretching his hand out to Teddy, She refused him her hand and stood mute instead looking into his eyes, Karl walked closer to her she could nearly feel his breath on her skin,
"You will not refuse me whenever I speak to you, this is a gathering and I will let this slide, I am your husband and you must obey me, now take my hand" His words sent fear running through her, Teddy gave him her hand and followed him as he walked towards the door, the crowd cheered at the new couple, she smiled a plastic smile, and when she saw her little sister at the door waving at her, she stopped and hugged her sister and a drop of tear formed in her eyes and it rolled down her cheeks, her sister would also be subjected to this, Father was probably plotting and looking for the "perfect fit."
She patted her back, kissed her cheek, and walked out with Karl by her side. A car was parked just in front of the hall, waiting to take them to Karls's home at Obersaltsberg, Teddy got into the car and looked the Berghof as the driver drove off, her boxes had been sent ahead of her and she braced herself for the journey ahead.
A convoy of soldiers joined the car just on the outskirts of town, Teddy knew Karl was a soldier but living in Obersaltsberg close to the Fuhrer, meant he was in the plans of something bigger, not just the war e