The great storytellers are telling that it was so long ago that no one remembers how it really was. But the rumor about this does not subside, and only inflames the interest of restless minds ...

Marian was at an age when all the girls dreamed of finding that “only one”, marrying him, having children and living happily ever after. It seemed that at the age of seventeen you needed no more for complete happiness. But who knows what the terrible mother fate will do?

Anxiety left the girl's heart, giving way to joy and carelessness. Young Marian was once again spinning by the mirror, unable to take her eyes off the new chaperone *. After all, a gift from a beloved grandmother. My mother insisted that my daughter thank the old woman and take the presents. And the girl against was not to visit her and go to the old forest house on the edge of the forest.

- Mary, honey, hurry up! - I heard a strict voice from the kitchen mother.

The girl, having seized several strands of her blond curly hair from the temple, fastened them behind her favorite hairpin in the form of a butterfly. Her blue, sky-like eyes shone a little too childishly. A little wrinkled nose, she threw the hood of the poison-purple chaperone on herself and went to the door where her mother was waiting for her.

- Here, Marian, I put the patties with potatoes and cabbage, a little sour cream and milk, - the woman tried to catch the eye of his daughter.

- Yes, Mom, do not worry. “I’ll give everything to my grandmother,” the blonde assured, taking a wicker basket of goodies from her mother’s arms.

- Do not talk to strangers, go straight all the time and do not turn out of the way.

Mary rolled her eyes. Once again she has to listen to her mother’s teaching.

- Do not worry, mom! - opening the door, the girl hurried away.

- You see, and then you never know what ... - she said in a low tone, after the doors slammed. Holding her fingers to her mouth, she slightly pulled off her lower lip, and a sly grin distorted the correct feminine features ...

***

Mid-April is the peak of spring. It seemed that the spring forest was singing under the rays of the sun. The air was saturated with pine needles, and nature pleased with its rich greenery. Fir, spruce and fir-trees amazed with their grandeur, stretching to the very sky. Everyone in their background could feel like an insignificant bug. The birds sang furiously, as if competing with each other. The intoxicating scent of flowers could turn anyone's head, make you forget, feeling like a child, playing with butterflies in a bottle. Feet buried in the thick grass. The only way out is not to fall into the "soft trap" and not fall asleep, sinking with the whole body, sinking in the silk grass - is to walk along the trodden path that went all the time in a straight line ...

Bending over, Marian reached for the blue flower. Tearing the plant, the girl inhaled the delicate scent that kept this flower in herself.

“And once in childhood, when my mother was still alive, and my father was near, I collected a whole bouquet with my mother, when my father was at work. Then we, holding hands all the way, went to the house of the grandmother ”.

The blonde walked along the path at a leisurely pace, from time to time, time after time, inhaling the fragrance of a flower, which continually evoked memories.

“Now what? My mother died, and my father, having married a second time, went missing without a trace, leaving me in charge of Henrietta's stepmother. ”

Mary froze in place, dropping the plant from her hands. However, having stood so little, she sank to the ground behind the flower. And what is it with her? The hand was about to pick up the fallen cornflower as the girl jerked at the strange sound that had taken her by surprise. Attention attracted thick thickets of juniper. Its branches rustled, although there was almost no wind.Marian tightened and stretched out her neck, took a few steps to the side, and then moved closer to see what was happening behind this small blue-berry tree. The tension subsided when a naughty little hare ran out from behind a juniper, sniffing something with his little nose.

The blonde let out a sigh of relief. That and look paranoid become.

- Well, you scared me! - Mary, throwing the basket into the other hand, smiled easily and took a few steps back. Everything could continue to turn out well, if she had not jumped from fear when she felt that she had stumbled upon someone. Turning sharply, the girl closed her eyes, but, without feeling anything, she opened her one. That was enough for her to see a young man standing directly in front of her. From the surprise and deep bewilderment that swept over her, the blue-eyed woman opened her second eye, completely, properly, having considered the stranger in a black suit from a long simple shirt and pants.

The man did not waste time. Raising an eyebrow, he glanced at her, with some even disdain, and then briefly hemmed, apparently making a brief conclusion to himself about the first impression.

- Well? - he only asked, arms crossed over his chest. There was a note of sarcasm in his velvety low voice.

Marian was even more confused. The question was incomprehensible to her.

- Sorry, I just ... - the blonde hesitated, looking away, - was frightened.

“I understand everything with you, Little Red Riding Hood,” he already held his hands behind his back. Not hiding the malicious smile, the man came a little closer, reducing the distance with his companion.

- Little Red Riding Hood? - Surprised girl asked, firmly holding both hands on the basket. So no one ever called her.

- And how can I call you, pretty stranger? You did not introduce yourself.

The blonde frowned when she heard a caustic chuckle to her side. The words of this stranger were insulting to the depths of the soul.

- But you also did not give your name. And is it not for the etiquette guys should be presented first? - proudly raising her nose, she straightened the sliding hood.

- And I have not been taught since childhood to etiquette. - At the last word, he opened his eyes wide, and the girl clearly saw that they were ... the colors of silver.

Gray and cold. And just sparkle. Or did it seem to her? ..

Cold as steel itself ... just like the soul of this strange man.

And eyes...

"Why are they so big?" - flashed somehow unexpectedly in her head.

“Well, if Red Riding Hood wants to know my name so much ...” he bowed his head to bow. And what was immediately obvious was that the brunette, with disheveled hair and bristles, did this on purpose in order to put her in an awkward position. - Rolf.

“And me, Mary ... en ...” At this moment Rolf ran his fingers through thick hair, walking from the roots to the tips. And his ear, which was hidden behind his hair, peeped out from under the black strands.

Wait a minute ...

“Why does he have such big ears? Yes, they are also pointed! " - closing her eyes again, she shook her head, trying to get rid of the obsession. After all, this can not be! Man is just amused.

- Marian, mean? - In the blink of an eye, the brunette was at a dangerous distance from her. The girl did not have time to understand how she found herself again in the pool of his silver-sparkling eyes. My heart beat in a furious rhythm, and my breath caught as if all the air in my lungs had run out. For her, everything ceased to exist. Only those eyes and ... smile ...

And what teeth he has. White-white!

"Eyes ... ears ... teeth ..."

- Stop! - She woke up in time when a strong man's hand was going to twist around a thin girl's waist. Avoiding Rolf, Marian tried to calm down, restoring her breathing pattern. Under the influence of the cool wind flow, the edges of the chaperone began to rustle.

- I have to go. The grandmother was completely waiting for her, - she trotted up with a patter, then, remembering the stepmother’s instructions not to talk to anyone, the girl threw a short “oh!” And hurried away from this strange man as soon as possible.

“By the grandmother, it means gathered. Interesting..."