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Tillie opened her eyes abruptly, roused from deep slumber by a terrible feeling in her gut. It was her turn to have Henry in her room that night, but even without getting up to look, she sensed his absence. “Henry?” she called softly.
There was no response; no sounds of him stretching his long legs, no sign of stirring.
She jumped out of bed and searched her room, her heart racing. When she was certain he wasn’t there, she pulled on her robe and slippers and flung her door open. She crossed the darkened hallway to Elinora’s room and barged in. “Nora,” she whispered. “Wake up. Please!”
Elinora rolled over onto her back and opened her eyes, forcing them to focus. She reached over and stroked Velvet, who was curled up next to her, then she looked at Tillie. “Hmm?” she mumbled groggily.
“It’s Henry. He’s not in my room, or yours. He’s gone.”
Velvet perked her head up. She also sensed Henry was missing, and without him there, she didn’t understand the words Tillie was saying. But her cat instincts enabled her to sense Tillie’s panic. She stood up and brushed against her, trying to comfort her. Tillie rubbed her soft fur.
Elinora yawned and stretched her hands above her head, trying to wake up. “It was very late when we left the tower. Maybe we just overslept and he’s downstairs charming Cora and Jeppe, waiting for some food.”
Tillie quickly grabbed a robe and handed it to her, then opened the curtain a crack. It was still dark outside. “We haven’t overslept. The sun has barely just come up. He’s usually here at this time waiting for us to wake for breakfast, you know that.”
Elinora looked out the window and sat up abruptly, then looked about nervously, realizing the gravity of the situation. She thought of the conversation they’d had in the tower.
“I hope he is in Graham and Jamie’s room.” She tossed Elinora’s slippers at her.
Elinora got out of bed and pulled them on, then donned her robe in haste. “Stay here, Velvet, we’ll find him,” she said, patting her. Velvet chirped with worry as Elinora and Tillie exited the room and closed the door.
They tiptoed across the hall to the other side of the stairwell.
“Gray, Jamie,” Tillie whispered, tapping lightly on their door. When there was no answer, she knocked louder.
A moment later Jamie opened it and peered out. His hair was wildly mussed, his eyes barely open. “Do you know what time it is?” he whispered back, teasing Tillie, then falling silent as he felt her sense of urgency.
“Henry’s gone!” said Elinora, her face now dark and serious.
“What’s that?” Graham asked, rubbing his eyes as he joined Jamie at the door.
“We can’t find Henry,” Tillie repeated. “Is he here with you?”
“No, he isn’t.” He frowned.
Elinora closed her eyes. “Something’s not right.” She pressed her back to the wall and sat down, covering her face with her hands. “I have a horrible feeling it’s my fault.”
“What do you mean?” Jamie asked.
“He has been so sad and worried about his family, and I think yesterday was more than he could bear.”
“This isn’t your fault,” said Graham. “He has to be around here somewhere. Come on, let’s find him.” He helped her to her feet, then he and Jamie returned to their room for their slippers.
They hurried down the side stairwell to the prep room, and when they arrived, the exterior door was ajar. The room was cool and crisp from the early morning breeze, but otherwise empty. They rushed to the door and looked out.
“I see paw prints. I think he’s gone outside from the look of it,” Tillie said.
Jamie sighed. “Maybe he went to the forest council for help?”
“Let’s go find out,” Graham said leading the way onto the lawn.
They dashed off, the morning dew dampening their slippers as they ran. When they arrived at the amphitheater, the carousel was slowly spinning and Mister was quietly sitting beside it, watching for them. It was apparent he had been anticipating their arrival.
“Mister, where is Henry?” Tillie called to him.
In a flash, the news was delivered.
He will miss you greatly but in time he will return with his family. Please do not worry yourselves while he is gone.
“I knew it! How could I be such a coward?” Elinora exclaimed. “I drove him away—I made him feel like he had to do this alone. How will we ever know if he made it to his family? And how can he find his family when he has no idea where he came from to begin with? What if he gets lost along the way or hurt—or worse!” A string of terrible thoughts paraded through her mind; so many tears fell from her eyes that she couldn’t see.
“Elinora, why did you have to scare Henry away like that!” Jamie yelled abruptly.
She looked up, startled by his shout, panic and shame reflecting on her face.
His eyes opened wide. It was the first time he had ever shouted at her about anything. He, too, began to cry; he cried for Henry, and he cried at his own insensitivity.
But Tillie was very angry, too. “You’ve ruined everything, Elinora, you’ve chased him away!” she accused.
Elinora turned away, her sobs so violent she lost her breath.
Pipe had been watching and listening from the edge of the forest. He quietly came over to Elinora’s side, engulfing her in his big bear arms. She grabbed onto him. For the first time, he tried to communicate directly with them.
Do not lose heart. You did not chase him away.
Henry needed to find his family,
and he needed to do it alone to protect you,
just as you have been doing for him.
Trust that he will return,
and do not be angry with one another.
Graham felt his throat tighten. He moved over next to Elinora and Pipe and put his head down. “He’s right. We can’t start fighting each other. You didn’t make him leave, Nora. Henry is strong and independent, and he’s very smart. He must have felt it was the only way. We need to believe in him.”
Before they could recover from the shock, even more discouraging news was shared by the council. As the hunters fled the forest the day before, the Messenger had chased after them. In the chase he had traveled far beyond the boundaries of the protected area, becoming visible and vulnerable. The hunters had eventually regained their wits and seizing the opportunity, they had captured him. Boing had seen from a distance, and the tiny rabbit watched helplessly as he was netted and locked in a cage. The hunters then disappeared, and the Messenger had not been seen since.
Elinora sat upon the ground, shaking.
“What are they going to do with the Messenger? Force him into the circus?” Tillie growled. “I can’t stand this anymore. I’m going after them! Those awful men will lead us right where we want to be—right to Henry.”
Mister chattered desperately, imploring her to respect to Henry’s wishes. He promised her that Monkey had already gone to look for the Messenger and then to search for Henry and aid him in his travels. He pleaded with her to remain at Kellandale until Monkey returned with news.
There was a pause. The carousel continued to spin, its eerie music echoing in the forest. “I wish you would just be quiet!” Tillie yelled at it. But somehow she was drawn to it; she walked over and climbed aboard, looking closely at the carousel animals. She found the figure of a beautiful horse and climbed on its back, hoping the carousel would perhaps transport her right to where Henry was. She waited a moment, and though nothing happened, the slow, quiet hum of the carousel calmed her, distracting her from her tangled thoughts. She climbed back down. “What if Monkey doesn’t find the Messenger, or Henry?” she asked.
Monkey has his ways.
He will find them, and he will return with news. This is the truth.
She hesitated. “I believe you.” She sighed. “I promise I will not go looking for him—for now. But please, I want to hear you say again that he will come back soon.”
He will return. He will be successful in finding his family and he will return to you soon.
“Just know, if I somehow discover he needs help, I will go looking for him, and I will bring him back here at all costs.” She glanced at Elinora and recognized how distraught she was and softened a little. “Don’t worry. We just need to be prepared to do something if the time comes for that.”
Elinora nodded.
“I’m sorry, Elinora” Jamie said. He walked over to her and reached his hand out to help her up. “We all know how scared you are. I am, too. And I know that you want Henry back just as much as the rest of us. None of this is your fault.”
She took his hand. “I’m sorry, too, though I do still feel it is my fault; maybe he would still be here if he thought we were going to help.” She looked around and noticed that they were suddenly surrounded by the animals of the forest. “Thank you for being here for us,” she said.
They said their goodbyes, then turned back toward the manor house, without Henry by their side.
Back home, they quickly found Abigail and confided in her first. When the news was delivered, a cloud of sadness fell over everyone, except for Lina, who was still in her bedroom and had not yet been told.
“Don’t worry, he couldn’t have strayed far,” Emil reassured everyone. Though tall and lanky, and naturally standing with excellent posture from all the horseback riding they did, Emil was now crumpled over from the grief of learning about Henry’s absence, their head down, and shoulders sagging. “I’ll take the horses and we’ll go out looking. We will make sure everyone in the area is watching for him, too,” they said quietly. “He’ll be back here in no time.”
“Thank you, Emil,” Tillie replied. She sucked in her breath. “I’m sure you’re right.” But there was a faraway look in her eyes. She turned to her mother. “I won’t be coming to breakfast today,” she said quietly, then made her way up the grand staircase to her room.
Abigail cast a solemn but consoling glance at Elinora, Graham, and Jamie.
Anna put her arms around Elinora. “He will return soon, my dear.”
Elinora wiped her eyes and nodded. “Thank you, Mother.”
As Tillie reached the top of the staircase, a muffled voice came from the direction of Lina’s bedroom. She made her way down the hall, then stood silently outside her closed door. Lina was crying. “Henry, where did you go?” Tillie heard her shout. Tillie’s eyes widened; in that moment she understood the bond between Henry and Lina was very real—strong enough that she knew he was gone without even being told.
Moved by Lina’s deep emotion, she placed her hand on the doorknob—perhaps she would try to comfort her, she thought. But the sound of something smashing to the floor stopped her. Lina shouted out in anger, and Tillie’s already cautious desire to help her wilted. She turned away so she that could seek solace from the quiet of her own room. She knew she was going to have to quickly pull herself back together and draw strength from within in order to endure Henry’s absence.