"What have you got there, Liesl?" Maria asked, diverting her attention momentarily away from her youngest charges to see what their eldest sister might be up to a few feet away. It was a beautiful day in Aigen - even more so than the cloudless days that had preceded it, in fact - and Maria, taking advantage of her truce with the captain, had decided to hold the children's morning lessons outdoors.

A small smile quirked at her lips when she thought about what her employer's reaction might've been a few weeks ago if he'd ventured out onto the terrace to find his children sprawled about on the plush carpet of grass by the lake, books and pencils scattered haphazardly around them.

"This hardy qualifies as a suitable classroom, Fraulein!" he might've bellowed. Or, "children cannot be expected to learn without a stable environment in which to administer discipline!"

And perhaps she would've retorted saucily that most of his life lessons had been learned out on the open ocean! — only to receive that piercing blue glare and an icy reprimand by way of response.

This morning though, he'd hardly flinched at the sight of them all enjoying the fresh summer breeze. Instead he'd enquired about what they were all working on and had bestowed an equal amount of attention upon all of them. At one point he'd even sunk to his haunches beside Gretl, rolled his shirt sleeves and helped the girl with her drawings! The child had glowed with pride, while Maria had simply gawped, mesmerised.

"Fraulein? Why do you stare at me that way?" He'd teased her, one eyebrow raised in an innocent reference to their first meeting — and immediately she'd closed her mouth, cheeks flaming. Really, she ought not to have been surprised. Over the course of the last month, the captain had begun to change before her very eyes — starting with the sincere apology he'd bestowed upon her at the bottom of the stairs and, more recently, culminating in a certain patriotic melody played to near-perfection on an old, hand-me-down guitar...

No, Maria. She censured herself sternly. You must not allow yourself to dwell upon that night, not again. It was nothing out of the ordinary. Just a simple song performed by a sea captain, for his children. Nothing more, nothing less.

"Fraulein?" He'd pressed again, breaking into her dangerous thoughts.

"I just.. didn't know you could draw, captain," she'd replied feebly, pretending to busy herself with the problem in Marta's math book instead of looking him in the eye. It was happening more and more often these days, she had noticed — moments where his good humour and kindness would leave her flustered and self-conscious, while his more irritable moods (oh yes, he was still capable of those!) she could handle with unwavering confidence. The contrast was most perplexing and more than a little disturbing.

"That is because he can't draw!" Kurt had snickered at the amateur artwork good-naturedly, evoking a self-deprecating little chuckle from his father and unknowingly saving his governess from her embarrassment.

It was then that Liesl mercifully brought her back to the present.

"I'm sewing a tapestry, Fraulein."

"Sewing?" Maria echoed curiously, "I didn't know you liked to sew."

The girl shrugged, continuing with her needle work, "I'm rather new to it, but I've been practicing. Father showed me how."

If Maria had still been holding Marta's math book, she might've dropped it in complete and utter surprise.

"Your father showed you how to sew?!" She exclaimed incredulously, glancing upwards towards the terrace where her employer - oblivious to her curious gaze - was enjoying some refreshments with Herr Detweiler and the baroness.

Liesl nodded enthusiastically.

"Father knows how to do everything," came Kurt's proud interjection, as if the very notion should be common knowledge to everyone. And indeed, Maria was beginning to think there was some truth to the boy's statement. But sewing? Somehow she couldn't imagine why a decorated naval captain - a man considered to be a walking epitome of traditional masculinity, as she'd once overheard the baroness describing him - would learn how to sew a tapestry.

"Yes," Brigitta agreed with her brother, a wistful smile settling on her face, "it was one of mother's favourite hobbies, so father made of point of knowing how it was done. Just to indulge her I suppose. It was the same with dancing - he always said he had two left feet but that he would practice anyway, just for her."

So that's why he acquired such an odd skill, Maria thought, with a curious little pang in her chest. He'd learned it for the woman he loved. I wonder how many husbands would bother to do the same for their wives, let alone teach their daughters how to do the very same in the absence of their mother?

Fascinated, Maria moved in for a closer look over Leisl's shoulder.

"What are you sewing?"

"A maze," the girl replied.

"A maze?"

By now, they'd garnered the attention of the other children, who'd also come over to take a look.

"It's just a bunch of green lines," Kurt sneered, unimpressed.

"It's what father called a bird's eye view," Liesl explained knowingly.

"Almost like a map?" Friedrich reiterated, as his sister nodded.

"I recognise it," Louisa said thoughtfully, her eyes narrowing in concentration, "is it the maze at the back of the villa?"

"What maze?" Maria found herself asking, before she could stop herself. She'd lived at the villa for nearly two months now and she'd never noticed a maze of any kind!

"The one that leads from the patio behind the ballroom to out here in the gardens," Friedrich grinned, cracking the case.

"The very same," Liesl beamed, threading another addition, "father drew the plan for me and I'm copying it," she gestured her head towards a piece of paper laying on the grass next to her that looked almost like a hand drawn blueprint, "He knows the maze by heart."

"But children," Maria interrupted, perplexed, "you have taken me from the patio to the garden plenty of times! It's not a maze, just a hedgerow passage."

She watched, more confused than ever, as they all shook their heads firmly at her.

"That's just a short cut, Fraulein," Gretl giggled, "There's a secret entrance to the maze. Hidden in the bushes."

Maria simply blinked, astonished. Just when she thought she'd discovered every nook and cranny of the villa - even the places that ought not to be disturbed, as her employer had so firmly insisted - there was some other revelation that piqued her curiosity.

"I can't believe we haven't shown you!" came Friedrich's exclamation.

"Father didn't like us going in there much," Louisa explained pointedly, "Not after..." she trailed off hopelessly as the other children nodded in mournful agreement, clearly remembering their mother.

"He didn't like it when we put glue on Fraülein Josephine's toothbrush either, but it never stopped us!" Kurt pointed out mischievously.

"There are plenty of things we did that he never liked!"

"But things are different now, aren't they," Brigitta insisted optimistically, her face brightening, "He gave Liesl the maze drawing, didn't he?"

"Indeed I did!" A deep baritone voice startled them all from behind, causing Maria to nearly jump out of her skin. When she looked up from her crouched position, it was to find the captain towering over them, peering nosily over all their shoulders, his superior height giving him an easy advantage.

How on earth had he snuck up on them so stealthily?! Maria wondered, incredulous. It was only a few moments ago that he'd been relaxing on the terrace with his guests! And how much of their intrusive conversation had he witnessed? The very thought was enough to make her blush guiltily all over again, but a small smirk in her direction was the only indication that he'd possibly overheard every word.

"I confess," he continued teasingly, "I was much too curious as to why you were all huddled together so secretively and now I have my answer. How is the tapestry coming along Liesl?"

"Just fine, thank you father!" The girl beamed, showing him her work, to which she received a nod of genuine approval.

"Fraulein Maria didn't know there was a maze here, father!" Marta chirped, eager to be included.

The captain quirked a disbelieving eyebrow.

Oh here we go, Maria thought dryly.

"An area of the grounds that Fraulein Maria hasn't snooped in?" he drawled, with a hearty dose of sarcasm, "that really is remarkable, Marta darling."

Maria gave an outraged little moan, but he carried on as though he hadn't heard her.

"Besides, it is not a maze," he revealed enigmatically, a mysterious twinkle in his eye.

"It isn't?" The children chorused curiously, watching their father with fascination.

"No. It is in fact a labyrinth. With mystical creatures, riddles and magic hidden around every corner!" he tickled a giggling Gretl's middle with one broad hand, "contradictions and obstructions await those who enter, all designed to confuse and ensnare."

Confuse and ensnare indeed, Maria thought, rolling her eyes at the irony of such a statement from a man who seemed to consistently befuddle and fascinate everyone, most of all her. Unfortunately though, her employer caught her reaction and had apparently chosen to have some fun at her expense.

"You don't believe me, Fraulein?" He straightened with a smirk, causing seven wide pairs of eyes to land on her expectantly. An awkward little smile froze on her lips as she was subjected to that penetrating blue gaze of his — a gaze that had become so familiar to her and yet somehow still managed to cause a bizarre fluttering in her stomach.

Of course she didn't believe him - it would be highly inappropriate, not to mention sacrilegious - for a future nun to entertain the idea of magic, and he knew it. But with the little ones staring at her with such open wonder in their eyes, how could she possibly contradict him? This sort of veiled challenge had become almost like an unspoken game between them recently: he would attempt to question her unshakable faith while she would see just how far she could push him with her playful impertinence in return. His bark was far worse than his bite, she had quickly learned. And if she didn't know any better, she might've suspected that he even enjoyed their gentle sparring.

"Or perhaps you're just not up to the challenge!" He grinned smugly, clearly relishing her flustered silence.

Ohhh, he really was an arrogant devil, Maria decided, suddenly overcome with the most baffling urge to smack him on the arm and tell him exactly that - though of course, to do so would be an incredibly intimate act and more than a little inappropriate. But either way, it appeared he was in one of those difficult moods where everything he said was intended to tease and provoke her. It was working tremendously, she noted with annoyance.

Alright captain, you want a reaction from me? she thought brazenly, You'll certainly get one!

Before she could stop herself, her infamous forthrightness came bubbling to the surface, "Oh I'm sure anyone who's managed to make sense of your household rules can handle a few riddles, contradictions and obstructions, captain."

The obvious surprise that flitted across her employer's face lasted only a moment before it seemed to give way to — surely not... was it amusement she could see in his eyes?

"So anybody but you, then," he countered sardonically, eliciting another moan of indignation from her, "and besides," he made an impatient gesture with his hand, "I never contradict myself."

"What about the time you called me 'captain', captain?" She asked innocently, but of course she only received the infamous glare and a sharp "Fraulein!" by way of response.

"I'm sorry sir, I was just—"

"Starting another verbal battle?" he finished ironically.

"Being honest," she corrected, holding her hands up in surrender, "I have no intention of starting a battle with you today, captain. Unless of course, you have done something to deserve it?"

Again it seemed her blunt honesty was about to get her into trouble, because his eyebrows shot into his hairline and his nostrils flared in annoyance.

"I think the one thing we can all agree upon is that you are completely incapable of following any household rules whatsoever, mine or otherwise," he countered authoritatively, though he failed to hide the amusement in his voice, "but that is neither here nor there. The fact of the matter is, you're forgetting one very important point."

"And what is that, sir?"

A dangerously slow and triumphant smile broke out across his face, one that left her a little breathless.

"If you wanted to enter the labyrinth you'd have to actually find it first."

Well she couldn't argue with that, could she. The infuriating man was right — she had absolutely no idea where the entrance to this supposed labyrinth might be. But she knew one thing for certain: she was determined to find out.

"We can show her father!" Friedrich stepped forward gallantly, his siblings murmuring their enthusiastic agreement.

"Ah, well, that's very good of you, Friedrich," the captain placed a proud hand on his son's shoulder, his face softening, "but sometimes people need to try and solve certain... conundrums on their own," he added meaningfully, causing Maria to wonder what other potential conundrums he could possibly be dealing with, "and anyway," he continued with a knowing half smile, "judging by the look in your fraulein's eye, I'd wager she's already plotting the various methods she might employ to discover the last area of my home she hasn't yet invaded."

She merely blinked at him guilelessly.

"I prefer to think of it as crossing enemy lines, captain."

"Exactly, crossing enemy.." he echoed distractedly, only to halt mid sentence and glare at her again when he realised what she was implying. Luckily though, she was saved from another verbal lashing by the timely appearance of Herr Detweiler.

"I do hope you're all spending this glorious morning exercising your voice-boxes in anticipation of the Salzburg Folk Festival, my dears!"

The captain's resulting eye roll was, for once, mercifully directed at somebody other than Maria.

"You really are relentless, Max."

"Yes, well," the children's uncle chirped, rocking back on his heels triumphantly, "Elsa had an urgent phone call to take and I couldn't possibly ignore the opportunity to see what my darling nieces and nephews were up to. Helping Fraulein Maria to plot against your father, I hope?"

"Oh she doesn't need our help with that, uncle Max," Brigitta replied, with the kind of frank honesty that only comes with childhood, "she manages quite well on her own."

Looking heavenward and muttering a quick prayer for help, Maria tried to ignore the incredulous snort that came from her employer.

Herr Detweiler, on the other hand, looked positively gleeful, "ha! Bravo, Fraulein — I do so enjoy watching that little vein in Georg's temple fighting the temptation to burst!" He clapped the captain on the shoulder, much like a rabbit daring to frolic in the path of a wolf, "If you ever need an accomplice, you know where to find me!"

"Actually, uncle Max, we were just talking about Leisl's needlework," Friedrich supplied, championing his eldest sister before the subject could be changed.

"Indeed we were," the captain's expression transformed from one of annoyance to one of pride, "she's sewing a bird's eye view of the Von Trapp maze."

"Labyrinth," Maria corrected under her breath, not without a good dose of irony. The captain's murderous glance and Herr Detweiler's chuckle told her they'd both caught her impertinent tone, but she responded only with a look of disingenuous innocence.

"Ah yes, the legendary Von Trapp... trap!" Herr Detweiler winked knowingly, "I've lost myself a few times amidst those winding walls. Just when you think you know the way, you find yourself stuck again! I recall on one occasion we even had to send in a search party to rescue your fath—"

"I did not need rescuing!" the captain snapped, while Maria and the children bit back their giggles, "I merely lost track of the time."

"And was two hours late for dinner..." the impresario added wickedly.

Well Maria could certainly relate to that, couldn't she. More than once she'd found herself doing the very same thing on top of her mountain, only to beg the Reverend Mother for forgiveness once she finally made it back to the abbey. She'd also endured her employer's wrath on multiple occasions for being late for dinner: "There's no excuse for tardiness, Fraulein!" Given his strict adherence to navy scheduling, she was sorely tempted to point out the interesting nature of this apparent hypocrisy — but he must've read her mind because he pointed a finger at her and warned, "don't say it! Don't even think it!"

Instantly she closed her mouth.

"That's quite a challenge you've set yourself Leisl," Herr Detweiler pointed out, turning back to his eldest niece, "a rather intricate pattern to say the least."

"Father taught me how to do it," Liesl reiterated, showing the impresario the thread-work.

"You, Georg?" the impresario snorted in disbelief, "Sewing?"

"Is that so impossible?"

"No, just highly improbable," the older man stroked his moustache thoughtfully, "In fact I once would've wagered the only thing you are capable of sewing is wild oa—"

"Yes, thank you Max!" The captain interrupted sharply. Maria noticed that his eyes flickered uneasily in her direction and back again — a reaction that baffled her, since she could only guess at what Herr Detweiler had been about to say. Whatever it was though, it'd had the power to turn her employer's ears pink! How... intriguing!

Even the mighty Captain Von Trapp is not immune to embarrassment! She thought to herself in amusement. In fact, it was not the first time she'd seen him behave self-consciously, she recalled. On the evening he'd sung Edelweiss, for example, he had seemed so uncharacteristically bashful when—

Stop thinking about that night! Her mind screamed, even while the memory of his face, intense and strangely beautiful, swam before her eyes.

"If only I could utilise such a skill to sew your mouth shut, Max!" The captain fired at Herr Detweiler, though anyone who truly knew him could see that it was said in good humour.

"Then the world would be a considerably more boring place, no?" the impresario winked mischievously.

Whether Herr Detweiler's mouth was sewn shut or not, Maria was forced to conclude that her months spent at the Von Trapp villa were turning out to be the most intriguing of her life. Promising to become stranger still, with the imminent discovery of a certain elusive maze — she thought slyly to herself, as she plucked the captain's hand-drawn blueprint from the grass and snuck it into the pocket of her skirts while nobody was watching...

A/N: Hi everyone! I hope you've enjoyed the first chapter of this new story and will stick around for more updates. The title is inspired by 'Pan's Labyrinth' but the story itself is inspired very loosely by 'The Secret Garden'.

In a nutshell, I haven't written in a while because my partner and I went through a huge life change and gave up our flat/jobs etc to go travelling around the world. Well, that all came to a screeching halt when the global pandemic hit. So long story short, I'm now back home on total lockdown in the UK, and finding some light relief in writing again.

I hope you're all well and safe wherever you are!

Updates may be quite sporadic but I'll do my best to write regularly.