Hello fan fiction-ers
so since my last book I have read a lot and been working on this new story. For anyone who left a review on my other stories after I finished them I thank you, I have gone back over them and appreciate the messages. Those of you who have followed my stories before know that I have a fairly quick update schedule and I hope to keep it up with this story.
this is my pre mentioned fantasy based pnp, the story follows JA closely, for the most part, with some notable differences. Any scene that I felt would have gone as the great JA wrote them I have not re-written, so if a scene is missing or brief you can assume it happened as she wrote it. I did struggle with terminology, I try to write a regency based prose but some of the terminology is more modern than that. Apologies and if you have suggestions for more authentic terminology I am happy to hear them.
i will explain some of my thoughts on my magical theory as I go, if you want or need clearer explanations feel free to review with the question or pm me. Without further ado I present ... The witches of Meryton
Chapter 1 - In which we find out the important parts of first impressions, as seen by others.
The small town of Meryton in Hertfordshire was all abuzz with the news of the impending arrival of a new tenant to the Netherfield estate. The news was that he was a gentleman from the north, with a large fortune, and all the mamas of the area were a flutter with the expectation that he would marry one of their daughters.
None more so than Mrs Bennet of Longborn, who had five such daughters, to encourage in to matrimony.
The families of Bennet and Lucas, who shared a strong bond, met to discuss such matters. Although none of the older, and more sensible ladies, would admit that they were gossiping. They were merely meeting to discuss current affairs as any well bred young lady was want to do!
"What says Mrs Bennet to the news Lizzie?"
"Oh you know mama" and in a high pitched voice she added "why he may fall in love with my daughters so you, Mr Bennet, must visit him"
Jane and Charlotte laughed although Jane added
"That is unkind Lizzie"
"I was quoting verbatim my lovely Jane, it cannot be mockery if it is true"
Jane mock scowled at her sister
"Do you think him magical?"
"I am sure mama does not care either way, as long as the news of his fortune is accurate" Elizabeth answered Charlotte's question.
"Even Mrs Bennet would rather you wed someone from a magical lineage? So as not to lose the chance of passing on our gifts?"
"I am sure you are correct Charlotte" Jane put in
Elizabeth almost scoffed but checked herself "she would be satisfied with a distant relative I fear."
"And you Lizzie?"
"Well I would like to pass on my gifts of course, and I am not sure I could tolerate someone who is non magical if they looked down on magic, as so many do. His fortune I believe was made in trade and you know that many with magical gifts are managing to make their fortunes with a little help, shall we say? We may be lucky and find he is gifted."
"And you Jane?"
"I am sure he will be a charming neighbour regardless. Do you know if he brings someone with him to keep house?"
"I thought I heard mama say that he was to bring a sister, but I am not certain. When father visited him he was alone but to go to town to bring a group of friends for the assembly"
Elizabeth smiled "mama will be happy"
Just then the younger girls let out a shriek, Lydia had been playing with sparks again, her favourite pastime since her come out when she was allowed to display such tricks, and had almost set fire to the rug again.
"Lydia, not indoors for heavens sake" Lizzie admonished, for possibly the hundredth time.
Both Lydia and Kitty had developed their skills only far enough to do a few party tricks and were content to not study any more. Lydia could make sparks and Kitty could gust wind mostly, it seemed, to knock things over. Neither showed any inclination to develop their skills further.
Charlotte sprinkled some water from a nearby jug to put out the embers and the Bennet sisters rose to take their leave, there were some insincere apologies muttered by the youngest two sisters and Lizzie apologised on their behalf. Charlotte waved them off and wished her friends farewell.
Charlotte was only slightly magical. She had a small amount of talent in all areas but no special talent in any one. It was commonly believed that these sorts of magical blood lines were dying out and indeed her mother had a spark of magic in her aura but seemed unable to actually wield any. Although it was far from proven the theory was that if a family was showing signs of the blood line dying out there would likely only be a few more generations of any magic.
Her father was a water wizard and had, after some work to save the town during a storm, had been recognised by the queen and knighted. He had subsequently sold his business and set up in a house to be friendly to the whole town. He had never resented his children's minimal magical talent but Charlotte had felt that he sometimes would have liked one of them to show more aptitude and so felt that magic in a partner in life was very important, to give her children he best chance of having some.
.
Elizabeth walked back to her family home with her sisters to the same scene they had left a few hours earlier. Mrs Bennet continued to lament the fact that Mr Bennet refused to visit Mr Bingley and so her girls would never be introduced. It wasn't until the morning of the assembly that Mr Bennet announced that he had in fact visited. The railing, wailing and general chaos was predictable and what he had been hoping for to furnish his evenings amusement. Eventually the five girls and their mother managed to get ready and the Bennet ladies set off for the assembly in high spirits.
Merriment was underway when the party from Netherfield appeared and the whole room turned to look. Elizabeth felt a little sorry for the new comers given that almost every eye in the room was turned towards them.
"Two ladies and three gentlemen after all, do you know who they are Charlotte?" She turned away purposely.
"The ladies are Mr Bingley's sisters I believe, the taller one is the youngest and unmarried, the other lady is married to the gentleman to her left, a Mr hurst"
"And the other gentleman?" Elizabeth tried to hide her curiosity but the gentleman in question was tall and handsome and gave off an aura of power that she could not help but be drawn to
"A Mr Darcy"
At this point Mrs Bennet bustled up "oh girls, Mr Darcy did you say Charlotte? Yes indeed, he is a gentleman from the north with a large estate. Bingley's wealth is nothing to his. Ten thousand a year. And very likely more."
"Mama, have you learnt of their magical talent?" Elizabeth asked in a quiet voice. Magic was not greatly predominant in Meryton and it was considered poor manners to talk openly of it, of course Elizabeth felt it was poor manners to talk openly of wealth and connections too but her mother did not seem to adhere to propriety often.
"Oh yes dear, the Darcys are strongly magical and the Bingley's have magic too although I am unsure of the specific talents. I do not know about Mr Hurst girls, not that we should care about him"
Elizabeth wanted to answer that she was always happy to meet magical people, and indeed new neighbours, but Mr Bingley at that point began making his way over and she did not wish to make a scene.
The introductions were made and Bingley wasted no time in soliciting Jane's had for the next dance. His friend was not so considerate and completely ignored Mrs Bennet's hints that he should ask someone to dance. Coupled with a slight on her looks that Elizabeth overheard later that evening she decided that the pull that she had initially felt must be nothing more than curiosity and laughed over his slight with spirit.
.
The Netherfield party, on returning home, had many a differing opinion on the Meryton assembly.
"I have never met with pleasanter people or prettier girls in my life. I understand that the Bennet ladies are in the magical way too"
"You shock me Bingley" Darcy was quick to respond "i met with little beauty, no breeding and could detect very little magic at all"
"Well they would hardly display such things at a dance Darcy"
"Yes but I can detect such things. Collectively the group had very little"
"Indeed" Caroline was quick to disparage her new neighbours "I believe Miss Bennet was very sweet, but not at all like ladies from town. But the rest were intolerable, her mother was so loud and brash. I heard Eliza Bennet described as a famous local witch, did you detect nothing in her Mr Darcy?"
"Her power was minimal at best. Her mother was more powerful than her, and likely more witty"
Caroline and Louisa laughed at his joke.
"Darcy, you barely spent any time with any of them, you can hardly judge their talent from such a quick association. And you will not make me think less of Miss Bennet." Bingley quick to defend the charming and beautiful lady he had met that evening.