Stella of Tanglewood.
Legal Stuff: - All character's not mine, never have been and never will be but that doesn't mean I can't appropriate them from time to time now does it?
A/N: I got to thinking about Mac Taylor being Stella's knight in shining armour whilst writing my 'The Perfect Date' fic (don't worry you don't need to have read that one to read this one but I'm glad so many of you seem to have enjoyed it thank you for you kind comments) and I decided to do a fic where he's just that well more or less. Let me know what you think of course I might just have watched one too many Robin Hood movies mighten I? I must hold my hands up here because I have used a fair bit of poetic licence in some areas and ok have taken some extremely large liberties with history Stella, Mac, Flack, Jess, Hawkes, Danny, Lindsay and Adam are all roughly ten years younger than in the show so Mac is in his mid thirties, Stella her mid twenties you get the general idea nuff said?
England 1192 the courtyard of Angell Manor near the village of Angell Meadows on the edge of Tanglewood forest, Manhattaninghamshire …
"Ouch Stella" Will Angell yelped as his older sister's wooden practice sword connected with his backside for the third time in ten minutes, although almost seventeen years old he looked much younger, he was barely as tall as Stella and of slight frame with a dark mop of unruly hair and coffee brown eyes; he was both the only son of the Angell household and the adored baby of the family.
"Move quicker Will" Jessica his other older sister called out from across the court yard.
"What do you think I'm trying to do Jess?" Will wailed trying to parry Stella's latest blow.
"Since you ask losing" Stella grinned hooking her sword around Will's ankle and toppling him down on to the soft straw beneath them all in one graceful stroke.
"Do you yield Will Angell of Angell Manor?" Stella asked her boot on his chest and the tip of her sword at his throat.
"Do I have any choice" He retorted.
"Now you come to mention it no" Stella jabbed her sword in a little harder.
"Ow! Yes of course I yield ….." Will wriggled "Please may I get up now Stel" He pleaded.
Grabbing him by his hand and propelling him to his feet Stella slapped his back affectionately "Face it little brother you're a lover not a fighter" She teased.
"Good job I have you two ladies to protect me then isn't it" Will grinned back
"Your ward Stella seems unusually adept with a sword Clifford" Robert, Earl of Dunsbrook and High Sheriff of Manhattingham told his friend as the two men watched the little scene play out through the window of Sir Clifford Angell's private chambers high up above the little courtyard "For a woman I mean."
"My Stella …..Yes she is the equal of any man with a sword or a longbow for that matter" Clifford smiled proudly "Of any man in general I should say."
"A most intriguing young woman indeed" Dunsbrook stroked his chin thoughtfully "Most attractive too if she wasn't dressed in a pageboy's livery" His eyes roamed Stella's body from the long curly hair tied neatly behind her back down her shapely body "Most comely indeed."
Something about the odd look in Dunsbrook's eyes when he mentioned Stella made Clifford's blood run cold "Well enough of my children's playtime lets get down to the real reason for you visit shall we Lord Robert?" He deliberately moved the Earl away from the windows.
"How about some wine before we begin" Dunsbrook suggested taking a seat by the fire.
"Certainly….." Clifford agreed, happy to change the subject "Daniel…..Daniel please can you fetch Lord Robert and I some wine" He called out to his manservant who was hard at work cleaning Clifford's boots in the outer chamber
"Right away Master Angell" Daniel called back and headed off to the Manor's kitchens.
"So to business….."Dunsbrook didn't beat about the bush "I've come to collect the money Angell Meadows owes the King in tribute" He stated "The village's contributions are long overdue and the King is not disposed to wait any longer."
"John is not the King" Clifford stiffened sitting down next to him "As far as I'm aware Richard still wears the crown of England does he not?"
"The lionheart is not here is he?" Dunsbrook pointed out "A wise man might see that chance's are Prince will become King before this year is out and therefore now is the time to take the opportunity to seal his alliance with John for the good of the whole country."
"The good of John's own pocket you mean" Clifford seethed "What you propose is treason and I will have no part of it."
"Be very careful what you say my dear Clifford, walls tend to have ears and anyone who accuses Prince John of treason is playing a dangerous game" Dunsbrook spoke softly "You would do well to remember the penalty for such a slur would mean death to the perpetrator and his entire family."
"Are you threatening me Robert?" Clifford stared incredulously at the Earl.
"Merely passing on a friendly warning" Dunsbrook replied "How you choose to interpret it is entirely your own affair."
"Robert I…"Clifford started to say but was interrupted by Daniel's return the young man was carrying a silver salver laden with a carafe of red wine and two goblets.
"Master Angell Lindsay says that she will begin preparing dinner shortly she would like to know if Lord Robert will be joining the family this evening" Danny offered the salver to Dunsbrook who selected a goblet.
"No Lord Robert wont be joining us Daniel" Clifford answered picking up the second goblet "Please thank your lovely wife for me though."
"Yes Master Angell" Daniel nodded.
"Leave the wine boy we will pour our own today" Dunsbrook ordered him.
"Master Angell?" Daniel asked bemused.
"It's alright Daniel you may leave us" Clifford told him.
"As you wish Master Angell" Daniel place the salver down on a small table, bowed to both men then left the room.
"Now about that money Clifford" Dunsbrook helped himself to a generous supply of wine "The Ki….Prince is waiting."
"I will not give that snivelling upstart one single penny" Clifford insisted filling his own glass "The Lionheart will return soon you'll see Robert and everything will be made right once more."
"You are a fool Clifford Prince John will not be denied" Dunsbrook supped at his wine.
"I will not ask the good people of Angell Meadows to pay tribute to John, to help him dethrone the rightful King" Clifford insisted again "The man has taxed them to the point of starvation as it is there will be no more not now not ever not while I still draw breath."
"A token then something to show John where your allegiances lie… send him a gift" Dunsbrook suggested "Something to divert his attention from Angell Meadows."
"Oh and what would that be?" Clifford feared he already knew the answer.
"Your ward she is not betrothed to anyone is she?" Dunsbrook queried "She is still pure is she not? I'm sure she could prove to be extremely diverting if she wanted and it's high time she repaid the kindness you have shown her throughout the years."
"No absolutely not" Clifford flung his goblet across the room in rage "I will not sacrifice my Stella's virtue to save my own skin."
"Why not? Stella has no lands, no title, no status" Dunsbrook shrugged "She is not even blood kin to you is she? Let me take her with me when I leave."
"Blood kin or not Stella is as much my daughter as my Jessica" Clifford hissed "Since the day my wife and I found her as a small child wandering alone through the Tanglewood she was our little girl and I'd die before I would allow her to be defiled by anyone Prince or no Prince."
"Such a noble, loving father….."Dunsbrook sneered "On your own head be it Clifford but don't say you were not warned."
"So Mac have you come to a decision yet at all" Donald of Flack known simply as Flack, Steward and best friend of Sir Macana of Wrigley field asked his companion. The two men where riding through Tanglewood forest to Dunsbrook Castle in the city of Manhattingham where Macana or Mac as he preferred to be called was to take up the post of Under Sheriff. Mac on his white charger Achilles and Flack on his chestnut stallion Argo were clad in their armour with the red cross of St George emblazoned on their white tabards although they had taken off their helmets, behind them their squire Adam followed on his own horse a chubby brown mare named Hyacinth bringing up the rear.
"No unfortunately I haven't" Mac scowled "If you have any suggestions Flack I'm all ears."
"Join a monastery" Flack joked.
"Yes that really helps me out here Flack" Mac rolled his eyes despairingly "We are only talking about the rest of my life after all."
"Aw come on Mac it's not that bad …." Flack chuckled gleefully "I mean you might be the only Knight ever to be ordered by the King home from the crusades to get married but look on the brightside you have got two fairly attractive women fighting over your hand in marriage how hard can it possibly be to choose one?"
"That's my whole problem in a nutshell not that I have to pick a wife but that I have to choose between Lady Aubrey and Lady Peyton" Mac scowled "I'm not sure I particularly want to marry either of them."
"Some of us would love that problem" Adam muttered from behind the two men.
"You courted Lady Peyton before we left for the crusades didn't you?" Flack pointed out "You must have liked her well enough then."
"Ten years ago we were little more than children besides like and love are not the same thing" Mac bristled "I like apple pie doesn't mean I want to spend all eternity eating eat apple pie ….no if I'm going to spend the rest of my life with a woman any woman I want to do more than just like her."
"Maybe you could learn to love one of them if you got married" Adam offered.
"I don't think you can learn to love someone you either do or you don't" Mac told the lad.
"I should have known" Flack groaned out loud "This is the whole marrying for love thing again isn't it? Mac you know full well that can't happen. You're the King's nephew and former Captain of his guards any woman you wed must be of noble blood and have the right family connections behind them. You're luckier than most Richard's given you the choice of two brides both of whose houses would guarantee peace and stability throughout England if they allied with Richard" Flack pointed out.
"I know your right Flack" Mac admitted "It's just that I want a woman who thinks there are more important things in life than the next pretty dress an equal not just an opposite….." Mac explained "I want the woman I marry to have a mind of her own and a fire in her belly someone who isn't afraid to tell me when she thinks I'm being a fool. Lady Aubrey and Lady Peyton are both nice enough in their own way I suppose but I don't want nice I want passionate. I want a woman who sets my blood on fire just by walking into the room ….someone who makes my heart do somersaults when she smiles at me…..I would give my life for a woman like that."
"Me too" Flack admitted.
"Me three" Adam chipped in.
"I'm King Richard's man and I'll do my duty by him and England, I'll marry one of them Flack for the good of us all but I don't have to like it do I?" Mac sighed sadly, in his head he knew marrying either Lady Peyton or Lady Aubrey was the right thing to do for both King and Country but in his heart it just felt plain wrong.
"How long do you have to decide" Flack asked.
"Two months then my Uncle Richard chooses a bride for me" Mac answered softly.
"Then we must make every second of your last few weeks of freedom count" Flack grinned "Starting at the nearest tavern."
"Actually I think I'd like to spend a night here in the forest out in the fresh air" Mac informed his friends "I've missed England's greenery all these long years we've been away fighting in the Holy land."
"Alright it could be fun at that" Flack agreed "The next clearing we come to we camp for the night Dunsbrook Castle will still be there in the morning and it gives me the chance to show off my famous rabbit stew."
"Must you" Adam muttered under his breath.
"What was that Adam" Flack hollered over his shoulder.
"I said yum rabbit stew" The squire crossed his fingers behind his back.
Kneeling on her bed Stella of Angell Manor stared up at the full moon through the window of the bed chamber she shared with her sister Jessica "Full moon tonight Jess it's almost as bright as day out there" She called out.
"Well it's not its past midnight go to sleep" Jessica grumbled tiredly.
"I tried ….I'm just not tired" Stella responded.
"Well try harder" Jessica grunted and shoved her pillow over her head.
"It's too warm to sleep anyway" Stella insisted.
"Says you" Jess mumbled from beneath her pillow.
"Can we talk Jess?" Stella asked.
"Can I sleep then?" Jess moved the pillow slightly.
"Yes….absolutely" Stella assured her sister.
"That's alright then" Jess said, yawning tiredly she slid out of her own bed and settled down next to Stella "Tell me what's worrying you Stel."
"Did Papa seem alright at dinner to you" Stella asked "I thought he seemed distant, worried somehow."
"Now you come to mention it he barely touched his meal that isn't like him" Jess nodded "Normally he can't resist Lindsay's game pie."
"Lord Robert was here earlier" Stella revealed.
"Papa never said anything" Jessica recoiled in surprise.
"Daniel told me…. He overheard them arguing" Stella continued.
"Stel I wouldn't worry to much they have been friends since they where boys they are bound to quarrel from time to time" Jessica assured here "Papa's probably lost a bet on the jousting tournament or something."
"Maybe….." Stella wished she could be sure but deep in her stomach something still told her to expect trouble.
"Good now that's all sorted can we finally get some sleep" Jess wanted to know.
"I'm still not tired maybe a swim would help" Stella pondered.
"Whatever….just don't let Papa catch you sneaking out of the house again" Jess warned, flopping down on her own bed.
"He wont" Stella assured her dozing sister as she wrapped her blue velvet cloak around her shoulders and scooped up her boots "Sweet dreams Jess" She whispered tiptoeing past.
Macana of Wrigley field rolled onto his stomach in a futile effort to fall asleep, he'd been trying to sleep for the past few hours but sleep refused to come too much on his mind he supposed. Judging by the snores coming from his companions insomnia was not a problem either Flack or Adam currently had. Maybe a walk would help he mused it was a warm, pleasant summer's evening after all. Standing up as quietly as possible in an effort not to wake the sleeping men he tiptoed passed the dying embers of their cooking fire and headed towards a small pool the three men had passed earlier. He now like Flack was dressed only in his undershirt, leggings and boots his armour and Flack's given to Adam to clean ready for their arrival in Manhattingham tomorrow morning. Years of experience in the King's army enabled Mac to slip away from the little camp without making a single sound and after five minutes he found himself by the water's edge, picking up a stone he skimmed it across the pool's glassy surface and watched the ripples it caused spread through the dark water.
"Ah Mac" He berated himself "Whatever will we do?" Either he married Lady Peyton or Lady Aubrey or he disobeyed his King. Mac tried to image his life as a husband to either of the two women but try as he might he still couldn't see it; then there were children he would be expected to produce an heir how on earth could he do that when the last place he ever wanted to be was in either woman's bed chamber? Something moved on the other side of the pool, Mac could swear a shadow flickered across the full moon taking a closer look he thought he made out the shape of a woman but then it disappeared completely "Wonderful Mac now your imagining women everywhere" He grumbled.
Then the shadow moved again directly into the stream of moonlight shinning down from above and Mac realized it definitely was a woman ….what a woman at that! She was almost as tall as he was with curves in all the right places, her skin was olive toned akin to the women he'd seen on his travels through Europe but rare in this part of the world and she had long caramel coloured curls running freely down her back that he longed to run his hands through. Her eyes where the most beautiful green Mac had ever seen and she had a sweet Cupid's bow mouth that for no reason he could even hope to understand he yearned with all his heart to kiss.
"Are you a beautiful dream or perhaps even some lovely water nymph come to enchant me?" He mumbled to himself, completely awestruck.
The woman undid the cloak she was wearing and dropped it to the ground to reveal only a cream coloured, rough hewn nightdress underneath but to Mac she looked at least a million times lovelier than any of the fine ladies at the royal court ever would or could in all their grandest gowns. Then she slipped one shapely foot out of its boot followed by a second finally she moved to pull the nightdress over her head.
"No please don't do that Miss" Mac yelped embarrassed by his presence at such an intimate moment.
"Who are you?" The woman recoiled in surprise.
"Mac ….my name is Mac" He told her his name.
"I should go" She grabbed her things.
"Please don't leave I don't mean you any harm" He assured he "What's your name?"
"Stella" She replied and dashed off into the thick forest.
"Don't go please come back Stella…." Mac sprinted around the pool trying to catch her up but by the time he'd found a way across she'd vanished into he night without leaving a single trace. "Well Mac the first thing we do tomorrow is found out who she is somebody in town must know where she came from Stella is not a common name around these parts not by any means" He theorized as he walked back to camp. He was mesmerized by this Stella not only was she the loveliest woman he'd ever seen but she wasn't afraid to wander the Tanglewood by herself in the middle of the night that alone made her worth knowing in Mac's book "A woman with fire in her belly here in the Tanglewood" Mac grinned to himself all thoughts of his impending marriage banished from his mind "Who knew?" Since the first time Richard had ordered him to Manhattingham Mac felt joy anticipating what the future might hold for him.
After she'd left the little pool Stella had headed straight home taking the shortest route possible, she hurried through the great meadow and down along the Sheppard's path towards Angell Manor right now she decided the best place to be was safely in her own bed. "Mac" She murmured to herself remembering the strange man by the pool's name an odd name Scottish maybe but one she liked all the same, even though their encounter had lasted barely a minute she'd liked him too. He'd stood slightly taller than her and had short cropped dark hair like a soldier's, his build too was that of a military man but it was the his eyes …..She'd never seen such blue eyes…. that captivated her the most. They were the kindest eyes she'd ever seen, something about them had made her feel warm, safe inside and even though the night air was cool she felt her cheeks grow warm thinking about Mac like that. She'd believed him completely when he'd told her he meant no harm no reason why but something about this Mac's demeanour had said he was telling the absolute truth and that a man like that should be in the Tanglewood this night enthralled her. Unfortunately odds were that they would probably never meet again she cursed her luck; deep inside her Stella wished with all her heart that by some lucky happenstance their paths might cross again in the future. Nearing home Stella saw something move in the corner of her eye, then another movement as someone stole across the Manor's courtyard ….armed men she realized Angell Manor was surrounded by an entire platoon of armed soldiers in jet black armour…..what on earth was going on? She had to warn her family she realized they were asleep in their beds and even fully awake would be no match for armed men. The only advantage Stella had was that she knew the house and grounds by heart so dropping to her belly she crawled through the long grass around to the side of the Manor to the trap door leading to her father's wine cellar. Then sliding the little door open she slipped inside down underneath the house like she had done as a child playing hide and seek with Jess and Will; once inside Stella took the little staircase that led to the scullery and the servants quarters two at a time.
"Daniel…..Lindsay wake up" She hammered on their door "Wake up we are under attack."
"Miss Stella what's going on?" A bleary eyed Daniel opened the door.
"We have to wake everyone up and get them out of here" Stella told him "There are armed men everywhere it's an assassination squad Daniel."
As if too illustrate her point a flaming arrow came whizzing through the scullery window and embedded itself in the wall adjacent to Daniel's head "Good grief they mean to burn us all alive" Daniel bellowed "Lindsay get up" He dashed back into their room and scooped their baby Lucy from her crib.
"What's going on" Lindsay clambered out of bed.
"Here take her" Daniel placed the child in her mother's arms "We have to leave all of us now."
"Good god" Lindsay exclaimed as more arrows streamed into the scullery.
"Take the back passage into the wine cellar and through the trap door" Stella instructed "Then into the Tanglewood meet us by the King's Oak."
"Yes Miss Stella" Lindsay draped a shawl around herself and her child then disappeared off into the night with Lucy.
"Daniel you're with me" Stella told him grabbing a torch off of the scullery wall.
"We need weapons Miss Stella" Daniel pointed out.
"I think I know where we can find everything we need follow me Daniel" Stella instructed and led him upwards through the scullery then the kitchen towards the Manor's banqueting hall.
Cautiously Stella and Danny moved down the house's central corridor they could both feel the heat emanating from the courtyard and acrid black smoke was beginning to fill the building.
"The main door is alight Miss Stella" Daniel warned.
"We'll have to get out the same way as Lindsay and Lucy" Stella agreed peeping into the banquet hall "Good nobody home" She pulled him inside.
The walls of the banquet hall as was customary were lined with all kinds of weaponry passed down through the years from father to son from heavy broadswords to a cruel looking spiked mace.
"Take what arms you need Daniel they maybe a little dusty but still usable" Stella grabbed a hold of the nearest sword and scabbard.
"Aye Miss Stella" Daniel grinned selecting a sword himself "I reckon your right at that" behind them an arrow set a tapestry on fire.
"Hurry Daniel we don't have much time" Stella pleaded.
Quickly the two of them grabbed a longbow and quill of arrows each plus a dagger apiece and Daniel took down the mace for good measure.
"Daniel you wake Miss Jessica and Master Will I'll see to my father" Stella ordered him "Be careful though there may be intruders somewhere in the house by now."
"Yes Miss Stella" He confirmed.
Together they slipped out of the banquet all as they did so a loud whooshing sound filled their ears as the entire room went up in flames back inside the central corridor the smoke had grown unbearably thick.
"Miss Stella I can't breath" Danny gagged.
"Here tie this around your mouth and nose" Stella used her dagger to cut a strip of material from her cloak and then passed it to him before cutting a second strip for herself.
Their makeshift masks tied around their faces Stella and Daniel made there way forward to the grand staircase fortunately it had not yet set alight so they raced upwards together separating when the reached the top.
"Daniel take Miss Jessica and Master William to the King's Oak tell them papa and I will meet you there" She pulled down her mask to give him his final instructions "You must make sure my brother and sister are safe don't let any harm come to them your job is to get them to safety nothing else matters is that understood?"
"Absolutely Miss Stella I'd give my life for you and your family you know that" Danny assured her dropping his own mask.
"You're a good man Daniel of Messer and an even better friend" Stella squeezed his shoulder "Now go."
Sword aloft Daniel ran down the left passageway towards Will and Jessica's bed chambers whilst Stella went along the right passageway to her father's chamber bow in hand and arrow drawn. Moving along Stella peered over the banister at the staircase they had come up the bottom steps were now alight and the flames gained more ground with every second that passed. She rounded the corner to find her father's door wide open Clifford was surrounded by three men covered head to toe in black armour their faces completely obscured by their helmets but now she was up close and personal so to speak she realized each man had an eagle design etched on his breastplate.
"You should have listened you old fool" One of the men the leader presumably sneered, drawing a dagger he grabbed Clifford by his hair and slit his throat.
"Papa no" Stella screamed out alerting the men to her presence before they could react though Stella let loose her arrow straight into the heart of the man nearest to her killing him instantly.
"The one who had hurt her father growled "Don't just stand there kill her that's why we are here" To his subordinate.
The other man unsheathed his sword and charged at her; dropping the bow Stella slid out her own sword just in time to parry her opponents blow. Surprised by her ability her attacker stumbled back allowing Stella to thrust her sword into his abdomen. Oozing blood the man howled out in pain and tried to lunge at her but again Stella was quicker she dodged his blows and struck him in his left flank causing him to collapse to the floor pulling her down with him.
"Oh for pities sake if you want anything doing properly…" The leader hissed and unseen by Stella unsheathed his own sword then charged at her himself.
"Stella behind you!" Out of nowhere Will Angell cried out a warning allowing Stella to dodge the fatal blow and her dagger to enter her attacker's left shoulder.
"Sh….t" He screamed in agony and dropped his sword onto the floor then covering his bleeding shoulder with his right hand he ran pushing past Stella, Jessica, Daniel and Will.
"What are you doing here" Stella got to her feet "I told you to get them safely out of the Manor Daniel."
"Not without you and Papa" Jessica told her obstinately.
"Where is he anyway?" Will demanded to know.
"He's gone Will…." Stella told him tears trailing down her face as she stooped to collect both her bow and the sword the masked man had dropped "He's gone."
"Oh god no" Jessica ran into her Father's bedroom.
"Jess we have to go" Will told her tearfully smoke beginning to swirl around the group's feet "Now….."
"We can't just leave him here" She sobbed covering his face with his bed sheet "It's not right."
"Master Will is right we have to go" Daniel told her.
"Stel please…..tell them" Jessica begged.
"He's gone Jess there is nothing more we can do now" Stella pulled her sister away.
"We can come back later ….. Bury him pro…." Will stopped mid sentence, briefly he touched his stomach his hand came away blood covered; the man Stella had fought earlier had slashed him in the abdomen with his sword causing the young man to tumble to the ground. It was to be the man's last act on earth as Daniel swung his mace at his skull crushing it into a thousand little pieces.
"Please, please still be breathing Will…." Stella prayed kneeling by his side.
"Is he alive?" Jessica asked fearfully.
"He is" Stella found a pulse "Jess bring me one of Papa's shirts hurry now."
Coughing with the smoke Jessica dashed back into their father's bedchamber and grabbed a shirt from his chest then sped back to Stella who began to tear the shirt into small pieces and one large strip.
"We pack his wound then we leave" She told Jessica and Daniel using bits of shirt to stem the bleeding.
"How" Jessica asked "We can't get down the stairs everything below us is on fire."
"She's right Miss Stella" Daniel agreed "We are cut off."
"They got in somehow didn't they?" Stella pointed out tying the larger section of shirt around Will's midriff in a make shift tourniquet "The man Daniel wounded must have gotten out mustn't he? They would not have risked entering the Manor without an escape route all we need do is find it."
"He must have left us some clue" Daniel nodded.
"Blood drops ….." Jessica said suddenly pointing to the floor "There are blood drops he's left us a trail to follow."
"Daniel help me with Will, Jess you take point" Stella commanded putting Will's arm around her neck.
Daniel did the same with Will's other arm and together they lifted Will up on to his feet.
"Stel…" Will murmured groggily.
"Shush little brother everything will be alright" Stella comforted him "I promise."
Jess grabbed a wooden staff for protection off of an old suite of armour decorating the passageway and a torch to light their way "Follow me" She told them and headed back the way they had all come earlier.
Trying to keep Will as comfortable as possible Stella and Daniel followed their bows slung over their shoulders and the sword Stella had collected as evidence safely tucked in her belt alongside her own sword.
"Miss Jessica are sure this is the right way" Daniel called out to her as they rounded another corner "Only this passage leads to your late mother's chambers nobody as used them since she passed away bringing Master Will into this world."
"I know but that's where the blood trail is leading" Insisted Jessica.
"There is a bloody hand print on the door" Stella pointed out "This must be the right way."
"It is" Jessica pushed the door wide open and entered the room "I see more blood and there are footmarks in the dust."
Stella, Will and Daniel followed her inside "Where to now" Daniel asked.
"Maybe he went through the window" Suggested Jessica.
"I don't think so see the blood ends at the looking glass" Stella told them "Here Jess take Will for a moment."
Jessica swapped places with Stella and she began to examine the looking glass as she moved her hands around the frame Stella could feel a draught; taking the torch she moved it to the spot she'd felt the blast of cold air come from and it began to flicker.
"There must be a passage behind the mirror" She deduced and tugged at it with all her strength, the mirror gave an almighty groan and swung away from the wall revealing blood spotted steps going downwards.
"I'll be blown" Daniel exclaimed "I've lived in Angell Manor since I was eight years old and I never knew such a thing existed.
"Me neither" Jessica agreed.
"Nor I" Admitted Stella "Whoever he was this man knew more about our home than we do how is that possible?"
"Stel I don't know but I really think we should be going now" Jessica indicated the red glow from the hall behind them with her head.
Stella swapped places with her sister once more and with Jessica out in front holding the torch they headed down the steps into the newly discovered tunnel the blackness seemed to go on an eternity but the man who had attacked them seemed to have vanished thankfully. As quickly as possibly they moved along the tunnel following the blood spots that showed them the way out.
"There is an opening up ahead I can see stars…." Jessica announced up after they had been walking roughly five minutes "…..And tree branches."
"It's the Tanglewood must be" Daniel craned his neck to see.
"Jess swap with me again" Stella instructed her sister "I want to make sure nobody is waiting for us out there."
Nodding obediently Jessica swapped places with Stella again "Be careful Stel" She whispered fearfully as Stella flattened herself up against the tunnel's wall and edged forward.
"I always am" Stella whispered poking her head out of the opening, scanning the area outside Stella heaved a huge sigh of relief "It's safe he's gone whoever he was they all have" She stepped outside "They must believe us dead."
"Now that's not something I thought I'd ever see" Daniel shook his head in dismay as he, Jessica and Will followed Stella out into the fresh air.
The passage had led them out into the Tanglewood around a quarter of a mile uphill from Angel Manor from where they stood they could see their home completely consumed by flames, it glowed bright red against the night sky.
"What do we do now" Shivered Jessica.
"We find Lindsay and Lucy then we get Will the help he needs" Stella replied soberly.
"We should take him to Brother Hawkes he'll know what to do for him" Jess agreed.
"Then what?" Daniel asked softly.
"I'm working on it" Stella replied tersely "I'm working on it."
To be continued.
A/N: I've been toying with doing an A/U fic for a while and after the season we have all just endured I thought we needed a little Smacked related fun what do you think? Do you want more or does Russell Crowe have a lot to answer for? All feedback greatly appreciated.