How Magic Changed Everything
The wind blew past the lone rider as he headed to Oakham Mount as he tried to escape his inward peril. The wind pricked his skin like a knife and through his greatcoat the wind hit him like a bucket of ice. As he approached the peak his black stallion reared and almost threw him. The black stallion halted and refused to move for no reason that was apparent to his owner who had cared for him for almost twelve years. As he dismounted he felt something in the air that pulled him toward the peak. When the peak of the mount came into view he was arrested by the most breath-taking sight. A young woman, no older than two and twenty. She wore a midnight blue evening gown covered in stars. These weren't ordinary stitches they were actual stars that had fallen from the sky over two hundred years ago. She sat upon a stallion that was as black as night.
She appeared to be alone. However as he got closer to the lady he felt a piercing attraction towards her. It was like something he couldn't explain. Just before he reached the top he heard multiple voices so he ducked out of sight. He saw three other women – well he could have called them hags- and they appeared to be bowing before her as if she were some kind of royalty. He heard the lady speak of some kind of event that hadn't happened in almost a century. Just after they spoke he saw the lady atop the black stallion prepare to leave just as dusk set in so he ran quickly down to his own stallion and galloped away towards Netherfield Park. As he left he thought about what he had seen and what he had heard and that was what scared him was the feeling in the back of his neck when he saw what the crones gave the lady. A dagger emblazed with Rubies and Emeralds.
As he approached Netherfield Park, the rider tried to forget what he had saw and what he heard. As he walked up the stairs for the first time in his life Fitzwilliam Darcy began to question himself and his judgement. He walked into the library and hoped that reading some Shakespeare could help him sort out his mind.
The next day Elizabeth Bennet woke to her home of Longbourn in an uprising of Mrs Bennets' screams of her poor nerves and that a rich man had taken up residence in the neighbouring estate of Netherfield Park and that his name was Charles Bingley. "Netherfield Park is let at last." You could hear her scream at regular intervals throughout the day. Elizabeth longed for a walk to escape the house and to be able to think what her mentors told her last night. Unfortunately her mother wouldn't let her leave the house for fear that she might stumble upon their new neighbours and say something so impertinent that would make them leave Hertfordshire altogether. Mrs Bennet was also fussing over her eldest daughter Jane, who was known as the beauty of Hertfordshire and her youngest daughter Lydia who most reminded Mrs Bennet of herself. That left Elizabeth and her younger sisters Mary and Kitty to fend for themselves.
That night there was to be an assembly and Mrs Bennet was positive that Jane would steal his heart. Elizabeth was less excited because all she wanted was to miss this assembly so she could go and see her mentors however that would mean that her father would have an excuse to stay behind and she would never be able to leave so she had to go and try to leave as soon as possible.
At the assembly rooms that night everyone was anticipating the arrival of the Netherfield party. All except for Elizabeth Bennet. She was more interested in leaving. When everyone was distracted she quickly ran to the road to Oakham mount to reconcile her tools for her training. As soon as she was completely certain she sprinted back to the assembly rooms to find that she had missed the illustrious Netherfield party's arrival. She noticed some new faces but that was all so she went over to her friend Miss Charlotte Lucas to find out who were their new neighbours.
As he stared across the assembly room he saw her, it was the lady from Oakham Mount. The one with hair like hazelnuts with gold through it. Tonight though she wasn't wearing the midnight blue gown. She was wearing a pale green dress that looked well-worn and had probably been made over. He tracked her progress across the room as she went to stand next to the eldest Miss Lucas that he had been introduced to only minutes ago. He still wondered who she was and how to find out her name. He didn't have to wait long when Mrs Bennet cried over everyone else "Lizzie, Lizzie come here my girl!" Mr Darcy stared in shock as he watched as he saw the beautiful lady go towards Mrs Bennet. He moved closer so he could see if he could learn her name. "Yes mama" he heard her stay as she spoke to Mrs Bennet. He was shocked that such a sill woman could be the mother to such a lovely lady. He wondered how she could have such an effect on him. To him her voice sounded like that of an angel. He wondered if she knew that he had seen her at Oakham Mount or that he wouldn't tell anyone about what was apparently a secret. As she left he moved back towards the wall so that he could get a better vantage point for watching her and seeing if she spoke to someone whom he could ask for an introduction. He was very happy when he saw her go and stand next to Miss Jane Bennet who had just finished dancing with his good friend Mr Bingley. He walked over to them and asked if Miss Bennet would do him the honour of introducing him to her friend. Miss Bennet replied with civility although she was a little bit surprised for Mr Darcy who had been reputed to be the most disagreeable man single out her sister for an introduction. "Mr Darcy this is my sister Miss Elizabeth. Lizzie, this is Mr Darcy who is a friend and guest of Mr Bingley's."
"I am pleased to make your acquaintance Miss Elizabeth and if I may be so bold may I ask for your hand for the next set of dances?"
"Mr Darcy I am also glad to be introduces to you and I would very much like to dance with you."
The next set of dances was not due to start for another ten minutes so their small group continued to talk about any subjects that happened to spring to mind. None of the party seemed to notice when Mr Darcy and Elizabeth moved towards the garden near the assembly rooms.