This is a work of fan fiction using characters from the Tripods series of books which is the property of the estate of Sam Youd (John Christopher) and his publishers. This work is based on the tetralogy he created and in no way do I claim ownership of those characters or works. I intend this as a tribute to the work of Mr. Youd, which has brought me great pleasure since I read his books. The original situations and characters in this multi chapter story are from my own weird imagination, it is intended for entertainment only, my only reward is reader reviews and it is not part of the Canon works.
The Eloise.
Chapter 1
The Millers Son.
The weather up on this moor was definitely, what his ships' crew called misling, an odd, whiny kind of word that quite suited this kind of rain, a falling, mist with those very fine droplets that soaked through cloth in seconds. It was a misleading precipitation, light enough to be blown by even the lightest breeze, the droplets penetrating cloth, soaking through even leather, yet dense enough to impair vision to a short distance, disorientating any within it. He thought it an appropriately depressing word, to describe this kind of precipitation it was. Especially if it was falling while aboard ship, as he had discovered as they had sailed from Belgium and France after his crew had sailed her from Gibraltar, where his ship had been refitted after he had found her, quite recently abandoned, amongst quite a number of rusting and rotting older hulks in southern France. He had instantly fallen for the lines of the less decayed, still floating hull, with it's peeling paint and broken masts, she was a great lady, fallen from grace, and he had been determined to see her return to elegance. When he had received money for his part in the war they had just won, as had all the freemen who had made the arduous journey to fight their oppressors, he had invested some of it in her when he had found her on his return from America, where they had destroyed the third and final city from which humanity had been controlled.
Despite appearances, she had been more than sound enough to rig up some short masts salvaged from other wrecks to sail her down to the yards he knew were in Gibraltar, where it had been refurbished. He and his two closest friends had overseen the work, as well as carrying out as much of it as they could themselves, so progress had been swift, the largest tasks had been replacing the masts and rigging, beside that and renewing the engine for use when needed, she had not needed any other structural work, so progress had been fast. They also had help from a number of the free men, who loved sailing and had happily paid him towards the work and supplies, in exchange for the chance to crew the ship. They had arrived at the dock as the work had progressed over a few weeks and helped spruce her up, he did not intend her to be a cargo ship, but once they had finished the trials, taking them all to their nearest home ports, they were going to explore this world that they had saved. Those crew members who had grown up in southern Europe had taken the chance to visit the communities they had grown up in en route, reuniting with the family they had left behind, rather than submit to the Cap. Once the work was complete, they had sailed her into the Mediterranean, getting to know the vessel and practising controlling the large ship, she was by far the biggest any of them had sailed. A few days later they had mastered the complicated rigging of the three masted vessel as they sailed round the coast of Italy, before they docked in the Venetian lagoon, close to the partially sunk ruins of an ancient city. Will and his two closest companions had disembarked, crossed land from there into Germany, while the crew sailed the ship back past Gibraltar and up the coast of Europe. Fritz had returned home for a visit on this journey, but they all three had been welcome. They had stayed a couple of weeks, then left. They could have stayed at the farm for longer, but Fritz would be returning once they had travelled to his and Beanpoles homes, so regretfully insisted there was little sense in staying longer. The Trio had rejoined the ship in Belgium, where it had caused quite a stir in the harbour town that had not seen a ship so big in living memory, for a short cruise for an even shorter stop in a Northern French port. They had not been welcome there so had not stayed for long before crossing the narrow channel to his homeland, where he had not set foot for years. It had been during those two legs of the journey, that they had experienced this sort of weather, mixed with the spray and spume from the sea.
He had discovered that this kind of weather seemed to be peculiar to this country, especially the high ground such as this and conversely to the sea. They had been in the channel, half way between Belgium and the French port, when they had first encountered it, though he did recall this mist like rain as a child. He supposed that at one time he must have been used to it and it was strangely nostalgic to him, but it did not make it any more pleasant. As he stood, holding the reins of the horse, soaked to the skin by the rain, he simply wondered if it was a sign that this trip would be just as miserable as this precipitation made this land appear.
It had been five years since he had last passed this way, only the second time in his life he had trod most of the length of this road, although he had travelled it as a child, those had been notable occasions, rare and exciting rides on a borrowed Trap with his parents. The first occasion he had walked across this moor on this route had been in the opposite direction, fleeing the oppression brought to most by the cap and those who had imposed it on humanity. He had not had a horse then, nor was he alone, one of his cousins had been with him then. He had been unwilling to bring his recently bereaved cousin who had foisted himself on him for the journey, they had never particularly got along growing up anyway. They had both been full of the excitement of escape at the time, it had felt as though they were setting off on a marvellous adventure, some youthful notion of a couple of weeks walking to reach a place they would be free. The pair of them were soon disabused of that foolish belief, but neither could have foreseen that it had been a venture which only one of them would ever return to this place from. They had gained freedom from the cap, but in many ways they had not been any more free than those who wore it. They had travelled a long, arduous road to a life in hiding and hardship. Both had the freedom to chose though, they retained their ingenuity and inventiveness which helped them to mount the resistance to adapt to situations as they came up. It was these qualities and choices that had enabled them to free all, as well as to succeed in that endeavour despite all the odds against them. It was no exaggeration to say he had travelled many thousands of miles since had last been on this spot, he had visited numerous countries and two continents, yet here he was, a simple country boy, back where he had started out, completing the circle, leading a horse home, in the rain.
He pulled his coat closer around him, gaining a little warmth ad protection as the water dripped from his nose. The three friends had taken a scheduled carriage from the port where they had arrived to Winchester, the nearest town to the village, where they found a pub with rooms to let and to have a meal. He had told them before they went to bed after the meal, that he would set off early the next morning. He had arranged the hire of a horse, so he would arrive at the village shortly after the working day began, when with most of the men working, he stood the best chance of getting to his parents home unnoticed, he believed. Rising with the sun the next morning, he had eaten a good breakfast, savouring each bite of the bacon, sausage, fried eggs, mushrooms, tomatoes, fried bread and toast, not quite as good as his mothers, but as it was his first fry up since leaving home it was food for the gods as far as he was concerned. He paid the landlord for his room, then mounting the Horse, he set off through the quiet streets of Winchester, just as some of the tradesmen were beginning to set up their stock in front of their houses. The sound of the horses hooves echoed from the walls of the cathedral as he passed it, heading through the town, trotting to the road that headed to the moors. Once out of the waking town he kicked the horse to gallop down the road, passing fields, ruined ancient houses and wild woodland as he rushed through the countryside. He slowed occasionally to allow the horse to rest, before once again picking up the pace on the quiet roads, it didn't seem long until they began to climb up to the moor, which was where the weather had closed in as they gained altitude.
He had known from some miles away that his route over the moor would not be dry, he had seen that they were covered in cloud and that rain was falling as he had approached them, however as he crested the top of the slope he had received a surprise. Looming out of the mist next to the road, it's hatch wide open, lay the enormous wreck of a Tripod on it's side. One of the great metal machines that the Master's had used to transport themselves through what to the alien creatures, was a poisonous atmosphere, collecting those who reached capping age, returning them, patrolling and gathering slaves for their city. It was a stark reminder of what they had achieved, he stopped, next to a small pool in front of the wreck, allowing the horse to drink, but did not dismount. He had looked at the metallic vehicle laid as a scar on the wild moor, while the horse refreshed itself from the pool. The hulk showed clear signs of having been explored, presumably by passers by, some of it even had been salvaged for use elsewhere. Ropes of cable hung from the hatch, some of the metal had been stripped away, there were blackened areas where fires had been lit beneath it, but to him the most amazing thing was that nature was beginning to take over the monstrous machine. Moss was already growing on the legs, as grass sprouted from its joints in long wisps, three families of birds had built nests on the wreckage, while others sat on it. Nature was claiming it, somehow that seemed to him to be symbolic that this planet was recovering, defeating and claiming it's invader. The planet claiming and overwhelming those who would have destroyed it, somehow he found vindication, even reassurance that what they had done was right in that. His horse had finished drinking whilst he had been looking at the wreck, it had also grazed on some of the rough grass at the side of the road, but was now looking round, waiting for him to continue. He gently kicked the horse into motion again and soon they were flying through the fine rain across the moor. It was still early, he had not been surprised to have had the road mostly to himself for the entire journey, he had passed a few farm carts and a fellow horseman, who was heading in the opposite direction, but that had been all since he had left Winchester. Since he had reached the moor up he saw no one, except sheep grazing the heather, which had reminded him of the night he and Henry had been spooked by a flock as they had walked towards the boat that would carry them over the channel to France. He smiled as the horse ate up the miles towards his home, far faster than he and Henry had back then. He was only a few miles from the village, his mount had shed a shoe, so now he was leading it, returning home as he had left, on foot, leaving him plenty of time for reflection on his trek over the moors.
He had received letters from his mother and from Jack, his other cousin, in the weeks they had spent working on the ship. So he knew they had heard of his part in the war against the Master's and their machines the Tripods. He knew that the broadcasts on the newly restored Radio transmissions had named the cousin who he had left with, as one of the British dead as well as reporting the publicly released accounts of the acts of those of his countrymen who had survived. The two letters had been his only news from home, but he had yet to write a reply, figuring that arriving unannounced might be sufficient response to them. It would also mean that he could see his parents before enduring any fuss the village might make to welcome him, should they have had time to plan for his arrival. He couldn't be doing with the hero worship he and the others had received almost everywhere they went, some communities had treated them as Gods, he couldn't stand to have such attention, he didn't deserve it, he wasn't a hero. Henry and the other dead were the hero's, not him. He knew if he could see his family quietly first, tell them his story in his words not just the official reports, then he might cope with the inevitable celebration that he knew would be arranged once word of his arrival got out. Now as he neared the place he had grown up in, he wondered if returning unannounced and alone had been such a good idea after all. Fritz and Beanpole had offered to come with him, he had casually turned the offer down. His two friends were waiting in Winchester for a couple of day's before joining him in his home village, but now he almost wished they were with him.
The rain stopped as he dropped below the moorland mist within which it hung, and he crested the hill above the village he had called home. He stopped and looked down over the trees of the forest on the lower slopes, he watched the activity amongst the houses along the river. He could see a woman draping a rug over a line in a back garden, then begin to beat it, smoke was rising from the chimney on the blacksmiths and the bakers, the landlord was cleaning the windows of the pub. Life seemed little changed in the vale below, children were playing rounders in the school yard, while women busied themselves about their houses or were out shopping at the weekly market erected on the green between the pub and the church as they had for as long as he could remember. The ancient grey stone built church stood in its yard of gravestones, the clock still keeping time in the tower, the tallest structure in the village, like a watchful presence looming protectively over the settlement. He could hear the clang of hammer on metal as the blacksmith began to shape the metal for whatever he was making that day, soon he would be making a new shoe for the horse. There were few men about, most would be working in the forest on the slopes either side of the road he would follow down to the village, or in the fields on the far side of the settlement over the river, including at his uncle's farm.
He could see what had been the vagrant house, at the crossroads before the ford through the river, still amongst the largest of the houses in the village, it remained occupied if the signs of activity in the garden was any indication. He had expected as much, when the control of the cap had ended it had been hoped this would release the vagrants too, sadly it appeared that whatever had gone wrong with their capping was permanent, they would still require care. The one thing that had changed for the poor individuals was that their need to wander periodically appeared to have gone, they had, in general, found their way to the nearest community and there they had remained, a few had wandered back to the places they had been brought up before capping, but not many. He wondered how many were now at Wherton, being cared for in the house.
His eyes traversed the village, noting the small changes, few as they were, that he could see from this vantage point. Where he stood now had been about the limit of his youthful wanderings out of the Village, before Ozymandias had arrived here those years ago. He had come here with Jack, almost as often as they had visited the den they had in the village as children. The den, his head whipped around to where it lay, opposite Spiller's meadow, the gap in the hedge was all, but closed through lack of use, then his eyes found what they sought, the arch to the ruin. He now knew that "Lect city" was not a place, as they had guessed, but rather it was energy, a power which could be generated by his father's mill locally and benefit the whole community, although that would take some doing. The building that had served as their Den was overgrown now, he wondered if he would be able to revisit it.
He turned his head again, this time his eyes fell instantly on his childhood home, set next to the river close to where it fell into the valley. Little about it had changed, perhaps there was more lichen growing on the roof, creating colourful discs across the tiles, and he thought his father's vegetable patch was a little smaller, he suspected his Mother may have taken some of it into her flower beds, but he could see little else different. He could see his father taking delivery of a wagon load of grain, either wheat or barley, thirty or more sacks full, to be milled into flour or rolled for feed or beer. In his youth he had helped his father with many such loads, attaching the sacks to the chain to be carried from the farmers dray up to the grain store at the top of the mill. He watched as the carter attached the chains to each sack, which with the power of the wheel, hoisted them aloft, where his father easily swung them in and detached them before reversing the winch and sending the chain down for the next. He watched as the last sack was loaded and with a wave the carter lead his charge away, back along the lane, turning to splash through the ford and out of the village.
The man grinned, it was all so familiar, yet somehow so distant from his life as it had become, it was odd seeing the place he had been so familiar with so apparently unchanged. Somehow it seemed odd that the place had simply carried on in his absence, by all appearances. Once he would have been content, even proud to have followed his father's footsteps in the village, but that had been long ago, when he was a child. Once he had left this place, gone to places beyond the knowledge of this community, seen things for which they had little or no reference, his life had irreversibly changed, he could never stay here and become a Miller now. That life was lost to him now and as he looked down on the Mill, he was surprised to find it was a life he mourned losing. He certainly did not regret what he had done, but it had a price, he could no longer settle for this life, at least not as far as he could foresee. He was too restless now, too feckless his mother would say and to some extent he probably was, he needed something bigger to keep him occupied now, he could no longer settle for this simpler life. Since the war had ended, truly ended when that spacecraft had retreated, he had lost much of his purpose, that was true. The last weeks had been spent travelling Europe, a journey he had enjoyed thoroughly, but he knew it was not something he would be content with for the rest of his life, not once exploration was less about discovery and more about travelling for its own sake. His friends travelled for a purpose, reuniting with their families, or at least that hope in Beanpoles case, though that had not worked for him. No for Will, although he loved the sea and sailing, he wanted to explore and find lands, discover places that were lost.
He recalled their most recent trips, the first when they had travelled to Fritz's home, the German had gone ahead to reunite with his family. He and Beanpole had given their friend a couple of days with his family before they joined him at the farm, where his parents had welcomed them with a typical Fritz like reserve, which some could mistake, as Will had with Fritz at first, for arrogance or coldness, but it was quite simply their way. The farm had been such a restful place, Fritz had left it again sadly, despite his insistence that they continued the journey after only a couple of weeks, his oath to his friends keeping him with them as they travelled on, he would return there once this duty was complete.
They all three had gone with Beanpole to his Aunt and Uncles within minutes of mooring the ship in the harbour of the small town. Here they were very coolly received, Beanpole and Will were both well remembered by many in the northern French fishing port. It had been here where they had first met, when Will and Henry were making their way south. Will had been either admired by a few or resented for escaping them and taking one of their own with him, depending on who it was they spoke to. Beanpole was still a little feared by most, simply for his eccentricity. Fritz was simply treated as untrustworthy for associating with them, but then most French treated Germans that way, though no one seemed able to explain why. Beanpoles relatives received them very coldly, they were not at all interested in what their nephew had done, they resented the attention he had brought on them from the locals. They had stayed less than a day, Beanpoles relatives wanted little to do with him, and they were clearly unwelcome. They were relieved to leave the place, but they knew they would be back, using it as the gateway to Europe as they went their separate ways after this final visit. Will's newly bought and refurbished sailing ship carried them across the channel to England, for the last visit before they split up to pursue their own ambitions. Fritz on his Farm, Beanpole at the new research laboratories at the castle where Ruki, the Master they had captured, had been held for the time before the attack on the city. His two friends were happy to settle down, satisfied they would be useful, but he was still restless, not yet ready to settle anywhere. He would voyage for now, exploring their newly freed planet, he had decided to look for a rumoured lost continent to the south of Africa, though not before he had returned home or before he had visited one other place afterwards.
Returning here though, like it had been for Fritz in Germany, had been something he had wanted to do on his own, especially as his mother had mentioned some intriguing information about another villager that he only just remembered. He wanted to discover more about that, before Beanpole and Fritz found out about it. He had wanted to return ever since her letter had made it clear he would be welcomed and not just by his family. Though now, as he looked down on his childhood home, he was nervous even a little scared. Had what his mother had written just been her desire to see him, was he really welcome in this place that he had abandoned? He shook himself, he could travel across Europe, mix with the residents of a château with ease, integrate in a new community made up of many different nationalities, cope with living in the Master's city, even while disguising his true intent. Destroy a tripod and be a part of doing the same to two of their Cities, but he was scared of visiting his parents. He mentally shook himself and wondered if he would feel the same when they returned to the Château de la Tour Rouge, a trip he wanted to make before commencing his voyages of discovery. They had not gone there while travelling Europe, he was respecting their time of mourning. He had ensured the body of their daughter had been retrieved from the hall of beauty in the European City and returned to them. She had been one of the few they could identify, there were no records of where any of the poor girls had come from or who they were, she was one of only a handful in the European City they could identify and return to their families for burial. A cemetery had been created for the rest of them, in a field out of the flood plain of the river that ran through the remains of the City. A field of white unmarked stones marking the graves of hundreds of unknown girls, a memorial to them and all who had died enslaved by those monstrous alien beings, a shrine already visited by some of the families of those who had been taken.
He had stood in this same spot, watching the village, lost in memories for quite a while as the cloud cover thinned from grey to white above him, then breaking to reveal a growing patch of blue above. Deciding it was now or never, he was about to move forward when a voice stopped him.
"Can I help you?" The voice asked, not in an unfriendly way, but laced with caution.
Bang went the idea of arriving quietly he thought, as he smiled at the sound of the voice. It was one he had not heard for a long time and was surprised he recognised so easily. Sighing, he pushed back his hood and looked up to the questioner, about to answer. He almost laughed instead, as he saw the well built man who had emerged from the treeline recognise him. The figure approaching him stopped in his tracks, his eyes widening, mouth gaping in surprise. It took a moment before the figure spoke again. "Will?" He asked in disbelief.
Will looked at his cousin carefully for the first time in years, who had aged some and had a full head of hair now, but otherwise had changed little since he had last seen him not long after the man had been capped."Yes Jack, it's me, long time no see." He replied, half grinning.
"Bloody hell, Will, why didn't you tell us you were coming back?" Jack asked, without malice.
He laughed. "I wanted to surprise you all Jack, looks like it might have worked. Might have guessed it would be you who buggered up me sneaking in unnoticed though, it was bound to be one of us who did, always ruddy well was."
The two cousins laughed then embraced each other, slapping each others backs warmly.
"You silly sod." Jack grinned. "When you didn't reply to the letters your mum and I sent, we thought you had decided to ignore us."
"Ah well." Will scuffed his foot in the dirt awkwardly, just as he would have as a boy when caught out. "I was never much good at letters, besides the last one I wrote to mum, well lets just say I can imagine the ruckus it caused at the time."
"No kidding." Jack nodded ruefully. "Every man in the village was out searching for the two of you, a Tripod was called and messengers sent to villages and towns round about. The youngsters must have felt like prisoners, none were left out of sight for months afterwards, buggered up the usual summer activities for them, it was winter before things settled down. Some people believed you had brought shame on the Village by running away, others that you had been kidnapped by that vagrant, he was nowhere to be found either. As time went on some feared the worst for you both, but the family never gave up. There was no capping day the year you were supposed to be done, of course, which hit your Mum hard. Each birthday was marked by us, of course, we never gave up hope, mind you there was one other who was the same, which surprised us. When we finally heard what you had actually been up to, we could barely believe it, our hopes and prayers had been answered and then some. Well, let's just say once word gets out you are back, I think it won't matter in the slightest that I am now late for work, helping the woodsmen and am unlikely to get there at all, good job I have the farm now too. I'll no doubt have to supply the beast for the celebration for you, I expect, unless the manor has one hung too."
"That fuss, my dear cousin is what I wanted to avoid by not sending word, at least until I had chance to talk to Mum and Dad. I had hoped to get to the Mill, with as little fuss as possible."
Jack looked at his cousin ruefully. "Little chance of that, Will, have you forgotten what this place is like? Even if you had got down there unnoticed, the moment you passed the first house word of a stranger would have reached the mill before you did. This is a Village remember, nothing goes unnoticed here, you can't pee behind a tree without it being known before you have finished."
"I guess, but at least I could have seen them first."
"You could just ride full tilt down there?"
"No, she's thrown a shoe, or I'd have been down there over an hour ago, we had made good progress this morning too. I'll have to lead her in, leave her at the Smith." Will lamented.
Jack nodded thoughtfully for a moment. "Fine, well that's not a big problem, tell you what we'll do. We can't stop the grapevine, not here, but we can slow it down if I am with you and get you to the mill without you being recognised. Won't be difficult, I barely recognised you myself, but just in case put that hood up, and we shall lead the horse in. If anyone asks about you, I'll just say I'm taking you to the Smith, won't be untrue anyway, we shall drop her off there on the way to the Mill. Once we have left the horse there, it wouldn't be in the least bit odd for me to invite you to my Aunts house to wait now, would it? I'd just be helping out a traveller whose horse had gone lame, nothing more, the mill is closer than the farmhouse after all. Should buy you some time, depending on how loud your mum's reaction is of course." He grinned.
Will nodded. "That makes sense, but that's the second time you mentioned the Farm, something you want to tell me?"
"All in good time cousin, life does move on here you know, slowly perhaps, but it does." Jack winked. "Any how come on, lets get down there, the sooner we do the sooner we shall find out which of us messes this plan up."
"We could break the habit of a lifetime and it goes as we want it to." Will grinned.
They looked at each other, burst out laughing. "Naaa, not a chance." They said together.
Will put his hood back up and the pair, leading the horse, began a slow descent to the village, the cousins chatting until they got within earshot of the first cottage, then fell silent, the only sound they made then was the sound of the horse on the cobbles of the street in the village.
Walking down the street towards the river and the ford through it, Will was transported back to his childhood, it seemed so long ago since he had left, yet oddly, he felt as if he had never been away at all, at the same time. Nothing seemed to have changed, yet little seemed the same, his return seemed full of such contradictions so far. There were no new buildings here and whilst they seemed to be a little fuller, the gardens seemed the same, but he could see thin aerials on each house, long straight narrow poles, they were to receive radio signals from the mast up the hill. Radio was one of the first technologies of the ancients to be reintroduced, it was seen as important to aid communication, so had been quickly rolled out and people trained locally to install and maintain the system. The village shop now showed a display of batteries to power the radios in its window, amongst the goods it had always stocked. Trees were more mature, the cobbles had more weeds between them and gates seemed freshly painted. The Pub had a newly painted sign outside it, which stood out much more than the old one and the old vagrant house seemed more cared for, yet the net curtains behind the windows of many of the cottages still twitched as they passed by, the occupants observing their progress into the village, while smoke from wood and coal fired stoves still left the chimneys above the well maintained houses in the well tended gardens behind perfect picket fences or moss covered stone walls. Will's horse's hooves clipped on the hard, wet, round cobbles that still surfaced the roads within the village, three of them sharply announcing their progress to all within ear shot. The sound of the children in the playground at the school, excitedly playing during their break between classes would soon end with the bell being rung and the sounds of the birds would replace it once class began once more. The church clock struck the hour, as they passed the house where the village Cordwainer lived with his family, his workshop was behind the house where he made shoes, bridles, saddles or anything else that the village required that was made of leather, which he tanned up in the woods. Will smiled to himself, his heart tugged as he remembered the daughter of the house, he had been very fond of her as they grew up, she was younger, but not by much. He surprised himself by hoping he would see her again, soon, suddenly he felt that he missed her, it was fleeting, but there then gone as they continued along the road. The smell of perfume from the confection of garden flowers was overwhelmed by the fading aroma of fresh baked bread at the bakers, the last of the days freshly made loaves on display in the window.
They reached the most likely place that their plan would fall apart as they passed the small weekly market, with it's stalls of goods and provisions the village could not supply for itself, such as fish from the coast. Although it was not as exotic as the Markets actually along the coast, where goods from Europe and further afield entered the country, it still provided variety to the goods available in the village and there were some of the villagers milling around it's stalls, as well as people from the surrounding farms. Even so, some of the more exotic items may, eventually, arrive at the inland Markets, indeed Will recognised a small selection of rugs from Asia on one of the stalls, he had seen one place they were made whilst travelling, recruiting people for the free men with Fritz. Next to what had been the Vagrants house, was the Blacksmith's work shop, where Jack arranged for the horse to be shod, it would stay there to be re hired by anyone travelling back to Winchester, the nearest town, unless Will needed it first of course. They left the animal there and walked into the road alongside the river that led to the mill. Silently walking past the houses on one side and along the river on the other, soon they reached the mill itself and Will looked up at his childhood home. It was little changed, although it seemed smaller than his memory of it. The ivy had reached a little higher up the east wall, the door and window frames were the same colour, but the paint was crisp and clean, he knew that his father repainted them each year, so perhaps he just had. To the side of the house he could see his mother had hung her washing out already, over the well tended vegetable garden, though she was not in sight, she was probably back inside. Will was glad of that, he didn't want the reunion to have been in public.
"Are you all right?" Jack whispered.
Will realised he had been stood looking at the mill for several minutes, he nodded under his hood. His mouth was dry, eyes fixed on their destination, knowing his parents, who he had left behind and hadn't seen for so many years were inside. It seemed strange, he had travelled so far, seen so many strange and wonderful things as well as horrors, yet he had never been so anxious in his life as he was now, about to return to his childhood home.
Jack nodded, understanding and remained silent, but placed his hand on Wills shoulder, guiding him forward until they were only feet from the door. He turned to his cousin. "You ready?" He asked gently.
Will hesitated, knowing this was the point of no return. He wanted nothing more than to turn on his heel and flee, yet his heart yearned for what lay within those walls.
"Will?" Jack whispered, concerned. "It's all right you know."
His tone brought Will out of his thoughts. "Now or never." He whispered to himself, then looked at his cousin. "I'm ready Jack."
Jack nodded and knowing his cousin would follow, stepped forward the last couple of paces and pushed open the door.
The woman in the kitchen washing the breakfast pots turned as the door opened, still holding an earthenware bowl. Seeing the familiar figure who was entering she smiled. "Hello Jack, what are you doing here, shouldn't you be working in the forest today?"
"Yes Aunt I should be really, but on my way there I found someone in need just outside the village. His horse had lost a shoe, so I took him to see Alan, then thought I'd bring him here to wait if that's all right." Jack smiled.
"Well of course it is, bring him in, I'll put the kettle on." She replied.
Jack stepped further into the room, grinning widely and beckoned to the person waiting outside the door. "As I said, it's fine, come on in." He called, then stepped back, leaving the door open.
Will stepped through the door, pushing back his hood as he crossed the stoop, he looked up at his mother. She had hardly changed, a few more grey hairs perhaps and a few more wrinkles maybe, but otherwise reassuringly unchanged. His mouth feeling very dry, he smiled. "Hello mum." He croaked.
The bowl in her hand fell and shattered on the floor as she stared in disbelief, her hand flew to her mouth as she gasped and tears began to form in her eyes. The door to the mill flew open as his father rushed in.
"What's wrong? I heard something smash." He asked then glanced round the room and saw his son stood in the doorway. "Will?" He gasped, falling back against the wall.
"Dad!" Will replied, he was reassured to see that like his mother, his father was relatively unchanged.
His mother recovered first. "It's really you?" She whispered, then, broken pot forgotten, she ran across and embraced him, tears flowing down her cheeks. "My son, you're back, oh thank God. When you didn't reply to my letter, or Jack's, I thought, oh well it doesn't matter what I thought you are here now. I can hardly believe it, oh how you've grown."
"He won't grow much more if you keep squeezing him like that, let the lad breath." His father said, trying to hide his mirth, then stepping forward.
She stepped back, reluctantly, as her husband stretched out his hand to his son. "Good to see you Lad." He said brusquely.
Will grasped his fathers hand, knowing this restrained demonstration was tantamount to an effusive and enthusiastic show of love from the man. "You too Dad."
His mother rolled her eyes and laughed dryly. "Typical, you've not seen each other for years so you politely shake hands and that's it, men, what will I do with you. Now Will, you sit down, have you eaten? Oh never mind whether you have or not, I'll do you a bacon sandwich, it's too early for lunch yet. I can't imagine what you have been eating all this time, although the amount you have grown it can't have been all bad. Jack will you have one too? They won't expect you at work this late will they?"
The men grinned at the fuss she was making as they sat at the kitchen table, and she filled and put the kettle on the range, which was quickly joined by a pan on the stove. She added fat which quickly melted, then thick rashers of bacon were followed by eggs to sizzle away whilst she cut and buttered thick slices of nutty fresh baked bread from the bakers. Within a few minutes they were sat eating their bacon with fried egg butties, drinking mugs of strong tea, just talking and catching up on family news. Will relaxing back with his family, almost as if he had never been away. Suddenly there was a grating noise from the mill, his father stood. "Bugger, I forgot I'd left that in gear." He grunted, turning towards the door.
"You need a hand with it Dad?" Will asked.
His father didn't get a chance to answer before Will's Mum interjected. "No Will, you have only just got back, can't have our hero helping out on his first day home, Jack help your uncle will you."
Jack stood, smiling. "Make the most of it Will." He winked. "We'll have you back working your socks off soon cousin." The two men left to rectify the problem in the Mill, leaving Will and his mother.
She turned to her son. "You didn't say much son?"
He sighed. "No mum, just listening to the goings on and enjoying being back."
"So are you back for good or is this just a visit?"
"A visit this time mum, two friends will join me in a couple of days, they were mine and Henry's closest companions during the war. We'll stay a while, if that's all right, but then Fritz will go home to Germany and Beanpole to his work. I have to call on another friends home, in France, before winter starts then I plan on exploring this world we have freed. You have me for quite a while if you want me though Mum, but then I have to go again." He said sadly.
"But, you will come back again?" She asked him desperately, the pain obvious in her voice, she couldn't bare the thought of him going again, not so soon after he had arrived.
He stood and walked to her, holding her gently, looking her direct in the eyes. "Of course I will mum, no matter what, or where I go this is where I grew up, I shall always come back."
"That's all right then, this will always be your home Will, never forget that." She rested her head on his shoulder. "I am so proud of you son, so is your Dad, though he won't show it right now." She held her son in silence after that, until they heard the other two heading back, when she released him.
"Let your Dad make a fuss his way son, he is desperate to show you off to the others. He will want to take his son for a drink for the first time that he is able to, probably lunch at the pub as well, let him Will, please." She said before the door opened again
Will nodded agreement, though he really wanted it to be just family for now. "All right Mum, I will."
"Thank you Will, it means a lot to us both. I'll cook a special dinner tonight to celebrate you coming back, goodness knows the village will want to tomorrow." She rubbed his arms reassuringly then released him just before the other two entered the room.
"We've shut her down for now." His father said indicating the Mill. "That lot can wait for a change. Now lad lets get your stuff to your room, then let me buy you a drink at the Kings Arms, son."
Smiling, Will agreed, then picked up his bag and headed up the stairs, Jack following him.
"You ok Will?" Jack asked. "Ready for the fray?"
"Just about Jack, sorry to hear about Aunt Lucy." He replied.
"That's all right Will, mum was ill before you went, just that none of us knew it, not even her as it turned out. Not like Henry's Dad, he died when the caps stopped working, he was out in the field when at that moment. Most of us paused for a moment, bewildered, but from what those with him said, he simply fell down dead." Jack said sadly.
Will thought about the moment they had shut down the power supply in the city, the moment the caps stopped working, the moment Mario, one of their team, had died. The same moment his Uncle, Henry's father had died, Henry never knew. "Sadly that happened to some." He told Jack. "Seems it affected many who had the cap to different degrees, some more than others. There were some who kind of lost their minds, but without the restlessness of vagrants, maybe it was to do with the effects of the cap on them. We know that while the cap did suppress a lot of things, it also effected people to differing degrees, so it seems to follow that removing it's influence would be similar, at least that is the theory apparently."
"It was almost as scary when they stopped working, as it was having them put on in the first place. " Jack said.
"Really?" Will asked puzzled.
"Don't you remember, a few days after my capping, you asked me what it was like, I wanted to tell you, but I couldn't. Maybe it was the cap, you know, that stopped me. It wasn't the first time it controlled me now I think of it either. I walked past our den the day after, felt like I wanted to go in, but something stopped me, that must have been the cap." Jack shrugged. "Anyway, I was scared stiff on the journey, they picked up a few others then one by one we were instructed to go through a door, no one came back to where we waited. Once called through the door, I was told to lay on a bed under bright lights, then men came in dressed in white coats. I was put to sleep, only waking up moments before I was set back down here, the cap already fitted. It's odd, but the time after that seems surreal, almost dream like, right up until suddenly something unlocked and it was like a veil had lifted, but as I say we were disorientated, confused about what had changed. A few day's later we heard what had happened, riders came spreading the news, but only the basics until radio arrived. It was only then that we learnt more, it was then that you and Henry were named among those from this country who had worked to free us. It was quite a short list though, not many from Britain, but that was the first direct news we had of you both."
"Jack!"
"Will?"
"Thanks."
"What for?"
"Not asking." Will replied. "I will tell you all later, just family, after dinner, but thank you for not asking about it all now. "
Jack nodded. "Good, I for one am dying to know what you got up to, but it's your story to tell." He grinned. "Just one thing though Will, my wife will be here too."
Will looked up and grinned. "Good grief, you didn't tell me some poor girl had got stuck with you, when did that happen?"
"Not long after I wrote to you actually, I didn't meet her until after the Tripods were gone, she brought the initial news from Winchester and never went back. Bit of a whirlwind romance I suppose, but I think you will like her, she's one of a kind is Anna." Jack smiled."What about you Will, anyone special?"
Will sighed sadly. "There was, once, but she was taken by the Tripods, I managed to recover her body though and return it to her family."
"Oh shit, I'm sorry mate."
"I'll tell you about her later, I need to visit her parents in a few weeks, they were good to me." Will replied. "They wrote as well, asking me to visit, I hoped to go anyway."
Jack nodded sadly, then perked up. "Come on then, best get back down stairs, your Dad can't wait to show you off. I've never seen him prouder than when we heard you were one of the uncapped fighters, as they called you on the radio. That cheered old Sir Geoffrey up no end, used it to describe you the day after in church, right before he praised you and Henry as the biggest Heroes the village had ever produced. He wants to put up a life sized statue of you both, next to the cross roads by the way."
"You have to be bloody kidding me." Will looked horrified.
"Well ok, not at the cross roads, I made that bit up, they are putting it in the middle of the river instead." He laughed as he rushed out of the room, dodging the pillow Will had thrown at him, then calling. "Good to have you back Cousin, but your aim isn't any better than it was."
"You sod." Will laughed and followed him.
They burst into the kitchen laughing, where Will's parents watched them, grins on their faces. "It's good to tell he's home, isn't it." His father said.
"Some things never change." His mother grinned. "The first time they did that, Will was about four, in the end I got fed up of telling them off for bursting in like that, the last time was the day before Jack's capping, always getting into trouble growing up."
Will and Jack looked at each other in mock outrage, before turning back to the other two, innocent expressions plastered on their faces. "Us?" They said in unison, before all four doubled with laughter.
Ten minutes later the three men were walking along the street from the Mill towards the village pub, the Kings Arms. To anyone watching they might appear to be any three men walking together, except to those locals who knew them. Two of the men were familiar, they could have been seen together in the village regularly over the last few years, while the third had to be the stranger that had been seen walking with Jack earlier and was subject to speculation over back garden fences since he arrived. Mrs. Ash was in her front garden as they approached, she looked carefully at the stranger, certain he too looked familiar to her, but she was unable to place him.
She knew her old friend, the widow Ingold, would have known straight away exactly who it was, if he was in any way connected to the village. The Widow had been gone these last two years however, her old house now occupied by young Alan, the blacksmith and his wife Molly, who had been servant to the Parker's before she married. Then it hit her, the stranger had to be connected with the Parker's. He had been seen with Jack, the Parker's nephew although he was the last of the Leeper family, at least until he had married a few weeks ago. Ralph Parker had entrusted his farm to Jack in his will, until his son returned. Servants actually worked the farm day to day, but Jack and his wife Anna lived in the house, now theirs with the news of Henry Parker's death. Of course, they had not known what had become of Henry or Will until after the defeat of the Tripods in Europe and far to the East.
The pair had run away, soon after the death of Henry's mother. After the search failed to find them they were not mentioned in the village, except by the family and one or two others again until after the defeat. Only then did it become known that the two had joined a resistance group in Europe, they were among the Uncapped. Then news of Henry's death reached them, he had, it seemed, died heroically, which was a surprise, he had been a bully as a youngster. Still, it seemed he had somehow been part of destroying a city of the tripods far off across some ocean in the west. Will had survived, they had been told, but no word of him had been heard since, nor had he yet returned. Could the stranger be him, could the man who had led his horse down here to be shod, be that cheeky oik she remembered, the one who she had regularly caught stealing plums from her tree. It seemed more than likely that it was, to her at least. If it was him, he had grown, that was certain, he seemed quite handsome, but how to be certain it was him? She watched the trio head over towards the bridge next to the ford over the river, but rather than crossing, they entered the pub which stood nearby. That spoilt it, there was no way she was going in there at Lunch time, in fact she thought it might be the first time she had seen either Jack or Mr. Parker go there at this time of day. Perhaps she would pay a visit to the Mill, offer help with their guest, after all, what else would a kindly neighbour do?
Will had never been in the Kings Arms before, it was different compared to the bars on the coast or on either of the continents he had been to, there were none that he or Fritz found in the hot eastern counties they had been to. American Bars he had found bland and sterile, comfortable seating, friendly company but neutral decoration, at least the few he had been in before they had destroyed the City, he had no idea if they were typical, he had seen so little of that continent. The European Bars he had been in varied in character, the French wine bars and cafés had carried a certain sophistication, some even a delicacy about them. He had learned a palate for wine at the Château, but not one for beer until he had travelled into Bulgaria and Germany where the tradition was of serving Lagers in Steins in Bars with long tables and lots of noise from the singing and laughter. The Bar's at the ports all seemed to be rough and ready regardless of the country they were in, full of rowdy sailors, drinking, womanising and fighting, places of strong men, strong beer and strong women to cope with the rest. They were the only English Pubs he had been to, but he couldn't see the Kings Arms being the same, especially if his mother was encouraging them to go to it. He followed his Father and Cousin through the door, and he realised his thoughts had been correct, this was a very different hostelry to those dockside pubs. The lower part of the walls were panelled in rich brown polished wood, while the upper part was painted in a yellow pastel, with framed pictures dotted around, the ceiling was crossed by black painted beams, decorated with horse brasses and plates. The bar itself was tucked in a corner, glasses hanging above it, the barrels of beer set on a table at the back of it, a window overlooking the green to one side. All the tables for the customers were long, but not so long as those in Germany with a bench or stools on either side of them, a fire burned brightly in the grate, beneath a stone mantle piece. One corner was given over to a Dart playing area, while sets of dominoes were stacked on a shelf next to it. There were a few men there already, mostly the elderly men of the village, talking intently over their tankards of froth topped ale, their heads turned to the door as the three men entered. Will's father was leading the way, Jack following and Will bringing up the rear, the occupants sitting a little taller as he entered, he wondered how long it would take until he was recognised.
The Barmaid turned as they crossed the room, the old men keeping them under scrutiny, as if the three had encroached on their territory in some way. Perhaps they had, Will pondered, maybe this was their time in the bar, and he, his cousin and father were infringing there in some way, or they may be just curious about who he was.
"My usual please Jane my dear." His father ordered. "Jacks too."
He turned and noticed all the locals watching carefully, waiting for a clue as to who the third new arrival was. Smiling he decided not to reveal his son's identity just yet. "Pint of best, old chap?"
Will nodded, slightly puzzled by what his dad was up to.
"Another one as well please Jane." He winked to her and nodded towards Will.
The Barmaid poured their drinks and placed them on the bar, taking the money, she looked at Will who saw who it was for the first time. Butterflies rose in his stomach as he recognised her from school, it was the Cordwainer's daughter, who he had remembered earlier. She had been a year below him, he had helped her occasionally back then, he recalled, she had grown to become, Will thought, a beautiful young woman. Her brown hair hung about her shoulders, over her dress, which while not as fine as some he had seen by any means was pretty and showed off her figure well. She was as tall as he was, he admired her as she filled a jug with ale from the barrels mounted on the table as at the back of the bar, filling three tankards from it, before turning round with them in her hands and placing them on the bar in front of them. It was clear that she had grown in more ways than one and from what he could see, she had a great figure. He knew he had a wide grin on his face, he couldn't help it, she was even more stunning than he remembered, surely she would already have an official escort, if the local custom he suddenly remembered was still practised here. She looked at him puzzled for a moment, until their eyes met then an expression of realisation, recognition, followed by one of utter joy spread over her face, her eyes filling with tears, which she hurriedly brushed away and flushed with a little embarrassment.
Unseen by the old men, Jack put a finger to his lips, understanding she giggled and nodded. They picked up their drinks, Jane leant over to Will. "Welcome back Will, it is so good to see you." She whispered blushing.
Will nodded and smiled back, enjoying the way her face glowed, then went over to the table Jack and his father had sat at, wondering at the odd, yet familiar, feelings he had when his eyes had met hers. He didn't have long to ponder it though as Jack and his father raised his glass. "Your good health, and welcome home Will." He announced loudly, then took a drink.
There was a moment's silence in the room, as Will took a drink from his own tankard, then the others in the bar started chatting furiously.
Will had taken his first sup of his home beer, it was darker, sweeter and nuttier than the European and American beers he had tasted, stronger too. He was glad that on top of the breakfast he had enjoyed in Winchester, his mother had made the bacon and egg sandwiches earlier, or he would soon have been drunk. It was an odd thing, but almost every country he had visited had its own beers, apart from those in the east, each one distinct to the region in which it was made. He couldn't wait to introduce Fritz to this one, Beanpole was more of a wine lover though he would indulge and then analyse it, but he wondered what his German friend, a beer drinker, would make of this strong ale. He put his mug down, the old men all raised their tankards to him and within minutes another pint had been placed in front of him, courtesy of Mr. Ash, which Will started on once he had finished the one from his father, it was a darker, stronger ale than the first, a sweeter flavour, which he quite liked.
As the next pint arrived from the old men, Jack grinned. "We had better have some of your pies Jane, with mash and peas, I think Will is going to need it to soak up all that, you are drinking Gordon's Special Brew now you know cousin."
Jane nodded, then called out. "Right you old buggers, that will do, you will all get a chance to buy him a pint while he is here I expect. You lot get him drunk today and I'll stop serving you." There was a mumbling among the men then she added. "Besides, that's his Dads job this time."
Will glanced at his father who whispered. "Don't worry, your mother would kill me if I did, mind you, so would Jane if it comes to it."
The food arrived just as a few of the workers from the fields and forest arrived for a lunchtime pie and pint, word spreading quickly amongst them that the person with Jack and his uncle was the hero Will, although each was warned of the penalty if they got Will drunk today. Will had never shaken so many hands or received so many slaps on the back, he answered a few of the questions he was asked, but most he avoided by saying he needed to tell his family first. It was a reply the men may not have liked, but they fully understood and respected. Even so, he enjoyed hearing the news of those he had grown up knowing.
Jack was of course teased for skiving off work that morning, but it was all good humoured. The pub soon filled and the landlord, Gordon, came down from his quarters upstairs to help Jane, who kept finding reasons to go near Will and placing her hand gently on his shoulder or hand comfortingly, before leaving to gather up the empty glasses. The rest of the pub celebrated the return of one of their own, proud that one of the few British uncapped heroes was from their own village, the noise level rising. Will was centre of attention throughout, toast after toast was proposed to his health, all the while his father looked on grinning widely with pride and Jack was laughing at Will's embarrassment.
Eventually the workers had to return to their tasks, even the old men sloped off reluctantly, leaving the three chatting with Jane, who stood behind Will almost protectively and Gordon. Jack and his father supped the remains of their beer. "Come on Will, Gordon will want to shut for the afternoon."
"No problem, pleased to have you here." The landlord smiled. "Don't be a stranger Will."
"Thank you, you as well Jane." Will said as he placed his empty tankard back on the bar.
Jane blushed again. "No problem, Will. See you soon I hope." She breathed coyly.
Will smiled. "I hope so too Jane." He said almost without realising it, but knowing he meant it.
The three left the pub, his father turned to them. "Look, I have to go report to Sir Geoffrey, it's still the done thing here Will, we still have some old traditions to adhere to. Now you've been seen in the pub, we have to officially inform him you are back I'm afraid son, which probably means a village celebration tomorrow. Which means I must get some grain ground at the Mill today, I'm afraid. Jack, would you take him round, show him the village and what's changed properly, I'm sure you two have a lot of reminiscing to do."
Jack agreed. "Come on Will, after the grand tour, I'll take you to meet Anna, she's dying to see you, if only to get more stories about me, besides she might not have heard you are back yet."
They went their separate ways, while Mr. Parker went up to the Manor house, Will and Jack headed into the village. They were stopped by the sound of a voice calling them, they stopped and waited while Jane caught up with them, pulling her coat on as she ran over to them.
"Mind if I join you?" She asked. "Gordon has given me the rest of the day off now, at least until seven."
Will nodded. "Fine with me." He replied, the odd feeling he had felt with her returning.
Jack laughed. "Oh Jane, you got it bad dear."
She blushed. "Stop it Jack, you know how I was when he ran away."
That stunned Will, he knew his disappearance would affect his family, but he had not thought about how it would touch anyone else in such a similar way outside the Parker's.
He noticed how quickly Jack sobered and quickly apologised. "I'm sorry Jane, I had forgotten in all the excitement. Will, you need to know that this young lady has waited for you, just as anxiously as your mother has and as your dad did. Since the day you left, not a day has gone by when Jane here didn't ask if we had heard anything, she mourned for you more than anyone else outside the family. She celebrated with us when the news of you came through and has counted the day's to your return, bluntly I have no idea why such a good looking girl as she is would bother with you, but she has missed you as keenly as we all did."
Jane hit him at the penultimate comment. "That was very nice, until that bit you know Jack." She looked at Will. "But, the rest of what he said is about right I'm afraid. I missed you so much Will, even after I was capped."
The penny dropped suddenly for Will. "It was you, the one Mum mentioned in her letter." He realised, then looked at his feet, scuffing the ground with his shoe. "Of course, Jane I am truly sorry to have put you through all that worry, I had no idea."
She put her hand under his chin, lifting his head until his eyes met hers. "Don't you dare apologise Will Parker, you are back now, that's all that matters to me. I know you may not be here long, after all you are a hero now, seen places I can only imagine, done incredible things too, by all accounts. So why would you settle for staying in this place, I understand that, I don't care about that. All I hope is that one day you will come back, come back for me perhaps."
This time it was her head that had fallen, tears threatening to fall.
Will lifted her head as she had his. "Come with us Jane, I can't promise anything more, not yet at least, but join us this afternoon." He said gently.
Jack nodded. "Damn fine idea."
That afternoon was one of the happiest, yet at the same time saddest, that Will had spent since Henry had died. The three reminisced about their childhood, while they walked round the Village. They visited the den where the boy's had spent much time as they grew, it was overgrown now, so they couldn't get into it, but told Jane about some of their activities here and Will told them both about how Henry had insisted on coming along with him there. Passing the shops and market stalls, still run by the same people Will remembered, offering much the same produce, they were greeted by the villagers there, though they didn't stop for more than a moment at any of them, wanting to see as much as they could. They visited the Church where a memorial to Henry had been placed, contrary to Jack's joke it was not a statue, but a simple stone on the wall, one that Will believed was apt. There was no body to bury, nor would there ever be so this inscription, describing how both he and Will had left to free this planet, and Henry had died to do so, carved in stone would be his lasting memorial here. Will also asked Jack to show him his Aunt and Uncles Gravestones, he spent a moment at each, paying his respects and looked at the few other graves of Villagers he had known, but who had died whilst he was away. They left the Church and visited the School, where they had intended to remain outside so they didn't disrupt the lessons, but the teacher saw them. Recognising Will he went out and called them in, where he excitedly introduced his former pupil to the children, all of whom were in awe of him, having heard his name mentioned frequently in the last few months. They stayed while Will was invited to admire the children's work then made their way to the farm, where they planned to spend the rest of the afternoon.
Will soon realised that the tall, slim, dark haired Anna was the perfect match for Jack. She was about the same height as his cousin and of similar temperament, he could sense she was a strong woman, who cared deeply. She had greeted Jane as a close friend, the two girls whispered something then giggled excitedly, before Anna had turned to Will. She hugged him closely and warmly in greeting, assuring him it was fantastic to meet him at long last, before ushering them all in to the sitting room. With a cheeky grin she sat Will and Jane next to each other on a small sofa, before serving home made lemonade and Jam tarts. She showed them the pictures from the wedding, telling Will all about the day, Jack's only regret being that Will had not been there to be best man. Will's father had taken on that job and Jane had been the bridesmaid. They told him they had held the service in Wherton rather than Winchester, Anna's family being far smaller than Jack's it had seemed simplest to bring them here rather than getting his family to the town. Her parents had come to the village and agreed with the decision, her mum falling in love with the church. They outlined the events of the whole day, including their embarrassment at her father's speech as he told tales of her childhood and of how nervous Jack had been when he had first met Anna's parents and elder brother. They chatted away, Will and Anna getting to know each other, relaxing with each other easily as the afternoon went on. Will didn't notice when, but at some point during the conversation his arm found it's way round Jane's shoulder and stayed there. Jane was smiling as she shuffled closer to him, his arm sliding down to settle round her waist, she reached round herself and held his hand at her side, which was what made Will notice what he had done. He looked down at her nervously, seeking reassurance that his unconscious act had not ruined their friendship, but she smiled at him reassuringly in response and settled deeper into his side, resting her head on his shoulder, she sighed happily and contentedly. His heart did a back flip, or so it felt, just as it had when he had fallen for Eloise and he realised that he had not felt so comfortable with any girl since then, until now.
Jack and Anna noticed the actions of their two guests, smiling as they saw Will obviously falling for the girl who had waited for him so loyally for so long. They knew from the looks between them, that if she didn't go with him when he left, he would return just for her, she would be his anchor to this place, even more so than his family ever could be, even if neither of them realised it just yet. Jack and Anna also knew there would be at least one resident of the village who would not be pleased to see Will back, even less that he and Jane appeared to be becoming a couple. They had no idea how Will would cope with the inevitable confrontation, he was after all a war hero, presumably used to a certain amount of violence, although they didn't yet know his story. There was little doubt that there could be serious repercussions ahead, when that meeting occurred. Even if Will did nothing to provoke it, the other was not likely to simply step back and do nothing at all. There was a way to ensure the village was behind the couple, a tradition that was still followed by the locals. All those brought up in the village knew it's meaning and importance, carrying the weight of law in this region, but it was known that the family of this probable fly in the ointment were in comers. They had moved to Wherton over ten years ago and although they knew of this tradition, they had been told of it when their son had shown signs of wanting to start dating, then Sir Geoffrey had explained it again due to the boy's unwanted attentions towards Jane. However the Son and father had decided to only accept what suited them and believed they could, if necessary, force the issue without agreement of her or her family. Nothing anyone had done so far had managed to disabuse them of this mistaken view, even being rejected formally in front of witnesses had failed to warn the boy off.
Ignoring the potential problem for now, they all enjoyed each others company, until it was time to return to the mill. Reluctantly they left the farmhouse and the two couples walked back to the village. Despite it being only a few hours since they seen each other in the pub, it seemed the most natural thing in the world, that Will and Jane walked together hand in hand down the road to the village next to Jack and Anna were similarly attached to each other. When they reached the bridge next to the ford, Jack led Anna across, but before they followed, Will turned to Jane and stopped her.
"What time do you finish tonight?" He asked.
"A nice early finish today, I am only on until Nine tonight." She said happily, then her face fell. "But, then Joe Bieth comes on duty."
Jack and Anna had stopped when the others did and glanced at each other, this was the fly in the ointment, Joe was the boy who had chased after Jane for as long as Will wasn't there, but she had never encouraged him, quite the opposite in fact, she had rejected him formally and several times in the street. Yet still he jealously pursued her, persistent in his tactic, trying to force her to believe Will would never return, that she was better off with him. He was the one who they feared would have an extreme reaction to what more and more seemed to be a budding relationship, the one who they could definitely say would be displeased at Will's return. There was no telling what the boy, with his father's support, would do when he learnt of Will's return, or how desperate he would become when he saw Jane with him. Joe had baulked at any small mention of Will, Anna had wondered what the carpenter's son had against her husband's cousin to react in such a way, since she had first met him.
"Joe Bieth? I kind of remember him I think, wasn't he in your year at school?" Will asked. "The short weedy boy that moved here with his family, his dad that carpenter that thought he had come her to teach us all how to live?"
Jane nodded. "That's him, he has inherited his father's arrogance and attitude." She said through gritted teeth.
"He tried to befriend me after Jack was capped, told me he was the only one who would be my friend now Jack was capped and I should ignore everyone else, seemed to believe he was doing me a favour by making the offer. He had not bothered with me in the years since he had arrived, apart from talking down to us, so I really wasn't interested. Bluntly, he gave me the creeps." Will said sadly
The penny dropped with Anna, that rejection combined with a superior sense of entitlement had meant Joe wanted something of Will's, even if Will didn't know it was his. Until today Will had been oblivious to Jane's feelings, but that didn't matter to Joe, but it made him potentially dangerous.
Jane shuddered. "Me too, he hasn't changed much, has a great sense of entitlement and self importance. Will, I should tell you, he is incredibly resentful of what you did. I don't know how he knew back then when I hadn't even had the courage to show or tell you, but he knew about my feelings for you when you left. He knows I still feel that way about you now and has chased me ever since you went, not that he ever had a chance with me. I hope you believe me when I say, I gave him no encouragement, the opposite in fact, even rejecting his offer of becoming my escort in front of witnesses, not that he and his father have given up. Watch him Will, he is becoming more intense about it by the day, although most in the village probably don't know. Please don't give him any reason to get others on his side against you, that's all. He's desperate to prove himself, to build his own ego, don't let him do that at your expense. Now why did you ask about my shift."
Will nodded understanding, then hugged her close. "Come to the Mill after you finish, you need to hear what I have to tell my family. As for Joe, if we need to act, I promise that we shall do it together."
She smiled. "All right, Will, though I know my parents shall want to know of anything we plan as well. I am sure I'll be able to come after work, my father will be collecting me from the pub though. With Joe about he doesn't like me out on my own after work, especially in recent weeks. Dad will bring me to the mill though, especially if I tell him why, I'm sure he will."
"Tell him that Jack and I will see you home safe afterwards Jane." Anna said. "He doesn't need to worry about that."
They crossed the bridge, parted and watched Jane enter the pub.
"Do I need to be worried more than I am about Joe?" Will asked as they stood still looking at the pub Jane had entered.
"Already protective of her Will?" Jack asked seriously.
"We learnt to be protective of each other in the White Mountains Jack, but yes, I wouldn't want her threatened or to feel unsafe in her home, we fought for freedom after all." He replied.
"Joe is fuelled by jealousy and I now believe is desperate to get revenge for your rejection. He is spoilt, his father gives him all he wants, even tried to convince Jane's parents to force her to marry his son after they were capped." Jack said. "Odd thing is she didn't lose her faith in you even after she was capped, family it was natural, but I think that her strength of feeling for you meant even the cap couldn't suppress it."
Will's head shot round to look at his cousin. "Are you serious? The cap didn't change that in her?"
Jack looked back at him, puzzled at his response. "Not a jot, nor Joe's pursuit of her either though, if anything that got worse."
"Bloody hell!." Will responded in amazement. "We know that through the cap people could be manipulated quite effectively, sounds like they may have amplified his obsession, though that doesn't explain his actions since he got his free will back. I know the Master's were fascinated by feelings of love, they couldn't understand it, perhaps they wanted to study Jane's strong feelings, maybe to see if they changed with his fixation, see if he could win her over or if he would give up."
"Could they do that?" Anna asked. "Even without a Tripod nearby?"
"Through the cap, yes it was possible. I learnt that whilst I was in their City, it nearly cost me my life." Will thought for a moment, then grinned. "There is one thing for certain though, she is the first girl since the war that I can be sure isn't just hero worshipping me."
"Oh I think she always was." Anna grinned. "But, for different reasons to all the others."
Authors notes:
I hope you have enjoyed the first chapter of this story. Please leave a review, they are much appreciated. For any who do not know my work in other fandoms, if you log in to review I will always reply via the PM system it creates, even if it is just a thank you.
This is a multi chapter work, I am still working on the final edit of later chapters as this one is published, I make no promises regarding how frequently chapters will be added, but I won't delay publishing for the sake of it either.
Until next time.
Tgfoy