Hello there!

I'm Lady Sea Monster, and this is the first chapter to what I hope will prove to be a pretty interesting and entertaining story. I love Downton Abbey and Matthew and Mary and the new ideas surrounding the Perseus and Andromeda myth and how it applies to Season 2, so there will be a lot of spoilers in these pages :)

Reviews are immensely encouraged! They'll keep me writing!

So, without any further ado, here we are. Because, of course, rambling is terribly middle class.

Enjoy!

-Lady SM

She awoke with a slow rumbling rush in her ears, a pounding head and a numb feeling throughout every muscle of her body. She found herself in a limp, upright position, but could not think of a reason as to why. With a weak attempt to move her hands to her head, she realized she was restrained by a pair rusting manacles cutting into her wrists when she moved; but attaching her to what, she did not know. Oh how her temples throbbed; she couldn't bear to figure it any further. She let her heavy head hang back down to the position it had been when she first opened her swollen eyes, her chin to her chest. Suddenly the wind picked up around her and the whipping rush sent a tremble through her body and whipped her long dark hair across her face. Her eyes open as much as she could muster, which proved to be only slits due to the violent gusts around her, she didn't recognize her surroundings. Tears began to fall down her cheeks, uncontrollably. The sound that had begun as a low rumble crescendoed into the angry roar of the ocean.

Then, as quickly as it had come, the vision began to fade. The beholder of the vision found himself once again in his familiar bed, away from cliffs and roaring waves and vicious winds and beautiful, trembling maidens, left only with a slight feeling of dread he had become accustomed to whenever he thought of her. He blinked and closed his eyes in deep thought.

Matthew blinked again. He had to save her.

Mary sought peace in the library in the early hours of the day, her favorite book of Greek Myths lying on her lap, herself seated on the cushions underneath the window, her eyes closed as the sun shined through across her face and shoulders.

Despite the sun's friendly rays, her skin was cold; despite the quiet, her mind could not focus and her thoughts were scattered. Through all the turmoil under the surface, her face stayed expressionless, blank, numb.

She had felt slightly ill upon waking, but, as usual, she ignored it, assuming it to be the weight of her relationship with Carlisle. Just yesterday he demanded to set a date for the wedding at dinner. Getting through breakfast, however, proved to be more than a chore than she thought it would be, and so she shut herself away in the library, hoping not the be disturbed.

There was movement about the house, some new drama that she was sure she would be called into shortly but she could not bring herself to think on it just yet.

So much was out of her control. She felt trapped, so trapped.

As if on cue, Carson entered, and with a slight bow, said, "Her Ladyship requests your presents in the main hall, Milady."

Lady Mary looked up from her window and smiled weakly at the kind butler.

"Thank you, Carson." She said and stood up. Suddenly her stomach lurched and she felt a huge rush to her head. The unsettling feeling was coupled with nausea that caused a hand to fly to her head and the other to grasp onto the bookshelf nearby to steady herself. Carson rushed over to her.

"Lady Mary, are you quite well?" Asked the butler in a concerned voice, offering his arm out to her for support. She took his arm and leaned forward, but shook her head.

"Oh, Carson, I'm sure I'm perfectly all r-" She began, trying to minimize the damage of Carson seeing her weakness. "Oh, dear!" She exclaimed as a new wave of pain rushed to her head.

"You are by no means all right. Come, up to your room. You need rest." He took her and steadied her. He then began to slowly lead her out of the room, speaking to her in a low, comforting voice. "I'll tell the others. And in a way as to not to worry her Ladyship." In almost a whisper he added to her, "We both know you have far too much to deal with besides."

She smiled gratefully, leaning on his arm, trying to prevent another embarrassing outburst, happy that it was only Carson who had witnessed it.

"Thank you, Carson. You always know how to take care of me whenever I take ill."

"It's a charge I've taken readily for quite a long time, Milady." A slight smile came to his lips, but it was quickly replaced by a look of concern. "But you rarely readily accept it. As soon as you're in your room I'll call for Dr. Clarkson."

Once she was changed into a light gown, tucked into her bed and waited on by Anna, she awaited the arrival of the Doctor. She requested her family leave her alone for the moment, sure she would regain health if she were just to have a moment to herself, which got her a disapproving look from Carson who stood by the door. Once the door was closed shut behind the last of her concerned family members, she inhaled deeply and gave into the heavy weight of her eyelids and succumbed to an interesting state of being barely asleep. She immediately felt a shift and let go even further of her troubles, releasing the tension in her neck.

After a few moments of being unsure of whether she was in fact awake or asleep, her form began to twist and turn restlessly under her covers. Her breathing became ragged and unsteady. The movements became more and more violent, as if she was trying to escape some sort of internal pain. As she writhed, the sheets became entangled around her legs, exposing her violently rising and falling chest.

Then, as soon as it seemed she was about to cry out, she stilled. Her convulsing body sank into the down comforter which was in a mess about her now. She sighed deeply and the stress began to vanish from her brow. So much had been demanded of her body as of late, and her muscles seemed to relax gradually, her head falling to one side. Her breathing finally returning to normal, she was lost in a deep sleep.

The only thing about her not completely at peace was her eyes, which could be seen rapidly moving under her eyelids.