So Near, Yet So Far

Two adolescents, sitting under the shade of leafy trees and bushes, nearly blending into the foliage of the greens and browns, watched the open waters. Their hearts were wracked with sorrow and pain as they struggled with the truth. They were not meant to be and they, no matter how much they wanted to could never be together.

Pantalaimon flowed, sleek and powerful, up Lyra's arm to rest comfortably around her neck, and tried in vain to lift her sorrow. He shared a futile glance with Kirjava, who resided in Will's lap, patting his leg and purring soothingly. They both knew a secret that held aid to their sorrow but they could not say it, having made a promise not to tell till the time came.

"Will, I wish we could stay like this forever!"

"I know, but tomorrow the gyptians will arrive and soon after, we part ways forever."

"I will wait for you. I know we have to try to act like this never happened but it is too beautiful and terrible a time to forget."

They shared one last embrace and they got up to go back. Through their tears, they missed the glance between the two daemons. The knowing glance that was shared bonded the two daemons with the secret they would hold till their humans were ready.

For twenty years, they kept their promises; the secret was locked in the deepest, darkest parts of their heart. They told not a soul. Their humans, Will and Lyra diligently did their work, making sure one and all knew about the Republic of Heaven. Their own private work was the same, they did it with conviction and zeal, but neither could spend a moment not thinking of their beloved, probably so close yet so far.

Their daemons knew that the time was near to tell, but they still needed to be more detached from their "impossible lover". The time to tell was almost upon them, but not quite.

They remembered the last words of Xaphania on their first encounter with the angel. "You will know when the time comes. But you cannot tell any sooner." She had said in the ancient language of the daemons. They intended to break it at first but they realised that if Will and Lyra met again, they would never do the work they had to do. So they had to make do with an hour each year, at least, just for the while.

The ancient language could transcend the worlds and was heard by the receiver crystal clear. They went with their humans and sat at the bench under the old tree. While the humans pretended talked to each other, Pan and Kirjava climbed the tree to the hollow in the trunk, speaking to each other in a way that humans had long forgotten.

They would relax into a calm concentration and then start to speak in the voice of old, explaining eagerly what they had done that past year and listening to the voice of their counterpart.

The language was musical and involved hard concentration to hold the bond. The more they tried the better they became, and soon, Pantalaimon and Kirjava were sneaking out more and more often to talk with their lover across the worlds.

Lyra knew this was not her first time doing this. Gyptians were defending their possessions against brutal Muscovites who were pillaging and looting all over the country. It was another scuffle that was escalating into a bloody battle. Lyra had always been the one to parley for peace. She, wrapped in her furs and her daemon safely by her, struggled through the harsh winds and snow to the boats. There was a chorus of yells in unintelligible language followed by the crash of swords. She hurried onward; she had to stop them from this once and for all.

Lyra was a well known figure in her world. At thirty-three, she was able to command most people's respect. She rushed to the first boat and with Pantalaimon safe on her shoulder; she swung up the rope at the side of the boat.

Lyra took stock of the situation. For sure this was one of the stupidest scuffles they had had for the past six months. They were arguing and shouting and clashing with fists and weapons, all rolled together in a hullabaloo of a fight. There were too many men to figure out what it is they were doing but she trusted in her reputation and in her firm, authoritative voice. This spanned all three long boats.

She spied the elderly Lord Faa, in a room off the deck, gesturing and loudly demanding something from the Muscovite general, Harvesh. She knew him from previous encounters and knew he was here again, to take the gyptians' stock of carp and garoupa they had fished for the past year. Harvesh's daemon Jinniva was locked in battle with the crow of John Faa.

She hooked her arm on the rope, trying to steady herself, and raised her voice to be heard over the din. All heads turned to the recognized lady, who passionately started,

"Why do you fight over these trivial matters? Did you not hear our pledge everyday, said in rousing voices and utmost conviction that everyone is a brother or sister in this land and no one will be hated by another as we all live in harmony? However, I know that these ideals mean less than nothing to you. You are blatantly showing that you are simply not worthy to live in this land. All of you, Gyptians and Muscovites, have never ceased this pointless battle and I have to jump in to save all your worthless lives. Maybe I should have let you go on fighting, but why not? Because I know that this place, this city, Oxford, is worth throwing myself into battles, to uphold the values we hold dear to us, in the hope that you may once and for all shake hands and be peaceful once more."

Her long and tiring speech took the fighters' breaths away. She held on to the rope, keeping her footing as she glared at them with a fiery passion in her eyes. Ma Costa had told her gyptians were water people. She knew the Muscovites were wind people and she herself was a fire person. Wind and water could put out a fire but if the fire was strong, it could withstand any amount of the two. Her eyes and her stance were full of that fire and she had shaken them out of their foolishness.

Lord Faa was out of the room already. He looked at her proudly through his aged eyes and smiled at her. The little girl had grown and matured into a beautiful lady. She made him proud to have known her personally. She smiled at him too before whisking down the rope and into the night.

Lyra walked home to Jordan College and instead of the normal stairs, she climbed up the tree next to it. After graduating from St. Sophia's School, she had taken her books, with her aleithiometer and settled back into the college she had grown up in.

She immediately went to her desk and opened the heavy manuscripts. She laboriously asked the question she asked every night. She interpreted the answer and smiled, Will and Kirjava were safe and happy, living with Mary Malone in her apartment, after she had gotten back her license, something Lyra did not know of.

She asked the aleithiometer. It explained to her that the license was like a permit to work as something. She nodded, understanding. She thought back to her dear, dear Will. She knew he was probably asleep or starting to doze off. She relived that short time of pure happiness. That would be treasured by her always.

Before she settled down into bed, she did what she had always done. She imagined a short conversation between Will and herself, ending with a goodnight. She faced the window and knew that Will Parry would be having the same beautiful full moon and starry sky. She grinned and slept.

A/N: Thanks for taking time out to read! Do review. I know how miserable it is to leave you all unknowing of what happens, I promise I will have the next chapter in tomorrow or the day after. As long as you all REVIEW! nah no need actually

A/N 2: To all you 6Kers, cheers for next year and PSLE IS OVER!!!!!!!