Chapter 1:
Prologue
AN: So, this is my first "Downton Abbey" fanfiction. I am absolutely crazy for the show, and I just had to write for it. I have to say, I think I'm quite knowledgeable on British and WWII stuff, but keep in mind I am not British, so some things may be slightly inaccurate. (But I research as much as I can, so hopefully nothings too farfetched.) Anyway, I've had this idea in my head for a while, and I thought I'd give it a go. Keep in mind, I don't like getting rid of characters. So, everyone from "Downton Abbey" is still here. (Including the Dowager Countess, because I just couldn't kill her off.) Well, I hope this isn't too horrible, and I hope you like it. This will contain some spoilers for Series 6, although it hasn't premiered in the U.S. yet, so some stuff I'm still not sure of. (Like, do Anna and Bates have a boy or a girl? I'd like to know.) I'll accept any ideas as long as they're appropriate, and I will give you credit if I use the idea. I hope you enjoy it! :)
-downtonabbey15
September, 1939
The sun rose shyly over the horizon, sending gentle rays across the hillsides of Yorkshire. (Literally the most cliché beginning, right? But I couldn't figure out another way to start it.) Animals and people alike slowly began their day. But in Downton Abbey, all was not as calm.
The downstairs servants' quarters were bustling as the cooks prepared breakfast and the servants attended to their duties. Elsie Carson sat at her desk, quickly reviewing the list of guests for an event Lady Grantham had planned when a knock sounded at the door.
She turned and had barely said, "Come in," when her husband Charles entered. He looked agitated, a trait that was unusual for him.
"Have you seen the papers this morning?" he asked her urgently.
"No. Why?"
"What do you mean 'invaded'?"
"Exactly what I just said," George Crawley answered. "Germany invaded Poland. It's in the paper." The 17-year-old dropped down on his sister's bed.
12-year-old Maggie Talbot turned in her chair where Anna was brushing her hair. "But, didn't we threaten war on them if they went through with it?" she asked confusedly.
"Well, apparently they've ignored that. They invaded two days ago."
Maggie sat back in the chair until Anna finished. Then she sat beside her brother, peering at the newspaper in his hands.
He pulled it from her, trying to hide the graphic image on the front that had more than a few bodies. "Don't look at the picture."
Maggie gave him a look. "I'm not five. Let me see."
George reluctantly surrendered the paper.
Maggie gazed over it, trying to ignore the gruesome photograph. However, she found her eyes continuously drawn to it.
George snatched it away. "See? That's why I didn't want you looking at it." He rose from the bed and exited the room, eager to go to breakfast and forget about the whole ordeal.
Maggie caught him on the stairs and had to walk quickly to keep up with him. "Does it mean we're at war now?" she asked quietly.
George stepped off the last step and turned to her, just as a voice behind them said, "Who's at war?"
Both children turned to see Henry descending the stairs behind them. He was still buttoning his jacket.
George swallowed. "I'm guessing you haven't seen the papers yet."
Henry met them at the bottom. "No." He took in their faces. "What's happened?"
George handed the paper to his stepfather. "Germany's invaded Poland. Two days ago."
Henry scanned the front cover of the newspaper, then folded it up. "The both of you go in for breakfast. I need to speak with your mother." He hurriedly ascended the stairs, while George and Maggie shared a look before heading towards the dining room.
"It doesn't make any sense," Robert said, placing his hand on the chair of library desk. "Why would Germany invade Poland if they knew we had threatened war? How could they think they'd get away with it?"
"Maybe they've got a bigger army than they wanted us to think," Tom suggested.
"But Hitler can't possibly believe that other countries will support him."
"Rumour (AN: See how I used the British spelling? :)) has it Russia's with them," Henry said, taking a seat on the sofa.
Robert turned to him. "Russia?" he asked in disbelief. "Our ally?"
Henry shook his head. "They're not our ally anymore. I read it a few weeks ago. They're on their side."
Robert brought his hand to his face. "Crikey, what a mess."
"If we go to war, does that mean I can enlist?"
Anna turned to her son. "No," she said firmly.
Bates set down his paper to look at his son. "William, you're barely fourteen. The army couldn't legally take you, even if you enlisted."
William sat back in his chair, leaning it so it rested against the wall of the servants' hall. "So? If things get bad enough, they'll need everyone they can get."
"Don't say that," Anna scolded. She sat down beside her husband with her cup of tea. "I hate all this talk of Germany. It makes me nervous."
"There's nothing to be nervous about," Bates said. "Hitler's harmless. He's all talk and no show."
"I wouldn't be so sure about that," Anna said under her breath.
Suddenly, footsteps pounded on the stairs, and Maggie appeared in the doorway. The group began to rise, but Maggie waved them off irritably. She had never truly cared about her rank, nor the social rules that governed the house. "William, Master George and I are going to the telegraph office to listen to the wireless. Do you want to come?"
William nodded. "Sure."
The two quickly headed up the stairs, and Anna turned to her husband.
"What was all that about?"
"His lordship said Winston Churchill's giving a speech this afternoon on Germany. Perhaps they want to listen."
Anna sighed. "So, by tonight the country will be in turmoil?"
Bates couldn't answer.
AN: So, I know that was horrible, but I wanted to get a prologue out there. Please review if you guys would like to see this story continued! I promise it will get better! :)
-downtonabbey 15
