A/N: Hey guys! I'm back and I'm so sorry for the long wait for this next chapter. I've been writing it on paper for weeks but never typed it up because I'm a massive procrastinator. But it's my birthday tomorrow so I thought I'd better do it. Also, thank you so much to everyone who reviewed! They made my day!
Chapter 2
"Where are we going?" Ashildr asked, lounging against the console and probably pressing a whole manner of buttons she wasn't meant to press. Clara fiddled with the hem of her skirt as she flipped the levers to program their TARDIS. There was a sad look in her eyes that came from her encounter with the Doctor but she still managed to flash Ashildr a grin.
"Not telling."
"Why not? You know I hate surprises," she complained.
"Trust me, you're going to love it. Now, get off the console else you'll mess up our co-ordinates." Clara winked at her before turning away. Ashildr pushed off from where she was leaning and followed her, begging to know where they were headed. Clara, however, kept annoyingly tight-lipped about it, and so she was forced to suffer.
"Come here," Clara called to her. Ashildr looked over and saw she was holding a strip of material in her hands and had a mischievous look on her face.
"Oh, no. I am not having that thing over my eyes. I don't care how big this surprise is. I refuse."
"Come on, Ash." Clara gazed at her with those huge puppy dog eyes and Ashildr felt her heart melt. Before she thought to stop herself, she walked over to Clara and let her tie the material round her head. "Alright, hold onto my jacket and follow me."
They started walking and, almost immediately, Ashildr tripped over a loose wire on the floor. She was still holding onto Clara when she fell, so she got dragged down too. They landed in a heap, Clara giggling uncontrollably.
"Stop laughing and help me up!" Ashildr grumbled.
"Just a second," Clara wheezed, before breaking out in laughter again.
"Fine, I'll do it myself." Ash tried to blindly grab at something to pull herself up, but her hand slipped and she fell hard again, causing Clara to laugh harder.
After a good five minutes that consisted mostly of Ashildr's moaning and Clara's uncontrollable mirth, the pair finally managed to untangle themselves and successfully make it out the TARDIS. Clara reached up and untied Ash's blindfold. She blinked in the bright light until her eyes adjusted and looked across the valley. Smoke rose in the distance and the sounds of a village drifted across to them. The place seemed strangely familiar and even the air she breathed felt different. Yes, she knew this place. She knew it... but didn't. Memories of a long ago childhood came rushing back, only to immediately fade again, like breath on a mirror.
"Where are we?" she asked, wincing as Clara's happy grin disappeared.
"You really don't remember?"
Ashildr mournfully shook her head. "I remember... happiness. It was peaceful here."
Clara nodded. "You loved this village."
"I know. I can feel it. I remember feelings, emotions, but nothing else. Except... No, it doesn't matter."
"Tell me. Please." Clara did the eyes again and Ashildr relented. She really needed to work on that.
"There was this one girl. Her name was Helen, and she was the only person, besides my father of course, who treated me like a normal human being. Everyone else just ignored me, or called me mad."
"What did she look like?"
Ashildr frowned, as if straining to remember. "She had dark hair that looked like silk when it hung loose - although she rarely wore it that way, normally it was in two braids coiled on top of her head. She had bright green eyes the colour of emeralds and a kind face." She broke off, flushed. "I- I'm sorry. You don't need to know all this."
"No, I really want to know," Clara said earnestly. "Besides, there's someone here to see you."
Ashildr turned sharply and her breath caught in her throat. Someone, someone who looked just like Helen, was standing a few yards away, staring at her. Ashildr spun to look at Clara, who nodded encouragingly, and sprinted towards her old friend. The two embraced fiercely and clasped each other's hands, talking rapidly.
"Ash!" Helen exclaimed. "We thought you were dead! It's been so long, yet you haven't aged a day! What happened to you, my friend?"
"It's a long story, Helen. Do you have a place where we can tell it?"
Helen's home was small and cosy. The three of them sat on low stools around the fire with bowls of hot broth clasped between their fingers. They spoke in hushed voices late into the night about what they had been up to. At first Helen didn't believe Ashildr's tale of aliens, thievery and a time travelling 1950s diner, but she eventually came round.
"Your life sounds so exciting, Ash," she sighed. "I wish I had done half of what you have."
Ashildr shook her head. "No, you really don't."
"Well, the village hasn't been the same since you left. It's so boring without you around."
"I'm sure many of the villagers don't share your opinion," Ashildr laughed.
Helen chuckled. "No, I suppose you're right." She yawned and stretched. "Will you stay the night? Please?"
Ashildr looked pleadingly at Clara; this time she was the one to utilise the puppy dog eyes. Clara laughed and nodded. "We'd love to."
A/N: I think that's a decent place to end it. I'll try and update soon, definitely faster than this time. I hope you enjoyed this, and please review! Bye!
