A/N: Here is the second chapter! Please let me know your thoughts or if anyone has any questions! I'm trying to leave Eilis in an air of mystery for right now, but more will be revealed later. The first few chapters will be shorter and less detailed for this reason.


II

Goddess of the Moon

"Watch where you're aiming that thing!" Eilis scolded Carissa as the little girl carelessly released the arrow, sending it soaring over the stone fence surrounding their house. Eilis' eyes widened as the arrow disappeared beyond her vision. She heard a gasp and loud clatter from beyond the wall.

"Stay here," she ordered her younger sister as she took off running around the house and through the gate. She hurdled over the flowers and flew into the road. She saw a familiar man lying on the ground, his bike next to him, "Mr. Crawley, are you okay?" she asked as she ran to his side. She knelt beside him, placing her hand gently on his shoulder, "Did it hit you? Do I need to get you to the hospital?" Her hands roved over him, trying to find any indication of injury. There was no sign of blood and he didn't seem to be in any pain.

Matthew had just got off the train from Ripon and was headed back into the village. He noticed he always passed a peculiar home on his way back into the village and never realized it was Eilis' house.

"Did what hit me?" he asked her, his cheeks burning as her hands touched him all over. His eyes flickered up to meet hers as he attempted to pull himself up. Eilis held onto his elbow, guiding him as he stood. He dusted his trousers off to look at her, "What are you talking about?" He asked recognizing her appearance for the first time since she approached him. Her long hair was braided and fell over her shoulder, auburn hues pulling through from the sunlight. She wore a loose white-buttoned blouse tucked into high-waist black trousers, which were tucked into boots. Her dark plum colored coat was similar to a riding coat and was left open. From the neck to her waist she was dressed rather normal; however, the rest of her was unconventional.

"The arrow," she glanced down at his bike, looking at the arrow sticking from his tire, "Oh, that was so close," she said, kneeling down to yank the arrow from his bike to present it to him.

Matthew took the arrow from her hand and stared at it with wide eyes, "Well, that was a rather close one," he huffed, his eyes shifting to her fence, "Where you shooting a bow?" He queried with an amused smile on his face.

"No, Carissa was, I was teaching her," she shrugged, "attempting to at least."

A smirk formed across his face, "Are you sure it was her, or are you trying to cover up for your bad aim?" He asked with mirth in his eyes.

Eilis took note to his sly grin and planted her hands on her hips, "I'm a perfect shot, thank you very much," she retorted, her eyes glaring at him playfully.

Matthew's brows rose as he regarded her with an amused smile, "Well, I suppose I'll have to witness this perfect shot for myself."

"Very well, follow me." She said, turning on her heel to lead him to their yard. He lifted his bike, rolling it behind her as he followed her. He propped it against the wall before entering the gate behind her. They rounded the corner to see Carissa standing there holding the bow to her chest with watery eyes.

"I'm so sorry!" she cried, her lower lip trembling, "Did I kill someone?" Her small hands shook as she squeezed the bow tightly and took a few timid steps toward them. Matthew felt for the child as her bright eyes raked over his form, making sure he was unharmed.

Eilis snorted, "No, you didn't kill anyone. Just knocked Mr. Crawley off his bike. Or perhaps he already fell off his bike because he doesn't know how to ride it and coincidently, the arrow happened to hit it?" She threw him a side-glance, an impish grin spreading across her lips.

Matthew knew she was teasing him with her insult and just let it go with an airy chuckle, "Show me your skills then," he gestured toward the target, "You speak as if you are an excellent marksman like William Tell."

"I'd prefer a comparison to Artemis the Huntress," she told him, taking the bow from her sister and slinging the quiver of arrows over her back.

"Are you comparing yourself to a goddess?" He asked her, watching as she armed herself. It was an odd thing to see indeed. A woman with a set of arrows strapped to her back, and a bow in hand as if she was a fearsome warrior. His eyes drifted to her trousers, the tightness of them alarming. He could see every curve of her hips and thighs, something a man shouldn't see until he was married.

"We'll just have to see," she ignored his gesture toward the target and looked to her sister, "Carissa, go to the kitchens and retrieve an apple,"

"An apple?" Matthew asked, looking at her curiously.

"Yes, so you can hold it up on your head while I shoot it," she flashed him a wicked grin, her lilac eyes glimmering in mischief. She watched as Matthew's eyes widened and he let out an uneasy chuckle.

"I don't think-" He began.

"Okay!" Carissa agreed, cutting him off as she turned quickly to run inside the house. Matthew's gaze followed the young girl as she skipped inside. His head whipped around to look at Eilis who was looking at him like the cat that ate the canary.

"You know I'm teasing you, Mr. Crawley." She assured him, looking over him fondly. He studied her, his heart beginning to thump fast in his chest and he swallowed nervously under her avid gaze. A moment later Carissa came running out of the house, holding an apple up in the air as she scurried across the yard. Matthew's gaze was torn from Eilis upon her arrival, and he couldn't say he was disappointed. The woman unsettled and excited him simultaneously, and he hated the feeling it left in the pit of his chest.

Matthew watched as Carissa placed the apple on a tree stump before running to stand safely behind her sister. He heard a purring sound and turned to see the black cat sitting upon the fence, staring at him once again. He caught yet another chill under the cat's intense scrutiny, "I don't think your cat particularly likes me." He said.

Eilis readied her bow; her feet planted apart and pulled an arrow from her quiver. She rested the arrow against the bow before lifting it up and drawing the string back to her mouth, "That's an odd thing to say," she told him, before throwing her cat a side-glance and glaring at him. The cat let out a loud meow, before stooping low and jumping from the fence. It pattered across the grass and disappeared around the corner. Eilis huffed as her cat left and blew a few strands of stray-away hairs from her face.

Matthew ignored the cat, feeling silly for saying anything at all. His attention was drawn back to Eilis as she aimed for the apple on the log. He watched with curiosity, looking between her and the apple. She was concentrating with a fire in her eyes as her lips blew from inhaling and exhaling. She released the arrow, and it soared across the yard and hit the apple directly in the middle. He his bright blue eyes widened as the apple exploded into pieces.

She smirked, her shoulders squaring proudly as she turned to regard him with a triumphed smirk, "And you were saying?" She narrowed here yes at him.

"My apologies, I suppose you are to be compared to Artemis, and rightfully so." A movement caught his attention, and his gaze shifted to the window. A woman stood in the window with long dark hair cascading down her shoulders. She appeared older than Eilis, but she was still young in appearance. Her gaze landed upon him, and she regarded him with a solemn expression. She turned from the window, closing the curtain as she did so.

"My mother." Eilis began in a soft voice, forcing his gaze on her again. Matthew didn't say anything; he just gave a small smile in return. Her mother seemed a bit young to have a daughter Eilis' age, and then he remembered what the Dowager said about Eilis' parents and their lack of aging. He thought she was exaggerating, but there was something abnormal about her appearance.

"So, how are you getting on at Downton?" Eilis queried to divert the conversation elsewhere. She glanced him and then the target she began reshooting her bow, this time casually hitting the target, not needing to prove anything to him.

"Alright, I suppose," he answered. The truth was it was a bit frustrating. He hated the fact that he had to have a valet. It was absurd having another man dress him when he could clearly do it himself. The worst part was he couldn't help but feel like he was expected to marry their eldest daughter Mary. Matthew was drawn to Mary, that was true, but she seemed to despise him. Despite his interest in her, he couldn't help but feel more of a pull toward Eilis Ravenwood. The girl intrigued him, and he found himself nervous and excited every time he saw her.

"Are you going to marry one of the daughters?" Carissa asked, "Do you like them?" she pressed on.

Eilis threw her sister a scolding glare before addressing Matthew, "You don't have to answer that, Mr. Crawley, I'm sorry for my sisters—" she eyed her sister again, "rudeness."

"I was only asking a question!" Carissa defended, crossing her arms in a pout.

Eilis knew there wasn't really any harm in her sister's curiosity. She too wanted to know what he thought of them. But she was too polite to ask such a question, or perhaps a little too afraid to hear what he had to say.

"It's quite alright, besides, I don't know if they like me very much, especially Lady Mary. Then again I don't blame her. I'm a complete stranger to her, and for some reason, I get to inherit everything she's ever known."

"Yes, well I think I'd be mad about that too." Eilis agreed as she released another arrow, sending it flying straight into the bull's eye, "Luckily everything my father has he owns and he doesn't have to answer to anyone. After he dies, I'll inherit whether they like it or not." She smiled at him, lowering her bow and turning to face him, "But you shouldn't be too hard on yourself, it'll get better just you wait and see, Mr. Crawley."

Matthew's heart grew warm when she turned to give him that smile. He returned the gesture, watching as her lilac eyes lit up and her cheeks flushed. Brown strands of hair fell in her face, complementing her short wispy bangs. "Please, call me Matthew." He insisted.

"Alright then, Matthew."

He liked the way his name sounded coming from her lips. He couldn't help but want to know more about her. She was fascinating, but there was part of him that was left anxious in her presence. Something in his gut told him that there was more to her than met the eye, Eilis Ravenwood had a secret, and he wanted more than anything to discover it.