"There may be a way to return to your land using the Bythdrwg's blood," Matthew said. "I will admit my mother did research on some of the more powerful reversal attributes of the blood, but I cannot be sure if ingesting it will send you back to your home."
"I suppose there's only one was to find out," Sybil said.
"But are you absolutely sure you want to go back?" Mary asked her. "Only this morning you righted many wrongs – most of them my own."
"Yes, I know that," Sybil said. Just as she was to open her mouth again, Tom stepped forward, closer to where Matthew and Mary were standing.
"If Sybil wishes to leave, then who are we to stop her," he said. "She's been through a lot. She's slain the Bythdrwg, and her reward shall be granting her wish without question."
The crowd surrounding them went very still with shock. Many had gone tense upon hearing Sybil's request to return home. Gwen was standing behind Sybil with her tail hanging limply between her legs. Even O'Brien and Thomas looked somewhat dismayed.
Matthew gave Sybil a concerned look. "If that is truly what you wish, I feel it is against my duty to impede you. But much has changed for the better since you arrived here. We could breath new life into this kingdom with you on our side. This land has needed a woman like you for a long time."
"And there is a wedding to attend," Mary added.
Sybil nodded. "I know all that. I wish I could stay here forever and help all of you. And I understand if I sound utterly selfish, but the only thing I've wanted since I came here is to go home."
"It's not selfish at all," Mary said. "It's a noble thing. More importantly, it is a brave thing to return to the people you love."
"Funny that you have picked up on that only now," Matthew muttered.
"Well, that is exactly why I'm returning," Sybil said. "Despite how they treat me, I still love them, and I want to show them that I won't change who I am just because they tell me to. If there's one thing I learned while being here, it's that I can do anything. And that food can be terribly unpredictable."
The congregation laughed. Sybil added, "Besides, you have Tom. You'll do well in rebuilding the towns with him."
Tom looked suddenly bashful.
"I agree," Matthew said. "I think we will be alright in your absence. But we will miss you."
Somewhere in the crowd, there was a pathetic mewling sound. Sybil heard O'Brien's rough speaking voice echo off the walls of the great hall.
"Oh 'eck, Thomas, you're sniveling like a child!"
"I don't know why I'm crying," Thomas whimpered, letting out a mewl. "But I just don't want her to leave."
Quick as he could, the cat levitated towards Sybil and practically stuck his claws in her shoulders. He continued making the wretched cat noises as Sybil cried, "Ow! Thomas, get off me!"
Thomas drew back. "I'm sorry, m'lady. It's just ... you've been such a good friend to me, I hate hearing how you want to leave."
"Oh, Thomas, I've hardly done anything," Sybil said.
"You've talked to me more kindly than anyone I know," Thomas admitted. "You're such a good friend." He meowed again as he leapt at Sybil.
"Barrow, I think you've torn Sybil's dress quite enough," Tom said, successfully pulling the cat away from Sybil.
Gwen came forward, and let out a whimper. Sybil rubbed her behind the ears. "Don't worry too much about me, Gwen. I'll be absolutely fine."
"I know you will. But Thomas is right – you are such a good friend," Gwen sighed.
As everyone began to settle down again (Thomas floated around the room uttering feline sounds every few seconds), Matthew brought forward a small vial containing what Sybil knew to be some of the Bythdrwg's blood.
"This will be enough to get you back home, I believe," he said. "Just think of home, and you will return."
Sybil took the vial in her hand and unstoppered it. The smell of the blood ... strangely, it smelled like the patch of forest that she had run into when she escaped the garden party.
Just think of home ...
She looked around the room. There was Anna, smiling gently, standing next to a now human Bates (but still with the walking stick), William and Gwen, tiny Daisy and Mr. Carson sitting on Mrs. Hughes' back, O'Brien and Moseley, the many members of each court, Mary and Matthew — and of course, Tom.
"Thank you all so much for helping me," Sybil said to the crowd. "I won't forget any of you, I promise."
There was a small murmur from everyone as they heard her. She turned to Tom, who was looking at her as if he'd never see her again.
"Please don't cry, Tom," Sybil said. "Who knows? Maybe I will find a way back here."
"If you do, come and visit me," Tom said, giving a smile.
"I will," Sybil promised. "When I see you, I'll come running."
They brought their heads close, and they shared one final, tear-streaked kiss.
As Sybil brought the vial closer to her mouth, the smell of the forest became stronger, until she could have very well been standing there. The blood of the Bythdrwg was warm, and it tasted almost like a cup of tea.
She swallowed the fluid in one single gulp, and a strange feeling radiated within her. All around her, the world and all of the people and creatures seemed to disappear into mist, like a dream dissolving just before waking up. She looked up at Tom as he watched her, and she realized it was she who was disappearing.
Suddenly, though it was too late, she wondered if she should have stayed, or if she should have brought Tom along with her. As their realities separated, she began to feel empty and ill, like it was against nature to be apart from him. But in her heart she knew that this was the only way the story could end. And it was not the end of her life. She might be able to see him again. Maybe, if she waited long enough, he'd return to her side, and they would be able to share another day together.
Above her head, there was a brilliant glow, like sunlight on a temperate day, and she reached upwards towards it.
Sybil grunted as her skirt snagged onto part of a root as she pulled herself out of the hole. Back to the long dresses, she thought. She tumbled out of the hole by the large tree and breathed heavily. She felt dizzy, and she looked at the slowly drifting clouds as she began to regain stability in her mind.
She felt as if she had just woken from a dream with a start, like when in a nightmare she was pushed or hit by something. It felt wrong, but also right – she was in her world. But already the Wonderland was beginning to slip away, just like a dream.
Had it been a dream?
It all felt real, like a memory, but a memory that had happened decades ago. Why did it feel like years and years had passed when she had only just come back?
Sybil lay in the grass, her eyes closed, her mind grasping for a thread of memory. She imagined she was still in the Wonderland, with the strange creatures, and beautiful land, the friends she had made, and the one she had fallen in love with.
It was all still there. Safe in her heart.
She opened her eyes, and blinked as the high sun blinded her briefly. Slowly, she got back on her feet, smoothed out her skirt, and started walking back through the forest, listening for the soft murmur where the garden party was surely still being held.
They were all still there. Larry Grey was still standing by the rose trellis where he had proposed to her. The crowd of people were whispering among themselves, confused and shocked at what Sybil had done. Perhaps it had only been a little while since she ran off. She walked towards the rose trellis, and suddenly the gathering drew in a large breath. Sybil's mother ran forward, as did Mary and Larry Grey.
"Sybil! Where have you been?" Her mother said breathlessly. "Where on earth did you run off to?"
"I'm sorry, Mama," Sybil apologized. "I must have fallen asleep. How long have I been?"
"It's been twenty minutes," Mary said, sounding much like a governess. After seeing the Wonderland-Mary, it was so odd seeing this Mary again. She looked much too normal, and she was still sour.
"You left me standing without an answer," Larry Grey hissed.
Sybil drew herself up as tall as she could in front of Larry, and she spoke loud enough for all the guests to hear. She wasn't afraid to speak up now. It did not matter anymore what Mary or Larry or anybody else said.
"I have an answer for you. I will not marry you," she said.
From the crowd came an audible gasp, then fervent whispers.
"Lady Sybil, if you think — !" Larry began, nearly foaming at the mouth.
"I don't think, I am saying that I will not marry you. And nobody can make me do so. I will choose how I live my life," Sybil said. "And I'm very sorry Larry, but I'm not the right girl for you anyway. I know you don't like girls who speak up for themselves."
She turned away from Larry. Mary's face became very, very red – practically the same shade as the hair of her doppelgänger.
"You can't!" she fumed.
"Oh, Mary, stay calm before you whack somebody's head off," Sybil said, grinning slyly. Mary looked as if Sybil had just spat out several disgusting swear words.
"When did you suddenly start acting so stupidly?" Mary snapped.
"Let me think," Sybil said, pretending to ponder. "I suppose I've always been a bit stupid. And perhaps recently I've decided to be even worse and be who I am. You could try the same thing, once in a while."
Mary seemed so taken aback, for once, she had nothing to say back. Sybil half assumed she would suddenly yell, "Off with her head!" She stole a sideways glance at Matthew, who was just as stunned as everybody else, but though it might have been just her imagination, she thought she could see a speck of approval in his eye.
Sybil then came closer to Edith. "What I said to Mary, about being who you are, I think you should take that advice too. You shouldn't be afraid of what people think."
Edith might have been talking to a mental patient when she said, "Are you hurt Sybil? Did you hit your head somewhere?"
"No, I'm absolutely fine. In fact, I'm better than fine. I feel like I could slay a dragon!" Sybil beamed. Edith tried desperately not to let anyone else see her laugh.
"I don't care if you think I'm odd. I've seen many more curiouser things where I've been. But if there is one thing I learned – actually there are many things I've learned. But the most important thing I've learned is that nothing can stop me!"
The crowd parted as Sybil walked triumphantly back towards the house. She had a smile on her face that no one could frown at.
A few days later ...
"M'lord, the new chauffeur has arrived," Carson announced during breakfast.
"This early?" Papa asked. "Good lord, I did not expect him so soon. Never mind that, why don't you show him into the library? I'll be there in a few minutes."
"New chauffeur?" Sybil asked.
"Don't you remember? The one that's come to replace old Taylor?" Mary said with slight annoyance. She had been little better than tetchy towards Sybil since the garden party, but Sybil merely attributed it to jealousy that a scene had been created with Sybil in the spotlight.
"He's from Dublin, if I recall correctly," Papa said, folding his newspaper closed.
"He's Irish?" Sybil's ears perked up, oddly enough.
"He is. His recommender said he's rather ... political, I think was the word. But I think I'll see about that." Papa stood up and was about to leave the breakfast room.
"Wait, Papa. What's his name?" Sybil asked earnestly.
"Branson, I believe. Tom Branson."
Sybil sprang from her seat as if she were on fire. She stared at Papa for a few silent seconds, then left the room without so much as a backwards glance.
She ran.
And that's a wrap!
Thank you, all of you, for sticking with me for this crazy long year, your patience for updates and for your lovely reviews. I hope you enjoyed this fic, so please do not forget to keep a look out for others coming for yours truly.
Special thanks to shanarose , Syblime, and Jenwren for reading and reviewing this fic. Also, another nod towards Yankee Countess for informing me about a really embarrassing spelling error! It really made this fic better, so thank you.
And for those who would request a sequel: there are no promises, no guarantees. Perhaps there will be a one-shot, but we shall see.