Disclaimer: I do not own anyone in the series by Phillip Pullman. By the way, in case you haven't noticed, he's a literary genius so let's give him a hand. Also, don't waste your time and mine trying to sue me because I have no money and this won't even get to district courts.
A few months prior, Will and Lyra had helped to destroy the Authority. However, they had learned that an angel named Metatron had taken over. He was defeated when Lyra's parents, Lord Asriel and Ms. Coulter sacrificed themselves to defeat Metatron.
After the defeat of the Authority and his Regent, Lyra and Will were faced with the most difficult decision of their lives: to keep a portal up for the undead so that when they died they could come back out to the living world, or to keep a portal open between theirs. Their decision was to keep their portal open. Also, they decided to keep the subtle knife whole.
Though they are together, the Church now refuses to believe that their Authority, the center of their beliefs, was gone. Now the Church believes that the Authority is in hiding, so they are on rampage trying to both locate their beloved Authority and kill who it was that did that to them.
It was a fine summer's day. Bright rays of sunlight fell upon two sleeping forms. One of the forms suddenly woke up to see Lyra beside her still asleep. He was slipping out of bed when Lyra, beside him, stirred.
"Why are you up?" asked Lyra.
"Yeah, we were having the best dream," Pan muttered. He changed from a pine marten, his regular form, into a polecat.
"I was just wondering; how do you think the Church is doing. I mean, they are supposedly in hiding but, still. I think they are up to something." answered Will. It was true that there was no information whatsoever about the Church lately.
"You're worrying your head off, Will," said Kirjava.
He's right, Lyra thought. Serafina Pekkla and her witches as well as Iorek Byrnison and his bears have had nothing on the Church. They have been on the lookout for the slightest sign of the Church but there was still nothing.
"Well why don't we go talk to Iorek and Serafina after breakfast," Lyra suggested.
"Good idea, Lyra," Will replied.
The two took turns changing in their bathroom. After changing, each sported a thick wool overcoat, a sweater, a shirt, and an under shirt.
The snow glistened like millions of small lights as the pair walked by with their daemons. The sun was bright in the sky.
"Gee, Will. This is such a romantic spot," Lyra delicately told Will as she leaned in and softly touched his lips with her own. Will returned the kiss passionately by leaning in himself, holding her in his arms and hugging her tight. The kiss lasted for several minutes as the pair enjoyed the taste of each other's breath. Finally, they stepped away from each other. They felt almost dizzy from the kiss.
"That was... enjoyable," Will said dreamily.
Lyra and Pan returned to reality and the latter whispered, "The Church is definitely up to something."
Will answered wordlessly with a nod, apparently in deep thought.
"Will! What are you thinking about! You're in, like, a trance!" Lyra asked nervously.
Will replied, "I know it's ridiculous, but I still worry about the Church." Lyra was about to reply when they walked into Serafina's camp. As they walked into the center of a ring of huts that were the witches' camp, were met by a witch. She had long blond hair. She was smiling sweetly with bright blue, twinkling eyes. The witch was somewhat short, wearing a simple black garment.
"How are you?" The witch asked. "My name is Flona Lepes."
"Hi! We're here to see Serafina and Iorek," Lyra replied.
"Right then, follow me," the witch said as she led them into the ring of small huts. She led them to the center hut. They entered to see Serafina and Ruta Skadi arguing furiously. They could see an intense red in their cheeks.
"Welcome Lyra, Will," Serafina said, regaining her composure.