Disclaimer: I don't own any of the original characters. The only people I own are David and Lydia.
Anyway, on with the story, hope you didn't mind me being boring and thanks again to my darling reviewer who always replies to my thanks e-mails. YAY!
Chapter six; Keep MovingIn this world we find ourselves constantly moving…on and on from place to place, never finding time to stop. I look and I see love pass us by like this. We, as a people, move from one lover to the next, not noticing and letting it slip by when the person who truly loves us comes a knocking. Is this the answer? Should we really keep moving?
Lyra's world
"Lyra, there you are. We were getting worried about you!" the voice called out, and Lyra ran over to her good friend and hugged him tightly.
"You never missed me, you're just saying that to be sweet! But I missed you too Billy. It's been how long now?"
"About a year and a half, since you last came and stayed with us and I saw you briefly, before that dust knows how long." Lyra smiled at him.
"You're still changing any mention of God to Dust now then?"
"Yep! I mean, if there's no god then I'd prefer to worship the one thing in this universe what doesn't tell lies."
"Thanks Billy, that's so sweet, but you shouldn't worship me. I'm not worth all that." Billy pucked her arm gently.
"Who said I was worshipping you huh? Unless my memory has totally messed up on me you never used to be so truthful. You didn't even tell the truth on Bolvanger when you changed your name. Remember?" Lyra grinned sheepishly.
"Yea, well. I'd prefer if we didn't talk about that place. I still can't forget that kid, what was his name, who lost his daemon."
"Tony?"
"Yea, and Roger. I'll never forget Roger. I miss him so much."
"I know." Billy sighed. "The world is a lot worse place since Roger died. I think we all miss him, but I'm sure you miss him the most. You two were like brother and sister; it must have killed you when he died. I just wish I knew the truth about the whole thing."
"No, you don't. The truth is too horrible to think about, but I'm still alive. I just want to know how all the little urchins know about it."
"Oh, come on Lyra. News gets around, and these are Oxford urchins. As far as we know what they heard could just be the roomers of the street!"
"I know." Lyra grinned at her friend again, and looked up as she heard Billy's mother calling them.
"Come on Lyra, Billy. I thought you two have more sense than to sit around with the tide rushing out!" she yelled from the boat, and both Billy and Lyra turned round and ran up onto the deck.
"Come on Lyra! Lay a hand!" Billy's big brother John called, and Lyra happily set to work with the sails, checking that everything was working properly so they could set out along the river and eventually to the land of the Gyptians.
"So why exactly are you coming with us today?" John asked a few hours later. He was the only of Billy's brothers to stay on in their mother's boat, and she respected him for that.
"I'm just getting out of Oxford, I don't know what's coming next. I spoke to Dame Hannah this morning before I left and she says that Serifina and Iorick will be waiting for me. I can hardly wait to see them again, the past three years have been so long!"
"That Dame Hannah is a good one." Ma Costa joined in. "You couldn't have landed a better teacher than her. John Faa's after saying on numerous occasions that he couldn't have wished for a better teacher for you, minus himself of course."
"Naturally! That man might be a genius but he pulls it over too much. As far as I'm concerned the only one of us even nearly good enough to be her teacher would be Farder Coram, and everyone knows the only thing he's bothered with now is Lyra and her destiny." John turned to her. "Lyra, I don't know have they told you yet, but there's another part of your destiny to come. Serifina Peccala came to us before we came up to Oxford this time; she said that the final part of your destiny is starting soon. She wouldn't tell us what it would involve."
Lyra smiled awkwardly. "I know what it involves. I'm not sure if it's a good thing or not yet, but I'm going to do it because it's part of my destiny. Me and Will both have a part in this, and by the end of it we will hopefully be reunited."
"You're sure about this?" Billy asked, his voice filled with concern. "It might not be a completely sound plan. I mean, I know the angels are your friends, but are they really completely trustworthy? Don't forget that they were once in league with Metron!"
"I haven't forgotten, but I just can't help remembering Balthemos and his brother. They were true angels and if there was more like them then I would have no quavers in trusting them." She reached up and pulled on a rope above her head, directing the riverboat down one of the narrow canals and on towards the land of the Gyptians and the Dahl where she knew John Faa and Farder Coram would be waiting for her.
Will's World
"You're ready then Will?"
"Yes."
"Are you sure this is what you really want to do. No-body will think any worse for you if you change your mind, it's your life after all."
"I know, but I want to do this. This is as much for Lyra as for me."
"I understand. You and Lyra had a special little connection." She turned round as a voice called behind them.
"Will, Wait! We need to talk!" he turned slowly on the spot and watched as Lydia drew closer along the street.
"What do you want?" he asked, barely hiding the anger in his voice. "I thought I told you everything? Don't you get it huh, I want to get out of this place and be alone. I can't cope with it anymore, I need to find Lyra."
"So what's she doing with you." Lydia hissed, her voice seething with anger. "Don't try and fool me, Will Parry. I know what you're like, but why you just didn't tell me you had a thing going with Miss Malone here I don't know!"
"Lydia, I don't have a thing with Mary. She's old enough to be my mother for fks sake. No offence Mary."
"Oh for gods sake Will. Grow up Will you. It's over, don't you get it! Your lies are finished!"
"Yea, I know it's over Lyd. That's what I've been trying to tell you. I've got to go and find Lyra, now there's a chance for me to see her again!"
"Why bother! She's your ex, can't you see that? She's your fking ex Will, your ex!"
"Look Lydia. There's things can't be changed. Lyra and me still love each other. We promised we always would, the only reason we split up was because we live too far away from each other! Her and Pan are our lives!"
"What is with you? Half the time you speak about yourself as if you're a plural, like there's more than one of you, and now you start going on about a pan your ex-girlfriend keeps as a pet! I don't know, but I'm starting to think it's not only Will Parry needs to go into the crazy house!"
"OH GEE, THANKS LYDIA YOU MESSED UP FKING BCH!" Will screamed at her. "I'LL TELL YOU ONE THING! LYRA SILVERTONGUE CARED ABOUT ME MORE THAN YOU EVER COULD OR EVER WILL!" with that he turned round and stormed off, ignoring the threats and curses Lydia screamed after him, until as a final attempt to get his attention she screamed out
"I USED TO LOVE YOU WILLIAM PARRY, WHY I DID I DON'T KNOW. I DON'T KNOW WHAT MADE ME LOVE YOU BUT WHAT EVER IT IS I WAS WRONG!" That was the final straw for Will who turned round, against the better judgement of Kirjava, and spoke gently to her, a tear in his voice.
"I know, Lydia, but I'm sorry, I could never love you back. You don't understand the meaning of the word love, not properly anyway. Love is shared between two people. You've never been kissed beneath the golden leafed trees in another world, that's what makes real love Lydia, not simple childish feelings." With that he did turn round, and left her on her own, ignoring the tears and moans of a girl he once thought he could love.
This is chapter six, so please review it and I'll have the next chapter up on Monday if you do…having them all on a computer ready to do a quick edit and post. And the name of the review was Ray Veracious or something like that. I'm sorry if I insult you, but that's not what it comes up with on your mails and it's them I pay attention to really. Love and peace, Stargazing Maiden.