DilaZirk – Well…I didn't take your advice and again I have stayed up much later than I should to post another chapter (don't you just love the weekend?)…though this is the first chapter that I'm actually pleased with…it's actually coming together now hooray! And it only took seven chapters…hmm…and thank you for your comment on the last chapter (high quality?) Thank you x

Chapter 7 – Resolution

"Lyra…Lyra…Lyra!"

Lyra snapped her head up. Lance and Peter were bagging their produce ready for Lyra to take to market. She was supposed to be helping them, but she was far too distracted to pay them any heed. Instead her gaze was constantly drawn to the mountain.

It had been two days since Nightmare had departed for Paris. The ship would have arrived by now, he was probably scouring the city for any news or sign of the mysterious Cervantes. Meanwhile Lyra was left behind, expected to resume normal life as though nothing had ever happened.

"Lyra, get a grip!" Peter snapped, thoroughly annoyed with the lax attitude his sister had adopted over the past few days. Usually she was a strong worker now she spent her days staring into the distance, the world could have ended and she wouldn't have noticed.

Lyra glared at them, Peter tutted and went back to his work. Lance was regarding her with the same odd expression he had been using since Nightmare had appeared in the barn. Slamming the bag she had attempted working on down, she stormed from the room, making her way to the back of the barn for solitude.

"She's been like this ever since her beloved soldier left," Peter snarled, paying no attention to his sister as she left. Lance let his eyes linger on the door she had used to leave, "Stupid child," Peter growled, "If she doesn't get her head together and take these bags to market we'll have no money for the week."

Lyra sat on a bale of hay, sobbing for the first time since Nightmare had departed. She hadn't realised just how much she was missing him, she felt as though she had lost a part of herself. She hadn't felt a loss like this since the passing of her father and it surprised her to know how keenly she felt that loss. She and Nightmare had only known each other a short time, but even that was enough to know…

"Lyra?" Lyra jumped, unaware that she had company in the barn. She wiped her tears hastily and tried to make herself look normal as little William clambered up onto the hay with her. "Are you alright?" he asked, timidly. Lyra nodded, trying not to speak or make eye contact for fear the tears would come again. "Why are you sad, Lyra?" The boy shifted closer to her and resting his head against her arm, "Is it because your soldier man left?"

Lyra nodded and buried her face in her hands as she felt the loss well up inside her again. William hugged her and he sniffed, seeing his sister so distraught made the boy start to feel emotional. Lyra wiped her face again, "I'm sorry, Will," she said, trying to regain some control over her emotions. William nodded, somehow sympathetic of something he was far too young to comprehend.

"Where did your soldier man person go?" he asked, innocently.

Lyra smirked at her brother's reference, he really was completely innocent of the world and of something so basic as love.

"He went far away," Lyra said, looking down on William with an affectionate smile. She put an arm around him and they rested against each other, "He went to a place called Paris."

"That's in France!" William piped up, showing off what little knowledge he had and how his education was no doubt paying off.

"That's right," Lyra smiled, nudging him playfully.

"Why did he go?" William wondered, "Didn't he love you?"

Lyra paused, "I don't know."

"Didn't you ask?" William looked up at her puzzled, "Do you love him?"

Again Lyra hesitated before nodding, "Yes, Will, I think I do."

A grin spread over William's angelic face, "Then you can go to Paris and find him and then you can ask him if he loves you and then you can get married."

"Will…" Lyra sighed, "It's not that easy, how could I get to Paris?"

Shrugging William turned away, "Don't ask me, I'm just a child." Lyra laughed and hugged her brother, "You're the one who makes friends with all the sailors and people." Lyra's smile couldn't have grown wider if she tried as dawning realisation crept up on her.

"Thank you Will," she said, kissing the top of his head, "Tell mummy I've gone to market…I might not be back for a long time."

William grinned up at her, "You're going to Paris?" he asked. Lyra kissed his forehead again and with a smile she swept from the barn, ready to pick up the bags Peter and Lance would have prepared for her to sell.

The market was bustling as it always was at this time of day. The traders were in port, scouring the stalls for any sign of something worth buying. Lyra's stall was usually the hub of activity with the softest wool that could be easily spun into the most luxurious fabrics. Much of Lyra's profit was made from selling the wool to the wealthiest traders who took it across the sea to exotic countries where it could be woven into fine dresses or tunics fit for royalty. Of course Lyra saw nothing of that money and she knew the traders bought her wool for a rip off price while selling it at costs only the richest could afford. Although some of the common people were willing to purchase her wares, but today she was turning them all down. Even the usual traders were sold nothing as Lyra kept her eyes darting through the crowds waiting for a particular face to appear.

"Lyra, my dear!" a voice called to her. Lyra turned to the captain who was making his way towards her, "You've made quite a number of enemies today! What's this I hear you're refusing to sell your wool?"

Lyra smiled as a short, sea captain dressed in his once perfect uniform but had grown slightly tattered from weather and age, stopped before her stall.

"My dear Captain Bouqois," Lyra said, grandly, turning to the merchant. "Yes, I've been turning away custom but for good reason," the captain looked intrigued by the glint that now appeared in her eye as she held her hand out over the table, "All for you," she announced. Some of the customers who had been eyeing her produce now turned away annoyed. Bouqois, however was startled and impressed,

"Lyra, my darling Lyra," he sighed, shaking his head, "You know I cannot pay you for all this."

"I know where it is you sell my wool, the Queen of France is quite fond of it I hear," Lyra smirked, bargaining with the trader. Bouqois sighed, heavily,

"You hear correctly, mademoiselle. But as you may have heard France is in uproar and unrest at the moment. The king and queen of France may be deposed by a revolution. My trade is going downhill fast."

"I will give you my wool for half the usual rate and a favour," Lyra interrupted, engaging the captain's interest.

"Half? You would give me all this for just a few coins?" Bouqois folded his arms and eyed the girl suspiciously. Lyra nodded,

"That's right."

"and this favour?" the captain asked, raising an eyebrow.

"You pay me in Francs and you give me passage to France," Lyra said firmly.

"Done." The captain said, immediately. For the wool he could sell, and the profit he could make, taking a peasant across to France would be little trouble, "But pray tell mademoiselle, what business do you have in France?"

"I go to Paris," Lyra told him. The captain cocked his head to the side thoughtfully, carefully considering her resolution.

"Paris is a way from the port I dock," Bouqois assured her. "Do you ride, Lyra?"

Lyra answered, uncertainly, "Of course I do."

Bouqois smiled, triumphantly, "Then I shall arrange for a horse to be readied for you and you can make your own way. The road is long…but I'm sure you can make it."

TBC