Chapter 5: Two Plans, With Much Unsaid

"I can't stand that putrid smell…these people have actually put out more offerings!" Darcy grumbled. He and Bingley had been offered food in the hall that they had gathered in the first evening; now it was empty. Darcy had closed all the doors and windows and the stench still seeped in. He had fast lost his appetite, and now just stared at the barely-touched food.

"You should eat something," Bingley said, though his own plate was mostly uneaten.

"We should go speak to Mr. Gardiner," Darcy said. "While I have little expectation of it, I am still hoping that the morning has brought a calming of ideas and things may yet turn out for the better."

"I doubt it," Bingley stated. "I walked by the Bennet house once more before I came; I had to ask that tall girl – Charlotte? – to move Lydia through the back to a different location. The situation out front was destined for trouble."

"That Collins fellow – some spiritual preacher – is their cousin it seems. Their own kin. I heard him declare that it was a bite in the square as well," Darcy said. "He was suggesting some terrible deeds."

"This will mean, unfortunately, that we will likely have to abandon the search for Wickham," Bingley commented.

Darcy sighed. "For now, yes. We're already behind on our actual undertaking."

"Are you still angry with her?"

Darcy ignored the question. "Are you done with your food?"

"For not remembering?" Bingley pressed, in turn ignoring Darcy. "Everyone here seems deficient in memory, quite badly so. Perhaps…your harshness was not called for."

"I have the pleasure of not understanding you," Darcy finally said, even as he full well comprehended Bingley's meaning.

"Of course you do," Bingley retorted. "I am speaking of Miss Elizabeth; surely you are not going to be so simple with me? I think you should speak to her."

"We all of us are born alone, and will die alone. In the meanwhile Charles, we are faced with some very, very serious problems. Is it possible for you to focus on the matter hand?"

"I was just trying to find solutions to all our problems," Bingley replied.

"Memory loss in some is not an issue I consider to be a problem for me," Darcy said haughtily, "and if it isn't a personal problem for you, I suggest you put it out of your mind."

He went to open a window, and examined the street ahead. Fact of the matter was that Bingley was correct in that Darcy was angry with Elizabeth. While he normally would never have spoken to Bingley about an experience so personal, the situation with Lydia had compelled Darcy to. He had thought at the time that it would be wrong to go into combat while hiding something possibly critical from his comrade and friend, and it seemed that his instinct had been correct. The situation with Lydia required that Bingley knew everything, no matter how personal or seemingly irrelevant.

What Darcy had not told Bingley was that his anger was a result of a different emotion; he was hurt. He was hurt that he had not been remembered, had not mattered enough, and…Darcy shook his head. What was important now was that he kept his emotions in check and dealt with the dangerous situation they found themselves in, not get carried away with what could have been.

"Come, Charles, we have to find Mr. Gardiner."

The two of them hurried outside; they had not gone far when they spotted the contrasting figures of Elizabeth and Jane standing ahead of them in the street, heads close together in discussion with Mr. Gardiner.

As Darcy and Bingley approached, Mr. Gardiner smiled at them. "I was just on my way to see you both; please step into my home."

Darcy noted that Elizabeth and Jane followed them inside.

"If you both will give me a moment; let me go fetch my wife. I think it wise that she be part of our discussion."

Darcy stared steadfastly at a spot on Mr. Gardiner's wall. He could feel Elizabeth's look bore into him, but he chose to find the spot on the wall more interesting.

Jane cleared her throat, and smiled self-consciously. "My sister and I are honoured to meet men of such courage, generosity, and skill. Your deeds last night were remarkable. We apologise for not thanking you properly – or at all – before now."

Darcy thought that she seemed almost painfully shy, and perhaps had rehearsed outside before speaking to them.

"Our deeds were nothing extraordinary, ma'am, no more than our skills." Bingley said gently, and Darcy could hear the smile in his friend's voice. "We had good fortune last night, and besides, it is always better in these situations to have a brave comrade by one's side."

"You speak our language well, sir," Elizabeth said, and Darcy was forced to look at her.

Fortunately, Bingley responded. "Indeed, yes. We would make rather poor warriors if we spoke just our tongue."

"You speak with such ease, though, like locals."

Bingley looked at him, and Darcy appreciated that his friend would never share anything without Darcy's agreement. He also realised that Elizabeth would not be satisfied with their standard responses, and he thought bitterly that it did not matter what he said, given her utter lack of remembrance.

"Bingley is Saxon through and through. And I suppose for what it matters, my blood is Saxon as well. But my grandmother was a Briton, so my mother spoke Brittonic as it was one of her native tongues. Thus we both learnt to speak your tongue alongside our own." Now Darcy looked straight at Elizabeth, wondering how much he could prod. "But you both speak Saxon so well, in a manner much unlike the Britons here. Can it be your native country is to the west?"

"We're from this village, sir."

"Yet perhaps in distant days you lived further west?"

"As I say, sir, we're from right here," Elizabeth said stiffly.

Darcy rubbed his chin in contemplation, but let the topic drop. It was useless. If Elizabeth didn't remember her own village, there was no hope that she could ever remember him. Bingley was right that it was unreasonable for him to be angry at Elizabeth for her non-remembering. He had no right to expect that she would retain any remembrance of him, over and above her own history that she could not recall.

"Forgive our poor manners," Bingley interjected, even though it was only Darcy who had displayed poor manners of any sort. "Travelling this far, we find ourselves mixing up places and people and seeing everywhere shadows of half-remembered things, all in a jumble."

Fortunately, the door opened and Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner walked in, together with Mr. Lucas. "Sorry it took long, but I thought it also better to have another Elder present. Shall we all sit?" Then turning to Elizabeth and Jane, Mr. Gardiner shook his head and said gravely, "Despite these men's great efforts last night, our problems are far from over."

They all sat down silently. "Us Britons must be a great burden to you both," Mrs. Gardiner stated. "Perhaps you're wishing to be back with your own kind, especially with you returning Lydia to us and the ogres slain."

Darcy took a deep breath before speaking. He had to walk a fine balance in what was said and what remained known to only those present that night. "Those were no ordinary ogres, madam. It's a great fear removed for my comrade and I that they no longer roam outside your gates. The girl – Lydia - though is another matter. Returned she may be, but far from safe. What is her situation amongst the villagers at present? What is being said?"

Silent though she was, Darcy noticed that Jane started to cry. Elizabeth sat resolutely still, but even upon her complexion Darcy could see rage and immense sadness at the same time.

Mr. Gardiner spoke. "Even as the village began to rejoice over Lydia's return and your brave deed, some of the women found on her a small wound. My wife inspected it herself, as did some of the other Elders. Marks on her arm and on her chest. The whole village is calling it an ogre's bite by this morning."

"They stoned our house," Elizabeth said dully. "This morning. Luckily, Mr. Bingley sir here had instructed Charlotte to smuggle Lydia elsewhere."

"How can this be," Darcy asked, "that they have forgotten so soon all what that girl had to endure?"

Elizabeth shook her head morosely. "We've had to have Lydia locked in a barn for her own safety, and even so, everyone here, our family, our neighbours, everyone throwing stones at our door and calling for Lydia to be brought out and slaughtered."

"But how can this be?" Bingley asked, echoing Darcy.

Mr. Lucas shrugged helplessly. "Our villagers cannot look beyond their superstitions. It's their conviction that once bitten by a fiend, Lydia will before long turn fiend herself and wreak horror here within our walls. They fear her and should she remain here, she'll suffer a fate as terrible as any from which you both saved her from. The calls for her death are increasing as we speak."

Darcy ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. "Surely, sir," he said, "there are those here wise enough to argue better sense."

"Those here with sense are outnumbered" Mr. Gardiner said.

Darcy looked in surprise as someone tapped his knee. Elizabeth was silently offering him the band that had fallen out of his hair. His mouth suddenly went dry. Darcy swallowed, and nodded to her while taking the proffered band.

Mr. Gardiner continued to speak. "And even if we may command restraint for a day or two, it won't be long before the ignorant have their way."

"We're not having Lydia killed to fulfill the insane superstitions of villagers. They will have to kill me first for that," Elizabeth declared. Darcy felt admiration rise in his chest, and he did his best to quash it.

"Lizzy, these warriors are as horrified as you are, and we three had some brief discussions about this when it started to unfold. I've proposed that they take Lydia with them when they ride out, imposition though this is, and leave her at some village sufficiently distant where she may have a chance of a new life. I feel shame to the depths of my heart to ask such a thing of men so soon after they have risked their lives for us, but I could see little else to do. I hope that these brave warriors have now considered my proposal, though they have an errand for their king and already delayed on account of our previous troubles."

Jane gasped, and Elizabeth stared in shock. "Have Lydia exiled?"

"It is for her own good, girls. She will be killed here, it is only a matter of time."

"Poor news to succeed the brave intervention of these warriors, but what else is to be done?" Mr. Lucas asked.

Darcy glanced at Bingley, and the other man nodded almost imperceptibly. "If we may impose with our own ideas on the matter," Darcy began. "It will be a short conversation I believe. We have come up with our own view on what should be done."

Mr. Gardiner perked up. "Of course, we would happy to hear your thoughts."

"Gladly, Bingley and I could take Lydia with us, leave her in some distant village, telling some story of how we found her lost and hungry on the road. However, I fear such a plan can hardly save her. Word will easily travel across the country and next month, next year, Lydia could find herself in the very plight she is in today, yet all the worse for being lately arrived and her people unknown. Or they may simply discover her wounds themselves, and come to their own conclusions. You see how it is, sir? Saxon or Briton, any village where superstitions have a foothold, she will never, ever be safe."

"You're wise to fear such an outcome, Master Darcy."

"Forgive me, sir. Bingley and I have been impressed by the steady way in which Lydia and her sisters have faced each new terror set before them. They have conducted themselves with a calm I can only wonder at, especially in light of the hysteria elsewhere in this village. So as we thought of a way out, we remembered another with similar characteristics, not without coincidence."

"We're keen to do what we can, sir. Let us hear what you propose."

"On our way for our King's errand," Darcy stated very carefully, "we heard in nearby villages about a monastery about a day's travel from here, up on the mountain road east. We heard from several medicine women about a very wise old monk there, a monk called Jonus." Darcy watched his audience closely, and knew that Bingley was doing the same.

Light of recognition flickered in Mr. Gardiner's eyes. And Elizabeth…she sat up straight, a curious look in her eyes.

"Maybe it is that we are mistaken in what we have heard, but watching these young women here," Darcy stated evenly, motioning towards Elizbeth and Jane, "I feel that my comrade and I have the right of it when we believe that it is the father of these young ladies who is currently serving Jonus. That is certainly what we heard in our travels."

"Father?!" Elizabeth gasped. She looked shocked to her core, but for some reason, Darcy felt that she was not entirely surprised by the news that her father lived a mere day's distance away.

"If you strangers know our history well enough, how is it that we are forgetting them already?" Mr. Gardiner stated in amazement. "Of course, my wife's brother – the father of these girls – has been at the monastery, caring for the needs of the monks there, but especially for Jonus. How could any of us have forgotten? I'd be doubting my own senses if such strange forgetfulness didn't occur so often in this place."

"It's the same we noted in many villages," Bingley said. "Darcy and I have witnessed many incidents of such forgetfulness on our way here."

"Interesting to hear that, sir," Mr. Lucas said. "And I was fearing this a kind of plague spreading through our country only. Though we all suffer enough from the fog, we seem to do so less than the younger ones. Can you see an explanation for it, sir?"

"Could we please get back to Lydia?" Elizabeth asked, and Darcy wondered briefly if everyone else here had almost forgotten Lydia at the mention of her father.

Darcy nodded. Again, he had to fight his admiration for her. "If Lydia were to be left with monks, who see superstitious nonsense for what it is, there can be no danger to her, even if the story were to pursue her there. Lydia is young, and even if she made some poor decisions in wandering about on her own, she will be a useful pair of hands for the monastery from the day she arrives. She can wash, cook, clean, and help her father in caring for the monks. If Lydia's father, together with the support one of her sisters, would plead her case that would surely secure a good outcome. Of course, it may be the same good people would accept Lydia from Bingley or myself, but then we would be a stranger to them, and one to arouse fear and suspicion. What's more, the errand which has brought us to this country will prevent our travelling so far east."

As planned, Bingley took up the last part of their assessment from here on. Bingley only spoke of that which would alarm the least. "There is another fear, which we do not believe, respectfully, has been considered. Darcy and I killed both fiends yesterday. One took its mortal wound into the forest, and would not have lived through the night. The other stood and fought and for its sins we brought of it what you saw yesterday. The rest of the fiend crawled to the brook to numb its pain and sank there beneath the black waters. But you must admit that they resembled no ogres ever seen or heard of in these parts. We also do not know that there was only two, or four, or eight. Darcy and I agree that this village is in danger presently. We have walked, taken stock of your means and situation. Unfortunately, neither of us feel that you have the capacity to defend yourselves from a possible attack on your own."

"What we propose is, that one of us stay behind to help protect your village. The other of us, will continue on our King's errand. That will permit travelling at least part of the same road to the monastery, through the path through the mountains. Darcy or myself can happily accompany Lydia and one of her sisters to the other side. The mountains are known to contain dangers, and our sword may yet prove of service. And your bags too could be carried by the horse, for she'll not complain of it. Past the mountains, it is a short journey to the monastery. Upon completing our King's errand, Darcy and I will regroup here in your village, and will be glad to retrieve Lydia's sister from the monastery at such time if their father hasn't been able to make the necessary arrangements. What do you say, ladies and gentlemen?"

"I think it an excellent plan!" Mr. Lucas declared immediately, and Darcy suspected that any plan that would remove Lydia from the village would have met with the man's approval.

Mr. Gardiner slowly nodded. "I think it sounds to be the better idea than mine. My wife and I are distressed so about Lydia's plight. I've no doubt she'll be received with kindness at the monastery; they are all Britons there, and my brother is a respected figure, practically an Elder in all but name. He'll ensure Lydia's welcome and safety."

"Girls, what do you think?" Mrs. Gardiner asked.

"You're suggesting," Elizabeth said slowly, "that Jane or I take Lydia from here."

When he came up with this plan, Darcy had no doubt in his mind that it would himself going through the mountain. It was his duty foremost to take upon his King's commandment if the two of them had to split, thus leaving Bingley to protect the village. Accordingly, he had worried about which sister would accompany Lydia, until it occurred to Darcy that there was no conceivable reason why Lydia would not be accompanied by her eldest sister. That was how responsibility fell, always.

"The mountain road east," Darcy said. "It is a hard road. A lot of climbing. But ultimately the safest for Lydia's future."

"Hmmmm," Mr. Lucas said, seemingly lost in his thoughts. "The journey to the monastery's no easy one. The path will climb steeply for much of your day. And when at last it levels you must take care not to lose your way, for you'll be in Querig country."

Darcy's eyes met Bingley's. Neither uttered a word.

"Querig, the she-dragon?" Mr. Gardiner remarked. "I've not heard talk of her in a long time."

"I heard that she rarely leaves the mountains now," Mr. Lucas said.

"Please," Elizabeth interrupted. "Who or what is Querig? This is the first Jane and I are hearing of such a thing."

"Oh girls, it's just talk handed down from ages," Mrs. Gardiner stated. Her husband and Mr. Lucas nodded, dismissing the topic.

Darcy had a decidedly different take on things, and he made a split-second decision that Elizabeth deserved more information. "Querig is a she-dragon, and most stories pin her location to be somewhere to the east of here, on a high mountain. I daresay the mountain road to the monastery may indeed travel into Querig country. Though she may on a whim attack a passing traveller, it's likely she's often blamed for the work of wild animals or bandits. In my view, Querig's menace comes less from her own actions than from the fact of her continuing presence. So long as she's left at liberty, all manner of evil can't help but breed across this land like a pestilence. Take these fiends which cursed this village. Where did they come from? They're no mere ogres. No one here has seen their like before. Why did they journey here, to make camp in your forest? Querig may rarely show herself, but many a dark force stems from her and it's an absolute disgrace she remains unslain all these years."

"But sir," Mr. Lucas said, "who'd wish to challenge such a beast? By all accounts Querig's a dragon of great fierceness, and hidden in difficult terrain."

"You're right, Mr. Lucas, it's a daunting task. There's talk of an aged knight left from Arthur's days, charged by that great king many years ago to slay Querig. I'd guess the old fool has never given that she-dragon a single moment of anxiety. We'll reach a great age waiting for the day he fulfils his duty. I maintain that it is a travesty that Querig remains unslain today, but that is a discussion for another time. We need to decide now what is to be done about Lydia."

"If I could speak to my sister for a moment?" Jane finally spoke, and everyone nodded.

While the Bennet sisters spoke to themselves, Darcy addressed the remaining audience. "For a variety of reasons, Bingley and I have decided that he will stay behind and help guard the village. I will continue on our King's errand, and accompany Lydia and whichever of her sisters through the mountain road to the monastery."

Elizabeth and Jane returned a short while later.

Elizabeth remained expressionless, and Jane did all of the speaking.

"As I am the eldest sister, and the closest relative to Lydia, it is my duty to accompany her across to our father, of whom I unfortunately have little memory. At the same time, we have another sister Kitty, who has also undergone much shock in the last two days, and deserves the support, protection and love of her family, and especially, someone who can mend the existing difficult relations with the villagers here. Elizabeth and I have spoken about who is best suited to which task. I also note that between us, Elizabeth is the one blessed with better memory. Accordingly, looking at what both of our sisters need at this time, we have decided that Elizabeth shall accompany Lydia and one of these brave warriors to the monastery."

For just a brief moment, Darcy felt his heart stop beating.

A/N: Okay everyone! Setting the scene is officially DONE! We're now heading into the actual story. Beware, here be dragons ;)