Disclaimer: I do not own the His Dark Materials series.

A/N: Hi, everyone! I'm SO sorry for the delay. College has been kicking my behind and is so much work. But I had some time to continue this story, and I hope to write more after exams, papers, and research is over :) I hope you like it! Please let me know what you think!

Luxurious Lies

24.

Magic Mania

"Lord Asriel." Glancing away from the retreating figure of Trollesund, Lord Asriel looked up to see Farder Coram standing before him. Tall, hunch-backed, yet wise as ever, the old man nodded his head and extended his hand. "It truly is an honor to have you aboard with us."

While one might look at such a thing and consider it empty flattery, Lord Asriel knew better. These Gyptians held a lot of value to their words, and Lord Asriel understood the sincerity that rang through. He'd always liked Farder Coram, and though he'd given in to the seduction of the witches, he was an overall good man.

"The pleasure is all mine," said Lord Asriel, shaking his hand. Stelmaria nodded to his large, autumn-colored cat daemon, and she replied with the slow blink of an eye. "Thank you for all the work that you've done, both against the Magisterium's actions and for my daughter."

What a peculiar sensation Lord Asriel felt at the seemingly simple phrase "my daughter." For years he hid their true relationship in an effort to erase his troubled past and move on with his research, and for years he never felt a single drop of guilt. Yet now that the secret was out, he felt himself growing increasingly guilty at having lied to Lyra for all these years, and a part of him felt that he could finally fully embrace his true role. Marisa certainly had accepted and acted upon it, so why couldn't Lord Asriel?

I still wouldn't trust the woman. Stelmaria read her human's thoughts the moment they crystalized in his brain. You still seem to think that something can work out with her, but it won't, Asriel. She won't settle for anything less than full custody of the child.

That, Lord Asriel realized, was one of the major problems. What was he going to do with Lyra once they were back in Oxford? He surely couldn't put her back at Jordan since Marisa would know she was there, and he certainly couldn't take her back to the North with him.

But couldn't you? Stelmaria nudged his leg just then, a soft purr resounding from her throat. You can't say she hasn't done it already. What would be the harm?

He couldn't. Taking his leave from Farder Coram and making his way down to visit Lord Faa in the chart room below deck, Lord Asriel knew that regardless of how much he cared about Lyra and how dangerous it was for her to be away from him, he wouldn't subject her to the trials and pains of the North. He wouldn't have her follow in his footsteps – he would give her the chance to live the kind of life she deserved to live.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

"Hello, darling." Taking a step back, Lyra continued to stare at her mother with utter disbelief. Pan, stunned himself, merely stayed there on the floor as Mrs. Coulter stepped out of the wardrobe, her tawny furs emerging from the layers of clothing already packed inside. Lyra watched as Mrs. Coulter exited and stood at her full length, the golden monkey swinging down to face Pan. His silky fur bristled as he glared at them with his hard, black eyes.

Of all things Lyra was expecting on her trip with the Gyptians, this certainly wasn't one of them. Quite honestly, Lyra didn't understand how her mother could possibly be there, and she couldn't help but feel the waves of anxiety that made their way through her system.

It all was very confusing. At the beginning, Lyra had complete faith in her mother, but she lost all certainty the minute she spotted the Magisterium in Trollesund. She further had her doubts when the guards dragged her and locked her inside that dark, chilly room, and when all was lost and everything uncertain, it was Lord Asriel who had saved her, calmly instructing her where to go and bringing with him that sense of absolute security and trust.

Yet there in her bedroom was Mrs. Coulter, that fierce look of determination set on her beautifully smooth face. Lyra knew it well and saw it on herself sometimes, and in this moment, it was that look which compelled her to stay put when every instinct urged her to scream and run away.

"I know you must be surprised to see me, Lyra, and I can explain everything." Mrs. Coulter continued to walk toward her, clutching her canvas rucksack, and Lyra continued to stare up at her.

"How did you even get in here?" Security measures had become tight since Lyra last sailed with the Gyptians, and she knew that there was no way Mrs. Coulter could have strayed on by accident. Indeed, she must have somehow snuck on board or tricked someone into letting her on, which was definitely something Lyra would expect of her mother.

"A friend of mine let me on."

"Who?"

"You wouldn't know him."

"Why are you here?"

"To see you, of course."

"Don't you know that the Gyptians will probably kill you?" A hurt look crossed Mrs. Coulter's face, and it was then that Lyra started to feel bad.

What was she even doing? Interrogating Mrs. Coulter like a criminal? She hadn't actually done anything wrong. Now that Lyra thought about it, Mrs. Coulter had been trying to say something when Lyra was thrashing around in the Magisterium, but Lyra had refused to listen. She had said something about just stopping in, but then why would she have thrown her into that horrible room?

You were acting like one of them wild tribe people. Pan let out a small growl and then transformed into a raven, coming to perch himself on Lyra's shoulder. They didn't know what to do with you.

But I was angry. Glancing over at Pan, whose beady eyes were trained directly on the golden money, Lyra felt something resembling shame burn in her cheeks. Didn't she know how scared I was to be back there? Didn't she even care?

"Lyra." That soft, musical voice broke through Lyra's concentration. Looking up, she saw her mother standing only a foot or so away, her eyes sparkling. "Please, come sit on the bed. We have a lot to talk about."

Staring into her mother's eyes, which seemed to radiate true, genuine warmth, Lyra felt her fear and her worries slowly start to melt away. How could she ever doubt her mother? Mrs. Coulter had risked everything by escaping from Bolvangar and taking her out to the barrens of the North, and she wouldn't have done that if she hadn't actually cared about her. She'd taken care of Lyra when she was cold and when she was sick, and she'd sheltered Lyra from every bad situation that had come their way.

Perhaps the incident at Trollesund really was a misunderstanding. In the end, perhaps she just needed to give Mrs. Coulter a chance.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

In the days that followed, Lord Asriel kept abreast of any and all new developments. Serafina Pekkala had joined them, and with Kaisa traveling to and from Trollesund and the surrounding regions, there was nothing going on that he wouldn't know about.

"Still no sign of her?" Serafina had entered the small chart room, her long hair slightly wind-ruffled from having flown around the ship, and she shook her head as she came to sit beside him.

"None. Kaisa checked Trollesund and Bolvangar, but there wasn't a single trace of her. It's as if she's disappeared. Even the Magisterium doesn't know where she is."

That's what bothered Lord Asriel the most. Reaching over to grab his glass of whisky, pausing to pat the top of Stelmaria's head, he knew this wasn't good. Marisa was one of the only people he knew who could completely vanish from the earth. She'd done so after the court date that had taken away all of his money and his land, and she'd done so for the years leading up to her eventual reign of the Magisterium. She was as slick and scaly as a serpent, and the fact that even Serafina couldn't find her was sincerely troubling.

"I know she's out there somewhere," Lord Asriel mused, circling the rim of his glass with his finger. "She's not one to give up."

"I don't know her that well," said Serafina, her eyes seemingly lost in thought, "but from what I've heard, she's an evil and vile woman. She uses her looks and charms to captivate both children and men alike, and I have no respect for a woman who abuses such power."

Exchanging a look with Stelmaria, Lord Asriel found that to be quite ironic coming from a witch. A slight smirk crossed his face, and though he tried to hide it, Serafina noticed.

"What do you find funny, Asriel?" He shook his head, but she remained unfazed. "Do you feel that I'm a hypocrite to say such a thing?"

"Well, not exactly a hypocrite," Lord Asriel answered. He calculated his response very carefully. "I sometimes feel that witches underestimate their own seductive powers, and I just find it amusing for you to be speaking of a human woman with a power that is so similar to yours."

Admittedly, Lord Asriel did find Serafina attractive. Any human male would find her attractive. She had long, smooth curls, scorching dark eyes, and this air of impenetrable authority that was particularly one of Lord Asriel's weaknesses. It was that demeanor that had initially attracted him to Marisa Coulter, and, to be truthful, it was what ultimately still attracted him to her.

Serafina's eyes gazed deep into his, and she gave a slight nod. "You're an honest man, Asriel. An honest, brave, and, though headstrong, a good man." She paused just then, the force of her gaze causing Lord Asriel to grow lost in it. "I love Farder Coram, but if I hadn't met him first, I very well might have fallen for you instead."

Stelmaria sat up from her lounging position, and Lord Asriel's mouth fell open slightly. Of all things he and Serafine could discuss, he never thought this subject would be one of them. She was still gazing at him with a fierce sort of subdued passion, and as Lord Asriel merely gawked back at her, he didn't understand why his heart started racing and his palms started to become sweaty. Surely she hadn't cast some sort of spell on him?

"Lord Asriel," said a soft, aged voice from the door. Looking up, Lord Asriel turned to see Farder Coram standing by the ladder, Sophonax by his side. Panic blazed through Lord Asriel's body, but as he watched Farder Coram approach them and Serafina glance up lovingly at him, he relaxed. Nothing would be able to cut through their love, and even if Farder Coram had heard Serafina's words, it wouldn't have fazed him.

"Lord Asriel, I'm sorry to intrude upon your conversation, but I need to speak to you about Lyra."

"Lyra?" Lord Asriel blinked. He hadn't seen her since the previous night, but nothing had seemed wrong with her. "Is she alright?"

"Oh, quite alright," said Farder Coram, "but it's just that she doesn't leave her cabin very often these days."

Stelmaria flicked her ear, and Lord Asriel couldn't agree more. "That certainly doesn't sound like Lyra." Lord Asriel had spent his entire life sorting out the trouble that Lyra had gotten herself into, and he knew that she wouldn't suddenly have a change of heart concerning adventure.

"Perhaps you should go check on her." Serafina was staring at him again, and Asriel felt his face grow warm. He'd never noticed how intense her eyes were – or how beautiful.

"Yes, I think I will."

Very strange, Asriel thought to Stelmaria, aware of both Farder Coram and Serafina watching him as he climbed up the ladder. Very strange indeed. I don't understand witches and their feelings.

Does anyone? At that Lord Asriel snorted.

When he arrived at Lyra's cabin, Lord Asriel rapped his knuckles against the wood. He heard scurrying inside, and, smirking to himself, he wondered what kind of game Lyra was playing.

"Lyra," he called after a while, "open up."

Silence met his words, and, not understanding why she had to be so damn stubborn, Lord Asriel put his hand on the knob. The door was locked.

"Lyra," he said more firmly, twisting the locked doorknob, "why is your door locked? Open it." More scurrying could be heard from inside. "Open it now."

Lord Asriel wasn't a particularly patient man, and he certainly didn't have the patience to deal with the bizarre workings of a twelve year-old girl. Motioning for Stelmaria to stand back, Lord Asriel rolled up his sleeves and pressed his hands against the wood, preparing his muscles. As he rammed into the door and forced it open, his shoulders aching, he stumbled in to see Lyra sitting stiffly on her bed. Pan was circling her head as a golden owl, and something about the innocent look on her face was alarming.

"What have you been doing in here, Lyra?"

"Nothin'."

"Why wouldn't you let me in?"

"'Cause I wanted my space."

"For what?"

"Dunno. Just 'cause."

Out of the corner of his eyes, Lord Asriel saw a quick flash of movement from the wardrobe.

"What's over there?"

"Nothing!"

Lyra pronounced every sound of the word, and that was enough to make Lord Asriel certain that something was amiss. He felt a fierce flame engulf his stomach, and, realizing that this must be part of parenthood, he found it hard for him to stay calm.

"Now, you listen here, young lady." He moved forward to stand right in front of her. Stelmaria growled at Pan, who fluttered down onto Lyra's shoulder, and Lord Asriel looked her straight in the eye. "After all the effort I've put into getting you here, I deserve more respect than this. I thought you might have grown during your travels, but you're still nothing but a lying little brat."

In an instant, sudden movement materialized from the side of the room. A figure raced from the wardrobe to the door, and turning around, Lord Asriel stopped.

"Is that any way to speak to our daughter, Asriel?"