Disclaimer: I do not own the His Dark Materials Series.
A/N: Hey, all! Thanks so much for reading. I discuss this more at the end of this (short) chapter, but this chapter is going to be the end of what I'm going to label as Part One: Into the North. I'm going to continue this story next chapter (45) under a new distinction of Part Two: After the North, where we'll learn more about the plots and events surrounding the Magisterium, Jordan, Asriel's research, and more. Not sure how long it'll take me to start really planning and fleshing out what that'll look like, but I hope to do it soon.
Anyway, thanks again for reading, and let me know what you thought of Part One! :) More soon. I promise.
Luxurious Lies
44.
Home
"Still take sugar in your tea, Lyra?"
The Librarian was hovering over the bowl of sugar, spoon in hand. The Librarian was a kind man—stern and grumpy, but kind. Lyra had learned a lot from him during her time at Jordan. He taught her all the arithmetic and Cartesian mapping he knew; he listened to her long-winded questions and attempted to help her make sense of material that was very clearly meant for Scholars more so than for little girls.
He was still kind and patient now, adding two lumps of sugar to her tea as she nodded and then looked over to their other companion: The Master. He looked as old and tired as he ever had, if not more. His raven daemon was slumped against the side of his head. It was as if she was barely able to hold herself up. The Master's breath was wheezy and strained as he returned the stare, ignoring the tea that the Librarian handed to him with a simple shake to the head.
"We haven't much time, Lyra."
Time for what? Pan peeked out of Lyra's sleeve curiously. They both knew that a lot had happened at Jordan while they've been away. A lot had happened to them and even though they were focused most solidly on what lay in front of them, they recognized that other things happened to other people, too. The Gyptians had gotten their children back and moved on their way, but their lives were changed forever; nothing would ever be the same for them. And nor would it at Jordan.
"You are no longer safe here at Jordan, I'm afraid. The Magisterium has fully seized control, and they are currently looking every which way for you."
"But why?" Lyra couldn't help but blurt it out. She'd been puzzled by their obsession with her for as long as she was aware of it, and she was irritated by the veiled answers and guarded looks every single adult in her life gave her.
Maybe now was finally the time she'd get the answers she so desperately wanted; maybe now would be different.
It was, yet it wasn't. They told her everything they could, which admittedly wasn't much. And then they checked in with her, caught up with her, and then shooed her away down a winding staircase to a cramped and stuffy servants' quarters.
"This is the best we can do for you," the Librarian apologized, showing her into a room no larger than a cupboard with a small, stiff-looking bed. "But we are humbled to host you, for as little and as poorly as we are able."
Jordan is their home. As Lyra and Pan curled up together in the tight quarters, holding onto one another, they kept thinking that over and over again. Jordan has always been their home, for as long as they can remember. It's always been the one place they felt safe and welcome and complete.
They might not be able to stay long, but Lyra and Pan were determined to stay and help the Master and the Librarian in whatever ways they could. It was only the right thing to do, and was what the alethiometer seems to have wanted all along.
END OF PART 1
To recap again: I've been thinking a lot about this story and the direction that it's going, and I'm going to begin a second part of it starting next chapter (45). Part One has been a journey of Lyra through the North and eventually back to Jordan, where she belongs and where she's always yearned to return to. Part Two will focus on the events happening in Oxford (Lyra, and Mrs. Coulter for the time being), in London (the Magisterium, and Mrs. Coulter eventually), and back in the North (Lord Asriel, along with others down the road).
I've really enjoyed writing this story, and I'm so excited to plot and plan out what is going to come next in this second part!