Here we go!

I don't own Tomb Raider. All OCs belong to me and Fang.

Chapter 2: Exploration and Reminiscing, Part 1

~Flashback~

During a dark and stormy night, Lara stood at the window in her father's office at Croft Manor, looking at a letter,
"FINAL NOTICE - TO LARA ANGELINA CROFT, CURRENT TENANT OF PREMISES;

This is to serve as your final notice for the purposes of terminating your ownership of Croft Manor. You are required to immediately vacate and surrender possession of said Manor to Atlas de Mornay, executor of estates."

The next part was from Atlas,
"Lara,

It is unfortunate that you have forced my hand in this matter, but so be it. As you know, your parents appointed me executor of the estate in the event of their absence. Since your mother disappeared, her death was never technically declared. And given the circumstances surrounding your father's death, it's no surprise that he never drafted a formal last will and testament to account for this circumstance. Unfortunately, you have no legal claims to the estate.

I'm willing to negotiate a modest monthly stipend from your trust, but only if you leave the manor by weeks' end. Don't fight me on this, Lara. Your mother wouldn't want that.

Sincerely,
Atlas"

Lara sighed and looked to her right, at the safe.

'There has to be a will,' thought Lara as she went to open the safe, 'Or some kind of evidence of what happened to Mom in the manor.' She tried open the safe, but it wouldn't budge

'Hmm...needs a combination,' she thought before she went to search for it. 'It's got to be in Dad's papers somewhere...'

Going to the desk, she found a photo of herself when she was little, wearing a paper crown.

"My birthday crown. (Happy laugh) I was so proud of that thing." She turned the frame to look at the back, where she found writing. It said, 'The treasure of the ancients'. Lara chuckled, "That's my handwriting. My penmanship was pretty good."

She set the picture down and picked up a tape recorder. It had a recording from her father,
"Well, this is a hell of a thing. I met someone tonight, quite unexpectedly! But it shouldn't have been, it seems. I've been so buried in my work, so distracted by my latest revelations... I never bothered to notice my surroundings.

But there she was, sitting at my table in the library. Her name is Amelia, and apparently she's been studying right next to me. Art History, of all things.

I shared some of my research, against my better judgment. But I wanted to see how she would respond. And she did not disappoint. I felt as if I was suddenly engaged in a mental game of chess - moving and counter moving in argument. At one point that poor old librarian had to shush us as if we were children.

I feel so foolish for not having noticed her earlier. She's a brilliant woman who's challenged my ideas for the first time in memory. In truth, I don't know if she's feeling as exhilarated as I am right now. But I dare say our conversation was mutually stimulating.

For the first time in a long time, I find myself thinking about something else besides my research. I hope she returns for another round tomorrow."

'I always knew that my parents met at Oxford... but never the circumstances,' Lara thought, laughing. 'Just like Dad to argue mythology as a way to flirt.'

It almost reminded her of how she and Owen met.
'My parents made a good team... challenging each other from the start.'

Next thing she looked at was her father's diploma from Oxford,
"Dad would have liked me to go to Oxford, but I insisted on UCL. If I had gone to Oxford, I wouldn't have met Sam, Tommy... or Owen..."

Shaking her head to clear it, she then looked at a picture of her, her father and Ana. In the photo, she was wearing a dress.
"Never liked dresses... but the color was nice."

Going over to a small table in the middle of the room, she found a journal, from her mother,
"I finally introduced Richard to the family. It went precisely how I imagined. Icy, but polite grace from mother. Indifference and disinterest from father. And thinly veiled contempt from Atlas. Of course they don't approve. To them, Lord Croft is the man who took away their beloved daughter and ruined her long standing engagement (I was never going to marry that repugnant Earl of Farringdon anyway).

One might think they would be happy that I was being courted by a genuine Lord of the Realm. It just happens to be Richard Croft - in their eyes, the man who single handedly ruined a once great family.

But there's nothing to be done now. Watching how Richard dealt with their subtle insults and disrespect... such grace and calm. I know he did it for me. I think I'm falling in love with this man.

It will break my mother's heart, but I cannot live the life she imagined for me. My time with Richard has only made this clearer."

'Mom's own words... I can almost imagine her speaking,' Lara thought. 'I wish I could remember her voice. It must have been hard for Mom to go against her family's wishes, but I'm glad she did. Otherwise, I would never have been born.'

Then, Lara walked over to another door.

'The door to the library,' she thought as she went to open it, but it was locked. 'Hmm...locked...there's got to be another way, in though.'

She ban to walk down the hallway, which was filled with unpacked boxes.

On one of them was a hand-drawn map, definitely by a child, and a marked path,
"This is the map I made for my first "Expedition" with Dad... it shows a path to the library through the servants' passages."

She then found a door that was covered in hand prints...obviously from her days as a little girl. She opened and looked inside, but it was too dark to see.

"Too dark," she said. "Got to find a flashlight."

As she went to look for one, she passed through a room with a fireplace and comfy chairs.

On one of them was a letter, written by herself when she was little,
"Hi Dad,

I've been thinking about Mom lately. I wish I knew more about her. How did you meet? What was she like? Winston told me that she was a brilliant artist. Are some of her paintings locked up in the West Wing?

And... I guess I just want to know... did she love me, Dad? Did she ever say that she did? Maybe I'm just being silly, but will you tell me more about her the next time I'm home from school?"

'It was so hard for Dad to talk about Mom,' Lara thought.

On a table by a sofa, next to her laptop was another letter, from her uncle,
"Lara,

I've reviewed the report from your therapist. I have to say I was surprised to see a clean bill of health. I somehow doubt you've so easily abandoned your irrational claims.

Indeed, where have you been the past few weeks? My secretary discovered that you booked a flight to Turkey on the 20th. You can't have been simply sightseeing, as your customs claims suggest. I know you're up to something, and I'll be damned if let you use the Croft assets to indulge the same obsession that led to my sister's death.

It's not too late to relinquish your claims on the Manor voluntarily. If you refuse, I will find a way to cut you off.

Sincerely,
Atlas"

'I don't know how I feel about keeping this old manor, but one thing is clear to me: I need Uncle Atlas out of my life for good,' Lara thought.

She headed out the room, into the Grand Hall,
'The Grand Hall...always loved playing in here as a kid. This'll be one of the first things to fix.'

She walked around the top floor a bit, thinking about her childhood, then she came to the door that led to the West Wing.

"Lara! You know the West Wing is off limits!" She remembered her father yelling at her when she tried to explore.

"I'm sorry...I...I just wanted to see," she had apologized.

"We've been through this," he told her, calmly.

"Was Mom's room in here?" she asked.

"Just...stay out of there, darling," he told her, avoiding the question.

'Just like Beauty and the Beast; stay away from the West Wing,' Lara thought, then tried the door, which was locked. 'Of course, locked. Need a key.'

She headed downstairs, where there was a compass in the middle of the floor...and almost instantly, memories began to fill her head.

"What are you doing sitting there on the floor, Mistress Lara?" Winston's voice was heard saying.

"Just looking at the compass, thinking," said Lara, back when she was a child.

"About what, if I may inquire?"

"Just thinking about faraway places...about finding adventure..."

"...I'm sure you will, my lady...you've the soul of an explorer...but don't grow up too fast..."

Lara sighed at the memory. She remembered when she always used to be so curious...those were such happy days.

There was another journal on a table in front of a fireplace, from her mother,
"The offer came in the post last week, and I still haven't told Richard. He flew ahead to Tibet, where I will meet him shortly. I never told him I was submitting my work, never thought there was chance of being accepted. But a gallery tour is not something I can pass up. The show will take me away from England for over a year. I'll begin in New York and travel across the United States, and God, I'm giddy even writing those words.

When Richard and I were married, I was prepared to relegate my paintings to a hobby, but it was Richard who objected, who gave me my atelier and studio. Without that support, I might still be painting boring landscapes, Now I can't shake the foolish sensation that leaving would be a betrayal.

He will laugh at that and insist that I accept, even though I know it will break his heart to be apart. He never once asked me to sacrifice any part of my life for his. I have, of course, in a thousand small ways over the years, but he would never ask.

The discussion can wait, and I will join him in Tibet. I won't cast a shadow over his find. I will be by his side in his triumph, as I know he will stand by my side, in time."

'This is incredible,' Lara thought. 'Mom was on the verge of fulfilling one of her dreams. Fate can be so cruel.'

As she headed over to the front door, she found another letter from her uncle,
"Lara,

Since your return from your expedition to Yamatai, I've grown increasingly alarmed at your erratic behavior. I can only assume you suffered some kind of psychological trauma and are only acting out as a call for help. I want you to know that I hear you loud and clear. Ana and I agree that it's time for you to be evaluated by a professional. I took the liberty of arranging an introduction to a highly qualified colleague of mine. You should be receiving the details in the post soon.

I want to impress upon you the importance of this, Lara. As executor of the estates, it is my duty to see that it is left in capable hands. And if I may be blunt, you're acting like your father when he was at his worst. He nearly lost the Manor himself in those days. I'd hate for you to repeat his mistakes. Though, I must say I'm glad you dumped that American wanker you were dating. I woman of your stature shouldn't associate with such rabble. I encourage you to embrace the help I'm offering.

Sincerely,
Your Uncle"

'My Uncle's first attempt at trying to cut me off from the Manor,' Lara thought. 'It backfired, though. I wasn't as crazy as he believed. And he had the audacity to insult Owen!'

She walked to the front door and opened a chest on one of the tables. Inside was a small flashlight that she could attach to her clothes.

"Got to remember to pack this for my next trip," she said to herself as she headed back to the library. "Should be able to see in the dark, now."

That's when she spotted her phone and picked it up and found a message to Jonah.
"Hey, Jonah,

Sorry for not getting back to you sooner. I've decided to do some research at the Manor. A lot has happened and I need some time to think about what I want to do next.

This old place is filled with memories and secrets. Uncle Atlas has tried to keep me out of here for so long, I don't even know if I want to keep it. But... after everything that's happened, maybe I can find out what it still means to me. If it's worth fighting him for.

I'll let you know how things worked out when I'm back in London."

'I hope Jonah doesn't worry about me too much,' thought Lara. 'We haven't talked since I left for Syria.'

She headed back up the steps to the hallway toward her Dad's office, where the secret passageway was.

Once inside, she found something else: another letter from Atlas...this time to her mother!
"Amelia,

The news has reached Mother. She knows that you broke off your engagement with the Earl of Farringdon. She is beside herself with worry... but for the moment she's controlling the narrative. As far as anyone knows, you're just having innocent second thoughts. But the moment your affair with Lord Croft goes public, it will be too late. Our name will be as ruined as this man you've chosen to bed!

Don't you see that you're being selfish, Amelia? Please consider your family. You're a De Mornay... everything you do has a greater effect on us all.

I'm coming down to London soon. Don't do anything rash until we have a chance to talk."

'Mom was engaged to someone else!' thought Lara. 'There's so much I never knew about her... And the way Atlas talks about it, reputation is more important than love!'

She headed down the stairs, which almost fell apart. One she reached the bottom, she found another tape recorder from her father,
"They say a good test of a relationship is how well you travel together. Well, I'd say Amelia and I have passed that test with flying colours. Indeed, these last few months in Egypt have been nothing short of extraordinary. She and Roth get on like old uni chums... in fact, the two have spent more than a few nights drinking and playing cards into the wee hours.

Despite her decidedly proper upbringing, Amelia's taken to roughing it more than I ever have. She fits in and connects with the local populace with such amazing empathy. Because of her, I've had a bit of an unexpected breakthrough in my research. She managed to convince an artifact dealer in old town to sell me a magnificent and quite unusual Tibetan scroll. From what I can tell, it seems to contain details surrounding an immortality ritual of some sort.

I think it's time for me to take the next step with Amelia. In fact, I don't think I can wait any longer. I will ask for her hand tomorrow... in the bright Egyptian sun, amidst the dust and ruins."

'I heard so many stories about that expedition... to see it from Dad's perspective makes me realize that is was Mom who made it all so memorable,' Lara thought.

She approached another door and tried to open it, but that was one locked, as well. She had to find the key to get in.

So she headed further down the steps, to what looked like a cellar.

She found another letter from Atlas,
"Amelia,

I know we have had our differences in recent years. I've tried my best to keep an open mind about your relationship with Richard, but I just can't let you go to on this ill-conceived expedition without saying my piece.

You say Richard's theories have merit. You say that he may have actually stumbled upon some mythic, unknown truth. But I have seen nothing to support such claims. And while your word may have been enough in times past, I cannot let you squander away what remains of your name and reputation... and that of our family, truth be told... on some damned foolish crusade.

I intend to go to Richard's investors and let them know exactly how he's spending their money, but I wanted to give you a chance to put a stop to this yourself.

Please. Don't go to Tibet. If not for me, at least for Lara."

'Uncle Atlas has been causing problems for my family for too long, now,' Lara thought. 'I'm glad Mom ignored his warnings.'

As Lara walked along, she shuddered a bit, for it gave the feeling of a dungeon, almost.

'Still as creepy as I remember,' she thought before there was a flash of lightning, causing her to gasp before she looked around, then approached the end of the hall, where she found another letter...and this one was from Winston.

"My Lord,

I hope this missive finds you on a successful expedition and in good health. Before I bore you with estate affairs, I wanted to let you know that our Little Angel has been into some mischief. As always, I indulged her in our usual game of chess. Over the course of the game, she broached the subject of her mother. She's having trouble remembering her now and wanted to enter her Ladyships' Atelier which you sealed off, to play on her mother's piano. It enraged her when she wasn't allowed to go in, of course. For someone so young, she has such strong emotions.

Later in the day, she set a trap for me... in the walk-in freezer, of all places. Before I knew what was happening, I found myself locked inside. Mrs. Sheffield discovered me an hour later, shivering and somewhat peeved. It took us an additional hour to find Lara on the grounds. I know all her hiding places, of course, but this time she really did not want to be found. Call it years of observation, but I can tell when she's out of sorts. My lord, if I may be so bold... she misses you fiercely. She is lonely for her father.

Please consider a call as soon as you are able."

"Oh... poor Winston!" Lara said to herself. "I remember doing that to him. I can't believe I was such a little brat. Thank goodness he had such patience with me."

She went back to a cart filled with wine bottles and moved it out of the way so she could go to the other side of the wine shelves.

That's when she approached a table, where she saw a chessboard, and that's when she thought back to when she and Winston played chess when she was little.

"King to Queen One. I'm going to win this time, Winston!"

"Clever girl, but you should know by now...winning isn't everything. Queen to King's Bishop Six. Check."

"Pfft, easy for you to say. You always win. Knight takes queen!"

"What I mean to say is... try to enjoy the journey, Lara. Don't rush to victory. Bishop to King Seven."

"I know, Winston. I just want... oh no, I didn't even see that!"

"You should also know by now, I'm not to be trifled with on this board, young lady. Mate."

"Argh. I'm going to win... someday."

Lara couldn't help chuckling, just a little bit. Back then...Winston was more of a father to her than Richard was being, at the time.

Same with Roth.

She even found the chess pieces that she and Winston played with.
'Never could beat him. Owen and I were even in wins and losses.'

She walked past some of the crates and found another journal, from her mother,
"I'm at a crossroads now. Good lord, that's such a cliché. But there's truth in it. Two roads before me, both present joy and compromise. A life with Richard... adventure, intellectual pursuit, perhaps a new family. But also a man obsessed with something I cannot understand. Or... a life of obligation. Upholding the De Mornay name, embracing our traditions. Not losing the family that raised me.

This really is a rubbish choice. I don't want to lose them. But I love the life I've started to build with Richard. He comes with his own difficulties, but I can accept them.

Will it be enough?"

'For the time she was with us, I hope it was enough,' Lara thought. 'I hope it was worth it...'

She then looked around and, after dodging a few scurrying rats, she found another journal from Winston.
"Everything is almost ready for Mistress Lara's birthday expedition surprise. It's been a bit of an all hands on deck effort organizing the affair and keeping it secret. She's obsessed with Egypt, memorizing hieroglyphs and ancient Egyptian Districts. So she'll be delighted with what Lord Croft has come up with!

This will be good for her. She's been acting up of late, but I know she's just craving more of her father's attention. He's been so buried in his research. It will be a nice moment for the two of them to reconnect.

And I do believe he needs it as much as she does."

Lara smiled.
"It really was one of the best birthdays I ever had..."

She pulled away another cart, unblocking the way out.

She had to crouch down to get through the narrow tunnel, and she remembered when she and her father played down here.

"Dad... this is it! The Basement of Despair."

"Indeed, Lara. Muster your courage, for this is the only path to the Library of Infinite Knowledge!"

"Look there! See the string?"

"An Ancient Egyptian tripwire...the keepers of knowledge want none to disturb their treasure. We must tread carefully!"

"Let me lead! I know where to spot all the traps!"

"I'm sure you do, my darling...lead on!"

Lara kept moving through it, smiling as she reminisced.

It was like a maze, which is why it was perfect for her birthday surprise.

She eventually made it through, to a corridor filled with wooden crates.

After she squeezed her way through the crates, she looked around and found a bust of the Egyptian God of the Dead.

"This bust of Anubis was from Dad's Egyptian collection," Lara mused. "He must have put it in the basement for our little expedition."

Then she went to a ladder at the far end and climbed up it, finding what felt like a secret closet. There were a few bookshelves and desks.

On one of the shelves was another recording from her father,
"Amelia left tonight. She packed her suitcase and walked right out of here and I didn't even notice. Like those days in the Oxford library before we even met... I just had my nose in a book, lost in my own world.

I am such a fool. I have let my obsession with this damned Ritual of Long Life rule my better judgement for far too long. And it may already be too late. How could I have not seen this coming? I've made this mistake over and over - always putting my research before my personal life. But it's never hurt like this before.

I simply cannot live without her. If I have to give up this accursed quest that has plagued me for so long... then so be it! I am going after her. Right now. Tonight!"

'It was almost over before it started,' Lara thought. 'I always admired Dad's ability to recognize when he was wrong.'

She then sighed before she put the recorder down and looked around, then found what looked like a hidden door, which she pushed open to reveal the Library.

'Okay,' she thought. 'Dad's ledger has to be here, somewhere. Hopefully, it has the combination to the safe.'

As she looked around, she found another journal entry from her mother,
"I always accepted that Richard's rather unorthodox research was just something I had to live with. But... but this time... the thrill of discovery has taken hold of me. I never imagined I could be drawn in this way.

Richard cabled to tell me he's found the Monastery. The symbol we deciphered in the scroll was the key to its location. I don't know if I honestly believe that this will lead to the fabled Elixir of Life. But I can't help but feel that a great secret awaits us there.

My brother was threatening to shut down the expedition, but I managed to talk him down for the time being. Now I am going to meet Richard.

I would bring Lara if I could, but she's still young. She'll be in good hands with Winston. And when we return, her parents might be just a bit more famous."

'She was beginning to believe,' Lara thought. 'It must have made Dad so happy to know she could accept his wild ideas.'

Lara then approached an old gramophone with a record still on it. She put the needle on the record, then wound it up to make the music play. It sounded like an old classic tune from a symphony.

"...This music is familiar," she said. "It's beautiful..."

Then she approached a suit of armor without its helmet, which caused her to chuckle.

"It seems Sir Reginald's helmet fell off," she quipped, "...or...did I not put it back properly?"

She went over to the big desk and found a journal entry from her father,
"For God's sake, memorize the combination, you old fool...

Lara's Expedition treasure...

My favorite painting by Amelia...

The day of our wedding anniversary..."

'Dad would never have written down the combination, but it looks like he left himself clues to remember the numbers...' Lara thought. 'Okay, got to find those objects to figure out the combination to the safe.'

Next, she found another tape recording from her father,
"I've reached the monastery. As Roth predicted, it was hidden deep in the Himalayas. And now that I am standing on these high stone walls, I am overwhelmed by the sheer beauty of the mountains that surround me. It is simply breathtaking. But what adds to their spiritual majesty is the truth of this place.

The monks welcomed me, as is their way, but they seemed to expect me. They must have known someone like me would eventually come seeking answers. I know this is the place - they've conducted the ritual before. I have seen the evidence - the distinctive symbols carved into the floors, the art displayed on the inner chamber's walls... they've created the Elixir before. And they will again, if I can convince them.

I sent Amelia a message straight away. I want her by my side for this discovery..."

'Dad never told me about this myth... why was he so sure?' Lara wondered. 'What did he find that convinced him it was real?'

She then put the recorder down.

"Hmm...Dad was looking for an Elixir," she mused. "Was it...the Elixir of Life?"

I almost thought about putting the entire exploration of the manor into one chapter, but I decided against it.

Anybody else hate Atlas?!

Read and review, please!