The Way, The War, And The End – Chapter 2

So many, many ideas running through my head but I cannot put them into use until I finish this story. I do not own any of the characters in this chapter and I plan to have at least 10 chapters by the end of it all. Wish me luck ppl and more reviews/criticism would be divine.

Only several miles away, but entire worlds apart, Lyra Silvertongue as she would like to be addressed was turning eighteen very soon and her heart was still longing for Will. 'Five years…' she muttered. Five years ago, in the Botanic Gardens, Lyra watched as the window slowly closed up, by none other than her only one and true love Will. They had promised each other that on Midsummer Day, they would meet at the Botanic Gardens, and reflect on their adventures and their love, just for an hour. And ever since then, she always came. The thoughts of their adventures together and their love for one another were almost too painful to think about. Nonetheless, Lyra cherished them.

Lyra did not change as much over the passing years. She grew stronger, and taller. And she had let her dark golden hair flow down to her waist. Her love and longing for Will only grew stronger with each passing day. Every morning she hoped to wake up to feel Will next to her in bed, with his arms around her. To her disappointment, she would only wake up to feel the covers of her bed against her skin. Lyra did not once shed a tear since that fateful day. Lyra stayed strong, and decided to make to make the alethiometer the subject of your life's work as Dame Hannah had spoken. Lyra had studied hard over the years and was ready to graduate soon as well.

'Only a few more months…' she softly spoke.

Around her, those had seen the girl full of energy and spunk had now seen a grown and beautiful woman, but they also saw a deep sadness in her eyes. There was no denying that something terrible had happened to her, but what. None but the Gyptians knew how painful it was for her to leave Will. Lyra always had the beautiful pine marten Pantalaimon around her neck or at her heels. Pantalaimon's fur was a rich red and white and what made it more elegant was its seemingly heavenly aura that surrounded; adding to its stunning elegance. Many boys asked her out for dates and tried to pull her into a relationship. Lyra ignored them and walked away knowing there would never be a place in her heart for another person.

Lyra had accepted the offer to go to St Sophia; a college for girls where she could study the alethiometer to its fullest extent. At first she intended to make plenty of friends, but she abandoned the attempt as soon as she had realised how childish the students all appeared. Lyra felt so much more older than them, after what she had gone through. They would babble on about meaningless topics hours on end. All this was unimportant, Lyra needed to learn how to read the alethiometer. After graduating from St Sophia, Lyra would set out to carry out the task she was given all those years ago in the world of the Mulefa.

Lyra also abandoned the attempt when the arrival of two special guests arrived at St Sophia only a year after the event taken place at the Botanic Gardens. She was very happy to find one day that Serafina Pekkala and Iorek Byrnison were at the entrance at St Sophia to see Lyra. The visitors had caused a stir amongst the school. Iorek Byrnison's massive stature made even the headmistress a little unnerving. Serafina had caused whispers of the word, 'Witch' everywhere.

But Lyra was happy to see them and embraced them lovingly. She asked them if they knew what had happened to her parents. Serafina answered truthfully with Lyra listening intently. 'They actually loved me enough to give their lives just to protect me.' she thought. Lyra pondered on the memories of her parents. How it all started because of them and if it weren't for her father Lord Asriel, she would never have met Will.

Lyra had noticed that Iorek did not know what had happened since the battle at the fortress. Lyra explained everything that had happened since then, what the knife's intentions were and her most amazing discovery in the world of the Mulefa and Xaphania's words and every other little thing she could remember. Lyra was about to shed a tear, but held it back with a bit of effort.

Iorek took a deep breath and said, 'Lyra, I knew very well from the moment I met him that he was a brave fighter, I knew with him by your side you would be safe, after all, he is the only person to have ever tricked a bear. But I have a feeling he will find a way to reach you. If he can trick a bear, there is every chance in the worlds that Will could trick an angel.'

'What do you mean?' Lyra asked.

'I don't know, but I have a feeling that you will see him again, and I of all your friends would not lie to you. But for now, I must leave, it is good to have seen you to have grown more mature, but you cannot stay dishearten forever,' said Iorek, 'I have a wife in Svalberd that is pregnant and it is not long now before she will bear my heir. I would be more than happy to see you again at Svalberd; many things have changed since the death of Iofur Raknison. The balance of nature in the north has been restored thanks to the help of a few angels at the vicinity. Goodbye for now, Lyra Silvertongue.'

'Lyra, if there you are in any trouble at all,' Serafina spoke, 'or anything you are concerned or have thoughts about, feel free to call me for aid.' And she handed her a flower, one similar to the one Lee Scoresby was given, the last time Serafina and Lee had met. And with that she and Iorek left heading north, where Serafina would now find a place for her kingdom and Iorek would see to the birth of his heir. Lyra was left alone, where she decided to head back to class.

Every night after a hard day at school, Lyra would quickly take a shower, put on her night gown and ask the same question to the alethiometer every night, 'Will I ever see Will again? For as many times as she tried, the dial would simply not spin. If she were to ask, 'What is the weather gonna be like tomorrow,' or 'How is Iorek and Serafina,' the dials would always spin. It was extremely tedious at first to read the meanings; she would have to pull out books from Bodley's library and decipher the once simple meanings that now became complex. After five years of hard work on the alethiometer, Lyra could easily read all the meanings; they had not be as complex as when she first lost it five years ago.

'It's nearly Midsummer Day Pan…' Lyra said.

'I know… I know…' Pan replied.

'Pan I've asked myself over and over again, why did we have to be repaid like this,' Lyra said, 'we saved Dust and we even saved the countless numbers of the dead from living a world of pain and fear. We opened a gateway for them to be at peace for god knows how long, that they have been waiting. Why must things be this way?'

Pan would counteract with the same answer, 'Because you must build the Republic of Heaven. And to do that, both you and Will must have a full life to accomplish this.'

'Yes, yes I know Pan,' Lyra continued, 'but how?'

'Like Iorek said Will could find a way out of this predicament…' said Pan.

'Yes I suppose…' Lyra said feeling unsure, but then with a slight smile she said, 'after all… he's Will.'

Thousands of miles away, Serafina Pekkala was flying in the cool sky, heading northwards, back to her clan, when she suddenly saw a bright light that illuminated the night sky. Serafina had trouble figuring out who or what it was until it came close enough for her to make out a figure, that spread its wings. The figure was neither old or young and was unclothed, since Serafina's last encounter with her.

'Xaphania?' Serafina asked.

'Indeed it is I, Xaphania, Queen Pekkala of the Northern Witch Tribes,' Xaphania spoke.

'May I ask what you are doing here in our world of all the times,' Serafina inquired. Then Serafina realised that they were no longer flying, a cloud had flown and made solid ground for the both of them.

'Please sit down,' said Xaphania. And Serafina sat in a solid chair made of cloud. 'I must be quick at this point, there is much I need to tell you'

'What is it that you need to tell me?' asked Serafina

'Remember when I said all those years ago that Lyra and Will would not see each other again.' Xaphania said. Serafina nodded. 'well, I must admit in all my years that I have never once been wrong. Apparently it seems both children, now young adults will prove me wrong.'

'Excuse me Xaphania, I don't understand what you mean,' Serafina said, 'does it mean that…'

'Lyra and Will will see each other again?' Xaphania finished the sentence, 'yes indeed they will see each other again. And sooner than I thought as well.'

'What do you mean 'sooner'?' asked Serafina.

'Things have been happening, it seems that they the young adults will defy destiny and fate,' said Xaphania, 'at the time, I was but the messenger, who was to confirm their futures'

'Excuse me, I don't understand…' Serafina said, 'I…' and before she could finish a white eagle soared with a note tied to its leg. It perched on a small cloud and Xaphania took the note and quickly said…

'I apologise, I am needed in the world of the angels, I will one day explain all this, but that day is not now, I'm afraid,' Xaphania said, 'We will meet again very soon.'

And with those words, Xaphania closed her eyes and disappeared right in front of Serafina. Serafina was taken by surprise by this sudden disappearance and merely uttered, 'Is that how the angels travel?'

Wow! More than 1500 words, I've never typed anything that long before, how'd ya like that ppl. I try to update, as often as I can, as I would like to finish this and then begin a new story like this but with a different storyline which will be unrelated to this story or any other story I may write (type… whatever) Again, I don't own any of the characters in the chapter and if anyone has any suggestions for names for characters I may or may not use please email me at leave the name and your profile name so you can claim that it is yours truly. Thx ppl. Love triumphs over all