Chance Encounter

Chapter 3: The Awakening

"I have been smoothing sick folk's pillows, and whispering sweet dreams into their ears;

Opening cottage casements, to let out the stifling air;

...Doing all I can to help those who [can] not help themselves;

And little enough it is, and weary work for me."

-C. Kingsley, from The Water Babies (a fairy poem)

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In the early morning, just as the mist was beginning to be lifted away by a greedy sun, the young women awoke, revealing to any who cared to see, a pair of wide hazel eyes.

Sunlight streamed through the windows, evading the pair of light curtains blocking its way. Her first impression was that of a spacious, but cozy room with a small fire place and a cushioned chair in the corner.

She sat bolt upright upon noticing her alien surroundings and felt a stab of pain in her side. Clutching at it, she realized that she was sitting in a large four posted bed with cream colored satin sheets.

Where was she?

Instinctively, she tried to stand up but when a wave of dizziness hit her, she fell back to the bed with a soft thump. A soft thump that apparently, was enough to alert a certain passersby of her consciousness.

Raven stood by the door for a moment debating whether or not to enter now or to alert his master first. And also on if it would be proper for him to enter the young lady's bedchamber (guest room though it was) without an invitation under the present circumstances. Another muffled groan from the room instantly made up his mind. The lady might come to harm by straining herself without his intervening. Knocking briefly, he pushed the door open and walked inside. The girl froze and stared at him, like an animal caught in the light, her demeanor instantly stiffened by his arrival.

"M'lady, please do not strain yourself. You're injuries are not fully healed." His voice was low and even. She did not move. This situation was... inordinate. She was startled and confused and felt intolerably helpless. She took a moment to find her voice.

"...Where am I?" Once again, Raven was surprised by how musical her voice was.

"You are in Lord Edgar Ashenbert's estate in London. If you'll wait a moment, I'll request that he come see you." She stiffened at this so Raven discreetly added, "Miss Lydia as well." She relaxed a minuscule amount and nodded hesitantly. His deep, calm voice was making her relax despite herself. She hadn't got to hear it last night when she had been following him. But...was it last night? How long had she been here?

Raven was walking towards the door but a slightly timid "Umm..." from the girl made him stop and cock his head. "How did I get here?" There was a pause in which Raven turned to face her. He bowed, the palm of his hand crossed over his chest. "Please excuse my forwardness milady. I carried you here when you collapsed, due to lack of any other transportation means."A hand went up to her mouth. "Oh." she said lamely. He bowed again, "If you'll excuse me."The door closed with a soft sound. She didn't like that. She hated the feeling of being closed in. She waited until she heard his footsteps fade away, and then padded over to open the door. This time more slowly as to not provoke her wounds.

She was relieved to see that the window was already open. Then, after a pause, even more slowly, she walked over to the corner of the room where the dull green chair stood, and as gracefully as her condition allowed, she sat down and folded her hands in her lap. She stared at the door and waited. Her back stubbornly straight. Face without emotion.

Lydia frowned down at the book in front of her. Her head was rested fretfully in her hand and there was a furrow in her brow. Edgar had been sitting with his hands folded over his cane at the far side of the room, but, finally becoming dissatisfied by the lack of attention he was receiving, walked up to the desk and staring down at her intently, bent and casually placed one gloved finger on the line that creased the space between her eyebrows. She startled and jumped. Almost tipping over her chair in the process. Righting herself she said scoldingly "Edgar!"

He smiled. "Lydia. When you frown so much it makes me worry. Is something the matter?"

"I'm trying to concentrate Edgar." Leave me alone.

"Then by all means do so. Have you learned anything about our guest yet?"

She courtly closed the book, realizing that she wasn't going to get anything done with the earl there.

"She's a fairy-child. Likely the daughter of a changeling. She seems to be only half fairy. Though it's obvious that she carries fey blood." Like me... she thought and her face softened. She went on almost conversationally. "These types of fairies are rare, so there isn't much information on them." She sighed and mumbled quietly "Which is why I'm having so much trouble finding anything..." She scribbled something in her notes, and then exasperatedly crossed it out. Ink stains were blotched on her fingers Edgar noticed and a carefully sly smirk played about the corners of his mouth.

Lydia had opened the book again and was scanning the page when she heard the scraping of a heavy chair against the wooden floorboards next to her. Right next to her. She looked up and came face to face with Edgar whom had apparently pulled a chair up and was leaning over her notes. Which he may or may not have been actually reading.

"E-Edgar!"

"Yes Lydia?" He asked innocently as he made a big show of reaching across the desk to grab one of the books that lay piled at Lydia's right.

"What are you doing?"

"I want to help Lydia." He raised an eyebrow and the action suggested the question "Is that so wrong?"

Lydia turned away wide eyed and sighed. "It's my job as your fairy-doctor to do this. It's not your responsibility."

"Lydia. Are you so against accepting my help?" He asked pitifully, leaning towards her even more.

"Y-you're too close Edgar!" Lydia was momentarily stunned but got over it quickly."A-all right. You can help...if you want. But I need to concentrate so please be quiet!"

She turned back to her work but when her eyes flickered back to Edgar she saw him smiling and looking at her. Now why did he seem just the tiniest bit overly pleased with himself? She groaned softly and they both continued working. For once, the both of them concentrating.

Ten minutes later there was a knock on the door.

"Ah. Come in." Raven opened the door.

"Lord Edgar-sama. Miss Lydia. The young lady is awake."

"Oh!" Lydia breathed a sigh of relief "Good. How is she feeling?"

"She was trying to move about as soon as she awoke. I requested that she not push herself. As the doctor ordered." He seemed to add that last part on rather quickly. Lydia thought.

"I see. We'll go introduce ourselves then."

"Edgar-sama, would you like me to prepare some tea?"

"Yes. Thank you Raven. Please bring some more medicine in for her too."

Raven nodded and walked away down the hall.

Lydia stared after him for a moment, then stood up and set off in the direction of the guest's room with Edgar. Time to officially meet the mystery girl.

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A/N: I feel accomplished. :) I wrote this entire thing on my kindle again so that's why it's kinda short. Thanks again Hezerai and Leeann for your excellent help and opinions. It's kind of hard to write dialogue for Raven sense he's so formal and talks so little. But how do

You think I did? I don't know why there's that long scene with Edgar and Lydia. I just felt like adding it to make the story more 3 dimensional and less one-track. Anyway thanks again for reading and PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE review because otherwise I'll never know you've read this which will make me sad sense right now as I'm finishing this chapter there are NO real reviews. Which makes us cry. So yah. Review and you get applause! :D And a mention in the A/N of the next chapter. ;D Which reminds me :Thanks lizzyhearts you rock for being the first reviewer!