A Stop in Oxford

Before you read this story, just know that I do not own His Dark Materials. Only my OC. Please let me know what you think as I proceed with this story and feel free to send over any ideas.

Mia stared down at the land below, feeling the wind in her brown hair, the feeling of freedom flowing through her nostrils and into her lungs. It was exciting.

"Still loving the sight Astar?" She asked her daemon in his fox form.

"Not as much as you Mia,"

"I'm so excited to meet dad's bear friend. What do you think Iorek Byrnison will be like?"

"Well, he's an armoured bear for starters. An outcast to be exact,"

"What do you suppose he was exiled for?"

"You know your dad has never told you that. Why don't you ask him?"

"You're right I could,"

"See you're quite excited to meet Iorek when we get to Trollesund," dad's voice said from behind.

"Yes very,"

"When we get there, Mia, I do not want you asking Iorek why he was exiled. It would bring up some bad memories for him and I don't want to hurt him. You understand?"

"Yes. What was he like when you met him?"

He leaned over the rail next to me. "Oh you know. Short-tempered but loyal and brave. He never backed off from a fight. He was such a brave bear the night he saved me and Hester,"

"Did he ever meet mum?"

When she asked that question, she noticed that her Dad was quite quiet. She immediately wished she had never asked that question.

"No...but I think she would have admired him very much,"

Mia noticed her father's daemon Hester (an Artic hare) looking rather quiet as well. She thought of her yearning for her mother's daemon. Astar became a rabbit and hopped over to her to nuzzle her. She nuzzled him back. Mia felt his love for her through their bond and through that she felt her dad's love for me.

There was a sudden racket behind us. Dad went to look at the gas tanks. "Oh dear," he said.

"What is it dad?"

"It seems we're going to have to make an unscheduled stop in Oxford," dad said. "We'll need to get some more gas. The balloon had used more than I anticipated. In the meantime, we should get some more food as well,"

"Oxford?!" You squealed. "I've always wanted to go there,"

"Don't get too excited. You know there are Magisterium officials around. They can be a bit..." he hesitated.

"...sceptical of newcomers," he said. "Before..." his voice broke. "...before we started travelling together, I tended to ah...get into trouble,"

She smiled with humour. She always loved hearing dad's adventures. And if felt a relief to be a part of them.

He turned a valve and the balloon started descending down at a slow pace. The more they came down, the more magnificent the view was. They saw more buildings and more panels where we saw dozens and dozens of Gyptian boats.

"Look at all those boats down below," You pointed at all the boats along the canal.

"Such a massive number," dad said. "I'm goanna park the balloon near that college," he pointed to a magnificent building with ancient spirals and statues.

"I bet you that's a college. Doesn't look like the ones back in Texas?"

"You're right,"

They descended to an aeronaut bay not too far from the ports or what looked like the market area. They exited the balloon and she sucked in a gust of fresh Earth air through her nostrils. She pulled her medium-length hair in front of her shoulders and pulled her headband back at bit.

"It's beautiful," She said.

"In the air. But down here...it doesn't give as much detail as being in the sky does,"

"I agree," Mia looked around and saw market stalls not a long distance away.

"Could I go and look around the market please?" She begged. He turned around and saw her pleading eyes.

"I can only let go if you promise to come straight back when I call for you. And remember..."

"I know. Stay away from Magisterium officers and pretend that my name is Louise Florence on a walk about the markets. I promise dad," She hugged him to make him feel comfortable. Astar gave Hester a nuzzle before She took off and Astar took the form of a falcon to fly alongside her.

The markets were near the giant college that they had spotted in the sky. It was more beautiful up close. She saw dozens of children rushing about from stall to stall. People looking up at zeppelins. And there were Magisterium soldiers walking about. She did not enjoy being around them. They were quite suspicious around newcomers.

"Remember to keep a good distance from them," Astar whispered in her ear, settling on her shoulder in the form of a ferret.

"Got it," She whispered. She went behind some stalls and made sure to stay hidden.

"I wish your dad would tell us why we're constantly on the move and we never settle down," Astar whispered.

"I do too," She confessed. She reached behind your shirt and pulled out a long golden chain necklace with a large eye pendent. "You don't think it's to do with my mother? Do you?"

"I don't know,"

"I wish Dad would tell me,"

"Perhaps after we meet Iorek, you could..."

"Astar...you've seen how hesitant he gets when I mention her. I could never break his heart by asking him to tell me,"

She continued on her way once the soldiers were out of sight. She took a turn and reached a dead end. She turned around only to be with the sight of two mean looking boys with daemons in the form of hawks.

"Would you move please?" She asked.

"You're not from around here," the shorter one sneered. "We know an Oxford girl when we see one,"

"I'm just a girl looking around. Now would you move please?"

"Of course," the bigger fatter one said. "In exchange for that necklace..."

She fumed and gripped it tightly. "No way! That's my mother's! And I'm not giving it up!"

"Looks like we'll have to make you," the shorter one said, punching his fists. Astar leapt off your shoulder and turned into a tiger cub.

"Your daemon doesn't scare us," the larger fatter one sniggered.

She felt tense. They took a step forward.

"Leave her alone!" a voice order from behind.

The boys turned and through the gap between them, she saw a girl in a short red dress with short brown hair and a boy in a black suit. A white ferret was on the girl's shoulder and a black weasel was by the boy's feet.

"Is that the way you treat newcomers?" the girl hissed.

"Why don't you leave her alone?" the boy demanded.

"You don't tell us what to do orphan girl and servant boy,"

"Hey, does the Master of Jordan College know that you boys throw eggs at his office?" the girl challenged.

Immediately they freaked out.

"Leave the girl alone, and he won't hear of it,"

The boys huffed and stalked away. The girl and her friend turn back to me.

"Are you alright?" the boy asked.

You were a little speechless.

"It's okay. We won't hurt you," the girl said gently. "I'm Lyra Belacqua, and this is Pantalaemon,"

"And I'm Roger," the boy gestured to himself. "This is Saecilia," his daemon was in the form of a dog.

"I'm Mia Scoresby. This is Astar. Thanks for saving us,"

"No problem. Those boys are always bullying newbies around the market,"

"How did you know I was a newbie?" She asked.

"We know everyone in Oxford. Every Gyptian, every professor, every local,"

"Wow, you must be friends with everyone then,"

"Most people," Roger said. "Where are you from Mia?"

"I'm from Texas,"

"Texas?" they both gasped at once.

"Yes,"

"You're a long way from home then," Roger said.

"I'm used to it. My father and I pretty much travel all the time,"

"How did you get to England?" Lyra asked.

"My dad's an aeronaut. We flew here on his balloon,"

"So, you don't have an education then?"

"I travel-learn,"

"You're quite lucky,"

"Thank you,"

"So, what brings you to Oxford Mia?" asked Roger.

"My dad and I had to make an unscheduled stop for food and supplies. And since we won't be here for long, I just thought I might look around the markets,"

"Where are you guys really heading?" asked Lyra.

"To the North,"

"The North?!" she squealed.

"I take it that you're desperate to go there,"

Down by her feet, Astar was having a conversation with Pantalaimon and Saecilia. They seem to be getting on really well.

"I am. I thought I would get the chance to go there after my uncle Asriel came a few days ago. But then he just left yesterday...without even saying goodbye," Lyra was glum and by the looks of her mad face, she did not like him a great deal. "You're quite lucky,"

"I'm sorry your uncle isn't exactly the family type," I said awkwardly.

"I'm used to it," Lyra said.

Roger gently took her hand. She clutched it tightly.

"Where do you two live?"

"We live in Jordan College,"

"In Jordan College?"

"I'm a kitchen boy," Roger said. "Lyra's a student who's been raised by the scholars,"

"How did you come into the care of scholars?"

"My parents died in an airship accident, so I was placed in the care of the Master,"

"Oh. I'm sorry to hear that," Mia apologised. "And your uncle didn't think to raise you himself?"

"Nope. He cares more about his work,"

"Where's your dad?" Roger asked.

"He's just getting the supplies. It won't be very long until we're off again.

"And your mother?"

Mia felt tense again. She clutched your pendant tightly.

A regretful face forms on his face. "I'm sorry...I didn't mean to..."

"It's okay," Mia interrupted.

"Don't suppose you two could show me around, could you? It's my first time in Oxford,"

"Sure," Lyra took my hand and she and Roger took me around the market. There were all sorts of cool things like music boxes, new foods and interesting books. I wish my dad let me having some money. All the stuff here was so interesting.

"There's so much here," Mia breathed. "Oxford is definitely not like Texas,"

"Where else have you and your father been?" Lyra asked.

"We've been to Asia and New Denmark. Now those places are so beautiful. I am never goanna stop travelling when I'm grown up and Astar's in his final form. What form do you guys think your daemons will settle in?"

"I don't want Pantalaimon to settle," Lyra confessed. "I want him to be able to change forever,"

"I do too," Mia confessed. "But somehow I have a feeling, he might settle as an Artic fox. Almost like how my dad's daemon Hester settled as an Artic hare. What about you Roger?"

"Maybe as a dog like the daemons of servants in Jordan College,"

"You can be much than a servant. If you could do anything else, what would you do?"

"I dunno. Maybe travel and explore like Lyra wants to,"

"Would you go North?"

"Yep. Have you ever wanted to go to Svalbard?"

"Yes. Not sure if my dad would allow me to Svalbard yet. It's quite dangerous,"

"It's bound to be with armoured bears," Lyra said.

"Speaking of armoured bears, we're going to meet one in the town of Trollesund,"

"Amazing. What's a bear doing in Trollesund?" asked Roger.

"He's an exile. My dad once met him when he went there for a private trip about three years ago. He got into trouble but if it wasn't for that bear he would have been killed. Now he's taking me around to meet him,"

"An exile?" Lyra repeated. "Why was he exiled?"

"I don't know. My dad won't tell me, and he's forbidden me to ask him when we meet him. He says it brings up some bad memories for him,"

"Mia!" dad's voice rung in my ears. "MIA!"

"Oh my dad's calling. Do you guys want to come and meet him quickly before we leave?"

"Yes please!" they squealed. But there was a sudden shriek of "Lyra Belacqua! Where are you?!"

Lyra sighed. "Not her again,"

"Who's that?" You asked.

"My nurse. Mrs. Lonsdale. She's so annoying,"

"MIA!" My dad continued calling. You wanted to talk some more with Lyra and Roger, but You had to go now.

"I'm really sorry. I've got to go now. It's been really wonderful seeing you guys. I hope that after we finish in the north we pop by to Oxford and I can tell you two all about it,"

"That would be lovely," Lyra said. "Well safe journey Mia,"

"Thanks. Thank you so much Lyra and Roger for showing me around,"

"It was lovely to meet you," Roger said.

"Bye!" Mia waved here hand and went off to find Dad.

What did you think of this first chapter? Please tell me what you all thought. Hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Prepare for the next chapters when Mia is about to go on a great adventure with Lyra.