A/N: If I had realized how life was going to go I wouldn't have started posting this story until it was further along. On the other hand, without your encouragement I might not have continued it when real life got hard. I'm posting as often as I can. Sorry there is so much time between chapter and thank you so much to those who have reviewed.
Mary Jones arrived in good time and Elizabeth presented her with the feather. The healer's eyes widened as she took it reverently from Elizabeth whispering, "Mr. Bennet must be deeply worried for Daskalos to give this."
Elizabeth was stopped by her own embarrassment from correcting the impression and the healer nodded saying, "This will make all the difference. I will need a kettle full of boiling water."
Elizabeth was quick to see to the kettle, a task which did not occupy her too much to notice how carefully Miss Jones worked in cutting off the very tip of the feather and grinding it into a fine powder. When all was ready she brushed it carefully into a bowl and added the boiling water. "first we will have her breathe the steam. Help me sit her up."
The two of them tended to Jane through the night and in the morning Elizabeth had the pleasure of being able to send a favorable answer to the inquiries which she very early received from Mr. Bingley by a housemaid, and some time afterwards from the two elegant ladies who waited on his sisters.
"What she needs now," said Miss Jones, is undisturbed rest, "I am going to put her into a deep healing sleep. You ought to rest as well, or take exercise. She will not wake for several hours."
Elizabeth had been considering requesting her mother visit Jane but quickly dismissed the idea in light of the healer's advice. With the advice toward herself, she was happy to comply and soon set out on a walk. She walked in the direction of the aerie hoping she might catch a view of one of the Griffins flying in or out but in this, she was disappointed, and not having been introduced to either she could not visit within. She was just on the point of turning away when she heard a loud screech. The unmistakable sound of a griffin in pain.
All thoughts of proper etiquette forgotten Elizabeth rushed up the steps. Georgiana was alone inside holding up a front leg at an awkward angle. She screeched again.
Elizabeth made her a low courtesy. "I hope you will forgive the intrusion but if you will allow me, I would like to help." As she spoke she focused on projecting her desire to be of service. She knew the griffin would not understand her speech, but she had found with Daskalos that if she focused on projecting an emotion to him he would often respond accordingly, and speaking helped her to do so.
Georgiana eyed her warily. Elizabeth lowered her eyes and dipped even lower. "I am no threat. I would like to help." She held the curtsey so long she was in danger of falling over when Georgiana finally gave her a slight bow[1].
Elizabeth stood and approached her slowly. "May I see?"
Georgiana extended a claw and upon her examination, Elizabeth found a splinter of bone embedded behind one of the talons.[2]
"Those can be quite painful. Do not worry I have done this many times. I only need to find a few things." She made another curtsey before stepping away and examining the nearby shelves. "It should be in an obvious place…ah." She found the tool she needed to remove the splinter and a bottle of the distillation that would stop the bleeding and prevent infection.
She returned to Georgiana. "May I?"
Georgiana gave Elizabeth her claw. The trick to removing a splinter was to be quick and confident. The ointment needed to be applied as the splinter was removed before the griffin could pull her claw away. Otherwise, she would likely do more harm than good. There would be no second chance.
"Ready? One.. two…done."
Georgiana reared back on her hind legs with a loud screech, beating her wings as if she would try to fly. Suddenly Elizabeth was shoved. She flew several yards and fell to the floor. Mr. Darcy was between her and Georgiana. He was speaking softly to Georgiana in a tone that was almost like a song, "Hush darling, hush darling, all will be well, and all will be well, all manner of things will be well. You are safe. I am here. Hush darling, hush darling…"
It took Elizabeth a moment to realize Mr. Darcy had been the one who pushed her out of the way. Georgiana stopped beating her wings and returned to four legs but was still fidgeting and agitated. Mr. Darcy stroked her neck, "Shhh, shhh, all is well. Miss Bennet is going to stand up now. Slowly Miss Bennet, slowly, slowly, now slowly back out of the room, do not turn your back on her.
Elizabeth resented his assumption that she did not know how to conduct herself around an agitated griffin but she did as he directed and waited for him on the ground. It was not long before he joined her. His face was white with anger. His voice harsh. "What in God's name were you doing? Do you know what they would have done to her if she had attacked you? What happens to a griffin that harms a human?"[3]
"I do and however detestable for the griffin I do not imagine I would enjoy the attack any more than the griffin would enjoy the result."
"Miss Bennet, this is serious. How could you be so foolish as to provoke her?"
Elizabeth could no longer keep the anger out of her voice, "I was not provoking her I removed a splinter. She was in pain!"
"Which is why I was returning to her. Do you think I would be unaware my bonded was in pain or fail to come to her as quickly as possible?"
This gave Elizabeth pause. In truth, she had not been thinking of anything beyond the griffin's pain. She answered in a calmer tone. "She would not have hurt me. She was rearing back trying to get away from the pain, not being aggressive."
Georgiana flew to the ground and stood near Mr. Darcy. She rubbed her head against him making a soft cooing noise and he visibly relaxed. She held her claw out toward him and he examined the talon. "You treated the wound?"
"Of course."
Georgiana extended her talon and Darcy examined it closely. "It is well done. Have you removed splinters before?"
"From my father's bonded. Many times."
"Even so, you should not assume an unacquainted Griffin will allow you the same liberties your father's bonded does."
"I assumed nothing. She bowed to me and extended her claw."
Elizabeth had the satisfaction of seeing Mr. Darcy look surprised and added, "I hope you will excuse my interference it was kindly meant. I assure you the mistake will not be repeated, and now, if you are through reproaching me, Mr. Darcy, I will continue my walk."
She curtsied and was on the point of turning away when Georgiana butted her head against Mr. Darcy and he said, "We would not wish to detain you but if you would give us the pleasure of your company a little longer. I believe my bonded wishes me to request the honor of a proper introduction."
Elizabeth was surprised he could speak so after the words they had exchanged but not wishing to lose the opportunity she replied that the honor would be all hers.
Mr. Darcy bowed. "Georgiana of Pemberley, bonded of Fitzwilliam Darcy, I present Miss Elizabeth Bennet of Longbourn, daughter of the bonded of Daskalos."[4]
The usual forms of politeness were obeyed and Elizabeth spoke with sincere enthusiasm of her pleasure in the introduction. Mr. Darcy assured her of Georgiana's equal pleasure, (though Elizabeth thought she detected a tone of incredibility). He went on to say, "Georgiana wishes me to inquire after the health of your sister."
"She is much better. I thank you for asking and even more so for the feather. It made all the difference."
"We are glad of it."
"I did not expect to see you on my rambles or I would have brought the feather with me."
"Do not trouble yourself. I did not expect you to have an opportunity before this evening at the earliest. Miss Bennet, may I ask how you came to be in a position to offer Georgiana your assistance? I came as soon as I felt her distress and I was not far away." His tone was now one of curiosity rather than accusation.
Elizabeth replied, I was walking near the aerie, in the hopes of seeing one of the griffins in flight, and I heard her cry out.
He looked as if he were expecting her to say more and after a short pause, she added. "So I went up to see what was wrong."
He still looked confused, "How could you have known something was wrong?"
"As I said I heard her cry out."
"Surely you do not claim to have understood her speech. Griffins often screech."
"Not as speech as such. But their cry when they are in pain is different than any other sound they make. Have you not noticed this yourself?"
"I have not. I admit I am skeptical."
"Perhaps because of your emotional bond you have never needed to pay much attention to Georgia's cries and therefore have not noticed the distinction."
"That could be but if it were possible to distinguish the sounds griffins make I find it unlikely the skill would not be more widely held. It would be common knowledge."
"Are you claiming that if you do not know of a thing others must not either?"
He smiled. "I make no such claim. But it does seem unlikely I would not have heard of it until now."
"I would think it more unlikely the very person who would make such a claim might happen upon your bonded at just the moment she had a splinter. Especially as we had no prior acquaintance."
"A fair point." After a short pause bowed, "We have detained you long enough. I am glad your sister is feeling better."
Elizabeth thanked him and ran gaily off, too grateful to be away from him to be bothered by the abruptness of his dismissal and rejoicing, as she rambled about, in the hope Jane's soon being well enough to go home.
(o)
Darcy stood watching Miss Bennet run off feeling a wave of affection for her from Georgiana.
"It was brave of her, and kind, in a foolish sort of way. I wonder that she has so much experience removing splinters. Her father ought to be caring for his bonded himself." Darcy ought to have taken offense at her caring for his bonded, from anyone else he no dought would have been offended by some of the things she said but Elizabeth Bennet had a mixture of sweetness and archness in her manner which made it difficult to be affronted and he considered their conversation with some pleasure. It was rare for him to find someone willing to pay him the compliment of engaging in rational debate.
He was glad the feather had helped her sister for his own sake as well as her's. It was becoming increasingly difficult to sort out his own feelings from those he was experiencing as a result of his bond. He could almost imagine that, if not for the inferiority of the Miss Bennets' connections, he would be in some danger. The sooner Miss Elizabeth Bennet was away from Netherfield the better off he would be.
"…I do not imagine I would enjoy the attack any more than the griffin would enjoy the result." Darcy chuckled softly at the memory of her words.
1 Both male and female griffins bow. Whether because griffins would find it difficult to curtsey or simply because they do not see the point is unclear.
2 A common injury among griffins and one that can easily become infected if left untreated.
3 Before griffins started bonding with humans they were regarded as dangerous creatures, second only to dragons, and, like dragons, had been hunted nearly to extinction. By the regency period, people had come to accept bonded griffins as "tame" but one who attached a human would be instantly put to death. It wasn't until later eras that animal rights groups managed to put a stop to this practice in most countries.
4 The griffin population has never grown to the point where there is any need for surnames. Humans during this time period would often add details like this to make up for the lack of formality.