What If? The Abyss

Asriel's daughter

Lyra paced up and down the strip of road, trying desperately to focus and clear her mind in order to ask the alethiometer a question. Will, slumped down on rock waited for Lyra to pose said question. Twisting the hand, Lyra asked the alethiometer the most important question of all: where is the adamant tower? She knew the name as Chevalier Tialys and Lady Salmakia seemed to always try and convince Lyra and Will to venture there. Therefore Lyra and Pan had deduced it was the station of her father's army. Unfortunately the Africans had whisked Mrs Coulter away on a gyropter which was impossible for Lyra and Will to pursue.

"I guess following them wasn't so wasn't so easy, was it Lyra?" Pan sighed as they anxiously awaited the alethiometer's response.

Upon reading and interpreting the response, Lyra breathed out:

"Well at least we are in the right world Pan...it says we should go North.....for quite a while. Oh I'm sorry Will we should stop maybe you're right."

 "No Lyra, you helped my find my dad and now I should help you find your mum." Will said firmly but kindly. Lyra smiled gratefully back at him.

TWO DAYS LATER...

Lyra and Will had finally reached the Basalt fortress, intimidated by its grandeur both dæmons  cowered slightly. A gallivespian and African guard headed towards the two children and Lyra urged Will to hide. In the form of a mouse, Pantalaimon whispered to Kirjava the plan. The plan was for Lyra to attempt to charm/demand her way to Mrs Coulter and although she didn't think that they would let her escape in the slightest, Will would sneak in and cut them out.

"What brings you here girl" The African guard grunted impatiently at Lyra.

"My name is Lyra Sil...Belacqua, I believe my father is here." Lyra knew full well Asriel's fate but decided to play dumb. The guard's face dropped and he whispered something inaudible to the gallivespian. 

Fearing what they were about to say to her Lyra quickly interjected, "Is your King here? He will know what I am here to say for I fear it is too confidential and I wouldn't want to worry you or get in trouble with father." She smiled innocently at the man and the gallivespian who sighed and went looking for the king.

"You're really starting to sound like Mrs Coulter", Pan whispered to which Lyra nudged him playfully, in disagreement. However, secretly she felt quite proud of the comment but suppressed it immediately in her mind. "Well they seem to be buying it anyway...carry on" Pan added, to which Lyra ignored him.

Minutes later, the King stepped out confused and aggravated. Upon seeing Lyra (and knowing exactly who she was) The king welcomed her inside and before the doors closed on them Pan saw Will dart behind a gyropter.

"You are Lyra yes?" The king asked welcomingly "Yes sir" she said bowing slightly as a sign of respect."I apologize Lyra but I'm afraid I've got some rather disappointing news for you. Unfortunately it seems your father is.."

"Dead." Lyra finished. Taken aback by the statement, The king asked, confused, for her to repeat that again. 

"Look," Lyra sighed "I'm here to see my mother, Mrs Coulter." The king shifted uncomfortably and exchanged glances with his dæmon. Pan and Lyra both sensed that he had no wish for Lyra to interact with her mother..or leave. Turning around suddenly, Lyra noticed that the door was bolted shut and they both knew that there were armed guards outside.

"May I ask why?" The king finally mustered. 

"To say goodbye," was Lyra's response. She smiled sweetly at the King and continued to plead with him reassuring him that she just wanted to part ways with her mother. Eventually, the king agreed but warned Lyra as no one fully trusted that woman. He lead her up the winding staircase to a jail like room, too comfy to be a cell but too barren to be a bedroom. He had a guard un do the lock and Lyra thanked him.

However, before Lyra was fully in the door and therefore out of earshot he said to a guard:

"Make sure she's out in 5 minutes."

Lyra could sense it, she was trapped.