Reunited

Chapter 1: Voice

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters except Athen. Don't sue me.

The end of the Amber Spyglass depressed me. Because I'm pretty sure the ending won't change, I decided to write my own Epilogue sort of thing.

...

Dame Hannah knocked three times on the door to Lyra's dorm room. On request by the girl, she had no roommate. 'Which meant no one to get her to classes on time' the teacher said silently to herself as she knocked a fourth time, on the forehead of a very surprised Lyra.

"Did you need something Miss?" The girl questioned; daemon curled around her neck.

"Ah, sorry, yes. There is a ball on this afternoon, and I'd like you to attend. There will be some important scholars there who might be able to help you expand your knowledge on the alethiometer, and it might do you some good to socialise."

"But Dame Hannah- "

"Let me speak. There will also be a band of explorers there who have been trying to travel between worlds. That should interest you."

"That's impossible. I'm not going to meet people like that. What they're doing is dangerous and stupid."

"No child. You are going. Besides I heard one of them is a doctor and has discovered a way of travelling through worlds without falling ill."

Lyra had some serious doubts about that claim, knowing first-hand how hopeless it was. Even if someone found a way to open a doorway, there was the Dust and spectres to worry about. But still... maybe there was still some hope.

...

Lyra attended St. Sophia's College in Oxford, one of the most prestigious schools in the area. That meant there was numerous events titled 'important' that she had to go to, most of them against her will.

But that didn't mean she necessarily had to stay at these reunions and get togethers. Most of them acquired useful back doors or windows that weren't guarded by the school security.

Unfortunately, tonight was different.

Tonight, every possible exit was blocked off by a teacher or barricade of some kind. Not that Lyra would have tried to escape. She felt as if something special was going to happen that night. So, she sat back and waited for something to happen, Pantalaimon sitting by her feet.

The girl had matured over the 7 years since she last saw Will and Mary's faces disappear through the window in Ci'gazze. She was lean and tall with hair down to her waist. The time spent a St. Sophia's had given her a sophisticated air and her face looked wiser and older than she actually was. Of course, she was now a magnet to any man that stood near her, just like her Mother.

She was first asked to dance by a handsome young man called Athen. She accepted and followed him to the dance floor.

It was a while later when the explorers arrived. Grateful to have an excuse to stop spinning around the hall, she let go of Athens hands and turned to watch them walk onto the stage at the front of the room.

It was too far away to see their faces properly, but they seemed tired and worn. Lyra tried to move forward to get a better view, but the crowd was thick.

One of the travellers had started speaking. It was hard to hear the exact words he was saying, she was too far away. Though something in his voice sounded familiar...

The speech went on for a long time and by the end of it most of the students had started chatting or dancing again.

The person who had given the speech stepped down from the stage and was almost immediately flocked by Lyra's classmates. Many of the girls that attended her college felt boy-deprived, and the doctor was quite a good-looking guy. Not that she had seen him yet.

Even though Lyra was desperate to hear the man's theories about travelling between worlds she didn't want to get between him and the mob of young women that surrounded him.

So, she went back to Athen and danced until his fan club started to disperse.

And wasn't she surprised at what she saw.

...

This chapter also turned out ok considering I was up till 2 am with half vision writing it.