Reunited

Chapter 3: Reunited

Lyra watched with despair as Will turned and ran at the sight of her. She felt a tug in her heart telling her to follow him, but her head told her to let him go, while the dark voice inside her says that he doesn't love her anymore. Conflicted and confused she excused herself from the grip of Athen to grab a refreshment.

As soon as she turns from him she runs straight into a familiar face, lined with age but still carrying the caring smile she had come to love.

"Mary?!" The shock and excitement in her voice apparent. "Mary..." she repeated in wonder and joy to see such a trusting and understanding face after so many years of semi-loneliness. Lyra rushed into her arms and clung tight, just to make sure the friend in front of her was real.

The older woman returned the desperate hug with one of her own, clinging to old memories that sat in a special corner of her mind, hidden from pain and sadness by new memories. "Lyra, child..."

"Mary, what are you doing here! And was that really, actually Will?" More questions wanted to pore from her lips, but she stopped herself in case she overwhelmed the frail-looking lady.

"You were listening to the speech Will gave, right?"

"Well, yes, but-"

"Then you should have most of your answers already."

Lyra stood still as the knot of questions in her mind unfolded into a glistening web of answers that she hadn't noticed before. But there are always other things lectures can't give you.

"Ok, but now you must tell me how you and Will have been!"

"We've been fine, though a bit lonely without you. But at least we had each other. How were you?"

"At first it was lonely, but I still have the witches and the bears who come and talk with me, and a lot of my friends at Sophia's understand as well."

The loneliness was a lot bigger than she had told Mary. Although she had many friends who had experienced the battles first hand, none of them shared the same laughs and the cries and the pain that she went through on her journeys with Will. Seeing him again had made her overwhelmed with happiness.

Until he ran out.

"Did Will, well, I mean, you know-"

"Date anyone?" Mary gave a soft chuckle. "You'll have to go ask him yourself." The scientist gestures towards the hall entrance. Lyra gulped.

"A-Are you sure he wants to see me? He ran away when he saw me. Mary..." Lyra started getting worried. "What if he hates me? Or he doesn't love me anymore?" She had tears in her eyes from the thought of never seeing him again, especially after she was just so close...

"You worry too much. Why would he hate you? You never did anything wrong. Now swallow your fears and go see him. You have no idea how much he misses you, too." Mary smiled warmly. Now the adopted mother of Will, she knew how much pain he carried, and how much he needed to get off his shoulders. And the young woman in front of her could fix all that.

After a few shakey breaths she pushed out her chest and swallowed "I will." Despite how much she was trembling, she picked up Pantalaimon and walked towards the exit, desperately hoping that he really did want to see her.

"It'll all be ok, Lyra." The pine martin whispered, and she looked up to the star-speckled sky, hoping he was right.

...
Will stared straight ahead. He wondered why he even thought that she would still be single. Her personality, looks, laughter, all of them now given away to another man. Of course, it wasn't as if he hadn't dated over the past years. But all it did was drown out the longing he felt, to feel Lyra in his arms again.

The breeze rustled his hair and he placed his hand onto Kirjava's fur. He remembered the time she had done the same thing, touching his very soul and something else along with it. Sighing, he knew he couldn't stay away from the party much longer before some fangirl or professor would come looking for him. 

The sound of approaching footsteps echoed into the night air. They were soft, as if trying not to be heard, but in the still silence of the park, every crunch made him flinch. He prepped himself and stood up to turn around, freezing at the sight before him.

"Hello there, Will."

...

Her heart was pounding so loud that if Will hadn't heard it yet, he was deaf. Not running to him took all her willpower, and keeping a straight face was even harder. He had changed since the last time she saw him. His jawbone was more defined, his eyes sharper, and hair slightly longer and wilder. He looked strong and sturdy, and held himself with a quaint sort of authority, like Tarzan, only less naked.

"Hello there, Will." A single tear streaked down the side of his face. "So you must've missed me, huh?" Letting Pantalaimon slide to the ground, she stepped forward and pulled him into a crushing hug. Sobbing into his shirt, Lyra hoped that he still loved her.

"Lyra..." His arms wrapped tightly around her waist. "Lyra, what's wrong?"

"Do-do you still love me, Will?" Pulling back from their embrace, she stared right into his brown orbs, hoping for an answer.

"W-what?" She could feel his heartbeat falter against her chest. Feeling crestfallen, she pulled away completely. "Don't you have a boyfriend?"

"Of course not silly!" She looked downwards. "You are the only one I've ever truly loved."

Will's eyes widened. "Then who was the guy you were dancing with?"

"Oh, that guy? He was my dance partner for the night. Its lonely being at a formal with no one but yourself." She grinned and elbowed him in the ribs. "Don't tell me you were jealous?" 

"Nooo..." He mumbled under his breath. Looking up suddenly, he grabbed her chin and tilted it upwards. Before Lyra knew what was happening, he pulled her into a kiss. Her lips moved against his, remembering the days they had spent together when they were young. It was a soft kiss, that promised longer and more passionate ones in the future. They broke apart, slightly panting, staring into each others faces. 

Will sat down and patted the bench next to him. She sat down next to him and giggled. After all that time, he was right here with her. Time was on their side now, and so she leaned her head on his shoulder, staring at the lake in front of them, looking towards a brighter future together.

Reunited at last.

...

This is the first fanfic I've ever finished :), and thank god its over. Writing is very hard. I might do an epilogue in, like, ten years time, when my writing has improved and is actually reasonable. Until then, ~Silver