4
:: September 23rd, 1931 ::
:: Oxford, England ::
Despite the late hour of the night (or perhaps because of it), the fire burned brightly, casting playful shadows on the cozy walls of the English townhouse. Two women sat in front of the fireplace, one of them cradling a sleeping toddler in her hands and the other looking strangely out of place in the simple yet comfortable setting. The first woman had an expression of slight bewilderment on her face as she peered down and gently stroked the slumbering child’s hair, as if she had never expected to encounter this other woman at all. The lukewarm cup of tea that sat on the small table between them was testimony to her surprise, as well as her less-than-tidy appearance.
The other woman, fashionably-poised with a severely thoughtful expression, was watching the pair with an almost unnerving intensity before the slightest of smiles graced her lips. “I’m afraid it was too much information,” she finally said, her French accent making her seem more exotic and out-of-place in the home. “I do apologize if I have frightened you.”
“No, no, of course not,” the woman said, looking embarrassed - after all, it was hardly a common occurrence that fashion mogul Coco Chanel would wander into one’s sitting room in the middle of the evening. “It’s just...well, I suppose my husband would be more knowledgeable about the subject than I would. I have no idea what is keeping him.”
“Personally, I think it would have been better if they had sent one of the gentlemen,” admitted Coco with a dismissive wave of her hand. Honestly, she didn’t know what these men were thinking - did they honestly believe that her straightforward wiles would persuade an English gentleman to help them with their endeavors? Of course, it had worked when she had met a wide-eyed Harry twenty years ago and even more recently with two new members of their circle - her friend Edward and his relative Hugh Grosvenor. While some would probably scoff at the idea of the king of the United Kingdom and a British duke being part of a secret plan to save existence, she personally thought that many of her peers’ titles allowed them to remain above suspicion.
Coco did wonder what was the point of this trip to Oxford however. Certainly she had better things to do with her time - her work in the fashion industry allowed her, like Mary, to listen to the gossip milling from different parts of the world (and to reasonably finance the research needed to create a city of illusion). Rumors of treacherous dealings in the magical community had risen sharply in the summer of 1929 right before the American stock market crashed - but strangely enough, the dark whispers had continued even after the world had plunged into an economic freefall. It was the reason why, as far as she knew, monsieur Einstein and monsieur Wells kept working along with those who had initiated this project in the first place.
If she hadn’t seen the effects for herself, she never would have believed any of of this and never would have believed it was worth it. Anna, Teddy, and Doyle had already passed along due to old age, and her beloved Boy, dead now twelve years, had been the victim of an accident that she had later been informed by Harry was no accident. How quaint and insignificant and easily destroyed their lives and the battles they fought were when compared to the reach of their enemy.
The other woman quietly rose to her feet, still cradling the sleeping child in her arms. “I apologize, but I must put her to bed. It is quite late.”
Coco nodded shortly as the woman vanished with the child who was beginning to sleepily fuss. Hands folded on her lap, she briefly glanced down to take note of the time. Hopefully, if all went as planned, she could leave the man in question the proposal of helping and return home to Paris - the others would work out the details. She wasn’t too interested on why there was a particular curiosity about this man. The only thing she knew was a message from a seer in the Nevernever about people who unknowingly provided gateways to other worlds.
Coco heard voices before she saw anyone. The woman had just returned to the room, her arms now empty of child, when the front door creaked open. Not one but two men entered, both speaking in low tones so as not to disturb anyone else the household, so engrossed in whatever conversation they were holding that neither of them noticed that there was a visitor in their midst until the woman quietly murmured, “Ronald...”
Despite the softness of her voice, it still seemed to carry and both men paused midsentence. The whip-thin man with the long narrow face smiled in a way that was obviously only reserved for the woman. “I am sorry for arriving back so late, Edith. Jack and I were having the most peculiar discussion...”
“That was what you said a few days ago, darling,” Edith said. Her smile grew slightly less warm when she turned her attention to the other man. “Good evening, Jack. Would either of you care for a cup of tea? I’m sure it must have been quite chilly out.” She smiled apologetically at Coco. “You as well.” It was only because of this did both men realize that there was another occupant in the room, even as she rose to her feet to study the both of them with a piercing eye.
“Yes, that would be nice,” Coco said. She rested her hand on the back of the chair she had been sitting in. “Perhaps we may talk more of my proposal once we are settled.”
A few moments and four cups of steaming hot tea prepared later, the four of them sat around the fireplace as night continued to march on. Coco was not one for repeating herself and after a few sharp glares at the two men who had understandably been surprised by her heavy accent, they had decided to listen to her fantastical story...and her offer.
“As I have said, it is not truly my offer,” she concluded, raising the cup of tea to her lips. She paused and gestured to the array of papers that lay neatly in front of them all, peering at them over the edge of the cup. “But a few of my associates believe that you, monsieur Ronald, could possibly help in a project of world-building. They are loathe to the details that would make such a feat possible.” Despite nearly two decades of working on the possible, there was a severe lack of detail in the city. Coco never proclaimed to know much about magic, but she suspected this was the reason why there was something unstable about the world. It was a piece of fabric that had all the necessary parts, but was missing the signature detail work.
“Madame, I am quite...flattered as to the opportunity,” Ronald admitted, looking at the sketched images on the paper before sharing a look with his wife. “But this is far too preposterous, what you claim. These items...and to prevent something that is...implausible at the most.”
“Monsieur, I can assure you - I am quite serious.” There was something in her words that dispelled any objection to that, and the other three occupants in the room shared looks.
Finally, Ronald said, “I have no desire to ever be involved in a war again, if what you say is true. There should be a measure of guilt for everyone involved, for who is to say who is right and who is wrong in that ordeal?”
The other man was resting his chin on his fist, looking lost in thought. After a moment or two, he sat forward and picked up two of the sketches - an illustrious-looking Grecian-styled box labeled only with the name “Pandora” and an ornate pocketwatch with a rabbit engraved on it. “If you had asked me merely a week ago what I thought of all of this, I would have readily believed you...” He chuckled faintly. “But I suppose the offer isn’t to me so my opinion hardly matters.” Coco pursed her lips and leaned forward slightly, expertly balancing the cup of tea on her lap as her dark eyes flashed.
“I have not come to argue - that is not my purpose,” she said, not bothering to hide her annoyance. “Can you or can you not help us?”
Edith and Ronald shared looks, while Jack only closed his eyes, a smile on his lips. Edith placed her hand on her husband’s lap just as he began to shake his head to refuse when the door opened again. To be exact, it never exactly opened - rather, someone walked out of the door itself as if it had been open the entire time. It was a breathtakingly beautiful girl who despite her young appearance had a shock of white hair and even more intense green eyes. She wore a fashionable dark green dress with a small hat sitting at a jaunty angle on her head, and didn’t seem at all concerned about her interruption.
Ronald jumped to his feet, exclaiming, “God Almighty!” while Edith’s hand flew to her chest. Jack too looked startled, rising to his feet just a few seconds after Ronald. The only person who didn’t look surprised by the pale girl’s appearance was Coco, who simply gathered the papers on the table and placed them back into the folder they were originally in.
“Pardon my intrusion,” the girl said with an embarrassed smile. “But I was under the impression that this meeting was concluding.”
“It is,” Coco said, rising. “We may have to look elsewhere for someone willing to do the detail work.” She nodded her head at the others. “Your hospitality was much appreciated, but I must bid you adieu.” She tucked the folder into her purse and rose to join the girl at the door, but a cough from behind made her pause. She tilted her head slightly to glance at one of the men out of the corner of her eye - he was looking from her to the newcomer and then back again with a look of pure wonderment on his face.
“This is all true then...?” When Coco nodded, Edith closed her eyes and quietly murmured a prayer beneath her breath. The two men shared looks before Ronald stepped forward, serious and determined. “What would you have us do?”
Coco looked to the girl who was really no girl at all - no human was that startling beautiful. However, when one was the daughter of Queen Titania and the lady of the Seelie Court, there was no mistaking the unearthly beauty that graced her features.
“I am so glad you asked.” A dazzling smile swept over Aurora’s face face as she entered further into the room and spread out her hands in a welcoming gesture. “Welcome to our alliance, Mr. Tolkien, Mr. Lewis.”
:: Oxford, England ::
Despite the late hour of the night (or perhaps because of it), the fire burned brightly, casting playful shadows on the cozy walls of the English townhouse. Two women sat in front of the fireplace, one of them cradling a sleeping toddler in her hands and the other looking strangely out of place in the simple yet comfortable setting. The first woman had an expression of slight bewilderment on her face as she peered down and gently stroked the slumbering child’s hair, as if she had never expected to encounter this other woman at all. The lukewarm cup of tea that sat on the small table between them was testimony to her surprise, as well as her less-than-tidy appearance.
The other woman, fashionably-poised with a severely thoughtful expression, was watching the pair with an almost unnerving intensity before the slightest of smiles graced her lips. “I’m afraid it was too much information,” she finally said, her French accent making her seem more exotic and out-of-place in the home. “I do apologize if I have frightened you.”
“No, no, of course not,” the woman said, looking embarrassed - after all, it was hardly a common occurrence that fashion mogul Coco Chanel would wander into one’s sitting room in the middle of the evening. “It’s just...well, I suppose my husband would be more knowledgeable about the subject than I would. I have no idea what is keeping him.”
“Personally, I think it would have been better if they had sent one of the gentlemen,” admitted Coco with a dismissive wave of her hand. Honestly, she didn’t know what these men were thinking - did they honestly believe that her straightforward wiles would persuade an English gentleman to help them with their endeavors? Of course, it had worked when she had met a wide-eyed Harry twenty years ago and even more recently with two new members of their circle - her friend Edward and his relative Hugh Grosvenor. While some would probably scoff at the idea of the king of the United Kingdom and a British duke being part of a secret plan to save existence, she personally thought that many of her peers’ titles allowed them to remain above suspicion.
Coco did wonder what was the point of this trip to Oxford however. Certainly she had better things to do with her time - her work in the fashion industry allowed her, like Mary, to listen to the gossip milling from different parts of the world (and to reasonably finance the research needed to create a city of illusion). Rumors of treacherous dealings in the magical community had risen sharply in the summer of 1929 right before the American stock market crashed - but strangely enough, the dark whispers had continued even after the world had plunged into an economic freefall. It was the reason why, as far as she knew, monsieur Einstein and monsieur Wells kept working along with those who had initiated this project in the first place.
If she hadn’t seen the effects for herself, she never would have believed any of of this and never would have believed it was worth it. Anna, Teddy, and Doyle had already passed along due to old age, and her beloved Boy, dead now twelve years, had been the victim of an accident that she had later been informed by Harry was no accident. How quaint and insignificant and easily destroyed their lives and the battles they fought were when compared to the reach of their enemy.
The other woman quietly rose to her feet, still cradling the sleeping child in her arms. “I apologize, but I must put her to bed. It is quite late.”
Coco nodded shortly as the woman vanished with the child who was beginning to sleepily fuss. Hands folded on her lap, she briefly glanced down to take note of the time. Hopefully, if all went as planned, she could leave the man in question the proposal of helping and return home to Paris - the others would work out the details. She wasn’t too interested on why there was a particular curiosity about this man. The only thing she knew was a message from a seer in the Nevernever about people who unknowingly provided gateways to other worlds.
Coco heard voices before she saw anyone. The woman had just returned to the room, her arms now empty of child, when the front door creaked open. Not one but two men entered, both speaking in low tones so as not to disturb anyone else the household, so engrossed in whatever conversation they were holding that neither of them noticed that there was a visitor in their midst until the woman quietly murmured, “Ronald...”
Despite the softness of her voice, it still seemed to carry and both men paused midsentence. The whip-thin man with the long narrow face smiled in a way that was obviously only reserved for the woman. “I am sorry for arriving back so late, Edith. Jack and I were having the most peculiar discussion...”
“That was what you said a few days ago, darling,” Edith said. Her smile grew slightly less warm when she turned her attention to the other man. “Good evening, Jack. Would either of you care for a cup of tea? I’m sure it must have been quite chilly out.” She smiled apologetically at Coco. “You as well.” It was only because of this did both men realize that there was another occupant in the room, even as she rose to her feet to study the both of them with a piercing eye.
“Yes, that would be nice,” Coco said. She rested her hand on the back of the chair she had been sitting in. “Perhaps we may talk more of my proposal once we are settled.”
A few moments and four cups of steaming hot tea prepared later, the four of them sat around the fireplace as night continued to march on. Coco was not one for repeating herself and after a few sharp glares at the two men who had understandably been surprised by her heavy accent, they had decided to listen to her fantastical story...and her offer.
“As I have said, it is not truly my offer,” she concluded, raising the cup of tea to her lips. She paused and gestured to the array of papers that lay neatly in front of them all, peering at them over the edge of the cup. “But a few of my associates believe that you, monsieur Ronald, could possibly help in a project of world-building. They are loathe to the details that would make such a feat possible.” Despite nearly two decades of working on the possible, there was a severe lack of detail in the city. Coco never proclaimed to know much about magic, but she suspected this was the reason why there was something unstable about the world. It was a piece of fabric that had all the necessary parts, but was missing the signature detail work.
“Madame, I am quite...flattered as to the opportunity,” Ronald admitted, looking at the sketched images on the paper before sharing a look with his wife. “But this is far too preposterous, what you claim. These items...and to prevent something that is...implausible at the most.”
“Monsieur, I can assure you - I am quite serious.” There was something in her words that dispelled any objection to that, and the other three occupants in the room shared looks.
Finally, Ronald said, “I have no desire to ever be involved in a war again, if what you say is true. There should be a measure of guilt for everyone involved, for who is to say who is right and who is wrong in that ordeal?”
The other man was resting his chin on his fist, looking lost in thought. After a moment or two, he sat forward and picked up two of the sketches - an illustrious-looking Grecian-styled box labeled only with the name “Pandora” and an ornate pocketwatch with a rabbit engraved on it. “If you had asked me merely a week ago what I thought of all of this, I would have readily believed you...” He chuckled faintly. “But I suppose the offer isn’t to me so my opinion hardly matters.” Coco pursed her lips and leaned forward slightly, expertly balancing the cup of tea on her lap as her dark eyes flashed.
“I have not come to argue - that is not my purpose,” she said, not bothering to hide her annoyance. “Can you or can you not help us?”
Edith and Ronald shared looks, while Jack only closed his eyes, a smile on his lips. Edith placed her hand on her husband’s lap just as he began to shake his head to refuse when the door opened again. To be exact, it never exactly opened - rather, someone walked out of the door itself as if it had been open the entire time. It was a breathtakingly beautiful girl who despite her young appearance had a shock of white hair and even more intense green eyes. She wore a fashionable dark green dress with a small hat sitting at a jaunty angle on her head, and didn’t seem at all concerned about her interruption.
Ronald jumped to his feet, exclaiming, “God Almighty!” while Edith’s hand flew to her chest. Jack too looked startled, rising to his feet just a few seconds after Ronald. The only person who didn’t look surprised by the pale girl’s appearance was Coco, who simply gathered the papers on the table and placed them back into the folder they were originally in.
“Pardon my intrusion,” the girl said with an embarrassed smile. “But I was under the impression that this meeting was concluding.”
“It is,” Coco said, rising. “We may have to look elsewhere for someone willing to do the detail work.” She nodded her head at the others. “Your hospitality was much appreciated, but I must bid you adieu.” She tucked the folder into her purse and rose to join the girl at the door, but a cough from behind made her pause. She tilted her head slightly to glance at one of the men out of the corner of her eye - he was looking from her to the newcomer and then back again with a look of pure wonderment on his face.
“This is all true then...?” When Coco nodded, Edith closed her eyes and quietly murmured a prayer beneath her breath. The two men shared looks before Ronald stepped forward, serious and determined. “What would you have us do?”
Coco looked to the girl who was really no girl at all - no human was that startling beautiful. However, when one was the daughter of Queen Titania and the lady of the Seelie Court, there was no mistaking the unearthly beauty that graced her features.
“I am so glad you asked.” A dazzling smile swept over Aurora’s face face as she entered further into the room and spread out her hands in a welcoming gesture. “Welcome to our alliance, Mr. Tolkien, Mr. Lewis.”