TITLE Laura Giles Part 2/?
AUTHOR Laura Curtis
PAIRING None so far
RATING G
SUMMARY Laura’s new watcher comes to take her to England.
DISCLAIMER Don’t know them, dammit. Don’t own them, darn it. Just having fun. I promise to return them unharmed.
Feedback Please
I made Rupert’s father’s name Robert because when I was looking for an R name I found that Rupert is French for Bright Fame. Robert is English for Bright Fame.
1972
It had been a hard two months. First her parent’s deaths in the car accident: now Mitchell’s death in another car accident. What was she to do? She had called the number that Mitchell had given her incase anything should ever happen to him. The person on the other end told her that he would be over to get her when he got the paperwork arranged. Her parents and Mitchell had made a contingency plan for her incase anything was to happen to them. An old friend of Mitchell’s would watch after her, keep up with her training.
She had made the phone call on Monday and it was now Friday and he was due any minuet. She had just finished packing all her clothes. She knew that he would take her with him to England. He would be her guardian now, her watcher.
Aislynn wondered what her life in England would be like. Would she go to the schools there? Would she have any friends? What would her new watcher be like, and as she sat there thinking a knock sounded on the door. She got up to answer it, expecting only her new watcher. What greeted her was more. She opened the door and there before her was not only an older man but a younger one as well.
The older one stepped forward, “Aislynn?”
Looking at the younger man for a minuet more, Aislynn smiled then turned to the older one. “Mr. Giles?”
The older one smiled at her, “My dear girl, please call me Robert. This is my son Rupert. We’ve come to take you back to England with us.”
“I know. Mitchell told me that you would. Won’t you come in? Miss Cavanaugh will be right back. She went to get something to finish supper.”
They walked into the living room and sat down on the couch. Robert spoke up, “May I ask who this Miss Cavanaugh is and how much she knows?”
Aislynn sat in a chair across from them. “Miss Cavanaugh is, was, my mom and dad’s lawyer’s secretary and as to how much she knows you will have to ask her. She has been helping Mitchell take care of me since they died. I didn’t do any training while she was around.”
“Alright I’ll talk to her. Now, are you all packed?”
“We got all my clothes packed but I didn’t know if I should pack my weapons. If it’s alright I would like to keep at least the sword that Mitchell gave me. It may only be a story he made up, but he told me that it was the training sword of a famous slayer. Also, I am a fan of Robin Hood, so I sort of named it Albion after Robin’s sword.”
Rupert put his hand over his mouth so she wouldn’t see him smiling.
Robert spoke up, “That’s fine my dear. You can take the sword with you. I believe he did have the early training sword of a famous slayer. Now, we must press on to some important business. The Council finds that the loss of your parents and watcher in so short of a time and in seemingly accidents to be alarming. So what we are going to do is this, when we leave her tomorrow Aislynn Blunk will no longer exist. For your safety all the paperwork has been changed to show that you are my daughter being raised by my ex-wife and her husband. And after the loss of them I am here to take you back to England with me and your brother. To the outside world you are Laura Giles. Is that alright with you?”
Aislynn thought for a moment before she spoke. “So you will be my new father as well as my watcher from now on?” Then looking at Rupert. “And you will be my brother? Will I have a new mom as well? Are there any more kids at home?”
Smiling Robert said, “One question at a time. Yes, I will be you new father and watcher, Rupert will be your brother, there are no more children at home and my wife died many years ago so you won’t have a new mother. Now when Miss Cavanaugh returns do not speak of this, alright?”
Aislynn nodded her head.
“Now if you can show where we will be sleeping this evening so we can refresh ourselves before she returns.”
Jumping up Aislynn smiled. “This way. We were only expecting you so we’ll have to fix another up for, Rupert?”
Rupert smiled nodding his head.
“That will be quite alright my dear. If you will show us where the linens are kept we will put the room to rights in no time.”
They followed Aislynn upstairs. At the first set of doors she pointed to the room on the right. “That is Miss Cavanaugh’s room and this was Mitchell’s room.” She pointed to the door on the left. “I figured you should be here Mr. Giles cause his books and journals are in boxes in the closet.”
“That’s fine, I need to look at his journals to see how far in your training he got.”
Nodding Aislynn grab Rupert’s hand. “I’ll take you to the room you’ll stay in.”
Rupert smiled and followed her.
They came to the next set of doors in the hall way. She pointed to the door on the left, “That’s the bathroom. And this door is the room you will be in.” she said pointing to the one on the right.
Rupert opened the door and saw that it was an adults room, probably her parents room. The furniture was more for adults than for a little girl. After walking in he looked at Aislynn and the instant he saw her eyes he understood. Everything looked in order until he looked at the bed. The blankets were rumpled, like a little girl had been lying on the bed. “Aislynn, was this your parent’s room?” he asked.
With a sad smile she nodded. “Yes it was. It’s the only bedroom not being used. The room next to this one is my room.”
He smiled at her. “That’s fine. I will be careful with their things, ok?”
Aislynn nodded at him then sat down on the bed and looked up at him smiling. “Rupert can I ask you some questions later?”
He sat down next to her. “What kind of questions may I ask, so I can be better prepared to answer them.”
After thinking for a moment she looked at him again, “Things about England. Where we will live? What’s your house like?” She got a look of wonder in her eyes. “Do you live in a castle?”
Laughing Rupert hugged her. “I would love to answer your questions later. And to start, no we don’t live in a castle. My, our, father will want you to ask him questions as well.”
“Does having a little sister bother you? I don’t want to come between you and your father.”
“No you won’t come between Father and I. One thing you will learn is that in England Fathers and sons are not as close as Fathers and sons are here in America. So don’t worry about it. I know that as your Watcher, he will devote most of his time to you. And seeing how you are the second Potential he has had, I have seen before the amount of time he will spend with you. As I will one day spend with my Potential, if I am granted one.”
“I’m his second Potential, what happened to his first one?”
“I should let him talk to you about that. But I’ll try and explain. It’s not certain but it’s thought once a Potential reaches a certain age that she will not be called to be a slayer. Since recorded Watcher history no one over the age of 18 has ever been call to be a slayer. Now that doesn’t mean it didn’t happen before, just since recorded history. Father’s first Potential turn 19 years old three years ago. Father has been working in the Watchers Council for the last two years.”
“So she wasn’t killed? What does she do now?”
Rupert smiled. “No, all who reach 19 without being called go on to lead normal lives. She has gone on to college to become a teacher and she travels when she can.”
“Why a teacher? She could be anything.”
“The reason she wants to be a teacher is because some Potentials have problems in normal schools, what with the class work and Potential training, so she wants to help those who have to be removed from regular schools.”
About this time they hear the door downstairs close and a voice call out, “Aislynn? Have they arrived yet?”
Aislynn hopped up and ran down yelling, “Yea, they’re here.” Rupert followed her meeting his father by his door.
“How did it go with her?” Robert asked.
Smiling Rupert spoke up, “She’s a curious one. She wants to ask me questions about England and home later. She also asked about your previous Potential. I hope you don’t mind, I told her a little about Helen.”
“No, no that is fine. The better a rapport you develop with her the better we can pull off that she is my daughter and your sister. Also she has lost three special people in her life in a short time so she needs the support of a sibling to help her adjust. Now lets go downstairs and meet this Miss Cavanaugh. I think she is more than she seems. Mitchell hinted to this in his journals but didn’t explain.”
So down the stairs they went to meet her. When they reached the bottom they heard Aislynn talking a mile a minuet to whoever was there.
“And I get to go to England and see some of the country there. I hope we can go other places too, like maybe Italy or even Egypt.”
“Laura slow down. I hope you get to see those place too. I know you love watching those shows on Discovery and TLC.”
It was at that moment that Robert and Rupert came around the corner. Aislynn was standing in front of a woman beside the fireplace. She looked up and smiled at them. “Their here. This is Robert and Rupert Giles. Mr. Giles, Rupert, this is the lady staying with me, Miss Cavanaugh.”
Without turning around she spoke up, “Welcome to Eaton Mr. Giles. It’s been a long time.”
Robert looked at her in confusion, her voice seemed familiar. “What do you mean, ‘It’s been a long time’? Have we met before?”
As he said that she turned around and there before them stood a woman they had not seen in three years. Roberts formal Potential, Helen.
“Helen! What are you doing here? I thought you were in a school somewhere on the east coast?”
Helen walked up to both and hugged them. “I was, but when I had an opportunity to transfer here I jumped at it. My parents are here so I’ve been getting to know my relatives. I got a job at the law firm that her parents went to and got to know them. Then one day Mitchell came in with them. I remembered him from your house and he remembered me as well. When they asked to set up a guardianship I knew she was one. So I talked Mitchell into letting me hang around with him. An extra set of eyes on her, so to speak. Come and sit down.” Once they had all sat down Helen continued. “Then her parents were killed, which I don’t believe was an accident, I asked my boss if I could help with her. A female role model, so to speak. He said it was ok with him as long as it was ok with Mitchell. Mitchell and I had already talked so he okayed it. The only thing I didn’t expect was for him to die as well. And I know it was no accident.”
“How do you know it wasn’t an accident?”
“Mitchell and I talked about everything, especially his habits. The way he died looked like an accident but it went against his most important ‘foibles’ so I know it was no accident.”
“Which ones were they?” Robert asked.
“The drinking as well as the driving fast ones. You know he hated to drive faster than 45 mph. They determined the car was going 75 when it hit the tree, and they found a bottle of whiskey in the car. Good God Robert! Mitchell was the son of an alcoholic he hated what it did to his dad. For him to have been drinking was a joke and I told the cops this. When they asked how I knew I told them that my Mother and his Father were cousins so he and I were second cousins. But for some reason they didn’t believe me. I called the Council and reported to them what I knew. They told me that you were coming to get her and that I should stay and protect her til you got here. Robert, is she in any danger?”
“I’m not sure. At least the council isn’t taking any chances with her. When we leave here with her Aislynn Blunk will no longer exist. Everything is done and to the outside world it will look like she is my daughter and she has been living with her mother. I’m just here to pick her up and take her home.”
“If Aislynn Blunk no longer exists, what will her new name be?”
“She will be Laura Giles.”
All the time they were speaking Aislynn had been standing there with her mouth open staring at them. Finally she spoke up. “Are you really Mr. Giles’ first potential?”
That got they’re attention. Helen turned to her smiling. “Yes, I was. Robert and his family raised me, and he trained me. He is one of the best trainers there is, so don’t worry.” Looking back to Robert, Helen asked. “Will she have my room?”
When he nodded she turned back to Aislynn. “It’s a beautiful room with a big canopy bed and pale roses everywhere.”
It was then that Rupert moved and Helen looked at him. “Rupert, I wasn’t expecting you as well. How have you been? I swear you have grown so tall since I last saw you.”
“I’m fine thank you. And I have grown taller. I was shorter than you the last time. I will be starting at Oxford in the fall. Until then I will help Father with her training.”
“Oh that’s good. And you get the sister you always wanted. Hey if we’re going to eat tonight I had better get dinner finished. I knew you were coming Robert so I fixed some of your favorite dishes.”
“Is there anything we can do to help?” he asked.
“No, everything is about done so I have only to set the table and fix some tea to drink. I had to run out and get some tea, that’s where I was when you got here.”
“How about I help you finish in the kitchen and Rupert you help Aislynn set the table.”
They spent the rest of the evening getting caught up on old times and answering any and all of Aislynn’s questions. When she heard that they had horses she got excited to learn that she would get to learn to ride. Then it was bedtime.
Later after everyone had gone to bed and all was quiet Rupert was suddenly awakened by a noise. After years of training he came to full awake without seeming to be awake. It took him a moment to figure out what the noise was. When he felt movement on the bed he realized that Aislynn must be walking in her sleep. Because the first thing she did was to snuggle next to him then she said in a sleepy voice, “Daddy, I had a bad dream. Can I sleep with you?”
So as to not frighten her he just held her and didn’t say anything, least she wake up and be scared of him.
The next morning was a sad time for Aislynn. Not only was she leaving the only home she had ever known, she would miss Helen for they had become good friends. Then there was the fact that she would no longer be Aislynn Blunk, she would be Laura Giles from now on.
Helen was upset as well. Being with Robert and Rupert again after so long had been a home coming of sorts. “Promise me you will keep in touch now that you have my number and address.”
“And you keep in touch as well my dear. Now no saying her name, Aislynn, for her safety.”
“Time to go. Come for a visit when you can.” Then Robert hugged her.
Helen looked down at Aislynn. “I will miss you very much. Take care of these two for me, will you?”
Aislynn nodded her head, gave Helen a big hug and then followed Robert out the door.
Helen then turned to Rupert and hugged him. “You had best keep in touch.” she said. Then Rupert turned and left to join his father and new sister in the taxi.
As the cab started to pull away Helen spoke in a soft voice. “Dear Goddess protect them and help them to help her heal from the loss of her loved ones.” Then she closed the door behind her to finish settling the family’s affairs.
The Robin Hood legend I speak of is from the BBC series Robin Hood. Michael Pread played Robin the first two seasons then Jason Connery, Sean Connery’s son the third season. Robin’s sword is called Albion. The series didn’t happen until 1984-1986 so I am time warping here, sorry.
March 16, 1973
“Keep your eyes close, Laura. Rupert spoke up while leading her outside. “Just a few more minuets and we’ll be to where we are going.”
“You’re not going to play a trick on me like the last time Father had me blindfolded, are you? So help me if you do I’ll make you my sparing partner for a week, brother.”
“Oh, think you can take me do you? I’ll have you know that I have practiced longer than you have and I wouldn’t be so easily defeated, sister.”
After a couple of minuets they finally stopped and Rupert told her to keep her eyes closed while he removed the blindfold. Then he whispered, “Open your eyes.”
Just as she opened her eyes, she got nudged by something large in front of her. When Laura looked up there before her stood a beautiful horse. Wide eyed she reached up and petted the nose of the horse. “Oh Rupert, it’s magnificent! What is it, male or female? Is it mine? What’s it’s name?”
Laughing Rupert put his arms around Laura and gave her a hug. “Happy Birthday Laura! Yes it is yours and it is a she. Her name is Aislynn Fehr.” (Pronounced Fair)
She turned to him smiling then a look of concern crossed her face. “She has my name. Is that safe, to have her named that name?”
“Yes it’s safe. Here in England Aislynn is an old Celtic name. It means ‘A Dream’ so her name, in essence, means ‘A Fair Dream’. And I know that you have dreamed of having your own horse since you came here so the name is perfect for her.”
Looking back at Aislynn, Laura smiled really big because she saw the saddle on her horse. “Can I ride her? Do we have time before I have to go off for training?”
Rupert nodded his head. “Yes we can. Father has to go and take care of some Council business today so he said that we can laze about today.”
“Thank goodness a break once and a while is good.” Laura looked down at the ground for a moment while she gathered her thoughts. “Rupert, you are going to be going to Oxford this fall.”
Yes, I will. The only time I will get to come home is for breaks.” Seeing her frown he asked, “What is it Laura? What’s troubling you?”
“You’ll be gone and then it will be only Father and I. What will I do if he has to go to London and take care of Council business? If I stay here who will watch over me. I know I can always take the tunnel to the library to visit with Elizabeth. She has taken to me as if I was her granddaughter. I guess I just don’t want you to go, we have gotten so close. I’ll miss you.”
“Oh Laura I won’t be that far away. If you really need me that is. And Father will most likely take you to London with him. There is so much more to see there. And as for Elizabeth, I think she claims everyone as her grandchildren. She has no children of her own so she just adopts us all. Now stop worrying and let’s go for a ride.”
“Will Father be here later for dinner then cake and ice cream?”
“I’m not sure. He has missed a lot of my birthdays over the year, for one reason or another. But don’t worry Elizabeth promised to come over and celebrate with us. I have one more present for you. You know if we were real brother and sister that we would have a sibling bond between us.”
Laura nodded her head.
“Well Father knows a spell that will help us bond better. So if anyone was to do a spell to check on our story that you are my sister, they would find the bond between us and know we are related. We’ll wait until Father can be here to watch over me when I do it. But in the mean time you have to decide how you want the bond between us to feel.”
“What do you mean?”
“When two people bond they have a special feel within themselves associated with the bond. They say for soul mates that the feeling is like coming home, a completeness. I have already decided what I want my part of the bond to feel like. I love the smell of roses, and your room has roses it in so I am going to make the feeling of the bond the feel when I smell roses.”
“I’ll have to think on that one. Will we always be bonded?”
“No not always. If you become a slayer then the bond between you and your watcher will take over, as it should be. The bond between a watcher and a slayer has to be strong. The stronger the bond, the longer the slayer I likely to survive. The Council doesn’t prescribe to this belief anymore because for some reason slayers and watchers are not bonding like they use to in old times. But I have found the stories to be to true to ignore.”
“So shouldn’t Father and I have bonded this way by now?”
“There is no way of knowing if you will become a slayer or not. And even if you do, that doesn’t mean that Father would be your watcher.”
Laura started to ask another question when Rupert stopped her. “Now before you go off on asking more questions, let’s get my horse and go for a ride.”