eachdraidh | 002 ☙ [video]

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002 ☙ [video] | OTA

[War changes people, Mary Crawley included.

After her midnight ride from Caer Glaem the night of the jabberwock attack, she arrived a frozen mess in the land of the Elves. Nearly dead, they had taken her in and helped nurse her back to health. The whole experience had been surreal. Being in their realm made her wonder if this was what heaven was like. Everything seemed so bright, as if someone had turned the contrast up on the entire world. Whatever medicine they used on her worked, because she was as good as new within a week, feeling stronger than she had in years. They helped equip her and her horse before she set out. She owes them a great debt and she knows it.

She has since arrived in Parrais, where she knew that Anne would be, in order to seek shelter since the castle at Glaem has been damaged. Truth be told, she'd rather not go back there for a while anyway. While in the Elvenlands she had a lot of time to think and was subsequently able to act in Parrais. Mary has cut her hair, partly out of deference to the latest style back home and partly for practical reasons. She realizes that finding someone here to do her hair every day will be difficult. Mary also hasn't worn a corset since she fled Glaem and after several weeks without one, she has no plans to go back. A camisole suits her fine and again she's met with the obstacle of having no one to help her tie a corset anyway.

Congratulations. The war has successfully pushed Mary into the twentieth century.

She appears on the locket looking well-rested and back to being herself again.]

Hello to anyone who may be seeing and hearing this broadcast. I was not able to properly introduce myself last time I used this device. [Since she was fleeing on horseback through the frozen landscape.] I am Lady Mary Crawley, daughter of the Earl of Grantham. Firstly, I would like to thank the Elves for their hospitality and care after I arrived in their lands following the attack on Caer Glaem. Your generosity will not be forgotten by me. Secondly... [She pauses here for a moment, gathering exactly what she wants to say.] I wish to know if I may help in any way now that the battle is over. I'm staying in Parrais for a while so anything in this region would be well-suited. I know... a bit about farming, actually, and the running of an estate. I also have a small bit of nursing knowledge thanks to my sister and the experience of a war back home.

Please let me know of a way that I might be helpful.

[Not only has the war pushed her into the twentieth century, it might also have caused hell to freeze over. Mary's not usually the helpful type, though maybe the healing she received from the Elves is causing her to want to pay it forward. Or maybe she just doesn't want to sit around bored all day. There are only so many shops to visit and books to read. They don't even have formal dinner here. At least back at Downton she had responsibilities and tasks to complete.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I agree. I've enjoyed some hospitality of these monarchs and other peoples of this land, but this is not my country and the monarch is not my King.

[Mary is loyal to England, King George and her family. The Seelie aren't going to get much of a fighter out of her.]

I am afraid I do not know the history of the stewardship of Grantham save that it is in England, mademoiselle. I also must beg your forgiveness for how rude I am. My name is Lia de Beaumont.

[Without formal introductions it is so difficult to let it go by the wayside.]

[Indeed. Plus being introduced over this device is a bit awkward.]

I'm pleased to make your acquaintance, Miss de Beaumont. [Mary will go with 'Miss' until she can get some more information.] I take it you are from France originally?

Yes. Versailles, most of the time since it is spent at Court. I have spent time in Russia and in England as well. Might I inquire who rules England?

[She's slowly becoming aware of the time flow.]

The year I come from is 1923 and our King is George V.

[Honestly at first meeting people from all different time periods was strange, but now it's becoming fun for her. She likes guessing what time period people are from before they tell her.]

That is quite a few years after when I am from, it seems.

[Really she should be used to this by now, shouldn't she?]

George III reigns in England, the last I visited.

That is several hundred years before me.

[George III was mad and lost them the colonies, but she's just gonna.. gloss over that.]

How do you find this place as compared to France?

I feared as much. I seem to be behind quite a many people, in this place.

[She at least knows he's kind of crazy, thus far. No need to hide that.]

I find it...almost archaic, actually. More magic and more strange creatures and there is the pomp of the Court but none of it is as I remember. Perhaps it is homesickness speaking. How do you find it?

I agree about the archaic nature. I feel as though I've rejoined medieval times, mixed with some sort of fairy tale. We have a lot of conveniences in my time that make life much easier. Being without them here is rather irritating.

I had to abandon my corset in favor of something I could lace myself. I am so used to the creature comforts I should probably be ashamed.

[And it's so reassuring to hear other people are missing the comforts of home.]

Are you surviving well in this place, Mademoiselle?

[That produces a smile from her.]

I did as well, actually. Although in my time, many women are doing so for other reasons. But there is no practicality here. The servants are few and far between.

I'm.. managing, I suppose. I fled Caer Glaem after the attack and nearly froze to death.

Women have decided to abandon the corset? How interesting, though I must admit I would still prefer to wear one. There is something very securing about steel.

[In her personal opinion.]

Freezing to death would not be an excellent start but that is how we must learn, unfortunately.

The security is comforting, I agree, but styles do change, as you know.

[And she's found so far that the camisole offers her a much better range of movement.]

Yes, well, I survived. Thanks to the Elves. I ended up riding straight into their territory.

They do. Skirts already seem to be getting quite a bit wider and more ostentatious with the Marquise at the helm of the movement.

[And Lia wants to be fashionable, her wedding gown is proof of that, she thinks, but she has to draw the line somewhere.]

Elves? Do tell. That sounds positively fascinating.

They are getting smaller and shorter in my time. Again, we seem to be moving towards comfort, so I suppose I should be thankful for that.

[She smiles, thinking it amusing that she's telling a story about how she met Elves. When did this become her life?]

Well, they're not like the ones who work with Father Christmas. They're very tall and thin and all of them are exceedingly beautiful, even the men. When they walk, they're so silent it's like they're not actually touching the ground.

Quite the opposite from mine where they become wider and longer.

[But oh Lia is so interested in the elves.]

They sound almost like spirits. Magical...though that would be the definition of an elf, would it not? But they were kind to you?

They were mistrustful of me at first because I was a stranger who had galloped uninvited into their land, but they were very kind when they agreed to take me in. I have no idea what medicines they used on me, but I regained my strength quite quickly and actually felt better than I had in years. It must be, as you said, magic.

You must have been quite fortunate indeed. I have heard of many who wandered into the wilderness never to be seen again.

[But that was Russia. This place may be slightly more civilized.]

I am glad for your health, mademoiselle. Do you plan to return to the elves in the future?

[Mary agrees. Russia does seem somewhat uncivilized.]

Thank you. I may visit them again if they will receive me. I owe them my life.

Are you also a member of the Seelie court?

I am, for what precious little that means to me here. I suppose it should mean more but it is rather difficult.

[Yes, definitely she's going to go searching for elves one day.]

It honestly doesn't mean much to me either. I am a subject of the British monarchy and my loyalty is ultimately to them.

[Her opinion of the monarchs here is waning. What sort of people would bring others into their world and make them fight a war? Having to flee on horseback from a damaged castle isn't what Mary considers to be hospitality.]

Have you heard that Her Majesty Elizabeth of York is here?

I have not. Elizabeth of York was a British queen...many years ago, even for me, was she not?

[Lia is not as versed in British monarchs as in French.]

Yes. She is the mother of Henry VIII, though I don't think he is known to her yet. Can you imagine meeting someone here who knows your future? Knows of the son that you don't yet have?

[Personally, it frightens her a bit. God forbid someone from her future come and tell her something horrifying.]

I can imagine. I am several hundred years behind most others. I do not know but I fear what will become of my beloved country in the years to come.

[She's heard rumblings. But nothing concrete.]

What do you fear is on the horizon?

[Robespierre and beheadings, no doubt.]