EACHDRAIDH

[Waking up from being asleep for a year is much like coming out of a coma. It took Mary a few days to feel truly herself again, but now she's back and well and truly confused about what happened to her.

The last that she remembered, she had finally been able to smash the damn harp in her dreams and get some rest from the depression that constantly haunted her for weeks. One night she drifted off and the next thing she knew it was May... a year later. Obviously, much has happened and she wonders why she had to be the one to be put into a magical sleep and miss everything.

She experienced a dream, or what felt like a dream, during her sleep - that she was back at Downton and that she had interacted with her family members, even lived her life there for a year while her body was asleep here. The details of what happened are clear, though remembering it feels like watching everything happen through a veil over her face.

On the locket she appears rested, to say the least. She's bathed, washed her hair, and styled it so that she looks presentable. But there's confusion and a bit of fear in her eyes as she tries to get answers.]

Have I truly been asleep for a year? I fear this could be quite a long conversation, but what have I missed? And was I the only one afforded this privilege of missing out on a year of my life?

[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.]