Title: –The Fall Of 1558-
Author: Me
E-mail: love_and_bruises@hotmail.com
Disclaimer: Roswell belongs to Jason Katims, and the other writers, and the other producers, and the 20th Century Fox guys, and even The Sci-Fi Channel dudes. I'm really only borrowing everything. I donÂ't own any of it...
Or do I? 
Category: M/L. AU. Sorta Period Piece. Hint: ItÂ's set in 1558!
Rating: PG-13
Summary: When Elizabeth is sent to live with the Sir and Lady Philips because of her fatherÂ's financial problems, she begins a relationship with a certain amber eyed boy. But will his odd pursuit and their petty bickering get in the way?
Part One - - -
London, England. The Year of 1558.
It had been the first storm of the fall season, the first indication that summer had ended and that winter was due to start in only a few short months. The grass was close to drenched and the leaves constantly trickled water off of themselves. It was a beautifully calming scene and all young Elizabeth wanted to do was watch as the small droplets of water fell and splashed on the grounds below her terrace. But, of course, she didnÂ't have much say in the matter... Since the morning that pasted, her nursemaid was waddling about, as quickly as she could, trying to get her chargeÂ's possessions cleaned and neatly packed for the journey ahead of her.
She was to leave just before night fall and already her nurse was complaining as she went about her work... Â"Your father will be expecting you in the hall in less than half an hour, Child, and all you can do is stand in the cold and watch the rainfall? Such nonsense! Come inside and finish washing up,Â" she explained in a hurry.
Her nursemaidÂ's appearance was one any person would expect. She was a short, plump, gentle and older woman, whose winkles told of her hard work and her heart, told of her great kindness.
Elizabeth, who was able to just barely hear the comment, took one last deep breath of chilled London fog and returned to her room. She sat down on the edge of her bed and crossed her arms over she chest, trying to place emotional stone walls around her. Â"IÂ've already told you, I donÂ't want any part in my fatherÂ's plans for me.Â"
Â"Child, you will wrinkle your dress! Lord knows I have not any extra time this evening...Â" The woman quickly came next to her charge and helped her stand. By now, Elizabeth was much taller but she still thought of her as the daughter she helped raise. Â"Now, you understand the reasons for your fatherÂ's decision, do you not?Â" The old womanÂ's voice became soft and comforting as she questioned the girl in front of her.
But the girl did not answer, only frowned and lowered her head.
Â"Child, this is for your own connivance. Your father must tend to business and it wonÂ't be good for you to stay here in this old place without any to look after you.Â"
The girl could do nothing but finally nodded. There wasnÂ't any disputing the plan that was already set into play and her fervent demeanor was slowly melting away as she stood in front of the one woman that she felt safest with.
Â"Everything will be well. I promise it, my Dear. Sir Philips is a good man. I had met his wife once. She will watch over you until your father gets this rubbish cleared away.Â"
Â"Where will you go Agnes? You do not have family any where near and...and...Â"
Â"You mustnÂ't worry about me,Â" the woman interrupted kindly. Â"I have a sister not to far from here. Your father will see to it that I arrive there safe and sound on his way.Â"
Â"On his way?Â" Elizabeth asked harshly and confused. Â"He is leaving London? But I thought...Â" Her father had promised her that he was going to stay at the Hall. That he was sending her away but that he would stay behind and look after things. When had he decided to leave?
Â"Never you mind, Liz. Never you mind.Â" AgnesÂ's voice instantly interrupted again, but this time it became some what cold and she wasnÂ't able to hide the stern look that flashed through her eyes, during her last words. And it didnÂ't go unnoticed by Elizabeth. Miss Agnes had been her nurse from the first day of her birth. She loved her as a mother and would not have spent a day away from her in her entire life, until this coming night. She knew her moods and reactions. And something was very wrong about the whole state of current affairs... Her father was keeping his business as quiet as possible and it even seemed that he had gone as far as lying to her... And Agnes knew why.
Â"IÂ'm sorry. I should have held my tongue.Â"
Â"Nonsense,Â" Agnes mumbled quietly, while trying to regain her earlier composure. Â"No harm done. You must only remember that business that is not yours should stay untouched. ItÂ's not for girls like you to meddle in.Â" She smiled quickly and kissed Liz on her forehead. Â"Now Child, we must get downstairs. If I am not mistaken Sir Philips should have already arrived...Â"
Â"Yes, Nurse.Â" Elizabeth answered, mechanically, for her thoughts were no where near the news that Sir Philips had arrived or that she was needed downstairs. But on the fact that within two short hours she was to set out with a complete stranger and come under his guardianship until her father was done with whatever he had to do. And even though she desperately felt the need to, she wasnÂ't letting herself cry or letting herself feel any sort of fear. She was to act her age and compose herself, just like she had always been taught. No matter what... But unfortunately, for Miss Elizabeth, that was much easier planned than set into actuality...
~:~:~:~:~
The walk out of her bedroom felt like it had taken ages... She followed her nurse through the hall, down the stairs, and into the study, with her eyes downcast and her expression blank.
The fireplace was lit and burning furiously. Elizabeth passed it and thought of the countless hours she had spent listening to her fatherÂ's grand tales of his childhood while sitting in front of it and enjoying warmed tea and biscuits. She came to stand in front of her father and whom she expected was Sir Philips and curtsied politely, wanting for the proper introduction.
Â"Ahh...,Â" her father called after taking a drink of his wine and noticing her standing in front of the fire. Â"My darling Lizziebell!Â" He motioned for her to come closer and stand by him, but Elizabeth only looked at her father with question in her eyes. She couldnÂ't remember the last time he had called her by that name and oddly enough, it made her feel uncomfortable. Â"Come now...,Â" he called with a smirk on his face, not noticing her uneasiness. But she still stood where she was, not wanting to move. A moment passed and her father began to look nervously from her to Sir Philips, a pleading look on his face. But still she didnÂ't move and it wasnÂ't until she felt a small hand come to rest on her back and a small push forward, that she took her first steps towards her father. Once by his side, she turned and saw Agnes sending her a sympathetic but stern look, ringing her hands together nervously.
Elizabeth sent her a small smile and met her gaze, realizing, once again, that she knew much more than she was letting on. Â"Father?Â" Elizabeth asked quietly, trying to get back on track. She felt a pang of guilt but thought that the sooner she left with Sir Philips the sooner she would be able to leave her father.
Â"Yes!Â" he called with a sort of odd excitement in his voice and wrapped an arm around his daughterÂ's shoulders. Â"Elizabeth, Elizabeth, Elizabeth...,Â" he smiled and pushed her slightly closer to Sir Philips. Elizabeth stumbled slightly and was mortified at her fatherÂ's behavior. She quickly looked around the room and found an old bottle, half empty. He had obviously been drinking again. Â"Lizziebell, this is Sir Philips... You will be staying at his manor for a little bit while I sort out a few...loose ends.Â" Elizabeth looked down and shook her head slowly as he finished the introduction. Â"And Sir Philips, this is my darling daughter, Elizabeth.Â"
At the sound of her name being said once again by her intoxicated father, Elizabeth curtsied once more but didnÂ't lift her eyes. She refused to look at either man standing around her.
The fire crackled and spat as small talk began and ended. She was leaving within an hour... It was the only bit of talk that interested her. As soon as the two other men whom accompanied Sir Philips where finished eating and cleaning themselves up, they were to set out...
She was told it would be an almost five day horse back ride to where the manor was built and that she should start preparing herself. So, with one last curtsy, she excused herself and took one last look around the house she had been in since the day of her birth seventeen years ago... The hall with paintings of various things her mother had loved, the library, filled with shelves and shelves of books about topics and subjects she had always loved, her modest but warm bedroom, which she had tried to keep the same through out her stay in it. She was leaving it all behind, not sure when she would see it again... Not sure if she would ever see it again...
Agnes stood watching her from the doorway, letting her have a few moments. She wore a saddened express as she watched Elizabeth run a small hand over her quilt, over her pillows, and wooden headboard. But when the clock struck seven, she ushered her towards the stables, only giving her a quick hug as a finale goodbye.
She continually told herself that their separation would only be temporary... But the more and more she thought about it, the more she began to worry and doubt her self-reassurance.
~:~:~:~:~
She left her father in a some what cold manner. She kept her eyes dry and her chin up. He did the same. It wasnÂ't that she and her father didnÂ't get along; it was just that they were never as close as most daughters are close with their fathers. And as much as she regretted it, she had become accustom to it. And she had come to terms with the fact that the situation would likely never change.
There was even proof, for GodÂ's sake, she was currently in the middle of it! Her father had gotten himself into some sort of trouble and instead of properly cleaning up the mess that he had made, he was scattering everyone... Sending her away with Sir Philips and Nurse Agnes to some unknown relative... It was exactly like something he would do. He didnÂ't care, anymore. She was once told that after her mother died, her father slowly began getting Â"sloppyÂ" with his assets and books. And thatÂ's what was mostly likely wrong now... Something written down wrong or miscounted cost someone a large amount and now, they were out for blood.
Well, it was his problem. And she could only pray to the Lord, that he would be seen through this latest debacle safely. But until then, she was to mind her manners and Sir Philips. Which didnÂ't seem as bad as it had earlier in the morning...
Sir Philips was a nice enough man. He looked older then her father had said he was but it was true that she hadnÂ't taken the opportunity to really get a good look at him. Back in his time, he was brave knight. Or so Agnes had informed her. She also said that, he lived with his wife but had no children.
He brought with him two other men that were accompanying them on their trip. She was quickly introduced to them before they set out on their journey but she hadnÂ't paid much attention. She now regretted it...
The first man was no older than she, maybe a page or even a knight. She didnÂ't know. But the second was the one that caught her attention more than other, if only because he went so out of his way to stop attention from being drawn towards him, in the first place... He wore a large cloak, which covered him head to toe. He always rode a dozen paces or so, ahead of the others and never seemed to tire. She only once saw his face... It was for one brief moment, no more and no less. But no matter how hard she tried, she could only remember one thing about his appearance...one thing that had seemed to burn itself into her mind. It was his eyes. They were piercing and the darkest shade of amber that she had ever seen. They seemed tortured yet calculated, deliberate and focused. She found them fascinating, despite herself.
Â"It wonÂ't be much longer. See the hill, on the horizon? The Manor is just beyond it.Â" Sir Philips had regularly been keeping Elizabeth informed of how their journey was progressing. They had been on horseback for the better part of four days now and she was visibly anxious to stop riding. She was glad for the interruption and hoped that this was a good time to ask the questions that had been swirling around her mind since they set out.
Â"My wife will be delighted when she sees you, Miss Elizabeth,Â" he continued as he turned and smiled kindly at her.
Â"IÂ'm very excited to meet her,Â" she answered and returned his smile. Â"Is it just you and your wife, at the Manor then?Â"
He paused for a moment, as a flash of sadness crossed his tired face. And it instantly made Elizabeth wish she hadnÂ't asked. Agnes was always telling not to ask too many questions and not to pry but she couldnÂ't help herself. Â"I didnÂ't... I shouldnÂ't have...,Â" she stuttered an apology. Â"IÂ'm very sorry, Sir Philips...Â"
Â"No need, dear girl...Â"
Â"I have trouble with asking too many questions... My father has always tried to...change that about me but IÂ'm afraid it only made the habit stronger.Â"
He chuckled at her honest explanation. Â"I wouldnÂ't know if you asked too many questions or not. You have barely said two words on this entire travel.Â"
Â"My nurse has always taught me to stay silent under circumstances like this one...Â"
Â"Silence will not get you anywhere in life,Â" Sir Philips explained in a gentle manner. Â"While you are staying with my wife and I, I require that you ask all questions that come to your mind and that you speak freely. Is that an acceptable requirement?Â" He was serious but still as kind as always as he spoke. He turned and smiled at Elizabeth and waited patiently for her to answer.
Â"It is something I would have to get accustom to.Â"
Â"Then so be it!Â" He turned back and chuckled lightly. Â"The Manor is your new home, for the time being, at least, and you are to be comfortable.Â"
Â"Thank you.Â" It was the only thing that she could think to say. At least her father had made a good choice as to where she should be sent. Sir Philips was a sympathetic man and she could only imagine that his wife would be the same.
Â"Good,Â" Sir Philips acknowledged only after a missed beat. Â"Now, home is only a mile away. I propose we ride as fast as we can.Â" He turned once more and smiled at her and the man following behind him. Â"Shall we?Â"
And with those last words, Elizabeth, Sir Philips, and the accompanying men, set out at a fast gallop towards the Manor straight ahead of them...
TBC...?
I had actually forgotten I posted this... But I'm so happy your both reading and liking. It's a little different from what I normally write but I'm happy it's going well. 
You guys are all awesome! Hope this part is okay... 
Glad to have you here! 
