Kirkbymoorside

A week of pure stress had passed, where Eleanor had a constant flow of paperwork, mixed with visits to Gringotts where she discussed her investments.

She now stood outside the Black manor grounds with Victoria by her side.

They were both dressed in muggle attire, Victoria wearing black trousers with a baby blue polo shirt, and Eleanor a pair of jeans accompanied by a white blouse with a ruby the size of her palm attached to the high collar.

Eleanor looked up, the sky was dark with only a slight bit of moonlight poking through the thick cloud cover.

"Your Highness?"

Eleanor hummed in acknowledgement but didn't take her now fully blue eyes off the dark overhang.

"We should get going, the festival's already begun," Victoria said, extending her hand.

Eleanor nodded and took Victoria's hand.

A crack reverberated around the field and the two were gone.

Appearing at the edge of the forest bordering Kirkbymoorside, Eleanor looked around.

She hadn't noticed the size of the storm from Black manor but now that she had arrived in Kirkbymoorside it had grown apparent that dark clouds spread from one coastline to the other.

Looking over towards the hamlet she could hear music coming from a large gathering of light centred in its large square.

The festival seemed to be in full swing.

"Aliquete," Eleanor heard Victoria whisper next to her and next thing she knew she was levitating in mid-air.

"Victoria!" she exclaimed, shocked at her maid's sudden action.

"I'm sorry your Highness but I cannot allow for your shoes to get dirty," Victoria said while performing the charm on herself.

It didn't take them long to reach the outskirts of the town, from where they could see straight down the main road and onto the square.

Releasing the spell on both of them, Victoria straightened Eleanor's and her own clothes before extending a hand to the Princess.

"Your Highness, I think it would be better if you held my hand, it would make for a better disguise."

Eleanor smiled and nodded, "Yes, you're probably right."

She then took Victoria's outstretched hand and strode into the hamlet, her maid by her side.

As they drew nearer to the town square the sound of music and chatter grew.

All the shops were shut but the streets were lined by beautiful coloured laps engraved with runic markings.

Passing by one of the green lights, Eleanor pointed at it, "Look, that rune symbolises love amongst family."

She then turned and pointed at a pink light, "and that one, that one means warmth."

Turning again she showed Victoria a white light, "Now this one, you see how this part juts outward into a spike and this pard bends around, well this rune means child, son or daughter."

Eleanor then turned away and started walking towards the festival again, Victoria still holding on to her, "That specific rune actually means a lot to me you see.

My mother once gave me a necklace with that rune engraved on it, but I lost it."

At that moment a memory flashed before her eyes.

She was back in her family's small cottage out in the countryside next to the woods.

Her mother was next to the fireplace cooking lunch while she was on the floor playing with a small wooden doll dressed up as a knight.

Reaching down she picked up a small wooden crown and placed it on the knight's head.

A joy-filled smile spread across her lips and the girl ran over to her mother, who was stirring the stew.

"Mother, look its father."

Turning to look at her three-year-old daughter Morgana smiled, "It looks just like him, why don't you show it to your father when he returns."

The grin on Eleanor's face widened and she ran back towards the place she had sat earlier.

She was brought out of her reminiscence when Victoria shook her, "Your Highness, are you alright?"

Eleanor nodded, still slightly dazed, "Yes, I am perfectly fine."

She then shook herself and took a good look around.

They had just reached the town square and the festival seemed to be in full swing with people dancing and drinking.

"Your Highness, I apologize but I'll have to call you by your first name from now on," Victoria whispered into Eleanor's ear.

The princess sighed and nodded, "That is alright."

She still couldn't fully adjust to the new world and all its rules.

"Then Eleanor, I don't think we'll have to look for the priest in this throng, he should be up at the church."

Victoria said, pointing at the spire-like structure atop the hill.

Eleanor nodded, "Then lead the way."

It took them about five minutes to reach the church since the crowd just didn't want to let them go.

Eleanor didn't know why but for some reason the large oak door's of the church seemed to ooze an ominous presence.

"Victoria, can you feel that?" Eleanor asked, not taking her eyes off the gates.

Her maid shook her head, "No, I'm sorry I can't."

The princess frowned, "It must've been my imagination."

Stepping forward Victoria opened the small door implanted in the large one and pushed it open.

Motioning for Eleanor to step inside she waited for the princess to do so but as she tried something seemed to be stopping her.

"Victoria, I can't get through."

The maid frowned, " A ward?" She tried reaching through the doorway and managed to do so.

"Eleanor, could you please move out of the way I have to try something."

Doing as her maid had asked, the princess watched as Victoria stepped in front of the doorway and stepped through.

Eleanor's eyes widened in realisation, "Victoria," she said pointedly, "I need your permission to step through the threshold.

Victoria frowned, "What? Why?"

Sighing, Eleanor stepped forward, "Vampires cannot step into a residence without an occupant's express allowance."

Her maid's eyes widened, "Then, I allow you to come inside."

Eleanor smiled and stepped into the church.

A deep sigh of relief escaped her and she slowly walked towards the altar.

Stopping before it she performed the sign of the cross before kneeling down and praying.

It was a few minutes later that she heard someone enter the hall, the person's footsteps were firm and methodical.

She heard the footsteps halt a few meters away from her, but she didn't look up immediately.

No first she would finish her prayer and then she would see who it was and what they wanted.

"Amen." Opening her eyes Eleanor stood up and turned to the person waiting for her.

It was a man of slightly above medium height with short dark brown hair and green eyes, he also had quite a strong jawline which made up most of his appearance.

But what stood out most to Eleanor was the priest's attire he was wearing.

"Good evening father," she said, bowing her head in his direction.

"Good evening," he had a raspy voice and strong Irish accent, "I am father Alfie O'Duggan."