29 September 1124

　　Matilda dreamt she was up in the clouds. Fluffy and white. Surprisingly dry. Sunlight streamed through gaps between the clouds and wind whipped her hair around as she raced through the air, chasing Richie and William who darted along in front of her. But how were they flying?

　　Suddenly she was dropping. Trapped in an iron ball that plummeted toward the ground, heating as it fell and burning her hand. It burst through the sunny clouds and the world went grey and drab. The ground and trees rushed towards her. She ploughed through the branches, bouncing around like a pinball. But she was going too fast&

　　Matilda jolted awake in a comfortable four-poster bed, surrounded by a mass of pillows. Sunlight streamed through an arrow slit in the keep wall, illuminating the Earl`s guest room with its luxurious carpets and tapestries.

　　It took a moment to realise where she was and recall everything that had happened over the previous days. She`d been clubbed, burnt, shot and burnt again. A lifetime of injuries, all in a matter of days. It took even longer to accept that she had made it through the whole ordeal. Timothy`s death felt like a lifetime ago.

　　Matilda hadn`t slept so well for an entire year. She was surprised to have slept at all. The trauma of the previous day was still painfully fresh. Tied to the pyre, she`d been completely powerless and left to the whims of others. It strangely mirrored her mission which, at the end of the day, all came down to others. Matilda could never stop a solar flare by herself. It was the people she touched along the way that would make the real difference.

　　The bright beam of sunlight heralded a beautiful day for beginning the next phase of her journey. The journey to London. A step that should`ve started a whole year earlier. Better late than never.

　　Noises outside the door told her that the castle was already awake and in full preparation for the trip. Knowing that her travel companions would be eager to catch up to Godfrey, Matilda pried her crusted wrists from the Earl`s clean sheets and begrudgingly rose from the comfortable bed.

　　She strolled to the arrow slit and peered into the courtyard below. Her room faced away from the stage but heard shouts as an army of workers dismantled her festival. Matilda was relieved that the ordeal was over but already missed the energetic festival atmosphere. With a sigh, she washed her face and collected her few belongings before departing to see how she could help.

　　Matilda wandered through the keep, appreciating the building`s militaristic practicality but admiring the minor artistic touches that indicated it housed nobility. It felt strange being suddenly free within her former prison but that didn`t prevent her from stopping by the keep`s kitchen for a bite to eat. The kitchen hands fawned over her, insisting that she try their festival-inspired experiments.

　　The castle courtyard was a hive of activity when Matilda finally emerged from the keep. Bristol townsfolk hurriedly packed up tents and tables. The Holford villagers had already loaded their remaining goods into the carts and milled around to say their farewells.

　　An army of attendants fussed over a pack of horses, making sure that they were equipped with everything that their lords might need for the journey to London. Seeing Matilda, an attendant ran over and indicated the horse assigned to her. He offered to load her satchel into the saddlebags but Matilda politely declined. She would be needing it.

　　Matilda made straight for the Holford villagers who quickly gathered around her, making space at the front for William and his family.

　　"Good morning!" she called. "I can`t thank you all enough for coming to my rescue. I wouldn`t be here today if not for your valiant efforts."

　　The ashes of the pyre smouldered behind them. It had served as another impromptu bonfire for the previous evening`s celebration.

　　"More than that, thanks for your hospitality. For welcoming me into your lives. It has been an absurd year. Busy beyond belief. But you`ve taken everything in your stride and shown amazing perseverance and community. I`ll remember it for the rest of my days.

　　"This isn`t goodbye. I will return to Holford and continue what we started. The village has truly become my home and you," she said looking at Ma and Pa, "have become my family. I must pursue the Bishop, to ensure he cannot slander our hard work. I`ll seek the King`s blessing, along with extra resources for Holford`s continued growth. The Council will continue their guidance but keep reminding them that they serve the whole village.

　　"Please return home and, after a well-deserved rest, dive into your work with even greater energy than before. You`ve seen the impact your projects can have on your neighbours. And on the world. So keep up the good work and I can`t wait to see how far you have progressed when I return."

　　Matthew led the villagers in three cheers for Matilda and they swarmed around her to say their farewells. The Council members filed through first. Walt wrung her hand with his gnarled paws before giving her a ribcrushing hug. Matthew and Ralph complained that they would have too much spare time given the departure of their biggest customer and quiet Astrid gifted her a woven bracelet.

　　The Holford villagers came next, filing through one by one to say their farewells before joining the convoy for the journey home. Matilda was amazed at how many people she`d gotten to know. It felt so quick but she remembered touching the lives of all but the newest of newcomers. And they hers. She had finally found a place she belonged.The author`s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

　　Finally only the family remained. Matilda felt herself getting emotional already.

　　"Guys, I...just&thank you all so much."

　　They piled in and gently embraced Matilda as a group.

　　"Don`t you go getting soppy on us now young lady," Ma said with a tearful smile as they broke away. "Don`t think there won`t be a mountain of chores waiting when you finally return from galivanting around the kingdom."

　　"Of course," Matilda replied. "I`d be offended by anything less."

　　"We need to thank you too, dear Matilda," Pa said gruffly. "You`ve done so much for us. The family. The village. The region. Words can`t express the depths of our gratitude, but you`re a smart girl so I`m sure you understand."

　　Matilda gave a wordless nod.

　　"How was it sleeping in the keep last night?" Elizabeth asked excitedly. "You`re pretty much royalty now right?"

　　"Not quite," Matilda laughed. "I`ll keep an eye out for any eligible princes for you while I`m in London."

　　Elizabeth melted into a fit of giggles.

　　Matilda turned to Margery and Rachel.

　　"I`m sorry for all the disruptions I`ve caused&"

　　"Are you kidding?" Margery answered first. "If not for you I would never have met my friends. I would`ve never learnt how to read. I`d still be the same timid girl, moping around and feeling sorry for myself. If anything, I should apologise to you. I still feel terrible for talking to the deaf priest and leading the Bishop to Holford."

　　"Not at all," Matilda replied with a reassuring smile. "You weren`t to know and no real harm done in the end. As for your reading, I think it would be best if you looked after this for me. To make sure it re-joins its other half."

　　Matilda reached into her satchel and withdrew the tattered second half of her bible. She handed it to Margery who stared in awe at the treasure Matilda had just bestowed upon her. And then Matilda was surprised by a sudden embrace from Rachel. The bulge of her belly pushed into Matilda`s hip.

　　"I need to apologise and thank you too," Rachel said emphatically. "We had a rough start and I regret not getting to know you better. But without you I`d still be stuck in a loveless marriage, fearing for myself and my child. Ignore everything I`ve previously said, I am so glad that you came to our village. Things are headed in a much better direction now."

　　Matilda didn`t know what to say so she just returned the eldest sister`s hug. The genuine warmth made her heart sing.

　　She eventually disengaged and turned to face William. The boy who had started her journey. Who had saved her from the depths of despair. He was no longer a boy, she noted as she saw the man he had become. The events of the previous days looked to have aged him by several years.

　　"William. I can`t even think where to begin."

　　She paused awkwardly and turned to Ma and Pa.

　　"I`ve already caused great disruption to your family and deprived you of so much time with your children, so it hurts me to ask. But I really must."

　　She took a deep breath.

　　"Would it be alright if William joined me in London?"

　　Ma and Pa considered her question and looked at each other before bursting into laughter.

　　"So formal Matilda!" Pa said, clutching his sides. "Of course he`s going with you. I don`t think anyone could stop him. He`s already packed his bag for Christ`s sake!"

　　Only then did Matilda notice the bag slung across William`s shoulder. She smiled in spite of herself.

　　"I`ll admit that I`m not thrilled to see another child venturing away from the nest," Ma said. "But they`ve all come back so far. And usually better than when they left. Just promise to take care of him while you`re gone. And William, you take care of her too, ok?"

　　The pair gave Ma sincere nods before exchanging an excited glance.

　　"Well then," Matilda said, "we should find you a ride."

　　She spotted the steward and approached him to ask for a spare horse for William.

　　"I really ought to ask Earl Robert but you need to depart soon. Fine, but it won`t be the finest mount."

　　He strode off toward the stables.

　　"Does he realise there isn`t a single horse in Holford?" William asked.

　　The family were still laughing when Earl Robert emerged from the keep, deep in discussion with John. Baron Walter and the Earl`s wife followed behind. Seeing Matilda, the Earl led them over to her.

　　"John here has provided invaluable insights into the Bishop and his network of allies in London which should help us navigate any potential schemes. I`d have preferred that John join us in London but he says he`s had enough of politics, the Church and the Bishop to last a lifetime. He even went so far to say that he`d prefer a stint in my dungeon than another audience with Godfrey. Point made."

　　John looked quite proud of himself.

　　"I`d like to go to Holford, if they`ll have me." John told them. "I thought about the promises you asked of William and I yesterday and would love to start up a school. Godfrey left without saying goodbye so it`s fair to say I`m free of any obligations to him. I renounced my vows to the Earl`s chaplain this morning."

　　"A time of big changes," Matilda said. "I`ve gifted my bible to Margery but I`m sure she would welcome another scholar to help interpret its contents. As for the village`s willingness to take you in, do you see any issues Pa?"

　　"None at all," Pa said with a smile. "A friend of Matilda`s is a friend of Holford."

　　"Very well," the Earl said impatiently. "We`d best be off. There`s no telling how quickly the Bishop will arrive in London and I`m loathe to give him time to turn the court against us. Mount up!"

　　The party of knights and nobles mounted their horses and Matilda vaulted up into her saddle as well. William struggled with his burned hands and Elizabeth had to hold onto the reins while Pa boosted him onto the saddle, much to the family`s amusement. But in no time, he too sat atop his mount and the party was ready to depart. The family gathered closely around Ma and Pa as they said their final farewell.

　　"Thanks again, for everything," Matilda called as the party started moving. "Goodbye!"

　　William`s horse had a mind of its own but Matilda rode alongside him and helped him keep control. Matilda looked over her shoulder and saw the family standing alone in the castle courtyard. An unfathomable sight only a year earlier. She gave one last wave as she exited the castle gates.

　　Outside the castle, Bristol`s inhabitants lined the streets to catch one final glimpse of the red-haired time traveller. Their cheers started as soon as the procession emerged and continued until they had reached the town`s outer limits. Even then, some of Bristol`s younger inhabitants ran alongside to keep up with the horses. Matilda flushed with pride.

　　It wasn`t until they were clear of the town and had settled into a steady pace that the magnitude of the departure struck Matilda.

　　At long last, her mission was underway.

　　(C) Jay Pelchen 2023. All rights reserved.