(Lee Scoresby P.O.V)

I carefully landed the balloon near a group of trees standing not too far away from a great cliff.

"Why are we here?" Hester asked as he walked out.

"Miss Pekala summoned us. We are here to discuss about the girls and this weapon Meera was looking for," I began to feel a little sentimental talking about my beloved wife, but my determination was flowing my veins, compelling me to continue down this path. I turned to Iera. "Why don't you stay here with the balloon Iera? You look tired,"

"A bear can never be too tired," she stepped out. "Now let us see what help we can receive from this queen,"

Iera prodded out the ballon and we made our way up the gentle slopes. As we reached the top towards the great cliff, we saw a towering circlet of stones. Witches were flying into it. A great gathering had been called.

"Ahh Lee!" Serafina Pekala's voice filled the air, ringing my ears. She was above us. She landed elegantly like an angel, like my Meera. "I see you have arrived with Iera,"

"Your majesty," Iera bowed her head.

"Come inside. We have much to discuss about," Serafina invited us instead. We entered through a small arch. We saw witches, shrouded in long clothes of blue and black and white. They wore silver armour on their shoulders and their long hair was flying in the wind. Their bird daemons were perched on slabs of rock and stone surrounding us. A great tree of magical cloud pine stood in the centre.

"Sisters!" Serafina announced. "I have invited Mr. Scoresby here to share his thoughts. The child of the prophecy we have expected and one the few who will walk with her is one her path. Please speak Lee. Tell us what you wish to discuss about,"

My heart jumped a little, just thinking about the girls. I swallowed my fear. "After I lost my daughter...and Lyra, Miss Pekala gave me a journal given to her for safekeeping by my wife Meera, who went missing..four years ago," I managed not to cry. "I read through it hoping I could find out what she went looking out for. Her writings spoke of a man named Stanislaus Grumman. She wrote down that he knows the whereabouts of a special item that offers protection to anyone who holds it. Regarding the danger that I feel (Y/N) and Lyra are in, I wish to find this knife, to finish what my wife started...and give it to them,"

"Thank you Lee," Serafina spoke kindly. "This protection will be of use to them wherever they are. Your wife had died doing a great thing. Remember her for it,"

I nodded. "I will,"

"You must set out to find this man and this item,"

"I will," I promised.

"Take this with you," she walked forward, holding out her hand to reveal a piece of cloud pine. "Whenever you are in danger, hold it in your hand," she clasped my hand. "Call out to me and I shall hear you wherever you are,"

She let go and I felt the soft touch of the cloud pine resting in my fingers. I looked at her. "Thank you,"

She smiled and addressed her sisters once again. "Lord Asriel has opened the way from this world to another and already Lyra Belaqua, now named Lyra Silvertongue by King Iorek Byrnison by the armoured bears, and her friend (F/C) Scoresby are on their path. Lee can help them. We must decide our part to play,"

Before she could discuss more about the matter of those girls who I cared about, we heard a whoosh of air. We turned our heads and we saw a great witch descending from the sky. She landed on the great cliff that forked out of the circlet of stone. She had long dark hair and she was shrouded in a dress of purple silk. 

"Queen Ruta Skadi," Queen Serafina addressed politely.

Ruta Skadi looked at me with distain. "That man does not belong here,"

Iera behind me growled.

Skadi was taken aback by the presence of my dear friend's mate. "Nor does this bear,"

"They are here at my reckoning as you," Serafina gently upholder. "As are you,"

"Sisters!" Ruta spoke up. She sounded urgent. "Katja Sirkka has been taken prisoner by the Magisterium. I have word they are rounding up anyone who questions their authority. The way those animals in the Magisterium have cracked down upon the world since the opening. Towns tightly controlled by armies,"

I felt nervous. The Magisterium were becoming more and more prejudiced with every strange turn of events that took place.

"We're out of our depth here," Hester by my feet sounded scared.

"Shut up Hester," I said.

"The time has come to act!" Ruta spoke up. "To show the Magisterium that their actions have consequences. And I am here to beg you Serafina Pekala and all the sisters here. Join mye in rescuing Katya. I believe we have no choice,"

Serafina didn't seem to want to join her cause. She was more concerned with Lyra and (Y/N), then she was for what the Magisterium was doing to our world.

Without another word, Ruta took off into the night sky, her eagle daemon flying fast beside her.

Serafina turned her attention back to me. "Lee...if what Ruta is saying is true, then you must head to find this man before the acts of Magisterium become more grim,"

"Then I shall head out now," I nodded.

"Then good luck,"

I walked with Hester and Iera down the slopes again toward my balloon. I was about to open the door when the thought of Iorek and him being separated from Iera made me pause. I wondered how he was feeling about us. I sighed.

"Lee?" Iera spoke up.

I turned to look at her. "Iera. I know you said you wanted to help me. But I can't take you so far away just to find this man. We could be searching for days just to find him. And Iorek will be very worried about you,"

Iera seemed to consider my words. "I'm afraid Iorek may be quite a distance away already. You've seen how the tear in the sky has caused all the ice to melt. He will have started moving all his bears by now to another place,"

"Well...then we could..."

"Lee...we cannot waste time. We must find this man so he can help us find this item to help those girls. I vowed to return the favour for what your daughter did for me by helping you. I will help find this Gruman man,"

I wanted to argue, but she remained as stubborn as Iorek was that night in Trollesund. "Very well. To Gruman it is," I opened the door and let myself in before I let Iera inside with Hester. I closed it and turned the knob on the helium tanks. We were lifted into the sky. We began to glide across the great dark sea under the full moon.

"Where's our next stop?" Hester asked.

I pulled out my wife's journal. Inside it was a hand drawn map with crosses. They seemed to be marked out in Northern Europe. "Seems like she went to a number of places. We'll just have to check each one out. We're start there," I pointed to the closest cross on the map.

I pressed a lever. The balloon steered forward. We were off to find the man who could protecting for (Y/N) and Lyra.

Oh (Y/N) I thought. I hope you and Lyra are safe and sound.

Will Parry (P.O.V)

Whoever this girl (Y/N) and her friend Lyra are. They are full of mystery. I was even quite curious about their daemons Aster and Pan.

"(Y/N)!" I called. "Lyra!"

I placed two plates with two fresh-cooked omelette on one of the outside cafe tables. "I've baked omelette for you two!"

The two girls chatting on the nearby bench near the tree in the town square came over. Lyra poked her finger at the omelette. She was curious. She asked: " What's in this?"

"Egg. I thought you two might be a bit hungry,"

"Thank you," (Y/N) said. "I've never tried one of these before. But if it's egg. I'm so up for it,"

"Well...I hope you enjoy it," I placed down a pepper and salt.

(Y/N) sprinkled some salt on it. Then she picked it up and started to each with her hands.

"You don't use cutlery?" I asked.

She frowned at me, forgetting her moment of delight. "Of course we do,"

"What do you think we are?!" Aster snapped more viciously. "Savages?!"

"Aster," (Y/N) warned. He backed down...like a scared dog.

"It's really good," she said. "Try it Lyra," she encouraged.

Lyra gave it a try using a fork and knife. "It's good. Are you a kitchen boy Will Parry?"

I frowned. "No. I just like to cook. I cook occasionally for my mum. You guys sure your daemons don't need to eat?"

"We don't," Pan spoke up, sitting on a spare chair. "But thanks,"

I sat down, watching the girls eating their meals. "How long have you guys been here?"

"Couple of days," (Y/N) answered. "You?"

"Three days. I was thinking..." I paused. I sounded awkward. (Y/N) leaned her head to me, wanting to hear more. I pulled myself together, pushing away the awkward feeling that was making my heart thump in my chest. "Maybe...we're all better sticking around together. We could explore together,"

(Y/N) looked at Lyra. "What do you think Lyra?"

She shrugged her shoulders. "Seems like the best option. Let's see find somewhere to sleep," she grabbed (Y/N)'s hand and pulled her inside.

No way was I letting them having my personal space. "Wait. I didn't mean you two could move into this house,"

They didn't listen. Instead they just walked through the kitchen and up to the next level up the white stone steps. They looked at all the abandoned beds and chairs in the dining room.

"Every house here is deserted, you two have to move into mine," I spoke up.

"Yours?" (Y/N) fired back, turning to me. "You said it before this wasn't our house. So this is as much as ours as well," she smirked.

"Sorry Will. But we're better of sticking together like you said," Lyra answered back. She grabbed (Y/N)'s hand and they sprinted up to the next level.

I huffed. I panted catching up to them. "You guys move at 100 miles an hour!"

"A hundred miles an hour?" (Y/N) looked back at me.

"It means fast," I corrected. They don't know speed.

On the top level, there were two beds are the far back with a dressing table and a few chairs. They walked to them.

I stared at the nice bed which (Y/N) had sat upon, stroking it's covers.

I was deadpanned. "I was sleeping there,"

She turned to me. "Oh I could..."

"It's fine," I interjected. "I'll find somewhere downstairs," I turned around walked down the steps. (Y/N) seemed alright. She was much nicer and more fascinating by new things. Lyra though was rather cheeky. Whoever those girls were, whatever kind of world they came from...I need to remain cautious.

Another chapter done. Please let me know how you all found it. I would love to hear your reviews.