It was finally morning, I decided I didn't need the change of clothes I had brought yet, they were boy clothes after all. I walked over to Enola and Tewkesbury who had gotten up before me, and they had already found our ride to London on the back of a farmer's carriage. Enola paid the two farmers with some of her money, opting to sit in the front away from the sheep. Tewkesbury and I sat in the back, using the wooden bar closing the back as a sort of armrest. A goat behind me suddenly began bleating as we began moving.
"Well, you would say that." I commented at the sheep, making both myself and Tewkesbury laugh.
I turned to face him, angling my body slightly. "I just wanted to say thank you for helping me with my head. It means alot."
"Of course, just try not to get hurt again. You seem to be quite injury prone." He chuckled under his breath a bit.
"Believe me, I wish I wasn't. I feel as if I'm always getting hurt."
"Well, maybe you should reconsider and we should stick together after all. I could help you, if you ever need it again."
I smiled at the thought. "I wish, but like I said last night, I have to think of Enola."
He nodded in understanding, thankfully.
I decided it was best to shift the conversation. "I've been trying to think of a new name for myself, you know, to try and blend in, not draw unwanted attention."
"What do you have so far?"
"I could do Alex, Lara, Ciara, or maybe something more elegant sounding like Elizabeth or Anne. What do you think?"
"Alex is great, but sounds too much like your name. And if you are trying to blend in, maybe don't go with rich sounding names like Elizabeth or Anne. Out of the two, Lara suits you better."
"Well, then Lara it is. Now I just need a last name. Those are a lot harder to think of."
"How about Bella? It suits you." Bella, a word which is used to describe something beautiful or fair. Lara Bella, pretty. I blushed slightly at the comment, feeling my cheeks heat up.
"Lara Bella, I like it." We continued to talk about random things the rest of the way. I explained more about witchcraft, showing him my book and explaining different things to him, the history of witches, and of course showing a little magic. I wasn't able to do any big spells, I was still in the early stages of learning, but I was able to do stuff like make things levitate, create light in my hands, create this extremely cool green like magic glow which in truth was energy harnessed from myself, and most importantly, a spell which I call wayfinder, allowing me and anyone I allow to see the fastest way to a person, place, object, anything.
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Sooner than I would have liked, we made it to London. Enola hopped out of the front, signalling me to go with her. Tewkesbury hopped down as well for a second, signalling the driver that it would just be a moment.
"So, this is where we part?" He asked sadly.
"It is." Stated Enola.
"Then thank you, Enola Holmes and Alexandra Thompson, for helping me here."
"You were supposed to have forgotten those names." Enola countered.
"Then you'll have to find others." He began walking away when I walked over to him, stopping him for a quick second.
I gave him a small kiss on the cheek, staying next to him as long as I could. Unlike most people in this world, I know and will not deny (at least to myself) when I have a crush on someone. And I did. His short hair didn't help though, it just fit him so well. "Thank you. Remember, it's Lara Bella now."
"Well then, I shall see you around, Lara. Sooner rather than later I hope."
"Indeed, I'm sure we'll run into each other again soon." With that last remark, he hopped back onto the truck, signalling the driver that he was on board, and they drove off into the distance as Enola and I stood in the street for a second, watching him go.
"So, what's up with you two?" Enola questioned.
"Nothing, just being friendly. You should try it sometime, might make a friend or two."
"Sure, 'friendly'. And I have all the friends I need. I have you." Well alright then.
We were now here, finally. London, the beating heart of England. Enola's mother will be here somewhere, and though she prepared us for many things, the outside world was NOT one of them. And yet here we are, at the centre of civilization. The home of polite society, of music, of literature, and the finest things that money can buy.
We began walking the streets, Enola was looking for something, though I wasn't sure what for. She was weaving in and out of traffic, listening to the news of the "Lords debate reform bill" and the "Case of the missing marquess", and trying to avoid sellers on the street.
I must admit, London isn't quite what Iimagined. People are a lot more... excitable than in the country.
I turned to my right to see a large group gathering, and listened as we walked, slowing my pace a bit. "Without this reform, this country isn't ours, it's theirs." Everyone cheered. "We must petition the Lords. And we've not only got to do it for ourselves, but for our children! Vote for change!" Enola dragged me away before I could continue listening, and stopped in front of a dress shop.
"If I am to fit in and stay hidden from my brothers, I must become something... unexpected." We walked inside the shop, the crowd of people still intriguing me, though getting Enola to fit in was more important.
Enola began going through the rack, and after looking down at my now muddied and dirtied dress, I decided to as well. She found a lovely red one, and I found a dark green one, which though it might not suit me as well as blues and reds do, it was very pretty. We looked in the mirror, seeing if we would look good in them.
"And what does a boy like you want with those?" A woman said, most likely the shopkeeper. I realised Enola was still dressed as a boy and turned to her, expecting some smart remark that might get us out of this situation.
"I shall need a whalebone corset." Well, that went down the drain.
"You shall need no such thing. This is a respectable shop."
"Then I shall respect it."
"You don't look like you will. You don't smell like you will. And I..."
She looked very shocked, yet happy when Enola pulled out her wad of cash, counting it in front of her.
"Do you have anywhere we can dress?" She pointed behind her, shuddering at the cash.
"In the back." We went to the back with the dresses, and began changing. After taking off my dress leaving me in my chemise and drawers, which wasn't comfortable to wear in front of other people, while Enola looked perfectly fine with any woman seeing.
"Now, the corset: a symbol of repression, to those who are forced to wear it. But for us, who chooses to wear it, the bust enhancer and the hip regulators will hide the fortune my mother has given us. And as they do so, they will make me look like that truly unlikely thing: a lady!" She dramatised the last bit, doing the famous pose for when one might faint. I decided on getting a new whalebone corset as well, seeing as my old one was also a bit of a disaster. We were still getting ready, though now had about half of the layers on, when Enola grabbed one of the braids that can be used to enhance your hairstyle, and put it on her face like a moustache. "You have to go to school, Enola and Alexandra."
"But we don't want to go to a finishing school, Mycroft." I added, playing along.
"Well, what else are we going to do with you? You're girls." We chuckled and finished getting ready, doing our hair and getting our shoes on, something Enola seemed to be having trouble with.
Once we were finally ready, we walked out of the store where the shopkeeper gasped at our newly lady-like appearances.
"Now, where might we find a lodging house? I'll pay handsomely for good value." I questioned.