A Lush Green Field

A few days had passed since Eleanor's visit to Kirkbymoorside and she had enjoyed them thoroughly.

Playing Wizards chess with Victoria, reading her new favourite book 'The Call of Cthulhu', and hearing about all the new things 'muggles' had invented.

But today was the day Alfie O'Duggan would arrive, and also the day she would get back to work.

Hannya was sitting in her study shuffling through a pile of documents sent by Gringotts when she heard a knock at the door.

"Come in!" she said, still reading a page about an investment in a clothing brand called Adidas.

She heard the door swing open and someone enter, "Your Highness, Priest Alfie O'Duggan has arrived."

Looking up Eleanor smiled, "Great send him in!" before going straight back to reading.

She was reading a particularly difficult part about the transaction the Goblins had with Pepsico when the door opened for a second time and a pair of slightly louder footsteps entered.

"Good day miss." She heard Alfie say from the other end of the room.

She didn't reply instantly, not wanting to lose the place she was reading.

Eleanor sighed as she fished the paragraph and placed the paper down in front of her.

Looking up she smiled gracefully, "It is good to see you father, I hope the journey went well?"

The priest nodded sagely and stepped forward slightly, Eleanor's eyes widened and she quickly gestured to the two chairs in front of her, "Please sit."

Moving up onto the elevated platform on which the large table and Eleanor's desk sat, Alfie walked over to the chair and sat down.

"Before Victoria brings you to your room, we have to get something in order.

Firstly, I will need you to form a contract, with me swearing that you will not divulge any of the secrets I entrust to you, outside of confession."

Reaching over she rang the small golden bell positioned on a small golden plate.

Victoria appeared almost immediately, having been close at hand.

"What is it that you need of me, your Highness?" she asked inquisitively

Leaning forward she extended her arm towards Alfie O'Duggan, "The Unbreakable Vow, cast it on us."

Victoria gulped, "Your Highness, are you sure."

Smiling, Eleanor stared into Alfie's dark green eyes, and reaching over grabbed the black twisted wand that her mother had given her.

She then performed the wand movement and pointed it at Alfie, "Legilimens!"

Flashes of Alfie's childhood passed through her mind, a nun scolding him for punching another boy, him and his friends running through a lush green field, a group of men burning down a church.

Next were the priest's teens a night out drinking with some boys from his town, him lying in bed with a red-haired girl, and a drunk bar fight where he was smashed over the head with a chair.

Eleanor saw him celebrating his eighteenth birthday with the other church children, and leaving the church he had grown up in to travel to England.

She witnessed him joining the Kirkbymoorside church and becoming good friends with the locals.

Finding nothing suspicious, Eleanor was about to leave Alfie's mind when she noticed a hole in his memory.

Dicing that it was worth investigating she looked deeper into it and soon found a small piece of memory that had only partially been removed.

She could see an alleyway with a hood person in it, Eleanor couldn't see the person's face but just as Alfie took a step forward a flash of light lit up the scene and the memory ended.

Eleanor gasped and turned her gaze off of Alfie and onto Victoria, "We will have to do it."

Worry filled her maid's eyes and Victoria leant closer concerned, "Your Highness, are you alright?"

Nodding slowly Eleanor extended her arm towards Alfie, "Grab my forearm!"

He hesitated for a second but reaching out held it gently.

Adjusting his hold slightly, Eleanor looked at Alfie, "All you have to say is I will and that's it understood?"

The priest nodded and shifted in his chair trying to find a comfortable position.

Turning to Victoria Elanor smiled, "You may start!"

Pulling her wand from the holster on her forearm Victoria tapped the place where Eleanor and Alfie's arms connected.

From the spot she had touched them, translucent strings started to spread out and wrap themselves around their arms.

A howl of pain escaped from Alfie's mouth and Elenor felt him trying to pull back but she tightened her grip holding him in place.

Taking a deep shaky breath Victoria spoke, "Will you Alfie O'Duggan keep all of Princess Eleanor Pendragon's secrets to yourself until she releases you from the vow or loosens your restrictions on it?"

The priest didn't even seem to hear what she was saying but answered all the same, "I will."

Eleanor smiled as she saw the strings disappear and releasing Alfie's arm let him fall back into the chair.

Seeing that the priest was half-unconscious Eleanor sighed and waved towards the door, "Victoria, could you please bring father O'Duggan to his quarters."

"Of course your highness." she heard Victoria say and knowing that the priest would be in safe Eleanor returned to her pile of papers.

She had worked for about two hours but the pile didn't seem to have decreased by much, so placing down the parchment she had been holding, Eleanor decided to finally return to the subject of staff.

A minute and a bell ring later Victoria strode into the study her long maid uniform flapping behind her, "Your Highness, what is it that you need?"

Sighing Eleanor started tapping the tip of her quill on the table, "Victoria, I know you have been working hard and I am well aware that it is slowly wearing you thin.

So I have decided to hire extra staff for the manor."

Victoria smiled brightly and bows, "Thank you, your Highness, I will immediately start looking for the right people."