Chapter 3 Threads of Fate

Elosie sat on the balcony of the tavern, her eyes gazing out at the horizon as the sun dipped beneath the mountains, casting an amber glow over the landscape. The day had been filled with more questions than answers, and though she had learned so much about her parents and grandparents, the overwhelming weight of her journey still clung to her like a second skin.

What was she supposed to do now? What choices awaited her in this strange world, where the past, present, and future were so tightly woven together? The stories of her parents—Lancelot and Tristan—had painted a picture of honour, love, and sacrifice. But now that she was here, standing in the very heart of their legacy, she realized how little she truly knew.

A soft footstep behind her broke her reverie. Elosie turned to find Elizabeth, her grandmother, standing in the doorway, a gentle smile on her face. "I thought I might find you here," she said, her voice warm with understanding.

Elosie returned the smile, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "I've been thinking… about everything. About my parents. About my place in all of this."

Elizabeth walked over and leaned against the railing beside her, looking out at the same view. "It's a lot to take in," she said quietly. "But you don't have to carry it all at once, Elosie. One step at a time. That's the best advice I can give you."

Elosie sighed; her gaze distant. "It's just… What if I'm not ready for this? What if I can't live up to their legacy?"

"You don't have to live up to anyone's expectations but your own," Elizabeth said softly. "Your parents were remarkable people, but they were also human. They made mistakes. They struggled. And they weren't perfect. But that didn't stop them from fighting for what they believed in. And you'll do the same. You have your own path to follow."

Elosie's heart ached at the thought of her parents. The stories she had heard—how they had fought against impossible odds, how they had loved so fiercely—had shaped her into who she was. But now, standing in this time, she couldn't help but feel the pull of her own identity, her own future.

"What if the future I came from isn't as secure as I thought?" she asked. "What if… I change something here, and it all unravels?"

Elizabeth's smile faded slightly, her eyes growing more serious. "Time is a delicate thing," she said, her tone turning contemplative. "Changes made in the past ripple through the future in ways we can't always predict. But just because you can change something, doesn't mean you should. Some things are meant to remain untouched."

Elosie nodded slowly, the weight of her grandmother's words settling on her shoulders. She had always been taught that the future was something to protect—something she had to safeguard at all costs. But what if, by trying to protect it, she only ended up causing more harm?

Before she could voice her thoughts, a voice called from behind them. "Elizabeth, Elosie. There you are."

Turning, Elosie saw Ban and Elaine walking toward them, their expressions more serious than usual. Ban's usual grin was replaced with a contemplative look, and Elaine's soft gaze held a note of concern.

"What's going on?" Elosie asked, her heart racing slightly at the sudden shift in their demeanour.

Ban's eyes flicked to Elizabeth before he spoke. "There's something we need to discuss. Something you should know, Elosie."

Elizabeth's face grew more somber, and Elosie felt a knot form in her stomach. "What is it?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"We've sensed something," Elaine said, her voice steady but laced with an edge of worry. "A disturbance. Something… or someone, outside of our time."

Elosie's heart skipped a beat. "A disturbance? You mean… someone from the future?"

Ban nodded grimly. "It's possible. We've been feeling these ripples for a while now. And the truth is, we don't know who— or what—might be behind them."

"Is it… dangerous?" Elosie asked, her pulse quickening.

"We don't know," Elizabeth admitted. "But it's clear that someone—or something—knows of your arrival. And that's not something we can ignore."

Elosie's mind raced. A disturbance from the future? What could it mean? Could someone from her time have followed her through the portal? Could there be others who sought to control time itself, to manipulate the past for their own purposes?

"What should I do?" Elosie asked, her voice trembling. The burden of the future suddenly felt heavier than ever.

"We're not going to let anything happen to you," Ban said firmly. "But you need to be careful. The future you come from might not be as secure as you think. If someone is trying to tamper with time… it could change everything."

The gravity of the situation hit Elosie all at once. Time was no longer just an abstract concept—it was a fragile, living thing. And if someone was trying to disrupt it, she would be caught in the middle, whether she was ready or not.

Elizabeth's hand landed gently on her shoulder, grounding her. "We'll stand by you, Elosie. Whatever happens, we'll face it together. But you must trust yourself, and trust that your heart will guide you."

Elosie took a deep breath, steeling herself. She wasn't alone. She had her family, their love, and their wisdom to guide her. But the future, as she had always feared, was full of uncertainties. And as much as she longed to shape it, she realized that there were forces far greater than her own will at play.

With a final glance at her grandparents, Eloise straightened. "I'm ready," she said, her voice steady despite the storm of thoughts swirling inside her.

Ban gave her an approving nod. "That's the spirit. Now, let's figure out who's messing with time before it's too late."

As the four of them moved toward the tavern's back room, where they had set up a small meeting area to discuss their next steps, Elosie couldn't shake the feeling that the future—her future—was in grave danger. But if she was to change it, she would need to understand it first. And that meant finding the answers, no matter what the cost.

The threads of fate were already pulling tight, and Elosie could feel them tugging her forward. It was up to her to decide whether she would follow them or cut them entirely. And that choice, more than anything, would determine the course of everything that followed.