Author Note: This is the first draft of A Story of Will and is as of yet unedited, I want to start the editing process when I have completed all parts. All critiques, comments, and opinions are all very welcome! Enjoy x

2 days later

Some time had passed and eventually Lavinia returned to Charlie's office (under duress from George). Tentatively she sat down in what now felt like her chair and began to speak, she did not wish for Charlie to apologise, or try to explain, she just wanted to talk. 

On some level, Lavinia thought Charlie must have known what she was feeling because he didn't say a word, he just sat and listened.

When Niall pulled up at the manor I couldn't have been more relieved when I caught a glimpse of its windows and then its doors it was like I could feel the air coming back into my lungs again and when my feet hit the gravel it was like I was taking my first gulp of air entering a new life.

I didn't even wait for Niall to help me out of the car or invite him inside, I just ran away, I ran away from the man I was supposed to marry I ran from his car, I ran over the gravel and into our house. I could feel my dress flowing around my legs, it was calling to me I'm sure of it Dolly slow down, Dolly go back but I would not.

I ran through the manor and towards the gardens, I pushed the big glass doors open, I just wanted to taste the air, taste air free of Niall, free of a future that I had chained myself to, the doors crashed against the walls. I'm surprised no one came running after me, wondering what all the thunder was about; there was never a moment's peace in that place.

I ran into our beautiful gardens, over a lush green hill that was covered in daisies breathing the air deeply, tasting my almost lost freedom as I ran. 

That's when I saw him, Will. He was sat on a beautiful white mare, her left foot slightly risen in the air, his floppy blonde hair had been taken by the wind but somehow he still looked stunning matching his mare perfectly. He trotted towards me and I could feel my heart pounding like an unruly drum in my chest.

"What are you doing here?" My lips blurted out before I could stop them, the treacherous things.

Will smiled down at me making my heart pound harder; it seemed criminal for a smile to have so much power.

"Delivering your brothers painting," truth be told it didn't really matter what he was doing at the manor, or why, all that mattered was that he stood in front of me with his powerful smile and questioning eyes looking upon me and I knew, I just knew he was going to ask me something. 

Just like at the lake Will Gilbert would ask me a question and I would be powerless, unable to do anything but tell him my truths.

"Will you come for a ride with me?" he asked outstretching his hand.

It didn't feel much like a question.

"I will," I said and as soon as I placed my hand in his I found myself on the back of the white mare, my arms wrapped around his waist, riding fast away from the manor. It was in that moment that I realised what Will was, he was the most incredible freedom and I loved that about him. 

He was everything thing that a little girls imagination might dream of, a white night on a gallant-looking white horse, sweeping damsels away from life and the pressures that come with it.

But Will was not just freedom, he was more than everything I desired or even desired to be. He was something else, something deeper, it was that that would entangle us together unable, or unwilling to break free, not even death could keep us apart.

"How did Dolly Die?" Said Charlie

"I told you I don't know, now do you want to hear this or not?" Said Lavinia, trying to push past the pain of her missing memories.

Charlie rolled his eyes, things still weren't quite right between them, Charlie wanted to explain about February, about Alice but found himself sitting back listening to Lavinia.

"Go ahead then stroppy," Charlie said gesturing for Lavinia to continue with his hand.

"I will but not now, I want you to take me somewhere first," Lavinia said looking at Charlie from behind her painted eyelashes.

Charlie leaned towards her and smirked.

"Don't try the womanly wiles thing with me young lady, just remember who's in charge here, don't abuse the Doctor-Patient thing we have going here" Charlie fumbled.

Lavinia put her feet on the edge of Charlie's chair and he stared down at them as if they were a bomb.

"Stop it, Lavinia," said Charlie moving away from the chair and sitting on his desk.

"I want you to take me somewhere," she said again her big green eyes seeming to grow in size as she spoke.

"For god sake... where?" Charlie raised his voice and rubbed his forehead slowly with the palm of his hand.

"I want you to take me to your house"

"Out of the question," Charlie shot back at her horrified.

"And, why would you even want that?" He said beginning to pace the room anxiously.

"Because you need to go and I'm curious, is that so bad?" Said Lavinia, sitting back in her chair feeling triumphant.

"I happened to think it's quite terrible if you must know," said Charlie returning to his original seat. All the cold air between them had evaporated, and all that was left was what the other wanted and, they both knew that what the other wanted was answers, answers to difficult questions.

"Alright," said Charlie quietly wondering if he had any rum at the house.

"We can go to the house"

Lavinia grinned.

"Not so fast. I'm not leaving this room until you have finished telling me about Will and that white horse, you got it?"

Lavinia nodded and all evidence of a smile was removed from her face, she closed her eyes and began to picture Will, the feel of her arms around his chest, the smell of him, the smell of the white horse, and the freedom of riding through the summer winds away from all the obligation and devastation that was to come.

Somewhere far away from the manor, we stopped to give Henry a rest. Henry trotted freely towards a winding river that danced inches away from our toes and it was only then that I noticed a problem.

"Henry?" I said my eyebrows rose.

Will just looked at me obviously confused.

"But she's a girl"

Will smiled at me, all dashing white teeth and big piecing dimples, it seemed to me that he would make an excellent criminal because I feared, he could smile his way out of any crime.

"Ah well you see, all my other horses are Geldings so I gave her a boy's name, so she had the best chance as any of being leader of the herd."

I laughed even though I knew he was lying.

He walked towards Henry and patted her neck; she barely seemed to notice he was there like Will was an extension of her own body.

"Lier," I said softly. I had begun plaiting Henry's mane subconsciously worried she had femininity issues stuck with all those boys.

"What, are you worried she doesn't feel pretty?" Laughed Will.

I pouted and ignored him.

"Leave poor Henry alone," I said kissing her nose.

"You're mad you are, has anyone ever told you"

I laughed again, I had finished Henry's mane, and she did look rather pretty.

"Henrietta, her name is Henrietta," said Will.

For some reason only known to me, I flung my arms ungraciously round his neck and kissed him softly on the lips. After that, it all became a lot less about Henry and a lot more about my body and Will's moulding like water and sand.

 I felt him kiss me back instantly and pull me towards him with his hand firmly grasped on my lower back. The wind rose up and my hat flew off into the lake, the thing is I was aware of it happening, my hat, the wind, my curls being unpinned by the winds which were starting to pick up speed, but really I couldn't think past my own heartbeat. It was getting faster and faster and its beats were all for Will.

"I'm not imagining it then, it's not just me," said Will.

"No, it's not just you," I said still holding tightly onto his arms.

"Look Doll, I know who I am and who you are, I know the difference between us and I know I have nothing to offer you but please, Dolly, don't marry that man." Will looked at me; there was something desperate about his lovely blue eyes, so I just looked away.

"Well there is nothing to be done," I said finally looking up at Will. It was although he knew what I was going to say but he was going to stand here and make me say the words all the same.

"I'm engaged William and I intend on getting married. I told you, I made a promise to my sisters and I don't intend on breaking it."

"I've still got time to change your mind," said Will.

I felt him pulling my body back towards his again, everything inside my head was screaming at me to run, to go home, to go back to the manor.

 But my heart it was running rampant inside my chest and there was nothing I could do to stop it. I felt Will kiss me again and his hand slowly drop to the small of my back and I knew, right then that I had lost control of my own actions I was to be led by my heart or not at all.

"You must love them to sacrifice yourself this way," said Will still holding me tightly in his embrace.

"They are my sisters, of course, I love them, but it's not about loving them it's about protecting them. I do not want them to follow me in this fate I have been given, I want them to be free."

Will's arms released me and he stepped back allowing his eyes to rest on mine for a moment.

"And what of your freedom?" Said Will.

"I fly with the birds William Gilbert but only in my dreams." 

The posting schedule for The Girl That Fell Out of The Ocean is Wednesday and Sundays!