It's been almost a week since Marisa Coulter found her daughter Lyra up on that hill. Marisa watched her daughter with nothing but love. She knew what she had done was bad, kidnapping her own child but she did this because she cared and wants to keep her safe.

Marisa had seek out a Sharman in the city that was close to where she found shelter. What she used to keep Lyra asleep was starting to lose its effect and only keep her sleeping for short periods of time.

Asriel got word that his child was laying unconscious in a cave with his ex lover. At first he didn't care as he never really took much notice of poor Lyra.

"Asriel" Stelmaria growled at her human. "Are you sure she's safe with that woman? You better go check on her just to be safe. We do need her eventually"

Asriel let out a big sigh as he had to leave his photograms he recently took. "You're right Stelmaria. The quicker we go and collect the child, the sooner this will be all over"

Asriel grabs his travelling rucksack and packs a few essentials like food, water and a map as he'd never been to that part of that city before.

"It's going to be a two day treck, prepare yourself Stelmaria"

Back at the cave, Lyra was slowly coming out of her sleep like trance, Marisa quickly ran to her cup she had cooling with a fresh brew.

"What's happening? Where am I? Said Lyra in a confused tone.

"Shhh, it's ok darling you are safe. Mummy has you now"

Lyra's eyes shot open with shock as she realises the last person she remembers seeing is her mother after she found her on the top of the mountain.

"No, no let me go. If you love me you'll let me go"

Marisa just stared at her child and put a cup to her lips.

"This is for your own good Lyra. Drink up"

Lyra refused to drink the funny smelling liquid, so Marisa had to force it down her child's throat before she could do anything.

"No, no... someone... help...me"

Lyra fell back into a sleep trance. Marisa pulled her daughters body up into her arms and cradles her and hummed a tune she once hummed to her child before.

"I'm sorry my darling. But this is for your own good. If I don't do this, you'll run away from me again and get killed"

Marisa was pulling Lyra's hair back behind her ear, then places a kiss on her child's forehead.

"Don't worry Lyra, this will be all over soon and we can be together again with no interruptions"

Marisa fell asleep with Lyra in her arms and it brought back memories from when Lyra was only a baby.

—-

Days pass Asriel is still no closer to where he thinks Marisa and Lyra are.

"Stelmaria, go ask that d?mon over there and see if we are anywhere close to the location of Marisa and Lyra"

Stelmaria goes off in a huff and speaks to the bird d?mon that belonged to a small child.

A few minutes later Stelmaria returns with news that there's a strange lady in a cave up on the mountain and she's been there for a few weeks now, but didn't say anything about Lyra.

"That has to be her, good job Stelmaria"

The duo started their treck again. Within a few hours they where almost at the mouth of the cave. Asriel had Stelmaria sneak up to the opening to see if she can see anything. Just before Stelmaria got to the cave she heard the golden monkey screech then came running out of the cave.

Stelmaria pins the golden monkey to the ground, shocked Marisa comes out to see why her d?mon is making such a ruckus.

"Asriel?"

"Hello Marisa. Nice hiding spot. I'm here for the girl"

Still in shock, Marisa runs back to Lyra and starts packing up their stuff. Asriel follows and goes straight to his sleeping daughter.

"Don't you dare touch her" Marisa spat at Asriel

Asriel just ignored Marisa and went into a crouching position to pick Lyra up, till she started squirming.

"I mean it Asriel don't touch her"

"Please don't take her away from me Asriel. The magisterium are after her"

Marisa was silent for only a few seconds.

"Asriel please, if you take her from me I'll die"

"She is not safe here Marisa, I'm going to take her to a place where she will be safe. If you want you can come too"

Asriel gently picks Lyra up and instantly has flashbacks to the few times he wanted to put Lyra to bed.

"No Roger, don't leave me. What is this place?

Asriel looked down at his daughter then looks at Marisa with a concerned look.

"What did you do to her Marisa?"

All Marisa could do was look at the ground and mumble some words.

"SPEAK UP MARISA" Asriel yelled

"I gave her sleeping drugs that I found in a town called Cittàgazze while I was there looking for OUR daughter. I didn't want her to keep running away from me"

"So you drugged her? And why do you think she keeps running away from you Marisa? Maybe she doesn't want a mother"

Cut by his words, Marisa stood up with her rucksack in her hand ready to walk out.

"At least I wanted our daughter, I want to be in her life, unlike you Asriel"

Asriel could continue this little argument with his ex lover, but he wants to get Lyra back to the Adamant Tower to keep her so safe.

While walking a few paces behind Asriel, Marisa would look at things like rocks or large branches to use against Asriel so she could get Lyra back. But then the thought came, if she were to hit Asriel he would then drop Lyra and possibly fall on top off her.

"Don't even bother Marisa, I know what you are thinking and it won't work. Stelmaria watch them"

Stelmaria nodded and slowed her pace to walk with Marisa and the golden monkey.

"If you try anything, my teeth will be in your neck before you can blink" Stelmaria said to the golden monkey who was slightly scared from the comment.

Days have passed and both Lyra, Asriel and Marisa have made it back to the Adamant Tower. Marisa was locked in a cell as she can't be trusted and Lyra was placed in Asriel's room to wake up from the sleeping drug. Thorold was close by so he could tend to Lyra.

Lyra finally wakes up and notices that she's not in the cave anymore. Panicking, Lyra runs to the door and it's locked.

"Let me out, let me out" Lyra screamed

"It's ok miss Lyra, you're safe. Thorold said as he approached the door.

"Thorold?"

As Thorold opens the door, Lyra is shocked to see her fathers man servant staring back at her.

"Where am I Thorold?"

"Ah miss Lyra, you are at the Adamant Tower. Your father has taken over to help free the world from Authority.

"Authority?" Lyra said confused

"What do you mean Thorold?"

Thorold takes in a deep breath, not sure if he should tell Lyra what has been happening, but she's better off knowing now and not later.

"You're father, is going to start a war with the magisterium and the original creator of dust. He is on the hunt for the person who possess the ?sah?ttr. This person has the knife that can cut into other worlds and it will help Asriel win this battle"

Lyra gasps "Will. He's looking for Will"

Lyra just smiles and nods at Thorold. As she was about to walk out the door, she remembered that her mother drugged her and took her away from Will.

"Thorold, where is my mother?"

"Your father put her in a cell to protect you and others"

"Can you show me where, I wish to speak to her"

Thorold escorts Lyra to where her mother is. Lyra was shocked to see her mother in such a grubby state. She was use to the sweet smelling kind smile Mrs. Coulter till she found out who she really was.

"Moth... Mrs. Coulter?"

Marisa rolls over to see her daughter staring at her through black metal bars.

"Lyra, your ok. Where did he put you?"

"Who?"

"Your father. He took you from me when all I was trying to do was protect you"

Lyra didn't know if her mother was lying or telling the truth.

"You are special Lyra. All I want to do is protect you"

Lyra just scoffs at her mother.

"You had your chance at trying to protect me and you decided to turn the other way and not see me for twelve years"

Tears started welling up in both Marisa and Lyra's eyes.

"I love you Lyra, I always have and always will. I just need you to let me in... we can be a family, you me and Asriel"

Are these more lies? Or are they just words that Marisa Coulter are just saying as she knows that's all Lyra wants... a family to love her and not leave her.