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Charlie had learned a lot over the course of these not-quite-six months. Sometimes ballerinas could hold more danger than just simply being a diva, never trust a deck of cards, and Elaine Astolat knew the perfect spot within the castle walls to rewind with a cup of tea and a good book (or magazine. Take your pick). On the days she decided to make an appearance, that is.
Luckily for Charlie, this was one of those days. There, tucked neatly into their usual corner, with just enough space to fit a table and two chairs, was Elaine Astolat.
Charlie wasn’t naive enough to consider this ‘their spot’, Elaine had been residing in this castle for far longer than Charlie had even been a glimmer in her mother’s eye, but it had sort of become a regular occurrence for the two of them.
On days when the work was slow and the group was otherwise occupied, Charlie would find herself walking to this very nook - and more often than not, Elaine would be sitting there, newspaper in hand, two steaming cups ready to be drained and war stories waiting to be shared (along with gossiping about Vikram’s latest ridiculousness, of course).
What Charlie had meant to say in greeting was “Hey,” or “This spot taken?” or something along those lines. What came out instead was:
“You lied to us.”
No response aside from the loud flipping of the newspaper.
“You knew who we were this whole time.”
“I did.”
“You told me not to trust him.”
“I did.”
“You knew he was going to try and go back.”
“I did.”
“And you never told me?”
At this, Elaine’s default stern expression shifted into something softer. “ Charlie, you are a beautiful, intelligent, capable Guardian. You know why I kept silent.”
“Maybe I do…”
She did. It was one of the biggest rules of time travel. At least in the movies. You don’t risk changing events that were meant to happen. Still, the experience felt almost dreamlike. Dizzying and unreal.
“I just can’t wrap my head around it…I mean I just saw you.” Charlie paused, She knew she sounded ridiculous and like the unseasoned Guardian she was. “Or well, she looked like you, but different. I was exactly the same but you…”
“Felt like a completely different person?” Elaine finished for her. “Time travel is quite the experience isn’t it.”
Charlie couldn’t help but laugh. “You can say that again.”
With a swift motion, Elaine set aside her newspaper and held out a palm, gesturing for Charlie to sit. It was a silent command that her body gratefully obeyed. The tension melted out of Charlie’s muscles as she let her body fully relax into the chair.
“You know…” Elaine started after a moment had passed. “I’d already lived a long time before the four of you came storming into my life that day. I wasn’t a very trusting woman; and really, no woman with any sense of self preservation would ever trust a band of such oddly dressed strangers.”
She smiled and this was the Elaine that Charlie loved the most. The kind woman whose eyes shun with a deep tenderness in the glow of the castle lights. The woman who caused you to stop breathing completely in fear you’d miss her next words. Turns out you didn’t need a time machine to feel as if time had stopped completely.
“But the way you spoke and the look in your eyes,” she continued. “Well I knew that I could trust you .” Then, “You inspired me, Charlie.”
“Elaine…”
Charlie’s voice sounded shaky and far away even as she heard her own words vibrate in her chest.
“You changed my life profoundly,” Elaine said matter-of-factly. As if what she was saying was something as weightless as a feather. As if those words weren’t everything Charlie had ever wanted to hear from anyone.
“When I met you I’d lost my drive, my purpose. I’d allowed myself to become hardened by the bad hands life had dealt me.” There was that smile again. The one that stopped time.
“Then here comes you . This stunning girl, with a spark in her eye, who knows things about myself that I’d never told anyone. It was like looking in a reflection and being met with someone I thought I’d lost a long time ago.”
For the first time that evening Elaine finally succeeded in capturing Charlie’s full gaze.
Charlie quickly hid behind a sip of tea and a raised eyebrow.
“Are you saying I remind you of yourself? When you were younger?”
Elaine scoffed humorously.
“Well, I’m not that old, am I?”
“You don’t look a day over 1000, Mrs. A.”
For a moment, neither woman said anything, both content to just enjoy the silence of each other’s company.
"But in a way, I think maybe you did; or at least you reminded me of who I wanted to be,” Elaine finally said. “Of the vow I’d sworn to honor. That day wasn’t just a learning lesson for our rogue librarian. It’s impacted all of our lives, and that is precisely why I had to wait for you all to get to where you needed to be. In silence.”
She paused, then.
“But it’s been fun befriending the woman that gave me new life.”
“Fr-”
Now, Charlie didn’t consider herself to be the clumsy type, but almost spilling tea all over herself was beginning to become a habit.
“So we’re friends now?”
“I’d like to think so,” Elaine replied, with a teasing wink.
Charlie didn’t think Elaine even knew how to wink - but then again, a woman like that knew how to do almost anything.
“I don’t spend my precious downtime with just anyone,” Elaine said.
Maybe, Charlie thought, Lysa was onto something when she called them all a family. Some days were harder than others, but this? This made it all worth it. Sharing secrets over tea and sharing smiles with the woman who helped her feel like maybe this place could become her home. Permanently.
“To friends then,” Charlie said. “Old and new.”
“And to ones we have yet to meet.”