A/N: So this is the story I worked on for NaNo last year. I didn't manage to finish (was sooo close though!), and while it still isn't finished, I have enough written to start posting. I'm hoping that by posting I'll be able to get back in a writing mindset and figure out a few bumps I've run into with the story.

Anyway...this is a different kind of story from anything I've written before. I'm a sci-fi lover. Actually, I find that it's easier for me to write sci-fi than anything else. So...meet Sci-fi Downton...ha! If you're curious about the story, but not sure you want to read, there's a video preview/trailer posted on my tumblr which is bremol dot tumblr dot com.

Earth, Winter Solstice in the very distant future...

It's the first day of the alignment of the Triad. For nine months, Earth will have the Moon, the Sun, and X'ronos visible in the sky. The seasons are always mixed up in these years with the Triad, but the birth of an Óra is the blessing that is bestowed upon those that struggle because of the trials caused by the Sun and Moon never setting.

Earth, Autumn Equinox in the same very distant future...

In a small village, Yorkshire, England, a baby gives a lusty cry.

At the very same moment, in a small burgh in Scotland, another baby is born, silently blinking her bright blue eyes against the light.

No one knows that two Óra have been born simultaneously.

No one knows that the fulfilment of the legend of the Ancient One has begun.

No one knows that the moon has been banished from his home in the sky by the Sun in jealousy.

No one knows that Time herself has followed her love to live a life on Earth until she finds him.

And so our story begins…

Charles stood and stared at the cracked painting of the woman that had haunted his dreams for years. He'd been searching for information about her, searching for her, for so long he'd nearly given up. And then, a random assignment that sent him one hundred and fifty years into his future gives him her name.

Elsie Hughes.

According to the small plaque, she was an important figure in history. Everyone knew of the first lady to break through the barriers of the holocaust of twenty-three thirteen. A holocaust that had sent every woman on Earth into hiding just to survive.

What he hadn't known, or anyone else for that matter, was her name or what she looked like. This painting was the only visual that existed of the woman, the accompanying plaque the only thing bearing her name. Both things he found himself wondering about.

How did these exist when no one had ever been able to recall what the woman had looked like or been able to say what her name was?

It was just another part of the mystery of the woman he now knew as Elsie Hughes.

"Mr. Carson?" a voice sounded beside him, startling Charles out of his contemplations.

"Oh, yes. I'm sorry. Mr. Benton, I presume."

"I am indeed. I see you've found our mysterious painting."

Charles gave the man a startled look. "I have. But how is it mysterious when it's here in your building?"

"No one knows where it came from. The painter didn't add their signature, so no one can even look them up and ask them about the painting."

"Hmm." Charles hummed as he pondered this bit of news. "This is the only visual that exists of her. No one has ever known what she looked like or what her name was. All anyone has ever known was the story of how she stood up to the leader of the Regime and broke through the barrier that had been left behind after the holocaust."

"We can find no records of this woman any other time in history."

"I haven't found anything on her in any time." Charles commented.

"She's a mystery, Mr. Carson."

"That she is, Mr. Benton. That she is."

CnE

Elsie sighed as she curled into a ball, her body tired and hurting from her latest run in with time. Why she always seemed to find herself in situations where she was forced to slow down time, she didn't know, but she did know that her body was growing weary with the pain caused by her actions. She looked far older, she stopped the thought with a laugh.

"Who the hell are you kidding, Elsie Hughes? You look damned good for woman as old as you are."

"Elsie, lass, are you alright?" Kenda asked as she came into the room and sat down beside the woman she'd been looking after for the last twenty years. She knew that Elsie was one of the rare Óra, and that she was far older than she seemed. The thought of the woman outliving her had only made Kenda sad as she realized that Elsie had outlived her family and friends ten times over.

"It hurts, Kenda. Why must it hurt so? Why have I been cursed with this?"

"I don't know, lass."

Elsie shook her head as she looked up at her constant companion and friend. "I should be calling you lass."

Kenda laughed gently as she caressed the hair from Elsie's face. "No, lass. You may be older than I in years, but you need a mother to see to you when you're hurting. To the world I am the older one so I shall go on being the mother you need."

Taking Kenda's hand, Elsie held it tightly as she closed her eyes with the pain. "You're far too good to me. I miss my mother sometimes. She's been gone now for too many years to count."

Kenda could hear the sadness in Elsie's voice. "I'm so sorry. Everyone worships the myth of The Óra, but no one realizes the curse it really is for those of you born with immortality." Placing a cool hand on Elsie's forehead, Kenda asked a question she'd longed pondered on.

"Have you never tried to find another of your kind? Or maybe even just find a mortal man to love you and at least give you some happiness?"

"There's a man that haunts my dreams."

"Have you tried to find him?"

"No. If he's mortal, what good would it do? I couldn't bear to lose him. It wouldn't be fair to either of us."

"But is it fair to yourself to never know love?" Kenda wiped a tear from Elsie's cheek.

"I can't, Kenda. He's all that I think of, but I can't. I just can't."

"Shh. Why don't I fetch some of your favorite Scotch?"

"The whole bottle might help at least dull the pain enough so that I can rest." Elsie whispered.

Kenda nodded, knowing that Elsie only ever drank a full bottle when the pain was especially bad. She wished the man that haunted Elsie's dreams would come along and give the lass at least some happiness, though he would have to be stronger willed than Elsie Hughes to accomplish it.