“You know, according to history, or at least the history I learned, William the Conqueror was the illegitimate son of Robert Duke of Normandy. He was born in 1028, and became the Duke or Normandy upon his father’s death in 1035. When Edward the Confessor, King on England died in 1066, William, now Duke of Normandy, believed he had a claim to the throne and expected to be offered the crown, with support promised by Harold Godwineson. Harold Godwineson decided that Williams claim was false and took the throne for himself. The King of Norway, Harold Hardrada or Harold the III of Norway decide that this was a most operative time to invade. And that doesn’t even mention the celebrate Kings great nephew, Edgar Atheling.

“I’m beginning to see why Wick would have chosen 1066 for his great plan... A three way bid for the throne with two Harold’s, and a William. Sounds like a joke. Godwineson goes north to deal with Harold Hardrada and William finally gets the good weather to invade. Godwineson deadbeats Hardrada but his men are tired and he’s a long way from the coast. From September to December 1066, William invaded England, won the battle of Hastings where Harold Godwineson died, secured the treasury and subdued London forcing the Saxon heir, Edgar Atheling, to surrender the throne and the kingdom. William was crowned King of England in December 1066 at Westminster Abbey.

“Why does history have to have so many dates??? Dates are boring, but delicious. I like history for the people!! People are weird but interesting. Look what we’ve done... William did a lot. He knew he’d face problems so he went about securing his throne. He implemented the feudal system: all land belonged to the crown rather than to those who lived on it, I meant come on William!! One quarter was treated as Williams personal property and the rest he leased out, but under the strictest of conditions. He split the country into manors which he gave to Barons who, in return with their Knights, must serve on the royal Grand Council. They had to pay various dues and, when required, provide the King with military service.” Serenity sighed.

“The Baron kept as much of the Manors land as he wished for his own use, then distributed the rest among his Knights. In return, the knights were bound, by honour, by oath by desperation, I dunno, to meet the military needs of their Baron when either he or the King called for them. The knights in turn allocated sections of their lands to villeins, or serfs, who had to provide free labour and food and service, with or without warning, whenever it was demanded. It’s like a really shitty cake, all these tiers with the bottom one taking all the weight... I don’t like cake. I like crime brûlée. And pastries.

“William distributed land to his trusted Norman Barons so, four out of the six most powerful men were Norman. Everyone would have had to learn french and I’m not great with languages. Accents I can do but I can’t remember the vocabulary. William was careful to ensure that in any given region, no one man was given too big an area. The estates were scattered over the entire country to ensure any sign of rebellion against Norman rule was easily dealt with. Great castles were built in wood and stone all over the country as reminders of Norman rule and centres of power.

But you know, dictatorships don’t work. William's new barons quickly grew problematic. They taxed and bullied the defeated Saxons until, in 1070, the entire country broken out in revolt with the backing of Malcolm Canmore, King of Scotland, Swein Estrithson, King of Denmark and little Edgar. They failed and William, despite knowing how his Norman barons acted, burned and slaughtered the Saxons into total submission. Large areas of Yorkshire, Cheshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire and Derbyshire were decimated and left derelict. They recovered eventually and are great places to holiday in.

William was really horrible. In 1072, he introduced the forest law which made every animal, tree and leaf in any forest property of the King, and life the native Saxons who relied on the forests, couldn’t hunt and kill the animals for food or collect fire wood...”

Serenity fell silent, contemplating.

“The Norman invasion of England was a defining point in English history. So much changed. They say history is written by the victors, we have no idea how much we’ve lost. What if history is not what it seems? What lays hidden from the history we know? What if history is … wrong?”

“History cannot be wrong Sierra. Only how we perceive it.”

Serenity startled and jumped, looking everywhere. Where was she anyway? She seemed to be floating in the dark and she felllllt drunk.

“Don’t worry about the woozy feeling, it will pass. You’re just readjusting after so long away. Please don’t stop, we were enjoying you’re jazzed up recounting of history, though we do wonder who you think you’re lecturing too. Hasn’t it been a long time since you agreed to guest speak?”

Serenity blew a raspberry. “Boooooring. I like finding history. You know in the ground. Much more fun... Who are you anyway? Am I dead.”

There were chuckles all around. “You’re not dead,well, not right now. Are you feeling a little more with us? We have a great deal to tell you.”

Serenity groaned. She didn’t want to deal with anything, she was tired and she couldn’t Reiner much right now. But the shadows were patient and slowly Serenity came back to herself. Sadness made itself known in her chest and she wallowed briefly in it. Serenity knew that her jumping experience would always be with her but she hoped one day it would not hurt so much.

Finally, Serenity gave her full attention to the shadow voices that had waited for her, moving to float in a relaxed sitting position. “Thank you for waiting.”

“Not a problem. We understand what you are dealing with.”

Serenity’s interest was piqued. “Really? How?”

“Time for a little more history.” The voice said warmly. “Serenity, you were not the first to have this ability, but you were the first to use it in a very long time. In the ancient days, this gift was both revered and feared. Many good things were accomplished with it but also a lot of messes. Eventually, the problems became so great that they could not justify the continued use of the gift. It was decided that all knowledge of the gift would be hidden, allowing it to go dormant until such time that the gift could be used properly and safely without negative affects. But something went wrong and the gift was never awakened. We suspect it was a deliberate act.”

Serenity was enraptured “How long ago was this?”

“Long ago, before we can properly comprehend. The complexities of the gift mean that even years of reality have been lost. There are many aspects of the gift you have not yet tapped into. But you are the first since then to discover and use the gift. But you are not the last. You began a new age. You asked where you are. This,” the shadow gestured around, “is the Sanctuary. It is a place outside of time for those with the gift to rest and to seek help.”

Serenity frowned. “A sanctuary? But it’s just darkness and shadows.”

Again the shadow seemed to nod. “It reflects our moods. You are very sad and a little scared. When you are better, you will see it is very bright and we all have solid forms. We can see you quite well.”

Serenity shuffled uncomfortably and peered a little closer at the shadows. They did seem a little more human like, but not much.

“Don’t try to force it. The Sanctuary knows what you need, the rest will come with time.”

Serenity nodded and accepted that. “Why am I here?”

“First and foremost, to rest. You have been through much and you have done it alone. You have time, all of time, any time, so rest. You need to heal.”

Another not shadow spoke up and Serenity realised that several of them had been speaking to her.

“You can also learn. We can teach you all about the gift and help you not be afraid. We know you fear ending up like Wick.”

“You think that the gift leads to madness and will want to never use it again.”

“Wick was unfortunate. He too was alone and didn’t understand his gift. He also discovered it so young that fantasy and reality blurred together.”

Serenity grew upset. “If you knew that, why didn’t you help him or at least stop him?”

“We couldn’t. To directly interfere with others in their birth time is one of the causes of the Messes. Here in the Sanctuary it safe to interact, help, advise even lend some power or strength but once we’re back inside time, it becomes more complicated. That why we have rules.”

Serenity thought about it. She was still scared to end up like Wick but maybe there was a way. “So I won’t lose myself. I’ve felt numb for a long time. I can’t seem to shake it.”

“Our own time is where we belong and whenever we leave, we are not entirely whole. The only other pace we are whole is here, outside time. You’ve spent too long away, that why you felt numb. You need to regularly heal here or in your present or you will get worse until you are like Wick. Clashing with another Gifteds jump will also make the decision worse.”

“So Wick never made it here? Or went back to his present?”

There was a sad sigh from the group. “No Wick never made it here. He as too obsessed with running away from something and creating his ‘perfect world’. He latched onto you and made everything worse. It’s a sad case and the only one I the New Age of the Gift.”

“New Age?”

“Yes. You making it here to the Sanctuary is the beginning of the New Age of the Gift. You are the first of us. You set down the rules, researched the effects of the gift and help police time to prevent more Messes. A part of you echoes here, always.”

Serenity was incredulous. “I haven’t done any of that! I can nearly cope with this last episode. I-”

“Serenity, calm down. You have all the time and if you really don’t want to do it, other will. What matters is that we are in the New Age and it has worked well. This has been a lot for you so we’re going to let you get the rest you need. Just a few more things, okay? The Shadows that you experience as a child are have been resolved now you have found the Sanctuary. Similarly, all of Wicks tweaks in the Norman era have been smoothed out. They still happened but the consequences have be reduced. You’re time still happened but they are isolated and the History you know is unchanged. Everything else can wait. Rest. We will take care of you, so you’re not returning until we think you’re ready.”

Serenity sighed and replied tiredly “I should be mad but I get it. Thank you.” Before they could even reply, she drifted in the darkness and let everything slip away.