People around the mansion were talking about the skirmish that took place last night. Tatin and Isabella were safe, they said. There were talks of other rebellious groups who wanted to grab power from them.
"What do you think about the situation?" Jan asked some bystanders.
"They're strong couple—brave. They'll overcome," one of them said.
"Do you trust them?" Jan asked again.
"Yes," another man replied.
The four nodded. Tatin and Isabella enjoyed a vote of confidence from their constituents.
"There were talks about the wealth of the couple. We think that was an underlying reason why we have all these troubles," the man added.
The four looked again at each other. Tatin and Isabella were rich!
"The half-brother was a sympathizer."
"And are you supportive of them?" Josh was excited to ask. "I mean, Tatin and Isabella?"
'Yes, we have good lives under their leadership. Look at us. We are free. We can sell our goods. We have foods on our table. We have good GDP per capita ratio. We have surplus. We can send our children to school. Our families are healthy. We have a good healthcare system. We have good relationship with the neighboring towns. Look at our children and wives. Don't they look happy?"
Fr. Robert looked at the man who talked, then, at the children playing around, at their wives, at the merchants, and at people who were strolling, and those who were passing by; certainly what he said were true, they seem contented.
That's not the only reason why people like them," another man suggested.
"Why?" Fr. Robert asked.
Tatin was good. He is a just leader, if you have heard stories about him when he was younger. All that he asked rebels of his government is for them to renounce their participation from their renegade groups."
Josh, Jan, and Marilyn agreed.
The four were hungry. They did not know how they would get by in that timeline because they had nothing in their pockets. They had been walking around, looking for the portal that would take them back to where they came from—to the present, or what they referred to as the future. Anyway, they had made friends from chattering, and some invited them to their houses. By the end of the day, the four had their stomachs filled.
xxxxxx
A generous man called Kala lent a room for the four. They had a good sleep that night. The next day, Kala told them that the citizens of that town were invited to a gathering at the banquet hall. There was an important agenda to discuss.
"Would you like to come?" he asked the four. "That is if you have nothing to do today."
The four agreed they'd come.
That night, the banquet hall was filled with wolves.
Tatin announced that his government was ready to defend it from any hostile attempt to grab power from his administration; that he wouldn't take the challenge sitting down, but that he was willing to accommodate those who were willing to turn their back on the renegade groups.
Rep was there, attentively listening. His cohorts were also in the crowd.
Among them were Apollo II, Lobo, Andrea, Hugh, Matthias, and Julius.
Kala was with his guests Josh, Jan, Fr. Robert, and Marilyn.
Matthias could not help looking at Marilyn. He was talking with Julius, pointing at her, and at his companions. He liked her. He also knew that they were from a different timeline as he and Julius had been looking at their clothes and they had come to the same conclusion.
Matthias tried to get close to where the four were standing so he would be noticed by Marilyn. True enough to his instinct, she did notice him; they locked eyes.
"What planet could a beautiful lady like a star in heaven possibly have come from?" He coughed as if begging her for a little attention.
Marilyn answered:
"Do we look like we come from another planet?" She pretended to be one like them. Anyway, she was already one with them.
"We eat just like you. We drink water. We sleep. Our aspirations, I'm sure, are the same. We couldn't have come from another planet except maybe that what we wear is different from what you wear, but I am sure that as peculiar as we are regarding how we look and dress and maybe think, you also may have your own peculiarity or shall we call it idiosyncrasies for people like us."
Matthias was smiling; and Julius.
"Smart mouth for lips that look too thin--but kissable--to be capable of expressing philosophical ideas."
Marilyn blushed.
Matthias and Julius had that naughty smirk on their faces.
Josh, Jan, and Fr. Robert were listening.
Then, the two introduced themselves; let them know that they were part of Tatin and Isabella's cabinet and that they were in-charge of logistics and education.
The four were impressed.
"What exactly is this gathering about?" Josh curiously asked.
"I will tell you but you have to tell us first where you came from because we are travellers as well. We have encountered people from all walks but this is the first time that we encountered people like you who dress so differently," Matthias said.
"If we tell you, will you believe us?" Fr. Robert said.
"If the odds are high, why not?"
Fr. Robert told Matthias that they were from the future, to Matthias and Julius' laughter.
"So, will you tell us now what this meeting is about? Josh asked.
"Well, you heard it from Tatin. We're being asked to prepare. He had sounded the alarm."
"Yes, we heard that you're into something like—war. What kind of enemies are you facing?" Fr. Robert asked.
Julius butted in: "There is, according to stories, another group headed by someone who can turn into a crocodile, lizard and snake-like creature and another one who is led by somebody who can turn into a multi-headed bear-like kind of animal. We're assuming that they're as gigantic as the octopus we fought last night."
"That must be very frightening." Marilyn said.
"We're always ready to defend the wolf-dom, young lady." Matthias said. "But before things get messy, may we, at least, invite you for a dinner so that if, knock on the wood, heaven bid us to say goodbye to this world, I would have dated one of the most beautiful women I have seen in my life?" Matthias kissed Marilyn's left hand; she was too slow to say no.
"Sure…" Jan was to say something when Josh covered his mouth. Josh was afraid that Jan might say something that might appear as cringeworthy. Well, he was to tell him that they did not know where to eat the next day.
Marilyn looked at Jan but this time, she let Jan's mistake pass. She was happy. She seemed to like Matthias and Julius' company.
"Do you know where he lived?" Julius pointed to another big house across the mansion. He was vouching for his friend.
The four were awed because it was just as big as the mansion.
"That's where he lived. Just ring the bell at the gate around seven o'clock tomorrow night—time good enough for you?"
"Yes," Marilyn said.
The four, along with Kala, said good night to Matthias and Julius who were joined by Andrea, Hugh, Lobo, and Apollo II upon leaving the banquet hall.
xxxxxx
The next day, they were busy preparing for their dinner date. Kala lent the three men clothes that fit the occasion. Marilyn was the most excited of them all. Matthias was equally excited, she didn't know. Once they rang the gate and he heard it, he could not help himself, he waited on the doorsteps to greet them. Marilyn was asking herself why she didn't meet this man before if she was born during this time. Perhaps Jan was wrong. She was in the wrong era. Or maybe it was better that she was sent here to the wrong place and time. If this was the wrong place and time, how come she had a physical body? She was at the right place and time. Damn, she would fight for it. She was happy here. She would fight for her happiness.
Her introspecting ended as soon as Matthias escorted them inside the house and as Fr. Robert had been looking at her. He knew Marilyn. He pitied her. She wasn't the only kind he met. She met his gaze. Fr. Robert knew instantly that she was happy.
That night sealed Marilyn's destiny with Matthias. They became closer and they'd be seen everyday together as Hugh and Andrea were seen together. Julius was nonetheless, happy for his friend. Jan, Josh and Fr. Robert were happy as well for Marilyn.
The three would continue to look for that portal that would take them back to the future even as Marilyn had decided to stay. She would do everything for love.