Chapter 1: Table Manners with Susan
Shafts of sunlight burst through the thick, overhanging trees that covered the path, breaking up the blanket of shadow that covered the ground. The temperature remained low due to a nice, cool breeze that danced and wound its way between the trees.
The still silence hanging in the air was broken by the thundering thuds of horse hooves on the path. Two horses—one brown, one black—raced along the path, easily taking the turns and the winding trails that their riders navigated them down. The brown horse pulled forward, causing the lean-bodied boy atop of his back to throw a triumphant grin over his shoulder at his opponent.
"Come on! Just a little further," he urged, flicking the reins that were gathered in his hands. The brown horse beneath him surged forward, leaving a cloud of dust in its wake. The boy held his weight in his stirrups and stayed as center in the saddle as possible. Finally the woods burst open to the lip of a high cliff. Pulling back on his reins, the bow slowed the horse down to a gradual walk where it stopped near the edge. As he breathed heavily and brushed sweat off his forehead with his sleeve, the black horse burst into the clearing. "What took you so long, slowpoke?" he teased.
"Don't start bragging yet, Ed, we still have the return trip to take," Crystal commented with a roll of her eyes. She brushed her long ponytail over her shoulder so it fell down the middle of her back. "Besides, I let you win."
Edmund scoffed. "Don't try to make yourself feel better about losing, Crys. You know very well I won this race on my own."
"I was trying to save the castle from having to deal with you pouting for the rest of the day when you were beaten. And when you were beaten by a girl," Crystal shot back, sticking her tongue out at him.
"Ah ah ah, princesses shouldn't act that way. Think of the reputation you are putting out," Edmund chastised, wagging his finger in a 'shame on you' gesture. He chuckled and pulled his hand away from her when she leaned over and tried to bite at him. "The coronation is a week away," he said, his previous lighthearted tone disappearing at the conversation shift.
"Don't remind me," Crystal sighed, pulling on the leather reins in her hands to keep Dava from moving. "I was given two days to rest and heal and now all of that is being shoved down my throat. We just had a battle. I thought we would have more time to…breathe."
Edmund nodded his head and let his eyes wander around the nature surrounding them. His muscles still ached from the battle they had finished a few days prior. It was intense, much more so than the first one where he was stabbed by Jadis, the Snow Queen and the second battle against Miraz's army. This time it was a battle he didn't know he was going to fight.
Coming back to Narnia so soon after returning from their second trip threw him for a loop. He knew he would be returning but he thought that more time would pass rather than a few short weeks. He thought Narnia only called him after he had some time to grow and learn from his past experiences, not take him and throw him blindly into a new problem.
But that was nothing compared to her. She was taken from normalcy, living in a world where Narnia was nothing but a big story to her, and yanked into a world where she now had responsibilities piling atop of her shoulder as well as a coronation being set up for her in a week's time. Even when Edmund and his siblings went through their coronation they had a little more time to learn what they needed and to display their teachings in a timely manner. Crystal was going to have to shove all of hers—including the history of a kingdom that had just fallen into her lap—in one week. His head hurt just by thinking about it, he couldn't imagine what she was going through.
So he decided to help her ease her stress before everything came crashing down on her shoulders…and a nice, leisurely race through the woods was just what she needed. It got them outside and away from the party planning that was going on at the Cair. Being around Susan at the moment was like they were asking to get their heads bit off. So it was a win-win in Edmund's book.
"They weren't kidding when they said time in Narnia moves fast," Edmund quipped. Crystal rolled her eyes. "Hey, we're going to help you out as much as we can."
"I hope in that case it means you'll teach me where all the hidden tunnels and passages are in the castle so I can run away when need be," Crystal shot back.
"Don't worry, you can count on me. I'll even show you the hidden stash of Turkish Delights." At the expression on Crystal's face Edmund added, "Susan doesn't like us to have many sweets so Peter and I hid a stash of it to eat when she's not paying attention. But that is a sworn secret and now you're in on it. If we go down, you go down with us."
"That is a risk I am willing to take," Crystal replied.
The wind picked up. It ruffled their hair and pulled at their clothes. A trail of flower petals floated through the air, dancing on the wind currents until they swarmed together and formed the body of what appeared to be a female. It was a dryad.
"Lady Crystal, Queen Susan is requesting an audience with you," the dryad reported, "she says it is time for your lesson."
"Already?" Crystal tilted her head back to look up at the sky, using it to help her gauge the time. "Ah, I suppose it is. Okay, please tell her that I will be there as soon as possible." The dryad nodded and disappeared, her petal form breaking apart as they caught the wind currents once more to relay her message. Crystal blew out a breath and readjusted her grip on her reins. "Well, looks like we need to head back."
"Race you!" Edmund shouted, successfully turning his horse around and shooting back the way they came.
"Hey! No fair!" Crystal yelled after him, turning Dava around. "Come on, we can beat him," she said, urging her horse forward and through the brush that lined the path.
"Where have you been? I've been waiting," Susan asked as soon as Edmund and Crystal approached her on the rolling green grasses that sat beneath the Cair. Her hands were placed on her hips and a stern expression on her face pulled in her eyebrows and pulled down the corners of her mouth.
"Sorry," Crystal apologized, swinging her leg over Dava's back. The footmen standing by the stables rushed forward as she dismounted but then stopped in their tracks when she dropped to the grass unharmed. "Ed here challenged me to a race that I just couldn't turn down."
"Even so, Edmund knows very well that you don't have much time to waste when it comes to the coronation coming up," Susan said, shooting a glare Edmund's way. He ignored it as he dismounted himself and walked his horse around before replacing him in the stall nearby.
"Oh lighten up, Su, we weren't gone long," Edmund said as he walked back out, brushing dust off his sleeves. "And besides, some fresh air was needed. It was getting a bit stuffy in the castle and I'm sure Crys here felt the same way." He winked at Crystal over Susan's shoulder and she nodded her head in return. "It wouldn't kill you to miss twenty minutes of bossing someone around, would it?"
Susan's facial muscles slowly relaxed until she was downright smirking at her younger brother. The sight made him do a double take and stop in his tracks. She took his elbow and said, "You just volunteered yourself to aid me in the lesson today. You both could greatly benefit from it." Turning to the footmen that stood nearby she added, "Please make sure these horses are cooled down and brushed properly."
"Su, I don't need any lessons! I already know what I'm doing," Edmund protested, although he held out his arm for Susan to grab a hold of the crook of his elbow. "I'm king already, remember?"
"Everyone could do with a bit of brushing up," Susan told him, patting his arm. "Besides, some people learn by example and you will be my example for the day. It's what you get for shirking your duties to help prepare the castle for the festivities."
"Su, the Rayuvians said that they would be happy to take care of it all on their own," Crystal pointed out as they crossed the lengthy stretch of grass and met one of the many staircases that lead into the castle.
"I know they offered but it is our duty as hosts to aid them in anything they need," Susan replied. "But, for now, our attention will be put to the first lesson of the week: table manners."
Crystal made a face. "Susan, my table manners are fine," she protested.
"But they could be better," Susan replied as they entered the Great Hall where a few large, long tables of the richest mahogany had been brought in to accommodate the guests that were to be on hand for the feast. Silver and blue colored tapestries were being hung from the framework high above their heads by eagles. "We shall practice every day around noon, that way you can practice while eating lunch and test your manners out on the rest of us as well."
"Sounds like fun," Crystal muttered, her mouth lifting in a half smile. It appeared in full when Lucy skipped into the room followed closely by Peter who hastily shoved something into his pocket at the sight of Susan. "Hello you two, where have you been hiding?" she asked, staring pointedly at Peter whose eyes narrowed beneath her gaze.
"Peter and I were helping Elvrond choose the dessert for the coronation," Lucy replied. "We're still trying to decide between four but we are taking a break to get some lunch."
"Well then, you're all in time to help me with Crystal's first lesson," Susan said happily, clasping her hands together. "Today she is going to learn about table manners." An amused smirk appeared on Peter's face at the announcement which made Crystal glare at him. "First thing's first! We must check your nails."
"Erm…why?" Crystal asked, subconsciously crossing her arms. She glanced over at Edmund who looked back at her. Horseback riding wasn't a clean activity. Surely Susan knew that. But then she studied Susan's face. Of course she knew that. That was the whole point. Susan was known for being perceptive for a reason.
"Crys, you cannot be eating with dirty nails or hands! It's unsanitary!" Susan replied, her voice rising an active due to being appalled. "Hands." Huffing, Crystal uncrossed her arms and held out her hands. Susan took them and peered at them intently. As Crystal suspected, Susan wasn't pleased to see the stated of her fingernails. "Go and wash up and then we can get started. Ed, you too. I'm sure yours are just as bad."
Edmund started to protest but one look from Susan stopped that altogether. Begrudgingly, the two went off to find the nearest washroom to get the dirt out from beneath their nails. By the time they returned the table was already set with food that made their mouths water and their stomachs growl from the scents alone.
"Lesson one," Susan spoke up from where she was standing by her chair, "women always allow a man to slide in and out her chair upon leaving the table and returning to the table. In the same vein, men are rise whenever a woman leaves or returns to the table, especially if they are seated next to the woman wanting to stand."
Crystal rounded the table to where "her seat" was located at the large, long wooden table. Normally they would be seated at the head at the hall, their table faced horizontally so as to oversee the crowd but they were practicing at a guest table. Peter sat at the head, Edmund was to his right, Susan his left, Lucy next to Edmund and the other side left the spot open for Crystal to take her seat.
She nearly jumped out of her skin when Peter swooped in and pulled her chair out for him. She had to suppress the urge to tell him, quite fiercely, that she could take care of her own chair but then remembered that it was part of her lesson for the day. So, she managed a graceful smile, thanked him with a nod, and sat down as he pushed the chair in.
"You know," Peter stated, his voice low as he moved her closer to the wooden table.
"And your secret is safe with me as long as you share," Crystal replied, tilting her head back to peer up at him.
"I will hold you to that. This is not something to upset Susan over," he whispered and then stepped away, returning to his place at the head of the table after helping Susan into her seat. He waited for Edmund to push in Lucy's seat before the two sat down themselves. A few seconds later kitchen servants appeared, placing their golden plates down in front of each of them.
"Lesson two: never put your elbows on the table," Susan continued, successfully halting Crystal's natural movement to slouch and rest her forearms against the table. "Good, now, there are a few things to remember while dining. Keep the cloth as clean as possible, cut your meant into small pieces—we don't want you choking after all—cut your bread with a knife, do not tear it into chunks with your fingers, don't slurp your soup and do not leave your spoon in a dish when you are finished with it, empty and wipe your mouth before drinking, don't stuff your mouth, and most important of all—"
"You mean we haven't reached it yet?" Edmund asked dryly. He jumped a little in his seat when Peter stuck out his foot and struck Edmund in the shin.
"—do not speak with your mouth full," Susan continued, ignoring Edmund's comment. "Even if someone asks you a question or engages you in conversation wait until your mouth is clear before responding, no matter the time between the question asked and the question answered. We do not want to see the food you have chewed nor do we want to have it flying at us." One single eyebrow lifted at the end of her last rule and Crystal flushed.
"Okay, that was one time and it was only because Edmund made me laugh!" she said in defense, glaring at the dark haired boy who had already picked up his fork and knife and was tearing into the hunk of meat on his plate.
"I'm not the one who told you to stuff your mouth with potatoes at the time of me telling the joke," he said in defense, waving his fork and pointing it in her direction.
"Edmund, don't gesture with your fork, it's rude," Susan hissed.
"Why do we have five thousand forks anyway?" Crystal asked, gesturing to the silverware that lined both sides of her plate. "Why can't we use one for everything?"
"Because we have a steak fork and a salad fork and a dessert fork and a cocktail fork," Lucy replied, lifting each one as she said their name. "They all have different uses."
"Why don't they have different knives then?" Crystal asked, picking up what she thought was her steak fork and began cutting into her food.
"Because there's no point in having different knives," Susan replied, "and you're using your salad fork. See, the steak fork is a little bigger."
Crystal stared at the row of forks on the table, noticing they ranged from short to tall in ascending order next to the plate. Setting down the one she had just picked up, she then reached for the proper fork and stuck it in her food. After cutting the piece she needed, she moved the fork back to her right hand and lifted it to her mouth but the sound of Peter clearing his throat stopped her.
"What?" She asked, looking down the table at him.
"If I may," he said, glancing over at Susan. She nodded her head and turned her attention to her own food. "Try to refrain from switching hands when you eat your food. I know you're right handed by nature but it is much easier to hold the fork steady and eat with your left if it is already in your hand. Switching it over only causes unnecessary hand fatigue."
Expelling a large sigh, Crystal followed his guidance and tried to eat without switching her hands. It felt odd at first. Turning the fork upside-down made the utensil feel clunky in her hand and between her teeth but she soon got used to it. Remembering which fork went to which food was the hard part. She ate her vegetables with her salad fork—they weren't even eating salad with their lunch so she didn't know why it was there—and her side of grains and fruit with her dessert fork. The longer they ate the more the rules she forgot and she found herself sitting stick straight in her chair, not touching anything for fear of using the wrong fork or, somehow, wiping her mouth with the napkin wrong.
"Look, it's not that hard," Susan said, a slight edge to her voice. If Susan was getting frustrated then she was doing a good job of hiding it behind her facial features. Crystal, on the other hand, wore her heart on her sleeve and let her frustrations be known by breathing heavily through her nose. "You use the forks inside out. It goes in order of eating."
"Things were so much easier back in England," Crystal commented through clenched teeth.
"Well, we're not in England. We're in Narnia and this is how we eat here."
"Why don't we move onto dessert?" Peter jumped in before Crystal could protest. He reached out for his golden goblet and drained the contents in one large gulp. He set his goblet back down and nodded his thanks to the kitchen servant who took the large plate away and replaced it with a smaller one that held what appeared to be a cheesecake.
"I couldn't agree more!" Lucy said happily, picking up her dessert fork. "I watched some of the cooks prepare it. It was made with the freshest ingredients so it should be tasty!"
Crystal salivated at the sight of the dessert and the fresh fruit that topped it. Picking up her dessert fork, she shifted her fingers on it to hold it "properly" and sliced off a large chunk that was halfway to her mouth when Susan shot her a scolding look.
"Susan, you have dragged lunch out to last two hours. Two hours. I want my dessert and I am going to eat it!" Crystal shoved the large piece of dessert into her mouth and sighed at the onslaught of sugar and flavors that coated her tongue. "And ah ahm 'appeh abou' eh," she added, jabbing her fork in Susan's direction.
Susan sighed and pressed her forehead into her palm, shaking her head in dismay. But Crystal didn't care. She was eating her dessert and she was happy about it. She would have jumped into the air and clicked her heels but she did not want to abandoned her food.
"Uh, Susan?" Edmund spoke up. Susan tilted her head and looked at her younger brother. Her eyebrows crinkled at the amused expression on his face. "No elbows on the table," he replied, pointing. Susan looked down and noticed that her elbow was, in fact, resting on the table. She dropped both her hands into her lap as the others burst out laughing at her mistake.
a/n - So here it is! The first chapter to the mini sequel to One of the Guys! Each chapter will be a different lesson for Crystal to learn. I hope you enjoy the little "adventures" that they go on with each one. Up next: Dance Lessons with Peter! Please leave a review!
