Disclaimer: I don`t own Narnia, or Hwin, or Aravis, or Shasta, or Bree, or Calormen, or anything. It`s all C.S Lewis`s. If all these WERE mine, I`d obviously be a much more interesting person.
A/N: Okay, this is my second attempt at the first chapter. Swanwhite2 very kindly pointed out that there were a few inaccuracies in the first chapter, so I decided to get a head-start and look up what I missed in the book. It went something like this: [Annie reads a bit of the book. Annie`s mouth drops to the floor. Annie yells, "I`M AN IDIOT!" Annie dies on this inside.] So, yeah, my greatest apologies, I`m greatly indebted to Swanny, and Narnia canon will be out to get me for the rest of my life. (Just kidding! I hope...) You`ll notice that the timeline`s slowed down in some places and sped up in others. This is just me being irritating and trying to figure out how this thing called "writing" works. (Lol.) Also, the problem was, in my first draft, I only separated section with stars, not with "Chapter *insert numbah here*." But I`m better now. (I hope.) And the story starts out a little bit after the whole "AAAHHH!!! LION!!!! Nice to meet you, YOU`RE A PEASANT BOY, YOU`RE ONLY A GIRL, Humans are quarrelsome creatures, don`t you think? My name is Aravis Tarkheena, and I`m the daughter of a bunch of people, yada yada…" Yeah. So, without further ado…
This is the 14 time in 2 days that I have wondered if I was better off traveling with just Aravis. I know she can be very demanding and even a bit rude, but now, I just feel out of place.
It`s not the human. No, Shasta`s not intimidating at all. Actually, I can`t say I really know what he`s like. He hasn`t exactly noticed me yet, since he`s been trying to get Bree`s attention, and a person at his age will let his mind constantly think about the person he dislikes most at the moment, namely Aravis. And a person usually won`t notice a quiet companion when he feels that both his rival and his original companion re teaming up and giving him the cold shoulder. I`m sure that Bree doesn`t mean to neglect him. Aravis, however, loathed him at first sight. I don`t think Shasta will turn out to be too bad. He has light air and fair skin – true Northern stock, no doubt.
Bree is the one who intimidates me. He`s the other horse, and a great war horse at that. He has talked to me a bit; maybe it`s because he hasn`t been able to talk to a Narnian horse for so long. I can`t say I blame him. It turns out that we`re second cousins twice removed, though I`m not even exactly clear on how a person can remove a cousin, and why they`d do it twice.
Shasta and I have been left out of the varying conversations for the past 38 hours we`ve been together. It`s not as if we really knew about the places Aravis and Bree are talking about, but I would like to talk about them all the same.
We stop suddenly, and Bree announces that we horses would have to have our rest here. (Well, he really said, "We mustn`t exhaust this poor mare," and of course I comply.)
"We`re getting nearer to Tashbaan, and we have no plans of how we`re getting through. It isn`t as though we can just travel by night like we have been. We`ll have to go in broad daylight, at the risk of someone seeing the Tarkheena or even myself," Bree says.
"We aren`t so very near it yet," says Shasta. "We have tomorrow for planning. I`m tired, we`ve had a very long day, and I just want some rest."
"We always have tomorrow till tomorrow`s the day we have to cross," Aravis quips. "Even you must know how dangerous it is to just put it off."
Shasta grumbles in reluctant agreement.
"Do you think there`s a way we could just go around it?" I ask hesitantly.
"I`m afraid not. This is no small pool, Ma`am," Bree says.
"Well, maybe we could, but it would take longer and we`d be more visible, ironically," Aravis points out. "Either way, someone will notice we`re trying to avoid the city, and why would anyone be avoiding it unless they were outlaws or something?"
"What does Shasta say? He hasn`t said anything for a while," Bree says. We all turn to Shasta, who is fast asleep.
"Apparently we`re putting it off till the next morning," Aravis mutters.
"That may not be such a bad idea," Bree yawns. "The boy`s right; we have walked quite a long bit today. And there is always tomorrow."
This is all in present-tense, so sorry if it bugs you… Frankly, it bugged ME when I wrote it. :P
Please R&R, even if it means using your flamethrower or harpoon thingummy on me. :D Hasta luego! (I think.)