A/N: I do not own anything but a few side characters. The main characters and places belong to C.S. Lewis.

Who's gonna save us?

The Party

"…and therefore I am glad to present my two sons, Cor and Corin." The seated crowd cheered loudly when the two young men appeared from a side door and continued clapping as they made their way across the hall. Upon arriving at their fathers table, they bowed and smiled at the people then sat down on either side of King Lune.

The biggest hall of the capital Castle of Archenland was decorated in a most kingly fashion. Silver and blue drapers hung from the windows, the most expensive crystal chandelier high in the ceiling, the tables were decorated with red and blue flowers, napkins and candles and the soldiers aligning the walls wore their best suits of armour.

Though all this was a feast for any eye, the seated peoples' clothes outdid the decoration tenfold.

The women were dressed in their best gowns, Ladies and Duchesses wore wonderful coloured satin and velvets that cascaded onto the polished wooden floor. Blue satin was rimed with silver chains and glittering beads, worked into the fabric as though it were glistening with early morning dew. Wonderful yellow, orange and red dresses sported gold rims and copper hems the women in them proud to wear such boasting colours, so full of life, hope and happiness. Lords and Dukes were dressed according to their partners, either in dark woody greens, earthy browns or luscious blues.

Of course they pretended not to be as occupied with their clothing and appearance as their wives, but we all know, that men, deep down care just as much as women, how they look and if the particular shirt correctly accented his muscles an hid his rather large belly.

These important guests were invited to the most significant event of the year. In Archenland the spring represents new beginnings and therefore there was a hunt held at the castle annually. This was not a normal hunt though, as you and me know them, but a quest to find the most beautiful flowering tree in Archenland. The hunt normally takes about three days and all young men of age are allowed to participate in this spiritual tradition that was held at that moment in the Castle of Anvar.

Cor and Corin, the twin sons of the High King Lune of Archenland had both just come of age that winter and it was their first hunt and honourable was the hour when they would set off into the mountain landscape together.

Women weren't allowed to participate, yet, thought Aravis biting her lip and frowning. She was in the process of convincing her King to permit women to partake as well. It seemed very unfair that only men were allowed to ride into the wood and welcome the new spring and New Year with the most beautiful tree. For the New Year in Archenland begins not in winter but in spring and is the most celebrated holiday of all.

Aravis glared at Prince Cor as he seated himself to the right of a pretty young woman at the opposite of the Royal table. Aravis herself had been introduced to the guests as well, just before the princes, formally and very politely though she received rather less applause when she entered into the hall a few minutes ago.

"The two princes are very handsome, aren't they?" Samaire of Reberis whispered next to her. Aravis came out of her reveree and turned her head. Samaire was one of her favourite high ladies. She was not much older than herself and rather pretty in a unique kind of way. Aravis had always been very jealous of the freckles that sprinkled Samaire's nose and cheeks. She had a small girlish figure and big brown eyes. Her mousy hair was done up in a complex braid, with drops of silver shining from its midst. The dark blue dress she wore brought out her fair skin and pink lips.

"You know I don't see them more than a pair of dopey brothers," Aravis replied. She glanced at Cor, who was smiling blandly at the young woman his eyes not always completely upon her face.

"I don't see how you can't find them attractive anyway," Samaire sighed and tore her eyes away from Corin and back to her friend. "They aren't your real brothers anyway."

Aravis felt her heart drop at the comment. Of course she wasn't their real sister, but she had been treated as their next of kin ever since she had arrived at the age of twelve. Corin and Cor were nearly half a year younger than her, which made her feel that bit wiser and more sophisticated, especially when it came to parties and social events.

"Corin has got to learn not to stare!" She hissed and tried to bring his attention to the fact that his eyes were definantly where they weren't allowed, though the woman he was ogling didn't seem to mind, she turned red and started to giggle and whisper with her neighbour.

Indeed there were a great many young women and girls at this years hunt. Normally there where near to none because this was the men's event and women didn't have very much to do, especially young ones who easily got bored of waiting. Aravis had a sneaking suspicion that the unusual crowd of single women had a lot to do with the princes coming of age.

"Seriously, Cor is so desirable…" Samaire ventured another glance in his direction.

"Hurmmpf," was the only reply that came from her friend.

"Please don't tell me that you are fighting, again!" Samaire exclaimed. "It seems that you are at each others throats all the time."

Her friend was right, Aravis thought as she observed Cor. They seemed to be in the middle of a row about ninety percent of the time. Mostly they made up after a few days, but they were well known for fights that lasted more than two months. Somehow it had gotten worse in the past two years, since the casual visits of several young ladies had become more frequent and prolonged. Aravis just didn't like having strangers in the house for more than a few weeks, it made her jittery.

"That, by the way, is Dorcas de Lebra," she indicated the voluptuous girl Cor could not keep his eyes off, "she has been here for two weeks, 'preparing herself for the hunt' she sais." Aravis bit into a potato furiously, like she could make it turn into Dorcas and chew her head off.

"So you think she has her eyes, and all the rest of her body set on him?" Samaire looked at Dorcas' large chest with envy and seemed a bit annoyed when she stabbed her broccoli with the same passionate dislike written on her face.

"Of course," Aravis swallowed and took a long sip of spiced wine, "just look at her!"

Both girls turned to stare at Dorcas who had obviously had quite a bit of wine and put her hand on Cor's shoulder. At first she only whispered and giggled at the things he said, but then she lay her other hand on his lap and he seemed unable to keep his eyes from wandering to her very openly presented cleaverage.

Aravis felt angry when she saw his lustful gaze and prayed that he would at least remember his manners at the table. He did, first removing Dorca's arm from his shoulder and then, reluctantly, from his lap. At that moment he stole a wistful gaze across the room and caught Aravis staring at him. Instantly his face fell and he turned away from her toward King Lune who had just asked him a question.