Note: Hello there! Okay, just to make this clear, Serelise is not a Mary Sue! She may have seemed a bit like one in the first chapter, but trust me, she's not interested in our main male protagonist at the moment. It is a bit of a romance, but it will be more then that. Oh, and we arrive at Anvard in the next chapter! Yay! That's where the fun really starts.
Disclaimer: I own not Narnia or Archenland, just characters you don't recognize.
Debt of Honor Chapter 2 - Lithia Inn
It was nearly a two day ride to Anvard, so on the morn of their departure, Serelise made certain to wear a comfortable traveling dress. When all baggage was secure and the servants were in their coach, the family climbed into their own carriage. Serelise sat next to Jakin, settling her skirts about her. She leaned back in the cushioned seat as Mira and Drestor took the spaces opposite their children. Soon the carriage driver started the team of horses and the whole thing jolted as it began to move.
While her parents talked, Serelise glanced out the window, watching trees, fields, and other landscape fly past. The girl realized that for most of the trip this was what she would be doing and she sat back in her seat, thinking longingly of the books she'd tucked away in her satchel. But with Drestor seated across from her, she didn't see herself reading anytime soon anyway. Jakin gave her a half smile, and she closed her eyes.
I'll just have to bear it, she thought, though she really did feel an urgency to read a book.
The one she was currently poring over was full of songs and poetry that had been compiled by a faun who loved to listen to old tunes and rhymes. There was also a Narnian history book about how the world began. Narnia and Archenland shared the same heritage, really. After all, descendants of King Frank founded Archenland. Serelise found that her reading material was often from Narnia, though she had never actually been there. Still, something about the tales drew her in. Narnians were truly great storytellers.
That evening, the family stopped at a quaint little inn for the evening, called Lithia Inn. Serelise immediately recognized the name from one of the poems she had read..
The poem was cherished by those from Narnia and Archenland. It told the story of a young lord who lived on the outskirts of Archenland, quite close to Narnia, and was written from the perspective of the man and how he fell in love with a Narnian star. She would come in the evenings to see him and was said to be very beautiful, as stars usually are. However, their love seemed doomed, for no one believed the young man, and his parents were pressuring him to marry a woman of noble Archenlandian birth. Serelise had not found the chance to read the story, for she didn't own it, but she knew it must be very nice. She had finished the poem, which ended on a rather gloomy note. Even so, she found it to be quite beautiful.
The inside of the inn was looked merry to her. A large fire burned in the hearth that caused flickers of light to brighten up the wooden wall panels. There were a few tables surrounded by chairs, and bookshelves lined the walls, filled to the brim with many brightly colored books.
The only person in the room was an elderly man seated behind a large desk. It was a rather cozy place, much like a home, not at all fancy or overly formal. Serelise loved it instantly. Drestor didn't feel so sure.
The girl heard him whisper to his wife, "I thought this was an Inn where King Lune once stayed?" The old man behind the desk had rather good ears, for he answered Drestor's soft spoken query.
"Ah yes, the good king did stay here. Brought his sons along, too. The crown prince and a lady friend who was with them enjoyed my library very much. It is very special and I encourage my guests to peruse the shelves and read while they are here."
"Well," Drestor said hurriedly. "I'm afraid we haven't much time for reading. We'll only be staying one night, then off to Anvard tomorrow." The old man raised one white eyebrow.
"For the great birthday celebration? Yes, many will be there for that," he stated.
"Yes, well, can we get a couple of rooms?" Drestor asked, an edge of uncertainty in his voice.
"Of course," the man agreed, pulling out a large book of registry. "I'm Gratin, if you need any assistance let me know." Drestor signed the names of the family, and received the keys to two rooms.
The family walked down a long hallway to where two doors stood, side by side. The room assigned to Jakin and Serelise had two large beds on either side of the room. Between these was a small table with the word, Lithia, engraved upon it. Serelise traced the word with her finger.
"Hey look at this," Jakin said, drawing her attention away from the beautiful script. He pulled out something made of wood and cloth which had been leaning against the wall.
"It's a divider, a changing rack," Serelise suggested.
"At any rate," Jakin said, pulling the fold so they covered almost the entire diameter of the room. "We can use it for those things." It turned out to be quite useful after all, adding a bit more privacy to the siblings. Serelise changed into her long white nightgown behind the screen, and prepared herself further for the night in the small bathing room leading of the main bedroom.
As she lay down in bed that night, she thought with excitement how the very next day she would arrive at Anvard. Perhaps the Princes would even say something to her and Jakin.. But did it really matter? After all, seeing Anvard would be worth the trip.
Serelise lay there for what she estimated to be quite some time, but she just could not fall asleep. Millions of thoughts raced through her head and she didn't feel at all tired. She groaned, knowing she would feel the lack of sleep in the morning.
Finally giving up slumber for now, Serelise lit a small lamp that sat on a little bedside table. She tiptoed out of the room, glancing at the sleeping Jakin as she did so. Barefoot, she walked softly down the long hallway. Her satchel had been left in the carriage. Naturally, the servants who slept in a different part of the building would bring the required items in for their employers when they were required.
Reading always helped Serelise fall asleep. Since she obviously couldn't get hold of any of her own books, her mind had gone back to the full shelves in the lobby, which had many beautiful books that piqued her interest. Serelise opened the door into the lobby and padded over to a bookshelf. She ran her fingers over some of the titles.
Stars and Planets
Talking Animals
Aslan: The Great Lion
Serelise was pleased to see that several of the tomes were Narnian, which suited her current reading material nicely. Before she had a chance to pick a book, a voice spoke behind the girl, startling her greatly.
"Ah, looking for a book to read, are you?" It was the elderly clerk, Gratin.
"Yes," Serelise said, glancing at the shelf again. "Do you suggest anything?" The man smiled knowingly, tapping fingers along the books until he came to what he was seeking. Finally his hand closed over a thin, white, cloth bound book. He pulled it out, inspected the title, and while nodding with satisfaction, handed it to Serelise. The bold, engraved silver title read: Lithia and Other Tales. Serelise stared at it, marveling. How could the clerk had known she was longing to read this story only that very day?
"I've never read this story," she admitted.
"It's my favorite," Gratin said. "That is why the Inn is named for it. It is a beautiful story. When I opened this inn, I waned others to read and appreciate this Narnian work."
"Are you Narnian?" The man quickly shook his head.
"No," he said in an almost regretful voice. "But my grandmother was. She showed me the true beauty of their writings."
"Thank you for the book," Serelise said with an unrestrained smile. She gave the man a quick hug, then blushed, feeling awkward.
"Keep it," Gratin said with a most peculiar expression on his face. "I want you to have it, you remind me of my daughter."
"Thank you!" Serelise said again with total appreciation.
"My pleasure," Gratin responded with a pleased smile. He turned up a lamp by one of the tables and gestured toward a cushioned chair. Serelise took up his offer by seating herself on the chair. She offered her thanks once again, but Gratin just waved his hand before disappearing into a back room. Serelise fingered the soft cover, before opening it to the most brilliant of illustrations.
It depicted a lovely, shining woman descending from the sky. A young man, dressed in the traditional tunic and leggings of Archenland, stood with his hand outretched in greeting, transfixed by the lady. Serelise turned the page, and found the story, written in a cursive font that flowed along the page nicely. She began to read and was quickly caught up in the story.
Long, long ago, on the very border of the country of Archenland stood a great house. A duke, his wife, and son lived here. One evening, during the time of golden wheat, the young son of the duke, Arlin, took a rest in the dew of the meadow, feeling fatigued after overseeing his father's workers. As he lay, his eyes growing weary, he looked up in the sky to see the Narnian stars shimmering above.
"Are you real?" he wondered aloud. "Are you alive, like real people?" In a startling instant, Arlin saw one of the stars plummeting towards him. As it drew nearer, it slowed, and with great wonder the young nobleman saw a beautiful woman, radiant as though she was on fire. The woman gracefully landed and smiled at the boy.
"My lady," said the frightened youth. "Tell me my eyes do not deceive me. Are you real? Or just a figment of imagination my mind, spawned to confuse me while I am tired?"
"I am real indeed," she laughed. "And so are the others, my good sir."
"You are very lovely lady," he answered, still staring at her shining face..
Serelise yawned, rubbing her tired eyes, and gazed longingly at the colored words, but finally shut the cover. If she stayed up all night reading she might fall asleep in the carriage, and that would certainly not do. Serelise tucked the book under her arm and trekked back to the room, where she tucked the book into her pillow and fell into a refreshing night's sleep.
Note: The time of golden wheat is harvest time, like around August to October. Also, you can read the poem entitled "Lithia" in my stories. I'd love to hear your feedback on this story! - Queen Lucy the Valiant, Cair Paravel, Narnia. ;)