CHAPTER 2
Five fine noble steeds
In the stables there were several, majestic horses lined up in separate pens, they were not as well bred as fine war horses but where still strong and tall. William and Phillip inspected each one with care. The first was a white stallion with grey makings on its head and neck. It had a blonde mane and was happily asleep, awaiting the hard work that was to come. Many of the horses they got to look at were the same, but varied in colour height and weight.
The two boys didn't quite get to the end of the stable, instead the were greeted by Mr. Jones.
"Hullo!" He cried, "Taking an interest in my fine steeds?" The boys nodded eagerly. Mr. Jones looked at them for a while, assessing them and finally decided on something. "Want to have a ride do ya?" again, the boys nodded, smiles spreading across their faces. "Yes please sir." Said William, hoping to ride his favourite, a large chestnut brown steed with a white flowing mane and large black eyes.
Mr Jones told the boys to get the others and they did, returning with a quizzical Archie, an excited Mary-Anne and a frightened Isabel.
When the group got back to the stable Mr Jones had already gathered two horses and three ponies. He instructed that they had too first saddle and bridle the horse and with much difficulty, they did, the girls needing a little more help than the boys. Next, Mr Jones showed them how you mount the horse, how you should hold the reigns and where to place your feet and how to dismount. He warned that if you didn't keep your back straight you will have horrible pain afterwards.
William and Phillip hastily mounted the two horses and proceeded to fall off almost straight away. Mr Jones had to lift Archie onto the saddle of the smallest pony as his legs were too little to climb but the girls were very lucky to go anywhere near the beasts. Obviously Mary-Anne's excitement had turned to caution. By the time the girls were seated properly and not afraid to stroke the mane of the gentle ponies, the boys had fallen more than a few times.
A few hours later the boys had bruises and the girls had a few grazed knees but at last the were all seated and had found their balance. They all triumphantly smiled as Mr Jones told them that the were ready to start moving. Sadly, to everyone's disappointment, they were called into dinner just before they started to trot.
They all dismounted reluctantly and headed inside for tea and sandwiches, during which Mrs Jones finally joined them. She explained that she had been bed stricken with cold for more than a few days but was now well enough to join her new welcome guests.
Her immediate appearance warmed the children as she had a wholehearted air about her. She was thin and had golden hair that she had platted to come over her shoulder and almost down to her hip. Her large blue eyes were round and sparkling but didn't even compare to the bright, beautiful smile that spread as she looked at the children in her care.
"Mrs Jones," Began Isabel, "How is it that with such a big house, you haven't been able to have children of your own?" Isabel didn't find this rude as she immediately felt as if Mrs Jones was a life-long friend and not a shortly known acquaintance.
"My health doesn't allow me to." She said sadly and simply, ending the subject. They ate the rest of the meal in silence until Phillip ejaculated, "Can we go ride the horses again?" Mr Jones gave another of his Jolly laughs and nodded.
"Actually," his wife cut in, "I'd like it very much if the girls come and sew with me." she smiled at them and Isabel and Mary-Anne, who were now very excited to have a one-on-one with this elegant gem, finished cleaned there plates quicker than a bee to a beautiful flower.
As the three boys ran outside to their horses and pony, the girls quietly and sensibly followed Mrs. Jones to the small study. The room was cosy and compact, though it was a study there were hardly any bookshelves but the rest of the space was filled by comfy looking chairs and a large brick fire that was already letting off a substantial amount of heat.
She gestured a graceful hand to a leather loveseat which the young girls sat on, awaiting orders. Mrs. Jones went behind the bookshelves for a few moments and came back with a large wooden box with carved flowers and trees carved wonderfully into the lid. The box revealed several sewing kits, all were black apart from one that had a beautiful spring wood, full of greenery and detailed leaves but as Isabel focused her eyes on it she saw that in the dead centre of the craft there was a tree…her tree. She inwardly gasped as she recognised the large arch-way that cut into the trunk where a child like herself could fit and climb inside. After a few moments of wondering she came to think of it as a coincidence.
"My!" exclaimed Mary-Anne, "If I ever create something half as beautiful, I will surely be proud of what I have achieved though it will always dim in comparison to your gift Mrs Jones." She smiled, admiring the girls lady-like behaviour.
"Please, call me Freyanella… or Freya. Thank you for your kind words Mary-Anne, they warm my heart."
Handing each of them a blank canvas, she instructed them on how to sew correctly. "I myself had to learn through time, though my husband helped me a great deal when I came here." She explained when she saw the utter confusion and concentration of the two girls faces.
"Where did you live before you were here?" Asked Isabel.
"Well…I lived in a far away place called uh... Narnia." She explained in cuation.
"oh! Is that in Wales?" Questioned Mary-Anne.
"Oh no. Narnia was a wonderful home. Everyone was so happy there, singing and dancing at every celebration. It was just magical in the spring…" she trailed off and Isabel thought it was best not to disrupt her thoughts of her home.
Out of the blue, Freya showed them her work and said that this was the wood that surrounded Narnia and she and her little brother loved playing in the area near their home.
"Does your little brother still live there?" Wondered Isabel, wanting to know everything there was to possibly know about the women.
"I suspect so, though he won't be little anymore, I think he should be a little older than you." after this they sat in silence and kept to their own thoughts. Though Isabel's still plagued her mind even during dinner, hours later, just this one thought,
"How on earth is the tree inside the wood outside, the same as the one in Narnia?"
The boys were meanwhile having a wonderful time. Mr. Jones had taught them how to trot and canter. He then took them for a little stroll through the fields and forest. They soon lost track of time when they entered the forest edge, for some reason the all sat straighter and peeled their eyes as they watched the dark thicket. As they went deeper into the wood, William spotted a rather interesting tree, he trotted closer to it on his horse, that he now named crystal for her crystal ball like eyes, he saw that the tree had an unusually large trunk and a large cut that could fit a child or small man. He was just about to dismount and step inside when the was a rather loud howl that frightened the group half to death. As Mr. Jones was telling them that there must be a pack of wolves and we would have to go back a large, intimidating voice infiltrated William's mind, Not yet!
He turned and fled with the others, the two words still reverberating in his mind. Even during dinner, a few hours later.
William and Phillip were talking about how their first two days here had been for them.
It was after Ms McIntosh had told them to blow out the candle and go to sleep but with boys being boys, they hardly ever did as they was told.
The two elder boys shared a bunk but Philip had come down so that they could talk (Archie was already sound asleep in his own bunk, dreaming about his father with his toy bunny tucked under his arm). They spoke in whispers and even though they had just met, they had become quite comfortable in each others company.
"It was fun riding today. I'd never done it before, and I loved the horses." exclaimed Phillip sitting crossed legged opposite the other boy.
"I agree…but it was a bit scary in the wood this evening." murmured William in reply.
"Oh yes! Those wolves did terrify me awfully."
"Especially that ghostly voice…" Phillip stared at his friend quizzically, "You did hear it. Didn't you?"
"I'm afraid not."
"Are you sure? It was just before the wolves."
"William, I didn't hear any voice. You must have imagined it."
The boys went to bed then. Not because the conversation was over, William had much more questions, but because they had accidentally awoken Archie who grumpily told them to go to bed and in his own persuasive gesture, stuck his tongue at them childishly. He didn't want to be disturbed from his lovely dream again.
Meanwhile, Isabel was having similar thoughts plaguing her sleep as she tried to figure out Mrs Jones' secret. She didn't dare ask anyone as she thought they'd say she was crazy for thinking that there were two identical trees in the world. She was starting to think that too.
Mrs Jones' silently got up, careful not to wake her sleeping husband.
Having brought up her past with the two little-ladies it had spurred on the need for her family. She padded down the stairs in her slipped and exchanged them for wellies, treading silently to the stables where she swung gracefully onto the pack of her friend, Fray.
If anyone was in the area at his time they would've been unbelievably startled and would've gone back to bed claiming these next moments were a dream but Mrs Jones remained still and unfazed even when her horse started to talk.
"Do you think we'll be allowed this time?" Asked the tired human voice but with a hint of a hoarse tone.
"I don't know Fray, but its worth a try." The wife patted her steeds neck and spurred her on. They galloped with speed into the forest where the boys had been not 2 hours ago, Mrs Jones was careful not to grab her ally's mane as she had always been taught to ride without saddle or reins but age has given its toll and the rider's back was not like it used to be.
When Fray slowed to a pace it took a moment for Mrs Jones' eyes to adjust, and the a broad smile spread across her face as she spotted the single gold light hidden in the tree, just opposite the door-way that could fit a child or small man. She dismounted eagerly and ran towards the oak, her petticoats covered in mud and grass stains. Fray was a close step behind when she entered the fortress, her fingers feeling along the ruff walls of the magical being.
Glowing with joy and anticipation, the woman finally rested one hand on her horse and the other on the golden light of intricate pattern the twisted and twirled. The two braced their selves, waiting for the gushing moment…but it never came.
"What?" Mrs Jones murmured, "No. No, no, no!"
"Annabeth?" Fray exclaimed nervously, addressing her companion by her proper name, "What's going on?"
"Oh! Fray!" Annabeth threw her arms around the horses neck and sobbed into the cool white fur. Fray nuzzled her neck in understanding. "We cant go back."
In desperation they both sunk to the ground, one supporting the other. The last words spoken between them that night were the sad whisper from the dumb beast,
"We just need hope."