Hello again! Chapter two is up! First of all I'd like to thank those who reviewed chapter one, and I'm sorry to say this chapter might disappoint. It was very hard for me to write this for some reason. Plus, when I did finish and I sent it to Keirra, she made many changes before sending it back for me to see. I then changed what I didn't like and sent it back. this went on all day, going back and forthm, the whole time I was using dial-up. I'm currently uploading this at a public library so I can use real internet, which is how I am able to upload this now. Anyways, before I start rambling on I'd like to say that if something confuses you now, it will be explained later. There is reasoning to my madness!
Edmund ran after Lucy in attempts to stop her, but found it was to late. The lights were on, and she was already jumping on Peter's bed.
"Peter, Peter wake up! It's there, it's really there!" Lucy exclaimed in delight, a smile plastered on her small, bright face.
"Lucy," Peter mumbled, still half asleep, "what are you talking about?"
"Narnia! It's all in the wardrobe like I told you!" Lucy exclaimed, still jumping in delight. By this time Susan had walked into the room with a frown on her face.
"Oh Lucy, you've been dreaming." Susan grumbled in annoyance.
"No I wasn't, I saw Mr. Tumnus again! Oh, and this time - Edmund went too!" Lucy yelled as she ran and stood beside her brother. Peter looked confused and stared at the two before asking:
"You saw the faun?"
"Well, he didn't actually go there with me." Lucy said with a smile. After a moment though, her smile faded and she turned to face her brother. "What were you doing Edmund?"
"I-I was just playing along. You know what little children are like these days, they just don't know when to stop pretending." Edmund said as he walked over and stood in front of his bed. Lucy stared at him in horror before running off with tears streaming down her face. Susan quickly followed after, as did Peter after he gave Edmund a nice shove onto his bed. "Ow!"
/
Cecelia smiled with joy as she ran across the marble floor, her red headband falling out of her curly hair as she did so. She frowned and bent over before picking it up and placing it back in her hair.She stood straight back up and brushed off her white dress. She frowned seeing one of the red polka-dots on her dress had gotten sauce from the hors d'oeuvres on it. She sighed before straightening the thick red belt around her waist. She smiled at herself and ran across the floor and flung herself onto Emilia, burying her face in Emilia's black dress.
"Cecelia!" Emilia yelled pushing her away. "What are you doing?"
"Oh I'm just so excited! This place is amazing. Did you see the walls?" Cecelia asked Emilia.
"You mean the paneling?" Emilia asked unimpressed.
"Yes! There is a different plant carved onto every panel! There are Lilies, daisies, ferns, and all kinds of other plants I don't know the name of! It must have taken years to carve all of them!"
Emilia laughed at Cecelia's excitement and watched her as she ran into one of the couple's dancing. Cecelia barely stopped though, yelling her apologies as she ran towards Peter. She quickly grabbed his hand and pulled him onto the dance floor.
Peter looked none to happy to dance, and was all but ready to leave the floor when Emilia saw Cecelia begin to beg. She latched onto his arm and very reluctantly he began to twirl Cecelia in circles as she had seen him do with Lucy only a few moments ago. He seemed to be enjoying himself, but Emilia guessed it was only to make Cecelia happy. When the song ended, Peter practically ran over and stood beside Edmund, trying to make it look like they were in deep conversation. He obviously didn't like dancing, and his enjoyment was only to make Cecelia happy.
Cecelia did not seem to notice though, for she had ran off as soon as the song had ended too. She zig-zagged her was through crowds of people dancing, trying not to run into anyone again. Emilia followed her to see she was heading towards Lucy and Susan and they all began to talk with one another. She couldn't make out what they were saying, but they seemed to be talking about their dresses for Susan was pointing at Lucy's limp blue dress. She scrunched her nose when Lucy began to mess with the bubble skirt on Susan's cream dress. Susan scowled before saying something to Lucy who then began to use her finger to trace the embroidered green vines with little pink flowers that went all around Susan's dress.
Susan grabbed her hand and Cecelia's and pulled them onto the dance floor, where all three began to turn in circles and jump around. It wasn't exactly what one could call dancing, but they seemed to be having fun, even if they were jumping around to a slow song. Emilia laughed and turned to see her father and mother talking to some of the other men who her father worked with.
Emilia, Cecelia, and the Pevensie's were all at her father's promotion party. It had been unexpected to all of them, but somehow they all managed to find proper clothes and get to the party on time. They arrived at the party awhile ago, but Peter and Edmund still seemed to be sulking around. Emilia set her glass of punch down onto the table and began to walk over to Peter, thinking of how she would ask him. She realized she had ended up in front of the two boys much to soon for her likings. She sighed before blurting out:
"Peter, willyoudancewithme?"
"Excuse me?" Peter asked, not being able to understand her.
"Um, well, will you dance with me?" Emilia asked again. This time Peter heard her and began to blush furiously before standing up and walking onto the dance floor, leaving Emilia where she was.
"I guess that means yes." Emilia said as she ran over to Peter and placed her hands in his. The two stumbled at first, but once they got into, the two looked as if they were pros at the waltz. Edmund sighed, stood up, and walked to the refreshment table. He groaned when he realized Cecelia was standing there.
He turned to see Cecelia was continuously grabbing taffies from a bowl on the table. Edmund watched in her do this a few times, before saying:
"You pig. Stop eating those. Leave some for the other guests." Edmund grabbed the bowl of taffies and held it away from her.
"Edmund!" Cecelia whined. "I'm hungry. Aunt Genny said there would be food for me to eat here, so none of us had dinner. The only food they have here though is either raw, snails, or covered in caviar-what-not. Those taffies are the only edible things here!" Cecelia whined as she reached for the bowl.
Edmund looked at the other food and found that everything indeed was either raw, snails, or covered in fish eggs. He winced but kept the bowl in his hands and began eating the taffies himself.
"Hey! Why I can't have taffies but you can?" Cecelia practically yelled. Many people standing around the table began to watch the two children fight with each other. They seemed to be quite interested as to how it would turn out.
"I can eat the taffies because I'm not a pig, and I won't eat them all." Edmund said as he held the taffies closer to him. Cecelia stuck her tongue out at him and the two stood there in silence, glaring at the walls, until Edmund broke the silence.
"Could you get me some punch?" Edmund asked Cecelia.
"Why should I? Get the punch yourself, your the one who wants it, you idiot." Cecelia said as she smacked the back of his head. Immediately all those who had looked away when they became silent began to watch again with renewed interest.
"Hey! I only asked for some punch and you start hitting me!" Edmund yelled. At this point some of those who were dancing turned to look at the two now.
"Fine you want some punch? Here." Cecelia, with much effort, lifted the half empty punch bowl and dumped it's contents on top of Edmund. "Would you like some more?" Cecelia asked with a smile.
"I'll give you some punch!" Edmund yelled as he raised his fist.
Edmund looked ready to kill Cecelia and was about to hit her when Emilia's parents ran over and dragged the two outside.
"What is wrong with you?" Emilia's father asked.
"Uncle James! It's his fault!" Cecelia whined.
"How so?" He asked her, unimpressed with the answer.
"Well, he asked for punch..." Cecelia mumbled, knowing how immature her answer sounded.
"Oh, okay. He asked for some punch and you decide to throw it at him." Emilia's mother stated.
By this time the other four children had ran outside to. Peter looked down and frowned at Edmund, who was currently looking quite smug.
"I'm sorry Cecelia, but I'm taking you home now. The rest of you can stay at the party though." Emilia's mother said.
"I'll go home too." Emilia said as she wrapped an arm around Cecelia's shoulders.
"I think we should be heading home now also." Susan said as they all started walking to the street.
They called two taxis to come. One for Emilia's group, and one for the Pevensies. They all quietly got into their cars and rode in silence all the way home.
"Nice one Ed." Peter muttered as he stepped out of the taxi. He was obviously upset that Edmund and Cecelia's little fight had ruined his dance with Emilia. Edmund scowled and stuck his tongue out at Peter.
/
"Peter winds up, goes for the bowl!" Peter yelled as he bowled the ball they were using in their cricket game. Edmund who was staring off into space did not realize the ball was coming at him and it hit him straight in the leg. Cecelia, who was sitting in front of a tree, clapped as it did so. He scowled at Peter who then yelled:
"Wake up, Dolly-daydream!" Edmund frowned at him and turned to look back at the house.
"Can't we just play hide-and-seek again?"
"I thought you said it was a kids game." Peter replied.
"Besides, we all need the fresh air." Susan added.
"It's not like there isn't air inside."
Edmund and Peter began going at each other, Susan and Emilia frowned at the boys, and Lucy stayed seated where she was, reading her book. Cecelia sighed and placed her book down and began looking at the Pevensie's yard. It was a very big yard and seemed to be separated into sections. There was the "main section" which was mainly green grass with the occasional tree. Then in the far back was a small little pond with trees going all around it, which continued very far back. Also, up by the house, was what seemed to be a small garden of flowers.
Cecelia gasped when she heard a window break. "What happened?" Cecelia asked.
"Edmund." Emilia said.
"You two go back home!" Peter yelled as the Pevensie's ran towards their house. Emilia grabbed Cecelia's wrist and the two girls began to run away.
"Where are we going?" Cecelia asked.
"Home, but if we run back towards our house straight across the lawn we'll be seen, so we're going to go into the woods and jump over the gate there."
"Oh." Cecelia said through her gasps of air. "Not so fast Emilia."
"We'll rest when we get in the trees. They aren't that far away, I don't see how you're out of breath."
"I en't good at running." Cecelia panted.
"I don't see how a skinny girl like you can have such trouble."
They soon reached the trees and watched the Pevensie's house. The housekeeper had walked out and was now yelling for the children to own up to what they did. They waited patiently hoping not to be seen. When the housekeeper had walked back in the two girls began to walk back towards there house.
"This is quite a longer walk than I thought." Cecelia muttered.
"I know, it is quite long." Emilia replied.
"I think it's to long. It shouldn't take this long, besides, the trees have changed!" Emilia stopped in her tracks and looked at the trees. Cecelia was right. These types of trees didn't grow in England. Both girls turned around to see that they were standing in a forest that seemed to have no end.
"Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore." Cecelia said.
"We never were in Kansas." Emilia stated.
"You know what I mean!" Cecelia yelled at Emilia who ignored her.
"Come on. Lets see if we can get back." Emilia stated. The two girls made their way through the thick, clustered trees. Apparently the time, wherever they were, was different than England, for the light barely shown through the trees.
"I think it's almost night here." Cecelia whispered.
"I think you're right. Look! There's the sunset!" Emilia exclaimed pointing to the setting sun, that somehow seemed to be a different sun than England's.
"Where do you think we are?" Cecelia asked.
"I don't know. Come now. There is a clearing up there. We'll rest there for the night and then we'll try and figure this out in the morning.
"I en't tired though." Cecelia mumbled. "It was only five o' clock in England."
"That doesn't matter. It'll be easier in the morning if we are able to adjust to the time change." Emilia replied.
Cecelia frowned and sat against a tree while Emilia fell asleep on the ground. By now the light no longer shown through the trees. Instead an odd whispering sound could be heard. The trees swayed back and forth though there was no sound, but within a few minutes they all settled down, as if they were sleeping too.
"I do believe those trees were talking to each other." Cecelia whispered, eyes wide in shock. She carefully scooted forward so she was no longer leaning on the tree, but now sitting in the middle of the clearing.
Within a few minutes she herself was lying on the ground, and she quickly began to fall asleep. She was losing consciousness when she saw figures coming out of the trees, but told herself it was a dream and fell asleep. It was an odd sleep, for she felt she was being watched the whole time, even in her dream. She tossed and turned in her sleep as though it were a bad dream, but the dream itself was actually a good one.
/
"Cece, guess what. Your gonna meet mummy's friend today." Her mother stated in French, holding the two-year old Cecelia. Cecelia began to clap, glad that there would be someone else she could talk to.
"Friend!" Cecelia yelled in French.
"Yes Cece. Another friend."
The rest of the day past in a blur to Cecelia. She was quite bored, for the others were talking, and she couldn't understand what they were saying. It was only when another little girl appeared.
"Friend!" Cecelia yelled in French.
The little girl frowned, not knowing what Cecelia had said. She pointed to herself and said:
"girl."
After much repetition, Cecelia finally understood what she was saying. The girl applauded her and handed her a little bell.
"Loche!" Cecelia yelled. The girl frowned again and shook her head no. Cecelia looked confused and then pointed to the bell stating: "Girl!" The other girl laughed and shook her head. She pointed to the bell and said "bell", then pointed to herself and said "girl." She continued on doing this, the whole time Cecelia was watching her quite intently. After awhile Cecelia smile and pointed to the girl.
"BELL GIRL!"
Cecelia continued to call the girl, Emilia, Bell Girl. Over the years though, Bell Girl had somehow developed into Bella.
/
Cecelia woke up trying to recall her dream. It wasn't truly a dream though, it was a memory. It was her first memory of Emilia. Cecelia sat bolt up and looked at where Emilia had been lying the night before. She wasn't there.
"Emilia!" Cecelia yelled. "Where are you?"
"Right here." Emilia replied. Cecelia turned around to see Emilia walking through the trees.
"I do believe these trees were, uh, watching us last night." Emilia said as she ran a hand over a trunk of the tree.
"I had the exact same feeling." Cecelia said as she stood up.
"So, any clue where we are?" Cecelia asked Emilia.
"Not a bit. I don't think we are even on Earth anymore though." Emilia replied.
"Yes, I don't know of any talking trees on Earth." Cecelia replied.
"Talking?" Emilia asked, quite confused.
"Last night, after you fell asleep, I was sure I heard these trees talking to each other, though it wasn't in a language I understood. It was more like rustling, but I'm sure it was their was of communicating."
"Shh! Do you hear that? Someone is coming." It was then that a person riding a horse came through the trees.
"Edmund?" Cecelia asked in confusion.
"King Edmund actually. And you are?" Edmund asked while jumping off his horse.
"I en't calling you a king. You have no right to force me you prat." Cecelia said as she walked over and smacked the back of his head.
"Hey! Stop! What are you doing?" Edmund exclaimed.
"It's called hitting you idiot! Besides, where did you those dorky clothes?" Cecelia asked quite confused.
"Yeah, and what game are we playing?" Emilia asked.
"First, these clothes are made of Narnian silk, and second we aren't playing any game," Edmund replied.
"Then why are we calling you a king?" Emilia asked.
"Because I am one! I am King Edmund the Just, appointed by Aslan himself. I am also a Knight of the Noble Order of the Table." Edmund replied holding his head up high.
"Who's Aslan?" Cecelia asked.
"You've got to be kidding me. Did you hit your head?" Edmund asked.
"No, but you've hit your head." Cecelia replied.
"When?"
"Now." Cecelia stated as she started to continually smack the back of Edmund's head.
"Hold- her- back!" Edmund yelled through the smacks.
"What do you mean hold me back? OH! Let me go!" Cecelia yelled as she attempted to kick the two creatures that were now holding her.
Emilia looked dumbfounded as she saw the creatures grab Cecelia. "Umm, well, Edmund, what are those things?" Emilia asked quite rudely.
"OH yes! Ask what they are before helping me!" Cecelia yelled only to find that one of the creatures twisted her arm back in pain. "Ah! Stop that hurts!" Cecelia yelled before the creatures said:
"They are centaurs, and generals of my army." Edmund replied.
"I am Orieus and this is Mindes." They replied. Emilia gasped, realizing they could understand her and talk.
"Wait, centaurs? Those are only creatures of myths! You can't be real. I'm going insane. I'm losing my mind!" Emilia yelled. "Wait! I know! I must be dreaming."
"It en't a dream if Edmund's here. This is a nightmare!" Cecelia yelled still struggling to get free of the centaurs grasps. "Besides, you never answered our question. Who is Aslan?"
Edmund looked puzzled at the question. Surely everyone knew who Aslan was. Then it hit him. "Emilia and Cecelia." He whispered to himself.
"You think?" Cecelia asked. "NOW LET ME GO!" Edmund looked quite oddly at the two for a minute before asking:
"How did you two get here?"
"We aren't really sure. We just kinda, appeared here." Emilia said.
Suddenly, an odd noise filled the air, it sounded as though a person was screaming, and bird was cawing at the same time. It was then that one of the most disgusting, awful looking creatures appeared behind Emilia. It seemed to be part woman, part bird. It grabbed her arm, and held a knife to her neck. The Centaurs pushed Cecelia to the ground and pulled out swords, while Edmund did the same. "Unhand her." Edmund commanded in a forced calmness.
Emilia's face was pale white, her breathing short and shallow. It was the first time Cecelia had ever seen her this scared. The creature snarled, and recited something in an odd language before disappearing with Emilia. "BELLA!" Cecelia yelled before running to the spot where the creatire had been standing. "BELLA!" she yelled again before falling to the ground in tears. She sat there for what seemed like hours when she felt hands pull her up and wipe the tears off her face. She looked up to see Edmund standing there, concern painted on his face.
"Cecelia, we'll get her back." Edmund stated. It was then that Cecelia did one of the most unexpected things. She wrapped her arms around Edmund's neck, and began to cry into his shoulder. At first he stood there quite shocked, but then he wrapped his arms around her. They stood there for awhile, just holding each other while Cecelia cried into his shoulder.
"Your majesty, we should tell the others." The centaur called Orieus said.
"Yes your right." He pulled away from Cecelia and grabbed her hand. Leading her to his horse. He grabbed her by the waist and hoisted her onto the horse, before getting on himself.
"Hold on tight." He told Cecelia as they began to canter through the forest. She wrapped her arms around his waist and leaned against him, still crying. Emilia had been her best friend since she was two years old, and now, now she was gone.
Cecelia took one hand and wiped the tears off her face, before quickly putting it back around Edmund's waist in fear of falling off the horse.
"Are you alright now?" Edmund asked, obviously concerned.
"I'm better." Cecelia replied. "Hey Edmund?"
"Yes?"
"How long have you been here?" Cecelia asked.
"A year." Edmund replied simply.
"Really? It's only been a few minutes since I last saw you before coming here." Cecelia stated obviously confused.
"That's odd." Edmund said frowning. "How old are you?"
"I'm still ten." Cecelia replied.
"That's odd. Your birthday is only a month after mine, and I turned eleven shortly after coming here."
"Edmund, where are we?" Cecelia asked him.
"We're in a place called Narnia. It's quite wonderful actually. You'll love it here." Edmund replied.
"I don't think I like it." Cecelia whispered.
"Emilia will be okay." Edmund stated calmly.
The two rode in silence, while the two centaurs in front of them whispered to each other in worried voices. It was only when a large castle came in sight that Cecelia spoke again.
"Amazing."