Note: I got chapter 3 up! I'm a bit more happy about this chapter then the last one. Maybe because it's over a thousand words long? Well, I'm happy. I'd really like to know what you think. Constructive criticism is greatly appreciated, as it will help me get better. God Bless!

Disclaimer: Who do I own? Well I mentioned the dryad, and the cook maybe? But anyway, nobody else :(

Curse Of Beavers Dam Chapter 3 - Where is Lucy?

It wasn't too short a trip to Beavers Dam, so Lucy ordered her horse, Raindrop, to be saddled. Corin immediately mounted his strong stallion, Warrior, with the comment that he didn't need a saddle. Lucy smiled secretly at his boasting. The Valiant Queen knew that he would learn.

Lucy enjoyed her ride through the woods, letting the spring breeze brush her face, and inhaling the scents that wafted on the air. Corin rode silently, every once in a while checking to make sure his sword was by his side. In a few hours, the two arrived at the dam. Corin frowned when he saw that the water was no longer frozen.

"Great," he said sarcastically, "How are we supposed to get inside? We're not water animals." Lucy smiled at him before replying.

"Let's just go see," she said, dismounting. She asked a dryad if she could tie the reins to it's branch. It agreed, and the Queen gave the dryad her greatest thanks. Corin followed suit in a much faster way as he wanted to go look into Beaver's house.

Lucy followed the boy, and he discovered a little bridge that led across the water to the entrance. Corin further found that the floor of the little dam was wooden, so that humans, beavers, and all others might find a place to visit there.

"This place seems..cozy," Corin observed, placing his hand on the hilt of his sword. Lucy looked around the little room. It had been so long since she had been here..yet everything looked the same. There was still the little unfinished blanket Mrs. Beaver was knitting, and the little beds. Lucy heard a crash behind her, and quickly turned, feeling for her own dagger, but she relaxed when she saw it was Corin. The Prince had stumbled over some pots that were laying on the floor. Corin picked himself up, grumbling,

"Well what were those there for?" Lucy surveyed the scene, and decided upon a logical explanation, as Susan would say.

"It appears Beaver was cleaning up, taking the pots out, when he was frightened, and ran away, leaving them in the floor." Corin scowled at her.

"Everything always happens to me," he complained. Lucy smirked, looking around the room for the reason of Mr. Beavers fright.

"I don't hear anything…do you?" she asked, turning to Corin. He tilted his head, listening to hear any sound that might drift on the air to his ear. It seemed that all was silent, not even the creatures stirred. The Prince shook his head, when suddenly, outside, there was heard a crack.

Lucy's eyes widened, and both she and Corin rushed out, to see a figure receding into the forest. Corin jumped on his horse, proceeding to fall off. Lucy grinned, but then untied the reins from the tree's branch. The Prince told Lucy to stay at the dam while he chased down the perpetrator, and she eventually agreed.

The Queen sat down, but then an eerie sound drifted to her on the wind. Like howling, but…more frightening. Then the sound was all through the forest. Looking around Lucy realized the tree's were gone. The unnerving sound continued, growing steadily louder. The Queen jumped up, letting out a little scream.

Corin leaned low on Warrior, willing him to run faster. But, there was really no need as the person was on foot. In a moment he was in sight, and Corin unsheathed his sword. The boy rode up, and, paying no attention to who the person he had chased down was, smacked him on the back with the flat of the blade. The boy collapsed on the ground, and Corin smiled with satisfaction, which only lasted for a moment. Warrior was frightened apparently, for he suddenly reared. Corin had no saddle horn to grip, and was tossed off like a rag doll. Suddenly he felt a sword tip to his throat.

"Don't ever do that again," threatened Edmund, who, incidentally was the person spying on them. Corin gulped, realizing he had dared to harm the sacred body of the King.

"Er, King Edmund, we didn't know that it was you," he offered, as Ed rubbed his back. He glared at the Prince. "All the same, don't do it anymore," Corin quickly told him he wouldn't, when he remembered Lucy, and the two mounted their horses (Corin being more careful this time) and rode off, in search of the Queen.

X-O-X-O-

Queen Susan searched everywhere for her two youngest siblings, but couldn't seem to locate them in the least. She asked her maids in waiting, she asked the serving boys. Where were Edmund and Lucy? The gentle Queen needed them to help prepare for the ball. She certainly couldn't do it all by herself. Finally, Mrs. Beaver told Susan about Corin and Lucy asking her about her husband. Susan nodded her thanks, then went and sat down in her chair. The two had probably gone out to have some fun.

They didn't know how hard it really was for her. She had to worry about the food, the decorations. Everything seemed to be brought to her. But Lucy and Edmund had done their fair share of ruling, she reasoned. Ah well, work must be done. Susan walked to the kitchen to look over the list of dishes that would be prepared.

X-O-X-O

"Lucy!" Corin called, as they came into the area where Beaver's Dam was situated. Edmund looked around frantically. He was very protective of his sisters, and grew worried if he didn't know where they were.

"Why did you leave her alone?" Edmund asked, searching for any signs of the missing Queen. Corin grew red, then a very small tear trickled out of his eye, so small that you could barely see it; For even brash Corin felt bad.

"I- I thought that she would be safer here..then chasing an unknown person," he looked apologetically to Edmund. The King didn't reply, he was looking at something on the ground.

"Your Majesty?" Corin asked, drawing closer to see what Edmund was gazing at. He drew his breath in sharply when he saw. The Queens dagger was stuck into the soft earth with a piece of paper attached to it. Beside the dagger was a set of foot prints. A type of foot print that Edmund knew all too well. They were wolf tracks.

Note: 2/3/11. When I wrote this I didn't realize how bad it sounded. I know that King Edmund would not put a sword to Corin's throat. I hope you continue reading though, I think my writing improves as the story continues.