Sweet Fire
by astrogirl23
A/n: I still don't own Narnia, and I don't reckon I ever will.
Anyway, here's the latest from me. Enjoy!
PS: This is the edited version. Please let me know what you think of it, so I can continue writing. :)
Chapter 3: Unexpected Emotions
Aravis woke up from a very disturbed slumber and quickly ordered a servant to bring in her bath. After soaking in the tub to calm her jittery nerves, she slipped on one of her old gowns, a pale yellow satin one with puffed sleeves and an acceptable neckline, and pulled her hair back in a braid.
"Breakfast awaits you downstairs, my lady," her maid, Lois, said timidly through the door. "Coming," Aravis answered, taking one last look at the mirror before heading downstairs to eat with the others.
As she entered the dining hall she saw a very grumpy-looking Cor sitting across the arrogant man she had the misfortune to meet yesterday--- Sir Dom himself. He was obviously one of the king's special guests, for he was one of the few who had the opportunity to dine with the royalty.
"You look lovely today, Aravis," Queen Lucy commented, patting the empty chair beside her for the young lady to sit on. Aravis flushed and stammered a thank you as she sat down. She could feel Dominic's eyes on her but she did not make any move to acknowledge his presence.
"I believe we haven't been introduced properly yet, my fair lady," Dom said gallantly, sweeping his green-eyed gaze over her.
"She is Aravis Tarkheena, an aristocrat from Calormen," King Lune said proudly. "She has been residing here in Archenland for the past five years, since my son, the young prince Cor, had rescued her from an unfortunate marriage,"
Dom flashed her a dazzling smile. "It's a pleasure to meet you, my lady," he gave her a small courteous bow, but Aravis didn't even crack a smile. That didn't mean she failed to notice his good looks though. But still despite that, she found herself preferring blonde men with beautiful silvery eyes...
Aravis rapped her temple twice before she could continue her ridiculous thoughts.
"And dear Aravis, this dashing young man is Sir Dom from Narnia. From what I gathered, he was said to be one of the best archers and soldiers at their territory, and quite a splendid gentleman as well," King Lune patted Dom's shoulder like a proud father but still Aravis did not say a word.
"I see," she said a few moments later, sounding quite bored as she helped herself with some toast. Cor inwardly smiled at Aravis' reaction. He was glad she did not fall for Dom's charm and good looks.
After finishing her meal, Aravis stood up and excused herself, and proceeded to go to the courtyard where she can practice her archery skills. Dom hastily stood up and went to follow her.
Suddenly alarmed, Cor also rose and quietly followed the two.
"Lady Aravis," Dom called, but the girl walked on as though she had not heard a thing. "My lady, I wish to speak to you about the challenge you bestowed upon me yesterday," he said in a louder voice, and the girl finally stopped and turned to look at him.
"Why, do you intend to back out? Are that of a coward?" Aravis asked spitefully.
"No, my lady, I wish to cancel it because I do not want to fight with you. I apologize profusely for using the boy yesterday, and for acting so boorish as well," Dominic walked towards her with a pleading look in his eyes. "Please say you'll forgive me, my lady,"
Aravis sighed, then gave a nod. "I forgive you, just promise you won't do it again," she said, and Dominic reached over to take her hand. "I promise you that, my lady," he said in a caressing voice, and Cor, who was watching them from an obscured area, unconsciously touched the hilt of the sword slung on his side as white hot anger stirred within him upon watching the scene.
He wanted to cut the dastard's hands for daring to touch her. What Aravis said next made him momentarily forget his dishonorable thoughts though.
"Forgiving you doesn't mean you can touch me though," she said, yanking her hand away. "And I still wish to have a match with you this afternoon, a friendly one," with a swish of her long ebony hair, Aravis turned and walked towards the gardens.
Sir Dominic stared after her retreating form with a wistful look on his face. He really liked the young lady. But how can he make her like him back?
Cor found Aravis sitting by the fountain in the garden, her hand gently sweeping into the water as she played with the small fishes that resided there. Her hair was unbound now, leaving the long locks spread like black satin across her back.
"Aravis," he called, and the girl looked up with wide hyacinth eyes. Her eyes softened with recognition when she saw the young prince standing a few feet from her with a disarming smile on his face.
"Good morning Cor," she said, then her eyes went back to watching the fishes swim around her hand in the fountain. Her heart picked up speed when Cor went over and sat beside her, his unique male scent wafting up in the air again.
Aravis willed herself not to react.
"Have you cancelled your match with Sir Dom?" he asked nonchalantly.
"Well, he did ask for my forgiveness, so I decided to cancel it," Aravis answered. "But we will still meet in the afternoon to have a friendly match," since her eyes were still trained on the water, she did not see the look of anger on Cor's face.
"So you're friends with him now?" asked Cor, biting back the annoyance in his voice.
"Not really," Aravis replied, turning to look at him. "Although he does make me a little uncomfortable with the looks he sends in my direction," she confessed.
"Aravis, Sir Dom is planning to court you," Cor revealed, and was shocked when Aravis looked thoughtful. "You don't plan on considering him, are you?" he asked incredulously.
"So that's why King Lune was talking about him as though he was a fine stallion to be sold," Aravis mused aloud. "And I am planning to consider him… he is quite handsome after all," she meant the last comment as a jest, but Cor seemed to think otherwise.
Cor had the sudden urge to kick something.
"But he's an arrogant ass!" he exclaimed angrily, and Aravis looked quite taken aback with his reaction. "He's cocky and ill-mannered---"
"Cor," Aravis started, peering at him with questioning violet eyes. "Are you jealous?"
"Jealous?" Cor echoed. "Why should I be jealous of a man who has a poor taste in women? He really has got to have a small brain for thinking you could be a potential partner,"
Tears quickly sprang up her eyes at his vicious words. How dare he say such cruel things to her? Cor took one look at her crushed face and knew he had spoken too harshly. Before he could apologize, she bolted up and ran away, not letting him see the tears that rolled down her cheeks.
Cor finally admitted to himself that he was indeed jealous. But does this mean he likes Aravis more than a friend? His stomach churned at the idea. Slowly rising he followed her inside the castle, and up to her room. It was locked, though.
"Aravis, I'm sorry," he said through the door. "Please open the door so I can apologize more properly,"
He received no answer.
"Aravis, please…"
But no matter how much he pleaded, the door remained locked and shut.
After two hours he finally gave up, and decided to go to his twin for advice.
"… So you like her," Corin concluded when Cor had finished telling his side of the story.
"You think I do?" Cor asked, his eyes wide. His twin rolled his eyes. "It has been quite obvious that you fancied Aravis from the moment you met her," Corin said, and Cor blanched.
"B—but that's—it's—Aravis is like a sister to me---"
"Really?" Corin cocked an eyebrow at him. "If your thoughts towards her were purely brotherly, then my thoughts towards her would be considered the saintliest of the most saintly, "
Cor looked ready to punch his twin brother.
"Fine. So I like her. What will I do now? She's mad at me, and she honestly considering that idiot Dom!"
Corin felt like he needed to give his brother a consoling pat on the shoulder. "Isn't she always mad at you?" he meant that comment as a joke, but his twin was glowering at him so he said in a more serious tone, "I think you should beg for her forgiveness and hope that she doesn't fall for the handsome young men Father had invited for Aravis' birthday bash on the morrow,"
"Father's invited more men?" Cor asked disbelievingly. "What is he planning?"
"Aravis is in a marriageable age now, and I think Father's searching for the man who could win her affections," Corin answered, inwardly cringing at the dangerous glint in his twin's eyes.
"I'll be damned if I let her marry any of those men," Cor vowed in a chilling voice.
"I'll be damned if you would not act now and just let her go," Corin said, and the two men shared a smile.
That afternoon, Aravis changed into her brother's armor once more and went down to the courtyard to meet Dom.
The knights were there when she arrived, and Dom was patiently waiting for her, a stack of arrows slung over his shoulder and a handsome bow on his hand.
"Good afternoon, my lady," he said with a warm smile, and Aravis smiled back. "I want to see how skilled you are now, sir," she said sweetly, and Dom prepared his things.
"Can you shoot that apple over there?" she asked, pointing at the farthest tree from them where a single apple was growing. Dom squinted at the apple, then turned to give Aravis a confident grin. "I think so, my lady," he replied.
He quickly placed an arrow on the string of the bow and took aim. A second later he let go of the arrow, which swished towards the apple that fell into the ground another second later with the arrow impaled right at its middle.
The knights cheered, and so did Aravis, who was genuinely amazed. "You really are brilliant!" she said, looking at him with admiring eyes. It was not the same look she would have given Cor though. Cor was different; he was the one she loved after all.
But Cor was too much of an idiot to notice.
"And now my turn," she said, willing to remove Cor's face from her mind.
"Shoot the apple in that tree, my lady!" one of the knights yelled, pointing at the tree beside the one where Dom had shot the first apple from.
"I'll try," she said to the knights, who waited with baited breath as they watched the young lady prepare her weapon. She took aim, then sent the arrow sailing towards the tree. It did not hit the apple though, but only by a hair's width.
"A nice try, my lady," Dom said in a sincere voice. "Thank you," she responded with a smile. "Can I have another go?" she asked, and Dom nodded his approval.
Aravis was just letting go of the arrow when she felt Cor's presence behind her.
She missed the tree completely, hitting instead a nearby branch.
"Aravis," he said from behind, his hand reaching to touch her arm. "We need to talk," Aravis did not turn to face him, instead saying a cold voice, "I'm busy,"
"Please," he pleaded, but Aravis remained immobile. She was aware that the knights, and Sir Dom as well, were all listening to their conversation. Finally Aravis turned to him with a flat look on her eyes. "Alright," she said.
Turning to Sir Dom she said, "I'm sorry to end our game so abruptly, but I must take care of something first," Sir Dom looked sorry she had to go, but he feigned a smile. "It's alright my lady. Perhaps we can do this again some other time,"
Aravis nodded, then left the courtyard with Cor behind her. "Aravis, we need to talk," he called out, and she whirled about to give him a withering stare. "Then talk," she snapped, crossing her arms over her chest in a formidable manner.
Cor walked a few more steps closer to her. "Aravis, I want to apologize for what I said a while ago. It was a mistake, and it's all lies. Many men would surely fight for your hand, for you are not only beautiful on the outside, but you are pure-hearted and loving on the inside,"
Aravis' hard look did not soften one bit. How could he tell her those lies with a straight face? "Is that all?" she asked. "Because if it is, I'm heading back to the courtyard, Dom and the others might still be there,"
She was about to turn away from him again, but he pulled her towards him, his gray eyes burning with anger.
"You are not going back to him," he said furiously.
"You have no say over me, Cor." Aravis said, glaring up at him.
"It is a royal order, Aravis, and if you disobey, I'll have to punish you," he hoped his voice was threatening enough.
"And what will you do to me? Send me away? Starve me? Chop my head off?"
Darn Aravis for still looking beautiful despite her outward show of ferocious rage.
Prince Cor smiled down at the livid woman in front of him.
"I'm going to kiss you."
A/n: there. Hope you liked this chappie. By the way, this is going to be a very short fic, and I'm sad to announce that the last chapter of this story will be my next installment, Aravis' birthday. Please review!