Hello everyone! Another update! Many thanks to my beta Laura Andrews!
Disclaimer: I don't own anyone but Sheleiya and Breeca!
Chapter III: Races and Reverie
Edmund woke up later than usual the next morning. After dinner, their guests retired to their provided chambers and the kings and queens helped clean up. Edmund, however, did not go to sleep when they were done (which was nearly midnight); he grabbed a book and read until nearly three o'clock in the morning. He was not researching however. He vowed not to touch any of the books he had found until he had uncovered a clue to where the key was. Instead, he studied a book on Narnian law which he had been tackling for the past month.
He dragged himself out of bed and stumbled into the bathroom to wash up and dress. Once he was finished, he nearly fell down the stairs in an attempt to travel to the dining room for breakfast. Peter saw his half-awake brother nearly slide down the stairs.
"You must really learn to be more of a morning person, Ed. You always miss the sunrise."
Edmund laughed. " Actually, I have a confession to make, brother. I do wake up to see the sunrise nearly every morning. I just go back to sleep when it has risen."
The high king shook his head, " Aslan help your dear soul."
" He already has," Edmund said quietly, a small smiling appearing on his lips before slowly fading with memories.
The two brothers met their sister Lucy on the way to the kitchen. Well, actually, she nearly knocked them both over in her haste.
" What on earth? By the Lion, Lu, do slow down. What's the rush?" Edmund exclaimed.
" Oh, I'm sorry," Lucy apologized and smoothed out Edmund and Peter's tunics from the wrinkles she had just made. " Susan and I are preparing for the ball tomorrow. There's so much to do, and so little time. Oh! It's all so exciting."
Edmund cleared his throat, " Well, you know, if you need more time we could always postpone the ball."
Peter nudged his brother in the ribs. " That would mean all those ambassadors would have to stay for another night or so. Besides, don't make our sisters suffer because you hate balls."
It was true. Edmund was an excellent dancer and he knew all the dances extremely well. The only problem was he disliked it. Lucy was the only one he would ever dance with, and occasionally, he would allow his older sister to have a dance with him. But, otherwise, he would mingle until the dancing began, slip out of the crowd, and take a stroll along the shore directly outside the ballroom. Then, when he saw that the dancing portion had ceased, he would slip back in and talk with his subjects.
Sometimes, when duty allowed, Peter accompanied his brother on a walk along the beach or took a stroll in the woods by himself.
Lucy was called off to do some other task, and the two young kings continued to breakfast. Afterwards, they went out for some fresh air. They thought the gardens to be lovely in the morning. And it certainly was. The air was crisp and a slight breeze was blowing from the Eastern Sea.
"So, Edmund, I guess we both are going to have a late night tonight," Peter sighed.
"Wait, what? Why?" Edmund turned to him confused.
Peter paused for a moment. " I decided to call a council with King Lune tonight."
Edmund faced his brother looking very frustrated. " Peter! We haven't gotten a break in ages. Plus, you haven't slept well. I know you too well, Pete. You were probably up all night thinking about this meeting and the last one, and that council, and that other treaty and-"
Peter grabbed his younger brother by the shoulders and gently shook him. " Calm down, Eddie. You're too tense."
Edmund slipped out of Peter's grip. " Don't tell me I'm too tense." He snatched off a rotting leaf from one of the plants. " And don't call me Eddie." He hated being called Eddie by other people. Only his father could call him that without being told otherwise.
Peter laughed. He thought it might be a good time to loosen his brother up by tensing him up even more.
" I'm sorry, Eddie. Do you prefer Edmundy, or Eddy with a 'y' or maybe just Mund. Maybe even Mundy. Oh! That sounds like Monday. I should call you Monday because you're so gloomy and boring like Monday."
Edmund inched away from his brother whom he was sure was going mad. Nevertheless, Peter continued. I won't tell you all he said, because it didn't make sense at all, either to Edmund or even to Peter himself. It was just an attempt to make his brother laugh. It succeeded. Now, Edmund was laughing so hard, he was holding his side. He had tried to keep it in, but it was near impossible. He doubled over when Peter began tickling him. That was one of Edmund's weaknesses. He was extremely ticklish, especially when one tickled him in a certain spot on his stomach.
" Alright, alright! Stop!" He surrendered.
" C'mon, let's go see if our guests would not like to go for a bit of a ride. It's hard to resist in this beautiful weather. Don't you think, Eddie?"
"That's it! I'm about to become Narnia's new High King!" Edmund lunged for Pete just missing him. Peter made a run for it out of the garden with Edmund hot on his tail.
They sent attendants to ask King Lune if he or anyone else would like to go for a horse ride. They accepted their offer. However, only King Lune accompanied them first.
" I don't care that they are not home, they just need to do some reading, especially Cor being so behind in his education. They'll meet us presently; Breeca and Sheleiya are almost done with them and also will be joining us. I'm afraid Aravis isn't, though; she has a terrible headache. Poor girl could hardly get up this morning, " King Lune informed.
The two Narnian kings led him to an open field near the stables.
" Ed, do you mind helping the stable boy? He's probably having a hard time with all those horses, again," Peter requested.
Edmund nodded and jogged over to the stables. He opened the large doors. The stable boy wasn't having trouble at all. In fact, he was much occupied with talking to some other, unexpected guests.
"Missy! Phillip!" Edmund exclaimed. "This is quite a surprise!"
Edmund, of course, was addressing the two talking horses the stable boy was speaking to. Phillip was Edmund's horse only during wars and emergencies. Missy was a distant cousin of Phillip's and came around very seldom, but she had become very attached to the Pevensies over the years—Lucy especially.
"Your Majesty!" they both bowed deeply ( if one can imagine a horse bowing).
Edmund smiled. "How are you both? It has been quite a while, I believe."
"Yes, well, the winter weather was harsh this year, King Edmund," Phillip said. The stable boy continued with saddling the horses. Edmund helped him while continuing his conversation with the two other horses.
"I would like to hear all your news," Edmund said. "Would you like to join us for a ride?"
" Who is accompanying you?" Missy asked
Edmund smiled. "Sorry, Missy, Lucy is busy and will not join us until later. Only the King Lune, his sons, Peter and I. Oh, and some tutors of the princes, of course." He said the last part with a disgusted sigh, remembering the experience the night before.
"I take it they weren't so admirable?" Phillip asked. "Stuffy old men?"
"Young women, actually."
"Women?" Missy tilted her head. "Quite unusual. Nonetheless, they must be very intelligent."
"Perhaps, but not very amiable," Edmund sighed.
" Why do you say that, Sire?" Missy asked.
" Well, let's just say I haven't had a pleasant experience with the younger. Oh, yes, I forgot to mention that they are sisters."
" Maybe she was just having a bad day, Sire," Missy replied. She had a tendency to be very optimistic.
" But what about all these meetings I've been hearing about?" Phillip asked. "Anything that you will be needing us for? Wars and such?"
" I don't know, Philip. I hope not. But, I say, I would like to go on a trip for a bit. To get away from the craziness, I mean."
"Indeed," Phillip said. "Anyhow, Missy and I will join you presently on the field, King Edmund."
Edmund and the stable boy each took four horses and led them to the open field. The others had joined them by now as well.
" Good Morning, Sire!" recited Cor and Corin at the same time. The two sisters curtsied.
" Indeed it is, Your highnesses. Now how about some horse riding after your tiresome lessons," Edmund smiled. He offered to help the two princes onto their horses but they were skilled enough that they mounted immediately
" I presume I will be taking this fine horse?" King Lune said as he mounted one of the horses.
Edmund and Peter turned to help the two sisters mount their horses , but Sheleiya and Breeca mounted just as gracefully as any of the kings and princes. The two kings exchanged glances. One does not simply learn how to mount like that without years experience.
Edmund stayed with the princes while King Lune and Peter stayed behind the party discussing other matters. The princes' tutors stayed a bit behind the princes and Edmund.
" So, Cor, Corin, how were your lessons?" Edmund asked.
They both made a face, which made Edmund laugh. "You'll appreciate them in the coming years, I'm sure."
"That's what everyone else says," Cor groaned.
"Forget about studies for now," Corin grinned. "Cor, let's race!"
Without further notice, the younger prince was off.
"Hey! Not fair!" Cor shouted before galloping after him.
" Oh, I better make sure they don't go too off far," commented Breeca.
" Well, actually it's quite safe, Madam," Edmund added. " They did this many times last summer. Our grounds are quite extensive."
" Under your care, I suppose, Your Highness?" Breeca asked almost sarcastically, and after one glance at her sister, she broke into a gallop headed toward the princes.
Edmund noticed Phillip come up next to him. " See, I told you, Phillip," he said, forgetting Sheleiya was still riding next to him.
" I'm sorry, do you often talk to horses, Your Highness?" Sheleiya asked somewhat mockingly.
" Not lately," Philip replied much to the girls shock. Her eyes became wide and her mouth stood open.
She was frightened even more when Missy appeared next to her and said, "It's been a few months since we've seen them."
Sheleiya composed herself and looked at Edmund. " Is this a joke?" she asked, not sarcastically, but hoping it really was a joke and she was not hallucinating. She must have been very new to the northern countries, Edmund thought.
He couldn't help himself. He began laughing, " No, it's not a joke, Madam. I guess King Lune forgot to tell you about the talking animals in Narnia."
Sheleiya heard him, but did not acknowledge him. She nervously looked at her horse and asked awkwardly.
" Do you talk as well?"
The horse whinnied. " No, that horse doesn't. Talking horses are never ridden on regular occasions. My name's Missy, ma'am."
"M-my name is Sheleiya."
" Ohh! That is a nice name!"
She seemed to relax, " Why thank you. And what is your name?" She now spoke to Philip.
" My name is Philip, Madam. Pleasure to meet you."
"Pleasure's all mine!"
Edmund was a little disappointed. He was hoping for more of a reaction to the talking horses. To tell you the truth, he was hoping something would "get her back" for her comments the day before. There is no excuse, I'm afraid, for his desires for revenge..
" I have heard you were a fairly good rider," Edmund said.
" Are you challenging me to a race, Sire?" Sheleiya inquired. Actually, that was not at all what Edmund was insinuating. He was just trying to start a conversation.
" Oh, I mean, I suppose, if you're up to it," Edmund was thinking of an easy race.
"Alright! Where to?" She asked, obviously invigorated by the challenge.
Edmund scoped the land. There was huge tree that stood out from all the others; its tallest branch was almost six feet above the surrounding trees. He pointed to it.
Sheleiya smiled. " Alright, ready, set, go!"
With that, they both broke into a full gallop. Edmund began in the lead.
" Ha, this will be easy," he thought. He was soon mistaken. Sheleiya appeared right beside him. He tried to shake them off by veering off course a bit. It didn't work. The two riders were precisely side by side. Neither was ahead nor behind one another. A few seconds later, they stopped at the tree at the exact same time.
" You're not bad," Edmund gasped. He was out of breath from the wind blowing into his lungs and he was shaking a bit from holding on to his horse with his knees so tightly.
" Thanks," Sheleiya replied simply.
" Good race," Phillip commented when he and Missy had caught up to them.
A few moments later, Breeca appeared with the two princes. She stared disapprovingly at her sister. " Sheleiya, you look awful. I told you racing wasn't lady-like; your hair is all frazzled."
Sheleiya clenched the reins tighter and tried to keep her cool. "I don't care, Breeca. I like racing."
Her sister rolled her eyes. " Oh, c'mon, let's get back."
The twins simultaneously let out a disappointed " Awww:".
Edmund intervened. " I'll keep you two with me, Your Highnesses. Ladies, you can go back if you please."
Sheleiya opened her mouth to object to leaving but Breeca interrupted.
" We shall, Your Majesty. Thank you."
And with that, she gave a glance at her sister that urged Sheleiya to leave with her. Edmund couldn't help but chuckle when he heard Breeca telling her sister in a shocked voice, " Did you know the horses talked? I thought I was going mad!"
Edmund couldn't help but find the two very suspicious. They were a mystery he was determined to solve, eventually.
He spent the rest of the morning until lunch with the princes. Then, they all gathered for a small picnic outside the castle to eat. Susan and Lucy had joined them by now.
" King Lune, I have decided to call a council tonight with you and your company. We would like to ally with you against these suspicious characters found among your castle grounds. We would like you to have enough protection and help in finding out who they are," Peter announced when they were all finished eating.
The king wore a large thankful smile as he said, " Thank you, my liege. Your help is greatly appreciated in our troubled times. Remember, Archenland is always at your hand whenever you need assistance."
For a time, there was silence among everyone. Then, the conversations erupted and everyone had a lovely time. The guests soon retired to their chambers and to prepare for the council later that day.
Edmund, meanwhile, returned to the beach. He needed some time to think about the mystery within his room. He wondered where the key to the door in his room was. He was wondering whether he should tell Peter about it soon, or wait until he discovered the key and what was inside the door. He went through a list of possibilities, but gave up on them all. He left the beach and returned to the field. He found a large tree. He sat down under its shade and closed his eyes. He listened as the waves crashed against the shore in the distance.. A light, brisk breeze was blowing from the east. The swishing of the swaying trees was lulling him to sleep. Everything was so peaceful. He still couldn't fathom that his beautiful place was his home. He stayed in this reverie for quite a while, thinking on the Great Lion. Presently, and we can't blame him for it, Edmund fell asleep.
Well...what do you think? What is up with those sisters? All will be revealed in good time;)
Your reviews make my day! Truthfully, they do! :)
