Chapter 4

'What did she say?' Cor asked Corin when they walked down to breakfast.

'Who?'

'Aravis, of course.'

'Oh, sorry. I didn't get a chance to speak to her.'

'What were you doing last evening?'

'I was with Lily.'

Cor smirked. 'What were you doing with her?'

'I was telling her the tale of the lion, the witch and the wardrobe.'

'So you didn't see Aravis at all?'

'Nope.'

'I overheard her talking about me to Lucy. She thinks I'm socially incompetent, whatever that means. I played chess with Tumnus instead.'

'Who won?'

'Him. Twice. I couldn't concentrate whatsoever.'

The twins entered the dining room. King Lune was already seated, and next to him was…

'Lily's able to join us for breakfast,' boomed King Lune. 'Isn't this wonderful? Lily, of course you've already met Corin and this is his twin brother, Cor. I don't find it difficult to tell them apart but everyone else struggles. I think I can distinguish Corin from Cor because he has a scar on his left cheek and a lot of other scratches.'

'I think I can tell the difference already,' laughed Lily.

'Her laughter's like music,' thought Corin. 'It's lovely to listen to.'

Everyone else joined them and after their dishes were cleared away, Cor and Corin had their lessons with Dar and Darin.

Aravis and Lily embroidered with Queen Lucy. Aravis always found embroidery frustrating, and Lily did not particularly enjoy it either, so Lucy strummed her lute while the girls sang in turn.

Corin heard their singing and it cheered him a great deal, for geometry was not a favourite subject of his.

Lessons were soon finished for the day, and Corin found Aravis sitting alone by the well in the courtyard, a flower in her hands. He crept up behind her, as he heard her pick off the petals one by one.

'He loves me not… he loves me… he loves me not…'

Corin cleared his throat. She jumped about a mile in the air, and tossed the flower down the well.

'Don't worry, I'm not Cor. You don't need to hide your feelings for him from me.'

Aravis looked confused.

'How do you know?'

'Oh come on, it doesn't take an intelligent person to work it out. You keep blushing every time Cor walks into a room you're in.'

Aravis blushed yet again.

'And what you were saying to that poor flower proves it!'

There was a long pause.

'Does he feel the same way?' pondered Aravis. Corin could not contain himself any longer. He started to laugh.

'Tell me!' ordered Aravis sternly, while Corin kept on sniggering.

'Yes, he does,' Corin croaked after a good few minutes, when he had stopped laughing.

A smile spread across Aravis' face, and she relaxed.

'Why don't you go and mention this to him?' suggested Corin slyly. Aravis grinned, got to her feet and ran inside.

A few minutes later, Corin heard a clang of pots, someone shouting, 'I HATE YOU, SHASTA!' and Aravis came running out of the stable, heading into the castle.

Corin hurried inside the stable to see what had happened.

Cor lay on the floor, clutching his stomach.

'What did you say to her?' Corin asked, as he helped Cor to his feet.

Corin stared at the door, rubbing his head. 'I don't know.'

'So how come she cried, 'I HATE YOU, SHASTA' and stormed out?'

'I think it was because… erm, I may have embraced her the wrong way.'

'Like, you almost strangled her or something?'

'Yeah, let's assume that's what happened.'

'Are you sure you haven't got concussion or something?'

'Dunno.'

'I'm going to take you to that centaur.'

Tarusin examined Cor and said he was a little hurt but that the pain would soon subside.

'What was it you were doing exactly, your highness?' he asked Cor, looking disapproving through his spectacles.

'He fell over,' blurted out Corin, before Cor could answer.

'Right,' muttered the centaur, making a few notes.