A King Amidst the Roses

Mahlirra led Ellen through the castle, down winding staircases and along sweeping corridors, passing castle people as they did. There were servants and nobles, few of them human in their form; there were two satyrs dressed in silk waistcoats, obviously important lords, and a gaggle of giggling Naiads, heading to the castle well.

But finally, Mahlirra pushed open a set of double doors and they were outside in a small courtyard, enclosed on three sides by castle towers, and the fourth by a low wall which looked out to the east as far as the eye could see. In the far distance, Ellen could see the gleam of the eastern ocean but her senses were soon occupied by the presence of on just thing: roses.

The courtyard was filled with rose bushes. There were red ones in the masses but also white ones and pink ones as well as orange, lilac and yellow and colours Ellen couldn't even think of a name for. The smell was sensational. Have you ever smelt a rose and it smell so strong that the pure smell of it makes you smile? Well it was like that, but you didn't even have to be particularly close to one flower to smell it. Ellen was entranced. There was a gentle buzzing coming from a nearby rose bush. The flowers were a beautiful silver colour and when Ellen went to have a closer look, a cuddly looking bumble bee came flying out. She stepped back hurriedly – when she was younger she had been badly stung by a wasp – but the bee didn't seem to have noticed her, and instead flew off to another rose bush.

"Those ones are called Moonlight Bloomers; because of their colour." Ellen jumped a little at the sound of this new voice. She turned around and there stood a plump man with a round face and jolly cheeks. Although he was smiling at her, Ellen could sense a certain sadness about him. Perhaps it was the fact that he was wearing black, the colour of mourning.

"They were my wife's favourite," he continued, "A little bit of the night sky for the daytime she would tell me." He came over to her, "So you are our unexpected guest." At this Ellen suddenly realised who this man was; it was King Lune of Archenland. She quickly gave a hasty curtsey.

"Your majesty," she said, "I must thank you for your hospitality. You see I had nowhere else to go and I was told that the court of King Lune always welcomed guests and - "

"And so we do," King Lune said to her, "You must forgive me for not coming to see you yesterday but I heard you were in a distressed state and I have had enough sadness to last me a while yet."

"I am sorry your majesty," Ellen said, "I did not know. Your wife, she must have been a wonderful Queen." At this King Lune's eyes saddened, and the twinkle that had been in them the moment before was gone.

"Ay," he said, "She was and I take heart from the fact that at least she did not live to see her son taken from her in such a terrible way."

"Oh my," Ellen said, "I am sorry –I really did not realise, I - "

"Oh don't worry yourself my dear," the King said, "It is in the past and at least I still have my Prince Corin," King Lune looked at her confused face, "His twin brother," he added, to clarify for her.

"Oh," Ellen said, "Oh yes, of course."

"Your majesty," came a voice from behind a rose bush. A second later and a faun, a man, a fox and two ladies appeared from around the bush.

"Your majesty," the faun said. Ellen recognised him as the faun who had greeted her the night before, "Your majesty, Lady Helaina was wondering which of the roses she might cut to take for her ill mother."

"Thank you Turil," the King said to the faun , "Lady Helaina," he said, turning to greet the young woman in a flowing yellow dress, "You may cut any of the roses you wish and take as many as you like. Help yourself my dear."

"Thank you, your majesty," Lady Helaina said, "Lord Drucan," she turned to the young man beside her, "Would you be so kind as to help me pick some out."

"Why of course," the man said, "Though I doubt any would be as fair as you my Lady." Lady Helaina gave a laugh and allowed the Lord Drucan to lead her away through the rose bushes. King Lune waited for them to disappear from view before he let out a chortle.

"Poor Lord Drucan," he said, before turning to the remaining lady, a young woman wearing riding gear and a scowl, "Your cousin is quite the charmer wouldn't you agree Lady Pamela?"

"I'm glad someone is amused," Lady Pamela said, "I just wish she would grow up and focus on something else, like riding. I only came along to choose some flowers for my Aunt but she turns it into such a drag. But if your majesty will excuse me, I have places to be." She gave Ellen a curious look before bowing and leaving the courtyard.

"You humans are odd," the fox remarked, "Always moving about, places to go and what silly things you worry about."

"I couldn't agree more," Turil the faun said, "Why can't you just learn to enjoy life?"

"Well," Ellen said, "Perhaps that's how we enjoy life, by moving about and worrying about silly things?" The faun and the fox turned to look at her.

"Ah but where are my manners," King Lune said, "Dawson, Turil, this is Lady Ellen; the guest who arrived last night in the storm."

"Well," Ellen said, "I'm not sure about the Lady part but yes – that's me."

"Welcome to Anvard," the fox said, "But you must tell us of where you have come from. Turil told me that you were raving about slaves last night when you arrived."

"Well," Ellen said and saw that the three of them were all watching her intently, "Well I was a slave. In Tashbaan. But I escaped and came north. I'm heading for Narnia; apparently I might find my twin brother there."

"Well," said King Lune, "That could be quite a tale if you had told it all though I suppose you have your reasons for discretion. You are welcome to stay as long as you wish and - "

"Well actually I was hoping to set off for the Mountain Pass today."

"So soon?"

"Yes," Ellen said, "I am sorry but I feel I cannot put it off. It was Aslan who told me to head to Narnia and well, I really want to find my brother."

"You saw Aslan?"

"The Great Lion himself?"

"Yes."

"Where was this?"

"In Tashbaan actually, just before I escaped."

"So he told you that you would find your brother in Narnia?" King Lune asked, "Why would he be there?"

"I don't know," Ellen said, "And he didn't say explicitly that my brother was in Narnia, just that I would find what I was looking for in Narnia – and I've been looking for my brother ever since he ran away so I guess he made it to Narnia and I'll find him there."

"Did he run away from the slavers?" Asked the fox.

"Yes," Ellen said, "He managed to escape."

"Yet he didn't think to take you with him?" Turil asked, "He doesn't seem the best of brothers."

"Well he couldn't," Ellen said, her face going red, "It was more complicated than that."

"Of course it was," the King said, trying to diffuse the situation, "I am sure you will find what you are looking for in Narnia, Lady Ellen, but know that you are always welcome here. My court is a welcoming one and soon perhaps it shall find some of the joy that it used to know."

"Thank you, your majesty," Ellen said, "Could someone show me the way to the stables? I'll need my horse, Silver, for the journey."

"Of course," King Lune said, "Mahlirra," he called, and the dryad appeared from behind a rose bush, "Mahlirra my dear," he said to her, "Ensure that the Lady Ellen has everything she needs for her journey over the Mountain Pass. In fact, why don't you show her the way to the start of it?"

"Of course, your majesty," Mahlirra said and then hesitated, "I wonder your majesty, if you would allow me to go with her? All the way to Narnia? I can look after her and help her."

"Mahlirra," King Lune said gently, "You are free to do as you please. Surely you know that? If you are ready to leave us then go; go with Lady Ellen – go and explore Narnia, in all its splendour."

"Thank you, your majesty," Mahlirra said, "I'll never forget the kindness you have shown me."

"And I'll never forget the dryad who wanted to explore, to leave the forests behind," said Turil. The fox chuckled at this but quickly stifled this at the look King Lune gave him.

"Are you sure?" Ellen asked Mahlirra. The dryad nodded.

"I've never been more certain, Ellen," she said, "When you arrived in the storm last night, it was the most exciting thing that has happened to me since I came here - no offence your majesty."

"None taken," King Lune said jovially.

"And I realised," she continued, "That I wanted excitement - I wanted to explore. So is that alright? Can I come with you?" Ellen smiled.

"Of course," she said, "I'm sure I'll need all the help I can get and you've been so kind to me so far!"

"Well," King Lune said smiling, "I guess that means that's settled then? Mahlirra will travel with Lady Ellen. Are you sure you want to leave today?"

"Yes your majesty," Ellen said, "And thank you again, for taking me in during that storm." She turned to Mahlirra, "Shall we?"

"Yes."

So they curtseyed to the King and said their farewells to Turil and the fox, but just before she left the Rose Courtyard, Ellen turned back for one last look. The King was standing with Turil on one side and the fox on the other. He was bent over sniffing the Moonlight Bloomer. On the other side of the courtyard the voices of Lady Helaina and Lord Drucan could be heard, chattering pleasantly. King Lune looked up to see Ellen looking. He smiled and gave her a nod. Though she was at a distance, it seemed that the twinkle in his eye was back, but Mahlirra called to her from the door and so she left the courtyard of Roses.

An hour or so later, they were cantering out of the gates of Anvard. They headed north with the wind rushing in their faces and a sense of adventure thriving in their hearts. Mount Pire was ahead of them and beyond that lay the land of Narnia.

A/N: And... So what do you think? I'm not sure if I've been trying to weave too much detail in but this isn't going to be a short story! However, in a few more chapters, they'll be meeting the Pevensies but we'll first need to go back to Marcus and his venture to Cauldron Pool. The next chapter however will be with the Pevensies!

I just need to review the next chapters and make sure they make sense etc before they go up. In the meantime, it would be great to get some opinions on the first few chapters.

SHS

:D :D :D