A/N: Hi, everyone! I'm actually updating within the same month! Yay:D But, anywho...something big is revealed in this chapter! Dun-dun-dun... Enjoy:) T
Thanks to Laura Andrews for beta-ing this mistakes I always miss:D You're awesome! And thanks to my reviewers and reading who keep me writing!
Disclaimer: Well, you see...I fired my old lawyer and got a new one. And you know what? I still don't own them...*Sigh* Enjoy anyway:)
Chapter VII: Findings and Fever
"It has begun," Edmund sighed to his older brother as they walked into the crowded ballroom after being announced. He was, of course, dreading the ball that had finally come.
So much could be seen and heard. The fountain with a statue of a mermaid was gurgling, while a small quartet of fauns next to it elegantly played harps and violins. Food was set out, and oh, the smells! Savory ham, things like meat pasties and apple dumplings filled the tables. There were many various kinds of sherbet- strawberry, raspberry, lemon. In addition to cooked food, there were raw fruits cut out in slices: apples, oranges, berries, plums, peaches, nectarines, and oh so many more kinds. The crystal chandelier was lit and was reflected by the marble floors. Statues and potted plants were set on the borders of the rooms. A few red chairs with velvet cushions accompanied them. Large, heavy, burgundy curtains hung by the doors; all except a white curtain that was hung by the exit onto the balcony outside. People in fine clothing chattered in light conversations as servers came around with trays of different samples of cheese or small glasses of white wine.
Peter and Edmund each took a glass of wine as they conversed with several different people. Most of their conversations were rather short and began with things like- "How is your family?" or "By the Lion's mane, I haven't seen you in ages!" or "Oh my! How your young ones have grown!" However, there was one conversation that took an interesting turn, at least in Edmund's interest. He and his brother began talking to a faun and a dwarf whom Mr. Tumnus had introduced them to awhile back. The faun's name was Furnus and the dwarf's was Galiger.
"I say, Your Majesties!" exclaimed the faun. "I must say Cair Paravel is more exquisite in person than in books."
"Ah, yes. A gift from the Lion. It is a shame that you have never been able to make it to any of our occasions before today," Peter said.
"Yes, it is. But I couldn't leave my dear Draya. She was ill for ever so long. But she is out of pain now." Furnus smiled sadly.
"We are very sorry about your loss. She was very kind and lovely to the end," Edmund sympathized.
"Thank you, Your Highnesses. Galiger, what do you think of the castle. You're a builder, are you not?"
The dwarf gave a proud smile. (Dwarves were known to become proud very easily in those days, at least the good dwarves.) "Yes, yes, I am a builder. I am the head builder in my clan. This castle, I must say, is beautiful. It's a wonder whether Aslan didn't ask us dwarves to build it. It does hold many mysteries though-so I have been told."
Furnus gasped. "Oh yes! I have read that as well. Of course, there probably isn't one but…" his voice trailed off. This caught much of King Edmund's attention, especially after his findings in his room.
He inquired further. "What kind of mysteries? Something like an ancient treasure room or secret doors in some rooms? Certainly nothing superstitious, such as ghosts."
The intelligent and well read faun replied, "No ghosts, Your Highness. But, there were rumors that said the builders (who ever they were)-,"
"Most likely dwarves, it was." Galiger interrupted.
Furnus continued, "It is said that the builders placed several secret passages in the castle. They say they hid the keys because they were afraid that Cair Paravel would be attacked for treasure. Others say the doors were put there only for a hoax and behind them are solid stones. There are even rumors that state that, laid in the stone behind the walls, there is something, a treasure that leads to a very dangerous quest. But they are just rumors."
"Yes, just rumors," Edmund echoed distractedly. "I wonder what is behind that door. First, I need to find that key," he added in his thoughts. At that point, he was called to address someone else.
After everyone had eaten, the tables were moved away and the dancing music had begun. Edmund felt someone tap him on the shoulder.
"I do believe you owe me a waltz, my good king," Lucy beamed at him.
"I'm sorry to say, you must be mistaken. I do not owe you any dance, sister," he returned in a very grave manner which soon turned into a smile as he added, "But, I would like to have this dance anyway."
He took her hand and led her into a waltz staying fairly close to the exit to the balcony. His plan was that once someone asked to dance with Lucy (no doubt they would), he would bow out and simply walk onto the balcony which broke off into two staircases—his escapes, as he called them. While they were dancing, they engaged in a small conversation.
"So, I presume you will sneak off into the night until the dancing is over, dear king?" Lucy smirked.
Edmund laughed. "Ah, yes. You see, I prefer the fresh outdoor air rather than the stuffy ballroom."
"You're in here when no one else is. I've caught you several times."
"Well, in my defense, sister, when no one is in it, it is rather a spacious place to think. And, I'll admit, I have taken a suit of armor apart and put it back together on rainy days."
Lucy gasped but giggled. "Wait until Peter finds out you've backed out on work to put together armor!"
"Sh-h-h," Edmund's lips curled into a smile. "It'll be our little secret."
He was tapped on the shoulder again. It was Mr. Tumnus.
"May I cut in?"
"Of course," he placed Lucy's hand in Tumnus' as he slipped outside according to plan.
The balcony was different from all the others in that it had two sets of stairs-one on each side. Edmund observed his choices. He could walk along the shore or he could walk by the forest making sure to stay in the castle circle. He eventually chose the wood since he knew his shoes would get a little wet and he did not want to come back in the ballroom with a trail of salt water.
Edmund cast a quick search inside to make sure his brother did not want to join him. His eyes met Peter's and Peter gave him a nod to go off without him. Then, he quickly took the stairs on his right.
"Relief," he thought as he fingered some ivy growing on the side of the castle. His original plan was to take a route in the forest as he usually did. He usually went down into the wood and the lake nearby. Then, he would walk around the lake until he reached a small bridge. He would cross that and it led very close to the other side of Cair Paravel, near the front. (The ballroom was near the back entrance.) However, he left the ballroom some time later than he usually did. The dancing started later, and his dance with Lucy also took some time.
"I'll just take a walk around the borders of Cair. That should be enough time," he said to himself.
Like most people on their strolls alone, they end up thinking and asking themselves question. So we cannot blame Edmund for doing so. As one may expect, the mind will often begin thinking through events that day. The beginning of the day was quite hazy to Edmund being half-asleep and having a head-ache. The middle of the day was uneventful other than that Peter knocked over a whole suit of armor which crashed into pieces in the ballroom. Edmund had laughed when the gauntlet fell at Peter's feet.
"The armor is challenging you to a duel. Do you accept, O brave king?" he teased.
Peter replied wittily, "As it is lying in pieces on the ground, I believe I have already won."
With this, he took a step, slipped on the gauntlet, and fell flat on his back leaving Edmund clutching his sides in laughter.
The late afternoon was spent getting ready. Baths were taken, layers of clothes put on, crowns polished and worn, etc. Edmund's mind sidetracked as he observed the castle, his home, more carefully. He stepped back. The largest tower shot up in the sky as if it hoped to touch the stars. The warning bell lay under it in an open environment. It shone in the moonlight with almost a spooky, foreboding appearance. The bell was the only part of Cair Paravel that Edmund did not enjoy so much. He didn't mind it in the day, but like most pleasant things, it was rather different at night. The bell was not yet used in their reign. The railings surrounded the bell were gold and, to Edmund, added a sort of creepiness to the whole picture at nighttime. He shivered as he looked further down. Two balconies jutted out from the sandy colored stone walls. Of course, they looked rather gray in the evening light. A window was placed in between the two which led Edmund to believe that he was near the guest quarters side of the castle.
He moved on. There was nothing too interesting on that side of the castle other than more balconies and more windows. However, he did find something interesting. He was fingering the cool stones of the castle when his fingers met an unexpected bump. It rather hurt and he quickly pulled back and found his finger to be pricked and bleeding slightly. He turned to find what had wounded him. There was a small lion in the corner and a sharp piece of stone jutting out of the side.
"Oh, there you are, Ed. Different route today, eh?" Edmund whipped around to find Peter approaching him.
"Yes, I thought this way might be shorter. I thought you said you weren't going to join me tonight?" Edmund said.
"Oh, well, I wasn't. But, I told Susan that I needed to find you when I didn't see you along the shore. What were you looking at, by the way?"
Edmund pointed to the small lion jutting out of the stone. "I jabbed my finger on it accidentally. Mighty sharp."
Peter peered at it. "Interesting. Look, Ed, the lion is in a brick like thing rather than the actual stone."
Edmund saw what his brother pointed out. The stone itself was at least a foot in length all around. The lion, however, was connected on a brick no larger than Edmund's hand and was inscribed into the stone. He knocked on it.
"It sounds hollow. Do you suppose-" Edmund stopped mid-sentence. He suddenly remembered the keyhole in his room. "I say! Pete, do you have a dagger with you?"
"Well, yes. It's right here," he said handing his brother a dagger in a scabbard embedded with jewels.
"I'm afraid it's not that sharp. It's for show rather than for use. Silly if you ask me, but tradition says I must carry one at special occasions. Do you think there's something inside?"
Edmund wanted to say, "I know something's inside," but instead said, "Maybe, I'm not sure." He began knifing at the plaster around it. It was difficult, for, as Peter said, the knife was more for show and so it was rather dull. Taking turns at tackling the plaster, they eventually got it off the brick. It was loose now and could easily be taken out. And it was. Edmund pulled it out and reached inside the hole in the stone. To his disappointment, his fingers only met a wall.
"Maybe it was just the builder's mistake," Edmund said.
"Or not," Peter said looking at the brick in his hands. "Look!" The brick itself was a sort of box. A small brass knob, like you would find on your mother's jewelry box, was at the bottom. Edmund carefully pulled it open. Just as he expected, a key no bigger than three inches was laid inside.
"By the Lion! I wonder what it goes to!" Peter gasped.
"I haven't got the foggiest," Edmund lied. If Peter was not so intrigued with their findings, he would have recognized the lie in his brother's voice. Edmund didn't want to tell Peter he knew where the key belonged. He had made up his mind that he would find what was behind the door first, and then tell Peter. "After all, Peter has enough weighing on his mind," Edmund made an excuse in his mind.
"What should we do now?" Edmund asked.
"Well, I shouldn't want to tell the girls just yet. Don't want to get their hopes up. But, this is exciting. Just keep a look out for any keyholes or any locked rooms or something."
"Peter, could I hold onto it then?" Edmund hesitated.
"I suppose, since you found it, it's only fair. But let me know if you find something interesting," Peter agreed handing him the key.
"Of course," Edmund replied. "When I find something," He added in his thoughts.
"Well, we'd better go back now," Peter concluded. Edmund nodded as they walked back together.
When they got there, Edmund's head ache came back suddenly, his head started spinning, and he was feeling queasy.
"Pete, I don't feel so well. Do you think Su will mind if I retire early?"
His brother stared hard at him. "No, I don't think so. The ball's over soon anyhow. I do hope you're not coming down with something."
"Maybe I am. I did get caught in that storm riding my horse a week ago."
Peter agreed to let Edmund go. Edmund was glad. He really did not feel well. His eyes burned every time he blinked and his body began aching.
"Oh, bother," he thought. "I must have a temperature."
He stumbled up the many stairs to his room, opened the door, placed the key on one of the shelves, and flopped on his bed. Before he knew it, he fell asleep.
He was awoken, what seemed to him a moment later, but was really nearly two hours later, by someone placing a cool cloth on his forehead. It was Susan.
"Su, what- are you- do-doing?" his speech slurred partly by sleep and partly by fever.
She motherly stroked his hair. "Peter told me you weren't feeling well. It seems you have a fever."
Edmund said nothing but just closed his eyes. He was too tired to move. He shivered with chills. He checked to see if the window was open; it wasn't. He definitely had a fever, hopefully not worse than Susan's worried face told. She fetched more blankets and placed them over her little brother.
"Keep warm and get rest," she said blowing out the flickering candle. "You should be well in a few days if we can break your fever by tomorrow. Goodnight."
She stopped to see if her brother's breathing had slowed. It always did when he fell asleep. When she was sure, she quietly closed the door behind her.
A/N: So, the key is found...but what will it reveal? ;P Yet, poor Edmund is sick...hmm... Stay tuned for more:D Hope to hear from you guys! Au Revoir!
