Disclaimer: I only own Davina and Isaiah. The four royals of Narnia are property of a certain C.S. Lewis. :)
Chapter 7- Picnic
The next day, Peter devised his plan to create less tension between himself and the twins. He'd paid more attention to the two at dinner the night before and had come to the conclusion that Edmund was right, which was becoming far too frequent an occurence as of late.
The seventeen year old was now making his way toward Davina's door, praying to Aslan that his plan wouldn't fail. He didn't want them thinking he was the bad guy anymore.
"Hello Seran." he greeted the guard as he knocked on the door to Davina's quarters. He heard a bit of shuffling in the room before Davina opened the door.
"Oh. Hello, Peter. Come on in." she pulled the door open for him while furrowing her brow as he sat on the couch across from the foot of her bed. "What brings you to my room? Did you figure out who wants me dead?"
"Regretfully, no. We haven't received anything new, but we've still got our eye on it." he responded as she seated herself on the trunk that sat just at the foot of the bed. He tried reading her body language again and determined that whatever ire she held toward him were a result of defending her brother, as Edmund had pointed out. Right now she appeared not to resent him too much. She seemed tense, but she was always tense around him. She was also confused by his being there, evidenced by the furrowing of her brow. Of course, he could be wrong seeing as Edmund and Lucy had both decided that he was horrible at the reading of body language and the two had made it a habit to always be right in such matters.
She unconsciously smoothed the dark green dress she wore that day. He had to admit that she looked quite beautiful in it, the green setting off her complexion and the color of her eyes nicely. The cut of her dress accentuated her curves and her black curls framed her face beautifully.
Davina coughed, whether out of her discomfort at the deafening silence or a tickle in her throat, he wasn't sure, but it brought him back to reality.
"Anyway, I actually came to invite you to a picnic with my family and I. It's the first picnic of spring and Lucy particularly can't wait to go traipsing about without having to wade through snow. It's nearly all gone, you know."
A smile lit up Davina's face in delight. "That sounds wonderful. When are we leaving?"
"Now, if you're ready. Susan went to inform Isaiah while Lucy and Edmund ought to be done making the preparations needed for the excursion." he smiled in return.
Davina sprung from her seat and all but ran toward her armoir, seconds later she was pulling her boots on.
"It will be good to get out of the castle for a bit." she told him as she worked on the laces of her right leg. "I hate cold weather and I've gotten tired of being cooped up, even in a place so spacious as Cair Paravel."
"I completely understand. I think we're all itching for a chance to get out of here." he laughed. "And it'll be great to ride without biting cold whipping your face."
"So where are we holding this picnic? Will we have to walk far?" she asked as she laced up the other boot.
Peter stood to where he saw her green cloak, laying over her dressing screen, and pulled it into his hands before answering. "We're not walking, we're riding out there. It's just about ten to fifteen minutes on horseback, it's only just outside the castle gates."
"Oh." she responded, movements becoming slow as she tied the lace and stood, turning when he silently offered to help her get the cloak on. She snapped it herself and turned back in his direction. "But wouldn't you rather walk? Get the chance to stretch your legs a bit?" she asked as she took the arm which he'd offered and he led her into the hallway.
"Davina, being in the castle hasn't kept me from walking. I'd much rather ride. Besides, I'm quite hungry and would rather not delay our reaching the spot another fifteen to thirty minutes." he smiled. "Is there any particular reason you don't want to ride there?"
"No. I just prefer walking."
"You sound like Lucy. She's always vying to do the more difficult task just because it's an option."
The rest of the walk was silent with Peter feeling already like his plan would be a success. Davina didn't seem to have too much trouble talking with him so far, maybe it would go just as smoothly with Isaiah. He couldn't exactly call them all buddies just yet, but he hoped they were getting there.
When they reached the stables, Susan, Isaiah, Lucy, and Edmund were already saddled and ready for the short trip.
"Finally." Edmund grumbled, collapsing dramatically backward on Phillips back. "I'm starving."
"As if that's news." Susan remarked, earning her a glare from her brother.
"We'll go saddle up and be right out." Peter remarked with an eye roll, entering the stable shortly afterward with Davina on his heels.
He led his horse, a black stallion he'd dubbed Rochester, from his stable and began saddling him. He looked around for the reigns a moment, after he'd finished adjusting the stirrups, annoyed that once again the stable hands were nowhere to be found.
"Would you mind handing me those reigns?" he asked Davina, who happened to be standing near where his had been hung. She nodded and took them down, stepping around the front of the horse to hand to to him. He gratefully accepted them and began shrugging it onto the horses nose.
"Why don't you pick out a horse and start saddling him up?" he suggested as he worked.
"I wouldn't know where to start."
"On choosing a horse or saddling him up?"
"Both."
Peter gave her a sly look, smirk forming on his lips. "I thought you said you were from Texas."
"Yeah, I am." Davina responded, supressing a grin of her own as she crossed her arms over her chest. "That doesn't mean I spend all my time riding to school like a right regular cowgirl." her voice took on a southern twange as she reached one arm up and pretended to tip her hat. Peter laughed at her display.
She shifted her weight so she was leaning on one hip.
"In all honesty, I've no idea how to ride and I'm terrified of horses." she said, clearly feeling awkward and a bit childish about the admission. "I was thrown from a horse when I was six and broke my arm. I haven't dared to get on one again since."
Peter turned toward her as he finished adjusting Rochester's reigns. He put a hand to his chin as he watched her nervously bite her lip as she eyed one or two of the other horses in the stable.
"Here, how about you ride with me today. I promise I won't let you fall. You can even ride in the front so you'll feel safer." he finally suggested.
"Are you sure?" she asked, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Of course. It's not like you're very tall, anyway. I'll be able to steer him with no trouble at all and if he happened to rear, which it's not likely he will, I'll keep you on the saddle."
She turned her skeptical eyes toward Rochester for a few moments before finally aquiescing and allowing Peter to help her onto the saddle. He swung up behind her seconds later and clicked his tongue, pulling gently on the strip of leather in his left hand to turn the animal in the direction he'd chosen.
The two emerged from the stable and began following the others as their horses trotted along the pathways of Cair. Isaiah had given his sister a bemused look at her slightly terrifiede face at having to ride, but had so far given Peter no more than a cold glance and no glare. The High King decided he was doing well at making amends so far.
They finally arrived at the area where the picnic was to be held and was glad to feel Davina's body relax as he pulled Rochester to a halt. The girl had been so tense the entire time that he worried she'd faint or something from the strain of it. Sliding down out of the saddle, he helped her down immediately afterward and the two turned toward where the others were.
Peter had to give it to Lucy, she sure knew how to choose a picnic sight. A small blue lake lay to his right, all manner of frogs and insects rushing about and making beautiful sounds. The lillies that normally dotted the hills in spring were nearly overwhelming in the clearing nearby. He could hardly see the grass for the white flowerheads that rose above them. Two large boulders near the lake would be their seating and dining arrangements, due to the fact that the ground was still too wet to actually sit on without ruining their clothes.
The trees enclose the clearing and lake in a circular fashion that made one feel like they were secluded, far from the prying eyes of the castle and their subjects. Like he said, Lucy sure knew how to pick 'em.
"It's beautiful." Davina commented in awe as they reached the others.
"Why thank you, Lady Davina." Lucy said, curtseying to her friend in an overly dramatic fashion. "I thought you might like it."
"I do." she laughed as her brother reached down a hand to help her up beside him on the boulder. She accepted his hand and sat beside him.
"What's on the menu today, then?" Edmund asked, seating himself on the other side of Davina while his two other sisters climbed up on the other boulder, only about a six or so inch gap between the two, with Peter's help.
Susan then produced a fair amount of soft bread, fresh meats, and other things they could make sandwiches from. They spent the next half hour eating together while they watched the fish glide through the area just beyond them.
It wasn't long before the boys were practicing swordsmanship, attempting to teach Isaiah a bit of what they knew. Isaiah had only been too excited to show his sister the sword Edmund had let him borrow and to inform her that he would soon be getting lessons in how to use it. Due to his excitement on the subject, they began practicing, but only after they'd collected as many lillies as Susan had convinced them to bring to them.
The girls, meanwhile, daisy-chained those lillies together in order to make crowns and bracelets and all other manner of thing that could be created by the white beauties. Since none of the Four were wearing their crowns (when they didn't allow the guard to come with them out of the castle gates, they didn't wear them in hopes that it would keep them safer than flaunting their royalty), they made one for each of them. Davina and Lucy even managed to convince the boys kneel while they crowned them with the lilly creations.
When they finished that, the girls even made broad necklaces to go around the horses' necks. It was during this time that Davina met Phillip and Sera. These were Edmund and Lucy's horses respectively and very wonderful conversationalists. Phillip even offered to teach Davina how to ride so she would get over her fear of horses and be able to ride a dumb beast with ease. She accepted the offer thankfully, knowing she would trust a Talking Horse much better than one that couldn't.
It was an hour or so later when Peter grudgingly informed the others that they all needed to return to the castle. He was sad to go, but happy due to the fact that he and Isaiah seemed to be getting along much better. He decided it wouldn't be long until they were all friends, which was exactly what he wanted.
As before, he helped Davina mount and them swung up behind her before heading out. He was happy to find that she wasn't nearly so tense this time as before.
"Isaiah, I'll race you home." Lucy challenged, a devilish glint in her eye as she turned toward him.
"Be prepared to lose, Your Highness." he responded, eyes narrowing in similiar mischief.
Peter smiled in their direction, eager to see who would take the lead when a whizzing sound followed by a grunt from Davina drew his attention. Her body jerked back against him as she hissed in pain. He looked over her shoulder only to find an arrow with black feathers protruding from her right lower abdomen.
Davina let out cry of pain as she clutched the skin around it, careful not to mess with the actual wound.
"Ambush!" Peter cried, wrapping an arm around Davina's waist a few inches above the wound to keep her balanced.
"Vina!" Isaiah yelled, eyes wide with panic in seeing his sister hurt.
Immediately the boys had drawn their swords, Susan her bow and arrows, and Lucy her dagger. Each combed the trees, feeling like open targets. They knew if they tried to gallop away, not only would it likely make Davina's wound worse, but it would likely get them a few arrows in their backs.
"What do you want?" Peter called into the trees, jaw clenching angrily.
"That arrow was meant for you, High King." a voice snaked it's way from the covering of foliage. "However, hitting the Prophesied One was good enough for me. Her arrival has been made known throughout Narnia and even the countries beyond."
"What is it about this girl that threatens you so much?" Edmund called back, his face also a mask of anger at seeing a friend hurt. "How do you even know she's the prophesied one?"
"Find me another with eyes of purple and I'll reconsider her death."
That last sentence was all that was necessary for Susan to find him. She released her arrow high into the trees on their right, only to hear a grunt and a sickening thud seconds later as the body hit the forest floor.
"Peter, go with the others and get Davina some medical attention. Susan and I will take care of the assassin."
Susan yanked out her horn and blew it, knowing that the castle guard would be out the gates in seconds. Peter nodded, eyeing the girl in his arms. She was leaning back against him now, face ghostlly pale as sweat beaded on her forehead.
"Be safe." he all but commanded them as he, Lucy, and Isaiah began making their way as quickly as possible toward the castle.
