Hello! I'm back! I'm sorry it's been so long, I've had school plays and then GCSE's and coursework, but now I'm finished, hurrah! I'm now all yours and will update loads to make up for months of lost time.
P.S. In the last chapter I did mean to say Prince Corin, not Rabadash. Thanks to musafa. Also thanks to Callie Beth, who helped improve my grammar!
Freya was starting to get very stiff. King Lune had talked for what seemed to be hours. Freya was becoming an expert in stifling her yawns. Her mind wandered back to her home in Aranon. 'The Civil War must be heightening in its violence by now' Freya thought. She knew her father Lord Bassing and Lord Welsson would attempt to keep the peace, but she didn't know if they were strong enough to hold it or fight the violence of the rebels. Her mother would be attempting to make herself busy, tending to the wounded etc. fitting into her role as a Lady. Freya and her mother, Helena, often didn't see eye-to-eye. As a child, Freya was constantly exploring, or out horse-riding, when she should've been at home doing something tedious like making a bed, or algebra.
She hadn't done any riding while she was here. They had just assumed she didn't know how to, she would go riding tomorrow, she decided firmly. She would borrow a horse from the stables.
Just then, Edmund nudged her. Freya switched off auto-pilot to note that everyone was moving. King Lune eyed her piercingly as he walked by. Freya watched him go and fell into line with Lucy.
"I'm so hungry." Freya muttered.
"At least you don't have to do this all the time!" Lucy whispered, careful to keep their voices low as they knew Prince Corin was behind them.
As they filed into the Dining Hall, Freya took her place at the table down the far end. Normally, she would sit up at the top, as she would be next in rank, but not tonight. Instead, she ended up to a young man, one of the delegated from Archenland. He too, was yawning. When Freya sat down, he whispered to her:
"That meeting made me starving! It's so odd, how not listening makes me hungry!"
"Hear, hear," muttered Freya. "I only tuned in for the beginning. What were they talking about anyway?"
"No idea." He whispered.
For the rest of the meal they talked in earnest. Freya learned that his name was Leos. He was born in Narnia, but had spent his life in Archenland. He hoped one day to return. Freya, in turn, told him all about the problems of Aranon and how she hated the idea of a political marriage, and how she hoped that she would be able to stay in Narnia to avoid the plan of her parents to marry someone in the new land. Leos agreed with her, and spoke of his parents marriage, how it had been arranged for and by politics, and they showed no sentiment to one another. Freya spoke also of her parents. How her mother quietly got on with her set duties, her father with his. She had rarely seen them show affection to one another.
Peter was watching the earnest conversation between Freya and the delegate. He felt slightly envious, but there was nothing he could do about it. Rumours would spread if Freya sat up with the royals.
"My niece is coming of the age of marriage your majesties, and is considered highly accomplished. She can sing, dance, ride a horse well, intelligent. She would be the perfect way to tie a bond between Archenland and Narnia." King Lune looked pointedly at Peter.
Peter looked startled. "I don't think marriage is the main priority here, Your Highness. My siblings and I are still trying to secure the security of Narnia form the evil of the White Witch."
"Yes, and may I say I think you are doing a splendid job of it. But a marriage would bring unity between the people."
"Indeed yes, but there are other ways."
"Are you attempting to say sire, that my niece is undesirable?"
"No!" said Peter hastily. "I just think that I would not be able to give her the attention she deserves."
"Well, I suppose I see your point. But I'm sure you'll warm to the idea your Majesty."
"Shall we adjourn to the drawing room?" said Susan brightly in an attempt to save Peter.
The party stood up. As Peter passed Freya, his eyes gave the smallest flicker to hers. She gave the smallest of smiles.
She and Leos stayed together in the drawing room, though the talk had now turned to cards. Well, more like playing them… Well, more like Freya winning.
"I give up! You are the Queen of cards!" Leos cried eventually.
Freya laughed. "I do try."
King Lune suddenly spoke up. "Your Majesties, I do believe that the time is late and I and my subjects have travelled long and far."
"Of course," said Susan. "The servants will show you your wing."
Good-nights were bid, until it was just the four monarchs and Freya once more. Lucy flopped down on a sofa.
"When are they leaving? King Lune is so dull!"
Susan shushed her. "Lucy, don't say those things. They'll only be here for a couple of weeks."
"A couple of weeks!!!!!! I'm going to bed. I can't cope!"
"Think I might follow your plan, Lu." yawned Edmund.
"Good idea, come on you two." Susan ushered them out.
It was just Freya and Peter.
"Who was that you were talking to?" asked Peter.
"One of Lune's subjects, Leos."
"Oh. Nice?"
"Yes."
"Fairly handsome. Born in Archenland?"
"I suppose he is, adn no he was born in Narnia actually. Is this interrogation over now?" Freya asked annoyingly.
Peter crossed the room and wrapped her in a hug. "I'm sorry, I'm just tired." He murmured into her hair and gave her a kiss on the forehead." Freya rested her head on his chest. "Peter?"
"Mmmm?"
"Can I go horse-riding tomorrow?"
He looked at her. "You horse-ride?"
"Yes, I do! Why is that so surprising? She said, giving him a playful smile.
"It's not." He laughed. "You don't need to ask!" Freya yawned. "Come on, it's late." Peter whispered.
"Do you know your way yet?"
Freya looked up at him. "What do you think?"
Peter laughed. Freya leant against him, and he put his arm around her. "Am I going to have to draw you a map?" he asked.
"Yep." She yawned again. Peter led her up to her room.
"Here you are madam." He gave her a quick kiss on the lips before turning away. Freya turned and flopped on the bed.
Freya was up early the next morning. Her long auburn hair in a thick French plait and dressed in an old pair of tunic and leggings, she wandered down to the stables. There, she met one of the stable boys.
"You can have this horse if you like, milady. He's very stable, as you haven't ridden for a while."
"Thank you. What's his name?"
"Judan."
"He's wonderful." Freya gazed at him. The stable boy stood by.
"Would you like me to tack him?"
"What? Oh no, thank you, I can do it."
Freya heaved up the saddle, tightened up the girth.
"That hurts you know." Came a voice.
Freya chuckled. "Of course! I forgot, you have talking horses in Narnia. Sorry Judan."
"It's quite alright."
Freya lifted herself into the saddle. "Right, Judan let's see what you're made of." Freya guided Judan out of the stables, nearly knocking over Peter, Susan, King Lune and Prince Corin.
She nodded to them and clicked for Judan to trot on. She could feel eyes watching her as she left. Once she made it past the Cair Paravel gate, she turned to look at the castle.
"Come on, Judan. I need to feel the wind in my hair!" she laughed. Judan set off at a gallop. The wind whipped Freya's face, making them sting, the landscape flashed by.
From the stables the group Freya had met this morning, looked out across the plains.
"It certainly is a beautiful country." Lune remarked.
"Thank you, Sire." Replied Susan. "Wait…Peter is that…Freya?" They turned to see a figure astride a horse galloping through the plains. They jumped a high hedge, causing Freya's hair to fall out. It fell about her shoulders in ripples. She was laughing, patting the horse as they slowed down. Her cheeks were rosy from the morning air.
King Lune watched her with interest before turning to look at Corin. Also watching her. Lune smiled to himself.
Thank you! I will try and update as soon as possible. Please review all comments are taken on board. Thanks for reading!
S x
