So I tried to make this as long as I could...and I don't think 8000 words is too bad. Sorry it took so long to update I had it all written down, I just needed to type it up, which took forever.
And this one might be a little slow, I had to get Lucy from Cair Paravel to Calormen and it took a while...and I also had to go ahead and throw Caspian in there somewhere, so this was the result.
Oh and I know Calormen is probably nothing like it was in the book, I sort of cheated and made it how I imagined... ;) This is fanfic we're supposed to that, right?
Chapter 8- Long Live
I didn't even have time to be afraid. I tensed and the voice spoke again, shattering the previous moments early morning silence.
"Well don't just sit there child, get out of that hole." And for good measure. "You look ridiculous." I stared straight up into the white speckled face of Dannsair.
"What are you doing here?" I held a hand to my forehead shielding my eyes against the early morning sun. Yesterday's fright coming back to mind, I jerked trying to see everywhere at once.
The horse was speaking again. "Come on out then, don't be shy, you certainly weren't anything of the sort yesterday."
I stretched slightly, aching all over. I groaned but pulled myself out of my uncomfortable hole, to face my I sat facing her, feet still dangling in the hole, only then did she continue.
"Are you alright then child?"
I stared. Was that actual concern on the contrary animals face? This was a twist.
The horse snorted in frustration. "Are you alright, Lucy?" She asked again, using my name this time, exasperated.
"I'm sorry," I started uncertainly. "Are you talking to me?" I had to be sure.
She seemed to prance in place. "Of course I am; do you see anyone else around?" The sarcasm now back in her voice.
I gave her a look. "Then I guess my next stupid question is why are you asking me that?" I said it with thinly veiled annoyance. Lack of food, sleep, and being chased by thieves did that to a being.
She flicked her tail at me. "Why, the men of course! After I'd asked if you were traveling with them, they asked me which way you'd gone." She stopped for air, and I stared in horror.
"What did you tell them? Where I was at?" This explained the attack.
She snorted. "I'm getting to that if you'll just be quiet for a moment.'
Me? Be quiet? I started to ask outraged. She seemed oblivious to my outrage though and continued merrily on.
"So I told them where you went and that if you were my girl, you wouldn't be running off like that, oh no, not without seeing my sharp side."
I waved my hands at her, gesturing to make her stop speaking, trying to get a word in edgewise.
"What are you waving at child?" She questioned irritated.
"I am not traveling with them!" I managed. It was all I could think of.
If she had been a person I was sure her hands would have been perched on her hips in an annoyed fashion. "You shouldn't lie, you know. It's quite rude, I should-" I cut her off again, glancing around warily. I really should be on my way.
"Really, I am not lying; I am not traveling with those..." I searched for the right word. "Ruffians."
She sniffed arrogantly. "Why should I believe you, young lady? If your rudeness and lack of manners is anything to go by, there is no reason why I should believe that you wouldn't belong with men such as that."
I didn't answer her right away and she took advantage of the pause.
"I have no reason to believe you, for all I know you are a runaway slave for those men." She really had my attention now. "I could call them back here, I'm sure they couldn't have gotten far yet." She sounded a little devilish.
I glared.
Now would be an excellent time to bring up my real identity as queen. But I suspected if I did, she wouldn't believe me. I had no proof.
I wrapped a dirty strand of hair around one finger, trying to come up with anything that would save me. I could always hit her with a really big stick and run. I shook my head biting my lip at the thought.
Dannsair tossed her elegantly shaped head impatiently. "Is that it then?" She turned. "I'll just call them back." Her body tensed a rumbling coming from deep in her broad chest.
I knew what was coming. An earsplitting neigh you would be able to hear from miles. I pushed to my feet, not thinking, diving for her.
She shied at my sudden movement. "What?" She squealed. I wrapped an arm around her muzzle, trying anything to keep her quiet.
"Please," I begged. "Be quiet." And then I remembered something that might keep her quiet if only for a moment.
The ring.
It was a longshot I suppose, but my only proof that I was Narnian. It was a symbol of our people but the ring had the look of royalty, which had perplexed me the most when Thomas had given it to me.
Amidst these thoughts I was being tossed like rag doll in the hands of an overeager toddler. I grimaced trying to keep my hold, but she swung her head around, having had enough of me, at the last second. Her head just glanced off my cheekbone, but it was more than enough, and I fell bodily into the ground, releasing her neck and muzzle.
I blinked finally understanding what seeing stars meant. Groaning I rolled over and reached to feel my face, wincing as my fingers just lightly brushed it.
"What was that for?" I moaned voicing my complaint. "I wasn't trying to hurt you!" Just trying to get you to be quiet!
She now stood over me with a look that I swear would have been a smirk on a human. I closed my eyes. When I opened them again she looked a little guilty.
"Come, child, quit feeling sorry for yourself and get up." She ordered me bossily.
I rolled onto my knees, angry. "Why don't you just leave me alone?" I exploded. "Forget you ever saw me and I'll be on my way, out of your sight forever!"
She took a small step back from my fury. "I just wanted you to tell the truth." She defended herself. "And you attacked me!" She accused.
"I was trying to keep you from calling a pack of ruffians down on us both! Killing us or worse! Do you think they would have left you alone after they'd gotten to me?" Angrily I tried to lower my voice I hissed. "And you wouldn't believe the truth if I told you!"
Not bothering to wait for her next scolding words I slid the ring off my finger. I slid it into her line of vision. "This is the only thing I have to convince you of who I really am. That I am of the Narnian people." Surely no one would carry the ring for no reason.
"Hold still girl, your hand is shaking." She scolded and I realized that it was indeed shaking with fury. I forced myself to take a deep breath to calm down.
I saw her gaze studiously at the ring in my open palm. She was only quiet for a moment before she said. "Come closer." I obliged, warily.
Dannsair studied it a bit longer, finally saying. "Where did you get this?" Now it was she who was wary.
I wasn't sure how to answer that. "I-" I thoughtfully hesitated. "A friend gave it to me." I figured that was as close to the truth as I was going to get.
"A friend?" She muttered.
"Yes, he gave it to me a few days ago, in fact," I bit the edge of my lip and gave his name too. "His name is Thomas." I still looked around every few moments or so, as to make sure we weren't being watched. As I looked back at Dannsair I watched her nearly black eyes as she debated with herself.
She snorted, striking the ground with a back hoof.
One more glance over my shoulder and I asked. "If it's all the same to you, I'd like to go somewhere more...covered." We were pretty much fully out in the open beside the river. An open target. And after last evening I was not taking any more chances.
She snorted again but followed me as I waded into brush almost as tall as I was. We entered the forest. I cringed a little at the thought of snakes that would most likely be crawling freely among the thick foliage.
"And this friend," Dannsair startled me out of snake infested thoughts. "Is he near here?"
Is England considered to be close to Narnia? "Not really." I murmured.
She moved faster now crushing the plants easily under her weight and coming back to my side. "And am I to believe that you were just wandering out here by yourself?"
Truthfully her question was reasonable. I had just appeared out of nowhere. What should I expect her to believe? I would've been suspicious too.
I stopped, looking at our surroundings of trees and thick bushes. "I am not even from around here." I started stating the obvious. I ignored her 'I guessed that look' and said. "I'm actually not even from this world." I swallowed, my mouth dry. I really should have gotten a sip of water from the river.
I knew I'd have to get some before long; I'd have no choice if I really was going to Calormen. This is where the provisions would've really helped...like say...a water flask. I thought grumpily.
I was just debating my water problem as I waited for Dannsair's response to my outrageous statement. Perhaps she'd still give me up to the men. I was just starting to regret my decision to tell the real truth when Dannsair said. "Where might you be from then?"
"Well," I muttered. "I am a Narnian but I don't live here, at least, not anymore. I live in a faraway place called England." I tried to make my words sound somewhat believable.
The horse seemed to take this all in stride. "I've never heard of the place."
I nodded thinking it would've been strange if she had.
"And tell me child," She continued. "How do you expect me to believe exactly how you got here?"
I grimaced. Too late now. "My brother and I were out in a storm a few nights ago, where we're from-" I tried to explain but I knew I wasn't really making a lot of sense to her.
"Is this a long story?" She interrupted, her ever present impatience showing clearly.
I went on, ignoring her. "We were running from..." I halted remembering that I really had no idea just who they'd been, even less of a clue than as to who the previous night's men were.
I had entirely too many questions and no answers.
"From what?" She raised a horsey eyebrow.
I rushed on. "I really don't know but we were being chased and during this huge storm I sort of...just ended up here." I shrugged hurrying to the result rather than linger on the details of how it had come to be. It was too long and too crazy of a story. And I didn't trust the horse that well yet.
She seemed to contemplate my story. I walked on trying to stay near the river, following the outer edge of the forest. I blinked, glancing back when I heard the murmur of Dannsair's voice.
I almost asked her what she'd said but I realized she was muttering to herself, staring unseeingly into the forest. I could just make out snatches every now and then.
"Strange-"... "Little girl-"..."girl, brother, rain" But it was the last two that really caught my attention.
"Deep Magic." I stopped abruptly when I heard those two in particular.
"What?" I asked before I thought of myself.
Dannsair's head swiveled back around and her dark eyes looked dangerous when they connected with my blue ones. "What is it dear?" She sounded annoyed at having been interrupted out of her thoughts.
I nearly dropped the question but something made me say. "I heard you say Deep Magic."
She looked incredulously at me for a moment. So long I felt uncomfortable under the critical look in her eyes, like I was crazy for even asking that question. And maybe I was.
I turned away. I really could use that drink of water. I pushed brush aside with a raw hand, making a new path back to the river. And ever waiting for Dannsair's responses to my nothing-less-than-crazy questions and statements.
I hadn't wandered very far from the river so it didn't take me long at all to make it back into the open. I paused before stepping out of the cover of trees, listening and scanning the surrounding area to make sure we were still alone.
We were.
For the moment anyway.
I precariously made my way down the bank, half sliding, half falling down it, continuously watching my surroundings for the presence of unwanted visitors.
I knelt on one knee cupping a palm into the deliciously cool water, bringing it to my parched lips when Dannsair answered my question with one of her own.
"What do you know of the Deep Magic?"
I waited, not answering her right away, thinking of one of the last times I'd heard those words.
Our first trip to Narnia seemed thousands of years ago but the memory of Aslan sacrificing himself on the stone table for Ed was still so clear it still took my breath in awe.
Aslan had spoken of a magic deeper than anybody knew that night.
The painful memory of watching the Great Lion be killed before our very eyes made my eyes bleary in remembrance. Susan had been by my side that night.
I learned a lot that day, and left a lot behind. I thought, almost wistfully.
Coming back to the present I drank deeply of the fresh water, having my fill before answering Dannsair's question. I couldn't help a small secret smile as I said. "Aslan once spoke of it." I waited, not turning to gauge her reaction.
But when she did speak she surprised me greatly with. "You are not who you say you are, Lucy, you have a great many secrets, I think."
"Not so many as you'd think Dannsair." I replied in kind.
She stood watching me for a moment. "Then who are you really, Lucy?" I smiled halfheartedly. I'd come this far already why not tell who I really was?
"My name is Lucy," I said quietly. "Lucy Pevensie. And the reason I was at Cair Paravel is I wanted to see my old home again." That, at least was partially true, I had wanted to see my old home. I just hadn't really had a choice in the matter.
"And you have a sense of humor too, I see." She said, so easily disbelieving.
"I am not joking." I whispered standing and starting back to the cover of trees. She followed not wanting to leave my statement unaddressed.
"Child, stop!" She ordered, slowing my headlong dash back into the forest.
"If I am not to be mistaken, you wish me to believe that you are..." She hesitated with the truth. "Queen Lucy the Valiant? The Warrior Queen of Narnia?" She said the last part fast so as to get the insane over with.
I sighed with some apprehension. "I do not wish for you to believe. I am just trying to speak the truth, as you wished."
"Alright then, Lucy Pevensie," It sounded dangerously close to a mockery in her mouth. "Where is it you wish to go?"
I turned, shocked. "You believe so easily now?" Surely not.
She considered this. "Perhaps I do. Perhaps I do not. Maybe it seems more believable because you are too well spoken to be a slave. And yet your clothing would suggest..." She let the sentence dangle between us and I thought it was all she would say on the matter but she spoke again.
"But if you truly are Queen Lucy, I must say you look nothing like the paintings I've seen of you."
This seemed so completely different than what I'd expected to come out of her mouth that I nearly burst out laughing. Instead a smile swept across my features and I said.
"I never thought so either."
~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~
So with my new found, not-quite-believing-but-not-quite-disbelieving, self-appointed companion I was now well on my way to my planned destination, Calormen.
And something I learned relatively quickly was that Dannsair liked to talk. She chattered endlessly, which I was beginning to think would kill me long before we ever reached Calormen.
But she kept me company, which I appreciated so I did not complain, at least not outwardly.
After hours of her talking I finally asked a few questions of my own, my usual curiosity coming over me. "Will your family not miss you?" I asked this thinking of the fuss she'd made about Cair Paravel's beach.
She answered pleasantly, switching subjects smoothly. "Oh they will not even notice I'm gone." This seemed sad to me, that the horse's family wouldn't miss her. I looked back at her.
"You can go back, if you want," I offered. "I know the way to Calormen." I think.
Dannsair snorted and started muttering about the foolishness of young girls saying. "What would everyone think of me if I let Narnia's Queen wander through the Great Woods by herself?" I rolled my eyes. She was enjoying this rather too much, taking the roll of my guardian.
She had accepted my being Queen, or partially accepted it, so easily that it still made me wary of her. Something about Thomas's ring made her believe I was telling the truth. I thought uneasily. The look in her eyes when she'd seen it convinced me of that.
This made me wish Thomas was actually here so I could ask him where he'd gotten it, and what the third symbol meant.
But he wasn't, and I really needed to get to Calormen. So onward we went, the first day passing more quickly than I would've dared hoped. We stopped only to get water and if I saw some wild fruit, berries that I knew I could eat.
And of course whenever Dannsair saw the 'absolute greenest patch of grass she ever saw' and just had to stop and graze for a moment.
So the second day dawned regardless of my complaints. My stomach growling painfully and my body aching, unsurprisingly. The night had been cold but I'd been too tired to care. The sunlight was just now starting to trickle between dense tree limbs and casting shadows all over the green landscape surrounding me.
I closed my eyes back preparing for another quick nap before we moved on. I had barely settled back into a comfortable, or as comfortable as you can possibly be on hard ground, position, when Dannsair's bright, chipper voice jerked me unpleasantly out of my sleepy daze.
"Come on Lucy! We must be on our way if we're to make it to Calormen by nightfall!"
I cracked an eye back open, groaning. "Just give me a moment." And I thought that she had given up until a warm, soft muzzle got shoved into my side, roughly.
"Upsy daisy!" She chirped. "It's nearly past dawn!"
Past dawn? Dawn? I screeched inwardly and my stomach gave an unrelenting growl to back up my bad mood. I propped myself up with one bruised, aching arm and with the other shoving her nosy muzzle away. "Nobody should be up this early!" I argued.
I forced aching limbs to support my weight and took a deep breath, stretching. Quit thinking about all the different ways you hurt and walk on! You get to see Caspian soon! I told myself.
I glanced sideways at my overeager companion, seeing her expectant look brought to mind a phrase I'd heard Mum use once. Bright eyed and bushy tailed.
She looked bright eyed and bushy tailed. The very opposite of how I felt.
I stepped only feet away to the stream we'd discovered last night. I knelt, splashing some on my dirty face. It was then that I heard movement among the trees.
I jerked from my position by the stream, eyes darting to the place the noise had come from. "Dannsair?" I questioned, not seeing her anywhere.
My stomach twisted when I got no reply but I guess that could have been from the lack of food therein. It's nothing. Probably just an animal. I made myself think.
I eased back, my eyes looking briefly to the ground for a large stick. More rustling made me jump and look back to the spot.
I still saw nothing.
"Dannsair? Where are you?" I demanded, raising my voice, trying to keep it from shaking and betraying my fear.
I heard a deep chuckle from a bush to my left, making the hair on my neck rise in terror.
Oh Aslan. My face, I'm sure was pale as I reached for the nearest limb I could see, which wasn't nearly as big as I would have liked. A man. I thought terrified. The man that I had run into. Literally.
My breathing quickened as I prepared to run.
"Don't be gettin' any ideas there missy." He said stumbling into the small clear area Dannsair and I had found to sleep last night.
I took a step back simultaneously, clutching my stick harder. I swung it in front of me trying to fake a bravado I did not feel. Where is the Warrior Queen when I need her? I spat at myself. "Do not come any closer, or you will regret it." I growled at the man.
He brushed a large hand over an unshaven face, chuckling at my words again.
Dannsair where are you?
He spoke. "No need for that, I'll not be takin' ye anywhere t'day."
I stared at him like he was just a bit insane, and I'm pretty sure he might've been. Or pretty close to it.
"Why are you following me?" I asked my mouth so dry I could hardly form the words.
"Just followin' orders." He laughed manically again, stepping closer. He reached into a worn, filthy, shirt.
I jumped backwards, throwing my stick forward in a defensive stance, tensing, waiting for him to draw a weapon.
But he didn't, he slowly pulled his hand back out, not producing anything dangerous at all. Just a piece of paper. And then he held it out to me, large hand open.
I hesitated, confused. "What is that?"
"I was jus' told to deliver it girl. Take it!" He lurched drunkenly at me.
I recoiled from him. "Who is it from?" I clarified.
Part of me was wishing it was from Caspian, but if this was his idea of a welcome, I'd personally take him back aboard the Dawn Treader just so I could toss him over the side.
"Come now, take the letter!" The burly man ordered me. And sensing my obvious indecision. "Don't worry yer pretty little head; I've orders not to hurt ye." He laughed. "At least not today."
I cringed in disgust, caught up in trying to decide if I should take the blasted letter or not. My curiosity was going to be the death of me.
I didn't hear the hoof beats until it was too late. The horrible man swinging around in unison with me and I bit my tongue on a shriek.
The man dodged trying to avoid the crazy horse bearing down on him, showing no signs of stopping.
I stood, frozen, waiting to hear the sound of horseflesh on human.
It never came and I swiveled my head in time to see Dannsair swerve at the very last second, swinging her large golden head in an arc that looked surprisingly graceful despite its sweeping the offending man off his feet, flat of his back.
Did I really get hit by that yesterday? Was the thought that went through my head, my stance being broken by the golden horse yelling. "Get a move on child! Are you going to wait for him to get back up?"
I bid my unsteady feet to run towards her, but changed directions, running to the fallen man instead, or more specifically, to the letter that lay only feet from him. I heard Dannsair protest, I ignored her snatching the letter in one fluid motion, not breaking stride.
But I came too close. The man, who had lain still up until now, suddenly lunged at me.
My eyes widened and my mouth opened, but nothing came out as the man's large, hairy hand wrapped itself around my bare ankle.
I bounced away on one foot trying to pull it from his grip, falling back as he wouldn't release me.
"Let go!" I finally managed to squeak out.
He just laughed. A sudden burst of anger hit me and I kicked viciously with my free foot, not pausing to revel in it connecting painfully with its target. I heard his curse as it did.
His grip loosened and I wrenched my ankle away, Dannsair now standing over him with a dangerous look about her as I crawled away, now clutching the letter.
I stood trying not to give into my trembling legs. "Lucy, come on already!" Dannsair screeched at me again. I bounded to her side having no trouble following that order now. I grasped a handful of cream colored mane to haul myself aboard; she huffed beneath me and for the third time in two days swung her head around, bumping and nudging me onto her back.
I welcomed her help and was on her back in moments. I gripped her hard with my knees and held handfuls of mane in both hands, preparing for her sudden take off.
I felt the elegant, pale body clench for the lunge she was about to make.
Something made me look back, though.
The man, now on his knees, was looking at me, our eyes met for a brief second and as if I'd been standing right by him I heard his words clearly. "It's not time, when she's ready, there'll be no stopping 'er."
I gasped as I slid backwards, almost falling from Dannsair's back, despite my preparation. I ran my hands deeper into her silky mane to steady myself.
And we ran. All the while I heard the man's last words pounding through my head like a death sentence.
~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~
The steady, DA-DUMP-DA-DUMP-DA-DUMP of Dannsair's hooves lulled me into a stupor as I tried not to think about the man's words.
So far it wasn't working.
Those moments played in my head as the miles fell away as we drew ever nearer to Calormen.
What had he meant? Who was she? And why would there be no stopping her?
These were my main questions, a few thousand more following suit dancing through my head as I swayed in time with Dannsair's gait.
After a while I tired of the many questions I couldn't answer and tried to force them out of the way for now by talking. Dannsair's path had never wavered once so I asked. "Do you even know where we're at?"
She twisted her head at my words so she could look at me, slowing only a little. "I know every inch of this wood, young lady." She exclaimed showing no signs of doubt in her ability.
I might have believed her too had I now known we were in the Great Woods of Narnia. No one knew every single part of it, it was impossible. The woods were constantly changing with their magic.
So I gazed warily at our surrounding trying to figure out if I had seen that tree a few hours ago. It seemed very familiar.
It was the Great Woods, like a maze, confounding even those who lived near or in its leafy clutches. Needless to say it had long changed since I'd been here.
I sighed, no need to argue with her. "How far do you think we are from Calormen?"
Dannsair bobbed into a trot, making me bounce painfully on her bare back. "Hey!" I protested. "There's no need for that!"
I swear she was smirking as she said. "You ask too many questions."
"I do-" She interrupted my denial with. "We should be there after nightfall or at the latest by early morning."
I turned my eyed heavenward, noting the already deep darkness that had settled in the Woods, the sun not breaking through anywhere. "It is nightfall." I stated.
"Perhaps in here, but out there it's probably not yet past supper." She said leaving me no room to argue.
I sighed again. And this time it was followed closely by a huff from the animal beneath me. Silence stretched between us for long moments.
I couldn't take it anymore. "Why is it I walked all yesterday and you could have carried me?" I muttered in annoyance more to break the silence than to just complain.
"Are you so vain you can't carry your own weight now?" Dannsair chided me lightly.
"Of course that's not what I meant at all!" I grumbled. "It would have been quicker and you would have been rid of me sooner."
She laughed at my sour expression. "My you are a contrary thing."
This is how we carried on for the next few hours, drawing steadily closer to Calormen.
And Caspian. Is it strange that just the thought of seeing him again was enough to make it hard for me to breathe? I was just so close to seeing him again, I could feel it.
My thoughts stopped dead in their tracks. Was I to see him the very first time again in a torn nightgown scarcely covered by my brother's too large tunic? Covered in dirt, hair tangled and ratty? I grimaced at how I pictured myself. I try not to be vain about my looks but I don't think anyone would refuse me a bath or clean clothes at this point.
Question was where could I get either one before I saw him?
My head slowly started to drop as night came on, Dannsair's rocking steps lulling me into a light doze I slipped forward on her neck, smiling at memories of Caspian and good times to come.
I don't know how long I slept like that but I shot up when Dannsair asked rather loudly. "What are you thinking?" She stopped abruptly when I slipped right off her back dropping heavily into the dirt.
"You did that on purpose." I rubbed my head which had bumped against the unrelentingly hard ground.
"Nonsense I was just asking you a question." But there was laughter in her tone.
I stood back up wearily, brushing at my clothes. "And how far are we now?"
"Not much farther at all." The way she said it made me glance up at her. I opened my mouth to ask her about it, but she spoke stopping what I'd been about to say. "Look ahead."
I swung around looking at the land around us for the first time since I'd been awakened. I brushed hair out of my eyes. Surely I was seeing things? My mouth hung open. Down the hill a ways, barely a mile, I guessed, outlined against a bright sun shining on a new day, was the bustling seaside town of Calormen.
I could see lights already moving as people started their day and just a bit farther the shape of a structure rose higher than the others. A castle, I whispered inwardly. A home for their King if he so chose to visit his people.
A grin worked its way to my lips and I laughed. I had made it. Caspian would be here. Everything else faded away, my aching muscles, my hunger, all I felt was elation.
I grinned at my horsey companion who was looking at me with a questioning look wondering if I had lost it. "Come on!" I choked on my laughter.
I didn't wait to see if she followed, I started for the final stretch of road that separated me from everything and everyone I'd desired to see again.
I- We had made it to Calormen.
The weariness of the last few days just dissipated thinking of seeing Caspian again.
And, of course, everyone else too.
I didn't even realize I'd stopped in my daydreams of seeing everyone again until Dannsair brought me straight back to the present, nudging me in the back. "Where are we going child?" Dannsair eyed me in question.
I slid my eyes to her, tearing them away from the castle giving her a look. "To find King Caspian, like I told you before."
"Dannsair looked on steadily. "You were serious about that?"
I stopped again, this time to raise my hands in an 'I give up' gesture. Dannsair seemed to think this funny as she burst into laughter.
And if you've never really heard a horse laugh then you truly cannot imagine this. It's a deep, chest rumbling, very amused whinny which turns into a high pitched neigh if they are really amused.
And she was. Her neigh high with her mirth.
I crossed my arms scowling. "You think I am trying to be funny?" But the corners of my mouth twitched in amusement. It was impossible for me to be angry when seeing Caspian again was just steps away.
Steps I should be taking right now. I grinned inwardly. "Oh just be quiet and come on!" I gave up trying to stop her headed down the hill. Dannsair, mistaking my sudden rush for anger she sped down after me calling. "Get back on."
I grinned again and obliged saying. "Let's see just how fast you can run!"
I had scarcely gotten it out of my mouth and steadied myself on her back when she bolted forward into a dead run. I bounced erratically before settling best I could into her stride. Once again I was reminded of exactly how I'd spent the last few days. But, I thought. It'll be worth it to see everyone again.
I leaned over Dannsair's silky neck, closing my eyes to feel the warm oceans breeze on my face, letting it catch my brother's cloke, flapping it crazily in the wind like a flag.
Her mane whipped my face painfully but I did nothing to slow her.
Now that my destination was in sight I couldn't think of anything but getting there as soon as possible. I didn't want to think of anything else.
I knew it would hit me later on and I would be dead tired but all I was feeling at the moment was exhilaration. It was amazing. One of the best feelings in the world.
I felt Dannsair slow as she leveled out on the road, breaking completely out of the woods, leading into town. I pulled myself back into a seated position, letting my legs dangle loosely at her sides.
The gates of Calormen loomed high above us, open and surprisingly welcoming. Calormen's people are not always so welcoming to visitors passing through.
"Easy Dannsair." I murmured quietly.
She slowed. "Why are we stopping now? We've almost made it to the gate! You aren't chickening out now, are you?"
I bit my lip wanting to say, not hardly. That I wouldn't pass this up for anything. I slid off her golden back, instead gesturing at myself with one hand. "Look at me."
She did. Disdainfully. "You didn't smudge yourself on my back did you?"
I rolled my eyes at her expression. "My point is, if I go riding into town on you, looking as I do, somebody might decide to come to the conclusion I stole you." It really wasn't that big a deal I was mainly stalling.
She snorted at my explanation, not believing a word of it. "Oh, come now, I have an opinion of my own and I refuse to let anyone draw and quarter you without my consent. Now get back to walking young lady!"
"How comforting." I muttered lightly, her chiding calming me some. I moved on to the gate without further urging. Crossing into sight of the townspeople.
We walked through the gate easily, and no one stopped us. Dannsair was quick to point out.
I still felt nervous so I rested a hand on her withers as we walked, to steady myself.
But as we entered the town I immediately felt the curious and wary stares of some of the townspeople following the slight girl with her magnificent horse. I stiffened.
"Ignore them." Dannsair startled me out of my observations. And I did as she suggested, turning my gaze from the staring people and settling on the castle that rivaled Cair Paravel in size but not in beauty. But the view inside will be much better. I laughed inwardly at the notion.
I pulled my eyes away from the castle after just moments, to study the town. I took a breath, breathing in the many smells of the market. Of cooking. The laughter and shouts of too many people in one place at once.
I spotted girls about my age with young handsome lads as they teased them just to make them smile. I would have watched the exchange longer but Dannsair was pulling ahead of me now, leaving me behind, and I hurried after her.
We were fast nearing the castle and I was even faster becoming nervous with excitement.
I spoke for the first time since entering town. "Come on Dannsair." I urged, tired of the slow pace of walking among the townspeople. I broke into an unladylike run, bare feet pounding lightly on the smoothly hardened dirt road.
I swerved around a corner darting aside before I took out someone's food cart. Someone shouted after me, probably the owner. I would've apologized but I was in too much of a hurry now. I vaguely heard Dannsair puffing in protest as she tried not to run anyone over and still catch up to me.
I dashed wildly through one of the busiest parts of town, dangerously sliding in and out of the way of people and horse drawn carts.
But there was no slowing me now.
I darted down another road that looked as if it would take me closer to the castle. I slowed only a bit when I saw I'd made it to the wharf, there were even more people than there'd in the market as fishermen called out prices of the days catch and townspeople bargained for fisher's wives homemade jewelry and other odds and ends. And then there was the ships lined up to unload their precious cargos of silk, food, and other more extravagant things.
I came to a complete stop looking at a particularly large group of people bunched together, crowding to stand at the edge of the extraordinarily blue water.
I tilted my head in observation. They weren't buying, just talking and laughing with each other, glancing frequently out to sea. They seemed to be waiting for something.
For what? I wondered silently, I glanced briefly behind me for my golden companion but saw her nowhere. I jerked back to attention of the crowd of people as they gave a great shout.
It was hard not to get excited, even if I did not know what they were so enthusiastic about. Everyone gathered like that, shouting, teasing, and laughing with one another. Nobody caring who they were talking to just so long as everyone was enjoying themselves.
I would have turned then to continue on as originally planned but the people of Calormen's enthusiastic shouts were too much for my curiosity. Were they expecting someone?
Another round of cheers began as soon as someone else quieted. I drew closer.
No one seemed to notice or care that one more child was among them as I slid between them making my way through the knot of people to the water's edge. I reached intent on asking a burly sailor near me just what everyone was waiting for and froze mid-reach. My eyes sliding along the horizon, to a ship gliding smoothly over waves as a brisk wind carried it to shore.
Not a ship. I breathed excitedly. The ship. The Dawn Treader.
Slowly a grin eased over my face as it came ever closer, slicing through the waves effortlessly.
Everyone in the crowd shifted forward, I leaned with them. Was it possible their King was aboard this ship to return this very day? It seemed too great a thought for it to be true.
I looked harder, straining my eyes across the deck of the ship I knew so well from my last trip to Narnia. Men were darting everywhere getting ready dock. My eyes were searching for a certain man though.
A glimpse of the handsome, cocky, young King. I blinked catching sight of a man standing slightly aft of the gorgeously carved figurehead. From here I made out he was holding a rope in one hand as he stood precariously balancing on the ships railing.
But I couldn't see his face.
I squinted into the early morning sunshine.
The instant I realized that the man was, indeed, Caspian, was the same moment he swung out from the ship, seeming to float in midair... before he let go of the rope.
I gasped on a shriek as his body arced into a dive, looking a lot like when he'd dove over the side to pull me out of the water onto the deck of the Dawn Treader.
My breath whooshed out as he surfaced only a few hundred feet out. I laughed with the townspeople in relief.
Other men now flew overboard following their King to the open arms of their people.
Caspian was a fast swimmer, cutting through the foamy water, coming to land. I tracked his movement along with everyone else.
I didn't realize I had stepped into the water until it picked my tunic up swirling it around my bare legs. Other people drifted in after me, women gathered closer. From the corner of my eyes I could see girls of my age holding dry clothing, and warm blankets in their arms even with the now hot sun scorching us overhead, waiting for their King.
A brief wave of jealousy swirled in my being and I forced it down. They are just being kind.
By now when I looked back to the water, a soaking wet Caspian had appeared in knee deep water.
I stood completely still, letting the people and water flood around me. I just watched as he made his way to the beach and to his people's open arms.
The white cotton shirt that was common among sailors made him look even more handsome and kingly. It clung to his body, to the hard earned muscles of a man who worked alongside his people despite being a king.
I stepped back out of the water, suddenly being assaulted by a wave of doubt. What if he wasn't glad to see me? I was here by myself for the first time. For the first time I thought about that. I was alone here.
No brothers to watch my every move and no sister to tell me I shouldn't have said nor did something.
It was as scary as it was exhilarating. I pulled out of the frozen stance, trying to fall out of the way so he wouldn't see me quite yet.
Part of me didn't want to know what he would think of me now, and part of me just wanted to stay back and watch him a few moments longer.
To take in his graceful stride, his easy grin that would melt every girls heart. I didn't want to be one of those girls. Maybe that was the real reason I stayed back away from him.
My heart was rampaging in my chest and made me wish for Dannsair or one of my brothers to latch onto to steady myself.
But I didn't have them, so I fell back some more but for some reason I could not make myself turn around and walk away.
That very second when the shouts of the people escalated so loud it reverberated in my chest, a piercing neigh that was just as high called out above the people.
I winced. "Lucy! Lucy where are you?" I cringed, waiting for the whole crowd to turn and reveal my presence to their King, but out of the hundreds of people only one pair of eyes bothered to turn my way, they were a deep brown that I knew, if the sun caught just right, would shine with flecks of gold.
His gaze flew over the crowd taking only seconds to spot me even when I ducked. A moment passed and our eyes met for the first time and once again I felt like I couldn't breathe.
I bit down hard on my lip, but didn't look away. Couldn't look away.
I couldn't read his expression from where I stood. For a moment I wondered if he even recognized me. His eyes slowly slid away from me.
I was still biting my lip as I bounded backwards shoving past people, feeling way too many emotions to even begin to decipher what any of them were.
I didn't know where to go. I didn't really care either, just to get away from that crowd of people so I wouldn't look like a complete fool in front of everyone over a King who had no idea of the true affection I felt for him. I settled for just getting away from the dock for now.
I spotted Dannsair watching the crowd, watching for me. I debated running to her, she had been the closest thing to a friend since I'd gotten here. But no, I wanted to have a second to breathe and calm my raging heart.
I broke into a run, shoving past the few people who had stayed back to watch from a distance. The deep, rich voice I had heard often in my dreams, spoke hesitantly behind me, stopping me.
"Lucy?" His voice saying my name made my stomach flip with butterflies. A masculine hand landed on my arm. I let the hand turn me around gently to face him.
I tilted my head back so I could meet his eyes. "Caspian." I whispered his name, the word probably lost to his ears with the noise from the crowd, though noticeably quieter now, watching our exchange closely.
I made myself look away mostly because I knew if I looked much longer I'd never be able to look away or hide my feelings for him.
By now the crowd had had enough of their King talking or rather staring in...Amazement? At a girl who looked so below him it was a miracle in their eyes that he had even noticed her. Their jeers assaulting my ears.
Caspian had none of it. He gestured to the crowd telling them to be quiet. They did. His voice was calm as he said. "Do you not know who this young lady is?" His voice commanded their attention, demanding for them to look beyond the scruffy girl who stood beside their King to the queen underneath.
There was now complete and utter silence. I felt the eyes of hundreds, maybe thousands that had been on Caspian just seconds before, shift to me. I heard taunts from everywhere.
"Your maid?" One man spoke boldly. I sought him out in the crowd; it was the burly sailor I was going to talk to earlier. I glared distastefully.
I made a sound of protest at whatever Caspian would say next. He ignored me, grasping my small hand in his larger, rougher one. "Why have you not welcomed Her Majesty Queen Lucy of the Golden Age?"
I was greatly mistaken when I said there was silence before. Now it really was silent. You could have heard a pin drop. Everyone continued staring at me like this was some joke, and they weren't at all laughing at it. I glanced down to look at myself through their eyes, knowing I looked more like a street urchin than a queen, let alone the queen who'd earned the title Valiant Warrior Queen.
A whisper ran through the crowd as they murmured among themselves. I raised my head to defiantly stare at them straight on.
Laughter came from some, disbelieving shouts from others, but the one that stood out the most was a rough, small, voice that was very familiar and most welcoming to my ears.
"Long live Queen Lucy! We are honored to have you among us again!" Trumpkin. I bit my lip on a smile. Slowly everyone followed suit singing. "Long live Queen Lucy!" Caspian squeezed my hand gently and I looked up at him smiling.
The people praised their Queen, the Queen who had been absent from this land and its people for far too long.
Praising me.
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