I received funny looks when I jumped up and yelled "That's it!" in the middle of my friend's study hall. What was it, you ask? Why, a part of the story that was being blocked by my brain became suddenly unblocked!
But, it's not that part just yet…..
On with the story-
Jonathan seemed to be completely unaware of the fact he made me blush further. The young boy chatted idle, and to be honest, I really had no idea what he was talking about. His hand was small and fit strangely well in mine- it left me with a strange pang in my chest. A distant echo of…longing. Motherly longing…
My mind zoned out further to a conversation that Susan and I had had the last time I saw her. It had been a Christmas or two ago, I couldn't really recall. My parents brought Peter and Susan to visit Edmund and I at our aunts. It must have been two Christmas's ago, I could vaguely recall Eustace being rather horrible to Peter- behind his back, of course.
Susan had dragged me off to my borrowed bedroom for a "sisterly chat".
"Come on Lucy, I know there's a boy…" Susan prodded me in the ribcage.
"There's not a boy Su!" I insisted for the fifth time since see had pulled me into my room for our pleasant chat. I truly loved my sister, but sometimes she was far to girly for my taste.
"Well, I'm sure it won't be long Lu." Susan said, patting my head sweetly. It would have been a kind gesture, except the pity in her voice put a subtle poison in her sweet words. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes at her, instead settling for "Why does it matter so much Su? I'm only 15."
"I know Lucy, but soon- the longing will set in." She said knowledgeably. I gave her a sideways glance, the question evident in my eyes. She replied with a small, almost smug smile.
"What longing Susan?" I asked slightly cross with her, "I doubt I will lose my head and start longing after boys." I wanted to add, like you did, but I held my tongue.
"It's not a longing for boys," Susan started, patting my hair again. "It is a longing for children, for a family."
I sputtered slightly, "Susan I'm 15!"
"Yes, but you can not hold off motherly longing forever."
I felt Jonathan's hand squeeze my hand, bringing me out of my head. I turned to look at him guiltily, wondering if I had hurt his feelings by slipping into my own world. He didn't seem to have noticed- he merely seemed to have wanted to squeeze my hand. I couldn't help but give a little squeeze in return. Jonathan smiled at my small show of affection and his face held a little blush. He began to chatter again, but I was distracted once again by my thoughts. I understand now, exactly, what motherly longing feels like.
I soon recognized some of the passageways from when my siblings and I ruled. It was almost a dream within a dream. Familiar, yet so different- the structure its self the same, but yet- I knew it wasn't.
If I had been paying better attention to something other than the foreign longing inside of me, it might not have taken me a half-hour to realize we still weren't at my room.
"Jonathan?" I looked down at him curiously, "I thought we were going to my room." The little boy flushed and pulled his hand from mine.
"We were going to your room, but- you…like to talking to you. I thought we'd take the longer way." He stuttered out. I smiled at his shy sweetness, and grabbed his hand again.
"That's alright Jonathan, I like talking to you as well." I gave his hand a gentle squeeze and he smiled up at me with a sheepish grin. "But maybe you should take me to my room now." I nudged him playfully with our entwined hands.
He bobbed his blonde curls and then turned us all the way around down a hall towards what I believe was the west wing of the castle. I smiled, remembering that it where my siblings and I had our rooms as well. "King Casthpian told the maids to prepare your old room for you." He admitted shyly. I bit my lip down on a giggle. The lisp that he had was more pronounced when he said Caspian's name- and frankly it was rather adorable.
"How much do you know about the reconstruction of the castle Jonathan?" I questioned him, an idea coming to my mind.
"Not that much your highness," he said shyly, almost embarrassed, "Only that King Casthpian had it rebuilt to be as close as it could be to the old one." I smiled, hoping that would be enough to go on. I wanted to give Jonathan a little bit a fun.
"I have an idea Jonathan." I said with a spark in my eye, a smile lighting my face. He looked up at me with questioning as I turned us down a small hallway. I stopped in front of a door. "This is a study correct?" I asked him. Jonathan nodded, a look of puzzled wonderment on his face.
I knocked just to see if anyone was in there and jumped slightly from the door when I heard an accented voice call out "Come in." I shook my head clear and opened the door, towing Jonathan in with me.
Caspian was looking at something on his desk, Andrew leaning over his shoulder. Andrew glanced up first when no one spoke, and I could see the surprise in his eyes. "Queen Lucy?" He asked, unsure of why I was here… with Jonathan… and still filthy. Caspian looked up at Andrew quickly, but then snapped his attention on me.
"Lu?" He asked, also confused but with concern lacing his voice, "What's going on? Are you alright?" He stood to move over to me. I couldn't help but laugh a little bit.
"I'm fine Caspian. Although I do have a question." I glanced over his shoulder at Andrew, "If I am not interrupting." I amended quickly, not wishing to step on any toes. Andrew gave me an appraising look, as if surprised that I was asking his permission to interrupt.
"Not at all Queen Lucy." Andrew said, and then Caspian quickly asked, "What is it?"
"How close did you build the castle to the original?" He crinkled his brow slightly, but answered anyway. "Almost exactly the same." I smiled down at Jonathan, "Let's have some fun." I said, pretending to whisper.
Caspian looked a little surprised, noticing the small boy for the first time. "Jonathan? I thought you were showing Queen Lucy to her room." He said with a slight disapproving tone.
"I-" The young boy looked guilty.
"I told him I had a more adventurous way to get to my room, assuming it is still in the same place." I said, covering for the sweet child. A very maternal instinct, I could almost hear Su's voice.
"Yes it is." Caspian answered with a small smile, "However, I myself am unaware of a more adventurous way to get there." I laughed a little, trying to hide it as a cough. "What that why you came to the study Lu? To ask if the castle was the same?"
"I actually didn't know you were going to be in here." I admitted, "This is the more adventurous way." I smiled secretively. Caspian shot me a confused look, but I merely towed Jonathan towards the fire mantle. "Let's hope this still works." I nudged Jonathan playfully.
Caspian and Andrew stared at me in a transparent disbelief and confusion, while Jonathan stared in wonder. I slid my hand across the mantle until I found small bump on it. I smiled, hoping it still worked. I slid just behind it and pressed down.
Caspian's and Andrew's looks turned to shock as part of the wall slid away to behind the fire, leaving an opening to a dimly lit tunnel. Jonathan's smile grew much wider in delight. I merely sent a sly smile back at Caspian, who shook off his surprise and smiled back, shaking his head slightly in amused disbelief. I could tell from the flicker in his eyes, that part of him wanted to join us as we scurried down the hidden passageway to my room.
Good to see he hasn't changed too much…I thought as I heard the passageway seal shut behind us.
When we came out the other end of the tunnel, we were where I had hoped we'd be. The tunnel connected two of the six study rooms, war rooms and the library. I smiled as I recalled spying on my brother's counsels that I was not allowed to attend. That had rarely happened, and when it did, it was almost always because Peter was having a "discussion" with on of Susan's or mine's suitors.
I had barely had any suitors, they had mostly come for Susan. I, to this very day, tell myself that if because I was sixteen and just had my coming out a mere few weeks before we hunted the White Stag.
It doesn't matter that they had been calling on her since she was 15…
Jonathan's gasp pulled me from my thoughts, and I saw the little boy emerge from the tunnel behind me. His eyes held the wonder of a young child on Christmas morning.
"How did you know this would be here Queen Lucy?" He asked, looking about the room in both shock and joy.
"I knew all of the tunnels very well when I lived here." I smiled down at him, "I used to use them everyday- either while I was sneaking around with Edmund or just trying to get somewhere faster."
"Do you think they are all still here?" He asked, his eyes widening at the thought of secret passageways twisting behind the ordinary walls of the castle.
"I don't know," I said considering it. Then I smiled down at the boy, "Sometime, we'll have to go looking for them."
His face lit up with joy and a grin split open from ear to ear. "You want me to help you?"
"Of course I do Jonathan." I said, brushing a stray hair from his face. He blushed again, but made no objection to my small moves of affection. He even leaned into my hand, every so slightly. I let my hand drop and took his hand in mine again. I had loved the time that I had spent with the child, but I really did need a bath.
We stepped out of the study and into the hallway. The sun was barely visible setting over the horizon, letting me know it had taken Jonathan and I a while to actually get to my room. I hoped that I could at least have enough time to clean myself up before dinner.
I let Jonathan led me left, even though I knew where we were. He stopped in front of the third door we past. "This is your room Queen Lucy." He pointed at the door. Then he pointed down the door while counting under his breath. He stopped on the when he reached five to the right on the opposite side of the hallway. "That is King Casthpian's room and…" He counted three more to the right "and that is Lord Andrew's room when he stays here."
So Andrew was a Lord. Well that made sense; he seemed to always be around Caspian, appearing to help him with something. "Where is your room Jonathan?" I asked. I wasn't lying when I said I wanted him to find the tunnels with me.
"I live down in the servants quarters with the other pages and servants." He admitted, looking at his feet. "It's just one floor down and it's the…" he got a thoughtful look and was counting in his head again "Fourth door to the left of the stairs." He smiled, looking proud he remembered.
I nodded, quickly committing all the rooms to memory. My door opened and revealed a thirty or so year old woman. She peered out and smiled when she saw Jonathan and me. "I thought I heard voice." She came out of the room and strode to greet us.
"Your Majesty, my name is Martha. I am your lady's maid." She smiled at me and then looked down at Jonathan. "Jonathan, what took you so long?"
"I…um..." He studdered out, slowly flushing red.
"It's my fault really." I cut in, the motherly instinct in me telling me to cover for the small boy. I patted his head again, "I asked him to show me around the castle, make sure everything is about where I remember it to be."
Martha looked between Jonathan and I, sensing something more to the story, but she didn't press the subject. Instead she put her hand on his shoulder and ushered him down the hall, "You'll see Queen Lucy later John. She really needs to get cleaned up for dinner dear."
Jonathan started down the hall, but then he turned quickly and gave me (well, my legs and hips) a hug. "Goodbye Queen Lucy."
He scampered out down the hall and Martha turned towards me. "I'll heat the bath a bit more and you can look in the wardrobe for something to wear to dinner tonight." She said as we walked into my room.
I never thought a bath would sound that good.
I glanced around my room, noticing my trunk that had resided in the treasure room, was now at the foot of a grand bed. It had sheer curtains around it, giving the whole room an air of royalty. Realizing that was most likely the idea, I smiled.
I crossed over to the wardrobe and noticed that my dresses had been moved in there. Part of my wondered if this was done in all my sibling's rooms or just mine. Caspian did order a room be prepared for me. I touched the silky fabric of one of my ball gowns, recalling it to be the one for my coming out.
I shifted through the clothes until I found a simpler dress. It was a light blue, and had the structure of a corset, but much looser. I had may of my dresses made this way so they wouldn't suffocate me while I was exploring. I smiled, recalling that this is one of the dresses I had convinced the seamstresses to sew in pockets on.
I lay it out on my bed and Martha came out of the wash room. "That is a lovely choice Queen Lucy. Are you sure you wouldn't prefer something fancier?" She said, eying the simplicity of the dress.
"I'm sure this would be fine," I paused considering, "Unless you think something more ornate would be better suited for dinner?"
Martha cocked her head to the side, studying the dress. "Perhaps we could find a sash or something, but otherwise it should do just fine." She nodded her head, as if agreeing with her own statement. "Well enough dallying, into the tub with you while the water is still warm."
I nodded and headed to the wash room. I carefully peeled off my dirty, torn and sweaty clothes. I winced a little. I really had no idea that I had been so filthy. I groaned a little to myself. My hair must be a dream.
I carefully undid my braid, avoiding any tangles. Hopefully the bath would help make my hair manageable. I felt a pang in my chest- Aribella had always been able to make my hair behave, weaving my curls with her skillful hands.
A knock disturbed my thoughts and I heard Martha call, "Are you in the bath yet?" I gave up on my hair and sunk into the warm water of the tub. "Yes." I called though the door. Martha entered with several bottles in her hairs. She set them all down and then opened one and poured the solution into her hands. "Now to tackle that bird's nest on your head." She teased lightly with a glint of malice in her eye.
Oh dear…
I was nearly in tears by the time that Martha had gotten out all of the snarls in my hair. A distant part of my mind was thankful that my hair had been mostly tied back, or I would have been sobbing by now. Now I see why Aribella keeps her hair short.
Martha left me to get dressed, saying she had to go find a supply of nightgowns for my use. She had managed to find a vest of sorts to put over my dress. It was cut just at the top of my bust, subtlety "helping my figure". Martha insisted I needed some "structure" if I was not going to wear a corset. I had just stepped out, fully changed, from behind the changing screen when a knock sounded at my door. I threw a quick glance in the mirror, only catching the fact I was clean, and turned to open the door.
Caspian stood on the other side of the door, well actually he was more leaning on the doorframe, his body turned down the hall. He didn't seem to notice that I had opened the door, and I bit down a laugh, an idea popping into my head. I shut my door quietly and moved swiftly over to his side, just out of his line of vision.
"What are you looking at?" I asked. He jumped slightly, and I laughed. He sent me a raised eyebrow, a smile gracing his features.
"Was that really necessary?" he asked, trying to sound annoyed, but he was unable to hide the amusement and teasing from seeping into his tone. I pretended to think about it and he laughed.
"Yes. It was." I said seriously, then I added, "What did you need Caspian?"
"Hmm?" he looked confused but then seemed to remember, "Oh yes. I just wanted to see if you were ready for dinner?" He glanced up and down my figure, causing my face to feel warm.
"Yes, I am." I looked away from him, trying to hide the blush. He glanced back at my face and smiled. "I can see that." He observed. "You don't look half bad when you're not covered in dirt."
I rolled my eyes and fought to keep a smile down. "Still the charmer I see." I said, sarcasm slipping into my tone. Caspian's grin only got wider, and he offered me his arm. "To dinner milady?" I rolled my eyes again but smiled as I laced my arm through his and we started down the hall.
"You really do look lovely Lu." Caspian mentioned offhandedly, as if he just thought it. My eyes widened and I wondered if he could feel the heat he was causing to come off of my face.
So I know exactly what's going to happen….in later chapters. The question is always how to get from point A to point B. But here are some hints for maybe, maybe not next chapters, but further in the story.
1. Andrew has a secret…So does Aribella (but why did I list them together? :3 )
2. Lucy uses the tunnels to find out something she may not have needed (or wanted) to know {and it maybe related to number 1...}
3. Lucy is frightened by a storm and is comforted by….
4. The other's come to Narnia, causing quite the...scene...
5. Lucy finds out about something that…well, to be frank, it hurts her feelings
Okay, and they may or may not be in that order. I haven't decided.
What's something you would like to see happen in this story? What do you think the hints mean? How do you like the story? Let me know!
How?
…must I tell you…?
Review!
