A/N: Hullo, there! I'm sorry that it's been so long, but here is the next chapter. I decided to be cruel and leave you with a cliffy for a chapter longer:) But, to make it up (and this relatively short chapter), I'll post the next chapter in the next few days to a week. Also, this is from Sheleiya's POV.

Thanks much to my readers and reviewers! And, of course, to my amazing beta Laura Andrews:) You're awesome!

Dislcaimer: I actually own two people...well, maybe three, but it doesn't matter. C.S. Lewis owns Narnia and all the really cool characters so...yeah.


Chapter IX: Troubles and Treats

Home at last. The carriage had arrived at Anvard only a few moments after Sheleiya had awoken from a nap. Her sister scolded her for dozing off.

"You should have observed the landscape so you can find where you can stay hidden among the trees when you ride to Narnia," she said.

"It's all right, Breeca. The girl's very tired. Besides, we have plenty of maps she can use," King Lune intervened, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. He slipped his head out the window to check on the others who were riding their horses.

"Are you three all right?" he called to Cor, Corin, and Aravis.

The three of them had decided they would like to ride horseback along with the rest of the party on their way home instead of using the carriage their father had sent for in Narnia.

"Just fine, Father," replied Cor. As he was saying this, their driver had just blown the horn to announce their arrival so those at Anvard would open the gate. Within the next half hour, their horses were taken to the stables, the carriage was being put away, and their bags were already being carried to their rooms.

"I say," said Aravis with a long yawn. "I wouldn't mind getting an hour or so of rest."

"Me too," agreed Cor. "I wish we could have visited Bree and Hwin though."

"Oh, Cor, Aravis" began Breeca. "Why have you never told Sheleiya and me about your adventures? You only told us about the battle here at Anvard."

Aravis shrugged. "I guess it never crossed our minds to tell you. I mean, you haven't been here very long. We've only met a few months ago. I hope you're not upset."

"And, besides," Corin interrupted as Breeca was about to reply. "You never give them a break from their studies." He received a reprimand from his Father for being impertinent before he was allowed to follow Cor and Aravis inside.

"Well, we had better send word for tea, Sire," Breeca suggested as she entered the castle.

King Lune offered his arm to Sheleiya who accepted with a smile as they began leisurely walking into the castle. The king had been a father figure to her ever since she and Breeca had arrived at Anvard. She remembered the stormy night that had led them there in the first place. They were following a road leading out of a town when a huge tree hit by lightening crashed in front of them, nearly crushing them . King Lune and his hunting party had heard their screams through the booming thunder and had quickly gathered the two frightened girls onto their horses and headed straight for Anvard. When they had recovered from the shock of it all, King Lune asked where they were from and why they were all alone wandering in the woods. Of course, they told him the whole story, which no else knew for the time being, and asked him if he knew a place where they could find work and shelter. Upon finding Breeca's teaching abilities, he hired her as tutors to his sons and Aravis. The old tutors had left because they believed that the job was too tiring for them in their old age. It seemed so long ago to Sheleiya and Breeca, but only a month or two had passed.

Now, Sheleiya had her own way to repay the king for his kindness—even if she was secretly nervous about the job.

"Something troubles you?" the king asked as they arrived inside.

"No, Sire. Why would you think that?" Sheleiya answered with a faint smile.

"You just seem quiet is all," King Lune replied with a hearty laugh. Sheleiya laughed along with him. She was usually rather talkative. However, she did have times, when she was deep in thought, where she didn't speak at all for a long time. The things she would ponder would vary. She didn't share her thoughts often.

"Most people would think them foolish and unimportant," she thought.

"Just thinking, Sire," Sheleiya explained.

"About?" inquired the king.

"My sister, Sire," she lied, though wondering if she should have used her sister as a cover up.

"Something troubles you?" King Lune repeated.

Sheleiya heaved a heavy sigh as her thoughts truly turned to her sister. "Well, nothing troubles me as much as something seems to be troubling Breeca. I think she blames herself for what happened."

"What's done is done. It was not her fault, but if she continues to believe it, it will surely break her. I will see if I can speak to her. Would that ease your mind, dear?"

"Yes, Sire. Thank you, Sire."

Presently, they arrived in the parlor room waiting for the others. "Would you like me to fetch the princes and Aravis, Sire?" Sheleiya asked.

"No, I must retrieve something from my room, anyhow. I shall get them myself. I shall return presently," the jolly king replied and whisked out of the room.

Sheleiya sighed and stared out of the window. The remnant of raindrops from earlier rain raced down the window one by one in a jagged, zig-zag pattern. The sky was pink from the re-appearing sun after the rain. She still felt melancholy. Not only was the weight of this new duty exciting and nerve-wrecking, she missed her sister. Her real sister. Seeing the kings and queens of Narnia so close despite their various duties hit her hard. She remembered a time where nothing could separate her and Breeca. But her sister had changed.

Light footsteps in the hall distracted her from her thoughts. She turned towards the door and saw Corin's head peep in.

"Is Father here?" he whispered. Sheleiya shook her head with a smile.

"I say, Sheleiya, could you perhaps save me a small piece of cake, and maybe some scones. I don't really care about the tea much. Oh! Maybe you have cookies, could you get me some as well?" He whispered again entering the room. He looked back at the door to make sure no one was coming.

"What did you do now?" Sheleiya sighed while making a mental note of the things Corin asked for. She knew she mustn't spoil him, but she couldn't help but feel guilty either. She had gotten him in trouble in Narnia, though she realized too late that she might have overreacted.

"Well, you see, I was walking down after he came to fetch me and my father's manservant Jaynil (you know he doesn't like me) said that it was impossible for me to knock him down due to his so called physique. I accepted the challenge and knocked him down. And it was very easy, I must say. But Father had just come into the corridor and Jaynil told everything. Father said it isn't right for princes to box inside castle walls," Corin explained.

"Oh, Corin, when are you- never mind. I'll make sure to get you something. But you had better get back up to your chambers before your father comes back."

Corin headed for the door and stopped midway to face her. "Promise you will?" Sheleiya nodded and gestured for him to be silent and leave.

"I suppose you owe me for tattling on me in Narnia," Corin remarked with a chuckle as he left the room and escaped stealthily into the hall. Sheleiya rolled her eyes.

She was reminded that she wanted to do some more research on sprites. She had found some facts in the text books that were in the Narnian library. They were found in the Shuddering Wood. They held the ability of magic, or, at least, used to. Something happened: according to the books, the sprites fell into two loyalties. Some were faithful to Aslan, and the others were loyal to the White Witch. There was a war between the groups and the good sprites lost their powers. The remaining creatures were hostile, but both groups had an excellent memory that was nearly photographic. They dwelt mostly in tree trunks or underground in burrows. The good sprites had not been seen for a hundred years and the evil ones had nearly all been driven out by the Narnian monarchs. Sheleiya knew she probably would never see one, but she found them fascinating nonetheless.

Soon she heard the rattling of tea cups being carried on a tray with other tea assortments. It was her sister bringing in the tray and Aravis and King Lune were behind her.

"Cor is talking to Corin upstairs. He wants to keep him company because Corin got in trouble again," Aravis explained.

Presently they were comfortable, sipping on tea and chatting gaily. King Lune was not there for too long. He was called away the minute he had drunk his last sip of tea. He excused himself, leaving the three ladies alone. Sheleiya had a plan in mind to grant Corin's wish and also to bring something for Cor as well. But there was some time until she could.

"Shel, would you like to help with the gardening tomorrow? Our gardener has asked me to pick out an arrangement and I would love some help!" Aravis asked.

"Yes, I would. But Breeca is probably better at that sort of thing. I-"

"Oh, I already asked her. She says she's busy tomorrow."

Breeca nodded in confirmation.

"Well, all right," Sheleiya agreed. "Oh, that reminds me, Breeca. Would you help me find that book with the poisonous plants and the cures?"

"Of course," Breeca replied. "I do hope you're not intending to go anywhere that has them though—again."

"No, I don't. And I didn't know there were such plants near the castle. Though I wouldn't mind having a little bit of thrill every now and then," Sheleiya replied with an accusatory glance at her sister.

"Where would you go, Shel? I traveled much and I found nothing interesting except a huge desert," remarked Aravis, who had traveled as far as Calormen into Archenland.

"But what about west? West of Narnia?" Sheleiya said.

"It's just this land called Telmar," her sister answered.

"But, what about those old rumors? They might be true," Sheleiya said taking a small bite of a biscuit.

"What do you mean? You mean those myths about that old cave?" Breeca scoffed.

"A cave! That's what it was. I couldn't remember when I was in Narnia. I should've liked to read some books on it."

"Oh! What cave?" Aravis asked, quite interested.

"It's said there is," Sheleiya said. "Or at least, was, this magical cave. It's been told that an ancient treasure lies there."

"Nonsense!" Breeca laughed, not unkindly. "If there was, I'm sure the kings and queens of Narnia would have found it by now."

Sheleiya shrugged. "Maybe they did. Or maybe, like I said, it was a cave, but isn't anymore."

"Sheleiya, tell me more," pleaded Aravis.

"I'm sorry. That's all I know about it. There's only a small paragraph about it in one of our books. I can show it to you later."

"Well, whatever the cave is, Shel," Breeca said. "I doubt you'll be the one to find it."

Sheleiya cringed at her sister's almost mocking tone. "We'll see about that," she thought, remembering her plans of sneaking off after delivering messages to Narnia.

Breeca stood. "Well, I had better take these leftover snacks back to the kitchen. I'm sure someone will eat them later."

"No, I'll do it," offered Sheleiya. "I don't mind, really."

Breeca nodded and sat back down, starting another conversation with Aravis. Sheleiya picked up the tray and slipped into the hallway. She set the tray on a small table under one of the paintings and checked that no one was around. Then, she pulled out an unused handkerchief from her sleeve and laid it beside the tray. She began picking out a few things. She took two biscuits, a few cookies, and some scones and folded it up in a small bundle. She finished her task of returning the tray to the kitchen and then made her way to the princes. She heard shouting emerge from Corin's room. No doubt the two had engaged in some sort of argument again. Sheleiya knocked over their loudness.

"Who is it?" came two irritated voices at once.

"It's me-Sheleiya."

Suddenly, the door swung open.

"Come in, come in," Corin gestured to her, looked in the hall for anyone, and then shut it silently. "Did you bring something?"

Sheleiya opened the handkerchief on the table. "And I brought some for Cor as well."

Both boys hastily thanked her as they dove into the treats. They seemed to forget all about their quarrel.

"Slow down!" Sheleiya laughed as she watched the boys scarf the food down as quickly as possible.

"Sorry, Shel. We're just so hungry!" exclaimed Cor with a mouthful.

"Well, dinner is only a few hours away," Sheleiya reminded them as she sat on Corin's bed. After they had eaten everything, Sheleiya gathered the napkin, brushed off the crumbs, and tucked it back in her sleeve.

"I should be going. I'm sure to hear it if someone found out I gave you these," Sheleiya winked. She bid the princes farewell and walked to her own room.

She sat down on a couch with a heavy sigh. Her thoughts returned to her troubled sister and her new assignment. However, in her drowsiness, she nodded off into a much needed sleep.


A/N: Do you have a new impression of the sisters? And, what is Sheleiya up to? Hmm... ;P Leave a review to tell me what you think! What you liked, what you didn't (nicely, please:P). Love to hear from you!

Next chapter...a mystery will be revealed. ;)