Dappled Light
Queen Lucy leapt down steps and ran through archways, dragging Ellen along with her. The people they passed smiled at the sight of their beloved Queen and her new apparent friend; they were both of a similar age, Ellen being sixteen compared to Queen Lucy who was fifteen. Lucy had spent the whole afternoon showing Ellen every single nook and cranny of Cair Paravel and was now taking Ellen through the hidden entrance into her secret courtyard of willow trees. Inside the courtyard it was like being in a series of rooms full of green woven tapestries, the branches of the willow trees hanging low to the ground, shielding each separate tree trunk and its surrounding area in a small private space.
"Oh my," Ellen said in wonder as they moved through the courtyard, pushing willow branches gently aside and wandering around each of the trees, "We must show Mahlirra this," she told Lucy, "Her father's a willow tree."
"Of course," Lucy said. Ellen had told Lucy about Mahlirra during their exploration of the palace and Lucy had assured her that Mahlirra would be safe no matter where she was in the palace for everyone was kind and welcoming at Cair Paravel. "Why," she continued, "She might have already found it."
"How?!" Ellen exclaimed, "There's no way anyone who didn't know where it is could find this: it's so well hidden!"
"Oh but the Willow is a part of her," Lucy said, sitting down at the base of one of the trees, "With dryads it's intrinsically part of them: they can sense other trees of the same type. She'd be drawn to this place no matter what!"
"But she's not fully a dryad," Ellen said, sitting beside the Queen, "Would being a half-dryad have the same effect?"
"How would I be able to tell?" Lucy asked, laughing, "I hardly know her, and half-dryads are few and far between. Perhaps she would, perhaps she wouldn't. Who knows?" She laid her head against the tree trunk and closed her eyes. Ellen mimicked her movements and stared up at the green canopy above them. It was so beautiful here, so peaceful.
The willow trees sighed in the wind, their branches lifting a little off the ground. The light that made its way through the branches was dappled and made dancing patterns on the green of the grass. A little way off Ellen could hear a gentle splashing sound, as if someone was paddling in the pond nearby. She lifted her head up suddenly – there was someone doing just that; she could hear them talking quietly. There must be two people. She turned to Lucy who put her fingers to her lips in a gesture of silence. Standing up, she moved towards the voices, pushing her way through the willow screen into the next area. Ellen followed. They were now in a willow area just next to the pond. The voices were much clearer here.
"This place is incredible," came a male voice. Lucy grabbed Ellen's arm in surprise; it was her brother, the High King Peter, "How come I've ruled from Cair Paravel for seven years and yet never found it. I bet Lucy knew it was here!"
"It was very well hidden," came the reply. Ellen started at the sound of this voice; it was Mahlirra. "I only knew it was here because I could sense it. Like some part of me was drawn to those stone steps."
"The dryad part?"
"Yes," Mahlirra said, "My father is a willow tree. His forest is in Archenland."
"And you have come here to find your mother?"
"Yes that's right," she replied, "I came with Ellen."
"Ah yes," Peter said, "We spoke with her earlier this afternoon and then Lucy took her off to explore the castle. Everywhere, as she said – and I'm sure she'll manage it somehow!" Mahlirra's laugh could be heard but then she seemed to quieten a little when Peter asked: "But your mother?"
"Yes," Mahlirra said, "Well I've always thought that she was Narnian so... well..." For some reason she tailed off.
"Well," King Peter interjected, and Lucy and Ellen strained their ears to hear the next part as he lowered his voice to a tender whisper, "I hope you'll let me help you." A stronger breeze blew past Ellen and the branches in front of her drew apart for a second, giving her a glimpse of the scene on the other side.
They sat on the opposite side of the pond, right next to the water. The High King sat with his trousers rolled up to his knees and his feet submerged deep in the water of the pond. Mahlirra sat close beside him, her legs curled beneath her, propped up on her hand. King Peter was leaning in, looking down at her face, smiling gently. She was looking up at him, her head cocked slightly to the side, a look of blissful rapture on her face as she stared back at him. Their faces leant in closer and the willow branches swung back, preventing Ellen from seeing anymore. She turned to look at Lucy, who had gone slightly pink.
Without a word they quietly made their way out of the courtyard. Once they were a fair distance away, Lucy turned to Ellen.
"So that was Mahlirra?"
"Huh?" Ellen asked, looking a bit out of it. That must have been where Mahlirra had gone when she disappeared – to the courtyard of willows. And then she must have met the High King...
"She's beautiful." Lucy said, walking over to the parapet that looked to the west. In the distance they could see the sun sinking beyond the horizon. "Though we shouldn't have overheard that."
"No," Ellen said slowly and came and stood next to her, "Though you were right about the whole dryad sensing thing."
"We can't tell anyone," Lucy added, "Peter wouldn't want anyone to know; it's such a personal thing."
"Yes," Ellen said, still pondering over what she had seen. Of course she had realised that Mahlirra was beautiful and King Peter would probably agree with her– but she hadn't really thought her so... Ellen couldn't think of the word. So mature perhaps? Mahlirra was older than Ellen and Lucy, but Ellen wasn't sure how old. Old enough to kiss a King, she thought vaguely.
"What's she like?" Lucy asked, turning to Ellen urgently and pulling her out of her thoughts, "Is she nice? What does she like to do? Will they get on?"
"Woah," Ellen said, "So many questions!" She smiled, "Mahlirra is more than just nice: she is the sweetest and most gentle person I've ever met. She wouldn't hurt a fly."
"Oh good," Lucy said, "And what does she like?"
"Well," Ellen said, "I haven't know her too long but she's a brilliant rider – much better than me -"
"But you can ride?" Lucy said cutting across her, "You can ride, right?"
"Oh yes," Ellen said and then frowned, "Why do you ask?"
"Oh good," Lucy said relieved, "Get up early tomorrow: we've got a long ride."
"What?" Ellen looked at Lucy in confusion, "Where are we going?"
"I have to show you Lantern Waste – where we first came to Narnia. And I can tell you what happened and everything!"
"Ok," Ellen said, "But where is it? Where are we headed?" Lucy smiled and turned to look out over the parapet before answering Ellen with one simple word.
"West."
A/N: Well that was the next chapter... I'll need to update my summary to include the Peter/OC pairing! Would it be an eventual pairing or just a normal one? This is only nine chapters in so perhaps there's no need for the eventual part? I'm not too sure...
Anyway, my wonderful readers, I hope you enjoyed it but do say if it seems a bit off, a bit not right or doesn't seem to flow - it'll help me to improve it so it is more enjoyable for the reader.
Keep reading and checking for updates because I know I'm not the most regular writer when it comes to updating! :D
SHS
:D :D :D
