I'm back with a new chapter! Come on and join me into the world of Stars as we watch what happens between Maria and Ramandu. :) Sorry, I felt like writing that. All right, here we go.

Later, I'm sooooo Mad! I totally deleted what I had written, which was almost done. I'm steaming mad! ARGH! This is the second time typing. All I can ask is Lord, help me remember what I wrote.

Chapter 9

A week after Maria awakened

The rising sun shone on the Eastern Kingdom, causing it to sparkle like diamonds. A bright, light yellow light, so light it looked almost white, appeared and descended quickly from the sky, stopping right above the floor of a balcony of the Orientin Castle. It hung suspended in the air for about a second when it sprouted tendrils of light which formed into a man.

It was Ramandu. He looked at the rising sun, his silver hair sparkling under the bright orange rays and billowing about him. He usually would be quite satisfied when he returned from the Eastern Sky after a good night's work. But, on this bright, blissful morning, a frown was etched over his handsome features.

Ever since his meeting with the girl, Maria, (he refused to call her a lady, but only in public, for formality's sake) she would not leave his mind, and he found it quite aggravating, for he was constantly reminded about her attitude. He had seen the look in her eyes when his mother had mentioned Aslan's name, and how she immediately had tried to change the subject. She HATED him!

Ramandu's blood boiled. The very thought of someone having that emotion for the great High King made him want to vomit. It was like hating the very air you breathed.

Ramandu's fist made contact with the balcony railing, his face contorted. Why, Aslan? Why did you have me save her? She hates you! She didn't deserve to be saved.

"Is something wrong, my son?"

Ramandu turned and looked into the golden eyes of the Great Lion, who stared into his own.

"Aslan," Ramandu breathed.

"Tell me what troubles you, Ramandu."

Ramandu took a deep breath. "I do not understand why you had me save that girl. She doesn't deserve it. She hates you. I could clearly see that."

"Does anyone deserve mercy?"

Ramandu tried to find a hidden look in Aslan's face, but he found none. Nothing to read him by. Finally, he bowed his head. "No, my king."

Aslan smiled and said gently, "Trust me, my young star. I do everything for a purpose." With that, he was gone.

Ramandu stared at the place where Aslan stood; his face blank.

A gasp broke the silence.

"I'm sorry. I disturbed you."

It's her, Ramandu thought with disgust. But, he remembered Aslan's words, and tried to answer her with much civility has possible, which turned out to be almost none.

"You did not disturb me."

Maria frowned. He didn't even turn to acknowledge her presence. He still had that cold attitude. Did he have any emotions or manners? His face showed nothing. Just a blank face.

"You could just say right out that you don't like me," she spit out.

"Just because I saved you doesn't mean I have to like you."

Maria's eyes bulged. He saved me? Of all people, he had to be the one who saved me?

"You saved me?"

Ramandu turned to her. "And that matters to you?"

"NO!" she yelled right out, and somehow her denial bothered Ramandu, and he didn't like the feeling. "Why would I care if you saved me! I've watched you this past week since I met you. You have no feeling whatsoever! Do you even care what another might be feeling? No! All you do is trample over them."

Ramandu raised an eyebrow. "Isn't a week a little short?"

Maria swallowed. He was playing with her. How dare he! I hate him.

"Well, I'm glad to see your true feelings," he said stiffly turning away from her.

She had said it aloud, but she didn't apologize. "I don't care that I said it out loud," she said with a huff, turning from him and was about to walk away, when she stopped. "And I'm glad I did." Then, she was gone.

"Finally!" Ramandu ran his hands over his face in exasperation and frustration. "She is going to be the death of me."

oOo

When Maria had left the balcony, tears sprang to her eyes, and she touched her cheeks in surprise. Tears? she thought. Why tears? I don't care about him at all. Maria didn't want to admit it, but Ramandu had been on her mind constantly. (If she thought about it, it was probably the reason why she watched him.) She hadn't been able to get him out. She decided to help the servants in the kitchen to get her mind off of him.

As she walked, the picture of his silver hair blowing across his silent, passive, aloof face was engraved in her mind.

He looked so handsome. The thought appeared out of nowhere.

Maria shook her head. What am I thinking? How handsome he is has nothing to do with this! He's stuck up and full of pride. Peter was never like that.

Maria looked up and out one of the windows that lined the hall, a sad look in her eyes. Dear Peter.

"Maria, dear!"

Lady Ladria was the one who had called. She immediately saw Maria's sullen face before she could hide it and asked, "What on earth is the matter, dear?"

Maria shook her thoughts away. "Oh, um," she struggled for a explanation, "nothing of consequence, I just miss my friends in Narnia." It was partly the truth, and Maria didn't want to lie to Ladria who in the past week had become a friend to the shipwrecked girl. Maria smiled, wiping the tears away. "You actually remind me of one of them."

Ladria cocked her head slightly, surprised. "I do?"

Maria nodded. "Yes, her name was Lucy. She was always there when I needed someone, like you are here now, concerned about me." Maria giggled softly. "She though is much younger than you." Maria realized what she said and quickly apologized.

Ladria laughed. "Don't worry about it, dear. I'm not offended by my age. But, about missing friends, there is a friend who will never leave you."

"That's another way you're the same as Lucy. Undying faith in Aslan," Maria said softly.

"Does that mean you don't?"

The two women looked to see Ramandu who stood a few feet away.

"Ramandu!" scolded Ladria.

Maria walked up to him and stared into his cold, blue eyes, which clashed with her angry, equally blue eyes. Their faces in a dead lock. "Why does it matter to you. You don't care what I think, my lord." She left with a huff.

Ramandu's eyes followed her receding figure, as Ladria stepped up next to him. "So, were you the cause of her crying?" Her motherly intuition kicking in.

Ramandu didn't look her way. "Her business is not mine."

Ladria raised her eyebrow. "You could at least apologize." Knowing what he meant underneath.

"She'll be fine." With that, he turned his heel, his long, silver hair swishing in his wake. Ladria could have sworn that he almost growled.

Ladria sighed and shook her head. I can only hope they'll let go of their anger, Aslan.