Disclaimer: I only own Ava, Sinaaq, Melody, and the Guardians.

This chapter is much shorter than the previous chapters, but don't worry, they'll get longer again when I have more to write.

Songs for this chapter: The Kings and Queens of Old by Harry-Gregson Williams

Chapter 9: The Treasure Room

The treasure room wasn't filled with piles of gold coins and jewels like one would expect it to be. Rather, there were six alcoves, each with a statue posed behind a large trunk. As Ava and Sinaaq stepped further into the room, they could see that the statues were of the kings and queens of old and of the two previous Guardians.

Ava made her way to the alcove containing the statue of Queen Lucy the Valiant. She curled her fingers around the top of the trunk and lifted, finding it to be unlocked. She lifted the lid all the way and peered inside the chest. She already knew that Lucy's cordial would not be amongst her possessions, for Caspian always kept it on his person in case of an emergency. The dagger that she had received from Father Christmas was still there, lying atop every article of clothing the queen had ever owned, every shoe, her crown, and a few other possessions.

Lucy had never been a very material person, unlike Queen Susan the Gentle, and did not have as many shoes or jewels as one might expect. Ava picked up the dagger and unsheathed it, turning it over it her hands. It was beautiful, and still in perfect condition, but she was not interested in it and moved on to Queen Susan's trunk.

Sinaaq was busy inspecting the contents of King Edmund's trunk. King Peter's trunk had not been very interesting, as Caspian now owned and used Peter's sword Rhindon. King Edmund's sword was very nice, though nothing of particular amazement. He put it back in the trunk and closed it; he turned around and saw the fifth alcove, containing a statue of another king and a trunk.

Ava found many beautiful things in Queen Susan's trunk, but nothing that truly interested her. Granted, Queen Susan's bow and arrows were spectacular, but Ava preferred to use her own, which were made specially for her. She felt a small tingle run down her spine and felt a strong urge to look through Queen Elizabeth's trunk; she made her way to it, and put her hands on the lid. She felt a warm sensation spread through her body as she slowly opened the trunk. The only things inside it were the things she had been searching for—Elizabeth's pair of sai and her wand.

Ava exhaled softly as she reached out to touch the main shaft of one of the weapons. The metal felt warm under her fingertips, though she didn't know why. She picked up the sai, one in each hand, and turned them in the light. According to legend, the gifts that Father Christmas bestowed upon the Guardians were mildly sentient and would only work properly for their masters. Ava grabbed Elizabeth's leather belt from the trunk and put it on, then sheathed the sai in their sheaths on each side. It felt good to have them; almost like they were made for her.

She looked down at Elizabeth's wand. Although she had only been interested in the sai, the wand suddenly had her full attention, as if it was calling to her, begging her to touch it. She reached out and let her fingertips brush it. As she did, she felt something pulse through her body and come alive inside her. She grabbed the wand and lifted it from the trunk, twirling it in her hand a couple times like a fighting staff. It seemed to glow, but maybe it was just the way the light was hitting it. Ava looked around the room for Sinaaq, her eyes finding him kneeling in front of King Tyler's open trunk.

She stood there for several moments, staring at him. She had spent many a time gazing at him lately and she remembered how she stared at him the night she found him bleeding on the stairs. He was a handsome man, though that was not why she often found herself gawking at him. Honestly, she did not know much about him, aside from the bits of his past he had told her and Caspian. She didn't know what books he liked to read or what his favorite color was, but she did know that he could not ride horses to save his life, he had a sense of humor that annoyed the hell out of her, and he always had a twinkle in his eyes and a smirk on his lips that she couldn't place.

She thought about the sacrifice he had made for her. He gave his blood, and risked his life, to save her. She thought about his reaction when she was dying and how he reacted when he realized she was alive. He was so damn confusing. Ava shook her head, her subconscious admonishing her. Stop it, Ava. Don't be a fool! The advisor sighed and made her way over to him to see what he was doing.

Sinaaq had found himself in quite the predicament. When he had opened King Tyler's trunk, the only items it contained had been a ring and a strange looking whip. He had marveled over the detail of the individual, razor-sharp blades that made up the "links" of the whip. That was when he had tried to pick it up.

As soon as his fingers touched the handle, the whip shuddered, and then started to writhe and squirm as if it was alive. Sinaaq's brow furrowed. Suddenly, the weapon lashed out at his outstretched arm like an angry snake and wrapped around it, digging its blades into his arm until they drew blood.

Sinaaq cried out and grabbed the coiled part of the whip and picked it up, trying to figure out how to make the damned thing let go of him. He tried pulling it and shaking it off, but it refused to go anywhere.

"Sinaaq? What did you find?" Ava asked from behind him, having heard his yelp. He turned around, holding his arm up for her to see. Her eyes widened.

"Oh my…"

"I can't make it let go! I don't understand what's happening!" he exclaimed. Ava could hear a note of panic in his tone.

She approached him cautiously and reached out to touch his arm. The whip shuddered, but did nothing. She grabbed at it at different places, trying to make it let go of him.

"Damnit, let go!" she mumbled, frustrated. At once, the whip shuddered and fell into the trunk, lifeless. She stared at it in surprise—right before Sinaaq slammed the lid down and latched it, breathing hard. Ava turned to him, scrutinizing the bleeding wounds on his arm.

"They might need stitches. We won't know until we get you upstairs and get them cleaned off," she said.

"I've never had that happen before," Sinaaq muttered, running a hand through his hair, which had become slightly more silver since he had met the king's advisor.

"Best not be messing with that thing again anytime soon," Ava said.

"Agreed," Sinaaq said.

An awkward silence fell over them as they stood in front of the trunk, unsure of what to do now. Sinaaq looked up at Ava and caught her gaze.

The two of them stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity. Almost without thought, Sinaaq took a step towards her—and that's when they heard the voice of Caspian at the top of the stares.

"Hello? Is there anyone down there?" he called.

Sinaaq stopped moving toward Ava and turned toward the staircase. The advisor tilted her head at him, confused by his actions.

"Yes, Caspian, we're down here!" she called back.

"We?" Caspian asked, coming down the stairs. He stopped at the bottom, staring in awe. "Amazing! I haven't been able to find this place since we rebuilt this castle! How did you two find it?" he asked. Ava yawned and pushed past Sinaaq, making her way toward the stairs.

"We shall tell you in the morning. In the meantime, I am going to retire for the night, I'm exhausted," she said. Caspian chuckled.

"For the night? Milady, it's already breakfast time. You have been awake all night. When neither of you showed up for breakfast, I came looking for you," he said. The advisor sighed, looking tired all of a sudden.

"Alright, let me go freshen up first then I shall meet you in the Great Hall," she conceded. She turned and gave Sinaaq a polite nod and then headed up the stairs and out of sight.

Caspian looked after Ava then turned and looked at Sinaaq with a raised eyebrow. "Is there something going on that I do not know?"

Sinaaq began to make his way up the stairs, stopping right next to Caspian. "No," he answered curtly before ascending the stairs and heading to his room.