Author's Note: This chapter's a bit shorter than most and it feels alot like a filler, but I wanted to get another chapter up, desperately. Don't worry, I think I have a good idea of the next chapter, so it ought to come a bit sooner. Please review, they give me the inspiration to write!

Disclaimer: Aaryn's mine. :P Be jealous.

Chapter 11- Of Weariness and Natural Skill

As we finished up breakfast, I looked up at Peter curiously.

"Where did Susan get a bow and quiver anyways?" I wondered.

"You wouldn't believe who we met on the way here." Peter smiled. I looked at Edmund to see if he knew what Peter was saying, but he looked confused as well.

"Who?" I asked, turning back.

"Father Christmas." his smile brightened at our shocked expressions. "Yes, he's real. Can you believe it? He gave us each a Christmas present."

"Well, what did you get?" Edmund asked, still awed by this new revelation.

Peter proudly drew a sword from the sheath at his hip that I hadn't noticed yet.

"This is my sword, Rhindon. I also have a shield, but that's in the tent."

"It's beautiful." I commented. "And what about the others? What did they get?"

"Lucy got a cordial with something called fireflower juice in it, they said it could heal any injury, as well as a dagger. And Susan got the bow and quiver, as well as horn that when she blows it help will always come."

"Wow! That's amazing." I smiled.

Peter nodded, then suddenly looked regretful.

"I'm sorry." he said slowly. "You two didn't get anything. I should have asked, but I didn't think about it. And look at me, showing off what I got."

"Peter, it's fine." I said, rolling my eyes. Edmund nodded.

"It was my fault, if anyone's." Edmund commented, then turned to me. "Sorry."

"Don't be." I answered him, then looked at both of them. "Besides, you two are the next Kings of Narnia, you'll have plenty of other gifts in the future."

This caused them both to brighten considerably.

"Come on." Peter said, standing. "General Oreius, the centaur that rescued you I believe, said we needed to learn how to fight for the coming battle."

I notched another arrow and sent it whizzing at the target, hitting the second ring from the center. It felt like my fingers were going to snap in two and my arms fall off. The slashes on the right sid of my back were hurting, but I ignored it so I could get in the practice. At least I could see the difference in my archery from when I'd started.

Edmund had been given a sword and shield as his weapons. I had only vaguely noted them before being presented with weapons of my own. I was given a bow made of strong, dark-colored wood. It's handle was black leather. The ends of the bow were silver, similar to Susan's ivory-tipped ones, only not as delicate. Also, it looked like the last inch of the ends had been dipped in gold.

The quiver was also made with this wood and the top part there was about a two-inch band of silver. In flowing script, the phrase "Cordis aureus" was engraved in gold. I had no idea what this meant, but hadn't thought to ask until Oreius had left.

I also received a sword and sheath to be held at my side. The sword was made of a lighter silver, so as to be easier for a woman to carry, and had black leather wrapped around the hilt, and had a silver image of Aslan roaring on the end.

Oreius had told me I'd have to work just as hard as the men, maybe harder, in order to master both weapons in time. Generally, the women didn't have as rigorous a schedule as the men since they were archers. However, the sword was a much harder weapon to become acclimated to, so it required a great deal more work. Since I would be weilding both a sword and a bow, and the battle was sure to be in the very near future, I would need even more practice. Lovely.

Susan was practicing her archery at the target next to mine and Lucy wasn't far off, being taught by the dryads how to make her movements quick and fluid when weilding a dagger. Oreius had told me moments ago that he would be instructing Peter and Edmund on riding horseback.

Suddenly realizing I had the rare opportunity to take a very short break, I heaved a sigh and dropped to my seat. I watched as Susan notched another arrow and Lucy took instruction from the dryads, executing them far better than I ever would be able to. They looked almost as if they'd been born to do such.

I'd noticed Oreius' surprise as I'd notched the first arrow and hit the third ring from the center. That was about as far from the center as any of my arrows had gotten. He'd asked me if I'd ever used a bow and arrow before and I told him I hadn't. Then he'd mumbled something about all of us humans having a natural talent for swordsmanship and archery.

Guess I was born for it too.

Maybe it wouldn't be as hard as I thought to get prepared for the battle.

"You plan on sitting here all day or actually practicing?" Susan asked as she sat down beside me.

"Just getting in a short break before the slave driver comes back." I laughed.

"Something tells me Oreius wouldn't enjoy that so much if he heard you say that." she answered with a smile.

"Yes, well, he'll have to get used to it then. Because as long as we continue to have such rigorous training, that's what he is to me." I answered with a smirk as I fidgeted with the end of my bow.

"So what was it you were thinking about?" she asked after a moment. "You seemed to be deep in thought."

"I was thinking that you and Lu look like you were born to fight the way you do." I answered truthfully. "Oreius said we had a natural talent for it."

"I'd have to agree." Susan said thoughtfully. "I don't know how to explain it, but it just feels right when I do it. You know what I mean?"

"I think I do." I smiled.

"Guess Aslan really did call us here." she beamed. Just then her stomach grumbled furiously and mine echoed it's complaint.
"Maybe we should get some food now." I suggested.

After lunch, I had sword practice with Edmund and Peter. I noticed the same ability with them as possessed Susan, Lucy, and myself. Somehow we were suited for this type of thing.

We worked long and hard, drinking gallons (or so it felt) of water before Oreius finally allowed us to wash up and head to our tents.

I fell lazily on the beautiful hammock that sat beside Lucy's and Susan's in the same tent. I'd just finished washing up and my short blonde hair was beginning to curl once more, my hazel eyes barely able to stay open. There was still about an hour until dinner, so I had time for a little nap...

"Aaryn! Aar, wake up!" A voice called impatiently as someone shook me awake. My eyes fluttered open and I saw Edmund bring his arms up to cross in front of his chest. "Finally!"

"Oh, bug off, Ed." I mumbled as I precariously sat up, careful not to take a tumble off the swinging hamock. "What was so important that you had to wake me.

"Dinner." he smirked. "And afterward, dancing."

"Dancing?" I groaned. "I can hardly move, much less dance."

"Well too bad." he laughed as I stood. "We've been roped in. I don't want to do it any more than you do. But 'It's proper for a Narnian King to know the dances of his people'. Or so Susan tells me."

"And Susan's right." I said as I allowed him to drag me out of the tent and over to where the others were sitting. "But I'm most certainly not a King and I'm not a Queen either, therefore I have no obligation."

"The Kings and Queens demand your attendance." Susan quipped upon hearing my words.

"Oh bother." I grumbled as we began to devour the food in front of us.

"How was sword practice, Aaryn?" Susan asked.

"Tiring." I answered honestly. "I feel as if I could hardly lift a finger."

"You seem to have no trouble holding your food." Edmund commented, earning him a smack to the arm.

"Watch it, Pevensie." I warned and he smiled mischeviously.

We finished our meal in relative silence, everyone starving from the vigorous training. It wasn't long after that when the dryads and fauns began their dances, politely asking for the Sons of Adam and Daughters of Eve to joing them. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. In fact, I rather enjoyed it. I probably would have enjoyed it more if I wasn't half-dead on my feet, but there would be other times I'm told. I can't help but look forward to those 'other times' as I pull my bedsheet over my body and settling down into the gently swaying hammock that night.

Tomorrow would be a hard day, filled with training, but if my discomfort made these wonderful Narnians free to dance and sing again, it was worth it.