A/N: Sorry for the wait, I've been kind of busy lately. But the feedback and encouragement has been amazing! It's so cool to know that people actually read this. I hope not to disappoint. Thanks to those who have reviewed: A/N, anonymous, pwndheartx, and All The Pretty Horses. Also thanks to everyone who has added this to their favorites or alerts. And most of all, thanks to my besties, who get mad if I don't write. You guys should thank them too.
BLAME THE SQUIRREL
a Chronicles of Narnia fanfic
CHAPTER 11: A Different Language
Astra returned to her room, tossing the door open and slamming it behind her. She paused, finding a number of maids looking at her curiously.
"Get a freaking life," she muttered. Feeling restless and cramped, she grabbed a book and a blanket and walked down to the beach. The waves rolled in and out as she turned page after page of a Narnian history book. Astra made it half way through the book before she closed it with a sigh. She had always been somewhat of an outcast at Oxford, being an athlete of an obscure sport and a foreigner, but loneliness had always been a stranger. Astra mused that her isolation in this particular case was slightly self-imposed, but she was in desperate need of a friend to keep her sane. May would make a good friend, but Astra somehow knew that she would never, and could never fit in with the ladies of Cair Paravel. Plus, Caspian's introverted character did not make anything easier.
On the bright side, the sea wind felt good flowing through her hair and Astra picked up the hem of her dress to dip her feet in the warm water. Finally, in need of company, Astra returned to the castle, heading to the kitchen for a bite to eat. The kitchen crew was already aware of Astra's adoration of food by the amount that she had eaten the previous night and took an immediate liking of her. She sat on a counter with her feet swinging below her as she munched delightfully on a grilled cheese sandwich. The head cook doted on her in a motherly fashion as some of the younger men warily eyed her with interest. Eventually, she excused herself from the kitchen's company, laughing at a joke someone said as she exited into the dining hall. King Caspian sat there alone, sipping some wine and looking over papers, apparently having just concluded his meeting with the ambassador of Archenland. He raised his head in surprise at her entrance.
"How was your meeting with the ambassador?" asked Astra, nonchalantly picking up an apple from the table.
"It went well. Narnia is on good terms with Archenland," said Caspian. There was a pause.
"What's that?"
"Oh, just papers." Another pause filled the room. "Have you had a pleasant morning?"
"Reasonably so," said Astra with an amused smirk. "I decided to read at the beach some."
"Really? What did you read?"
"History books. I feel a little ignorant here, so I am trying to familiarize myself with your country." Caspian seemed rather pleased with her response, but a few questions seemed to linger on his mind, although he did not seem to want to ask Astra. "Is there something you want to ask me?" Astra aided him.
"I wanted to ask you… if you have eaten." It was obviously not the question Caspian truly wanted to ask Astra, but she decided to give him the information he wanted anyway.
"Yes, I had some food in the kitchen. The kitchen staff makes very good company."
"You know you may eat out in the dining hall," insisted Caspian.
"Yes, but… it is lonely sitting at that table all by myself. I am use to being surrounded by people while eating. A family thing, I suppose." Caspian's eyes trailed away for a moment before he quickly came up with another question.
"And did you enjoy your tour with Douglass?"
"Yes I did, although I wish I had time to go to the stables. I did a lot of riding back in England, but I have never actually talked to a horse before."
"Perhaps I may give you a tour of the stables tomorrow."
"You are busy, I am sure," Astra said, putting an end to his suggestion. It was a bit rude of her, but he did not seem to protest. If anything, he looked disappointed at his own business, taking a large gulp of wine. "I have, however, befriended Douglass's daughter, May."
"That is good. You… you have seemed to befriend a good many people since you have arrived."
"It is because I am different. And I am not so much welcomed by all." There was yet another awkward pause before Astra decided to provide an example so as not to make Caspian feel guilty. "Maria will probably throw a party the day after I leave." Caspian smiled a little at this and opened his mouth to say something before Caspian's short secretary burst in.
"It is time to get ready for the Lion Heart Ceremony."
"Already? I must have lost track of the time."
"Come now, if it pleases Your Majesty."
"Doesn't sound like you have much of a choice to me," said Astra quietly, as Caspian gathered his papers. "Oh, the life of a King: to be have all the power to order people around, yet be told by others what to do." Astra gave him a knowing smile as Caspian looked at her shocked. At last, someone who understood the paradox in which he called his life.
"Oh, you, Lady Astra," said the secretary. "Aslan has requested your presence at the ceremony. You will want to change into something nicer." Astra decidedly did not like the secretary.
"There's no need to dirty two dresses in one day," protested Astra.
"Then don't get it dirty," said the secretary with a wave of his hand. "Maria is expecting you to be in your room now."
"Oh, FML," grumbled Astra, stalking away.
"FML? Do you know what the lady means by those letters, Your Majesty?"
"I haven't the slightest idea."
"Daughters of Eve! I swear, they speak a whole different language."
"Agreed."
May impatiently waited for Astra outside of her room.
"You were supposed to be here a half hour ago!"
"How was I supposed to know that?"
"Well, it was expected that you would spend most of the day in the castle and that it would be easy to find you."
"I don't like staying in one place long."
"We've noticed."
"Girl! I hear you whispering outside. Come in now!" cried Maria from within.
"Is she talking to you or me?" asked Astra.
"That would be you."
"That's what I thought." Astra opened the door, only to be grabbed by Maria and shoved into a chair where she was bombarded by a bevy of maids. Astra's wind-swept hair was forced to cooperate with a simple gold headband and kohl was used to line her eyes before she was ordered to shed her simple day dress for something for fancy. For sure, the poor seamstress had been working overtime as she presented Astra with an embellished gold and bronze dress. It was pretty enough, but far too complicated for Astra's simple tastes. The neck of the dress was nearly nonexistent, as it barely hung onto her shoulders.
"Perhaps a necklace would be good," suggested May.
"Oh no, she cannot wear a necklace!" insisted Maria. "It would be a scandal!" Astra nearly choked on her own spit at the seriousness of Maria's tone.
"Oh Aslan, help us all if I dare wear a necklace!" scoffed Astra.
"Indeed, for you will be wearing the Lion Heart awards."
"What?!?!" A knock at the door saved Maria from a full-on interrogation from Astra. The secretary called her out of the room and Astra decided to let him explain it.
"So, I never volunteered to be a part of the ceremony, so I'm not exactly keen on this grand idea."
"Well, I do not see any other pretty ladies conveniently walking around the castle who are both in His Majesty's and Aslan's favor."
"Thanks… I think… but I really don't like this."
"Well, that is quite lamentable, but I am doing this on Aslan's orders. He seems to think you are competent enough."
"And your sentiments are different, I suppose," drawled Astra.
"Aslan, please talk some sense into the girl," said the secretary with a wave of his hand.
"I did not sign up for this. I did not sign up to end up here, wear dresses, try to engage Caspian in reasonably interesting conversations, or to give out some award. I did not sign up for this."
"Astra…"
"I'm not even qualified! I mean, shouldn't someone high and mighty be giving the award? I am nobody. And it seems to be the general opinion that pretty girls are supposed to do stuff like this around here, but numero uno: I am not from around here and numero dos: it takes like a dozen other people freaking forever to make it so I can get a second glance."
"Astra…"
"This is ridiculous! What is this award even for?"
"It is for bravery on the battlefield."
"Exactly my point! Shouldn't some general be giving the award? Or the king? I mean, that would be pretty cool, I would think. Better than some random girl from America who seems to confuse people every time she opens her mouth. Yeah. And I'm not even as brave as these guys!"
"Astra…"
"They fought in a war, and what have I done? Overcome my fear of vegetables? Oh yay, props for me."
"Astra!!!"
"Yes?
"You are plenty brave. You are still here, after all. And you are doing fine."
"Not really. I'm just… I don't know… I'm just floating, I guess."
"Better than sinking."
"I don't want to do this."
"I know. But we all have to do things we do not exactly like to do in Life."
"Is she persuaded yet?" asked the secretary.
"Adequately."
"Good. So you will be wearing the awards—they are medallions—around your neck and as the names of the soldiers are called, you will removed one and put it around the soldiers neck and perhaps give them a kiss on the cheek."
"A what?!?!?!"
"Can you please lower your voice? A kiss on the cheek, as a reward for their courageous efforts."
"I thought the shiny medallion was the reward 'for their courageous efforts.'"
"It is."
"I'm all for courage and whatnot, but I draw the line at kissing random dudes. I veto your proposition. Hey Caspian—I mean, Your Majesty—do you have veto power?"
"Lady Astra, please focus!" groaned the secretary.
"I suppose I do have veto power in a sense," mused Caspian.
"Your Majesty!" exclaimed the secretary
"I veto kissing men," said Astra, ignoring the secretary.
"Override her veto!" cried the secretary to Caspian.
"It does seem to be a slightly outdated practice."
"Your Majesty, will all due respect, this is not the time to be liberal."
"And with all due respect, my friend, I beg to differ," said Caspian suavely. "Lady Astra, if you could please shake the men's hands, I believe they would appreciate the gesture." The secretary stalked off, throwing his hands in the air. "Oh, may I please put the medallions on you?"
"Yeah."
"Just lift up your hair please." Caspian carefully, one by one, put the dozen medallions around her neck with gentle precision. There was something quiet about his manner, almost tender, that Astra did not know what to make of. Astra studied him out of the corner of her eye, seeing the focused look on his face. Dressed in gold himself, Caspian looked like some divine being, a savior for Narnia. Astra only wondered if she could save him.
Next chapter, the Lion Heart Ceremony continues and Astra makes a daring resolution...
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- Off Dreaming
