Chapter 10: Part Two
Cor and Aravis hurried over to Corin, who was kneeling by Lily. She lay still on the ground. 'There's no pulse,' said Corin, his throat sounding tight. Tears started to stream down his cheeks.
'Lily?' He shook her gently, and sniffed. Cor placed a hand on his twin's shoulder to comfort him. Aravis also sniffed, and Cor reached for Aravis's hand with his other hand. Aravis took it and squeezed it.
The lion padded over. Corin looked into its face, and saw Aslan staring back at him.
'Aslan, she's dead!' Corin broke down completely and sobbed. His whole body shook. 'I'm sorry, Aslan. I should have kept her safe like you told me. I didn't remember our meeting. But it's all my fault. I'm a fool. I'm not worthy to be a knight.'
'Hush, my son,' purred Aslan, giving him a lion's kiss. 'Lily is just asleep.' Aslan then breathed over the lifeless body.
The body spluttered, coughed and then rolled over. Lily's eyes opened and she gazed at Corin.
'Corin!' she wailed, and embraced him so violently that she almost knocked the wind out of him.
'You should thank Aslan,' replied Corin, gently taking Lily's hands and making her look at Aslan. 'He saved you really.'
Lily turned to face the Great Lion, and meekly bowed her head.
'Thank you,' she whispered. Aslan gave her a lion's kiss on her forehead.
'Well fought, Shasta and Corin,' Aslan rumbled. 'Well done, Bree and Hwin.' For Bree and Hwin had trotted towards Aslan, overflowing with joy to see him. 'Farewell to you all.'
Then Aslan was gone, and everyone looked at each other.
'Did they do anything else to you apart from tie you up?' Cor asked. The girls shook their heads.
'Who were they?' asked Corin, in bewilderment.
'We don't know,' admitted Aravis.
'I think, and this is just my opinion, that those men were sent by your former connections back in Calormen to capture you and take you back there,' offered Bree. 'Or they were Calormene slave traders who wanted to capture some Narnians and sell them in Tashbaan.'
'Well, you're safe now,' Cor informed Aravis, gently touching her face. Aravis stepped back from him.
'If I had my dagger on me I would have been able to fight them off,' she declared with pride. 'I should never have agreed to wear this wretched dress without it,' she grumbled.
Cor snorted. 'I highly doubt it. I know you can fight, Aravis, but they had scimitars and ropes. I think you and Lily would still have struggled.'
'I think it's best if we go back to the Stone Table,' interjected Hwin. 'Both the ladies need to be taken back to Cair Paravel, and Shasta and Corin need to inform their majesties about this event.'
'Father will have a field day,' exclaimed Cor. 'We save the same damsels in distress, again!'
'Oh shut up,' snapped Aravis. 'We were not damsels in distress.'
'Well, you're damsels, and you seemed distressed, so – ow!'
'Aravis, don't hit Cor. He saved your life!'
'Oh shut up, Lily.'
'Don't listen to her, Lily,' said Corin, taking Lily's hands in his. 'She doesn't mean it. She's just angry because she couldn't sort out the situation on her own.'
'Can we please get on?' urged Hwin.
Bree and the humans obeyed and the party trooped back to the Stone Table. The Narnians greeted them warmly and Cor and Corin told the High King what happened. Their majesties ordered that Aravis and Lily be taken back to Cair Paravel immediately to bathe and rest. Cor and Corin asked to go with them, for even though it was an evening of great celebration, they were both tired and wanted to rest.
Dancing and feasting continued long into the night around the Stone Table, but the four young people slept soundly.
The next morning, Cor and Corin were summoned to a private meeting with the High King, Queen Susan, King Edmund and Queen Lucy, and their father King Lune, in the Great Hall.
King Lune was beaming as the twins arrived.
'My sons!' he boomed, embracing them both. 'I cannot tell you how proud I am, and highly amused that you have saved the same damsels from distress yet again!'
He chuckled, as well as Queen Lucy.
Cor and Corin felt themselves go red.
'And this is the reason why we have summoned you here,' explained Queen Susan.
'We noticed that Lily and Aravis missed both of you a great deal while they have been residing with us here at Cair Paravel,' Queen Lucy spoke. 'I came across Aravis's diary a couple of weeks ago, and couldn't resist – '
'And you should have seen how many men wanted to court Lily,' interrupted Queen Susan. 'But she would have none of them. And she had this ring which she never took off.'
'When we asked her, she would never say who gave her the ring, but we have a feeling it's you,' added King Edmund craftily.
'So? Why are you bringing this up?' blurted out Corin indignantly. He was as red as a tomato.
'Well,' said the High King slowly, 'as you are both knights and of age, there is nothing to stop you from… getting married.'
Queen Susan and Queen Lucy beamed at their brother. King Lune clapped his hands together with delight.
'Come on, boys. I know how you feel about those ladies. They were heartbroken after Lily and Aravis left for Cair Paravel,' King Lune informed the kings and queens. 'Beside themselves. I knew that this love would be requited.'
'Well, that settles it. I'm just going to ask them if they agree,' said King Lune, heading for the door.
'No, but Father,' Cor ran towards him and blocked his path, Corin following.
King Lune continued to smile at his sons. 'What, my boy?'
Cor and Corin looked at each other.
'We wish to ask them ourselves. Today,' Corin informed them all.
The king and queens smiled at each other.
'Well, I think Aravis might need some coming round. As you all know, she's quite proud,' Cor admitted. 'I might not ask her today, but hopefully sometime in the next few days – '
'Oh come on, Cor. You can't chicken out now.'
The kings and queens chuckled at them.
'I'm not chickening out – '
'Well, do it then! Today. I dare you.'
'Fine, I will,' huffed Cor, crossing his arms over his chest.
Corin tried to look as if he didn't care. But then he cracked up at the look on Cor's face. Cor struggled to maintain his determined expression, and burst into laughter. Peter, Susan, Edmund, Lucy and Lune joined in, and their laughter echoed around the empty hall.
