Okay, I just want to start off with apologizing! I had a bit of writers block, followed by the busiest week I thought imaginable! I am sooooo sorry! Anyway, I finally got the chapter done after much delay, so I hope that you like it!
Unfortunately, I still do not own Narnia, but I have the joy of owning Annalia and my story, so no touchy, and I am happy!
By the way, for those of you who have been following this story, thanks! Your support is amazing!
The King and The Duchess
Chapter 11
"We must send out a search party immediately! They were supposed to be with King Lune for the week! This is awful! Where could they be?" exclaimed Susan.
"Your majesty, if I may, I'm sure that they're all right! Who would dare harm your younger siblings - not to mention the fact that they are king and queen," said Mr. Beaver.
"Try not to worry, dear," added Mrs. Beaver.
"We need a search party, nonetheless! But, we've already looked everywhere! Okay, the last time that I saw them was when Peter left the Archenland dock for Galma. So let's start looking there."
A gryphon was sent down to Archenland and checked the docks. After landing, and speaking for a few minutes with a faun who worked at the docks, he quickly flew back to Cair Paravel.
"Well?" asked Susan as she ran outside to meet the gryphon, followed closely by the beavers.
"I'm very sorry, your majesty, but there was no sign of them. I spoke with a faun at the docks. He said that your royal brother and sister were seen sneaking onto the same ship which your royal brother the High King took to Galma last week."
"EDMUND!" yelled Susan.
"You don't know that it was his idea," pointed out Mrs. Beaver.
Susan raised her eyebrows at him. "Really? You know my brother! I can't believe that he did that! And dragging Lucy along with him? I would have hoped that he would have been a little more responsible!"
"You majesty, with all due respect..." started the gryphon.
"I know, I know! What am I thinking, it's Edmund! What are we going to do? I can't just leave. Someone has to stay here to keep Narnia in order. And if Edmund and Lucy - but especially Edmund - stay in Galma, they'll drive Peter insane. Who will go and get them?" cried Susan.
"I always love an adventure. The giants of the north haven't given us any trouble recently, and the Calormens wouldn't dare attack while both of the kings are away, for fear of being unfair," explained Oerius, as he approached Susan. "I can go to collect them."
"All right. That would be excellent! We'll send a gryphon to confirm that they're in Galma. Thank you, Oerius!"
"Lucy! Lucy!" yelled Edmund.
"What is it? Food?" asked Lucy, smiling. She was still sitting near the crate at the dock, and was still starving.
"Oh no! No, it's way bigger than that! Like, ten times bigger than that!"
"At the moment, nothing will be more important to me than food!"
"Well this is, so shoosh la bouche!"
"Okay, go ahead."
"I saw Annalia kissing Peter!"
"Underneath the mistletoe last night," sang Lucy. "You know, I really don't like that song. And, for the record, as excited as I am, that doesn't mean that they're serious!"
"Lucy, work with me! Do you honestly think that our big brother would have come all this way if they weren't serious? You know that this means? It means a wedding! And you know what a wedding means?"
"Yeah, it means a priest has to come, and Annalia will have a pretty dress, and they'll force you to look presentable."
"Watch it, Lu! Actually, I was thinking food."
"Edmund, if you think that I am going to wait until they get married to eat, you have another thing coming! And unless you get me some food soon, I will eat you!"
"Nice image, Lucy. Besides, face it, you'd be lost without me!"
"Maybe, but I might have food!"
"Lucy!"
"Sorry. Um, we should turn ourselves in, though. At least we'd have a place to stay until Peter decides that it's time to go home!"
"I've already told you that sleeping down here at the docks will be fun! Lucy, where's your sense of adventure?"
"It took a hike when I found out that you wanted me to sleep down here! You do what you want, but I'm surrendering!"
"Lucy, you can't betray the cause!"
"I can, and I plan on doing so! Want to come, or would you rather spend the night out here all alone?"
When her brother made no attempt at a reply, Lucy asked, "Why are you ignoring me?"
"Why should I talk to a traitor?"
"Answering a question with a question! My, my, isn't someone happy today? You're sure you won't come?"
"And betray the cause like you've done? Never!"
"Suit yourself," muttered Lucy, and she headed off in the direction of Annalia's large house.
"Hey, Lu!" called Edmund.
Lucy smirked as she turned around. "Come on, then!"
Edmund ran up next to her, and the two headed off.
"This was your brilliant idea! You knock!" exclaimed Edmund.
"But I don't want Peter to be mad at me!"
"Excuse me," said a servant, and the door suddenly opened.
Lucy and Edmund's faces resembled that of deer in the headlights.
"Oh Aslan!" exclaimed Edmund. "You scared me half to death!"
Lucy smacked her brother. "How many times do Su and I have to lecture you about swearing?"
The servant cleared her throat. "Can I help you?"
"Yeah, I'm Lucy, and my idiotic big brother dragged me here on a ship so that we could spy our other brother. And now that that's all done, we'd like to see him, please?" she asked.
"Who...are you saying that you're Queen Lucy and King Edmund?" the servant gasped.
"No autographs, please!" said Edmund, as he pushed his way inside. "Wow, this is nice; nearly as awesome as Cair Paravel. Hey, Lucy, do you want to move here?"
"I thought I recognized that voice!" exclaimed Peter, as he entered the front hall.
"Peter!" yelled Lucy, and she hugged him. "Is there anything to eat here? Edmund has refused to get me any food, and I haven't eaten since last night!"
"Edmund, Lu's still a kid! She needs to eat!"
"Eh, don't go nosing around in my business, and stick with your girlfriend," sighed Edmund.
"Would that be me?" asked Annalia, walking in.
"Asl-I mean, will you please refrain from sneaking up on me! Man, between you and your servant, it is a miracle that I am still alive!"
Lucy sighed, "Can I have some food?"
As Annalia tossed Lucy an apple, she said, "Edmund, you do realize that she needs to eat!"
"Thanks, I'll try to remember that," he replied, sarcastically. "Why is everybody picking on me?"
"You're loved, you fool," teased Peter.
"Then all of you do me favour, and love me less!"
Do you like it? I do aim to please. :) Once again, sorry for the delay! Please review!
Thanks for reading, and God bless,
R12Fizzy
