Disclaimer: You would have to be crazed if you didn't realize by now that i don't own this. Please don't sue.
Lucy was working in the Library and only had a few more paragraphs to write on her revision of the protocol, when one of the fawns that kept watch on the wall of the castle came running into the library.
"Your highness, the Archenland party is approaching, they just came into view a few minutes ago." Lucy couldn't believe it. She had completely forgotten that the Archenlanders were coming today. So she hastily got up and wiped her hands on a wet cloth she always kept by her inkpot for when her hands got inky.
"Would you go fetch King Peter and Queen Susan for me and tell them to meet us in the Entrance Hall?" Lucy told this to the faun: as she had to pull her hair back again because it would always fall out of place. Once the faun nodded and ran out she went walking briskly out of the room towards the Hospital Quarters. She nearly tripped because she was walking as she was braiding her hair for what felt like the umpteenth time that day. She turned the corner into the Hospital Quarters trying to find something in one of the lower cabinets, only to turn and bump hos head when he heard Lucy come into the room.
"Good afternoon, Ilonwy." Ilonwy only nodded solemnly. Lucy would have to figure out what was wrong with Ilonwy, but not yet. Now she had to welcome the Archenlanders. "Edmund, the Archenlanders have just arrived." At Edmund's facial gesture that clearly showed he would rather stay in the Hospital Quarters, Lucy had to add, "Edmund, you are coming whether you like it or not! Cor and Corin only ever listen to you, and thus you are coming!" This admonition made Ilonwy look up puzzled.
"Cor and Corin? That's the names of the Archenlanders?" Ilonwy's brow was furrowed.
"Yes." Lucy said looking at Ilonwy and remembering what Tumnus's theory had been.
"I just remember those names. I think my mother wanted to use them. She was pregnant when I was kidnapped. Must be some odd sort of coincidence." Ilonwy's brow was still furrowed. Maybe I do have family after all. "Queen Lucy will I be well enough to meet them latter?" Her request sounded almost child like, as if she had to ask permission.
"Of course, you really don't need to ask permission you know. After all, you are older than I am." Lucy couldn't understand what was up with Ilonwy right now.
"Yes, but you are Queen." Ilonwy hoped that she was showing respect as she said this.
"Being Queen doesn't make me any different than you. It just means that I have power that I can use to protect my people. We are just the same. You don't even need to call me Queen at all. I will never order you to do anything unless you work for me and are getting paid fairly or if it is for your own or other's protection. You can treat us as you would treat anyone else. Susan is the only one of us that actually likes being called Queen anyway. Where is she by the way? Is she back from her picnic with Dor? I should hope so. It looks like it shall rain in an hour or two." Lucy was directing these questions at Edmund but once again Ilonwy answered.
"Dor? Ok these name things are getting funny." Ilonwy was shaking her head at this. For the first time in years she was hearing names she recognized.
"How would you know Dor?" Edmund was incredulous. Could she be related to the Archenlanders?
"I had a cousin Dor. He must have been about six when I was four. We would always play with our little wooden horses on the window seat." Ilonwy only remembered these things because she would hang onto these memories for dear life, while on the boat.
"Ok you're right that is just weird. I guess you had better meet the Archenlanders. Tonight after sup we will be with them in the drawing room across from the Hospital Quarters. Lucy do you thinkā¦" Edmund was trying to find away of getting Ilonwy to meet the Archenlanders with out tiring her.
"I'll come and get you and I have a dress you could wear. Tumnus even designed a rolling chair for Hospital patients to move around in if they are to tired." Lucy said as she tapped her foot thinking.
"Why didn't you say there was a rolling chair before? I wouldn't have had to stay here all the time if I knew about that." Ilonwy was getting over feeling unequal to them as she realized that she could have been somewhere nicer instead of this cold white room the whole time.
"Sorry. I forgot." Lucy said she was a bit preoccupied with the protocol after all.
"Oh well, after all you have been a bit preoccupied with Tumnus haven't you?" Lucy wasn't to surprised to hear that from Ilonwy. Now that is the Ilonwy I know. She is the Ilonwy who jokes all the time about my cordial's tastes and other things like that. As Lucy thought this Edmund decided to voice his thoughts.
"Now there is the Ilonwy I know and love." The minute he said it he and Ilonwy both went bright red. Lucy burst out laughing. She couldn't remember a time when she had seen her brother so red.
"Before you two decide to get married could we go greet our guests please?" Lucy was definitely going to get back at her brother and Ilonwy for all the jibes about Tumnus. Lucy turned on her heel to leave the Hospital Quarters. She really wanted the two red faced people to have some alone time, even if it was filled with nothing but a blushing silence.
A/N: Sorry seeing as i blush so much i had to curse others with the predicament. Do things look like they are going right for Ilonwy? Should i focus more on different characters? Do you like it? Open to sugestions! Please read and review!
