A/N: Oh, look! An update! Anyway, I'm going to try to update more regularly now. So, please enjoy this chapter.
Thank you to all my faithful readers and for those who review. Means alot. :) Thanks especially to Laura Andrews, my beta, and my cousin, who gives me more ideas to add on and all that jazz. ;)
Disclaimer: Only own Sheleiya, if you can't tell already.
{This chapter is in Sheleiya's POV}
Chapter XIII: Secrets and Silence
Dinner was quiet. The minds of all were so absorbed in their current problem that no one cared to talk much. King Peter and King Edmund excused themselves early and, presently, Sheleiya excused herself. She had a difficult time finding her room. She got lost numerous times in the halls that seemed to all lead to one place. After what seemed like hours, she finally found it. Relieved, she relaxed on a couch set by the window.
It had been a rough day, to say the least. She had left Anvard in the midst of a fight with her sister about something or other. She never remembered what their fights were about anymore. They came too often to be worth her time, so she thought.
She felt a pang in her heart remembering the old Breeca—the real Breeca. They had gotten along very well, hadn't they? However, Breeca had allowed her fears to interfere with everything she did; it had overcome her almost completely. She hardly trusted anyone. If it wasn't for Sheleiya, they might have still been wandering in Archenland's woods. Breeca was opposed to the idea of working in a castle.
"Too many people," she had said at first. Though once she grew accustomed and attached to the princes and Aravis (which she would never admit), she seemed to have no problem.
Sheleiya's thoughts were interrupted by a quiet knock at her door. She opened the door slightly to see who it was. It was Queen Lucy.
"Hello, I was wondering whether you would like to join Susan and me in the library?" she asked.
Sheleiya slipped out of the room, quietly shutting the door behind her. "Yes, I would like that very much, Your Majesty," she replied with a relieved smile. Books always made her feel more at home, whether she was actually reading or not.
"Oh, please, just call me Lucy," the young queen giggled as she led Sheleiya down the halls. "Susan is already waiting there. She should have a fire going. I say, it is raining hard out there, isn't it?"
Sheleiya peered out the windows they were passing. She wondered how she didn't realize it before. The rain was coming down hard. It seemed to Sheleiya as if the whole castle was underneath a waterfall.
"Does it always rain like this?" she asked, still staring out the windows.
"In the spring," replied Lucy. "Though we haven't had this much rain in ages."
They met Queen Susan in the main library. As Lucy had said, the fire was already going. The older queen stood as they entered the room and greeted them.
"Lucy, Sheleiya, there you are," she stood and gestured for them to sit. "We thought you might want to do something for the night, Sheleiya. I hope we didn't disturb you?"
"Oh, no," Sheleiya said. "I wasn't doing anything at all. I'm actually very glad for some company, Your Majesty."
The gentle queen smiled. "Well, I'm glad we called, then. How is your sister Breeca?"
Sheleiya resisted the urge to frown. "She's well."
"And how are the two princes and Aravis?" Lucy asked.
"Staying out of trouble," Sheleiya laughed.
"How is King Lune? How is he handling the 'situation'?" Susan asked.
"He is worried for Archenland and spends much of his time in council, but his health is fine."
"That is good. I'm afraid our brother Peter will be doing the same very soon. However, he's not so careful about his health," Susan sighed.
"How did you do it?" Sheleiya asked suddenly. She had always figured kings and queens simply knew what to do when, as if they were born with it, but she had a suspicion the monarchs of Narnia were different.
"Do what?" asked Lucy.
Sheleiya bit her lip, realizing her question probably sounded stupid. She hesitated when the queens stared at her expectantly. "It's just-you were all very young when you first ruled, weren't you?"
"Yes," said Lucy. "Very, very young! But, Aslan knew we were right for the kingdom, and that's all that mattered at the time, really. Oh, Susan, do you remember how excited we were at our coronation!" The two queens shared a smile. Sheleiya again felt that sting of jealousy upon seeing the bond shared in this family.
"So, how did you all know how to run a country at such young ages?" Sheleiya said.
"By the grace of Aslan," Lucy replied simply.
"So, you've met Him?" Sheleiya asked.
"Several times! Oh, He is wonderful! He's—he's—oh, you'll just have to meet Him someday. I can't exactly describe him," Lucy said excitedly.
Sheleiya smiled her first genuine smile all evening. Ever since she had first come to the northern countries, she always had a desire to see Aslan. She had heard that He was terrifying, yet she wanted to meet him, though she didn't know why.
Sheleiya opened her mouth to reply, but was interrupted when one of the huge doors swung open.
"Hullo, ladies," Edmund came in. "Don't mind me. I'm just looking for something."
"Where's Peter?" asked Lucy.
"After much persuading on my part, he finally agreed to get some sleep," Edmund replied without looking at her. He was scanning the names of the books on the bottom shelves.
"What are you looking for, Ed?" Susan stood up and walked up next to him.
"For some information on some Narnian history. There's some business I need to research, if you know what I mean."
Sheleiya withheld her laughter. She knew he was lying. It was not because of anything in particular he had said. She had always been able to discern these sorts of things.
"Well, you might try looking up there where the records of past kings are," Lucy suggested calmly. The twitch of her fingers, though, told Sheleiya there was something she was hiding as well.
"Are you all doing research on past monarchs?" Sheleiya asked, now curious.
"Something like that," Edmund replied. "Where are those books, Lu? I couldn't find them earlier."
Lucy pointed seventeen or eighteen shelves higher. "There! Mr. Tumnus put them up there instead on the bottom shelf since he said no one looks at them very often anymore."
"Oh."
Sheleiya noted that his face grew paler. She smirked. So, the acclaimed Just King of Narnia was afraid of heights? As the queens directed Edmund to the right book, Sheleiya began to realize how normal they actually were. They all had their doubts and fears—irrational or rational. They all had weaknesses.
"You're researching King Frank? I thought his reign was a peaceful one," Sheleiya commented, observing that Edmund had reached for the book with the earliest date on it.
"It was," said Edmund. "But, I'm looking for something else."
"Well, if you find anything," said Susan. "Please tell us this time."
Edmund smirked, "Very well."
"Oh, that reminds me of something I wanted to ask you," said Sheleiya "Is there a cave west of Narnia that may or may not hold treasure or some great historical secret? I know-"
The book in Edmund's hand slipped and made a loud thud on the ground. "Clumsy me," he coughed. He quickly picked up the book. "Where did you hear of this rumor?"
Sheleiya went on cautiously. "To find information, you must proceed carefully, looking for openings," she reminded herself. She had learned that very well in another time—another situation.
"It was in a book about Narnia in our library," she said aloud. She shrugged. "I was just curious if it might be true. Though, from your reactions, I suppose it doesn't exist."
She eyed the three of them carefully as they exchanged glances.
"How old did the book seem?" Lucy inquired.
"I don't know. Does it matter?"
"It might help us answer your question. Can you try to remember?" Edmund asked, placing the book on a table.
"Well, maybe ten or twenty years?" She shrugged. "I don't see what you're getting at."
The three siblings exchanged another glance.
"Just out of curiosity," Edmund replied. "We've had quite a few books come out of Narnia that weren't exactly factual. This sounds like one of them."
"So, the cave doesn't exist?"
"Probably not," Edmund replied. "It doesn't sound like there's much worth going after it either. It's on Telmarine ground if does exist."
"How do you know that?" Sheleiya said. "I only said that it was found west of Narnia."
The king kept his composure perfectly. "The boundaries of Narnia have changed much since then. Sometime before the Hundred Year Winter, Telmar took part of Narnia's land. It was when the White Witch was gradually taking power."
She stared at each of them hard. They were hiding something; she could sense that. She said no more, however. Sheleiya knew the only way to obtain any more information out of them was if they trusted her more. And why should they trust her? They had only met her twice.
Edmund cleared his throat. "I shall retire. Goodnight!"
They all bid him the same. Queen Susan resumed to her seat and they all sat there quietly for a while.
Presently, Sheleiya stood, "If you will excuse me, I think I will go to bed. I have a long journey tomorrow."
"Will you be leaving early?" asked Lucy.
"Right after breakfast, if possible," Sheleiya answered.
After they had exchanged farewells, Sheleiya left the library and continued to her room. Unfortunately, she took a wrong turn and ended up in a different part of the castle. She now regretted turning down the queens' offer of a servant showing her to her room.
"My blasted pride," she groaned. She decided to keep walking straight hoping that this hall would eventually lead back to the main hall. As she did, she heard something peculiar.
She was passing a door when she heard, "I'm telling you, Peter, Sheleiya knows more than we think." It was Edmund's voice. She calmed her conscious by claiming that she wasn't eavesdropping since her name was involved.
"What do you mean, Ed?" came a sleepy voice Sheleiya assumed to be King Peter.
"Somehow, she knows about the cave."
Sheleiya had to put her ear to the door, for the kings had lowered their voices.
"Perhaps, it was an old book she read." That was King Peter.
"Yes, but-"
"Edmund, something just came to me!" Peter exclaimed. "Perhaps she knows something about it that we don't. A missing link if you will."
"Peter, we have all we need right here," Edmund said.
"Yes, but if you remember, we saw no caves at all the many times we passed by the Telmar River."
"I don't know, Pete. I don't trust her completely—no matter what King Lune might say."
"Neither do, I," Peter said slowly. "You're right. Let's not say anything. But, see if you can't get anything out of her. Get her to talk about it of her own volition."
"I don't know. I thought we said we agreed we wouldn't look into for now."
"True, brother. But let's not forget about it completely. It seems as if this girl already knows about it. And, apparently, it's in books in kingdoms other than Narnia."
Sheleiya remembered the green book where she found the information about the cave. She remembered that the book was originally from Narnia. How it came to be in Anvard's library was a mystery.
"Maybe, I'll try tomorrow."
"Yes, you do that. But careful not to say too much," Peter said with a yawn. "Now, if you'll excuse me. I'm going to get some rest. First, you pester me to get sleep before I work myself to death, and then you wake me up an hour later. Really, Ed, make up your mind."
Sheleiya heard footsteps approaching the door. She quickly jumped a few paces forward to make it seem as if she had just passed the door. The door opened and Edmund came out quietly closing the door behind him. He was startled at seeing Sheleiya standing there for it was the royal's part of the castle.
"Did you get lost?" he laughed not unkindly. She nodded.
"I did too for nearly a year, when I first came here," he said. "To get back, just go straight. That will lead you into the main hall. Then take the second left. Can you find your way from there?"
Sheleiya nodded and thanked him before going on her way, careful to remember that "second left." It was rather easy to find her room once she was in the correct hall. She closed her door and the windows, and lay on the bed. It was perfectly silent. Silence. That was what she needed to be able to think. Perfect silence.
A/N: Hopefully, that gives you a little more insight into Sheleiya. But, what's she up to? ;) I would love to hear your thoughts and constructive criticism if you have it. :) Thanks for reading!