Disclaimer: The Chronicles of Narnia and it's profits belong to the Estate and Heirs of CS Lewis. I am neither and estate or an heir and I am very broke.
A/N: Terabinthia is...Greece. I watched Clash of the Titans (new version) right before I wrote this and the images of Argos were in my mind. Italized conversation is hand signing.
Terabinthia was a beautiful island, its main port and capital was perched on the side of the cliffs that protected the interior of the island and its olive farms. Lucy thought the city looked familiar, but she did not worry about why. Instead, she focused on staying close to Gwynnifar as they wove through the markets. Hadrian and Kegen led the way, and Lucy had spotted Brennus, the Lynx Junea had deputized to go in her place. If anything happened, this would be one more layer of cover for Lucy.
Gwynnifar turned slightly to look at Lucy and her hands moved, "Where do we look first?"
"Weapons," Lucy replied after a moment of thought, "daggers?"
Gwynnifar shook her head, "Next choice."
"Fabrics? Jewelry? Something for sister," Lucy signed after a longer moment.
"Good choice," Gwynnifar replied.
They wandered through the markets to where the fabric sellers were and Lucy was hard pressed not to stare at everything. In the back of her mind, she remembered Gwynnifar's final piece of advice. "No matter what they have or haven't see, Katalina don't show amazement. You're young, so a little emotion will be ok, but it's practically shameful to display emotion."
Finally, Gwynnifar steered them over to a booth with a bunch of the velvets that would be suitable to the cold weather in Narnia. The merchant eyed them and their painted faces and seemed to wilt for a moment. Then Hadrian stopped there to consider a piece of red fabric. Kegen stood beside him, watching the crowd. Lucy slipped closer to see the fabric. It was beautiful and it looked like it would be perfect for a winter dress. The rich red color would look good with Susan's hair, Lucy thought.
Hadrian held his hand over the fabric, eyeing the merchant, who nodded. Hadrian ran a hand carefully over the fabric and felt the edge. He twitched his other hand, "Good fabric."
Lucy nodded slightly, and Hadrian let it go. He nudged Kegen and made a hand sign that Lucy didn't catch. Kegen turned to the merchant, "Master wishes to thank you for showing the fabric," Kegen said. Hadrian made a second sign, "He wishes to know if you have this fabric in purple and green as well."
Fabrics were produced and examined and Lucy was quickly bored by it all, although she pulled out every trick she'd ever used in Audience to stand quietly and look attentive. Gwynnifar moved her arm and Lucy looked at her, "Come."
Lucy nodded and followed Gwynnifar past the fabric stalls to a group of trinket sellers. Lucy bit the inside of her lip to keep her smile inside as she looked up at Gwynnifar. Gwynnifar nodded slightly and Lucy slipped forward to look at the trinkets, folding her hands into her sleeves to keep from touching. This person worked in wood, and had made a statues ranging from palm sized up to a bear that was nearly life size. "Greetings, Mistresses," the olive skinned man said. "Feel free to browse."
Lucy nodded to him and looked, the work was good, but she'd seen just as good at him. Then she noticed an unusual statue. The lion on top had caught her eye, but the whole statue attracted her. The lion was standing on a block carved to look like a mountain. The lion was carved out of a golden wood, while the base was dark, gray like wood. Below and on the left was a griffon, wings laired, tail below it, single talon raised carved from a reddish golden wood. Across from that was a sleek jungle cat, carved from a black wood, mouth drawn back in a snarl. Below the griffon was a fox, carved the same wood as the griffon, crouched in a furtive manor. Below the cat was a wolf, carved from a gray-white wood, also crouched for an attack.
Lucy looked at Gwynnifar, who leaned over to study the statue, then looked at Lucy with a raised eyebrow. Lucy looked away, and saw the calico cat, Abigail, running through the crowd. The cat paused near them for a moment and then ran on. Lucy looked back at Gwynnifar, who nodded slightly. Hadrian and Kegen joined them, Kegen with a pack on his back from which a scrap of red fabric peeked out. Gwynnifar made a series of signs that Lucy couldn't follow, Hadrian responded. Lucy watched them, wondering what was going on. Finally, Gwynnifar turned to her and signed, "You and I return to ship."
Lucy opened her mouth, but caught herself just in time and nodded. Gwynnifar slipped her hand under Lucy's elbow and they hurried from the markets. Lucy glanced back to see Kegen watching her, a strange look in his eyes before Hadrian cuffed him. Lucy turned back as she tripped over her robe and focused on walking, or rather jogging, beside Gwynnifar. They reached the harbor before a shout rang out behind him. Gwynnifar glanced back, scooped up Lucy like she was a baby and ran for the ship's boat.
Brennus appeared just as Gwynnifar pushed Lucy onto the boat. "What's going on?" Lucy asked, unable to keep silent for longer.
"Shush," Gwynnifar said, as Abigail popped up from under a seat. Moments later, Terrence, Malachi and Thomas flowed over the side of the dock and into the boat. They waited in silence; even the two crewmen assigned to row the boat were quiet. Boots pounded on the dock, and Hadrian and Kegen showed up.
"To the boat," Hadrian ordered as he jumped in.
The crewmen cast off and began to row. Lucy looked as Hadrian and Gwynnifar began an angry finger conversation, and turned to Kegen. Kegen had a bloody cut on his forehead and was panting hard, and in his hand was the dagger Lucy knew he hid in his boot, it was bloody. "What happened?" She asked, her voice shaking despite every effort she made to change it.
"The kidnapper," Terrence said, "was in the palace."
"Then why are we leaving, Susan could have been there!" Lucy demanded.
"No, Majesty," Malachi replied, "I saw him in the slave pens. He spoke of a recent selling trip to the Lone Islands. I followed him to the guard house."
Thomas coughed, "He was bragging, Majesty, of fooling you. Making you think he was from Calormen when he's Terabinthian. He went to the palace last."
"He went to see the Governor's son," Terrence said, "and from what I heard, the kidnapping was part of a plan. Nomiki, the son, arranged for the Queen's kidnapping as part of a plot to get her to marry him. His plan was for her to be kidnapped and sold to fake slavers. Nomiki would then go and rescue her, thereby earning her undying gratitude and her hand in marriage."
Lucy frowned, but the thought she'd had faded as they reached the boat. The ladder was dropped and she followed the others up. Junea was pacing the deck, growling under her breath. "We're here," Hadrian said. "Majesty."
"We need to make for the Lone Islands," Lucy said, "but not in a way that will cause alarm. I assume you were listening. We need to go before this…this…this governor's son leaves." She took a deep breath and then pivoted to stalk across the deck.
"Majesty," Junea said, "what has happened?"
Lucy shook her head slightly before heading down stairs, once they were in her cabin, she sank onto the floor. "Nomiki, the son of Terabinthia's governor, arranged it so he could marry Susan. The cats heard him." She smiled as Junea sat beside her, "Now, the name Nomiki is familiar and I just can't remember why."
"Queen Susan refused his offer of betrothal," Junea said promptly. "She was very irate at his manner of proposing."
Lucy straightened, "That's right, how could I have forgotten? It was the first time Susan ever swore in front of me."
"We're off to the Lone Islands then," Junea asked.
"Yes," Lucy replied.
"What will we do when we get there?" Junea asked.
"We'll figure that out on the journey," Lucy replied, she hugged Junea and rested her head on her friend's shoulder for a moment and then straightened. "I need to write a report for Peter." She stood and took a seat at the desk and began to write.