Previously

"It was nice to meet you, Brielle," said Lodette, "I hope we can talk some more."

"I do too," she answered.

Chapter Four. The Antidote

The next morning Brielle, Liliandil, and Chassell were in Dr. Cornelius' study going through old books to use for teaching. Caspian had finally opened up the office, cleaned it up, and turned into a study room for history and science using all of the professor's old books and maps.

When Brielle wasn't working, she could more often than not be found down in the 'study office' as it was now called, looking up Narnian and Telemarine history.

She was fascinated by Narnia's Golden Age. She could read all day about the Kings and Queens of Old.

Her favorite of the four was King Edmund; somehow his story seemed so similar to hers; a story of fear, longing, betrayal, and ultimate redemption.

His handsome face reminded her of Danik, as well. Same large dark eyes, same thick black hair. Gael said King Edmund was quite handsome in real life when she met him on the Dawn Treader and that he truly was the most honorable and just of kings (besides Caspian of course).

If there were ever anybody Brielle could have met from the past, it would be King Edmund.

"You know the more you sit there and read, the more time we'll be spending here in this room?" said Chassell.

Brielle looked up from the book she was going through and to her friend who had a stack of books in her hands.

"She is right," said Liliandil, "but believe me, that book is hard to put down."

"She's read it a hundred times!" said Chassel, referring to Dr. Cornelius' book Narnia: The Golden Age, "I'm surprised she hasn't memorized it yet."

"And it's been worth the read every single time," Brielle said putting the book back on the shelf.

"Well, you can finish you one hundred one reading later this afternoon," Liliandil said handing Brielle some books, "when you and Chassell are done teaching."

When guests were at Cair Paravel, Liliandil usually gave her teaching responsibilities over to Chassell and Brielle so she could entertain her guests.

As they walked out of the room and into the school room, which was only down the hall, Liliandil gave them instructions.

"Today is reading and writing. Brielle, I want you to read a Narnian fable to the younger ones and then ask them to act it out. It will help them understand the concept of the story better.

Chassell, for the older ones, choose a chapter from the books Telmar and Afar and The Beginning Land (the story of the creation of Narnia. Another fabulous book) and ask each of them to take turns reading.

When they're done, have them write about the differences between Narnia and Telmar and they can hand them into tomorrow for their history discussions. Understand?"

"Shouldn't be too hard," said Chassell.

"Good," said Liliandil, "I don't like having the children miss school. They all learn so fast."

"School doesn't take long anyway," said Brielle, "And I enjoy teaching."

"That's why I gave you two the job," Liliandil said stopping outside the school room. Inside there were about twenty-five children all ranging from the ages of four to ten.

They younger ones were playing with toys on the floor, while they older ones were sitting at the tables talking and looking through books."

"Good morning children," said Liliandil.

The children all stood up and said loudly; "Good morning, Your Majesty, Miss Liliandil," and all gave little awkward bows.

"Good morning Miss Lady Brielle and Miss Lady Chassell."

"Good morning," they both said.

"Now children," said Liliandil, "You know that some very important guests have come to the palace and I have to go and see to them, so Miss Brielle and Miss Chassell will be teaching you."

"Yahh! We love Miss Brielle and Miss Chassell!" cheered the children.

"I thought you would," Liliandil smiled, "So I believe you will be good and listen to them?"

"Yes Ma'am," they all said.

"That's good. Then I will see you all later this evening to ask about your day." She gave both girls a confident look and left.

Chassell took the older children into their room that was next door and Brielle sat the younger ones on the floor and read them a fable.

It was about two young fauns who were playing by a deep pool. Suddenly the pool opened up and out came beautiful mermaid who offered them a golden seashell if they told her where to find the land of eternal happiness.

This land, of course, was Aslan's Country, but neither faun had ever heard of it referred to as the land of eternal happiness.

One faun, who was rather greedy, said it was in Archenland. The other faun said that such a land may not exist, but she might want to ask Aslan since he created all of Narnia and the surrounding lands.

The mermaid then gave the golden seashell to the faun who suggested Aslan and then she disappeared back into the pool.

The moral was telling the truth is the only way to find eternal happiness.

The children had fun acting out the story and Brielle had never laughed so hard in her life.

In the afternoon, at lunchtime, the children were dismissed to go back to their parents and Brielle and Chassell went up to lunch.

They saw Caspian and Liliandil eating with Lady Lodette and her two ladies maids at the table.

Brielle was surprised to see how much more beautiful Lady Lodette was in daylight. Her hair wasn't light brown as she had thought, but a silky dark red that hung loosely down her shoulders. Her skin was pale like a porcelain doll and she had clear blue green eyes.

Lady Lodette had an amiable personality and seemed very gracious. Brielle really did want to talk to her about Ettinsmore, but something inside of her told her to be cautious.

She and Chassell sat down next to Gael, Torah, and Meava."

"So, what's she like?" asked Torah.

"Lodette?" asked Meava, "She's a kind person, but somewhat…what's the word…"

"Aloof," said Gael, "like she's afraid."

"Afraid?" said Brielle.

"More like nervous," said Torah, "but I think it's her lady companions you need to worry about."

Both Brielle and Chassell looked over to the two silent companions.

One had had white blonde hair and the other had chestnut brown hair. Both were wearing dark blue gowns. One might call them pretty, but their serious faces could leave a lot to doubt. While their mistress talked, they whispered quietly to themselves. Every now and then they looked down the table to the ladies maids and then went back to their talking.

"So what's wrong?" asked Brielle, "They're in a new country. They're probably just nervous like their mistress."

"That could be true, too," said Gael, "Let's not go judging too quickly."

"Of course," said Eadric coming up behind them and grabbing an orange, "Who knows they might be kindred souls."

"Aren't you suppose to be helping with ship repairs?" teased Gael

"Can't a man come up for a snack?" he said in mock horror.

They all laughed which caused the Lodette's companions to look over at them.

"You know what, forget what I said about them," said Eadric, "They seem just as strange as the two male companions she dragged here."

"What's wrong with them?" asked Torah.

"Remember how Garrett use to act with his friends? Secretive and elusive? Well, that's what they remind me of. Are all people from Ettinsmore like that?" he asked Brielle.

"I have to say they can be," she answered honestly.

"At least they won't be staying long," Eadric said. He kissed Gael softly on the top of her head and hurried out the room.

"They might be from Ettinsmore," said Brielle quietly to her friends, "but secretive and elusive is not a good thing, no matter where you're from."

The next couple of days went by rather pleasingly. Brielle and Lodette would talk on occasion of, although Brielle wanted to know about Lodette's family, she always seemed reluctant to talk about it.

"I'm sorry if I come off as rude," she said one day when she and Brielle were walking in the snowy garden with Liliandil and the ladies maids. Lodette's two handmaidens behind the two of them.

"What?" asked Brielle in surprise, "you've never been rude."

"I mean when it comes to talking about my family," she said, "I'm a very private person, but I don't want to you to think that you are intruding on my privacy."

"Of course not," Brielle said.

"Oh, I have something for you" said Lodette stopping and taking something from her bag. She handed Brielle a small ebony apothecary bottle.

"This," she smiled, "Is the antidote for Vergi snake poison."

"What?" said Brielle in disbelief, "They finally found a cure?"

"Yes," said Lodette, "and it has saved so many lives. The queen was saying yesterday that her husband may have acquired some poison in an old arrow wound."

"Yes, about a year ago."

"All you have to do then is dip a sharp knife into the antidote and then cut the wound with it. You must let the wound bleed and let out all the concealed poison. When the wound is cleaned then bandage it up."

"Thank you so much," said Brielle, "You could have given this to the queen though."

"I just thought it would be better for someone who understood Vergi poison," Lodette said.

Brielle nodded and held the bottle close, anticipating the moment she could tell Caspian the good news.

That night, Liliandil and Brielle did just what Lodette had instructed. When they cut Caspian's wound with the antidote soaked knife, blood mixed with a murky dark liquid started to spill out. Brielle put bowl under the cut and let the contents fall in.

When the wound seemed clean, they bandaged it up.

"I hope this works," said Caspian who was pale from the blood loss.

"It will," said Liliandil smoothing back her husband's hair and kissing him on the forehead, "we owe everything to Lodette."

They left the room to let Caspian sleep.

A deep, dark, painful sleep.

"Brielle. Brielle wake up."

Brielle slowly opened her eyes. It was the middle of the night and she could see Liliandil standing over her with a candle in one hand. She looked terrified.

"What is it?" she said sitting up and rubbing her eyes.

"It's Caspian," said Liliandil as she sat down on the bed, "He's burning up and shaking all over, like he has a fever. He seems to be having a nightmare, but I can't wake him up."

"Lodette didn't tell me any of this," said Brielle fear striking her heart for having believed a stranger so blindly. Caspian's death would be on her hands for allowing the antidote in the King and Queen's presence.

She and Liliandil slowly walked into the royal bedchamber. Caspian looked terrible. He was moving back and forth and breathing heavily. Sweat rolled down from his forehead and his face was deadly white.

Liliandil sat down next to him, looking powerless to do anything else. She gently stroked his forehead and whispered softly to him.

Brielle couldn't conceive the thought of Caspian dying. Of having him gone…it terrified her. Men like Caspian and Eadric, Drinian, Rhince, Ironhoof, all of those she had come to love.

The thought of having anything happen to them; they, that were the strongholds and safeguards of Cair Paravel and Narnia, and Caspian, their noble strong leader led by Aslan. What would happen if he died that night?

Brielle had wanted to be queen, but not like this. To have Caspian, in the flower of his youth, die so unnecessarily and in so much pain? To leave his beautiful wife behind in mourning and suffering?

She went over to his bandaged arm and slowly began to unwrap it.

"What are you doing?" asked Liliandil.

"I don't know," she answered.

Slowly she unwound the cloth that was stained with his blood. Then when it was off, Brielle took her candle to look at his arm.

What she saw almost made her throw up. The wound was now completely black; as if something had hardened up inside of it.

Once she recovered, she took another look at it. There was something thick oozing around the hard edges. Brielle touched it softly. The liquid was silvery and it had a pungent odor to it.

She had smelled that odor before.

The odor of Vergi Poison.

Brielle went over and got the apothecary jar and opened it up. The contents were the same silvery liquid that was coming out of Caspian's arm.

"Its poison," she said, "It's not an antidote. It's the snake poison."

"How do you know?" asked Liliandil.

"The poison has been slightly diluted by water, so I wouldn't have picked up on it immediately. And supposedly metal can mask the smell of poison. How could I have been so blind?"

"It's not your fault," said Liliandil.

"Yes, it is," Brielle said, "I should have known better. I'm so sorry."

Liliandil looked over at her; tears trailing down her face.

"He's going to be in pain for the rest of his life," said Brielle who was beginning to cry, "Killing him may be an act of mercy."

Liliandil took her husband's hand and held it to her lips. Brielle's mind was spinning.

How could this happen?

She was a stranger and I trusted her just because she was from Ettinsmore!

It's as if this was planned…

It was planned.

All of it.

Only one person is capable of such innate cruelty.

Brielle got off the bed and ran out the door. In the dark she tried to make the door she was looking for. Finally she made it to guest bedroom door. Slowly she opened it up.

Inside the dark room she saw Lodette sitting at the edge of her bed crying; her hands covering her face. A single candlestick burning at her bedside table.

Brielle walked slowly over to her and put her hand on her shoulder. She looked up with a start. Her face white with fear and she was trembling.

"You…you..need to…go," Lodette whispered.

"No," said Brielle, "I'm meant to stay."

"I'm so sorry," said Lodette through her tears, "So sorry."

Brielle took a breath and looked around the room.

"I know you're here…Jadellias."

Then Brielle heard a cruel laughter. A laughter she had tried so hard to forget.

She heard footsteps across the carpeted floor. Brielle felt Lodette's body stiffen. She reached out and took her hand.

Brielle took the candlestick from the bedside table and turned around. A few feet away from her she saw the chestnut haired handmaiden. She was smiling.

She started to walk toward Brielle. Her chestnut hair began to turn black, her eyes began to look darker and her skin paler. Her dark blue dress changed from blue to a deep emerald green. Around her neck was the emerald snake necklace. Their emerald eyes glistening in the light of the candle stick.

Then she was right in front of her.

Brielle stared straight into the eyes of Lady Jadellias Cardees.