I hope you all enjoy the next chapter as Act 3 begins to come to a close.
Chapter 28: More Fun
The next week went by quickly. April sixteenth came as a gorgeous spring day. Arcadia was elated, for today was Princess Philyra's seventeenth birthday. All across Arcadia, parties were being planned in celebration of the special day.
Once all four Narnian monarchs were awake, they headed down to breakfast and met up with all four princes.
"Want to come with us?" asked Gelio with a mischievous smile. "We are going to wake up Nerina!"
Laughing, Susan said, "Alright," and the group continued.
Reaching their sister's room, Chorevo knocked on the door. When there was no reply, he opened the door. Everyone silently crept inside. The four brothers all stood around the bed. When they were all in place, the princes began singing the Arcadian birthday song.
At first there was no response, so the singing quickly grew louder, and Nerina began to wake up. Seeing this, her brothers all shouted, "Happy birthday Nerina!" Gelio and Iremo jumped on top of their sister while the two older brothers began shouting and singing some more. All the Narnian monarchs could do was laugh.
Finally Nerina got out of bed, only to have her brothers pick her up on their shoulders and carry her out of the room.
"Good morning," she yawned to the still laughing Narnians. "Aren't my brothers wonderful?" she asked sarcastically, but laughed all the same.
For breakfast there was the usual large holiday feast.
"So what are you doing for your birthday?" asked Susan.
"Well the schedule for today is to eat breakfast, change, visit the people around Arcadia, eat lunch, go to the beach, and the ice caves. Oh, and there is a ball tonight as well."
"What are we going to do in the ice caves?" Edmund asked.
"Well there are certain ice caves that we use to sled and skate in."
"Today is going to be so much fun!" Lucy said with a grin.
When everyone was ready for the day, they all got on a blue and silver (for they are Arcadia's colors) carriage, pulled by four snow white horses. Narnia rode wearing a form fitting white dress made of a flowing material. The long sleeves were made of lace, and she wore a gold crown beset with sapphires. On her feet were golden sandals, and as always her jingle rings were on her fingers.
In honor of the special day, the Narnian monarchs had all decided to wear clothing from the Arcadian wardrobe given to them after the gala. Peter and Edmund wore tunics, and Nerina helped Susan and Lucy pick out gorgeous dresses. Susan elegantly stepped onto the carriage in a lavender dress that had a long ribbon tied around the waist. Lucy sat down in her pastel green dress that had tiny bells attached to the bottom seam.
Their first stop was an elegant cathedral-like building dedicated to Aslan. Songs of thanksgiving and a bouquet of flowers were given as gifts to the people's Creator.
The rest of the morning was spent going around the city, and visiting various Arcadian's homes. After a quick lunch back at the castle, the Royal Family all wen to the beach. It was a windy day, and so kites were seen flying through the skies. Peter found himself standing next to Adelphos as they watched the Royal Family and many other Arcadians who had come to the beach, fly their multi-colored kites.
"I know it's really not any of my business," Peter said, "but have you decided when you are going to tell Nerina? I mean today would be perfect."
Adelphos watched Nerina help Edmund get his kite in the air. "No it's alright. You are a good friend who is curious, and I need someone to push me. I don't want to tell her today in case she is completely repulsed by it. I don't want to ruin her special day by making things weird between us. I will tell her soon though. I'll let you know when I decide."
"Thank you for the compliment. I am sure she won't be repulsed," Peter added seriously. "It might be a little awkward at first, but you two are perfect for each other."
"You think so?" smiled Adelphos, still gazing at Nerina while she and Edmund laughed as they finally got their kite to fly.
"Of course," said Peter.
NTMNTMNTMNTM
A few hours later everyone headed to the ice caves in carriages of all different shapes and sizes.
Laughter and singing came from all the carriages, especially Nerina's. When they came to their destination, Adelphos hopped down and helped Nerina, Susan, Filia, and Lucy descend. The Narnian Kings and Arcadian princes came next, and when all were ready, they began walking. Carrying skates, the group walked through a small cave into a large cavern. Inside the cavern was an immense skating rink. On the snow covered outer rim were statues of Arcadians skating, made by Nerina. They were the reason every Arcadian knew she was still alive in her absence.
The skating party went to one of the various stone benches, and exchanged their shoes for skates. Nerina was the first on the ice, and skated around with Koros for a while. Being an Ice Princess, she never fell, and happily helped the Narnians learn to skate. Mr. Tumnus had been given a special pair of skates for his hooves, and was slipping and sliding around with Lucy. Peter, Edmund, and Adelphos glided around, discussing various things, while Susan and Filia chatted like old friends.
Every so often an Arcadian would do a trick of some sort, and everyone would applaud. Nerina skated over to Susan and Filia, arm-in-arm with Koros.
"Filia was just going to take me through the caves," said Susan, speaking of the caves attached to the rink. "Would you like to join us?"
"Of course," Nerina answered. "I'm so glad you two get along so well."
The small group skated into a connecting cave, and talked while weaving in and out around the large ice columns. Eventually the cave came back to the main rink, and Nerina caught up with the boys.
"Adelphos, would you like to skate with me?" she asked.
Holding out his arm and smiling his crooked smiled he said, "Of course Princess."
They sped up and he put one arm on her waist, and with the other held her hand as they picked up speed. With his strong arms he then lifted her up into the air, then threw her and she spun, landing on one leg. People clapped, and she spun in a circle, getting faster and faster.
After she stopped spinning, she caught up with Adelphos again. As they passed a large bank that divided the rink, she doubled back, skating faster and faster, then jumped over the bank, speeding into the racing caves.
"Can't catch me!" she yelled over her shoulder to her partner.
As soon as you get that feeling
You can start to live again
He laughed and also jumped the bank, trying to catch up.
"Where are they going?" asked Lucy, as she and Mr. Tumnus passed Susan and Filia, who were now talking with Edmund and Peter.
"Oh," said Filia, "those are the racing caves. Sometime we have competitions to see who is the fastest skater. Nerina is not allowed to compete because her powers give her an extra advantage." She laughed. "Adelphos will never catch up."
Filia was right, for a while later Nerina shot out of the reconnecting cave, slowed down, then sat down on a nearby bench, waiting for Adelphos.
Adelphos emerged a few minutes later, and Nerina laughed at him. Her friend responded by chasing her, and when he had her cornered, he squashed a snowball on her neck. She shrieked with laughter and playfully hit his arm, her blue eyes dancing. Adelphos then bowed to Nerina, brushed off the snow on her dress, and kissed her hand. Everyone watching laughed.
NTMNTMNTMNTM
The last event before the ball was sledding. Arcadian sledding is not the same as when children in our world sled. Their version is more like bobsledding to us, because Arcadian Princesses of the past had carved out different tunnels in the ice, all of them beginning in one cavern and ending up in another. Every tunnel was named after the Princess who carved it, and so the newest one was named "Philyra". The Arcadian Princes and Princess, Narnians, Adelphos, Filia, and a great many other Arcadians all gathered in the upper sledding cavern. It was Arcadian tradition that on her birthday, the Princess would sled down her tunnel first, and everyone else would follow her in honor of the special day. After that, the sledding party members were free to sled down any other tunnel.
Nerina positioned her 2-person sled just before the opening of "Philyra".
Turning, she said, "And now for my partner."
Adelphos sighed, for two-person sleds were for sledders of the same gender, unless the couple was married.
Nerina smiled, having made her choice. "Lucy, would you like to be my partner?"
"Really?" asked the girl, eyes wide.
"Yes," Nerina laughed.
"Oh yes please," she said, clasping her hands and staring at the sled.
"Then let's go!" said the birthday girl.
As soon as the worst is over
You can make it all make sense
Lucy sat in front with Nerina in the back. Each girl sat as comfortably and lady-like as they could in the sled. When they were ready, the princes pushed the sled, and down it went, speeding along and going faster and faster as it went down the tunnel.
Lucy turned her head and shouted, "This is so much fun Nerina!"
"Thank you!" Nerina shouted back.
After many twists and turns, the tunnel finally leveled out and they slowed down, finally stopping in the lower sledding cavern.
Once everyone had gone through "Philyra", the sledding party carried the light sleds to the upper cavern and the rest of the afternoon was spent sledding and having a wonderful time. The two most popular tunnels were "Kari" and "Saphire." The first quickly spiraled down to the lower cavern, while the second was slow and scenic, going through a small cavern with a lake and ice columns.
Later that night Nerina's birthday banquet and ball were held. Nerina danced with everyone, and enjoyed her presents greatly. Her presents included a bouquet of roses from Adelphos, a musical jewelry box like the one from the Princess Betha musical from Lucy, a musical snow globe with a miniature Mousiki Nero inside from Edmund, pearl earrings from Peter, and a necklace from Susan. The necklace had a gold and diamond dolphin jumping over a pearl.
After the festivities, the now 17-year old princess fell fast asleep, too happy to remember what had happened exactly one year ago that very night.
Song Used-Run to Me by Clay Aiken. Does that song title sound familiar? That's because a different quote telling the first part of the story was used back in Chapter 3. I highly suggest you listen to the song to get the full effect and to see how far Nerina has gone from Chapter 3 to now.
Please review. I can't tell if you like the chapter or story if you don't review.
Thanks!
Haras
