Previously
Brielle watched as the Cair Paravel faded out of sight and, at Sadora's insistence, opened up the gift from Ironhoof.
Sadora and the others gasped in surprise when it fell into Brielle's hand.
It was her Queen's Star necklace that she had worn as a ladies maid.
Never forget who you are.
Chapter Two. Another Unexpected Visitor
A week later, Brielle was climbing back into the cart to head down to the Northern Marshes. Sadora, Nadine, and this time, Gael, were also going. Danik was in charge of this trip as well and all his brothers and sisters were coming.
"I've never seen a marshwiggle before," said Gael.
"They're…interesting," Sadora said.
"You get use to them after a while," Danik said as he closed the back of the wagon.
"Marshwiggle children are adorable," Nadine said putting one arm around Danik's twelve year old sister, Nella and another around Sadora.
Just as they were about to leave, Jadellias came sailing out in her emerald green and silver gown. Her looks had changed slightly. Her hair, which was normally black and pulled up, now hung down her back and was dark brown and curly. She almost had a pleasant look on her face as well. Brielle was one of a handful of people that knew of Jadellias' ability to change appearance.
"You do remember that 'my girls' are coming tomorrow?" she said to Danik.
"Yes, Ma'am."
"Then you'll need to make this trip as quick as possible. I need everyone to help get ready."
"We will."
"Careful riding through Vandock Forest," she said, "You may never know who the Vergi snakes might want to attack."
She narrowed her eyes to Brielle.
"We always are careful," Danik said.
When she left, Danik rolled his eyes and got up in the front seat.
"I might bring a Vergi snake back for her," he said.
It wasn't long before they were in Vandock Forest. It was a thick, shaded forest with only a little light streaming in through the trees. During the daytime it was quite beautiful and had an enchanting feel to it, but the enchantment was slightly dampened because of the fear of the dreaded snakes.
The people in the wagon looked over the edge watching for any Vergi snake that could be underfoot. Danik got out and led the horse, in case a snake spooked it.
"There's one right there," Brielle whispered, pointing to a snake on a tree branch. It was pale green and its ivory colored swirls sparkled in the thin stream of sunlight.
"It's beautiful," said Gael. She was right. Vergi snakes had almost a hypnotic beauty to them.
Brielle tried not to think of where Caspian might have been when he was in his riding accident.
"How many do you think live here?" she asked.
"Nobody really knows," Danik said, "but we've estimated about 2000."
"That's gross," said Nadine.
Finally they made it out of the forest and heading toward the shoreline. Brielle could see the wigwam homes of the marshwiggles. She could smell fried fish and roasted eel.
The sun was warmer now and the smell of the Eastern Sea seemed to lift her spirits. As they headed into the small village, little marshwiggle children ran out of their homes to take a look at the new people.
Nadine was right. They were adorable. They were fairly small and had massive dark eyes and slightly greenish white skin. Their hair was also dark and hung around their shoulders. The girls were dressed in simple dark colored dresses that came just below their knees and the boys wore breeches with similar colored coats.
They didn't talk much, but they stared at the servants with wide eyed wonderment.
"Ahhh, welcome back, young people of Ettinsmore," said Sourshore the village leader who was followed by his wife Willowdrip.
"Thank you," said Danik as he tied up the horse, "I hope you had a good winter."
"Winter is never good here," said Sourshore, "In fact the weather is never good here. I'm surprised the wind hasn't blown our little village away. It will happen one day. Mark my word it will."
Danik and several of the other young men went to buy and barter for fish, while Brielle, Nadine, and Gael all watched the younger children play in the water with the marshwiggle children.
"I remember you," said Willowdrip as she stood next to Brielle, "You're one of the servants that ran away a couple of years ago."
"Yes," Brielle said, "As you can see, it didn't work out too well."
"If you think that way, but freedom isn't where you live or who you live with, it's how you choose to live."
Brielle was confused at first.
Willowdrip gave her what the marshwiggles might have called a smile, "Oh, one can live in bondage, but if their soul still dreams for a better life than they are already free. If one lives a life of freedom, but their soul has no desire to be loved, then you may as well say they are a slave."
"I think I understand," Brielle said.
What was she trying to say? Is she saying that freedom is near?
Brielle's thoughts were interrupted by small hand tapping her.
She looked down and saw a small marshwiggle boy about five or six years old, looking up at her with large dark eyes. In his hands he had a small shell. He handed it to her without a word or a single expression on his face.
"Thank you," Brielle said, unsure of what to do with it.
"Opn' eat," the boy said in a serious voice.
Brielle opened the shell and took out the small bit of meat that was inside. When she put it into her mouth is started wiggling and moving inside.
The meat or whatever it was was a live animal!
Brielle spat it out onto the ground and wiped her mouth with her hand.
"What was that?" she demanded.
"Oser (oyster)," the boy said.
She had no idea what he said.
"What's your name?" she asked.
"Pulgum," the boy said.
"Excuse me?"
"Pudlgum."
"Puddleglum," Willowdrip said taking the boy's hand, "I'm sorry, this isn't the first time he's done this. He's so mischievous. He won't amount to anything. Say you're sorry to the lady."
The boy looked at her, his face as serious as ever and said, "Sory."
Brielle smiled and ran her hand over his thick scratchy hair.
"That's alright," she smiled, "You're only a little boy."
"A little boy in need of discipline," said Willowdrip as she picked him up, "but nothing ever seems to work."
"He's grown since I last saw him," Brielle said as she tickled his cheek.
The little boy didn't smile but something in his dark eyes said he liked it. He reached out his arms and wrapped them around Brielle's neck. Willowdrip didn't seem to mind and let her hold him.
The next hour was pleasant. Brielle held Puddleglum (who was rather small for a five year old) and played in the water with the children. Gael seemed to be enjoying herself as well, but every now and then she would longingly across the Northern Marsh over to where Cair Paravel was.
Brielle wondered what became of her letter. She was confident that the satyr got it to her parents. She was a little curious as to what Gael had written, but she wouldn't dare ask her.
"Time to go," Danik said, as he loaded the last covered basket of oysters and eels into the wagon.
The children all came out of the water and started to dry off. Brielle gave Puddleglum back to his mother.
"I hope to see you again soon," Brielle said.
She honestly believed he smiled at her.
That night as Brielle was preparing for bed, she pulled out the wood box that had that strange white stick in it.
She could not understand what it was exactly. It looked like some sort of wand. Could it have been Jadellias'? No, she wouldn't leave something that important in an old room. One thing she noticed is that it was cold like an icicle, but it didn't have a wet texture at all.
She was completely and utterly confused, but before she could ponder it any longer, she heard a knock at her door.
"Who is it?" she asked as she put the stick in the box and shoved it under her bed.
"Danik."
She ran and opened the door and let him in. Special moments like these were rare, because of their work load.
Brielle wrapped her arms around him and he held her tightly.
"You seemed to be having a good time today," he said.
"I was," Brielle giggled.
"I'll tell you what," Danik said, taking her hand and leading her to the window, "the sooner these girls get here, the sooner all of us can relax. Foreman has been working us like crazy."
"Poor Katina and Lodette," said Brielle, "Jadellias hasn't let either one of them have a moment of peace."
"Well," Danik said, pulling her close to him, "At least I have an escape." And he bent down and kissed her softly.
For a few minutes Brielle could escape into her small world of happiness and peace. Danik's strong hands around her waist and her hands tangled up in his dark hair. How she longed that it could be like that forever.
When they were done, Brielle laid her head on Danik's shoulder. She remembered what Willowdrip had said about freedom. Maybe she belonged to Jadellias, but her heart and soul belonged to Danik. He was her freedom and her escape. Willowdrip had been right.
"Danik," she said softly, "Do you think we could ever escape Ettinsmore?"
"I don't know," he answered, "I mean I want out as much as you do, but…there has to be a sign. I need to know when the time is right."
"What is Aslan telling your heart?" Brielle said, remembering Caspian's words.
There was a few second of silence then he said, "That he never fails those who follow him."
When Aslan? When?
The next day dawned bright and early. It was unusually warm for springtime in Ettinsmore, but the workers were enjoying it.
Brielle and Gael were washing the breakfast dishes when Lodette came in looking angrier than a mad hornet.
"I know that woman is expecting company, but I can't do everything by myself!"
"What is it?" asked Nadine, "Do you need help?"
"No," Lodette sitting down at the table, "but she could learn to appreciate the fact that I haven't slept in almost forty-eight hours and the last thing I ate was an apple…yesterday morning."
"I'll get you some food," Mrs. Applewell said.
"When are they coming?" Brielle asked.
"Oh, who knows," said Nadine pouring Lodette some hot chocolate, "When they want to. Granted one of them doesn't lose a hair tie or rip a dress."
Even Lodette had to giggle at that.
Suddenly Nella came running in.
"Bri, Bri," she said breathlessly, "You have to come outside right now!"
"Why? Are the girls here?" Brielle said drying her hands.
"No, Danik says you need to come and Gael too!"
Brielle, Gael and just about everyone else in the kitchen all ran out after Nella.
She led them into the courtyard that was surrounded by a group of male workers and she could hear loud protests all over. In the midst of all of it, one familiar voice seemed to ring out.
"What do you want these girls for?" she heard Danik say in a serious tone.
"They're friends of mine, they belong in Narnia!"
"You say that as if you own them," said Kasson, Danik's sixteen year old brother.
"That's right!" said the other workers.
"No! That's not what I meant! Brielle is a friend of mine and Gael-"
"Eadric!" screamed Gael
The loud talking ceased as Brielle and Gael pushed themselves through. Sure enough right in the center was Danik and travel worn Eadric.
Immediately Brielle felt a warm wavw of relief flood over her. The same way she felt when she saw Ironhoof last week. Eadric had changed or maybe because she hadn't seen him in such a long time. He looked taller and his face seemed much older. The moment he turned and saw Gael, the serious twenty year old turned back into a love struck boy.
She ran right into his outstretched arms, holding on to him tightly.
Brielle looked across to Danik, who looked rather relieved at the fact that Eadric was telling the truth.
"Danik, it's alright," Gael said, "He's from Narnia. He's telling the truth."
"I gathered as much," Danik said.
"Eadric," Gael said, "This is Danik, Brielle's former foster brother that helped her escape."
Eadric held out his hand to Danik who shook it.
"And Danik," Brielle said, "This is Eadric, the young man who saved my life last summer."
Danik's expression softened, and then he asked, "Why do you want Gael and Brielle?"
Eadric held Gael close to him, "To see if they were really alright."
"Let's take this inside," Danik said.
Once the four of them were settled at the kitchen table, Gael asked"Did you read my letter? I said we were fine."
"Your parents allowed me to read it," Eadric asked, I think they were relieved knowing you weren't dead, but they desperately wished that Brielle could have stayed in Narnia a bit longer so they could have asked her. Oh, and Tira definitely raised a lot of drama over what Danik had said, but you all were long gone before anything could be done."
"Little brat deserved it," said Danik with a grin.
Eadric went on, "Then Ironhoof told us about talking to you, Brielle and Suncloud almost hit him across the room for letting you leave."
"I told him I needed to leave," Brielle said.
"He knew that. We all did, but it's like you just came out of nowhere. For four months no word from any of you and in one day, you come to Narnia and drop off a letter from Gael."
"What exactly did you write in that letter?" Brielle asked Gael.
"I simply said that I was alright, that even though the work was hard at times, I was getting through. I talked about you and Danik and the people here, but I said I couldn't say where I was for safety reasons," Gael said.
"I told Ironhoof where we were," Brielle said.
Danik asked, "How did you find us?"
Eadric smiled, "I asked the marshwiggles."
"What?" said Gael
"And it's all thanks to you," then his voice got quieter, "Your parents got your letter and you had mentioned that you were going to see the marshwiggles soon. So yesterday I traveled up to the Northern Marsh and I got to the marshwiggles early this morning and asked about the two of you. They said that they had seen you both yesterday and that you weren't far from here.
Then I asked where this estate was and they said it wasn't easy to find because I had to travel through Vandock Forest to get to the main road that leads to here."
"Wait, what?" said Brielle, "Is that why people haven't been able to find us? Because the only road that leads here is through Vandock Forest?"
"Yeah, you didn't know that?" said Danik, "I have to admit, it was pretty brilliant on Jadellias' part. She has only one way to get to the estate and that's through traveling through a dark snake infested forest."
"So you can't go around?" Gael asked.
"You could," Danik said, "but even then, that's difficult because the estate is hidden by several hills. You can look right past it and not even realize it."
"So, it made sense why no one from Narnia could find any of you. Because, you Brielle, had told Caspian that he was poisoned by a Vergi snake and so naturally, no one wanted to go through that forest. And even if we did, we would never have thought that a simple trail would lead us to the estate."
"Finally, it all makes sense," said Gael.
"What about your family and Caspian?" Brielle asked, "Do they know you're here?"
"Not exactly," Eadric said, "I mean, they know I'm gone, but I'm away all the time now. They wouldn't think I had gone looking for you two."
"Well, you may end up being stuck here for a while," Danik said.
"That's fine," said Eadric, "but I'm not leaving without Gael and Brielle."
"Gael can go," Brielle said, "but I'm not leaving without Danik and he won't leave his brothers and sisters."
"We'll leave together," said Eadric, "All of us. Not now, but soon."
"How can you be so sure?" Danik said skeptically
"You think that finding my way to this estate was mere coincidence? Or that Gael's letter was a sign of luck?"
"My letter was for my parents to tell them I was alright. I never intended on them sending anyone to get us," Gael said.
"Like I said," said Eadric, "No one knows I'm in Ettinsmore."
"Is there anyone in Narnia that you can right to that can help us?" asked Danik.
"They would have to have a reason to come. And dealing with the noblemen of Ettinsmore is not an easy task. Also, Gael said in her letter that she was doing fine and so was Brielle. She didn't mention anything about being hurt or mistreated, so that could have been a sign that you two were alright. And the king could help, but…"
"What is it?" said Gael.
Danik took a deep breath and said, "Liliandil…is pregnant."
Brielle felt like all the air had been taken out of the room.
Liliandil was pregnant?
After all of these years, she and Caspian would finally have a child!
Then she realized she wouldn't be there, for them or for their baby.
"When did you find out?" asked Gael quietly.
"Last week," Eadric said.
"I'm so happy for them," Brielle said, "For so long they wanted a child."
"It's the happiest I've seen Caspian and Liliandil in a long time," said Eadric.
"Ok, I hate to interrupt, but how is this pregnancy prohibiting the king from helping us in Ettinsmore?" asked Danik.
"It means that our problems are less important," Brielle said.
"No, it doesn't mean you're less important," said Eadric, "but Caspian has to keep things in perspective and like I said, Gael's letter made no mention of being mistreated nor was it a cry for help. Brielle said to Ironhoof that you two were alright and so Caspian would have no reason to send troops here."
"So you came to find them instead?" Danik said.
"Yes," said Eadric.
"What about Ironhoof?" Brielle asked, "I saw him last week."
"He told us he saw you and spoke to you. He said the only reason you were staying was for the people here."
"Yes, that's true."
"Maybe Aslan is telling us something after all," Danik said taking Brielle's hand.
Foreman came into the kitchen and walked over to the table.
"Are you the boy that was causing trouble outside?" he snapped at Eadric.
"Yes," Eadric said, "but I wasn't the one making trouble."
"You're from Narnia?"
Eadric nodded.
"Well, you just committed yourself to the Ettinsmore workforce," he sneered, "I hope your family doesn't miss you too much." Then he stalked off.
"I hope you know what you're in for," said Gael.
"Yeah," said Danik, "You might regret coming here; no matter what your reasons were for."
Eadric smiled, "If my father can brave a sea serpent and live to tell the tale to his grandchildren. Then I think working here should be almost easy."
Danik looked at him with a confused, but intrigued expression, "Your father braved a sea serpent?"
A/N: I have to admit, this chapter is a little boring, but I was really beginning to miss Eadric : )
I wanted to introduce the marshwiggles (I think five year old Puddleglum is too cute!)
And I had to explain how no one from Narnia could find the estate and I didn't want to say that it was just enchanted, because that just sounded too cliché.
