Hi guys!
Thanks to all those amazing people who reviewed with paragraphs!
I'm just sorting them all, and he best will be in the A/N of the next chapter!
I start work in like an hour, so this is for the begging of Morgan.
Gosh I must love you guys.
Here we go!
Ooh, and sorry for all the Norious haters-Belle and Norious need to talk so there'll be a bit of him this chappie.
Here we go!
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"Crap!" Zaro yelled as his sword span out of his hand. He ducked, and called to his twin, who tossed him a second sword, which he swung wildly and ended up killing a man.
The twins kept fighting, this skirmish one of many they had seen in their two days travelling with their parents. It was late evening, and they were almost home, back safe in Cair, when they had discovered another small camp of Oristians.
Naturally, they had attacked, and the skirmish was already almost over.
"Braithe! Zaro!" Aamee called from atop a horse. She had taken to fighting on horseback since she injured her leg, and found it a better position to keep a watchful yet weary eye on her sons.
"BOYS!" she yelled, and they finished off their opponents and leapt on their empty horses.
"Ed, Darling!" Aamee called, and Edmund killed another man almost lazily and took the other spare horse.
"Lets get home," he ordered, and the group mounted their horses and galloped away towards the sight of Cair Paravel in the distance.
They rode quick and fast through the main gate which was closed behind them, and straight into the courtyard where the family was waiting.
"You should all be in bed," Aamee called with a frown.
"Yes, mum." Caspian laughed, helping her down from her horse. She gave him a hug, and turned to the family.
"Come here, my darlings!" she called, and the teenagers let out a giggle and hugged her. She stumbled, and Edmund caught her quickly. Caspian held his sister in law up, as Ed was greeted by the family.
When he gave Peter a hug, however, he noticed the absence of Belle.
"Where is she?" he asked, and Peter filled him in on the whole story, ending with the fact that she was in the infirmary, being looked after by Lucy and the other healers. The healer's were asserting whether or not she needed the cordial.
"So she passed out from what, exactly?" Ed said, confused.
"The drugs?" asked Braithe.
"And a little shock," Dune sniggered. Braithe and Zaro turned to look at him; confused.
"Er…Norious..was the knight who, who saved her." Trisca said, biting her lip.
"WHAT?" Zaro and Braithe said in sync.
"Alright everyone. Aslan comes tomorrow afternoon. Get some sleep." Peter ordered. "Belle will be fine, she just needs rest."
The group nodded, and left the courtyard, making their way to their separate rooms, calling goodnight's to everyone.
"Goodnight, Rubes." Dune called, and was met with the sound of Ruby's door closing.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
The healer bustled over to the door of the infirmary, twisting the key, as Belle sat up.
"Can I help you?" the healer asked.
"If could have a few minutes to talk with Princess Belle?" the person asked.
"One moment." The healer said, and closed the door.
"Your Majesty, a young knight wishes to speak with you." She whispered.
"Yes, alright." Said Belle. She had indeed been given the cordial for her wounds, and was feeling fine except for being tired, but the healer had insisted that hse stay the night in the infirmary. She stood up, and pulled a silk robe over her nightgown, and consciously brushed away any creases. "Um, Lady healer, you may go. I'll get rid of the candles before I sleep." Belle smiled at the caring old woman, who nodded and scuttled from the room, taking a back way to her own chambers.
Belle took a deep breath and opened to door, to where the handsome Norious stood, leaning against the wall with a small mile on his face.
"Your Majesty." He said, and bowed chastely. Belle smiled at him.
"No need for formalities here, Norious." Belle assured him. "You're Norious, I'm Belle. Come in, please."
When Norious and Belle took their seats on the bed, there was silence. Neither knew what to say to the other, and it was quite awkward.
"It's good to see you, Belle." Norious said.
"Is it?" Belle couldn't stop herself. She was still incredibly angry with him, and he knew it.
"Belle, I wanted to apologise. I am so sorry for leaving. I-I just thought it was best." Norious said, staring at her.
"Best for who, Norious?" Belle snapped. Norious raised is eyebrows and looked down.
"Guess I deserve that." He mumbled. But then he seemed to get his confidence back, and he looked her hard in the eyes.
"Belle, I am so sorry for leaving; it was the biggest mistake of my life. I've never fully been able to focus on the task of present; half of my mind was thinking about you."
Belle blushed. She was finding it hard not to melt. But while a part of her mind was so happy to hear Norious saying those words, she couldn't help but let Luke's face blow into her mind. With his blue, blue eyes…
Stop. Belle, you should be focusing on Norious. He is the one who has come all this way to apologise. Such a wonderful person, good looking too…
Belle took a deep breath, trying to assemble her thoughts. She had feelings for them both, that much was sure, but which to choose? Belle tried to focus back on the conversation.
"I've missed you, Norious." She whispered, and her eyes filled with tears.
"Belle," he breathed, sounding like he say in pain. He leaned over and hugged her. "Belle, Belle, please don't cry," he said, over and over again, and Belle was touched by the softness in his heart.
He pulled away, and took her hands, squeezing them slightly.
"Thank you for coming back, Norious. But, but I can't do this straight away. I;m not sure yet." I'm not sure you're the one I want, Belle added in her head.
Norious nodded.
"I understand, Belle. But I will keep trying. I'm prepared to be annoyingly persistent."
Belle let out a watery chuckle, and hugged him again. She saw him lean over to kiss her cheek, and made a split decision at the last second.
She turned her head and kissed him.
And although it was a chaste peck, they both poured all their longing into it. But Luke's face came to mind again, and Belle pulled away. She didn't even have to say a word. Norious smiled and nodded.
"I understand. You aren't ready." Norious said quietly, and Belle smiled in thanks. He really was one of a kind.
But so was Luke.
***************
There was a knock on the door, and Belle and Norious looked up from the bed. They had been sitting their for an hour, just exchanging stories of their adventures and whatnot.
"Nor? You in there?" a voice called, and Norious looked at Belle apologetically.
"It's fine." She giggled, and he let out a long, winding sigh and opened the door.
"Hey Ty." Norious laughed tiredly.
The young knight looked at Belle, and bowed deeply.
"Your Majesty." He said.
"Please, just Belle. Come in," she said, and stood up to begin blowing out candles. "So what it your name?"
"I'm Tylor." Said the knight with a smile. He had bright green eyes, and coal black hair. He looked like a mischievous boy.
"Pleasure to meet you, Tylor."
"And you- Belle."
Belle smiled happily, and the two knights began helping her blow out the candles. Belle approached the other bed, and saw the figure of a girl around her age, with long blonde hair and a bruised face.
"This must be who they replaced me with.." Belle breathed.
"Excuse me?" Tylor asked, and began making his way over.
"In Jasif's camp, they tricked my father by replacing me with a girl of my age, a slave in his camp. She was hurt badly, and brought here."
"Oh," Norious replied. Tylor finally reached the bed, and edged past Belle to examine her face. He snatched the candle off Norious, and held it up near her.
He then gasped and dropped the candle.
"Minna! Minna!" he said, shaking her.
"Minna?" Norious gasped, and leant down to look at her.
"Whos' Minna?" asked Belle.
"My beloved! Minna!" Tylor was whispering.
"That explains it…" Belle muttered.
Norious turned to her.
"Before he joined our little group, Tylor lived in a small village called Gust. It was rampaged by Telmarines, but It was actually Oristians. They took slaves, mostly women, for..er..personal matters."
Belle gasped.
"Minna was one of them. Tylor thought her dead, and joined us."
"But she is so young…" Belle breathed, looking at Minna sadly. She was beginning to stir.
"Minna, Minna!" Tylor called, shaking his beloved gently. She opened her blackened eyes, and they grew wide.
"Is this a dream?" she breathed, and Tylor chuckled.
"No, my love. I am here, you are here, we are together, and safe."
Tear's of joy welled up in Minna's eyes and trickled down her cheeks.
Tylor kissed her passionately, so passionately that Norious and Belle took a step away from eachother, both their faces red.
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There you go, Morgan!
Wow, I wrote that in an hour.
It's kinda short, but that's what happenes when you have a deadline, aye..
And apparently I have to work for an extra hour.
Fantastic.
So, review XD