All I own is Jewel
"It's disgusting."
"It's awful."
"It's hideous."
"It's creepy."
"It's the Royal residence. According to Frewen, and consequently the Narnian elite, it's the ultimate in wealth, fashion and everything that costs money."
The four King's and Queen's just looked at each other, then the monstrosity before them, sneered simultaneously, then as one turned on their heels and headed back to the cart and the horses. Leaving Conan to follow behind them, shaking his head.
"So what are we going to do now? We can hardly just barge in and say 'we're the king's and queen's from the Golden Age and we'd like to get our country back so get lost.'"
"No you can't lass. But it would be interestin' to see his face if you did."
Conan and Lucy started laughing, for no apparent reason since it wasn't really that funny. The other three just stared at them for a few seconds before they turned to each other and started to plan. A few minutes later they turned back to the still giggling Conan and Lucy.
"Have you two quite finished."
Lucy had always hated how Jewel could just raise that one eyebrow and look so sarcastic and…and…Jewelish.
"Yes."
And she hated how she always sounded like a little kid whenever she had to answer the 'eyebrow look'. Luckily for her, before her face burst into flames from all the heat rushing into it, Peter took over.
"Right, we're going to split up, Jewel and Peter will go to the east, the three of us will go to the west. We're looking for any of the true Narnians. Talking animals, nymphs, centaurs, any magical creature. We'll meet back here at sunset this evening, gather everyone we found together and everyone they know. Then Jewel and Edmund will explain what it is they've been doing for the last few weeks."
That said they all said their goodbyes and wandered off. Jewel and Edmund definitely had the better part of this deal; they were heading away from the diabolical heap of stone that some fool had the nerve to call a castle, and into the cleaner part of the forest. They were surrounded by trees that seemed to touch the sky and pierce the clouds. And with each step they took the bark grew richer, the leaves greener and the air sweeter. Jewel was acting like a little girl, running ahead, spinning around with her arms spread out and her face turned to the sun, her laughter rang out through the air like church bells early in the morning. Edmund was laughing at her, but doing his best not to show it, he liked having all of his limbs attached to his body.
"What are you laughing at?"
She was trying to sound stern but not doing very well, her voice was dripping with mirth.
"You, you look like a child at a fair."
"Hey! I've been trapped in one of the most disgusting settlements that has ever existed, only being allowed out one week every year unless I'm being dragged across the compound with a sack over my head. I'm allowed to be stupid when I'm on foot again, in a gorgeous forest where I first met my husband, and when I've just been reunited with said husband after eight hundred years!"
Then she poked her tongue out at him and ran off laughing into the trees, leaving Edmund to follow along behind her. A few minutes late he caught up with her in a small clearing, and without any warning picked her up as though she weighed no more than a feather and twirled her around in the air. He opened his mouth to speak when she was held at eyelevel but stopped at the look in her eyes, she'd shifted from playful to serious. Lowering her mouth she whispered in his ear, pretending that she was still playing, as was he.
"Don't look but there are two wood nymphs behind you."
"What type?"
"Oak, so they might not run away if we speak to them. Especially not that blonde."
"What's wrong with the blonde?"
"She's staring at you, and I know you're record with nymphs. Every time we've ever run into them one of them has always gone after you."
"Jealousy doesn't suit you Jewel. Besides you're more than enough for me. I don't need nymph-type complications in an already complicated situation."
He smiled at the pouting queen before lowering her to the ground at turning to face the two nymphs.
"Come out please! We don't want to hurt you. We need to talk to you."
His voice rose in volume as he heard the whispering of tree leaves that indicates nymphs getting ready to run. Apparently his desperation persuaded them to at least listen to him, persuaded one at least since the couple could hear an almost violent whispering as one of the nymphs was held in place by the other. Still hidden behind the trees a voice rang out.
"Who are you? What do you want with us?"
The voice sounded like wind whistling through leaves and tree limbs, grass swaying in the breeze. Jewel looked at her husband, neither of them needed to speak to know what the other as asking. A nod from Jewel gave Edmund the go-ahead.
"My name is Edmund, and this is Jewel, my wife. King and Queen of Narnia."
There was silence for a few second before a voice broke out in hysterical laughter.
"King and Queen of Narnia, the only royals called Jewel and Edmund died thousands of years ago, along with the Golden Age."
Even the trees seemed to be laughing with the nymph, but as Jewel listened she realised that there was only one voice laughing. Just as that realisation hit, the second nymph appeared from the forest. Deep red hair, the colour of garners hung in loose curls to her waist, a deep green dress hung from one shoulder down to her knees, the hemline was shaped in the curves of an oak leaf, a plaited belt of various greens was wrapped around her waist, the ribbons trailing down to her bare feet.
"Jewel, Edmund?"
Her voice was softer than her companion, more like gentle spring than brash summer. Her delicate features showed confusion and uncertainty. The hazel eyes bored into Jewel's face, looking for something.
"Odessa?"
Jewel's voice quavered, and Edmund's mouth dropped open.
"Odessa?"
"Jewel? Edmund?"
The two girls took a few faltering steps forwards before hurling themselves into each other's arms.
"Odessa I can't believe you're still here?"
"Me too, I thought you would have died centuries ago. When you disappeared everyone thought you were dead."
Having finished hugging Jewel she flung her arms around a still gaping Edmund and proceeded to hug him into oblivion. Meanwhile Jewel ignored them and turned her gaze to the other nymph who was just leaving the cover of the trees. Her hair was the lightest blonde and hell to her shoulders like a waterfall, her blue eyes shone out of an ivory face. She was stared at Jewel for a few moments before brushing past her and pulling Odessa away from Edmund.
"Odessa what do you think you are doing? We have no idea who these people are and…"
"Shh Oliana. I do know who they are, King Edmund and Queen Jewel, I met them when I was just a sapling."
Her smile was spread over her whole face, and it had spread to Edmund and Jewel. Oliana looked as though she wanted to argue, but everyone knew that nymphs couldn't lie, especially not Odessa, and the other oak nymph had some empathic power. Not much, but enough for no one to ever be able to pretend to be anyone else around her.
"Your majesties."
She curtsied, her eyes lowered demurely as she sank gracefully, but they were flashing wickedly as she rose and looked at Edmund, that is before Jewel flashed her a look worse than Death itself could have created, and Oliana remembered that Jewel and Edmund were married. Ah well.
"Do you two know any more nymphs and other creatures here in the forest?"
"Yes. Why do you ask?"
"Could you take us to them. Peter, Lucy and a new friend of ours are searching for more of you, we need your help?"
"With getting rid of Frewen? Don't ask how I know you two only get that look when you're planning something ridiculously stupid."
"You in then?"
"What do you think?"
Shadowface: hope you liked this chapter too
Chuck: glad you like it so far, hope you keep on liking it
Christina: sorry but Conan and Aslan are different people, I have plans for Aslan
Please review again everyone :)
