Lucy watched Rabadash court Susan with a sour expression on her face. And with an even more sour expression, she watched her sister repay him.
" Lucy," Edmund warned her quietly. Although he didn't like these two lovebirds at dinner, but at least he tried to keep his normla face.
" He´s nasty," she whispered. Then she straightened up and applied a mask to her face as well. She smiled. Anyone who didn't know her well would say she was glowing with happiness.
Peter has already left for the expedition. Rabadash is here for the third day, and to make matters worse, he came with an offer of marriage. Lucy shuddered.
" Oh, that's a really great idea," they heard their sister, who then turned to Lucy and Edmund.
" Dear siblings, our dear guest really has a perfect idea," Susan shone like ...
... like the sun on the manure, Lucy thought. I don't know if I want to hear the idea.
" I would like to invite your dear royal sister, the beautiful and gentle Queen Susan, to visit Tashbaan," he said politely and gently, while gently holding Susan's hand.
" Snake," she whispered to Edmund so softly that only he could hear her. Edmund hissed at her, then turned to the pair.
" Of course, it's a great idea, but on the condition that we sail on our ship Amazing Hyacinth . And it would be great if we will sail tomorrow morning. What will you say, dear friend? "Edmund said amicably.
"ARE WE sailing?" Rabadash frowned.
" Of course my sister will not go alone. I would like to accompany my sister in such a beautiful city as Tashbaan. I have always had a weakness for this city and I would like to go see it again. "
Lucy almost spat. She knew very well that Edmund was lying. He hated Tasbaan as much as all Calormen. She covered it with a cough.
" What about the castle?" Susan asked anxiously. Edmund turned slowly to Lucy.
" Of course, my best guard will remain at the castle to protect the castle and Queen Lucy with it."
She didn't know if she should rejoice or swear that she couldn't go with them. She will swear.
" Lucy, I'm sorry," Edmund followed her across his room. After dinner, he asked her if she could help him pack.
" It's pretty warm in Tashbaan, so you don't have to take a lot of things," she said seemingly calmly, tossing two shirts into his canvas backpack.
" Listen, Rabadash didn't seem to me, and I couldn't leave the castle unguarded," Edmund continued. Lucy successfully ignored him.
" Will two shirts actually be enough? How much do you plan to stay, dear brother? "
Lucy ran furiously around the room, Edmund gave up. He just stood at the window and watched her with his hands folded.
" I'll pack one more of your pants,... why the hell why did you keep me locked up in the castle?!" she exclaimed, turning to him.
" Because you haven't listened to me at all, that's why!" He threw up his hands to the air.
" Edmund, I've never been in Tashbaan. You never took me there! "
" Lucy, which makes you more angry? That you're not going there, or that you're staying alone? "He frowned.
" Something can happen to me here too!"
" But Tashbaan is not a place for such a young girl," he tried to soothe her.
" Because it's for you! You're only two years older! "
" But I'm a man, so it's safer for me."
Lucy took a deep breath.
" Just because I'm a woman I'll never be able to explore the world?"
" I just don't want anything to happen to you."
" Pack up yourself, Edmund. I'm not in the mood for you, "she said angrily, marching out of the west wing.
How angry she was that everyone underestimated her, that no one believed her. Of course, everyone was too big, too busy, too powerful for anyone to think about how she was feeling.
Everyone knows them because they represent themselves all over Narnia and the surrounding countries, but no one knows about her, because she is still just locked up in the castle.
She can't go to fight because she doesn't know, she can't go beyond Narnia, because she's not safe there, she can't show up next to her sister because she's not beautiful enough.
" Hello, Lu," Susan heard a cheerful singing voice as she met her at the great banquet hall.
" Good night," she growled, runing away from her.
She surprised her maid Lasalene in the room.
" Your Highness," she bowed.
" Lucy," she corrected her. "I'm Lucy to you."
" May I ask, Lucy, what made you angry?"
Lucy sighed and squeezed the bridge of her nose. Lasalene watched the queen run up the room. She said nothing. It was glaring how angry she was.
" Lasalene?" Lucy sighed.
" Your Highness?"
" I need to talk to Ramon. Please go call him. "
Lasalene bowed slightly and ran to carry out the order. In her mind, she was terrified of why the queen needed to talk to Ramon. Recently, she noticed how much he was twirling around Queen Lucy. But she could say with certainty that the queen had not noticed.
She found him walking in the gardens.
" Ramon," she said from a distance.
" Oh, Lasalene, hello," he greeted his friend. Lasalene was fourteen years old, dark eyes full of tenderness and dark hair tangled in a long braid.
" You wouldn't believe what's going on," she said to her friend.
" What? Talk, exaggerate, "he exclaimed excitedly. Every time Lasalene comes with such a tone, Ramon knows he has some exciting news for him.
" Queen Lucy called you," she smiled at him.
" Lucy? Now? And what does she need? "
Lasalene laughed when she saw the sparks in his eyes and shrugged.
" I don't know, you have to go find out."
" I'm going. Thank you, "he smiled at her and walked towards the castle.
He knocked gently on the room door.
" Come in, Ramon," she said from behind the door. He opened the door and stood in the middle of the room.
" Your Highness," he bowed. "You have requested my presence."
" Yes, Ramon, I'm glad you came. I heard, "she began, turning to him. Ramon was still leaning forward, and only now, when Lucy had pierced him with a hard look, did he straightened up. His heart died. He was afraid of what would continue.
" I hear you're staying in the castle, Ramon."
Ramon frowned.
" Yes, Your Highness, in the absence of your siblings, my job is to be yours, let's give it a bodyguard."
Lucy looked at him with narrowed eyes.
" You're an archer, aren't you, Ramon?"
" Yes, Your Highness, when I fight alongside your brother, I am an archer."
" And you're an archer, good enough to teach?"
Lucy didn't even realize how she suddenly went around him. Like a cougar her prey.
" Yes, Your Highness, I think I am proficient enough."
" Sounds good, Ramon," she walked around him.. "I want you to start teaching me to shoot a bow during the absence of my dear siblings."
" You're making fun of me," Ramon said, but he realized what he was saying and covered his mouth with his hand. "I'm sorry, Your Highness."
" No, I'm not making fun of you, Ramon, I mean it," she said firmly, staring at him again.
" I know it will probably be a struggle with me that you will need a very large dose of patience, but I firmly believe that you will find it."
Ramon looked into the queen's eyes, unable to speak. His subconscious told him it wasn't a good idea to turn it down.
" All right, Your Majesty, I will begin to teach you to shoot a bow. Tomorrow, when the Amazing Hyacinth sails out of the harbor. "
You idiot, Ramon thought right away.
The moment he said it, Lucy's hard stone face melted away and a beautiful heart smile blossomed on her lips.
" Thank you, Ramon, I knew I could count on you."
A stone fell from Ramon's heart His queen was unreal. Both in courage and in what radiated from her right now. Pure joy and playfulness.
" Thank you, Ramon, you can go," she smiled at him.
" It was my pleasure, Your Highness," he bowed. "I look forward to our archery lessons."
On AmazingHyacinth was heard the bell that signaled that raise anchor and are reflected from the port. The ship and its crew will be sailing for one day. They will arrive in Tasbaan tomorrow morning.
As soon as the ship was far enough away, accompanied by servants and several soldiers, Lucy went to the castle.
" Your Highness," Ramon said as she crossed the threshold of the castle. "From this moment until your siblings return, I am your bodyguard. I have been assigned this task by King Peter. And since you have asked me for archery classes, I would like to take you to the castle gardens, where I have already prepared everything I need. "
" Thank you, Ramon, but next time try to put it simply. I felt like you were going to break your tongue, "she laughed.
Lucy was also happy to her great surprise. Before the trip, she hugged both of her siblings and wished them a happy journey. Although she still didn't want them to go, she hoped they would return soon. But until then, they'll at least learn to hold a bow, if nothing else.
The servants went back to their jobs, and Ramon and Lucy came to the garden.
" Like it, choose the bow that fits you best."
Lucy knew archery was hard. But she didn't imagine she would be so devastated.
And Ramon? He just laughed in his mind.
Can there be a bigger mess?
" Okay, I'm giving up today," Lucy sighed, setting her bow. She was sad. Ramon noticed her expression.
" Has something happened, Your Highness?"
" Not really, Ramon. It's just ... I'm not good at anything. Neither in fencing, nor in dancing, nor in performing before other members of the royal families, nor in archery. "
" Your Highness, you take it too seriously. You only tried it for the first time. And by any chance, I begin to hear words of praise for your fencing. "
" I don't believe you," Lucy laughed.
" Don't believe it. But we'll see how it goes tomorrow. "
" Tomorrow?"
" Yes, Your Highness. Tomorrow, in addition to archery, we will also practice your fencing. I'm not saying I'm a good swordsman, but with a sword I know it at least on your level, "he smiled at her.
" Well, then you can do it poorly," she grimaced. Ramon couldn't help but laugh from the heart. He likes her sincerity.
She's untied and, above all, kind.
She's a queen, but she treats everyone respectfully.
And then, somewhere deep inside him, something burned.
Something so small he didn't even notice it at first.