Disclaimer: I don't own Narnia or any of the characters associated with it.


Chapter 2: Coronation

Aslan died exactly six hours, twenty minutes, and forty-six seconds ago; forty-seven, forty-eight, forty-nine. The plain, barky ceiling is staring back at me; its dark colours tormenting me. I can't get the picture out of my head. The blood. The Great Lion. Dead. My eyes blur over again, a new round of tears are on their way it seems. I wipe another one off my cheek; my fingers only feeling the stickiness of old ones. I should stop crying, but I can't. Narnia is doomed! I pull my body up and cross my legs. My eyes land on the sunny curtains. The sun is already up; bright and happy. I slam my head back down against my saturated pillow and let out a loud groan. I'm late for work – again. I sit up, my legs stiff, and wipe the tears away from my eyes with my wet arm.

My legs whack themselves against the edge of the bed as I find my feet. Shakily I waddle over to the closet and pull out my servant dress. I grab my silver shoes and slide them on before glancing at my parent's, old, pure-silver sundial that's hanging on the wall. It reads seven am. I'm hungry. Time for breakfast. Trudging tiredly down the hallway, I find myself at the cooling station within a minute. I can feel fresh tears welling up in my eyes again as I open the large container and pull the fresh peaches out of it. The tears run freely down my cheeks again as I close the lid. This is so stupid. Stop crying!

I open the cupboard in the opposite side of the room and pull out a glass bowl. It's almost empty, so I pour the rest of the container into the bowl. The sweet smell of the peaches is beautiful. I sit down at the dining table slowly. The first thing I see is the vase of fresh flowers. My eyes go back down immediately. Bad idea! Aslan has been killed which probably means that the Witch is going to be setting up for battle. This also means that Oreius is probably going to be fighting soon. I finish eating and get up off the oak chair I'm sitting on. I put the bowl away and take another glance at the vase. I do hope Oreius is going to be okay. I don't think I can handle losing another dad.

"Bella, I'm going to work!" No answer. She must still be asleep. I walk quietly up the stairs and wipe some fresh tears away before opening up my little sister's door. The door opens with a creak and sure enough Bella's cuddled up in a ball on the bed. Her long, black hair's spread widely across her cotton pillow. She's cuddling up happily to Mr. Snuggles. She'll be fine. The smile on her face says it all. I walk silently towards her and give her cheek a quick kiss before I feel her shuffle around. She yawns loudly as she slowly and tiredly opens her big, brown eyes. "Good morning, Bella." She smiles sweetly up at me before sitting up in her bed and stretching all her limbs.

"Hi, Ashy," she greets before yawning again. She leans against me and wraps her arms around my waist in a hug. I smile.

"I have to go to work. Are you going to be okay for the day?" I ask. I already know the answer.

"Yes, I'll be fine." I nod my head and release her arms from around my waist.

"Okay then. I love you and I'll see you tonight," I tell her before giving her forehead a kiss and leaving her alone.

"I love you too," she adds on before I close the door. I run down the staircase and am instantly hit with thoughts of the battle.

Stupid White Witch! Why did Aslan let her do it? I just don't understand! If she hurts Oreius I swear I'll track her down and stab her multiple times in the heart! I really wish I didn't have work. I don't know how much I'm going to be able to handle today.

"You seem awfully distracted today." Hmm? Oh right, Crystal.

"Just a bit. I'm not in the mood for jests though." I grab onto her reigns and jump up onto her back, just as she starts running. We ride through the bustling woods to Cair Paravel, dodging dead trees and pedestrians as they all walk around with a spring in their step.

Everyone's cheerful today it seems. It probably has something to do with the fact that it's the second sunny day in more than one hundred years. I ride through, smiling at little kids as they splash around joyfully in the Great River, some of them even waving. For the first time in my life, I actually hear a chorus of happy birds all joyfully singing their own song. It's really too bad that none of these creatures realise that the Top Geyser, Aslan, got killed by the White Witch last night.

"Well won't you look at that," Crystal says. Look at what? My eyes glance around at the town before me before they widen. The usually quiet town is a bustle as well. Everywhere you look there are creatures selling and buying things or dwarves making swords and armour. I ride up to the marble stairs and tie Crystal up to a large, ivory pillar. "I will be two seconds. Just stay right here," I tell her before I walk up the stairs. As soon as I enter through the doors, I'm immediately swarmed with servants.

"Ashley, where are the crowns?"

"Ashley, what throne belongs to which king or queen."

"Ashley, the dining table hasn't got enough room for all the food!" I don't know what to say. I have no idea what Starstone's intentions for the coronation are! Well, there goes my day off. Right, first things first.

"Can I have your attention please?" I ask, loud enough so that everyone can hear. The talking and questions don't cease. "Um, can you please be quiet?" I beg a little bit louder than last time. They all just keep talking. Right, time to take drastic measures. "Shut your mouths and listen!" I bellow. The room goes quiet at once. "Thank you," I say pleased. Now, how should I go about this? I've seen Starstone do it heaps. What does she usually do? Oh, right! "Okay, one question at a time starting with Serana," I say. Hopefully her question, as usual, will be an easy enough question to answer.

"Ash, I was just curious as to when we have to have everything completed; as in crowns and thrones and stuff?" she asks, curiosity mixed in with the quiet whisper. They all look at me expectantly.

"Um...well," I stutter out. How on earth am I supposed to know that? So much for the easy question. "If we are able to, can we please have it finished by this afternoon?" I try to say. Is it obvious now that I have no idea what I'm talking about? I hope that's what they want to hear. There's a quiet murmur of agreement as they all nod. I let out a long sigh of relief. Good; one question down, a bunch more to go. This pattern continues for about an hour and a half. Everyone seems to be happy by the end of it so I suppose I did it right? "I'm going to check on the throne room, Emolise." I don't wait for a reply from her and instead walk straight over to the throne room.

Upon entrance through the big, golden doors, my jaw hits the ground. It's beautiful. The servants have completely cleaned the ivory roof; it's sparkling like diamonds as the sun comes shining through it. They have hung up pretty, peacock feathers on the west wall and have completely and utterly cleaned the glass doors that look out towards the Eastern Ocean. The balcony outside the doors has been brushed and re-painted. There are colourful banners hanging down from the edge of the balcony for all to see also.

The best part though would have to be the four, gold, polished thrones sitting in a row along the North wall. They really are beautiful. I walk up to them. I know the exact order in which the thrones should be sat from left to right. It should go the youngest King, followed by the High King, then the eldest Queen, and lastly the youngest Queen. I wonder what they're going to look like? And I certainly hope their names are simple. If they're too hard I won't be able to remember them. Then I would have to go up to the King or Queen and embarrassingly ask what their name is and I would look like a complete fool. Then they might fire me, and I'll starve –

"Ashley!" Did someone call me? I look over my shoulder and watch Malina with interest as she bolts up to me before grabbing me. "Ashley! I'm so glad I found you!" Malina exclaims excitedly, while pulling me into a tight hug. Malina's one of my closest friends. I've been friends with her for as long as I can remember. I suppose you can call her my sister, the main difference being that I'm a Daughter of Eve and she's a faun. She has short, black hair and shining, green eyes. "I thought that maybe you would be in the abandoned hallway or somewhere crazy like that," she adds on. I raise an eyebrow. The abandoned hallway? Why would she think I was there?

"Malina! Calm down!" I say with a smile, "Take deep breaths; now tell me what's going on." I don't know how she can be so excited, what with Aslan dead and everything.

"They're here! They're here! They're here!" she squeals while jumping up and down like the crazy faun that she is. They can't be. The White Witch; dead! She got beaten by…amateurs? My face must show what I'm thinking for she stops jumping and squealing and grabs me by my shoulders. "What's wrong? It looks like you've just about gone into shock," she asks me.

"Aslan too?" It must be a weird thing to ask her that since she doesn't know about his death. She tilts her head slightly to the right and raises an eyebrow.

"Yes, of course he is. And, I must say, he's even more amazing and glorious in person! – or lion anyway." She laughs slightly at her own joke before looking back at me. "Are you alright, Ash? You're starting to look pale," she adds on worriedly. He's alive! Narnia's saved. No one is going to die! We're all saved. I take one last look at Malina, who is looking at me extremely confused, and run from the most beautiful hall I've ever seen.

I sprint as fast as I can down towards the entrance before I stop at one of the many glass windows in the hallway and look out. There, in the very centre of the town, stands The Lion. He really is alive! His mane has grown back too. He looks majestic as ever. He's walking along the path, the four new royals by his side, as he makes his way towards the ivory stairs at the front door. I will never get down there in time. I suppose I'll get to see him when he comes in. I can't wipe the smile off my face as I admit defeat. The important thing is that he's alive. The soft sound of a chiming bell pulls my gaze from the window before I amble over to the kitchen. Time to get to work.

"About time you walked in! Put your hair up into a bun please," Starstone commands the moment I walk through the door. I can feel the stress radiating off her as she throws something at me. I didn't even realise in my emotional state this morning that I hadn't put my hair up. Whoops. I take the white ribbon that is now lying at me feet and tie it into my hair so that it's up in the bun she wants. Whether it's neat or not, I'd rather not know. I glance around the kitchen, looking for something to do, only to see all my friends throughout; Malina, Kabella, Emolise, Cabigail, Mirasdean, Henrietté, Tamilla, and Killara. I smile widely. This day is certainly going to be one to remember. The excitement in the air is undeniable.

"Girls, start putting things on the dining table please! This is the biggest thing that's ever going to happen in Cair Paravel! Chop, Chop!" Starstone tells us all somewhat happily for her. Once she leaves us, we all start cracking up. There is nothing more entertaining than watching Starstone get excited. I spy a blue and white bowl, which contains a lot of Garden Salad, and exit into the bustling hallway. I look around once I'm in the Grand Hall only to notice a whole heap of creatures already packed into it. I grimace and can't help but feel a little bit disappointed with how things have turned out. We're going to be so busy working that we won't be able to see the crowning at all. I place the bowl of salad down on the salad table a little bit harder than I had originally planned and walk back out into the hallway. I turn the corner, not really paying attention to anything, before I feel something bash into my stomach. The impact forces me backwards causing me to fall with a loud thud.

"I'm so sorry! I wasn't watching where I was going!" I apologise in a rush while standing up and offering out my hand. The person takes it and stands up with a big smile. I glance down at the person and quickly take them in. She's in a light-blue coronation dress. Her hair's short and dark-brown and has very neat, bouncy curls. She's quite short and has shining blue eyes. I have a feeling that I have just bumped into the youngest Queen. How embarrassing! I feel the heat rise up to my cheeks in mortification before I curtsey.

"That's okay. It was only an accident and no one got hurt," she assures me happily. I'm wide-eyed. She's fine and looks as if she's happy that I bashed her to the ground. The sound of hooves ringing down the hallway drags my attention away from the young queen for a moment. Starstone!

"I'm sorry, Your Majesty, but I actually have to go. I have to bring some more food out," I say in a rush. She frowns and makes the most painfully, sad, puppy-dog eyes in the whole of Narnia before she sighs.

"That's alright. I'm used to people letting me down; my sister and brothers do it all the time. I'll talk to you later," she tells me sadly. I can tell she wants to stay and chat, but Starstone's getting closer and closer. I can't afford to lose my job. Not tonight!

"Great! I'll see you later then, Your Majesty!" I call out over my shoulder. I feel so guilty. I'm half-walking, half-running up the corridor at this point. Thank Aslan Starstone didn't notice me talking to the little queen. I wouldn't have heard the end of it otherwise. I run past her, entering the kitchen at full speed. Booooommmm. The horns! They're starting! I look over to the single window and notice that everyone else has already gathered around it, watching the historical event unfold with quiet whispers. I lift an eyebrow. I wonder…I grab a large, wooden, carrying tray that's sitting over in the corner and stack plates and bowls on it. I then exit the kitchen and run down the corridor. I can make it. I can make it.

I enter the Great Hall and start piling the plates and bowls of food on the table. I finish quite quickly and eagerly look up to watch the crowning. They're just putting the crowns on them now. Thank Aslan; I didn't miss the best bit. Aslan's just about to say something when I feel a tap on my shoulder. I look behind me only to notice Starstone pointing to the door. Really? She couldn't give me two seconds? I sigh before I head down the corridor and enter the kitchen, slouching the whole way. As I push open the door, I can't help the frown that forms. Everything's gone. I just missed a historical event for nothing? I manage to hold in my annoyance. Malina runs over to me with Emolise and Kabella suddenly; all of them chatting away excitedly. I smile at how enthusiastic they all are. Well at least they got to watch it.

"Alright, everyone to the Great Hall. You all know what you have to do," Starstone bellows with a clap of her hands. We all exit and walk down the corridor to the hall – again! I go over to the entrée table and grab a plate full of puff pastry once I'm there. I also grab some plates and napkins. Starstone told me that that this is my area; the entrées. I walk over to a group of centaurs and fauns who are all happily chatting to one another.

"Would you like some puff pastry?" I ask politely. They, of course, all say yes. I grin and put one on each of their plates with the wooden tongs. This is my first group of the night and I'm already bored stiff. It'd be more polite to start with the Kings and Queens. My eyes scan the room, spotting the youngest Queen first. Don't screw this up, Ashley. She's talking with a Faun, the both of them laughing over something. "Would you like some puff pastry, Your Majesty?" I ask with a smile. A tip for the future; curtseying with a plate full of food is not the smartest thing to do. I wobble slightly, nearly dropping the whole plate in the process. "If it's not considered too rude, what's your name again, Your Majesty? I unfortunately missed that part of the coronation," I ask curiously as they both hold out their plates for me. She smiles.

"Lu – I mean Queen Lucy," she says, giggling. She's so adorable. Not as adorable as Isabella is, but still adorable. "I wasn't able to ask you before what your name is," she says.

"I'm Ashley. I work here as a servant." She gapes openly at me. She seems extremely surprised by this news, especially considering I'm currently serving her food.

"Really?" She turns to the faun by her side and smiles at him. "Excuse us for a moment, Mr Tumnus." She then turns backs to me and gestures for me to follow her. "Have you met my brothers or sister yet?" she asks me politely as we weave our way through throngs on creatures.

"No, I haven't met any of them yet, Your Majesty."

"Well you're about to."

"Who are we meeting first?" I toss a glance in her direction. She smirks at me, her eyes shining.

"My oldest brother, High King Peter." She had to start at the High King. Alright, Ashley. Breathe. It's no big deal. He's just a boy. We move past two more centaurs before we spot him. He's standing next to two tall centaurs and is surrounded by little bunny rabbits and a deer. He has short, brown hair with a huge, golden crown sitting on top. I look at his eyes. They're a deep, light blue and, somehow, he looks very mature because of them. Queen Lucy runs over to him with a massive smile before hugging into his side. He looks surprised before draping an arm over her shoulders. She catches my eyes with hers and gestures me over. Don't panic. I hold the tray in both of my hands, my hands shaking. I'm now up to the small party. Everyone's eyes land on me.

I curtsey before asking, "Puff Pastry, Your Majesty?" He smiles politely.

"Thank you," he answers as I plop some onto his plate. "By the way, I'm High King Peter," he says while holding out his hand. I look at it curiously, not sure what to do, before he very quickly places it back at his side awkwardly.

"I'm Ashley. I um...work here!" Well this is new. Since when do I ever stutter in front of boys?

"I guess I'll be seeing you around then, Servant Ashley," he says as he turns back to his conversation, silently dismissing me. That didn't go as bad as I thought it would.

"Ashley." I turn around expectantly, spotting Starstone from across the room. She points at me and then in front of herself. Without saying anything else to the High King, I drag myself away.

"Yes," I say sadly; I want to talk to him for a bit longer. It's always a bit disconcerting when you don't know who you're working for. I would like to get to know all the Kings and Queens a bit better.

"You've been working hard all day and night, so I'll give you an early mark. Just make sure that you're in nice and early tomorrow morning," she states simply. I nod in understanding.

"Sure and um...Starstone, before I leave, thank you for the beautiful flowers," I say. She smiles and gives me a hug.

"That's alright. Now go home and sleep; tomorrow is the start of a big month," she warns. I nod in agreement and leave. Once I'm outside the castle, I untie Crystal from the pole that I had accidentally left her on this morning and jump up. It's nice of Starstone to give me an early mark so that I can sleep, because, when I think about it, I am pretty tired. It doesn't take me long to ride home. As soon as I get there, I jump off the horse and close the gate. "Goodnight, Crystal, and sorry about leaving you tied up all day. I forgot," I tell her.

"Yes, right! You forgot! Obviously you were too busy flirting with disaster so I'll talk to you in the morning or maybe by then you would've already forgotten that you even have a horse," she argues. I giggle and kiss her long, white nose before I run inside.

"Bella, I'm home," I shout. Silence. "Bella!" Nothing. "Isabella, get your butt out here now!" Still nothing. I groan unattractively and walk upstairs to her bedroom. Knock, knock, knock. "Bella?" I give up. Opening the door I look around the room. Her bag's missing. Oh, a note. I pick it up and easily read, or should I say translate, the messy hand-writing.

I go next door Searah night.

I'm going to Zara's tonight. Only Bella could spell her best friends name wrong. Zara lives next door and has been friends with Bella since they were new born babies. Zara's also the younger sister of Cabigail, so I trust her to keep my little sister safe. Cabigail also has lost her parents, so, like me, she works to support her younger sister. I place the small note down gently onto the bed again and head over to my own bedroom. I instantly throw on some pyjamas and jump into bed. I don't even realise how tired I truly am until my head hits the pillow. I fall into a dreamless slumber in a matter of seconds.


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