A/N: I do not own anything but a few side characters. The main characters and places belong to C.S. Lewis.
Thanks a lot to, HeLl HaVe No FuRy LiKe A wOmAn !
I had pretty much decided to stop writing this story, but now I see some people are interested, soo happy that you like it. I hope you enjoy these further chapters and I would love some more of your constructive reviews!
Chapter 4
Gone, going
When the feast was over the guests slowly trickled out of the castle. Samaire said her farewells on the day after and both women found it hard to keep the tears out of their eyes. If worst came to worst, they would see each other in a few months time, when the summer harvest was complete and the days of Silvester began.
Aravis spent the next two days packing some clothes and belongings for her long visit at Cair Paravel. She was so looking forward to seeing Lucy and the sea again that she completely forgot about Cor and their fight until the day of her departure, when she was walking along a deserted corridor towards the kitchen and heard some bizarre noises. It seemed as if someone was hurt, or at least crying out for help, so Aravis hurried along until she saw a tall door that stood ajar.
Hearing a kind of low moaning from the inside, she flung the wooden door open to find Dorcas de Lebra entwined in Cor's arms. Both of them looked up in horror as Aravis stood frozen to the spot. Dorcas had dropped her dress to one side, exposing a creamy breast into full sight. Cor seemed to have one arm around her thigh and the other upon her behind as she was pressed against the wall with his mere bodyweight.
Dorcas let out a high-pitched squeal and ran, quickly fixing her clothes as she darted out of the room. Cor looked very embarrassed, turned pink but narrowed his eyes at the intruder.
Aravis turned on her heels and made for her room as fast as she could.
In a state of complete confusion and fury, Aravis packed her trunk and called a servant to help her carry it down the stairs. Instead of the normal waves of annoyance that usually sifted through her, when Cor and her had a fight, she felt waves of anger and a strange but strong sensation of pain, as she ran down the stairs towards the entrance hall.
It was definantly time to go, to just get out of this narrow valley and into open spaces, into a place where people weren't as backstabbing and cruel!
Why did she think Cor was backstabbing her? He was just living out his life, he was allowed to meet ladies and court them. Sure, Aravis knew that courting was not exactly the old fashioned girl-stick-head-out-of-window-boy-hold-flower-and-play-the-flute kind of game, but to go at it as Cor did? In broad daylight? Anyone could have stumbled in on them, even King Lune. Now that would have been a fiasco!
Aravis hadn't noticed someone approaching her from the right hand side of the dark marble entrance hall. She was running fast towards the doors, keen to just catch a breath of fresh air, when a deep and rather commanding voice called her.
"Aravis, my daughter, whence are your feet taking you at such fast a pace?" King Lune walked towards her, eyebrows furrowed.
Seeing the irritation in his eyes, she was tempted, for a short moment, to tell the King all she had seen. The prince, in the arms of a court slut, moaning like out of control animals. But she controlled her fury and met his gaze with one of her levelled glares.
"Dear King Lune, father it is time for me to leave for Cair Paravel." She managed this speech without the faintest sign of her inner battling emotions.
"And why do you leave in such displeasure, Aravis, my daughter?" he asked her inquisitively. Aravis sighed, she found it so hard to hide emotions from him, maybe that was because he was such a genuine man, honourable and loyal to the core.
"I am sad, because of my dear friend Samaire's departure," she answered, bowing her head in order to hide the lie. Why was she lying to her King and father for such an undeserving prat?
"I see," King Lune held her chin and turned her face so he could see her eyes. He seemed satisfied. "Well, you will see her again soon. Silvester, I believe, maybe even earlier."
Aravis nodded and they both stepped outside the big oak front doors, into the courtyard. She was definantly getting better at this, finally.
Outside three courtiers waited to accompany her across the border and Narnia to Cair Paravell. Aravis watched as her trunk was loaded into a small cart that was being pulled by one horse and a horseman who sat in front holding a whip and reigns at the ready. She slowly made her way to a cream coloured mare, which was being held by a young stable boy.
"I see Corin isn't here quite yet," King Lune grumbled as he watched his daughter mount her horse. "I told him to be punctual this time."
Aravis grinned as she patted the mare's neck and shoulders. Bavari was a wonderfully natured animal, not a talking beast of course, but gentle and patient just the same. Aravis had travelled many a journey to Narnia and back on her loyal mare and this was no exception. Of course riding on a talking horse of Narnia, such as Bree had been, was nothing compared to their dumb cousins of the southern border, but Aravis enjoyed riding just as much, though the conversation with men lacked depth and complexity. Especially with my dear brothers, Aravis thought, a bit irritated that Corin was late, yet again.
A few minutes past in silence, then a young man burst out of the great front doors, jumped down the front stairs and made his way toward a chestnut stallion. He wore a green lofty shirt, brown breeches and high black riding boots. Something about his heir seemed a bit out of place, but Corin quickly walked up to his father, apologised for his tardiness and then mounted his horse, Airav. The big black stallion made some nervous steps to the right, ears flat to its head, but relaxed when his master patted his glistening flank.
"Where is Cor?" King Lune asked Corin and gazed towards the front doors. "He should come and bid you farewell, he is your brother after all."
"Father," Aravis said, soothingly. "We have both said our goodbyes, Cor and I talked just before I came down." King Lune relaxed and smiled.
"Well then," the King came up to Aravis and Corin, patted both their horses necks and nodded in the direction of Narnia and the North. "I wish you a safe and pleasant journey. Aravis," he held her hand and kissed it gently. "I will see you when the summer ends; heed King Peter and the others. Have a wonderful time my dear," his eyes glistened as he bid her farewell. "And you Corin, I expect you back in two weeks in time for your training in armour." Both father and son shook hands and then one of the courtiers blew a horn. The grand gates opened and Aravis rode through these feeling the wind of freedom and promise at last.
