Adventures in Narnia
Ch. 2 Schoolmates reunited
Peter was out riding with Virginia, who was recently granted ladyship by Peter. Laughing, they both rode through the glossy green fields.
"Come on Peter, catch up slow poke!" Virginia laughed as she rode ahead of him.
"Ooh you're going to get it!" Peter laughed and he and his horse sped up and over took Virginia.
"Fine then, Kingie, it's a race!" and Virginia sped up past him again, making Peter's horse startled before speeding up.
"You can never beat the king!" Peter laughed while going on ahead. Virginia let out a battle cry and rode far ahead again.
They raced until both their horses slowed and wouldn't go farther. By that time they were in the middle of another huge, green field.
They slid off their horses and laid down on the grass.
"Peter, Narnia's done you good," Virginia said after a while.
"How so?"
"Well, before you came and ever since your Dad went off to war, you've been… cut off from everyone. You hadn't even listened to me, much less your family, for comfort. All you've been doing is trying to act grown-up, like a father. Isolated. No one could reach you. Frankly, it was like I lost my best mate," Virginia sounded horribly sad at this painful memory, so Peter wrapped an arm around her shoulder.
"And then all 4 of you left, and another blitz ensued. Me, Ronald, Sarah, Michael, Antonio, plus my mum and your mum, were sent off to our boarding school because our houses were heavily bombed. That's how I ended up here- me and Ronald needed a mop, and we walked inside a closet that said 'do not open' hoping there might be a mop inside. Apparently the first principal of the school, 'Madam Polly' had some famous wood in that door or something, wood left over from some wardrobe made from a good friend of hers, and…"
"That wood is from here, Narnia," Peter laughed, "and we got through by the wardrobe, by the way."
"Yeah!" Virginia laughed, "and anyway, I guess Narnia's changed you dramatically, because you're back to your old self- no, better than your old self!"
"I feel more at home in Narnia than… well, than back home," Peter said softly. At that particular moment Peter had felt an unbearable urge to kiss Virginia, but didn't. He was pondering why he had wanted to kiss her. After all, they were best mates, and young, and… well, it would just have been absolutely ridiculous.
"Strangely, so do I. Let us hope that we never have to go back," Virginia laughed.
"I believe that we are schoolmates reunited in both body and spirit," Peter mused.
Virginia quieted after that, and settled herself deeply into Peter's arms.
"You know, Peter, I think that in Narnian clothing you're much more handsome than when you're in British clothing," Virginia commented as the two were out walking.
Peter flushed, Virginia had called him handsome.
"Not that you aren't handsome in British clothing, its just you look more grown up in Narnian dress.
Peter flushed even more.
"Well then, to turn the tables, you are more elegant in Narnian clothing."
Virginia blushed with pleasure, "Thank you, Peter."
"Peter immediately realized the impact of what he said.
"Of course, you look pretty in English clothes as well," Peter summed up; he didn't want Virginia to think he liked her or something. Sure, he loved her—but like he would love a best friend or a relative. She was like his twin sister—funny that she really was a twin sister to someone else.
"Thank you," Virginia smiled, "now, I have a request for the good King."
Peter laughed, "What?"
"Kis—"Virginia stopped, then shook her head.
"Erm, find my brother."
"I'm already on it, as you know. However, I know that you were going to say something else, so say it already," Peter laughed.
"No, its fine. You wouldn't have done it anyway," Virginia said that in a tone that meant, drop it. So Peter did.
"Ok, well if you ever would like to ask me again, you can, you know. And I swear, on my honor, that I shall do it."
Virginia smiled, "I believe that what I'm asking you is highly impertinent."
"Since when have you ever worried about doing something because it is impertinent?" Peter gasped, shocked.
"No, I mean like you would scream and run away or something."
Peter chuckled, "Ok, but you have to promise me that you will ask me again, some other time."
Virginia sighed, "I guess I will, if I have the chance."
And they left the conversation at that.
"Dance, monkey, dance!" Lucy giggled as she was playing with a small talking monkey from the castle's zoo-of-sorts, where all the noble talking animals lived, but they lived in comfortable apartments and didn't resort to their old ways.
"I'm afraid, Your Majesty, that I can dance no more," the monkey, named Donald.
"Aww!" Lucy sighed, "Ah well. Thank you, good Sir Donald-the-monkey, for your source of entertainment."
"It has been a pleasure and an honor, my Queen. I bid thee farewell," and the monkey darted away.
Lucy sighed, and then caught sight of Virginia down the hall.
"Ginny!" she cried, running up to her.
"Whoa, Lu! What's up?" Virginia asked.
"Well, Virginia, Peter's been talking to me about how he's been feeling a little different about you lately."
"Really? How so and why is he telling you this?"
"Well, he was telling me because he needed someone to tell, and I was the only one of us 4 who wasn't going to the Court Dance in 2 Months, and he needed someone who wouldn't be there to egg him on. But anyway, I don't care why he told me, he just told me that lately he's been feeling weirder feeling about you, like," Lucy giggled, "once he wanted to kiss you for a split second. Oh Virginia, pretty please can I tell him that you love him?"
"Absolutely not! This is all nonsense- another one of your tricks trying to get me to fess up to Peter! Darn it Lucy, stop this!" Virginia cried. Back home, Lucy did this kind of thing a lot because she thought that the two belonged together and the only way to get them together was by Peter knowing about Virginia's love for him. And every time, Virginia got horribly cross with Lucy.
"Fine. But this time it was true," and Lucy left.
Could this time have been actually true? Virginia thought hopefully, no, it couldn't. Lucy really is a whole-hearted matchmaker, but I'm afraid I just can't let her… No, I can't.
And Virginia left to her room, silently.
(1,118 Words)