Hey everybody! Chapter three is here! I hope you all are enjoying the story so far.
Yep, the line "within that beauty lies the poison" that Susan mentioned is important. Keep an eye, or two eyes, for clues as you go.
VERY special thanks to TimeMage0955 for her reviews and her help in my advertising! I really, extremely appreciate it! I can't thank you enough:-D
Chapter 3
Lucy ran up the path and hugged Peter and Edmund as tightly as she could.
"Where have you been?" she asked.
"Tell you later," said Peter, "First we have to greet our guest." He nodded towards Meg. Meg blushed.
"Lady, we are very sorry to hear of your mother's death. It grieves us to hear that she died during the trip to Narnia," Peter said to her.
"We'd also like to find the murderer to avenge Lady Nestra's death and to protect our people," Edmund added, "So if you could answer a few questions we'd be much obliged,"
"Why y-yes, of course I c-can," Meg stuttered. She seems nervous, thought Edmund, I wonder why.
"Can you tell us about your mother? About her personality."
"My mother was very beautiful when she was a young lady and she had many suitors. She looked a lot like my brother actually; I've seen portraits of the both of them. My brother's very handsome isn't he? And my mother was just the same; very handsome, very beautiful. She wasn't very gentle in character to match her looks though; she could take things to the extreme. She was rather ruthless about things. One time her first husband---but, I won't speak of that," said Meg shuddering and began again, "The poor people, were another example. She thought that they should be sent to work on farms for their living instead of on the streets. I-I never I agreed with her about that, though." Meg said that hastily for Meg had always felt compassion towards the poor and ill treated.
"Did she have any maids or servants?" Edmund asked.
"Yes, she did have one," Meg replied, "Her name is Hylus and she has been my mother's maid since she was a toddler."
"What happened the night of the murder?" Edmund asked.
"At dinner we went to the galley of the ship to eat. It was a really good meal I thought. We had trout, snipe, salad, ices, and a pudding. But I didn't eat any of the pudding, neither did Orest. After dinner Mother went straight to bed, but not before she had an argument with my step brother. It was pretty loud. I heard it as I went to my cabin."
"Argument?" asked Peter quickly, "What did you hear?"
"I only heard my brother say 'How could you do it?' and 'You--you snake! I wish you your death!' It was creepy, remembering it after she died that same night..." Meg broke off shuddering. "But I don't think it was my brother who murdered her. It was probably just something he said at the heat of the moment in their argument."
"What did you do after that?" said Edmund.
"I went to bed. My cabin was right next to Mother's. It's kind of horrifying to think that a murder was going on right next door..." Meg's color blanched.
"Did you hear anything while you were there?"
"I heard my brother stomp off as he left my mother's cabin. And later in the night I remember a kind of clatter, but I don't know---" Meg broke and then looked terrifed, "Do you suppose that was when the murderer killed her? That clatter I heard? I heard her being murdered?" Meg began to look pale. She swallowed and said, "Excuse me. I don't really feel well." And she broke off into a run towards the castle.
"Poor Meg!" Lucy exclaimed and started to run after her but Susan caught her by the wrist.
"Let her be, Lucy."
"But---" Lucy started to protest. Susan held her fingers to her lips.
"She needs to be left alone for a while. She hasn't had time to mourn yet. Do you remember how we felt when Aslan was killed?"
Lucy's expression changed immediately "Yes, of course, I'd never forget," she said as she understood. She turned to Edmund and Peter, "So where were you when we were out here with Meg?"
"Out to investigate her brother, Orest," Peter said, "Or actually he called us to ask us if we would help find the murderer, but he was acting very strangely..." And Peter related to Susan and Lucy about their visit with Orest.
"Well, perhaps, he hasn't gotten over the shock yet," said the always forgiving Susan.
"No, I don't think so," Edmund stated plainly, "I don't think he really loved his mother as much as he says he does."
Dinner that night was a sad affair. Everyone at the table was quiet. And even quieter still when the food came. The Archenlanders only nibbled at their dishes and sipped from their goblets. It wasn't long before they all left to their rooms for the rest of the quiet evening. And as the solid black mass of people left the table, Edmund also began to feel very sad. Why should these people have to suffer so much? Because of the actions of one murderer? And he resolved firmly in his mind that he would find that murderer, no matter what the cost.
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