Mara Sol : Am absolutely sorry about the late update :( uni has been very hectic and online classes are way too harder than I'd expected :( However I can promise a quick update next time so stay tuned!
Love. Fiction. 2020: I appreciate your support as always! Hope you like this chapter :)
To Ed's Queen of Narnia, Lanthe95, Fantasy lover27 : OOPS trust me I get the hate at Carissa haha I hope this Chapter doesn't annoy you ever more, apologies in advance ^-^
Shadow: Thank you very much! I did put a lot of effort to make it seem as a realistic response as possible! Glad you've noticed 3
Chapter 27; unexpected interactions
King Edmund rode at the crack of dawn, Lora and a good twenty Narnians at his side.
Raven swooped with a loud caw announcing his arrival from above the treeline as their small team looked up in anticipation, "We're well on path. I already spy the Winding creek an hour from now if we were to keep pace, your Majesty."
"Good. In that case we shall make it to Ettinsmoor by daybreak." Edmund declared seeming pleased by the news. Least this one thing was going his way. "Break time when we reach Winding Creek so pack it up! We're on a schedule here."
And so it wasn't long until they reached Winding Creek and the motley crew replenished their water skins and feasted on the abundant fresh fruits they'd brought along for the journey. One thing about Narnia, with the blessing of Aslan and the Earth spirits that called it their home, harvest was always bountiful.
From quite some distance Edmund heard laughter and merry Narnian tunes drift in as his crew made good off this journey. It was only an investigative one nothing sinister so he supposed they deserved the slack. Though joining in their travel songs was the furthest thing off the young King's mind.
"You should join in the merry making," Lora's firm human-like voice called at him. "Brooding over a dame, even one as fine as her is going to get you nowhere."
"I am not brooding," he snapped in reply.
"Yeah, sure." She licked her paws, "you only are staring out into the water deep in thought about all the things you should've done differently and the drastically different outcome of it all while depriving yourself of pleasurable company and not to mention fresh new spring's harvest of cherry apples!"
He only resisted the urge to growl at her because Edmund knew for a fact that Lora would only growl right back in all her fierciety. And a growling match with his Shield was the last thing the Just King needed right now.
Edmund rose up sparing her not another word. It was true indeed, he had in fact been brooding about all the things he should've done differently. That he still wanted to do differently, but it wasn't up to him and it felt like the time for it had long passed. Again, he felt the growingly familiar heart ache that he'd tried so hard to keep at bay find another crack in his armour to seep in and this time it came in the form of a bunch of wild carnations growing by the river bed.
It should've been me, Edmund couldn't help but think back, it should've been me getting her flowers not Peter. He should've been the one to offer her his arm and took her for walks in his all too large gardens for however long she'd wanted. But no, he did none of that sort. Instead he only pushed her away and when she only persisted, breaking away brick by brick through his defences he'd gone ahead and pissed her off to the point she now wanted nothing to do with him.
The ache in his chest only grew as Edmund abruptly stood up, blocking the sudden onslaught of emotions that threatened to overwhelm him. "Break's over. Saddle your bags and get back on the road. We still have quite a distance to cover before nightfall." he instructed as his comrades hustled to do so with not a word against their King's.
And so they did. Riding through as the Narnian Sun shone above their heads relentlessly. They stopped not until it set down the horizon and velvety darkness crept up to take its place, but by then they were a long long distance away from Cair Paravel and her comforts and only then did Edmund decide to set camp.
Tents were erected around a campfire as a wolf's howl sounded from a distance but they had nothing to worry about, this was dryad country after all and though wild Dumb animals roamed these woods as freely, he knew he could rely on the tree spirits for protection. As Bitty the Badger pulled out her lyre much to everyone's cheer the very air around them seemed to come alive just as maiden's seemed to materialize out of the trees around them and stepped in joining in the cheer. Edmund sat quite some distance away from the commotion as he sipped on some hot tea leaning back onto a tree. He saw Lora give him a look as if telling him to come join in but with a look at him she turned away with a flick of her tail knowing that for now, her King needed space than anything else.
Just as he was drifting off, his mind wandering about nothing in particular a sparkle caught his eye. The unmistakable trail of pixie wings. Edmund sat unmoving as the pixie neared. They were delicate, shy creatures and he couldn't help a small smile light up his lips as a certain memory unfolded itself. Edmund offhandedly wondered if this pixie was the same as the one he'd witnessed that day that landed herself on Aline's hand. Of course he couldn't be sure since he was anyways more focused on staring at the girl in question and the glow that lit up her entire face rather than the fairy in her hand.
Edmund stretched out his arm if only reaching out to hold on to a memory long passed. The pixie hovered on top of his palm as if contemplating landing on it before it made up its mind otherwise flying off to a distance.
Edmund almost sighed, but then he noticed the pixie had stopped, some distance away yet he could feel the intensity of the tiny creature's stare on him. Before he could ponder on it further, the young King stood up without another thought, dodging low rising branches as he followed the glimmering trail the pixie left behind. She flew too fast for him to keep up yet when she went too far ahead the pixie stopped chattering in gibberish as if admonishing him for being so slow.
"Great, now you've scared her off!" she had complained her arms crossed and with a pout that despite her disappointment put an immediate smile on his face. All that seemed almost a life time ago.
Edmund sighed.
Lost in thought he almost didn't realise where she'd lead him.
"King Edmund!" honeyed voice greeted him as he made his way passed ranks of nymphs all bowing as he passed by before continuing with whatever they were doing, braiding flowers into each others hairs and sipping cherry wine while skipping in circles- just nymph stuff. Edmund straightened, he'd never get used to this behaviour but it was a small price to pay for his position as royalty, he supposed. "My sisters sent word to be expecting your presence, your Majesty."
"Lady Thiepe," he acknowledged the Dryad with a kiss to her outstretched arm, "then I suppose you also are aware of the cause of my trip up here."
Lady Thiepe rose up gracefully from the stone steps she was seated on, her dress rippling in fluid waves as she made her way over towards him. "Ah, yes my King. I may have information that pertains to your.. predicament."
"Then I believe a conversation is in order, my Lady."
Lady Thiepe laughed, "It indeed is," and with a flick of her wrist and a blink Edmund found himself not out in the open woods anymore but inside what seemed to be- her chambers?
All pretense of her carefully curated carefree demeanor left her face once they were away from the scrutiny of everyone else.
"You're right about on time. I was about to make the trip to the Cair myself."
"What bothers you so, Lady Thiepe? I was under the impression the Giant insurgence in Ettinsmead is well under control. And I assure you, we will do everything in the Crown's power to locate your missing dryads from the rebel's clutches."
"Oh my King. If only it were just that." she sighed, "Since my last message to the Cair, things have risen up. In fact I don't think the Giants have anything to do with this at all. I believe they're only a pawn caught up in this elaborate game that I can't seem to make sense of."
Theipe seemed to get lost gazing into the distance her stare blank even as she looked at him,
"What do you mean?"
"The Giants are a simply restless, mundane creatures with an aversion to anything magic." Edmund nodded knowingly, the cogs in his brain tugging and turning to keep up, "What I mean is, I'm afraid this is bigger than any of us could imagine. There are things stirring in the woods, dark evil beings. You were right about the Forsaken." her voice turned to an almost whisper that chilled his spine, "I.. I've seen them with mine own eyes. I've witnessed what they're capable of. The attack on the Cair was simply a warning. But that is not all, my King." Edmund felt his heart sink further- if it were even possible at that, "I feel it in my bones and with the changing winds, war is in the air and Narnia needs to prepare."
"You have to tell me everything you know."
"And so I will." she lead him over to the table to find an out spread map in front of them. "Right here," Thiepe pointed to a spot on the map right in between the village of Ettinsmead and the Giants County of the Northern Mountains, "-is where she was first spotted. The Lady in Green, my dryads call her and the ones who lived to tell the tale claim the ground she stood on turned barren at her wake. And ever since then the birds don't sing as loud anymore and the trees have grown increasingly quieter as my dryads are growing frail, especially at the borders.. and the missing few.." she sighed, as Edmund got the message. "They aren't dead. Yet. I can still feel my sisters as weak as their spirits are. It's almost like the beginning of another great Winter."
And for not the first time in those chambers did the Just King's blood run cold. For the place her curated finger nail rested on was also dangerously close to another castle Edmund had spent most of his youth trying to forget.
"So you say, the appearance of this.. Lady in Green, the Forsaken and the Giant Uprising are somehow connected?"
"I know they are. Something is going on in Ettinsmoor and that something is dampening my hold on the woods. I have not the influence that I used to, the villagers have always shunned the nymphs but their tolerance to any of my kind have grown notoriously tentatious recently and that simply cannot be a coincidence."
"Dark magic," he muttered under his breath.
"I'm afraid I suspect the same, my King. This surely consists of the workings of Dark Magic, of the highest order. Go to Ettinsmead as was the plan, perhaps you'd have better luck at finding what's going on from the inside."
Edmund nodded. This had become so much more complicated than he could've anticipated. They had suspected some human stumbling across dark spell books and dabbling in the in the dark arts but according to Lady Thiepe this seemed, much much worse.
"I can grant you safe passage through these woods, but once you cross into Weedling Marshes.. I'm afraid my powers tend to diminish around there. At least since recently."
"My lady if I may?" Edmund couldnt help but wonder, just as Thiepe nodded turning to face him her kaleidoscopic eyes trained on him looked disorienting that the King had to look away, "I can't help but wonder why you're so forthcoming with such information. I do not recall the dryads of the North to be as.. friendly, as your sisters down South."
Thiepe smiled, a beautiful yet intimidating one that stretched her lips yet lacked the warmth of any real emotion. "You are as smart as the bards sing you to be. Well, I shall have you know, young King.. There is one thing I hate more than not knowing things. And it is the feeling of being powerless. Up here, things are done differently, unlike with my, if I may say so myself, pretty spoilt sisters down South with their playful parties and petal dresses.. up North, we aren't pretty fairies flitting from flower to flower. We were given the privilege of life for one reason that is care for the gifts in nature Aslan blessed us with. It is our sacred duty to defend the land, by any means necessary. We are warriors, we value strength and power and at the risk of repeating myself, I hate feeling powerless especially when someone or something threatens my sisters"
Edmund grinned, he was glad she was an ally. He'd hate to make an enemy out of Lady Thiepe, the deepset determination and fire in her eyes were enough to show him that.
She turned making her way towards him clasping something in her hands. It was a bejewelled brooch, "Upon reaching Ettinsmead, you need to find Drea," Lady Thiepe began, as she pinned it onto his tunic her long fingers gliding over his chest as she did so, "my daughter. This should help you with it, for if anyone would know anything about any of this, it's her."
Now was it just him, or did her voice sound a bit forlorn?
"Now off you go, young King! May Aslan smile upon you."
Before he could reply, Edmund found himself back in the campsite as Bitty the Badger strummed along a merry tune on her lyre while Speed and Silver the playful wolf pups he had somehow approved to come along, pranced about to the merry rhythm.
Aline sat, staring into the distance looking at nothing in particular. The farthest her eyes could make out was what Peter had shown her to be the Ettinsmoor Mountain range. It was a journey of a good three days, Lucy had added. One that Edmund had been quite eager to leave on, she couldn't help but think to herself. She wondered if this heaviness in her heart would ever go away?
Aline sighed clutching at the necklace around her neck. Recently, the weight that had always been a comforting feeling seemed to only be weighing her down. Reluctantly, Aline let her mind slip through memories she had once decided to keep locked deep within the confines of her brain long ago. Back to a more mundane time while she still had the luxury of a somewhat normal life.
Right up to the very point it all began to go wrong. The accident. The one that twisted and turned her life upside down very much like the car she had been securely strapped into on that one fateful day. Thinking of the past did nothing Aline knew and so she had repressed it all, buried it deep down in a dark corner of her mind as she threw herself into everything else. Her stellar grades, the countless overtime shifts that she'd deemed necessary if she were to save up enough to run away from the misery that was home.. in the end she had indeed gotten her wish, Aline mused.
"Dad!" the little girl yelled as she ran as fast as her little legs would carry her, making her way over to where her father was working under the hood of their car just as the man in question turned behind. The look of frustration on his face instantly lightened up as it turned into a smile at the sight of his daughter's frown.
"You were supposed to take me to the movies!"
The man laughed heartily as he waved at their broken down car, "I remember sweetheart now come help me work here. Fetch me that wrench so that we could get this done and go there faster!"
The very apparently spoilt little girl's frown only grew deeper, "but Daddy, Princesses don't work!" She pouted, a sight so cute that the man couldn't help but laugh heartily before he got back to his work.
And so within an hour, and thankfully before her movies started, the father and daughter made offjust in time and if only the little girl knew that would be the last time she spent with her father, maybe she would've done things differently.. maybe she would've insisted they'd go to the beach and stroll along the shore talking about anything and everything instead of forcing her father to sit through a movie she knew he didn't even like..
Maybe this was her fault.
Something that Sam had said echoed back from some corner of her memory, "..baseball game..". Maybe he did have a point? Maybe if she hadn't insisted on going to watch that damned movie, maybe their father would still be alive. Maybe.. she stopped herself forcefully before her mind could continue in this vicious cycle of guilt and self pity that Aline knew led no-one anywhere.
All their life's they had each blamed each other- she, her brother and their mother, for her father's death. But deep down, Aline knew it was her fault. She had been right there, secured to the front seat. She'd seen the larger than normal wild cat suddenly bound into view. The gleam of its eyes and the barring of its teeth, almost like a wicked grim. She'd seem her father swerve just as he put one of his arm towards her, holding her form back into the seat even as the not fastened seatbelts dangled freely around in mid air while the car toppled.
She knew she was to blame.
She wiped away the wetness that had been forming at her eyes as it rolled down her cheeks. And just then, Aline came to the sudden realization that she wasn't the only one in the room and at that it was the woman she least wanted to be around. Someone froze at the doorway, just as surprised to find they weren't alone.
"Pardon the intrusion, Lady Aline I.. didn't think there would be anyone here," she spilled awkwardly, "I shall take my leave," Carissa seemed to take note of her predisposition which for some reason only made Aline feel her temper rise. She could only imagine the sight she was to the Court's resident gossip magnate, with her legs curled up to her chest on the window seat looking into the distance and Aline was almost positive her eyes reddened in a telltale state.
"No, it's alright." she stood up, scrabbling to her feet "I was just leaving anyways," Aline forced out a smile.
Carissa walked over stepping aside as she looked out the window, "A beautiful view is it not? I love Narnian Springs the most. Something about the flowers always in full bloom is relaxing."
The lady's unexpected words made her stop in her step. "It is beautiful indeed," Aline replied after a moment's hesitation. She had never had to interact with Lady Carissa directly before and from the Lady's conduct towards her, she never seemed like she'd wanted to herself anyways.. What did she want from her? Aline couldn't help but ponder.
"Of course, it's even prettier in person. A stroll amidst the flowers, their colors and scent overwhelming your senses.." she sighed, "Even more so, when you're on the arms of a King."
Aline shifted uncomfortably for she understood exactly what Carissa was insinuating. But Carissa gave her no time to respond.
"Especially a certain High King, don't you think?"
From what she'd gathered, the Lady did seem like a ruthless social climber so no, Aline wasn't at all surprised by her rather brass statement, but what she couldn't decide on was.. how was she supposed to react?
Fake dumbness? Carissa sure seemed like the kind that would buy anything or.. and her eyes lit up at this, play this woman at her own game? She knew this came with the package, of course the Pevensie siblings were different, much influenced by the home world they'd shared but seems even on this fantasy land the workings of the Court remained much the same, conniving and cunning and somehow Aline knew she couldn't hide behind the Queen's skirts for long and if she were to survive, she had to play their game.
She brushed away the lingering feeling of heaviness at the thought of her past. For as far as she could make out, this seemed to be her future. Aline could recall the looks on the Narnian's faces the moment she'd defeated Rabadash. She'd pretty much been invisible in matters of the State and the Courts before, but all of that had changed that moment. She clearly remembered the subtle glances of judgement passed her way, as if the Ladies were sizing her up. So she better make the best of it.
And so, Aline smiled, coyly as she faked a shy face, "The High King was indeed so kind to show me around. Narnia is such a marvelous place, in fact I could use being shown around more."
Carissa smiled smugly. "So could we all." she sighed, "oh, Lady Aline look at the carnations in full bloom," she tucked a dainty curl behind her ear delicately as Aline thought back to the time Peter had made her that make shift bouquet of carnations- "the yellow's are my favourite!" -but all she could recall was the empty cool stare and harsh voice from someone else she knew before he turned his back and she fell apart just like the bouquet in her hands.
"It was Lover's Eve and everybody gave their sweethearts a dozen roses red. But not him. No, he picked for me a single yellow carnation," she seemed to fondly recall.
"Who? Pe- The High King?" Aline questioned not at all liking the direction this was headed.
"No, silly of course not. You needn't be afraid you can have the King and the High Throne all to yourself." she giggled as her blue eyes lit up as if a silent challenge at her to guess who.
"Well then perhaps it was the gardener?"
Carissa laughed, "you're funny, Lady Aline! But no-" her eyes widened, "Maybe telling you is not too bright an idea, given the way even walls could have ears around here. Oh my, Mother always said I had a mouth too large for my own good.
"I'd say that a prudent decision Lady Carissa. After all you barely knew me nor I you, except perhaps for idle gossip but I'm pretty sure they're not all to be believed."
"Oh but then, all rumors have some truth hidden deep inside them, don't you think? If only one cared to look past the chatter."
Aline clenched her teeth, a retort at the tip of her tongue, but she held back. Instead a polite smile on her lips, "That I'm sure you're right about. Now, if you'll excuse me Lady Carissa, the Queens had requested my presence at the Calormene send-off."
As she walked passed the Archen Lady, Aline half wondered if she had imagined that look on her face, as if she had just slapped her, or if it were real what was it's cause?
A/N:I hope you enjoyed the Aline/Carissa interaction in this one! And for my OG readers,, yes! It's the same memory about the car-crash from the couple of deleted chapters, though I've decided not to incorporate Hannah's character into this anymore since she doesn't really do much plot-wise. A cookie if you guys still recall that for almost 3 years ago now HAHA
Anyways, I am working on the next two Chapters already so I can make promises on it being up within next week! Please don't forget to review, like and follow!
P.S Please feel free to point or inconsistencies or grammatical errors please! I haven't proof read any due to my hectic schedule :(