Sorry for the wait everyone, but I've finished my exams now and I think they went well. Thank you to my reviewers: Guest and Sophia the Scribe for the encouragement. Anyway, I hope you all enjoy this :)

To Mend Ills

Cor spent the night restless. By the morning, his eyelids had grown heavy and he had to force himself out of bed and into his clothes, but they felt wrong: too big, too heavy. The keys on his belt jangled like funeral bells. Shaking his head, he caught sight of himself in the mirror and remedied his stooped posture. He was the crown prince. He had to get up, stay strong and make sure everyone else was okay.

The rain had subsided overnight and the morning air brought the smell of dew-adorned grass. Outside the window, the courtyard was dark with last night's rain. Cor thought about Corin and their argument, but he felt no anger. People reacted to death in different ways. Aravis had kept her grief to herself for three years.

Three years.

Cor sighed and stared at himself the mirror again. His face sagged, mouth turned down at the corners, purple blotches around the bottom of his eyes. He imagined Aravis, standing next him as she had yesterday. She hadn't even wanted to tell him about her father's death, it had just slipped out. Why hadn't she trusted him with her emotions? And what about Corin? He hoped it wouldn't take three years for his brother to let him back in.

He caught himself stooping in the mirror and straightened up again. Then he headed out of his chambers, and walked a few paces down the corridor to Corin's room. What if Corin wasn't ready to talk to him? But Cor should at least try. He stepped close to the wooden door and knocked tentatively.

"Brother," he whispered.

No reply. Perhaps Corin hadn't heard him; perhaps he was asleep. Dawn was often too early for the younger prince. Cor raised his hand again to knock, but paused before it touched the oak. Maybe he should let Corin sleep. Yesterday hadn't been easy for either of them.

Then again, Cor couldn't put their row out of his mind and he wouldn't let animosity grow between them if he could help it. His chest tightened. If he didn't have Corin… No it was too much to contemplate.

Cor cleared his voice and knocked again.

"Brother," he said more loudly this time.

Still no reply. Cor sighed and let his head fall against the door. One more time.

"Brother please," he said. "I don't think you should hide away. Father was wouldn't want us to be driven apart by his death."

Nothing. Cor sighed again. It wasn't like Corin to ignore him; fight him, argue with him – yes. But ignore him? The boy must be sleeping. Cor shook his head to himself and headed for the stairs.

The quiet of the upper floors was not reflected below. In the biting morning air, servants scurried about their chores and the castle functioned as it did on any other day. Cor walked through the entrance hall – someone had soaked up the puddle from yesterday and the main doors were open. The world beyond was recovering from the heavy rain. Soon foreign dignitaries and far-off lords would be coming to pay their respects to his father.

Cor took a deep breath and the fresh air cooled his head, then he set off towards the throne room.

The great darkwood doors were closed, locked since the day the king had died. Cor placed a hand against the painted metal supports, then let his fingers trace downward to the keyhole. The iron keys weighed heavily on his belt, but it didn't feel right to go in yet.

"Ah your majesty," said a soft voice behind him – the chief adviser.

Her robes were full black, except for the golden symbol of Archenland emblazoned on one side. Her grey-streaked mousy hair was pulled back in a tight plait.

"Trel," said Cor, pulling back from the door. "Are you in need of assistance?"

"Your majesty," she bowed low. "You'll forgive my forwardness at such a time of mourning, but you must be aware that with the King Lune, may Aslan watch over him, dead, the question of succession must be answered swiftly and with certainty."

His father was barely cold in his grave and already the world required a new King. Cor shook his head and rubbed his eyes with his palms.

"Your majesty?"

"Of course I understand the necessity of action," said Cor. "But it is too soon. I need more time Trel. Just another day or two."

"Of course," said Trel. "But does his majesty give permission for preparations to go ahead now, without bothering you for the time being?"

"If it's necessary," said Cor.

"It is necessary."

Cor nodded. Of course, he couldn't ask everyone to stop everything just because it felt like his heart had stopped beating, but he wished he could. He wished he could carve out a pause in the fabric of time and stay there for as long as it took. He stepped away from the throne room door. Some things he could pause.

"Was your majesty intending to re-open the throne room?" asked Trel.

Cor shook his head. "I was just thinking about my father. I don't think I have the energy to open the chamber yet."

"Of course, that is understandable" said Trel. She flicked a grey hair out of her eyes. "If your majesty is sure he is okay, I will begin preparations."

Cor nodded and she retreated down the hallway. She'd served his father for many years and her counsel had been unwavering. Now that Cor was going to be king, he would have to consider who to appoint as his own advisers. Corin and Aravis, of course. Commander General and Minister for Foreign Affairs?

He decided it must be late enough for Corin to have surfaced by now. With one final glance at the tall throne room doors, Cor shook his head and walked back down the corridor. Eventually, he would have to move on, take up the mantle of the kingdom, but he wasn't ready to replace his father yet and part of him felt like a usurper. He needed Corin with him, before he could feel as though he deserved to be King.

When Cor reached his brother's room, he knocked again.

"Corin," he called out. "Are you awake?"

There was no reply. Cor tried the door handle this time – locked. He groaned and banged his head against the door. The noise echoed around his skull and he put a hand up to his temple.

"Trying to knock yourself out?" asked a voice on the other side of the corridor. Aravis peered out of her room, dark hair tumbling over her shoulders. He'd forgotten her room was just across the corridor. Well he hadn't forgotten, he'd just...

"Have you seen Corin?" asked Cor, determined not to answer her question. Knocking himself out and not having to deal with everything was a more and more tempting possibility.

"No, why?"

She came over to him, her hair bouncing in deep brown curls. She was wearing trousers again.

"He's not answering his door and I haven't seen him at all today."

"Maybe he doesn't want to be seen," said Aravis.

Cor's head snapped up and their eyes met. Pale blue against brown.

"He's my brother," said Cor. "Why wouldn't he want me to see him?"

"Cor, I know you're not the sharpest tool in the box," she said, with a small smile, but he chose to frown in response. She looked down. "You must understand," she said.

"I just...I don't understand what he was trying to say yesterday," said Cor. His eyes strayed to her face, but he shifted them to the floor again immediately.

Part of him wanted to fall into her arms and cry until his throat burned and his eyes stung and his face was red like a tomato, but he couldn't. He had to be King and Corin...'Sooner or later you'll decide to fall in love, and then I'll be left behind.'

Cor took a step back from Aravis. Her eyebrows knit together. She took a step towards him. His heart beat faster. She placed a hand on his shoulder and her little finger grazed his neck.

"I…" he stammered. Goosebumps ran down his spine and spread all along his skin. He pulled away. "I'm going out."

The skin on the back of his neck burnt and he could feel her eyes, trying to find his, but he kept his gaze on the floor.

"I'll see you later," he said.

Before she could offer to come with him, he turned and walked back towards the staircase. At the top step, he couldn't help one final glance back. Aravis' face had fallen.

Well, I might not be updating for a while, because I have a lot of work to do, but I'll put it on my profile when I expect to be publishing the next chapter. Thanks for reading and don't forget to review :)