Rey, thanks for reviewing. There's more going on with Cor and Aravis than has come to light yet, so stay tuned for my next few updates. Le Faucon Bleu, I spent a lot of time trying to get the balance right, so I'm glad it worked!

Also, if you haven't read my new one-shot series about Aravis, Cor and Corin, it's called 'First Snow', go read it! And let me know what you think :)

Anyway, on with the story. It's quite long again, but maybe that's a good thing.

Gathering Supplies

They headed towards the mountains on horseback at a brisk pace. Corin had offered to buy his new companion a horse, but she seemed happy enough to ride behind him. Her name was Ren and that was all she told him about herself, except reassuring him a few times that she knew her way around the mountains.

She didn't talk much, just held onto him as they rode towards the jagged peaks between Narnia and Archenland and he wouldn't admit it, but the warmth of her body could almost keep back the creeping cold in his veins.

He'd prepared himself for a lonely journey to Narnia and if he was honest with himself, it was nice to have company. Particularly company that didn't judge him or expect anything from him, except payment at the end of the journey.

"You know," she said, as they got into the foothills of the mountains. "With the mountains in the state they are, we'll have to abandon the horse at some point."

"I'm not adverse to walking," said Corin.

"Yeah," she said, shifting her weight slightly. "You made it a good few miles out of the castle by foot, didn't you?"

"Hmm," said Corin.

"Why did you walk all that way?" she said. "How come the castle is searching for you? How come you're on your way to Narnia, not back to your brother?"

Corin's stomach twisted. The wind brushed through his hair, the same hair Cor had and almost the same length. The only difference was that Cor's hair was always neat and combed and Corin's was wild, because Aslan forbid anyone would ever be allowed near him with grooming equipment, though he submitted to it for balls and feasts, mostly because it pleased his father.

Corin's chest hurt. He'd give anything to see his father again, including being the most well-groomed prince that ever walked the halls of Anvard, but his father was gone. No amount of bargaining could bring him back. The lion had spoken and the lion could not be argued with.

His hands tightened around the leather reigns.

"It's difficult to explain," he said.

"Try me," said Ren.

He glanced over his shoulder. Despite the hard lines of her face and the bones that stuck too far out, there was a softness in her green eyes.

"Do you have any siblings?" he asked, but she shook her head. "My older brother can be a bit overbearing."

"Your older brother?" she said. "I thought you were twins."

"Well, yes," said Corin. "But Cor acts about three years too old and he claims I act about three years too young, and he was born first. Sometimes it feels like everybody forgets we were born on the same day."

"Must be hard," said Ren.

"And now he's going to be King."

"And that bothers you?" she said. "You want to be King, or joint King or something?"

Corin bit his lip and fixed his gaze on the mountains. Maybe he'd feel the right temperature when they were surrounded by snow and ice.

"No," he said. "I've never wanted to be King, but I don't want to feel like I'm being shut out."

"And your solution is to run away so you can't have a say at all?"

Corin shook his head.

"Like I said, it's difficult to explain."

"Sounds downright contradictory to me," she said. "But I get it. People do strange things when they're grieving."

"Yeah," said Corin, glancing at her again. "So how did you end up choosing attacking nobles as your profession?"

She snorted.

"It's not a profession," she said. "I was being opportunistic. Probably won't do that again. Normally I'm a beast tracker."

"A beast tracker?"

She turned her face away to watch the mountains rising on either side of them.

"Yeah," she said. "Wolves, bears, anything that threatens livestock."

"Is that how you know the mountains?" he said.

"Something like that."

"But if you're a beast tracker, why did you decide to attack a prince of the realm?" he said.

"It's mostly your fault," she said.

"My fault?" he said, glancing over his shoulder again.

"Your family has been doing a much better job recently of assisting farmers who need help," she said. "Sending guards from the castle out on patrol. I'm a freelancer. People use my help when they need it, but your guards do it for free so if they're about, no one pays me."

"Sorry," said Corin.

Ren shrugged, but it was slightly off, like she was thinking too much about it and she couldn't get the action quite right.

"Maybe I'll take up mountain guiding instead," she said.

-O-

"We'll stop here," said Corin, as a castle came into view on their left. The ground had been sloping gradually upwards for some time and snow drifts were beginning to appear at the sides of the path. "I don't think Patches will be able to continue on for much longer and I'd rather leave her in the care of a stable hand."

"How valiant of you," said Ren.

He halted the horse outside the castle gates and she climbed down, then offered a hand to help him and Corin frowned. Wasn't it supposed to be the other way around? He declined the hand and slid down, pulling his hood up over his face – he didn't want to risk anyone else recognising him.

Beyond the raised portcullis, people milled about the market area, their breath clouding out in front of them, their hands and bodies wrapped in warm furs if they could afford it and multiple layers of cloth if they could not. Corin glanced at his servant's attire. The fabric wasn't of poor quality, but he could feel the chill when his cloak was open.

Ren didn't look much better dressed for the mountains. He'd have to fix that.

They wandered towards the market and the air flavoured with roasting meat. Corin's stomach rumbled and he glanced at Ren. She had a pained expression on her face.

"You hungry?" he asked.

"Starving," she laughed, but there was an edge to her voice. She did look abnormally thin, but maybe that was because he spent most of his life surrounded by gluttonous nobles and well-fed servants.

"Alright, let's sell the horse and find something to eat," he said.

"Good plan," said Ren, then looked down at her feet. "Thank you."

"Well I can't have my guide passing out on me," said Corin. "Or I'll never make it to Narnia."

She gave a wry smile.

"You are very selfless," she said.

Corin led the horse on by the reins, scanning for a stable sign or the smell of horse manure. It seemed foolish to have bought such a fine mare only to part with it so soon into the journey, but he really didn't want to push it through the mountains in this weather.

He wasn't even sure he should push Ren through it.

"We'll need furs too," he said.

"And a bow," said Ren.

Corin raised his eyebrows.

"A bow?"

"Yes," said Ren. "I don't know how long we'll be in the mountains at this stage and we will need to eat."

"Shouldn't you have a bow if you're a beast tracker?" said Corin.

She gave him a disparaging look, as a few peasants moved out of the horse's way, giving them curious looks. Walking through the market with a horse in tow wasn't exactly inconspicuous, but his hood shrouded his face, so he wasn't too worried anyone would recognise him. And in any case, he couldn't let Ren go into the castle alone to sell the horse. She was growing on him, but he still wasn't convinced she'd come back if he let her off by herself with a horse that could fetch a few gold coins.

"I lost it," she said.

"I see."

"It broke," she said.

"No judgement," said Corin, holding his hands up. "But sure, I'll get you a bow. No arrows though."

"Seriously?"

"No," said Corin. "I'll get you some arrows as well. What do you take me for?"

"A noble."

"Ouch," he said. "You say it like it's a bad thing. Have you had bad experiences with nobles in the past?"

"Let's just say they don't like it when I hunt the non-pest animals on their land," said Ren.

"You're a poacher as well?" said Corin, but it didn't really surprise him. She'd attacked him at knife point.

"Ssh," she hissed, glancing around. "Don't say that when we're in a castle. Are you trying to get me thrown in prison?"

"Sorry," said Corin, but he didn't think she was in any danger. They were surrounded by peasants and he suspected none of them would mind. Might even ask if they had any goods on them

"And it's a lot harder without a bow and arrow. Rabbits aren't as easily caught with a dagger."

"I can guess," said Corin.

He spotted the stable and led the horse over. Straw stuck out from the stalls into the main walkway and piles of snow had drifted in through the open door. Corin peered in, keeping hold of Patches' reigns. For a brief moment, he thought about not selling the horse and just asking for it to be looked after, all paid for of course, but he didn't know how long he'd be in the mountains and he didn't intend to come back this way.

"Hello?" said Corin. "We're looking to sell a horse."

A young man shuffled out of one of the stables, pitchfork in hand and caught sight of the mare.

"That one of Lord Bar's?" he said.

"Lord Bar?" said Corin, frowning hard.

"No," said Ren. "She's ours."

"Looks a bit fine for you," said the stable hand.

"I thought Lord Bar was dead," said Corin. "He died in a sea battle."

The stable hand looked him up and down and the prince was glad his hood covered most of his face.

"Ay, you're talking about the elder Lord Bar," said the man, leaning against his pitchfork. "I'm talking about his son."

"Oh right," said Corin.

"And his lordship would not be fond of his servants trying to sell his horses."

"We're not his servants," said Ren. "I'm a beast tracker."

The stable hand looked her up and down now, his gaze lingering on her dagger and then her neck. At a thin pink scar that Corin hadn't noticed before.

"Ay, you look like one," he said. "Alright, if you're sure this isn't one of the Lord's."

"We're sure," said Ren.

They sold the horse for the same price Corin had paid for it, which was pretty good going, though he felt bad leaving Patches behind. Ren did not seem to understand his fondness for the creature, but maybe she was more used to killing animals than caring for them.

"Food or bow first?" asked Corin, as they left the stables.

"Well, if we get the bow, we might not need to get the food," said Ren, waggling her eyebrows.

His eyes widened. She wanted to go poaching. As a prince of the realm, he couldn't exactly endorse that.

"I don't know," said Corin. "I have the money to buy the food. We'd best not."

"I thought you were supposed to be a bit of a rule breaker," said Ren.

Corin raised an eyebrow. Apparently his reputation had preceded him.

"There's a time and a place for breaking the rules," he said. "I don't think this is it."

She shrugged.

"Your choice."

They wandered across the main path as a cacophony of hooves beat in from the main gate. Charging horses rushed into the market and the people threw themselves out of the way like the Tarkhaan was moving through Tashbaan.

Corin and Ren moved back and Corin frowned as a stiff man in heavily embroidered clothing rode towards them, flanked by five knights. All were fully plated in armour and sat tall on their steeds, visors straight ahead as though they didn't even care how much disruption they were causing.

One peasant was two slow and a knight clipped him with his shield. The peasant fell back with a startled cry, clutching his head and Corin's cheeks grew hot. Without thinking, he clenched his fists and stepped into the street, right into the horse's path.

Is everyone happy with the current half-half split between chapters with Cor for one chapter and Corin for the next? Or would you prefer more of one or the other? I have some flexibility in terms of the scenes.