A long one again this time, but there's a lot to squeeze in. I know it took a bit longer this time, that's mostly because I have been trying to edit my 115,000 word novel, which takes up all of my free time, but I've managed to get this one out (maybe a little under-edited compared to normal). I'm afraid if you are waiting on my other fanfic 'First Snow', the next instalment won't be for another month in all likelihood. I've written the chapter, but I've had no time to edit it. Apologies. It's coming.

Anyway, thank you as always to Faucon Bleu. I really appreciate your reviews :) Back to Cor this time.

Security Detail

None of the other members of the council seemed surprised when Cor led Aravis into the throne room and offered her the place right next to him. He stood close to her, too close if Lord Dar's eye roll was anything to go by, but she was his driftwood. How would she keep him afloat if she wasn't within reaching distance?

It took him a moment to register that the room was more full than it had been – ten men in soldier livery stood rigid in a line by the wall.

"The search party for his majesty, prince Corin, has been assembled," said Lord Dar. "We are awaiting only your further instructions, your majesty."

Cor nodded. Ten men.

"Send five to the mountains between Archenland and Narnia," he said. "The others I leave to your discretion."

"Five to the mountains, your majesty?" said Lord Dar.

"Yes," said Cor. He tried to blot out the swirling snow that overtook his vision, the low growl rumbling through the ground. "I believe my brother may have headed that way."

"Very good, sir," said Lord Dar and turned to his men. Within moments, they were marching out of the throne room, boots thudding in almost perfect rhythm. Cor wanted to follow, but he reminded himself he had a coronation to deal with, and Calormenes, and everything under the sun.

He forced himself to turn back to the council table.

"Now, the Tisroc's proxy," he said. "When are we to expect them?"

"A matter of days, your highness," said the Ambassador. "Five at most."

"Wait," said Aravis. "The Calormenes are coming?"

Cor gave her an apologetic look.

"Now I understand why you wanted me on the council," said Aravis.

"It's not only that," said Cor. "I'd want you on the council anyway."

Lord Dar cleared his throat.

"Your highness, that is really neither here nor there, can we please return to the matter at hand?"

"Right," said Cor, dragging his gaze away from Aravis. "The coronation is in a week. I suspect they won't stay long afterwards."

"I think they will," said Aravis.

"Why?" said Cor.

"They'll stay as long as they can to annoy us," said Aravis. "And get in the way of the new regime. I would bet the lion's mane, they'll write a poem of it, in the High Calormene style and they'll insist on reading it to you on consecutive days to draw out the visit."

"It's a possibility," said the ambassador.

"They can stay for a week," said Cor. "No more. We will make this clear to them on their arrival."

"That is sensible," said Trel. "That should give us plenty of time to sign treaties. Are they likely to make many demands?"

Here she addressed the ambassador. Aror pursed his lips.

"I wouldn't put it past them," he said. "They'll almost certainly want to renegotiate the size of the neutral waters between here and Calormen."

Cor shook his head.

"We will renew the treaties as they are," he said. "We do not need much from Calormen at present and they certainly will get nothing from us. As it stands, relations are civil and peaceful – we should maintain that and they would be foolish to attempt otherwise."

"With all due respect, your highness," said Lord Girin. "There may be some profit to be gained yet from renegotiating some parts of the treaties."

Cor rubbed his forehead.

"Of course," he said. "We will consider each clause carefully. But unless there is anything which we require with desperation, I suggest we leave the treaties as they are. They have stood well enough for five years, they should stand well enough for another five."

"Very good," said Lord Girin.

"When are we expecting the Narnians?" said Cor.

"There may be a slight delay," said Lord Darrin. "The mountains have not thawed as expected and the main pass is avalanched in snow and ice, the worst it has been in some twenty years, people are saying. So the Narnians will come by ship instead."

Cor's heart shrunk. Gripped by ice and snow. The worst in two decades. In his head, he cursed his brother, but he wasn't angry anymore, just worried. He tried to tell himself that his brother could take care of himself and he wasn't stupid. Though Corin was impulsive and if he'd set his mind on going into the mountains for whatever reason, he could be as stubborn as a rock, even when faced with impassable snow.

Cor sighed.

"Will they make it to the coronation?" he said.

Would Corin? It didn't seem right that the moment Cor took full control of Archenland, his brother wouldn't be there, but maybe his brother would see sense and come back. There was still a week to go and the search party might find him before that.

"They believe so, your majesty," said Trel. "From the last message."

"Good," said Cor.

If he had to deal with Calormenes, at least he could have the company of the Kings and Queens of Narnia as well. They also had treaties to sign, but as his father used to say, talks with Narnia never felt like they were trying to extract his teeth and have him pay them for the honour.

"And other matters, interior matters?" said Cor. "Are there any reports?"

"Well, apart from unseasonably cold weather, there are a few matters," said the economic adviser.

The next few minutes were taken up with discussions of military positionings, tax collection and circulation of goods and commerce. By the end of the hour, Cor's head was beginning to hurt. He was aware of most of the things already, but making all the decisions was new.

His father's illness had been so sudden. Cor had been steadily getting acquainted with the minutiae of running the Kingdom, but his father had done most of the decision-making and Cor wasn't ready to have all of this handed over to him. At the same time, he knew he didn't have a choice.

He glanced at Aravis. She gave him a reassuring smile and he thought he could probably endure another hour just to have her standing so close to him. Driftwood.

They should do something after this meeting, just the two of them. No Kingdoms, no Calormenes, no treaties and absolutely no requests from the guild of embroiderers. Lord Dar cleared his throat and Cor's attention snapped to him.

"Will your majesty be answering the question?"

Cor's cheeks reddened and he realised he must have been staring at Aravis for some time, because he couldn't remember what his Lord had said.

"Sorry," said Cor. "Could you repeat?"

"Are you happy for your security detail to be increased?" said Lord Dar.

"My security detail?" said Cor.

"Yes," said Lord Dar. "It is quite an urgent matter. As I am sure has occurred to you, with prince Corin's location currently unknown and with no word of his safety, you are the only available blood heir to the throne."

"I am aware of that," said Cor, though he hoped that wouldn't be the case for too long and that the search party would find Corin and convince him to return to the castle where he would be safe.

"Your majesty," said Lord Dar. "If I might speak frankly, your current security detail is woefully inadequate for a future King and at a time like this, Archenland cannot afford to be plunged into civil war if anything were to happen to you and your brother."

"Of course," said Cor.

He'd suffered a few attempts on his life before, unscathed, but Lord Dar had a point. If he died and Corin didn't return to claim his birth right – which he very well might not, he'd never wanted to be King – the throne would be wide open to any nobleman or army general who thought they would make a good King.

And then what would happen to Aravis? She had no lands, no title. Her time at Anvard had been on his father's good will and now his. If he died, she'd have nothing. He remembered what she'd said on the stairs – a charity case. His chest twinged.

He was going to have to do something about that.

"Step up my security detail then," said Cor. "Whatever you think would be sufficient."

Lord Dar inclined his head.

-O-

When the council business was finally concluded, Cor thought he might want to lie down in his bed and never get up again. He'd never had to make so many important decisions in such a short space of time before.

The councillors gathered their affairs and headed out of the room. Aravis stood waiting for him as he picked up the coronation timetable Trel had given him. He grimaced – there was a clothes fitting tomorrow and Trel wanted him to finalise a banquet menu the next day.

"I cannot think of a more horrible list of things to do for a week," said Cor.

"I don't know," said Aravis. "You might look very handsome in your coronation attire."

He grinned, but it faded when he remembered why he was being coronated in the first place. It had only been a week, but he missed his father as badly as the night he'd stilled.

Cor sighed. He needed people around him. Thank the lion Aravis was still here.

He tucked the coronation timetable into his pocket and turned to her.

"Are you busy now?" he asked.

"Why?" she said.

"I thought I might go for a walk and I wondered if you would want to join me."

Aravis chewed her lip.

"Well," she said slowly, a mischievous glow lighting her eyes. "I mean I was going to rearrange my dresses and start some embroidery and discuss boys with my lady's maid, but I mean if you really want me to come with you…"

"Aravis…"

"Of course I will," she said. "Any place in particular?"

Cor motioned for her to follow him towards the door when Lord Dar reappeared, followed by a train of three guards.

"Your highness," he said, bowing his head. "These men will form your new guard."

Cor raised an eyebrow.

"Pel, Pelin and Yed," said the Lord, gesturing with a leather-gloved hand. "Three of the finest swordsmen in Archenland."

"A pleasure to meet you," said Cor.

"They will accompany you everywhere your highness," said Lord Dar. "At least until I am satisfied you can defend yourself."

Cor bit his lip.

"Everywhere?" he said and glanced at Aravis.

"Yes, your highness," said Lord Dar. "We truly cannot afford for anything to happen to you before the coronation and even afterwards."

Cor nodded. It was reasonable, rational and a pain in the backside, like riding a horse for the first time across Calormen. He and Aravis could still go walking though, just not alone anymore. Until he could defend himself.

"Wait," said Cor. "Is this because I've been avoiding my swordfighting lessons?"

Lord Dar arched his eyebrow at him and Cor remembered he wasn't supposed to admit that to his tutor.

"A King of Archenland must be a great warrior," said Lord Dar and Cor grumbled, but conceded. "Now, if I recall correctly, your swordfighting lessons are usually scheduled around this time, are they not?"

Cor winced and glanced at Aravis again. She patted his arm and Cor decided the swordfighting lessons were almost worth it.

"Maybe another time," she said.

Cor sighed as she walked out, then he turned to Lord Dar.

"Alright, sir," he said. "Lead on."

Stay tuned for an Aravis chapter next time :)