AN: It seems I have an apt chapter name! I actually posted when I promised! Happy New Year, dear readers!
Disclaimer: I don't own Narnia, you know the drill.
Chapter the Sixteenth: Miracle
The next morning Galen found Lyra in the infirmary with Tira and Jonas, checking on Brennan.
"How is he doing?" He asked, concerned.
"He holds his own. The next few days will see," she replied. "You are welcome to stay here with him, friends," she turned to the boy's parents. "I will return in a little while."
Tira nodded, and Lyra and Galen left the room.
"Have you had breakfast, yet, Lyra?"
"No. It sounds a wonderful idea."
The two of them found their way to the kitchens and took some food out on the balcony overlooking the castle courtyard. Ayden joined them shortly thereafter, and their laughter could be heard down the corridor as they happily conversed over biscuits and strawberry preserves.
"Oh, I forgot to tell you," Ayden spoke as they finished, "there is a picnic organized for the court today, and a ball for the Calormene prince this evening."
Lyra moaned and dropped her head in her hand.
"By the Lion, I despise these diplomatic visits!"
The two boys could not help but smile and chuckle.
"Mayhap it will not be so bad," Ayden suggested, a suggestion that earned him an blistering glare.
"Between Prince Karim's flowery overtures and Lady Juliana's irksome presence, it is a small wonder that any of us still have possession of our sanity," Lyra replied, and was met with laughter she could not help but join.
"I must admit, Lady Juliana does grate on the nerves," Galen agreed.
"You have my sympathy, Galen," Ayden remarked. "I, for one, am awfully glad not to have her after me any more."
"She did not have much of a choice, brother," Lyra smirked, and Ayden grinned.
"How did you get rid of her? Please, tell me, I beg of you!" Galen exclaimed, and the others laughed.
"She tried and tried to seduce poor Ayden, but after months of having her plans frustrated, largely by me, she fabricated claims with which to blackmail him into a wedding and, of course, a crown. We confronted her one evening-"
"And?" Galen asked hopefully.
"Well," Lyra replied innocently, "it ended with my dagger at her throat. She promised to leave Ayden alone and to retract every one of her trumped up charges."
The balcony erupted in a little explosion of laughter once again.
"I think I like the sound of that solution," Galen replied with a grin.
By mid-morning the members of the court attending the picnic assembled in the courtyard as servants bustled to and fro making preparations. In a little while, the grooms began leading horses out for the Archen nobles and Calormene prince, and the fancily clad bunch began to gingerly mount.
Lyra, Ayden, and Galen, however, were already mounted and joined the picnic party outside the castle courtyard as it began to take an easy pace through the grassy Archen fields. Lyra and Ayden both rode their chargers, while Galen rode Aiolos bareback and without any bridle or reins. In contrast to the gaudy bunch with them, Lyra wore a simple linen dress of a soft violet color with a darker purple vest-like bodice over it. As always, her sword hung by her side, and her quiver and bow hung on the saddle next to her. Unlike the other ladies of the group, Lyra did not ride sidesaddle, choosing instead to wear her more practical trousers and boots beneath the violet skirts.
Ayden and Galen were also dressed simply in soft shirts (green for Ayden and dark dusty blue for Galen), dark-hued leather jerkins, trousers, and boots. Both were armed similarly to Lyra, and watched the rest of the leisurely paced party with amusement.
"Quite the prissy lot, aren't they?" Galen snickered in a low voice to his two companions, who smiled and chuckled in response.
"They are always like that. It makes picnics so little fun," Ayden replied.
The threesome preferred a faster pace, and quickly reached the head of the column of nobles. As the slowed to keep from outstripping the party altogether, Prince Karim maneuvered his horse next to Lyra's and began to converse.
"Ah, Princess Lyra!" he greeted. "It is such a lovely day, is it not?"
"Indeed so, your highness," she answered politely.
"I have been looking forward to spending the day in your charming company, my lady, as the poets have said-"
"Say!" Galen interrupted, seemingly inadvertently, "I feel quite like a gallop. What say you, my friend?"
"Capital! Let's be off!" Aiolos replied and quickly increased his pace to a fast gallop that left the rest of the party behind. As Karim would never have expected Galen to be addressing his Horse, the Calormene was beyond surprised when the Horse answered him, and despite being renowned in Calormen for his horsemanship, he quite nearly fell off at the sound of Aiolos' voice. With the prince thus thoroughly confused and having forgotten all he had been planning to say, Lyra and Ayden took the opportunity to spur their horses on with a shout and gallop after the two Narnians. King Lorn and Queen Layla merely shook their heads in amusement, as Prince Karim tried to put the pieces of his mind back in order.
The adventurous threesome reached the picnic spot nearly ten minutes before the rest of the party. A party of servants had gone ahead of the picnic party and spread the lunch out on large blankets at the edge of the forest, under the shade of the trees and beside a babbling little stream. The three left the two chargers and Aiolos to graze, while they set to exploring along the stream. Eventually the rest of the picnic group arrived with a great busting noise, and the threesome reluctantly saw to their duty of joining them. Galen had the misfortune of being positioned too near to Lady Juliana.
"Sir Galen, of your courtesy, would you help me dismount?" she asked in a sweet voice.
"Of a surety, my lady," Galen reluctantly replied, unable to bring himself to do the discourtesy of refusing the lady, however irksome she may have been. The Narnian perfunctorily lifted the green-eyed Archen lady to the ground and quickly let go of her. However, she let her hands linger on his shoulders, leaned closer to him and gently kissed his cheek.
"Thank you, sir knight," said the cat-eyed girl sweetly, smiling angelically before turning to join the rest of the picnic party.
For his part, Galen felt his face grow hot with embarrassment and he quickly joined his friends, muttering, "Now why did she have to go and do that?"
Galen found himself sitting between Ayden and an archen lord about ten years his senior.
"You're a little sweet on that pretty little lady, aren't you, lad?" The lord said to him in a knowing, but thankfully low, tone, and grinned at Galen.
"I..I beg your pardon, my lord?" The poor Narnian was completely flabbergasted.
"Ah, do not try to pretend to me, sir. I saw you help her off her horse, and I can tell."
Galen found himself at a loss for words and glanced back towards Lyra and Ayden in desperation.
"With those emerald eyes," the lord continued, "and raven tresses, were I a few years younger I would have my eye on her as well."
Galen had not been thinking anything of the sort, of course, and strenuously objected to the lord's implication.
"I beg your pardon, my lord, I merely helped the lady off her horse out of courtesy and as she requested of me. I have no designs of such sort regarding her!"
"Of course, my good sir," the lord replied with a sly smile and a wink.
"Sir Galen!"
Galen never thought he would be so happy to hear the Calormene's voice.
"Yes, Prince Karim?"
"I have noticed that you did not bridle your horse or use any means of guiding it. I would be interested in learning what methods you use to train it so well."
"I beg your pardon, your highness, but Aiolos is not my horse, but a free Narnian citizen who needs no bit to guide him and has given me the honor of his assistance."
"I assume you have never met a Narnian Horse before," a voice spoke behind the prince, who jumped a little at the sound. Turning around, he found himself looking up at the broad face of the Horse himself, who whinnied in laughter and moved off to graze some more.
Although thoroughly discomfited, Prince Karim turned back to the rest of the party and began to converse with Lyra once more.
The party began to head back at a leisurely pace around mid afternoon, although the end could not have come soon enough for Galen. This time they were obliged to keep with the company for the ride back, and Galen was never so glad to reach Anvard's gates.
As they reached the courtyard and began to dismount, Prince Karim tried to help Lyra off her charger, but was not quick enough. To compensate, he caught up with her in the courtyard.
"My dear princess, I would very much like the pleasure of your company in walking the castle gardens," he asked with a little bow.
"I am afraid I must attend to other duties at the moment, your highness. Forgive me, but some other time," replied she.
"Of course, my lady," the Calormene replied, with a hint of frustration in his voice.
Lyra disappeared into the castle and took refuge in her chambers, curling up on the window seat with a book of exciting Archen tales. Her wounded shoulder had begun to throb after the afternoon of riding, and she had little patience to spare for the Calormene prince. The warmth of the sun coming through the window felt deliciously soothing to her, and she began to lose herself in her book.
Meanwhile, Galen spent the afternoon practicing archery and avoiding Lady Juliana until Ayden bumped into him in the kitchens as he collected some dinner.
"It seems we had the same idea, my friend," Ayden greeted, snatching a couple of fresh baked roll from the basket one of the kitchen maids carried past him.
"I could not think of facing a ball this evening on an empty stomach," Galen replied with a grin.
"Nor I," Ayden agreed, tucking some more of the good cook's wares into the little basket he picked up out of the corner. "I haven't seen my sister all afternoon, and as I suspect she has been hiding in her room, I'm going to make sure she doesn't forget to eat. Say! Why don't you join me?"
"Alright. I...forget to eat?" Galen replied incredulously after realizing what Ayden had said. "How could anyone forget to to eat?"
"I have no idea, but let's go before cook gets it in her mind to keep us from escaping.
The two scurried out of the kitchen with their spoils, and made haste up to Lyra's chamber. Upon reaching it, Ayden knocked on the door. When no response was given, he knocked again. Puzzled, the Archenlander balanced the basket in one hand and opened the door with the other.
"Lyra? Art thou alright?" He asked as he stuck his head around the door, concerned. "Oh, poor dear," he remarked, and motioned Galen to follow him.
They found her curled up on the window seat, fast asleep, her golden hair splayed against the cushions. One hand still held a book, and the other rested on her injured shoulder. Galen closed the door and took the basket from Ayden, who went over to the window seat. He brushed an unruly strand of hair away from his sister's face and rubbed her arm in an attempt to wake her.
"Lyra, wake up! We'll eat all the food if you don't," he called teasingly, but gently.
The princess awoke with a start, and before her brother could move she had pinned him up against the window seat wall, dagger poised to strike.
"Ay! Lyra! It's just me!" He yelped, and Galen could not help but laugh (and be glad it was not he who had tried to wake her).
"Ayden? Galen? What is going on here?" she asked, disoriented by the stubborn veil of sleep.
"Dinner is served, my lady," Galen replied, sweeping a bow with a mischievous grin.
"We couldn't bear the thought of facing all those pompous nobles at a ball without proper sustenance," Ayden added.
"I say! What a lovely surprise!" Lyra smiled, lowering her dagger and letting her brother go.
The three of them settled down to the impromptu meal, gathering around the table in the sitting area and proceeding to devour the hot rolls, cold turkey, and sweet apples.
"I don't think the picnic was so very bad," Ayden remarked as they ate. Galen promptly choked on the sip of water he had just taken, and Lyra looked askance at her brother.
"It's all very well for you, who doesn't have to deal with a bothersome would-be suitor who never ceases to quote some obscure poet's platitude," she retorted.
"Aye!" Galen added. "Juliana made me help her off her horse, and some lord noticed and now thinks I like her, of all things! I can't stand the girl!"
Ayden merely laughed. "I'll give Juliana credit in that regard: she does know how to use the courtesy a knight is obliged to extend to her advantage. As for the Calormene, sister, do not all Calormenes ceaselessly quote the poets?"
"Oh, what shall we do at this ball to avoid these, these weasels!" Lyra exclaimed, ignoring her brother.
"I say we treat it as a battle. Perhaps not a battle of sword and shield, but a battle of strategy and cunning, the first rule of which is to never leave your fellows' backs unguarded," Galen proposed determinedly.
"I most heartily agree! Ayden?"
"I'm game, sister," he answered with a mischievous smile, and the planning began.
Music filled the great hall of Anvard, and the moon's silver light streamed through the windows as Archenland's nobles once again set to making merry with drink and dance, this time in honor of the Calormene prince. Prince Karim stood by the side of the room with a goblet of wine in hand, having just finished a dance with Lady Catherine. As he took a drink from the goblet, he glanced up and saw Princess Lyra begin to descend the staircase to join the ball. She wore a long, flowing gown of cobalt blue and her hair hung in golden curls down her back. At first, Prince Karim noticed only her, but a dark look passed momentarily over his face as he noted that Prince Ayden and Sir Galen were accompanying her, one on either side. Both the Archenlander and Narnian wore their fine velvet tunics with their respective standards, and stood proudly as they entered the room.
Prince Karim approached the staircase with the intent of requesting the Archen princess's first dance, but (much to his frustration) as he watched the Narnian knight bowed, the princess curtsied, and they danced away before he could reach them. He reached the staircase a trifle too late, and encountered Ayden, who was making a beeline for the refreshment tables.
"Ah, Prince Karim! I have been meaning to ask your opinions on horses. I hear Calormen has some fine breeds," the Archen prince began as he filled a goblet with wine.
In the discussion that ensued, Ayden did a most effective job of occupying the Calormene with more or less useless prattling. As a result, for the next several songs, Galen and Lyra could relax and enjoy themselves.
Unfortunately, it was not to last. Lady Juliana approached and cut-in on Lyra, and Lyra had no choice but to oblige. Prince Karim noticed, but not before Ayden excused himself and claimed the dance with his sister. After a few minutes, Karim cut-in on the Archen prince and claimed the dance with Lyra. In turn, Ayden rescued Galen from Juliana, and in a few minutes Galen did the same for Lyra. Ayden did not much fancy dancing with Juliana, so when the dance was over, he decided to kill the proverbial two birds with one stone.
"Prince Karim, of your courtesy, would you help me?" he asked. "I had asked the next dance of Lady Juliana, but had quite forgotten that the king asked me to personally see to the food. Would you be so kind as to take my place?"
"A pleasure, o prince," Karim replied cooly, and bowed to Juliana.
Quite satisfied with himself, Ayden began his duty of "supervising" the food.
"It seems, your highness," Juliana spoke as she and Karim danced, "that we have both been frustrated in our designs this evening."
"Indeed, o most shrewd of ladies."
"Then, sir, we might as well work together. The princess stands in my way as much as the Narnian stands in yours." She paused for a moment, looking over the prince's shoulder towards the food tables. There she saw Lady Catherine engaging Prince Ayden in conversation. "There," she continued, "the prince will now be unable to interfere for at least a few minutes. Good hunting, your highness."
The dance concluded, and Juliana curtsied to Karim, then quickly claimed the next with Galen. Without Ayden to interfere, Karim claimed the next dance with Lyra, and the stalwart three found themselves again in unpleasant company.
However, fortunately, Sir Donovan had fancied a dance with Lady Juliana, and courteously requested her it of her at the first opportunity. Karim and Juliana swiftly found themselves in each other's company once again as Galen consequently requested Lyra's next dance.
"Here we find ourselves again, my lord."
"Indeed, I grow weary with the Narnian's interference and the princess's refusals."
"As do I, my lord, but I believe you have it in your power to correct that. When the king acknowledges your highness as is customary in balls such as these, make a request of him: the request of right of courtship. In such a public setting the king dare not refuse you, and then the princess will have no reason to disguise her feelings to save face in the court. On the contrary, she will be expected to give you consideration and both our problems will be solved."
"You are wise beyond your years, my lady. A most clever co-conspirator," Karim responded.
Galen and Lyra enjoyed the respite from their respective tormentors, but in a little while, the musicians stopped playing and the king stood and addressed the group.
"My lords and ladies all, I welcome you to this royal ball in honor of his highness Prince Karim of Calormen. Prince Karim, the people of Archenland welcome you in friendship."
"On behalf of the people of Calormen I thank you, my lord king, for the graciousness of yourself and your subjects. As the poets have said, "by gracious words does a friendship endure." I pray the gods bestow upon you long life and happiness. If I may be so bold, I have one request to make of you this evening," Prince Karim replied, coming to the front towards the king.
"Of course, your highness, anything I can grant you do not hesitate to ask."
"Since I first met your beautiful daughter, your majesty, it seemed to me the sun was dark in my eyes when I was without her company. I therefore declare my intention to seek her hand in marriage and request of your majesty the right of courtship."
A collective gasp went out from the crowd. Galen looked to his friend and saw her face had gone very pale and that she was holding herself very straight, clenching her fist as though grasping a sword hilt. Before he fully realized what he was doing, he found himself standing a little closer to her and putting a supportive hand on her shoulder. Lyra stiffened slightly, then relaxed under his touch and offered her friend a thin smile before turning and giving full attention to the words her father was speaking in reply to Prince Karim.
"...though I would gladly grant your request were it in my power to grant, I fear that the only one who can grant your request is the princess herself. What say you, Lyra?"
Lyra smiled at her father's words and stepped forward, steely resolve strengthening her anew.
"I am honored, Prince Karim. However, in fairness to your highness I must decline your request for the right of courtship. It is not a favor I bestow lightly. I offer my regrets and thanks," Lyra replied, inclining her head. Galen noticed that the prince looked nothing less than shocked, and then his face began to harden even as he returned Lyra's bow graciously. "Now musicians, to your instruments! A ball is not for talking, friends, but for merriment!" Lyra exclaimed, and withdrew into the crowd, which happily began to dance once more.
"Well done, Lyra," Galen remarked with a nod and smile as she joined him.
"I daresay I was never so surprised in my life. Oh, but I'm glad that is over."
"Would you fancy a dance, my lady?" Galen asked, bowing slightly, but with a grin still on his face.
"Indeed, good sir," she curtseyed in return.
Just as the dance ended, a page hurried up to them.
"I beg your pardon, your highness," the page addressed Lyra.
"What is the matter?" she asked.
"The infirmary head sends urgent word and requests you make haste."
Taken aback, Lyra thanked the page.
"That could only mean…" she mused, wide-eyed.
"Let's go," Galen answered without hesitation, and make haste they did.
Upon reaching the infirmary and Brennan's room, they found the head healer with Brennan's parents and another healer beside the boy. Jonas had an arm protectively around his wife, who was crying. The head healer turned and took Lyra aside as they entered.
"What is wrong, sir?" she asked.
"The boy grew very weak. I do not understand it, but he has not been conscious for hours and is barely breathing. I highly doubt he will make it through the night. I have done all I can. I am sorry, your highness."
"I see. Thank you for calling me. I will stay with him," Lyra replied resolutely, dismissing the healer. She took a seat on the stool next to the ailing boy's bed and laid a hand to his forehead. It was hot. Far too hot. From the rise and fall of his chest, Lyra could see that his breathing was far too stilted and shallow.
"What can I do to help?" Galen asked softly, sitting beside her.
"The head healer was right. He is burning even more with fever, and barely draws breath," she said dejectedly. "Please take the parents out of here. Encourage them if you can, but do not lie. Then, return as quickly as you can manage with several blocks of ice. The servants can help with that."
"Done," Galen replied and purposefully moved to leave, but Lyra caught his arm.
"And Galen?"
"Yes?"
"Pray."
Galen nodded solemnly and gently herded Jonas and Tira into the corridor. From there, he walked with them to their room and took a moment to pray with them.
"Aslan, I ask Your blessings upon these: that You will bring their dear child back to them safe. Keep this family always between Your mighty paws."
"We will do everything we can for Brennan, my friends," Galen said when finished, "but Aslan is the One who can do the most for him now. I will come get you if there is any change at all, you have my word."
Tira tearfully thanked him, and he took leave of them to go and find where they kept the ice. Galen soon bumped into a servant, who directed him to the icehouse. There, Galen enlisted the help of a three more servants, who helped him carry several tubs of ice up to the infirmary. As they entered the infirmary, Lyra directed them to break the ice blocks up and pour some into the shallow tub of water that now stood at a right angle to the bed. She turned back to her patient, whose wounds she had carefully re-cleaned, dressed with a salve that would help fight the infection, and re-bandaged. Lyra had been bathing the boy's forehead with a wet cloth, but now she put it and the bowl of water away.
"The ice is nearly all melted now," Galen informed her.
"Good," she replied. "Here-help me lift him."
Galen did as she asked, and they lifted him into the shallow tub.
"This is all I know to do," Lyra said quietly after a moment's silence. "I cannot bear to think that I -we- have brought this family hope, only to see it snatched away and myself helpless to stop it. He's so little, so innocent. He does not deserve this," she finished sadly.
"It is in Aslan's paws now. Let us trust in Him," Galen replied softly, sitting beside his friend and taking her hand in his reassuringly.
The music in the great hall died away, and the candles in the room began to burn down. The moon's silver light streamed through the window, then winked out as it dipped back towards the west. Lyra busied herself with tending to Brennan for some time, but there was only so much she could do, and after a while she, like Galen, occupied herself with prayer.
Meanwhile, Lyra and Galen were not the only two of Anvard's inhabitants still awake so late in the evening. A green-eyed Archen lady pondered the schemes she could make to assuage her defeat at the ball, and in his chambers a Calormene prince angrily paced.
"Your highness, please sit down! What troubles your eminence?" A nervous attendant asked.
"The humiliation she dealt me! In front of the entire crowd: I, fourth son of the Tisroc (may he live forever), prince of Calormen, and Tarkaan of the Three Lakes, spurned by an upstart, barbarian woman. I will not suffer this!"
"Oh exalted son-of-the-Tisroc (may he live forever), what can be done?"
"I will have the golden-haired barbarian princess for my own. Whether she likes it or not is her own affair. I will have satisfaction for the injury to my great esteem!" He continued to rant.
"How, oh-magnificent-one, will you accomplish such a goal?"
"I tire of your questions, dog! Bring me a pen and paper! Make haste!" The prince ordered harshly. The frightened servant complied, and the prince sat down at the desk and began to write hurriedly. Presently, he finished, folded the paper and affixed his seal.
"Bring me my jewel case!"
The servant did so, and he selected a sparkling emerald suspended from a golden chain.
"Now, take this letter and token to the Lady Juliana. Let no one see you, and if you breath a word of this to anyone, I will have your tongue cut out and fed to the vultures!"
The servant bowed profusely and did as he was told.
Lady Juliana had just decided to pick her planning up in the morning and retire, when a knock sounded at her door.
"What is it?" she answered it. A Calormene servant stepped into the room and bowed an odd little bow.
"My lady, the Prince Karim, exalted fourth son of the Tisroc (may he live forever) sends you this message and token. Juliana took the paper and necklace from the servant, and at the sight of the emerald her eyes lit up greedily. She opened the note and read its contents.
"You may go," she dismissed the servant. "Give Prince Karim my thanks and tell him that I will meet him tomorrow morning at his chambers."
The servant bowed and left, and Juliana, thrilled beyond measure at her good fortune, turned and read the message again.
"Prince Karim Tarkaan, son of the Tisroc (may he live forever), to Juliana, Lady of Archenland, Greetings.
As you doubtless are aware of the failure of my suit towards the Princess Lyra, I propose to your ladyship that we work together to accomplish our common goals. I still wish the Princess for my own, and in exchange for your help, I offer this token of my gratitude and, upon completion, a chestful of such jewels as are fit to adorn your lovely countenance.
I ask you send word by my servant, and exercise the utmost discretion.
Signed: Karim, Tarkaan of the Three Lakes and Prince of Calormen."
As the eastern sky began to lighten with the dawn, the silence of the infirmary was abruptly broken.
"Say! What is going on?"
Both Galen and Lyra had been dozing slightly, but the little voice startled them out of the daze of sleep and they looked up. A comical little figure greeted them: Brennan was standing up in the tub, water dripping from his nightshirt and dark hair sticking out every which way, his head cocked quizzically and eyes bright with curiosity.
"Aslan be praised!" Lyra exclaimed, almost laughing with relief, and jumping up to fetch a big fluffy towel and a dry nightshirt.
"Good morning, there! I'm Galen," Galen said to Brennan cheerfully. "How are you feeling?"
"Wet," Brennan answered, nose wrinkling in disgust.
"Oh," Galen laughed. "Here you are!" He took the towel from Lyra and wrapped it around the boy.
"Where is this place?" He looked around and pulled the towel closer around him.
"This is the castle Anvard, and you're here because-" Lyra began.
"A castle? A real castle?" Brennan interrupted exuberantly, looking out the window and not really caring how he got there.
Lyra and Galen laughed.
"I'll go get his parents," Galen said with a smile.
"I'm awfully hungry!" Brennan declared.
"I'll bring back some breakfast while I'm at it then."
Galen ducked out of the room and quickly made his way to Jonas and Tira's room. Finding it empty, he hurried through the corridors looking for them. It then occurred to him where they might have gone, and he made haste to the Stone Knife Gallery. There he found them, sitting together on the floor, heads bowed in prayer.
"A joyous morning, friends!"
The two jumped at his voice, and started to their feet.
"Brennan is alright?" Tira's voice trembled with hope.
"Very much so," Galen replied, smiling. "I'll follow you in a moment."
"Oh, I knew the tales were true!" Tira exclaimed happily as they left the Gallery and quickly took to the stairs. Galen puzzled a moment over her words, then ducked into the kitchens to retrieve some breakfast.
A few minutes later, he returned to the infirmary with a tray carrying three plates heaped high with biscuits, butter, and jam along with a pitcher of milk and three glasses. He entered to find Brennan, dry and warm with bandages newly changed, squashed between his mother in father and squirming at their embrace.
"Ow! Mama, let go! Good grief!" The little voice protested, much to Lyra and Galen's amusement.
"I've brought some breakfast, friends," Galen announced, and placed the tray on a table beside the bed. At the announcement of breakfast, Brennan hurriedly broke from his mother's arms and tucked happily into the biscuits.
"We'll leave you to breakfast, then," Lyra addressed Tira and Jonas. "Thanks be to Aslan, he will be fine. I would think you could return home on the morrow."
"Thanks be to Aslan, His Stone Knife, and you both, indeed," Tira answered.
"What do you mean, lady," Galen asked at her mentioning, again, the Stone Knife.
"The tales I heard of the Stone Knife giving help to the hopeless was true! We spent the whole night praying, and at the dawn a bright, golden beam of light came through the window and lit the Knife's blue jewel brilliantly. I knew it was a sign, and you yourself came in only a moment later!"
"I see. Enjoy your breakfast, lady," Galen replied courteously and joined Lyra in the corridor.
"Breakfast?" He proposed when they were in the corridor.
"Sounds good to me."
AN: Thank you for reading! I'd appreciate your thoughts! Happy New Year!