Chapter One
Prince Cor was up in a tree. He learned the skill of tree climbing from his brother not long after arriving in Archenland and found he had a talent for it. There was something about using brains and strength at the same time that appealed to him—hauling himself up, testing a branch, holding his weight on the sole solid toe hold. And the reward—green solitude and silence. A perfect place to sit and think. So he didn't care when Aravis scoffed and said it was boys' play, not fit for a man. He liked nettling her sense of propriety, and he liked the surprise of a ticklish caress as she picked pine needles off him all afternoon and evening.
Cor wasn't thinking about Aravis at the moment, though lately he had been climbing trees to consider her. Today, however, he was thinking of his brother. It was strange, he reflected, to miss a brother gone for three weeks when he didn't know he had one for fifteen years. Corin was in Narnia still. When they were all in the courtyard ready to mount their horses and go, Corin had announced he was staying. Lucy had been his co-conspirator, and announced that he had some very important diplomacy to help with. That was rot, Cor knew, because all the diplomacy between Narnia and Archenland was settled when King Peter met his father—and now him too—in the hunting lodge on the border between the two nations.
He remembered Corin's grin, and the light in his eyes. There was something very smug and self satisfied about him as he watched them ride for home. Cor smiled to himself, a bit of a wry grimace as well as one of amusement. What he envied was Corin's certainty, that he could know with the exclusion of question. That and his fearlessness—his brother didn't know what it meant to be shy. And his confidence…
He yanked at a fistful of pine needles, pulling the branch. As it bent, he got a glimpse of the road leading up to the gates of Anvard. In that flash he thought he saw something quite impossible. When the branch snapped back, he pulled it aside to peer more closely.
It was Corin after all, riding his horse up to the gates at a slow, dreary walk. Cor frowned. Corin wasn't due back for another week at least. What had happened?
He scrambled down from the tree, leaping to the ground and landing in a crouch. Then he ran to meet his brother at the gate.
Things were worse than they seemed. Corin was riding with his shoulders slumped and his head hanging, a look Cor had seen on him all of twice, when he was in terrible trouble. He ran up to Corin's horse and greeted him bluntly. "What happened?"
Corin looked up and shook his head, a dark expression on his face. "It's over. She hates me." And he continued to ride on at a snail's pace.
"Who hates you? Corin!" Cor scrambled after and grabbed the horse's reins. Another tragic look from his brother told him the answer. "Queen Lucy?"
"I was only teasing her!" Corin protested. "I would never dishonor her or anything like that."
Cor saw the need for emergency action. "Look, don't go to the castle. Father and Aravis will only ask a lot of questions. Go to the old Guard house. I'll bring provisions."
Corin nodded, obedient in his dejected state. This worried Cor even more, and he hurried back to the castle to collect necessities for a spell in their hideaway. He managed to get a loaf of bread, a small wheel of cheese, and a hard, spicy sausage merely by smiling at the kitchen maids. He was glad Aravis wasn't there; she would have accused him of flirting.
The old guard house was set a little ways back from the road which led up to the castle gate. It was surrounded by tall pines, and the outside was covered in moss. Inside, chinks of light shone through the crumbling roof and there was all manner of abandoned items left behind when the new tower above the gate was built. It was a perfect boy's hideout, and Corin had been eager to share it with his brother when he first came. Even now when they were nearly twenty they still retreated here.
Cor found his brother huddled miserably in the corner, looking rather like an elephant in a teacup. Corin was far too big to huddle like a child.
Emergency actions were clearly necessary. Cor uncorked the bottle of wine, pulling the cork out with his teeth and spitting it across the room. He pressed the bottle into his brother's hands while he laid out the food.
Corin was never too troubled to eat, and when he began to tuck in with a relish Cor breathed a sigh of small relief. Whatever happened may have been catastrophic, but it wasn't apocalyptic. He waited, and Corin began to talk of his own accord.
"Lucy and I always tease each other. She's never sensitive about it—she gives as good as she gets. So when she told me she has a crush on Erech—"
"Queen Susan's husband?" Cor interrupted. He was too surprised to hold back.
Corin took a swig of wine and nodded. "He's a great fellow. We've had a few good laughs. So we had a lot of ale one night—" at a look from Cor he waved his hand. "I know, I know. What self respecting Archenlander drinks anything but wine? But he's an ale drinker and he was buying. What was I supposed to do? Anyway, we got pretty drunk one night and we were laughing a lot and I told him I knew something funny and he asked what it was and I spilled the beans. I told her myself the next day, thinking she'd find it funny. She didn't." The brightness left his manner as he shook his head dolefully. "She was furious with me. Absolutely furious."
Cor let this hang in the air while he chewed on his lip in thought. Finally, he had to speak up. Corin's eyes were pleading for a solution, or at least some comfort. "Well, alright. But Aravis is furious with me about three times a week."
Corin shook his head. "But Aravis loves you. Maybe she yells a bit, but anyone could see it. Her eyes light up and everything when you walk into a room. Lucy doesn't feel that way."
"Don't say that," Cor said, giving his brother a bracing pat on the shoulder.
Corin shook him off. "It's true. You'd think by now she would have noticed me. But she hasn't." He took a gnawing bit of sausage and pronounced dourly "And she never will."
"She might not be aware," Cor suggested.
"That's rich," Corin scoffed. "She's so secretly in love with me she's actually considering Dar's suit. We had a falling out over that too. What was the idiot thinking? She's way too good for him, but of course she won't listen to that."
There wasn't a lot to say to this, really, so Cor sat with his brother for company while they drank their way slowly through two bottles of wine.
Towards evening they staggered back to the castle. Cor found his father and explained what had happened using as few words as possible. Lune was very understanding and gave both boys the blessing to take a nap instead of supper. Cor's head was very foggy indeed by then, and he was glad of this dispensation.
He woke up sometime that night by someone turning up all the lamps in his room. His mouth felt cottony and there was a vague pounding behind his temples. He groaned and pulled the pillow over his head.
Hands snatched it away, and a voice pronounced sharply, "You are a disgrace."
Cor opened one eye to see his beloved looming over him, her hands on her hips. "Aravis!" he groaned, making a snatch for the pillow.
She held it out of his reach. "I'm ashamed to be courting you—getting drunk like that in the middle of the day!"
Cor gave an exasperated sigh and pushed himself up on his elbows. "Calm down, Aravis. You don't understand—"
"I understand that you're crown prince of Archenland. One day the throne of this country will be yours. You cannot go carousing like this. King Peter would never do such a thing."
"He would if his brother needed him!" Cor snapped. He couldn't help it, for his head was throbbing and Aravis' voice seemed particularly shrill. Aravis opened her mouth to retort, but Cor cut her off. He was too weary to argue. He reached for her hand. "Corin and Queen Lucy had a fight. He says he doesn't think there's any hope for them. He's giving up."
The hard expression left Aravis, and her brow twitched with sympathy. "Giving up?" she repeated as she sank down onto the edge of the bed. He sat up and rubbed between her shoulder blades. "Mmm."
She crossed her arms. "Corin is not supposed to give up. That's not how love works."
"Oh, and you're an expert now, are you?" Cor could not check a grin.
She gave him a sidelong look, pursing her lips. "Maybe." Then all at once she went from stiff to affectionate, turning to him and winding her arms around his neck, burying a hand in his fair curls. "You'll never give up on me, will you?"
Cor blinked. He could clearly remember having this same conversation at Queen Susan's wedding. Why did Aravis feel the need to ask? His brow furrowed, and as it did he saw Aravis' eyes widen in alarm. He realized she was still waiting for an answer. "Never," he assured her gently.
For this he was rewarded with a kiss. Knowing Aravis, Cor couldn't believe she kissed like she did. She was so strict with manners, demanding of propriety, constantly scolding him for breaching it. Yet her kisses were passionate—there was no other word for it. She moved her hands over his shoulders, through his hair; she drew his mouth to hers, and her lips parted, inviting him to taste her. Slowly, by degrees, she pressed her body up against his, all her angles turning into softness. The only trouble was that as soon as he moved to touch the tantalizing woman in his arms, she pulled away as though he touched her not to participate but to remind her of propriety.
Now he held out as long as he could, wanting to prolong the kiss as long as possible. Kissing Aravis was the nicest physical feeling he had ever had. Cor had been raised with hard smacks; he had felt the burning Calormene sun on his skin. Even now in Archenland, he pushed his body, forcing himself to train. An embrace of affection and desire was still so new to him, and all the more pleasurable for its newness. Eventually he couldn't bear it anymore. He had to hold her. Perhaps if he just put his hand on her waist…
Aravis pried his hands off her and drew away. "Cor," she said lowly, "We mustn't."
He pressed forward anyway. Perhaps she was only speaking because she felt she had to put up a protest. That kiss plainly told him she wanted more, just as he did…
"Cor, no!" she planted her hands on his chest and pushed him away forcefully. She glared at him. "Have you no honor?" she demanded. Before he could think of an answer which would sufficiently appease her, she made a noise of disgust and got up from the bed. Before he realized what happened, she was gone from the room in a whirl of skirts, banging the door shut behind her. Her headachey paramour was left quite bemused.
He rolled over and punched his pillow down to vent his frustration. He stared out the window, meaning to stew over Aravis and muse about his brother, but he really had drunk a lot of wine. He couldn't help falling back asleep almost immediately.
He woke rather early the next morning, having had so much sleep the night before. As he gulped down a tall glass of cold water, he was pleased to reflect that his headache was almost gone. He was, however, very hungry as he found when his stomach gave a gurgling growl. He decided to dress and get some breakfast from the kitchens before going on a ride. Because he was still a bit miffed with Aravis, he flirted with the kitchen maids on purpose, making them giggle and blush. His revenge taken, he went out to the stables.
His ride through the dewy forest was ultimately unsatisfying. He wanted to clear his head, but Aravis and Corin kept circling through his brain. He wondered how upset Aravis really was, and if she had a right. Had he really taken such liberties? No! He was only reciprocating. But how far would he go if Aravis let him? He sighed, allowing himself to think momentarily of the dreams he saved for when he was alone at night.
He tried to clear his head, but then Corin came to mind. His brother had been so dejected, and seeing that in Corin was frankly disturbing. Cor didn't really know what to do except listen and hold on to the hope that things would work out in the end. After all, they had for him, hadn't they? He had begun to think things with Aravis were impossible and was starting to pine, and then out of the blue she beat him with her shoe and told him she loved him.
This of course brought him back to his frustration with Aravis… Cor was a practical person, and he could see he was only going round in circles, accomplishing nothing. He tried a gallop, but he was such an accomplished horseman that the tricky handling over his chosen course did little to occupy his mind. He surrendered and headed for home. Perhaps he could solve one of his problems there.
When he returned, he discovered that he had missed breakfast. This was bad because he found himself hungry again. Also, Aravis would not be best pleased. Though the rules of order at Anvard were not strict and Lune was generally unperturbed if his sons were late for a meal, Aravis would besiege him with lectures about propriety and politeness. Cor hated these lectures because nothing reminded him more sharply of his childhood in Arsheesh's hut. He had not been miserable then because he knew nothing else, but when he heard Aravis' lectures and saw the rules she and Corin knew instinctively with their high born upbringings, Cor always felt very much like a peasant playing at prince.
However, he realized that if he went and made amends now, he would save himself from the lecture. So he went off in search of Aravis right away.
It did not take long to find her. He could hear her raised voice down the hallway. More surprising was Corin shouting in answer. Normally Corin and Aravis got on exceptionally well. Cor rarely went a day without bickering with one or both of them, but they liked each other quite well and almost never fought. Cor crept forward to investigate.
"You can't just give up!" Aravis was saying.
"And I suppose you're going to make Lucy fall in love with me," Corin retorted, a petulant note to his voice.
"No, but what have you tried? Have you declared your love? Have you shown to her and her brothers that you are a man, not a child?" Cor could hear from Aravis' voice that she was troubled.
"It wouldn't matter if I did!" Corin returned. "She doesn't even see me as a friend!"
"You act as though lovers never fight!" Aravis cried in her exasperation.
Cor had to smile at this. Quarrels were a part of his relationship with Aravis. If she suddenly became as gentle as Queen Susan he frankly didn't know what he would do.
His snicker to himself reminded him that he was eavesdropping. Of course Cor had learned eavesdropping was wrong since listening to Arsheesh and Anradin discuss his fate, and he started to step forward to declare himself when he felt a hand on his arm.
He turned and found his father there, smiling vaguely. Cor knew right away there was something weighing on his father's mind. The distracted air and vague smile told him. He greeted Lune with a nod. "Hello, Father."
"How art thou, son? Good ride?" Lune had the same trait as his second son: even when he was not smiling his dimples showed.
Cor nodded. "I'm sorry I missed breakfast."
Lune waved this away. "Not to worry, not to worry. We're all entitled sometimes." He pulled on his beard, looking as though he was clearly thinking of something else.
"Is something wrong, father?" Cor asked finally.
His father's brow furrowed. "No, not wrong. But…come. Thou canst give me thy counsel." He led Cor down the hall to the council chamber. Often Lune worked at the large table in the room hung with blue instead of his office, spreading his papers everywhere. Cor had learned that his mother had decorated the room herself, and that would explain his father's attachment, he thought. Cor looked around, trying to figure out what his mother must have been like while his father spent a moment rummaging. At last he produced a sheet of paper which he handed to Cor. Right away Cor recognized the seal of Galma, and he glanced at his father before reading. Quickly he also filed through what he remembered from his lessons—Galma was made an independent duchy by Narnia before the White Witch; it was a small but important ally of Narnia because they had the ability to blockade Cair Paravel's harbor, and a key trade partner of Archenland's.
It is one thing to memorize a list of facts about a country as recited by a tutor and quite another to see the signature and seal of that country's leader before your very eyes. Cor experienced the strange sensation of remembering he was a prince, a person with some power and standing. This might have pleased some people, but it rather unnerved Cor, who could still clearly remember thinking of himself as Arsheesh the fisherman's son; that is to say, nobody.
If the seal alone brought about this realization, the contents of the letter were nothing short of unnerving. The Duke apparently had a daughter in the very bloom of her youth, and as the King had two young, strong, noble sons, perhaps the two nations could come to an alliance through marriage. As he finished reading, Cor's stomach churned sickly.
"Marriage?" he croaked.
"Yes, I thought perhaps—" Lune broke off, seeing the look on his son's face. "Oh, not for thee, of course. Thou hast already our good lady Aravis. I thought perhaps it might be good for Corin."
It took Cor a moment to reply; there was a lot in his father's statement, not the least of which was the implication that he and Cor were ready for marriage. "Don't you think we're—I mean, he's a bit young."
Lune chuckled deeply. "Art twenty years old, lad. I was thy junior by a year when I married your mother."
Cor nodded, wondering how he could put his father off the idea without betraying Corin's feelings for Queen Lucy. "But Corin? He doesn't act old enough."
"This would steady him, perhaps," Lune countered. He pulled on his beard. "Yes, 'tis time, I think. My sons should be thinking of marriage, of the future of Archenland."
Cor saw that his father didn't need help making the decision. He wanted validation for a decision he had already made.
Cor was useless for the rest of the morning, absent minded in lessons and the tiltyard. Even Aravis' chiding could not make him focus. Time to continue the line. Time to marry. It was very boggling—Cor felt so young, and so unready. After lunch he retreated outdoors again, this time casting himself on one of the castle lawns and staring up at the clouds scudding across the sky.
In the middle of his contemplations a face appeared above him, backlit by the sun so it was impossible to see the features. He knew who it was, though, for fragrant, heavy locks of hair hung down, tickling his cheeks. Cor smiled vaguely.
"What's wrong with you?" Aravis asked bluntly but not unkindly. "You've been acting strange all morning."
"I have a lot on my mind," he answered. She arched an eyebrow to tell him this was not sufficient explanation, and he told her about the letter.
Aravis shook her head. "Corin can't marry her. He loves Queen Lucy."
"I know. But father thinks it's good for Corin. He thinks marriage will steady him."
"That may be true, but it's Queen Lucy he should be marrying," Aravis contended stubbornly.
Cor rubbed his face. "Why, though? He says he loves her, but he's said that for years. Does he really know about love, or is this just a childhood attachment?" Cor didn't know if he believed what he was saying or not; he was simply voicing arguments.
Aravis' eyes grew round. "He knows! Do not you presume to think otherwise. It was he who helped me understand love when I did not understand how he felt about you. I have seen them, and I know Lucy is the delight of his eyes." She thumped her fist on Cor's chest for emphasis.
The power of Aravis' words overtook Cor, but a nagging question lingered in his mind. "But if he loves her so, why is he giving up? My experience with love tells me to be persistent." Here he gave Aravis a little smile.
She pursed her lips. "I know not. It is in this that he is acting like a child." She raked her fingers through Cor's hair. "I believe your brother is more stubborn than you are. I tried to tell him he was being ridiculous, but he would have none of it."
Cor's eyes fluttered shut with pleasure as Aravis caressed him. "I know. I heard." Aravis' hand stopped moving and he sensed a rebuke coming, so he added quickly "I heard you from the hallway and I was going to come in, but Father called me away to read the letter."
Aravis nodded; the explanation was enough for her. She frowned. "We can't let this happen," she declared. "He can't marry someone he doesn't love."
"He could fall in love with her," Cor pointed out. "We've never even met her."
"That," Aravis said stiffly, "Is what they told me about Ahoshta."
Cor shook his head. "And what if on that first night someone had told you that you and I would end up…well." He tailed off, blushing. He was rather unsure of how to finish that sentence.
Aravis gave him a slow, warm grin. "That is not the point, my prince. Corin loves Lucy. He should marry the woman he loves. It wouldn't matter what someone had said in the past, what matters is that you are my choice now, of my own free will."
"I had no idea you were such a romantic, Aravis," Cor said with a teasing grin.
Aravis tossed her head, her eyes glittering. "It is a luxury I can afford now that I am a free northern woman." She brushed Cor's cheek with her fingers and lay down beside him with her head over his heart. She rubbed his stomach idly.
Cor sighed blissfully. The relaxing warmth of Aravis was wonderful. These were the moments when he felt happiest. He looked down at the top of Aravis' glossy head and stroked her hair slowly. She made a soft noise.
After awhile, the novelty of pleasure began to ebb away, leaving Cor room to think again. And when he thought, his father's words came back to him—"You already have Aravis." What exactly did that mean? Was he meant to marry Aravis? Would she even want to marry him?
"Aravis?" he asked, his fingers fumbling over her hair. "What do you think of marriage?"
She pushed herself up and looked into his face, blinking at the sudden question. "What do you mean, Cor?"
He shrugged uncomfortably. "I don't know. Father's thinking of Corin marrying…I just wondered what you thought about yourself."
Aravis' eyes widened. She sat back on her hands. After what seemed like a very long silence she mused, "After I escaped Ahoshta Tarkaan I swore I would never get married. Now I am not so sure."
Cor was now more confused than ever.
A/N: Thank you everyone who reviewed the prologue! I'm so grateful for your overwhelmingly positive response to Aravis and Cor. They're just such fun to write. I don't know if I gave Andi Horton credit in the prequel to this, "The Delight of My Eyes" but the idea of Corin crushing on Lucy is directly inspired by him doing the same in "A Sea of Golden Sand" which is an excellent story. I have clearly taken it and ran!
A word about Lune's dialogue. I originally had him greeting Cor "Alright, son?" and my beta pointed out that's sort of a casual, almost lower class greeting. So then I thought back to his speech in 'The Horse and His Boy' and I decided to change it all to thous. An English teacher moment--people assume that because it's archaic, thou is a formal way of speaking and addressing someone. It's actually the 'impolite' form, like tu in French or the Spanish...well, tu. So as it not only means that Lune gets to keep his old fashioned and well turned speech of HHB but that he addresses his son with great affection, I decided to use it.