I am sooooo sorry for not updating for so long! All these things have happened lately, and do you believe it; I spend HALF A YEAR without my faithful computer, internet or microsoft word!

And also without the files of 'noble thoughts and wishful thinking!'

So I have a lot to catch up to, I think…

Anyways, here is the second chapter; I promised a little Oreius and Susan, so here goes! I have something in store for Edmund as well, hehe. But first; a new chapter!

Thank god, finally…

Chapter six

Cair paravel had fallen into silence as finally the last guests had said their goodbyes and had left the mighty castle. At a loss for something to do Susan dwelled through the giant hall, stared at all the decorations, hanging so idly from the pillars now that there was no feast or celebrations any more.

Everything was still and silent. All those who could had set out to find Lucy who had so abruptly disappeared without telling anyone, leaving her sibling in a state of distress. Peter had instantly given the order to the centaurs, the fauns, the satyrs and all the talking animals who could spare four good legs to go and find the youngest Queen, but all had returned with nothing. The weather had turned for the worse, and even though Susan would have liked at least some news, good or bad, she couldn't fault anyone for returning to the castle now that a storm raged over Narnia.

All she could do was wait, listen to Edmund's advice to not fret so much, that Lucy probably know what she was doing, and Peter's reassurance that everything would be fine, that all they could do was wait.

So Susan waited. Dwelled through Cair Paravel with nothing to do, save telling everyone to clear the tables as there was no one to eat the food that had taken so long to be prepared. Pull down the decorations as there was no one to stare at them in awe. Clear the grass from the grand hall, as there were no hooves to damage the marble underneath.

But she had retracted the order to destroy the beautiful floor made of grass. Had found it a pity, and somewhere deep inside, she hoped that Lucy would return soon enough for the feast to continue, as if nothing had happened.

But four days had passed.

Lucy's mare had returned without a rider.

One of the racoons had returned with a slipper. A lion had found a ribbon. But no one had found Lucy.

Hugging herself Susan wandered towards the four thrones, tried to swallow the tears as she felt the grass underneath her bare feet. She wasn't crying because the feast had been postponed. She wasn't crying because all the work was now for nothing, despite what her siblings thought of her. She was worried for Lucy, almost to the point that she was making herself sick. She merely… masked it, by trying to sound angry, by pulling down the decorations and acting as if it was a horrible thing that Lucy had just run off, in the midst of a grand feast, leaving them with nothing. Not even a hint of where she had gone off too, or a word, written on a piece of paper.

The anger had subsided the moment mrs. Beaver had told her that Lucy was nowhere inside Cair Paravel, and that one of the mares was missing.

Susan hadn't known what to do. The sudden feeling of panic had taken over, had caused her to go into a fit which she now felt ashamed of. She had shouted, yelled at the centaurs to find them, as if she were a kenau, someone who couldn't stand the thought of losing control. As if all she cared for was that feast, and not Lucy.

She found herself staring at Lucy's throne, still decorated, waiting for it's queen.

Where had she gone off to? Where had she gone? And why?

Susan couldn't put her finger on it. Had Lucy been stressed about the fact that she would not officially become a queen, equal in right compared to her siblings? Was that it?

Did she feel as if her freedom was threatened in some way? Had she lost the desire to become a Queen of Narnia? What had been the thing that had driven Lucy to the point that she abandoned everyone and everything at Cair Paravel, disappearing in thin air?

"My Queen?"

A deep, harmonious voice pulled her out of her circling thoughts, made her twirl on her heel, and stare into the ebony eyes of Oreius. The centaur had startled her, up to the point that her mouth formed a slight 'o'.
"Have I startled you, my Queen?" The centaur asked, took a step forward to the steps leading to the thrones, "Please know that it was not my intention."

"Oreius." Susan finally said, finding that her voice had not left her completely. "Please tell me that you have word of my sister."

"Alas, my Queen, I have not."

A pang of disappointment flared through her heart as Oreius spoke those words, but she held a brave face, tried not to show that she had hoped to hear that her sister was found.

"Then why are you here?" The tone of her voice was sharper than she had wanted it to be, but she said no apology. Glancing away from the centaur, she locked her gaze at the throne once more, found that she centaur's presence was suddenly an annoyance, while she normally found it enjoyable. "Why are you not outside with the others, trying to find your missing queen?"

Oreius bowed, seemed unswayed by her lack of kindness, which she silently thanked Aslan for.

"I merely came to see how you were faring, my lady." The centaur said, his face unreadable.

"I'm fine." Susan said. Even in her own ears the reply sounded false. "I have never been better." Which was an even greater lie.

"My Queen once told me the tale of a magical wooden boy, who's nose would grow every time he told a lie."

At any normal circumstance Susan would've laughed at the amusement in Oreius voice, she would have praised his memory, but now his words filled her with irritations, and before she could help herself she spat; "Do you think it is funny to amuse me with children's stories while my sister was out there in the greatest storm Narnia has seen for years?!"

She felt a pang of guilt as she saw the shocked look in the eyes of their general, and her closest friend at court, and instantly regretted her word as Oreius uttered a startled; "Susan?"

A shocked silence fell in between them both, as both had no idea how to react. Finally, in an act of desperation Susan threw her hands in the air, let out a sob as she finally cried; "I'm sorry, Orieus! I don't know what I'm saying, forgive my temper, for I am not well today…"

"I think under these circumstances, I could forgive your short temper." The centaur said, crossing the distance between the queen and her general as a friend. "I do not feel crossed."

"I am sorry." Susan said again, as she sat down on her own throne. Orieus took a step forward, reached for a her hand as Susan offered it. She smiled as she felt the warmth coming from his hand as he held it lightly.

"You run through forest and over fields, trying to find my missing sibling and I repay you by being a witch who could easily match Jadis." She murmured, and laughed along with Oreius as he let out a hearty laugh. "You must be very tired."

"Centaurs do not sleep much, my Lady." He answered, bringing her hand to his lips, and placed a light kiss on her fingertips, causing a smile to appear on Susan's lips. "Forgive me, but I do wonder whether my Queen has had a good night's rest."

"No, I haven't, of course." She countered. "Lucy is out bantering through wild woods, my brother Edmund is telling me not to fret and my brother Peter tells me that everything will be all right!"

"Your brothers are very wise."

"Oh, hold your tongue." She muttered in an amused way, leaning back against the cold stone of her throne. "I wish I could do more." She sadly said, truly hoping there was a way to do more. But she was needed at Cair Paravel. She couldn't leave, not like Lucy had done. She was not free to jump on a horse's back and ride out to search for her sister, as Edmund had done.

"Then why don't you?" Oreius asked.

"Do what?"

"Do more."

"What do you mean?" She asked, frowning at the centaur who had been her friend longer than she could remember. Her consultant in times of need, her sparring partner in endless debates during long summer eves.

"Why don't you come along to find your missing sister?"

"Oh please Oreius," She withdrew her hand from his, not feeling well enough for jokes and games of make believe, "I can't leave. There is much to do at Cair Paraval."

"Like pulling down decorations? Taking care of the food that has never been eaten?"

"Exactly."

"But satyr women in the kitchen have already done that. The fauns have cleared Cair Paravel of all its decorations save the grand hall, and if I recall correctly, you wandered through the gardens and the castle, idly wishing your sister would return, listening to your brother's advice, while doing nothing yourself."

He was right, and she knew it, but she threw him a hateful glance as he bowed, excusing himself for his harsh words.

"And what would you have me do instead, my general?" She muttered, and Oreius laughed.

"I would have you come with me, to find her ourselves."

Susan stared at him for a moment, wondering whether the centaur was trying to tell a bad joke just to lift her spirits, or whether he meant every word he said. But the centaurs face remained stern and true, and she couldn't help but ask;

"You're not kidding."

"I am indeed not, my Queen."

"And if I would come with you, Orieus, what would everyone think? What would everyone think of me?"

"Does the Queen need permission of her people to leave Cair Paravel, when her aid is needed?" His eyes twinkled in amusement as he continued; "I remember my Queen being a great archer, can she not take care of herself anymore?"

"Oh, I can." She finally said, "And if I can't, I will bring along my horn and call for your aid."

They both chuckled at their own teasings, and for a moment they fell still and quiet. Both had a lingering smile before Susan said; "Do you think we could? You know, go off and find Lucy?"

"I am sure we can, my Queen." Oreius replied, a satisfied glint showed in his eyes as he realised he had won this round.

"When shall we leave?"

"In the morrow, I will meet you underneath the old blossom tree near the North gate."

Susan nodded, remembered the tree Oreius referred too. "All right, I will." She said, feeling rather defiant as she agreed to the strange pact so unlike her old friend and general. "What mount should I take?"

"Believe me when I say you won't need a mount, Highness."

"No mount?" Susan asked, perplexed, "Shall I need to use my own feet then?"

A rather mysterious smile graced Oreius as he turned on his hind leg, stepping away from the throne. "In the morrow, my Queen, underneath the old blossom tree," he said, allowing himself to smile as he left a puzzled Susan on her throne.

Susan watched her old friend go, and finally giggled as she realised she was really going through with the silly plan the centaur had come up with her. A strange warmth spread through her heart as she stood on the brink of doing something adventurous. No one had told her that she couldn't go and find Lucy, no one kept her at Cair Paravel.

She rose from her throne, a strange smile curling her lips as she descended from the stairs, and as her are feet touched the soft grass spread across the marble thoughts her mind was already consumed with thoughts of things she needed to pack, and to retrieve her bow and horn, before she would leave and find her bantering sibling.