Author's Note: Thanks again to musafa (I read your review when it was midnight in my country! haha!) and J. J. Taylor! I this chapter I've eased off the kissing-bwaha! But I would like to thank Sir William Shakespeare's 'Be Kind and Courteous' from 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' (it's just too cute to be overlooked!)

nascar-freak

Chapter 4: The Black Widow

Be kind and courteous to this gentleman.

Hop in his walks and gambol in his eyes;

Feed him with apricots and dewberries,

With purple grapes, green figs, and mulberries;

Peter listened to Giovane's soft singing. It was a soft melody that was a desire to listen to but Peter knew it must have been a devil to create.

The honey-begs steal from bumblebees,

And for night-tapers crop their waxen thighs,

And light them at the fiery glowworms' eyes

To have my love to bed and to arise;

Giovane toyed with her cloak as she sang. Snowflakes dropped quietly on her shoulders. She looked up at Peter. He smiled at her.

And pluck the wings from painted butterflies,

To fan the moonbeams from his sleeping eyes.

Giovane tapped Peter's nose.

Nod to him, elves, and do him courtesies.

Feed him with apricots and dewberries.

Peter touched his forehead on Giovane's, "We should go back now," he said. Giovane nodded. They had been by the lake for a while. Peter stood up and was about to help Giovane when the royals heard rustling from the upper trails. Giovane unconsciously sprang to her feet, "What was that?" she asked. Peter unsheathed his sword. Giovane's eyes widened. She hadn't known Peter had brought a blade. The rustling came again a black hooded figure fell heavily from the bushes and down the slope. Giovane jumped back in surprise. The figure's face could not be seen. It crawled limply on the snow only a few feet away. It wheezed and puffed, and gasped and panted for breath. Peter cautiously was over. A woman's voice groaned out, "Mercy, milord!" she said. Peter froze, "Pardon?"

"If thou be a kind sir, have mercy!" the figure kneeled and supported itself with its hands. Giovane walked over, "Where do you hail?" she asked gently. The figure lowered its hood to reveal a pale and sick face of a young woman, perhaps the age of Giovane. Her dark brown hair was tangled and in knots. Her eyes were grey and had no life in them. Giovane's heart was moved by her appearance. The woman spoke, "I hail from the country of Argour, milady," she whispered. She was shaking violently and she folded her hands by her chest. Giovane laid a light hand on her shoulder. She looked at Peter, who had now sheathed his sword, "She needs shelter, Peter," Giovane looked back at the girl, "You would need a place to rest," she said. The girl nodded and gave a weak smile. Peter kneeled in front of the girl, "What is your name?" he asked gently,

"Princess Aravinia, milord," she said. Peter looked taken aback, "Princess!"

Aravinia nodded, "Yes, milord,"

"What brings you here all the way from Argour, and without your guards?"

"I shall only answer to the High King of Narnia, milord," Aravinia replied weakly. Peter held out a hand, "Then rise, Princess Aravinia," he said, "You may have a place in the castle."

Aravinia stared at him and noticed that he had an air of royalty, "Your Majesty!" she cried, "My deepest apologies, kind sir!"

Giovane helped the shocked princess to her feet. Peter smiled warmly, "There will be no apologizing but a lot of explanation."

Aravinia looked at him, glassy-eyed, "My father has cast me away," she spat. Peter stared at her, "How so?"

"He has chosen me a suitor but I heard nothing of it. We had argued for a time when he finally made me leave!" Aravinia's eyes suddenly filled with tears. Giovane pulled out a hanky from her pocket and offered it to the poor girl. She spoke on, "So I ran away, I did. It is no doubt he has his men after me. Oh, but I should not want to go back!" Aravinia sobbed, "I do not want to marry!"

Peter nodded. Even he did not agree to arranged marriages, which was why he had taken his time in getting to know Giovane, "Would you not want us to make peace with your father?"

"Nay, Your Majesety! I beg you!"

Peter nodded again. He felt pity for the young girl, "Then if you please, Princess, how sure are we that you are of royal blood?"

Aravinia nodded and recited a short poem in her language. A poem Peter had taken up in his studies with a royal advisor a few years back. When Aravinia finished, Peter nodded, "Very well," he smiled. Aravinia looked at Giovane, "Milady," she smiled, "If you are the beautiful princess of Celestia, I pray thee well. Thank you!" she said. Giovane smiled back, "You needn't call me 'Lady', but Giovane,"

"Oh, but it is too much of an honor, Your Highness! I shan't!"

Peter walked to Giovane, "You shall," he said, "Address Giovane as Giovane, address me as Peter for I am Peter, and if it please you we shall address you as Aravinia as that is your name."

Aravinia looked so happy, Giovane thought she would cry again, "Aye! Pray thee well, Peter and Giovane! If this is no jest, I thank thee for your kindness," Aravinia nodded. Peter gestured to the trails, "Now," he said, "Let us get you to Cair Paravel. You will need to eat and rest."

Author's Note: There we go! I'll be busy next week (scratch that: I'll be extremely busy next week) so it may be a while before the next update, but I promise to try and squeeze in this story. Thanks for your reviews!