Author's Note: Yes, I am quite aware of how dreadfully over due this is and I am dreadfully sorry. I swear! Anyway, thanks to those who have reviewed (You rock, peeps!):

musafa, MotSupposedToBeHere, Supernova45690, EquestrianPunk1992, Ze Ultimate Fanfic Writer, krystya101 (so did you cry after POTC3?) and of course brezzybrez!

I love your reviews!

BTW do you have any suggestions for what I can draw for my site? I'm running out of ideas, maybe I'm just really bored that my brain is beginning to web over…

Please help me…

nascar-freak

Chapter 14: Deafening Silence in Noisy Merriment

Lucy watched as the Fauns danced around a bonfire with their panpipes. Right in the middle of the Dryad's forest, they had put up quite a lively tune, which made Lucy quite lively as well. She listened to the melody as Dryads joined in merriment.

Join us now in our fealty,

Christmas day doth near!

A day to pass,

See, bonie Lass?

'Till Christmas day doth near!

Peter smiled as Tumnus, who had come as well to meet with old friends, flipped over his panpipe and blew through it again.

Skip hence, all you critters,

The ones, who bring misfortune, nay!

A day to pass,

By Aslan, Alas!

'Till Christmas day doth near!

Aravinia smiled as well, "A day to pass," she whispered, "My spell at last," Aravinia ran a finger down the golden chain around her neck, "Will be completed, as Christmas day doth near."

Lucy turned her head as she heard Giovane mutter something under her breath, "Pardon?" she asked. Giovane jerked her head up and smiled, "Oh nothing," she said simply, "I was just humming along."

Lucy nodded, though she was unconvinced. Her brown eyes fell curiously on the ruby resting on Giovane's chest, "What's that?" she asked, pretending to be intrigued. Giovane clasped a hand over the jewel, as if hiding it, "'Twas a present given to me by my father," she said. Lucy nodded, "I see. You never wore it before though," she said. Giovane chuckled, "Perhaps you did not notice," she said, "I always wear this, or at least have it under my pillow."

Aravinia held her breath, hoping Lucy would take her story. The Argouran smiled, I have to do it now. I have to proceed with the next ritual before this brat starts pestering me to dance with her, Aravinia stared into Lucy's brown eyes, Look away, please look away!

Lucy shrugged and turned her attention back to the Fauns. She saw Peter from the corner of her eye, ask Giovane a short question, which happened to be, 'Are you alright?' Lucy kept her head in its position but rolled her eyes to the side to see Giovane whisper something to Peter and then leave behind some bushes, Wait for me, she thought and stood up from the log she sat on. Lucy danced around the bonfire in merriment, hoping to avoid suspicion from her older brother. The young queen was valiant indeed and she accepted a short dance with one of Tumnus's friends. Lucy laughed but kept an eye on the bushes. After a while she looked over to Peter. Lucy's little plan had succeeded and she danced away to the bushes and disappeared through the growth. Lucy stared at her surroundings. Her eyes did its best to adjust to the ever-growing darkness before her. The thick branches of the trees blocked out the moon and stars, but shots of moonlight spilled below them. Lucy heard footsteps crunching on snow at her side and she quickly darted behind a tree. She peeked from behind the bark to see Giovane walk quietly down a slope. The princess stopped and looked around, as if to check if someone was watching her. Giovane unlocked the chain around her neck and took of her necklace. Lucy clamped a hand over her mouth as she gasped. She wasn't seeing Giovane, she was seeing the Argouran: Princess Aravinia!

Right then and there, everything fell into place.

"Firstly, I was having breakfast with her in the Dining Hall. I told her about some commotion in the border's woods and offered condolences for her friends, The Crying Nymphs."

Lucy heard Edmund's voice ring faintly in her ears.

"She didn't seem to remember them at all! I said, 'I am very sorry about your friends, Giovane' and she stared at me like I had said something obscure. When I mentioned the Nymphs all she said was a stuttering 'Thank You' and jumped into a conversation about taking Lucy riding! Not to mention she forgot all about Duke, and who he was."

Lucy's breathing began to quicken, she quickly waved her hand before her face to rid off the mist from her mouth.

"Secondly, was when she forgot that she made a promise to take me out riding today!"

The queen heard her own voice at the back of her mind.

"Lu, people tend to forget things,"

Lucy's blood boiled as she recalled the reason her eldest brother had given her.

"But that is unlike Giovane! She never forgets her promises! Lest her commitments!"

Lucy had remembered almost screaming at Peter in protest. Edmund had also come to her aid.

"Pete, since when was the last time Giovane broke a promise to you?"

Peter had not been able to reply. Lucy recalled yet another reasoning from herself.

"Well earlier in the Village Square Duke was acting unusually hot, but Giovane managed to keep him under control, except for a light rear,"

Peter had made an objection yet again, but Lucy had countered him.

"Peter! There was fear etched quite noticeably in her face! She never wears that expression! The last time I saw her use that face, it was months ago when you were leaving for the Land of the Crying Nymphs."

And lastly, Lucy's elder sister had come marching in, bow in hand, face red, and hands ready to shove anything in its way.

"She kept on missing the center target! She always gets the target at least thrice in every session we have!"

Susan's voice of course, did not sound as gentle as it should have been, and her gestures were most unladylike that day.

And so there it was. The answer to their queries, Aravinia was behind everything. Lucy looked back the Argouran. She seemed to be uttering a spell for the ruby was glinting even without the light of the moon. The young queen was too shocked to move and she watched as the Argouran slipped the necklace over her head, and turn almost instantly to Giovane. Lucy shrank back onto the roots of the tree to avoid being sighted, But, she thought as a horrible thought crossed her mind, If this is Aravinia, where is Giovane, the real Giovane? Lucy felt her eyes well with tears but just as the first stream began on her cheeks she wiped them stubbornly away, I have to find out, Lucy stood quietly for she realized how cold she was getting from being away from the bonfire, Peter will never believe me. Lucy bit her lip when her eyes suddenly lit up, "Tumnus," she whispered and forgot the 'Mr.' She quickly made her way back to the merrymaking.

Author's Note: Well here we go! We are nearing the very good parts! Bwahahahahahahahahahaha-hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Yo! You know what to do, guys! ;)