CHAPTER 3

"Why did you punch him? Are you insane?" Kate yelled at me as soon as we got home.

"Well, he deserved it. He was being such a jerk and my temper has limits, Kate."

"But you could have asked him calmly. You could have talked to him in a good manner. He is a King of Narnia for God sake Evelyn!"

"Who cares Kate? He is wrong, and that doesn't make me think twice to punch him."

"But.. Yeah. I agree with you though. By the way I got the apple." She said smiling innocently.

"If I were you, I would check the apple. It's poisoned or not."

She went silent for a while with both eyes wide open. I couldn't help but burst out laughing, holding onto my stomach.

"I was just joking Kate. He wouldn't dare poison that apple."

"Oh you!"

The main door suddenly being knocked and it made our conversation stopped. I walked towards the door and opened it and I saw Aden stood in front of me with a wide smile, bringing something in his hand.

"Hola ladies." He greeted us happily and walked inside the room.

"Well, someone looks happy at the moment." I teased him and closed the door. He sat on the sofa in the living room and put his things on the table in front of him.

Aden loved to come by to my house after work and brought us some meals and have it together. Sometimes he came home late because we didn't want him to go home. We needed a company like him. Since my mother wasn't really there for us, I'm so thankful that we have Aden. We considered him as a family member already.

I walked towards the other sofa in front of him and sat there with Kate.

"Of course I'm happy. Didn't you hear the news that's been spread this afternoon?" he asked while taking out some fresh breads and cheeses. The smell of it really made me hungry. "Where is your mother?"

"She's still in the bakery, I think. We don't want to disturb her since she has so much orders. Good for her. What news?" Kate asked and took the bread.

"Well, There was an accident happened this afternoon so I didn't really know what happened in here." I explained.

"'In here'? So where were you then?" he asked.

"The woods of course." Kate answered in a sarcastic tone. And that tone was definitely dedicated to me.

"Something bad happened there?"

"No. Nothing. I'll explain later. What's the news you are so happy about?" I asked.

"Well, where can I start this. So, some royal guards came here earlier in the afternoon. Some people said King Edmund himself came here to announce this amazing announcement but I didn't see him when the announcement was given in public. Everyone gathered in the center of the village this afternoon and was very happy with this announcement."

"The announcement of what?" asked me with a voice that sounded very curious.

"So in the next two weeks there will be an event at Cair Paravel. This is to welcome the arrival of Aslan. They say, Aslan is coming to Cair Paravel, or you could say here, the whole Narnia after all this time in his country. Isn't that great?"

Aslan. Yeah, I've heard of him, even stories about him. But until now, I've never seen him with my own eyes. First, my father often storytelling about Aslan and his empire across the ocean. Sometimes I still think my dad was there at the moment.

"Aslan, the great Lion?" Kate asked with a tone that sounded pleased.

"Yep. And, wait, let me continue. So, the Royal family will be holding an event where we could sign up to volunteer. A lot of the race being held! Fighting using sword, use a bow and arrow correctly, and horsemanship."

"What's the point of fighting with a sword? So we have to fight with one another and determine the winner is by killing our opponents? "I asked.

"No, of course not. With only a single scratch and a droplet of blood that is made by the opponent, already making the opponent wins. It is not until death. Narnia is not that cruel."

"Hey, that sounds great. Maybe Evelyn should join that." Kate suddenly suggested.

I admit this event sounds cool. I could sign up for using a bow and arrows part. Besides, it's the first time the Royal family would held this kind of thing. Missing this event would probably making me regret it for the rest of my life. But I'm in a situation where I'm in a trouble with one of the Royal family. Do I still have a chance to sign up for this event? Maybe King Edmund wouldn't allow me.

"Oh, no. Thank you. My bow and arrows are being taken away from me anyway. How am I supposed to join the event without those?" I replied with a sigh of frustration.

"Wait. What? Taken away from you?" Aden asked with an eyebrow raised.

I explained to him about what happened earlier in the woods. I saw his facial expression changed after telling him and he looked shocked.

"King Edmund? What was he doing there? That's why I didn't see him. He went to the woods."

"Yeah, and to take my bow and arrows. For what? It's still leaving me curiosity inside though."

"Whatever he is up to in you, I believe it's for a good thing. Don't suspect anything bad yet, Ev. King Edmund is a nice person."

"Oh, so you've met him?" Kate asked.

"Well, I've met him once. I went to Cair Paravel to deliver his sword that he ordered to my friend and my friend asked me to deliver it to Cair Paravel. He was nice back then. And young."

"How old was he?" Kate asked again.

"Fifteen, I think. He's seventeen now."

"I gotta go." I said as I got up from the sofa.

"Where are you going?" Aden asked.

"I'm going to Cair Paravel. He asked me to get my bow and arrows at supper. Don't ask why because I don't even know why. I just want my things back."

"Do you need a company? It's getting late. You shouldn't be wandering around the village and especially going to Cair Paravel like this alone."

"No, I'm fine. Thank you for your offer though." I told him and smiled. As I walked towards the door and opened it, I felt that I needed to give them a last message, in case something bad happens to me. "But if I don't come back in twenty four hours, look for me will you?" I said and smiled in a childish way.

Aden and Kate laughed. "Of course we will." He said.

I smiled back to them and closed the door, hoping I would be fine.

##

The night felt cold. It wasn't that late so I still saw a few people outside their houses. The streets were not so quiet so I was not afraid to walk alone all the way to Cair Paravel.

I'm still confused though. What did King Edmund want from me? Did I make that big mistake? Breaking the rules maybe? But as far as I know, hunting is not prohibited. Furthermore, I didn't hunt down the Narnians. Isn't the Royal family also love to hunt? Anything that makes King Edmund wishes my presence at Cair Paravel made me unable to concentrate. My mind was everywhere.

Arriving at the front gates of the palace, I couldn't help but had my mouth wide open. To be honest, I've never gone here before. I may have walked and accidentally passed through the Cair Paravel, but imagining this moment I'd go into it make me feel rather pleased.

Feel rather pleased because I didn't entirely have fun after I went into it. That's what makes me annoyed.

This is the first time we met and I've been cursed with a punishment like this.

As I walked towards the gates, I saw a couple of centaurs stared at me intentionally. I softened my facial expression and asked them politely, "I have an appointment with King Edmund. Can I go in?"

"King Edmund didn't tell us anything." Said a centaur.

Well, this is gonna be hard.

"Maybe he didn't tell you. He just said that he wishes my presence at supper."

"You may go home now my lady, it's getting late." Said the other centaur.

"What? You think I'm lying? I really am having an appointment with King Edmund. Please let me in." I begged them.

Soon after that I saw a faun, the same faun I saw in the woods earlier ran towards us with such hurry. His scarf almost fell.

"It's okay. She's with me." Said the faun nicely to both of the centaurs.

I didn't know how I could say thank you to him. I was so tired and he just showed up and helped me. If it wasn't for my bow and arrows I wouldn't even want to come here.

We got inside together and I couldn't help but stole looks at him.

"Thank you." I said in barely a whisper.

"For what? Earlier? Don't worry, King Edmund himself sent me. He said you'd probably have arrived so he wanted me to check out. Sorry for his behavior earlier." He answered me with such respect.

"It's okay. It's my fault too anyway."

"He actually wouldn't take away your bow and arrows if you didn't punch him."

"I know." I replied. I was speechless.

He laughed a little bit, making me relax and smiled at me. "Don't worry, he is a nice person. Trust me. This way." He pointed a huge golden door with a lion craft in the middle of it.

"Is this… his room?" I asked shyly.

"No. It's the living room. There's also High King Peter inside."

"And my bow and arrows?"

"Let's just… talk about that later, shall we? Come on."

He leaded me inside the room and my heart actually was pumping a little bit faster. Meeting King Edmund in an unexpected occasion wouldn't be that embarrassing enough. But now, High King Peter? Couldn't my life get any worse?

As we got inside, I saw the High King and his little brother arguing with each other about something, really serious.

"It's not the time yet, Ed. Why are you messing this up?" spat the High King to his little brother.

"Because I'm not patient enough, Pete! I just want these things to end quickly because every time I saw her, I imagined her future! What will happen to her and her family! Face it Pete, we have to help her!" Edmund spat back.

"I know you care about her, Ed. But at least if you want to take action, discuss it first with me."

I got really confused. Were they talking about me? What did those mean?

Mr. Tumnus made a little fake cough to shut them up but it didn't work. He did that a few times but the Kings might not hear it since they both were seriously arguing. Our shadows really weren't seen at all.

"Your Majesties." Mr. Tumnus called. "She's here."

Both the High King and The Just King looked at me with expressions that looked shocked. I wanted to ask this later if I respected them a lot, but with my curiosity wrapped me up, I couldn't wait any longer. There was something in King Edmund that left me curious.

"Are you talking about me?"