Hey guys! Wow, it's been way too long! I've just been so busy with school, I guess =)
I'm gonna try to establish some sort of routine from now on... We'll see how that works out...

Well, here it is! Not much happens, it's really just filler stuff until I get to better parts...

Let me know what you think! I love getting reviews and stuff, so please feel free to leave me some feedback!

Chapter 8: Royal Ball

Amber stalked the little fawn, putting years of patience into practice. She would wait until he was comfortable, when he was most vulnerable. His mother was right with him, but if she timed it right, she could get the baby without causing too much trouble. She stalked around the bedding. It was unusual for the deer to bed down alone, but it did work to her advantage. The deer seemed totally unaware of the huntress getting ready to attack. Amber was so close, she could have almost touched the baby. She grinned, and leapt out, growling. The mother bounded off, thinking her fawn was close behind her. Unfortunately, the fawn had stumbled, and Amber was onto him in a second. She deftly snapped his neck, killing him instantly. She didn't mind killing Dumb Beasts for her food, but she didn't like them to suffer.

The Tigress spent much more time than she could have on the hunt. It very rarely took the skilled tracker so long to make her kill, but she really didn't want to go back to the Cair just yet. She would give the tournament plenty of time to be over, and slip into the ball unnoticed.

After she had eaten her fill, Amber strolled back to the Cair. No one would stop the Tigress from entrance- after all, there were many Cats who would be in attendance at the ball. She transformed back into a Girl when she was sure no one was watching. She had already ordered that a suitable dress be laid out, so all she had to do was to slip into the dark green gown and do up her hair. She looked in the mirror and arranged the fiery locks around a small silver circlet that denoted her place as Regentess, and quietly left her room.

Amber slipped into the same side door she had used earlier to enter the Great Hall. Susan had done a wonderful job of planning on such short notice; the stained glass windows gleamed in the light of the dying sun. Chairs had been set up around the enormous room so that anyone could sit and watch. The music was streaming form some unseen corner, and the chatter and laughter of the guests melded into a soft background noise. The Kings and Queens weren't seated on the Thrones- and they wouldn't be for the rest of the night. The ball had started, and they were all out dancing.

A young page approached the Tigress and asked her for a dance. She obliged gladly, following him out onto the floor. She really did love to dance, as long as it was not every night. And I love tournaments, she thought. But I don't like the reason for them tonight. She looked over the heads of the crowds, searching for the Calormene Prince. She couldn't find him, but neither could she find Susan. She was sure that the two were of somewhere together.

"May I have this dance, milady?" Amber turned around as the song ended and the page boy left.

"Edmund!" she smiled. "Of course!" She took Edmund's hand and let him lead.

"How was your hunt?" he asked.

"Refreshing. And the tournament?"

"It went well. Rabadash won almost everything he entered, save for the joust. Peter won that."

"And how did our Prince like the tournament? Was he pleased?"

"Far too pleased, if you ask me," Edmund said. "He couldn't seem to stop complimenting us. Apparently, this is the most beautiful land he has ever seen, and our High King's graciousness is only surpassed by his father's." Amber smiled at the younger King's impression of Rabadash. It was rather accurate, in her mind.

"And Susan? Has she put this fantasy aside yet?" Edmund shook his head ruefully.

"Unfortunately, no. She still has it in her mind to go to Tashbaan with her. And soon; she keeps badgering me about when we shall leave."

"I say, let's get this over with as quickly as possible," Amber said. "We can't change her mind, so let's just go."

"I'm not too keen on losing my sister so quickly!" Edmund protested. "I'd like to keep her here for as long as I can!"

"Ed, you're acting like she's going away to get married! It's just a visit."

"Yeah, right. The way this is going? She'll be wed within the month."

"Edmund, think about it," Amber said calmly. "Do you really think that, after she has seen the way he lives in his own home, she will want to marry him? Or maybe after she sees the way he treats his people- the social system there isn't like here. She's too tenderhearted to be able to stay there long." Amber smiled when Edmund started to think about what she'd said. "Edmund, you're supposed to be the thoughtful one!" she laughed. "Peter's the one who does things before he thinks them through."

As they walked together, Amber spotted Lucy twirling in and out among the other dancers. The young Queen waved to her brother and friend, and they waited until the dance ended so that she could join them.

"Good evening, Amber!" Lucy bubbled, hugging the Tigress. "I'm glad you finally made it!"

"Me, too," Amber said, absentmindedly looping her arm through Edmund's. "It seems that you have gotten over your foul mood."

"When does Lucy ever keep a foul mood?" Edmund pointed out. "Her attitude expels it."

"It was childish of me to pout," Lucy admitted. "I'm glad Peter's finally started to let go of some of his responsibilities. It must be a world of good for him to be able to hand them off." Amber and Edmund nodded their agreement. "Are you two looking forward to your trip?"

"Looking forward to ending it," Edmund provided. "I'm going for Susan, not for the scenery."

"She will be the talk of Calormen," Lucy stated proudly. "Even if she doesn't marry Rabadash, she will be remembered. She's so beautiful."

"That she is, little sister," Edmund agreed. Amber smiled contentedly. She was glad Edmund was having a good time; he hadn't been lately. He'd been so occupied with helping Peter that he hadn't been able to enjoy being a teenager. Amber frowned. He wasn't a teenager. He had just turned twenty-one- far past the age of manhood, by Narnian standards. Everyone was so much older now. Even Lucy was fast approaching her twentieth birthday. Susan was twenty-six, and Peter was twenty-seven.

And how old am I? Amber thought to herself. I have the body of a sixteen-year-old girl. But I am Peter's age. Is this what Aslan meant, so long ago? Am I to remain a teenager for the rest of my years? The thought disturbed her. Would she ever grow? Or would she just… continue? She sighed, taken by these melancholy thoughts. Such sentiments would often take her by surprise, and she tended to lose herself in them.

"Amber?" Lucy asked softly. Amber started, and looked at the girl. "Are you well?"

"Oh, yes. I was just thinking." Lucy smiled.

"You are at a ball, Lady!" she exclaimed. "It is not the time for such serious activities! Come with me, and I will put you right. We shall dance, eat, drink, and make merry all around! Come, we must find the rest of our quarry! It is time for refreshments!" She dragged Amber- and, by default, Edmund- toward the place where she had last seen the High King. From that point on, Amber was lost in the overwhelming wonderment that was a Narnian ball.

Ha ha, like I said, not much happened... but still, it feels good to be back in Narnia!

I'm really excited to get this finished. Then I'm going to get back into The Lost Tales,
and eventually transition into Prince Caspian. But for now, enjoy the adventures of the Lady Tigress and
her fair consorts in the beautiful land of Narnia!

Don't forget to review! I'll get stuff up wayy more quickly if I know someone is enjoying it =)

Anyway, God bless every one of you, and until next time,

I remain His,

Daddyscowgirl94