One Fine Day

Chapter 10

One Fine Day

I stepped back to allow Caspian and Edmund to take over. I knew they could handle things from here, and besides, I had somewhere else I needed to be. I slowly continued my progress towards the door, taking extra care not to move too quickly. If Edmund, or even Lucy, realized what I was trying to do they would have stopped me. I couldn't afford any delays. Unfortunately I couldn't make it unseen; Drinian saw. Perhaps it would be best to tell someone. Instead of making for the door, I went to him.

"Captain," I greeted quietly.

"Your Majesty," he replied with a nod. "Pardon me, but I couldn't help but notice it appeared as though you were on your way out."

I smiled in response, and Drinian sighed. "Would you kindly tell King Edmund that I am very sorry, but there was someplace I needed to be? Tell him not to worry because I am taking Misters Rynelf and…What's your name, Sir?"

"Jamze, Your Majesty."

"I am taking Rynelf and Jamze with me and I will be back before he knows it."

"I would really rather not be the bearer of such news again, Your Majesty," Drinian insisted, but of course I didn't listen.

"Thank you, Drinian, and I will be back soon." Without any further delaying, I turned and quickly left the room with Rynelf and Jamze close behind.

We left the rotunda and entered the halls of the mansion at the end of a revolt. The corrupt guards and keepers were being rounded up and detained. Meanwhile, the streets of Narrowhaven remained quiet. The people of the Islands were oblivious to their cause for celebration.

I chose well in picking Rynelf; he followed without question. We made our way down the High Street in silence. But just before reaching the square, I took a hard left down an ally. We walked behind buildings and houses until we made it to a small stretch of land and the bay. Felimath was to the north of us and Avra to the east. Wedged on the land, out of reach of the lapping waves, was a small row boat.

"Help me with this," I said as I began to push the boat into the water. Rynelf and Jamze quickly began to assist.

"Where is our destination, Your Majesty?" Rynelf asked once we were adrift.

"The tip of Felimath, just there," I pointed.

As Rynelf and Jamze rowed I knew I needed to keep my mind from the distraction waiting for me back at the governor's, so I asked Rynelf how his family was doing. Then I inquired of Jamze and his. All the while, the sun was steadily rising. I began to worry that I wouldn't make it on time, and the repercussions if I didn't would be worse than death…well…worse than imprisonment with the Keepers at least.

At long last we reached the shore and pulled the boat up. Our journey wasn't over though. We trekked up a steep hill and around the curve of the island until we came upon a small alcove that was hidden from sight while at sea. Hidden in the alcove was a small, worn down house that appeared abandoned; I knew it to be otherwise.

I didn't bother with knocking, but just let myself in. After all, it had been "home" for the last six months. Celeste was already up and sweeping as she did every morning. Her ashy hair, streaked with silvery grey, was pulled into a loose bun that at one point sat atop her head but now fell about her face. No longer startled by my sudden entrances, Celeste continued her work without looking up.

"You're cutting it close, don't you think?" she asked.

"Yes, but am I too late?" I replied worried.

"She hasn't come down yet, but that's all I know for sure…Oh!" She finally looked up and caught sight of Rynelf and Jamze. She looked startled for a moment before she turned back to me with just the smallest bit of anger in her eyes.

"Why didn't you tell me we had guests, child? And with me looking like this!" she said indicating the worn dress she was in.

"Relax, Celeste, you look beautiful, and I am sorry. These gentlemen are Rynelf and Jamze. Gentlemen, this is the Lady of the House, Celeste."

"Mam," Rynelf and Jamze bowed in greeting.

"Welcome. I apologize for the state of things. Can I get you anything to drink?"

"That won't be necessary, Celeste," I said before they could respond. "They're from Narnia."

"Narn…" Her eyes widened. "Narnia!"

I nodded. "I promise I'll tell you everything, but first…" I pointed to the closed door at the top of the stairs.

"Yes, yes, go…and hurry, child!"

I raced up the stairs as quickly and as quietly as I could, and as such I couldn't help but hear Celeste say, "I do not think I can wait for her explanation, so I will get those drinks and you can tell me everything, Sir."

XXX

I softly opened the door and slowly entered into the sleeping chambers. Elanor and Helene, the oldest two girls, were already awake and were about to cry out to me when I silenced them with a finger to my lips. The youngest of Bern's daughters was still asleep and I sighed in relief. I walked over to Elanor and Helene and placed a kiss to the tops of their heads while whispering my greeting. Then I went back to where the youngest slept. Just as I approached the foot of her bed, she began to stir. She rolled onto her back and rubbed her hands across her eyes. When she caught sight of me, her eyes widened.

"'Stelle!" she exclaimed. I sat on the bed beside her and allowed her to wrap her tiny arms around my neck. I laughed softly.

"I told you I would be sitting bedside when you woke up, Sol. So then why are you so surprised to see me?" I asked, returning her fervent hug.

She pulled back and shrugged shamefully. "I was worried you wouldn't make it. What if the Keepers gotchu?"

"And how many times have I told you not to worry about the Keepers and me?"

She shrugged again. "I dunno, a lot of times."

"Well I mean it, Sol. You do not have to worry about the Keepers. No one needs to worry about them anymore."

"They don't?" I shook my head and smiled.

"Are they being taken away now?" Elanor, the eldest asked, as she and Helene joined us on Sol's bed.

"As we speak. I came to share the news with all of you, and to see that little miss Sol, here, had a happy morning."

"Estelle, will you sing the morning song for us?" Helene asked.

"Only if Sol sings it with me."

"I will! I will!" Sol exclaimed as she happily clapped her hands together.

Sol had a voice unlike any I had ever heard for a child so young. It was clear and pure, and a true gift from Aslan. As the sun's rays made themselves fully known in the small room, Sol and I lifted our voices in unison.

Sing good morning sunshine

You light up my day

You show me the way

May my path be clear

And may thy light reveal

His glorious mane

Where His love ever reigns

'Til the night appear

Cease all worry and fear

Sing good morning sunshine

"Beautiful," I whispered as I kissed Sol's forehead. I am certain the Sun has heard us. Now, quickly, you all must get ready. We have a very special trip to make. Today is going to be one fine day."

XXX

I sat before a mirrored vanity as some of the ladies of the mansion worked on my hair. After returning to Narrowhaven and the Governor's mansion, Lucy quickly swept me away without so much as a glance at Edmund. "You will both thank me," she said. In truth, I was already partially thankful; my scrubbing bath left me feeling cleaner than I had in months. Before being carted off though, I did manage to catch the look of surprise and wonder on Bern's face as he was reunited with his wife and daughters.

There was a knock at the door and one of the ladies went to answer it. As she opened the door I caught sight of the person standing on the other side through the reflection in the mirror. It was Edmund. It appeared he had been ordered to bathe as well for now he was dressed in clean and regal clothes. The only thing lacking was a silver crown to sit upon his head.

He did not speak as he entered the room, but kept his eyes locked with mine through the mirror. The excitement I first felt at learning of his presence, the very excitement I'd been fighting so hard to contain, quickly came rushing to the surface again. I'd first pushed it aside because I knew I needed to stay focused on the task at hand. But now…Gumpas was removed from office, Bern was reunited with his family, and the jail house was being filled with the corrupt. There was rejoicing throughout the Islands. Why could I not rejoice now as well?

I stood and turned around quickly, flinging back my chair in haste. The ladies attending to me started at my sudden movement. I felt mildly guilty but I did not spare much time to bother with it.

"Thank you, ladies. You have done a marvelous job. I actually look like a girl again, but that will be all for now. You may leave," I said, trying to keep my voice even.

"But, Miss, we haven't fin…" one girl tried to protest but I cut her off.

"Now, please!"

Though my eyes never left Edmund, I could still see the girls bob a curtsey before making for the door. Edmund, at least, maintained enough decency to nod at the ladies as they left, unlike my barking command.

"You look…" Edmund began but as soon as the door shut behind the last girl to leave, I ran forward and threw myself into his arms cutting off whatever compliment he was about to issue. He stumbled for a moment but quickly regained his balance. Then he returned my embrace with all the enthusiasm I had shown him.

Our lips locked and it felt as though no time had passed between us, so strong was the familiarity. Even the time we spent apart in his world did not bother us now. We were once more husband and wife; we were once more united as one.

When we broke from our kiss we did not separate much. Edmund leaned his forehead against mine and kept his hands at my waist.

"Now that is more like the greeting I was expecting," he said with a chuckle. My own excitement was too much to hold in. "Aaralynn? Aaralynn, what's wrong? Why are you crying?"

"Please, tell me this is real. Tell me that you are really here, and that this is not some dream because it feels like a dream."

I felt the vibrations in his chest as he laughed again. Then he took my hands in his and placed one to his face.

"Touch me," he said. He placed my other hand over his heart. "Feel how my heart beats for you. I am here, and this is real. Or, if it is some dream, then may it be one from which we never wake."

"Never wake," I whispered in agreement. Then I kissed him again.

When we parted this time, Edmund pulled back a little further and I could see the confusion on his face. It wasn't until he rubbed his thumbs over the palms of my hands and turned them up that I realized why he was confused.

"What happened to your hands?" he asked.

"It's nothing," I said as I tried to pull my hands from his. I didn't want the moment to be over so soon, but he wouldn't let go. "They hardly even bother me anymore."

"Aaralynn, these scars look like the marks left by a whip. What happened?"

This time I did manage to free my hands. "It's nothing," I reiterated. "Really."

"Who did this to you, Aaralynn?" I could see he was beginning to get angry. I knew it was more at the thought of someone hurting me than my refusing to tell him what happened.

"It doesn't matter. They have been dealt with. I am sure they are sitting in the jailhouse at this very instant with the rest of those vermin."

"You mean one of the Keepers did this to you? Why? When?"

"Edmund, I really…"

"Aaralynn," he said firmly and I knew I'd have to tell him now. I sighed and sat on the sofa in my room.

"Fine, but first, come and sit with me." Edmund sat next to me and waited for me to speak.

"It happened shortly after I arrived, or well, after Drinian had left on the Duchess. I was in the square observing, and I saw this man. He was trying to buy a loaf of bread for his family, but he didn't have enough money. Mind you, the vendor was ridiculously overcharging for a simple loaf, but still…The vendor sent him away with nothing. I couldn't bear the sight, so I went to the vendor and paid full price for the loaf. Then I gave the loaf to the man to give to his family.

"The vendor saw, and for whatever reason he was unhappy with the transaction. So he told the Keepers that I had stolen the loaf. There were no other witnesses, or if there were they were too afraid to speak up. Since I was new to the islands and no one knew who I was, the Keepers sided with the vendor. I received ten lashings on my hands and my first night in a cell for my crime. Celeste saw the whipping and she spoke to Lord Bern about it. They paid my bail and she took me back to Bernstead the next morning. That was my first real taste at the state of the islands."

"And where was your protector, Kohl, during all of this?" Edmund asked, barely keeping his anger at bay.

"Kohl couldn't have intervened."

"Why not?"

"Because I told him not to. He was there, but I warned him not to get involved. No one knew we were together and I wanted it to stay that way. It turned out to serve us well in the end. Gumpas never would have allowed Kohl to get as close to him as he did if he suspected Kohl knew me personally."

"And why didn't you send word to Caspian then? Why didn't you call for reinforcements then?"

"I thought I could handle it."

"You thought you could… Aaralynn, it was dangerous. You could have been seriously injured. "

"Please, Edmund, let's not argue about this now. There are many things that I could have, or perhaps should have done differently. Bring this back up in a month and we can argue over it then, but for now, you're here and I just want to be happy with that."

Edmund dropped his head to his chest. "You are right, of course. But in a month we will hash this out."

I laughed. "In a month. Now, will you tell me your story? What have you been doing these five years?"

"Five?"

"Yes…oh! How long has it been for you then?"

"Three years," he replied solemnly.

"Three? Oh, the third year was rough. Wait…That means we're the same age now."

"Technically I'm still older."

"By a month!"

"A month is still a month. I'm older so you should obey me."

"You're my husband so I should obey you."

"That too," he said cheekily.

"Hey!" I playfully hit his arm.

"What? I thought you were always right."

His laugh was a sweet melody to me. I turned my body so that I could lean into his chest, and Edmund wrapped his arms around me.

"So, your story please. Tell me everything, don't leave anything out and I promise to do the same."

"Well," he began after taking a deep breath. "After we stepped through the doorway Aslan made, we arrived back at the train station…"

Maybe this is more like the reunion you have been waiting for?