Chapter Six
A Proper Lady

As Zoran had said, Professor Ulley was from Archenland and was a younger son of a minor duke whose lands shared its northern border with Narnia. He told Sarah of how his grandfather, who had lived to a very ancient age, used to tell him stories of Narnia in the days before the Witch Witch's rule. The professor explained how she had killed the last human monarch of Narnia, before their current Kings and Queens, and had proclaimed herself queen and then plunged the beauty of the land into a winter for a hundred years. How Kings Peter and Edmund, Queens Susan and Lucy had come and defeated the Witch, and Aslan himself, the creator of Narnia and all the Creatures within it, declared the siblings the new monarchs of the land. As soon as Professor Ulley heard that Narnia had been liberated he left the university he taught at in Anvard, the capital of Archenland, and came to Cair Paravel and implored the new Kings and Queens that he may live in Narnia and help them, in anyway possible capacity that he might serve them in. High King Peter had asked, if possible, to put together a history of Narnia in just one tome. While the Professor could have chosen to stay in the castle with daily access with the library there he felt it was wiser to take residence outside among the native population to see if he could get any other history from the residents that had been here for the past 100 years and more.

She was surprised that talking Animals were common in Archenland (granted nothing like Narnia) as well and had been no shock for him when he came to Narnia. It was for Sarah still. Daily Animals would come to speak with the professor. They told him stories of the past they knew and he would diligently write it down. At first she wasn't sure why Zoran was with Professor Ulley, but as it turned out he acted as an ambassador for the man, often talking to his friends and making them comfortable around humans. To her surprise Sarah found the Animals also warmed to her quickly, which she found strange and made her feel a little unease. More than once they asked if she were one of the Queens of Narnia, for while many knew the names of those that sat upon the throne they all had not been able to meet their monarchs personally. Zoran and the Professor had thought it best not to tell everyone Sarah's unique story of her arrival, but to say instead that she was the Professor's half-Telmarine daughter, who's mother had just recently passed and had been sent to live with her father. No one questioned the story, but it did require Sarah to call Professor Ulley "Father" in public. Or more accurately "Papa" as she often almost let "Professor" out instead and would cover it up with the more familiar form.

Sarah didn't see the point to all the secrecy. She knew it was a dream and it didn't matter, telling the two numerous times. They on the other hand had begun to discuss with her that this wasn't a dream and very much real. They also forced her to wear dresses, as any woman her age would in the land. She hated that the most. The dresses were horrible. She was used to her refined materials that were not at all scratchy and coarse and came in many patterns and most importantly they had been jeans. And the shoes were worse, she thought. Just leather with no consideration of what little comfort there was too had for her feet.

To make her clothes Professor Ulley, at Zoran's recommendation, had hired a Hare. Her name was Wynn and Zoran professed her to be the best seamstress outside of the castle. Wynn had been disappointed though when Professor Ulley said only casual clothes, and not anything florid, as they didn't want to draw attention to her. While the Hare protested she had a few dresses very quickly for Sarah's new wardrobe.

For nearly two weeks she played the good girl, and would follow their rules of dress and conduct (she was to act like a proper lady, which Sarah found hilarious). Then she could take no more of it.

"I've had it!" Sarah shouted at the table they sat at eating breakfast, leafs of paper still scattered below their plates. It was Zoran's last day with them, and while that made Sarah sad, she had enough of it.

Both looked at her, surprise clearly written on their faces. The Fox's mouth had dropped open and she was sure the Professor's eyes couldn't get any larger.

"I am not doing this anymore I will not wear dresses, I will not act like a proper lady, I don't even know what a proper lady is suppose to act like!" she raged. Sarah knew she shouldn't be acting so, but it had built up. The first few days she played along, but after the third she just got annoyed. She wasn't one to come right out and say anything. She preferred letting it fester and waited till it built up before exploding. Her new friends were learning that lesson now.

"Calm down, Sarah," the Professor managed to choke out. It wasn't a good idea. They would learn later it was better to let her continue on until she ran out of steam.

Rolling her eyes she continued on, "Excuse me, Professor! Or should I say 'Papa'?" Groaning in frustration she slipped on her shoes and headed for the door. "I'll be back in a little while." With that she left, leaving the door wide open.

"That is why I don't have children," Professor Ulley said after a moment or two.

"That is why I shall eat my young," Zoran said calmly and took a bite out of his piece of ham.

The Professor looked at him in shock and was going to say something horrible when he saw the grin spread across the Fox's face.

"It was in only in jest," Zoran clarified, finishing off his ham. "I wouldn't really do that." And the two fellows had a good laugh about it.

Wiping tears from his eyes the Professor sighed and took a sip of his morning orange juice. "You had me going there for a moment," he confessed.

"I know less intelligent animals in Telmar do such things, but not here in Narnia."

The man nodded, "Yes, same in Archenland. I should have known better."

Nodding his head toward the door the Fox continued, "But after that, if I have any daughters, I will surely consider it." And the Professor couldn't tell if his student was jesting again.

Sarah wasn't sure where she was stomping off too, but she didn't care. Muttering to herself she walked went on about egotistical men and their ancient, archaic ways, and suddenly realized she was lost. She had no idea where she was. Each tree looked the same to her. 'Crap,' she thought and then smiled, as it was very un-lady like thought.

"Just keep moving," she muttered under her breath and continued onward. She walked over a two gentle hills covered in wild flowers and was on her way down on the third one when she saw a small house and ran to it. She hoped the person who lived there was kind. Not that she had met anyone here that was really mean. Save for that crazy old Duck.

She knocked on the door and was surprised when Wynn the Hare opened the door. "Sarah," she said, sounding surprised to see the human too. "What can I do for you?"

Then it came to teenager, a spark of genius she thought on her part. "Those dresses that, uh, my father just recently commissioned you do for me. Cancel those."

This seemed to surprise Wynn even more. "I'm sorry, why?"

"I don't want them. Just give me shirts and pants," she replied.

Wynn shook her head. "I'm sorry." It was obvious to the young woman that the Hare didn't understand.

"Tunics, breeches, whatever you call them!" exclaimed Sarah, exasperated.

Before their conversation could go on someone cleared their throat at the back of the room. "Is everything all right?"

Looking to the source of the voice Sarah found a young man, around her age, looking between the two women. He was handsome, she thought, with ash blond hair, blue eyes and his skin seemed to hold a touch of gold to it. His blue eyes met her dark ones. She felt a blush creep on to her cheeks.

That's when she realized he was half naked.