Mrs. Tibs
"Yoli, good cousin, you must lose some weight."
The harrier let out a little moaning whine as I paused to heft him higher in my grasp.
"I'm sorry, King Edmund."
I sighed and shook my head, unable to stay cross when he was so clearly miserable and ashamed. My arms were filled to capacity by a wet, smelly Dog as I trudged through the forest back towards Cair Paravel. It was just a little too biting cold for my exertions to warm me and my boots were soaked through and chafing my feet. I could only pray I'd see the paddocks soon or at least hear Kep returning with help. Given the fact that Kep was a Dachshund with legs as long as my finger and was easily distracted by so much as a gnat, and the fact that I had ridden at least three miles from the castle, I didn't hold out hope for either scenario coming true anytime soon.
With a few blessed hours to myself for once, I had just gone for an afternoon walk around the paddocks and spotted Marsk walking towards me. He liked company, this horse, and was very friendly and gentle. He followed me all the way to the edge of the forest and I released him through the far gate. With nothing pressing to attend to, I climbed onto his back and took him for a quick ride. It was a good ten minutes before the Dogs noticed one of their charges had escaped and Yoli had immediately set out to find Marsk. Kep...well, wasn't hot on his heels, but he followed as best he could. Yoli snagged his leg in a tree root and went down with a bad sprain and a deep cut on the pad of his paw. I heard the dramatic whelping and whining behind me and reluctantly turned Marsk around and went to the rescue.
Kep caught up to Yoli just as I arrived. Riding bareback, there was no way I could get Yoli onto Marsk's back to carry him home. He could couldn't walk and I couldn't leave him because it was beginning to rain again. So here I was trudging through the woods with a fat hound held in my arms like a baby. His front paws hung over my shoulders and with my arms I supported his rump and middle as I picked my path. Marsk I had sent back to the paddock with one sharp swat to startle him into motion and Kep had been sent to fetch help. I suspected the only thing of importance in his mind was that it was close to dinner time. I had serious misgivings about sending Kep for anything, let alone assistance. He suffered from some type of Napoleonic complex where he tended to blow things out of proportion to make up for his lack of stature, but I had little choice and he was better than nothing, or so it seemed at the moment. If I got lucky he might just remember what I told him and not embellish and distort it until his version had nothing to do with reality.
"Tail," I snapped as Yoli's whip of a tail began to wag and beat my knees. He immediately stilled it.
"Why did you follow?" I demanded shortly. "Am I so incapable of taking care of myself?"
"We promised Phillip, King Edmund," he said miserably, well aware I was cross.
"And who is Phillip?" I muttered.
"Your friend," said the Dog simply, effectively shutting me up. I paused and looked at him with a tired sigh. Then I hitched him up again and asked,
"Does it hurt very much?"
He was wise enough to take my question as the peace offering it was and said, "It hurts very badly indeed, my king."
"Where shall I take you? The only healers I know are in the palace."
"Then you should come to the stables," he said. "I think the best healer lives there."
"And who is that?"
"Anthea Tibs."
"The stables it is," I said, rather glad I didn't have to carry him all the way to Cair Paravel now. Dusk was rapidly approaching and it was starting to rain in earnest. Luckily the woods were thinning and I could see flashes of the still-green fields beyond. A few more minutes of hauling around wet, smelly hound and Cair Paravel came into view. The windows were aglow with light and it looked all very cozy and dry from more than a mile away. It was a beautiful and graceful building, crowning Mont Paravel as delicately as Susan's tiara rested upon her head. I paused for a moment and sighed, gathering strength. My arms and chest were aching and it was hard to breathe, but the stables were in sight and I didn't have all that far to go, praise be to Aslan.
"I'm sorry again, King Edmund," muttered Yoli, resting his head down on my shoulder and almost making me lose my balance.
"You were just keeping your word," I said to reassure him. "Next time, though, perhaps a little less enthusiasm."
I was almost staggering as I reached the stables. There were several stables and barns removed from most of the other our buildings of the Cair and Yoli directed me to the nearest thatch-roof structure. A little run down by comparison to the rest of the stables, this building was only used when everything else was filled to capacity and it was much smaller than the rest of the stables. I had never been in it before, that I knew. I tapped on the door with my foot and a moment later a small orange paw pushed the door open and I was facing a long-haired, ginger tabby with tinted, gold-framed glasses perched on her nose.
"Good eve, cousin," I said. "We're looking for Anthea Tibs, the healer."
The Cat bowed. "You have found her, Sire, and - Yoli! What have you gotten into now that our king must cart you about like a sack? A lumpy sack at that!" Her tail bristled at the hapless Dog and I almost laughed and Yoli let out a little whine of shame.
"Pray bring this silly creature in, King Edmund." She stepped away and I noticed she walked with a pronounced limp. I followed her to one of the open stalls and laid the harrier down on the hay. As I did so some very small, excited voices rose up from the next stall and I turned to see three kittens, tiny and fluffy with wide blue and green eyes, tumble around the barrier and stop in surprise at the sight of me.
Cute and adorable and sweet are words I actively avoid in conversation and everyday life, but there were no other way to describe the three puff balls that faced me, lined up in a row with short tails held high. One was black and white, one was white, and the last was a silver tabby. They could only have been a few weeks old and together they would barely make a handful. I knew I smiling like an idiot as I crouched down before them.
"How do you do, cousins?" I asked softly, glad neither Susan nor Lucy was here to see me fawn over this trio. "My name is Edmund. What's yours?"
They stared at me speechlessly, mouths agape. Mrs. Tibs chuckled. "Thank you, King Edmund, this is the first time today they've been silent. This is Nain, Abigale, and Bellas. Their father is in the army and presently helping patrol the Southern March." Her lisp, a common trait among all the small Cats, was not as pronounced as most.
"Well met, cousins," I said. I looked at their mother. "Can I help you with Yoli?"
"Your assistance would be most welcome, Sire." She turned to the Dog. "What did you do?"
"I caught my paw in a root and sprained it," Yoli muttered, he nose buried in the hay.
"And cut it, too, I see." Mrs. Tibs shook her head, pushing her glasses back on her shallow nose as she leaned over to examine his injury. "My king, could you fetch some water? There is a well behind the stables."
"I know it," I said and took a bucket I spotted. Minutes later I returned dripping wet from the rain and lugging a bucket of water. I helped the lady Cat clean and dress Yoli's sprained foot. I liked Mrs. Tibs. She knew her craft very well and she wasn't above teasing Yoli and giving him an occasional swat in the head (much as I wanted to) when he tried to struggle. Under her direction I helped to wash his paw spread salve Yoli's cut pad and held him still as she wrapped his leg from the knee down. The kittens overcame their fears and ventured closer to watch, the white one going so far as to climb up my tunic for a better look. I could feel tiny, sharp claws moving up my side and I looked down to see a white face looking up at me. I carefully detached her and held her in my hand.
"And what's your name?"
"Abby," she piped, then started purring and rubbing her face on my thumb. Nain and Bellas swarmed up onto my lap, hauling themselves up by their claws. Nain immediately went to sleep. Bellas tried to imitate her sister but got her nails stuck in my belt. I carefully freed her and set both kittens on my knees. Within minutes all three were curled up on top of each other on top of me, fast asleep. Thus pinned, I sat in the hay beside Yoli as Mrs. Tibs cleaned up. The stable reminded me in many ways of the Beaver's lodge, close and crowded and cozy. The floor was hard-packed earth and from racks hung at a Cat's height were dried herbs and medicinal supplies, giving the place a pleasant smell. Small lanterns cast a golden glow on low, cluttered desk set up in the corner and I saw an open ledger and an ink-stained quill lying beside it. There was a scattering of toys about on the floor, balls and mice and feathered things for the kittens. I smiled at the sheer hominess of the place and decided I needed to introduce Lucy to the Tibs family.
"I'm sorry, King Edmund," whispered Mrs. Tibs, walking over to me and noticing her children.
"It's alright," I assured her. Yoli was equally asleep, his paws and nose twitching in a dream, and I kept my voice low. "Have you lived here very long?"
She smiled. "All my life, Majesty." Sitting down beside me, she wrapped her long tail around her feet. "My family has always lived in Cair Paravel. I prefer it out here, though. I like the quiet and the view."
"It is a pretty palace, isn't it?" I asked.
"Better now for the presence of your family. If I may ask, King Edmund, has there been word of your brother at all?"
"No. In a way I wish I had sent some Bats with him, but I think it might be better not knowing what's happening otherwise Oreius would take the whole army and invade the Western Wild every time he ran into a hitch."
"You miss him."
"Terribly." I sighed, then smiled at her. "Thank you for taking care of Yoli."
She shook her head. "He is a silly one, but great hearted and loyal." She stood up and winced as her hip made a small noise. Alarmed, I reached for her, but she shook her head. "No, good my king, it's an old wound that doesn't care for the rain."
"What happened?"
"Maugrim," she answered, giving me a knowing look.
I fought the urge to shudder. "Say no more, good lady. At least his demise makes a worthy title for Peter."
With a smirk and glittering eyes, she nodded. "Indeed. Proof that there is good in everyone."
We both laughed and I shifted the three kittens from my lap to a spot under Yoli's chin. He roused a bit and I held up a warning hand. "You're baby sitting, Yoli. Go back to sleep and don't wake them up." I rose and brushed hay off my clothes. "Thank you again, Mrs. Tibs. I'd best get back before my sisters miss me. Will you send me word on Yoli?"
"Of course, Majesty, and thank you for your help," she said with a bow.
I trudged back up to the palace, receiving odd looks here and there from the guards as I passed. I supposed it was because I was covered with horse and Dog and Cat hair and bits of straw and I smelled to high heaven, but as the main doors of Cair Paravel were opened for me to enter I was greeted by the sight of assembled soldiers. I hurried over to Celer.
"What's wrong?" I demanded.
He took a step back, surprised at the sight of me. "Majesty! You're back!"
"Clearly. What's this about?"
Then I heard high-pitched barking and I knew exactly what had happened: Kep. He had just made it back. I gave the Dachshund a hearty glare as he came bounding into the hall. Hands on my hips, I addressed the Faun beside me as I stared at the little Dog and his wagging tail.
"Let me guess...I was assaulted out in the forest by Giants at least. Yoli went down in my defense, Marsk bolted, and Kep fought them all off and was nearly killed a dozen times."
"Basically," said the Faun captain, adding his glare to mine.
"Kep!" I snapped. "I ordered you to deliver my message and nothing more!"
"But, Majesty," he protested, tail whipping to and fro, "my version was so much more exciting!"
I shook my head, wishing I had the energy to strangle him. "Celer?"
"Yes, King Edmund?"
"Get this Dog out of my sight."
"With pleasure."
Confident that Kep would get the talking-to of a lifetime, I went straight to my room and threw myself on the mercy of Martil and Silvo. They exclaimed over the state (and stink) of my person, but I could tell they were secretly pleased to be faced by a challenge.
"Do either of you know Anthea Tibs?" I asked soon after, up to my waist in hot water as I soaked in the bath tub. They had filled the water with herbs as they attempted to counter the combined smells of horse and Dog. I felt as if I was being made into soup.
Silvo smiled. "Mrs. Tibs is one of Narnia's foremost healers, King Edmund."
"I met her tonight. She was very nice."
"Your majesty knows her sister: Marin, King Peter's page," said Martil, checking for the strongest soap he could lay hands on.
"Ah. One of her kittens looked like Marin, now that you mention it. I'd like to send her a gift for tending Yoli's foot. What would you suggest?"
"I'll speak to Marin," promised Martil. "She'll know best. And now if you'd lean forward, King Edmund."
I obeyed and let out a yelp as he dumped an ewer of warm water over my head before tackling my hair with soap and herbs.
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
Three days later Lucy accompanied me to the stables and I introduced her to the Tibs family. Of course she immediately adored the kittens as much as they adored her and she sat in the hay and played with them, laughing at their antics. She gave them the presents I had brought, small mice and birds made of fabric that some of Susan's ladies-in-waiting whipped up for me. To Mrs. Tibs I presented three blank, leather bound books and small quills and ink, for Marin assured me her sister's foremost pleasure was writing.
Mrs. Tibs opened one of the books, her orange paws delicately turning the pages. "All this for Yoli, Sire?" she teased.
"Not just for Yoli," I replied. "If there's ever anything I can do for you, please just ask."
She smiled up at me, her green eyes sparkling with pleasure behind her tinted glasses. "Thank you, King Edmund."
"The pleasure is mine, Mrs. Tibs."