Disclaimer: Kanell is Electrum's. Anyone from Nartanis is mine. Anyone from Narnia is not.
Lady Ariella prepared carefully for the afternoon's activities. She wore a brown tunic with yellow leggings and tall boots. Queen Susan had been wearing a blue-grey dress and the colors would make that dress appear at a disadvantage while the brown would the gold in Lady Ariella's hair. She would go down to the practice courtyard ready for competition, defeat the queens in archery and then challenge any to a swordfight which she would also win. The High King would be watching her prowess from an upper window and would be amazed. He would determine that any woman able of such feats should be his wife. He would still say nothing, being uncertain of her affection for him but by supper, her wit and wisdom would convince the High King that no one else would do for his wife and he would ask for her hand. She would demur at first and then agree on the condition that he revoke the "Codex Consors" (a slight sneer twisted her lips as the hated words passed through her mind). He would agree and would turn heaven and earth upside down to be able to win her for his queen. Then, on the first day of the next month, they would be wed in the Great Hall at sunset when she could walk down the length of it in her white satin dress trimmed in gold and lace (with a eight foot train) surrounded by a golden halo. And then, as the last part of the ceremony, she would be crowned queen with a golden crown set with emeralds. It would be the greatest triumph of her life.
With such thoughts and dreams in her mind Lady Ariella walked down to the practice courtyard. She found that the other ladies from lunch were also there and waiting. To her surprise, all of them were wearing light dresses instead of tunics and leggings (Queen Susan was still wearing a light bluish-grey, though). She smiled. This would make the contest all the easier.
The archery targets were set up first and all five ladies practiced at a short range for a while. Lady Ariella noticed with some surprise that all of the others hit the center more often than not. Her arrows, however, always hit the center of the center.
"Are you ready for a contest?" Queen Susan asked after a time. "Shall we see who can shoot the farthest, fastest, and most accurately?"
"As individual contests?" one of the other ladies (her name was Raisa) asked.
Queen Susan glanced toward the sun. "No, it grows too warm for that. Let us set the targets as far back as possible and see who can loose the most arrows that strike center in a certain time. Kanell! Will you be our judge?"
A massive centaur, even bigger than the one that had brought the Consors to Lady Ariella, stepped from the walls of the courtyard. "It would be an honor, my queen."
"Sister, are you sure this is a fair contest? Surely you will win yet again!" Queen Lucy said.
"That remains to be seen. Friends, are you ready?"
Everyone readied their arrows and waited. The instant Kanell dropped his hand, five arrows sped through the air. For the next twenty seconds, the air was humming with the flight of arrows and the musical twang of a bowstring. When the time was up, Lady Ariella looked in satisfaction at her quiver. Only ten of the two dozen remained. She looked over at the others and her jaw dropped in shock. Three arrows remained in Queen Lucy's quiver, six in the other two ladies', but Queen Susan's quiver was completely empty. And her bow was unstrung already which mean she had finished with her arrows before time was up! Impossible! No one could shoot that fast and still be accurate. The ladies walked down field to the targets. Lady Ariella stared at hers in dismay. Only ten of the fourteen arrows were in the bull's eye and of those, three hit the dead center. She looked over at Queen Susan's and once again, her jaw dropped. Every single arrow bristled from the center. Some were even split where another arrow had struck it.
"Oh! Well done Sister!" exclaimed Queen Lucy. "I do believe that is the best I have ever seen you shoot."
"You are too kind. Who comes in second?"
"That would be my sister," answered Saera (the dark-haired one). "While you, Queen Lucy, have shot more arrows, I fear that most of yours did not strike true."
Queen Lucy laughed. "You are right. It would appear that I have come in last, for all my speed. I must work more on accuracy when I shoot fast."
"You are far better than I when I was your age," Lady Saera said. "I have always preferred the sword. Do either of you wield the blade?"
"No, that we do not. At least, not well," Queen Susan said. "Ever have we led the archers and let our brothers lead the main battle.
"I am skilled with the blade," Lady Ariella broke in. "I will fight you if you desire." Now would be her chance to reclaim her lost honor. She had always preferred swords anyway. Archery was just for show.
"Wonderful. Have you a sword? Good. Wait but a moment and I shall fetch mine."
Lady Saera scooped up her skirts in a manner that shocked Lady Ariella—No true lady would ever run like that!—and ran across the courtyard where she picked up a long sword before running back. Lady Ariella adjusted her own sword belt and prepared to fight. Lady Saera buckled on her belt and settled into a fighter's stance. Lady Ariella eyed her critically; she knew how to stand and hold a sword, that much was clear, but could she use it? At a word from Queen Susan, the two ladies attacked. This time, Lady Ariella was more prepared than for the archery contest and blocked Lady Saera's strokes with practiced ease. Steadily, the attacks and parries grew faster until the two swords were silver blurs. Lady Ariella was panting from exertion; no one had ever withstood her for this long—and in a dress too! A fierce light gleamed in her opponent's eyes and she twirled around every one of Lady Ariella's tricks. Suddenly, Lady Ariella felt her sword wrenched from her grasp and something hit her ankle. The next thing she knew, she was lying sprawled out on the ground with Lady Saera's sword at her throat and her own blade several yards away.
"Yield ye prisoner," Lady Saera said. She wasn't even breathing hard!
"You have left me no choice," Lady Ariella responded. "I yield."
Though on the outside, she appeared calm, inside Lady Ariella was seething. How dare this upstart maiden defeat her! Did she not know against whom she fought? The archery was nothing—it would have been poor sportsmanship to defeat both the queens anyway—but this! This was unbearable. If High King Peter had seen her defeat, then perhaps he would choose Lady Saera over her! Lady Ariella tuned her thoughts out to listen to Lady Saera speaking.
"…really aren't that bad. How often do you practice?"
"Every morning for an hour," Lady Ariella said.
"Really? I get to practice for about two. My husband likes to practice with me sometimes too."
"Husband?" This was news. Perhaps it would not matter if the High King…no it would matter. Now he would not be impressed by her prowess.
"Yes. Lord Conrad Edricson of Avara in Nartanis. He is good friends with the princes so we came with him."
"What is it that brought you here?" Lady Ariella could not resist asking. If she did not come seeking marriage to one of the kings, what would have brought them here? She had never even heard of Nartanis before they arrived so it must be far away.
"Have you heard of the 'Codex Consors'?"
Lady Ariella stiffened at the mention of that hated law. "Yes."
"Prince Edmund heard of it and, being besieged by unwanted suitors himself, thought that he and his brother might make the journey hither to obtain a copy of the law. I believe he intends to revise it for his own use. It is a very good law I think. It should keep away all those who seek after one of the sovereigns of Narnia or Nartanis for the sake of a crown alone."
A/N—I'm heading out of town again for five days. I don't know if I'll have internet access to update this or not. If I do, I will. If not, I'll write it out and have it ready by the time I get back so you should have the conclusion of "The Dream Dasher" by Thanksgiving.
Chapter next: A Library Meeting