Disclaimer: I own nothing of Narnia. I make no claims on hilarity for this chapter and the remaining ones. Sorry, but when she's not as absurdly stuck-up, Ariella won't be quite as funny. I hope you continue to enjoy anyway!

For weeks after her discovery, Ariella wandered about the room in a daze. She was penniless. A blind, ugly orphan stranded in a strange country and cared for only by the kindness of strangers. Ariella hardly understood the strange position in which she found herself. Everything on which she had depended, things that were supposed to last forever, was gone. Had only one of the things she lost been left to her, she could have won her way but now she was stripped bare.

Ariella probably would have succumbed to despair and refused food and medical attention but for the perseverance (or stubbornness, call it what you will) of Tranton. At one point, he threatened to have someone hold her down while he fed her if Ariella did not immediately sit up and begin to eat. When the young woman showed signs of refusing to comply, the faun summoned two of his assistants, a faun and a satyr, and prepared to carry out his threat. However, as soon as Ariella realized that Tranton was serious, she quickly sat up and began to eat. From that time on, she was considerably more careful to obey the faun's orders.

Another thing that kept Ariella from despair was the constant visits from the Peridanson brothers. At first, Jaer and Jaerin came only on the orders of their monarchs and stayed only for a short time, but as the weeks rolled by, they stayed longer each time. Ariella first thought their visits might be a sign of the High King's remorse for what his rebuff had brought about, but the brothers quickly put an end to that thought.

One thing that Ariella did learn through her blindness and presumed ugliness was that it usually helped to be kind and gentle to those who came to assist her. After being left alone to struggle into a dress (she ended up with it on backwards at first) when she spoke harshly to a maid who was helping her, she realized that she could no longer afford to be haughty. (A second lesson learned, though she did not realize it, was that she was proud, not humble). And when another servant left the tray of food without telling her anything about it, Ariella was forced to ask for assistance. That time, however, she asked kindly and the dryad who had forgotten was extremely apologetic and offered to help Ariella with anything else she might need. This was the first time anything of that sort had happened to Ariella and so the next time she needed help, she asked gently and was rewarded by quick assistance. Before long, it became a habit (and not an unpleasant one at that) to speak kindly and without pride to everyone. Since she could not see, Ariella never knew if she might be speaking to a lord or lowly servant.

And so the weeks slipped by and turned into months. Autumn gave way to Winter and soon Winter began to give way to Spring. Ariella's hair slowly grew back in until it formed as soft, filmy layer over her head. Her skin healed smoothly though not as perfect as before and her voice regained its old music. Indeed, Ariella was actually more beautiful now than when she first came to Narnia. Nearly all traces of pride were gone from her face and instead of the former haughty expression (which gave the impression that she was always looking down her nose) a soft smile usually graced her features.

As Winter came to an end, Ariella noticed that there seemed to be an unusual bustle around the house. More people than usual seemed to be coming and going, rushing about on who knows what errand, seemingly preparing for something. More than once, Ariella found herself caught up in the commotion as a harried voice would ask her to stand still and then either use her as a support or hand something to her to hold. It was all very strange.

On the first day when it was clear to all that Spring was nearly here, when the snow was melting and the birds were singing (and Ariella was singing along) Lord Jaer burst into Ariella's room with unusual haste.

"Lady Ariella, are you prepared for tonight?" he asked excitedly. "Surely you will attend the celebration?"

"I beg your pardon? What celebration are you talking about?" Ariella asked, thoroughly confused.

"You don't know? We've only been preparing for it for the past three weeks!"

"What celebration? What preparations?"

"By the Lion, Lady, do you mean to say that you really have no idea what I'm talking about?" Jaer cried. "Haven't you seen all that is happening?"

Ariella stiffened. "I see nothing, Lord Jaer," she replied coldly. "And if you are not going to explain what you are talking about, you had best leave."

Immediately upon saying the words, Ariella regretted them, but she could not take them back. That Jaer—of all people!—should shove her blindness in her face stung badly. However, the sting was quickly relieved as Jaer spoke hurriedly.

"I'm sorry, Lady Ariella, I didn't mean it like that. I just don't understand how you couldn't know that something is going on. Why, I've seen you helping with the preparations!"

"So that is what has been going on?" Ariella replied, slightly relieved. At least Jaer wasn't going off in a huff. "No one has told me what all the activity is for."

There was a grin in the young man's voice when he spoke next. "Then I shall let it all be a surprise. But you will come with me to the feast and celebration afterward won't you? Half of Narnia will be there and I wouldn't want you to miss out."

Ariella stared (at least, it would have been a stare if she could see anything). Lord Jaer wanted her to come with him to this feast? She who was scarred and ugly? It was more than her mind could grasp at the moment. She fumbled for a chair and was relieved when she felt Jaer's strong arm guiding her to one.

"You want me? But, why?" Ariella managed at last. "I'm ugly, poor, and blind. I'm here only out of charity. Why would you want me to come with you? You who are a lord of this land and could take any woman you want."

Jaer laughed. "But I don't want to take just any woman. I want to take you. And, really, Lady Ariella, you're not ugly. You have true beauty—a kind heart and gentle spirit. As for being blind, I'd say that you see more truly than most people with good eyesight do. Since you don't see them physically, you often see what they're really like. And you're not poor either. Surely, you will have learned by now that real wealth lies in the abundance of friends that you have. The servants and physicians here speak highly of you as do the kings and queens as well."

"The Four speak of me?" Ariella started. "But I have not seen them since…since my accident."

"They've seen you though. We of the house of Peridan are near friends of the Four and they have often been here, even if you have not realized it. I think they rather like it when people don't know who they are and they can act without the burdens of sovereignty.

"But you still haven't answered my question: Will you come with me tonight?"

"I…I haven't anything suitable to wear," Ariella protested weakly.

"If that is your only reason to refuse, I can easily have that problem done away with. I'm quite certain that we can find you a dress. Will you come?"

Ariella blushed. "I'll come."

Jaer smiled. "Excellent. I'll have a dress brought to you later this afternoon. I'll be back an hour before sunset to claim you."

Ariella spent the rest of the day in a happy daze far different from the agonized stupor of earlier months. Shortly after lunch a maid arrived with a dress and, after some adjustment, it fit perfectly. The young woman smiled at the long-missed feel of smooth satin under her fingers. Though she could not see the make of the dress, she could feel it and liked what she felt. It was longsleeved and set just off her slender shoulders. The long skirt brushed the floor as she walked and a long cape draped down her back. Around her waist was looped a filmy belt and delicate jewelry completed her wardrobe.

Jaer arrived precisely when he said he would and escorted Ariella from the mansion in which she had dwelt for the past several months. It felt extremely strange to be out in the open air again after so long indoors. But what was stranger still was the cheerful greetings that were called out to her all along the way. Jaer had a carriage waiting for them at the end of a long walk and—with Lord Peridan and Lord Jaerin riding on either side—they traveled to the large plain near the Fords of Beruna. Ariella thought it strange that they were driving to a place so far distant from habitation so late at night but when she asked why, Jaer only told her to wait and see.

The party finally stopped on the outskirts of what sounded like a large crowd and Jaer gallantly helped Ariella down from the carriage and to a chair already prepared for her. They engaged in small talk for a while before the crowd slowly began to fall silent.

"What is happening?" Ariella whispered to Jaer.

"Hush!" he hissed back. "Listen and you shall hear the tale of what happened here many years ago."

A/N—I know, an odd place for a chapter break, but it seemed the best spot. Our lovely stubborn Sue is beginning to grow up. I think, however, that what she hears "tonight" will change her life even more than it has already.

Next chapter: A Story Told