Here's the next one! I told you that they would be coming out quick! However, please review them still! Oh, and before I forget! Remember what I said about paying attention to the songs in each chapter at the beginning of this Act? Ok, well, I would like to make sure that I am gettin my point across. The songs are from the perspective of a character's, or describing a character. In your reviews, if you could put who you think the song is about or who would be singing/thinking it. This chapter's is really obvious, but others are harder. Thanks!

Chapter 15: Singing

"I still can't sing," Nerina said first thing the following morning. "I have tried every throat-care procedure, every warm-up, and almost half the songs I know, but all I have managed to do is squeak. If I wasn't an Arcadian, and if singing wasn't vital to my health, I would probably give up."

"Why don't you try resting your throat for a day, then try again?" suggested Susan.

"I should be able to sing right now. Not tomorrow, now!" Her voice softened. "I'm sorry Susan, I know you are just trying to help. I shouldn't have snapped. I am just so frustrated though!"

"Why don't we all go up to the music room?" proposed Edmund. "At least you can have the piano there."

They finished breakfast and once again went Nerina's favorite room. Nerina and Adelphos both played the piano, and Adelphos warmed up his own vocal chords. He had only been at Cair Paravel for two days, but already he fit into the group as if he had always been there.

Nerina began to try various songs, all with the same result- nothing. When the Princess opened her mouth, nothing but an off-key squeak came out.

Nerina grew more and more frantic. She suddenly stopped, thinking. Everyone continued to watch her as she closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and opened her mouth.

"Ca-" squeaked out.

Everyone was happy at the syllable except for Nerina.

"It would have to be that song," Susan heard her whisper.

She tried other songs, but in the end came back to the song beginning with "Ca-".

The room was silent as Nerina concentrated.

"Ca-…ca-…ca-," she tried, each time a little clearer. Finally there was a breakthrough.

"Can-" was song, in Nerina's crystal clear voice.

Everyone smiled, but Nerina was on the verge of tears. She closed her eyes and sighed.

"Can," she sang softly, "anybody…find me…"she cleared her throat, her voice finally normal, "somebody to…"

"Love," sand Adelphos as he started the accompaniment.

Nerina sang, with Adelphos accompanying on both vocals and piano. As she sang her voice grew more confident, and she got into the song more, all the while tears streaming down her face. During an instrumental part of the song she wiped away her tears, and smiled, for her jingle rings had started to ring their soft, high sound.

Can anybody find be somebody to love?

Each morning I get up I die a little

Can't barely stand on my feet.

Take a look in the mirror

And I see what you're doing to me.

I've spent all my years believing you,

She finished the song, and everyone clapped.

"Thank you," she said, in her no longer raspy voice, her Arcadian accent showing now.

"You are fully back to your old self," said Adelphos, grinning. "That's why the rings started to jingle. They normally ring, which is why I was so concerned when they didn't, but I did not wish to scare you. Now we must sing a duet. Which one would you like to sing?"

The two sang a beautiful but sad duet, about two lovers, and after that Adelphos wished to sing another.

Nerina laughed. "We must save something for when our friends come to Arcadia."

"Oh Peter please? Please Peter? Please? Can we go to Arcadia to visit Nerina and Adelphos?" begged Lucy.

Smiling, Peter replied, "Yes, someday I suppose we can."

"I just had a brilliant idea," exclaimed Nerina. "When Adelphos brings me back home, you can all come with us! I am sure Arcadia wishes to meet you all."

Peter started to protest, but Adelphos said, "That's a great idea Nerina, but there's one problem. I feel we should wait until you heal on the outside as well before we go back. I'm sure you would not want a million questions asked about them. If our hosts permit us, I believe we should wait until spring to go. That leaves enough time to heal, and it gives the ice more time to melt."

"Oh that would be wonderful!" said Susan, clasping her hands. "Spring is eight or nine months away, and we would be honored if you both would stay with us until then."

The Princess grinned. "It's settled then- we're staying. Oh, we are going to have so much fun!"

Adelphos walked to the trunk that was still in the room from the night before.

"And I know what we can do until then!" he exclaimed. He pressed a hidden button on the inside of the trunk. A panel opened, and he took out a good-sized plain box.

"Behold Princess," he said, bowing, "the last of your gifts. The writer told me they wished to remain anonymous, but that they wrote it for you."

Nerina opened the box. "Scripts and scores! Oh look at them all!" she cried. Picking up a copy of both script and score, she gasped. "A musical! Oh I can't believe it!" She read the summary on a front page. "It's a musical about the White Witch's path to evil. This is wonderful! Thank you to whoever wrote it!"

"We can perform it when we go to Arcadia," explained Adelphos. "Your People would love it. And of course you would play the leading role of Jadis."

"Well I wish to look at the script and score first," Nerina said. "And you have not asked our hosts if they would like to participate. I have heard their voices, and they all sing wonderfully."

"That sounds like fun!" said Lucy. The others agreed.

"The people of Arcadia will love it," said Adelphos. "We can hold auditions. It does not require a large cast, and many people could play multiple roles, so we would not have to bring many other Narnians on our journey."

"I can't wait to direct it," Nerina said, looking at the score.

I just gotta get out of this prison cell

One day I'm gonna be free..

Adelphos whipped around. "What?! Direct?! But the script was written for you!"

Nerina continued to look through the book. "Yes, but the part has songs where I must, um, belt, and I do not wish to strain my voice when I have just gotten them back. Besides, I haven't directed yet, and I'm seventeen! Most Arcadians direct their first production at fifteen."

Everyday

I try and I try and I try

But everybody wants to put me down

They say I'm going crazy

They say I got a lot of wonder in my brain

Got no common sense

I've got nobody left to believe

Her friend eyed her suspiciously. "If that what you want. We can tell Narnia and hold auditions in two weeks. We can give out excerpts from the songs and script to those interested."

"This is so exciting!" clapped Lucy. "I can't wait!"

Song Used-Somebody to Love as sung by Anne Hathaway in Ella Enchanted. I know I used it really close to how she sang it, but her version is incredibly perfect for what I want.

Please Read and Review!

Haras