Chapter Four:
I stood on top that ledge only a moment longer, overlooking the bustling camp, until my attentions came to a rock ledge slanting downwards to the ground below. I took that slanted path, holding onto the ivy vines and the plant growth cloaking the boulders and rocks.
Once on level ground again, I thought it best to seek out the general-or captain-or whoever was in charge of the camp. I approached with great caution, trying not to draw any gazes. However, my efforts proved futile.
Creatures everywhere halted their work to stare at me. A giant horned beast stopped beating its hammer upon a red hot slab of metal to stare at me with dark ember-like eyes. Big cats paused like statues, the only life being that of their tails: flicking in the air behind them, like a pendulum. Their eyes were a tad bit more curious. Great horse-men stood twice as tall as I (maybe even more so), garbed in heavy-leaded armor, all of which seemed fierce as their eyes bore down on mine soul. There were more animals and monsters alike, all from only that of fairytales and stories. Stories that proved to be true, I now knew.
Suddenly a small, but proud voice, came out from within the crowd of fantastical beasts around me. "Eh, two-legger, what kind of animal might you be?"
I stopped, nearly tripping over myself. "Uh, my name is Matthew," I began, unsure of what the strange voice wanted.
"That's a bit peculiar," the voice said, "I've never heard the likes of any beast called a Matthew."
"I am not a beast," I insisted forcefully, getting uncomfortable from the gazes all leveled on me, "I am a human."
The voice was no more.
The huddle of animals in front of me split into two separate sides, making room for an extra-small walkway. And in that walkway, scampered a ferret. Or, rather, what I believed to be a ferret—he was about two sizes too big to really be a ferret. Yet, he had all the markings on his face and his paws were the same of any other ferret, however they were larger.
"You mean to say, you are a Son of Adam?" The voice seemed to be coming from the overly-large rodent at my feet. His mouth looked as if to be moving, and I heard sound escape it…maybe I was only going mad.
"Y-yes," I answered apprehensively.
"Pay your respects warriors!" The ferret shrieked and bowed low to the ground, his furry little tail reaching high.
A wave emanated around me, each creature bent in my direction. I suddenly remembered Grandfather's stories once again. Things like this happened to him and his siblings on a daily basis. I also remembered him telling me that he was looked upon as royalty.
So would that make me a prince? A king? A royal? After all, Narnia's king and queen perished on the seize of Cair Paraval….Which begs me to ask, was I brought here to become the next ruler over all of Narnia?
"Uh…" I stood, dumbfounded, and gaped at all the monsters around me in their lowered position. "You don't have to bow."
The ferret straightened and stood on its hind legs, looking at me with a beady glint in his beady eyes. "Of course we do your heiness, we only wish to show our loyalty to the young new leader of our division."
…Well, that answers that question.
"Didn't you have a leader before?" I asked.
"Only until you just came," answered the fuzzy ferret.
"Can't he lead you?"
"No, my liege, he cannot. He is not of noble status."
"Who is it?"
"Captain Steeley."
"Where is he? Where might I find him?" Surely, he wouldn't make me, a teenager, lead all these brave souls into battle. I could convince him otherwise. I was always really good with persuasion.
The creatures within and without the crowd laughed and chuckled at my questions, as did this strange ferret.
"My boy, you're lookin' at him," the ferret smiled, showing me sharp, pointed (and plenty of) teeth.
"You!" I burst with an amused laugh, "But you're so tiny!" Really, he was only about the size of a small…small…dog. Like Peanut.
The ferret shifted and looked upon me with a new seeming gaze. Within a new light. With new glass-like eyes, he was measuring me, taking me in, soaking in every last detail with such unashamed boldness, that I almost folded into that unwavering stare.
I almost hadn't notices the mob around me had gone graveyard silent. I knew I had stepped on the wrong territory.
"My liege," The ferret began, a sigh punctuating his sentence, "That's what I thought when I first saw you, but I had the ability to hold my tongue."
It felt as if I had been knocked of a pedestal ten stories high. The blow hurt even more, like reoccurring resonation, when the armored fighters surrounding me howled with belly-fulls of chuckles.
I bit my tongue—hard, and hung my head. My whole stature was awkward now, as I was knocked into place.
"Come with me, heiness. I shall show you to your tent," the ferret's voice was as forgiving as his dark eyes when at last I met them. As he stood on his hind legs now, looking oddly human, he turned to the rest of the soldiers, "As you were," he demanded.
The warriors dispersed, unlocking their places on the turf around me, and continued with their goings-on before I had arrived.
When I followed behind this obviously declared ferret, I finally noticed something I hadn't before. A belt he wore across his midsection; it was the color of rich dark wood, so it blended in perfectly with the same shaded fur. The belt had a small empty loop on its side (his hip) which is where I assumed a sword would find its home. However it would be a small sword. Undersized to say the very least.
We'd walked nearly the span of the camp when at long last we the ferret spoke again. He tilted his head at a slight angle, but didn't bother turning to address me. He said, "Might I ponder your thoughts young one?"
The tone and term 'young one' reminded me of Aslan. Briefly, I wondered where he was at the moment. If he was anywhere near. If he was watching, if only from a distance.
The ferret broke my quick thought, "You are quite mute to be a descendant of the High King," he remarked as if only observing, much like a marine biologist to some rare, never-been-filmed species of fish.
"Grandfather? What's this got to do with him?" I snapped. "How do you know we are related?"
"Aha!" the ferret roared gleefully, "He speaks!"
I glared at the peculiar fuzzball. One minute he seemed to have authority, well collected and looming over you like a shadow (though his was small), and the next, he was shrieking like a madman.
"Nothing. However I know his youngest sister was quite a blabbermouth." He ended his spout, completely ignoring my last question.
"That's my Aunt Lucy you're speaking of, mate," I said, warning building up in my throat. I caught it, and harnessed it, knowing he doesn't take kindly to my…er…me.
"My apologies." He gave a curt bow.
"Could I ask how you know of my Aunt?" I asked. Truly, I was wondering.
"You may," he paused, now walking alongside me, "You might say I'm the cousin of the great great great—I don't know how many greats—grandson of Reepicheep. The bravest mouse your grandfather, uncle, and aunts, ever knew," he seemed to get caught up in thought a moment, "Of course, I only know this from a long line of storytelling."
"I know how that feels," I stated, thinking back to all the Narnian tales I was told. "And I know of this Reepicheep. Aunt Lucy loved him dearly."
"That she did," agreed the ferret. Before I knew it, we had stopped in front of yet another crimson tent.
"Here we are, watch your head majesty," he parted the flaps, making a slit between the two folds. I stepped through.
The inside was lavishly decorated, even for a tent. Beads, gold medallions the shape of a six pence, and many other miscellaneous decorations hung about in no particular order. However, it was beautiful anyway. A bed lay clean and made next to a crock pit filled with logs. A trunk sat stout and bulky on the opposite side of the tent.
"Does it suffice to your expectations, majesty?" the ferret's voice suddenly fills the air, making me jump. I'd forgotten he'd followed me in here.
Expectations?
"It's wonderful. Thank you Captain," I said, pushing down on the edge of the bed with my hand. Satisfied with it, I plopped down on the side.
"My pleasure, and please, just Steeley," the ferret grinned.
I nodded.
With one paw out of the tent, Steeley turned again at me, "Just so you are informed, I don't despise you…But I'm not sure I'm what you say—fond of you, either," says he if only speaking facts.
And scarily, it was fine with me.
*Here is chapter four, overdue, in my opinion. School really takes it out of you, but I'm glad I could get this in when I did. Reviews wanted and appreciated! :D Enjoy!*