By the time we make it down to the courtyard, the two people squabbling had turned into something a bit more annoying. Several people have gathered, not exactly close, but close enough to form a small wall blocking out the rest of the busy town. I have my hood down, my golden braid waiving as I take long strides toward the people. The more people that notice me, the softer the voices get. "Maria, would you kindly escort prince Caspian back inside? Why not take him to the Great Hall?" I turn around, but I barely take one step before a voice, an annoying voice at that, stops me. "You're majesty, please, allow me to assist. I would despise Narnia's valiant queen getting injured." On instinct, I spin on my heel, my braid making a wide arc as I face the prince. "Prince Caspian, I do not need your assistance, so do not treat me like the child I am not. This is my kingdom, and you are the guest, so YOU will follow MY orders. Go with Maria to the great hall." With that, I make my way back through the crowd that had grown increasingly. At the sight of me, the sea of bodies parted, making a path for me, leading towards the two people. "Now, pushing someone half your size isn't very chivalrous, now is it?" I ask, trying not to shiver in the cold, as I kneel down to the boy who had been pushed. "Are you alright?" He nervously meets my eye for a moment, then nods, his eyes darting away. "Yes... Your majesty..." I smile, helping him stand. His green eyes glittered with appreciation behind his fiery hair, and he pulls his cloak tighter around himself. As he walks away, I can't help but notice that he did not look like most of the people who lived in Narnia. I then turn toward the man who had crossed arms and an annoyed expression is blatant in his pale grey eyes. "May I ask why you had knocked over this boy? Not very kind, now is it?" The man walks over to me, looking down. "Why I pushed him is none of your concern. Who are you anyways?!" He rages, anger trying to break the surface of his calmed expression. Small feet scurry behind me, and Maria runs up to the man, tugging him down to her level. She whispers something to him, and immediately his eyes go wide, and he drops to his knees, bowing. "Please forgive me, your majesty! I am new! I did not know!" With a soft smile, I lean down, my hand resting gently on his shoulder. "Please, don't bow. There is no need." The man slowly looks up, but when I see the fear in his eyes, concern fills mine. "Why are you so wary? Do you believe that I will be hostile?"
"I have never met a noble who had a reason to be other wise."
"Well, I think I have every reason to be otherwise. Now, while I don't appreciate you pushing down one of my people, I will not hurt you for it." I stand up, offering out my hand, helping him to his feet. He smiles at me, breathing out, his breath a white, misty puff. I turn to Maria, and we are about to head back to the castle when I hear a groan. I turn, and see the boy from before, standing over the man with a new gash on his head. The boy has an arrow notched on a bow string, the point aimed at the unconscious man's heart. I would have rushed to him if not for Maria's grip on my arm. At the sudden conflict, most of the people in the square rush out, not wanting to be in the middle of anything too messy. "Leave the man alone!"
"ALONE?! He pushed me over, a complete stranger, for carrying a basket with food. Why should I leave that be?!" I shake off Maria's hand, slowly making my way towards the boy, resisting the urge to grip my sword. "Because. What you have done, and whatever you plan to do, will be no better than him. Harming and possibly killing a complete stranger? Could you live with yourself knowing that you've taken the life of another?" The boy looks at me with an expression I can't place, and his bow begins to lower, it's target no longer being the man. Instead, it quickly changes to me. I hear Maria yelp, but I hold my hand up, telling her to stay. She doesn't obey, and soon the young girl is standing in front of me, her head just barely to my nose. "Oh, how cute! The queen is letting a child protect her!" I shake my head and place my hand on Maria's shoulder and notice that she's shaking. "Maria go. Now." She turns and looks at me, and I mouth one word, or more like name, to her, then push her behind me. When her foot steps becomes inaudible, I relax slightly, and focus again on the boy with a stone tipped stick pointed at my heart. Despite my chain male, the arrow would still do damage, especially at the close distance. We can only be twenty, maybe thirty feet apart, and I know how fast a bow string can sling an arrow if pulled far enough. "Why have you made me your new target? I have only helped you. I am your queen! I gave you a home." The fire headed boy smiles a smile that sends chills down my back. "Oh, my dear queen. You must have realized by now. I am not one of your subjects. No, I am of another kingdom, more or less. I'm a sword, well bow really, for hire, and a certain Telmarine King wants your head on a platter." I take a sharp inhale of breath, processing the information. Oh, Peter will be so angry.