Disclaimer: I don't own Narnia or any characters you may recognize from the books or the movies, I wish I did but I don't... I also don't own the Narnian Calendar. It belongs to Elecktrum who was kind enough to let me borrow it for my story. Her own stories are awesome and you should go read them too.
Summary: In the aftermath of rescuing Queen Lucy from an evil sorcerer, Katerina Alambiel struggles to find her place while some of the Narnians closest to the Pevensies still question her motives. And, finding herself in the middle of an assassination plot against the High King himself doesn't exactly help her to fit in.
Warning: There will be mentions of torture, murder, and some scary moments. So, this is a mid to high T.
Chapter Six: The Lodge
16 Lenisgale 1001
Katerina Alambiel stared at the so-called hunting lodge then looked over at Peter who was far too excited over the sight in her opinion. "This is what you want to use as your retreat?"
Pete didn't even seem to notice the incredulous tone of her question as he swung off Blaze's back. He nodded and smiled, "This is it. Come on, Katerina, let's take a look inside. It will do you good."
She grumbled as she slid off Sasha's back, "Oh yes, going to look around in a ruin masquerading as a lodge will do me wonders."
Sherket and the two Tiger cousins, Kumbali and Sarti, chuckled from where they were waiting nearby, Katerina chose to be dignified and ignored them as she stroked Sasha's nose before reluctantly following the High King towards the…structure. She couldn't help wondering if Peter was insisting she actively participate in the exploration because someone, Oreius or Sherket or even both, had told him that she had basically been up and about since third hour because of nightmares. She had thought her story would make the others act differently towards her maybe even shun her. Instead, Susan had pulled her into a hug before she left the tent that morning and whispered her thanks for trusting them with her story. Then the Gentle Queen made her promise to help keep Peter out of trouble and to give her a full, i.e., un-Peter-filtered, report about the exact condition of the old hunting lodge before heading into the Shuddering Woods with her small escort.
Katerina stepped into the ruin a little behind Peter who was further in and talking to Ardon. She had to admit that there was potential for something both magnificent and comfortable as she examined the somewhat faded reliefs carved into the walls. She was about to admit that the ruin might really by a lodge when she looked up... You have got to be kidding me. "King Peter, have you looked up yet?"
Peter looked up then back at her and grinned. "Okay, the roof needs some work since it has a bit of a hole."
Katerina shook her head then pointed out what she thought to be fairly obvious, "Peter, when the hole is bigger than the roof, you don't need some work. You need a new roof unless of course you like leaks the size of a torrential downpour."
Peter laughed, "Where's your sense of adventure, Katerina?"
"I dropped it in the Great River on the way to see this is é seo ar anchaoi, mí-oiriúnach le haghaidh maireachtála, agus shoddy áit a éileamh tú a thaisceadh, which by the way is definitely not fiú ábhairín ar anchaoi, tá sé go hiomlán ar anchaoi go dtí an leibhéal go bhfuil tú caillte d'intinn má cheapann tú gur féidir leat a shocrú an am seo ar bith luaithe. This isn't a lodge. It is a tubaiste ag fanacht le tarlú." (I dropped it in the Great River on the way to see this this rundown, unfit for living, and shoddy place that you claim is a lodge, which by the way is definitely not even somewhat rundown, it is completely rundown to the level that you have lost your mind if you think you can fix this any time soon. This isn't a lodge. It is a disaster waiting to happen.)
Katerina paused as she realized Peter and all three Centaurs were staring at her in a mix of amusement and shock. She shrugged, "Sorry, I don't that very often."
Ardon gave her an odd look, "Wait, what language was that?"
"Irish. However, that is not the point. The point is this struchtúr doesn't even qualify as a building. Why are you grinning like that?" (structure)
Peter shook his head, "No reason. Now come on, we can take a look around the back, which is in better condition by the way, and then we'll head back to camp and you can rant to your heart's content about this struchtúr."
"I didn't rant. I made an emphatic observation."
The High King laughed, but Kumbali entered the lodge before Katerina could say anything else. He bowed his head to Peter then turned to include the Centaurs. "Your majesty, General Oreius, Captain Sherket says a patrol will be passing through in a half-hour's time and she wondered if one of you might wish to speak to them before they continue on. Their scouts reported that they had a skirmish with some Werewolves some forty miles from here and have need of a healer as well."
Katerina watched as Alithia and Ardon immediately left while Peter held a whispered conversation with Oreius before turning to Kumbali. "Cousin, please show the general where the patrol is currently. Katerina, Sarti, and I will finish up here and then meet you in the clearing where we set up camp in twenty minutes' time. Oreius, send someone to fetch us if anything changes."
Oreius and Kumbali both bowed to Peter, and then left as Sarti padded inside to join the two humans. The younger of the two Tiger cousins looked from Katerina to Peter then back to Katerina who crossed her arms and looked at Peter. She didn't want to know what the Tiger was thinking or what he wanted to ask her. Peter waved for them both to join him before the arch leading to the back of the structure pretending to be a hunting lodge. "Katerina, let's have a look back here and determine what else needs to be done. We need to hurry though. I want to be there when the patrol arrives at the camp."
Peter no longer looked like he was enjoying himself and Katerina guessed it was because he was now thinking about Werewolves and a patrol with injured. She frowned slightly as she searched for the best way to help. Oreius had insisted the High King continue his exploration for a reason, probably because he didn't want him to worry for the next half-hour over that which he could not control. Her frown was replaced with a grin as Katerina hit upon an idea she liked. She winked at Sarti who was watching her closely and snuck up behind Peter. She needed to time this just right if she wanted to avoid any skewering. She stopped a few inches behind Peter who was absorbed in examining the reliefs clearly visible on the more protected back walls of the structure, took a deep breath, and shouted, "Iontas!" (Surprise!)
She jumped back as Peter started and drew Rhindon halfway out of its scabbard as he spun to face her. Sarti was laughing from where he stood guard by the arch and she grinned as Peter shook his head and re-sheathed his sword. "Katerina Alambiel, I can't believe you just did that. What has gotten into you today?"
Katerina tilted her head and shrugged, "I'm bored and I wanted revenge for you making me come explore this tá carn cloch tú éileamh a thaisceadh, nuair nach bhfuil sé." (pile of stones you claim is a lodge, when it is not.) She grinned slightly, "Besides you were worrying instead of exploring, and part of the reason for coming here is to help you not worry, so I'm helping you do what you are supposed to be doing. Now, let's finish up here and then we can go back to camp where you can be a gcearc mháthair to your heart's content." (mother hen) Stepping around him, she beckoned for him to follow as she tried to distract him with the appeal of exploring the ruined struchtúr, "And, then maybe I won't be mixing my languages up. It's been eight months since I did this last, and now it is measctha suas go léir." (all mixed up.)
Fortunately, her plan worked and the High King accompanied her as they crossed into one of the few areas of the lodge still covered by a portion of the roof. The shadows along the walls darkened and Katerina thought she heard a whisper come from behind one of the columns running along the far wall. She looked over her shoulder and her eyes widened in shock. "Peter!"
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A/N: So, this chapter is short and sweet to make up for the extreme darkness of the previous chapter...except for the cliffie. Please read and review! This story has changed directions on me since I first thought it up, so my writing is coming along a little slower. Your reviews help encourage me to keep writing. All the emphatic observations Katerina makes are in Irish. Click the little review button below and let me know what y'all think of this chapter.