Chapter 16

A/n: Hey! I'm happy to finally be publishing this one. Read and Review as always, and I promise I'll work harder at getting new chapters out.

Dear Molly,

It's March now, and Susan has started to plan our annual Spring festivities. Now that she's started the planning, I realize just how much I miss you. Now, I no longer have someone to hid with when Susan's on her rampages. She's already started our outfit fittings and dance refreshers. May Aslan have mercy on our souls. She's already picked out the menu. You'll probably kill her when you get back. She's decided on a seven course menu to feature rack of lamb, filet mignon, cream of crab soup, and anything else that could potentially bankrupt our fair kingdom. Sadly, your stand-in, a lovely faun, does not have the same tenacity you have when it comes to budgeting. Regardless, Susan has reminded me that your dress is almost done, and that we'll send it to you via Centaur courier.

Susan and I will be making our little visit to Calormen after the Spring celebration here in Narnia. Rabadash will not be with us, due to a "family emergency", thank Aslan for that. The last thing any of us needed was for Rabadash to hang off of Susan all night. Sadly neither Peter nor Lucy will be joining us on this trek. The northern giants have become a major threat in the last weeks and he will be leading the campaign. As for Lucy, I know how much you miss each other, but somebody has to stay behind to manage Narnian affairs. She did suggest that she go with Susan and I stay behind. But Peter intervened refusing to send two ladies into the lion's den; so to speak.

We have discussed stopping by Avalon on our way to Calormen. If we do make Port it will only be for a day, so I'm hoping the captain will have timed it just right, so that I can come visit you without the pomp and circumstance of a royal visit. After all, I'm the last person who would want to stand on ceremony. Included in my letter is a sketch Lucy wanted you to have. Apparently she did it after the Lover's day ball.

I'll be seeing you soon

Edmund

Two and half months in Avalon

Dearest Edmund,

I look forward to your visit, and shall be watching the coast for a Narnia vessel worthy of dear Susan. I'm sorry for the delay in my letters. My days have become suddenly hectic as the population of Avalon geras up for their Spring Festival. You know, now that I see the preparations for this, I'm beginning to think Susan is rather tame when it comes to party planning. While nothing shall ever compare to the Feast on the Dancing Lawn the first night of summer. This festival is giving our birthday parties a run for their money. The entire city is starting to shut down. People from villages miles away are flooding the town. Some are looking for work at the inns, bakerys, taverns. Others are filling the boarding houses in preparation for a week of fun. Everywhere is filling, to the point inns nearly ten miles outside of the capital city have no open rooms.

The ladies of the court are going all out, planning feast after feast, dance after dance. They've shown me their closets of dresses specially made for this festival. They have everything, and I'm not exaggerating Ed. You think Susan has a lot of dresses, but these ladies, have whole rooms filled with everything: satin, velvet, linen. The list goes on. Oh, on the note of dresses, tell Susan I received my dress and it's absolutely perfect, better than I could have dreamed.

So far, the ladies have told me that this festival starts with a grand feast, all Avalonian specialties. Then the grand tournament begins the following afternoon. The jousting completion goes first then the hand-to-hand combat competition. I tried to enter, but they refused to let me because I'm female. If only I had my favorite sparring partner to back me up. Oh well, there's always Narnia's annual tournament. That's still in September right? I would hate to miss an opportunity to beat ya'lls butts. Then there is a two day bazar, where people from all over Avalon come to sell their goods. Perhaps if your timing's right we can enjoy the festival as average people.

Missing you, and your siblings always,

Molly

The Festival: day 1

Molly awoke to her favorite maid, Marta, standing at her bedside. "Good morning Marta," Molly said groggily sitting up in bed. "Morning my lady. Your breakfast awaits," Marta said a smile gracing her face. Finally Molly noticed the platter of food in Marta's hands. Molly took the plate digging into the small fruit salad placed before her.

"Which dress shall you be wearing today, Molly?" Marta asked as she moved toward the chest that had been delivered weeks earlier. Although Molly had told Ed she'd asked Susan for a dress, she'd actually requested a number of them so she could wear something different, yet representative of Narnia, every day. "Perhaps the size too-big golden gown with the navy petticoat," Molly said pushing the bowl away. Peter's dress seemed like the best choice for a day devoted to food. Marta nodded in agreement and fetched it.

The dress was in deed a size large for Molly, but the bodice contained a built in corset and the sleeves could be tightened. Molly just didn't see a reason to be uncomfortable if she was going to spend hours eating a thousand courses of decadent food. To the dress Molly added a pair of navy flat shoes. Marta then added a pair of sapphire and gold earrings and a three tiered broach that bore a relief of Aslan with tiny cats eye stones stood for his eyes.

The other maid, whose name Molly did not know started to work on her red mane. Molly sat still thanking Aslan that no make-up would be required of her, only that she looks presentable. It seemed like hours, but the maid's fingers were nimble and soon Molly was being pushed out the door.

Outside her door, Molly found a young boy, a page most likely, waiting. "If you'd follow me my Lady," he said. Molly smiled at the boy giving him her hand. "Lead the way good sir," she said. The boy blushed and started off down the hallway.

The banquet hall was alive with people. Molly stood in the doorway a minute letting the page's hand slip from her grasp. There were nobles from all over Archenland in attendance, a few men who looked to be entertainment, and the women. It seemed like the ladies of Avalon were competing to see who could show the most skin while remaining tasteful.

As Molly made her way to a table, a young woman in traditional robes stopped her. "Wait here Miss," she said. Molly nodded staying still. "Molly, its wonderful to see you here," a male voice said behind her. She whipped around to see King Lune standing there a glass of red wine in his hand. "And you Lune. One would not have expected to see your highness here," she answered giving a small curtsy. "I make it a point to come to Avalon for its spring festivities," Lune laughed. "I'm surprised you are here by yourself Molly. Anyone who knew you would expect King Edmund to be hiding behind a pillar somewhere."

Molly blushed. Secretly she did want Ed to appear out of thin air and whisk her away. Unfortunately, for her, it was in this instance that the ladies of the court began swarming around her. "Lady Fitzroy, you look like you're swimming in that dress," one in a suggestive blue number said giggling. Molly rolled her eyes; "It actually fits quite well, just loose enough around my stomach to accommodate this meal we are partaking in." The women around her took a step back at the cold lacing her voice. It was as though all the happiness had drained from her.

Somewhere high up a bell tolled and everyone moved toward the long tables situated in a standard U shape. At the head of the table sat Lord Caleb, King Lune, and Caleb's father. To their right were the various lords in attendance and to their left sat the ladies of court. Molly sat at the corner of the table between Caleb and the ladies. Once King Lune was seated all those around him sat. Then in something resembling the wave, everyone at the tables not part of the U formation sat.

A shrill bell rang next, and a hoard of young men in rich green fabric appeared from the doorways platters of food and pitchers of drink in hand. Molly watched as the men moved with practiced ease around in the tight spaces between the benches, between people even. One young man in particular caught Molly's attention. He came up to the front of her table offering the third course, a bird resembling a Cornish hen that had been roasted with spring vegetables, rosemary, thyme, and a sauce of berries. Molly had looked up to take a hen, when her eyes looked with the chocolate orbs of the server. They were so familiar, yet different. The gleam Molly expected to see was different. It was more of a cheeky gleam then the mischievous gleam she was used to.

Molly looked harder at the man, but he was already gone, working his way down the ladies table , each taking only a small portion of a hen, never a whole one. The man never came back around to Molly's table, she still couldn't shake the feeling she knew the young man.

Throughout the feast musicians played nearly continuously. Molly's favorite was a group of Narnian fauns who arrived around dessert who played mainly folk tunes Molly knew. As she sampled the delicate pastry in front of her, she listened to the fauns tell of Queen Swanwhite and the 100 years winter. She even hummed along to their songs as those around her became more and more drunk.

As the fauns finished their songs one walked up to Molly smiling. In his hand he held a piece of crisp cream parchment. "For you, Molly. Compliments of the royal family," he said bowing with a flourish. Molly thanked the faun for his delivery and sent him on his way. She then excused herself from the table not waiting for Caleb's approval. For by this time the young lord was asleep in his goblet.

Once alone in her room Molly opened the piece of parchment in her hands.

Two days, sweet Roy

EP

Molly blushed at the words. Ed was obviously trying to remain secretive, but how had he managed such a note without already being in port. She turned without thinking and tossed the scrap into the fire watching the paper burn. Then she walked to the window of her bedchamber which faced the port. She squinted through the blurry glass. It was night and the lights of ships could be plainly seen. Molly sighed rushing out of her room to the battlements. Clear as day Molly could see the bow of a Narnian ship on the horizon a green light hanging from the mouth of the dragon craved into the bow. She smiled.

"Two days," she repeated softly heading back down to her room, wishing that the bazar was already upon her.