Chasing Madness

"You can say what you like, Reeepicheep. There are some things no man can face."

"It is then, my good fortune not to be a man." replied Reepicheep with a very stiff bow.

-From the book of the Voyage of the Dawn Treader (1952)

"Hello? Is someone in here?" The Just King immediately stood his ground; eyes darting on the shelves and drawers to see any that could disguise him. He could hear Calla's feet padding on the marbled floor, the sound leisurely closing in on him, as he did not reply to her call. He ducked under the desk and was astonished when he saw a huge pelt coat, thick and well equipped for the nearing winter. It's surface and fabric underneath doubled on its depth, making one look twice their typical size. Edmund slipped the wool over him and draped the hood over his head and took a mask from a masquerade ball in the last year and placed it over his face.

"Professor Kirkwall?" Calla solicited, noticing 'Professor Kirkwall' poke his head out of the desk sluggishly. Kirkwall has always had a deep and husky voice, and as Edmund opened his mouth to answer, he tried to mimic just as how he thought he would sound like.

"Yes?" Edmund replied in a deepened voice. Sweet, merciful Aslan, he mentally swore as he realized how absurd he sounded.

"Should I be rude to ask why you are wearing a mask?" Calla asked in curiosity. Edmund shifted uncomfortably, turning away from Calla.

"Oh, I was just, role-playing some characters in a book…" He trailed, walking over towards the bookshelves as he perpetually held his coat over his face.

"Role-Playing?" Calla asked, trying to get Edmund to face her. The idea seemed bizarre, but Narnia was very much as she expected, so she just did not mind it. "Oh, um…Queen Lucy sent me to look for a binder somewhere here and she told me to look for you." She said, striding with Edmund who only turned away each time she attempted to face him.

"I'm afraid I-I have seen none, but I assure you if I were able find one I shall return it to you." Edmund quickly responded, thinking there was a slight possibility she would notice the simulated voice. His voice seemed to continually repel her, antagonizing each time she would go to the same direction as he is.

"Alright, then. I shall be on my way." Calla replied, walking past his desk, taking the hint Edmund gave off. She took a quick glance on flamboyant letters and saw inked marks beautifully scripted on the coarse paper. They were from different countries, Caloremen, Telmar and Archenland that seemed to originate from dawdling lovesick ladies that left notes with tender declarations towards a certain king. There were piles of them, all under the name of one person, which greatly baffled her.

"I didn't know Edmund had so many letters from girls. I've always loved receiving letters." Calla said, turning towards the face covered Edmund.

"There should be a 'king' there somewhere." Edmund added under his breath.

"Pardon?"

"Oh nothing." Calla looked around, more curious as she saw one of the cards that list the names of people who borrow books from the library. Once more, she grew amused when she saw on the top of the list; Edmund Pevensie. She picked the card up and held it towards the sun, narrowing her eyes as if the measly paper deceived her eyes. "I didn't know King Edmund was such a bookworm. He must visit libraries all the time." She laughed. Edmund's cheeks grew quite red as she chuckled at his cold name he so begrudgingly admit. He opened his mouth to defend himself.

"No, no, no. He's not a bookworm. He barely reads any of those books and visits the library once every blue moon." Edmund quickly replied, trying to tint away the subtle crimson on his cheeks. This was what he dreaded. He didn't want anyone to think of him as some geeky bloke that gets bullied at his school. But Calla frowned, staring at the paper.

"What? That's a terrible shame. I myself read just as much. I actually am quite fond of bookworms." She said in a hush tone. At once, Edmund thought at redeeming himself, when he realized she was not going to judge him. Though, this was not a very usual thing. Most ladies scoff at such men, and it greatly bewildered him.

"Did I say King Edmund doesn't visit here? What I meant was he visits here all the time. I must have gravely misunderstood the name and mistaken it for King Peter, who's as lazy as bum. That chap doesn't do anything much. King Edmund is actually the smartest man I've ever known." Edmund said, emphasizing ''smartest' in a way an egotistic man would imply his charming guise. "In fact, I look up to him many a time. "

"Really, now?" Calla asked, her tone hinting in ways of utter disbelief.

"Yes. He's every lady's dream." Edmund said, pride all ganging up on him. "He's also the kindest man I've ever known." He added in a dreamy voice, eyes glinting in shades of trance.

"I don't think so." She countered, her expressions turning sour. Edmund glanced at her unwelcomingly.

"What makes you say such an outlandish thing?" He asked in a slightly coarse tone. Calla stinted, crossing her arms as she leaned back against the wall.

"Well for one, on my very first time here, he could barely accept me in his kingdom. Second, he doesn't know how to apologize. He thinks as if forgiveness can be bought in any sort of way by just ridiculous jewelries and dresses."

"Now, now. One mustn't be so inconsiderate." Edmund huffed, remembering how much those 'ridiculous jewelries and dresses' cost him a fortune.

"Tell that to him." Calla replied. Edmund turned away.

"Well, why won't you forgive him?" He snarled.

"Because he doesn't know how to ask." Calla simply said it as though asking for forgiveness was just…to ask. He thought to ask forgiveness (especially from a girl) was to give something in return.

"How should he ask?" Edmund asked, his face facing away from her but his ears listened intently.

"Well, sincerely. He doesn't need to spend all those materialized things. I just want to see sincerity." Calla said slowly. She talked as if it was that simple. Not for Edmund. It was as hard as trying to win a battle, only harder. Well, at least for him. Calla swirled around, admiring the immense range of the entirety of the library. Edmund continued to trap himself on one corner, keeping his cover in low contour from the light outside; lovely autumn morning with the insinuation of a cold, but heavenly winter aftermath. But strangely to him, winter seemed all but wonderful, all but welcoming and all but…beautiful. He knew why, because there was only one reason why.

"Maybe if he was a little bit kinder and more prudent with his words, then he might actually be the perfect king." Calla's voice sauntered towards his brooding mind of anxious winter pending.

"Perfect?" Edmund replied once more in his deepened and husky tone. The world brought confusing drifts in his mind. Perfect? Hah. As far as he knows only Peter was ever perfect. Peter is older, more knowledgeable, craftier, wiser and most of all, an older brother.

"Well, yes. I mean, he looks rather fetching but I doubt his attitude is any better because his constant grumbling. I don't even know what those girls see in him."

"Well, in his defense, those annoying, wretched simpering girls were the reasons he grumbles for." Edmund grumbled, pretending to shoot some books inside their respective shelves. Calla stood up, retorting towards the door.

"You actually remind me of him." Calla noticed, but respected the distance she noticed the 'professor' wanted away from her. Though it distressed her a bit, knowing someone was not helping in making her feel any more welcomed.

"If intelligence is what you are assuming." Edmund whispered to himself, with Calla only hearing faint chuckling mumbles across from her.

"I'm afraid must withdraw now, Professor…" Thank Aslan. Edmund thought. "Well, it was nice meeting you. Perchance I may stop by sometime tomorrow?" He shuddered, thinking of another plan to excuse himself.

"Just, pretend we never met yet." Edmund quickly replied. Calla's brows furrowed, not knowing exactly her response.

"I'll-uh keep that in mind." She murmured, closing the door. As soon as Edmund heard the door shut tight, he quickly took off the hood and mask, taking in fresh air as he nearly died in the heat of the wool. The door immediately swung open once more that made Edmund curse.

"Bloody hell?!" He shouted, slipping the hood on once more as he saw Calla return, amused at how high the Professor's voice became quite high pitched. Edmund quickly cleared his throat. "I mean-uh, what is it?" He asked innocently, but Calla seemed to not take notice.

"Sorry, I disregarded my book." She said running over to the desk and retrieving the object as she treaded onwards the hall. "Thank you!" was her call as she once more shut the door taut. Edmund once again took of the robe. His hair was drenched with his sweat, as the robe seemed thick like a polar bear's fur. He wiped them off with his knuckles and slid down the shelf he found himself leaning at in exhaustion.

"Drat. That girl's more annoying than Lucy and Susan during ball week."

Calla finally retreated to her room after the quiet time with Lucy. Somewhere she thought, she found two annoying guards following her all the way round. Every time she turned, two similar emotionless shadows took identical turns, watching her every move. They were dedicated to their tasks, she was sure of that, was following her to the comfort area where she could redeem herself really that necessary?

"Can I not have privacy in my own room?" Calla shouted at the guards behind her, Of course she was ordered under the command of High King Peter, to be kept under watch the whole way, needless to say the centaurs, fauns or whatever kind of guard watching her annoyed her greatly, for whatever rebellion she seemed to entail, they considered she was dangerous.

"You might escape." Gruben stated, with his sword tucked safely away in its sheath.

"Look I will not, for the last time. I have made a promise to Queen Lucy." Calla insisted, shoving both guards away from her door.

"We'll stay right here." Another faun beside Gruben remarked, as she closed the door annoyingly, finding Bane already up and lively, as if something happened that night. His tail wagged as his muzzle faced the window effervescently, yapping at the early morning sun.

"Did something happen, Bane?" She asked, slipping down the chairs beside him, exhausted.

"Just had a good night's sleep, that's all." Bane puffed, sliding his paws to the soft silky frame underneath him. Narnia had some pretty good guest rooms, he noticed. Maybe he would like staying here after all.

"Are you feeling better?"

"I think I'm as healthy as I have never been. It is much to my pleasure seeking comfort in a leisured room rather than that drastic forest. For once, I find satisfaction at last." Bane murmured, shrugging his fur very daintily., still not taking off his entranced glance in the light.

"Well, minus the part where you are kept watch every second of every minute." Calla scoffed. The two of them sat contentedly near the window frame, listening quietly to each other as. Bane loved Calla very dearly, and Calla thought he was the closest she has ever had to family when her father was not around. There was nothing that could separate them, and Bane would be very overprotective if he knew some other man would take Calla away from him. Besides, Bane has never had time for love. He doesn't even know if he would ever be destined for one.

Just then, the pair heard Lucy's voice sieving through the door, asking for entrance. There was an argument actually between the Queen and the fauns. They kept denying her entrance for it might put her at stake. Though Lucy was quite persistent with her newly acquired assertiveness.

"But His Majesty clearly stated that…"

"Peter will not dare question me about doing this, am I understood?" Lucy growled. For some instance, she seemed…. scary. She heard the fauns obliged obediently and Lucy knocked on the door, asking for Calla's permission.

"Come in." Calla called. Lucy opened the door quickly, her face igniting and lit up. "What is it?"

"Its Susan! She's back!" Lucy hollered, returning her childish face from what seemed like a terror intimidation a second ago. Calla looked at Bane, and back again at her confused.

"Who?"

Lucy, Calla and Peter and Bane were outside in the grand hall, awaiting Susan's return. She had been on journey from Archenland with Peter, but was called in the caused her a delayed day on the neighboring country. Queen Susan was a very charming and approachable woman and maybe that's why they chose her to be on the second meeting of Archenland. Lucy had told Calla everything about Susan. She was intelligent, kind, perfect, gentle and most of all a warrior; everything Lucy had always wanted to be.

"Her Majesty Queen Susan the Gentle!" Trumpets were echoed as a faun cried her arrival. Very soon, the hall of Cair Paravel stared in awe as the beautiful Queen of Cair Paravel promenaded the fortress. Lucy looked down, for in all honesty, why hasn't anyone done anything like that to her. She would never be deemed anything more than cute and adorable. She would never be like Susan. She watched as Susan's smile ignited the castle, her eyes depicting that wonderful gaze many men wished to claim his own. Her fingers gather her hair edging on the other side of her jaw, placing them behind her ear, wearing a smile she forced herself to show. But Susan was her sister, and she should be happy that she came back. Yes, that should be how she thinks.

"Peter! Lucy!" Susan called with her arms spread out. The two siblings approached their sister, with Calla trailing behind quietly, being followed by Gruben and Hark. They kissed each other's cheeks and acknowledged each other presently.

"Where's Edmund?" Susan asked, looking around.

"I don't know. But I asked the maidens to call for him already some time ago. The dear boy's late again as usual. I ought to give him some lecture about punctuality some time." Peter grunted.

"Have I not been clear about your grunting?" Susan asked sharply.

"I'm glad you're back, Susan." Susan smiled at her brother, missing his certain attitudes. She faced Lucy more happily; glad to see her sister once again.

"I missed you, Lucy." Susan whispered, burying her face in Lucy's hair.

"So did I." Lucy sighed, embracing her tall sister. She released herself from her, retreating back to where two strangers stood. "Susan, I'd like you to meet Calla Winter and Bane." Susan drew her gaze to the girl standing in front of her, curtseying her title earnestly.

"The Winter?" Susan found herself confused, remembering the despised name in Archenland. Her whisper to Peter turned into somewhat coarse, as if it was a silent shriek, suddenly feeling threatened in Calla's presence.

"It's alright, Susan. It is not in our customs to arrest one without constructive evidence. But I ensure you she is kept well under watch." Peter said to her, gesturing towards the two ardent soldiers garbed with armors ready to be unsheathed by the time it was willed.

"Your Majesty." She bowed, though Gruben and Hark made it a point to keep quite a distance from all three monarchs. Lucy glanced at the two fauns and waved for them to go. The two hesitated but obeyed the Valiant Queen, retreating back into their formal positions in the nearby pillars.

"Please, call me Susan." Susan said, stretching out her hand. Calla looked at it confused.

"That's quite odd." Calla remarked.

"Why is that?"

"Mostly, monarchs from our countries and the others have their subjects address them to their according title."

"Nay, we are not from here. Not exactly, but you'll know eventually." Susan chortled. Calla heard Bane cough afterwards.

"Oh, forgive me." Call remembered. "Susan, this is Bane." Bane bowed his head, treading low on his flank with his ears flattened, taking a submissive step towards her.

"He looks feisty, does he not?" Susan remarked, admiring Bane's beautiful fur. "Speaking of which, I believe you have not met Sabine?"

"Who?" Calla asked, feeling stressed not knowing so much people. She was not a very sociable person, when she preferred being alone.

"Sabine is Edmund's partner." Susan said. Calla shifted when she mentioned 'partner.' There was a feeling inside her she could not help. A sensation she hated for letting it get the best of her. But she just shrugged it off, thinking such childish things many find themselves getting their hearts broken into. "Sabine is the most beautiful one I have ever seen, not only that have I mentioned but her bravery and exceptional wit is commendable for a female warrior. She just came with me from Archenland. Edmund must be so happy to see her."

"Don't forget she is massively charming." An owl ventured inside the castle.

"And exceptionally beautiful." A falcon joined in, flapping his wings rapidly as he chuckled Sabine's name absentmindedly. By the Lion's Mane, Calla thought, Sabine must be really kind and beautiful. If only I was as beautiful as she is.

"Did somebody ask for me?" A voice rang through the halls, beautiful yet somewhat different.

I will start working on the next chapter and update it as soon as possible. I love reading your reviews. They always make my day. Flames are accepted. Praises are genuinely welcomed and constructive criticism is excellent. I do know I have a lot to improve so feel free to leave your opinions.