A Night to Remember
At last, the morning of the Solstice arrived. A yawning sun oversaw the finishing touches to the decorations and by mid-afternoon Dancing Lawn was finally ready.
A large space had been cleared in the centre and the surrounding trees were covered in intricately woven chains of every kind of flower that existed in Narnia. Pink lanterns hung from branches and added a pleasant rose tint to the vibrant grass. The Fauns and Talking Animals brought in a steady stream of food and wine to fill a buffet table constructed primarily of expertly-arranged branches that took up most of the eastern edge. The orchestra – made up of particularly talented Fauns and a few musical Nymphs - had their stage positioned on the west side and they busied themselves with preparing their instruments, filling the air with random warm-up notes.
As this was a formal occasion, Zia was required to wear a dress instead of her usual slouchy shorts. The Empress personally tailored Zia's Solstice outfit every year; this year's dress was made of oak leaves of the darkest green sewn together with minute, delicate stitches. The sleeves were long and hugged Zia's slender arms. The dip of the neckline revealed a fair but modest amount of her tanned skin. Feathers of the purest white shimmered like the finest jewels at the collar and cuffs.
Although she would never admit it aloud, the gown was the most beautiful thing Zia had seen in her life.
"Oh Zia, you look beautiful," Nina cooed, fussing with the hem for the fiftieth time. She had twisted Zia's hair into an elegant knot at the back of her head, securing it with spider's silk and tiny white flowers. Her skin was soft and glowing from the oil she had been made to slather herself with. Neither she nor Nina wore anything on their feet – Dryads only saw shoes as a hazard.
Zia looked down at the closest thing to a sister she would ever have. Nina was effortlessly beautiful: her hair as fine and pure as silk and her eyes a shade of blue not even the ocean could achieve. She carried herself with a natural poise and grace that Zia couldn't mimic even if she practised for years. The Empress' voice was as soft as a feather caressing a baby's cheek, her smile warm and gentle like a mother's. Next to her, Zia felt about as beautiful as an ogre.
A sunny afternoon gradually drew in to a warm, muzzy evening. Fireflies flitted around the Lawn like tiny flames, occasionally settling on a flower or a Faun's horn. The whole scene sent a shiver of warmth through Zia's body as she drank in every tiny detail.
"I think we really outdid ourselves this year," Breejit commented. The Fox was covered head to toe in flowers and leaves so that only his eyes and muzzle could be seen. Dahlia and Delilah had ambushed him while Nina was busy dressing Zia. He looked ridiculous but didn't want to shake the garments off for fear of upsetting the little girls.
A crowd of Fauns swarmed around Nina as soon as she arrived with her three wards. Fauns had a special liking for all Dryads, but Nina seemed to be their favourite. The two little ones were thrust upon Zia as the Empress was spun away by her first lucky dance partner, laughing as she went.
Zia heaved a deep sigh. She'd wanted to at least get a couple of dances in before she was entrusted with babysitting duty. Dejected, she led the two children over to an arrangement of cushions made into a makeshift sitting area next to the buffet table. Her skirts had to be arranged so that they wouldn't crease before she sat down – dresses were so irritating.
Sullenly, she watched everyone else enjoy themselves. Nina effortlessly switched partners after each song, her gossamer hair shimmering as she danced. She was nimble on her feet even for a Dryad, and she left the Fauns gasping for breath whilst her own breathing never altered. Her latest partner seemed to be holding up well, but he had no hope when the music picked up its pace. When the song ended, he bowed to Nina and kissed her hand - Fauns were such flirts. Then he stumbled drunkenly towards a cushion next to the one Zia occupied. The lantern light cast a lovely pink glow across his ruddy face as he collapsed.
"Tumnus!" Zia exclaimed, recognising her old friend.
"Evening, Zia," the Faun gasped breathlessly.
"Having a good time, I see," she teased, handing him a goblet of wine which he drank gratefully.
"It's my favourite night of the year," he said, a faint blush adding to the build- up of colour in his cheeks. "On the Summer Solstice we Fauns can finally make an effort not to look like fools in front of you evasive Dryads."
Zia slapped his arm playfully. "Tumnus, Summer Solstice isn't just about wooing Nina, you know."
Now his goat ears turned pink to match the lanterns. "Of course I know that. It's about… What is it about, again?"
She was about to reply but a sudden commotion at the edge of the Lawn distracted her. It seemed someone new had arrived, someone unexpected. A welcoming chorus of trumpets erupted out of nowhere, making her jump. The babies began to cry and clutch at Breejit. He tickled them reassuringly with his tail. Confused, Zia craned her neck in a vain attempt to see around the cluster of people. Catching sight of Nina, she was further bewildered by the slight crease between the Empress' pale, slender eyebrows. The gears in Zia's head worked furiously but she couldn't make the pieces add up. What was going on?
Suddenly, all became clear when someone bellowed: "Their Majesties, the Kings and Queens of Narnia!"
The whole Lawn erupted in applause as Nina's eyes met hers. An emotion Zia couldn't place flashed in her sapphire irises and she was hit by the premonition that Nina knew about her moonlight expedition several days before.
Meanwhile, the excited crowd finally parted. Zia's eyes tore away from Nina's unsettling gaze and landed almost instantly on a pale figure with a shock of midnight hair. The King was dressed in a fine blue silk tunic, white breeches and boots that covered everything up to his shins. A deep blue cloak was draped over his shoulders and fastened by a silver clasp at his throat. A sword hung by his hip and a silver crown glinted atop his head. Seeing the ornate jewellery caused Zia's gut to clench.
The smallest of the four newcomers – a girl with a circlet of silver leaves perched on her head – let out a little squeal and scurried to Tumnus. The Faun welcomed her with open arms and a glowing smile. The affection between the pair was obvious and Zia thought back to the times when she had listened to Tumnus talk about the youngest Queen. Even then his eyes had softened at the mention of her.
"My subjects," the tallest of the four - this one adorned with a magnificent golden crown - called over the din. Everyone instantly fell silent and their faces grew respectfully solemn. "My siblings and I have heard much talk of your festivities on the Summer Solstice. We hope that none of you object to our attending them this year." Bright blue eyes that rivalled Nina's caught the light of the lanterns; in them shone the nobility and courage of a warrior.
Everyone else exploded into loud cheers and the music started up again. Tumnus and his new companion were two of the first to begin the new dance, both of them bearing enormous grins. Another Faun offered the other Queen his arm and the golden King was quickly spoken for by one of the Nymphs.
An unfamiliar sickening feeling churned Zia's stomach as she watched another Nymph - this one she knew as Pelerine - offer her hand to the dark-haired king. Pelerine was extremely pretty: the colour of her hair rivalled that of a setting sun, her figure was slender and curved in all the right places. Her eyes were a vibrant shade of purple – an uncommon trait amongst Nymphs – and she knew how to flutter her long eyelashes just so.
Nina threw Zia a disapproving frown as though she could hear her teeth grinding together in frustration but Zia paid no attention. She refused to calm the waves of hostility she was mentally hurling at Pelerine. Her message was not received or else was flatly ignored. The last straw came when Pelerine ran her devious talons through the King's dark hair, smiling so coyly that Zia felt her blood run cold. Pelerine was like a Venus flytrap, sweetly enticing the poor young King into her clutches. She had to do something, and fast.
As soon as the song finished, Zia whipped the hem of her dress out of the way of Breejit's teeth and walked away as fast as possible without running. The Fox made to follow her but Dahlia and Delilah each still had a firm grip on his tail. He was pulled back with a startled yelp and received several sharp taps on the nose from chubby fingers. Zia reached the pair just as the King politely touched his lips to Pelerine's knuckles. As he straightened, Pelerine's head turned slightly, her violet eyes narrowing as she noticed Zia. The air between them crackled, and Pelerine's lips drew back over her teeth in a vicious smirk. Zia lifted her chin and tightened her jaw, refusing to be intimidated.
"Oh I say, Edmund, isn't this wonderful?"
The voice broke the tension with an almost audible snap. The youngest Queen was suddenly standing beside her. Her arm was still threaded through Tumnus' and they were both flushed and breathing heavily. The Faun grinned at Zia whilst the girl wasn't looking. She had never seen him so happy.
"I'm glad you three talked me into coming," Edmund replied. He beamed first at his sister and then at Pelerine. Zia's fingers curled into fists that she hurriedly hid behind her back.
"I don't believe we've met," the Queen said to Pelerine. "I'm Lucy." She extended her hand to the Nymph and both Pelerine and Zia stared at it in confusion.
Laughing, Lucy withdrew her hand. "Oh, I forgot. Anyway, it's great to meet you. It's simply lovely that Ed has made a new friend so quickly. What's your name?"
The Nymph answered and, now that she thought about it, Zia realised she had a horribly nasal voice that made her sound incredibly snooty and smug. She was still hanging frustratingly off Edmund's arm.
"And what's yours?" Lucy asked, turning to Zia.
The question startled the Dryad out of her fuming. The four of them stared at her expectantly as though she were about to give an important speech. Tumnus came to her aid when he realised his friend was not presently able to speak.
"Your Majesties, allow me to introduce Zia. She is a great friend of mine and a pleasure to know." No one but Zia heard Pelerine's spiteful snort.
"Well, any friend of Mr Tumnus is a friend of mine," Lucy said cheerily, beaming widely. "And how many times do I have to tell you, Mr Tumnus, just call me Lucy!"
Zia suddenly became acutely aware of King Edmund's eyes on her face. Meeting his gaze only caused her skin to grow hot so she hurriedly looked at the ground.
"It simply won't do to just stand here while there's dancing to be done!" Queen Lucy exclaimed. She tugged on Tumnus' arm, leading him away with a spring in her step. She really was very enthusiastic.
"Why don't you hurry along, Zia?" Pelerine said. Her tone dripped honey but her pretty eyes shot daggers. Feeling defeated and with a sinking heart, Zia turned away. Gentle fingers closed loosely around her wrist, catching her off guard.
"Would you like to dance with me?"
Zia turned back to the King, a smile as wide as the Great River stretching across her face. The expression twisting Pelerine's features only added to her delight. Huffing, the Nymph dropped Edmund's arm and strode away, tossing her auburn hair as she went.
Now that she was close enough, Zia noticed that the clasp on the King's cloak was in the shape of a lion's head. Suddenly, she remembered the weapon hanging at his waist and jerked away from him. Edmund followed her wide-eyed stare down to the sword on his belt and smiled reassuringly.
"Don't be afraid," he said. "I won't hurt you. I merely brought it for back-up, just in case something happened."
Zia reached out and gingerly touched the sword's hilt. The metal was uncomfortably cold but aside from that apparently harmless and rather beautifully engraved. Realising she was being silly, Zia relaxed. "I hope you can keep up, Your Majesty," she said mischievously, gathering up her skirts in one hand. She had been sitting still for far too long.
Puzzlement drew his eyebrows together for a split second before Zia grabbed his hand - it was contrastingly pale against her tan skin and just slightly cooler - and pulled him into the song. The beat was furious but her light feet easily matched it. She was surprised to find King Edmund's footwork impressive. Then she remembered all the training he had probably been put through. She would have to come up with something more imaginative to get some real fun out of him.
Thinking on the spot, Zia took hold of his other hand. Her bare feet automatically side-stepped round in a circle and she dragged the bemused King with her. He was caught off guard but quick to recover. A new glint in his eyes told Zia he knew what she was up to. After several changes of direction he could perfectly mirror her movements.
Next, Zia used Edmund's arm to twirl herself into his side whilst still bouncing from foot to foot. She barely had time to collect herself before he spun her away and she almost tripped over her own feet. Edmund's grin was huge, taking up half of his face, and his eyes twinkled. Zia stuck her tongue out at him, making him laugh.
She was nowhere near prepared when the young King lunged forward, grabbed her waist and lifted her off the ground, spinning her in circles. Colours blurred into one and she could feel her hair coming loose from its twist. Her head span so violently when Edmund released her that he had to grab hold of her again before she toppled over.
Zia was still chuckling giddily to herself as Edmund half-led, half-carried her to join his older sister and a few other tired dancers by the food table. Zia drank gratefully from the goblet Edmund offered her.
"I think you've met your match today," he teased with a smirk.
Zia smiled against the rim of her cup. "You have very talented feet, Your Majesty."
He waved the title away as if it were an annoying insect. "Edmund, please," he said, taking a sip from his own goblet and looking around. "This is some party."
"It's the best night of the year," she agreed.
"I suppose it seems only right to celebrate the summer," he said. Zia got the feeling he was talking more to himself than to her, reliving memories she didn't share. "It was gone for so long…" He seemed to drift off into a world of his own. Zia didn't press him for more but instead remained content to watch reflections of the fireflies dancing in his dark eyes.
"That's an unusual dress," he said, suddenly coming back to the present. "Is it made of leaves?"
Zia nodded, swelling a little with pride at the compliment. "Nina made it for me." When Edmund looked blank, she added, "She's the Empress of my clan. That's her over there, in the blue dress."
As if she sensed their eyes on her, Nina turned her head to gaze at her sister and the Just King. A strange expression crossed her face but it was gone and replaced with a warm smile before Zia could begin wonder at how the Empress' behaviour was growing ever more peculiar as the night progressed.