United
"Your Empress is very beautiful," Edmund said softly, his eyes fixated on Nina's fluid shape.
"Yes, she is," Zia said a little too wistfully. "She's the most beautiful Dryad I know."
"Aren't Dryads the spirits of trees?"
"In a way," Zia answered. "The forest is our home, we protect it. We are each bonded to a tree by our life."
"So if the tree dies, you'll die too?"
"Yes," she confirmed. "But otherwise it's very hard to kill a Dryad. We don't die from old age or sickness or from being pierced by weapons."
"Hmm… It could be useful to have a squadron of Dryads in the army…" Her eyes grew wide and he quickly added, "No, forgive me. It's not right to ask that of you or even to imply it."
"No, not at all," she said hurriedly. "I'm sure Nina and the others would think it an honour."
Edmund smiled and tipped his goblet in her direction. "I'll remember that, though I hope I won't ever have to take you up on it."
The sun had almost set and the clearing was quickly growing dark. It would be time to light the fire soon. Two small, furry figures materialised and started to pile wood in the centre of the grassy clearing. Zia recognised the round shapes and flat tails of Mr and Mrs Beaver. They waved cheerfully to her and Edmund before waddling out of sight to fetch more of the kindle supply.
"So, what happens now?" Edmund enquired, pouring himself another cup of wine.
"The fire is lit," Zia told him, smiling slightly at the flushed hue delicately blossoming across his pale cheeks. "Then everyone dances around it. It's the best part of the celebration: everyone dances together and the Fauns play their pipes."
"The wood…" Edmund trailed off, an apologetic look in his eyes. Zia saw immediately where he was coming from.
"Oh, don't worry. Sometimes Dryads give permission for their tree to be cut down. It means they can rest in peace and know that their tree has had a good life and is being used to benefit others."
"You Dryads are the strangest creatures I've ever come across," Edmund murmured, gazing off into the shadows spreading between the trees.
"Strange in a good way?"
"Of course," Edmund replied, touching his goblet to hers.
They shared a smile that warmed Zia's body right down to her toes. The moment was broken when the music died down, causing everyone to stop and turn their attention to the stage.
The golden-haired King - who Zia now knew was Peter - stepped up onto the raised platform with a goblet in his hand. Like his brother, his face was a little pink, although whether it was from dancing or the wine was difficult to tell. Regardless, his voice rang out as clear as a bell.
"Now for the next part of the celebrations," he announced. "I am told that this job is usually carried out by the Dryad Empress, but since she is apparently absent tonight -"
Startled, Zia scanned the clearing. Indeed, Nina had completely vanished. Breejit met Zia's gaze, looking as bewildered as she felt. Her friend was now alone – Nina had taken the children with her.
"-I have been granted the honour of lighting the Solstice fire!" Peter finished triumphantly.
The applause was thunderous, despite several of the Fauns casting longing glances at the spot Nina had apparently vacated. There was a great rush to gather the remaining wood and build it into a towering cone shape. It became so tall that several birds were required to help balance the final few twigs on the top.
"What's wrong?" Edmund asked, leaning close so she could hear him over the noise.
Forcing a smile, she shook her head. "Nothing. I just have to take care of something. You should go and join your sisters."
Susan and Lucy were beckoning their brother, both smiling as though they had never known sadness. With one last concerned glance at Zia, Edmund went to them. He was unable to keep a straight face for long, especially when Lucy flung her arms around his waist and jumped up and down with childish excitement.
Zia had almost made up her mind to join them when a wet nose bumped the back of her hand.
"What's going on, Bree?" she whispered, kneeling down in front of him.
"I'm afraid I haven't the faintest idea," Breejit replied truthfully. He licked the inside of her wrist in an attempt to comfort her.
"Nina has been acting strange all evening. She kept giving me these funny looks and then smiling like nothing was wrong."
"When she came over to collect the children she looked to be deep in thought," Breejit told her. "When I asked why she was leaving so soon she didn't answer."
A pair of glittering eyes suddenly caught Zia's attention. Pelerine was stood on the opposite side of the Lawn, staring straight at Zia with an unsettling expression. As Zia watched, she tilted her head towards where Edmund was standing with his siblings. She smiled slowly as though challenging her, deliberately taking one step and then another in Edmund's direction.
"What's wrong?" Breejit asked.
"Pelerine," Zia said, narrowing her eyes. "She's turning this into a competition. I'll bet she's got something to do with Nina vanishing."
Breejit put his paws on both her knees. "Zia, no. It's not worth it. You should go and find Nina. Forget about all of this," he pleaded.
"You should have seen the way she was looking at him, Bree. It made my skin crawl. I can't let her get to him, there's no telling what she'll do."
A great cheer rose up as Peter was handed a flaming torch by one of the Fauns. The High King paused to make sure everyone was looking at him before throwing the torch down onto the prepared wood. At once the fire roared into life like a mighty lion, sending up a great cloud of smoke and more applause. The heat from the blaze reached right to the edges of the Lawn. The Narnians that were gathering around the burning wood had their faces thrown into light and shadow. The distinguishing line between the two flickered and danced.
Zia's heart cheered a little at the familiar sight of her fellow Narnians beginning to hold hands in a large circle around the fire, then she remembered Pelerine moving towards Edmund and his empty hand. Panicked, she left a bewildered Breejit behind and darted for the space beside the dark-haired king, reaching his side just seconds before Pelerine. The Nymph's eyes were murderous as she turned on her heel and stalking away for the second time that night.
Zia gladly slid her fingers into Edmund's, relieved at the sight of the Nymph's retreating back. Tumnus held tight to her other hand, with Lucy on his right. Lucy held the paw of Mr Beaver, and then came Mrs Beaver followed by a large family of Mice. Susan was on Edmund's other side, holding the hand of each of her brothers. Peter's other hand was occupied by yet another Nymph. Various others glowered at her jealously.
Edmund saw where Zia was looking. "High King Peter the Magnificent has quite a way with ladies," he chuckled.
A great clattering brought everyone's attention back to the orchestra stand. In his haste to get up there, a Faun had kicked over a lyre and was struggling to right it again. Chuckles and titters sounded from around the circle. Flustered, the poor Faun drew himself up to his full height before speaking out over the heads of the crowd.
"My fellow Narnians, another Solstice fire has been lit. Let us all remember how lucky we are to be blessed with summer again. It is thanks to Their Majesties that we can enjoy our festivities, let us not forget that!"
The pounding of hooves, feet and paws drowned out whatever he was going to say next as everyone in the clearing cheered for all they were worth. Four pairs of eyes glowed with pride. Lucy's happiness spilled over and trickled down her face. Tumnus dabbed away her tears with a white handkerchief and this seemed, strangely, to amuse the girl.
The Faun that had been speaking waited for hush to descend before continuing. "But let us also remember that each and every one of us is governed by the justice and generosity of our true king, who has granted us the fine pleasure of summer once again! Long live Aslan!"
"Long live Aslan!" a chorus of voices echoed ecstatically.
The speaker got down off the platform to quickly be replaced by the orchestra. Everyone waited in silence as they took up their instruments. When they were ready, they were counted down from three by every voice in the clearing. 'One' had barely disturbed the air before the great circle was moving. The dance started off slowly as everyone arranged their feet and then quickly picked up pace until faces were little more than orange blurs. The rousing music stirred something inside the Narnians' hearts - a fierce pride and love for their beautiful home.
Zia was so overwhelmed with emotion that she wanted to both laugh and cry in the same instant. Her hair now flowed freely about her shoulders, red as autumn leaves. Although she had been on her feet for most of the night, she needed to keep dancing until morning. She never wanted to leave the Lawn, never wanted the magic to end. Her heart was fit to burst with affection for everyone around the fire.
After three songs, most people were too dizzy to continue. They wavered and tripped their way to the sidelines and collapsed anywhere there was a space. Zia wasn't even close to tiring. A couple of the Fauns who were still standing pulled out their pipes and began to play along with the orchestra. She still gripped Edmund's hand although it was now slick with sweat.
Pulling him down, Zia whispered in his ear: "Look into the flames."
Shapes were beginning to form in the fire in time to the music. Edmund stopped still to stare.
"How…?" he started.
Zia laughed. "Magic."
As they watched, a trio of flame-Fauns danced to the music, kicking their hooves up in jolly euphoria. They transformed into an army of galloping Centaurs, a Gryphon plucking a fish from the sea with its talons, a knight dressed in full battle armour astride a prancing horse, a soaring phoenix and finally, as the music swelled to a crescendo, a proud lion atop a hill, his jaws open in a silent roar.
Edmund's jaw hung down in shock. Zia giggled at his amazement and twirled him in a playful circle to bring his mind back to the present. He lifted her up again, grinning wickedly as he spun her until she was dizzy. Despite the fact that her vision was teetering, Zia was a lot more balanced on landing than the first time he'd done that. His laugh was all the praise she needed.
"Mind if we swap partners?"
The voice belonged to Tumnus. He was stowing away his pipes as he fixed Zia with a stare that held an inexplicable emotion. Lucy was by his side, still smiling and apparently still full of energy.
"Of course not," Edmund replied, beaming at the Faun. "But be careful, this one will wear you out."
Indignant, Zia grimaced at him. Edmund chuckled and lifted her hand to his lips, brushing a soft kiss across her knuckles. Before she could get too flustered, Edmund dropped her hand and offered his arm to Lucy. The young Queen shook her head and grabbed the hand Zia had only just let go of before dragging her brother away.
Tumnus smiled ruefully. "That girl is always so happy about everything, even with all the responsibility of being Queen and the stresses of living with three older siblings. I've never seen her without that smile."
"She is rather keen," Zia agreed. She offered him her arm. "Shall we?"
"Actually, do you mind if we take a break? I wish to talk with you alone."
Puzzled, she did as Tumnus asked. He took her into a quiet corner and stood close enough so that the fur on his legs brushed against her dress. His eyes showed concern and a little urgency.
"Tumnus, whatever's the matter?"
"I'm worried," he whispered.
"Worried? Why?"
"About Empress Nina," he admitted, blushing. "She looked very strange before she left earlier. What's wrong with her?"
"I wish I knew," Zia sighed. "But I think it may be something to do with King Edmund."
"What could she possibly have against His Majesty?"
"I really don't know. I can't see anything wrong with him at all."
The Faun covered Zia's frail hands with his big, warm ones. "Are you growing attached to him?" he said softly.
Zia smiled ruefully. "Everything has been so out of control lately. I don't think Edmund will be able to tell me apart from any other Nymph after tonight."
"Zia, no one could forget you if they tried," Tumnus said kindly.
Her smile hid the sickness that twisted her stomach. "I'll go and find Nina," she promised, and pushed his hands back towards his chest. "Go back to Lucy."
Breejit was waiting for her by the northern entrance to Dancing Lawn. He had witnessed her conversation with Tumnus and seen the distress on her face. Wordlessly, he trotted after her as she half ran from the Lawn. As soon as she was fully enclosed by bleak, shadowy trees, she broke into a hard and fast sprint, attacking the earth with her feet.
Try as she might, she couldn't shake off the knowledge that she had let Pelerine win. She'd had nothing against the Nymph until tonight, but for some reason she felt an overwhelming need to be near Edmund at all times. After all, she had gotten there first - she had spent days thinking of little else but the mysterious stranger she had seen on the beach, and everything had seemed wonderful when he had asked her to dance with him. But now that Pelerine had him it seemed unlikely she would let him go until she was sure Zia had given up hope.
It was ironic that she'd chosen the Just King to grow attached to: everything was far from fair.