Hello readers,
Here I have the third chapter finally posted! Sorry it's been a little while but I hope you enjoy it! I don't own Narnia, just my oc's and this story idea,
Thank you!

Now on with the show...

Maugrim's Rancor: Chapter 3
The Royal Guest

Rancor was displeased.

The weather had decided to turn ugly on him, and it poured down heavy torrents of rain as if mother nature herself was trying to discourage the three wolves from their bloodthirsty quest.

Rancor's fur was soaked clean through and the winds nipped at his shivering body, tormenting his already tortured soul.

Was destroying a king he never met (even if he had murdered his father) really worth such a long trek through the country in these kind of conditions? Rancor thought about this for a moment, knowing that if he didn't find his resolve soon he'd turn around now and have to hide from his mother with his tail tucked between his legs for the rest of his life!

She had full faith and expectancy in him! If he failed now he would be an even bigger disgrace than his fallen father. Not to mention what his sisters would think of him; or what'd they do to him if he told them they were to turn back now.

Rancor's determination sharpened after these considerations, forcing his mind to become more focussed and passionate than ever about this mission. He was NOT turning back now. The mud slipped and splashed beneath his feet as he quickened his pace.

Burbite and Ripclaw both growled slightly in irritation at having to hasten themselves in this disgusting weather, but they dare not petition their brother. He was in one of those quietly somber and serious moods that usually meant you didn't want to test him. They trudged on.

...

The next day:
In the city sitting below Cair Paravel...

Finally, they were here.

The wolves now had to work double time to keep from being seen.

In the city, were people everywhere. People having migrated from the islands across the sea, Centaurs, Fauns, gryphon's and other talking animals, as well as peace promising Minotaurs and dwarves, roamed the clean, peaceful streets.

The question was... how to get to the palace gate? The city had one main road that led all the way up to the palace gates and there was no other way to enter the castle since a high fortified wall surrounded its boarders.

Rancor sat down in the bushes alongside the road, nodding his sisters do the same. He had to think... if they could not be seen going up to the gate, nor would they ever be admitted even if they weren't run off first, then there had to be another way to get to King Peter.

With thoughts buzzing in his mind, a sudden idea took Rancor's fancy. As much as he would have liked to have killed King Peter right in his throne chair where he sat, it would be much more beneficial to draw the King out by gaining his attention in some way, and then lie in wait for when the royal highness least expected it.

Rancor turned to his sisters.
"In order to succeed we will need to do some recon before establishing a plan of attack. Scatter and meet me back here in a few hours. Listen for any words among the towns people speaking of the Kings and Queens' whereabouts. Stay out of sight. Now go!" Rancor ordered.

Burbite and Ripclaw nodded and both scampered off into the woods, splitting into different directions. Rancor now looked back to the streets he himself sat closest to and deliberated on whether or not he should do a very bold thing and enter them.

His heart beat fast as he sat in council with the two combatting sides of his brain.

"Don't do it! You are crazy!" One side said, "But if you don't do it, what will your mother think of your cowerdice?" retorted the other side. The argument continued, giving Rancor no peace of mind, nor was any near in sight when suddenly the black wolf's wandering eyes caught sight of something amazing.

A wolf! Undoubtably female with the slenderness of her body and the lightness of her paws, her pure white coat glittered in the sunlight as she trotted through the streets as if she'd done it a million times.

Rancor stared, in complete incomprehension of what he was seeing. Wolves were never seen out of the Shuddering woods! How was it that one was walking through the road, passing Fauns and creatures alike without hesitation and without causing any alarm? It was impossible!

Could it be that in fact, she were hidden by some spell, where no other eyes but his could see her? Or was she some ghost he was imagining from lack of rest and food?

Rancor shook his head and blinked several times, each attempt to shake away this dream falling void as the white wolf was still there, trotting briskly through the crowds. How was it that she was so welcomed?

All wolves were hated and distrusted, or at least, that was what his mother had always told him. Becoming irristibly curious, Rancor stood up on all fours and began tracking the female wolf through the crowd, meanwhile staying hidden himself along the road side.

He tailed her until she arrived directly at the palace gates and the two Centaur Royal Guards standing on either side began speaking to her.

"Good luck with that," Rancor snorted with a sarcastic eye. There was no way this wolf, beautiful or not, was getting past those guards. But then, the unthinkable happened. The guards nodded and the gates were opened! The sound of the steel bars being pulled back and the cringe of swinging metal met Rancor's ears as he watched, completely dumbfounded.

The female nodded her thanks to the Centaurs and trotted right through and on up the palace road. For half a minute, Rancor simply stood, jaw dropped and in utter shock at what he'd just witnessed. How in the name of Aslan, had that just been possible? Was it true? All he had to do was approach the gates and ask for admitance to see the King?

It sounded too easy, too unbelievably simple...

...

Meanwhile, in the palace court yard...

High King Peter paced through Cair Paravel's extensive and beautiful gardens. Flowers of all types radiated from the trees and bushes in full bloom, decorating each path way, cellebrating every stone arch, and wrapping about the nearest set of the castle columns.

This wasn't generally the place Peter went to relieve his mind of troubles but he found the sunlight in perfect cast today and, as he'd been in the throne room all morning, he was in want of the fresh air.

Susan and Lucy had been the ones to sculpt this garden into the paradise that it was now, (with the help of many palace gardners) and since Peter nor Edmond had taken any part in it, they generally did not dare to infiltrate their sisters' domain nor credit themselves with the enjoyment of their siblings' hard labor.

But since both Queens were gone, today was a rare exception. Peter now walked along one of the stone paths, headed for a glorious fountain when he heard a familiar voice shout after him.

"Pete!" called Edmund.

The younger king's eyes searched over the spance of shruberies, his gaze sweeping from one direction to another in search of his brother.

"Over here Ed," Peter called back. With the help of voice guidence, Edmund eventually found his older brother and took to walking beside him. They were both in casual palace clothing, still rich, but not something they would ride to town in before their people.

"I was looking for you all over and no one knew where you were," Edmond explained,
"What are you doing out here? If our sister's so much as see a boot track when they come back they will be positively alight with suspicion," he reminded. Peter smiled.

"Of course they will but I've been thinking on something very vexing lately," Peter informed, "There has been talk of a black wolf moving through the woods. I think he means to do me harm and I don't understand why, but not knowing much about the specifics of the situation only seems to make my fears grow worse," he admitted.

"You've killed many more terrible things than wolves," Edmund responded with a snicker of amusement.
"Yes I know, but this wolf is different. He's shrouded in mystery, and this disturbs me," Peter defended.

"Then let it disturb you but don't let it put crazy ideas into your head, such as walking into our territorial sisters' garden," Edmund laughed.

Peter smiled, feeling better now that his brother had come along. Edmund and himself had never been closer than they'd been in these past few years of reigning as Kings over Narnia. Peter couldn't think of a closer friend and partner when it came to handling complicated affairs, physical, or of the heart.

"Well I've taken action to set aside my fears as best I can and called upon an expert to stay with me and discuss the matter," Peter stated to his brother.
"Really? What kind of expert?" Edmund asked curiously.
"My King, The clan leader Arla of the Silver Pack has arrived as you've requested," Oreius announced suddenly from the grand castle ledge overlooking the whole garden from above.

"Brilliant, I will see her now," Peter responded eagerly. He'd been waiting all morning for this moment.
"Finally, I shall be put at ease," Peter told his brother, rushing back down the garden path way with Edmond close behind.

The two kings entered the palace once more from the court yard and strolled towards the throne room where both took their designated seats before having Orieus let their visitor enter. The doors opened and in came a white wolf, her fur bright and clean, her face pleasant and soft to look at as she trotted down the long red carpet to stop and bow before them.

"Your royal majetsties," she greeted, her tone the softest Peter had ever heard coming from a wolf's throat.
"I recieved word of your summons and came directly as requested," Arla explained, standing up once more to look back and forth between them.

"Thank you, I appreciate your swiftness," Peter responded with a nod of his own head,
"Along with the letter, I believe I sent word informing you of a rumor that has been spreading around my kingdom for some time; word of a black wolf that is said to either be the long deceased Captain Maugrim's ghost, or more likely, his son," Peter informed.

"Yes you did my lord," the clan leader responded, "And I have taken great pains to discover the source of these rumors as well as investigate the reality behind them," she said assuredly.

Edmund sat quietly, simply watching his brother and the white wolf engage in conversation.
"And what have you discovered exactly?" Peter inquired anxiously.

"If I may my lord, start at the beginning?" the she-wolf asked permission. Peter nodded and Arla proceeded.

"During the cursed winter years of Narnia, a small pack of wolves resisted the temptation of aligning themsleves with the evil White Witch. They had been turned to stone as punishment and placed before the dens of her Secret Police as warning to all those who might think of rebellion. It was only after the Great War, when Aslan scoured the land to free those from Jadis's spells, that these few loyal wolves were found and restored back to life. All other wolves were understood to be extinguished during the war save for those loyal few. It was after these loyal wolves' discovery that your highnesses established them to be called the Silver Pack and ordained us as the Narnian boarder patrollers, welcoming the pack into one of your closest confidences. We humbly remain forever grateful for this role and our part in protection of this wonderful country," she added graciously, bowing once more in respect before continuing.

"Since this establishment, we, the Silver Pack, have continued to serve the Kings and Queens and have reported all words of possible boarder attacks to your royal selves. Now, it was not until these few days ago that I recieved your request and began to look into the rumor you've specified. To my great agitation, after discussing the matter with the clan, I discovered a secret among our ranks.

"One of my members, which I will not disclose his identity unless my lord should want it," Arla stated then continued, "happened upon a strange occurance some time last year in the summer months. It was while on a regular hunt, this clan member was confronted by a strange lone, old wolf, who called himself Flatfoot. Now please understand that before any of this, the Silver Pack have been completely unaware of any other wolves existance aside from ourselves.

"So, you can imagine the shock this particular member felt for not having found out this stranger's living sooner... In any case, he knew enough to investigate Flatfoot extensively on where he lived and if he was by himself or if there were others. Flatfoot confessed that there were others but stated that they were very few and asked no harm come to them, as they were happy in their unknown and peaceful existence. Naturally, this did not appease the Silver Pack member so it was demanded that Flatfoot show the rest of these stranger's location so that they may be brought before your highnesses for thorough investigation,"

It was here the female wolf paused a moment, looking down, "It is to my understanding that Flatfoot... expressed vehement disagreement and he... escaped. Our pack member lost his scent and in his embarrasement felt obligated to keep this incident a secret," the she-wolf hurried on, "I assure you my lord that this wolf is being punished for his crime of withholding this important information from us and from your majesties... But if I may continue, I shall now get to the part of my own involvment," she pleaded.

Peter was definitely taking in everything this wolf was saying and his distress was evident by having put his hand to rest on the side of his face, with an elbow propped against the throne chair's armrest. Peter none the less nodded that the wolf continue, hoping there was still a chance for the news to get better.

"Well my lord, I searched the land for evidence of this black wolf's existance and promptly located personally the old lone wolf's location. Flatfoot was found," she informed and Peter's heart rose in relief at this.

"But, my lord, Flatfoot was not alone. He was denning with his daughter-in-law, whom I found out to be Shredla... mate to the deceased Captain Maugrim,"
she paused again and looked down as if she had something very difficult to say.

Peter blinked, wishing the wolf would hurry up and spill out the rest of the story! Enough with these pauses for breaths!
"Please continue," Peter prompted desperately.

"Your highness, I tell you now, this female wolf was derranged and very disagreeable. Her temper was made increasingly furious and there was no ease in restraining her upon her capture. It took great effort to get any information out of her, but finally when she was mad enough, she admitted only this: that she 'was looking forward to the King Peter's doom, which was sure to come soon'..." Arla finished. Peter swallowed.

It was hard to explain the unnerving feeling that came over him. Something about being doomed just didn't sit well with him.

"Is that all?" Peter asked after he took a moment to settle his nerves.
"Not all my lord. We met up with the night keepers of Sherwood for further recollection of any possible black wolf's whereabouts, and it was made very clear that the pack of three wolves were headed in this direction. By our calculations, they should be in town or, more likely, in the outskirts of it, as we speak," Arla summed up.

Peter leaned back in his throne chair, looking over at Edmund who had seemed to take everything in perfect stride. Not much could surprise the younger brother these days.

"Well? What are you going to do? It's not like the wolves can barge through our gaits or get over the wall," Edmund reminded unconcernedly. Of course, he wasn't nervous! It wasn't his life that was doomed! Peter thought in exasperation.

"Your highness, if it is too bold of me to offer an idea, stop me now," Arla said. Peter didn't, so she continued,
"I have an idea of how to go about this situation my Kings..." Arla promised with a smile and a bright wag of her tail.

How'd that go? Let me know with a review and get excited for the next chapter. It will be totally awesome I proimse!

-Stokin D Embers