Greetings readers!
I am very sorry for being so infrequent in updating this story! (or at least a week between posts sounds infrequent to me) Anyway, I am back with chapter six and I hope you enjoy it enough to over look how long it took to get here! lol

I don't own Narnia, Narnians or any of the locations, just my Oc's and the story plot!

Maugrim's Rancor: Chapter 6
Plotting

Rancor knew he couldn't keep his sisters waiting long or else they'd assume he lost whatever battle he'd gotten himself into and come back looking for him. Rawla was still looking up at him with this pretty and friendly smile though.

Rancor found it was hard to want to leave from it. He wished he could take her with him, but he wouldn't dare bring her to suffer under his sisters' rude and raw behavior. Burbite and Ripclaw would most likely look down on Rawla for being nothing more than a street dog anyway. With hesitation, Rancor flattened his ears and backed away.

"I should get going," he said, "but can I see you again?" he inquired, wondering if that sounded as wimpy as he thought it did. Rawla opened her mouth, just about to answer when the sudden sound of screaming in the distance through the woods could be heard.
"What was that?" Rancor asked. Rawla got to her feet instantly.

"I'm not sure, let's go!" she said rushing off.
"No, wait, what?!" Rancor wasn't used to taking off in some random direction towards unfamiliar screams! But Rawla was already running away. Darn her! Rancor growled to himself and took off after her. If there was some sort of trouble, he didn't want Rawla getting in the middle of it, so he went, just to make sure she would stay safe. He managed to catch up after a few long strides.

"Do you make a habit of running off after strange sounds?" he questioned.
"Actually I do! Life is more exciting that way," she responded. Rancor gave her this look that said he was thinking she was rather crazy, but he kept silent as he ran beside her.

"Help! Help!" the screams continued, and the closer the two canines became, the clearer they could hear the tiny voice. It sounded like a little girl.
"Help somebody!" the little voice cried out. Rancor slid to a stop, looking about in the woods for any sign of the person in distress. But he could see no one, just a cultivation of rocks.

"It's the well!" Rawla barked, running up to the circle of rocks and looking down. Rancor followed her in surprise. It was an old well, and it stretched not too deep but deep enough. A small faun girl was trapped inside it, sitting on the mud floor. She startled when seeing the strange rescuers and backed up against the well's wall.
"Who... who are you?" she asked timidly.

"We're going to help you," Rawla said quickly in a reassuring tone, "Are you injured?"
"My leg.. it hurts," the faun girl responded shakily. Rawla lifted her head and looked to Rancor.
"Look around for a long fallen branch. We can use one to pull her up,"
"I have a better idea, how about I just go find somebody in town to help?" Rancor suggested instead, thinking it clearly the better plan. Rawla's eyes narrowed in exasperation.

"Town is far away and I fear she is injured, the sooner we get her out the better," she responded quickly. Rancor sighed and turned off to do as the female instructed. He still didn't see why things like this had to happen to him. His sisters were still waiting! And what was worse, that white wolf he'd seen earlier was probably long gone, with any chance of stopping to talk to her no longer existent.

"It's alright," Rancor heard Rawla calm the girl, "We'll get you out," she promised.

Meanwhile, Rancor ravaged around for a long fallen branch, something that was sturdy enough to lower down and pull with that wouldn't break. Bushes were everywhere and pine trees towered above his head. None of the fallen branches he saw looked promising. But he had to keep searching. He trotted around quickly his eyes wide and alert. But he wasn't finding anything! Then...

"Rancor! Come here!" he heard Rawla shout for him. Turning on his heels he rushed back towards the well.
"What? What is it?" Rancor asked. Approaching he saw that Rawla held some dirtied rope in her mouth.
"I found this buried in the dirt a few feet away," she explained quickly, "Help me," she beckoned, walking to the well side and dropping the rope down, being sure to step on the end so not all of it fell.

"Grab a tight hold, we will pull you up," Rawla called down gently then put her head down to grab hold of the rope in her strong jaws.

Rancor came up and bit down a few feet away on the rope to aid in the pulling. He was a wolf, he could pull up a small little faun girl with ease. Rawla on the other hand was just a street dog, and though unnaturally big, she wouldn't have the natural strength that he had.

Letting the rope sit tightly between his clenched jaws he used all his shoulder muscles and began to pull, backing up slowly with his back legs, while keeping his front legs locked. He yanked yard, then again and again. The weight of the child on the other end was significant, but with combined power, Rancor and Rawla had that faun girl up out of that well in no time. Dropping the end of the rope, Rawla rushed over to the small girl and nuzzled her cheek.

"Are you alright?" she inquired gently. Rancor stood in the background, admiring Rawla's gentle and caring nature. He imagined it was something of what a mother should be like, if his mother had been anything close to the discriptcion of "gentle" and "caring" anyway.

"I think so... but my leg hurts," the faun girl answered. Rancor analyzed the little faun girl with careful but gentle eyes. She looked to be about seven and he felt bad she was out here alone. Then the realization occurred to him.

He'd just helped save someone... He'd never done that before. Put others in danger yes, but save them? Never.

"We'll help you to town," Rawla offered readily. Rancor blinked.
"Rawla, I...I should get going, I'm sorry," Rancor interrupted, "I want to help but I can't," he bowed out, backing up.

The faun girl was looking over at him with soft eyes and though Rancor did want to help, he was sure he had done enough. She was out of the well now and Rawla could take her back to town safely without his help, he was sure.

"Okay..." Rawla nodded, "I'll see you around, thanks for helping," she said with a light smile, and then let the little faun girl lean on her side as she walked her away through the woods. Rancor sighed and turned to go.

What was happening to him? He was supposed to be a cold killer and now he was helping random little girls out of wells! And to make matters worse, he was pretty sure he was falling in love...

His mother would skin him alive if she saw how distracted he was becoming from his task to murder King Peter. There was no doubt about it... He HAD to focus. No more seeing Rawla until his task was done. Rancor blocked out all thoughts aside from revenge and worked himself into an angry attitude.

He'd need to be moody anyway if he was to put up with his sisters' complaining again about how he'd been gone so long. As it was, when he finally found them hiding in the woods nearest the palace moat and gates, they didn't even bother venturing any smart remarks, for Rancor's face said it all: DON'T MESS WITH ME...

They didn't. Instead, they waited for him to do the talking.

"Based off of the information all three of us have gathered, I've decided that we will use the return of the two Queens back to their palace as an advantage to sneak through the gates. I have no doubt the Queens will make their way first into the castle before greeting their people in a ceremony that will take place later.

"SO, our job will be to keep an eye out for their carriage. When it appears, you two will cause some sort of diversion so I can slip by the gates when they open and hopefully no guards will notice," Rancor explained.

The pack of siblings then proceeded to go over the more complicated details, but in the end, they were quite pleased with their plan. They wouldn't have to wait long, for the Queens would be back soon from their travels and when they were...

Rancor would seize his opportunity without hesitation.

...

Cair Paravel: King Peter's Royal Bed Chambers...

Bathed, dressed in his king's clothes, and safe once again, King Peter sat at his desk in his room scribbling a letter to his sisters. Clearing his throat and setting the feather pen back in the ink bottle, Peter took a moment to pause and reflect on what he had written so far.

He had been inquiring whether Susan and Lucy's journey had gone well and stating his eagerness to see them home safe and sound once again. The steady clip clop of horse hooves could be heard just outside his door and before Orius could even knock Peter said,

"Come in Orius,"
Orius entered accordingly, announcing,
"My lord, the pack leader Arla has returned and wishes to speak with you. She is in the throne room,"

Peter nodded and got up from his seat. He'd have to finish his letter later. Stepping out of his room, King Peter and Orius made their way down the palace stairs to the secondary floor where the throne room awaited them. Arla was sitting waiting for them.

"Your highness," she greeted in a courteous nod.
"What have you to report?" Peter asked in return.

"My Lord, I have wonderful news. The wolf called Rancor, in whom I further investigated, is not as cold hearted as we may have feared," she began.
Peter's eyes brightened in hope.

"As it turns out, his mother, Shredla, the mate of Maugrim, was the one to have forcefully instilled any bitterness he may feel towards you. It is my understanding that he feels no personal malice towards you at all. His heart his more good than even I anticipated, and he's shown it in every circumstance. He even assisted me in saving a little girl from a well earlier today," she informed.

This, Peter thought, was definitely good news, but he did not interrupt as Arla had more to say.

"I think, that if or when he confronts you, he will not go through with attempting your murder. He's already communicated to me that he often doubts himself, and with that insecurity will come an openness of mind. If you would just speak with him, explain to him why it was you had to have killed his father, I believe things will all turn out for the better," Arla finally finished.

Peter nodded with a small smile.

"That is something I would indeed like to try. His understanding of the entire situation is askew, and from what you have explained, I too believe there is hope to win his trust," Peter responded. Orius had remained quiet, but he was also regarding the conversation carefully. When it fell quiet, he took the opportunity to speak.
"And what of this Rancor's plots? Have you discovered how exactly he intends to strike?" he questioned to Arla.

"I dare not ask him such personal and direct questions, for he himself hasn't dared to even admit to me yet that he is planning on trying to cause harm to his highness," Arla replied.

"What I don't like about this is what if you are wrong?" Orius questioned quickly, "What if this Rancor is putting on an act and is deeper down quite intent on dispatching the king? What then? We have no notion of his plans or how he is deciding to try and attack,"
Peter found himself sink into the familiar hole of fear when Orius spoke.

It was true, nothing could be absolutely certain when it came to what this Rancor was capable of.
"I say you lead me to him and we capture him now. King Peter can attempt conversation with him once he is behind bars," Orius stated decidedly.

"And arrest him for what? We have no proof of what he is plotting save for the rumors that have been floating around and the crazed words of his mother whom may or may not actually be sane," Arla retorted. It was clear the centaur was getting a bit on her nerves and Peter was on edge himself. Both of these consulars had good ideas, but which to act upon? Should he remain patient and wait for Rancor to show himself, or press forward now?

"Your highness, if I lead your captain to Rancor now, I will have betrayed the wolf's confidence," Arla pleaded, "I fear I am the only one he truly has made bounds to trust, and ruining that now will quite possibly injure him forever..."

"He feels for you?" Peter's voice came out in gentle surprise.

"I... I believe so. And to be quite honest, I feel a surprising amount of compassion for him as well. He needs to be shown kindness, not harshness. Harshness is all he has known his whole life," Arla explained carefully.

She had her tail tucked between her legs, fearing she had just ventured onto very dangerous ground and perhaps had been to open before her king. But it was true... She did care for Rancor's well being.

Arla waited anxiously for Peter's response. He was silent for a long while, staring at the floor as he thought things over. Finally he lifted his eyes to the white wolf and said,

"I will spend the night thinking over what the best course of action should be. For now you are dismissed."

Whooo hoo! Finally got the part out! lol, let me know what you thought! Is the plot thickening? I dearly hope so because the climax is closer than you think! ;)

-Stokin D Embers