Wow! I had no idea so many people would enjoy this so much! Thank you so much to all the reviewers! You guys have no idea how many smiles you brought to my face! KCS, Cirolane, Princess in the Pea, Narnian Lily, Sentimental Star, LaurenWinchester, jdeppgirl4, Window2MySoul, ilysia, Sedri, GoGothGirl, diff-r-ent-1, liz22463, Eve Royal, Ilada'Jefiv, Siriusly Loopy, rolletti, purple kimono, and Chance2--Thank you!!
rolletti--this is dedicated to you. :) Without you, this would never have made it to completion. I hope it lives up to your expectations!
Disclaimer: (since I forgot it earlier) I don't own Narnia or the characters in this fic.
And onto the story! Enjoy!
Chapter 2: Kitchen Maid
It was the strangest mixture. Chocolate, a vile thing if one asked her, and milk. And not only were the two mixed until they formed a deep brown, the concoction was then heated. Heated!
In Mellia's village, milk was a rarity and one would never dream of spoiling such a precious item by heating it. But she had been informed multiple times, in the strictest of terms, that it was considered a delicacy in Spare Oom and under no circumstances was she to insult the Kings and Queens of Narnia by turning up her little badger nose at their drink.
Mellia had become used to bringing the monarchs the drink during the icy Narnian winters. They were always polite, smiling and nodding their thanks. She'd return about an hour later and, without fail, the cups were empty and gathered nicely on a table.
The action had become so routine that tonight the Kings and Queens had not even called for the hot chocolate, as they called it. Nevertheless the drink had been prepared, Mellia summoned, and now she moved down the hallways towards the High King's study.
Shifting the weight of the tray to one paw, Mellia lifted the other to rap on the heavy wooden door when a raised voice from inside caught her attention.
"Ed!"
Mellia moved back a step.
"You and your infernal wits! Give it a chance! It'll work!"
Perhaps she could return later with their hot chocolate. After all, they hadn't called for it yet. Although, a different part of her reasoned that she couldn't possibly return to the kitchen with the untouched mugs. Cailn, the head cook, would have a fit.
"Think about it, Pete. Nobody wants this marriage. It'll only give the feud fresh flame."
"How else are they going to agree on anything if they don't get married?"
Mellia instinctively looked for a place to hide. She couldn't just stand here, shuffling from one paw to the other. What if someone walked by? It was painfully obvious that she was eavesdropping on a conversation about matters of state.
The highest ruler of the land had to approve any marriage of nobility. And quite clearly, the discussed marriage was causing division amongst the two kings. If she was correct in the first two respects then they were indeed discussing affairs of importance to the kingdom.
Such debates on imperative matters should not be listened in on, especially crouching and shifting like she was a vagabond begging for loose scraps. She repositioned the tray and turned away from the door. Mayhap she could find a few stray fauns that might choke down the Spare Oom delicacy. That would free her to return to the kitchen with the hope that the monarchs would not call for usual round of hot chocolate.
However, the next sentence halted her movements as surely and swiftly as the White Witch's wand would have.
"Pete, the skunks and the badgers haven't lived together for over one hundred years. One marriage will not mend all the rifts in such a situation."
Mellia's heart beat faster. She'd known about the rivalry between the races since she was as small as her papa's left paw. If they were indeed discussing the laboriously debated marriage between skunk and badger nobility, then it was in her and her family's interest to listen in, no matter how it might twist her stomach to do so.
"Bullar is one of the most prominent badgers in Narnia. If he agrees to marry a skunk bride then how many others will follow his example?"
Mellia, cheeks flushing under her smooth fur, set the tray down with barely a clink of crockery and pressed her ear against the door to better hear the reply.
"One marriage is not going to provoke an effusion of good will, no matter the parties involved."
King Edmund, if she judged the smooth voices accurately, was not interested in approving the marriage. Mellia couldn't say she disagreed with him either. In a schism this deep, no single matrimony would solve the issues.
"Peter," a new voice, one smooth and sweet, entered the conversation. "I think he's right. This marriage was a valiant effort by Bullar to mend the rivalry but it will solve nothing, save to condemn a young skunk to an unhappy marriage."
Queen Susan, then, was in the room as well.
"What makes you think she rues the marriage so?"
"She has never given her consent. Her family has, after Bullar gave them a considerable plot of land, but she has never agreed."
At that moment, Mellia heard something she never thought she might hear the infallible High utter, not even if all the armies of Narnia stood against him. He cursed, violently.
Two voices immediately cried, "Peter!"
"Well, I can't say I like the situation anymore than you two!"
A pause from within before Queen Susan spoke softly, "Ed, why don't you go check on Lucy. She's doing her sums again."
Mellia's spine stiffened. What would they think of her now? Caught, wide-eyed and red-pawed with no reason whatsoever for her snooping. She'd be punished for certain. Snatching up the tray, she debated the virtue of entering now and acting as though she had not heard anything.
Yet, what would she say? Her fur was ruffled in agitation and her eyes were no doubt a clear indication to her guilt.
The door handle turned, grating slightly as the tumblers rotated.
Blowing out a slight breath, she snatched up the tray—careful to prevent the glasses from spilling—and glanced about for a place, anywhere, to conceal herself until the Just King had passed by.
A loud click informed her that the door was being pulled open just as she stepped behind a veil of thick woolen curtains. King Edmund's slim form stepped to the hallway and closed the door.
His dark head bowed and he sighed heavily, as if a weight were pressing down on his shoulders. With long, measured footsteps, he disappeared down the hallway that was darkening in the fading sunlight.
Mellia's throat was dry as she slunk back in front of the door, tray still in hand. She reminded herself that this was for her family. They would be proud indeed to have heard about this before anyone else. This was not eavesdropping. There wasn't anything to drop.
The Queen's voice was low, barely audible, and ridden with dejection. "What's wrong, Peter?"
"What do you mean?"
"You've snapped at Ed all day, and you refused to help Lucy with her lessons. We both know that's not like you."
A long pause filled the air and Mellia wondered if they were moving towards the door as well. That thought sent terror down through her tail. Two pairs of eyes were better than one pair. They would surely spot her.
Just as she began to back away, the High King spoke. "It's this cursed headache. I can't seem to get rid of it."
"Pete…" Mellia never thought she'd hear the Gentle Queen make such a primal…growl.
"Su, it's not what you think. Honestly. I just need more sleep. And less unsolvable treaties like this badger-beaver mess."
"Skunks."
"What?"
"The marriage agreement. It's between the badgers and the skunks."
"Right."
"Peter, you need to sleep."
Mellia had heard that tone before. She'd used herself many a time when her siblings became usually rowdy and needed quieting before bed. It was a mixture of firm chiding and soothing care.
"I'm fine. I'll just finish this first." The High King's words were determined though his tone was not.
The Queen sighed resignedly. "Shall I call for hot chocolate?"
Those two words sent Mellia's gaze shooting down to the mugs. They couldn't call for it now, and the cook would ask what she'd been doing. Then she would have to explain why she listened in.
She trusted the monarchs of the land…she was merely curious.
That left her with one choice. She gulped, feeling the wetness of her saliva slide down her throat like sandpaper, and rapped on the wood.
The door grated open and the Gentle Queen's serene face and dark locks came into view. "Yes?" Beyond her, the High King was hunched over a desk piled high with papers. He did indeed look weary.
"I-I've brought…" her voice failed her.
"Oh, thank you. Put it on the table there." The Queen gestured to a table between two plush chairs.
Mellia did so as fast as her short legs would allow. The tray settled with a loud 'clang' and she turned, bowing.
The two monarchs granted her with a thin smile, and returned to their work. Mellia scampered out without another noise. This was a night she'd rather not explain to anyone, be they her family or not.
The two lords and ladies of the land were certainly doing their best to ensure safety and happiness in the kingdom. She would let them be and be satisfied to bring them their dainties. And maybe it would ease their burdens.
Smiling for the first time since she'd been given the tray, she started to patter down the hallway but the High King's words once again followed her as she made her way to the kitchen.
"Su?" His voice conveyed confusion. "Isn't the hot chocolate usually warmer than this?"
Fin