The rising sun filtered through the window of the luscious guest room, caressing the sides of the open shades, exposing the dust moats swirling through the air, and finally landing upon the empty bed. There was not a wrinkle out of place, as though no one had slept in it that night.
It was not because of this that the morning maid received the fright of her young life. But, rather, it was when she found the young man upon the floor next to the aforementioned bed. His body was sprawled out, in his day clothes, as though he had fallen and died before he had even gotten into bed.
With all of this in consideration, it is no surprise that girl couldn't help the loud gasp, nearly a cry truly, that escaped her lips before covering her mouth with her own hand, her eyes wide with horror. At this, the supposed body jerked violently at the noise and scrambled into a standing position with fists raised.
The unfortunate maid fainted dead away before he had even fully stood.
XxX
The room tilted and dipped as Arrosh oriented himself from getting up so quickly. By Tash, who had screamed? Why? What was happening?
There was a thud and with another blink Arrosh registered a young woman on the floor. A maid, presumably. Color rushed to his face as he realized what had happened. He crossed the room to the fainted woman.
He crouched over her some, patting her face kindly, almost afraid to touch her barbarian pale skin, "Madam? Wake up, madam." She was young compared to the other servants he had seen around here. Her hair was a fair, curly blonde that peeped out of her starch white cap, face smooth and never touched by a whip.
Why had she been in his room? Were maids supposed to do that here? Iliz rarely spoke of what she did in the great houses but was always more interested in playing after she was released. Even when she had grown much closer to being a young woman than a child, she had never talked much about what happened behind those grand doors. It was work, and why toil again in memory, is what she would say.
His heart squeezed painfully in his chest at the thought of his little sister. Iliz was gone and it was his fault. He hadn't been there, he couldn't get her back on his own.
The maid blinked and gave a small groan before fully opening her eyes. As she took in the foreign young man above her, her eyes widened and she rocketed up, colliding with him.
Both fell back in mutual pain and rubbing their foreheads. "I do apologize, sir! Oh, I am ever so sorry." She began to babble as she got up, "I was just coming in to do my work with the fires and I saw you there on the floor. I thought you were dead and oh, I do apologize, sire. I've only just started you see and -" She looked down, her face heating up, her pale skin changing to a shade of red, "I'm sorry to trouble you, sir. I'll be going now, sir." She bobbed a curtsy and began to leave.
"Wait," Arrosh picked himself off the floor, "What's your name?"
The girl paled. It was interesting how, with light skin, it changed color so easily, "My name is Fesh, sir." Her hands shook before she hid them behind her back as she waited to be dismissed. Was this what it had been like for his sister whenever she had gotten into trouble? No. He knew that Iliz had received far more than a scolding for her mishaps and mistakes. He was the one who tended to wounds left behind from a whipping. If there were such customs in this land, they hid it well.
Arrosh nodded a bit, "Please, do not be sorry, Madam Fesh. I shouldn't have been on the floor in the first place." He looked down, at least it was easier to talk to someone of his own station - for the most part. Next time, he would simply have to overcome the fact that the bed felt as though it were going to swallow him whole. Not that he would be here for much longer. They were to leave this afternoon on a ship for Calormen, time being of the essence.
Fesh didn't seem to know what to say but managed a curtsy, "Breakfast is in an hour, sire. Just ask anyone and they'll show you where to go." She turned to go.
"Madam Fesh, please," Arrosh called after her, giving her the smile he knew made a person at ease, "Call me Arrosh. Truly, I am no tarkan or anyone of great importance."
She gave a small grin in return, "I'm afraid I cannot, sir." She dipped her head some to hide her face, "You are the long-lost brother of the queen and far from not being important." She curtsied again, "I thank you for the thought, though." With that, she went on her way.
Arrosh frowned. He wasn't sure he liked the thought of that. But if it was what it took to get Iliz, then so be it. If he had to pretend that he loved Aravis as his own kin, then he would. Anything. He had already proven that after what he had done. Hopefully, this would be enough to still get his sister back. She was all he had left.
XxX
Aravis paced the room, her hand curled around her chin, as she counted her steps. 1, 2, 3, 4… 30 large paces. Her eyes went to the empty bed, rumpled with an ill night's sleep, and her speed increased.
123456….
Of course, something would happen right before an important journey. When would Cor get back here?
She stopped her pacing and took a breath. It was just a visitor from Narnia. Why did she feel so worried then? There was nothing to be upset about surely. It was just that it was usually the kings and queens themselves who would come - and that the visitor had come in the dead of night.
The creak of the door came and Cor stuck his head in. Aravis felt her heart drop at the look on his face. Something was terribly wrong. It was if he had aged 100 years within a night.
He started to mutter something to her before he shook his head, "I won't tell it a hundred different times to everyone. If you could gather Corin, and the other advisors together in the council room, I would much appreciate it."
"What are we to do with Arrosh?" She asked, before he could leave, "Breakfast is in 10 minutes."
Cor waved his hand, his head a million miles away from that problem, "Uh, give him to Ram and have a tour given - with servants mind you. I don't want them getting into trouble. Who knows what Ram would get him into if given the chance." He gave her an apologetic look, the sadness he had such a small hold on showing at the creases of his eyes, "I'm sorry, Aravis, I have to go now. I'll see you in the council room in 15 minutes and explain everything." He left before she could say anymore.
Aravis took a breath and set to work. Fluttering her hands in a state of worry wouldn't get anything done.
XxX
Arrosh meandered about the halls, both sickened and in awe of the place around him, not daring to enter any of the rooms. Every hall had a tapestry of what he presumed to be the Archenland flag, having seen it during his travels as well, with others depicting different scenes of hunts and stories. The floor was a marble that was cool and smooth beneath his feet, pillars with intricate designs running up to the high ceilings. How could people live in such a place? Well, he had once. Though not for long and not quite so grand if his child memories were true. What sort of person would he be if he had?
Passing a tall, wooden clock, he realized that it was nearly time for the morning meal. He managed to locate some form of a manservant.
"I was told breakfast was soon." He said, embarrassed to be asking or what could seem to be ordering anyone to do anything. People were supposed to be ordering him. "Would you mind showing me where it is? I'm afraid I'm rather lost."
The man looked him over and a smile grew on his face, "Why, of course, sire. Right this way." He began to lead him away, "I'm Ude, by the way. You must be Queen Aravis' brother. You've caused quite a to do around the palace I must say." He turned a corner, "Everyone is dying to get a look at you. Say, you're the spitting image of your sister." Another corner was turned, "They say you come from the bottom, right? Right. I was meant to be your valet but it was decided they would rather not overwhelm you. The king himself came from such a station, before he was discovered, and said he knew the feeling well."
Wait, he had? Out of everything he had heard spewed about Aravis from his father, not once had the man mentioned her husband beyond that he was a barbarian fool, cursed by the gods. None of them had even known he was a king or, truly, if she had ever married. But their father had claimed she had and for once he was right.
They came to a large set of double doors, "Here you are, sir. Have a good meal." He opened the door and left before Arrosh could get as much as a word out.
"Uncle Rosh!" Came the child voice of his newfound nephew, "Dad and Mum are doing something real important so you get to have breakfast with me!"
Arrosh felt his heart drop but managed to keep it from his face and voice, "Is that so, little one?" He went and sat next to Ram, ruffling the child's hair as he'd seen Corin do, "What happens after breakfast?" Silently, he prayed to the gods that nothing so important to have delayed their journey happened.
Food was placed before him and he nearly balked at it. It was far from what was the norm in Calormen. Last night he hadn't even noticed much of anything about his food. due to sheer relief. But now, before him were slices of bread toasted with a whitish yellow melting square atop, strips of cooked meat, and a heap of some light-yellow substance. Tentatively, he took a bite of the heap of yellow, using one of the scooping utensiles. Not dreadful. The texture was odd but the taste was one he didn't mind despite the lack of spices.
"Usually, I would go start my schooling." Ram said between bites of food. "But today I get to give you a tour with Master Lunten!" He shoveled a few more bites in, "He says he'll be waiting for us outside of the kitchens."
"And where will I be shown around? Inside? Outside?" Arrosh decided that the boy didn't care how he ate, and he wasn't going to know the boy long enough to care what he thought of him. He set to shoveling the food in his mouth. Never knew when it would be his last meal after all.
Ram, as Arrosh expected he would, took no notice of how his newfound uncle ate. Uncle Corin ate like a slob in front of family, so it didn't matter much to him. At Arrosh's question, he waved his hand, "Inside is boring! You'll see the stuff on the way to the kitchen but after that it'll be the great outdoors!" He started to squirm, food nearly finished, "There's the training grounds. Where they keep the hounds. The archery range. The -"
Arrosh waved his hands with a smile, "Woah, woah, woah, young one. You must leave at least some of them a surprise!"
This was the last thing in the world that he wanted to do right now. Preparing to leave? More than anything. Not being dragged around by a nephew he never even knew he had. He liked the boy and all but he had a little sister to get back.
The council sat around the table in a solemn circle. Cor looked more frazzled than a king ought to be when appearing before his subjects. His curly hair stuck out at odd ends, and it was evident that he hadn't slept that night. Yet, through the appearance, he didn't seem panicked or unsure of himself. He was no longer the unsure, scared boy who survived a battle only by Aslan's mane. He was every bit the king his father had wished him to be.
"To save you from the suspense, I will tell all of you the problem we are facing first and then give you the details." He placed his hands on the table and looked to Aravis before looking to each of his council, "The four rulers of Narnia, our friends and allies, are missing."
There was a beat of silence with everyone at the table sitting as though struck, another second passed, and then the room erupted as the king's words finally sunk in.