Born For This

8.Uncertainties

Chapter 8 – Uncertainties

“It seems so strange to be here again without King Peter and Queen Lucy present,” Aravis commented as she gazed at the land unfolding before her. The beautiful blue river stretched far to the west and the Shuddering Woods blanketed the south. Aravis leaned against the stone fortifications around the edge of the tower and breathed in the crisp air.

“Yes,” Cor agreed. “The castle seems very quiet and uneasy. It’s almost as if it is the calm before the storm.”

“Do you think that King Edmund and Queen Susan miss their siblings?” Aravis wondered.

“Yes, something terrible,” Cor answered. He glanced at the slim girl beside him. “That green gown brings out the color in your eyes. Is it new?”

Aravis turned her head to hide her slightly flushed cheeks. “Yes,” she replied. “Queen Susan said it had been one of her old gowns when she was my age.”

“It seems strange to think of Queen Susan as being our age once,” Cor remarked as he returned his gaze to the land rambling towards the horizon.

“You can see it in her eyes sometimes,” Aravis responded. “And when she laughs, I think I can see a young girl who loved to dream. She says there was a great war going on where she came from, and I sometimes wonder if her dreams were shattered and now she doesn’t dare to dream such wildly wonderful things.”

“Is she unhappy in Narnia?” Cor asked in puzzlement.

“Oh no,” Aravis smiled. “Of course not. She loves Narnia dearly. But I think she misses her father and mother. The responsibility laid upon her is great.” Aravis’s smile faded and Cor turned back to her.

“You miss your family as well,” Cor guessed.

“Yes.” Aravis sighed wistfully. “It was such a loving place until my brother rode to war. After he died, everything fell apart. Father immersed himself in his business and Mother shattered into a thousand pieces. It felt like they had forgotten me. Until Father decided to marry me off.” Aravis shuddered. “The only choice I had was to run away. But I’m so glad I met you, Cor.” She turned grateful eyes to his honest face. “Your family has made me welcome a thousand times.”

“It was Aslan who caused our paths to cross,” Cor answered. He would have said more, but their conversation ceased as footsteps approached and Edmund stepped out of the doorway.

“Cor, can I ask you something?” requested Edmund, clasping his hands behind his back.

“Of course, King Edmund,” Cor answered, rising to his feet. He gave Aravis an apologetic smile but she waved it aside. The two walked several paces away and Aravis could no longer understand their conversation.

“Cor, I leave for Beruna tomorrow,” Edmund explained. “And I wanted to ask you about something that has been weighing on my mind heavily in the last few days.”

Cor waited quietly for Edmund to continue. Edmund appeared deep in thought for a few moments. Cor had the idea that Edmund had temporarily lost himself in another time in another place where someone else had been telling him what he was about to tell Cor. When Edmund at last shook off the shadows of the past, there was an evident sadness about him.

“Cor.”

“Yes?”

“Will you promise me something?”

“Of course,” Cor answered honestly. “As long as it is within my power to keep it.”

“Wise words, Cor,” Edmund replied, clapping the lanky boy on the shoulder. “Your father is teaching you well.”