~By the Lion's Mane: See You Again~

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fourteen

About a month after our agreement, I led our first party to investigate in the North. The reports had come from Dwarves, Animals, and farmers who lived on the very edge of Narnia’s northern border, in the colder hills fringing Ettinsmoor.

It was a small party, not even as big as the one I had led on the hunt. But since there wasn’t anything to confront yet, it would be all we needed, and we were armed and prepared anyway. I rode at the front, astride Anduril, trotting through the trees and fields of Narnia. The crisp autumn air kept us feeling energetic, and the bright leaves of the trees fluttered softly in the light breeze.

After two days journey north, we passed west of the vast marshes, which were the home of the strange people called Marsh-wiggles. Marsh-wiggles had not inhabited Narnia in the Golden Age. They had emigrated here from the wild, unexplored lands west of Narnia, across the high, snow-capped mountains that formed the western border of Narnia, sometime a little before the Telmarines invaded.

However, the Marsh-wiggles were not far enough north to have been bothered by the strange things we had heard of. The farmers and Dwarfs who had come to us had been some of the few, and brave, inhabitants of southern Ettinsmoor.

We passed a few farms along our journey there, their fields already mostly harvested because of the climate. Only a few stalks of corn and pumpkin patches remained in the now fallow fields. The farther we traveled, the colder it became. I wrapped my cloak tighter around me, cursing the winds that were picking up. I thought of Peter and his numerous crusades against the giants in Ettinsmoor, and wondered how he had stood it in winter.

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After three days journey from Cair Paravel, we reached civilization again. The small town was hunkered between the barren, windswept hills of Ettinsmoor. The village had sprung up as a result of the presence of a small mine which had been constructed by order of Miraz in his search for gold and other precious metals or stones. He had heard rumors of Ettinsmoor and the Wild Lands of the North containing riches beyond belief. However, this mine hadn’t turned up anything more valuable than quartz and some of the swirly-gray stone that was sometimes used in construction.

However, the people still lived here and managed to farm enough to survive. The Dwarfs, however, had flocked to the mine to continue to work in it because of their love of the underground.

We rode into the village, and I located the largest of the low stone buildings and recognized it as the “town hall”. It served as courthouse, post office, meeting hall, jail, and inn. I dismounted in front, and went inside with one of the party accompanying me.

Inside there was a large hall with small windows paned with wavy glass. Rushes were scattered on the floor, and there were benches pushed against the walls. To our immediate left was a counter where people could send and receive mail. Behind it was a fat and rather dirty man, asleep in his chair.

I cleared my throat. “Excuse me, sir?” I said to wake him politely.

He snorted awake with a start, rubbing his eyes to see me more clearly.

“Aye? What d’ye want, milady?” he asked, eyeing my cleanliness and finer clothes.

“Several things, sir. Firstly, I would be obliged if you could provide me lodging for eight people, myself included, and their mounts.” His eyes bugged out a little at the mention of so many people. This village probably didn’t get many visitors.

“Secondly, I will need to be able to feed all of my party, as we haven’t had a hot meal in nigh on four days.” He began to sputter, but I went on, ignoring him.

“And lastly, I am going to need to speak to the village as a whole to ask some questions, so if you would please gather them here for me to do so, I would be most grateful.” And then I stopped to let him speak.

“Who are ye to be bargin’ in here demandin’ all o’ this on me?” he blustered.

I gave him a cool smile and said, “Your queen, sir.”

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The man, whose name I learned was Bartholomew, ended up being most helpful, if he was still a bit reluctant. We were served a hot meal, given five small rooms to share, and the villagers were gathered that evening.

I addressed them about what we had heard from some of their own, and several people stood to testify with their own accounts of strange doings and feelings. But by the time the meeting was adjourned, I was left feeling just as frustrated as before because of the lack of an obvious enemy or problem. We still only had tales of strange animal behavior and the earth feeling ‘off’.

In the end, we turned for home without anything of value to report to Caspian. But for me, that meant more excursions, I thought with a small smile.

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A/N: Thanks for all of the lovely comments and for voting and following! I really appreciate it! I'm sorry this chapter is a short one, but more are coming soon :)