Beyond the Horn

CHAPTER 10: ANNALIESE

The Telmarine prince was looking at her.

The Telmarine prince was looking at her.

Okay, okay, Annaliese told herself frantically. Stay calm. Don't look away, don't look away. Make eye contact. People like eye contact.

Why is eye contact so stressful? She groaned silently.

"We have anxiously awaited your return, my liege."

In spite of the adorable large mouse with a sword just his size stepping forward to speak, Annaliese had to study the prince for herself. Already she could tell he was nothing like anyone she'd ever met before.

Dark brown hair hung to his shoulders, and piercing, deep-set brown eyes surveyed everything with a confidence and dignity that only affirmed his royal status. He wore chainmail over trousers and a pale blue tunic. He had lowered Peter's sword and now scanned them all carefully.

"Oh my goodness. He is so cute," Lucy was whispering to Susan. The mouse heard and whipped around, drawing out his sword. "Who said that?!" he demanded.

"Sorry," Lucy said, clasping her hands sheepishly.

"Oh. Your Majesty," the mouse bowed politely. "With the greatest respect, I do believe courteous, or... chivalrous might better befit a knight of Narnia."

"At least we know some of you can handle a blade," Peter smiled down at the mouse and purposefully ignored Caspian's annoyed look.

"Yes indeed. And I have recently put it to good use, securing weapons for your army, sire."

"Good. Because we're going to need every sword we can get." Peter turned to look at Caspian now.

"Well then, you will probably be wanting yours back," Caspian shot back stiffly, extending the sword to the High King.

Peter narrowed his blue eyes and took it, securing it in its sheath without breaking eye contact. Annaliese could feel the tension between them already. Both of them were obviously stubborn, headstrong, arrogant, and used to being in charge.

"Is that guy for real?" Kara was suddenly hissing in Annaliese's arm, her hazel eyes focused on the Telmarine prince with suspicion. "He's a complete nut-job, I can already tell."

Annaliese gave her a look. "Are you serious?"

"Okay, so I'm grasping at straws here. Was he looking at you? At least tell me that." Kara stared fiercely at her sister, who rolled her eyes.

"He...might've glanced at me, but then he was looking at everybody, remember?"

"No, no," Kara lifted her finger high in the air. "He was checking you out. And I aim to figure out why."

"Hey!"

"Not that you're not worth checking out or anything, that's not what I'm saying no, no," Kara groaned in exasperation. "You're confusing me. This whole thing is confusing me!" she waved her hands wildly.

"Kara, are you rambling again?" Edmund asked, popping up behind her and making her shriek in surprise.

"Ed! Don't scare me like that! And I do not ramble."

"Yes, you do," Lucy and Susan and Annaliese all chimed in unison.

Everyone laughed, in spite of Kara's frustrated huff, and they all began to troop after the prince and the High King, the rest of the Narnians following behind in a long line.