The Early Chronicles Book Three: Narnia and the North

Chapter 9

Laurel woke up with a pain in her back from an inconveniently placed rock underneath her.  She groaned slightly as she sat up and noticed that the queen, the general, Thasian, and some of the others were already awake.  The thought of another long day of riding through the ugly scenery sounded exhausting, but Laurel tried to count her blessings; they hadn't seen any Giants yet.

"Best to eat quickly, Laurel."  Swanwhite appeared with some breakfast and a warm smile.  "We'll be moving out very soon."

"You're so good to me, my lady.  Why do you do such things as saddling up my horse for me and preparing my breakfast?"  For she truly noticed these odd qualities in the queen that she had never seen in nobility before.  Count Nevan would never dream of tacking up a horse himself or cleaning his own boots or working as hard as men 'beneath him'.  Swanwhite smiled down at her.

"My parents and General Cygnus taught me long ago that a good queen is a servant to her people.  Yes there are people to help her, but she must set a good example to her people by not thinking herself above seemingly 'menial' tasks."  With that, the queen began gathering up her supplies on the cave floor.  

"I guarantee you set a good example for the people, my lady."  Laurel said.  Swanwhite gave her a grateful nod.

"We must be careful today, the Giants may be closer than we think."  The queen's tone turned more serious.  Laurel wanted to ask the queen what made her think that, but Swanwhite was quickly summoned by the general.  Laurel hurriedly finished her meal and then carried her supplies to Ira.  

"Let me help you, Lady Laurel."  Thasian offered.  He helped Laurel tie up her saddlebags and reload her belongings onto Ira.  His fingers brushed against hers once, and the motion sent a strange tingling feeling through Laurel's hand.  

"Shall I give you a leg up?"  He asked.  Laurel nodded thankfully, and his strong arms braced her foothold as she swung into the saddle.  

"Thank you."  Laurel found her voice as she stared down into Thasian's sparkling green eyes.  His gaze lingered a moment before he nodded and took his place behind her on Nomad.  

"Keep a sharp eye out, gentlemen-- and ladies."  General Goran corrected himself after Swanwhite gave him a look.  The extra words of caution worried Laurel, and it seemed Ira could sense her nerves.  The mare tossed her head more than usual and Laurel had to rein her in to keep her from charging up too far ahead.  She noticed that several of the others were having similar trouble with their mounts.  The general's horse Valeon even jumped to the side once, exciting Kismir for a moment.

"What's gotten into these beasts?"  Captain Rufus complained.

"They sense something."  Goran replied as he stroked his black stallion's neck.  Laurel didn't have to think long about what they sensed.  The grey cloud of smoke up ahead was quite close now, and Laurel knew they would reach it before the end of the day.  For better or for worse, the goal of their trip would be upon them.

"Keep your voices down.  This is avalanche country."  Goran called out before they entered a ravine where the walls of rock closed in rather closely and the gravel slopes did indeed look like they could come crashing down.  Laurel tried to calm her breathing as she focused her gaze straight ahead.  The walls began to narrow, so much so that Swanwhite advised Laurel ride behind her beside Thasian since the trail only allowed three horses beside each other.  Laurel began to feel her heartbeat quicken, and the trail seemed narrower than it actually was with nothing but grey all around and above.  Things seemed to be going darker.

"Oh Aslan, help me not to faint."  She prayed silently.  Right at the moment she thought she was going to fall off of Ira, she heard Thasian's voice beside her.