The Early Chronicles Book Three: Narnia and the North

Chapter 14

Laurel's parents had welcomed her back with celebration and were thrilled that their daughter was safe.  For a couple of days, Laurel was fawned over and tended hand and foot.  There were many exclamations about how thin and pale she looked and that she would never visit "that queen" again if she was whisked away on such errands.  

Laurel enjoyed her days of rest and pampering and soon she felt like the daughter of a Duke again.  She was waiting for just the right moment to talk to them about Count Nevan and Thasian, and that moment arrived when they were sitting at dinner the third evening after Laurel's return.

"Count Nevan was very distressed about you and was quite sorry he had to return to Calormene on business.  He demanded we send word when you returned safely."  Her mother said before sipping from her glass.  Laurel took a deep breath and pictured Aslan's majestic face and the feel of his breath before speaking.

"Mother, Father, I must speak with you about Count Nevan.  It's very difficult for me to say since I know you both had definite expectations about him."  She kept her gaze down at her food, not wanting to see her parents' expressions before she finished.  "I don't feel comfortable around him.  I've decided I can't fall in love with him or ever marry him."  She glanced up.  Her father started drumming his fingers on the table and her mother's lips went into a thin line.

"Are you sure you don't just need more time with him to make up your mind?"  Her father asked.

"I don't think this is something more time will fix.  I've seen enough of his character to know." 

"But the reason we chose him for you is because he could make you comfortable and provided for."  Her mother's forehead wrinkled and Laurel's palms grew sweaty.  She wasn't sure how this conversation would end.  

"What difference does it make if I'm rich if I'm miserable with a husband who doesn't listen to what I have to say and doesn't notice when I'm upset?"

Her parents were silent for several moments.  They looked at each other, having some silent conversation with their eyes that Laurel couldn't understand.  Finally the Duke patted his wife's hand tenderly and looked at Laurel.

"Are you certain that's what you want?"  Her father asked.  Laurel smiled and nodded.

"You won't try for a while longer?"  Her mother asked with a sigh.

"I'm sorry, Mother.  I truly believe he isn't right for me."  She said gently.  Her mother took another sip from her glass before answering.

"Then I will try to smooth things over with the count.  You don't have to marry him."  Her mother smiled.

"Oh thank you!"  Laurel jumped up with relief and embraced her mother, then her father.

"Well Laurel, any of the queen's knights take your fancy?"  Her father laughed as he tossed some grapes into his mouth.  Laurel gulped.

"Well..."  

It took some convincing on Laurel's part to talk them into allowing her to court Thasian.  They were skeptical, but they agreed to meet him and allow Laurel to meet with him.  Laurel felt she was the happiest in Narnia when Thasian was permitted to come to the Devonte estate.  They spent the days riding across Laurel's favorite trails and having conversations in the library intermitted with meals on the veranda with the duke and duchess.  Thasian's kindness and boyish charm seemed to win over the duke and duchess almost instantly and soon they were talking and laughing as if they had known Thasian since he was a boy.  Whenever Thasian's visits were at an end and he had to travel back to the palace, Laurel relished their sweet goodbyes when he sat atop his horse, holding her hand until the last moment.  

On one of these goodbyes, the sky was glowing a radiant pink and orange as the sun disappeared over the horizon leaving nothing but a faint red glow while they stood beside Nomad.  Thasian held Laurel's hand and stroked it tenderly as he spoke.

"You look beautiful in this light."  

Laurel blushed.  "How can you see?  It's practically dark."

"You are ingrained in my memory.  You would look beautiful in any light."

"You flatter me so.  How my father and mother should react if they heard you talk that way!"  She chuckled.  

"Likewise the queen and General Goran.  They tell me my head is always in the clouds and they say they'll have to slap me to keep me focused at my knighting ceremony."

Laurel's insides jumped.  "Oh Thasian!  You mean you're finally going to become a knight?"

"I'm to take my vows in a few weeks."  

"Oh Thasian, I'm so proud!"  She squeezed his hand and briefly brought it to her lips.  Thasian looked down at her and she could just make out the twinkle in his eyes in the growing darkness.

"I feel I am almost perfectly happy."  He continued to stroke her hand.  "Would you care to make me entirely happy?"

Laurel's breath seemed to leave her, and a thrilling surge of anticipation rushed through her.  She watched in amazement as Thasian lowered himself down onto one knee still grasping her hand.  

"Lady Laurel, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"  He said in a beautiful and tender tone.  

"Yes Thasian.  Oh yes."  Laurel's voice came out in a near whisper.  All at once Thasian jumped up from his position and Laurel felt herself picked off the ground and swung in a circle as if she were a bird in flight.  She laughed with pure joy, relishing how it felt to be in his strong arms, and he was finally hers.  He set her down gently but his arms were still gripping her tightly.  Though she couldn't see very well, she felt his lips kiss hers so gently and tenderly she wasn't sure it had actually happened or not, but it had.  Like a beautiful dream they stood in a perfect silhouette against the sunset sky with Nomad grunting his own congratulations.  Laurel felt she had never been and would never be happier than as she was in this moment, promising to marry her true knight in shining armor.

The End

Thank you for reading "Narnia and the North"!  Look for book four in The Early Chronicles entitled, "The Queen and the General", and follow Swanwhite's next adventure!