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Title: Amidst the Falling Snow
 The dancing lasted well into the early morning hours, and it wasn't until the first rays of sunlight broke through the ink black sky, that Queen Lucy the Valient made her way back to her quarters. She smiled broadly, still in a bit of shock that the ball that night had been thrown by her brother, the High King Peter, in honor of her sixteenth birthday. This marked the eigth year that the former Pevensie children lived and ruled in the Kingdom of Narnia, in the castle of Cair Paravel. Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy accidentally discovered Narnia through a wardrobe in the house of Professor Kirke, who had taken them in due to the air raids in London. When they arrived in Narnia, they discovered that they were part of a prophecy: when two sons of Adam and two daughters of Eve arrived in the Kingdom, they were the ones with the power to defeat the White Witch. The witch who turned Narnia into a winter wonderland for the past one hundred years. After Peter's great battle, he was made the king of Narnia, and his siblings kings and Queens under him. It had been a relatively peaceful eight years, with the exception of occasional ogre attacks from the west, and every kingdom has disorder every now and again. Lucy peered through one of the narrow windows of the castle, and found that it was still snowing. Winter was always her favorite time of the year, but even moreso when she had the opportunity to enjoy spring, summer and fall as well. She could not imagine suffering through the cold and ice for so long, and remembered the deep sorrow her dear friend Mr. Tumnus the Faun expressed. "Lu?" Lucy glanced over her shoulder to see her older sister, Queen Susan the Gentle, hurrying after her. "Good morning," Lucy greeted sleepily, watching as Susan tightened her shawl around her shoulders. "Good night is more like it," Susan chuckled. "I daresay, my feet are going to be aching something dreadful for the next week! I do not believe I have danced so much in my life. But it was grand, wasn't it?" Lucy clasped her hands together. "I had a lovely time in deed! You and Peter and Edmund were so wonderful to have the ball for me." Susan hugged her. "Anything for you," she said smiling. "but, since you are going off to bed, would you mind checking on Peter? He left the dance rather early last night because of a headache. I think he may be coming down with something, because he'd been sniffling rather badly all day." Lucy sighed, and nodded. "I will, since my quarters are closer. Goodness me, it is going to take at least a week to sort through all of those wonderful presents! Mr. Tumnus was such a dear to make a flute for me." She'd spent most of the ball dancing with her good friend, the first native Narnian she'd come in contact with when she stepped through the wardrobe. "Yes it was. And thank you," Susan told her. "I would also look out the window when you get to his room.the sight is spectacular!" Lucy smirked. "Oh Susan, you do torture me!" she laughed, and dashed quickly down the narrow hallway and to a flight of steps that went up to her brother's bedroom. She found him sound asleep when she entered, his blonde hair slightly toussled from having moved about through the night. She gave his shoulder a gentle shake, eyeing the pile of fresh handkerchiefs sitting on his nightstand. He groaned, turning to one side, and pulled the blankets more closely to his neck. "Come, Peter, wake up so you can tell me how you feel, please?" she asked, climbing onto the large bed. "Lu," Peter croaked, sniffling and rubbing his sore nose with the back of his wrist. "What time is it?" She suddenly remembered Susan's advice, and went to check the window by Peter's bed. When she gazed through it, she gasped--the entire ground had been covered with a thick blanket of snow! She gasped with delight, and clasped her hands together. She remembered seeing snow falling as she danced around the castle ball room, and hoped and prayed that her birthday would be a white one. It rarely was in England, where she and her siblings came from, but here in Narnia, the winter snows were frequent and beautiful during this season. "The first snow of the season!" Lucy cried, hurrying across the room and hopping back onto Peter's bed. "You woke me for that?" he asked, feeling rather grumpy. He was coming down with a bit of a headcold, and wanted to be left alone for the moment. Especially, since he felt a sneeze coming on. He quickly reached for one of his handkerchiefs; he could snag one without even looking now, because he'd been sneezing all night, and burried his nose in it. "KeSHUUUH! Heh-ITCHHH!" he sneezed loudly and violently, snapping forward. "Bless you!" Lucy told him, and placed a hand against his forehead. "Oh dear," she sighed. "You always tend to catch cold around this time." "Winter," Peter croaked, after giving his nose a blow, "yes. Fitting, mmm?" he sniffled and coughed into a fist, pulling his blankets more closely around his body. "Did you enjoy your ball?" he added, his voice growing hoarse. Lucy gave him a hug. "Oh, very much," she replied. "You are a dear, Peter, and nothing else." He smiled softly, coughing into one fist. "I apologize for leaving so early," he whispered. "I did not feel well at all." He'd been hoping to dance with Lucy to one of the waltzes, but the other guests had swept her off her feet before he took to his bed. "I understand," she said, smoothing his hair away from his eyes. "Oh, you're running a fever." He sniffed, rubbing his nose with the handky again. "It's not bad," he croaked. "though, I think I'm going to.to." he turned away from her, his breath quickening. "HehTChah! EtCHUUH! HatCSHHHH! EtSHHHH!" he sniffed wetly, his eyes still closed. "Sneeze," he finished, once he managed to clear his nose. "Bless you," Lucy said, cringing as he gave his nose a blow that sounded like a trumpet. "Is there anything you need?" she asked. "Soup perhaps? Or a cup of tea?" Peter cleared his sore throat, flopping back against the pillows. "You should be getting off to bed," he replied. "You've been up all night." She bit her lip. "But I can't just leave you by yourself, Peter," she said, as Edmund came knocking. He let out a great yawn, pulling his fur robe around his shoulders. "Still awake, Lu?" Edmund asked, smirking. He had stayed for most of the party as well, retiring after midnight. Even though Edmund had changed considerably in personality since his horrible account with the White Witch and his encounter with the great lion, Aslan, he still had his irritating little quirks every now and again. "Of course," Lucy told him, holding Peter's hand. "I was the guest of honor, and everyone wanted to dance with me." She winked. "so naturally I had to comply, didn't I?" "How're you feeling, Peter?" Edmund asked, and Peter's bought of coughing answered his question. "He has a terrible cold," Lucy sighed. "Ed, perhaps you could sit with him for a bit? Or fetch the nurse?" "I'm fine," Peter promised. "Really.I don't need." "Shhsh," Lucy soothed. "Let us take care of you, all right?" Peter groaned, defeated. He hated coming down sick, because everyone fussed over him so much. "Ed, you can sit with me if you wish, but Lu.I really want you to go to bed. You're still too young to be staying up all night long and all day. I won't hear another word about it," he added, when she started to protest. She frowned. "At least let me." "Lu?" Peter narrowed his eyes, and her shoulders sagged. "I am still your older brother, and therefore, you are to obey me." "Oh, all right." She kissed him on the cheek. "Good.day, Peter," she chuckled, deciding that to say good night was silly, as it was broad daylight outside. She pecked a kiss on Edmund's cheek as she left the chamber, and nearly ran into Susan who was coming down. "How is he?" she asked, and Lucy nodded towards the door. "Ill," she said, and Susan sighed. "Does he need anything?" Lucy shook her head. "According to him, no, but I would bring him at least a cup of tea. Ed's with him now, but I'm going off to sleep. I fear he'll hang me by my ankles in the dungeon if I don't heed him." She gave Susan a quick hug and kiss. "You always had such an imagination," Susan laughed. "Have a good rest, Lu." She watched as her younger sister headed in the direction of her own bedroom, before making her way to Peter's. "Shhh," Edmund warned when she started to speak as she entered, and pointed to him. Peter had fallen asleep, and, despite his flushed face, looked quite peaceful. Susan came over to the bed and adjusted his blankets, feeling his forehead, and nudged Edmund's shoulder. "He does need a doctor," she said softly. "No, I don't," came Peter's croak, and both of his siblings jumped. "I don't need a doctor, or a nurse. I just need.rest.hahKESHHH! huhKshhhh!" he managed to cover his mouth with his hand, and groaned. "Bless you," Susan told him. "Peter, you need to relax. Don't get yourself so worked up." She kissed his forehead gently. "I was relaxing," he growled. "Susan, Edmund." "For once, Peter, shut up please," Edmund snapped, and the high King was rendered speechless. "That wasn't necessary," Susan hissed. "Peter, what Ed was *trying* to say, was that you need to calm down and let others care for you every now and again. You can't always do everything by yourself! You'll wind up with influenza or worse." she bit her lip. "Now, what can I get for you?" Peter cleared his throat. "I suppose a cup of tea will suffice," he replied. "I'm sorry," he added, and Susan took his hand, pressing it to her cheek. "I just get very cranky when I'm sick." He looked at Edmund, who was sniggering quietly. "You're forgiven of course," Susan insisted. "We love you, Peter, and we want to be here for you. We're your siblings, and couldn't bear it if something terrible happened." He hugged her tight, and encouraged Edmund to join in as well. "I despise all of this cuddling nonsense," Edmund complained, though he patted his brother on the back after giving him a squeeze. "Give this to Lucy for me as well," Peter whispered. "I sent her off rather quick, but I just did not want her coming down sick as well from lack of sleep." "I know you didn't mean it, Peter," a small voice said from behind the doorway, and all three of them stared. "Lu?" Susan asked, and her younger sister's face appeared, with the rosy-cheeked nurse behind her. "Lucy!" Peter groaned, and Susan laughed heartily. "Now you're highness, your sister did the right thing comin' to fetch me," the nurse, Sandrea, said firmly. "We're just going to do a bit of a check up on you. It's better to be safe than sorry, especially with a person in your position." "We'll wait outside," Susan insisted, knowing how her brother preferred his privacy when it came to medical examinations. They all stood leaning against the wall by the door, listening to Peter discussing something in a quiet voice with the nurse. Neither of them spoke at all, merely glancing at each other. "You'd best get onto bed, Lu," Susan whispered, once they'd been standing there for almost ten minutes. "Peter will become angry if you don't listen to him." Lucy sighed. "I suppose," she said. "I just.there's nothing like it, you know?" she asked, and her siblings raised an eyebrow. "Nothing like what?" Susan asked. "The first snow of the season, when everything is so smoothe and so beautiful. Soon, there will be hoof and foot prints all over it, and it will turn grey and miserable." Susan placed a hand on her sister's shoulder. "I know what you mean," she agreed. "the first snow is wonderful.for us, anyway. It is usually dreadful for poor Peter," she added, clucking her tongue. "he always falls so ill when it happens." "It is quite appropriate as he said, that the first sign of the cold winter is when he starts to feel ill," Edmund whispered, as they heard coughing from behind the door. "it was quite a struggle against the White Witch, and took a lot out of him." They all nodded in agreement. "As it took a lot out of us," Lucy added, yawning. "I am quite tired, so perhaps I will retire for a while. Good afternoon, my dear ones.hopefully we will be able to play in the snow later tonight." She gave each of her siblings a hug and a kiss, and gave Edmund an extra to pass onto Peter for her. "I'm not about to kiss him with that cold," Edmund snorted, and Susan rolled her eyes. "I'll kiss him twice," she said. "We love you, Lucy. Happy birthday," she added, and Lucy beamed, turning and disappearing down the corridor. | |||||
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Created & Organized by A & tarotgal |
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