Shadows of the Stars [Chapter Three]
Title:Shadow of the Stars
Rating: PG (For This Chapter)
Summary: The darkness brings an unsuspecting symptom...
Chapter Three
The darkening skies lingered for days. Days turned into weeks, weeks into months. Sensing the oppressing feel of evil, Caspian called upon a new council. The last council, led by his uncle, had been disbanded and in its place, he created the new order.
His council consisted of the Kings and Queen of Old, His Queen, his Professor, Adamas, and the wisest elders. They called their first meeting on a stormy afternoon, rain pelting against the window panes. They sat in the conference chamber, silence falling between them all. They had nothing to discuss, really. For all the ominous feelings, darkening skies, the shadowed stars, nothing had occurred. The meeting was adjourned shortly after it was called.
The ominous weather had brought on something just as black. An illness had begun to spread amongst the inhabitants of the castle city. The doctors had no name for it, but the Kings and Queens of Old knew of it. Influenza, they called it. To prevent any of the Kings and Queens from getting sick, they were to remain inside until the outbreak had subsided.
A week passed since the outbreak. The residents of the castle grew restless as time crawled on. Morning broke on the horizon of the sixth day, bringing sun. The storms were over. Caspian and Susan went to walk in the gardens, enjoying the fresh air and the warm sun. And with the sun, the warm days, the outbreak cleared and their house arrest was lifted.
Lucy and Adamas took to venturing out to the meadows once again. Peter and Edmund resumed training with the centaurs and the rest of their army. Susan journeyed into the marketplace, enjoying the crowds of townspeople hustling and bustling about. In the center of the market, she stopped to sit at the sprawling fountain.
As she sat, Telmarine children flocked to her. Little girls hugged her and little boys bowed and handed her small bouquets of wild flowers. Susan laughed, joyed at the sight and the sweetness of the children. And she was surprised, as the children disappeared into the crowds, how she longed to have one (or two) of her own.
Unbeknownst to her, Caspian watched her from a shadowed spot as he leaned against the marketplace wall. He watched his beloved as she lifted her, now, medium sized bouquet to her nose and smiled broadly as she inhaled the scent. Another child, a small girl with bouncing dark curls, skipped over to Susan and crawled into her lap.
Caspian broke into a smile as his Queen laughed and cuddled the little girl. The girl’s mother hurried forward moments later, seemingly apologizing for her daughter’s actions. Susan spoke to her, reassuring her of no harm and that she enjoyed the company. The little girl kissed Susan on the cheek and was led away by the hand of her mother.
Now alone, Susan lifted her face to the sky, her eyes closed. Caspian took the opportunity to make his way to her. He stood before her and took her in. Her beautiful face was a picture of serenity.
“Having children all around you suits you, my dear,” he said softly.
She opened her eyes and smiled at her husband. He moved slightly, blocking the sun from her face and she reached out for his hand. Caspian took it and helped her to her feet. His arms came around her waist as hers encircled his neck.
“I was thinking something similar,” she confessed with a small smile.
“I could think of no greater joy than our home being blessed with our children,” Caspian replied, smiling.
“Me neither.” Susan smiled back and leaned up, placing a kiss on his lips.
* * *
In the South, she cast a spell to call forth her army from their shadows. She stood in the shambled remnants of her once great hall. One by one, they emerged from the darkness, materialized in wisps of shadows. A frown pursed her lips as she saw her numbers were severely depleted, the army a mere fraction of what it once was.
Creatures and animals, nonetheless, filled the large room. Giants stood at the back, their heads nearly hitting the ceiling. Quick, lethal jaguars crouched near the steps of which she stood. Dark minotaurs and dwarves were scattered throughout the room. Wolves filled the gaps, their numbers outranking the rest.
For now, these miscreants will work. What she needed, she decided, was to gather outside help. She turned, smiling. She knew exactly what to do. She made her way through the crowd as they parted, letting her have passage. She returned to her chamber, to her mirrors, her fingertips touching the unblemished surface. She murmured a spell, the words falling unpracticed from her lips.
Nonetheless, the spell worked, the surface of the glass rippling, like water’s surface when broken by a rock. She reached inside, a smile of triumph touching her features as a faint hand reached hers. At last, she would have her other half, her sister would join her in this world and her strength would be restored once more.
Rating: PG (For This Chapter)
Summary: The darkness brings an unsuspecting symptom...
Chapter Three
The darkening skies lingered for days. Days turned into weeks, weeks into months. Sensing the oppressing feel of evil, Caspian called upon a new council. The last council, led by his uncle, had been disbanded and in its place, he created the new order.
His council consisted of the Kings and Queen of Old, His Queen, his Professor, Adamas, and the wisest elders. They called their first meeting on a stormy afternoon, rain pelting against the window panes. They sat in the conference chamber, silence falling between them all. They had nothing to discuss, really. For all the ominous feelings, darkening skies, the shadowed stars, nothing had occurred. The meeting was adjourned shortly after it was called.
The ominous weather had brought on something just as black. An illness had begun to spread amongst the inhabitants of the castle city. The doctors had no name for it, but the Kings and Queens of Old knew of it. Influenza, they called it. To prevent any of the Kings and Queens from getting sick, they were to remain inside until the outbreak had subsided.
A week passed since the outbreak. The residents of the castle grew restless as time crawled on. Morning broke on the horizon of the sixth day, bringing sun. The storms were over. Caspian and Susan went to walk in the gardens, enjoying the fresh air and the warm sun. And with the sun, the warm days, the outbreak cleared and their house arrest was lifted.
Lucy and Adamas took to venturing out to the meadows once again. Peter and Edmund resumed training with the centaurs and the rest of their army. Susan journeyed into the marketplace, enjoying the crowds of townspeople hustling and bustling about. In the center of the market, she stopped to sit at the sprawling fountain.
As she sat, Telmarine children flocked to her. Little girls hugged her and little boys bowed and handed her small bouquets of wild flowers. Susan laughed, joyed at the sight and the sweetness of the children. And she was surprised, as the children disappeared into the crowds, how she longed to have one (or two) of her own.
Unbeknownst to her, Caspian watched her from a shadowed spot as he leaned against the marketplace wall. He watched his beloved as she lifted her, now, medium sized bouquet to her nose and smiled broadly as she inhaled the scent. Another child, a small girl with bouncing dark curls, skipped over to Susan and crawled into her lap.
Caspian broke into a smile as his Queen laughed and cuddled the little girl. The girl’s mother hurried forward moments later, seemingly apologizing for her daughter’s actions. Susan spoke to her, reassuring her of no harm and that she enjoyed the company. The little girl kissed Susan on the cheek and was led away by the hand of her mother.
Now alone, Susan lifted her face to the sky, her eyes closed. Caspian took the opportunity to make his way to her. He stood before her and took her in. Her beautiful face was a picture of serenity.
“Having children all around you suits you, my dear,” he said softly.
She opened her eyes and smiled at her husband. He moved slightly, blocking the sun from her face and she reached out for his hand. Caspian took it and helped her to her feet. His arms came around her waist as hers encircled his neck.
“I was thinking something similar,” she confessed with a small smile.
“I could think of no greater joy than our home being blessed with our children,” Caspian replied, smiling.
“Me neither.” Susan smiled back and leaned up, placing a kiss on his lips.
* * *
In the South, she cast a spell to call forth her army from their shadows. She stood in the shambled remnants of her once great hall. One by one, they emerged from the darkness, materialized in wisps of shadows. A frown pursed her lips as she saw her numbers were severely depleted, the army a mere fraction of what it once was.
Creatures and animals, nonetheless, filled the large room. Giants stood at the back, their heads nearly hitting the ceiling. Quick, lethal jaguars crouched near the steps of which she stood. Dark minotaurs and dwarves were scattered throughout the room. Wolves filled the gaps, their numbers outranking the rest.
For now, these miscreants will work. What she needed, she decided, was to gather outside help. She turned, smiling. She knew exactly what to do. She made her way through the crowd as they parted, letting her have passage. She returned to her chamber, to her mirrors, her fingertips touching the unblemished surface. She murmured a spell, the words falling unpracticed from her lips.
Nonetheless, the spell worked, the surface of the glass rippling, like water’s surface when broken by a rock. She reached inside, a smile of triumph touching her features as a faint hand reached hers. At last, she would have her other half, her sister would join her in this world and her strength would be restored once more.