FAMILY BONDS

by unicorn-skydancer08 (Mel Mather)

Here I am, friends and readers, with another chapter! This is where things get better in one way, and far, far worse in another! Dun-dun-dun-dun!

Terence and Tristan © Yours truly

Other characters (and Narnia) © C.S. Lewis/Disney/Walden Media/Fox/etc.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

CHAPTER 10: UNPLEASANT DISCOVERY

Terence must have ridden three or four miles that night without stopping, perhaps more. Were he still a unicorn himself, he could have easily gone much farther and faster—but he also knew Balius was doing his absolute best, and Balius's speed was nothing for a centaur to yawn at, considering the rugged landscape. When the dark stallion began to show signs of the strain of this intense ride, the pallid youth had enough sense to let him slow down and breathe more properly while still keeping a good pace.

All too soon, the sun's glow completely disappeared from the sky. However, the moon was bright and full, with no more than the flimsiest of clouds, so both man and horse could still see quite well if the trees and rocks weren't too bunched together.

All this time, Terence maintained a sharp eye for any sign of Lucy, Willow, or Tristan. More than once, he hollered their names at the top of his voice, but the only responses he got were his own echoes or the sounds of nocturnal animals frisking about.

With every thud of Balius's swift hooves, with every futile cry into the night, Terence's heart and gut sickened all the more.

Then, right when Balius was about to drop altogether, Terence's eye caught two familiar figures under a massive beech tree by a wide, smooth stream.

He quickly but gently pulled Balius to a complete stop, and the poor beast dropped his head like a rock, panting up a storm, the sweat pouring off every inch of his body like rainwater, his trembling legs barely able to hold him any longer.

"Lucy!" Terence almost broke into tears all over again. "Oh, thank God!"

"Terence?" The girl appeared only a little surprised and not half as pleased to see him. "What are you doing here?"

"Looking for you, of course!" Had he been closer, he wouldn't have known whether to hug her or to throttle her. "You've got everybody at the castle worried to death about you! What were you thinking, missy, sneaking behind our backs and gallivanting off into the wild like that? And all by yourself, at such a dodgy hour, too! Have you officially lost your mind?"

With a shrug, Lucy only said, "Fine, then. I've officially lost my mind."

She turned away, resting her other cheek against her drawn knees and sighing heavily.

Willow, who stood no more than a few steps from her mistress, was savoring a quiet drink from the stream. Balius was only too glad to join her when Terence rode up and dismounted.

In spite of his indignation, Terence found himself softening as he stood over the young lady. He spoke much more softly and sincerely when he asked her, "Are you all right?"

She wouldn't look at him, but she didn't hesitate to answer. "What do you care?"

A dozen needles couldn't have jabbed Terence harder. He actually staggered back a step or two while his hand grasped his chest. When he found his voice again, he managed little more than a whisper. "Of course, I care, Lucy. How can you say that? You're my friend…my absolute best friend."

"And a nosy girl who ought to mind her own business." He couldn't tell whether the reproach in her voice was meant more for him or herself; perhaps it was both.

He winced and wasted no further time in apologizing. "I—I'm sorry. I shouldn't have called you that. I didn't mean to say such a thing about you in front of everyone." He paused, then added with greater chagrin, "Well, maybe I did…but I take it back just the same."

"But you were right. I had no cause to pry like that. Now I've made you angry and driven Tristan away forever. I ruined everything…just like I always do." Were Lucy not so jaded already, she would have cried.

For a moment, Terence was so overwhelmed he couldn't move or talk at all.

His legs recovered sooner than his tongue, and he tentatively edged closer and settled beside her on the cool grass. While she still kept her face averted, she didn't move away from him, either. When his hand touched her shoulder, she didn't shrug it off.

It took Terence another minute to regain the proper use of his tongue, and even then, he faltered more than once. "It wasn't your fault, Lucy. You didn't ruin everything. I'm to blame more than anyone else. I—I don't know why I said such things to Tristan, either. Maybe all those bad feelings…all that plain unresolvedness…I just couldn't hold back any longer. I'm still angry with Tristan, even now…angry, sad, confused, and hurt…but he's got good cause to feel the same way about me, if I'm still on his mind this evening. I—I'm just sorry you had to be there for that ugly collision."

"So, siblings aren't really worth it after all, are they?" Now Lucy looked him full in the face, her eyes shining diamond-bright, and he knew it wasn't just because of the moonlight. "All they're good for is making you miserable, while all you can do is be a pain in their neck, too. Almost like it's some kind of contest—who can make the other the most miserable? Who can break the other down first?"

Terence felt a hot sting in his own eyes. The fist-sized lump in his throat almost cut off his breathing, and he was the one to look away this time. He closed his eyes and buried his face in his hands, trying to regulate his crumbling composure as well as his ragged breathing.

A long moment of silence lingered between the companions, broken only by the chirping of the crickets, the distant call of a nightingale, and the low whickers of the resting horses. Having gotten their fill from the stream, Willow and Balius were now moving their muzzles lightly across each other's faces, necks, and shoulders, grooming one another, playfully nibbling each other's manes and ears. Even at full height, Willow barely passed Balius's withers, but Tristan would have made Balius look like an underdeveloped colt.

When at last Terence took his hands away and opened his eyes, Lucy already had her head bowed to her chest, her long hair veiling her face on every side. When Terence could get his voice to work once more, he said very slowly, "You know, I never thought your siblings were all bad. Edmund's every bit as good a friend as you and Tumnus, always ready for a good time while always having your back, and Susan can be a real sweetheart when she wants to be."

He paused, then added even more thoughtfully, "As for Peter, you have to give him a fair bit of credit. He's got a lot on his plate every day, but he does his best to take care of everybody while still making plenty of time just for you. And he's loads better than most kings twice his age, ruling more with fairness and grace than oppression and cruelty." He couldn't help adding with a light chuckle, "Compared to a few monarchs I've known in my time, he's practically a saint."

Looking up slowly, pulling some of her hair back, and managing the smallest of smiles, Lucy murmured, "Well, Tristan looked like the fun type when I first saw him. He just had that special charisma all over him, and I love the way he talks. It's like you never know what's going to come out of his mouth."

"Maybe…" Terence faltered again, then forced himself to go on before he lost his courage. "Maybe that's the whole problem, Lucy. Our siblings don't see things the way we do, we don't see things the way they do, and none of us go out of our way to see the other's viewpoint. Worse, we treat each other's viewpoints as if they're not even valid." He sighed and raked both hands through his luminous hair, briefly pushing away his long bangs. "No wonder we have such horrendous blow-ups all the time."

"No wonder," Lucy echoed softly. "As if I didn't feel bad enough already. As if this whole day couldn't end on a worse note."

Terence had always deemed himself an excellent swimmer, but if his shame and guilt were actual waves of water, he wasn't sure he could withstand the tide.

The youth closed his eyes again as he drew in another long breath and released it every bit as slowly through narrow, rounded lips. When he spoke, he said, "Well, first things first, Lucy, now that we're in the same spot. I'm sorry. Sorry to you in particular."

"I'm sorry, too, Terence."

"I'm sorry I yelled at you, humiliated you, hurt you. Believe me, you didn't deserve any of that."

"And I'm sorry I brought back such awkward, painful memories for you and Tristan, just to satisfy my own curiosity."

"That's my fault, too. If I'd been more open with you, even before Tristan came along, there would have been no need to ask…or, at least, it wouldn't have been so awkward. I know I have a tendency to keep secrets under perpetual lock and key, to dry up when approached with a serious topic, but…"

She nodded. "I understand. Given your situation, the way you were raised and all, you must have simply never learned how."

In spite of himself, he managed to smile a bit more. He reached for the girl's hand, and she returned the gentle pressure on his hand. "Well, maybe, my dear, with your help, I can learn now. Hopefully, next time, I can do better."

"Guess that's all we can aim for—try to be a little better next time." Lucy smiled, then shivered.

"Are you cold?"

"Yes, I am…and starving. I missed lunch and dinner today."

"So have I." Keeping hold of her hand, he helped her to her feet. "What do you say we head back to the Cair now, get some long-overdue warmth and nourishment?"

"If everyone else doesn't kill me first for running away."

"If that happens, I will personally throw myself in front of you and take the fatal blow."

She laughed for the first time all day; Terence could think of few lovelier sounds than the Valiant Queen's laughter. But she was serious, even a trifle apprehensive when she asked, "Terence?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you…do you think we could try to find Tristan? First thing tomorrow, when it's lighter, safer, and we can get some extra help?"

Terence didn't answer right away, but his response was every bit as gentle as the expression on his face. "Yes, I believe we could. It may be a slim chance…but even a unicorn can only travel so far in one day. Maybe, if someone else helps us, if we can get at least one of our gryphons to search in the air, we can catch up with Tristan before he gets too much of a head start."

"Will you be all right with having Tristan back in your life?"

"If I may be truthful, it will take more than a little adjusting, and we'll both have a great deal of catching up to do and an even greater deal to make up for." Gazing up at the moon, Terence added in a solemn whisper, "Still, I'm willing to give him one last chance…if he'll let me."

"Well, I certainly hope he agrees. And I most certainly hope to become his friend, too. It's always lovely to make new friends."

"Ah, my dear Lucy…would that more people were like you. Heaven knows they're wanted badly enough in this world."

She stepped close enough to put her arms around him. "You're wonderful, too, Terence. The world could use more charms like yours."

He tried to show his gratitude through his own embrace and the quick kiss he bestowed on her forehead when they pulled away.

As they walked to their horses, who waited with perfect patience, a low, venomous, ice-cold voice froze everyone where they stood.

"I agree with you on one thing, my dears. It is long past suppertime. But it looks like there shall be more than enough meat tonight."

Lucy caught her breath, a chill climbing her backbone like a snake on a vine.

"Who said that?" Terence demanded sharply as he spun about.

Even with the deep shadows, there was no mistaking the eerie shape slinking around the other side of the beech tree, like a shadow that had a life all its own…or the ominous yellow eyes that gleamed in the dark, like a pair of candles lit with hell's flame.