Aragorn and the Phoenix of Caspian (ENGLISH)

Chapter 19

CHAPTER 19

The sky was a trickle of winter and the clouds were cotton patched on it. Trees were swaying like banana boats on the water. Aragorn gasped as he went deeper and deeper inside the forest of the Garden of Pleas. The first thing that he had done in the morning was to pack meat and bread, wear his tunic and hold his weapon. He had to visit Sphyra as early as possible or his other companions might come with him.

His feet have sulked into the loam. His eyes were roaming side by side checking if there were enemies nearby. The forest was wide and Sphyra wasn’t the only one inside it. There’s the rebels, wild animals, and meat-eating birds. When the place felt familiar, he shouted their call sign. Eagles love to play with fire.

In one glance, Sphyra appeared while carrying Burn, the dog they saved last time. He had missed her and the dog. The dog was fatter, much happier, and wasn’t scared of humans like him. The dog giggled as it jumped from Sphyra’s arms and ran towards him. It licked his shoes while waggling its tail.

“It seemed that Burn still knows you even though you haven’t visited for days,” Sphyra said. She peeked on the wooden pail that Aragorn is holding in his right hand. “What is it? Did you bring water here?”

“This isn’t water.” Aragorn stepped forward to show Sphyra what he got. “We have a lot of stocks in the hut and we can request more from the queen. I just thought that you must be eating fruits in the forest most of the time. I brought meat which you can cook.”

“I don’t eat fruits all the time. If there’s a chance, I kill a wild animal and cook it. Sad that I don’t have salt for me to preserve it for days. And when I sell fruits in the market, I buy myself bread.” She grabbed the bread from Aragorn’s pail. She cut it into half and bit the other one. “Do you want some?”

“No, I’m fine. I ate while I’m walking towards here. Burn looked fatter. What is he eating and doing these past few days?” Aragorn inched to the dog and carried it.

“He’s the one eating my leftovers. I bring him to the market whenever I come. She’s smart and I predict she won’t get lost in the forest even though it is wider than the moon. She naps most of the time and it’s one of the rarest times she wasn’t napping. She’s cute isn’t it?”

“Yeah.” The moment Aragorn agreed, the dog licked his face. Instead of getting mad, he chuckled along with Sphyra. “She’s adorable.”

“This is my first time having a pet. I didn’t know that having a pet would happen to me. I thought it was a plain responsibility back then, but I enjoyed having Burn with me. If only I’m free to go to a lot of places even when it’s night, I would bring a lot of stray dogs in the forest. But freedom is only for those who passed the standards of society. It wasn’t for me.”

“Yesterday, I went to the royal palace with one of my companions. On our way, we faced a group of rebels. I thought we’re going to die that time, but Leo came and scare away the rebels.”

“Glad that you’re fine. They were dangerous even though I haven’t face one or a group. What did you do in the royal palace? Did you observe someone who can be the one who caused the fire?”

He nodded. He put down Burn who walked around the two of them. “I only meet Uncle Enzo. I don’t want to be obvious that I’m observing around. He’s the son of my grandfather to a concubine. He’s great and kind but his efforts weren’t considered since he’s a son of a concubine. He might be mad at my father for not having the position. He might be mad at my grandfather for not fighting for his rights as one of the princes.”

“Your point makes sense. We hope we can observe this uncle of yours more often. Once we caught him in the act, if it’s him, then believing that the phoenix is alive will make sense to the citizens of Caspian.”

“You’re right. I’ll do my best to visit the palace more often or have some more time with him.”

“Please be careful, Aragorn. If that uncle of yours is the one who’s created the fire. He might be also plotting something that would harm or kill you. I don’t want you to die and if you die, I might die days after that. You’re only my hope to live peacefully. If there’s only a way where I could become a normal person, I would do it. But I think there’s no way I could live without having the identity of a phoenix.”

“I will be careful, Sphyra. Don’t worry about life. I will be the one to protect you and Burn. I may be weak but I’ll face anything for the sake of you two.”

“Thank you, Aragorn. Apologies for my bad impression of you. I should’ve not judged you because of what your father did to me. I believe that you’re far more different on him.”

“I hope your past wound with my father would heal. I hope you’ll let go of your anger towards him. He’s a good person and I know there must be a reason for him to do that such thing.”

“He killed my mother and nothing could change my perception towards him. I’m thankful that his son was far more different than him.”

Aragorn smiled at Sphyra. “I will go now. My companions must be searching for me. I don’t want to be suspicious every time I’m visiting you.”

“You’re right. You should go now. Take care of your walk and journey as the future of Caspian.”

The connection between their eyes slowly disappeared. When Aragorn turned away from her, she and Burn walked away from that place.

Aragorn only took a few minutes back to the hut. He saw Leo, Azrael, and Hideo standing outside the hut. Yosef must be sleeping, he thought. When his figure appeared in front of the three of them, frustration was traced on Leo’s face.

“Where did you go, Prince Aragorn? We’re looking out for you,” Leo said and his eyes turned to the pail that Aragorn is holding. “And what are you doing with the pail?”

“I have to let out the food that I ate last night,” he lied as an excuse. “Where’s Yosef?”

“We’re looking out for you and we decided to look in the forest and came back after fifteen minutes. It’s been thirty minutes since the three of them came back but Yosef hadn’t come back yet,” Hideo explained.

“He might be lost or… a wild animal ate him!” Azrael reacted while biting his nails.

Aragorn turned to the forest. Yosef can’t be dead or lost in the forest. Without looking back at some of his companions, he ran away back to the forest, shouting Yosef’s name.