Aragorn and the Phoenix of Caspian (ENGLISH)

Chapter 26

CHAPTER 26

Aragorn and his other companions took out their weapons as they faced the two wild boars. How dare they are to attack them? To slam that door and trespass in a hut. Leo crossed his arms just below his chest. He didn’t know that his students will be facing a challenge today. Good luck on the four of them, but he’s certain they can fight that boar. They were strong enough to face a light challenge like this.

One of the boars attacked Hideo. Without letting the boar touch his body, he kicked hard on it. Azrael tried to strike his sword at the boar that Hideo but instead he was attacked by the second boar. Aragorn thrived forward and plunged the dagger to the boar’s head. Blood dripped off from its head onto his hand.

Yosef helped Azrael. He punched the boar hardly. He can’t explain but he’s having fun fighting with the boars. For him, it was a game where the four of them have to win. After minutes of slacking, kicking, and punching, the three of them accomplished killing the two boars. They were all gasping for air and their throats were dry.

“They’re heavy,” Azrael said. He recalled how one of the boars jumped over him. He felt he was carrying double of himself. “And smelly as well.” He sniffed the clothing he was wearing and he smelled forest.

Zonia got back from upstairs. She was holding clothes and gave them to Azrael. “I know that you will smell like hell. I bring clothes for you. Take these and I’ll get some clothes for the others.”

“Thank you.”

Zonia went back to their rooms. Aragorn wiped the blood on his hand and his face. That was a pretty difficult thing to do. He thought it would be easy but it’s not.

“Job well done. You killed the two boars. It’s a challenge that I didn’t plan but the four of you succeeded. It’s like compared to the challenges that the four of you are going to face.”

“If you said that was easy, how difficult would be the next challenges. We thought we’re going to die because of those boars.” Aragorn laughed and he took clothes from Zonia who got back from upstairs.

“If you killed boars, you will still going to face tigers, lions, humans, and the phoenix,” Leo stated.

There’s no way that he’s going to face the phoenix-like that. He won’t fight Sphyra and she won’t fight back. They were friends and partners to seek the truth on the fire that happened in the village. They’re not enemies even though that is what the world wanted them to be. The whole palace wanted them to kill each other and why should it be like that?

“But before that, we must survive winter. Prepare the two boars and they’re going to be our food stock for the week.”

Aragorn told Sphyra about the two boars they had killed on the third day of the winter. After the non-stop snow all over the forest and the palace, he visited Sphyra. It wasn’t a sneak-out because Hideo and Leo weren’t there. Yosef distracted Azrael so he can go. Aragorn’s smile was incomparable the moment he saw her fine and healthy.

“I know that you can kill those creatures. I believe in you more than I do in myself. Why didn’t you bring Yosef with you?”

“He can’t join me or I won’t be here too. I told him to distract one of our companions who was left in the hut. If he won’t be there to distract him, that guy will follow me. How’s your winter?” He smiled and walked to Burn. He carried her like a baby. Burn used her paws to reach for Aragorn’s face but those were too short to scratch the prince’s perfect face.

“Cold.” Sphyra chuckled. She joined Aragorn in playing with Burn. “The cave was boring but it’s less boring because that dog is here. She became my entertainment in this boring place.”

“Is the food stock that I left for you is enough for the week?”

“Gladly they’re enough even though I eat twice than what I usually do.”

“I badly want to catch the person who did the fire, who wanted us to face our downfall. Our family had been in the palace for such a long time and if that bastard will be the only one who’s going to stop and break us, I can’t accept that such thing.”

Sphyra cupped Aragorn’s face. “Don’t worry about it. Your handsome face will face that person. And when that happens, you can punish that person whatever punishment you want to. I trust in you Aragorn. I trust in the process. You’ve killed two boars at once, you can also catch a person.”

“Don’t believe too much in me. I’m not that great. My companions were even better than me. I am not strong. I am not brave.”

Sphyra entangled her hand around his palms. “Why shouldn’t I believe? You’re a great prince, Aragorn. You believed someone like me, someone you could’ve killed, someone you shouldn’t care about, but you’re here with me and you’re helping me. Greatness isn’t about physical strength and braveness. It comes from different forms and it’s your job to find out what’s yours. Please do me a favor, don’t you dare to repeat those negative affirmations to yourself ever again.”

“What can I expect to myself? I’m such a pessimistic prince.”

“You are if you continue thinking that way. Why don’t you think the other way around? You are great and you are worthy. This palace needs you. I need you.”

“I promise I’ll be by your side, Sphyra until everything will be okay.”

Until everything will be okay, she repeated in her mind. What will happen after that?

“Are you fine now, Dina?” Queen Amira asked Dina when she stepped inside the dining room.

“Yes, Your Highness.” She gazed at Lolita who helped her during the winter. “Thanks to Lolita for taking care of me.” Her smile reached both of her ears. If Lolita wasn’t there for her, she would’ve died of that freezing weather. “Do you have something to ask for, Your Highness?”

“Just assist me, Dina. Don’t push yourself or you might have another disease.”

“Lolita’s right. I want the two of you to visit Aragorn. Check if they’re doing fine. Veneer, the king’s nephew will join the two of you on your way. Please bring them more food stocks so they won’t run out.”

“We will do that, Your Highness. I suggest that we should also bring ginseng for the gentlemen since winter had arrived and they might need it if they got a cough.”

“Do it also, Lolita. Take care on your way.”

“I’ll ask Lola to check on you, Your Highness. I won’t feel right if there’s no one beside you.”

“No need. I’m fine.”

Lolita and Dina left the dining. They went to their room to prepare the things that they’re going to bring to Leo’s hut. While their way to the bunker of the palace, the two of them heard the woman talking about how Dina and Lolita became friends where in fact Dina hated Lolita for a long time. Some said that Dina is just doing that for her own sake. They thought she will use Lolita to gain the queen’s favor.

“I want to slap them really hard. How dare they are to talk about that behind me?” Dina said while packing up meat and vegetables.

“Don’t listen to them,” Lolita advised.

“How can I not listen to them when they were talking as if the distance between them is from the palace to palace? They should have talked to me about it if they have a problem. They are fake. Before you became the queen’s personal servant, you are the topic of everyone and now that we’re both Queen Amira’s personal servants, I became one of their topics.”

“When you talk about me, I hear it all, but I don’t give a single second on you. When you fought back, you’re the loser. Focus on the things that you needed to do. They’re just jealous because they’re not the queen’s personal servant. If I’m the one who’s deciding, I will give this position to all of them so they could shut their mouths.”

“You’re right, Lolita. I will not listen to them ever again.”

They finished the job and they carried the things to the chariot with the help of Veneer.

“Is that all?” Veneer asked the two of them.

They looked at each other and nodded. Veneer lets the two of them enter the chariot while he’s the one riding the horse in front.

“I didn’t know that the king’s nephew is good-looking as well. The king’s bloodline must consist of very good attributes. The prince’s good-looking, the king must be good-looking as well when he’s younger, and his nephew’s attractive. I wonder if I belong to the royal family. I will surely attract a lot of boys.”

Lolita didn’t talk. She let Dina continue.

“I think I saw him one time. I accidentally saw him without his upper clothes. I saw his perfectly curved body as if he’s a warrior who’s going into a war. He didn’t have any scars all over his body. I think he is my first crush in the palace! Until now, the feeling isn’t fading away.”

Dina thought of her and Veneer. What if they became a couple? What if they marry?

“Does he have a fiancee? If he has one, I would be very sad. If only I’m not a servant, I would ask him to marry me. Lolita, I’m also attractive, right? Look at my perfectly curved face. Look at my body. I’m not that fat or thin. If our status isn’t that different from each other, there would be a possibility. Some of the servants in the palace also said that he’s funny and easy to be with. I hope he isn’t proud because that would disappoint me.”

“Why do proud guys disappoint you?”

Dina bit her lip. It was from a guy’s voice and that means that Veneer heard everything that she’s saying. She was so embarrassed. How will she face the world after a guy heard every word she had said about him? He’s even from the royal family. Is she’s going to be punished? No, she thought, it wasn’t against the law! She stared at Lolita who’s laughing so hard because of her embarrassment.

“Why are you laughing, Lolita? Why didn’t you tell me that he can hear what I’m talking about? I will slap your face once we return back to the palace. And now, you’re laughing at me? Am I that funny, Lolita? Is it funny to hear someone’s fantasies? Is it funny that you witnessed me feel embarrassed?”

Dina crossed her arms and rolled her eyes. She hated everything on this ride. She shouldn’t have joined her to Leo’s hut if she already predicted that this will happen. How will she face Veneer once they step down from the chariot?

“You’ve been talking non-stop stop about him the moment we ride in this chariot. You praised him a lot but you don’t want him to be proud so he won’t turn you off. I didn’t speak because I’d like to hear more of your thoughts about him. I’d him to hear you praise him. You’re hilarious.” Lolita almost died laughing. Dina gazed at her as if she’s going to slap her hard or kick her face. She wanted that but maybe later! She’ll definitely do her revenge.

“If you’ll buy me? How many silver, golden, or diamond nuggets are you willing to pay for me?” Veneer asked, chuckling.

“I won’t answer,” Dina said.

“Don’t worry about that, Dina. Both of you are eighteen, right?”

“No, I’m just seventeen!”

“Me too,” Veneer said from the outside. Servants were right that he’s easy to be with.

“The two of you were still young but marrying in Caspian only requires fifteen years of age. Maybe you can marry him in your dreams,” Lolita teased.

Laughter filled Dina’s ears. It’s a mixture of Lolita’s and Veneer’s. She promised herself that she’ll take revenge on her. She will pay for this!