The Trials of King Edmund - Chapter Nine
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bungakertasThe Trials of King Edmund - Chapter Nine
Disclaimer and general Author's Notes are in the first entry, which is linked at the bottom.
Chapter Nine Author's Notes: Merry Christmas! My present to you all is an extra chapter.
If you wanted to give me a present, could you maybe post a response? I don't care if all you say is, "I am reading this." I've only gotten one review on LJ, and I feel a bit like I might be talking to an empty room, so if you're out there, might you let me know?
As much as he dearly wished it were otherwise, when Edmund and Peridan returned to the house it quickly became evident that there was nothing else to be done. So they all packed, hiding their things in packages meant to look like they were for the party—although they did have to leave some things behind in the end—and went down to the ship.
The Splendor Hyaline was the most welcome sight Edmund had had in the entire three weeks he’d spent in Tashbaan. They spent what was left of the afternoon and on into the evening directing supplies here and there, and giving contradictory orders to the various performers, just for added effect and confusion. Indeed, by the time the last Narnian had sneaked aboard disguised as a delivery person bringing party supplies, Edmund almost wished they could throw the party, just to see if the multitude of conflicts they had orchestrated could possibly be resolved.
Finally, however, it was dark and they all crept below to the oars or up to the rigging, or back to the wheel as quietly as they could. And here came the worst part. To see that they got away as fast as possible and did not risk grounding, Rence had to time their exit from the harbor with the tide, which meant a long wait on everyone’s part. Edmund, Peridan, and Corin were sitting in the galley, ready to begin rowing the ship as soon as the order came to do it. Susan had gone up to the crow’s nest with her bow, in case someone tried to send up an alarm before they left the harbor. The stars came out, and shone down on them, and the moon was just rising when a sailor stuck his head through the door.
“Lower the starboard oars,” he told them in a stage whisper, relaying these orders from the deck.
All the oars on the right side of the ship went down. At the head of the galley, they were given a count, and Corin and all the men on that side began rowing.
The ship began to move.
“Lower the port oars,” the sailor ordered.
The left side oars went down and Edmund began to work with the men on that side. He felt the ship moving, but being unable to see anything outside, he had no idea where they were or what was going to happen next.
“Stay starboard oars,” the sailor told them.
And on it went. It was delicate work, to be sure the ship got out of the harbor with no collisions.
Finally, the order Edmund had been waiting for came. “Pull the oars in,” the sailor told them in a normal tone of voice. Everyone in the galley pulled their oars in and stowed them. Edmund could tell by the feel that they were moving under the wind now, so he and Corin went up to the deck. The sails were all unfurled and the Narnian banner at the top of the mid-mast was waving cheerfully in the evening breeze, just enough for Edmund to make out the lion on it. They also found Susan just climbing down from the crow’s nest, looking rather bored.
“No one even seemed interested,” she told them, stowing her bow with a shrug. “I’m not sure what they thought we were doing, but I doubt we’ll encounter any resistance.”
“Thank the Lion for that,” Edmund said with a nod, and with more emphasis than he had been able to honestly feel for weeks. He turned to Rence. “Because I want us to make for Narnia with all possible speed. No stopping, no slowing. We’re to be at Cair Paravel as soon as humanly possible.”
“You can’t expect something to be wrong,” Susan protested.
“Susan, Rabadash is not to be trusted. It may be nothing, but I fear he may do something rash,” Edmund told her.
His sister frowned, but thoughtfully. Finally, she said, “You’re right. Better to be safe. For Narnia, then. Quick as we can.”
For the next three days, everyone, including Tumnus and Corin, were hard at work maintaining a grueling pace for Narnia. Much to Edmund and Rence’s shock, Corin actually managed to be relatively helpful and did not demolish the entire ship on the way there, prompting Rence to finally admit that there was a theoretical possibility of his becoming a decent sailor at some point in the future.
It was late in the fourth morning after their escape from Tashbaan when they put into the harbor at Cair Paravel. In fact, as they were pulling in, Edmund could see Lucy literally running down from the castle, with Sallowpad flying over her head and Dilly running by her feet. She skidded to a halt on the boards of the dock and waited there, practically vibrating with energy until the plank was laid. Susan barreled off the ship and she and Lucy hugged one another tightly. Edmund, Corin, and Tumnus were only three steps behind her and they all collided in a tangle of limbs and greetings.
“I was so worried,” Lucy finally gasped. “When Sallowpad arrived with your message, Ed, I was worried you wouldn’t get away after all.”
“I’m sorry, Lu,” he told her. “I had to be sure you’d get our warning, but there was no way to send a message to you afterwards.”
“I’m sorry, too,” Susan said. “I’ve been such an idiot.”
“Don’t be sorry, Susan,” Lucy said. “You did nothi—”
“Your majesties!” said a voice from the edge of the dock. They all looked around to see Kerrow the leopard and a stag, just running onto the dock from the castle.
The two beasts slid to a halt, their feet not finding good purchase on the wood of the dock.
“Your majesties, this is Chervy the stag who has just come to us from south of the Dancing Lawn, near the pass into Archenland,” Kerrow said.
Corin looked up at that.
“My greetings to you all,” Chervy said. “I have terrible news. Prince Rabadash came over the desert with two hundred horse and is attacking Anvard.”
“What?” Susan cried in surprise.
“The bounder!” Corin exclaimed. “I’m leaving at once.”
“Your highness will do no such thing,” Edmund snapped. “If we have this news now, then your father had it in time to shut the gates. Rabadash’s first assaults will come to nothing. Lucy, did you set about raising that defense force?”
“We won’t have the giants or the cats until tomorrow morning, but otherwise, we’re prepared,” she told him.
“Then today we spend preparing our strategy,” Edmund told them. “Tomorrow, you, Corin, will come with us, but you may watch only.” Corin looked a bit deflated at this edict, but Edmund didn’t spare him more thought. “Send messages out to those members of the army not yet arrived to meet us on the Dancing Lawn by eight-thirty tomorrow morning.”
“This time,” Susan said, “it’ll be me staying behind to look after Narnia.”
“I’ll brief you,” Lucy told her. The two queens headed up to Cair Paravel, talking rapidly.
Peridan came up to Edmund. “Rence is seeing to the ship.”
“Excellent. Peridan, you’ll be my second for this action,” Edmund told him.
“With a good will, sire.”
The two of them followed the queens into Cair Paravel, with Corin and Tumnus coming next.
They spent the afternoon arguing over battle strategies in the counsel room. Corin initially wanted to simply overwhelm Rabadash with superior numbers, but was quickly informed by both Peridan and Edmund in no uncertain terms that there was no need for such an indelicate and bloody strategy when a victory for Narnia and Archenland was practically assured as soon as the Narnians joined the battle.
“We will attack Rabadash from one side. Anvard will be to the other. He and his men, who are only two hundred today and will be fewer tomorrow, will be crushed between the two forces. This battle is ours to loose, not his to win,” Peridan said.
“And your highness will remember he is an observer only,” Edmund added with a stern glare. “You will sit, Corin, and let us speak.”
Corin, sullenly, sat.
Edmund looked to Lucy, who had joined them after she briefed Susan. “Lucy, you said we’d have how many cats?”
“Fifty. They were eager to come when they heard how Rabadash tried to trap you in Tashbaan,” she told him. “And six giants, although one has not seen battle before.”
Edmund nodded. “Good. Now then, we’ll put the centaurs and cavalry in the center. We can send the giants here, then,” he said, indicating one side of the valley on the map on their table, “and the cats can balance them on the other side. Lucy, you’ll take the archers in the rear, and…well, that will essentially be that, provided no one makes a horrible mistake.”
With the plans made, everyone went to see to their own preparations. Although before he began any of his own work, Edmund held Thornbut back after their conference.
“Thornbut, I’m worried Corin may try to do something foolish. Keep an eye on him, and make sure he stays out of the fighting,” Edmund told the dwarf.
“With all due respect, I may not be capable of that, short of physical force,” Thornbut answered doubtfully.
“You have my permission to use it, if you must,” Edmund said.
Thornbut’s eyebrows shot up.
“I don’t care if you have to chain him to your arm,” Edmund said. “Keep him out of the fighting. That’s an order.”
“Yes, sire,” Thornbut answered, with a smile and a bow.
After dinner, Edmund and Susan filled Lucy in on their time in Tashbaan. In return, Lucy told them what had happened in Narnia, and filled them in on Peter’s reports from the north. It was late at night before Edmund finally got to bed, but he didn’t mind. The next morning, after a kiss and a well-wish from Susan, he was up and in the saddle at dawn, and they were off for the Dancing Lawn, with Peridan carrying the Narnian standard and Lucy cheering Corin up as they rode.
They had about a hundred with them when they set out from Cair Paravel, but all were either on horseback, or centaur-back, or were four-footed and could keep up with the brisk pace, and so they made excellent time down to the Dancing Lawn. Every so often, a group of Narnians would see the procession passing, with the banners and armor and would turn up to cheer them as they passed. They arrived on the Dancing Lawn by eight-fifteen to rousing cheers from the Narnians assembled there.
Edmund blinked in shock on seeing the huge assembly. Aside from the expected giants and cats, Dirian had also turned up, with nearly a hundred more Narnians. Humans, fauns, dogs, horses, dwarves, naiads, dryads, and a whole company of bears. Edmund hadn’t thought they’d receive nearly so much support and was staggered by the show of loyalty. He opened his mouth to say something and words absolutely failed him. He looked to Lucy, who appeared similarly flabbergasted. Finally, he shrugged and turned back to the assembly, and said simply:
“To Anvard!”
A huge cheer went up, and so they all set off, southward over the hills, which grew taller as they approached the mountains. It was not quite mid-day when they reached a lovely green hillside, so perfect to do some quick, last minute rearranging and head-counting that Edmund had Dirian sound the trumpet and called a brief halt.
“Now, friends,” he called down the line, “time for a halt and some food!”
A laugh went up from the Narnians who immediately began dismounting and checking with captains and double-checking their armor and things.
Corin, however, noticed three dwarves and a boy who were staring at the assembly a hair before Edmund did and was off his pony in a trice. He ran over to the boy and seized his hands.
“You’re here!” he exclaimed.
Edmund and Lucy dismounted and began making their way over.
“So you got through all right? I am glad. And now we shall have some sport.”
Edmund did not like the dark tone Corin put on that last word, although given that it was Corin’s home being attacked, he couldn’t say he didn’t sympathize.
“It’s been amazing luck! We only got into harbor at Cair Paravel yesterday morning and the very first person who met us was Chervy the stag with his news of an attack on Anvard. Don’t you think—”
“Who is your highness’s friend?” Edmund said, stepping in before Corin could tell this perfect stranger any more sensitive information. As he did, though, he was taking in the boy’s appearance.
“Don’t you see, sire?” Corin said. “It’s my double. The boy you mistook me for at Tashbaan!”
“So he is your double,” Lucy agreed in a low breath. “You could be twins. This is quite a thing.”
Seeing them together, Edmund no longer felt so foolish for having mistook the other boy for Corin. They had the same fair hair, although the new boy’s was lighter as if he’d spent a great deal of time in the sun. They had the same height, and the same eyes, although Corin’s double’s eyes were much more serious and steady than Corin’s.
The double opened his mouth and said, in Corin’s voice, “Please, your majesty. I was no traitor, really, I wasn’t. I couldn’t help hearing your plans. But I’d never have dreamed of telling them to your enemies.”
At this, Edmund’s heart melted completely for the poor boy, who was looking at him with a tiny shred of that terror he’d had on his face in Tashbaan again. He strode forward and laid his hand on the boy’s shoulder. “I know now that you were no traitor,” Edmund told him firmly. He went on, “But if you would not be taken for one another time, try not to hear what’s meant for other ears.”
The child nodded his head earnestly, still not entirely reassured.
“All is well,” Edmund told him.
That got him a grateful smile. Edmund clapped his shoulder and moved over to talk to Peridan.
“Your majesty, the dogs and bears are going to work with the big cats, but…I think it best if we leave the cats to order themselves any further than that. They rarely work well when commanded too closely,” Peridan said as Edmund joined him. Kerrow, who was sitting beside Peridan with his tail folded neatly over his feet, glared at the man, but said nothing.
Edmund grinned. “Kerrow, if you would, ask for a few volunteers to go after the horses of any dismounted Calormenes first. Those men may surrender if they can not flee.”
Kerrow nodded. “Sire.” He gave Peridan one last glare before padding off, flicking his tail as he went.
Peridan looked disturbed. Edmund, who knew Kerrow well enough to know when he was joking, did not let Peridan in on the secret.
Dirian came up. “Sire, I’m concerned about those giants,” he said. “Kettlewell can’t even—”
But whatever it was that Kettlewell could not do went unsaid as a cry went up behind Edmund.
He turned, and, to his shock, Corin and Thornbut were actually milling, and it looked to be a real, proper brawl too.
Edmund started to run over, as did three others, but long before he could arrive at the spot, Thornbut fell, and when he tried to rise again it was clear his ankle was paining him seriously. It had already started to swell.
Corin, not realizing this, was just going after him again when Edmund caught him by the shoulder and pulled him violently back before setting him on his feet roughly.
“By the Lion’s mane, prince, this is outside of enough!” Edmund roared, well aware he was in a rare taking and not even bothering to check his temper. “Will you never learn better? You are more trouble than the whole army together! I’d rather have a regiment of hornets in my command than you!”
Two fauns came over and started to help Thornbut out of his armor. Corin had the grace—or sense of self-preservation—to look thoroughly ashamed of himself, but Edmund was not impressed. Lucy examined Thornbut’s ankle and looked up at Edmund before shaking her head. “If I had my cordial with me, I could mend this. But the high king has strictly charged me not to carry it commonly to war and to save it for great extremities.”
“Now see what you have done! Deprived us of a proven warrior, and right on the edge of battle!” Edmund said, wishing that some of this might make an impression on the boy.
“I’ll take his place, sire,” Corin said, bursting in.
Edmund glared at him. “No one doubts your courage. But a boy in battle is a danger only to his own side.”
“Your majesty!” called a voice behind him. Edmund turned to see Sallowpad winging towards them to land—with an apologetic look—on the rump of a nearby centaur, who glared ferociously but neglected to say anything.
With a stern glare at Corin, Edmund moved over to speak to the raven.
“Sire,” Sallowpad said to him, “I have overflown Anvard this morning. Rabadash and his men are not there, but in the nearby forest, felling an enormous tree. They were stripping it of its branches when I saw them and will no doubt bring it against the castle gate there. I have warned King Lune, but I am afraid, your majesty, that they will breach the gate today if they are not stopped.”
Edmund nodded. “Peridan! Dirian! Pass the word. Tell everyone to be prepared to leave in five minutes.”
“There is more, sire,” Sallowpad, hopping from foot to foot, which drew a very displeased look from the centaur on whose back he stood.
Edmund looked at the raven curiously. “Oh?”
“King Lune reports that his son Cor was the one who reported this to him yesterday. He is Corin’s twin. However, they were separated in the night and Cor is again missing. He begs you to watch for him.”
Every muscle in Edmund’s body froze. He was absolutely stunned. He glanced around and saw no sign of Corin, nor of the boy who looked so like him. Of course they would be twins. Of course it was Cor. How he had forgotten about Cor, Edmund would never know. And now the Lost Prince was nearby and Edmund had no time to find him.
He was unable to give Sallowpad any response but a mute nod.
*~*~*
Author’s Notes: The amount of dialogue from the book in this chapter is actually less than the previous two, which is weird, given that the two stories are now almost completely intertwined. All the dialogue from “Now friends, time for a halt and some food!” to “All is well.” comes from the book, as does it from “By the lion’s mane, prince…” to “…a boy in battle is a danger only to his own side.”
Also…Narnian names are very difficult. The Calormene names I had no trouble with at all, but Narnian names would stump me for ages. I had so much trouble coming up with Rence’s name that I almost left him out entirely. The giant’s name of this chapter, almost stumped me permanently until I remembered the name of the mad scientist from the Doctor Who serial “Robot.” While the two Kettlewells have nothing in common but their names, I did think the name was sufficiently gianty, and since I like giving nods to other fandoms where I can, here it is.
Chapter One - A Proposal is Made to Queen Susan
Chapter Two - Prince Rabadash Arrives in Narnia
Chapter Three - Harfang Sends an Envoy
Chapter Four - The Narnians Hold a Tournament
Chapter Five - A Voyage to Tashbaan
Chapter Six - In the Court of the Tisroc
Chapter Seven - Prince Corin Goes Missing
Chapter Eight - The Plan of Mr. Tumnus
Chapter Ten - The Battle of Anvard
Chapter Eleven - King Edmund and Queen Lucy
Chapter Twelve - The Return To Cair Paravel
Disclaimer and general Author's Notes are in the first entry, which is linked at the bottom.
Chapter Nine Author's Notes: Merry Christmas! My present to you all is an extra chapter.
If you wanted to give me a present, could you maybe post a response? I don't care if all you say is, "I am reading this." I've only gotten one review on LJ, and I feel a bit like I might be talking to an empty room, so if you're out there, might you let me know?
As much as he dearly wished it were otherwise, when Edmund and Peridan returned to the house it quickly became evident that there was nothing else to be done. So they all packed, hiding their things in packages meant to look like they were for the party—although they did have to leave some things behind in the end—and went down to the ship.
The Splendor Hyaline was the most welcome sight Edmund had had in the entire three weeks he’d spent in Tashbaan. They spent what was left of the afternoon and on into the evening directing supplies here and there, and giving contradictory orders to the various performers, just for added effect and confusion. Indeed, by the time the last Narnian had sneaked aboard disguised as a delivery person bringing party supplies, Edmund almost wished they could throw the party, just to see if the multitude of conflicts they had orchestrated could possibly be resolved.
Finally, however, it was dark and they all crept below to the oars or up to the rigging, or back to the wheel as quietly as they could. And here came the worst part. To see that they got away as fast as possible and did not risk grounding, Rence had to time their exit from the harbor with the tide, which meant a long wait on everyone’s part. Edmund, Peridan, and Corin were sitting in the galley, ready to begin rowing the ship as soon as the order came to do it. Susan had gone up to the crow’s nest with her bow, in case someone tried to send up an alarm before they left the harbor. The stars came out, and shone down on them, and the moon was just rising when a sailor stuck his head through the door.
“Lower the starboard oars,” he told them in a stage whisper, relaying these orders from the deck.
All the oars on the right side of the ship went down. At the head of the galley, they were given a count, and Corin and all the men on that side began rowing.
The ship began to move.
“Lower the port oars,” the sailor ordered.
The left side oars went down and Edmund began to work with the men on that side. He felt the ship moving, but being unable to see anything outside, he had no idea where they were or what was going to happen next.
“Stay starboard oars,” the sailor told them.
And on it went. It was delicate work, to be sure the ship got out of the harbor with no collisions.
Finally, the order Edmund had been waiting for came. “Pull the oars in,” the sailor told them in a normal tone of voice. Everyone in the galley pulled their oars in and stowed them. Edmund could tell by the feel that they were moving under the wind now, so he and Corin went up to the deck. The sails were all unfurled and the Narnian banner at the top of the mid-mast was waving cheerfully in the evening breeze, just enough for Edmund to make out the lion on it. They also found Susan just climbing down from the crow’s nest, looking rather bored.
“No one even seemed interested,” she told them, stowing her bow with a shrug. “I’m not sure what they thought we were doing, but I doubt we’ll encounter any resistance.”
“Thank the Lion for that,” Edmund said with a nod, and with more emphasis than he had been able to honestly feel for weeks. He turned to Rence. “Because I want us to make for Narnia with all possible speed. No stopping, no slowing. We’re to be at Cair Paravel as soon as humanly possible.”
“You can’t expect something to be wrong,” Susan protested.
“Susan, Rabadash is not to be trusted. It may be nothing, but I fear he may do something rash,” Edmund told her.
His sister frowned, but thoughtfully. Finally, she said, “You’re right. Better to be safe. For Narnia, then. Quick as we can.”
For the next three days, everyone, including Tumnus and Corin, were hard at work maintaining a grueling pace for Narnia. Much to Edmund and Rence’s shock, Corin actually managed to be relatively helpful and did not demolish the entire ship on the way there, prompting Rence to finally admit that there was a theoretical possibility of his becoming a decent sailor at some point in the future.
It was late in the fourth morning after their escape from Tashbaan when they put into the harbor at Cair Paravel. In fact, as they were pulling in, Edmund could see Lucy literally running down from the castle, with Sallowpad flying over her head and Dilly running by her feet. She skidded to a halt on the boards of the dock and waited there, practically vibrating with energy until the plank was laid. Susan barreled off the ship and she and Lucy hugged one another tightly. Edmund, Corin, and Tumnus were only three steps behind her and they all collided in a tangle of limbs and greetings.
“I was so worried,” Lucy finally gasped. “When Sallowpad arrived with your message, Ed, I was worried you wouldn’t get away after all.”
“I’m sorry, Lu,” he told her. “I had to be sure you’d get our warning, but there was no way to send a message to you afterwards.”
“I’m sorry, too,” Susan said. “I’ve been such an idiot.”
“Don’t be sorry, Susan,” Lucy said. “You did nothi—”
“Your majesties!” said a voice from the edge of the dock. They all looked around to see Kerrow the leopard and a stag, just running onto the dock from the castle.
The two beasts slid to a halt, their feet not finding good purchase on the wood of the dock.
“Your majesties, this is Chervy the stag who has just come to us from south of the Dancing Lawn, near the pass into Archenland,” Kerrow said.
Corin looked up at that.
“My greetings to you all,” Chervy said. “I have terrible news. Prince Rabadash came over the desert with two hundred horse and is attacking Anvard.”
“What?” Susan cried in surprise.
“The bounder!” Corin exclaimed. “I’m leaving at once.”
“Your highness will do no such thing,” Edmund snapped. “If we have this news now, then your father had it in time to shut the gates. Rabadash’s first assaults will come to nothing. Lucy, did you set about raising that defense force?”
“We won’t have the giants or the cats until tomorrow morning, but otherwise, we’re prepared,” she told him.
“Then today we spend preparing our strategy,” Edmund told them. “Tomorrow, you, Corin, will come with us, but you may watch only.” Corin looked a bit deflated at this edict, but Edmund didn’t spare him more thought. “Send messages out to those members of the army not yet arrived to meet us on the Dancing Lawn by eight-thirty tomorrow morning.”
“This time,” Susan said, “it’ll be me staying behind to look after Narnia.”
“I’ll brief you,” Lucy told her. The two queens headed up to Cair Paravel, talking rapidly.
Peridan came up to Edmund. “Rence is seeing to the ship.”
“Excellent. Peridan, you’ll be my second for this action,” Edmund told him.
“With a good will, sire.”
The two of them followed the queens into Cair Paravel, with Corin and Tumnus coming next.
They spent the afternoon arguing over battle strategies in the counsel room. Corin initially wanted to simply overwhelm Rabadash with superior numbers, but was quickly informed by both Peridan and Edmund in no uncertain terms that there was no need for such an indelicate and bloody strategy when a victory for Narnia and Archenland was practically assured as soon as the Narnians joined the battle.
“We will attack Rabadash from one side. Anvard will be to the other. He and his men, who are only two hundred today and will be fewer tomorrow, will be crushed between the two forces. This battle is ours to loose, not his to win,” Peridan said.
“And your highness will remember he is an observer only,” Edmund added with a stern glare. “You will sit, Corin, and let us speak.”
Corin, sullenly, sat.
Edmund looked to Lucy, who had joined them after she briefed Susan. “Lucy, you said we’d have how many cats?”
“Fifty. They were eager to come when they heard how Rabadash tried to trap you in Tashbaan,” she told him. “And six giants, although one has not seen battle before.”
Edmund nodded. “Good. Now then, we’ll put the centaurs and cavalry in the center. We can send the giants here, then,” he said, indicating one side of the valley on the map on their table, “and the cats can balance them on the other side. Lucy, you’ll take the archers in the rear, and…well, that will essentially be that, provided no one makes a horrible mistake.”
With the plans made, everyone went to see to their own preparations. Although before he began any of his own work, Edmund held Thornbut back after their conference.
“Thornbut, I’m worried Corin may try to do something foolish. Keep an eye on him, and make sure he stays out of the fighting,” Edmund told the dwarf.
“With all due respect, I may not be capable of that, short of physical force,” Thornbut answered doubtfully.
“You have my permission to use it, if you must,” Edmund said.
Thornbut’s eyebrows shot up.
“I don’t care if you have to chain him to your arm,” Edmund said. “Keep him out of the fighting. That’s an order.”
“Yes, sire,” Thornbut answered, with a smile and a bow.
After dinner, Edmund and Susan filled Lucy in on their time in Tashbaan. In return, Lucy told them what had happened in Narnia, and filled them in on Peter’s reports from the north. It was late at night before Edmund finally got to bed, but he didn’t mind. The next morning, after a kiss and a well-wish from Susan, he was up and in the saddle at dawn, and they were off for the Dancing Lawn, with Peridan carrying the Narnian standard and Lucy cheering Corin up as they rode.
They had about a hundred with them when they set out from Cair Paravel, but all were either on horseback, or centaur-back, or were four-footed and could keep up with the brisk pace, and so they made excellent time down to the Dancing Lawn. Every so often, a group of Narnians would see the procession passing, with the banners and armor and would turn up to cheer them as they passed. They arrived on the Dancing Lawn by eight-fifteen to rousing cheers from the Narnians assembled there.
Edmund blinked in shock on seeing the huge assembly. Aside from the expected giants and cats, Dirian had also turned up, with nearly a hundred more Narnians. Humans, fauns, dogs, horses, dwarves, naiads, dryads, and a whole company of bears. Edmund hadn’t thought they’d receive nearly so much support and was staggered by the show of loyalty. He opened his mouth to say something and words absolutely failed him. He looked to Lucy, who appeared similarly flabbergasted. Finally, he shrugged and turned back to the assembly, and said simply:
“To Anvard!”
A huge cheer went up, and so they all set off, southward over the hills, which grew taller as they approached the mountains. It was not quite mid-day when they reached a lovely green hillside, so perfect to do some quick, last minute rearranging and head-counting that Edmund had Dirian sound the trumpet and called a brief halt.
“Now, friends,” he called down the line, “time for a halt and some food!”
A laugh went up from the Narnians who immediately began dismounting and checking with captains and double-checking their armor and things.
Corin, however, noticed three dwarves and a boy who were staring at the assembly a hair before Edmund did and was off his pony in a trice. He ran over to the boy and seized his hands.
“You’re here!” he exclaimed.
Edmund and Lucy dismounted and began making their way over.
“So you got through all right? I am glad. And now we shall have some sport.”
Edmund did not like the dark tone Corin put on that last word, although given that it was Corin’s home being attacked, he couldn’t say he didn’t sympathize.
“It’s been amazing luck! We only got into harbor at Cair Paravel yesterday morning and the very first person who met us was Chervy the stag with his news of an attack on Anvard. Don’t you think—”
“Who is your highness’s friend?” Edmund said, stepping in before Corin could tell this perfect stranger any more sensitive information. As he did, though, he was taking in the boy’s appearance.
“Don’t you see, sire?” Corin said. “It’s my double. The boy you mistook me for at Tashbaan!”
“So he is your double,” Lucy agreed in a low breath. “You could be twins. This is quite a thing.”
Seeing them together, Edmund no longer felt so foolish for having mistook the other boy for Corin. They had the same fair hair, although the new boy’s was lighter as if he’d spent a great deal of time in the sun. They had the same height, and the same eyes, although Corin’s double’s eyes were much more serious and steady than Corin’s.
The double opened his mouth and said, in Corin’s voice, “Please, your majesty. I was no traitor, really, I wasn’t. I couldn’t help hearing your plans. But I’d never have dreamed of telling them to your enemies.”
At this, Edmund’s heart melted completely for the poor boy, who was looking at him with a tiny shred of that terror he’d had on his face in Tashbaan again. He strode forward and laid his hand on the boy’s shoulder. “I know now that you were no traitor,” Edmund told him firmly. He went on, “But if you would not be taken for one another time, try not to hear what’s meant for other ears.”
The child nodded his head earnestly, still not entirely reassured.
“All is well,” Edmund told him.
That got him a grateful smile. Edmund clapped his shoulder and moved over to talk to Peridan.
“Your majesty, the dogs and bears are going to work with the big cats, but…I think it best if we leave the cats to order themselves any further than that. They rarely work well when commanded too closely,” Peridan said as Edmund joined him. Kerrow, who was sitting beside Peridan with his tail folded neatly over his feet, glared at the man, but said nothing.
Edmund grinned. “Kerrow, if you would, ask for a few volunteers to go after the horses of any dismounted Calormenes first. Those men may surrender if they can not flee.”
Kerrow nodded. “Sire.” He gave Peridan one last glare before padding off, flicking his tail as he went.
Peridan looked disturbed. Edmund, who knew Kerrow well enough to know when he was joking, did not let Peridan in on the secret.
Dirian came up. “Sire, I’m concerned about those giants,” he said. “Kettlewell can’t even—”
But whatever it was that Kettlewell could not do went unsaid as a cry went up behind Edmund.
He turned, and, to his shock, Corin and Thornbut were actually milling, and it looked to be a real, proper brawl too.
Edmund started to run over, as did three others, but long before he could arrive at the spot, Thornbut fell, and when he tried to rise again it was clear his ankle was paining him seriously. It had already started to swell.
Corin, not realizing this, was just going after him again when Edmund caught him by the shoulder and pulled him violently back before setting him on his feet roughly.
“By the Lion’s mane, prince, this is outside of enough!” Edmund roared, well aware he was in a rare taking and not even bothering to check his temper. “Will you never learn better? You are more trouble than the whole army together! I’d rather have a regiment of hornets in my command than you!”
Two fauns came over and started to help Thornbut out of his armor. Corin had the grace—or sense of self-preservation—to look thoroughly ashamed of himself, but Edmund was not impressed. Lucy examined Thornbut’s ankle and looked up at Edmund before shaking her head. “If I had my cordial with me, I could mend this. But the high king has strictly charged me not to carry it commonly to war and to save it for great extremities.”
“Now see what you have done! Deprived us of a proven warrior, and right on the edge of battle!” Edmund said, wishing that some of this might make an impression on the boy.
“I’ll take his place, sire,” Corin said, bursting in.
Edmund glared at him. “No one doubts your courage. But a boy in battle is a danger only to his own side.”
“Your majesty!” called a voice behind him. Edmund turned to see Sallowpad winging towards them to land—with an apologetic look—on the rump of a nearby centaur, who glared ferociously but neglected to say anything.
With a stern glare at Corin, Edmund moved over to speak to the raven.
“Sire,” Sallowpad said to him, “I have overflown Anvard this morning. Rabadash and his men are not there, but in the nearby forest, felling an enormous tree. They were stripping it of its branches when I saw them and will no doubt bring it against the castle gate there. I have warned King Lune, but I am afraid, your majesty, that they will breach the gate today if they are not stopped.”
Edmund nodded. “Peridan! Dirian! Pass the word. Tell everyone to be prepared to leave in five minutes.”
“There is more, sire,” Sallowpad, hopping from foot to foot, which drew a very displeased look from the centaur on whose back he stood.
Edmund looked at the raven curiously. “Oh?”
“King Lune reports that his son Cor was the one who reported this to him yesterday. He is Corin’s twin. However, they were separated in the night and Cor is again missing. He begs you to watch for him.”
Every muscle in Edmund’s body froze. He was absolutely stunned. He glanced around and saw no sign of Corin, nor of the boy who looked so like him. Of course they would be twins. Of course it was Cor. How he had forgotten about Cor, Edmund would never know. And now the Lost Prince was nearby and Edmund had no time to find him.
He was unable to give Sallowpad any response but a mute nod.
Author’s Notes: The amount of dialogue from the book in this chapter is actually less than the previous two, which is weird, given that the two stories are now almost completely intertwined. All the dialogue from “Now friends, time for a halt and some food!” to “All is well.” comes from the book, as does it from “By the lion’s mane, prince…” to “…a boy in battle is a danger only to his own side.”
Also…Narnian names are very difficult. The Calormene names I had no trouble with at all, but Narnian names would stump me for ages. I had so much trouble coming up with Rence’s name that I almost left him out entirely. The giant’s name of this chapter, almost stumped me permanently until I remembered the name of the mad scientist from the Doctor Who serial “Robot.” While the two Kettlewells have nothing in common but their names, I did think the name was sufficiently gianty, and since I like giving nods to other fandoms where I can, here it is.
Chapter One - A Proposal is Made to Queen Susan
Chapter Two - Prince Rabadash Arrives in Narnia
Chapter Three - Harfang Sends an Envoy
Chapter Four - The Narnians Hold a Tournament
Chapter Five - A Voyage to Tashbaan
Chapter Six - In the Court of the Tisroc
Chapter Seven - Prince Corin Goes Missing
Chapter Eight - The Plan of Mr. Tumnus
Chapter Ten - The Battle of Anvard
Chapter Eleven - King Edmund and Queen Lucy
Chapter Twelve - The Return To Cair Paravel
