bungakertas (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
bungakertas) wrote2010-10-31 01:38 pm
bungakertas) wrote2010-10-31 01:38 pm
Entry tags:
The Trials of King Edmund
Rating: PG-13
Warning(s): none
Summary: King Edmund has a life almost entirely devoid of trouble. Or rather, he would if politics and Susan’s suitors would stop getting in the way.
Pairing(s): Susan/Rabadash? A little? Sort of?
Spoilers: The Horse And His Boy. Some for The Lion, The Witch, And The Wardrobe. Vague allusions to most of the other books, here and there.
Disclaimer: The Chronicles Of Narnia, The Horse And His Boy, and The Lion, The Witch, And The Wardrobe are the creation of C.S. Lewis and the property of C.S. Lewis Pte. Ltd. No money changed hands and no copyright infringement is intended or implied.
Author’s Notes: A retelling of The Horse And His Boy. This time from the perspective of the Narnians. This may have been done before, but it gives me an excuse to write more Edmund. And Edmund should be written as often as possible, I believe.
For anyone wondering, this is set entirely in book-verse. Movie-verse does not exist, according to this fic. Lucy is blond, Susan hates fighting, the whole nine yards. I will be updating some of the dialogue, but that’s basically it.
In a number of stories that follow a canon plot, a fic-writer will highlight or otherwise set off the portions of the story that come from the canon material. I will not be doing this as I feel that it breaks up the flow of the story. I will probably put notices in the author’s notes of relevant chapters about which bits contain the most heavy quoting.
Special Note: This story has been translated into Russian, and may be found here, along with two lovely accompanying art pieces by Christine von Lemberg.
*~*~*
Edmund looked out from the balcony of his room to see Lucy, Peter, and Lilygloves, the chief of the moles who were planting an orchard outside the gate of Cair Paravel discussing something. He was half-tempted to go down and join them, but he’d only just gotten away from a long audience with some disgruntled Marsh-Wiggles from the north of Narnia. He wasn’t sure he properly had the energy to go out and speak with his siblings.
Things had, lately, been going extraordinarily smoothly for Narnia. They’d finally managed to capture, kill, or subdue the last remnants of the followers of the White Witch so that the whole country from the Lantern Waste to Cair Paravel lived in relatively undisturbed freedom and tranquility.
Naturally, this was the time when they would be most vulnerable to outside attacks. And, predictably, one was already surfacing. The Marsh-Wiggles, for all that their dire predictions of doom and destruction were far-fetched—in kind terms—had a genuine grievance in this case. The northern giants were encroaching on Narnian lands.
Edmund removed the gold circlet he wore and massaged his temples with his hands. Just when the politics had begun to unsnarl themselves, things became complicated again.
He considered, briefly, taking a nap. But his consideration was made brief because a sharp knock on his door interrupted his thoughts.
“Come in!” Edmund called.
“Sire,” said a small dormouse, named Dilly, who came in, “Her Majesty, Queen Susan, has sent me to ask for your help in planning the reception for the ambassadors of Calormen tomorrow.”
“Drat,” Edmund said, snatching the gold circlet up again. He settled it on his head and followed Dilly to the Great Hall where Susan and the black cat, Gus, who was in charge of the household staff, were working on plans for the next day.
“Oh thank goodness you’re here, Edmund,” Susan said. “I desperately need your help.”
“You know I’m rubbish at decorating, Su. I don’t know why you asked me here,” Edmund told her.
“You are excellent at eating, and that’s the help I need,” Susan answered.
Edmund gave her an odd look. “Susan. Why are you so worried about this delegation? A ‘spoiled, selfish, Southern kingdom with nothing but conquest on their mind?’ Those were your exact words, were they not?”
“Don’t you see, Ed?” Susan pressed. “That’s why this whole reception has to be perfect. Their whole stay. We should give them no reason to go home less than satisfied with everything they see.”
“No,” Edmund answered slowly, shaking his head. “I do not see at all.”
“They think of us as a barbarian people with no civilization or learning. So, if we impress them, then perhaps—”
“They will return home thinking exactly as they did before, but they will then say we are the ‘clever barbarians’ or the ‘barbarians with good food’ or the ‘barbarians with a beautiful home.’ No matter how well prepared we are for their visit, they will always look down on us,” Edmund assured her, unable to avoid thinking how completely he agreed with that assessment. He had been wondering, ever since they’d received the request to visit, what Calormen could intend for this meeting. In the end, he’d decided to simply accept the adventure that Aslan sent them.
Susan’s face fell.
“Still, that’s no reason not to try our very best,” Edmund allowed, quickly, hoping to stave off her unhappiness. “What did you want me to eat?”
“Try the pavenders,” Susan told him. She talked him through their menu, by which time, Lucy and Peter had returned from their conference at the gate.
“Well, that’s the apple trees taken care of,” Lucy said to her brother and sister.
“Good,” Edmund broke in before Susan could start on her preparation woes, “because there’s an emissary from the Marsh-Wiggles here.”
“Oh, pooh. Not those wet blankets,” Lucy sighed. Peter and Susan didn’t say anything, but both looked less than enthused.
Edmund grinned wryly. “Normally, I’d agree with you, but this time, they had a legitimate complaint.”
“Oh?” asked Peter, suddenly sounding more interested.
Edmund briefly outlined the situation with the northern giants, and Peter frowned deeply. “The giants will, no doubt, send an emissary of their own to counter the report of the Marsh-Wiggles.”
“No doubt, but unless they can prove that the Marsh-Wiggles are the aggressors here, I don’t know how we could support their actions,” Edmund sighed.
“And I had hoped we’d be done with all this fighting nonsense,” Susan sighed. “We just rousted out the last of the Witch’s brood.”
“But it’s worse than that, isn’t it?” Lucy sighed. “Of course it is. This is such rotten timing!”
“What do you mean?” Susan said, thoroughly bewildered.
“Oh, Susan, the giants’ envoy is sure to arrive while the Calormenes are still here,” Lucy pointed out. “And you know Calormenes have enough trouble with the talking beasts and the dwarves and the fauns and such. Only think what they’ll be sure to when walking, talking, very large giants come strolling up and demand an audience. And we’ll be forced to give them one, you know, because we can hardly refuse them now. They’ll think we’re practically driven from pillar to post by the nations surrounding us, and be terrified half-witless besides.”
“There must be something we can do about it,” Susan sighed.
“At the moment, we’ll have to stay to your plan, Su,” Peter said. “Keep the Calormenes occupied and distracted. If we impress them with our court perhaps they’ll think cautiously of us. Hopefully they’ll decide that we wouldn’t provide lavish entertainments for guests unless our country was well-provided for.”
Edmund shook his head. “Peter, there’s better preparation than that, surely.”
“If you have a suggestion, please say so. If we can get through a visit from the Calormenes without making ourselves look like spineless weaklings, I would very much like to do it,” said the High King, sounding a bit snappish.
Edmund sighed, but held his tongue. Susan said, “I’d better get back to work.”
“I suppose I’ll handle court today,” Lucy offered.
“You’ll need a second hand,” Edmund said.
“And I shall begin preparing a response to the giant’s envoy,” Peter sighed. “I hate writing these sorts of things.”
Edmund nodded. He and Lucy hurried back to their rooms before spending the rest of the morning into the early afternoon in court, seeing to disputes and grievances. They were both exhausted before they finally got out. Lucy left to go first to the kitchens and then to Tumnus’ home. He’d taken ill, and from the day he’d first felt feverish, there had not been one day to pass by where Lucy had not gone to tend to him. Edmund, left to his own devices, spent the afternoon playing chess with the centaur Haldring, who was one of the few at Cair Paravel that could beat him anymore.
And while there was no quarreling at dinner—in fact, no one even behaved as if they were cross with one another—Edmund and his siblings were not entirely in tune with one another. As they often did, the four of them meandered into their private sitting room that night but no one spoke or interacted. Susan was embroidering a handkerchief, Lucy read a book, and Peter continued working on his replies to the giants. It was always best to have several replies ready for several different contingencies.
Edmund simply sat in his chair, watching the stars and thinking. Every so often he would glance back to his siblings, none of whom seemed to want to make eye contact with one another.
Finally he sighed. “I’m for bed. Good night everyone.”
The older two nodded, but Lucy stood and said, “I think I’ll follow.”
As they headed off to their rooms, Lucy said, “Edmund, if the Calormenes find us acting like this…”
“There will be no salvaging their visit, I know,” Edmund sighed.
“What do we do?” Lucy asked.
“We’ll have to get up tomorrow and put tonight behind us,” Edmund said.
Lucy frowned. “That’s not a very good plan.”
“It seems we’re swimming in bad plans lately,” Edmund agreed.
Lucy shook her head with a slight twinkle in her eye. “Don’t worry, Ed. You’ve got a surprise coming tomorrow that I think will help us out.”
And with that pronouncement, Lucy marched off.
Edmund stared after his sister with a sigh. Hopefully this plan of hers would turn out to be helpful.
When he had been younger, Edmund had disliked dressing up. Not because formal Narnian clothes were uncomfortable—in fact the opposite was much truer—but because he’d never especially liked minding his manners.
Having grown up, he still disliked dressing up, for mostly the same reasons. Lately it seemed he only dressed up for people he needed to impress but did not particularly wish to see. If the Calormenes had stated their purpose for this visit, he would feel much better, but as it was he had no idea what they wanted and felt very behind-hand as a result.
He finished pulling on his boots and strode out the door after a cursory glance in the mirror to ensure his tunic was not on backwards, or something similar.
He ran smack into Lucy in the hallway.
“Ed! Good morning!” she said with a laugh.
“Hello, Lu,” he returned.
“Join me for breakfast?” she asked.
He offered her his arm, and the two of them followed several flights of mostly empty stairwells to the kitchens.
“You look lovely, by the way,” he observed as they snuck in the back of the palace kitchen. “I’ll never understand how you get your hair done up that way, though.”
Lucy’s golden hair had been pulled back into a shining bun of braids and curls with small seed pearls threaded into it.
She laughed. “Neither will I. Selene is responsible,” she said, naming the dryad who often attended her.
“Your majesties!” said Rosebiter, the badger who ran the kitchen. She seemed a bit surprised, but recovered very quickly, and ordered them some fresh buns and jam.
“Good morning, Rosebiter,” Edmund said. He and Lucy sat down at a table that was set back away from the main flow of traffic.
“Well,” Lucy finally said, “today is the day. What do you suppose they want?”
“I wish I knew. I can not like that they have no stated purpose for this visit,” Edmund sighed.
“They want to unbalance us,” Lucy nodded.
“It’s working.”
“Oh, Edmund! You can’t give in so easily. They’re not even here, yet!”
He sighed, and resisted the urge to bury his face in his hands.
“Edmund, you’re very thoughtful,” Lucy said slowly, “and of everyone, you tend to be the most diplomatic. But with all four of us here, you are not carrying the whole burden of uncovering the purpose to this visit.”
He looked up and then leaned over and kissed her cheek. “Thank you.”
The two of them rose and left the kitchen to enter the breakfast room where they found their older siblings eating the same meal they had just finished, but in silence. Lucy flashed him a dark look, but neither of them could say anything. The odd tenseness from the previous night was not dispelled.
Just as they were about to come to an awkward and quiet end to their breakfast, Edmund heard the noise of hooves in the hallway outside the room. He looked up just in time to see Tumnus enter the breakfast room and offer a bow with a slightly flourish to Peter.
Lucy stood and offered him her hands. “Tumnus!” she said happily.
Edmund mouthed, “The surprise?” Lucy grinned.
“Your majesties,” he said, “I have been in such excellent care that I awoke this morning and found myself entirely better. I have returned to take up my duties. And not a moment too soon, I think.”
Edmund took a look around the room. Tumnus’ arrival had had just the effect he suspected Lucy had hoped it would. Peter and Susan had both relaxed, and all three of his siblings seemed a bit more hopeful.
“As usual,” Peter said, “your timing is excellent.” Peter outlined the situation with the Calormenes and Edmund summed up his interview with the Marsh-Wiggles.
“So, we are expecting the envoy from the giants to arrive some time during the visit from the Calormenes,” Edmund said, finishing his summary.
“That is a problem,” Tumnus agreed.
“Unfortunately, we have no more time to discuss it,” Peter sighed. Dilly had just entered and appeared to waiting for an opportunity to say something. The five of them turned and looked expectantly at the little dormouse.
Dilly coughed and said, “Your majesties. It is almost time.”
“Thank you, Dilly,” Peter said. He strode out with Susan at his side. Lucy and Tumnus followed, already deep in conversation. Edmund smiled at the little mouse, and gave her a nod. She gave a smile in return before scampering off to her other duties.
The Grand Throne Room was one of Edmund’s favorite rooms in Cair Paravel. It was a lovely, airy room, made out of white stones with enormous windows on all sides. On the far end was a raised dais with their four thrones on it, of course, but on the end from which a visitor would enter, from one of the sides, the windows stretched all the way from the ceiling to the floor and opened directly out onto an enormous balcony with steps that led straight down to the beach. During the more boring interviews, Edmund sometimes imagined running straight out the doors and jumping on a ship for the Lone Islands. Today the Splendor Hyaline was anchored just off-shore, looking ever-so-inviting. The weather was warm, so the breezes that blew in were fresh and smelled sweet. Garlands of flowers had been twined around the columns at the edges of the room by wood nymphs. The center aisle of the room was left open, but on either side, there was a large crowd of people, all of whom were involved in Narnian politics in one way or another. Centaurs, nymphs, fauns, talking beasts, and the occasional human all milled around, talking to one another about the latest news. A few corners were speculating on the reason behind the visit from the Marsh-Wiggles, which had, thus far, not become public knowledge.
Edmund shook his head, laughing under his breath. Susan was speaking with Gus about something. The cat was sitting on the edge of her throne, looking her steadily in the eye as cats sometimes do. Peter, beside him, was talking to Kerrow, a leopard. It sounded as though they were making plans, in case it came to war with the giants. At his other hand, Lucy and Tumnus were cheerfully chatting.
“Is something wrong, sire?” Haldring asked from beside Edmund’s throne.
“I believe we have set these Calormenes up for a surprise,” Edmund answered.
“Sire?”
“Haldring, it is well-known that the Calormenes hold talking beasts and other Narnian citizens in distaste. Yet here we are, each attended by a Narnian of exactly the sort that will most upset them, with a court filled to the brim with citizens of the same,” Edmund answered with a laugh.
There was a deep silence and finally Haldring said, “Sire, may I speak freely?”
“Of course,” Edmund answered.
“Then, sir, I do not give two figs for how uncomfortable I cause these Calormenes to be. They have come in to our country. I shall not pretend to regret my own existence anywhere, but least of all in my own nation,” Haldring said.
Edmund smiled. “Oh, very well spoken.”
The door on the far end opened and everyone on the dais—including Gus the cat—looked up with a well-rehearsed expression of expectation and a very slight challenge on their face. This look was one that they had all—except for Gus and Kerrow, who, being cats, this sort of thing probably came naturally—practiced until they got it perfect, daring their visitors to impress them if they could. And where their attention turned, the attention of all the court followed. When the entire room turned to look at you and fell silent at once, it could make one feel very on-the-spot indeed.
The Calormenes entered. Three men, who were no longer young but not yet elderly, entered first, each followed by two boys. All of them were grandly and elaborately dressed after the high Calormene fashion. Edmund could see Lucy’s and Susan’s hearts melting at the sight of the children, and even Peter’s expression softened a bit. Edmund barely restrained himself from rolling his eyes. All their careful, intimidating posturing was going to be undone by a few youngsters. He suspected they were some of the most intelligent children in all of Calormen, and were likely students of the tarkaans of this envoy. In all probability, Edmund imagined their advice would be as intelligent and reasoned as that of most adults.
Their guests halted their approach at a decorous distance and bowed in the elaborate Calormene style. Even the boys managed flawless bows, and Edmund’s opinion of them was cemented. These children were not strangers to formal court manners.
Peter said, in his best, most formal, “high king” voice, “Narnia welcomes you, friends from Calormen.”
The tarkaan in the center inclined his head in acknowledgement. “O High King, beloved and favored of the powerful and fearsome gods of the north,” he began.
Do not roll your eyes, do not roll your eyes, do not roll your eyes, Edmund inwardly chanted.
“Know that I am Irukan Tarkaan, and have been sent to you on a mission from our most beloved friend, Rasheed Tisroc—may he live forever. I am come, with Arvish Tarkaan and Ravid Tarkaan, my most esteemed and knowledgeable companions—” And here the other two tarkaans bowed, only half as elaborately as the first time. “—To ask your majesties, in your inestimable beneficence to consider our proposal.”
Edmund blinked. Peter appeared to be considering a reply, but before he could speak, Irukan began a new paragraph.
“In the days in which our beloved Tisroc—may his days on this earth be without end—began his most exalted reign in Calormen, your nation was ruled by an enchantress of high degree, who laid many evil spells upon this place and caused unending winter. With her we had no political discourses.”
“I should think not,” Lucy muttered under her breath.
“Since that time, we have observed the overthrow of her reign by your most excellent and reverend majesties. We have watched the course of your reign and have seen you grow in the favor of your people. Moreover, you are in excellent graces with that lovely country called Archenland and are in all ways most revered by all who encounter you.
“It is for these reasons that the ever-living Tisroc desires and proposes to bring our two great nations into closer relations. To accomplish this end we are sent to treat with your high majesties regarding a marriage between Prince Rabadash of Calormen and Queen Susan of Narnia.”
For the first time in a very long while, Edmund was completely and utterly speechless. By the looks of it, so were all the Narnians. Susan, especially.
Peter recovered first. “We will happily receive you as our guests. And hear all the proposals the Tisroc has sent you to speak on.”
“If we may trespass on the kindness of your majesty one moment further,” said the tarkaan who had been identified as Arvish, in a wholly different and much less elevated tone, “there is one matter that I believe we must mention immediately.”
Edmund smirked inwardly. Irukan was going to play the high-and-mighty negotiator then, with Arvish coming along after to “save the day” with his more personable style. This probably left Ravid to take on the role of hard-line negotiator if it ever came down to that. It was a clever way to set things up.
“What is that?” asked Peter.
“Because this alliance is of paramount importance to the Tisroc—may he live forever, and because of our customs, Prince Rabadash, son of the Tisroc, has planned to join us himself, in two more days—provided your majesties permit, of course. It is only due to pressing matters in our kingdom that he did not accompany us to begin with,” Arvish said.
Peter glanced at Susan who nodded. He turned to Edmund and Lucy. Edmund glanced at Lucy himself, who also nodded. Edmund frowned thoughtfully. He wasn’t entirely certain he wanted to entertain this proposal, but he was highly skeptical of Susan’s actually accepting Rabadash, and he was curious if there was anything else under the surface here. The only way to find out would be to hear out the Calormene delegation.
He gave Peter a nod.
“You have our permission,” Peter said. “Indeed, we accept with a glad heart,” he added after a moment.
Edmund glanced over, forcing himself to look interested and not astonished. What on earth was Peter up to?
“We can not be anything but anxious to meet your prince, and will devise some method of celebration to honor his visit.”
Edmund looked back at the Calormenes, who did not appear overly excited about this proposal but were hardly in a position to refuse.
“Your majesty is very kind,” Irukan said after a moment.
“We thank you gladly, sir.” Peter stood. “I hereby declare this day’s royal court to be open.”
The Calormenes bowed again and were gracefully swept to the side of the room by several attendants.
“Well, that was interesting,” Lucy murmured.
“It’s good to hear they had no political ties to the White Witch, though,” Edmund said.
Lucy smothered a laugh.
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 Nine - Escape to Narnia and the North
Chapter Ten - The Battle of Anvard
Chapter Eleven - King Edmund and Queen Lucy
Chapter Twelve - The Return To Cair Paravel
Warning(s): none
Summary: King Edmund has a life almost entirely devoid of trouble. Or rather, he would if politics and Susan’s suitors would stop getting in the way.
Pairing(s): Susan/Rabadash? A little? Sort of?
Spoilers: The Horse And His Boy. Some for The Lion, The Witch, And The Wardrobe. Vague allusions to most of the other books, here and there.
Disclaimer: The Chronicles Of Narnia, The Horse And His Boy, and The Lion, The Witch, And The Wardrobe are the creation of C.S. Lewis and the property of C.S. Lewis Pte. Ltd. No money changed hands and no copyright infringement is intended or implied.
Author’s Notes: A retelling of The Horse And His Boy. This time from the perspective of the Narnians. This may have been done before, but it gives me an excuse to write more Edmund. And Edmund should be written as often as possible, I believe.
For anyone wondering, this is set entirely in book-verse. Movie-verse does not exist, according to this fic. Lucy is blond, Susan hates fighting, the whole nine yards. I will be updating some of the dialogue, but that’s basically it.
In a number of stories that follow a canon plot, a fic-writer will highlight or otherwise set off the portions of the story that come from the canon material. I will not be doing this as I feel that it breaks up the flow of the story. I will probably put notices in the author’s notes of relevant chapters about which bits contain the most heavy quoting.
Special Note: This story has been translated into Russian, and may be found here, along with two lovely accompanying art pieces by Christine von Lemberg.
Edmund looked out from the balcony of his room to see Lucy, Peter, and Lilygloves, the chief of the moles who were planting an orchard outside the gate of Cair Paravel discussing something. He was half-tempted to go down and join them, but he’d only just gotten away from a long audience with some disgruntled Marsh-Wiggles from the north of Narnia. He wasn’t sure he properly had the energy to go out and speak with his siblings.
Things had, lately, been going extraordinarily smoothly for Narnia. They’d finally managed to capture, kill, or subdue the last remnants of the followers of the White Witch so that the whole country from the Lantern Waste to Cair Paravel lived in relatively undisturbed freedom and tranquility.
Naturally, this was the time when they would be most vulnerable to outside attacks. And, predictably, one was already surfacing. The Marsh-Wiggles, for all that their dire predictions of doom and destruction were far-fetched—in kind terms—had a genuine grievance in this case. The northern giants were encroaching on Narnian lands.
Edmund removed the gold circlet he wore and massaged his temples with his hands. Just when the politics had begun to unsnarl themselves, things became complicated again.
He considered, briefly, taking a nap. But his consideration was made brief because a sharp knock on his door interrupted his thoughts.
“Come in!” Edmund called.
“Sire,” said a small dormouse, named Dilly, who came in, “Her Majesty, Queen Susan, has sent me to ask for your help in planning the reception for the ambassadors of Calormen tomorrow.”
“Drat,” Edmund said, snatching the gold circlet up again. He settled it on his head and followed Dilly to the Great Hall where Susan and the black cat, Gus, who was in charge of the household staff, were working on plans for the next day.
“Oh thank goodness you’re here, Edmund,” Susan said. “I desperately need your help.”
“You know I’m rubbish at decorating, Su. I don’t know why you asked me here,” Edmund told her.
“You are excellent at eating, and that’s the help I need,” Susan answered.
Edmund gave her an odd look. “Susan. Why are you so worried about this delegation? A ‘spoiled, selfish, Southern kingdom with nothing but conquest on their mind?’ Those were your exact words, were they not?”
“Don’t you see, Ed?” Susan pressed. “That’s why this whole reception has to be perfect. Their whole stay. We should give them no reason to go home less than satisfied with everything they see.”
“No,” Edmund answered slowly, shaking his head. “I do not see at all.”
“They think of us as a barbarian people with no civilization or learning. So, if we impress them, then perhaps—”
“They will return home thinking exactly as they did before, but they will then say we are the ‘clever barbarians’ or the ‘barbarians with good food’ or the ‘barbarians with a beautiful home.’ No matter how well prepared we are for their visit, they will always look down on us,” Edmund assured her, unable to avoid thinking how completely he agreed with that assessment. He had been wondering, ever since they’d received the request to visit, what Calormen could intend for this meeting. In the end, he’d decided to simply accept the adventure that Aslan sent them.
Susan’s face fell.
“Still, that’s no reason not to try our very best,” Edmund allowed, quickly, hoping to stave off her unhappiness. “What did you want me to eat?”
“Try the pavenders,” Susan told him. She talked him through their menu, by which time, Lucy and Peter had returned from their conference at the gate.
“Well, that’s the apple trees taken care of,” Lucy said to her brother and sister.
“Good,” Edmund broke in before Susan could start on her preparation woes, “because there’s an emissary from the Marsh-Wiggles here.”
“Oh, pooh. Not those wet blankets,” Lucy sighed. Peter and Susan didn’t say anything, but both looked less than enthused.
Edmund grinned wryly. “Normally, I’d agree with you, but this time, they had a legitimate complaint.”
“Oh?” asked Peter, suddenly sounding more interested.
Edmund briefly outlined the situation with the northern giants, and Peter frowned deeply. “The giants will, no doubt, send an emissary of their own to counter the report of the Marsh-Wiggles.”
“No doubt, but unless they can prove that the Marsh-Wiggles are the aggressors here, I don’t know how we could support their actions,” Edmund sighed.
“And I had hoped we’d be done with all this fighting nonsense,” Susan sighed. “We just rousted out the last of the Witch’s brood.”
“But it’s worse than that, isn’t it?” Lucy sighed. “Of course it is. This is such rotten timing!”
“What do you mean?” Susan said, thoroughly bewildered.
“Oh, Susan, the giants’ envoy is sure to arrive while the Calormenes are still here,” Lucy pointed out. “And you know Calormenes have enough trouble with the talking beasts and the dwarves and the fauns and such. Only think what they’ll be sure to when walking, talking, very large giants come strolling up and demand an audience. And we’ll be forced to give them one, you know, because we can hardly refuse them now. They’ll think we’re practically driven from pillar to post by the nations surrounding us, and be terrified half-witless besides.”
“There must be something we can do about it,” Susan sighed.
“At the moment, we’ll have to stay to your plan, Su,” Peter said. “Keep the Calormenes occupied and distracted. If we impress them with our court perhaps they’ll think cautiously of us. Hopefully they’ll decide that we wouldn’t provide lavish entertainments for guests unless our country was well-provided for.”
Edmund shook his head. “Peter, there’s better preparation than that, surely.”
“If you have a suggestion, please say so. If we can get through a visit from the Calormenes without making ourselves look like spineless weaklings, I would very much like to do it,” said the High King, sounding a bit snappish.
Edmund sighed, but held his tongue. Susan said, “I’d better get back to work.”
“I suppose I’ll handle court today,” Lucy offered.
“You’ll need a second hand,” Edmund said.
“And I shall begin preparing a response to the giant’s envoy,” Peter sighed. “I hate writing these sorts of things.”
Edmund nodded. He and Lucy hurried back to their rooms before spending the rest of the morning into the early afternoon in court, seeing to disputes and grievances. They were both exhausted before they finally got out. Lucy left to go first to the kitchens and then to Tumnus’ home. He’d taken ill, and from the day he’d first felt feverish, there had not been one day to pass by where Lucy had not gone to tend to him. Edmund, left to his own devices, spent the afternoon playing chess with the centaur Haldring, who was one of the few at Cair Paravel that could beat him anymore.
And while there was no quarreling at dinner—in fact, no one even behaved as if they were cross with one another—Edmund and his siblings were not entirely in tune with one another. As they often did, the four of them meandered into their private sitting room that night but no one spoke or interacted. Susan was embroidering a handkerchief, Lucy read a book, and Peter continued working on his replies to the giants. It was always best to have several replies ready for several different contingencies.
Edmund simply sat in his chair, watching the stars and thinking. Every so often he would glance back to his siblings, none of whom seemed to want to make eye contact with one another.
Finally he sighed. “I’m for bed. Good night everyone.”
The older two nodded, but Lucy stood and said, “I think I’ll follow.”
As they headed off to their rooms, Lucy said, “Edmund, if the Calormenes find us acting like this…”
“There will be no salvaging their visit, I know,” Edmund sighed.
“What do we do?” Lucy asked.
“We’ll have to get up tomorrow and put tonight behind us,” Edmund said.
Lucy frowned. “That’s not a very good plan.”
“It seems we’re swimming in bad plans lately,” Edmund agreed.
Lucy shook her head with a slight twinkle in her eye. “Don’t worry, Ed. You’ve got a surprise coming tomorrow that I think will help us out.”
And with that pronouncement, Lucy marched off.
Edmund stared after his sister with a sigh. Hopefully this plan of hers would turn out to be helpful.
When he had been younger, Edmund had disliked dressing up. Not because formal Narnian clothes were uncomfortable—in fact the opposite was much truer—but because he’d never especially liked minding his manners.
Having grown up, he still disliked dressing up, for mostly the same reasons. Lately it seemed he only dressed up for people he needed to impress but did not particularly wish to see. If the Calormenes had stated their purpose for this visit, he would feel much better, but as it was he had no idea what they wanted and felt very behind-hand as a result.
He finished pulling on his boots and strode out the door after a cursory glance in the mirror to ensure his tunic was not on backwards, or something similar.
He ran smack into Lucy in the hallway.
“Ed! Good morning!” she said with a laugh.
“Hello, Lu,” he returned.
“Join me for breakfast?” she asked.
He offered her his arm, and the two of them followed several flights of mostly empty stairwells to the kitchens.
“You look lovely, by the way,” he observed as they snuck in the back of the palace kitchen. “I’ll never understand how you get your hair done up that way, though.”
Lucy’s golden hair had been pulled back into a shining bun of braids and curls with small seed pearls threaded into it.
She laughed. “Neither will I. Selene is responsible,” she said, naming the dryad who often attended her.
“Your majesties!” said Rosebiter, the badger who ran the kitchen. She seemed a bit surprised, but recovered very quickly, and ordered them some fresh buns and jam.
“Good morning, Rosebiter,” Edmund said. He and Lucy sat down at a table that was set back away from the main flow of traffic.
“Well,” Lucy finally said, “today is the day. What do you suppose they want?”
“I wish I knew. I can not like that they have no stated purpose for this visit,” Edmund sighed.
“They want to unbalance us,” Lucy nodded.
“It’s working.”
“Oh, Edmund! You can’t give in so easily. They’re not even here, yet!”
He sighed, and resisted the urge to bury his face in his hands.
“Edmund, you’re very thoughtful,” Lucy said slowly, “and of everyone, you tend to be the most diplomatic. But with all four of us here, you are not carrying the whole burden of uncovering the purpose to this visit.”
He looked up and then leaned over and kissed her cheek. “Thank you.”
The two of them rose and left the kitchen to enter the breakfast room where they found their older siblings eating the same meal they had just finished, but in silence. Lucy flashed him a dark look, but neither of them could say anything. The odd tenseness from the previous night was not dispelled.
Just as they were about to come to an awkward and quiet end to their breakfast, Edmund heard the noise of hooves in the hallway outside the room. He looked up just in time to see Tumnus enter the breakfast room and offer a bow with a slightly flourish to Peter.
Lucy stood and offered him her hands. “Tumnus!” she said happily.
Edmund mouthed, “The surprise?” Lucy grinned.
“Your majesties,” he said, “I have been in such excellent care that I awoke this morning and found myself entirely better. I have returned to take up my duties. And not a moment too soon, I think.”
Edmund took a look around the room. Tumnus’ arrival had had just the effect he suspected Lucy had hoped it would. Peter and Susan had both relaxed, and all three of his siblings seemed a bit more hopeful.
“As usual,” Peter said, “your timing is excellent.” Peter outlined the situation with the Calormenes and Edmund summed up his interview with the Marsh-Wiggles.
“So, we are expecting the envoy from the giants to arrive some time during the visit from the Calormenes,” Edmund said, finishing his summary.
“That is a problem,” Tumnus agreed.
“Unfortunately, we have no more time to discuss it,” Peter sighed. Dilly had just entered and appeared to waiting for an opportunity to say something. The five of them turned and looked expectantly at the little dormouse.
Dilly coughed and said, “Your majesties. It is almost time.”
“Thank you, Dilly,” Peter said. He strode out with Susan at his side. Lucy and Tumnus followed, already deep in conversation. Edmund smiled at the little mouse, and gave her a nod. She gave a smile in return before scampering off to her other duties.
The Grand Throne Room was one of Edmund’s favorite rooms in Cair Paravel. It was a lovely, airy room, made out of white stones with enormous windows on all sides. On the far end was a raised dais with their four thrones on it, of course, but on the end from which a visitor would enter, from one of the sides, the windows stretched all the way from the ceiling to the floor and opened directly out onto an enormous balcony with steps that led straight down to the beach. During the more boring interviews, Edmund sometimes imagined running straight out the doors and jumping on a ship for the Lone Islands. Today the Splendor Hyaline was anchored just off-shore, looking ever-so-inviting. The weather was warm, so the breezes that blew in were fresh and smelled sweet. Garlands of flowers had been twined around the columns at the edges of the room by wood nymphs. The center aisle of the room was left open, but on either side, there was a large crowd of people, all of whom were involved in Narnian politics in one way or another. Centaurs, nymphs, fauns, talking beasts, and the occasional human all milled around, talking to one another about the latest news. A few corners were speculating on the reason behind the visit from the Marsh-Wiggles, which had, thus far, not become public knowledge.
Edmund shook his head, laughing under his breath. Susan was speaking with Gus about something. The cat was sitting on the edge of her throne, looking her steadily in the eye as cats sometimes do. Peter, beside him, was talking to Kerrow, a leopard. It sounded as though they were making plans, in case it came to war with the giants. At his other hand, Lucy and Tumnus were cheerfully chatting.
“Is something wrong, sire?” Haldring asked from beside Edmund’s throne.
“I believe we have set these Calormenes up for a surprise,” Edmund answered.
“Sire?”
“Haldring, it is well-known that the Calormenes hold talking beasts and other Narnian citizens in distaste. Yet here we are, each attended by a Narnian of exactly the sort that will most upset them, with a court filled to the brim with citizens of the same,” Edmund answered with a laugh.
There was a deep silence and finally Haldring said, “Sire, may I speak freely?”
“Of course,” Edmund answered.
“Then, sir, I do not give two figs for how uncomfortable I cause these Calormenes to be. They have come in to our country. I shall not pretend to regret my own existence anywhere, but least of all in my own nation,” Haldring said.
Edmund smiled. “Oh, very well spoken.”
The door on the far end opened and everyone on the dais—including Gus the cat—looked up with a well-rehearsed expression of expectation and a very slight challenge on their face. This look was one that they had all—except for Gus and Kerrow, who, being cats, this sort of thing probably came naturally—practiced until they got it perfect, daring their visitors to impress them if they could. And where their attention turned, the attention of all the court followed. When the entire room turned to look at you and fell silent at once, it could make one feel very on-the-spot indeed.
The Calormenes entered. Three men, who were no longer young but not yet elderly, entered first, each followed by two boys. All of them were grandly and elaborately dressed after the high Calormene fashion. Edmund could see Lucy’s and Susan’s hearts melting at the sight of the children, and even Peter’s expression softened a bit. Edmund barely restrained himself from rolling his eyes. All their careful, intimidating posturing was going to be undone by a few youngsters. He suspected they were some of the most intelligent children in all of Calormen, and were likely students of the tarkaans of this envoy. In all probability, Edmund imagined their advice would be as intelligent and reasoned as that of most adults.
Their guests halted their approach at a decorous distance and bowed in the elaborate Calormene style. Even the boys managed flawless bows, and Edmund’s opinion of them was cemented. These children were not strangers to formal court manners.
Peter said, in his best, most formal, “high king” voice, “Narnia welcomes you, friends from Calormen.”
The tarkaan in the center inclined his head in acknowledgement. “O High King, beloved and favored of the powerful and fearsome gods of the north,” he began.
Do not roll your eyes, do not roll your eyes, do not roll your eyes, Edmund inwardly chanted.
“Know that I am Irukan Tarkaan, and have been sent to you on a mission from our most beloved friend, Rasheed Tisroc—may he live forever. I am come, with Arvish Tarkaan and Ravid Tarkaan, my most esteemed and knowledgeable companions—” And here the other two tarkaans bowed, only half as elaborately as the first time. “—To ask your majesties, in your inestimable beneficence to consider our proposal.”
Edmund blinked. Peter appeared to be considering a reply, but before he could speak, Irukan began a new paragraph.
“In the days in which our beloved Tisroc—may his days on this earth be without end—began his most exalted reign in Calormen, your nation was ruled by an enchantress of high degree, who laid many evil spells upon this place and caused unending winter. With her we had no political discourses.”
“I should think not,” Lucy muttered under her breath.
“Since that time, we have observed the overthrow of her reign by your most excellent and reverend majesties. We have watched the course of your reign and have seen you grow in the favor of your people. Moreover, you are in excellent graces with that lovely country called Archenland and are in all ways most revered by all who encounter you.
“It is for these reasons that the ever-living Tisroc desires and proposes to bring our two great nations into closer relations. To accomplish this end we are sent to treat with your high majesties regarding a marriage between Prince Rabadash of Calormen and Queen Susan of Narnia.”
For the first time in a very long while, Edmund was completely and utterly speechless. By the looks of it, so were all the Narnians. Susan, especially.
Peter recovered first. “We will happily receive you as our guests. And hear all the proposals the Tisroc has sent you to speak on.”
“If we may trespass on the kindness of your majesty one moment further,” said the tarkaan who had been identified as Arvish, in a wholly different and much less elevated tone, “there is one matter that I believe we must mention immediately.”
Edmund smirked inwardly. Irukan was going to play the high-and-mighty negotiator then, with Arvish coming along after to “save the day” with his more personable style. This probably left Ravid to take on the role of hard-line negotiator if it ever came down to that. It was a clever way to set things up.
“What is that?” asked Peter.
“Because this alliance is of paramount importance to the Tisroc—may he live forever, and because of our customs, Prince Rabadash, son of the Tisroc, has planned to join us himself, in two more days—provided your majesties permit, of course. It is only due to pressing matters in our kingdom that he did not accompany us to begin with,” Arvish said.
Peter glanced at Susan who nodded. He turned to Edmund and Lucy. Edmund glanced at Lucy himself, who also nodded. Edmund frowned thoughtfully. He wasn’t entirely certain he wanted to entertain this proposal, but he was highly skeptical of Susan’s actually accepting Rabadash, and he was curious if there was anything else under the surface here. The only way to find out would be to hear out the Calormene delegation.
He gave Peter a nod.
“You have our permission,” Peter said. “Indeed, we accept with a glad heart,” he added after a moment.
Edmund glanced over, forcing himself to look interested and not astonished. What on earth was Peter up to?
“We can not be anything but anxious to meet your prince, and will devise some method of celebration to honor his visit.”
Edmund looked back at the Calormenes, who did not appear overly excited about this proposal but were hardly in a position to refuse.
“Your majesty is very kind,” Irukan said after a moment.
“We thank you gladly, sir.” Peter stood. “I hereby declare this day’s royal court to be open.”
The Calormenes bowed again and were gracefully swept to the side of the room by several attendants.
“Well, that was interesting,” Lucy murmured.
“It’s good to hear they had no political ties to the White Witch, though,” Edmund said.
Lucy smothered a laugh.
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 Nine - Escape to Narnia and the North
Chapter Ten - The Battle of Anvard
Chapter Eleven - King Edmund and Queen Lucy
Chapter Twelve - The Return To Cair Paravel
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Rolletti :)