bungakertas (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
bungakertas) wrote2010-12-11 12:37 pm
bungakertas) wrote2010-12-11 12:37 pm
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The Trials of King Edmund - Chapter Four
The Trials of King Edmund - Chapter Four
Disclaimer and general Author's Notes are in the first entry, which is linked at the bottom.
The tournament was to be held across the next several days, and the grounds had been set up in a large clearing, a short ride away from Cair Paravel. Peter, Edmund, and Susan, all rode behind the rest of the group headed there, although Rabadash stayed near Susan at her invitation. When they entered the tournament grounds, it was to the fanfare of trumpets and the sound of Narnian cheers.
Peter, escorting Susan, and followed by Edmund and Rabadash, led the way to their seats in the royal box and declared the tournament formally open. Since they had all been largely distracted and unable to plan this tournament as closely as Edmund would have usually wished, he was not entirely certain what order events would take. He suspected, given that the field was set up for it, that jousting would come first. After that, however, he was uncertain.
Unfortunately for the Narnians, however, Rabadash, Ravid, and Arvish of the Calormene ambassadors, and the tarkaans Chlamash and Torestar, who had accompanied the prince, all turned out to be excellent at jousting. All five of them unhorsed at least one Narnian. Edmund found himself going down to Rabadash, at one point, must to his disgust.
However, under the cover of the noise and the excitement (and the shock of the Calormenes when centaurs began jousting, both with each other and with some of the human lords), Peter managed to sketch out a plan to stage his army north of Beruna near where the River Rush and the Great River met, and from there to march north to the marshes south of Ettinsmoor. Ideally, they would be there before the week was out.
It wasn’t until they were riding back to the castle that Edmund realized just how difficult it would be to keep their plans from the Calormenes, if it could be done at all.
Since Susan was constrained by her position to allow Peter to escort her back, Edmund rode beside Rabadash.
“I see that your other sister has vanished for the day,” Rabadash observed.
Edmund, having seen him in conference with the ambassadors before he left the tournament grounds, was unsurprised that he had finally noticed.
“She has business elsewhere. It should not keep her long,” Edmund said.
“How unfortunate that she shall miss the tournament,” Rabadash replied.
“I do not believe she shall,” Edmund returned.
“Then this business is of some haste,” Rabadash said.
Edmund raised an eyebrow at the Calormene prince. “I believe, your highness, that it is simply not a complex affair.”
“And yet a queen is required to see to it,” Rabadash said, openly skeptical. “Your northern customs are very unlike ours in Calormene.”
“They are, sir,” Edmund replied, not speaking any further on the subject of Lucy.
He did mention their conversation to Peter and Susan that night, though. “Susan, you’ll forgive me, but Rabadash has no subtlety at all. His directness reveals his intentions, but it also causes me a great deal of difficulty in not revealing our situation. If they remain much beyond the end of this tournament, no amount of subterfuge on our parts will keep the truth from them.”
Peter frowned. “We can’t just order them out,” he said. “That would not go over well with the Tisroc.”
“To say the least,” Susan agreed, “but maybe I can persuade them.”
“How is that?” Edmund asked.
“I’ll tell Rabadash that I am considering his offer—”
“Don’t tell him too directly, as we’ve yet to work out any settlement with his thrice-blasted ambassadors,” Peter put in.
“I’ll be clever about it,” Susan promised, “and I’ll also say that I would feel better having seen Calormen, and knowing what things are like in his own lands.”
“And if he takes the hint, he’ll have to leave as soon as possible to clear the way for a visit from you,” Peter nodded. “It might work.”
“Good. Peter, I don’t mind telling you that with most of our best troops now heading off to join this army of yours, this tournament is now likely to do the opposite of what we intended it to,” Edmund said.
“What do you mean?”
“Our plan was to make them less eager to attack Narnia by demonstrating just what that sort of undertaking would entail. With most of our best fighters staging for an actual battle now…” Edmund trailed off, looking out the window in irritation. “You know as well as I that I did not put on a good show today.”
“But anyone knows you’re a good man in an actual fight,” Peter protested.
“Only if they’ve had a chance to see this,” Edmund said.
“Most people did not show well today,” Susan put in sadly. “They’re holding back, so as to perform better when they truly need to.”
Peter sighed. “I’ve been so busy working… This won’t do at all.”
“We’ll cut it down. Tomorrow is the melee. We’ll hold the archery contest the third day and call it finished,” Edmund suggested.
“Good,” Peter nodded. “Then I can plan in the mornings, and devote my attention to pretending all is well in the afternoons.”
Edmund shook his head ruefully. “I hope Lucy gets back soon, or else she’ll make a liar of me.”
Lucy was not present the following day, however. And once the afternoon’s events began, there was no more time to think on it.
A Narnian melee consisted, as any melee would, of two groups, of about twenty each, which would stage a skirmish. Today’s melee would have Peter leading one group and Edmund the other. However, unlike most other nations, a Narnian skirmish included fauns, big cats, wolves, badgers, bears, dogs, horses, unicorns, eagles, and any number of other creatures who would not be present in most armies.
Edmund looked over his “army” for the day and found he was remarkably satisfied. He took Lord Rallen as his second and the two of them looked over to find Peter and Peridan in conference with Rabadash.
“No doubt he is teaching them some Calormene stratagem or other,” Rallen sighed.
“Peace, my lord,” Edmund said absently. “We need to discuss our strategy.”
They buried themselves in plans for several moments, before finally signally to Thunderhoof that they were prepared. A similar signal came from Peter and finally, the two teams lined up and prepared to charge.
There was a moment of silence, where it seemed that everyone took a breath. Then, finally, Thunderhoof’s hand fell and the two armies closed on each other with a thunderous noise and cries from both sides.
Both Edmund and Peter, knowing each others’ strengths and weaknesses, had organized their teams quite well. For some long minutes, neither of them could gain an advantage. Edmund found himself pressed to the center and suddenly his brother was grinning at him across his sword.
“Hello, Ed,” Peter laughed.
“Hello, Peter,” Edmund returned, aiming the flat of his blade for his brother’s legs. Peter parried that and Edmund allowed the force of that block to drive his next assault on Peter’s rib cage.
Peter blocked that too and the crush swept them on from each other until Edmund found himself facing Rabadash.
No jeweled hilts or carved blades today for the Calormene prince. Rabadash was all business. But what shocked Edmund more was that about every third hit or so, Rabadash was clearly striking more seriously than warranted by a tournament. Edmund was forced to admit that the man had some subtlety after all. If Edmund allowed himself to be baited into responding too strongly, he could be accused of attacking the Calormene prince. A more excellent excuse for moving against Narnia he could not imagine.
Fortunately, Edmund was a better swordsman than Rabadash—if a poorer jouster—and provoking someone into a rage is a task better suited to boldness. Edmund wasn’t surprised that the one time subtlety came out in Rabadash was the worst possible time for it.
Although he successfully fended off the assault, he kept an eye on Rabadash for the rest of the melee. It cost him. With Edmund’s attention divided, Peter easily took the upper hand and Edmund found himself on the loosing side of yet another battle of the tournament.
Finally a halt was called and Peter declared the victor. Edmund had expected that as they both knew Peter to be the better general, and he had certainly demonstrated it today. Rabadash clearly had a wary eye as he looked the High King over now.
Still, Edmund was happy to mount his horse and return to the castle. He was happier still to reach it, where they discovered that during the afternoon Lucy had returned. Thankful to have the excuse of duty, Edmund was able to abandon Rabadash for dinner, as he was required to escort his sister.
He filled Lucy in, quietly, on all the doings of the tournament, about which she merely raised a brow. “Bad luck, Ed. I had hoped you’d turn in a better showing.”
Edmund gave her a wry grin. “Peter covered for me. He fought like an absolute lion today.”
“Well, good,” she said.
“By the way, how are the Rumblebuffins?” Edmund asked curiously.
“Oh, very well,” Lucy replied. “They send their regards.”
“Excellent,” Edmund grinned.
“It’s good to be home, though,” Lucy sighed. “Giant beds are a bit tall for my tastes.”
That prompted a laugh, and they allowed their conversation to turn to other things. That night, when the four of them met privately, Lucy and Susan both were bursting with good news.
“Not only have the giants sworn to come, they’ve built some new weapons. Peter, our giants built several cross-bows in their size! They’re absolutely enormous. It would take six men to operate something that size on the ground, and our giants will be firing from their own height! Their aim is nothing to cheer on, but I’m sure you’ll find some use for it,” Lucy told them.
“In the meantime, Rabadash took my hints beautifully. He’s sworn to leave, with his entire party, the day after the tournament,” Susan added.
“Perfect,” Peter said with a nod. “At last some good news. We’ve received answers from the trees, as well. They’ll be sending several parties. And all of Haldring’s clan of centaurs is mustering to join us.”
“A good force,” Edmund said. “With any luck, we’ll be able to keep this from the Calormenes for the next day and a half.”
Unfortunately, luck was not with them. In fact, it was poor Dilly who brought their plan crashing down. Since it was their last full day in Narnia, Susan invited Rabadash to join them for breakfast. Out of courtesy, that invitation was extended to the ambassadors and tarkaans as well. They were all well into their meal when Dilly poked her head around the corner. She tried to go before she was spotted, but Rabadash himself saw her and so she was trapped into coming and delivering the message that the bears near the Dancing Lawn were joining the muster near Beruna to aid King Peter.
Naturally this obliged Peter to explain the whole thing while Edmund quickly came up with a task to allow Dilly to leave before anyone could maneuver her into any other untenable positions.
“How dreadful to come under attack from such uncivilized individuals as these giants,” Torestar observed.
“But how happy you must be to enjoy such a quick response to your requests for assistance,” Rabadash added.
“Indeed, one of the poets has said, ‘The love of his people to a king is as the sunshine to the earth,’” Irukan agreed in the same, elevated tone he favored.
“I am forced, again,” Edmund replied, pointedly not looking at Lucy, who was rolling her eyes at her sausage, “to say that the Calormene poets are very wise men indeed.”
“I am moved by such a predicament as you have explained to me,” Rabadash said quickly, “and being so moved, I can not but feel that it would be the will of my father, the Tisroc--to whom may the gods give an eternal reign--to offer the assistance of Calormen in this action you will soon engage in.”
Lucy was not rolling her eyes any more, but managed to keep the alarm off her face. Susan seemed to have melted at such an outpouring of kindness, but Peter’s eyes narrowed a bit. While quite polite and correctly stated, Calormene assistance of any sort would necessitate Calormene troops in Narnian lands, for at least some portion of the fighting, and everyone at the table knew it.
“Your offer is kind, and generous beyond all reason,” Edmund said slowly, careful to keep his tone friendly and polite. “But with Aslan’s blessing, and our people’s kind support, it is not necessary that we should look for help at this time, your highness.”
Rabadash nodded with an equally polite expression and they all returned to their meals. When they left, Lucy managed to require Edmund’s escort again and the two of them turned down the way to Edmund’s study.
“Well, that’s that,” Lucy said when they were out of earshot. “And we were doing so well, too.”
“No help for it now,” Edmund sighed. “But do try to make a better showing today than I have the past two.”
Lucy grinned. “Oh, nothing simpler, Edmund!”
Edmund gave her a good-natured glare, but Lucy was out of the way before he could think of a clever response with which to vent his spleen.
Lucy and Susan, both in the archery contest, made short work of all their opponents. Including, to Susan’s distaste, Thunderhoof, who had given over the job of crier to Peridan and joined the contest himself. Susan disliked having to best him, but did it anyway, and with a great deal of skill.
It was to no one’s surprise that the two queens faced one another for first place. Fortunately for Susan, though, against her sister, one of Lucy’s arrows went slightly astray and struck the first ring outside the bulls-eye, rather than the center of the target. With three perfect bulls-eyes, Susan was easily declared the winner.
“Your sisters are both deadly archers,” Rabadash observed quietly.
“It is fortunate for Narnia that both her queens are both wise in counsel, great in grace, and fearsome in combat,” Peter agreed. “We are all proud of Queen Susan and Queen Lucy.”
Rabadash narrowed his eyes just slightly at that speech, but without any reason to object to any of it, simply said, “Your majesty.”
Susan rode back to the castle wearing the gold circlet she had won, cheered on enthusiastically by crowds of Narnians who lined the route back to Cair Paravel. It seemed that half the country had turned up to see their sovereigns and watch the tournament. And while Edmund was humbled by such an outpouring of love, the calculating portion of his brain thought that in that sense, this tournament had been a rousing success. Rabadash was clearly surprised by how loyal the Narnians were to their kings and queens, the necessary consequence of which was that, if need be, those same Narnians would defend their kings and queens to the death.
Hopefully this would resonate in him.
Edmund saw him continually stealing glances at Lucy that night at dinner, and the three ambassadors maintained polite conversation during dinner, but were deep in conference with one another afterwards. Clearly something had their attention.
Edmund finally relaxed a little that night in their study. Since he was no longer worried about keeping secrets from the Calormenes, he and Lucy played a rousing game of chess, while Susan fretted about Rabadash and Peter read the latest reports on the army and the giants’ army now marshaling just south of Harfang.
“I suppose that soon, I’ll be headed to Calormen,” Susan said finally, just as Edmund put Lucy’s king in check.
“And when are you going to tell Rabadash you aren’t planning to marry him?” Lucy asked absently, laying her finger on a knight, and then taking it off without moving it.
“I’m not entirely sure I’m not,” Susan replied quietly.
Peter, Edmund, and Lucy all turned to stare at her.
“Really, Su?” Lucy finally said quietly.
“He’s been very kind and considerate to me,” Susan said. “And you saw him at the tournament. He is quite fine, as a knight. And he’s very handsome besides. There’s a great deal to recommend him.”
Peter blinked and then said, “Well, I was going to say so anyway, but since you are seriously considering him, Susan, then Edmund is going to Calormen with you. Along with Mr. Tumnus and Lord Peridan, at the very least.” Peter turned his attention to Edmund. “Someone has to work out some kind of agreement with the Tisroc on this marriage. And all we’ve gotten their ambassadors to agree to are details on the ceremony.”
Lucy made a move with her rook.
“As you wish, Peter,” Edmund nodded. He reached out and moved one of his own castles. “Checkmate.”
“Drat,” Lucy sighed. “And double drat to you, Peter, since that will leave me to keep Narnia by myself.”
“Lucy, there’s no need to worry on that score. No one else could possibly be better hands to leave Narnia in,” Peter returned.
Lucy opened her mouth to protest, but Susan broke in. “He’s absolutely right, Lucy. Now don’t argue.”
“I agree,” Edmund said quietly.
Lucy blushed furiously, but did not say anything. After sitting together in silence, the four of them eventually sought their beds.
Chapter One - A Proposal is Made to Queen Susan
Chapter Two - Prince Rabadash Arrives in Narnia
Chapter Three - Harfang Sends an Envoy
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
Disclaimer and general Author's Notes are in the first entry, which is linked at the bottom.
The tournament was to be held across the next several days, and the grounds had been set up in a large clearing, a short ride away from Cair Paravel. Peter, Edmund, and Susan, all rode behind the rest of the group headed there, although Rabadash stayed near Susan at her invitation. When they entered the tournament grounds, it was to the fanfare of trumpets and the sound of Narnian cheers.
Peter, escorting Susan, and followed by Edmund and Rabadash, led the way to their seats in the royal box and declared the tournament formally open. Since they had all been largely distracted and unable to plan this tournament as closely as Edmund would have usually wished, he was not entirely certain what order events would take. He suspected, given that the field was set up for it, that jousting would come first. After that, however, he was uncertain.
Unfortunately for the Narnians, however, Rabadash, Ravid, and Arvish of the Calormene ambassadors, and the tarkaans Chlamash and Torestar, who had accompanied the prince, all turned out to be excellent at jousting. All five of them unhorsed at least one Narnian. Edmund found himself going down to Rabadash, at one point, must to his disgust.
However, under the cover of the noise and the excitement (and the shock of the Calormenes when centaurs began jousting, both with each other and with some of the human lords), Peter managed to sketch out a plan to stage his army north of Beruna near where the River Rush and the Great River met, and from there to march north to the marshes south of Ettinsmoor. Ideally, they would be there before the week was out.
It wasn’t until they were riding back to the castle that Edmund realized just how difficult it would be to keep their plans from the Calormenes, if it could be done at all.
Since Susan was constrained by her position to allow Peter to escort her back, Edmund rode beside Rabadash.
“I see that your other sister has vanished for the day,” Rabadash observed.
Edmund, having seen him in conference with the ambassadors before he left the tournament grounds, was unsurprised that he had finally noticed.
“She has business elsewhere. It should not keep her long,” Edmund said.
“How unfortunate that she shall miss the tournament,” Rabadash replied.
“I do not believe she shall,” Edmund returned.
“Then this business is of some haste,” Rabadash said.
Edmund raised an eyebrow at the Calormene prince. “I believe, your highness, that it is simply not a complex affair.”
“And yet a queen is required to see to it,” Rabadash said, openly skeptical. “Your northern customs are very unlike ours in Calormene.”
“They are, sir,” Edmund replied, not speaking any further on the subject of Lucy.
He did mention their conversation to Peter and Susan that night, though. “Susan, you’ll forgive me, but Rabadash has no subtlety at all. His directness reveals his intentions, but it also causes me a great deal of difficulty in not revealing our situation. If they remain much beyond the end of this tournament, no amount of subterfuge on our parts will keep the truth from them.”
Peter frowned. “We can’t just order them out,” he said. “That would not go over well with the Tisroc.”
“To say the least,” Susan agreed, “but maybe I can persuade them.”
“How is that?” Edmund asked.
“I’ll tell Rabadash that I am considering his offer—”
“Don’t tell him too directly, as we’ve yet to work out any settlement with his thrice-blasted ambassadors,” Peter put in.
“I’ll be clever about it,” Susan promised, “and I’ll also say that I would feel better having seen Calormen, and knowing what things are like in his own lands.”
“And if he takes the hint, he’ll have to leave as soon as possible to clear the way for a visit from you,” Peter nodded. “It might work.”
“Good. Peter, I don’t mind telling you that with most of our best troops now heading off to join this army of yours, this tournament is now likely to do the opposite of what we intended it to,” Edmund said.
“What do you mean?”
“Our plan was to make them less eager to attack Narnia by demonstrating just what that sort of undertaking would entail. With most of our best fighters staging for an actual battle now…” Edmund trailed off, looking out the window in irritation. “You know as well as I that I did not put on a good show today.”
“But anyone knows you’re a good man in an actual fight,” Peter protested.
“Only if they’ve had a chance to see this,” Edmund said.
“Most people did not show well today,” Susan put in sadly. “They’re holding back, so as to perform better when they truly need to.”
Peter sighed. “I’ve been so busy working… This won’t do at all.”
“We’ll cut it down. Tomorrow is the melee. We’ll hold the archery contest the third day and call it finished,” Edmund suggested.
“Good,” Peter nodded. “Then I can plan in the mornings, and devote my attention to pretending all is well in the afternoons.”
Edmund shook his head ruefully. “I hope Lucy gets back soon, or else she’ll make a liar of me.”
Lucy was not present the following day, however. And once the afternoon’s events began, there was no more time to think on it.
A Narnian melee consisted, as any melee would, of two groups, of about twenty each, which would stage a skirmish. Today’s melee would have Peter leading one group and Edmund the other. However, unlike most other nations, a Narnian skirmish included fauns, big cats, wolves, badgers, bears, dogs, horses, unicorns, eagles, and any number of other creatures who would not be present in most armies.
Edmund looked over his “army” for the day and found he was remarkably satisfied. He took Lord Rallen as his second and the two of them looked over to find Peter and Peridan in conference with Rabadash.
“No doubt he is teaching them some Calormene stratagem or other,” Rallen sighed.
“Peace, my lord,” Edmund said absently. “We need to discuss our strategy.”
They buried themselves in plans for several moments, before finally signally to Thunderhoof that they were prepared. A similar signal came from Peter and finally, the two teams lined up and prepared to charge.
There was a moment of silence, where it seemed that everyone took a breath. Then, finally, Thunderhoof’s hand fell and the two armies closed on each other with a thunderous noise and cries from both sides.
Both Edmund and Peter, knowing each others’ strengths and weaknesses, had organized their teams quite well. For some long minutes, neither of them could gain an advantage. Edmund found himself pressed to the center and suddenly his brother was grinning at him across his sword.
“Hello, Ed,” Peter laughed.
“Hello, Peter,” Edmund returned, aiming the flat of his blade for his brother’s legs. Peter parried that and Edmund allowed the force of that block to drive his next assault on Peter’s rib cage.
Peter blocked that too and the crush swept them on from each other until Edmund found himself facing Rabadash.
No jeweled hilts or carved blades today for the Calormene prince. Rabadash was all business. But what shocked Edmund more was that about every third hit or so, Rabadash was clearly striking more seriously than warranted by a tournament. Edmund was forced to admit that the man had some subtlety after all. If Edmund allowed himself to be baited into responding too strongly, he could be accused of attacking the Calormene prince. A more excellent excuse for moving against Narnia he could not imagine.
Fortunately, Edmund was a better swordsman than Rabadash—if a poorer jouster—and provoking someone into a rage is a task better suited to boldness. Edmund wasn’t surprised that the one time subtlety came out in Rabadash was the worst possible time for it.
Although he successfully fended off the assault, he kept an eye on Rabadash for the rest of the melee. It cost him. With Edmund’s attention divided, Peter easily took the upper hand and Edmund found himself on the loosing side of yet another battle of the tournament.
Finally a halt was called and Peter declared the victor. Edmund had expected that as they both knew Peter to be the better general, and he had certainly demonstrated it today. Rabadash clearly had a wary eye as he looked the High King over now.
Still, Edmund was happy to mount his horse and return to the castle. He was happier still to reach it, where they discovered that during the afternoon Lucy had returned. Thankful to have the excuse of duty, Edmund was able to abandon Rabadash for dinner, as he was required to escort his sister.
He filled Lucy in, quietly, on all the doings of the tournament, about which she merely raised a brow. “Bad luck, Ed. I had hoped you’d turn in a better showing.”
Edmund gave her a wry grin. “Peter covered for me. He fought like an absolute lion today.”
“Well, good,” she said.
“By the way, how are the Rumblebuffins?” Edmund asked curiously.
“Oh, very well,” Lucy replied. “They send their regards.”
“Excellent,” Edmund grinned.
“It’s good to be home, though,” Lucy sighed. “Giant beds are a bit tall for my tastes.”
That prompted a laugh, and they allowed their conversation to turn to other things. That night, when the four of them met privately, Lucy and Susan both were bursting with good news.
“Not only have the giants sworn to come, they’ve built some new weapons. Peter, our giants built several cross-bows in their size! They’re absolutely enormous. It would take six men to operate something that size on the ground, and our giants will be firing from their own height! Their aim is nothing to cheer on, but I’m sure you’ll find some use for it,” Lucy told them.
“In the meantime, Rabadash took my hints beautifully. He’s sworn to leave, with his entire party, the day after the tournament,” Susan added.
“Perfect,” Peter said with a nod. “At last some good news. We’ve received answers from the trees, as well. They’ll be sending several parties. And all of Haldring’s clan of centaurs is mustering to join us.”
“A good force,” Edmund said. “With any luck, we’ll be able to keep this from the Calormenes for the next day and a half.”
Unfortunately, luck was not with them. In fact, it was poor Dilly who brought their plan crashing down. Since it was their last full day in Narnia, Susan invited Rabadash to join them for breakfast. Out of courtesy, that invitation was extended to the ambassadors and tarkaans as well. They were all well into their meal when Dilly poked her head around the corner. She tried to go before she was spotted, but Rabadash himself saw her and so she was trapped into coming and delivering the message that the bears near the Dancing Lawn were joining the muster near Beruna to aid King Peter.
Naturally this obliged Peter to explain the whole thing while Edmund quickly came up with a task to allow Dilly to leave before anyone could maneuver her into any other untenable positions.
“How dreadful to come under attack from such uncivilized individuals as these giants,” Torestar observed.
“But how happy you must be to enjoy such a quick response to your requests for assistance,” Rabadash added.
“Indeed, one of the poets has said, ‘The love of his people to a king is as the sunshine to the earth,’” Irukan agreed in the same, elevated tone he favored.
“I am forced, again,” Edmund replied, pointedly not looking at Lucy, who was rolling her eyes at her sausage, “to say that the Calormene poets are very wise men indeed.”
“I am moved by such a predicament as you have explained to me,” Rabadash said quickly, “and being so moved, I can not but feel that it would be the will of my father, the Tisroc--to whom may the gods give an eternal reign--to offer the assistance of Calormen in this action you will soon engage in.”
Lucy was not rolling her eyes any more, but managed to keep the alarm off her face. Susan seemed to have melted at such an outpouring of kindness, but Peter’s eyes narrowed a bit. While quite polite and correctly stated, Calormene assistance of any sort would necessitate Calormene troops in Narnian lands, for at least some portion of the fighting, and everyone at the table knew it.
“Your offer is kind, and generous beyond all reason,” Edmund said slowly, careful to keep his tone friendly and polite. “But with Aslan’s blessing, and our people’s kind support, it is not necessary that we should look for help at this time, your highness.”
Rabadash nodded with an equally polite expression and they all returned to their meals. When they left, Lucy managed to require Edmund’s escort again and the two of them turned down the way to Edmund’s study.
“Well, that’s that,” Lucy said when they were out of earshot. “And we were doing so well, too.”
“No help for it now,” Edmund sighed. “But do try to make a better showing today than I have the past two.”
Lucy grinned. “Oh, nothing simpler, Edmund!”
Edmund gave her a good-natured glare, but Lucy was out of the way before he could think of a clever response with which to vent his spleen.
Lucy and Susan, both in the archery contest, made short work of all their opponents. Including, to Susan’s distaste, Thunderhoof, who had given over the job of crier to Peridan and joined the contest himself. Susan disliked having to best him, but did it anyway, and with a great deal of skill.
It was to no one’s surprise that the two queens faced one another for first place. Fortunately for Susan, though, against her sister, one of Lucy’s arrows went slightly astray and struck the first ring outside the bulls-eye, rather than the center of the target. With three perfect bulls-eyes, Susan was easily declared the winner.
“Your sisters are both deadly archers,” Rabadash observed quietly.
“It is fortunate for Narnia that both her queens are both wise in counsel, great in grace, and fearsome in combat,” Peter agreed. “We are all proud of Queen Susan and Queen Lucy.”
Rabadash narrowed his eyes just slightly at that speech, but without any reason to object to any of it, simply said, “Your majesty.”
Susan rode back to the castle wearing the gold circlet she had won, cheered on enthusiastically by crowds of Narnians who lined the route back to Cair Paravel. It seemed that half the country had turned up to see their sovereigns and watch the tournament. And while Edmund was humbled by such an outpouring of love, the calculating portion of his brain thought that in that sense, this tournament had been a rousing success. Rabadash was clearly surprised by how loyal the Narnians were to their kings and queens, the necessary consequence of which was that, if need be, those same Narnians would defend their kings and queens to the death.
Hopefully this would resonate in him.
Edmund saw him continually stealing glances at Lucy that night at dinner, and the three ambassadors maintained polite conversation during dinner, but were deep in conference with one another afterwards. Clearly something had their attention.
Edmund finally relaxed a little that night in their study. Since he was no longer worried about keeping secrets from the Calormenes, he and Lucy played a rousing game of chess, while Susan fretted about Rabadash and Peter read the latest reports on the army and the giants’ army now marshaling just south of Harfang.
“I suppose that soon, I’ll be headed to Calormen,” Susan said finally, just as Edmund put Lucy’s king in check.
“And when are you going to tell Rabadash you aren’t planning to marry him?” Lucy asked absently, laying her finger on a knight, and then taking it off without moving it.
“I’m not entirely sure I’m not,” Susan replied quietly.
Peter, Edmund, and Lucy all turned to stare at her.
“Really, Su?” Lucy finally said quietly.
“He’s been very kind and considerate to me,” Susan said. “And you saw him at the tournament. He is quite fine, as a knight. And he’s very handsome besides. There’s a great deal to recommend him.”
Peter blinked and then said, “Well, I was going to say so anyway, but since you are seriously considering him, Susan, then Edmund is going to Calormen with you. Along with Mr. Tumnus and Lord Peridan, at the very least.” Peter turned his attention to Edmund. “Someone has to work out some kind of agreement with the Tisroc on this marriage. And all we’ve gotten their ambassadors to agree to are details on the ceremony.”
Lucy made a move with her rook.
“As you wish, Peter,” Edmund nodded. He reached out and moved one of his own castles. “Checkmate.”
“Drat,” Lucy sighed. “And double drat to you, Peter, since that will leave me to keep Narnia by myself.”
“Lucy, there’s no need to worry on that score. No one else could possibly be better hands to leave Narnia in,” Peter returned.
Lucy opened her mouth to protest, but Susan broke in. “He’s absolutely right, Lucy. Now don’t argue.”
“I agree,” Edmund said quietly.
Lucy blushed furiously, but did not say anything. After sitting together in silence, the four of them eventually sought their beds.
Chapter One - A Proposal is Made to Queen Susan
Chapter Two - Prince Rabadash Arrives in Narnia
Chapter Three - Harfang Sends an Envoy
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