Crown
Companion to "Brotherhood" and "Imposter"
My father has breathed his last.
I feel as though a heavy burden has been put on my shoulders. In a few hours, I will be crowned king.
King of Archenland.
King of a country.
I am terrified. Why am I here? Why was I found? The people here say that it is my destiny. I was born to be king. Kings are regular men. Kings like me did not earn the right to sit on a throne. I did not earn it. It is a legacy, past down from father to undeserving son. What makes me, a peasant boy from Calormen, more worthy of the throne than my twin, a son of this land? The twenty minutes between me and my brother? Why must this burden fall to me just as my father dies?
An hour before the ceremony, I locked myself in my study with King Peter and King Edmond.
"I cannot be king."
"You must."
"No, it could be Corin."
"It could not. Those are not the rules of this land."
"I am not worthy of the crown. I did not earn my place here. Birthright should not determine the leader of a country. You two (and the queens) earned your place in Narnia."
"Nay, dear cousin. We did not. We were placed there by Aslan." The younger king shook his head. Then Peter spoke with a leveled gaze, one for which he was famous.
"Your job is not to garner laude from your subjects, your job is to serve and lead your people. In that order. These people are your responsibility. Your humility will be the strength of your reign. I'm not going to tell you that you are worthy. You are not. You are a mortal man, plucked from a bad situation and brought to a place where you can recognize the needs of your people. You are the returned son. The prodigal. You are not worthy, but you are chosen. Would you give that up? Will you shy away from the path that is set before you?" In the face of this counsel, what could I say?
A weight sits on my head. People bow at my feet. In the nation's grief, I am crowned king and I turn to greet them in my new role. The applause is deafening. Corin, my impetuous twin, clasps my shoulder in a brotherly hug. My wife squeezes my hand. My small son's wide eyes take everything in.
"With Aslan's help, I will serve and lead the people of Archenland with wisdom and strength."
AN: For some reason I always think of Cor/Shasta as being a little incredulous about his new position. Like somehow he robbed it from Corin (see "Imposter"). I'm not sure how long it takes the Cor in my mind to fully grow into his responsibility, but with wise counsel, the history books show that King Cor of Archenland was one to be remembered. Also, this story may be impacted by a few too many episodes of Merlin.