If her own family could betray her, who else? This question had been stirring in Lucy's mind ever since Peter had told her about the accusations he was to impose on Susan and Edmund.
Perhaps it shouldn't have come as quite a shock. Susan had always been a reluctant Queen, Lucy and Peter knew that well. Susan had mentioned returning to their world more than once. Oh, Narnia has no more need of us. If we named an heir, we could return and Narnia would stay strong, she would say. And…it was always Edmund who convinced her to stay. He always, always knew how to convince her. He could convince her to do anything. Lucy shivered a bit at that. She supposed she should not be so shocked… if Edmund had betrayed them, Susan would follow no doubt. Anywhere one of them went, so did the other.
But the idea of Edmund betraying them… Lucy hated to think it, but he had betrayed them before, hadn't he? And for riches and power. Which is exactly what this plan would have gotten them if it had worked.
"My lady?"
"W-what?" Lucy said, startled out of her dismal reverie and accidentally knocking over her ink.
"My lady! First this distraction, now knocking over ink? Is it their Majesties' return?" her lady-in-waiting, Lady Medea of Archenland, said, picking up some rags to begin cleaning the spill with.
"Well…yes. Edmund and Susan…Medea, what I say next will never leave this room," Lucy said, watching her absentmindedly, her mind still running through her disheveled thoughts.
"I would never betray my Queen's trust," Medea reassured. "What misgivings has your Majesty of them?"
"They…Peter plans to accuse them of fixing the war. The one he and I led against Archenland? They knew our every move! We had the superior army, but with their foresight, we had no choice but to retreat," Lucy said, visibly frustrated.
"And King Lune would never think to send spies to infiltrate your ranks. He is an honest man, but he would also no more turn down information freely given than would your royal brother in his place," Medea said, placing a hand on Lucy's arm.
"I suppose. Either way, our best strategy was to work out a treaty with King Lune. We were more concerned with knowing who betrayed us. So our spies set about to find out who…" she said, her thin fingers wrapping around her quill so tight that if Medea hadn't noticed and rescued the quill in time, she would have snapped it in half without even noticing.
"They found out the Just King and Gentle Queen had betrayed your Majesties? But that is simple impossible!" Medea exclaimed, blue-eyes wide at the startling information.
"That's what we both believed. But there is no other explanation," Lucy said, biting her lip. It was hard to speak of her siblings so, but at least it was only to someone she trusted well.
"Oh! My lady, I'm sure when they are accused, they will have some defense of themselves," Medea reassured.
"I hope so…" Lucy whispered, remembering all the fond memories she shared with her family, memories that were now tainted by these sinister suspicions. Then she shook her head. "It gets worse."
"How much more of an ultimate betrayal could this be?"
"Remember the meeting during the war where a group of hired assassins knew precisely where we were?" Lucy said. Medea nodded, having been there for Lucy. "Susan had been there that morning. She knew precisely where the tent was and when we left the meeting that morning, Peter had mentioned to the generals when we were meeting again. And if it hadn't been for the anonymous tip-off we had received, we would all have died."
"It must have been them then…everyone who knew would have been in the line of fire when the assassins came," Medea said, her eyes widened. Lucy drifted back to her morbid thoughts, silently praying to Aslan that this was all some terrible mistake, soon to be rectified.
At high tide, the Splendor Hyaline returned from Susan's latest dalliance in Galma where she had inevitably refused her suitor's hand once again. Peter had stubbornly refused to meet them, but Lucy insisted, hoping to reconnect with her siblings and find the truth. She was determined to set all to right.
"Susan! Edmund! There you are!" she said, faking blithe cheerfulness. She took in their tired, harried appearances. Susan had an unusual thick amount of make-up hiding her face, making her look sterner than usual, particularly with her hair tied back in an ornate hairpiece. Her dress dipped a red bodice into black skirts. Underneath she must have had some unusually high shoes, for Lucy thought she looked taller than she normally did. Edmund looked the same with his regularly dark looks, his outfit matching his black hair, sword in its red sheath. Together, they certainly looked the part of dangerous traitors to those whose minds had already been poisoned against them, but still all Lucy would allow herself to see was her beloved siblings.
"Lucy, please, I'm too tired for this," Susan said dismissively. Lucy drew back, stung. While there were certainly moments where Susan was less than loving, there had never been a moment when Susan had outright rejected her.
"Susan! I've missed you," she protested, pouting a little, knowing that always worked on Susan. Susan's harsh gaze faltered for a moment before Edmund placed his hand gently on Susan's arm.
"Shall I escort you to your chambers?" Edmund offered too quickly, subtly steering Susan away from Lucy.
"Very well," Susan said, ignoring Lucy who was standing to the side, aghast at her siblings.
"I'll go with you too?" she said, more of a question than a statement.
"That won't be necessary," Susan said coldly. Lucy glanced about at the various courtiers about them, all of whom seemed shocked at the Gentle Queen's rudeness. It was well known that Susan and Edmund were closer to each other than they were to their other siblings, but the same was true of Peter and Lucy. But never had they let this be such a barrier between them. And certainly not so publicly.
"I'd like to talk with you! It's been almost a month," Lucy protested, grabbing hold of Susan's arm. Susan's eyes widened and she looked to Edmund
"The High King requested we speak to him as soon as we have settled. I assume you too shall be present?" Edmund said stiffly.
"Yes, yes," Susan said, oddly seeming a bit flustered by Lucy's persistence. "We'll see you then."
Lucy felt rooted to the spot, unable to move after the snubbing rejection.
"There, there, my lady," Medea said, quickly coming to Lucy's side to soothe her, steering her back to the castle. Lucy started, having assumed Medea would have been back at the castle with the other ladies-in-waiting. She whispered softly in Lucy's air as they walked back to Cair Paravel. "If your siblings simple don't love you anymore, then that's their loss."
"That's impossible. We…we're a family," Lucy protested, a bit too loudly.
"Nothing lasts," Medea said pessimistically. Lucy felt the words like a knife stab to the heart. Her family couldn't just…fall apart like this. It made no sense. Lucy held on to the hope that at court Edmund and Susan would be able to absolve themselves and her family would be united once more. Perhaps Susan's snub had more to do with being upset that she knew she was soon to be accused rather than anything personal. Yes, that must be it. Her sister was temperamental at times, but Lucy couldn't ever imagine her betraying them. And Edmund…he had done so before, but he would never! He had completely changed since then. Lucy tried to shake it off as nothing important, but a nagging voice in her head remained stubbornly pessimistic.
A few hours later, a shocking announcement made its way through the castle. Peter had insisted on holding a proper court. While there was more than enough evidence to support putting Susan and Edmund on trial, everyone had assumed Peter would try to work it out behind closed doors in hopes that the whole thing could disappear before it had to be brought to court. But now Peter must believe the evidence was too strong for sweeping the matter under the rug.
At court, Susan and Edmund's thrones were conspicuously empty. They were equal rulers; they had always sat side by side. This alone made Lucy grow more terrified. Peter must be convinced there's at least a solid chance that Susan and Edmund betrayed them if he planned to treat them as subjects accused of treason rather than equals. She gripped the arms of her throne tightly, more nervous than she had ever been for any court case.
The doors clanged open as Susan and Edmund swept into the room, both ignoring the pitying stares and condemning glares of various Narnians. They certainly weren't playing the parts of innocents with their arrogant, regal walk and stunningly dark attire.
"You stand accused of high treason. How do you plea to these charges?" Peter began, his voice steeled.
"How can we respond without knowing what ridiculous trumped up charges we stand accused of?" Susan scoffed. Lucy's heart skipped a beat. If they didn't know the charges, they couldn't be guilty! Right? But then why didn't they plead not guilty to charges if they had never done anything? Lucy glanced at Peter's stony face and saw he too had noticed how they evaded the question. She began feeling sick again, nervous about what might happen.
"The witnesses will present their testimonies," Peter said, gesturing to a mongoose who was acting as herald.
"Lord Morran of Danford, Archenland," the herald announced. Lucy instantly recognized the arrogant lord. He was one of Susan's many spurned suitors. Surely Peter wouldn't believe anything he would say!
"High King, it is a great honor and privilege to speak here before your Majesty!" Morren flattered, kneeling before Peter's throne and kissing his ring.
"Get on with it," Peter said shortly, as easily irritated by groveling as Lucy was.
"Of course, your Majesty. First, I must beg a boon of you. I am here in defiance of the orders of my king. I crave your Majesties' protection for any retribution Archenland may have from me," the lord said.
"We will grant a place in our courts and army if your testimony be worthy," Peter said, waving it aside with a hand. "Your testimony, now."
"Yes, yes, your Majesty. I worked as part of Archenland's army for many years as general and military strategist. Above all, I value a clean combat. When our spies found information through methods deemed expected in warfare, I stayed quiet. While I care not for such trickery, tis a common and necessary component of my occupation. But then my suspicions rose at the wealth and berth of information they brought us. I and many other generals agreed Archenland must have some informant from inside of Narnia. There is nothing I despise more than a traitor, except perhaps a traitor who has now betrayed those who gave him a second chance," he said derisively, looking clearly towards Edmund. Edmund glowered, but kept quiet.
"Get to the point," Peter said, even now uncomfortable with people bringing up his brother's past.
"As you wish, Sire. I investigated into the matter, and my men were able to procure these letters detailing Narnia's plan of attack in the recent battles between Archenland and Narnia, addressed to General Dar and signed by her royal Majesty, Queen Susan, and his royal Majesty, King Edmund."
"Preposterous. We never sent such letters," Susan scoffed scornfully.
Peter gave her a dark look. "Hestius!"
The satyr, an expert in calligraphy, scrambled up to face the thrones.
"We gave Hestius these letters to examine. He has examined each and every one of them thoroughly," Peter said.
"And?" Susan snapped impatiently.
"The…the writing it…conclusive. I think. It's writing of Queen Susan and King Edmund," the poor satyr said, his legs trembling nervously. He kept glancing over to Susan and Edmund, presumably in fear of retribution. "And I clearly recognized the royal seal. Yes, that…that's for certain."
"Our seals were stolen," Edmund blurted out.
"And just how would that happen?" Peter demanded.
"Next witness," Lucy called quickly, afraid of lingering long enough for Edmund and Peter to break out into a fight.
"Lord Peridan, formerly of Archenland," the herald announced next. Lucy squeaked out a small cry of shock. Peridan and her sister were close, so close that they were the subject of much gossip. And it was Edmund who had convinced Peridan to switch sides in the war. How could Peridan testify against them? By the Mane, she could more easily believe that he would lie to protect them. If he was testifying against them, then he must be wholly convinced of their guilt.
"I…I have a confession. I …I too played a role in their Majesties' betrayal," Peridan said, bowing low before Lucy and Peter. Lucy tried to remain stoic, but felt like crying. She glanced at Peter who didn't seem to be much better than she. Edmund's expression remained stubbornly vacant. Susan seemed surprisingly unemotional, but refused to look any of them in the eye.
"If you confess and aid us in seeking out the truth, your sentence will be greatly reduced," Peter announced.
"Thank you, Sire. I…I was asked by his Majesty, King Edmund, to initiate a correspondence between himself and a general from Archenland. It…it began innocently, I swear," Peridan said, trembling. "It began as King Edmund simply asking for me to go to a tavern to pick up various items for him that the proprietor was holding. Most were various letters from all over. But then I noticed the inordinate amount of money and treasures that General Dar was sending and confronted my King about it. He…never responded, but offered me the lands I so recently became lord of in Narnia to not ask more questions. It was not until Lord Morren confronted me, having found his own evidence of treason that my guilty heart moved me to confess."
"Peridan, we revoke your lands and you will no longer be a lord in our eyes," Peridan commanded, waving a hand in dismissal. "Do the accused have a defense of themselves?"
"Only our word that we deny all charges they press against us. Since when is the word of our enemies considered enough to implicate Narnian royalty?" Edmund said haughtily.
"Sire…I…If…If I may…" Tumnus said uncertainly.
"Of course. We always welcome your input," Peter said, glancing over to Lucy. Lucy shook her head no, knowing he was asking if she knew what was going on. Tumnus must have not planned on testifying. She had a sinking feeling in her stomach. If it could ever sink any more than it had already. She gave a sideways glance towards Edmund and Susan, sure this would upset them. And yet they both seemed still unperturbed.
"I…I did not speak before since…well, I have no evidence. But I did…I did hear a rather suspicious conversation between their Majesties. And I think I may know where they …where they are currently storing the payment they received. I…I didn't piece it together until I heard these testimonies, but I do think that is what they were talking about," he said, hands on his horns in despair.
"Where?" Lucy cried out, horrified. If Mr. Tumnus was testifying against her siblings…then she didn't even know what to think.
"In King Edmund's reading den," he responded. "Locked inside a chest."
"What have you to say for yourself?" Peter said in a voice like thunder, turning around on Edmund.
Edmund didn't even flinch. "I…I have no clue what he's talking about. He must have misheard."
"So you would not object to Oreius searching your rooms?" Lucy asked tentatively, hoping he would say yes. Oddly, Edmund glanced at Oreius before looking at them again.
"Ah, no. But this is all foolish. There is no need to search," he said, licking his lips nervously.
"Your Majesties, I and my kin will search their rooms ourselves at your command," Oreius offered. Peter nodded as the Centaurs galloped off before returning a dark look towards his siblings.
"Swallowpad! Go to Oreius and tell him to look for their seals as well," Peter demanded, hand curling into a fist. He was stubbornly looking anywhere but at his siblings. Even if he had though, it wouldn't have made him pity them though. Both looked wholly unrepentant and perhaps even annoyed.
Not longer after, the Centaurs returned with a chest, lock shattered open.
"Sire…we found this chest," Oreius said as two of the Centaurs dumped out the contents of the chest. Lucy covered her mouth with her hand, trying hard not to scream or cry.
Peter slowly rose from his throne, all eyes on him in that terrible moment. And yet Susan and Edmund did not seem the least bit nervous as far as Lucy could tell.
"What do you have to say for yourselves?" he demanded angrily, hands curled into fists.
"Obviously someone must have put it there to frame us," Edmund responded evenly.
"Is this your only defense? To deny all evidence without a shred of evidence to support your claim to innocence?" Peter demanded.
"Peter, please!" Lucy blurted out before being able to contain herself, jumping to her feet.
"Lu, please sit," Peter muttered, only loud enough for her to hear.
She ignored him. "Do you have an idea of who might want to frame you then? Of who'd even be able to?" she said hopefully.
Susan glanced nervously at Edmund. He crossed his arms and lifted his chin. "No."
"No? That is all you have to say? Against the plethora of evidence piling up against you?" Peter said furiously.
"We deny all charges pressed against us," Susan said primly.
"Your Majesty, you surely don't believe them. If they were innocent, they'd have some way of defending themselves," Sir Rajit the Tiger snarled.
"There are more witnesses for the next charge against you," Peter growled.
"What ridiculous charge is this then, hm?" Susan said.
"Our royal sister, Queen Lucy, and I were attacked by assassins. By the Grace of Aslan, we were forewarned and now have several of the assassins in our prisons. They each claim to have been sent by you," Peter denounced.
For the first time, Susan and Edmund seemed thrown off guard.
"W-What?" Susan stammered.
"Since when do we trust the words of criminals whose only loyalty is money?" Edmund countered.
"Please! Isn't there any defense you have?" Lucy cried out, jumping to her feet.
"Other than we have no motive for sending assassins?" Susan attempted.
"The leader of the group stated you wished us dead to take power for yourselves," Peter roared, his fist banging against the arm of his throne furiously. The hall was silent for several long moments before it burst out into complete mayhem.
"They're guilty, no doubt about it," a Dwarf snarled.
"Traitors!" a voice in the back of the room called out.
"Arrest them!" several called out.
"Kill them!" even nastier voices called for, stirring those assembled into a frenzied mob.
"No!" Lucy screamed, barely audible over the loud din of now indistinguishable shouts. There were some she could see were still defending Susan and Edmund. But it seemed most had turned against them, convinced by the plethora of evidence. It felt like the room was spinning, going mad with cacophonic shouts and anger.
"Silence!" Peter bellowed, his voice resonating in the crowded room as he stood up and faced Susan and Edmund who had remained surprisingly calm through all the chaos. The room fell into a silence so thick one could cut right through it. Everyone's eyes were on Peter in that one awful moment. Lucy bit her lip, unable to hold back. She had to give Susan and Edmund one last chance.
She got to her feet and spoke before Peter had a chance. "Court shall take a recess. We will reconvene tomorrow morning," she said. For half a second Peter looked irritated, but he let the matter go rather than countering her so publically, much to Lucy's relief. Without Susan and Edmund able to back her up, Peter had even more autonomy and could easily overrule her.
"General Oreius…Take...Take Susan and Edmund to the dungeons," Peter commanded, his voice shaky no matter how hard he tried to keep it strong.
"No!" Lucy protested. When Peter glanced at her, she calmed herself to say, "Perhaps confinement to their quarters would be more appropriate for our royal siblings."
She could tell Peter got her not-so-subtle reminder that Susan and Edmund were not only their family, but still held their titles and should be treated as such. Peter relented. "General, do as my royal sister instructs. Remove any weaponry from their chambers."
Even as the Centaurs circled around them, ready to guide them out once Lucy and Peter had left, Susan and Edmund seemed unwaveringly unrepentant. Peter gestured for Lucy to follow him as he left. Once they were inside and he had dismissed all their guards and his manservants, he collapsed into his chair, letting his despair show.
"They denied the charges. Someone could be framing them," Lucy began uncertainly.
"Could be. Could be. A sliver of hope amongst the plethora of evidence. And they're giving us nothing to work off of. If they would admit to it, if they would just show some remorse…I…I could work with that. Edmund was forgiven when he betrayed us before… We could forgive this…but they won't admit it, they won't give evidence to prove their innocence…what can I do?" Peter said, growing quickly frustrated.
"We …we can try talking to them ourselves?" Lucy said uncertainly. "But…they don't seem to want to talk. I tried talking with them before…but …they seemed so aloof."
"They've always been a bit…closer to each other than us," Peter said uncertainly. "Them being aloof isn't too new…"
"Please try. They…even if they did it…which…it does look like they did…They're still our family," Lucy pled. "We can't just give up on them."
"Lu…you need to prepare for the worst. The court…it was clear many of them now want to see Susan and Edmund dead. Unless some miracle happens, the most I could do is reduce that sentence to banishment or imprisonment."
"Maybe some miracle will. Narnia is quite a magical land," Lucy said hopefully. Peter just shook his head, amazed at his sister's everlasting hope and belief.
As soon as he had set foot outside, he was accosted by Peridan who seemed to have been impatiently waiting just outside the door.
"I do not wish to see you right now," Peter spat, letting his anger loose. He might be trying to hold back against his siblings, but Peridan he could hate as much as he wanted. If some miracle cleared his siblings' names, then Peridan was a liar and traitor. If all he had testified was true, then Peridan had aided them in their treachery. There was no outcome Peter could imagine in which he could ever forgive Peridan.
"Sire, please hear me out," Peridan said, kneeling and lowering his head out of convenient hitting range.
"Hear you out, traitor?" Peter sneered.
"I came to apologize. I know I do not deserve your pardon, but I wish to be given penance so I may one day be in my King's good graces once again," Peridan responded humbly.
Peter glared at him. "You're lucky I didn't order your head cut off."
"Please, Sire," Peridan begged, his hands shooting out and covering Peter's. Peter was about to indignantly protest, but then realized Peridan was anxiously pressing a piece of paper into his hand. He frowned and was about to ask when Peridan almost imperceptibly shook his head no. Peter, despite his anger at Peridan, was intrigued, and decided to allow it, pulling his hand back and surreptitiously slid the paper into his tunic.
"Be gone with you," Peter commanded, but there was less venom in his voice, his mind on the mysterious message Peridan was trying to send to him.
Peter slipped into an unoccupied room, leaving his guards just outside. He smoothed the crumpled paper and read:
My testimony was compromised. Ears everywhere in the castle; I cannot speak with you here, nor can I leave when eyes are closely set on me. If you can, find your way to the Emerald Caves with none but Oreius and his sons and daughters – for there are very few you can trust in this dark time – and there you will find the truth. Destroy this. There are traitors all around you who would kill the truth in the caves without a second thought if they found this.
Peter stared at the letter, too shocked to react for several moments. Well. It seemed there was in fact another possibility he hadn't imagined. Although this possibility would prove Peridan a spineless coward, making Peter hardly feel any more charitable towards him. Unless there could be some sliver of hope in which some miracle came to be.
Then everything began running through his head. Suspicions that this letter was the lie rather than the testimony. Hope that his siblings may be innocent. Dread that the truth might be something even worse. Doubt that he could trust anything Peridan said.
In the end one fear took over. Fear that the letter may be simply leading him into a trap. After all, he knew someone was after his life. And one way or another, Peridan was sure to be involved. More than anything else, the letter was apt to be a trap. He ripped the paper and hid the pieces in his tunic, leaving it there, forgotten.
Forgotten, at least, until he had retired for the night, after two fruitless attempts to reconnect with his siblings. Both seemed altogether uninterested in speaking with him. Susan in particular would hardly even look in his direction, constantly getting up and peering out the window, checking her hair in the mirror, and other ridiculous little acts. Peter could tell her uncharacteristic mannerisms were purposeful, but couldn't understand why she wouldn't even look at him. But afterwards, Oreius confronted him when he was alone in his chambers.
"Sire, perhaps some training would lift your spirits," he said in his deep somber voice.
"I think I'll retire early tonight to mull over the court case," he said.
"A particularly interested knight recommend a new training ground which I think, truthfully, might be of interest to you. Some rocky terrain down by the beach to give you a new challenge," Oreius said. "I must admit, this new, unknown terrain interests me as well. I have worries about your safety after the events of today, so perhaps I will bring Cloverhoof and Naftil with us."
Peter quickly translated his coded speech. The "particularly interested knight" must be Peridan, particularly with the same reference to truth. The Emerald Caves were "rocky terrain" and near the beach.
Peridan must have found some way of getting through to Oreius. But this was all "new" to Oreius as well, and he was just as distrustful of Peridan as he was. But if Oreius believed it worth taking a chance, Peter had to do it. Oreius tended to be far more cautious than he. If Oreius thought it worth the risk, then so did Peter. Particularly if this could possibly vindicate his siblings.
He nodded briskly as he stood. "I suppose some practice tonight could be fruitful. Although perhaps a few more guards may be helpful."
Once Oreius had rounded up a few of his sons and daughters to act as guards, they headed out to the Emerald Caves with anxious, aching hearts. Soon they had come to the mouths of the caves, looking into each dark entrance anxiously.
"How do we know which..." Peter began, before a bird started chirping at them, gesturing for them to follow. The Centaurs looked at Peter, waiting for instruction, although Peter could clearly tell none of them wanted to turn away from danger.
"I hear no others here," Oreius said in a low voice. "Although I wish we had some Dogs to smell for danger."
"Keep your guard up," Peter said, heading forward. Two of the Centaurs went before him so as to ward off any attacks.
Soon the bird lead them to a wider space in the dark caves, lit by a large fire. As they turned the corner, Peter could see there was a small congregation of various Narnians there. They quickly noticed Peter and the Centaurs. Peter gripped Rhindon tightly, afraid of an ambush. Although it was apt to be an even match, perhaps even in their favor. Unless there were more hidden behind the rocks. But the bird turned slightly to lead them right into the path of another person who gasped in shock.
"You?" Peter said, so shocked he stepped backwards, hand grasped on his sword. He knew instantly this must be the "truth" Peridan spoke of. But… "That's…this is impossible!"