A/N: My very sincere thanks to elecktrum for allowing me to make use of her Narnian Calendar. Go have a look at her stories; they often make my day.
In addition, my utmost thanks to WillowDryad, who found said calendar for me after my own inept attempts had failed.
A Knife in the Dark
Chapter One: Return
In the ten years since Einan first became my daughter, she had refused all suitors for her hand, even though she could have had her pick from the best of Archenland and Narnia. She insisted that she was perfectly happy staying with her father and nurse at the Cair, and I for one was happy enough with that arrangement. Twenty-two is a good marrying age if you wish it, and I trusted Aslan would send her a fine husband did He wish her to have one. Laterose, however, was rather less contented.
"Just think," she said, "of marrying after twenty-two! Einan, my dearest, you really must quit this nonsense. You're becoming an old maid!"
Einan winked at me.
"So why are youstill unmarried?"
Laterose was undaunted by the question.
"Dryads live longer than humans. Much longer. I am still in the flower of my youth according to our standards."
The look on her face as she said this was enough to make the most stone-faced Marshwiggle laugh.
"Of course you are," Einan giggled.
Laterose glared and stormed out of the room.
"You know better than to start wars at the breakfast table Einan."
"Rose brought it up Da."
I chuckled.
"True enough. What are you planning to do today?"
"Rhiamon is due to return today. I'm in charge of the welcoming committee."
"It will be good to have her back. Rheneas -and all of us- have missed her ever since she went to Telmar to handle that border dispute."
Rheneas was the new Steward, his father having passed away five years earlier. He was a good man, and an impressive one too. Just beginning his thirtiethyear, tall, muscular, and brave; Rhen was never one to back down from a fight. His blonde hair and navy blue eyes made him one of the most eligible bachelors Narnia had -not that he minded, you understand. He was also the most courteous man I knew, and his courtesy had served him well whilst dealing with foreign envoys. His sister Rhiamon was nearer Einan's age than his, twenty-four years young three months ago.
Rhiamon had skin whiter than snow, her raven-black hair contrasting heavily, but beautifully against it. She resembled Queen Swanwhite's portrait in many ways. Rheneas and I had both asked her to journey to Telmar in Rheneas's place after he fell ill a week before his scheduled departure. As I had suspected, Rhiamon had proven herself a skilled diplomat, able to sway even the most resilient opponent to her side. Word was that she had settled the territorial dispute the day she arrived, and spent the rest of her visit dancing with the local gentry.
"There's the trumpets Da! She's back!"
Einan kissed my cheek as she fairly flew out of the room towards the courtyard, overjoyed at the return of her closest friend. I followed more calmly, yet glad to know that the Steward's beloved sister had returned. The two had been best of friends since childhood, and her absence had slowed Rheneas' recovery.
As I turned into the courtyard, I saw an enormous crowd gathered around Rhiamon, chattering questions as quickly as they could form the words. I glanced to my right, and saw Rheneas approaching, borne on a stretcher by four of the castle guards. He look to his sister, now arm in arm with Einan, and smiled broadly.
"Relieved to have her back, I take it?"
He turned his head to face me.
"Indeed I am. I little trusted the Telmarines before, and I still dislike them now."
"But the word is your sister did excellently in making them see sense regarding the borders of Lantern Waste."
His face darkened.
"That's what worries me. Any time someone gives you just what you want-"
"-It's usually too good to be true," I finished for him.
He nodded in his quiet way, our conversation quickly interrupted by the two young ladies mounting the stairs to the keep.
"Rheneas!"
Rhiamon flew forward and flung her arms around her brother's neck.
"You shouldn't be out of bed!"
"And choking me will put be back?"
Hearty laughs rang through the courtyard as the siblings enjoyed their reunion.
Rheneas and I sat at a small table in Rheneas's bedroom, waiting on Einan and Rhiamon to join us for supper. The "girls", as I still found myself calling the young women who had been children what seemed to be only moments ago, had busied themselves seeing the "invalid" back to his room, and then off they went to Rhiamon's quarters to unpack, and, presumably, to wash for supper. Rheneas tapped his fingers aimlessly on his chair.
The supper spread before us was plain, but pleasing; venison, leg of lamb, apples, and buttered bread covered the table, accented nicely by the wine bottles and ale flagons dotted betwixt the serving platters.
Seeing that the ladies had few qualms about keeping us waiting, I lit my pipe and blew a few smoke rings. The rich, cozy smell of pipe tobacco began to fill the room.
"Where's your pipe Rheneas?"
The Steward looked at me with furrowed brow.
"I believe it's in my top dresser drawer."
I moved to get it.
"You needn't trouble yourself about it. I'm not in the mood for smoking."
"You needn't look so pensive."
His brows shot up.
"Do I look pensive? Sorry old fellow."
"It's alright. It just isn't quite the reaction one would expect after your sister's safe return."
"It's not her return that worries me; it's the Telmarines' immediate acquiescence to the terms she proposed. It's far too good to be true."
"Rhiamon obviously thought them sincere. Your sister has good judgment. If she had thought something was up, she would have stuck it out 'til they grew sick of her."
The young Steward sighed.
"You're right of course. I'm just prone to worrying."
"That's what makes you such an excellent Steward, Rheneas. You pay attention to the details."
He gave me a half-hearted grin.
"The Ladies Rhiamon and Einan."
I stood as the maid introduced the tardy young women. Rheneas would have risen from his seat, but both the girls have him such glares at the attempt that he remained where he was.
As we took our seats, Einan opened the conversation.
"We're so sorry we're late, Da. Did we keep you waiting too long?"
"I think you may have neared the end of your tether." I replied. "The invalid nearly fainted with hunger!"
The girls chuckled while Rheneas glared at me for my use of the despised "i" word.
Drinks were poured and platters were passed 'round. After a few moments of sipping and chewing, the talk resumed.
"How was your journey, sister mine?" Rheneas asked as he gingerly sipped his mulled wine.
"Excellent," Rhiamon replied, brightness fairly beaming from her face.
"I gave those pompous Telmarine Lords and Ladies a thing or two to think about. Their arguments were absolute rubbish; I'd expected more of a challenge.
It was one the negotiations ended that the real fun began. Every semi-eligible bachelor in the area came to visit, tripping all over himself, hoping to dance with me. I refused so much that the Duke decided to throw a grand ball. I could hardly refuse the poor fellows then, could I? All of the local gentry were left-footed and clumsy, poor souls.
After the first ball, dozens of invitations poured in. For two months I was the biggest stir to hit the Telmarine social scene in decades! Of course, it grew dull after a while, and I longed for home. Having stayed the promised two-and-a-half months, I set my eyes to Narnia, and, well, here we are."
Einan appeared to have enjoyed the story immensely, although she had the sort of look you get on your face when you've heard a tale a thousand times before, and now you are only waiting to gauge everyone else's reaction to it.
"It sounds like a most fruitful trip," I observed, as I demurely attempted to focus on the haunch of venison before me. I was waiting with bated breath for our over-suspicious invalid to begin interrogating his sister.
"That sounds lovely Rhi. You've done excellently."
I nearly severed my tongue in surprise. That was all he had to say after his countless gloomy conjectures to me? He looked over to me, then to Einan, then back 'round to his sister.
"What an exquisite supper. Is everyone ready for dessert?