A/n:
Hey there! If you have not read 'Chances' please turn back now and read that first because this is the sequel! :))
If you have read 'Chances', then HQP and I are proud to welcome you back to the second season of A Second Golden Age! We would like to thank everybody for the love and enthusiasm you have for our stories so we truly hope that if you've enjoyed Chances you'll enjoy this one, HMTQ, too. Thanks for supporting us and getting us this far!
A quick recap of the regular characters' ages: Caspian is 19 and turning 20, Peter just turned 19, Tyrone is 18 turning 19, Ines is 18, Katrina is 17, Susan is 17, Gilda is 16 turning 17, Edmund is 16, Xavier is 15, Lucy is 14. More new characters will be introduced on the way and you can always check their face claims on my profile. :))))
(Cair Paravel, Narnia)
~Gilda's POV~
Now that my marriage to Edmund had been publicly announced and validated, he and I no longer had to sleep in separate bedrooms. As a result, when I woke up this morning, I was in my own bed, but with my husband by my side, which made me smile. He was still sleeping, so I carefully lifted the blankets off my body and hopped off the bed. I went to the bathroom first, and when I had finished using it, he was awake already.
"Well good morning, husband," I said affectionately, walking over to the bedside, where he was sitting at, to give him a kiss.
"Morning, wife," he grinned. My hands slipped into his, and it seemed he wanted more than just one kiss from me, but we didn't have the chance to do anything else, because there were knocks on my door, and I had to go get it, since between the two of us, I was the more decently dressed one.
Once I opened the door, a maid curtsied at me. "Good morning, Your High – Your Majesty," she corrected herself quickly, recalling that now that I was acknowledged and recognized as the wife of a King, I was supposed to be referred to as a Queen consort, although I was still a Princess of Archenland, and that identity of mine should in no way be affected by my newly gained status as Queen.
"Yes?" I prompted, urging her to deliver her message rather than spend too much time on formalities. I felt a little apologetic for only giving her a one-worded response instead of saying 'good morning' in a bright, cheery mood, so I smiled slightly instead, so that I wouldn't exactly come across as unapproachable or snappy.
"Your father, the King, would like to have an audience with you, my…Queen," she reported. Again, she sounded hesitant, but frankly I wouldn't have minded if she had said 'my Princess' instead.
"Now?" I inquired. "Where?"
"Yes, Your Majesty," she nodded. It seemed she had made up her mind, then. "In His Majesty's chambers."
"Oh? He's not in the hospital wing anymore? I thought he'd been admitted to the clinic yesterday late at night," I replied.
"His Royal Majesty has been discharged from the clinic this morning, and has been transferred from his ward in the hospital wing back to his own chambers just now," she explained. "My Queen."
Yep, she had most certainly made up her mind now. "Alright," I nodded. "Thank you. Please tell His Majesty that I will be there shortly."
She curtsied and went away to deliver my reply to my father. I closed the door and went back to Edmund.
"Time for breakfast," he said to me, rubbing his stomach. He had already got dressed, I saw. But I told him that I couldn't make it to breakfast with him and his siblings – my in-laws – as I had to go check on my father. He offered to accompany me, but I assured him that I'd meet up with him in the dining room soon, so that was where he headed to, while I made my way to my parents' guest room in Cair Paravel.
"Queen Gilda is here, Your Majesty," the guard at the door notified my father. He was much more decisive than the maid, it appeared. I supposed everybody in the castle must be gossiping about it already, awaiting my coronation.
I entered the room and found my father in a much healthier state than he was in last night. He was sitting in a chair rather than lying down on the bed. I felt really guilty the moment I stepped into the room, even though he was not in a sickly condition anymore, since I felt responsible for causing him to pass out. I didn't think he would have fainted, had the news of my elopement not stunned him so drastically. I had no clue how he could still manage to smile at me, appearing to be in a good mood. I supposed by contrast I just looked glum and gloomy.
"My daughter," he beamed, gesturing at the chair opposite to his, signaling for me to take my seat.
"Father," I said cautiously as I sat down. "How are you feeling today?"
"Much better than I did last night," he said positively in confirmation.
I let out a sigh in relief. "I'm glad you are feeling better. Because I'm very worried about you, as is everybody else, but I'm especially anxious because…"
"Because you feel responsible for this?"
I nodded solemnly.
"Well, I don't want you to worry too much, or feel bad about your…actions…" he said, and I was both relieved and delighted that he didn't use the word 'indiscretions' instead. "That were unbeknownst to me," he continued. "It's not like I wouldn't have fainted otherwise."
"Why would you say that?" I frowned.
"It's happened to me quite a few times over the months that you've been away, away to be in Narnia, to be in Calormen. It's just that…it's been happening more and more frequently, as of late," he revealed.
"What?!" I exclaimed. "But you never told me about it. Mother has mentioned it to me, in her letters, but it was only once or twice. You kept this from me?! You shouldn't have." I hardly ever used this tone with my parents, but I was anxious and I didn't want anything bad to EVER happen to my father. Had I known about the frequency of these accidents, perhaps I could have done something about it. Even though not personally, maybe I could have spoken to Cornelius about it, or somebody else knowledgeable about the field of medicine. Edmund was chatting with Duchess Amelia the other day, and he was told by Her Grace that her eldest son was interested in being a healer. Duchess Amelia even – wait. She was the Duchess of Millville. Millville?! That rang a bell. Last night I had a half-Archenlander, half-Telmarine nobleman hit on me, at the banquet, and he was from Millville…I shuddered, and got back to the topic at hand before I could be further lost in my own thoughts.
"That's exactly why I don't intend to hide this from you any longer. There's something I've been meaning to say to you for a while now, Gilda. I've spoken to your mother about it, and even though she was a bit surprised about it, she was supportive of me and endorsed my decision, being the wonderful wife she always was," said my father.
"What decision?" I enquired, although I had a hunch it would be something big and something bad. Like a wolf. A big bad wolf.
He took a deep breath and began. "As you could see from last night, my health has been failing me. I feel as if I am getting weaker and weaker, like I'm…slipping away. It has come to my attention that I am, sadly, no longer the robust and active King I once was."
I looked my father in the eye and shook my head. I knew what he was getting at, and I didn't want to hear it. "Please don't continue."
"You know me so well, and you're intelligent enough to know what I'm going to say. But the truth, the reality that we are faced with right now, is that my health no longer permits me to do my job as King," he went on anyway. "I think it's time for me to step aside and let you take over now."
I grimaced, shutting my eyes. I inhaled, and exhaled, very consciously doing so. I so desperately wanted this to just be a bad dream that I was going to wake up. And when I woke up I would find myself in Edmund's arms and everything would be alright again. I pinched myself, but unfortunately, I wasn't waking up from this nightmare known as reality.
He patted me supportively. "My child, I know you are ready. We both know that, in fact. Both your mother and I have trained you sufficiently so that you can do your job well as the Queen of Archenland. We've watched you grow, for 16 years of your life already, and in a month or so you're going to turn 17, even."
"See? I'm just 16. Way too young to be on the throne as a regnant ruler," I protested, though I didn't really want to contradict him. I felt like I owed it to him.
"Instead, I believe Archenland will be in very good hands with you as its Queen," said my father positively, unaffected by how negatively I viewed this.
"But I really don't think I can do this alone. Father, I'm serious," I admitted.
"As am I. And believe me when I say that you are not alone, dear daughter. Your mother and I are still here. And we will always be there for you whenever and wherever you need us. We will always support you and have your back," he said sincerely. "Besides, you are also a married woman now. You have one of the best Kings of Narnia by your side, as your King consort when you are the Queen of Archenland. Have no doubt he will help you through your period of settling into your new role as the head of state."
"And what about ruling Narnia? How will I do both at the same time?" I inquired, with a troubled look on my face.
"You can appoint somebody to be your representative, and he or she will be traveling regularly between two nations on your behalf," he suggested. "In fact, I do have a candidate in mind you can employ as your envoy to Narnia. But then again, Narnia has two other Queens and two – I mean three now – Kings, alongside you and Edmund. They'll take care of Narnia too."
I sighed. "And what's going to happen to you? If you're giving up your title and rights as King, then –"
"I'm not planning to do that, if that makes you feel less daunted," he said in reassurance. "I can take on some other title, but we will prepare the necessary documents to transfer my supreme power and authority over to you."
I nodded. I was still a little reluctant, but I was going to do my father's bidding anyway. "Alright. I'll do it."
He smiled earnestly. "It's time to let you, the young ones, do your duty to Archenland, while I will retire so I can improve my health, hopefully."
"I understand. And I will honor you by being the best Queen I can be to Archenland. I promise," I said solemnly and firmly. Although I was a new Queen consort of Narnia, my fealty was still to Archenland.
"I know you will," he said, standing up. "I'm proud of you."
I stood up too and we shared a hug. It was one of support and familial love. He was proud to have me as his daughter, and I could not be more honored. He was a good father, and an estimable King too. I did not wish to be any less dutiful a Queen than I was a daughter, and I most certainly did not want to fail or disappoint my parents, who had such high hopes for me, and an immense amount of faith in me.
Afterward, I smiled at him. "Have you had breakfast yet?"
"Not yet. Have you?"
"Me neither. Well, I told Edmund that I was going to meet up with him and his siblings, but I can stay here and have breakfast with you if you'd like it," I offered.
"I would like that very much," Father grinned.
"Where's Mother?" I inquired.
"She'll be back soon," he answered.
"I'm going to send a page to inform Edmund that I won't be with him this morning then. I'm spending it with you, and with Mother too when she returns," I said, getting out of my seat.
"That won't be necessary," said Father mysteriously. I got confused for a moment, but my questions were soon answered.
Father pointed at the door. I turned around and saw that the guard had opened the door, bowed, and announced, "Your Majesties, Queen Dionne is here with His Majesty, King Edmund."
"Edmund?" I said, surprised.
My mother walked into the room a little giddily, in tandem with my husband. "Good morning, my daughter. I've invited King Edmund over. I was thinking the four of us could have breakfast together. How does that sound?"
"I've already explained to the others about it," Edmund chimed in. "There were only Caspian, Pete and Lu in the room though. Su is gonna be spending the morning with the Harringtons."
"Well then," I beamed, extremely pleased by this arrangement. "Let breakfast be served!"
(Newport Manor, Newport, Narnia)
~Tyrone's POV~
Today was a holiday for all of Narnia, but I knew my mother would probably have to get back to work, in the Telmarine Castle, since the new cohort of the ladies-in-training program was nearing its end and the graduation would be in a few days, which meant that it would not be long until Susan and Lucy would have a new handmaiden in their respective households, a Madam, a maid-in-waiting, somewhere between a colleague and a subordinate for the ladies in waiting, Ines and Katrina. But today would be reserved for our families instead of for work.
In the courtyard of the Harrington family residence, a table had already been set up, and servants were ready to serve us some tea.
"I'm sorry that we didn't have a chance to have a proper conversation, between the 4 of us, yesterday at the wedding," Susan began. "Everybody kept demanding our attention."
"Not a problem, dearest. We understand that," said Mother affably. I could recall that while Father had a word with me last night, as the feast ended, Mother was able to catch a word with Susan too, which made me wonder what they chatted about.
"Yes. Especially with King Nain's accident. But you're here now and we can chat all we want," Father smiled.
"Susan, I can't stop thinking about how so gorgeous you looked in your wedding gown; it was truly a stunning sight," Mother added.
"Yes, indeed," I blurted. I couldn't help it. Like I said to Peter when I asked for his blessing before courting Susan, I was told before that Queen Susan is charming, intelligent, well read, graceful, and carries herself in a ladylike manner. A true Queen, no doubt. But nothing prepared me for her gentleness and sweetness and beauty. The beauty that came from inside. To me, she was the most beautiful creature, so endearing and so her own style. Susan Pevensie of Finchley, the Queen of my heart.
"Will you be present at the galas celebrating our wedding and Edmund's?" Susan enquired.
"We certainly will! We're really looking forward to it," Father replied. "As well as Queen Gilda's coronation."
"Well, actually, there's something else that Susan and I came here for," I began.
"Is everything alright?" My mother asked. Somehow, I could sense that a part of her was guessing that Susan and I were about to be parents. I knew she wanted to be a grandmother, and of course Susan and I wanted to have children; we had talked about this before, but since we only just got married yesterday, Mother knew better.
"Yes, everything's fine, but now that Tyrone is a King of Narnia, it means that any family member of his will enjoy an elevation in social rank. I've spoken to my royal colleagues about this, and we've decided that you'll no longer be Viscount and Viscountess," Susan explained.
"Then what title would we hold?" Father inquired, wondering if he and Mother would have to move away. "Is Newport still going to be a part of our lands and this mansion a part of our estates?"
"Well, yes, of course, Newport is still ours, but from now on, it won't be a viscountcy. It's going to be a county instead. So you two will be 1st Count and Countess of Newport," I announced, grinning and looking pleased. "The letters patent will be issued tomorrow," I added. "And since I am King, our firstborn will be first in line to inherit the county of Newport as the 2nd Count or Countess."
My parents exchanged a look of delight. "We honestly never thought about that, actually. But we are still very honored that you and Their Majesties have decided to bestow this favor upon us," said Father.
"Yes indeed. We promise that we will continue to serve Narnia loyally and make Narnia proud of us. I will continue to train the handmaidens with all my effort and commitment so that they may be in service as well," said my Mother in delight, and then to Susan, "I think you won't at all be disappointed with who I have in mind for your new handmaiden."
Susan nodded contentedly. "I trust your judgement."
"And I shall continue to work closely with King Caspian regarding the voyage of the Dawn Treader that His Majesty is very zealous about," Father added.
And so, we spent the rest of the morning discussing our honeymoon, as well as the news of the secret wedding between Edmund and Gilda.
A/n: In addition to Caspian and the Pevensies, Narnia now has Gilda and Tyrone as co-rulers. What do you think this will mean for Narnia? Can Gilda and Edmund juggle the challenging workload as rulers of two countries? Is King Nain making the right decision by handing Archenland over to G? Tell us in the reviews below. More romance and family scenes will follow. ;DD