Silver and Gold
Chapter Two
By Lona Undorina
The days after the ball, Edmund kept finding himself thinking about Silvia and her mysterious disappearance. He was thinking there was more to her quick departure than just an urgent matter. She of all people wouldn't need to be there to help with it. She was just a lady attending to Queen Gwendolyn. Every time he thought about it, he was convinced there was something else to it. It just doesn't make sense, he thought. Why would she need to leave if Queen Gwendolyn can take care of it?
WHACK! The wooden sword hit Edmund's back. He and Peter and been sparring all morning and Edmund was constantly getting hit.
"Ed," Peter said. "You need to focus. Stop thinking about Lady Silvia and just fight."
Edmund rubbed his back, "Alright, alright," he said. "Can you just not hit so hard please?"
"If you asked that in an actual duel, you'd be dead right now. Now fight!"
They sparred again, but this time Peter lost the fight to a now focused Edmund.
That's how his days would go: one of his siblings would be constantly telling him to focus, but how could he when he was thinking of Lady Silvia? He wanted to see her again to ask her why she left so quickly.
He didn't have to wait long. A messenger arrived at Cair Paravel a week after the ball.
Peter read the message. "Queen Gwendolyn is coming," he said.
"Why?" Lucy and Susan asked in unison. Edmund nodded, "Yeah, why Pete?" he echoed.
"Listen. She writes 'A message from Queen Gwendolyn of Kytani to Peter the Magnificent, High King of Narnia, to Queen Susan the Gentle, to King Edmund the Just, and to Queen Lucy the Valiant.'
"I hate lengthy greetings," muttered Edmund.
Peter continued, " ' Greetings from Kytani I hope all is well in Narnia. I thank you for the invitation to post-war celebration, although, as you know, I was unable to attend. My diplomats said it was a splendid evening and I regret that I was not there to enjoy it.
The matter for which I am writing about concerns the Kytanian and Narnian peace treaty. My advisers say that we have been cheated out of half of the land that was promised. I am aware of the honor of Narnians and that your majesties would do everything in your power to make sure the treaty was fair, but my advisers insist that I write to regarding this matter (Politics these days). I truly hope that this whole matter is a misunderstanding, but I cannon ignore it. I shall be arriving on a diplomatic visit to clear this whole matter with your majesties. Please expect us within two days after you receive this message. I apologize for such short notice, but I would love to be rid of this matter quickly.
'Sincerely, Queen Gwendolyn of Kytani.'
Peter rolled the message up and stuck into his belt. "So I guess that means we've got guests coming."
Susan jumped out of her chair and started to make preparations. "Go tell the cook to prepare for guests coming," she told a faun. "You," she pointed at a female dwarf, "Go prepare outfits for our official greetings." Susan ran off, instructions flying out of her mouth.
Lucy laughed, "She going exhaust herself." She went after Susan
Peter sighed and looked at Edmund, "How on earth do they think they were cheated? We looked over it dozens of times with them and they agreed to it!"
"I don't know," said Edmund. "But we'll find out when The Queen gets here."
Lucy was right; Susan did exhaust herself with all the preparations. But everything was ready and two days later, Edmund found himself again in a dress tunic. This time, he wasn't dreading the occasion. He was on the top of the gatehouse, and had been there since morning, awaiting for sight of the Kytani traveling party. His patience was rewarded when he saw dust coming up from the road. Hurrying down the stairs from the top, he went to inform his siblings.
A while later, all the Pevensies were waiting in the castle yard. Edmund heard the clatter of wheels on the cobble stone and saw a carriage. It stopped and the driver jumped down and moved quickly to open the door.
It was then when Edmund realized who also would be coming with the queen.
Lord Rowtag stepped out of the carriage. Edmund could feel his temper starting to rise. Quickly getting it under control, he focused on who was getting out of the carriage after Rowtag. Rowtag was assisting them out of the carriage. It was a woman with long dark hair and a dark man. Edmund instantly recognized the man as Sir Adam, but the woman he did not know. She wore a gold traveling dress and a cloak. On her head she wore a circlet like Silvia's but it was gold. A queen's circlet. Exiting the carriage, she stood up straight and approached the Pevensies. "Your majesties," she said curtseying, Rowtag behind her bowing. "I am Queen Gwendolyn. I thank you for for allowing us to come on such short notice."
The kings and queens of Narnia bowed to the queen of Kytani. "Anything," said Peter, "to solve this conflict." He motioned to the door and went into the castle. Except for Edmund and Rowtag. The two men were staring each other down. "King Edmund," said Rowtag, mock bowing. "A pleasure to see you again." Edmund could hear the sarcasm dripping off his voice.
Edmund didn't say anything, he just left. He didn't want to give Rowtag an oppurtunity to bring back more memoires. Ever since the ball, they had been threatening to come back. Not again. He turned and followed after his siblings and Queen Gwendolyn, leaving Rowtag outside.
"The whole thing is really simple," said Queen Gwendolyn. The Pevensies had brought her into the council room. "We had agreed to Kytani receiving that land that was originally ours plus whatever land we had control of during the war, providing that it wasn't any land previously controlled by Narnia or some other country."
"Yes," said Peter. "Which meant you received Kytani and half of the Tabjin lands."
"There's the problem," said Queen Gwendolyn. "We never received loyalty from the Tabjin nobles or any documents stating our possesion. When my advisers and I looked over the treaty, the Tabjin lands was not included in the treaty."
Edmund was surprised. "But," he said, "Peter read it over millions of time with your representatives and they didn't object to anything!"
The queen looked at him. She turned her head back to the rest of the Pevensies. "My representatives may have not objected to the conditions then, but I am now. I would like to know why we are not in control of the land promised to us. Explain yourselves."
"You're not saying we lied to you, are you?" Edmund said hotly. "We wouldn't do something like that!"
"Edmund," Susan said warningly.
"Not at all, your highness," Queen Gwendolyn said, she looked frustrated with Edmund. "I simply would like to know just what happened to our land."
Peter broke in, "I'm sure there is a reasonable answer to this dilemma, your majesty. But I'm sure that you would like to rest from your trip from Kytani. Perhaps you adjourn to you quarters before dinner?"
"I would appreciate your highness, thank you," Queen Gwendolyn replied.
"I'll show you to your rooms," offered Lucy. She stood up from her chair and waited by the door for Queen Gwendolyn.
The queen went to follow Lucy, but then she turned back to look at the remaining Pevensies. "I must let you know that my ladies and other members of my guard should be arriving shortly. They will be able to take care of themselves if you did not prepare for them."
"That won't be necessary," said Susan. "We have plenty of room."
"Thank you," Queen Gwendolyn curtseyed and left the room following Lucy.
Once the door closed behind Lucy and Queen Gwendolyn, Edmund hit his fist against the table.
"Edmund," said Peter. "How on earth could you have talked to her like that?"
"You heard her," replied Edmund. "She was practically accusing us of lying!"
"We heard her Edmund," said Susan quietly. "But you still shouldn't have spoken like that."
"She's wrong. We didn't leave that part out."
"How do you know?" Peter asked. "You weren't even there! You were lying in the infirmary, half-dead!"
"Let's please not go there," pleaded Susan. "I don't want to think about it."
"Fine, but the point is Ed, you weren't even there to know. Something could have been left out."
Silence fell over the trio as they thought about their dilemma. "Maybe," said Susan. "Lord Rowtag would know something about it. He was there."
Edmund felt the dislike for the man threatening to overtake him again. Swallowing it back, he said "Lord Rowtag was there?"
"Yes, he was the head of the ambassadors." Peter said. "The Queen wasn't there. Apparently an attempt on her life had been made recently, she didn't want to take the risk journeying here."
"Who was acting in her stead?" Edmund asked.
"That was Rowtag's job. Lady Silvia was there though, acting as relations diplomat."
"Ah. Do you think he could know something?"
"He might. But we'll worry about that tomorrow."
Edmund tried to avoid Rowtag during and after dinner. He did not want to look at his face. He was sure Rowtag would bring up some painful memories for him. He did not want that. He just wandered through the halls. He did see many people though. He saw servants, lords and ladies from Kytani, and did see Rowtag, but Edmund managed avoid him.
Edmund eventually found himself in doors of the library, one of his least favorite places of the whole castle (except for the cells in the dungeon, but that's another story). He hated it because of the huge tapestries that hung on the walls. Most of them depicted the Battle of Beruna and they were very accurate. They showed Narnians either fighting, as stone or dead. The worst on of all was the one that showed Peter fighting the White Witch. In the background was Edmund lying on the ground wounded, shards of the Jadis' scepter on the ground around him. Edmund had asked Peter if they could take down that tapestry constantly before he gave up and just avoided the library at all times. Standing tall, Edmund went against what his gut was saying and opened the door and walked through.
There were torches on the wall that lit up the whole room. Unfortunately for Edmund, this made it easier for him to see the tapestries. Edmund walked through aisles of shelves, all holding books that covered many different topics. Edmund was surprised that he hadn't run out of the room yet. He walked for a while. But then the tapestries got to him.
Edmund, they seemed to whisper. Why are you here, traitor? Why are you king?
Edmund shuddered at the memories that were coming like a hurricane at him. Sweat was starting to drench him and his head started to hurt. Why Edmund? The tapestries whispered constantly. Why did you do it? Edmund pulled a book off the shelf, hoping it would distract him. The tapestries still seemed to whisper. Why? How could you? TRAITOR! The tapestries seemed to be chanting these words over and over as if they were a drum.
Edmund. There seemed to be a new voice along with chanting of the tapestries. Edmund dropped the book. Edmund, don't listen to them, you were right from the beginning. This voice was cold, manipulative, and deadly. Jadis. Why did he hear her? Why?
Edmund, your siblings don't care about you. I do. Memories began rushing to Edmund's head even faster. His hands flew up to his head. He could see it clearly in his mind: Mr. Tumnus, the fox. All the stone creatures. Talking with Aslan. Hearing that Aslan was dead. Destroying the witch's power then almost getting killed. It was as if it just happened yesterday.
Edmund, don't fight me. You know I'll win. Why was she in his head? She was dead!
"No," Edmund said quitely. His head was hurting so badly now that tears were coming from his eyes. "Get out of my mind!"
Why on earth would I want to do that?
"GET OUT!" Edmund said loudly.
Be reasonable, my dearest Edmund.
"NO! GET OUT OF MY MIND!" Edmund roared. He slid down with his back against the bookshelf. He put his head on his knees, hands still on his head. Tears poured down his face from a mixture of pain, frustration, and shame. "This is my mind and I control what's in it," he whispered.
Edmund heard quick footsteps. "Ed?" Edmund looked up, much to his head's protests and saw Lucy and Queen Gwendolyn standing at the end of the bookshelf. "Hey, Lu," he said weakly, wiping his face off with his hands.
"What happened? We heard you scream," Lucy asked. She kneeled by Edmund, a hand on his shoulder. "You look horrible," she said when she saw his pale face.
"I just hate this place that's all."
Lucy understood what he meant instantly. She hugged Edmund. "You should probably go to your room. I know I've already said this, but you look dreadful."
"Yeah, maybe I should." He went to stand up but his legs refused to hold him. Lucy grabbed him and lowered him back to the ground. "I can't carry you, Ed. I'll go get Peter to help you," she said. Turning to Queen Gwendolyn she said, "could you please stay here with him?"
"Of course," Queen Gwendolyn replied.
"Thank you! I'll be back in a moment, Ed." Lucy ran off to go get Peter.
Edmund closed his eyes, hoping it would relieve the pounding of his head. The memories were trying to get back into his head, but he fought hard.
"You highness," Queen Gwendolyn said, curiosity in her voice. "What happened?
"I just hate this place," Edmund said again.
Queen Gwendolyn dropped down to the floor besides him. IF Edmund weren't so tired and weak, he would've laughed at the sight of Queen Gwendolyn sitting on the floor. "I heard that," she said. "I mean, why do you hate this library."
Edmund looked at her, debating with himself whether he should tell her or not. He glanced at the tapestries, then turned his eyes away, not wanting to look any longer. "See those tapestries?" He said.
Queen Gwendolyn looked at them. "Yes, I saw them. They're marvelous!"
"I hear them whisper sometimes."
"What do they whisper?" Queen Gwendolyn said doubtfully.
"They whisper of things that I have enough trouble keeping out of my head. They whisper about her."
"Of who?"
Edmund didn't say at first, but he managed to say it weakly, "Jadis, the White Witch."
Queen Gwendolyn gasped in horror. Edmund looked at her face. That expression looked strangely familiar, who else made that expression?
"I'm so sorry," Queen Gwendolyn said softly."Lady Silvia had mentioned how it seemed painful it was for you to speak of her." She put her hand on his shoulder, "I'm so sorry." She repeated.
Edmund would of replied, but then Lucy came back with Peter and Susan. Queen Gwendolyn quickly took her hand off of his shoulder.
"You alright, Ed?" Peter asked, worry all over his face, as he helped Edmund up and supported him by the shoulders.
Edmund didn't reply at first, the furious pounding of his head had returned, this time with reinforcements. "Yeah," he replied, his eyes shut tight.
Peter looked at Susan and she rolled her eyes at her brother's reply. It was obvious he wasn't okay. "Whatever. Let's get you to you room," said Peter.
They walked, slowly for Edmund's sake, out of the library. Lucy closed the doors behind them and followed after her siblings. Queen Gwendolyn stood there for a moment, staring at the doors. A tear ran down her face. Quickly wiping it away, she went to see whether her ladies had arrived or not.
A.N.~ Chapter Two! Hoped you liked it. Read and review! Read and review!!!