So this chapter was way longer than I intended, but meh. Enjoy!
Chapter Three
The Castle
"Lady Emma, it's time to wake up. Please, my lady, you must wake for breakfast."
Emma was woken by a soft female voice. She blinked and got her bearings; she was in her chambers. In a castle. In a magical land called Narnia. That was still hard to believe. She looked at the girl who'd woken her and said the first logical thought that came into her head, "Hello."
The girl curtsied. "Good morning, Lady Emma. My name is Charlotte. His Majesty, King Edmund, has assigned me to be your personal maidservant."
Charlotte looked around Emma's age – in her late teens – with long, straight, auburn hair, bright green eyes and pale skin. She was very pretty, but the only thing Emma could say to being assigned a maid was "Oh." I feel like I've been saying that a lot here, she thought.
"I may be young, but I am one of the senior maids in the castle, Lady Emma," Charlotte went on, "King Edmund thought that someone with experience would help ease your transition into living in Narnia. If it would please you, my lady, I can help you bathe, get dressed and take you down to the dining hall so that you may have breakfast with their Majesties?"
That was a nice thought of Edmund's, Emma thought. This is still hard to get my head around though. I have a maid! Do I even need a maid? I can handle myself. But I don't know what things are like here …
"I am quite used to looking after myself," Emma said, voicing her previous thought. "Where I come from, we have no such thing as servants. But I am definitely out of my comfort zone here. I am glad I have someone to help me. Thank you."
Charlotte smiled and walked to the wardrobe that was positioned against one of the walls and took out a purple dress. "Queen Susan had me take some of her old dresses for you to wear. You are around her size. She says not to feel bad about her giving you her clothes. She wishes you to be comfortable here. Her Majesty also said to tell you she has already booked an appointment with the court seamstresses so they may be able to take your measurements and create some of your own dresses."
"She's done all that already? What time is it?"
"It is just after the eight hour, my lady. Breakfast is at nine. And that is just what our Queen Susan is like – caring and organized." Charlotte put the dress back in the wardrobe, "But I assume you would like a bath before breakfast?"
Emma nodded. "Yes please!"
This request found Emma in a nice, hot bath some minutes later. There was a bathroom off from her chambers for her private use. Seeing it made Emma cringe slightly. It was a lavish bath, but the absence of a toilet and running water would be missed. Still, the bath was nice and relaxing. Charlotte had left to give her some privacy, but told Emma she would be waiting just outside in Emma's bedchamber and to call when she was ready.
Once she'd finished and dried off, Charlotte came to help Emma dress in the lavish and overly-complicated-to-put- on purple dress Charlotte had shown her earlier. Her maid then brushed and style Emma's hair, and when she finished Emma could only stare at her reflection in shock.
"I look like a princess!"
Charlotte smiled, "You are beautiful, my lady."
Emma returned the smile, "Thank you, Charlotte. But you don't need to call me 'my lady' or 'Lady Emma' all the time."
Charlotte shook her head, "It is a mark of respect, my lady." She said earnestly, "It is only right that I call you as such."
Emma frowned in thought, knowing that Charlotte wouldn't budge in this matter. "What about a compromise?" She suggested. "In public you can refer to me as 'Lady Emma' or 'my lady', but here in my chambers or in private you can simply call me 'Emma'".
Charlotte grinned, "Of course … Emma."
The maid gestured to the door, "Now that you are ready, my la – Emma," she correct herself, "I can take you to the Dining Hall?"
Emma stood, "Of course." She crossed to the door, Charlotte following behind her. She opened it and was surprised to find Edmund right outside, his hand raised in a fist and about to knock. Emma bit back the yelp of shock that formed in her throat and composed herself enough to greet him. "Good morning, You Majesty."
The look of surprise that was also on the King's face changed into a smile and he lowered his hand. "Good morning, Lady Emma. I apologise for startling you. Though, I do believe I told you to merely call me Edmund."
"I couldn't, it is a mark of respect," Emma replied, well aware that she was quoting what her maid had said to her only a minute before and that Charlotte was trying to hide a smile behind her hand at their conversation. "It is only right that I call you as such."
"Humour me," Edmund said. "However, I came to escort you to breakfast. Not that I don't believe you could have got her there in one piece, Miss Charlotte, but that I wanted to see how the Lady Emma was settling in."
"Of course, your Majesty," Charlotte said, bowing her head in respect and still trying to hide a smile. This was not lost on Edmund and he nodded in approval. He liked the servants to have character and senses of humour. Charlotte was renown amongst the castles staff and residents as being both respectful and humorous. Not to mention kind. It was one of the main reasons he had chosen her to be Emma's maid.
The King gestured for them to walk and Emma fell into step beside him, Charlotte walking behind. There was a period of comfortable silence as Emma took in the castle as they walked. "This place – this castle – it's beautiful."
Edmund suddenly looked nostalgic, "You should have seen Cair Paravel. Our original castle when we first came here. It was by the ocean and the waves would sing you to sleep at night; you could even see the mermaids swimming in the water some days. The Castle of the Four Thrones. It was our home, and it was beautiful."
There was a great sadness is the King's voice. Emma stopped walking, grabbing Edmund's arm to get him to stop and look at her. "What happened?" she asked.
"Cair Paravel was attacked when Narnia was invaded. Our old home was destroyed."
"I'm sorry," she said.
"Thank you. But it's alright – we still have our kingdom. That is all that matters." They continued on their way to the dining hall. "Though, I am curious, how are you taking all this? Narnia … it is a big change from Earth."
"I still feel as though I'm in a dream," Emma said, "This is like my fantasy novels come to life. It's a lot to take in. But it's so exciting! And you've all made me feel very welcome."
Edmund smiled, "I am glad."
They finally reached the dining room – a vast hall with a long and beautifully carved wooden table positioned in the middle of the room, which was covered in a wide array of food. Emma stopped to take it all in, a look of wonder on her face. The other Kings and Queens were already seated at the table and looked over when she and Edmund entered. They all broke out in smiles and greeted them as Edmund and Emma took their places at the table. Charlotte stood at a respectable distance, waiting and watching for if her mistress needed anything. Emma had said that where she came from they did not have maids, so she doubted Emma needed help choosing what food she'd like to eat for breakfast or refilling her glass.
"Good morning, Your Majesties," Emma said from her position next to Lucy and Edmund.
"You need not use titles with us, Emma," Susan said kindly.
"That's what I've been trying to tell her," Edmund said.
"But it is respectful!" Emma insisted.
"When we are on our own we care not for titles," Peter said. "We are all family here."
"And we want you to be a part of our family too," said Lucy, giving Emma a wide smile.
Emma smiled back at them all, "Thank you."
"Though, Emma," Caspian spoke up, "I would love to hear of your world. I have heard from the Pevensies here, but what of where you're from? What is it like?"
"Yes!" Lucy said excitedly, "What year is it?"
"Oh, well … I'm Australian and it's the year 2014."
"WHAT?!"
Emma then spent the remainder of breakfast explaining to the others what her home and the future was like. She told them history, advances in technology, medicine – everything she could think of. The Kings and Queens hung on to her every word. Eventually though, it was time for them to disperse and go about their duties for the day. Not knowing what she'd be doing, Emma nervously asked, "Uhh, what can I do today?"
Edmund smiled at her, "I'll be giving you a tour of the castle, of course!"
"Oh, awesome!"
Edmund frowned at that, and Emma wondered about the differences in slang between her and the others. Edmund, however, didn't comment on it. Clearly taking it and Emma's enthusiasm as a good thing.
The Royals all dispersed, with promises to rejoin for lunch and Edmund led Emma through a large doorway different from the one they had entered the dining hall from. Charlotte trailed respectfully behind them as Edmund showed Emma around, walked at a leisurely pace. Emma was thankful for this, because she was certain if she tried to hurry in the overly complex dress she was wearing, she would definitely trip.
The king led her all around the vast Telmarine castle and was quite the tour guide. He would give random facts about whichever room they passed, all the while explaining pieces of Narnian history. Emma reveled in this. She loved studying history, and wanted to know more about the magical land she had found herself in.
As she walked Emma found that Edmund was charming and she was delighted to find the king had a quick and witty sense of humor. She could also tell he was well loved by his subjects. He greeted every servant and subject they came across by name and with a smile. Emma could see the Narnian's love for the Just King in their eyes as they greeted Edmund back with a smile, a respectful nod of the head and a murmured, "Your Majesty."
Emma was also struck by how busy everyone around the castle seemed to be. Animals, fauns, dryads, dwarves and humans alike were rushing around the palace. Some were carrying large arrangements of flowers, some carried stacks of paper and a harried expression; everything was all remarkably hectic.
"… Is it normally this busy around here?" She asked, as Edmund finished explaining a tapestry of a faun with an umbrella – "Mr. Tumnus," Edmund had said, "Lucy's first friend in Narnia. Tumnor, who you met last night, is a direct descendent of our beloved Mr. Tumnus." – Emma glanced around once more as a badger rushed passed them, bowing their head respectfully at Edmund as he did.
Edmund shook his head with a smile and laughed, "No. No, it's not normally like this. It's because of Su and Caspian's wedding. Su loves hosting balls – she's got quite the talent for it – so she's going all out for her own wedding ball."
Emma felt a thrill of excitement at Edmund's words. She loved weddings! There was one slight drawback: "… A ball?" Emma asked nervously, "As in dancing? As in ballroom dancing? As in waltzes?"
The smile that graced Edmund's features at Emma's excitement morphed into a concerned frown, "Yes, is that alright?"
Emma wrung her hands in nervousness, "I can't dance. Especially not in a dress like this. I'll look like a total dick!"
Edmund blanched at her language and Emma felt her face blush. "… Uh, sorry… Language in 2014 is a lot looser than what you're used to, I suppose." Emma noticed Charlotte trying to stifle a laugh from behind them.
The king, Emma also noticed, also had a faint taint to his cheeks. "… It is fine, Lady Emma. Just a little unexpected."
Emma scoffed, "I think I just proved that I am not a lady, Your Majesty."
Her cheeks continued to burn as Edmund relaxed and gave her a smile, "You are one of Aslan's Chosen. That gives you the rank of nobility. But if you are so concerned about dancing, I am sure I can arrange for some lessons for you before the ball."
"Thank you, Your Majesty. I would appreciate that."
"Edmund."
"Sorry?"
"You can just call me Edmund, or Ed. As I believe I have already told you, Lady Emma."
"So I can call you Edmund, but I am 'Lady Emma?' That hardly seems fair."
The King lent in comparatively, a cheeky grin on his face, "It is a mark of respect." He said, repeating hers and unknowingly, Charlotte's, words from earlier, "It is only right I call you as such."
Emma laughed, "See? It's respectful, Your Majesty."
Edmund chuckled, "I'll break you of that habit yet," he promised. "But come on, I have one more place I'd like to show you. If you'd follow me, Lady Emma." He gestured overdramatically down the hall, and joining in with his laughter, Emma fell into step beside him as he led her further around the castle.
"… This … This is just … whoa," Emma said in awe, looking around the vast room.
'This' happened to be the castle's vast library. Emma had never seen so many books in one place. The ceiling was so high above her parts of it still seemed in shadow, but the entire room was lit by huge chandeliers and candles were placed all around the library. There were rows and rows of bookshelves and the walls themselves were made up of shelves crammed with books. A fireplace was surrounded by the most comfortable looking lounges Emma had ever seen, and she could just picture herself curling up in one of them and spending hours and hours reading.
Edmund was beaming, "I take it from the delighted look on your face that I wasn't wrong in my assumption that you are a book lover?"
Emma tore her gaze away from the incredible room to smile at the king, "This is amazing. I love reading! I've always wanted my own library – but, you know, no one really has their own library back home – this – this is just incredible!"
Edmund nodded, "I love reading as well. I am the Just King. I believe to be just, you need all the facts, you need to be educated to have the full idea of what you're dealing with. Because of that, I am always reading, always studying. You can often find me in here with my head buried in a book. You're welcome to come in here at any time. I thought that if you wanted to learn more about Narnia, here would be where you'd find your answers."
Emma nodded excitedly, "Oh, I will totally be spending hours in here! It's like I've died and gone to heaven!"
The king looked pleased, "I am glad you like it. But unfortunately, Lady Emma, I must part ways with you. I am due for training with the knights."
This piqued Emma's excitement, "Ooh, training?! Can I come watch?!"
Edmund looked surprised, "You're interested in sword fighting?"
"Are you kidding? I've always wanted to see a real life sword fight!"
"Well then," he said, offering her his arm, "Let's go show you your first sword fight."
Nearly bouncing with enthusiasm, Emma took the king's arm and was led away from the library. A real life sword fight! She thought as she went, this is gonna be awesome!
Emma was met with distinctive sound of steel clashing on steel as she as Edmund arrived at the training grounds. The green fields that surrounded the castle were covered in knights and soldiers practicing their craft. Centaurs fought centaurs, a cheetah and a tiger were circling themselves looking for a chance to attack, over at the archery range dwarves were shooting arrow after arrow at the targets. Emma drank it all in. it was like a fantasy novel come to life and she loved it. "This is incredible," she murmured as she took it all in.
Edmund excused himself and left to go put on armour as Emma and Charlotte found a nice place to sit and watch. They sat under the shade of a tree right outside of the sparring area.
"Forgive me if I offend, my lady, but you do not seem the type who likes sword fights," Charlotte spoke up.
Emma turned to her, her excitement evident in her expression. "You didn't offend me at all. I'm so pumped to see an actual sword fight! Most of my favourite movies have awesome fight scenes, so it's awesome to be actually seeing one in real life!"
There was a pause before Charlotte broke it with a confused question, "What's a movie?"
Emma blinked in surprise. She hadn't even realized that there were some in Narnia that wouldn't know what something as mundane and everyday as a film. "… Oh. It's uhh … like moving pictures. Like a play … but on a screen!"
Charlotte wore a dumbfounded and awed expression before breaking out in a chuckle, "By the Lion, my lady, your world seems so strange!"
By the Lion, Emma thought, catching on to the unfamiliar saying. I'm assuming that's the Narnian version of 'Oh my god'? Emma pushed the fleeting thought away and replied, "Yes, I suppose it would seem like that. I keep forgetting there are some things that are so common to me wouldn't be known here, or that the language and society is so much different. Like this morning when I called myself a dick in front of Edmund! Oh god, his reaction!" She put her head in her hands in embarrassment, groaning.
Her maid burst out in giggles, "Oh, Lady Emma! That was too funny! Yours and His Majesty's reactions!"
"I think what happened this morning proves I am not a lady. I swear like a sailor, I burp, I fart, I pick my nose – I'm actually really disgusting and not at all ladylike."
"Ladylike or no, you are one of Aslan's Chosen. Like the Kings and Queens, Aslan saw you worthy enough to grant you passage to Narnia. Being one of his Chosen gives you rank and nobility here, even if you think you don't deserve it."
Emma nodded in thought before replying, "I am trying to be noble and courteous, but it is not what I am used to."
"You are taking all this in your stride, Emma. You are doing wonderfully."
Emma grinned at her maid, "You called me Emma."
Charlotte returned the smile, "Why yes, so I did." She then caught sight of something over Emma's shoulder. "Look, here come their Majesties!"
Emma turned to see Edmund and Peter walking out into the middle of the sparring area. Both were covered in armour, with red shirts that proudly sported the gold lion of Narnia. "You are in for a treat, my lady!" Charlotte said excitedly. "Fights between King Edmund and the High King are legendary."
"Who normally wins?"
"The fights are very even. Both are skilled swordsmen, but it is King Edmund who is normally victorious."
Emma made a 'well-what-do-you-know' type sound and stood up, Charlotte following her lead immediately. "I want to be closer and have a good view. It is lovely here in the shade, but I have never seen a sword fight in person. I want to be up close!"
"Hopefully not too close, my lady," Charlotte joked, and led her to the stands surrounding the sparring area. "This area is reserved for nobility during tournaments," the maid explained, "Is the view better from here?"
Emma beamed at her, "Definitely!"
Edmund saw them sitting in anticipation and jogged over to them. "Are you excited to see your first sword fight?"
"You bet I am!"
He laughed at her enthusiasm. "Well then, my lady, I hope it shall not disappoint you."
"Are you ready, Ed?" Peter called from the center of the sparring area.
Edmund glanced at his brother before turning back to Emma. "If you'll excuse me, Lady Emma, I have a fight to win."
"Be careful!" She called out after him as he walked to face his brother.
"I hope you won't be too upset with me when I beat him, Lady Emma!" Peter called out teasingly.
She grinned, automatically leaping to Edmund's defence. "I'll believe that when I see it, Your Majesty!"
Both Pevensie's laughed and focused on each other. Emma could see them getting in the zone for a fight. As she watched, she became aware of Charlotte studying her with a contemplative look on her face.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing, my lady."
"Come on, what's with the face?"
"What face?"
"That face. You are looking very … thoughtful."
"Really, it is nothing!"
"Please tell me? You can't just do that and not tell me."
"When it becomes something, my lady, I will tell you."
Emma sighed in defeat, "Fine. But I will remember this. You will tell me eventually?"
Charlotte smiled, "Yes Emma, I will tell you eventually."
Satisfied, Emma turned her focus back to the two kings, excited for her first ever live sword fight. She noticed that she and Charlotte were not the only ones to stop and watch the match. Many of the soldiers had stopped and crowded around the sparring arena. Emma laughed as she saw some of them taking bets on who would win.
Peter and Edmund drew theirs swords and Emma held her breath in anticipation. With a loud clash of steel, the fight began. This has nothing on the movies, Emma thought as she watched the brothers dodge and slice at each other. The knights all cheered, and the air was filled with grunts of effort from the two kings along with the continuous sound of their blades meeting each other. Charlotte was right; they were both well evenly matched.
"I see Pete and Ed are at it again," said a new voice.
Emma tore her eyes away from the sight to see Queen Lucy standing beside her. "Your Majesty!" Emma and Charlotte both said in greeting, dipping their heads in respect.
"Please, it's just Lucy. That's goes for both of you," she said with a pointed look at Charlotte. But Emma knew that there was no way the Queen was going to stop Charlotte from calling her by her respective title.
"Did you need anything, Your Ma – Lucy?" Emma asked.
The Queen gave her a sheepish smile before turning to watch the match between her brothers, "To be honest, I'm running away from Su. There's only so much wedding planning my brain can handle before it wants to explode, so I thought I'd come and see how your tour of the castle was going."
Emma smiled, "Edmund is quite the tour guide."
Lucy laughed, "Some tour guide, he left you to go beat holes into Peter."
"No, he seriously was a great guide. It was lovely; you have an amazing castle. But as soon as he said he had training with his knights, I was determined to come with him. I'd never seen a real live sword fight. Though apparently training with the knights has turned into what you described as 'beat holes into Peter'."
Just as she said those words, Edmund disarmed Peter and had his sword poised at the High King's throat. "Do you yield?" He asked his older brother.
"I yield," replied the king.
Emma, Charlotte, Lucy and the rest of the spectators all cheered. Emma noticed some of them were groaning and searching their pockets for money at having lost their bet and laughed. The smile didn't leave her face as a sweaty yet exuberant Edmund walked over to them. "Well, fair lady, Emma? How did you enjoy watching your first sword fight?"
Emma couldn't help the blush that bloomed on her cheeks at being called 'fair lady', but she ignored it and replied enthusiastically, "That was INCREDIBLE!" Lucy nodded in agreement.
"I'll say," Peter said, walking over and wiping his face with a towel. "You're even better than the last time we fought, Ed."
The Just King smiled at their praise, "Thank you," he said humbly.
"I wish I could do that!" Emma said. All the movies she'd watched and books she read that involved sword fighting had invoked a want to learn the art in her.
Edmund and Peter studied Emma contemplatively before turning to face each other, a silent conversation happening between them. "Aslan did say for you to train," Peter said at last.
"If you are willing, I would be more than happy to teach you," Edmund offered.
"Ohh, yes please!" said Emma excitedly.
"Then it's settled," the High King said and Emma smiled widely at the prospect of wielding a sword.
Rest. Train. The Great Lion had said. Befriend the Kings and Queens, you will need each other as allies. Aslan believed she was needed here. That she could make a difference in whatever darkness that was to come. And with the budding friendships she had made over the last twenty-four hours, she was determined that she would succeed.
She would not let her new friends down.
