Chapter 3: Narrowhaven
The voyage, Margaret believed, should have gotten more enjoyable. However, it took a turn for the worst.
All because of Eustace.
Margaret had pointed out to Lucy that during her first time in Narnia, her time was mostly spent with her jaw dropped and trying to decide if this was all a dream or not
Eustace was spending his first days in the world of Narnia griping and complaining.
When they landed on the Long Islands, Narrowhaven to be exact, Margaret stayed onn the ship. As much as she wanted to see one of the island nations her best friend had ruled over, she much rather stay as far from Eustace as possible.
So she spent the time Caspian, Reepicheep, Lucy, Edumund, and Eustace used exploring to rest in a hammock on the deck
After a few hours of napping, Margaret was rudely interrupted by the sound of a horn being blown
"AGH!" she shrieked as she tumbled from the hammock onto the deck floor
She looked up to see Caspian boarding the ship looking half concerned about the reason he gave the signal and half amused by how he found Margaret.
"Not funny" she told him as she got up "Where are the others?"
"They have been captured and are being sold as slaves" Caspian explained "I was as well, but I was bought by Lord Berns"
"One of your father's friends?" Margaret asked recognizing the name from the list
"Yes" Caspian confirmed. "But now we must rescue the others"
"Think we can skip Eustace?" Margaret asked
Caspian just gave her a look
"Guess not" she sighed
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"MAKE WAY FOR THE KING OF NARNIA!" Drinian shouted as a parade from the Dawn Treader marched towards the Governor's castle
"MOVE IT PEOPLE!" Margaret added her own shouts
The people of Narrowhaven cheered for their king
"Open for the King of Narnia, come to visit his trusted and well-beloved servant, the governor of the Lone Islands" Caspian shouted at the castle doors
After the gates were opened, they made their way to the Governor's office
"No interviews without appointments except between nine and ten p.m. on second Saturdays" the Governor, Gumpas, said without looking up
"YOU GOOD FOR NOTHING PIG!" Margaret shouted "YOU DO NOT TALK TO YOUR KING THAT WAY!"
"Lady Margaret" Caspian said placing a hand on her shoulder to calm her though he had a sense of why she had reacted that way
Between seeing the mounds of money in the back while on the way here, she had noticed beggers and the whole slavery issue, she was not in a good mood and she wasn't the best friend of the High Queen Holly for nothing as similarities played a BIG part in their friendship.
Caspian then nodded to Bern and stepped aside. Lord Bern and Drinian then walked over to the table and flipped it across the hall and then moved Gumpas from his chair and made him face the chair as Caspian sat in it, his sword unsheathed and laid in his lap
"You have not given us quite the welcome we expected. We are the King of Narnia" Caspian explained
"There was no news about it" Gumpas said
"We have come to inquire into your Sufficiency's conduct of your office. There are two points on which I require an explanation. Firstly, I find no record that the tribute due from these Islands to the crown of Narnia has been received for about 150 years"
"That would be a question to raise at the council next month" Gumpas stated
"If I recall," Margaret said as she remembered talking to Holly after putting Caspian on the throne, "My best friend, the High Queen Holly, wife of King Peter the Magnificent told me that if the tribute is not delivered, the debt has to be paid fully out of the Governor's private purse"
"That is out of a question. It's an economic impossibility" Gumpas said looking a bit pale
"Secondly. I want to know why you have allowed the practice of slavery here, contrary to the ancient customs and usage of our dominions." Caspian added
"It was unavoidable. It's an important part of the economic development…" Gumpas explained
"You're treating Aslan's creatures as your own personal property!" Margaret interrupted
"What need have you of slaves?" Caspian asked holding out his hand at Margaret to tell her to be quiet and to wait for Gumpas' answer and not to interrupt
"Export" Gumpas answered. "We sell them mostly to Calormen and we have other markets. We're the center of the trade"
"So YOU don't need them" Margaret translated
"What purpose do they serve?" Caspian demanded
"Your Majesty's tender years hardly make it possible that you should understand the economic problem involved" Gumpas started
Margaret rolled her eyes knowing what Gumpas was doing. He was trying to use Caspian's age to get them out of his hair
"I don't see the trade bringing in food, timber, books, drinks, or anything else." Caspian said. "This trade MUST stop"
"But that would be putting the clock back!" Gumpas argued "Have you no idea of progress?"
"Where Holly and I come from, we make more progress without slavery than when slavery was legal." Margaret retorted
"I can take no responsibility for such measures." Gumpas argued
"Then we relieve you of your duties" Caspian said simply
"Never thought I'd play a part in the abolishment of slavery" Margaret said to herself as Caspian made Bern the new Governor.
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After the others were rescued, Margaret was standing on the balcony in the castle at Narrowhaven looking eastward.
"Margaret?"
Margaret turned and saw her roommate, Lucy, coming out to join her.
"I was just thinking what Reepicheep said." Margaret said. "The REAL adventure is beginning"
"Scared" Lucy asked
"Yes. And thrilled at the same time"
"Narnian visits CAN do that" Lucy said. "They can also change a person. Look at Edmund. He was quite the prat before we went to the Professor's and found the wardrobe"
"I know what you mean" Margaret said. "Before she went to Narnia, Holly…well…she had a BIT of an attitude issue. VERY smart-alick and a bit of a pain. But she had defended me against some bullies. I learned to look past her faults and I found a young girl who is loyal to her friends and will do ANYTHING for those she cares about. Then I moved away to New Mexico. When Dad was transferred back to Florida, I met back up with Holly and she had changed. She was more openly caring, generous, loving, got this interesting fondness for chipmunks, and…basically had a new respect for life in general. Almost like she had literally grown up. Since we tell each other everything, she eventually explained that she had been made a Queen and was married"
"Naturally, you didn't believe her" Lucy figured with a smirk
"I didn't know WHAT to believe" Margaret explained. "one hand, it sounded so ridiculous. On the other hand…SOMETHING happened to change my friend for the better. Then we were both sent to Narnia, met Caspian, and you know the rest"
"You know, Peter was telling me of when he first met Holly" Lucy said fondly. "When he had first heard that he had to marry her in order to LEGALLY become king and fulfill the prophesy, he wasn't thrilled. But when she saved Ed…Peter figured he could learn to love her"
"He sure did" Margaret said with a smirk as she recalled the kiss Holly and Peter shared in Aslan's How. "So…when do you think Eustace will stop being a pain in the butt?"
"Give him time" Lucy said having a bit more patience for her cousin
TBC
