We will hopefully be getting places, now. I think this chapter is really good.
So, to answer a question: Narnia and Calormen are separated by Archland and Desert. How does that work with what happened to Edmund?
The answer is really quite simple: It was not the Narnia/Calormen border; there isn't one. Explanation? Well, you guys know how the U.S. sends out naval ships around the world to demonstrate power? That's kinda what I was trying to imply.
Is this just an answer to make up for a mistake? I will admit that I don't know a lot about Narnian geography, but this is not why I'm giving you this answer. It was part of my plan from the beginning to give that link to our world.
Proof? Evidence that I wasn't planning on it being in Narnia is this: Why would a military demonstrate power in their own country? It doesn't make sense. The logical thing to do is to go around to other countries and give a show of power. I hope that answers all your questions.
Also, if you look closely at some of my chapters, you might get clues to future developments in the story.
Lucy walked through the beautiful wooded greenery that surrounded her. She stared in awe at the way the flower pedals danced around her - no matter how many times she'd seen it happen, it never ceased to amaze her how beautiful it could be. The winds sang the song that they so often sang before. The trees rejoiced in the majesty of this natural kingdom. The creek harmonized with her surroundings as she trickled over the smooth stones beneath her. Such divine beauty could only be found in Narnia.
Lucy barely noticed when the sun faded and the moon took her place. She was adamant on her destination. It only took a few more moments to find what she was looking for.
The Valiant Queen stood at the top of the hill, overlooking the surrounding hills and the mountains in the distance. The stars sparkled so brightly above that Lucy could have sworn she was looking through a telescope pointed at the night sky. The constellations danced in a heavenly manner that only they knew how. The mighty mountains were mere silhouettes against the even mightier skies. Lucy breathed in all the beauty as she found a seat on the large mossy rock she knew so well.
"Enjoying the view?"
Lucy snapped her head to the right - the direction she heard the voice come from, "Edmund." Was all she could get out.
Edmund smiled and gestured to the rock, "May I?"
Lucy snapped out of her daze with a shake of her head, "Yes, of course."
Edmund sat down beside her and looked out over the vast terrain, "It's beautiful, is it not?"
"It is." Lucy smiled, looking back out to the glorious view, "Remember when we used to sit here together?"
Her brother chuckled softly, "Of course I do, Lu. How could I forget?"
Lucy shook her head, "It's been so long since we were last here."
No amount of time can drown out the memory of something so dear to you."
"And those memories are some of my most dear. You used to wake me at night, practically dragging me out the door. I was always dreadfully tired and half miserable during the climb, but it was all worth it once we reached the top." Lucy smiled, but seeing sorrow in Edmund's return smile was caused hers to drop. There was a small moment of silence before Lucy spoke again, "This is a dream, isn't it?"
Lucy heard her brother sigh and lower his head, but he didn't face her the way she faced him, "I'm afraid it is."
"Then, you're not really here." Lucy was broken. She should've known it was too good to be true. Her brother was gone.
This time, Edmund turned to face her, "I'm sorry, Lu, I wish it didn't have to be like this."
"How could Aslan do this to us?" Tears entered Lucy's vision, and she nudged closer to Edmund, clutching onto his arm. She closed her eyes as Edmund wrapped his arms around her, and rubbed her nose on his tunic, breathing in his scent. Only, it wasn't his scent.
Lucy's fingers that were intertwined in Edmund's tunic began to suddenly feel a change. The arms around her disappeared. The tunic transformed from a thick wool into a soft furry feeling substance. Lucy opened her eyes, "Aslan."
Hello, Little One." The large lion's kind eyes looked down upon her in a pitying manner.
"Are you real?" Lucy asked with a spark of hope.
"I'm am as real as your dreams are."
Lucy looked away in disappointment, "Then you're not real."
"I never said that, Dear One. Your dreams are as real as you make them; what happens in them are real to you
"Then, it is you." Lucy smiled. She pulled herself closer to the massive lion and rested her head against his soft mane, "Aslan, how could you let this happen to us?"
"It is as you said, Lucy."
"What did I say?"
"About Edmund waking you and bringing you up here."
Lucy sniffled, "What does that have to do with anything?"
Aslan pulled away from Lucy and looked her in the eyes, "You were perfectly happy while you slept; everything was fine for you. Then Edmund would come and wake you from your dreams to take you on a journey."
"Yes, It was always so exhausting and I was so tired."
"But once you reached the top - once the pain was over - you were able to look out over this beauty, and see what all of this was for." Aslan explained.
Lucy downcast her eyes, "I would go through it all again if just to see this sight. It was so worth it."
"And so will this be too."
She looked back up into the eyes of the Great Lion, "But how can I know?"
Aslan gave that smile that only he could give - the one that could turn a heart of stone to one of gold, "You must trust me the way you trusted Edmund."
Lucy nodded, "I think I can do that."
"My dear Lucy, I know you can."
PSELPSELPSELPSELPSELPSELPSELPSELPSELPSEL
"I am so pleased to be able to serve you here today. I hope that this time will be better than the last." King Judas looked at Peter, expectantly.
"This dinner can go however you want it to. Choose your actions wisely, and we may not have another 'misunderstanding'." Peter rested back in his seat.
"Uh, yes, I suppose that is fair." Judas gave a strained half smile.
"Is there some reason you wanted to so graciously offer me dinner?" Peter inquired.
"Can't a king just be hospitable to his ally?"
"I never took you as the hospitable type." Peter cocked an expectant eyebrow at the other man across from him.
"Well, I saw a friend in need and decided to try and help."
Peter shook his head, "You've never been so eager to help before. Forgive me if I'm a little wary."
"I think you would be wise to accept my help. You never know what the consequences might be when you turn away help that is knocking at your door."
Before Peter knew it, his wit was stepping in, "I've met help before, and he looks nothing like you."
Judas gave out a laugh that was clearly faked. Peter had to stop himself from cringing at the poor attempt, "I see your sense of humor is still intact."
"I suppose that is lucky for all of us; especially you."
"I don't mean to sound disrespectful, but I think you fail to realize that I've done nothing wrong since entering your kingdom." Judas tried to set up his defense, but Peter already had his attack strategy set.
"No, I think it is you who fail to realize that it is not okay to demonstrate violence in my home. I don't care if the lad is a slave, I will not see anybody beaten within my walls." Peter was trying all he could not to shout at the insolent man, "I've been trying to be patient with you, but you're not making it easy."
"Yes, I'm surprised you are still thinking about that. It's done and passed; I've made sure that all my men know your rules, here."
"I could never forget what I watched that man - if he can even be called that - do to that poor young lad! He can't be old enough to even be considered an adult!"
Judas brushed it off just like he brushed everything else off, "He is a mere slave. He is used to it."
"But he shouldn't be used to it. Slaves are not animals; they are people, just like you."
"The way I see it is that you have to be strong to make it in this world. The weak serve the strong, and those who aren't strong enough die. I am making a world for the strong by weeding out the weak. Only the strongest will make it in Calormen, and that's how all the world should be." Judas looked proud of his statement. How could such a weasel live with himself?
"That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard!"
"Perhaps it is, perhaps it isn't. We obviously have our own opinions. I think we should just agree to disagree."
Peter knew that nothing he could say would persuade this man to change his mind, so he simply sat back in his chair, once more, and let the slaves serve him food. Peter didn't justify letting the slaves serve him, but Judas insisted; besides, if the slaves were here, then they couldn't be put to worse labor.
One of the slaves walked by with his goblet of wine and placed it before him; then Peter heard a whisper in his ear.
"Don't drink the wine." Came a quiet raspy voice.
Peter recognized the voice as the one of the slave boy - Umed, he recalled - he'd met earlier that day. Peter turned to inquire about what the lad meant, but he had already left his side and was leaving the room.
"Is something wrong?" Peter's attention was drawn back to his present company.
"Sorry... no. I just thought I heard something. I was wrong." Peter turned back to his meal, being ever so careful to not drink the wine.
