The waves crash onto the shore, suddenly turning violent. It battles against the sand and screams victoriously. Green tendrils of hair lift from the water like slimy seaweed. A scaly arm grabs onto a rock.
"King Peter! King Peter!" a dwarf yells for the High King.
Looking through documents in the meeting room, the High King looks up nervously.
"Yes, Doomcutter?"
The red bearded dwarf starts pulling at his long beard and stuttering.
"My, my king! So-so-so many DEATHS! Aclepius just informed of them! Dead mermaids are littered across the ocean floors. Naiads are floating on their lakes, and almost every source of water has begun to have quite a sickly shade of green. Some of the tree animals near lakes tell of visitors dying the minute their skin touches water. Some say beautiful women commit these crimes."
Peter's face grows paler by the minute. "Doomcutter? Anything else?"
Doomcutter nods, gulping down bile. "Yes, my king. The birds say they all whisper one word: Aslan."
Falling back, Peter is caught by a chair.
"My king? My king?" Doomcutter nervously waves his hand in front of Peter's face.
"Doomcutter please leave. I need to think this over."
With Doomcutter's exit, Peter is suddenly struck by fear. Deaths? Naiads floating? Shades of green? Beautiful women?
Nothing seems to connect. Scratching his chin, Peter bites his lip. He needs to gather all the nobles and generals for an urgent meeting. Before it's too late.
"We need to scout every source of water! Investigate it! Make sure it is not infected!" General Cronius demands.
Lord Benjamin folds his hands in his lap. "I agree. Yet you heard what Doomcutter and Aclepius recalled for us. Do we want more deaths? And no information?"
Duke Bane nods. "Lord Benjamin is right. We know little of the situation and yet we are prepared to send our men into a battle where we know not of the opposing side or of the outcome? We should not risk it."
This whole time Edmund and Peter stand to the side, biting their lips. How could it come to this? Narnia is in its Golden Age. The White Witch is dead and she was the only fear for several centuries. Who else would want to hurt the famed nation?
Lord Seraph stands. "If anything, we must investigate the people of Narnia. Anyone of suspicion must be followed or kept under strict supervision. Any new arrivals must be questioned and jailed until further notice."
With those words, King Edmund slams his hand on the table. "We will do no such thing! All of our guests come with kind words and help!"
Duke Bane clears his throat. "I was on the Mariposa when it was sailing home from the Lone Islands. I do believe Ladies Ariel and Naomi appeared in the ocean with no explanation. We should start with them."
King Peter gapes at Bane's words. "If I do recall, my siblings and I too appeared in Narnia with no explanation from the world of Man. You have as much right to point fingers at the royals ruling you!"
Duke Bane stares at the king. "Yes, but you saved Narn-," but Edmund interrupts him.
"And what if they are here to save us?"
Lord Seraph clears his throat. "Lady Elizabeth and Jane are also two new arrivals. And I do believe both are beautiful women who also have poor reasons to be in this country in the first place."
King Edmund's eyes widen. "Lady Elizabeth accompanied her father who had to be here for a meeting!"
Lord Seraph doesn't acknowledge his words. "I did some research and learned that Otho de la Weise does have two daughters, yet both are dead. And there is no trace of Elizabeth de la Weise in all of Archenland, Telmar, Narnia, and Calormen. Either she is lying to the world or is going under a fake name for her safety. This brings me to the question WHY she would need a fake name."
King Peter sighs. "Thank you everyone for your opinions and thoughts but I think my brother and I must be left alone to think this through." Waiting for everyone to depart the room, Peter turns to Edmund.
Edmund's eyes meet Peter's, a fear lurking in them. "Do you think Seraph was telling the truth?"
"Why would he lie?"
Braiding flowers in a little faun girl's hair, Naomi coos at the sight.
"Becca, you look quite like the queen."
Becca blushes under tendrils of long hair. "Lady Naomi, I could never be a queen. I'm not pretty like Queen Susan or brave enough like Queen Lucy."
Tucking a strand of Becca's hair behind her ear, Naomi smiles. "If you had anymore courage you would be a lioness."
"Excuse me, but is this a bad time?" a voice calls out from behind Naomi.
Both the faun and the lady turn to see a grinning, yet somewhat exasperated High King Peter.
Becca squeals and begins to push her hair out of her face with her small, baby hands.
Peter laughs and bows. "Good afternoon ladies."
Naomi giggles and stands to curtsey. Becca quickly follows her lead.
Tucking a daisy behind Becca's ear, Naomi crouches down to be eye level with the little faun. "May I please speak with High King Peter, Lady Becca?"
She sighs but nods with a sad smile. Kissing her on the cheek, Naomi squeezes Becca's hand in farewell.
Crossing her arms over her chest, Naomi nods with pursed lips. "Peter."
"Listen. I'm sorry about before. I really am."
Naomi shrugs. "What's to apologize for?"
Walking closer to the girl, Peter towers over her. "I don't like seeing you unhappy. Why are you happy with me one second, and then ignoring me the next?"
She looks into his light blue eyes, causing him to step back. "I'm sorry. I didn't realize I was making you concerned," she answers with an expressionless tone of voice.
Peter's insides flare and he cracks. "Damn it, Naomi! I have been nothing but kind, and yet for some reason you are acting like I broke your heart! What did I do? How can we get better if you don't tell me what's wrong? I already have enough on my mind. There are unexplained deaths happening, the lords are blaming you and Ariel, and now you are ostracizing me from yourself!"
Naomi's eyes widen. "What?" she whispers.
Peter grits his teeth. "You heard me perfectly well."
Naomi shakes her head in a daze. "No, not that. The part where you said everyone is blaming ME for people dying."
The High King gulps and runs his fingers through his hair. "It's just… there are people dying and no one knows why. The birds say beautiful women kill them. The lords say the only way we can find the suspect is to jail any new arrivals, and you and Ariel are at the top of the list."
"But, but, but…," Naomi stutters and she feels her knees go weak.
Gulping, she looks back at Peter. "You don't believe them do you?" She winces at the expression.
Noticing Peter's hesitation, her shoulders slump. "You don't believe me."
Peter shakes his head, running his hand through his hair again. "No, it's not that. I just think to be safe-," but Naomi interrupts him.
"No! You think I'm a threat! You-How could you? And you just said things had to get better between us. How-how can I trust you?" she spits out.
Shaking her head, Naomi wipes her eyes. "I can't-I can't- I have to go." Standing up, she takes one last glance at the king.
"Have a good afternoon, your Majesty." Pursing her lips, Naomi runs out of the garden. The last thing Peter heard was her tears.
Sitting down on the bench Naomi had just occupied, Peter sighs. How did it come down to this? He made all the mistakes. Scratching his cheek, he feels his old scar bringing back old memories. Ha. Guess history does repeat itself.
Looking over to the side, Peter takes notice of a daisy beside him. Lifting it, he examines the petals and the way it always seemed innocent and simple, no problems or drama. And yet the daisies always seemed to find him.
Tucking the flower into his pocket, he stands, takes one last breath, and walks out of the garden.
Elizabeth showers Edmund with kisses all planted with a seed of hatred. Why did she have to do this? Why? She understands breaking Peter or hurting Lucy but why Edmund? If anything, Jade didn't need him the most. Yet she has to tear Edmund apart just like she has to tear every other Narnian apart.
As Ariel watches from the outskirts, she gulps. Why did she feel this? Why jealousy? No, it was not jealousy. Merely…Discomfort. She's dealt with plenty of Elizabeths in her time and she did not want to see her friend getting hurt. Wait, friend? That's a change.
But looking at Edmund, Ariel smiles. Yes, Edmund is quite her friend. They had plenty of fun teasing and playing with one another. Edmund is able to take away the pain she still felt everyday for Clyde. While Naomi forces him into the conversation to make Ariel move past him, Edmund knows heartbreak. He knows the pain that comes with the mention of just a name.
Elizabeth kisses Edmund goodbye, and disappears around the corner. The king shuffles in one spot but noticing Ariel by the vase of flowers, he joins her.
"Good afternoon, milady."
Ariel smirks. "I thought you only used formalities for those you find annoying or desperate. The people you don't quite much like."
Rubbing his temple, Ed sighs. "It's just… things have been very stressful this past week. You would think being a king would allow you to enjoy the luxuries of royalty." He laughs at the thought.
Licking her lips, Ariel rocks back and forth. "You know I was just thinking about us."
He smirks. "Us?"
Ariel rolls her eyes. "You know our friendship," she clarifies.
Edmund's brows lift up. "Wow. We went from rivals to friends in a matter of… 24 hours?"
"Please! We have not been acting like rivals. Although I am still waiting for you to fulfill your promise on this going past 'just getting started.'"
The king chuckles. "I'm still thinking of revenge. Don't worry. It's coming."
"Ooo. Can't wait." Ariel laughs and throws her head back.
"I have to go. I feel like I need to catch up with your sisters. Have a good afternoon, Sweet Cheeks." She laughs, walking away.
Edmund shakes his head. That girl is something special. Quite unlike the other ladies in the court. Of course it could also be the fact she came from the 21st century on Earth, and from the way Ariel has all the attention on her it's clear the future is nothing like 1940.
A figure in white bumps into him and squeals.
"Oh, you're Majesty! I apologize!" Edmund turns to be met with Jade's misty blue eyes. She smiles.
"I saw you talking to Lady Ariel. Isn't she so beautiful? I envy her. Having a noble wrapped around her finger. A king, no less." Running her fingers through the ends of her blonde hair, she cocks her head.
Edmund clears his throat. "I have no idea what you're talking about."
Jade throws back her head and the air around her shimmers. "Like I didn't see the way you were drooling when she laughed."
Noticing his confused expression, she purses her lips and smiles. "Don't worry. If it helps, she was looking at you the same way. But who couldn't, right?" Grinning, she rubs her shoulder, exposing her bare skin.
"I was actually looking for you, King Edmund. I wanted to find a book in the library, but since I'm new, I thought you would know where this particular…novel is."
Ed smiles at the beautiful girl. "Of course." Offering her his arm, Edmund goes into a longwinded discussion on how he met his first love in the library.
"And she dropped the book right on my foot, and when she was standing up to pick it up, I was met by the most spectacular pair of eyes. She winked and said, 'Well, you know when to be at the right place at the right time, don't you?'" The couple reaches the door and he smiles at the memory.
Jade beams at Edmund's innocence. "That sounds so romantic. What is her name?"
He gulps. "…Princess Marie."
Jade sighs. "That's beautiful. She was a lucky girl."
Glancing to the side, Jade shrugs her shoulders. "Guess we're here now."
Opening the door, Edmund turns to the woman in white. "What's the name of the book? Or the genre?"
Jade gulps. "The genre is… magic." She is about to go into an explanation over why she needs it when she notices how the young king doesn't seem to care.
Presenting her the section, which is just two bookcases, Edmund sees Jade biting her lip at the minimal selection. Picking out the book, Jade flips through a few pages when her hand slips and drops it on the king's foot.
"I am so sorry, you're Majesty! I did not mean that at all!" But her voice catches when their eyes meet. Jade gulps. Edmund freezes, caught in the shimmering, misty quality of her blue eyes.
"I'm sorry, but I don't think I really complimented you on your beauty yet."
Jade giggles. "Oh, you're Majesty."
Leaning in, Edmund's breath on her face makes her heart freeze. This is the moment. This is the moment where everything, her future and the rest of Narnia's will change. And then their lips collide.
His hands grip onto her sides and she winds her fingers through his hair. Opening her mouth, she sucks on his bottom lip and then grants his tongue into her throat. She hears him groan and can't help but smirk. If this is pure joy to him then he'd practically die at the treatment she gave foreign dignitaries and mortals in different universes. Their mouths move together and practically tear one another's lips off. Jade could feel Edmund's desperation and tension loosening and temptation sinking into him and she can't help but have the same feelings melt into her as well. Of course, she felt stronger emotions when she made out with the Prince of England a century ago, but this will do.
Edmund's hands move up to Jade's shoulders and start slipping the dress off of them. Untying the laces in the back, he bites her ear and starts rubbing her collarbone and stomach. Jade's dress is about to slip off and he moans at the image of the feel of her on him.
"What the fuck is this, Edmund!" a young voice screams. Opening his eyes, Edmund sees Elizabeth staring shocked at the sight of her rival making out with her boyfriend.
Jade smirks into Edmund's lips and whispers, "Please Edmund. Tell me she gave this to you."
After a pause, she rolls his lip on her teeth. "Thought so."
Pushing her away, Edmund stares disgusted at the half naked sight of her. Turning his attention back to Elizabeth, he starts walking up to her.
"Elizabeth, please-," but Elizabeth screams instead.
"You said you loved me! Five minutes ago you were kissing me like I was you're everything and now you're sucking this bitch's face off!"
Edmund's face turns red. "Don't call her that!"
Jade plants her hand on Edmund's chest with a comforting smile. "Don't Edmund. She's right. I am a bitch. And if you know better you would stay away from me. But clearly you didn't even know that it's not right to cheat on your girlfriend."
"How dare you Jade? I said I would deal with it! I thought we had a deal!" Elizabeth shrieks.
"Well you weren't fulfilling your portion of it, as you can see." Jade smirks.
She continues. "You don't understand? I'll show you." Turning around, she plants her lips on Edmund's and starts to lift the hem of his tunic. Edmund suddenly forgets where he is and who he is kissing. All he knows is the temptation running through him. Kissing her neck, he begins to continue untying her dress and Jade takes Edmund's shirt off, biting his perfectly molded muscles.
"Jade! Get the fuck out of here! I knew I shouldn't have brought you here!"
Cocking her head, Jade allows Edmund to suck on her neck. Smiling at Elizabeth, she winks.
"Elizabeth, you wouldn't have gotten anywhere without me. Hell, without me, you wouldn't have an Edmund to worry about."
"Get the fuck out of here," Elizabeth spits out.
Turning to face the lady, Jade glares at her. "You know what, you're right. I should be leaving. To wreak even more havoc on the worlds. But to just show what I'm capable of." She collides her lips with Edmund again, stripping her dress off for him and have him bite her stomach and moan against her bare skin. Grinning at the stunned expression on Elizabeth's face, she picks her dress up from the floor and daintily skips out of the library, book in hand. Edmund stares after her, his shirt still in his hands.
Elizabeth whimpers at the lost and dazed expression on his face. Little brainwashed Edmund.
Kissing his cheek, she wipes away a tear and follows Jade, leaving Edmund still contemplating what had just occurred.
Walking into the meeting room, Edmund is met with a solitary figure drowning him self in alcohol.
"Brother," the figure says.
Edmund nods, acknowledging him. "Pass me the bottle."
Gulping down the wine, Edmund winces.
Peter sighs. "Are you thinking about what Lord Seraph said too?"
Edmund nods. "I realized just how little I know of people. Did you know Elizabeth and Jade are more than just ladies to each other? They're plotting something. And they definitely do not agree."
Peter gulps more alcohol. "Naomi hates me. I dropped the whole 'Everyone thinks you're a suspect' bomb."
Ed looks over at his older brother. "Maybe Lord Seraph is right. Maybe we do need to somehow isolate the suspects and find the one responsible."
Peter stares shocked. "Edmund! I thought you are the voice of reason."
The younger king sighs. "I am. And I think we know very little about our guests."
The two brothers sit in silence, each drinking from his bottle. Glancing over at one another, they clink bottles.
"To reason."
A woman in white jumps onto a tree and grins. Taking out the red leather book, she flips to the page. An incantation in gold is written.
Whispering it onto the water below her, she purses her lips.
Yas ryouer roysr
Eadl up het warllsite
Pahpy gndesi onw I nokw
Byba I swa inaev
Yas ryouer roysr
Eadl up het warllsite
Pahpy gndesi onw I nokw
Byba I swa inaev
The water bubbles and white feathers float up to the surface along with green tendrils of seaweed like hair. Swans fly out of the lake and scaly, beautiful faces pop up with malicious smiles playing on their faces. The swans land on the tree branches around Jade, flocks of them, all turning into beautiful women. The green women below hiss and laugh, pulling themselves onto land, dripping water from their naked bodies.
Jade laughs. "Vila, Rusalki, today we are born. Tomorrow we rise!"
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I'm not going to say anything in this author's note. I want all you readers to think on this chapter. Mwahahaha.
Any questions, review review review!
Love,
Rita