Disclaimer: Lewis wrote Narnia into being. The italizised passage is called Aesop's fairy tale and has been re-written slightly.
Author's Note: The mention of Edmund and Lucy being loved by the Terebinthians is from another story that is in the process of being written. I'm bactracking :)
Chapter 9: "Ace of Wands"
"In a field one summer's day a grasshopper was hopping about, chirping and singing to its heart's content. A group of ants walked by, grunting as they struggled to carry plump kernels of corn.
'Where are you going with those heavy things?' asked the grasshopper.
Without stopping, the first ant replied, 'To our ant hill. This is the third kernel I've delivered today.'
'Why not come and sing with me,' teased the grasshopper, 'instead of working so hard?'
'Winter always comes again. This is not something you should discard.'
The grasshopper laughed. 'Winter is far away, and it's a glorious day to play'
The ants just shook their heads and went their way."
The Tarkheena came, was seen and sent off in under two days. She had come to ask for Peter's hand in marriage. Hardly the first time someone had been to try and steal themselves a royal title. And it turned out Peter had little trouble brushing her off without insulting her. It sometimes paid to have a winning smile.
Edmund watched enviously, wondering how his brother managed to make women fall in love with him from across the Great Desert. After a while he got tired of wallowing and left to make preparations for the trip. Most were done by the time the Tarkheena left. Romel and his crew had returned to their camp to make the necessary preparations as well. The nomads were getting ready to leave.
Oreius was asked to remain in Narnia and manage the army. Kanell, having recently become a father, was required to stay with Xati, and Celer was visiting family in the north. The only one available to join them was a Leopard, named Oncai, who was almost seventeen years old. Very old for her kind and very arrogant – with good reason. She was often right. She was massive, much more so than her younger siblings. One of her sisters, a black Panther, was a messenger who frequently traveled between Narnia and Archenland. She and Susan were close friends.
Edmund spoke only briefly with Oncai before he asked for her help. He didn't expect anyone to jump up in joy, but was still surprised when she hesitated. "Captain? Are you alright?"
The regal Animal stared at him before she made to answer his question. "Yes, my king."
"Will you accept the mission?" Edmund hadn't felt comfortable ordering his soldiers to babysit him and his brother while they trekked through the Narnian wilderness. He hoped there would be enough volunteers.
She sat in front of his desk as he signed the latest supply-order for the armor smithies. He sent a little note with. The master smith was a personal friend of his. "May I speak freely, King Edmund?" Her voice was calm with just a touch of superiority; a general trait in Great Cats.
"Please do," Edmund leaned forward and looked deep into her eyes. Her self-confidence didn't intimidate him. It would have once, but those days were long gone.
"Is it true we are accompanying the Irins?"
He nodded.
Her eyes brightened and she seemed about to ask something else, but changed her mind at the last second.
It was a new trait to see in her. She was usually very upfront. "If you have any questions, feel free to ask them." He kept his voice calm.
"It is not important," She smirked in her feline way. "When do you wish to depart?"
"Tomorrow by noon. We'll follow the gypsies for a week or so."
"Might I enquire as to the length of our journey?"
"I expect us to be gone for a month and a half." He looked at her patiently.
"Very well," She nodded. "Have you already chosen the soldiers you wish to travel with?"
And this was why he had chosen her. "No," He shook his head and came to stand in front of the desk. "I was hoping you would help me choose. The path is rough. It follows along a mountain trail beyond Narnia. After the mountains we'll be travelling through forested land for most of the way."
"You require soldiers with climbing skills?"
He knew she already had a list of possible candidates. "Also hunters and scouts. Twenty total." Warriors he had in abundance.
"As you wish, your grace." She bowed and was excused.
Edmund turned back to look out his window. He had a view of the western forest and a partial view of the northern mountains. A deep sigh escaped him and he wondered what Romel would say when he learned the high king was joining them. Too much had happened in the last years for Peter to be comfortable letting his brother journey alone. Edmund knew the fiasco from ten months ago had also strained the relationship between them.
They had then, unknowingly led their soldiers into the Cruel's territory. She had punished them by bringing each of them a nightmare. Three days later they had all been found asleep, in the middle of the forest. None would speak of what they had seen.
Peter and Edmund never spoke of what they saw in that one nightmare. Their sisters never dared to ask. Peter was slowly beginning to forget in his waking hours, Edmund knew, but at night the strange visions would haunt them both. Edmund still sometimes saw flashes in the daytime. A dead city on the banks of a massive, dried-out river. A red sun, hovering over the land.
Peter and he were slowly beginning to understand who the girl had been. Only from the memories she had shown them, they guessed she was a relative of Jadis'. Edmund guessed she was her daughter.
He left his study with a destination in mind.
Earlier in the year they had set out hunting for her. As the snow melted. Oreius had promised to keep searching while they were away.
Edmund left the Cair, heading to the camp area where the gypsies lived. On his way there he was reminded of that frightful day. They needed to find her. It still made him shiver to think of Jadis or any descendant of hers, even after all these years. What she did to him. What she could have done. He had never even seen the worst of her rage and it had still left him with scars that would never heal. But the thing that haunted him most, the thing that gave him those horrible nightmares, was the fear that Peter somehow knew.
He had suspected since that encounter last fall, that his brother had somehow shared his nightmare. That he had seen exactly what Jadis did to him. It made him draw back. Pull away from his brother's searching eyes. His self-imposed isolation had in turn turned Peter from him. Now the brothers could hardly stand to be in the room with one another for longer than a minute. Edmund, because of his shame. Peter, because of his hurt and anger.
"King Edmund!" Zoren shouted. He came over with a smile. "Are you here to see Romel?"
"Yes."
"Shall I take you to him?"
"Thank you." Edmund smiled the best he could and pushed the grim memories away.
The guild leader led the way to Romel's camp, but didn't follow him in. He just gestured for Edmund to enter and swerved off before Romel spotted him. The Just king wondered if the guild leader was avoiding Romel for some reason.
"The king returns." a familiar voice said. Romel greeted him with a warm handshake. "How were things after we left?"
"That's what I came here to speak with you about."
He nodded at Edmund's somber tone and led them into his tent. "Sit down." He poured them some tea; something Edmund had never seen him do, and offered a cup to the dark-haired king. "What's on your mind?"
"My brother." Edmund tried not to sigh as he sipped the tea. "He's decided to come with us." He looked up to catch the fleeting look so shock on Romel's face. "You're surprised?" Despite his estrangement to Peter, he still felt protective of him. His brother had every right to join them.
"A little," Romel nodded thoughtfully. "But I figured he might, after we met with you all. He's very protective of you." He smirked.
Edmund smiled at faded memories. Golden days when brothers had been brothers. Not distant kings, only bonded by blood. "Does that surprise you?"
"Not in the least."
Both chuckled. "I've assembled a team of twenty under the guidance of my captain Oncai." He took another sip. "We'll be accompanied by the very best royal guards. Climbers, hunters and scouts."
Romel nodded with a weak smile. "I have every confidence in you."
Edmund stiffened and looked up from under his dark bangs. "You shouldn't."
The leader of the Irins froze and stared at the young king.
"Just because we might make you feel safe, doesn't mean you should think yourself free from harm."
Romel frowned. "Edmund, I know this." He leaned forward. "What's really bothering you?"
The young king set down the tea and completely ignored the question. "The reason I'm not bringing chargers is because of you all. We'll be more than enough warriors on this trip with the Irins at our sides. Better to leave my best and bravest at home to protect the kingdom."
Romel frowned, but didn't push the subject. "I agree," he eventually said. His voice soft.
Edmund picked up the cup. "Good." They sat another minute in silence. Edmund, hoping to avoid any conversation that involved his brother. Romel unfortunately looked like he was trying to think of something to talk about. Before he could open his mouth, Edmund interrupted him. "Where are the others?"
He rubbed his eyes, momentarily confused by the break of thought. "Valera is helping the others pack. Nimwey and Archer are walking the perimeter." He groaned in thought. "I thought Lauviah said something about checking on your guests this morning?"
Ed nodded. "She joined us for lunch today. Cor is healing nicely."
He gestured to Edmund's arm. "And how about you?"
"Also healing." Ed smirked, but felt more transparent than he had in years. It was unsettling to know that his friend could read him almost as well as his siblings could. As well as Peter used to.
"Good."
Silence fell again. It was like a fly that just wouldn't die. It buzzed around in the room, searching for an escape and was only ever met with more walls. Traps to keep it ensnared. Eventually Romel saved them both. "Anything else?" he asked casually.
Edmund finished and stood. All too happy to leave. "No. We'll meet here tomorrow. One hour after noon?"
"Sounds fine."
He nodded and left. As he exited he offered only a departing remark. "Stay well." He didn't see, nor did he want to see, the way Romel looked at his back.
Early the next morning the kings awoke to a busy house, though they themselves had no pressing obligations. Both spent the pre-noon training with Cor and Corin since Susan and Lucy were covering their royal duties. The princes had been given the day off from studies and had elected to spend it with Edmund and Peter in the training grounds. "Good. Now swing up," Edmund slowly directed. Cor did as told. The boy seemed to have a very ambiguous way of moving. At once he wanted to run through each move with surgical precision, simultaneously having an almost intuitive fighting style that drove him to frustration after more than one repetition. He easily anticipated moves and blocked them.
Edmund quickly realized that Cor was destined to become a great swordsman. His brother as well, though not as good as the crown prince. The younger brother had a tendency to swing wildly and get overworked. Peter was the perfect sparring partner for him. A calm and steeling influence.
"Very good." Edmund praised when Cor remembered a move and copied it perfectly. "Now swing your elbow back and thrust the tip out." He did as told. Edmund admired the control he had over his body. He wished he had had that kind of control when he was his age.
To the side he heard: "We'll make a swordsman of you yet," and saw Peter going through a series of blocks with Corin. The youngest twin was constantly complaining that Peter wasn't teaching him enough offensive moves. Peter remained calm and explained that defense came first. This was the seventh time the young prince had complained and Peter still looked as calm as he did in the beginning.
Ed supposed that was why Oreius had paired them the way he had. He understood that Edmund and Corin would only work each other into frenzy. Perhaps even that Peter wouldn't have been able to push Cor forward the way Edmund could? The training ended relatively early when Oreius announced that he had an exercise planned for the new recruits. Something that would benefit the princes as well. Ed and Peter knew Oreius' "exercises" very well and quickly excused themselves.
They left Cor and Corin in the dark about the torture they were about to experience and grinned wickedly on the way to the armory. Undressing from their armor took a lot of time any day. That left a lot of time for conversations to be had. A lot of time that was spent trying to avoid it. "Have you packed provisions?" Peter asked.
"Panicus is overseeing the packing." Panicus was a Bonobo Monkey. He looked a lot like his distant cousins, the Chimpanzees, and scowled whenever someone would mistake him for one. He was also Susan's first assistant.
"Good choice."
"Mine or Susan's?" Ed quirked a brow. "It was pure luck she didn't just order Panicus to run Court and come with us herself."
Peter smiled and relinquished his shield. "Every little bit helps. I was actually wondering if I should invite Lucy along as well? She's hardly been to the western wild since the White Days." The White Days were a common description of Jadis' reign.
"She has her own things to deal with." Edmund helped his brother to unbuckle his pauldrons. "I heard she was given another invitation to Terebinthia by queen Hira."
Peter smiled warmly. "They love her out there," He glanced at his brother's downturned head. "Both of you."
Ed glanced up and pretended not be bashful about the praise. "Yes. Well they're easily impressed." He and Peter removed the last of their armor and headed for the room. A little cleaning up would be required for their lunch plans. Lucy said she wanted one last meal with them both before they left. "They've actually become quite impressive miners. The Dwarves helped immensely."
"I was hoping to get Lucy something pretty for her birthday. Maybe King Baskar would send me a gem stone? Or should I perhaps go get it myself?"
They reached the room and greeted the two Centaurs outside their door. "They'd probably appreciate the visit. Even if you announced outright that you just came to get a birthday present for our dear sister."
"I'd have to leave a couple of days after we return to make it, though."
Edmund huffed and shrugged out of his sweaty tunic. "Her birthday's three and a half months away, Peter. You have time."
"Can't hurt to be prepared. Have you thought on what to give her yet?"
Ed smirked. "I gave her a ship. I never bother with presents anymore. Nothing tops that."
The older brother rolled his eyes. "That was eight years ago, Edmund. You'll have to get her something."
He decided it was too much fun, jerking his brother's chain to stop. "Why?"
He swung a pillow after him. "You dolt."
Ed dodged and smiled. The rumple earned them a scowl from Silvo, which they ignored the second the Faun left the room. They raced each other to the balcony and were smiling when they stepped out into the sunshine. Lucy was already setting the table. Susan wasn't there yet. Their youngest sister smiled when she saw them. "Hullo, boys." She moved a platter of salted pork over to the table. Tea was already chilling and fresh bread was scenting the wind.
Edmund smiled and kissed her cheek, once again praising Aslan for giving him such blessings. He took the seat next to her. Peter sat across. "Where's Su?"
"She's coming soon." Lucy answered and set another platter onto the table. "There was trouble with some of the kitchen staff."
"What trouble?" Edmund asked and stole a slice of dark bread.
"Something about delayed wages. I think they'll mount a strike if we don't increase their pay."
Edmund groaned and earned a stern glare from his brother. "The scullions are some of the hardest working people in the Cair, Edmund."
As if he didn't know. "Stop saying my name like that."
"Like what?" Peter asked innocently.
"Like I've done something wrong."
"But you are wrong, Edmund."
He growled and threw the slice after his brother. Peter easily dodged and earned an affectionate pet from Lucy in passing. "Don't throw food, Peter."
"I didn't!" He pointed at Edmund. "Call him out."
"Edmund only gives what he receives." She hid her grin as she sat down. "And from the way his hair is so messy I suspect you've already thrown something at him today? A pillow perhaps?"
Peter looked perturbed while Edmund just smiled wickedly. "How does she know that?"
Ed shrugged and kissed her cheek. "She has more spies than I do."
Lucy smiled brightly and was about to explain that it wasn't about how many spies one had, as long as they were in the right places, when Susan interrupted. "Oh I'm sorry," She looked stressed. Every line of her body was stiff with tension, but she bore it like a queen. "You should just have started without me."
"When have you ever known us to leave you out, dear sister?" Peter asked and kissed her cheek as she sat.
She smiled and seemed to deflate a little. "Tea or coffee?" Lucy asked, hand hovering over the two pots, ready to hand a full cup to her sister.
"Coffee, please." Susan nodded and gratefully accepted the beverage.
"I hear the kitchens are giving you trouble?" Edmund mumbled through a sip.
"No trouble." She smiled. "Nothing I can't handle."
"Good girl," Peter affectionately praised.
She slouched. Her downcast eyes rolled which garnered a chuckle from Lucy. The meal progressed much in the same manner. Speaking and joking casually. The sun sparkled brilliantly in the heavens. The hour passed all too quickly. It was ironic, Edmund thought, that they should all get along so well on the day of departure. But alas, the lunch ended and both queens followed their brothers to the courtyard.
Both had matters to attend and would otherwise have followed Peter and Edmund a bit of the way. Lucy had considered following them as far as Cauldron Pool, but couldn't when an Archenland ambassador had been scheduled to arrive later in the day. The goodbyes were the same as always. Filled with well wishes and orders from both queens for their brothers to return in one piece.
Lucy watched Susan kiss Peter on the forehead and smiled when Edmund came over to give his proper farewell to the youngest sister. He leaned forward and kissed her cheek. With a smile she stopped him before he could address Susan. "I have something for you." She pulled out a tiny vial on a chain. "Just in case one of our soldiers gets hurt."
"Oh, Lucy. I can't take that-"
"Stop it this instant. It's my cordial and I can give to whoever I please." She jangled the chain. "Take it. Put it somewhere safe."
He took it with a bashful smile and another kiss. She beamed as he approached Susan. Peter came over, smiling. "Goodbye, darling." He pulled her tight in a hug. Lucy was the only one who still allowed the close contact. Edmund was pulling away more and more each day and Susan never needed much physical comfort to begin with.
"I have something for you." She pulled out a second chain with the same contents. "Look after Edmund."
Peter didn't argue and even nodded diligently. "I will." He kissed her forehead and turned, following his brother and mounting his horse. They were celebrated with smiles and waves as they left their home.
AN: Things look almost hopeful in this one, don't they? :)