ELECTRA OF THE LONE ISLANDS
Disclaimer: The characters of Peter Pevensie, Susan Pevensie, Edmund Pevensie, Lucy Pevensie, and Aslan are all property of Disney® and C.S. Lewis, as is Narnia.
Negotiations
She had not been dreaming. Instead Electra awoke early to find herself on her way to Narnia. Marching there with a band of Archenland escorts made her feel as though she was walking to her doom. She wondered how long it would take for them to find her out. An hour? Two? A day? Certainly not the entire two and a half weeks they would be staying with them?
They arrived in Narnia all too soon, and overhead stood the looming castle of Cair Paravel. Naturally, the two Kings and two Queens of Narnia would be in the front to greet King Lune as he stepped out of his carriage with Prince Corin. Electra and the other five servants who had been brought along remained out of conversation to take their things up to the chambers they had been assigned for the next two and a half weeks.
However, when they arrived at the castle early that evening, Electra noticed only three royals standing, waiting to greet their neighboring king, one was missing. King Edmund was not among those standing in front of Cair Paravel, awaiting their guests.
This tore at Electra, as she didn't know whether to take this as inviting news or not. As the Kings and Queens and prince greeted one another, they were too busy to notice any of the servants beginning to unpack their trunks and take them inside.
Electra stepped into the front doors of Cair Paravel for the second, and what seemed like would be the last time in her life. When before the walls and decored halls seemed inviting they were now a tomb that held her accountable for her actions. Electra kept her head down and simply following the shadows of those who preceded her.
Electra spent most of her time that evening avoiding the other inhabitants of Cair Paravel. Whenever a servant would be called to assist King Lune or Prince Corin, Electra would be sure she was too busy with something to assist them at the moment. She should have known it wouldn't last forever, let alone a day, because all of the servants were called down at dinner.
She stood with the rest of the servants along the back wall as they all filed in. King Peter sat at the head of the table, Queen Susan to his left and Queen Lucy next to her. The chair to Peter's left remained unoccupied, and King Lune sat across from Queen Lucy, his son on the other side of him.
Electra kept her head down, studying the tiling on the floor. She could not drone out the conversation that was coming from the table however.
"Mr. Tumnus and I are planning on visiting the Beavers," the young Queen spoke up, looking at her brother and sister. "We're planning on leaving sometime either tomorrow or the day after that."
"Lucy," Queen Susan interjected, "Now is not the best time to be leaving. Besides, we have company to attend to."
"I have no problem with Lucy going," King Peter interjected, silencing Susan's thoughts. Electra couldn't help but glance up at the sandy haired King. He had a kind face but a strong will, one that demanded authority even without trying. "But take a guard with you. These are rough times."
"I will," Queen Lucy replied cheerily, going back to her plate.
"Can I go, Dad?" Electra heard the young prince ask. Electra couldn't help but give a small smile. Prince Corin was always one for adventure.
"If you are invited by Queen Lucy, then you may," he replied, not bothering to look up from his meal.
"I won't want to endanger dear Prince Corin," Queen Lucy spoke up. It was apparent she would very much like the company, but didn't want any harm to come to the boy.
Electra watched the table carefully, wondering how this would play out. On one hand, both Prince Corin and Queen Lucy very much wanted to journey to the Beavers, whoever they were. On the other hand, there was a pirate risk, as well as the remainder of the White Witch's army that was out and about.
"I trust my friends of Narnia," King Lune said with a smile.
Queen Lucy grinned widely, giving Prince Corin an excited smile before returning to her meal, a bit more cheerful than before. It was then King Lune addressed the High King.
"I hope things are going better for you," he said. "I have heard your country has had a few misfortunes the past few months."
"One attack in Owlwood from the White Witch's old supporters," the High King replied. "They wiped out one of the Marshwiggle villages, but there's no trace of where they went."
"And the pirate situation?"
There was a hard silence that followed. Electra's muscles involuntarily twitched as she kept herself as innocent looking as possible without being obvious. Luckily it seemed no one noticed her.
"Still being taken care of," he replied, obviously irritated by the situation. "Our brother is in the Lone Islands doing what he can about the situation now."
King Edmund was in the Lone Islands then, Electra thought. She knew it was dangerous there, especially for a king. She sincerely hoped he had brought bodyguards along with him as well as plenty of soldiers. Many there might soon gain the same idea Damin first had.
The topic soon changed however, leaving Electra the will to brood in her own thoughts rather than listen to negotiations of where to draw the new border between Archenland and Narnia as well as the far yet upcoming Christmas Celebration for the two countries that was to be held here. Electra's attention only snapped back up when one of the higher servants told her to bring pour the Kings and Queens more spiced wine. Then she began to shake a bit.
She walked over to the far table, grabbing the pitcher and the cloth before returning to the table of the Kings and Queens. Trying to remain as invisible as possible, she quietly poured all of them drinks.
"Do I know you?"
Electra almost faltered in pouring King Lune her drink. Luckily she was able to catch herself before any of it spilled. She looked at the youngest Queen who had addressed her, watching her with a bewildered gaze.
Electra swallowed. "You came to Archenland about a month ago, your Majesty," she replied, trying to calm herself. Thank goodness she had grown an Archenland accent in the past few months, or her voice might have been more recognizable. "Could that be when you saw me?"
Queen Lucy tilted her head thinking hard. Now her sister was also watching Electra closely, as she too realized only then how familiar she looked. Electra's grip tightened on the pitcher as she mentally prepared herself to run if she needed to do so.
"That must have been it," Queen Lucy mumbled, obviously contradicting herself inside her head. Electra could read the battle within without her having to voice it. She obviously knew her from somewhere, yet unable to fully pin it down, she decided that had to be the only reason. Electra glanced at Queen Susan. She seemed less convinced that that was the only place to have seen her, yet unwilling to press the matter. For that, Electra was grateful.
The week passed with little to no events that had any huge impact on the castle life despite the negotiations between Archenland and Narnia. Queen Lucy had left earlier that week with Prince Corin and Mr. Tumnus to meet up with the Beavers. A raven had returned announcing their safe arrival, and no news of where the White Witch's old supporters could have gone. They were due to arrive back in two days time.
Electra was busy helping the Narnians in the kitchen clean, doing anything to avoid the Kings and Queens of Narnia. She had brought Ashen with her as company, so as not to look too out of place. Not that it helped, they always seemed to find her without trying, no matter what the reason for being in the place was. On that particular day, the High King Peter was speaking with one of his faun guards about his brother. Electra was sure to listen in closely.
"Edmund still hasn't answered back in three weeks," the High King told the guard. "And there were rumors of pirates surfacing in Narrowhaven while he was there—"
The sound of the High King's words behind her made her heart stand still. Her hand tightly flexed the thin delicate glass she was carefully cleaning. It shattered, shards of glass making deep welts in her hand. Electra bit back a cry as the pain seared her palms, oozing deep crimson blood.
"Electra!" Ashen shouted taking her palms in his hand and looking at the wounds with a shock and fear.
"Is she alright?" the High King asked worriedly, coming over, picking up a cloth and taking Electra's hands in his to help clean up the mess. "Fetch some alcohol to clean this with," he told the guard he had been speaking to. The guard nodded and hurried off.
It was something she had never seen a king do before, but the pain caused her mind to not care about that at the moment. From all the stories she had heard, she had always thought of Queen Lucy as the doctor of the family.
"I'll go get the bandages," Ashen commented before hurrying off.
"Yes, your Majesty," she whispered in reply to his first question, attempting to pull the glass from her palms. Tears streamed down her face from the pain she was in.
"Hold still," the High King commanded, taking her hands and carefully picking the shards from them. Blood was now seeping down her palms and past her wrist cuffs, staining the sleeves of her shirt. Electra glanced up at the High King. Why would he take the time to help a servant of King Lune?
"Sorry, this will be a bit painful," he commented, taking the last shard out and pouring a bit of water over her wounds. "This would be so much easier if we had Lucy's cordial back."
He was now more or less speaking to himself, but that didn't keep him from being heard. Electra held her breath, more of the subject of the cordial than anything. It took Electra a minute to notice he was suddenly untying the leather cords that bound her wrist cuffs to her arms. Her eyes widened in fear.
"Your Majesty," she protested, attempting to pull away.
"We have to clean you off," he answered patiently, not giving in. "These are getting in the way."
"No! Please, I beg of you!"
She felt his hands stiffen on hers as the cuffs fell to the ground. Her own heart started beating harder and faster as the clear brand showed itself. The blood hadn't covered the scar, instead it seemed to stand out all the more with the red framing it. Electra didn't dare to look up in the High King's eyes, for their usual slate blueness were probably on fire with fury. She tried to pull back, but his hands kept tight around her wrists.
"Guards!"
"No!" she cried, her now painful tears turning into terrified ones.
Electra attempted to pull away, this time using what strength she had almost forgotten in the two months of hiding. She was able to slip away, running barely two feet toward the entrance before his rough hand caught her upper arm.
"Gaurds!" he shouted again, this time keeping a firm hold of her and refusing to release her from his grasp.
About five guards showed up in the doorway. Electra's eyes widened even farther in fear, and for the first time she turned to see King Peter's face. She had been right to guess they were blazing with fury. His face was set, stone cold and full of authority. She almost cowered in his sight, but was too busy struggling to free herself. The guards immediately grabbed her by the upper arms so their High King didn't need to hold her any more.
"Take her to the dungeons," he ordered.
"No!" Her scream was one of a terrified child, afraid to be left alone in the dark in fear of monsters. She knew she couldn't struggle herself free, but what else could she do? "Please!"
"How dare you use the kindness of King Lune to hide yourself," he snarled, taking a step away from her and no longer doing the honor of looking at her. "He will be told of your treason and you will be punished for it."
"No!" she screamed, using any manner she had to get away as they pulled her out of the kitchen. "Your Majesty! I'll do anything! Please!"
"I don't want to hear your filthy excuses," he sneered, turning back to wash his hands of what blood had gotten on them.
"I know where your treasures reside!"
A silence filled the room as all eyes fell on Electra, save for hers which were frantically watching the High King for any sign of hope. The King slowly turned to face her, a mixture of emotions behind his blue eyes. She swallowed, hoping he would believe her. It was all she had.
"How dare you address the High King as such?" one of the guards growled, attempting to find fault in her words. "You are not worthy enough to even breathe the same air as him, you bloody pirate."
"I will show you where they all are," Electra declared in breathless hope, ignoring the guard though it would have foolish to do so. "Queen Susan's horn. Your Majesty's and King Edmund's sword, all of them." Her eyes pleaded as they watched him.
The king board into her soul, and she could read they were calculating whether she was to be trusted or not. If there was such a time where one would have been able to read her actions clearly, she hoped this would have been it.
"And you simply want freedom in return?" he asked, testing her. "How do I know I can trust a pirate like you?"
"They've been gone for two months," Electra replied hurridly. "I can get them back to you now. I can tell you how to find the crew of the Nomad. I can show you where the black market resides in Narrowhaven so you can shut it down." She swallowed, gambling the next bit. "All I ask is that I am pardoned for all my previous crimes."
She suddenly felt a sharp pain in her head as one of the guards smacked her hard. "Who are you to make such deals with the High King?"
Electra's eyes found the High King's again, they had never left her. Her eyes returned his gaze, begging pleading for this.
"You mentioned all our treasures but Queen Lucy's cordial," the High King noted, taking a step toward her. "What of her treasure?"
"That too," Electra nodded. "I can tell you where that is as well."
Another long pause filled the dungeons. Electra could tell the High King was considering all of this, more than he'd considered anything. This was a huge risk she was taking, but one the High King would have to take as well. If he believed her, Electra had a chance of going back and becoming a pirate once again. If not, when would he ever find their treasures?
The silence was interrupted by a Raven flying in the window. "Your Majesty," he bowed politely. "King Edmund sends word. He has still had no sign of any of the treasures. He asks your Majesty to send word back with what to do next."
King Peter's eyes never left Electra through this entire message. In fact, Electra wondered if he'd even heard the Raven.
"Send him word to come home," the High King ordered, not taking his eyes off Electra still. "He needs to be in Cair Paravel. I'm taking over in the search."
The Raven bowed before flying out the window once again. Electra watched the black bird fly through the window. She sincerely hoped it wouldn't tell the young King all it may or may not have seen here.
King Peter finally turned to one of the guards. "Send one of the Hawks out to Lucy and Prince Corin. Tell them to come back to Cair Paravel immediately. And inform King Lune that I'll be going out to sea, and I'll be taking one of his maids with me." The guard nodded before turning and walking off.
He turned toward Electra, hatred etched in his eyes. "For your sake, I pray to Aslan you aren't lying." He turned back to the guards. "Take her to the dungeons."
Electra struggled at being taken to the dungeons, but didn't struggle enough to get away. She was put in her cell. It was small and cramped, the bars rusted slightly, but in no way about to give way to her freedom. One guard sat outside her cell while another stood at the bottom of the stair, the only way out. She wouldn't have been surprised if there was another at the top of the stairs.
She sighed, sitting on her hard cot with one wool blanket, so thin she doubted if there would be a temperature difference whether she used it or not. Her eyes glanced up at the wall, one window that wouldn't have been big enough to fit her small figure through even had the bars been gone.
She lay back on the cot, wondering what was to become of her next. Clearly she was going to be joining the High King to get back their treasures. She was more than certain the buyers would not have sold them. These treasures would have been more priceless than all the gold in the worlds.
But when she was finally free? She had betrayed the pirate world, agreeing with their worst enemy to show them where exactly to find the Black Market and the Nomad. She was to be hunted for the rest of her life it seemed.
Still, Electra couldn't help but wonder if the High King had the heart of a pirate as well. When she did get their things back, would he pardon her like she had bargained, or would he kill her like the traitor she was? They never had finalized the agreement, and not knowing what was to become of her made her feel all the more insecure.