The Return to Narnia
AN at beginning of chapter
Thank you all for reviewing and aren't you all extremely happy that this chapter was up so quick? There was something pointed out to me in the last chapter, saying that I switched between Corin and Shasta's names. I just wanted to let you know that that was in fact intentional, as it swapped with the character's perspectives and then the omniscient narrator's like the some of the previous chapters. So yeah, not mistake just technique.
If Edmund would choose one thing that Elizabeth could not brag about, it would surely be her packing. His love had somehow convinced herself that she was a light traveller and could survive many days with the "barest of necessities". Edmund had been on the front line of wars where all he had was a makeshift weapon and the chainmail on his back. That, he told himself, really was the barest of necessities. Elizabeth, however, did not understand what exactly this meant. She had grown up in a world where everything was at her fingertips only to move to Cair Paravel where every whim was met and she had no desires that couldn't be sated and so, when Elizabeth had returned to her room while Tumnus took Corin (who was really Shasta although neither knew that) down to his own room to pack and sup and rest, she found it beneficial to their plan. Elizabeth, among her manifold coloured dresses and shoes and jewellery, stored the queen's clothes at the bottom of her trunks and the Prince, who was a man who noticed little of fashion and how many trunks Elizabeth had arrived with, would not be the wiser. As she packed with the help of her lady's maids, she tricked her body by saying that she was for all intents and purposes leaving for Narnia without her godson. She tried to bring saddening thoughts to the forefront of her mind so, when the Prince questioned her and said his farewells, she could deliver a convincing, conniving performance. Elizabeth had two dresses left out while the rest where folded and stored. The first was a depressing ebony dress with grey lace and a magnificent skirt that trailed for feet. She always brought a gloomy dress lest there be a funeral or a moment of occasion it would come in handy. Which, she mused to herself, it ultimately did. The very next day, after Prince Rabadash had accepted the invitation to farewell King Edmund and the Gracious Lady who, in their letter, wrote they planned to disband any future antagonism between Archenland and Narnia, Elizabeth slipped on this very dress and a netted veil and held one of Edmund's handkerchiefs in her hands. She very much looked like the despairing woman who wanted nothing more than to bring peace for her folly.
Elizabeth had entered Corin's room and had woken the sleepy boy and, with the guilt of an accountable guardian paired with the knowledge that King Lune had trusted her with his most prized accomplishment, coerced his little lordship within one of her trunks that was carried at the front of the party and placed softly on her bed within the extravagant ship's cabins. Elizabeth made her way down afterwards with the rest of the Narnian party whose responsibilities consisted of keeping an eye on the queen and to run interference should something go horribly wrong.
"Are you quite sure?" Edmund frowned at the petite woman in front of him. She could pull of dramatics, he knew, but the plan rested solely on her tricking the Prince that she was worried enough to leave but not so unlike her character which, many knew, was unmoving and forever hopeful.
"I'm sure, Ed," She rolled her eyes at him. Elizabeth went to walk past him when he reached a hand out to her and clasped it firmly. Elizabeth froze at the contact, used to Edmund's often distant affection, but eventually a smile slithered over her face. She enfolded her free hand around his and gently tightened their fingers so they coiled around each other, showing that she knew he was asking her to be safe and to wish her the best of luck. Her heart was slowly picking up pace although she condemned it for doing such a thing, when the Narnian procession entered. The King grumpily lowered their hands but did not release them as he enjoyed the smooth warmth and feel of her pulse underneath his fingers. Instead, he held his hands behind his back so it looked as though he was addressing a crew of military men which, he pondered, wasn't too far off. Elizabeth, on the other hand, slowly straightened out her hands and slipped them out of Edmund's battle worn ones as he began to speak. She walked around to face him, her maids quickly gathering so they formed a semi-circle around her to pamper her and make sure she would constantly look her best. They would also serve as a barrier between The Prince, should Elizabeth ever feel like her guise was slipping.
"Are we ready?" There was a collective nod. Queen Susan glanced suspiciously between the two younger nobles but she trusted her brother enough not to shame their family and knew, deep down, that he would never do anything to tarnish Elizabeth, whether it was her honour or her name. She had not missed their affection stares, nor had the other Narnias who had entered moments later.
"We shall begin," The queen nodded and waved Elizabeth to the middle of her party, as was her place. The Narnians exited the building and Elizabeth hung her head in disgrace over Corin but, all the while, she couldn't rid herself of the thought of how nice Edmund's hand had felt in her own. The Prince looked overjoyed at his supposed victory over the Narnian party and the prospect of a new queen. As they reached the docks where the weary and poor civilians looked on, The Prince waved his hand to part the crowd and slowly made his way through the aisle to stand before Elizabeth. Women, he supposed as he watched the young girl before him, were indefinitely weaker than mankind. He found it hard to believe that this young girl, years younger than himself, had by all accounts saved her country many years ago and enraptured the heart of the younger kings. His advisors had first told him to watch after the girl as she could, should she choose, sway the king's mind and be the first human to ever marry into the royal family to govern successfully over the people as a Queen instead of a Princess. That threat alone meant Rabadash would lose a significant quarter of the land should this feeble girl decide that she wish it. However, the host's mind had been soothed when she had lost her godson with the country. Not only had she shown fault as a ruler and undoubtedly brought war and mistrust to her people, but the Just King would escort her to her death while leaving his sister behind. Rabadash believed that he would mould the queen's mind to his benefit without the devious king hovering over her shoulder at every turn. Without a family member close to rule and govern her base desires, Queen Susan would agree to be his wife and agree to join their lands, making his country stronger than ever and diminish Narnia and the threat of Aslan.
"My dear, dear Elizabeth," The Prince grinned at her while his underhanded plans rolled around his head. It was a snivelly smirk and Elizabeth brushed off the insult and instead made a light sniffing sound and held the handkerchief to her eyes. She just prayed that the netting helped shield her distrustful eyes. "I am heartbroken for the loss of your ward and, with the help of her majesty, the illustrious and widely celebrated Susan the Gentle, I hope my future bride, we will scour the lands far and wide to return him and peace to your fair city." Elizabeth simply put a hand to her mouth and gave a simple head nod and let out a pitiful whimper which she had heard many of the ladies around the Prince's court make as well. He patted her hand with his long, nimble fingers before turning to the collective. "I say we take gain from out friends' departure and begin a night of revelry that will long be forgotten." Long be forgotten is right, Elizabeth inwardly mused over the perfection of that statement in such a circumstance. Their escape from this horrid land would be hard to forget and would certainly be recorded within Narnian history. With a hand from some of the Narnian knights, Elizabeth was led onto the ship's wooden beams, polished to such a vibrant shade of red that the wood seemed blessed, where a heavy wooden table had been placed in the exact middle, over the hold which led down to the ship's heart where all the rooms were and where Corin lay in his locked trunk, glimpsing out the key hole and listening for trouble. In his head he was concocting many plans should he be required to knock down any Calormen who came his way.
The Prince rudely forgot the protocol and sat himself down at the head of the table. Edmund raised his hands to settle his people and took a seat next to him with Elizabeth opposite, like they were the honoured guests instead of the way it was. Susan was seated at the other end like a dutiful wife although she was sure that nothing had been agreed on. Elizabeth hung her head and remained silent in a practice of self-punishment and self-bereavement which the Prince didn't even think was peculiar for one moment. The Narnians, of course, knew this was awful behaviour to not recognise the pity of a human and especially not one who had been living within his walls for week. It was yet again another testament to his character. And so it continued on.
Edmund kept light conversation about sea ships and faring and trading among countries while Prince Rabadash only asked after Susan's intentions and what Elizabeth planned to do once reaching Archenland. Elizabeth dutifully kept up the charade. She swallowed plainly and spent a decent portion of her soup explaining how the proposed begging for forgiveness on her knees in front of the King and his brother and court. Edmund, before this night, was unaware that Elizabeth could be simpering and coy for a man. He knew that she must surely by abhorring the ruse by the time the main dishes were served by the crew and praying to Aslan for this torture to end. So he, being the gentleman he was, would jump to her aid whenever he glimpsed that headstrong look in her eyes that he had always noticed—and loved—right before she rolled them or let loose a particularly snarky comment. Then, he would feed her a look that clearly stated that she needed to gain the Prince's favour and to extinguish any hint of thought that the Prince might think of her as rebellious or defiant although Edmund, having known Elizabeth for more than half of his life and having little memory of time without her, knew that to call Elizabeth meek and compliant was to announce yourself a fool. It took the pair two hearty servings of dessert and one tankard of fine red Narnian wine for Edmund to see, and grasp, an opportunity.
"My lordship," He raised his voice so the length of the table would hear him, "Our chief lady is eager to sail and repent for her country, for she had disappointed us all on this jaunt. Alas, here I must leave my sister as it would be an offense to the great King Lune to enter his land with such sorrow and lack a steady headed man in forthcoming confab. I am sure with a little more time she will make a fine decision and make her country proud. I leave my queen, my pride and joy who has ruled with a firm and gentle hand for many good years, in the trust of the Prince, our grateful host, and the Tisroc—" The Calormens called their chant. Finally, Edmund finished his speech and turned to the Prince in question. "Lastly, with much sadness and ado, do we Narnians extend our farewells to the fair desert that has thus far provided us with comfort and fine companionship." Following the Just King, five other men (one being Prince Rabadash) raptly conducted similar speeches that, at some points, were so gaudy that even Corin feet below would jump at the volume and expression in their voices. Once the Grand Vizier gestured for everyone to stand, people began to depart. First there was the Prince who held a tight hand on Susan's (whom he had not spoken one word to all night) and following him were his most trusted men and following them his most fanciful men until, at last, the final lady had stepped off the ship behind her husband. The Narnians waved from the side of the boat while they unfastened the dining table and the plates and the food and prepared to set sail.
Elizabeth sat on her seat with her dress cleverly covering the hatch from sight. Her head was bowed and her neck was beginning to ache from having kept it in the same position for the night. And then finally once more, when the Narnians had completed their duties, the raven flew to the crow's nest heading East in his circles and, from the docks that quaked beneath her, Susan gasped.
"But surely my eyes do deceive me," She cried loudly. The Prince immediately turned to his future bride as the batten from ship to port was being released, and something deep within him, perhaps his cunning and trickeries from the past, warned him not to release his eyes from her form. "Not once can a Narnian make their way down to the utmost bottom of the ship, the very nethermost part where the beams curl and the salt withers at the wood and yet, here before my eyes, is poor Corin. And my mind goes to my dear, dear friend Elizabeth who had tortured her mind and had her soul ripped by guilt, oh how my heart goes to her!" Susan wailed. Before something might crop up and stop her from fleeing this horrid man she lurched forwards and used the very end of the plank to jump upwards and onto the ship just as it began to pull away.
"STOP HER!" The prince screamed, offense flooding his body as he realised the deception underlying the invitation.
"I beg forgiveness," Susan called as his many men failed in stopping the ship from leaving its berth, "But should I keep mum, Narnia would surely go to war with good friends when we have no ill intent towards such peaceful and obliging folks." By that point the Narnians had been taken too far away by the wind to hear the words that came next out of Prince Rabadash's mouth but, you are assured, that Edmund, who had two ladies of the highest class and manner on board his ship, was beholden to whatever force had made it so their ears remained untarnished against his foul tongue.
"Are you quite alright, my queen?" Elizabeth rushed forwards and reached forwards to help Susan to her feet. Both women stood shakily on the deck, hesitant to believe that such as stunt had occurred without repercussions.
"Perfectly fine, though rest is welcomed," She nodded stiffly. Elizabeth straightened her jaw and reached down to remove her skirts from the access and pulled it open with all her might.
"May I suggest a bath and a drink and a dress to change into? All have been prepared in my rooms and I must release Corin before he believes that he was truly been forgotten and left with such little thought or care to his being," She temped a joke. Susan did not laugh but instead lowered herself inside the ship and gratefully made her way towards the lady's rooms. Elizabeth rolled her eyes and huffed and, once she was sure Susan would be deaf to it, she slammed the door and stalked across to the side of the ship where Shallowpad was being sent off to Cair Paravel with a message for Lucy. Without asking or pondering propriety, Elizabeth slipped one of her hands into Edmund's and rested her forehead against the top of his arm, as it was the highest point she could reach without standing on the tops of her pointed toes. She knew how Edmund loathed her fighting over Susan's displeasure—unfounded displeasure—towards her, so she kept quiet and instead hoped he believed she was feeling off due to the rather atrocious evening that had just occurred under their noses.
"You did a fine job," He congratulated her. With his opposite hand, he brought her closer to him so they were face to face. The nets on her head, those stupid contraptions, hid her golden hair and her fair eyes and skin and frankly, to him, they were silly little things.
"Perhaps we ought to wait for the war before we start handing out such doleful compliments."
"A doleful compliment?" Edmund scoffed, raising en eyebrow at her.
"While a compliment nonetheless," She explained, "Cheating and tricking is hardly a fair skill, particularly one for a lady."
"Strategy is something far too women spend far too much time thinking over. Sophisticated rationality is a fairer trait," He gruffly told her.
"I could recount," Elizabeth playfully swung his hand back and forth, "That perhaps few too men hold sophisticated rationality, as you term, in such a low trait for a woman to possess that it is deemed unlikeable. Do you pretend as if a brain is your desire within a woman, no matter the casing or presentation?"
"I do not pretend," Edmund hesitantly replied although his eyes were narrowed, knowing that the girl below him most likely had a retort lined up in the mind no matter what he replied with, "I simply ask why not both? Aslan could not further curse the sex by giving no woman no looks or no splendour or no wit."
"So you contend that each man should have available at his whim a woman of smarts and attraction? (To which I look over such comment that to be a woman is to be cursed, by that cursed tongue of yours, a man's.)"
"There's no plainer account under the fair sun of Aslan's," Edmund rolled his eyes down at her now.
"By your justifications," Elizabeth smirked up at him, "I can perhaps think of three woman famed for such in all the kingdoms, and only two are blood related and one related by friendship."
"Your sickening suggestions have just showed me how hopeless one's argument can be," Edmund's voice matched his deadpan expression and Elizabeth hid her small smirk, trying to hide how much joy she found from agitating him.
"Inadequate, perchance, but I see no false accusations," She giggled joyfully, knowing she had trapped him using her tongue. It was so very entertaining to her. He, so good at chess and strategy, could never once pin her for her riding or her words. She dreaded the day when either he or she tired at pretences and won, however, and begged it would not be soon though there seemed no sign of ending. Edmund, on quite the opposite end, was wondering whether he should be as bold as to really say what was on his mind.
"Conceivably the relation through friendship might bring about a happier union than imagined," He muttered so quietly that Elizabeth had to strain to think whether it had been said or whether it was her mind floating off with the wind. Elizabeth blinked in shock but she didn't allow her jaw to droop as it was urging her to do.
"Well," She paused in response. She had been thinking of Oriana, the beautiful woman whose intellect rivalled that of Edmund's. Many times she had overheard comments on how they had seemed well suited for each other but, at this comment, she realised that Edmund might just have been thinking the same thing as well. "Well perhaps we ought to write to Oriana and inform her that the years spent training has done her no good as the young king has changed his mind." Edmund could have almost thrown himself over the railing as Elizabeth continued. "I must say this is sudden. Even through every push Peter sent your way you always presented inoperative, reluctant friendship. I had to drag the quill across your parchment to get you to correspond with her and now…"
"Liz," Edmund groaned, pulling his hands back to rub his fingers into the bridge of his nose, "I've always found that girl irritating in the highest regard and it takes great feats for me to change my mind. She was not the friend I was referring to." Elizabeth's heart staggered as she concluded his only female friends left were herself and the nymph who cleaned his chessboard four times a week whose name he always forgot. But surely he couldn't be suggesting—
"There you are, brother," Susan suddenly stuck her head out the top of the hatch and saw Edmund and Elizabeth in a rather thoughtful conversation. It looked deeper than anything they had discussed before, but she also thought that many times previously before discovering that they were arguing over the changing styles of cooking poultry and, as it continued fourteen years later, Edmund's cheating habits when it came to weaving grass. "The Captain says we have a short way to go and will not rest until we have safely moored where Cair Paravel is in sight. He went on to explain something alike to double shifts but I then excused myself to relay the message to you."
"That's wonderful news," Edmund nodded contently, his eyes being careful not to meet Elizabeth's, "We shall be home sooner than I believed."
"That is truly delightful," Elizabeth smiled before quickly adding to her exclamation with a curtsey and a kind and respectful, "Your majesties." Queen Susan raised a lofty hand and waved her away like she had a few times in the palace and Elizabeth lifted her dresses to walk off when Edmund stopped her from leaving briefly.
"And most of our success we have to thank you for, Lady Elizabeth the Gracious, for not without your counsel or adept design we would still be trapped within the walls of the Prince." Elizabeth blushed again as Edmund placed a small, delicate kiss on her hand which soon every Narnian in the vicinity copied. "Three cheers for The Gracious Lady!" Elizabeth could almost feel her face lighten enough to guide them through the seas and so quickly made her exit to her cabin where, she found, Susan had unlocked Corin and he was sleeping soundly on the bed. Elizabeth let out a loud, shaky sigh and pressed her back against the door in relief of being on her own. One unsteady hand made to reach for her breast to calm the beating appendage underneath its fleshy prison. If it didn't slow soon, Elizabeth was convinced it would break out and finally be free. It was only when her legs regained their strength (partly because she hadn't been on a grand ship for a very long time and partly due to Edmund's proclamations and, she had deceived herself into thinking, dirty fighting tactics) that she crossed the cabin and unlocked her trunk holding night dresses and gowns and picked the two on the very top before going behind a screen and changing. When she emerged wearing the proper bedding gear, she settled down on the loveseat up against one window and listened to the waves crash up against the side of the ship and the hollow breaths of her godson as she drifted off to sleep. One thing Elizabeth knew was that there was no sweeter sight than the towering turrets of Cair Paravel and she craved to see them soon.