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.
Disturbing Silence
"You'll be back soon, won't you?"
Within an hour of arriving back home, Peter, Edmund and the rest of the guards were being called to Owlwood. Many of the old White Witch supporters had burned a few Marshwiggle villages and were now said to be heading north. Peter and Edmund would be following them to stop them before any more damage was done while more troupes were quickly rallied by Oreius.
The sight was a somber one, until Electra caught sight of Peter and Lady Crystalline saying their temporary goodbyes to one another. They had their foreheads pressed together and Lady Crystalline looked utterly pathetic, staring at the king with puppy dog eyes as her fingers gently ran across his cheeks. Everyone else had discreetly looked away, Electra soon to join them. But she couldn't rid herself of the image of that snake.
"Lucy, Susan and Electra will take care of you while I'm gone," Peter promised her with a smile. "I'll be back soon, I promise."
Electra couldn't help but roll her eyes, standing a bit behind Lucy and Susan who were saying their goodbyes to Edmund. Electra glanced around at the other troupes who were preparing for departure, none of them seemed to notice the High King and his mistress's mushy departure. Her eyes inadvertently glanced in their direction and did a double take.
She had to use all her self control to not make her face look revolted or make a sickening sound. The two had their arms wrapped around one another, their lips locked tenderly in an embrace. If Electra didn't know better she would have guessed they were already married and Peter wouldn't have been returning home for several years. On the contrary, she really wished that small nightmarish fantasy would not come true any time soon. It was bad enough Crystalline was staying while they were away. That simply meant Electra would be forced to entertain her some of the time.
She turned her attention back to Edmund, who was hugging Lucy, suddenly having a vision of what it would be like if she were in Lady Crystalline's place and Edmund in Peter's. That fantasy made her slightly day dreamy and she didn't notice when Edmund finally turned to her.
"Electra."
"Huh?" she asked, looking around at Susan and Lucy who were staring at her a little confused. She shook her head. "I'm sorry, my mind was sidetracked."
"Do you promise to protect the others while Peter and I are away?" he asked. "Don't get hurt yourself, but please watch after the others." He gave her a shifty smile. "I need to know I can trust you."
Electra felt her heart swell slightly, her lips curling into a faint smile. He was placing his trust upon her, not that he hadn't before, but now he was verbally asking for it. She gave him a nod. Perhaps she would allow Crystalline to obtain a minor injury, but she definitely wouldn't allow her to die if it came to that.
"You can count on me."
Edmund smiled and nodded in thanks before turning to his sisters once more, giving them a tight hug and climbing atop his horse. Electra stood, feeling her insides turn to stone as he completely disregarded her otherwise. He didn't bother saying goodbye to her and as much as she hated to admit it, it hurt inside. Taking a deep and shuddering breath, she turned her back on them and headed up the castle steps. She was outside long enough to hear Crystalline's calls of goodbye to them as they rode north, and she wouldn't have been surprised if she had pulled out a handkerchief and was waving it as well.
Inside was unnaturally quiet. Most of the guards had left with the two kings for Owlwood, leaving the minimal number of guards to patrol the castle walls. She was glad the pirates had been taken care of and the chances of the castle being seized now were minimal. And she personally would do everything in her power to keep the queens safe if anything did happen.
A week past and little happened in the castle. Though she was required to spend some time with the queens and their esteemed guest, for their sake she did her best to rid herself of their company as quickly as possible. Electra felt sorry for Lucy and Susan, mostly Lucy, whom she knew was hurting by running away so much. She made a silent promise to apologize to Lucy once the boys were back.
Electra wanted to tell the Queens of what happened in Archenland, but whenever she attempted to talk to them, they were either busy with something extremely important or busy entertaining Lady Crystalline. Electra would have gladly revealed the Lady of her horridness right in front of her, but she knew better than that. Having a grudge was one of the worst things someone could hold against her, and she wasn't about to make a bigger one than what was already there.
Electra spent most of the time she had avoiding Crystalline by spending her time in the library reading through the shelves. Reading through the millions of books in the oversized library did more than keep her from the Lady, however. Oddly enough it kept her mind away from the silence that had overcome the castle. Her latest find had been the gift Father Christmas gave to Peter, the large book. Much to Electra's surprise, it was an interesting read of an almost documentary-accurate account of how the White Witch had kept away from Narnia for hundreds of years.
"Well, what do we have here?" a voice echoed.
Electra twitched slightly at the sound of the last voice she wanted to hear at the moment. As much as she hated the silence that had overcome the castle, her voice was worse to hear than anything. Electra took a deep breath and continued reading, using all of her concentration to focus on the words on the page rather than the images pouring through her mind of strangling the woman interrupting her alone time.
Crystalline's footsteps echoed through the library and a shadow cut across the page Electra was reading.
"You're in my light," Electra mused, looking up at her with a sickening smile. She knew better than to start a fight, but it wouldn't be long until she broke. If Crystalline knew what was good for her, she'd have left that instant.
"That's Peter's," the woman said, flipping close the book, loosing Electra's place. "Are you sure you got his permission before going through his things."
"It was in the library," Electra growled, concentrating on the leather bound cover. "I was under the impression that the library was public."
"You thought wrong," Crystalline said, taking the book from Electra and half tossing it to a side table. "Didn't you see the 'pirates not allowed' sign on the door?"
Electra suddenly stood up, fire in her eyes. Crystalline took a few frightened steps backward before fully standing her ground. Her lips curled in a fierce snarl, and her fingers were twitching irritably at her sides. She was doing all she could not to lunge at the woman.
"Oh, it looks like I touched a nerve," Lady Crystalline mused, gaining her cruel demeanor back and taking a few steps forward. "Better watch out, the big bad monster might break loose."
She reached up her arm to touch Electra's hair. In an instant Electra's hand grabbed firmly against her wrist. Her eyes narrowed as she watched Crystalline gasp in surprise and pain, finding some pleasure in the reaction. Her fingers flexed slightly, gripping her more.
"Quite a grip you have," Crystalline said warily.
"Keep talking and you'll find out I have more than a strong grip," Electra threatened.
Lady Crystalline smiled, giving out a soft fake laugh. "Be careful, Electra. Your reputation works against you. Many of the guards might still be gone, but there are those left. They all think the same about you. They whisper behind your back. They know you can't be trusted. I scream and whose story are they going to believe: the word of a defenseless lady who was being attacked or the ex-pirate who's doing the attacking? It's really not a hard choice if you think about it. What would you do if you were in that situation? Don't be stupid."
As much as Electra hated to admit it, but she had more than a solid point. In disgust, she let her go and moved out of the room.
"Oh, this must be a new one," Crystalline called after her. "The pirate runs away a coward."
Electra stopped in her tracks, her blood boiling over. She spun on the spot turning to face Crystalline, who had crossed over to the other side of the couch, smirking triumphantly at Electra. Electra marched right in Crystalline's direction, who backed up to the couch until she could move no longer. Electra didn't stop until she was practically nose to nose with the woman.
"Call me a coward again," she threatened.
Crystalline said nothing. Electra couldn't help but give off a soft laugh. "I may be a coward in your eyes, Crystalline. Hell, I may be a coward, period. But I'm a better person than you. I'm not only strong physically, but have enough strength to stand your torments."
"Shall we put it to the test?" Crystalline asked with a raised eyebrow. "Do and you'll be hung."
"And you won't see that unfortunately, because you'll be dead," Electra replied.
"Show respect to those who hold authority over you," she ordered. "You're walking a thin line."
"Give me a reason to show you respect," Electra spat. "Then maybe I'll consider it." She glared at the woman a moment longer before storming from the library, heading to one of the towers for sanctuary. One more minute with the woman and Electra would have easily broken.
Electra completely skipped dinner that evening, instead deciding to go to the kitchen later that night when the stars were out in order to get some food. She couldn't stand another confrontation in less than twenty-four hours. She occupied herself with brooding over what was happening in Owlwood.
A week had passed, and not a word had been heard from them. She would have thought by now that a raven or someone would have sent word back to the castle. The last time she hadn't heard word of Edmund's progress while away, she had been jailed. This time she was likely to go crazy and jailed if she took her craze out on Crystalline.
She really hoped they hadn't gotten lost, or overthrown for that matter. She hoped that the reserve troupes being gathered had arrived in time before anything horrible happened to them. She couldn't imagine how it would kill her if something happened to Edmund and she hadn't even said goodbye to him. Forget that, she'd never forgive herself if anything happened to Edmund.
One week grew into two, and two grew into four. Soon a month and a half past, and still no word of what was going on at the front. The queens were uneasy about the lack of word from their brothers, and Electra as well. Lady Crystalline voiced her concern about the lack of Peter and Edmund's word, but the tone of her voice suggested that she seemed less concerned about them than she should have, considering her personal relationship with the High King.
According to Crystalline, however, her attitude was based on the fact that she was taught not to worry. War was meant for men, and there was little the women could do than simply wait for their return.
"And what if they don't return?" Electra outburst finally. She was tired of Crystalline's authoritive attitude and wanted nothing more than to beat her black and blue.
"Electra!" Susan said sharply. "Peter and Edmund will return and they will send word soon. This isn't the longest they've been away."
"It's the longest they've been away without word," Lucy said solemnly. She looked like a puppy that missed its master during a long trip.
"War does that," Crystalline said, straitening herself up in her chair. "They're busy protecting us. They'll send word when they get the chance. They won't want us worrying."
"What do you know of war?" Electra snarled.
"Electra!" Susan snapped again.
"No! I want to hear this." Electra turned to Lady Crystalline and folded her arms. "What could you possibly know of war that I don't? You've never been on the front line. Even when someone is fighting to the death, they don't wait a month and a half to let those who love them worry. They send word."
"Electra, you're completely out of line," Susan ordered.
"No," Lady Crystalline smiled fakely, looking up at Electra. "She should vent. Everyone knows about her infatuation with the young king. It's natural for her to be unstable like this, especially considering her history."
Electra's insides exploded, her eyes piercing the woman who was tearing her apart in ways that no one else could possibly have. She never moved however, as that would have sealed her fate. Instead, she settled for imagining wrapping her fingers around her throat and strangling her until she breathed her last. Wishful dreaming however, she knew, because Susan and Lucy would never allow it. Not to mention how had Crystalline found out about her feelings toward Edmund anyway. She knew Lucy wouldn't have told, and she didn't know of anyone else who might have known.
Not getting the response she desired, Crystalline continued on as though reading her thoughts. "Oh, I've noticed the looks you've given him. It's quite cute, actually. That is, if you're looking past the humorous part of it. Like he could actually consider you in the same way."
"Crystalline," Lucy cut in, looking at her worriedly. "That's not funny."
"Oh, I'm not trying to be," she said. "I'm being completely serious. Our Electra here thinks she is in love with your brother Edmund."
"That's absurd," Susan replied. "Making judgments like this. It's really unfair and… Electra wouldn't think that way about Edmund. The two are just friends, right?" She looked up at Electra, as though begging for her to agree so that Crystalline wouldn't continue on.
"She's right," Electra said, her voice rough. "King Edmund and I are just friends."
Lady Crystalline laughed. "King Edmund, now, is he? Oh, Electra, my darling. You are quite cute when you don't mean to be. Don't tell me the two of you have never noticed the look she gets in her eyes whenever she looks at him. The lust. One only a pirate could have. She thinks and says she's in love with him because she doesn't want to label it. And unless you're careful, she might just get exactly what she wants."
Electra swallowed, closing her eyes and refusing to allow herself to listen to Crystalline's words. She didn't leave because she knew if she did, Crystalline would only mock her behind her back. Lucy and Susan were too stunned at the moment to protect her, so she took it now, hoping that it would end soon enough. Behind her closed eyelids she pictured Edmund, holding her safe in his arms, in the way he only would in her dreams. When she opened them again, she stared determinedly at Crystalline to show she hadn't gotten to her yet.
"Oh, there it is again," Crystalline mused. "The look in your eyes. Are you fantasizing in your dreams because it could never be a reality? I can only hope Edmund sees through your little tricks before it's too late."
"That's enough!" Lucy ordered, finally standing up and facing Crystalline with a scowl. "You're a guest here, and Electra is like family to us. If you can't treat her with respect, then you're not welcome."
Crystalline shook her head. "I'm only treating her the way a pirate should be treated. Once a traitor, always a traitor. The back stabbers are the worst," she glanced at Electra with a cruel grin in her eyes.
"I said that's enough!" Lucy shouted again. "Electra's done nothing but good for us. If you really are this horrid, then you might as well pack. If this is the real you, I hope you know that you've just ruined any chances you had of being with my brother. If anyone's playing tricks on people, it's you."
"I'm merely trying to be helpful, Lucy," Crystalline implored. "Trust in her species is frowned upon."
"That's Queen Lucy," Lucy snapped. "And Electra is my friend. If anyone has a problem with it, they can tell me."
"Can we please just try to be civilized?" Susan spoke up. "We have our different views, but we don't need to be at each other's throats about it."
"How can you take her side?" Lucy asked.
"I'm not taking sides," Susan replied sternly. "I prefer talking things out, is all. We can use more civilized conversations around here."
A knock on the door suddenly subdued each of their thoughts. It opened and a badger entered, bowing low. "My apologies for interrupting, your Majesties, but I bring word of your brothers."
"How are they?" Susan asked the badger, standing up to take the news. Lucy too looked eager and Lady Crystalline listened in with rapt attention. Electra's heart stopped beating all together as she feared the worst.
"The battle has been won," the badger replied. "The Witch's old army has been driven into the wild lands and your brothers are returning home as we speak."
A/N: Four more chapters and then the epilogue until the end. Thank you so much everyone who's reading and reviewing! I really hope you enjoy the rest of the story!
