Disclaimer: I don't own any of this! Lord of the Rings and everything it contains was originally the idea of J.R.R. Tolkien. Credits for Narnia and everything associated with it go to C.S. Lewis. This was based on the video 'The king, the girl and the lion – Trailer' by Nonokun24 on YouTube. This chapter contains references to the movie adaptation of 'The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe' by Andrew Adamson and one to 'The Age of Empires III: Blood'. I think that's it; if there's more, please tell me!
Author's note: Welcome back, dear readers! And again, dear reviewers, thank you!
I'm sorry, I know it's been quite a while, but University robbed me of a lot of time. I'm trying to keep it up, though!
Now, the final chance for a diplomatic solution. Will Aragorn conclude a peace? Or is violence his only answer?
Dedicated to Nonokun24, because of her never failing support and because I used one of the quotes from her vid in this one! =)
I hope you'll like it!
Please read and review!
Negotiations
"Why fight if we can negotiate?"
CAPTAIN ( ;) ) Jack Sparrow, Pirates of the Caribbean: 'Dead Man's Chest'
Aragorn
"It will not be our end, but his."
Aragorn, The Lord of the Rings: 'The Return of the King'
The Narnians had formed a path, between which the delegation of the Union rode.
High King Aragorn Elessar led the party. Legolas and Gimli had come with him, as had Elladan and Elrohir, along with the Noldorine Guard and the Royal Guard; the Evenstar Guard had been send ahead, so they could already take the responsibility of guarding Lucy on them and inform Aslan off their arrival.
Aragorn looked around. The Pevensies – and his own daughter – stood to his left, just like Aslan's Faun Guard; to his right stood Oreius and the Royal Centaur Guard. Clever of those Narnians, he thought; if he wanted to threaten Aslan the latter's own Fauns would assail him, and he couldn't attack them without also threatening the Pevensies, after which Oreius and his Centaurs would hit the warriors of the Union in the back.
The riders dismounted and Aragorn, followed by Legolas and Gimli, stepped forward. Right in front of the Lion Pavilion Aslan was waiting for them. Normally Aragorn would have been impressed by his stature and majesty, and maybe even had admired him.
But now he hated the Lion with every fiber in his body, and with that hate came despise and contempt.
Icily he opened the negotiations: "You sure have some nerve, Aslan. How dare you show yourself to me? After you tried to force me into peace by deceiving my wife, after you took advantage of my child's kindness."
"I am hardly informed about that conversation, Lord Aragorn," answered Aslan in a trembling voice. He was furious.
Aragorn snorted and continued: "And you have traitors in your midst. That's the only reason why I really am here. One of your own and another from me."
He looked at his daughter for a minute and coldly said: "Lucy, when this business with Narnia is over, we must discuss your choice of friends."
Edmund said coldly: "Leave the child alone, Aragorn. Fight it out with me."
Aragorn laughed frigidly. "Originally, I did intend to. But then I got better informed. Narnia was built upon very interesting laws. Have you forgotten those?" he asked Aslan.
The Lion growled angrily: "A Gondorian does not need to cite the Deep Magic to me. I was there when it was written."
The King of Gondor answered: "Then you'll remember well that every traitor – literally – belongs to 'the enemy of Narnia'. King Edmund's blood is my property."
"Try and take him then!" Peter shouted, unsheathing Rhindon.
Many Narnians followed his lead. Legolas on his turn stepped forward and Gimli raised his axe. Aslan turned his gaze from one High King to the other.
Aragorn asked mockingly: "Do you really think mere force will deny me in my right? Little King?"
Peter turned away his gaze; he knew Aragorn was right.
The Gondorian continued loudly and clearly: "Aslan knows that, unless I have blood as the law demands, all of Narnia will be overturned and perish in fire and water. That boy will die on the Stone Table. As is tradition."
After the shocked uproar a dead-like silence fell.
Aragorn was the one to break it. "You dare not refuse me."
Aslan rose and spoke: "Enough. I shall talk with you alone."
The Generals shortly looked at their Lord Marshal. Aragorn nodded to them and they stood their ground.
The High King of Gondor and the God King of Narnia entered the Lion Pavilion for a long conversation.
(Mostly Edmund)
Edmund stood up.
He, the rest of the Narnians and the envoys of the Free Peoples had sat down when Aragorn had entered the Lion Pavilion. The Gondorian was the first to come out again. Aslan followed him at a distance. The God King and the King exchanged a quick glance.
Aslan shouted: "He has renounced his claim on King Edmund's blood!"
The Narnians sheered.
Aragorn called above them: "This isn't the end, Aslan. You will pay for this concession!"
"Now don't pretend I forced you, Aragorn," the Lion answered irritated. "I have showed you we would both lose something if you were to sacrifice King Edmund. Do you think it would make a fair trade after all? Then you can have him, or try to achieve an alternate arrangement. But I rather doubt it."
Aragorn grumbled. Then he asked: "How do I know if you are not simply deceiving me?"
Aslan sighed deeply.
Then Edmund saw the Great Lion pouncing at him.
Immediately the boy drew his sword and stepped aside. The Lion barely managed to change his direction and hit Edmund. In doing so, however, he drove the steel deeper into his own body. Aslan roared in pain and frustration, as he threw Edmund on the ground with crushing strength. The King started coughing, but drove his sword even deeper into the Lion. Aslan leapt away and healed the wound with his magic.
The Narnians and the Free Peoples almost all had the same reaction: Legolas and Susan had both bent their bows, Gimli had raised his axe and Peter pointed his sword at Aslan; the Royal Centaur Guard seemed to be shocked and made ready to support Peter, if he should attack; Elladan and Elrohir and the rest of the Noldor had drawn swords; the Royal Guard was ready for battle.
Lucy had burst into tears and knelt near Edmund, who was by now coughing up blood; his chest was practically squashed.
And yet he was alive.
Aragorn said weakly, astonished as he was: "Now, you didn't have to make it that drastic."
Aslan answered drily: "What would have been your proposition, then?"
Aragorn couldn't answer that.
Edmund spit at the Lion and said weakly: "Fine. Then we'll meet again in hell, coward!"
Lucy, a smart girl, suddenly thought of something. At her belt she had a flask with a wonderful juice, which would cure any injury. A single drop was sufficient: Edmund got back up.
Without a word he stepped forward and pushed Peter aside. "Alright, Aslan," he said softly and threateningly. "Let's do that again. But this time fairly."
Aslan explained: "Edmund, you got it all wrong. I didn't mean to kill you. If I had to, I would have saved you with my own magic."
Edmund snorted skeptically.
Aragorn intervened: "It is true. We were discussing your death and I was just wondering if he hadn't made up something which played a part in our negotiations. Apparently he hadn't. I'm sorry, Edmund. I didn't know he'd do that."
Edmund re-sheathed his sword. "Fine then. I will assume you speak the truth."
Aragorn nodded.
Then he did something very surprising: he came to stand very close to the Pevensies and Lucy, along with Legolas and Gimli, and softly said: "It wasn't all quite according to my plan either. But I can't really go back anymore. Well, like there's a Heaven on Earth, there's going to be a Hell too. And I just couldn't cross it out."
After that he and his companions left.
They left many questions.
Author's note: Well, who saw that final bit coming? Nonokun24 probably did; okay, okay. But who else? =)
I confess, pretty Narnia-like, but I can't say I dislike it. Right?
So, it shall be war. Then Narnia and the Union will meet in battle at last.
Coming up next on 'The king, the girl and the lion': The battle is joined! Aragorn's armies face Peter's forces; Narnia has never been closer to annihilation. Will Edmund be a match for Gimli? Or is Susan's archery superior to Legolas'? Or the real question: will there be a Narnia after the fight?
I'd be very happy with a review!
Don't forget the videos on YouTube by Nonokun24 and EdwardElricGirl200, or the story 'Yu-Gi-Oh: European Duel Academy' on here by my wondrous friend Supreme Arcanite Magician!
