Brielle stood aside, watching as the servants put the finishing touches on the breakfast items that adorned the large table for the five royals of Narnia to feast upon that morning. While she made sure the spread was evenly adequate—no one could come close to King Edmund's share of the spoils—she stepped back and nodded to the servants.
"That will be all, thank you."
"Yes, Lady Brielle."
They curtsied or bowed before leaving the room for the majesties to arrive once they'd finished their morning routines. Brielle had remembered to call for the maids to draw Susan's bath after her daily writing in her journal. As it was, there was still time to be had if the seriousness if Peter's expression was anything to go by.
Brielle glanced at the food that was laid out on the table, knowing she couldn't partake in any of it unless invited by any of the majesties. Even then, she was far from wanting to give into that temptation. Not to say that she had put a sort of spell over the food or laced it with anything to harm Peter, but the thought had crossed her mind once before.
A simple trace of arsenic, just enough to ensure the illness that wouldn't be detected until it drew concern. From then on, she'd continued to ensure he grew into his illness until he'd, unfortunately—or fortunately depending on the point of view—passed away. However, lacing his food would not be the best course of action, she knew.
There were too many people who could pinpoint her to be the one behind the treasonous crime. Too many knew it was her duty to ensure that Susan was not harmed or poisoned in any way. Having been appointed to watching the servants would ensure even further it was her responsibility if something were to pass their notice. Even putting a spell over the food would be difficult. She'd come into her powers since first arriving in Narnia, but found it increasingly infuriating by the day that she still was unable to focus her power on one object rather than on multiple ones at a time.
Tainting one goblet should be easy, the last thing she wanted was to taint all the others…not when they didn't have anything to do with it.
Not like you're not going to hurt them in the process, Brielle reminded herself. She pushed the horrid thought away the second it appeared. Wouldn't allow herself to even think of the pain and suffering it'd cause Edmund, Lucy, Susan, and Caspian. The sort of pain she couldn't even bare to think.
But it was what they said about revenge, she mused. That it was a dish best served cold. A life for a life and all that.
If it weren't for him, she'd be able to be come into her power and become one of the greatest witches that ever graced their presence in Narnia. If she had to bide her time and wait out for the moment she could have the King alone, for when she could watch the life fall from his eyes, so be it. She would wait all eternity for that moment.
Hearing footsteps coming towards the dining area, Brielle cleared her throat, equally smoothed down her dress and wavy hair that hung in tendrils around her face, and lifted her chin, ready to greet his or her highness. To which she did with a deep curtsy when she saw Lucy practically skip through the doors of the dining area.
Nothing to be called a fanciful room, but Lucy continued to marvel at the decorations that festooned the walls and corners, the brightness of the sunlight that streamed through the large windows overlooking the grounds of the castle. Brielle couldn't help but give a fond smile.
Though Lucy was not yet of age to have a lady-in-waiting, a topic she would sometimes gripe about when it came to reminisce of how old she truly was, Brielle did tend to her when Susan asked her to be, or when Lucy questioned for Brielle to be shared. Of course, Brielle didn't mind, she enjoyed her work and enjoyed working with both Queens of Narnia.
"Good morning, Brielle," Lucy greeted, giggling softly when Brielle curtsied once more. "That's right, I implore you to work as my entertainment whenever I enter a room," She teased.
"I only aim to please," Brielle teased in response. "Would you care for me to sing?"
At that, Lucy's nose wrinkled ever so slightly, though she kept the pleasant smile on her face. "I've heard you sing. Please don't."
"I can't be any worse than Edmund."
"Mmm." Lucy tapped a finger to her cheek. Her eyebrows twitched upwards. "Do you care to make a bet on that?"
Brielle bowed her head gracefully. "I do not." She tipped her head toward the entrance to the dining area. "I will let you all dine in peace, I'll go back to my quarters and have my bath drawn so that we can depart for Archenland as soon as possible."
"Would you mind to taking down a message for me while you're at it?" Lucy asked. Brielle nodded and waited for Lucy to dictate. "Just a silly reminder, really. I need to ensure that I take the time to go to the infirmary."
"Do you feel sick, Lucy?"
"No! But Ii must continue with my studies. My cordial makes it so that I can heal people, but I'd like to know how to do it without having to use it." She gestured to her side, where her cordial was always situated, ready in case of an emergency. "As it is, I've found that my bedside manner has been applauded," she added in a cheeky manner.
"That's because our Valiant Queen shows love to all creatures. I'll be sure to take down that reminder for you." Brielle curtsied once more, sure she was dismissed and Then she grew serious, clasping her hands in front of her dress. "I ensured the servants were to arrange your carriages. I will check on them before I go to my own quarters."
"See you, Brielle."
Brielle swept from the dining area and headed back to her room. Along the way, she passed guards, knights, maids, and servants who all smiled and nodded her way. Brielle smiled and nodded to them in response. She stopped short when, rounding the corner of the elongated hall came two servants, that almost plowed her over.
Typically, servants held a sense of decorum when doing their duties in the castle, but that wasn't always upheld by the children. Brielle smiled as she watched Rosie and her younger brother Roman, run in circles around her, arms outstretched as they tried to slap each other on the arm in what appeared to a bizarre version of a chasing game.
"Be careful," Brielle warned them, grimacing when she saw Rosie give Roman a particularly hard push that nearly projected him into the wall. "Hey, hey." She grasped their arms, bring them to a halt as they flailed their arms and legs, trying to hit each other. "What's going on?"
"Rosie! Roman!" A servant hurried around the corner and came to a stop, when she spotted Brielle. Clasping her hands together, she quickly—almost frantically—curtsied. "Oh, Lady Brielle! I'm so sorry for the interruption. I told these two not to wander off while I set up breakfast for the royals. I hope they didn't disturb you. Please, let me take them—" she held her hands out towards her children, waving frantically. "I'm sorry, there's so much for me to do and I was hoping to show them what needs to be done around the castle in case—"
Brielle smiled and grasped Adrianna's shoulders. The head of the servants, Brielle had gotten to know Adrianna very well and had become very close to her, even being there to witness the birth of her two children. Once docile infants had surely seemed to grow into their rambunctious tendencies the older they became. "Adrianna, no need to worry, nothing's been broken and I'm sure once they get their energy out they'll be able to help you a bit more."
"Brielle," Rosie said, turning her large hazel eyes up at her.
"Lady Brielle," Adrianna hissed.
Rosie puffed up her cheeks, rolled her eyes and let out an exaggerated sigh. She reached up and grasped Brielle's hands, working to free herself. "Lady Brielle," she said petulantly. "Roman hit me."
"Rosie hit me first!" Roman screeched back.
"He's a horrid brother. I was trying to prove to him who was the elder sibling. And, rightfully, the who will inevitably take the name of our family and—"
Brielle laughed quietly. Rosie was only six years old, but she clearly had heard a lot about the royals' reign back in the Golden Age. Enough so she'd watch her rule all the young servant children with any long and pointy object she could find, knighting some, and demanding others to go to prison for treason—or which "treason" to her meant knocking her down.
"Once you're done with your royal duties, would you like to help me ensure that Queen Susan's carriage is ready for the voyage to Archenland?" Brielle asked, smoothing Rosie's hair back from her forehead as the young girl nodded, eyes widening in amazement. Roman made a whining sound and tugged on Brielle's other hand. "You too, Roman."
Roman stuck his tongue out at Rosie before they followed their mother, who called for them once more, and disappeared as Susan walked up, chuckling quietly. "They sure do remind me of me and Peter when we were that age."
"You tried to kill him?" Brielle asked, surprised. She hadn't known Susan to be anything more than refined and able to hide any anger she may have felt until the right time to unleash it. Sure, she confided in Brielle all the times where she grew frustrated with having to keep up appearances in front of the kingdom and could release it when they were alone.
"I wouldn't say I've gone that far," Susan said with a light laugh, blue eyes sparkling. "But there had been plenty moments when our mum and dad had to tear us apart." She bobbed her head. "Peter would say I was an absolute terror. I can say the same about him. And even more so once Ed came along. He so followed Pete around, wanting to do everything he did. They tormented me on nearly a daily basis. It was such a relief when Lucy came along and evened out the playing field."
"And here I thought Lu was Peter's favorite," Brielle commented lightly.
"She likes to think she's everyone's favorite, I suppose," Susan said.
"Speaking of Lucy, I was to write a note to remind her to look into the infirmary."
Susan's eyebrows knitted together in confusion. "I hope she's not falling ill. Not when we're to be setting off for Archenland once we commence our breakfast."
"Not at all, Su, she's working to learn as much about healing as she can, so that she doesn't have to rely on her cordial," Brielle explained. "There's plenty of it left, but you know Lucy. She wants to be there for everyone on her own volition."
"That would be Lu, when she's not running around trying to find out everyone's business." Susan's smile then turned mischievous, her eyes shining even further. "That reminds me of some interesting information that I've managed to come across." Brielle lifted her eyebrow. "Of your life in Archenland."
"Please remind me," Brielle said. "As I'm unsure of what you're referring to." Though, with a sinking feeling, she had an idea she knew what Susan was talking about, and had it confirmed the moment Susan mimicked Brielle and lifted an eyebrow, lips pursing.
"Do the names Vincent and Silas ring a bell?"
Brielle couldn't help the groan that slipped past her lips for nothing irritated her more than Vincent and Silas, two nobleman whose families hers were close to. And the two who managed to create more strife for her than High King Peter the Magnificent could ever think of.
"I see that they do," Susan said. She reached out and grasped Brielle's hands. "There's a story here, I can tell. Are they previous suitors of yours?" She continued to press when Brielle moved to take her hands away from Susan's but found the Gentle Queen to be much stronger than she let on. Not that Brielle needed convincing, she was the one to aid Susan in her archery and combat training. She had the bruises, welts, and scars to prove it. "Come on, you can tell me!"
"There's nothing to tell, Susan, I assure you," Brielle said.
"Liar." Susan tapped her cheek before pressing her fingertip into Brielle's shoulder, gently pushing her backward. "What is it, then, if they're not suitors?" Brielle continued to remain tight-lipped.
There was a reason she kept a lot of her past quiet, most of which determining how her future was going to go. Brielle surreptitiously glanced towards the hem of her dress where her wand gently brushed against her thigh. She had to think of a different place to hide it once she arrived in Archenland and was able to dress following her home's rules of regality.
"If you're so insistent on setting me up with Caspian, then I feel it's only fair that you allow me into that portion of your life and inquire—"
"I'll be sure to introduce you," Brielle interrupted with a bright smile. "Once we arrive, we'll send for them and I'll introduce you."
Susan's mischievous smile faded into the pleasant one that had Susan well known in not just Narnia, but on Earth as well. "I look forward to it."
Brielle curtsied and left Susan to dine with her siblings. The second Brielle turned her back, the smile dropped from her face, replaced with an eyeroll and an expression of disgust.
She wouldn't be able to get Peter that day, but the right opportunity would present itself soon. If the mere thought of seeing Vincent and Silas didn't drive her to pitch their carriage into the water on the way to Archenland.
She wanted to kill the High King, but didn't think Aslan would let her into his country if she managed to take out herself and Susan at the same time. He didn't strike her to have a very big sense of humor.
A/N: Thank you so much for the response to the first chapter of the story here, on tumblr, and on AO3. It was certainly a lot more than I thought I would receive. But what do you guys think? Should this still be set after Prince Caspian or during? I can easily make it work both ways—I'd have to tweak a few things it if it were set in the movie—but I'm interested to know what y'all think.
I hope to update again soon!
Cheers,
-Riley