Disclaimer: The delegates of Calormen and the rulers of Narnia turned as one to inform me of my lack of ownership, and I've not skill enough to match all of them at once and win Narnia for my own. You try arguing with Edmund, Susan, Peter, Lucy, and the Calormenes all at once and see if you win!
Maybe I'll ask Oreius for help.
Betaed by trustingHim17 - thank you, thank you, thank you! However, she was also kind enough to point out a problem with the wording I was using, and I went back and edited that myself, so any mistakes you read are probably the direct result of that.
OOOOO
The Four were seated with their usual pomp and fanfare (or distinct lack thereof). The five Tarkaans, new to Narnia, were all diplomatic enough not to sneer. Well, almost all diplomatic enough. Peter ignored the beardless one who wasn't.
"We welcome you to our kingdom of Narnia," the High King began. He paused; normally, especially with new Calormen representatives, Susan would speak next, a smooth interjection that reminded the Calormenes of her authority.
"And we request you send our thanks to your Tisroc, currently living in power, for agreeing to renegotiate the rights of the waters," the Gentle Queen added. Her voice was calm, serenity and power implied in every word. Inwardly, Peter smiled; however much she might be shaken, his sister never let her fears touch her outward mask when she was on the throne. It was one of the reasons the kingdom relied on her so much.
The Tarkaan in the front, his beard a glistening black and his eyes half-closed, bowed in response. "The Tisroc (may he live forever) sends his greetings to you, O favored Barbarian Kings and Queens of Narnia. As the poets have said, peace is like the water of the gentlest rain falling on the farmer's crops, and so, in his enlightened wisdom, our monarch in his great enlightenment moves to be at peace with Narnia again. We bring with us a few small requests of the land of Narnia, that the peace may be settled to the benefit of both our countries. Uvayeth, unroll the scroll of our requests, that we may go at once to the purpose of our visit, and not detain these four wealthy and doubtless wise rulers."
Another Tarkaan - Uvayeth, presumably, and also the beardless youngest of the group who had sneered at the four - stepped forward and bowed also, holding a rolled scroll in his hand, but paused when Queen Susan spoke
"Perhaps it would please you to wait before we begin. We broke our fast this morning, but as your ship arrived with the morning sun, it would surprise me if you have yet had a chance to enjoy the food of Narnia. We ask you, of your courtesy, to allow Narnia to show you hospitality, and perhaps to address the requests this afternoon?"
"But-" the youngest Tarkaan protested, only to be cut off by the leader of the delegation.
"Peace, Uvayeth, and keep thy young tongue between thy teeth, for 'wisdom is the province of the old, but youth speaks foolishness.'" He bowed. "Gracious Kings and Queens, truly hospitality is a mark of favor from the gods, and we would be pleased to accept yours."
"Then be pleased to come this way," Lucy said, standing. Her brothers stood at once, and, with a bow, Edmund reached to escort her. Peter extended his arm to Susan, but slowed their pace to fall behind, out of earshot of their siblings and the group of visitors following them.
"All is well?" he asked softly.
"My ears are less inclined to hear their words of poetry or flattery now, my brother, for in them I only hear the dulcet, deceiving tones of Rabadash." She shuddered, then visibly gathered herself together and smiled at him. "But all about me are my loved ones, and I remember that none of us are prisoners here." Susan smiled. "Narnia is freedom," she added softly.
"And Aslan is safety," Peter finished. He bowed and kissed his sister's hand. "Your courage is a blessing, on Narnia and on us. Shall we speed our pace, that our guests and siblings may not miss us?"
It was foolishness, of course, to expect that Lucy and Edmund hadn't noticed their absence – they had – but the guests, listening gravely to Lucy's cheerful tones and Edmund's wise remarks (better than any of their poets' sayings, Peter thought uncharitably), had not noticed the brief absence from the large, airy room with long tables and cushioned chairs against the walls, filled with many of Narnia's lords and ladies, human and animal.
The food on the tables was Narnia's best, the fruits of the field, honey found and shared by Bears, uncountable nuts from the Squirrels, and Peter, when he was allowed to eat in peace, quite enjoyed his second breakfast. But, after perhaps an hour of unenjoyable small conversation and delicious food to make up for it, he noticed his three siblings grouped together, allowing the Narnia court to occupy their guests. He frowned and made his way over.
"I think they do not favor it," Susan was saying. "Remember, my brother, the food in Tashbaan?"
Edmund shuddered. "I swear I tasted oil on my tongue for a month after, and the smell of fish set my manservant to choking, when he came upon my clothing." Lucy and Susan smiled, but Susan pressed on.
"Our food may be difficult for them to stomach, so soon after a sea voyage. Should we not offer them what reminds them of home?"
"From now on, perhaps," Peter agreed, causing three heads to swivel in his direction. "But it would not be fair to our good servants to ask them to serve yet another meal this morn. If they still suffer the sea malady, they will eat but lightly."
Susan acquiesced with a curtsey and moved away to see to their guests, Narnian or Calormen. Lucy went with her, but Peter stayed a moment to watch the two, grateful and glad once again that Aslan had seen fit to spare both to remain with them.
"My elder sister is very sensitive to the care of our latest guests," murmured a voice beside him, and Peter knew without looking that Edmund was watching them as well.
"Not out of a desire to go back, my brother," Peter quickly assured.
"'Twas not my worry." Edmund paused, and out of the corner of his eye Peter saw the Just's two Leopard friends, Leo and Por,* turn their heads, their ears twitching. One of the reasons the Just King got along so well with them was because they had the ability, between them, to hear everything that happened, or so Edmund swore.
"Then what?"
"'Tis a sign, if I know her, of her hiding her discomfort. These guests bring unpleasant feelings to our fair sister."
Peter shifted; Edmund knew what he was going to say, and it was unusual for his brother to cause him to state what they both knew. "We cannot send them away; we have lost too many sailors to these sea battles with Calormenes, and claims of piracy aside, I do not believe the Tisroc (may he cease his warring ways soon) will let such a slight to his house pass without harrying us as he can. We need them here. At least till the treaty be finished."
"I know." Edmund's voice grew softer. "But I would set aside all other things, my brother, and finish this soon. By the end of tomorrow, if Aslan be willing." He paused. "You did not see our sister's fear in Tashbaan, but I cannot forget it. She feared to lose all the things she ever loved, to never see those bright and beautiful things again. She said aloud that she brought ruin, calling herself the cause of all her loved ones' misfortune, rueing the day her eyes had turned to their prince. The Calormenes' return has made her grasp at her beloved world with fearful fingers."
Peter looked back at his sisters; Lucy was bending forward to gravely discuss something with a Hedgehog, the youngest Tarkaan standing impatiently at her side. Susan revolved from one guest to another, listening with gracious attention, and Peter could read nothing wrong in her stance, though he kept a careful eye for it. But he trusted his brother's judgement. Edmund, with the eyes and mind of one who weighs hearts justly, had sometimes seen more than he had.
"I will cancel the smaller matters," the High King responded, raising his hand to signal one of the messengers. Robin flitted down from the rafters and landed on his arm. Running through a list of the items for the day, Peter found he could cancel most of them, leaving the rest of the morning for their guests and all of their evening; their afternoon was to be taken up with a court to hear reports on some mysterious disappearances near their northern border, and that Peter could not cancel.
"It is done," he said quietly to Edmund, hoisting Robin into the air.
"Good, my brother. I will arrange for us to meet with the dignitaries this evening, where we can at last give attention to what that son of an ill-begotten imp wants to show us." Peter raised an eyebrow; normally Edmund was not so emphatic in public. "He's been making Lucy uncomfortable." Peter snapped his attention back to his sisters to find Uvayeth was still standing next to Lucy, his fingers tapping the scroll as he spoke emphatically, taking up her full attention. "He has not left her side, since first we entered. I know not if it be pleasure at her company, or desire for a Narnian throne, or an ill-fated attempt to sway her to Narnia's harm-" Peter snorted; as if- "thinking her easy to mold, but I like it ill."
"And I thank you for drawing this to my attention," Peter said, starting forward, only to have Edmund halt him with a hissed whisper.
"Lucy can handle herself," he reminded Peter.
"That does not mean she should have to. With the last knight from Galma, you also interfered, why-" Peter, catching the glint in Edmund's eye, turned back around swiftly, only to see Leo and Por slinking through the crowd—and heading straight for Lucy and Uvayeth. "This is of your planning," he said to Edmund, who only smirked.
"I started nothing, my brother. I merely mean to watch our subjects help one they love deeply." Edmund and Peter were both tracking the Leopards now, eyes fixed on the great Cats and identical smiles growing larger as they saw Por slow and meander a bit farther away. They had seen the brothers hunting before.
Leo moved first, walking up behind Uvayeth with stately grace and brushing the Tarkaan's side on his way to stand with the Queen. The Calormen started, flinching away, but the Cat took no notice, and, arriving at Lucy's side, sat beside her, tail twitching, and leaned into her. The Queen gently set her hand on Leo's head without taking her attention away from the Calormene, but her brothers could see her lips twitching as she tried not to smile.
Behind Uvayeth, Por stalked forward on noiseless feet, coming closer, and closer, and closer to the unsuspecting Tarkaan. When he stood a breath away, he sat in a position identical to his brother, tail twitching, and growled. The ambassador whirled, yelped at the sight of the Leopard so close, spun again in confusion to verify there was an identical Leopard still sitting by the Queen, and hastily stepped to the side, away from either. In the silence that followed his exclamation, the entire courtyard heard Lucy's straight-faced remark, "Perhaps you have not met Leo and Por, verily two close friends of mine, and often my companions."
Panting, Uvayeth glared at her, but, as another of the Tarkaans cleared his throat pointedly, bowed and said, "Truly, as the poets have said, the earth is filled with things man may not understand, but the brave go to meet them. I am honored to be introduced the friends of such a Valiant Queen."
He bowed—barely, his eyes darting from one Cat to the other, but he did offer a shallow dip—and Leo and Por purred in perfect timing, dipping their own heads in response.
Peter couldn't help but smile, because, thorough as they were—and they had done this before—he knew Leo and Por were not quite done. Por's growl had been a signal.
Moments later, just as conversations began again, Peter strained his ears and heard the heavy footfalls of some of Narnia's larger animals. From separate sides of the room, two halves of a Wolf pack came running in, paused at the crowd, and then five of them skillfully wove through the court, heading directly for the two Leopards and Lucy. On reaching them the Wolves sat in a circle stretching from Por to Lucy's other side. The Tarkaan, who had been starting to explain whatever-it-was he thought important to Lucy again, stuttered back to a halt, staring at the large Wolves who sat, panting, their tongues lolling out and, in some cases, licking very large, very white teeth, left in full display as the Wolves breathed.
The Tarkaan went white.
Peter, walking slowly forward (so as not to miss any part of this unfolding drama), began to smile as his sister spoke.
"These are other friends of Narnia's throne, Socrates, his wife Salsha, Rena, Durai, who is head of the pack, and here is Rena's husband Ralf. And behind you, Uvayeth of Calormen," and the pale man spun to see a very large, graying Wolf approaching slowly, mouth closed and teeth covered, but growling softly, her fur beginning to bristle, "comes our subject Ren, who took me into the pack as one of her own when I was but a child.** Ren, good cousin, how fares Cair Paravel?"
"Forgive me, Queen Lucy, but I see Ikelken my master beckoning. The blessings of Tash upon thee," Uvayeth said hastily. He blanched when the Wolves and Leopards all growled at his words, not noticing Lucy smiling in acknowledgement, but Ren took another step forward when he moved.
"Welcome to the land of Narnia, Calormene Lord. Perhaps sometime you'd like to go about the castle and the gardens and see the sights; I will escort you." Ren smiled now, eyes dark above the white teeth. "I'll make sure it happens; I know I would enjoy the walk." Uvayeth bowed still more hastily and fled.
"Rescued by the Wolves yet again, sister of mine?" Edmund asked teasingly, sliding into the circle beside Leo.
"They are quicker to my aid than my brothers, it seems" Lucy responded in the same tone. She looked around the circle. "My thanks to all of you, loved ones."
"But perhaps you should scatter," Peter murmured to them, looking to the side. "The Gentle Queen seems somewhat unhappy with this enthusiastic welcome of our guests." The four-legged Narnians took one look at the approaching Queen and quickly scattered—though Peter noticed one of the Leopards once again staying within earshot.
"At our royal brother's suggestion, we have arranged the afternoon and evening so there may be no other matters than court, so we may meet with the ambassadors at once, my sister," Peter said quickly, before Susan could speak. "They should be most happy to hear of it, particularly Tarkaan Uvayeth."
"So he may pardon the manners of Narnia that brought his dark cheeks to a palor like a barbarian's?" Susan asked with a raised eyebrow. "But 'tis well thought of, Edmund, and I render thanks. It may make up for the rest of thy conduct," and her tone still rebuked them.
"He would not leave Lucy alone."
"Lucy could handle him with far more grace than row after row of shining teeth, my brother. She is a Queen in her own right."
"But I do not regret the rescue, my sister, only that you were inconvenienced," Lucy chimed in, kissing her sister's cheek. "The Tarkaan must be eager to prove himself, for there was more matter and less poetry to his talk than I have yet heard from a Calormene."
"Truly?" Susan asked, her attention fixing on her sister, and the other two also gave her their sharp attention. "Perhaps we should spend our time better preparing to meet them in a battle of wits, then, if this means so much to the Tisroc and his Tarkaans." She looked to Peter. "This evening we meet?"
"This evening," he said, nodding.
"Then I shall leave the hosting to you, while I go and review our documents. I'll bring them to lunch," she added, forestalling any protests that they all might need such reviewing. "And do try not to scare our guests anymore while I'm absent. It would be wise to save such tactics for later. If we need them."
OOOOO
*Introduced in my story Loyalty.
**This story is told in Kidnapped.
A/N: Did you catch the two Lord of the Rings (movie) references?
A/N2: I don't tend to make New Years resolutions, but I do tend to review the habits I've had for the last year, and wonder about improving them (or changing them, if they simply haven't worked). I realized I need to focus more on my original writing this year, so I am going to start publishing once a week instead of twice. Do people have a preference as to whether I post on Tuesdays or on the weekends?
