Cat and Rat
…
In which the Terebinthian Gryphon brings news and decisions have to be made.
Felika watched the magnificent winged beast spiral down, out of sight behind the south tower. Normally, she would have roused her son to see such a vision, but mercifully, Cuthbart had dropped into the exhaustion of sleep. There had been enough excitement and confusion for one day. So she let him be and pulled a coverlet over to keep him from evening chills in case she was away long.
Then she stood up, trembling a little, brushed mud from her fingers, wiped them with a damp cloth and threw a Terebinthian shawl about her shoulders, dabbed some bay rum on her temples and forehead and tipped a mouthful of watered wine down her throat. Now she was fortified for what came. Lastly, she took a handkerchief and folded it carefully and tucked it in her bosom.
She swept out into tower landing, bid the attendant Galman retainer to keep an eye on her son and lost no time in striding down the broad stairs to hear the Gryphon's words.
On her way, she heard a bell tolling, calling any within hearing to court.
…
With great decorum and ceremony, the breathless Gryphon, flanks heaving, had landed right in front of the main doors of the Cair, then climbed to the top of the steps and knocked smartly. It was the time-honoured staccato indicating greatest urgency.
Not that it was needed. Only ever used between courts for swift delivery of important or grave news, a Gryphon's arrival always indicated urgency. So, the Royal Gryphon of Terebinthia was not kept waiting. That was one tradition the new Narnian retainers had faithfully revived.
With the bell ringing, the doors swung open and the Gryphon was guided down the outer hall into the great throne room, wings flopped with exhaustion and trying not to tremble. Felika had already taken her place, standing to the left on the main floor a step down from the dais. Her own trembling was hard to suppress. She and this Gryphon had known each other since both were younglings.
Susan and Edmund were just getting into their seats. Lucy rushed in, hair everywhere. Peter was still out riding with Magnis.
As the effective ambassador to another country, the Gryphon was bound to speak to the sovereigns first, but as Felika walked into the hall to stand to the sovereigns' left, the Gryphon who had been getting her breath back in front of the dais, and having a much needed drink, inclined her head to the left and lowered her forequarters into a deep bow to Felika. Felika's breath caught in her throat.
'Speak, O Lady Gryphon', said Susan, seeing there was a need for words.
'Felicit- ha- ations Your Majesties, Sovereigns of Narnia,' the Gryphon panted. 'F-f-further to Crown Prince Mardon's earlier letter congratulating you on the destruction of the… the… White Witch, and successfully taking up rule of Narnia, I must now bring s-s-sad news. My long master, King M-M-Marcellon of Terebinthia is no more.'
A gasp came from Felika and she trembled violently and teared, bringing her fist to her mouth. This was the news she had been expecting for close on a year, but now it had arrived, it made it no easier to hear. Susan stepped down hurriedly from the dais, put her arm about Felika and helped her sit down on a chair. A faun trotted over with an extra pillow without being asked and immediately several Talking rabbits and a silver Fox gathered about. The fox pawed her leg and gazed at her mournfully. Felika burst into tears.
At that moment, Peter and Magnis strode in. They saw Felika being comforted and then took in the colours of the Gryphon's leg jesses.
Magnis began to say 'So, my dear, is this the news long port …' and then remembered he was in a senior court to his own. Bowing brusquely to Peter, Magnis went over to stand silently by his wife whilst Peter went to his seat. Susan stepped back onto the dais and resumed her own seat. Edmund leaned over and whispered the news to Peter.
'Your Majesty, High King Peter', remarked the Gryphon, 'as the Royal Gryphon of Terebinthia, it has fallen to me to bring the news to this court of my former master's passing. All here should know that he died peacefully on a fair morning overlooking the laurel groves of Eastern Terebinthia. That was the morning before this. I have flown since noon yestereve to deliver the news. Knowing his own sister was here visiting, Prince Regent Mardon, now King Mardon, also wished me to summon her home for the days of sorrow.'
'Thank you err… Lady Gryphon', began Peter. 'I am sure we will waste no time in err… releasing Duchess Felika from our domain to attend to her family's and her original nation's sorrowing time. I am assuming Duke Magnis, that you will also attend and sail there in the Galman Gull directly from here?'
Magnis nodded and said, 'Indeed Your Majesty, as we have now nearly conducted our business, I hope to depart on the tide tomorrow eve if we may expedite matters in the morning.' Magnis patted his wife's shoulder.
'As you will Duke Magnis.'
But the Gryphon was not finished.
'High King Peter, I also bring separate messages of state from King Mardon for yourself and your family and another for Magnis, Duke of Galma and a private one for Felika, Princess of Terebinthia. If I may relinquish these, they are in the satchel strapped to my flank. My Lady? '
It was Felika to whom the Gryphon spoke. As a member of the Terebinthian Royal Family it was her prerogative given the occasion.
Wiping her eyes, Felika rose with dignity, approached the Gryphon, knelt and before unstrapping the harness said unsteadily,
'My dear Aderyn. L-l-long have you served the people and creatures of Terebinthia through our family. It b-breaks my heart to see that you have been the one to bring this grievous news. Forsooth, your labor has been long and glorious. Thrice blessed may you be for all you have done.' She flung her arms about the Gryphon's neck and held it gently, breathing softly, stroking its back and flanks. The Gryphon was trembling with the effort of standing.
Magnis looked like he didn't know what to do and just looked glumly at the floor his face working a little. Everyone else watched, Lucy and Edmund both had a tear in their eye, thinking of their own father, who they were not sure they would ever see again. Then Felika handed a letter to Peter and held back the formal one for Magnis and the personal one for herself.
When she was done, Felika stood and addressed Peter.
'Sire, this faithful Gryphon Aderyn the Swift has flown without halt for more than a day. A warm bed with egress to the ground and goodly water and a fresh carcass of kid or a brace of rabbits would be most fitting if that can be arranged.'
At that, the rabbits which had fawned upon her, raced helter-skelter from the throne room, cotton tails raised in alarm.
'And I should like some private words with her once she is rested, if possible,' she added.
'Indeed Duchess,' intoned Peter in a higher voice than he had intended. 'Lady Aderyn shall rest and recuperate and there shall be no obstacles placed in your way to spend as much time with each other as you both shall wish.' Peter signalled to his chamberlain, a tall spare pine god and said, 'Driftwood, let all be done as the Duchess Felika instructs.'
Peter glanced at Susan then, who nodded, before addressing Magnis and Felika.
'I think we should now retire to our respective apartments, read letters and cleanse ourselves if needed. Driftwood, we shall all sup privately tonight and seek comfort with whom we will. After our suppers, perhaps at the third evening hour, the nobles here will have a short gathering in the Royal Library regarding plans for the next few days. We shall need you Driftwood. Duchess Felika, you may be excused, but you will be most welcome. Thank you all.'
Peter opened the letter and sat in his throne chair reading it whilst the others departed and the Gryphon was led away to some comfort and rest.
…
Letter to High King Peter of Narnia from Mardon, Crown Prince of Terebinthia.
My dear High King of Narnia, I shall be direct. No doubt you have now heard that the sad occasion of my father's death has come upon us – not unexpectedly. He is now in Aslan's country and at peace. Whilst I feel great sadness at losing him, the truth is that he was lost to us several years ago. I am grateful that he is no longer suffering the confusion of mind that so plagued him. It therefore falls to me to invite any one of your family to attend his final rites. These are due to take place within one week. If that is not possible, I completely understand, knowing that your kingship is so recent after the devastation of Jadis' monstrous reign. But a significant Narnian representative would certainly be most welcomed by the populous of Terebinthia, who are most eager to acknowledge the rejoining of Narnia to the family of nations and duchies that were originated by Narnia itself.
One week after that, is to be my coronation. To that I most heartily invite one of the new sovereigns of Narnia, if one of you could do me that great honour.
I must add that I also have several promising younger sons of Adam and daughters of Eve of impeccable diplomacy and skill, who most ardently wish to visit the renewed Narnia and would be only too glad to take up some role in your court and administration should they be needed. Whomever you are able to send would be most welcome to interview these hopefuls in the spare time that will be available to them. But until matters of my own state are settled, which may take some time, I do not see myself as having the opportunity to make your acquaintance in Narnia itself or to offer my direct support just yet. I shall speak more on this matter to whomever from your court is charged to visit Terebinthia, should that be possible.
Now, I must inform you of something of great gravity. Felika informs me that Aslan has not made an appearance in the court of Galma in Magnis's time, even after installing yourself and family, and never personally to Magnis himself in his lifetime. So whilst I have no doubt that Aslan has his own plan, I do not yet comprehend the purpose. He once appeared to me, just after I took up the Regency which I found to be one of the most valuable and salutatory moments in my life. Twice he came to my dearly departed father during times of struggle with his own kingship. I am sure Magnis feels slighted at this lack of personal visitation, particularly as Magnis is almost certain to have considered himself the rightful King of Narnia given his recent ancestry, not to mention his family and nation having faithfully guarded and defended the straits between Galma and the Narnian mainland for many hundreds of years. So I beg caution in your dealings with Duke Magnis, even though he be my own brother-in-law.
It is to be hoped that the estrangement between Magnis and Aslan will not linger and that Magnis will call to him most heartily and that Aslan shall come, but if I know my sisters' husband, this is unlikely. Sadly, I suspect very strongly that the fact of your installation by Aslan and not himself as High King of Narnia wrankles and that he has closed his heart. Tread carefully. He knows his sacred duty to Narnia, none better, but he is not used to being crossed.
I now bid you a warm farewell and hope that my sister Felika and her husband and children are in a position to depart for Terebinthia as soon as may be. Again, should one or more of your kin be able to attend with them, Terebinthia shall be truly honoured.
…
Young Peter, sighed, folded the letter and sat there looking grimly into the shadows of the high beams in the throne room, wondering why Aslan had not come to Magnis before now to offer him peace and wisdom.
It was on the way up the spiral staircase that it came to Peter that whilst Aslan may be the High King over all other kings in the world, he was still a cat and Peter had seen a cat play with an unfortunate mouse on more than one occasion. But in Magnis's case Peter thought that it was rather a rat. And an aggrieved, stubborn and rather single-minded large rat, at that.
It was with this sobering thought that Peter began to puzzle over how against the odds, he might forge a friendship with Magnis for Magnis's benefit as much as for Narnia's. And then he remembered that not only had Edmund come through significant trials to invite Aslan into his heart and may have something to offer Magnis on this matter, but might well be an astute judge of character when taking up the offer of some gifted young men and women to join their court and government.
…
Later that evening, all met in the Library as planned. Felika attended feeling care worn. A warming syrup of Narnian Fresny was passed around and all drank to the memory of her father. She felt comforted.
Then, to business.
The Galman Gull would leave on the tide the following afternoon at about three o'clock.
Aderyn the Terebinthian Gryphon would go aboard ship to have a restful journey home and then take off once she was closer to home and herald the approach of those on-board ship. Goldwing the Eagle would be sent at dawn to Galma to request a second ship leave Galma to bring various belongings and little Broder and his nurse. Edmund would travel with them representing the thrones of Narnia to attend both funeral and coronation with two retainers and then return via Galma. In total, a full month. Felika could tell her husband was less than pleased but he masked it well. But she was past caring.
Felika's sincere wish to take her sons to Terebinthia had come true. Maybe Cuthbart's dream of eating juicy melons in the warm sun with his feet in the aqua waters and yellow sands away from his father's expectations might even be realised.
…