Chapter Ten: Four kings and queens

The next eight days were spent tending the wounded, burning the dead, getting official surrenders from those who worked for the Witch or driving off the evil that wouldn't surrender. The non-combatants spent the time ensuring that castle Cair Paravel was in working order, cleaned and prepared for the coronation ceremony, or tending to the wounded that had only minor injuries and so didn't accept Lucy's healing.

Most of my time was spent with Edmund and Oreius, as ambassadors to the other races. Creating and going over treaties so that there wouldn't be rebellion due to unfair treatment. Peter was charged with ensuring those who didn't surrender couldn't harm anyone. Lucy and Susan spent their time at the castle, learning about the living arrangement of the Narnians, jobs and crops. They would all meet in the evenings before dinner to discuss their days so that no one was out of the loop. The Pensive siblings seemed to take to their role as rulers very quickly and with a natural grace and understanding.

During the days that they had been preparing, a group of fauns and spirits had come together to prepare the cloths that was to be worn to the coronation. They had designed Lucy a beautiful silver dress which had bell sleeves that hide her hands. Over the top of her dress, she wore a red velvet cloak which had golden embroidery around the edges, and was clasped at her throat by a broach which had Aslan's face on. The red looked very fetching on her, and I heard discussions between the spirits and fauns about making red one of Lucy's main colours for her wardrobe, using predominately silver or gold accents since these colours also suited Lucy and softened the bold colour so it didn't look tacky. Since Lucy's hair only came to her chin, it was decided they would curl it, but otherwise leave it untouched.

Susan's dress was sky blue, with silver accents darkening the bodice and bell cuffs. Her cloak was a dark blue with silver embroidery around the edges that almost looked like vines. The cloak was clasped at her throat with a golden broach of the same design as Lucy's. Since Susan's hair fell past her back it was clasped up using a clip which was designed to look like a pair of silver leaves. The designers decided that green and blue suited Susan the best and so would make up the base of her wardrobe with these colours, sticking to blues for official functions.

Edmund was wearing a blue tunic (the same colour as Susan's cloak), silver leggings and black boots. Embroidered in the centre of Edmund's tunic was a silver phoenix born from flames. It was a design I had suggested be included in Edmund's royal attire to symbolise that he was a different man to who he had been when he entered Narnia – that he had been reborn. He wore a silver cloak, clasped with the golden Aslan broach.

Peter was also in a blue tunic; except he wore golden leggings and the embroidery was of a bundle of wheat and an oak leaf in gold. His cloak was golden, and clasped with the Aslan broach.

Together, with their rich velvet royal robes, they struck a rather impressive group as they walked on either side of Aslan to the thrones that sat on individual pedestals at the front of the throne room. Once they were stood in front of their thrones, they turned to face the room full of people.

Mr Beaver walked forward, picking up the first crown from the podium. Mr Tumnus and I walked at his side. For the occasion Mr Tumnus had exchanged his red scarf for a felt green one while Mr Beaver had brushed his fur. I had been gifted a green tunic of velvet, silk black leggings and a green felt cloak. The cloak was clasped together with a silver broach depicting a yew tree. I was wearing leather boots, and a leather belt. Unlike the Pevensive siblings I had been allowed to wear my weapons. The Katanas were strapped to my back – hidden by the cloak, while I had a visible dagger attached to the belt that secured the tunic at my waist.

"To the glistening Eastern sea, I give you Queen Lucy the Valiant." Aslan announced as Mr Tumnus placed the delicate silver crown (made of interlinked flowers) on her head.

"May you continue to be fearless in the face of adversity." I bowed with a smile to Lucy, the rest of the room following my example. Lucy bowed back before taking her seat. Since she was 'glistening Eastern sea' and the youngest of the four, she had been given the seat on the left of the throne room.

The next of the Pensive siblings that Aslan turned too was Edmund, who had been assigned the seat to the far right because he was the second youngest and assigned the west (the splitting of the land meant that each sibling had equal power even if they technically had the same responsibilities).

"To the great Western woods, King Edmund the Just." Aslan announced proudly as Mr Tumnus placed the silver crown, which had oak leaves wrapped around it, on his head.

"May you be fair and unbiased in all disputes to come." I led the bowing once more. Edmund bowed back before proudly taking his seat.

The group moved to Susan who was stood to Lucy's right, before her own throne. Mr Beaver had retrieved the cushion with her crown which Mr Tumnus picked up.

"To the radiant southern sun, Queen Susan the Gentle." Alan announced, although this time he couldn't quite contain the joy he was feeling as human's once more took the throne of Narnia. Susan's crown was woven of silver with gold and silver flowers alternately decorating it.

"May you offer forgiveness and understanding too all who seek your guidance."

When Susan had taken her seat, it was finally Peter's turn. His crown was golden, and slightly larger than Edmund's, with sheaves of wheat in spikes of three coming from the tip of each point that circled the crown.

"And to the clear northern skies, King Peter the Magnificent."

"May your rule inspire those who look to you for guidance."

Once all four siblings had taken their seats, Aslan turned to those watching. Mr Tumnus and Mr Beaver went to join the front row of observers while I stood to Aslan's side at his request.

"Once a King or Queen of Narnia, always a King or Queen of Narnia." Aslan announced with more pride and conviction in his voice then he had used with each title.

"Once a King or Queen of Narnia, always a King or Queen of Narnia." The crowd echoed back with a cheer.

Once the cheering had died down Aslan turned to me while Oreius stepped forward with a badge of gold.

"Finally, I announce Harold, son of Merlin, as adviser and guide to the Kings and Queens. May you give strength when they falter; a guide when they are lost; a friend when they stand alone, and light when they are stuck in the dark." As Aslan spoke Oreius pinned the badge on the left breast of my tunic.

I fell to one knee and offered Aslan a bow. "I vow to fulfil my task with honour."

Although I disliked the power that Aslan had just given me, I wasn't just going to abandoned Edmund and his siblings in their new role. They would need a friend to turn too when the responsibility got too much, or they had the inevitable disagreements that all siblings had. The fact that Peter was the oldest, and was only 14, meant that they each had a steep learning curve ahead of them as they officially took up the rains of running a country.

Edited 11/04/2022

Short and sweet