Hello, is anyone still there? I know it's been months since I updated - it's...time and motivation have been in short supply. I hope the chapter is worth the wait.
One thing that has NOT changed: I STILL do not own Narnia...
Beta'd by BrokenKestrel, with many thanks
Chapter 4 - The King Goes A-Courting
Caspian found the next three days slightly less frustrating than the preceding ones, but only because he had something to occupy his attention. Now able to walk, the King of Narnia finally began his personal inspection of Rethisbar's defences. Unfortunately, Rethisbar's defences met the courtiers' reports - they were in good order and his men well-trained. Caspian would need to rest for several more weeks before he would be able to ride, but once the defences were inspected and the king had less to do, the Rethisbars undoubtedly would become more aggressive in presenting their daughter as a candidate as Caspian's queen.
Caspian was fairly certain Lady Elkarna would accept his offer of marriage, and thereby save him from the Rethisbars' annoyances. Though the responsibilities of being queen were great, surely it was better than the uncertain future that currently awaited her. Caspian would care for her, and she would have allies at court to help her in her new role. That was more than could be expected from Rethisbar's management. Accepting Caspian's offer and becoming queen was the logical decision.
But matters of the heart - and this was one, even if it was the king's marriage - were not strictly logical. Caspian could justify marrying Lady Elkarna on logical grounds - else his advisors would have objected more strenuously. But the idea had its source elsewhere, and Caspian knew Lady Elkarna would have entranced him even if the logic had been less compelling. Though her life had been sad and lonely, it had not made her bitter. She was intelligent enough to navigate the intrigues of court life, but would bring a compassion that was rarely seen there. There was a warmth in her Caspian yearned to be near always.
His offer had come from his heart, and her answer would come from hers.
Anticipation and dread warred within Caspian, keeping him from sleep. Caspian wanted the matter settled.
The morning Lady Elkarna had promised to give her answer, Caspian hardly slept at all. He did not speak as Olin helped him dress, and ran to the gardens as fast as his injured leg would carry him.
Caspian knew he was early, and the empty gardens were no portent. But now he had to wait, and there was little to distract him from the fear within.
He began pacing up and down the path by the spot Lady Elkarna had promised to meet him. As lovely as the gardens were, they would have been a poor distraction under the circumstances even in broad daylight. In the hours before dawn, the hues of leaf and flower were muted and the shapely trees were wrapped in shadow.
Hidden, just like Lady Elkarna.
Caspian knew Lady Elkarna would keep her word and her appointment - if she could. But if something were wrong, she had few means of informing him. Nurse was the only obvious conduit, and she would be unwilling to leave her charge if she were sick or in danger.
If Rethisbar was behind the delay, trying to claim the role of queen for his own wretched daughter -
Caspian heard the soft crunch of gravel. Looking up, he saw Lady Elkarna finally walking toward him, her Nurse close behind. Caspian smiled in relief and began walking quickly towards them.
When he was close enough to see Lady Elkarna's face, Caspian's pace slowed. There was no joy in her face, not even the slightest hint of a smile. Caspian fought back a surge of panic.
"Good day to you, Lady Elkarna, Nurse," he said, hoping his tone and face did not betray his unease.
The two women dropped curtseys. Lady Elkarna murmured what sounded like "good morning."
The ambivalent greeting did nothing to ease Caspian's anxiety. But he returned the greeting, then looked at Nurse. "Have I your leave to speak with Lady Elkarna?" he asked.
"You have leave," said Nurse.
Lady Elkarna did not look at Caspian, but she took his proffered arm and walked beside him down the garden path. Nurse and Olin walked behind at a discrete distance.
Caspian leg began throbbing after a few steps. He grimaced as he realized he must have walked to the gardens too quickly for his injured leg.
He did not mean for Lady Elkarna to see his discomfort. But she must have noticed, because she said, "There are some benches just up ahead where we can rest, Your Majesty."
She continued to hold his arm, and Caspian was careful not to lean on her.
Caspian sat down with a muffled sigh when they reached the place Lady Elkarna had mentioned. She did not sit, and the pain in Caspian's leg was overcome by the feeling of lead in his stomach.
"Your Majesty does me great honour," she said. "But I cannot accept your offer of marriage."
Her expression had warned him this might be her answer, but the warning did not make the answer any easier to hear. Caspian felt his knees buckling. Leaning against the tall hedge, he managed to remain upright.
"May I know why?" Caspian managed to ask.
"I don't know if you will be able to understand," she said. Her voice quavered slightly.
"Is it because you love another?" Caspian asked, his voice a little steadier. "Who is he? I will help you, if I can."
His first intention had been to help her, and marrying her himself had been the most obvious means of doing so. Though he had become fond of her, if there was another whom she preferred, who would care for her, let it be so. His heart would mend in time -
"No, Your Majesty," Elkarna said. Her voice regained its firmness, and Caspian thought he detected the faintest trace of a smile. "I have never - there is no one else."
It had seemed unlikely Lady Elkarna could have met and fallen in love with someone in her seclusion. But then what else would keep her from accepting his proposal…
"DId you fear I would make you leave your Nurse?" he asked. "She will come with us, if she will. Not to wait on you - she is a nurse, not a lady-in-waiting - but she has raised you well. If she is still able, the time will soon come for her to be Nurse to another. Until then I will see to it she has everything she needs to make a new life for herself in Beaversdam."
Elkarna looked over at Nurse. Instead of relief, her face seemed contorted with anguish. Caspian frowned. Why would his promise to care for her Nurse cause Elkarna pain?
"The well-being of Nurse is a grave consideration, Your Majesty," said Elkarna, turning back to him, "but it is not my chief concern."
Caspian was at a loss for words. Did she imagine court life so repulsive that any uncertain future was preferable? What sort of stories had she heard?
Elkarna took a deep breath and looked up at the stars. "Do you know how the stars came to be, Your Majesty?"
Caspian blinked. That was not a question he had expected. He had studied astronomy as a boy, learned to use the movements of the stars to know the seasons, and to move at night when necessary. Their origins - how would anyone know that, and why would anyone bother finding out? The history of men was dull enough.
"I know little of the stars, my lady." Caspian wanted to ask if she had flown to the heavens to ask the stars themselves. But this was a poor time for jokes, and Elkarna was probably little used to friendly teasing. Instead he asked, "What do you know of them?"
"Aslan sang them into being," Elkarna said softly.
Aslan? Caspian knew he had heard that name before but could not think where. "Who is Aslan?" he asked.
Elkarna stood straighter and looked directly at Caspian. "Aslan is the Great Lion, the Son of the Emperor-Beyond-the-Sea, and the Highest King over all High Kings of Narnia."
Caspian took a half step back. Now he remembered the name of Aslan. It was in stories in the nursery, stories about Narnia from before the Telmarines came. Though they were just children's stories, they had always made his parents uneasy. Now that he was king, Caspian understood why.
These stories about Old Narnia proclaimed another King - a Lion, of all things, a beast that had greater authority than the Telmarine king.
Caspian began pacing the courtyard, doing his best not to look at Elkarna. This kind, thoughtful woman was also apparently insane, an adult believing in the silly fairy tales of childhood. Fairy tales that proclaimed another king in Narnia. It would have been sedition if it had not been so patently ridiculous - Talking Animals and Walking Trees.
And yet, if the stories about Narnia before the Telmarines came were only fables, why were questions about Narnia's history so discouraged?
But why is he called Caspian the Conqueror? Who did he conquer if there was no one living here?
Caspian had not always found the history of men boring. But his interest had waned when his tutors refused to answer any of his questions, especially about Narnia before the Telmarines came. Once, after Caspian had badgered his tutor more incessantly than usual, his tutor had said Narnia before the Telmarines had been inhabited by blood-thirsty giants, and the Telmarines had come and civilized the country. The Archenlanders had been ungrateful for the removal of their violent neighbours, and made up stories about the Narnia before instead of establishing proper diplomatic relations with the Telmarines.
Caspian the Eighth had heard about his son's questions (whether the tutor told him or Miraz, who was also there, Caspian was not sure). The old king had not been angry, but he had told his son in no uncertain terms that Narnia before the Telmarines' arrival was a subject best left alone. There were stories, silly enough in themselves, but if encouraged, could forment a revolt against their authority and bring chaos. The time before the Telmarines was best left alone.
Ever a dutiful son, Caspian had obeyed, focusing on more practical matters.
Now answers to his childhood questions were being offered to him. And really, what was the danger if the stories were just stories?
The stories, or ones very similar, were freely shared in Archenland. Caspian had met a few Archenlanders while visiting Tashbaan many years ago, and had thought them very agreeable. Lord Bern and others advocating for a Narnian navy had made a few quiet visits to the coast of Archenland, and brought back good reports of the country.
None of Caspian's predecessors had wanted war with Archenland. It was a small country, with little reward for the risk of war. And beyond Archenland was Calormen, a country far larger and more powerful than Narnia. The result of the war would be a small gain in territory with a more war-like neighbour. Peace with Archenland was, and had always been, in Narnia's best interests, but there were always some hotheads who only saw the opportunity or martial glory. A queen who had sympathies with Archenland would be no bad thing.
"These stories are held in honour in Archenland," Caspian began.
"So I understand, Your Majesty," said Lady Elkarna. "I have never been there, nor spoken to anyone who has."
"Some of my courtiers go there frequently," said Caspian.
Lady Elkarna looked surprised. "Why?"
"They wish to rebuild the Narnian navy," said Caspian. "I encourage it because Archenland makes for a better neighbour than Calormen." He paused. "The honour they hold the stories in seems to have a wholesome effect on the country."
Lady Elkarna was quiet for a moment. "I can't pretend and call the truth children's fairytales," she said at last.
Her forthrightness was one of her most attractive qualities. Caspian would be shooting himself in the foot if he asked her to be anything else.
But she was also discrete - which was also a necessary quality.
"My lady," said Caspian, "it is true that the stories are seen as fairy tales. As such they are seldom a topic of conversation. I promise I will listen in private. As relations with Archenland improve, as emissaries come to Narnia, it will be necessary to instruct the court to insult the ambassadors' beliefs." Caspian gave a shrug. "From there, who knows?"
"You would listen to them - as stories." Her voice caught.
"I cannot promise more than that," he said. "Not yet."
She looked away, staring at the still-dark garden.
It was not an ideal situation, not for either of them. But ideal was a rarity in the world, even for a king. Perhaps especially for a king.
"Please," Caspian whispered.
The sky was turning pink. Soon Lady Elkarna would have to leave or risk detection. Caspian felt a trickle of sweat falling down his neck as the moments slipped by.
Finally she nodded and whispered, "Yes."
Caspian let out a breath and pressed Lady Elkarna's hand to his lips. No - Elkarna to him now, and soon to the rest of the country, Queen -
"My lord, you are early -"
Caspian looked down at Elkarna. She had gone pale and her hand rigid at the words of her Nurse. Rethisbar was coming, and she was here in defiance of his direct orders.
"You have nothing to fear from him now," Caspian whispered. He wanted to hold her, to comfort her, but he needed to send a clear message to Rethisbar, and such a position would send the wrong message about his intentions. Instead, he held Elkarna's hand, holding it high as the gift she had given him.
Rethisbar was now less than two yards away from them. His face was flushed, his fists were clenched at his sides, and he shook with rage.
"Forgive me, Your Majesty," Rethisbar growled through clenched teeth. "This – this impudence of – my niece – I will see to it that she is properly punished." He began walking menacingly towards Elkarna.
"Impudence? Punishment?" Caspian did not look at Elkarna, but gently squeezed her hand. "I don't know what you are talking about, Lord Rethisbar."
Rethisbar halted, then stepped back a pace. "I see - as Your Majesty wishes, of course. Everything in my castle is at your disposal…I'm sure we can come to some arrangement -"
Caspian seethed at the calculating glint in the man's eyes.
"You quite mistake me," he said, trying to keep the anger out of his voice. "Lady Elkarna is my promised wife now, the future Queen of Narnia. Now, as her…guardian, it is now your duty to see that her dowry is handed over, and arrange for the ceremony and feasting." Caspian paused and smiled. "I do believe you promised me a banquet."
Rethisbar had gone pale at the mention of Elkarna's dowry.
"Very little survived - of her parents," he said. "Plague – took most everything. And her maintenance has cost me -"
"Given the state of your niece's attire and how you've kept her out of sight, I doubt you've bankrupted yourself providing for her," said Caspian. "Now, where are the records of her dower lands?"
"Of course," mumbled Rethisbar. "They…must be around here somewhere. I will find them…soon…"
"Make it today," said Caspian. He did not want to give Rethisbar time to make a forgery.
"But Your Majesty, the castle defences -" Rethisbar spluttered.
"My observations so far predict a speedy conclusion to the inspection," said Caspian. "And the wedding does not need a grand ceremony." He stared hard at Rethisbar. "Find your records - today."
"Of course, as Your Majesty wishes," Rethisbar mumbled. He bowed and scraped before finally scurrying away.
Elkarna shuddered as her uncle disappeared. Caspian helped her to a bench and sat down beside her.
"Why were you questioning him about my dowry?" Elkarna asked. Her voice was steadier than Caspian had expected. "I didn't think I had one."
"I am not marrying you for money," said Caspian. "Don't worry about the amount he comes back with."
She sat up straight, and her face scrunched in thought. "You think he's stolen some of it?"
"I have no doubt of it," said Caspian, hiding a smile. He was pleased his wife-to-be was so observant and quick-thinking. "And he knows what I think, and if he knows what's good for him, he won't ask for any favours at court."
Elkarna seemed to relax at that information. "I don't want to hurt him," she said.
"He's a good commander," said Caspian grudgingly. "It would be difficult to replace him. I hope for all our sakes, he does not make any trouble."
"When will we leave?" Elkarna asked. A small smile had appeared on her face.
"I do have to finish the inspection, and I need to be able to ride," said Caspian. "But none of that has nothing to do with when we marry. I hope to make you Queen of Narnia before the sun sets."
