The Detrimental Effects of Wine

"Oh, darling! That dress is simply stunning on you!" Lasaraleen squealed.

Saedra, Rahai, and Lasaraleen were in the dressing chamber of Tashbaan's best clothing shop, "Best Clothes for the Best," a couple of days after the Tisroc's party. The three girls had done something together every single day, not including sticking together during parties, and now they were inseparable. Susan had gone out with them a couple of times, but mostly she spent time with Rabadash, who loved to have her all to himself.

Rahai was modeling a dress that she had picked out in front of the mirrors, while Saedra and Lasaraleen looked on in envy. Rahai had tried on dozens of dresses that day, but while Saedra had found a dress that she loved right away and Lasaraleen found one after a few tries, Rahai hadn't found anything after a dozen attempts. A slave was helping her adjust the dress so that it fit just right.

"I declare!" Saedra pouted. "Rahai, you haven't put something on today that hasn't looked stunning."

"Well, she is known as the beauty of Tashbaan," Lasaraleen informed Saedra, rolling her eyes. "Everyone in her family is gorgeous."

Rahai shrugged modestly. "I'm not the original beauty, at least. My dead aunt was the beauty, and it gets tiresome with everyone comparing me to her! Now, if you look at the paintings of her, you'll know that I'm nothing compared to her."

"I doubt that," Saedra teased. "If I didn't like you so much, I'd hate you for being so damned beautiful."

Rahai looked over at Saedra knowingly. "I think you did hate me once, if I recall correctly."

Even though it was true, they both giggled.

Lasaraleen, being left out of the joke and not liking to be out of the spotlight, said, "Well, hurry up and pick a dress already so that we can get back to my house and see how the slaves are progressing. My party must be perfect, especially with the Prince himself going!"

"Speaking of slaves," Saedra said, "there's something I've been meaning to ask you."

"What's that?" Lasaraleen asked as Rahai went to try on another dress. The slave stepped back into the corner to wait for her.

"I was talking to the slaves that were doing our hair before the Tisroc's party—"

Lasaraleen blinked. "You talked to the slaves! Darling, that just isn't done!"

"I know, but I'm not used to that way of thinking. Anyway, they were two girls who were barely eleven years old, and they told me that one day they would be courtesans for the Tisroc or Prince Rabadash in a couple of years."

"What of it?"

"I wanted to know if that was true!"

"Not really," Lasaraleen said, waving her hand carelessly. "Those poor things were probably hoping that they would stay in the palace once they were used. No, no, no. Once they are used, they'll be sent to the brothels outside the palace to be used by the Tarkaans. By Tash, are you all right? You look ill!"

"I do feel ill," Saedra admitted. "I think I threw up a little in my mouth."

Rahai came out in another stunning dress, and overhearing what Saedra had said, asked, "What's wrong?"

"Oh, I was just explaining to her about the brothels," Lasaraleen said. "My dear Rahai, I think that is the best dress you've worn all day! The red fabric is simply stunning."

Rahai ignored her comment and looked at Saedra sympathetically. "It's a shock, isn't it? The first time I found out about them, I reacted the same way."

"The first time?" Saedra asked.

"I was about twelve or thirteen when I started asking questions. But you get used to it," Rahai said, looking embarrassed. "We shouldn't get used to it; there should be an outcry about the way the girls are treated. But the men who make the laws are the ones who are using the brothels, so nothing gets done."

Rahai decided that she liked that dress, so they paid for their purchases and went outside to get into their litter. Another question formed in Saedra's mind as they settled into their cushions, but she was hesitant to ask. She swallowed and asked tentatively, "I was wondering something else. Do the girls ever become pregnant?"

"My, my, you do ask a lot of questions!" Lasaraleen laughed nervously, looking around to make sure they weren't overheard as they were carried past the common people.

"You know, I really don't know the answer," Rahai said.

"Oh, don't be silly!" Lasaraleen laughed in a high-pitched way. "The girls are usually too young to bear children. And if they aren't, they know better than to get pregnant, because they'd be killed before the news got out."

This time, Rahai was stunned as well. "You jest."

"I do not!" Lasaraleen protested. "Why do you think there's such a high demand for trained courtesans?"

There were a few minutes of silence as the women retreated into their own thoughts.

As Saedra stared out as the crowds lining the street to make way for their approach, she couldn't help wondering, What would I do in such a situation? Would I learn to accept it because I didn't know the freedom that I could have? Or would I try to escape?

The trip up to Lasaraleen's mansion seemed much faster going back than going down to the market, and soon Lasaraleen said in an infinitely relieved voice, "Ah! Here we are."

Even though the large house was immaculate and didn't look as if it could be more ready for a party, Lasaraleen found a reason to yell at the slaves. While she did so, Rahai and Saedra went up to her bedroom to get ready.

"I'm afraid that our conversation has left me with a foul taste in my mouth," Rahai admitted, closing the door behind her. "I think I'll need some wine to loosen up before I go down to the party later."

"I will too," Saedra agreed, sitting on the bed. "I just wish there was something we could do for all of those girls that are trapped in that life…"

"Saedra, sometimes no good can come from thinking like that. There's honestly nothing we can do about it, so why beat yourself up about something you can't change? If we did try to do something, we would be called crazy and be outcasts, and that doesn't help anyone either."

Saedra nodded. "I know. Is there any influential man who is sympathetic?"

"No. Have you not wondered why I'm twenty years old and unmarried while thirteen-year-olds marry here? I'm repulsed by the idea that a man I'd marry would wander over to the brothels at any hour and be considered normal and healthy while I'd be stuck at home."

"Your parents haven't forced you to marry?"

"My father certainly tries, but I've made it so that no smart man will ever ask for my hand in marriage."

"What do you mean?" Saedra asked.

"I gave a few people the impression that I'm barren, and the word has spread. No matter how pleasing I am to the eye, no man will marry a woman who can't give him a son and heir."

Saedra chuckled. "That's really funny, but it's sad that you have to resort to doing that. What if you really meet a man that you would want to marry, and he avoids you because he thinks you're really barren?"

"Any man that I fall in love with will see past that, or else he wouldn't have the kind of character that would make me attracted to him," Rahai shrugged.

"A woman after my own heart!" Saedra smiled.

Lasaraleen walked in then. "What's this? You aren't dressed yet? The guests will be here in an hour!"

Over the next two hours, the three women got ready for the party. When they went down, most of the guests hadn't arrived yet. Saedra and Rahai were still in somber moods, so Lasaraleen parked them in front of the wine bowl and headed off to greet visitors. They sipped the strong wine to loosen up so that when the Tisroc, Rabadash, Susan, and the rest of the Narnians and Corin arrived, the two of them were positively jolly.

"Susan!" Saedra exclaimed, going over to the group. "I've hardly seen you these couple of days!"

Susan beamed, patting the arm of her lover. "Yes, Prince Rabadash has been giving me quite the tour of Tashbaan."

"Did he give you a tour of the brothels?" Saedra said pleasantly. The mood instantly shifted from friendly to uneasy, but Saedra was oblivious. "Because from what I hear, he has probably slept with every girl in there. Once he uses the poor children, he throws them in there so he doesn't have to deal with them!"

Corin was staring wide-eyed, Susan and Rahai were staring at her with shock, and Rabadash was glaring.

Edmund tried to intervene by taking Saedra's arm. "Saedra dear, let's go find some food. You must be starving."

Saedra didn't notice the warning tone in his voice. "Once he strips an innocent girl of her virginity, he discards her in the brothels. Oh, that is if he doesn't have her killed first!"

Edmund muttered to Corin, "Help me with her!"

They each took one of her arms and steered her around. Saedra turned her head around to look around back at the group. "Better watch out, Gentle Susan!"

They sat her at a table. "Corin, be a good lad and fetch me some food for her," Edmund instructed, not releasing his grip on Saedra.

Corin obeyed.

"Why are you being like this, Edmund?" Saedra said. "I'm perfectly capable of fetching my own food."

"I know you are, but I want to sit with you and talk to you," he replied. "How was your day?"

"Please, Edmund, you're treating me as if I was intoxicated or something. I only had a little wine, just ask Rahai!"

"I never said anything about being intoxicated," Edmund said calmly, taking the food from Corin who had just arrived and putting it in front of Saedra. "All we want is to spend some time with you. We haven't seen you since…last night."

"Yes," Corin agreed, fascinated by Saedra's strange behavior. "We, um…missed you."

Edmund gave Corin a look that plainly said, You're not helping.

"I'm feeling sleepy," Saedra said, pushing back her chair. The shrimp that Corin had gotten for her didn't look too appetizing. "I think I'm going to go to bed."

"Here, let me help you," Edmund said, standing up.

Saedra didn't think that was necessary, but decided to be nice and let him since he so obviously wanted to be of service. Why else would he be doing all of these things for her?

"Thank you, my man. That would be lovely."

"I'll be right back, Prince," Edmund said. He led her out of the room as inconspicuously as possible. Saedra led the rest of the way to Lasaraleen's room, and when they stopped in front of the door, she said, "Good night, Edmund my dear. I hope I haven't spoiled your night. I love you, you know that? You're the best man I know."

Edmund swallowed. "Thank you, Saedra. Will you be all right from here?"

"Yup!" she said cheerily. She opened the door, stepped inside, and gave Edmund a little wave before shutting it. She stumbled over to the bed and flopped on it just before dizzy darkness engulfed her.

The next thing Saedra knew was the weight of something very heavy falling on her. She moaned, "Get off of me!" and tried to roll over. At first the weight prevented her from moving, but it was suddenly lifted, and her momentum caused her to roll completely off the bed.

"By Tash!" a woman's voice exclaimed. "Saedra!"

Saedra looked up from the floor and saw Lasaraleen and a handsome Tarkaan that she had met at a previous party standing in front of her.

"I thought you said no one was up here," the Tarkaan whined, clearly drunk. His hair and clothes were very messy.

"Well, that's what I thought!" Lasaraleen snapped, and then bent down to put her hand on Saedra's forehead. "Are you alright, sweetie?"

Saedra sat up, feeling like a pile of rags on the floor. "I have a bit of a headache, but I'm all right. What time is it?"

"It's almost morning," Lasaraleen said. "All of the guests have left. Oh, except for King Edmund. He fell asleep waiting for you on one of the couches."

Saedra stood up suddenly, which her head did not appreciate, remembering the events of the night.

"Oh, Lasaraleen, I'm sorry about how I acted last night!"

Lasaraleen laughed carelessly. "Darling, I don't mind a bit! You gave us all something to talk about. You may want to thank me, because I took all the credit for it. I said that I got you drunk as a joke, saying that you have never gotten drunk before."

"Lasaraleen!" the Tarkaan growled.

"Oh, yes, yes!" she said quickly. "Well, Saedra dear, you will find King Edmund downstairs in the main hall. Poor man didn't want to leave you here alone."

Saedra took the hint and went to the door. "It really was a wonderful party, Lasaraleen—well, at least from what I can remember."

That pleased Lasaraleen, and she smiled. "See you later, dear. And you might want to look in the mirror before you go downstairs. Ta ta! Oh, and feel free to have my slaves carry you home. Just tell them I said you could, and if they cause you any problems, I'll have them whipped!"

Saedra left and went down to the main hall. She was not in any mood to be looking in the mirror, for all she wanted to do was go back to their chambers at the palace and sleep.

Edmund doesn't care what I look like, she thought as she approached his sleeping form. He was curled up on one of the couches near the front door.

She unsteadily knelt by him and whispered, "Edmund?"

A light sleeper, he moved and opened his eyes, groaning. "Saedra."

"Morning," she sighed. "You didn't have to wait for me, you know. All the same, I'm glad you did."

"Didn't want you to have to walk back by yourself," he said, sitting up and rubbing his eyes.

"Lasaraleen said we could have her slaves bring us back."

"No, I don't think—" he started saying, then stopped when he looked at her face. "All right, that sounds like a good idea."

"What? What is it?"

"Nothing. We just don't look quite ourselves, so it would be best if we aren't seen on the streets."

Saedra wasn't satisfied by that answer, but she felt too nasty to question further. She got her answer anyway when she passed a mirror in the entranceway. She groaned in embarrassment: her eye makeup had smeared and made her eyes look raccoon-ish, and she had marks on her face from the fabric on Lasaraleen's bed.

After her initial horror, she laughed. "Edmund! Were you really going to let me go out like this?"

He looked at her sheepishly. "I figured we could keep the curtains down."

When they got back to the palace, everyone else was still asleep, even though it was mid-morning. Saedra tried to slip into bed without waking Susan, but the Queen rolled over and looked at her.

"Morning," Saedra said, trying to sound cheerful.

Susan just continued staring at her, and sat up as Saedra was settling in.

"You have a lot of nerve, Saedra."

Saedra didn't know what to say, but Susan spared her by continuing.

"I invited you to come down here with us, and you make a complete and utter fool of yourself. Not only that, but you insult Prince Rabadash in front of the Tisroc and embarrass me!"

"Susan, I never intended to embarrass you. I did have a bit much to drink, but I won't blame my behavior on that. I was angry with Rabadash, and I took it out on him. It wasn't the appropriate time or place, but I don't regret it. It's about time someone gave that man a talking to!"

"Whatever for? He's been nothing but gracious so far!"

"You forgot our talk with Talia and Zahar quite easily, I see!" Saedra exclaimed, her head pounding with a headache that only seemed to worsen. "I certainly haven't, and yesterday I asked Lasaraleen and Rahai about it. Do you know that the girls that Rabadash rapes are not even child-bearing age! The girls that are as misfortunate enough to mature early are killed if they become pregnant!"

"I refuse to believe it! There is nothing in Rabadash's manner that would suggest such cruelty."

"I can understand you disbelieving the slave girls, but to doubt Rahai and Lasaraleen…that's just deliberate blindness!"

"You're quick to believe anything your new friends say to you!" Susan spouted.

"That's because they aren't blinded by love to a pompous Prince!"

Susan glared at her for a second before throwing back the covers, muttering, "Why do I even try?" while getting changed as fast as possible.

After she left the room, Saedra lay in bed a long time, mulling over their argument.

Susan and I have never fought before! She must really love Rabadash if she's willing to believe him instead of me, she thought. But she's always had so much common sense. Surely she knows I wouldn't lie about this.

She rolled over and stared out the window, but the glare from the sun annoyed her eyes, so she rolled back over again.

This is what love does to people: makes them nonsensical. Reminders of Peter flew into her head. I have been just as blind as she is. I thought Peter was my knight in shining armor, but he lost interest in me the moment he knew he had my affection. It was all about the chase for him. If only he wasn't so temperamental…if only he was more like Edmund.

The last thought surprised her as soon as she thought it, but it was true. Edmund was steady and he was the only one of the Four with whom she'd been friends as a child. His moods didn't swing, and he and Saedra had never had any reason to argue.

Her lack of sleep started getting to her. The last thing she remembered muttering in her hazy state before falling asleep was, "If I had to pick a man to marry this moment, it would be Ed…"

She slept through the day and was stirred only when Talia came in to bring their clean laundry and straighten up the room. Saedra sat up and rubbed her face.

"Hello, Talia."

Talia started and looked over at her with an alarmed expression. "I'm sorry if I disturbed you, Ma'am. I didn't know you were in here."

Saedra chuckled. "You honestly don't need to be so proper with me, dear girl. I'm not going to hit you or anything. Besides, it's about time I woke up. It's dark outside already! Where is everyone?"

"All of your companions are down having dinner, my Lady," she said.

Saedra did not like the idea of going down to dinner to face everyone after her embarrassment, especially if they were already sitting down. "Talia, would you mind doing me a favor?"

"Anything you ask!" she replied eagerly.

"Could you fetch me a little something to eat? I'm ravenous, but I don't want to go down just yet."

Talia curtsied, "Of course. I'll return as fast as I can."

"Oh, there's no rush—" Saedra began, but Talia had already skipped out of the room.

She chuckled again and flopped back on the bed. Talia was such a sweet, agreeable girl, and Saedra was sickened by what lay ahead in her future. Zahar seemed to understand and strangely look forward to her fate, but Talia…she seemed to know what lay ahead for her, but was too innocent to comprehend it. Saedra knew that if there was anything to do to help Talia, she would do it.

Just then, the door opened. Talia came in carrying a tray heavy with food. There were rolls, several types of seafood with delicious-smelling sauces, fruit, and a large cup of wine.

"Talia!" Saedra laughed as she set it down on the bed. "You didn't need to bring this much!"

Talia smiled shyly, as if she had hoping that Saedra would be impressed. Then she remembered something and pulled a folded-up note from her pocket. "King Edmund told me to give you this note."

Saedra took it and opened it.

Dear Saedra,

I would be writing with a lot more flourish, but I know that you don't care for the colorful wording we use here, so I will be direct. I was wondering if you would care to come stay with me for the next couple of days. My father has heard about you and is extremely interested in meeting you. If that is agreeable with you, just send your reply and we will pick you up tomorrow at noon.

Your Friend,

Rahai Tarkheena

She must have learned that Susan and I have quarreled, Saedra thought. That's why she's being so kind and offering a place for me to stay while we cool off.

"How'd Edmund get this?" she asked aloud.

"Tarkheena Rahai came by this afternoon while you were sleeping," Talia replied. "I didn't see it, but she must have given the note to him for you."

"Could you fetch me something to write with?" Saedra asked. There was no way she was rejecting an offer to avoid Susan for a couple of days. If Susan wanted to dig her own grave, she could, but Saedra didn't want to be around to witness it.