A/N: Ok, I sliced my hand working on the house so I didn't update last night and I had some trouble typing tonight's chapter. You might have to wait a bit if it doesn't get better quickly. Not too long, I couldn't force myself to stay away. I hope this ties up some loose ends that hadn't been talked about and I hope you all enjoy it!
Part Twenty-Three:
Lucy took another bite of the apple she had plucked from the tree in the courtyard. Sitting cross-legged on the ground at the foot of the tree, she plucked another blade of grass and twisted it around between her thumb and forefinger.
"Lucy?"
Startled, the young Queen craned her neck around and saw her sister entering the small clearing. Looking away, she started her twiddling again as Susan sat beside her on the ground.
"Lucy."
Refusing to give in, the younger Queen still said nothing.
"Lucy Pevensie. Don't ignore me."
Chagrined, Lucy looked up and sighed. "Sorry, Susan. I'm not so sure I want to talk right now. I've got a lot on my mind."
Her sister frowned. "Getting some of it off your mind may help, Lu. And I'm here for you. Please let me help. I hate to see you upset."
The youngest Queen tossed the blade of grass down and leaned back against the tree with another sigh. She'd been sighing a lot lately. "It's nothing much, Susan. Just thinking about what Prunaprismia said about us being too young to rule. And how I sure acted like a child when I said what I did to Peter before the raid. I was childish and rude and just plain horrible about it."
Susan's breath caught as memories of Peter's paralysis came back to her in a rush. She glanced sidelong at her sister and remembered what she had felt when Peter had told them about his legs.
"Lucy," she said quietly. "I think it might help you to know I was acting rather childishly that day too. You didn't see it, but Edmund did."
Her sister looked up at her, eyes wide and curious. "How did you act childish, Susan? You are always so grown up to me. I've never seen you do something so stupid like I did with Peter."
"Yes, well. When you ran off upset, I was still so angry that I told Edmund I couldn't go after you because I was afraid of how I might react. Or what I might say," she said, looking at Lucy's crestfallen expression. "Oh, Lu, I'm over it now, but then I was very upset with you."
As Edmund disappeared toward the Stone Table chamber, Susan turned her attention back to her sleeping older brother. Sitting down beside his pallet, she reached out and took his hand in hers, pausing when he stirred.
Biting her lip, she waited for him to stop shifting and then tightened her grip on the hand in hers and frowned at how it wasn't all that much bigger than her own. "Peter, I'm so angry," she said suddenly, but quietly so as not to wake him. "I can't believe what Lucy said. I let Ed go to her because I was afraid I would say horrible things to her. I'm still afraid of that. I'm not sure what I'm going to do when I see her next."
Sighing, she leaned back against the wall behind her.
Her thoughts drifted to the look in Peter's eyes when he had told them about his legs. Haunted eyes, as blue as the sea below Cair Paravel. There had been fear, regret, pain, and desperation in his eyes and it had shaken her to the core.
"All because of a few angry words," she whispered. "My brother was distracted because of silly words, probably said in the heat of the moment. Why did you do it, Lu?"
Susan ran her free hand through her hair. It was unusual for her to be mad at her younger sister. Lucy was usually so – perfect – that there was no cause to get angry at her. This was the first time she could remember feeling like she wanted to yell at Lucy.
The older Queen knew her sister was upset by Peter's lack of belief in her, but that didn't make her words right. She knew Lucy was still young, but that didn't dispel the anger she was still feeling.
"So…you eventually did stop being angry at me," Lucy said quietly. "What changed your mind?"
Susan smiled at her. "Edmund, of course," she said. "He had a few choice words for me one night when you and Peter were asleep. Reminded me that Peter was partly to blame for his distraction and that sometimes we say things we don't mean."
Lucy nodded. "Do you think that perhaps Lady Prunaprismia is just upset and doesn't mean what she said today? About us being too young to be good Kings and Queens?"
Her sister shook her head. "No, I think that is really what she believes, Lucy. But you have to remember, she knows next to nothing about Narnians, us or the Golden Age of our rule. She is basing her words on what she knows, and perhaps a nine-year-old Telmarine girl would not make a good Queen. Don't let it get to you, Lu. It isn't worth it. Let's enjoy this beautiful day, enjoy Narnia while we still can."
Lucy nodded and then, on a whim, scooped up a handful of crisp leaves and tossed them at her sister with a laugh. "When did you get boring again, Susan? Too much talking, we need to have some more fun."
The elder Queen laughed with her sister and returned fire, for the moment letting themselves be the kids Prunaprismia saw them as.
Three days later…
Peter, Edmund and Caspian were all leaning against the battlements at the top of the highest tower, looking down over the rest of the castle and the Narnian encampment just beyond the gates.
The three were comfortably discussing small matters of ruling and so far, it appeared Caspian had a real feeling for what he was going to have to do as King. Peter stepped back from his position and moved away from the side to lean against the wall by the door.
"And of course, Caspian, you'll need to practice making speeches," he said, throwing another ruling must off the top of his head. "I remember the first one I made, I was so nervous I mistakenly called a Baron a Duke and he wasn't too thrilled with that."
Edmund and Caspian pulled back now too, the latter frowning. "Does the King always have to give a speech? At every function?"
The High King nodded. "Oh yes, it is expected that the King will say a few words. Ed and I were lucky, we could switch off sometimes. But for the most auspicious events, it fell on me as High King to regale the crowd with witty words."
Edmund chimed in, "Just like you get to do at tonight's feast!"
Caspian's eyes widened. "Wait, what?"
Peter cocked his head to the side. "Tonight's feast? You know, the one you called for when we arrived here? The reason Susan and Lucy have been running around wildly trying to get everything in place? That feast? Surely you knew you'd have to say something."
The Telmarine King swallowed. "It must have slipped my mind," he said, turning back toward the battlements and leaning back out to hide the shell-shocked expression on his face. "Does it have to be … long?"
Peter chuckled. "No. But it should be inspiring," he said, pushing Caspian lightly aside and sharing his spot. "Something that will get Narnians and Telmarines thinking about joining forces. I'm sure you'll think of something, Caspian. You've done amazing so far with what you've said to the masses."
Nodding, Caspian sighed and leaned forward more, seeing Susan and Lucy in the courtyard below, laughing about something. "There are times when I think I am going to like being a King," he said suddenly. "And then there are times when I think I am going to wish I was anything but…"
Edmund and Peter laughed.
"We know," they said together, erupting into more laughs at that.
"You'll do fine," Edmund added, patting Caspian on the shoulder before returning to the edge of the tower and quietly leaning back out to gaze on the countryside again. They lapsed back into their comfortable silence.
Four hours later, Caspian decided he was anything but fine.
He had taken to muttering the lines of his speech under his breath and Peter and Edmund were watching with amusement as Lucy and Susan wondered if they should say something to the nervous King.
After he paced yet again across the foyer outside the banquet hall, Edmund decided enough was enough and stepped into the young man's path thrusting both hands out to stop Caspian in mid-pace.
"I don't think you want to wear a groove in the ground, Caspian," he said. "And if you go over that speech too many times in your head, you are going to mess it up. Relax. Stop thinking about it. You know it and you won't forget it. Repeat after me: I…can…do…this."
Caspian frowned at him. "Edmund…"
"No," Ed said. "Repeat. I can do this."
With a small smile, Caspian said, "I can do this."
Edmund released him and moved back. "Good. Now, no more pacing. You're making me nervous and this is one of hundreds of functions I've attended."
The Telmarine King chuckled and nodded. He sobered quickly when the herald appeared from a nearby passageway. This was it. It was time.
The banquet hall looked nothing like it had earlier that day. A line of tables with dark green linens edged in gold was set against one wall, with a cadre of servants behind it prepared to serve the attendees from the various dishes of delicacies.
Tables were set up around the outside of a large open space reserved for dancing. Some tables were higher, others had had legs shortened for shorter Narnians who wished to use them. Some had chairs, others did not, for those who couldn't sit in chairs. All were carefully covered in white linens with gold embroidery and each table had a beautiful bouquet of yellow and orange flowers at the center.
One table was set apart from the rest, resting on a dais at the head of the room. This one had eleven chairs, though there were twelve place settings. Each setting held a vast array of utensils, each undoubtedly serving a different purpose.
There were murmurs as the herald entered the room for the first time, the cue that the royal family and visiting monarchs were about to enter and begin the feast.
Without any confusion this time, the herald announced Lady Prunaprismia, who strode in resplendent in a dark blue gown with light blue sleeves. She looked regal, though she stood behind a seat much farther from the center of the table than she had previously held.
Queen Lucy, dressed in a golden gown with flowing white sleeves and her flowered crown atop her head entered next and stood behind a chair near the center of the table, to Prunaprismia's left.
Her brother, King Edmund, soon followed, dressed in a black velvet tunic and light silver undershirt with light silver pants and black boots. The silver crown on his head shone starkly against his dark hair.
Queen Susan, with all her gentle grace, followed him, her deep purple dress with lavender sleeves enhancing her radiance, and her golden crown glistening atop her head as she took up position next to Edmund on his left.
The herald's voice changed as he announced the entrance of High King Peter. The young monarch had obviously chosen his outfit in deference to Aslan, as he was wearing a scarlet tunic with gold undershirt and leggings. His golden crown with small rubies glittered against his blonde hair as he took up a position to the right of the center seat, on Lucy's left
Anticipation was high amongst the Telmarines as King Caspian entered, wearing a purple tunic and gold undershirt and leggings. The Telmarine crown, larger than the Pevensies' and lighter in color, contrasted with his dark locks as he moved to the center seat between Edmund and Peter.
When the din of the crowd died down, Caspian spoke.
"No King can rule without the sound input and expertise of a Council of Advisors," the young man said. "As such, I have put together a council of both Telmarines and Narnians in hopes of keeping the kingdom united and making sure all voices are accounted for."
He turned a brief gaze on a centaur and a Telmarine general.
"To advise me on military affairs and to lead campaigns to protect our kingdom and to keep the peace, I have chosen General Glenstorm and General Glozelle, who henceforth shall be known as and given all the rights and privileges of Lords."
There was applause as the two advisors moved up to the high table. Glenstorm took up position in the spot beside Prunaprismia where there was a setting but no chair. Glozelle moved up beside Queen Susan.
"Acting as the Court Historian, one who has already shown great skill in collecting history, I have appointed Trufflehunter, who shall also bear the rank and title of Lord," he paused until the badger had taken his place to Glozelle's left, clambering up to stand on the chair so he could be seen.
"In the position of Seneschal, I have appointed Lord Proctmar, who henceforth shall bear the title of Baron and will be afforded all related privileges of that rank." Proctmar moved up to stand to Glenstorm's right.
Caspian looked out over the crowd. "As Chamberlain, I have chosen someone whose attention to detail will serve all of you well in matters of court," he had to hold in his smile at the look on Trumpkin's face as his name was announced and he was dubbed a Baron. He moved to stand to Proctmar's right.
"Many of you know him, and know of his extensive knowledge, which is why I have appointed Dr. Cornelius as my ambassador in all foreign and state affairs. He shall henceforth bear the title of Duke and be afforded the accompanying privileges."
Cornelius smiled warmly as he took up his position to the left of Trufflehunter.
"While not seated on the council, there are two others I have appointed to positions of rank within my court," Caspian said. "Joining Head Healer Parcius will be Head Healer Tumnus." The Faun nodded in acknowledgement. "And in the position of Castelaine, I have appointed Lady Miriam, daughter of Lord General Glozelle."
The young girl's eyes widened as all eyes in the hall turned on her. She curtsied to her King with a small smile on her face.
Caspian graced her with a small grin in return before schooling his features and looking from one side of the room to the other. What he said next might very well be the most important words he ever uttered.
He would keep them simple and to the point.
"I know we are all very different," he said to the assembled. "There is much we must learn about one another. Telmarines have long feared Narnians, and Narnians have long feared death by Telmarine blades. Those days are over and it is upon us to move forward from them together – as one kingdom.
"It will not be easy, and it will not be quick. But I have confidence that we can do this and will be better for it in the end," he raised his filled glass. "To peace and unity and our future."
Glasses all around the room rose and were drained or sipped.
Peter had to beg off another dance as his wounded shoulder sharply reminded him of its presence. He smiled and bowed to the Telmarine lady he had just taken around the dance floor and then resolutely headed to the head table where he spied Edmund and Glozelle sipping drinks.
Neither seemed inclined to join the melee on the dance floor like they might a mock battle melee on the training field. He smiled at that as he reached the table and leaned across it for his glass.
"You seem to be collecting quite the following, Your Majesty," Glozelle said with a broad grin, eyes alighting to a spot behind Peter where a gaggle of woman and girls had gathered. There was even a Faun or two in there.
Rolling his eyes, Peter nodded. "Yes, I had forgotten that aspect of banquets," he said with an answering smile. He might have continued, but out the corner of his eye he saw a group of Telmarine men he had been surreptitiously watching throughout the feast. They had been drinking heavily and now appeared to be quite inebriated. "We might have a problem."
Edmund and Glozelle followed his gaze to the group, one man in particular who was unsteady on his feet and had an open glare of hostility set on a group of nearby Fauns and Centaurs.
On the other side of the group, Peter noticed Caspian. The other King was also eying the group with a frown on his face, the drink in his hand forgotten and the woman he had been speaking with pursing her lips and watching the men as well.
Neither King was close enough to stop what happened next.
The ring leader of the Telmarine group trooped unsteadily up to one of the Fauns and non-to-gently poked him in the shoulder, drawing the Narnian's attention. "You," the man said, his drunken state making him speak louder than he probably wished to speak. "You don't belong here. None of you or your heathen friends. You're all beasts. Unnatural beasts. The lot of you should be put down."
Peter held his breath as the Faun leaned close and spoke something too quiet to hear. The man's eyes widened and the young King jerked as if he himself had been hit, when in actuality it was the Faun.
All eyes in the hall jolted toward the ensuing brawl and Peter, Edmund, Glozelle and Caspian all pushed through the throng toward the combatants. The Telmarine King reached them first and shouted, "Enough of this nonsense!"
There was a pause in the fight as the Telmarine turned to Caspian. But his words were not what any of them expected. "You're one of them," he hissed. "Taking their side. Fighting with them. You should have fought for your people, my liege."
It wasn't always noticeable, but Caspian was rather tall amongst Telmarines and when he drew himself up to his full height, as he did now, he was an impressive sight. The crown, royal garb and distinctly feral anger in his eyes helped.
"You would be wise to hold your drunken tongue, sir," he said scathingly. "Your words are going to get you in a world of trouble." He turned to the Narnians. "He wrongfully degraded you, and I know not what you responded, but all of you will desist at once."
He wanted to groan when the drunk Telmarine launched himself at the Faun instead of doing what his King had ordered. Caspian met Peter's eyes over the resumed brawl and there was a glint of uncertainty in them.
The High King was about to intervene when a golden body appeared in their midst.
The Telmarine brawler was knocked to the ground, face down, and when he lifted his head to stand and retaliate, he found himself face to face with a large, golden face with glinting yellow eyes.
Scrambling backwards, he seemed to regain a few of his senses and managed to shakily get to his feet.
Aslan said nothing, just looked at the man. But in that look was enough power to cow anyone in Narnia. Enough power to remind everyone assembled, even the Telmarines who knew relatively nothing of Aslan or Narnia's history, that this being was above them all.
"That is enough," the lion said quietly. Then, he turned and padded away.
Caspian turned to a nearby palace guard. "Please remove this man from my sight. He is not to be readmitted to the feast," he looked down at the man. "Be thankful that is all the action I take against you."
The man moved unsteadily away with no argument. Caspian turned his attention on the Faun. "He struck the first verbal blow, but you seemed to provoke him," he said quietly. "I had hoped this feast would bring us together, not drive us apart. I am most disappointed."
The Faun hung his head. "I apologize, my King," he said, kneeling. "What may I do to make up for my actions?"
Caspian didn't speak. So Peter did.
"You will spend the rest of the feast in the company of only Telmarines. You will think on what you said to that man, and you will learn a lesson from this," he said, gesturing toward a group of nearby Telmarines he had seen attempting conversation with Narnians earlier.
Bowing low, the Faun meekly moved away from the Kings.
Caspian came to Peter's side. "Thank you for that," he said. "I was uncertain what to do with him. I only knew that he could not go unpunished for his actions." He sighed. "I had hoped this would not happen."
Edmund patted him lightly on the arm. "You can't expect miracles, Caspian," the younger King said. "After all, I think we used them all up during the battles."
The others smiled at that and Caspian shook his head fondly.
While Caspian and the Kings moved off to refill their drinks, Prunaprismia, shaken by the sudden and powerful appearance of the great lion, rushed away to collect herself and calm her trembling hands.
She was in such a rush, she didn't see the yellow-clad figure emerge from a side door, gently readjusting her gown after going to the wash chamber. Before the two could react, they collided and Prunaprismia's glass of wine splashed onto her dress and Lucy's.
Both gasped and wiped at their gowns. The woman muttered under her breath, "Kids running everywhere," as she wiped particularly harshly at her dress in an attempt to dry it so the wet spot would not be noticeable.
Lucy straightened up and lifted her chin. "Pardon me, madam, but it was you who ran into me in your haste. Why were you in such a rush, anyway? Running about doesn't befit a lady of the court."
Prunaprismia bristled. "And you are an authority on what does befit a lady of court? I've been attending state functions for longer than you have lived, Queen Lucy," the woman said. "I think I know what is appropriate and what is not."
Lucy wasn't about to back down. Nine-year-old body or not. "My body is young, my mind is not, as I have said before. I remember many a state function and I know rushing is not something a Queen or a Lady does. One must always walk, never run or rush," she said, smiling inwardly at channeling the Pevensies' etiquette instruction.
For a moment, the woman looked ready to continue arguing, but her eyes appeared to be following something and Lucy twisted to see what it was. "Aslan," she breathed. Turning back to the lady, she frowned. "Aslan scared you?"
Huffing, Prunaprismia drew herself up. "I was not scared, Queen Lucy," she said. "Merely startled."
Lucy doubted that. It wasn't surprising the woman had been frightened by the lion's appearance. He had that affect on many people. "He can be intimidating," she said. "He is not a tame lion, but he is good, I can assure you of that."
Prunaprismia raised her chin, eyes blazing. "Yes, I saw his intimidation tactics," the woman said. "If he is so good why did he allow his beloved Narnia to fall to the Telmarines? Why did he do nothing to aid it for 1,300 years? If all it took was a look to end a drunken brawl, surely he could have done something to save your people from slaughter?"
The young Queen's eyes blazed. "Aslan does what must be done, when it must be done," she said firmly. "It isn't your place or mine to question him. He created Narnia. If it wasn't for Aslan, you and I would not be here. None of this would. You would do well to respect him, Lady Prunaprismia."
She pushed lightly past the woman and had taken a few steps away before the woman responded. "He might have created it, but his lack of aid nearly destroyed it. What does that say about him as a leader? He puts children on thrones. What do children know of ruling? What do Caspian, your brothers, your sister and yourself know that make you better rulers than my husband would have been?"
The root of it all. Miraz.
Lucy turned back around. There was pain in Prunaprismia's eyes. It was buried deeply, but Lucy could still see it. She had loved her husband. Perhaps he hadn't been ruthless toward her. Perhaps he had hidden the many murders he had dictated. Or perhaps her love had blinded her.
The young Queen didn't have the heart to really respond as she had first wanted to, with harsh words about the usurper King. Instead, she replied simply, "We have a love your husband did not," she said. "I'm sure he loved you and your son. And I am sure he loved his position. But he did not love his people. That is what makes us better rulers."
Before the woman could answer again, Lucy was gone.
Prunaprismia hung her head. Perhaps, deep down inside, she had known this.
Susan imagined she could see the steam streaming from Lucy's ears as her younger sister approached the head table. To everyone else Lucy looked the picture of calm – every inch the young Queen. But to her siblings, she looked upset.
"Su," Lucy said as she sat in the seat beside her sister that had formerly belonged to Edmund. "I'm this close to losing my cool. And I guess that's not a surprise really, since I'm just a kid."
The Gentle Queen frowned. "What are you talking about, Lucy?"
Heaving a sigh, the Valiant Queen grabbed a fork off the table and proceeded to mutilate a piece of roast fowl. "Have you ever thought I was too young to be a Queen? What did I ever really contribute when I was young, like I am now? Sure, I had my cordial, but anyone could have administered that."
She stopped in her fowl jabbing and looked up into her sister's eyes. "Maybe Lady Prunaprismia has a point. Maybe I am too young to be a useful Queen." She hesitated. "I know Aslan said we were worthy, but I just don't see what I did to be worthy."
The young Queen might have gone on, but Susan interrupted her.
"Stop that nonsense right this instant Lucy Pevensie," the dark-haired girl said firmly. "I don't know what Lady Prunaprismia said to prompt this, but whatever it was isn't the truth. You contributed perhaps the most important thing anyone could contribute."
Lucy looked over at her again, confused. "What?"
Leaning forward, Susan took her sister's small hand in her own. "You, Lucy, kept faith alive in Narnia. And without faith in their country, and in their rulers, no matter how magnificent Peter was with a sword, or how just Edmund's decisions in court were, or how gently I handled disputes amongst subjects, it would have been nothing if the people didn't have faith in us. Your age was partly why your faith was boundless. And why you so quickly and easily believed in Aslan and helped that belief rub off on all of us."
Lucy smiled lightly. "It was easy to put all my faith in Aslan when we first came to Narnia. And I guess it was partly to do with being so young. It's just so hard to have grown up and then to be young again. It's like, I sometimes find myself getting angry that people treat me like a kid."
She turned to look at Peter and Edmund talking with Caspian and Cornelius across the hall. "I know you and the boys had to go through the same thing. But I went from being twenty-three to not even being old enough to be considered a preteen. It didn't bother me too much in England, or when we first came here. But ever since we've been mingling with the Telmarines, I feel like everyone looks at me and is thinking, 'She has no business wearing that crown'."
Susan sighed. "Lucy, remember -- boundless faith. Why don't you turn some of that inward right now? Look at yourself, what you've done recently. If it wasn't for you, a nine-year-old girl, the Narnians would be extinct. You are young, but you make up for it with your faith and your courage. Just as you always have."
Lucy pursed her lips. She had gone out and found Aslan by herself. She had stood across a bridge from an enemy army armed only with a knife and her faith. And she had always been able to renew faith in her people, sometimes with nothing more than a broad smile and a pat on the shoulder.
Her age hadn't hindered her in any of those instances. A small smile began to erupt on her face. Shaking her head, she chided herself inwardly for losing faith in herself again and vowed to put an end to that alarming trend right now.
Seeing the changing expressions, Susan patted Lucy on the shoulder and stood. "Now, why don't we go and rescue Peter and Edmund because it looks like our brothers are about to make fools of themselves," she said, pointing.
Lucy turned around and saw the two Kings lining up one in front of the other across from Willowwind. Beside them, Glenstorm and Halston were also facing each other. They were about to try an old centaur dance – and if their past attempts were anything to go by, this would be hilarious.
"Come on, Lu," Susan said gently.
The two Queens moved gracefully through the crowd, which parted for them as they approached their brothers and the centaurs. Just before they reached the young Kings, Lucy glanced toward the terrace and her gaze met the warm yellow eyes of Aslan.
He smiled lightly at her, eyes twinkling when she waved lightly and with a smile.
"Lu?" Susan's voice chimed in, breaking the moment. "Come on."
The dance floor had been cleared as the centaurs and the Narnian Kings lined up, obviously intended to do something special. A group of Fauns had commandeered the court musicians' instruments and were warming up.
"Peter? Edmund? What are you two doing?" Susan asked, hands lightly resting on her hips in mock indignation. "You two aren't centaurs, in case you didn't notice." Lucy chuckled beside her as Peter and Edmund turned around and smiled.
Edmund, who was standing behind Peter prepared to do the part of a centaur's hind legs, shook his head. "The dance wouldn't be complete without four centaurs, and since no one else was willing to get up and do it in front of the Telmarines, we decided to offer our services."
Peter twisted his head around. "Besides, we can always attribute it to a bit too much wine come morning," he said with a laugh. "Don't forget, we've actually done this before."
Lucy laughed out loud. "We can't forget," she said. "I don't think the memory will ever fade. It was a disaster. You two kept falling over each other."
Her brothers laughed. "Yes, well, we'll do better this time. Just watch," Peter said.
Willowwind chuckled. "Are you ready, my Kings?"
Peter and Edmund nodded and Ed leaned forward and grasped Peter's waist to keep the brothers in sync with each other. The band began to play and Peter and Willowwind and Halston and Glenstorm gripped right hands and bowed at the waists.
The centaurs bent their back right legs to deepen the bow, and Ed copied the move, though it didn't really lower him and Peter.
Hands still linked, they began to circle and bend legs in an intricate pattern. Peter and Edmund were usually a little behind their centaur companions, but they were doing a good job of keeping up and making it look like they knew what they were doing.
Narnians around the dance floor began to clap along and a few Telmarines hesitantly joined in as the centaurs and the young Kings began to move faster, stomping hooves and booted feet on the ground in time to the music.
Ed kept his hold on Peter as his brother copied Glenstorm, only slightly favoring his left arm when the two of them executed swinging arm movements. There was laughter as the brothers scrambled to keep up with a particularly fast dance move, and more and more Telmarines and Narnians were beginning to get into the music and stomp their feet along too.
Lucy and Susan smiled and glanced at a young female centaur who was moving to the music and appeared to be itching to get out and try it. Grinning, Lucy grabbed Susan's hand and pulled her.
"Hey, slow down, Lu!" Susan laughed.
The young Queen reached the centaur and grabbed her hand. "Come on, you want to try it and I want to try it. Let's go!"
For a moment the young centaur hesitated. "I…I…all right, Queen Lucy," she finally said. Lucy pulled her out on the floor and Susan obligingly took hold of Lucy's waist like Edmund was doing to Peter.
The girls caught site of Caspian laughing behind his hand as they began to circle, stomp and move their arms in time with their brothers and the centaurs.
After a few more minutes, Fauns and even Telmarines began to join in the dance. While they didn't link up like the Kings and Queens , they did stomp their feet and circle each other in a similar fashion.
Lucy caught site of Caspian linking hands with Miriam and of Glozelle pulling a smiling Telmarine lady onto the dance floor. Even Trumpkin had been roped into dancing – by a small Telmarine child with bouncing dark curls and a broad smile.
The dwarf was trying hard to keep a smile on his face and not roll his eyes, but Lucy could see he was enjoying himself even if he would never admit it to anyone. Ever.
The dancing went on long into the night.
But even though many of the Telmarines and Narnians were mingling now, there was still one woman that stood out from the crowd – Lady Prunaprismia. And it didn't escape Caspian's notice either. With a heavy heart, he realized his aunt would never be comfortable around Narnians. He pushed it aside and put a broad smile back on his face, not willing to ruin this tentative alliance for one dissatisfied person.
He couldn't help her right now. In the morning, he would tackle the problem that was his aunt.
The next morning…
Caspian sighed as he regarded his fellow Kings and Queens, including Aslan, who had chosen to seat himself next to the bench under the apple tree. The small courtyard was usually quiet at this time of the day, which made it a perfect place for a meeting.
"I wish it hadn't come to this," he said to begin the meeting. "The Narnians are doing a wonderful job of slowly convincing many of my kinsmen that they are not vicious beasts…we saw that at the feast last night, but…" he shook his head, unable to continue, knowing that the Pevensies had seen the same things that he had observed.
"It's not your fault, Caspian," Susan said quietly. "There are always going to be those that are going to be resistant to change. You can't force the world to see things the way you do, and if you try, you're only going to do more harm than good. There is progress though, we all saw it."
Caspian nodded. "Yes, but after the conversation that I had with my Aunt, I wonder if it is going to be enough." He hadn't yet shared the details of his conversation with his friends, but now he decided to. "In her own way, my Aunt truly loved my Uncle. She didn't have the same lust for power that he did, and she was horrified when he admitted to killing my father, but she did love him, and she wanted her son to have a chance at the throne, a chance he won't have now."
Peter nodded. "It makes for a bitter pill to swallow, losing her husband and her power, as well as her son's future, all at once." The High King was leaning carefully against the tree trunk, resting most of his weight on his uninjured arm. His left arm was much improved, but it was still very sore, and would be for some time yet. Crossbow wounds didn't miraculously heal overnight after all.
"I've offered to allow my Aunt to stay in the castle, since it's the only home she has, but I can tell that she's not comfortable with the new changes that have already begun. She is a good woman, and she did do her best to be like a mother to me, but…" Caspian shook his head, "I was never really her son, and now that she has one, she's not comfortable around me."
"There must be something we can do to help ease the transition," Lucy said. "After all, many of the Telmarines are at least making an effort at peace. I know it's only been a few days, but like you said, there is some progress."
Peter frowned. "What about allowing those that don't want to come into direct contact with the Narnians to form their own small district and appoint your Aunt as Regent for your cousin? They would still answer to you, Caspian, but for the most part, they could continue their lives as they have for the past thousand years."
Caspian considered that. "Is it really a good choice? It seems more like I'm sending them into exile and ridding myself of a future threat from my cousin or my aunt or both. It doesn't feel…honorable."
"The Telmarines are not native to this world."
All eyes turned to Aslan at that.
"What do you mean, Aslan?" Lucy said, finding her voice before everyone else.
"Just as the four of you traveled here from your own world, dear one, so did they, long ago," he replied.
There were small gasps of surprise from the siblings. "The Telmarines came from England? When?" Edmund asked.
Aslan shook his great head. "Not from England. They were originally pirates...six of them, with their wives. They shipwrecked on an island and discovered a cave with one of the rare fissures that leads into Narnia from your world. They wandered in and found themselves in what eventually became Telmar, where they proceeded to form their own country." The lion sighed. "Most of those fissures have closed over the years since Narnia was awakened, but there are still a few left."
Peter's brow was creased deeply in thought. "You said they shipwrecked on an island…is that island still there? In our world?"
Aslan nodded.
"Peter, what are you thinking?" Susan asked, eyeing her older sibling.
"If we were able to pass from England to Narnia through the Professor's wardrobe, and return the same way…couldn't that fissure from that island still exist?" Peter mused.
"It does." Aslan said quietly.
All eyes shot to Aslan, then back to Peter, who snapped his fingers. "Aslan…if you know all of this…you must have some knowledge of our world…is that island a place where the Telmarines could go and flourish?"
Aslan nodded, his warm golden eyes staring at Peter, waiting for him to finish his thoughts.
"Could you send them back?" Peter asked.
"How, Pete? Telmar is far west of here, beyond the Western Wilderness. I doubt the Telmarines are going to be willing to pack up all of their things and march all the way back to Telmar when they haven't seen it in over a thousand years," Edmund pointed out.
Peter just looked at Aslan, having a hunch that the great lion could indeed send the Telmarines back if he wished.
Caspian, Edmund, and the two Queens looked to Aslan, waiting for his answer.
A/N: Sorry bout the cliffie. Just kinda worked here.