Helen had arrived back in her chambers to discover Lucy and two dryads waiting there to help her prepare for the party.
Despite her protests, and her attempts to assure her daughter and the attendants that she was perfectly capable of getting ready by herself, they had insisted on staying and promptly began to assist her with her dress and hair. Although she was not used to such pampering, Helen had to admit that the dryads did a spectacular job; when they had finished with her, and allowed her to look at herself in a nearby mirror, she had been completely taken aback and (for a brief moment) could scarcely believe that she was starring at her own reflection.
Her deep blue dress and perfectly styled dark hair made her look more elegant then she had in a long while, and she had blushed terribly when one of the dryads (who was herself extremely striking) had told her that it was clear that Queen Susan and Queen Lucy had received their beauty from her.
Helen had never been a terribly vain woman, but even she had to admit that it was nice to feel so lovely for a change. Ever since Peter had been born, motherhood had overtaken nearly everything else in her life, and she had paid little attention to her own upkeep. Nights out had become rare for her and her husband, and she had had little time or reason to preen herself when she spent most of her days changing dirty nappies or picking up after the children.
She had almost forgotten what it was like to feel this beautiful.
The worries which had been weighing her down earlier that evening began to slip away as she and Lucy made their way towards the great hall, chatting happily about the upcoming festivities. Lucy had assured her that the banquet, which was meant to be the official celebration of their return, would be much more splendid and elaborate then the impromptu celebration they had been thrown into during their first day at the Cair.
"That one wasn't planned." The young Queen had explained. "Just wait until you see what Susan can do when she has enough time to prepare things properly."
Upon their arrival in the hall, Helen had indeed been shocked by how stunning it looked. Lucy, clearly, had not been exaggerating when she spoke of Susan's eye for detail and elegance. The great hall itself was always lovely, but the deep red table cloths, golden plates and cutlery (ruby encrusted, Helen noted upon closer inspection) and intricate crystal centrepieces brought its beauty to an entirely new level. The walls too had been draped with rich red fabric, and tapestries displaying the profile of a proud gold lion were dispersed throughout the room. In Helen's opinion, it looked absolutely perfect. The decorations were elaborate without being ostentatious, and everything seemed to be carefully placed.
Susan had truly outdone herself, she thought proudly.
After taking a moment to admire her surroundings, she had felt Lucy's hand on her arm and allowed herself to be led towards the high table. There were several creatures in the room already, mostly palace staff it seemed, but she could tell that the majority of guests had not yet arrived. Peter and Edmund, however, were already seated at the royal table and she was impressed that they had managed to get cleaned up and dressed so quickly after their time in the practice room. All evidence of the afternoon's excursions were gone, and both now looked perfectly groomed and dignified wearing their crowns and finest formal attire. As often seemed to be the case, her youngest son was dressed in blue and silver while Peter matched his surroundings in deep red and gold.
The mother could not hold back a smile at the sight.
"Mum, Lucy." Edmund addressed them as they approached, standing up quickly to pull out her chair while Peter did the same for his youngest sister.
Once the women were seated, the older king turned towards them, explaining why the seat on his right remained unoccupied.
"Susan is still rushing about, making the final arrangements." Peter stated, with a nod towards the back of the hall.
Sure enough, Helen could see Susan talking to a female centaur who was frantically jotting down notes on a piece of parchment. Both appeared to be somewhat frazzled, though Susan (despite her stress) still managed to look splendid in her flowing red dress.
"I do hope she is able to join us soon." Helen mused, somewhat concerned that her eldest daughter was overworking herself. After putting so much time and effort into the planning, it would be a shame if she did not get to enjoy the evening along with everyone else.
"Don't worry Mum." Peter assured her. "She said there are only a few more details to work out."
"And besides," Edmund added with a grin, "Su lives for this sort of thing. She might look stressed, but she is loving every second of it. Trust me."
Helen chuckled at this, looking back to watch her daughter make a few more remarks to her assistant before turning abruptly and approaching the high table. A few moments later, she was standing across from Helen, looking (as Edmund had predicted) both anxious and exhilarated.
"Well?" the dark haired Queen began, looking between her four family members. "What do you think?"
"Everything looks spectacular darling!" Helen assured her, with genuine enthusiasm. "I am very impressed."
Susan beamed.
"It is great Su, as always." Peter commended, smiling at his sister. "Though I think it is time for you to join us and relax. Everything will go smoothly, there is no need to worry."
For a moment, Susan looked ready to protest, but she soon balked under her older brother's gaze.
"Alright." She agreed with a small sigh. She took a few steps towards her seat when she was seemingly hit by a sudden thought. "Although I should-"
"Sit down, Susan." It was Edmund who spoke this time, and the young Queen finally gave in and joined the rest of the family at the table.
As she watched the scene, Helen could not help but take note of the strange role reversal that had just occurred. For once, it was the others that were calming Susan down and keeping her from overworking herself; at times, even the gentle and compassionate Queen needed the others to keep her steady, it seemed. It warmed her to know that they all appeared to have the ability to sense what the others required and when.
The bond they shared was deep indeed.
The sound of the ceremonial trumpet broke the mother away from her thoughts, and she looked up to see two guards pulling open the main doors. For a second, her mind flashed back to the image of the great Lion making his trek into the room, and she wondered if he was going to grace them with his presence once again- but it quickly became apparent that this was not the case. Her disappointment at this realization was, however, quite temporary, and Helen soon found herself enthralled by the diverse group of guests that began to filter into the hall.
There were humans, animals and creatures of every description and many had arrived dressed in elaborate robes and finery. Some, she noticed, took their seats immediately, but most began to form a line leading up to the high table. She wondered why they all didn't simply sit, but as Mr. Tumnus rushed onto the royal platform, a long piece of parchment in his hand, she realized that those who remained standing were waiting to be announced.
As Tumnus cleared his throat, her four children stood up from their seats, ready to address the guests that had arrived to celebrate their return. Helen, initially, was not sure what she was supposed to do; clearly, she was seated at the high table (and felt a bit awkward being the only one who remained sitting), but she was not a King or Queen and thus wondered if it was proper for her to stand and join in the greeting.
The formalities of the court were still quite strange to her, and her children had forgotten to mention this aspect of the ceremony.
Thankfully, Peter noticed her hesitation and gestured for her to rise as well. Despite his reassuring smile, Helen was apprehensive as she stood, unsure of what to expect as Tumnus started listing off names and the guests began to approach.
"Lord and Lady Fox, of the Western Wood." The Faun called, announcing the arrival of a proud looking fox and his wife.
The first two guests stood on the platform for a moment, bowing deeply towards the royal family. Peter told them that their attendance was much appreciated and they soon made their way off to the side and found their seats for the banquet.
"Governor Dait of the Lone Islands."
The next guest was called, and quickly came onto the platform to offer the family a similar greeting.
Things continued in this manner for quite some time, and Helen was relieved that she did not seem to be expected to address the new arrivals (though she did politely thank the many guests who said they were pleased to make her acquaintance). She was not generally an unfriendly sort of person, but in such formal situations she was quite unsure of herself and preferred to let her children take on the task (which they did, with impressive grace).
Some guests lingered longer then others, chatting with the royals for a moment before heading towards their tables, while others simply bowed before going on their way. Most seemed pleased to attend, but Helen did note that a few looked less enthusiastic then the others.
She was particularly taken aback by the group of four dour looking men who Tumnus announced as the "Calormene Envoy."
Helen could recall speaking about this country with Susan earlier that week (her unpleasant suitor Rabadash, she recalled, had hailed from this kingdom) and she remembered that Edmund had been reading about it when she had gone to speak with him in the library. Although she knew it was wrong to jump to such fast conclusions, her instincts told her that these men were not a pleasant sort. They approached the high table, staring at the Narnian royals sourly, their stiff tan faces clearly trying (and failing) to hide their distain. After a moment of hesitation, the tallest of the bunch stepped forward, giving the slightest of bows, and smiled crookedly at Peter.
"High King." The man said, without a note of pleasure in his voice. "It grieves us that we must meet during such unpleasant times, but we assure you that the Tisroc (may he live forever) sends his warmest regards and hopes that we may work though the current situation, Tash willing, as quickly as possible."
Helen directed her full attention towards the group, wondering if the man's remarks had anything to do with her children's anxiety during the past week. She knew that, after their arrival, some of the news they had received from their advisors had not been good but (despite her best attempts) she had been unable to figure out exactly what was wrong. This, she knew, was due to her children's determination not to burden or worry her. Every time she had asked them what was wrong, or noted that they looked tense after one of their many meetings, they had brushed off her concerns and quickly changed the topic. It had begun to feel like a bit of a conspiracy in recent days, and even other residents of the palace, like Tumnus and the beavers, had avoided the issue in her presence (on the monarchs' orders, she was certain).
At first she had tried to ignore it, convincing herself that they would tell her what was going on if need be, but she had been growing increasingly frustrated by their secrecy in recent days. She was the parent, after all, and she was the one that was supposed to be protecting them, not vice versa…she could no longer accept being left in the dark.
Perhaps finding out more about the "unpleasant situation" of which the man had spoken would give her the answers she needed, and she made a mental note to find out what she could from the guests that evening. Her children may have been unwilling to tell her what was going on, but there was little chance they had told all of their guests to do the same.
Tonight might be her best chance to get some answers…
Peter nodded, exchanging a discreet look with his brother before replying, his tone much cooler then it had been with the other guests. "We thank you for your warm regards." He replied, starring firmly at the envoy. Helen marvelled at his ability to keep up such a stoic façade as there was, clearly, no warmth between the two groups. "We too hope that the situation can be contained quickly."
"I expect we will be meeting with you tomorrow, as planned?" Edmund questioned, straightening his back as he spoke to make himself look as tall and authoritative as possible.
The leader of the envoy gave another slight bow. "Of course, your majesty." He said, flashing a false grin.
His dark eyes, Helen noticed, lingered on Susan and Lucy for a moment after his address to Edmund. The man's expression was difficult to interpret, but there seemed to be a sort of underlying hunger in his face, and the mother had to resist the urge to break decorum and tell him not to look upon her daughters in such a way.
Much to Helen's relief, after one final forced bow the four made their way off of the platform.
Susan, who had looked terribly uncomfortable since their arrival, closed her eyes for a brief moment and Helen wished that she was not on the other end of the table and could offer some comfort. It was safe to assume that Susan had been unpleasantly reminded of her experience with Rabadash, and needed a moment to collect herself. Thankfully, the young woman managed to quash her discomfort soon after the men left, and was smiling once again by the time the next guests (who were much more pleasant) approached.
As the line finally began to dwindle, and more and more guests took their seats, Helen could not help but marvel at her children's ability to remain so patient and steady. Truth be told, her initial excitement was beginning to wear off, and she was starting to wonder how much longer the greetings could possibly go on. The Kings and Queens, however, managed to greet each arrival with the same degree of warmth (when it was warranted, that is) and showed no signs of boredom or weariness.
One got used to this sort of things after years of training, she supposed.
The appearance of a particularly jovial group snapped the woman out of her daze, and she looked up to see a pleasant looking man (or rather, king, judging from the crown on his head) standing before her. He was accompanied by three others; two twin teenage boys, and a beautiful young lady with tan skin and straight dark hair.
"King Lune of Archenland." Tumnus called, introducing the group as they bowed. "Accompanied by Prince Cor, Prince Corin and the Tarkheena Aravis."
After the initial bow, the formalities quickly faded away and the new King greeted the other royals with great enthusiasm while Lucy enveloped Aravis a warm hug.
"It is wonderful to see you all again, and I am happy that thou art safe and well!" Lune exclaimed, grinning widely at the four monarchs. "We were very worried after news of your disappearance arrived in Anvard, and much relieved when we heard of your return."
"It is wonderful to see you as well." Peter agreed, smiling at the four guests. "We were all very pleased when we heard you would be able to attend tonight- we have much catching up to do."
Lune nodded. "Indeed. I am eager to hear about your journey." He said, his tone full of an infectious warmth. "Though I do fear that there will be serious matters to discuss as well. I wish for you to know that, as always, you will have our support if it should be needed. It is the least we can do, after your brave defence of our kingdom two summers past." His last sentence was addressed to Edmund and Lucy, who nodded back in response.
"I am glad to hear it, dear friend." Peter replied, his voice more subdued then before. "Though there is still hope that a military campaign will be avoided."
Helen's eyes widened at this.
A military campaign?
She had suspected that something was brewing, especially after her discussion with Peter and Edmund that afternoon, but to hear it spoken of so plainly was another matter. If there was the possibility of a military campaign on the horizon, then clearly something was terribly amiss…and Peter's tone told her that he did not (despite his words) have much hope that another solution could be found.
Helen's stomach tightened uncomfortably at the thought, and the sense of dread that had left her since the party began started to re-emerge.
Her mind flashed back to the image of her boys in the practice room, duelling with such deadly grace and power…she could once again picture them in the heat of battle, fighting for their lives as those around them fell to the ground…
Lifeless and cold…
No, she thought determinedly, I cannot let them go.
"Mum." She jumped slightly as the word broke her away from her thoughts, and she turned to see Peter smiling at her side. "I must introduce you to one of our dearest allies." He said, gesturing towards the king and his companions.
She nodded numbly, trying to focus on the guests and ignore her dark musings.
"This is King Lune of Archenland, his two sons, Princes Cor and Corin, and their friend Tarkheena Aravis." Peter said, nodding to each one in turn. "And this is our mother, Lady Helen." He continued, addressing the guests. "We are very pleased that she was able to return with us."
"Well now!" The jolly King exclaimed, coming forward and placing a polite kiss on her hand. "It is indeed a pleasure to meet you, Lady Helen. The news of your arrival has been quite the topic of discussion, even in Archenland!"
Helen blinked. "It has?"
She blurted out her question without thinking, too surprised to offer a more formal or eloquent response. The attention she had received at the Cair had been unsettling enough, but the thought of people in other kingdoms speaking of her was shocking, to say the least.
"Of course." Lune continued with a slight chuckle. "Many are eager to know more about the mysterious mother of Narnia's beloved monarchs."
Helen found it difficult to hide her apprehension, but she knew it would be rude to scoff at the King's remark. He seemed genuine, but she found it hard to see herself as interesting and "mysterious." She knew her station in this world was different (though knowing something and accepting something are quite different matters), but she still could not help but see herself as an average and unremarkable English housewife- she was certainly not, in her mind, worthy of much discussion.
Though, she supposed, it was not every day that people from their world magically fell into this one; that in itself was a source of intrigue, no matter how mundane the new arrivals might be.
"Well, I…" She trailed off, hating how quiet and unsure she sounded.
Helen wished that she had the ability to sound and confidant and steady as her children, but clearly they had not inherited their noble demeanours from her. She often found that her self-assurance failed her whenever she needed it most.
"It is lovely to meet you, your majesty." She finished with a curtsy, hoping that she had not been too much of an embarrassment.
Lune, still smiling, returned her gesture with a bow. "I do hope we will have an opportunity to speak again later." He said pleasantly before bidding her and the four monarchs a temporary farewell and making his way to a nearby table, the three teenagers in tow.
There were only a few guests left to greet after the Archenland royalty departed, and Helen was happy when the last had taken their seats and the feast was able to begin.
Although every meal at Cair Paravel was expertly prepared, this particular meal far surpassed every previous one. Helen did not think she had ever seen so much finely arranged food in her life and it was difficult to decide on only one main course as she looked at the many dishes before her. She eventually settled on the grilled salmon with a white wine glaze and, after taking her first bite, was certain that she had made the right decision. The meal was delicious, and she carefully savoured every bite as she enjoyed the sound of carefree chatter going on around her.
Although the thought of unpleasant Calomene envoy and the mention of a military campaign had not left her mind (Helen remained determined to use the evening to find out more), she was able to set aside her worries during the meal and simply enjoy the company of her children. This was only the third time they had all attended dinner together, and the mother was thrilled to see them all relaxed and happy.
She hoped there would be more moments like these soon, though the nagging voice in the back of her mind filled her with doubt.
"…so then Ed and Peter decided that they were brave enough to go into the cave themselves, to find out what had been making the noise." Lucy was saying, her face shining with glee as she recounted a tale from one of their first years in the kingdom. "We told them that we could come back later, with a few troops for support just in case, but they insisted that they would be fine. So we waited on the beach while they went in and, only about a minute later, later we heard a terrible high pitched sheik…"
"Come on now Lu, no one wants to hear that story." Edmund cut in, his cheeks slightly flushed.
Peter nodded in agreement. "Ed is right, I don't think…"
"Nonsense." Helen interrupted eager to hear the end of the tale. Lucy had become quite the storyteller during her time in Narnia, and the mother was always happy to hear tales of her children's exploits- no matter how embarrassing. "I want to hear the end of it."
The two young men looked rather put out, but sat back and allowed the youngest sibling to continue.
"Right, so we heard a terrible high pitched sheik," Lucy continued, shooting a mischievous grin at her brothers. "Su and I both thought it was some sort of wounded animal- or maybe a young girl…but a few seconds later Ed and Peter came shooting out of the cave, white as a ghosts, and babbling on about some terrible monster."
Helen chuckled, amused by the mortified look on her sons' faces as Lucy described their behaviour.
"We believed them at first, but the moaning noise in the cave started again and the more I listened the more I found it hard to believe that it was being made by a terrible monster, as they had claimed. So Su and I picked up the torch and went inside, only to find that the monster that had so frightened the brave and manly kings of Narnia was, in fact, nothing more then a lost kitten with an injured paw."
The mother let out a laugh as Lucy finished the story and Edmund cut in defensively, hoping to save at least some of his dignity.
"We approached from a different angle." He explained as Peter nodded vigorously. "Our torch made the cat's shadow look huge and menacing so, yes, we got a little bit worried."
"Worried?" Susan chuckled, raising an eyebrow. "You were both terrified."
All three Pevensie women laughed again while Peter and Edmund tried (and failed) to keep straight faces. Soon, the young men were smiling too, and laughter was shared between them all.
For a moment, nothing else mattered, and Helen was truly and completely happy.
Too quickly, however, the conversation came to an end and official duties once again had to be carried out. Soon after they all regained composure, Peter (showing no trace of the fourteen year old boy who had run away screaming from an injured kitten) stood up and addressed the crowd, thanking them all for their attendance and well wishes.
The remnants of the dinner were cleared away, the musicians were ushered in, and the second half of the evening got underway. As the first few bars of music sounded, Helen realized that this evening's dance would be much different from the one she had experienced during her first night at Cair Paravel. That one had been spontaneous, and the music had been chaotic and lively. This time, however, everything was carefully planned and the band had started with a beautiful and expertly played waltz.
She had intended to sit the first few songs out (hoping that she would not have to dance until the floor was full so that her lack of expertise would not be glaringly obvious), but Peter had pulled her out of her seat, explaining that it was customary for entire royal family to partake in the first dance.
He ushered her onto the floor, and she tried to look calm and collected as the first dance began. She danced with Peter, Susan danced with Edmund and Lucy coaxed her dear friend Tumnus into being her first partner of the evening.
It did not go as badly as she would have expected (though she found it hard to ignore the feeling of hundreds of sets of eyes following her), and she was grateful that her long dress masked her awkward footwork.
"I am sorry I am not better at this, Peter darling." She said, letting him guide her towards the left corner of the dance floor. "If I had known that I would end up as a royal mother in a splendid palace, I would have paid more attention in my dance lessons as a child."
Her son laughed. "I suppose that is not something one usually predicts." He mused, grinning. "But don't worry, you're doing fine. Chances are you'll be the best dance partner I'll have all night."
She raised an eyebrow, perplexed by his last remark and the small frown that accompanied it. "What do you mean?" She asked.
The young men hesitated before giving his reply.
"I don't generally enjoy this part of the evening." He admitted as they twirled across the room. "Susan does a lovely job arranging everything, of course, but having a ball open to all the kingdoms generally means the arrival of several…" Peter paused, searching for the right word "…eager young ladies."
Helen nodded, beginning to get the gist of it. Susan had mentioned that superficial and ambitious suitors were an unpleasant downside to their royal status, and she had noticed that a couple of the young men and women who had come up to greet the family at the beginning of the evening had been starring at the Kings and Queens quite hopefully.
"By the end of the night I have usually had to dance with so many of them that the thought of another waltz makes me mildly nauseous." The High King continued with a small sigh. "They are not all bad, of course, but I find the great majority to be rather pushy and insistent. I'd much rather avoid them all together, but then one always risks angering one of the other kingdoms. It is my duty to be polite and chivalrous to all of our guests, no matter how trying it might be at times. Ed hates it too." Peter added as an afterthought, "But he has perfected the art of gracious evasion much more then I have. Susan generally doesn't mind, and Lucy is always willing to give anyone a chance."
The mother gave him a sympathetic smile, understanding his predicament and wishing there was something she could do to help. The thought of people pursing her children in hopes of gaining their own titles and glory was a very disquieting notion.
"Yes, Susan did mention that troublesome suitors can be an issue." Helen noted as the song began to come to a close. "I suppose she must know that more then anyone, after what happened with that Rabadash fellow." She paused, trying to gauge Peter's reaction as she mentioned the Calromen's name. He remained stoic, and she continued, thinking that this might be her chance to finally get some solid information out of him. "I have been meaning to ask you a bit more about that incident." She continued. "The Calormene envoy that is here today did not seem too pleasant, and when King Lune mentioned a military cam-"
"Ah, the song seems to have ended." Peter cut in before she could finish. She noticed that his blue eyes were pointedly avoiding her gaze and she knew that, once again, he was evading her questions. "It is too bad really." The King went on. "I may not love waltzes, but I have always thought that that particular song is lovely."
He smiled down warmly as they drew apart, clearly (and much to her growing frustration) unwilling to acknowledge her comment.
"Peter…" She began again, trying to use her firmest voice. "Why are you avoid-"
Helen felt a gentle tap on her shoulder, and she stopped abruptly, turning around to see who was standing behind her. Much to her displeasure, it was a perfectly preened young woman who she had never seen before. The new arrival's eyes were fixed firmly on Peter, and as she gave a low curtsy Helen noted (with disapproval) the slightly low cut of the top of her dress.
Peter, it seemed, had not been lying about the abundance of eager young ladies in attendance that evening.
This one certainly seemed quite bold.
"You majesties." The young woman said, her voice sickeningly polite. "I was wondering if I might have the honour of joining the High King for the second waltz of the evening, if it will not be an intrusion."
Helen wanted to give her a quick no, angry at her for both her bold interruption and her obvious intentions with her son, but Peter answered before she did.
Unfortunately, his reply was not the dismissal she had expected and hoped for.
"Of course, milady." He said with a slight bow, his expression both distant and (much to Helen's annoyance) relieved.
After giving Helen a quick kiss on the cheek and thanking her for the dance, Peter and the young woman began to dance the second waltz, making their way across the room and leaving the fuming mother in their wake.
Fists clenched, Helen left the open floor (which was quickly filling up with dancing couples), and sat down at a nearby table, letting out a loud and exasperated sigh.
Peter's blatant evasion of her question had been extremely frustrating, and she was very annoyed that he had been willing to brush her off in favour of the sort of lady that, moments earlier, he had claimed to find abhorrent. He was more determined to hide things from her then she had thought, and this only served to make her own stubbornness flare up with alarming force.
Whatever was going on was clearly bad, and she needed to know what it was.
They were going to tell her what was happening, she decided.
She was going to find out why her children had seemed so worried lately…why they were constantly meeting with advisors and officials…why her sons had seemed to be preparing themselves for battle…why there had been so many troubled whispers and hushed conversations among the residents of Cair Paravel…
Helen needed answers, and she was not willing to play games any longer.
Filled with a new sense of mission, Helen looked around the crowded room, deciding to start her quest for information with an interrogation of each of her children. Much to her displeasure, Susan was nowhere in sight, and (after another survey of the room) Lucy was similarly difficult to locate.
She was beginning to wonder if they had all left the hall when, thankfully, she spotted Edmund, wrapped up in a conversation with two of the guests. Set on her task, Helen rose from her seat and was about to march towards her youngest son when a voice from behind her interrupted the quest.
"Lady Helen!"
She recognized the jovial voice immediately, and she turned to see a grinning King Lune standing a few feet behind her. At first, she was tempted to tell him that she could not spare a moment to speak with him, but the wide smile on his face made her anger and determination soften slightly. He seemed to be the sort of person who could not help but brighten a room with his infectious love of life, and Helen could not bring herself to be impolite.
"Your majesty." She replied, returning his smile with a small one of her own. "Lovely to see you again."
He nodded before taking a seat at the table she had just been sitting at. "You as well." He agreed warmly. "Shall we sit and talk for awhile? If thou art not otherwise occupied, of course."
Helen glanced across the room where she could still see Edmund conversing with the guests; he seemed to be in a rather deep discussion, and she got the sense that he would not disappear anytime soon. Deciding her interrogation of him could wait a little bit longer, (and remembering that Lune, too, could be a useful source of information) she nodded politely and returned to her seat.
"Of course, your majesty."
King Lune chuckled, a youthful light in his kind eyes. "Please, there is no need for such formalities." He said. "You may call me Lune if you wish, or King Lune if you prefer."
She nodded again. Although she had been growing more accustomed to life in Narnia, the idea that she was of a high enough status here to speak to Kings and Queens as equals was a bit difficult to accept. Her children, of course, were a separate matter- but being informal with the monarchs of others nations seemed improper to her.
Though, she supposed, it was best not to go against his wishes.
"Of course, King Lune." She corrected, unable to drop the royal title. "Have you been enjoying the ball?"
"Oh yes." The pleasant man replied, picking up a nearby pitcher of wine and pouring himself a glass (he offered to do the same for Helen but she declined, feeling much too full from the feat to consume anything else). "Queen Susan always does a lovely job with these events. Narnian balls have quite the reputation, you know. My sons were quite pleased to come here tonight. Most are thrilled to be invited." He nodded towards the north side of the room, where Helen could see one of his sons dancing with Aravis and the other twirling (quite rambunctiously) with a young tree nymph.
Helen smiled, taking a brief glance around the room and noting the many happy Narnians and visitors who filled the great hall. Most certainly seemed to be enjoying themselves though, she remembered, there were some exceptions. "Yes, Susan has outdone herself." The woman agreed, her mind beginning to race she attempted to bring up the topic which was now at the forefront of her mind. "Although some guests seem less enthusiastic then others."
The King raised an eyebrow, perplexed, and Helen continued. "The Calormene envoy did not seem to be a pleasant bunch, and I sensed that they would much rather be elsewhere tonight."
"Ah, an astute observation indeed." Lune mused, his bright smile fading as he spoke. "No, I do not suppose the Calormene dignitaries are too pleased to attend. Though I assure you that they are an exception to the rule."
She sensed that he was hoping to reassure her with this last remark and move onto a more pleasant topic, but Helen was determined not to let that happen.
She chose her next words carefully.
"I know my children have been quite concerned about the current situation." She said, hoping that her vague remarks would not convey the fact that she (on her children's insistence) knew very little about the matter. "They have been so busy since their return and, although I do try to help them as much as I can, I feel so terribly uninformed about everything in this kingdom and fear I am of little use."
"I am sure this is not the case." King Lune assured her, his warm smile returning. "From what Queen Lucy has told me, they are all quite glad that you were able to return to the kingdom with them and think have been a wonderful support."
"I am pleased to hear it." Helen replied, her determination steady. "Though I know that I am dreadfully ignorant about many things, and I do not think I cannot understand their burdens until I know more about this world. I still have so many questions, but I do not want to be a distraction to my sons and daughters by asking them."
Lune looked sympathetic as she spoke, and Helen (who felt increasingly guilty for trying to pull information out of the kind King- though nothing she had said thus far had been a lie) tried not to balk under his gaze.
After a short paused, he gave her the chance she had been hoping for.
"I can understand such concerns. I have heard that your world is very different then this one, and I am sure that your adjustment will take quite some time." He remarked. "Do let me know if you have any questions which I can assist you with."
Her heart rate increased.
This was it…
"Well," The woman began, now feeling very hopeful. "I have been quite worried about this military campaign Peter has spoken of." She paused, deciding to take a risk and pretend that she knew more then she did. Her experiences that evening had told her that there was definitely something going on between Narnia and Calormen, and (she thought) it was safe to assume that this had something to do with all of the recent mention of war and battle. "I understand the Calormene's will be involved." She added reluctantly. "But I am not quite sure what the exact nature of the situation is…"
Helen trailed off and looked up at the king, hoping that he would not question her lack of knowledge or hesitate to share information with her. If he began to suspect that she was purposefully being left in the dark on these matters, he might decide not to answer and her efforts would be frustrated yet again.
For a long moment, he said nothing, and she feared that her bluff had been called.
Maybe she had been wrong about the Calromene's after all.
"You know what happened two years ago, with Prince Rabadash, I assume." Lune began quietly.
Helen breathed a sigh of relief, and nodded. That was one of the few things she did know; as Susan had told her several days ago, Rabadash had been the Calromen Prince who she had come near to marrying and who, after showing his true colours in his own country and being rejected by the Queen, had attacked Archenland (in hopes of eventually conquering Narnia). He had, thankfully, been defeated and banished back to his homeland by Aslan himself.
"Yes." She confirmed, glancing towards the King. "Susan told me what happened. How, when she refused to marry him, he attacked your country, but was defeated and condemned to stay in his own city."
"Indeed." The King replied. "As a punishment for his follies, Aslan turned him into an ass and said he would only return to human form if he went to the temple in his country's capital, Tashbaan, and stood on the altar during the autumn feast. He did this, of course, and was made to look like a fool when the thousands who had gathered around the temple saw his transformation." Lune continued. "If Rabadash ever ventures beyond the ten mile radius around the temple, he will once again become an ass. Permanently, this time."
Helen felt a smile tugging at the side of her lips as she recalled the story. In her mind, it had had a happy ending, and she was not quite sure why Lune felt that it was important to reiterate it. She wanted to know what was behind the possible military conflict that had been mentioned that evening, and she did not see how Rabadash (who could never again leave his city without terrible consequences) could be a central factor.
Though, she reminded herself, we was from Calormen, and it was the Calormene's who had seemed particularly hostile…
She was about to ask how this story related to the current situation, but Lune continued before she could.
"Rabadash, of course, is unable to ever lead a military campaign again." The King noted, as if reading her mind. "And for awhile, we had all hoped that this incident would bring an end to our troubles with Calromen. Rabadash was clearly shamed by the events which transpired, and his father the Tisroc was enraged by his son."
Helen nodded. "Of course."
"But," Lune began again, a faint frown forming on his face. "As you may have heard, the news of late is that three of Rabadash's brothers (for the Tisroc has many wives and thus many sons) have been showing signs that they seek vengeance- they wish to defend their brother's honour. Rabadash may be confined, but his brothers are still free to lead their armies wherever they may please- including, of course, Archenland and Narnia."
The woman hoped that she did not look too surprised by this revelation as the pieces began to fall into place. She was relieved to finally receive some solid information about the current situation, but she did not like the sound of what Lune had said. The thought of three enraged princes leading troops against the two countries which had defeated their brother was not pleasant, and she wondered what sort of force they would be able to muster.
"But, what of the Tisroc? What has he said about the matter?" she asked, wondering how the Calormen king had been taking these developments. If he was (rightfully so) angered by Rabadash's foolishness, then would he support his other sons' quest for vengeance?
She certainly hoped not.
Lune sighed, and Helen thought that he looked suddenly older and more burdened then he had a moment ago. After taking a deep swig of his wine, he replied. "The Tisroc rarely makes his stance clear." Lune explained. "Technically, he remained neutral when Rabadash attacked us, but (as Aravis happened to overhear a conversation between the prince and his father), we know that he would have come out to support the attack if Rabadash had been a success. The Tisroc has always had his eye on Archenland, Narnia, and the smaller kingdoms- he wishes to bring them into his empire, but will not proclaim his will in such a way unless he knows he can achieve it. Official reports say he is against his sons' plotting, but I suspect this will not be so if they make significant gains. He will gladly send in reinforcements if he senses that our defeat is at hand."
Helen felt a now-familiar knot forming in her stomach as she listened to the king explain the scenario. It seemed to make sense, and certainly explained the amount of worry and stress that had been growing at Cair Paravel over the past few days…
The threat suddenly felt much more real then it had earlier that evening.
"Though, as you said earlier, a battle can still be avoided, correct?" Helen asked, her tone hopeful.
She knew her children would never go to war if it could be averted, but she could not help but recall Peter's words from that afternoon…
"Sometimes, battle is the only way to defend the kingdom, freedoms, and people that you cherish."
As much as she knew that they would want to avoid conflict, she also knew that they would go to great lengths to protect what they held dear. If Rabadash's brothers became a threat, they would all do what needed to be done.
No matter what the personal cost…
"Oh, yes." Lune agreed, trying to smile. "Peter has sent his best dignitaries to their court, and we can still hope that the Tisroc will force them to desist their shows of aggression. They may have their own armies, as Calormen nobles often do, but they still must answer to the Tisroc."
Helen nodded again, hoping that the diplomatic mission would be a success and making a silent vow not to slip into despair over the matter until she knew what was to come next.
There was no use worrying, she realized, when war was not certain.
Lune waved his hand with a flourish, his smile finally regaining a hold on his face. "But enough of that, I say." He proclaimed. "I do not think we should let the thought of what might be ruin such a lovely evening." He paused for a moment, listening to the band as they struck up yet another beautiful song. "Ah, yes!"
His eyes once again flashed with a youthful glee as he spoke and, seconds later, he had hopped up from his chair with more agility then she would have expected from the slightly plump middle aged man.
"This song is a favourite of your children's, as you may know." He said, offering her his hand to help her up.
She did not know, but as she listened to the elegant tune, she could understand why.
Helen stood up and Lune continued to explain. "It has become tradition at the Narnian balls for the four royals to begin this dance on their own. Most guests gather around to watch as they dance the first half, and then we are all to join in." He paused, still smiling. "Would you do me the honour of joining me, Lady Helen?"
Her worries fading momentarily, she agreed, and the two made their way to the edge of the dance floor where the Kings and Queens were gathering to begin their traditional dance.
Or rather, Kings and Queen.
Helen's brow furrowed as she watched Peter, Susan and Edmund stand in the middle of the room, clearly lacking the presence of their forth member.
Susan and Peter were facing each other, ready to begin the dance, but Edmund stood alone, his brown eyes surveying the crowd for the youngest sibling who was meant to be his partner.
The music carried on, and so did the growing mummer of the crowd. Helen did not know how this dance went, but she was fairly certain that Lucy was supposed to be there at this point, ready to begin.
They stood.
They waited.
After a few more moments, the band stopped playing and lowered their instruments to their sides, knowing that it they continued, there would not be enough music left to carry out the full dance once Lucy arrived.
No, she realized, this was not how it was supposed to go.
Feeling terribly unsettled, and trying to ignore the whispers of the crowd, Helen pushed her way onto the dance floor and walked quickly towards her three children, all of whom looked concerned.
Something isn't right.
"Where is your sister?" The mother asked, her heart beating rapidly as she approached the three. "Shouldn't she be here?"
Peter and Edmund exchanged a worried glance, and Susan continued to survey the crowd, her eyes wide.
"She should be…" Edmund began, taking another quick look around the room. "She always comes when she hears our song. Always…" He trailed off, and Helen suddenly found it difficult to draw proper breaths.
Turning, and beginning her own frantic survey of the hall, the woman searched desperately for any trace of her daughter, hoping to see a flash of auburn hair, or that recognisable wide smile…
But, like the others, she had no success and her heart instantly sank.
Lucy was nowhere to be found…
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A/N Buahaha, my first semi-cliffhanger. Hope you enjoyed it!
Sorry for the delay- have been busy, then got sick (hurrah for winter cold season!)
This was also a tricky chapter to write, had to skim through the Horse and His Boy again and take a few notes to get the details down- and I am sure that I made some sort of folly at some point (those of you who have read the books more times then I have can surely point them out). I know King Lune's speech in the books is a bit more flowery, but I find that hard to write and hard to read, so I did take an artistic liberty there. Forgive me!
For those that have not read the books- the Rabadash incident, as well as more about Lune, Cor, Corin and Avris can be found in the Horse and His Boy. I tried to summarize what needs to be known for the sake of this story in this (and previous chapters)- but let me know if something doesn't make sense!
Thanks again for the lovely reviews!
They keep me writing. So PLEASE REVIEW if you would like to see more.
