GLIMPSES OF THE GOLDEN AGE
Part Three
Lady Alambiel and I got together to do another Random Word Challenge. This is what I came up with, all set in my favorite Narnian time, The Golden Age. Check out hers, too!
NEST
Peter leaned against the side of the nest as the baby Gryphons wobbled towards him, golden eyes bright. Little wings, far too small to support them yet, fluttered with excitement as the cubs walked along his outstretched legs and nestled in his lap.
One of them pounced on his hand, locking its front legs around his wrist, kicking furiously against his arm with its back ones and pecking at his fingers. He rolled it over, tickling its round tummy. It made a sputtering little purr and pricked him with its tiny talons.
He never did things like this in Finchley.
TEAPOT
"She could be anywhere."
Susan moved the cushions on the settee and pulled back the curtains. She looked under the sideboard, in the drawers and behind the books on the lowest shelf. Peter had entrusted her with the orphan baby bunny he had brought home, and somehow the tiny little thing had talked Susan into playing hide and seek.
"She's been here," Susan said, seeing half of the fresh tulips from the flower basket had been eaten. "But where is she now?
"Your Majesty," said the Peahen who was one of her ladies in waiting. "Why is the teapot giggling?"
SYSTEM
"I don't need your help, thank you," Edmund said. "I have a system."
Peter studied the wall they had to scale. Twelve feet up, the rocks were bigger and there were places to hold onto. But before that, it was straight and flat. He was tall for thirteen, but Edmund wasn't even up to his shoulder yet. He would never make it.
Peter made a running leap, grabbing the lowest of the bigger rocks. Before he could pull himself up, Edmund made his own jump, scrambled up Peter's back and to the top of the wall.
Behind them, Oreius laughed.
FAITH
For Peter, faith meant trusting that Aslan had made the right choice in making him High King and giving him Narnia to keep and love.
For Susan, faith meant believing that, no matter how stupidly brave her brothers were or how fearless her little sister, Aslan would watch over them and bring them home.
For Edmund, faith meant being sure that, despite everything he had done, Aslan forgave him and trusted him to bring justice with mercy to His kingdom of Narnia.
For Lucy, faith meant knowing Aslan was there whether or not she could see, hear or feel Him.
LIMIT
Breathing hard, eyes closed, Edmund groaned. "Tell Susan and Lucy . . . well, you know."
He reached blindly towards Peter who clasped his hand in both of his own. "I'm here, brother mine. I'm here."
"I want– want you to have my sword. And my books. And–"
"What about the silver dagger you got from that Black Dwarf last year. I'd really like that."
Edmund opened one eye. "No."
"Awww, come on, Ed."
"No. You're not taking this seriously."
Peter grinned. "You're not going to die from eating too much apple cake. Just remember five pieces at one sitting is the limit."
TONGUE
"You can't make me!"
"Come on," Peter urged. "If Susan sees you–"
Nose wrinkled, Edmund lifted one foot, toe neatly pointed, leaving only one leg supporting him on the marble railing. "Susan's an old fussy pants. Don't care if she does."
Peter looked over the balcony and down to the rocks and the sea below. After the last time Susan caught them–
"Edmund Alexander Pevensie!"
Startled to see their sister in the doorway, Edmund flailed, lost his footing and toppled over the side.
Peter's heart lurched. "Edmund!"
From the back of the circling Gryphon guard, Edmund stuck out his tongue.
MIDGET
Lucy threw her arms around Peter's waist, trying to throw him off balance, but he only stood there grinning.
"Come on, midget. You'll have to try harder than that."
She ducked her head against his chest, pushing with both feet, but she couldn't budge him an inch.
"Use leverage, Lu!" Edmund said. "Like I showed you."
Peter laughed. "Like you showed her, pipsqueak?"
Lucy grinned and, instead of pushing, pulled Peter's leg forward, toppling him onto his backside. He sat there, mouth open, with his little brother and sister standing over him.
"Yes, you great lummox." Edmund smirked. "Just like that."
LODGER
He'd had to be quite strict with his valet. The Faun was very diligent, but in this instance the boot would have to remain in the corner, on its side and definitely unpolished. One thing Peter knew about being King was that the good of his subjects was more important than his own pleasure, even if those subjects were extremely tiny.
As he did every morning, he leaned down to have a look inside the boot and make sure the Mouse who lived there with her little ones was doing well.
He couldn't think of a nicer lodger to have.
NOISE
"I heard a noise."
Peter opened his eyes to see Lucy standing beside his bed in her little pink nightgown. She still wasn't quite used to sleeping in a Queen's bed or a Queen's bedroom.
He leaned up on one elbow. "What kind of noise?"
"I think it was a bear."
He smiled. Back home, Lucy always claimed she heard a bear when she wanted to snuggle up with him. The funny thing now was that there actually was a Bear standing guard out in the hallway.
Peter got up and held out his hand. "Come on. I'll introduce you."
SAND
Arms and legs useless, Peter sank into the sea. His lungs burned, his broken ribs stabbing into them as he struggled for breath, but soon his struggles slowed and then ceased. His sight dimmed along with the remembrance of why he was here, and there was only the cool, blue-green silence of the water. Just as it was fading to black, he saw flashes of gleaming silver scales, of tails and fins and long flowing hair. Gentle hands lifted him up through the water, up and up until there was air once more.
And they dragged him onto the sand.
[This one will make more sense if you've read my story "Wind's Harvest."]
Do let me know what you think. I might consider turning some of these into one-shots.
–WD