Disclaimer: I do not own Narnia.
Author's Note: Oh...I've caught myself idling again. :s Well, I assure you that no more idling will take place, as we are coming very close to the end! This is just a short summing-up of things chapter. Enjoy! I'll try my best to update a little more so I can get this thing finished...
Chapter 25 ~ Accepting Fate
"Prunaprismia, you must promise me—" Miraz looked at her directly. "You must promise me that you will not breathe a word of this."
Prunaprismia turned away from him, hiding her tears. She had wed a traitor and she didn't even know it. The one she married, the one she loved—was a conspirator. Did this liar even have a loving heart? Did he even know what it felt like to love?
"How can I, Miraz?" She whispered shakily. "How can I?"
"Trust me. You will see that, in time, the wrongs will be righted."
"You are not righting wrongs, Miraz!" Prunaprismia's voice rose. "You are…you are destroying a nation."
There was silence. Miraz was breathing hard, as if he were exerted. Prunaprismia sobbed. The bell gonged above their head, and thunder drawled somewhere beyond in the great gray sea of clouds. Miraz was surprised when a small tear slid down his face, but that did not melt his stony features. He still gazed at Prunaprismia, remorseful of the words he has spoken to her. Why had he been so foolish, so rash as to tell her of his wicked, wicked plot? Now she was disturbed—he could see that very clearly. In her eyes, on her face, in her words. She had not seen it in the light that Miraz had.
"You will see sense." Miraz said quietly, looking down at his hands. They were knotted cruelly into fists. Sighing heavily, he lifted one to eye level, turning it over as if it was a coin in his palm. He whispered, almost to himself, "A man's hand. It can do so much good, and so much evil. It can kill a man…and grasp the hand of another in friendship. It can commit treachery…and it can show loyalty with the sword…such a small thing…and yet it could hold the fate of the world."
Prunaprismia turned slowly and approached him at a reluctant, sedate pace, idle tears still flowing down. She grasped the fist gently, meeting Miraz's eyes.
"This hand does not have to be the hand of fate. It does not have to hold death, Miraz. It only does what you wish for it to do. It does not have to kill or commit treachery to gain honor." She said slowly. His fist receded.
"I must do what I know is right." Miraz said. "I cannot stand aside and watch my brother close his fist around this nation. I cannot. I will not."
"I cannot stand aside and watch you become a criminal before my eyes!" Prunaprismia suddenly sparked with anger.
The anger's fire spread to Miraz, who backed away from her. "Accept fate, Prunaprismia. Accept it and you will see sense."
He fled quickly, leaving Prunaprismia distraught.
TO BE CONTINUED