Bound by Duty
Disclaimer: The Chronicles of Narnia belong to the estate of C.S. Lewis. I own nothing but the plot and the original characters in this story.
A/N: My deepest and humblest apologies for the long interval between updates. I've had to battle both writer's block and real life in order to get this chapter completed.
Chapter 5 – News from the Front
"How long has it been in Narnia?"
"Exactly three years," said Caspian.
"All going well?" asked Edmund.
"You don't suppose I'd have left my kingdom and put to sea unless all was well," answered the King.
— "On Board the Dawn Treader", The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
oOo
With a gentle tug, Lucy carefully pulled the door shut behind her. She leaned against the heavy oak panels and closing her eyes, allowed one word to surface to the forefront of her mind.
Home.
She was really here. Not just this entire world that they referred to when back in England, but Narnia. Narnia. The country of Talking Beasts, of divine Trees and Waters, of Dwarfs and Centaurs and Men.
She was in the land where she and her family had once ruled and lived a lifetime. The land they will forever call Home.
With her eyes still shut, she allowed her other senses to fill her in on her surroundings. She breathed deeply and caught the scent of cut grass mingling with earthy stone. It was cool where she stood and the light breeze that drifted towards her was dry and gentle; the air touched her skin without the heat of the summer sun or the cold sprays from the waves of the sea. In the distance, she heard the light, cheery tunes of birdsong and the sound of hoofs striking dirt somewhere beyond the castle walls.
All of it was Narnia.
She let out a contented sigh and continued to relish the moment; for now, she could be an ordinary girl and enjoy the simple things this land could offer. Being who she was, she knew these precious minutes would not last and she would do her best to make every second count.
As she continued to listen to the chorus of life in and around the castle, the sound of footsteps soon caught her attention. The steps appeared to be human; she could easily make out the rhythmic thumps as booted feet hit the ground with every step that grew nearer and louder. Lucy stiffened but remained where she was; though she kept her eyes closed, she was alert and wary. The footsteps echoed loudly in the corridor before the noise suddenly stopped and it was still once more. She knew the newcomer stood several paces away and she waited.
It was a familiar voice that broke the silence.
"You look well, my Lady."
Lucy smiled and opened her eyes, glancing in his direction. "As do you, my Lord," she replied. The young Queen straightened and turning to face him, dipped into a curtsey.
There was a small grin on Edmund's face as he made a little bow to her. He slowly raised his head up, studying her new dress and slippers as he did so. "You really do look lovely, Lu."
She felt the color rise in her cheeks. Edmund rarely handed out compliments so she knew his words were heartfelt. It surprised her that he would take note of her outfit; she could not recall a time when he would remark in such a fashion on either of his sisters' raiment.
"Thank you," she said, her voice soft and sincere. She brushed a hand across the silky fabric of her gown. "It is rather nice to be wearing a fresh set of clothes after two weeks at sea."
Edmund laughed. "And ones that fit correctly, too," he added knowingly. Lucy wasn't the only one that borrowed clothes from Caspian. The king had given him an extra set as well, and Edmund alternated between those and his own while they were aboard the Dawn Treader. The borrowed clothes were still loose on Edmund but he fared better than Lucy; he at least was closer in height and build to the king.
Lucy eyed her brother's attire. There was nothing remarkable about the simple tunic and trousers he wore but something about them gave her a curious feeling. "You know, Ed, that shirt looks oddly familiar..."
"Does it?" He briefly looked down before continuing. "I was just going to say the same about your dress. If I recall correctly, didn't you wear something similar to the Summer Festival one year?"
She thought for a minute and then clapped her hands. "Yes, yes of course!" She fingered the delicately embroidered leaves that adorned the neckline and the hems of the sleeves. "I remember now. Susan and I had these dresses specially made for that time when the two of us were opening the festival." Lucy wasn't surprised her brother remembered; his memory and observation skills were part of what made him a good King. As she thought of their older sister, she realized what it was about Edmund's clothes that seemed familiar. "Ed, I think that shirt looks like one Susan asked you to wear to the banquet for your fourteenth birthday."
He snorted, remembering the occasion. "Su didn't ask me to wear it; it was practically an order."
Lucy grinned. It would not surprise her if it were true; it certainly sounded like something their sister would have done. "Do you suppose these really are our clothes then?"
"I would say it's impossible since nothing was left of the Cair the last time we saw it, but just look at how perfect everything," he gestured at their surroundings, "is here. It's all exactly how it used to be." He cocked his head toward the door she had been leaning against earlier. "Does this lead to your room, Lu?"
"Rooms," she acknowledged, with a heavy emphasis on the word. She then looked at him expectantly.
In response to her unspoken question, he proceeded to point down the corridor. "I was stunned when the faun stopped in front of the door and announced that those were the rooms that had been prepared for me. And when I stepped inside..."
"It was exactly how you had left it," Lucy completed his thought. Her words came out in a whisper and there was wonder in her eyes. "It was the same for me even." The surprise she experienced when she walked in for the first time had not yet abated; whether two years or thirteen hundred years had passed, her rooms looked to be as they once were. "But how did they know?"
He had no answer for her. "I suppose we'll have to ask Caspian about that." Edmund shook his head, sweeping the questions from his mind and filing them away for the present. "But that will be for later, of course. We have more important things to discuss at the moment."
Lucy sighed as she stepped away from the door; she had not forgotten the reason they were in Narnia once more. "We had best be off then."
Nothing more was said between brother and sister as they crossed the length of the corridor. In addition to the doors that led to their rooms, Lucy saw several others that lined the hallway. As she approached a set of large double doors, she briefly wished there was time to look behind them.
Edmund noted his sister had slowed her steps. Following her gaze, he said, "Their rooms probably look the same as well."
"I'm sure they do, but it's not the same being here without them." Lucy placed her hand on the door to her eldest brother's former apartments and sighed. "I wish I could open these doors and find Peter sitting at his desk, sifting through the petitions and treaties that piled up when he was away." She glanced down the corridor at another door. "Or Susan hosting afternoon tea in her sitting room for the ambassadors and ladies that came to court."
As she spoke, her brother moved to her side. He put his arm around her, pulling her into a tight embrace. "They may not be physically here with us but they are here too," he said. The King also felt the same ache as she for the current absence of their elder siblings.
"In our hearts and in our minds they are ever present. And Narnia herself will never forget them. All they've done—all we've done—have helped to pave the way for this new Narnia that Caspian has been entrusted with. The legacy of the High King and Queen Susan will live on in Narnia so long as the people do not forget."
"Wise words, Brother; you speak truly." Lucy raised her head and standing on her toes, placed a kiss on his cheek. "And thank you."
They lingered in front of the doors for a little longer. There was no need for them to speak; even without words, each understood how the other felt. Finally, Lucy gently freed herself from her brother's arm. "We had better go," she murmured. "I'm sure Caspian must be waiting for us."
They resumed their walk in silence, both occupied by their own thoughts. The quiet that surrounded them soon disappeared, replaced with chatter as they left the old royal wing and proceeded to head downstairs. Word had spread of their arrival and they were greeted by many of Caspian's courtiers and servants as King and Queen passed them by.
As they rounded the corner of another hallway, a sudden thought occurred to Lucy. "Where's Eustace?"
Edmund grimaced. "Trying to figure out how to put his new clothes on. His room is in our old guest wing, and we had stopped there first. I offered to help him settle in before Rinius showed me to my rooms but our dear cousin wanted none of it." He shook his head; his dealings with Eustace had sorely tested his normally abundant patience.
"And he stated in no uncertain terms that he was not interested in attending this or any other meeting. He said this was none of his business and that we shan't have his help in the affairs of a country he's not a citizen of." The King sighed as he recalled the conversation with his cousin. "I told him where he could find us if he changes his mind and if he's bored, to ask one of the staff to show him around the castle."
They continued through several more corridors as they headed for the planning chamber, or the "War Room" as they had often called it during their reign. In the midst of telling another story at sea, Edmund had explained to Caspian that it was dubbed the War Room simply because it was where they always met to plan their maneuvers when Narnia was at war.
At one intersection, Lucy hesitated for a moment; the chamber was a place she had frequented on occasion but it had been a while since she was last there. As she looked between the different paths, she felt a tap on her shoulder.
"This way," Edmund said, indicating the eastern hallway with a slight tilt of his head.
She followed her brother without another word; it was a well-traveled route for him when they had lived in the castle. With the many campaigns her brothers planned in the past, she thought Peter and Edmund could probably find their way to the room blindfolded. Though she trusted her brother to find their planning chamber, she couldn't help but ask, "What if Caspian chose a different room instead?"
"The thought did occur to me, so I checked with Rinius before I met up with you." Lucy thought she heard an odd note in his voice and cast a quick glance at her brother. Edmund looked straight ahead but she noted his face had darkened slightly. It was an expression she had seen before, though it had been some time since she saw it last. He had a habit of falling into a state of quiescence and gravity when they convened for a council of war; whatever his thoughts of going to battle could be, his feelings manifested in his outward countenance as well. She wondered if this meeting was bringing back memories of other occasions when they and their advisors had met in the exact same room.
They soon reached the end of the hall and found themselves facing a large set of double doors. Two sentries—a Man and a Satyr—stood guard on either side; both snapped to attention and saluted as the two children approached.
"Good day, friends," Lucy greeted them politely as they approached the doors. "Has King Caspian arrived yet?"
"Yes, Queen Lucy," the Satyr replied, speaking for the other guard and himself. "His Majesty arrived not long ago and awaits you and King Edmund." As the Satyr spoke, he and the man to his left placed their hands on the wooden handles and pushed the doors open.
"Thank you," Lucy said, smiling at both guards. As the doors parted, she turned to Edmund and found him appearing less somber than before. He was more composed and appeared impassive, but she could still see the gravity lurking beneath his countenance. He caught her gaze and briefly dropped his mask, giving her a tight smile before gesturing for her to enter first.
The Queen blinked as she took in her new surroundings. Despite the purpose for which the room was used, it was as marvelous as she remembered. The chamber was tucked into a corner of the castle and with arched windows that lined the outer walls, light poured through the tall panels of leaded glass. Candelabra were scattered around the room; Lucy noted several unused tapers nestled amongst the stubby remnants of candles that had melted and hardened into pools of wax at their bases. Across from her, a large fireplace was set between two windows and a pile of kindling was stacked beside it. And in the center of the room between the hearth and the entrance stood a long rectangular table, its top covered with maps and scrolls.
There were Men and various creatures gathered around the table, with Caspian sitting at one end. It appeared to Lucy that she and Edmund had walked in on an important discussion; one of the men had been pointing to a spot on the map but all of them looked up when the doors opened.
"Ah, Lucy, Edmund, there you are." Caspian stood up and crossed the room to greet them. "I'm glad you were able to find us," he said sheepishly. "You must forgive me; I had quite forgotten that this is your first visit back to the castle and you may not have known where we were."
"Do not trouble yourself, Caspian," Edmund assured the king. "It was no issue of concern; we just checked with the staff and found our own way here."
"Then allow me to introduce the rest of my advisors," the king said as he moved towards the other men in the room. "May I present Lord Hazan," he gestured first to the man that was nearest to him, "and Lord Belmar."
Edmund had already taken note of the two lords upon his entrance into the room. Lord Belmar was the elder of the two and appeared old enough to be Caspian's father; there were bits of grey scattered among his black hair and his neatly trimmed beard. Edmund sensed a solemn air about him and thought the few lines on his face showed not only age but experience as well. His mannerisms and movement revealed not only an aristocratic background but a military one as well; the King recognized this man to be a veteran soldier.
Lord Hazan was opposite to Belmar both in looks and demeanor. Bright eyes peered out from beneath the long blond locks that fell to his shoulder. Like his king, he wore no beard and appeared to be only several years older than Caspian.
The two men quickly rose from their seats and bowed. Edmund briefly caught the looks of surprise on their faces before they respectfully bent their heads towards Lucy and him; they wore the same expressions he had seen other Telmarines exhibit upon seeing how young the Kings and Queens were during his previous trip to Narnia. He and Lucy would discuss their first impressions later, in a more private setting. At first glance however, Hazan appeared to be more agreeable than Belmar; the young lord smiled at them as he raised his head up, displaying a far sunnier disposition than the other lord.
Both were dressed in the Telmarine fashion, in leather doublets of navy and grey. Golden chains hung from their necks and wrists while large jewels and thick gold bands adorned their fingers. There was no mistaking either of these men as great nobles in Caspian's court.
"Trumpkin, Cornelius and Trufflehunter you've already met," Caspian continued before gesturing to the enormous Centaur that stood on the other side of the table. "And you remember Glenstorm, of course? He and Lord Belmar are commanders in my unified army."
"Glenstorm," Edmund greeted him with a small nod. His eyes detected a slight touch of grey in the Narnian's reddish hair and tail but other than that, the Centaur appeared no different from when the King saw him last.
Glenstorm stepped back several paces and with his fist at his heart, he bowed his head to them. "King Edmund, Queen Lucy," he said, acknowledging them in his deep voice. "The stars foretold of a great presence coming to Narnia," he continued as his dark eyes locked on the young King and Queen, "and their dance was one that had not been seen in the skies for three years. We are honored by your presence here."
Both Lucy and Edmund inclined their heads toward him; both were accustomed to Centaur greetings and knew nothing needed to be said in response to such a welcome.
Caspian then motioned toward two empty chairs across from his own. "Please, sit."
The Pevensies walked to the other end of the table. As the others took their seats, Lord Hazan pulled out the chair to his immediate right. "Madam," he said respectfully, offering the seat to Lucy as she approached. As the Queen took her seat, Edmund proceeded to sit in the remaining chair and found himself facing the other King.
Once they were settled, Caspian proceeded without delay. "The latest reports have just come from the northwest."
"So the troubles have not stopped?"
"Unfortunately no, King Edmund," Lord Hazan replied. "Indeed, it has gotten worse."
"Would you mind starting at the beginning, Trumpkin?" asked Caspian, "It would be helpful for all of us," he gestured to himself and the Pevensies, "to learn of everything that has occurred so far."
The Dwarf gave a quick nod and looked around the table. "The trouble started on the very day you set sail, your Majesty," he began.
Caspian looked puzzled. "But in your message, you had written that things began occurring a week after I had left."
"That's what we thought at the time, Sire, but when the scouts went to investigate, we learned that it had started earlier than we thought." Trumpkin directed their attention to one of the large maps on the table. Markers were scattered across the map but many of the pennants were situated in the area marking the northwestern part of the country.
"We determined that the first incident occurred in Greenhall."
"Greenhall?" Lucy asked, unfamiliar with the name.
"It is a village west of here," Glenstorm replied, pointing to one of the markers. The Queen leaned closer to the table to get a better view and noted its location was halfway between Beruna and Beaversdam, along the Great River. "Several fires broke out around the village and destroyed many buildings."
"That does not sound too unusual an occurrence," Edmund remarked. "The fires could have started in part from the summer heat and dry conditions in the area."
"True, King Edmund," the Centaur agreed, "except the villagers claimed the buildings were set on fire by large beasts they had never seen before."
Caspian raised an eyebrow. "Large beasts?" he echoed.
"Aye, Sire," Trumpkin said; he had been stroking his beard but stopped as he picked up the tale again. "Some of my clan were hiking south of Beaversdam and they reported seeing great lizards in the area a few days after the fires at Greenhall. They followed the tracks of one of these beasts to a cave at the bottom of a cliff and found a very large lizard resting inside."
"And?" the king prompted. "What did they see?"
The Dwarf shook his head as he recalled the conversation with his kinsmen. "Not much. They tried to get a closer look but the creature woke up and spewed fire at them, so they ran as far from it as they could."
"So we're assuming that the lizards the Dwarfs saw are the same ones that are burning the villages?" Caspian asked.
"And the woods as well, my King," Cornelius added. "A week after the dwarfs' encounter, the dryads came to us seeking aid. The ones that survived the fires described similar beasts rampaging around the northern and western forests."
Trumpkin shuddered as he thought of the wood nymph that appeared before the council; her pleas for help and her death were still vivid in his mind. "That was when I decided to write you, Sire."
The king nodded. "Yes, and you had mentioned that scouts would be sent to investigate."
Instead of answering, the Dwarf looked towards the two men that sat further down the table. Hazan and Belmar exchanged a glance and after a moment of silent communication, it was the younger lord that spoke.
"My home lies northwest of here, near the Lantern Waste," he explained, looking towards Edmund and Lucy, "as well as Lord Belmar's. As these occurrences took place near our lands, the two of us rode out ahead of the scouts to see for ourselves the extent of the damage. My liege," he turned to Caspian, "everything was burned to the ground. Charred wood littered the roads and blackened stumps dotted the forests. We had to keep our horses to the main road because the grounds surrounding the others paths were still very hot in the days that followed. Without shade from the trees, the summer heat has kept the burnt lands smoldering."
With an ear on the discussion, Edmund had been silently observing the others in the room. He bit back a smile as he watched the elderly Doctor leaning a bit to the side every so often before shifting his position to stay up. Trufflehunter was the exact opposite, keeping his eyes and ears trained on whomever was currently speaking; the Badger was surely memorizing the details so they could be recorded and stored in the archives later. Glenstorm made no movement except to paw at the floor now and then, while Trumpkin fidgeted subtly in his seat so as not to draw his king's attention. As Lord Hazan described his findings, the young King noted Lord Belmar staring fixedly at the map, his eyes on the markers while he fingered a large golden medallion that hung from his necklace.
"And how far did you and Lord Belmar travel?" Caspian's question drew the older lord's attention away from the map.
"We rode as far as Greenhall before turning back," Belmar answered, speaking for the first time since the meeting began. "Judging from what we saw at the village, it did not seem wise to venture further without a larger party. As Lord Hazan and I prepared to return to Cair Paravel, the aerial scouts flew ahead and further north towards the border with Ettinsmoor." There was a brief pause. "The Birds and Gryphons reported seeing a huge lizard wandering inland from the western edge of the River Shribble."
Glenstorm pointed at the little flags that dotted the map. "From the reports that have reached us, it seems that most of these sightings are coming from the north of Narnia."
"From the north," Caspian murmured as he leaned back in his seat. Just past the northern march was Ettinsmoor and beyond that, Harfang and the wild lands where the Giants lived. He had not heard of any other countries that lay beyond the Giants' territories. "And you are certain this is not the work of the Giants? Could they be harboring these lizards and sending them across our borders?"
"There have been no signs of an offensive movement being staged from Harfang or Ettinsmoor, Sire," the Centaur replied. "The sentries stationed at the northern post have orders to send word if they notice unusual activity coming from the Giants but so far, it appears unlikely to be them; they are still recovering from their defeat last summer."
The king looked down at the map and then at the stack of papers in front of him; Trumpkin had the morning reports delivered to his chambers before he set foot ashore. Though he read the papers before the start of this meeting, he had not understood the full ramifications of their contents until now.
In light of what he had learned, there were several things he felt they must do. He looked up to a group of alert faces; on either side of the table, his councilors waited expectantly for his thoughts and decisions. Further down at the other end, Lucy had bent her head toward her brother, speaking too softly for Caspian to hear. Edmund gave a slight shake of his head and when he caught the other king's gaze, spoke to Lucy who raised her head and offered Caspian her undivided attention. With the two ancient monarchs staring back at him, the king experienced a sense of nervousness; in that very moment, he felt as if he were meeting them for the first time again.
"Your Majesty?"
Cornelius's quiet voice drew him away from his inner musings. Caspian blinked and looked across the table again; the two children looked like Edmund and Lucy once more, and not the King and Queen that were there just moments before. With a bit of effort, he turned his thoughts back to the plans he had begun to formulate in his head. He leaned forward and setting his arms on the table, clasped his hands together. His advisors took notice and readied themselves; familiar with the king's mannerisms, they knew Caspian had reached a decision.
"Belmar, Hazan," the king addressed the two men, "make preparations to leave for Beruna. Assemble a small company from the soldiers on patrol there and head for Greenhall; do whatever you can to help the villagers rebuild their homes and livelihood. I expect you to leave at first light tomorrow."
The Telmarine lords bowed their heads in response. Caspian then turned to his other military advisor, "Glenstorm, send some of your best scouts up towards the forests and see if there are any more sightings of these creatures in the area. Have them alert the towns and villages in those parts of the potential dangers; what occurred in Greenhall could surely happen again."
"As you wish, Majesty."
"Trufflehunter, Doctor Cornelius," he looked at the two that sat nearest him, "check both the Narnian and Telmarine records and see if such incidents have occurred in the past. We also need more information about the creatures so examine your books for any mention of them as well." After the Badger and half-Dwarf murmured their assurances, there was one more announcement left for the king to make.
"It is my wish to ride north tomorrow," he began, "I want to see with my own eyes exactly what these creatures did to the towns and the forests." With a wave of his hand toward the markers on the map, he continued, "A small guard will accompany me to Beaversdam and the Western woods by Lantern Waste."
"Will you ride out with us then, your Majesty?"
Caspian shook his head at Hazan's question. "No, but I will follow after you to Beruna. Glenstorm, please have the scouts report to me from there." There was a pause before the king looked at the Dwarf that sat to his immediate right. "Trumpkin, I leave the castle in your hands once more until I return."
"Aye, Sire," the Red Dwarf responded gruffly, unsurprised.
With all in order and no objections to his plans, Caspian was ready to conclude the meeting. He was prepared to dismiss his advisors when a voice spoke up from the other end of the table.
"And what can we do to help?" Lucy asked.
With the serious matters dealt with for the time being, Caspian smiled; he was warmed by the earnestness and sincerity in her voice. "You and King Edmund can enjoy yourselves while we resolve this issue. No, no, I insist!" he added as she began shaking her head. "When this is all over, we shall continue on our journey East once more."
"But Caspian…"
"The King is right, Queen Lucy," Lord Hazan smoothly interjected. "You need not worry. With King Caspian's return and the strength of our army, I am confident this can be resolved quickly. And if I may be permitted to speak more plainly, Madam," he waited for her assent before continuing, "I think you should heed his Majesty's advice and let us take care of this. After all, you are the King's guests and need not be bothered by these issues."
Caspian briefly nodded as he agreed with the Lord's words, but Lucy did not appear convinced. The young Queen had opened her mouth to protest when she felt a hand rest gently but firmly on her arm. She turned away from Caspian with a questioning glance at her brother.
"Peace, Sister," he murmured low enough for her ears only. Edmund had not spoken aloud since the start of the meeting. He had listened carefully to what others had said but chose to say nothing himself; the young King had not felt it necessary for him to speak up when Caspian was quite capable of leading his country without interference. He would have continued to stay out of the discussion had it not appeared to him that the king would dismiss Lucy's question without listening to what she had to say.
"If I may speak?" he asked politely, deferring to the king.
"Of course," Caspian readily agreed.
The boy gave his sister a reassuring smile and then turned his attention to the others. "While we understand and appreciate your hospitality to us," he began, speaking evenly as he gazed at each member of the council before looking at the king himself, "we cannot sit here idly when there is trouble in Narnia. We may not be your subjects Caspian, but that does not keep us from helping in any way we can."
The king was briefly startled by Edmund's remarks but then he remembered whom it was that had spoken. Though he understood that the younger boy spoke for both himself and Lucy, Caspian couldn't help but hear the royal pronoun in his friend's words.
As he considered his response, he thought he saw movement from the corner of his eye. He shifted his gaze slightly to see Belmar whispering to Hazan. He wondered what the older lord said for he could see the words were not agreeable; Trufflehunter sat across from the two men and the king could see a slight frown on the Badger's face. He made a note to ask about it later.
"As you wish, King Edmund," he finally said, inclining his head respectfully toward his friends. "It was not our intent to appear that we have no need for help in this matter. On the contrary, we would be honored for any assistance you and the Queen Lucy could provide."
"Thank you," Edmund said simply. "Now, what it is you wish to do, Lucy?" he asked the Queen. He was curious about her ideas and would support her in this as long as it was within reason; he knew she would try to do whatever she could to help their people, even if it meant working on menial tasks.
"I want to go with you, Caspian. I want to ride out and see if there's anything I can do to help these people. I may not be able to help them rebuild their homes, but I can at least help those who have been injured." Beneath the table, her hand strayed to the diamond bottle that was strapped to her belt.
Caspian could not find any excuse to refuse the Queen; it was not an unreasonable request and one that could be easily accommodated. As Lucy waited for his answer, she gazed at him with her eyes blazing defiantly in her youthful face. He then shifted his glance to her brother and immediately thought he was the more alarming of the two; while Lucy looked determined, Edmund's dark eyes bore into the king's, holding them in his gaze until the Telmarine looked away.
After a while, Caspian spoke up. "We'll set off at precisely eleven tomorrow, no later than that. Those who will make the journey with me shall meet by the northern gate." Lucy smiled gratefully at him. "If no one has anything else they wish to add," he paused and waited a moment but was met with silence, "then this meeting is adjourned. We must begin our preparations since the hours are passing by even as we speak."
Glenstorm was the first to rise from his place. "I'll have the scouts set out this evening, Sire." He nodded to Caspian and then to Lucy and Edmund before he took his leave, his hoofs clattering loudly on the stone floor. Hazan and Belmar followed the Centaur's exit; the Telmarine lords rose as one and made for the doors as well.
After the three departed from the room, only the King's closest friends remained. Dropping all semblance of formality, he sighed and asked in a tired voice, "I suppose you are coming along as well, King Edmund?"
"Of course," the younger boy replied. He waved his hand dismissively. "And did you forget? It's just 'Edmund' when we're talking amongst ourselves."
"I did not think your Majesty wished to be called anything other than your title just now," Caspian replied warily. His shoulders sagged as he slouched in his seat; the weight and tension that bore down on him was beginning to melt away now that the meeting was over.
"Well, that was different; we were still in Council." Edmund sat back in his seat as his eyes swept over the empty chairs in front of him. "An important rule of kingship for you, Caspian: learn to put your personal feelings aside when duty calls. Your concern for us as your friends is greatly appreciated but you needn't protect us from whatever is going on. Lu and I still have a sense of responsibility to Narnia." There was a twinkle in the King's eyes as he added with a grin, "But don't worry, you're still young. You'll figure it out soon enough."
"I think Caspian will take less time to learn that than you did, Ed," said Lucy with a wry smile at her brother. "Need I remind you that you and Peter weren't that young when you two finally realized that lesson yourselves?" She wagged a finger at him. "Remember that it was Susan who first understood that I could not be kept away from the dangers in Narnia."
Edmund threw his hands up. "Peace! I yield to you, Sister," he said as he joined in the chorus of laughter that broke out amongst Caspian's advisors. With the smile that lit his face, he appeared more as the young man his looks had shown him to be.
It was a strange scene for Caspian to witness; the Pevensies continued to defy his expectations of them. One minute, they were the serious and wise adults they had once been, the great rulers of this kingdom; and in the next, their demeanors would change completely, seeming lighthearted and carefree as the children they were. He wondered how they did it, changing their personality and behavior in the blink of an eye.
"And do leave Caspian alone, Brother," Lucy continued, "He has enough to worry about without having you breathing down his back as well."
The king laughed, a genuine smile finally breaking the tired expression on his face. "My thanks to you, Queen Lucy."
"Lucy," she corrected gently, reminding him to drop the use of titles. The young Queen smiled at him before turning her attention away. It was Trumpkin that caught her gaze; the Dwarf coughed slightly and looked as if he wanted to speak to her.
"Queen Lucy, I—" he started to say, pausing as she gestured to the empty seat next to her; it was more practical to move closer to her than raising his voice from the other end of the table.
As Trumpkin rose and began walking towards her, Lucy looked at the others. "I think we have a lot of catching up to do, don't we?" she asked with a smile at Cornelius and Trufflehunter, welcoming them to the unoccupied seats to the right of Edmund's chair.
"That we do, your Majesty," said the Doctor. With his hands on the armrests, he slowly pushed himself up, the joints of the chair creaking as he rose out of his seat to join her.
Before Trufflehunter could follow them, Caspian spoke to him in a low voice. "A word if you will, my friend."
The Badger looked down the table and then back up at his king. With a puzzled look, he shuffled over and took the seat that was previously occupied by Trumpkin.
"Your Majesty?"
"Earlier, I saw Belmar and Hazan discussing something amongst themselves. I noted that you looked as if you did not approve of their words. Was something amiss?"
The Badger looked at him carefully. "No, my Lord," he finally said.
"What did they speak of?"
Trufflehunter hesitated. He looked toward Edmund and Lucy and said quietly, "Lord Belmar thought it," he paused, choosing his words carefully, "unusual to allow two children to voice their thoughts in a meeting such as this. He did not think it was their place to speak up."
"Children?" Caspian hissed, raising his voice a little. He quickly glanced up but the others seemed not to have heard him. "They are a King and Queen of Narnia. How dare he—"
"My king," the Badger placed a paw on his hand, "you must remember that not all Narnians know their Majesties as we do."
He wished to rebuke the Lord for his words, but Trufflehunter made a good point. Some of the Telmarines were not around during the Revolution, and Lord Belmar was one of them. A captain in the Telmarine army at the time, he had been away in the North when Miraz was deposed. The older lord did not learn of the change in power until he returned with his company several weeks after Caspian's coronation.
The king sighed, slowly unclenching his fist as the Badger patted him reassuringly. "You are right, my friend. I can only hope that with time and their Majesties' presence here, he will come to see and know them as we do. Thank you." He knew he had to let it go; there was nothing to do about the matter for now.
"Come, my king," Trufflehunter tilted his furry head towards the other end of the table, "and let us hear what is going on over there. It looks as if Queen Lucy is telling a story."
The Queen was quite animated, laughing and speaking at the same time. Caspian was reminded of how Lucy looked when she told more stories of Old Narnia aboard the Dawn Treader. With a smile, he rose from his seat and crossed the room to join the crowd that surrounded the fair-haired girl.
As he reached them, he heard Trumpkin ask, "And how are the High King and Queen Susan?"
"They're both doing well, I suppose. We haven't heard from them lately. Susan's abroad during the holidays; she and our parents have journeyed across the ocean to another country in our world called America. As for Peter," Lucy broke off, a frown crossing her face for a brief instant before disappearing just as quickly, "he's back in England studying for exams."
"Peter's staying with a family friend," Edmund added. "If Professor Kirke was still living in his old manor, we would have spent the summer there as well. Instead, we are indulging in the hospitality of our Aunt and Uncle."
"I take it you mean Master Eustace's house," Trumpkin says; there was a bit of humor in his voice as he noted the sarcasm in the King's words. "He's an interesting fellow, your kinsman."
Edmund snickered; interesting indeed! "Uncle Harold and Aunt Alberta live rather differently than we do," he said diplomatically even as his sister frowned at him. "Their ways of life take a bit of getting used to."
"Perhaps being in Narnia will do your kinsman some good," Cornelius said, eyes sparkling behind his thick glasses. "Some have said that the air here has a magical quality, while others claim it has healing properties as well."
"Perhaps," Edmund allowed. To be fair, it wasn't as if Eustace had been given the choice of living with Harold and Alberta.
"We should probably find him," Lucy said, biting her lip; it was a habit she had broken when she was older but now it seemed to have resurfaced. She had hoped that Eustace would come find them, but they were left undisturbed for the whole of the meeting. "I hope he's all right and didn't lose his way."
"Anyone that works in the castle can point him to this room, your Majesty," Cornelius said.
Edmund sighed. "We'd better go then," he said, pushing his chair back and standing up. Lucy followed his lead, and then everyone else stood as well. "With your permission, Caspian?"
The golden-haired king waved his hand. "It's unnecessary, Edmund. You are a King as well."
Edmund began walking toward the doors. If he knew his cousin as well as he thought, Eustace was probably wandering around lost in the maze of corridors. He hoped the younger boy hadn't managed to upset the entire castle staff just yet.
After all, this was only the first day back in Narnia for all of them.
Next: Upon a Knife's Point — In which there is a journey for Lucy and Edmund, while Eustace learns that what works for England won't necessarily work in Narnia.