Daring to Dream
Chapter Eight
Facing the Consequence
Master Lavarin the blacksmith strode through the streets of butchers' quarter, his wide face plastered with a cocky smile. He nodded to his neighbours in the same manner that one might have expected of the Tisroc himself.
That day, Lavarin was so assured of his brilliance and so delighted by his choice of wife, that he would probably not have cared even if he had noticed others smirking. With great care he smoothed his new robe, wanting to appear as handsome and alluring to his future wife as possible.
In preparation for the event he had carefully chosen a new robe of a rich red material, now tucked closely about his portly frame. His beard had been carefully scented with eucalyptus, and a new turban of snow-white linen sat upon his head. Overall, he had taken great pains to appear as appealing as possible to his young wife.
Though a vain man, there was no cruelty in Lavarin, merely a painfully high self-esteem. It was upon this basis that he believed himself worthy of fair Karna's hand, and upon a similar foundation that he believed her to have accepted him.
When he finally came to the doorway of her home, he left a suitable moment for a dramatic pause before knocking. With a solemn nod to the younger daughter who opened the door, he entered the home.
Karna's father was acknowledged with a grave bow.
"Master Tarneesh," he began, his voice a carefully balanced pitch. "I thank you most graciously for the hospitality of your home. Has not the poet said that 'the welcome of a worthy man is worth more than the bows of a hundred enemies.'"
Tarneesh bowed to Lavarin with equal severity before responding,
"I welcome you, Master Lavarin, to my home. The poet has also said, that 'the polite welcome of a fellow Calormen is far greater than the banquet of a barbarian'. You are very welcome within this house, in the name of Tash, the inexorable, the irresistible. I greet you, he who is to very soon be kin of me."
Both men bowed to each other once more, before Lavarin took the chair that Tarneesh offered. He regarded the other man with the gravity that was considered as a mark of high breeding within Calormen.
They spoke for a time, watched over by the two sons of the carver, sombrely standing behind their father. However, only a few minutes had passed before Lavarin referred to his betrothed. With a smug smile, Tarneesh nodded, bidding his wife bring Karna forth.
With a bow to her husband, Hezal moved towards the other room. She was gone but a moment and returned with Lavarin's betrothed.
Karna was dressed as expected, in the ornate gown of red and gold. Her dark hair was neatly braided and a simple necklace of silver and bronze coins adorned her neck, a symbol of her dowry. She was a beautiful bride.
With lowered eyes she was led forward, bowing gracefully before her promised husband.
From the moment of her appearance, Lavarin had watched with great appreciation. From the graceful sway of her hips as she moved to the shy modesty of her beauty as she cast her eyes down and the alluring jangle of her anklet as she moved, he was amazed at his luck at having purchased such a wife.
Lavarin was so gratified that he even allowed himself to exchange a triumphant smile with her father. He was surprised and gladdened to see the same expectation upon Tarnessh's face at the prospect of the marriage.
To the normal eye Karna appeared to be the perfect bride - attractive, biddable and obedient. She dipped an elegant curtsey to her intended and even managed a small smile as she inclined her head to her father. As tradition dictated, she seated herself at his feet, in the place of total submission to his will.
It was only Tarlana and their mother that saw the brittleness of the smile and the utter melancholy of her expression as she sat at her father's feet. Though she played it well they could both see the truth.
She was dying inside; letting go of all that she had been, in order to cope with reality.
The minutes that followed were excruciating for Tarlana. She watched the sister she loved serve Lavarin, smiling shyly as he leered blatantly at her, often taking her hand and kissing it with sticky lips. But this thing that many fathers would have objected to, merely amused Tarneesh. He found moments to strategically ignore it, suddenly seeming very interested in his food or in ordering his wife to fetch more wine.
It was the same lustful action that had driven Karna to tears of hysteria. Yet, it was now a thing that she would have to bear for the rest of her life.
Tarlana watched with some pain. She stood, obediently silent as the family watched the proceedings, feeling completely powerless. Above all else, she wished that she could help Karna, but there was nothing she could do.
For her, the prospect of marrying such a man would not have caused nearly so much heartache and melancholy as it had for Karna. Hers was a temperament of patience and she had learnt to accept her lot in life without complaint, as her mother had. But for Karna, that patience existed without the gentle and stoic acceptance.
Where Tarlana could endure and draw strength from that meekness which she and her mother shared, Karna could not. Her sister had too vivid an imagination, to vivacious a nature and too strong a hope to accept the reality of an existence where she could not even dream of gaining what she sought from life. She had always had a natural cheerfulness and love of life that Tarlana had admired and loved about her. But when faced with the principle of enduring, it was Tarlana who proved to have the greater strength.
At the table, Tarneesh and Lavarin were heavily absorbed in their conversation about the likelihood of the Prince's marriage to the foreign queen, the barbarian beauty of the north. Karna sat, only partially listening to their discussion. She was still seated upon the floor but seemed relieved at her momentary release from Lavarin's attentions.
For a moment she was distracted by the action of brushing dust from her skirt, but then she became aware of being watched. She looked up, catching Tarlana's gaze with her own.
The expression in those eyes was timeless and in all her life, Karna's sister would never forget it. There was an immense sadness. It was a melancholy that seemed to consume her very soul. At the same time a great love lingered in her expression - an affection that shone forth and was almost more emphasised by the sadness.
But mingled with this emotion there was something that ran deeper than the melancholy, deeper than even the love.
It was spirit.
A spirit that all the restraint in the world would not be able to suppress, a spirit that her greatest attempts could not withhold.
Tarlana saw that spirit and felt both joyful and the fearful at the sight of it. The battle within her sister's heart seemed to be costing her dearly.
None but she saw the inner torment that Karna was struggling with and none but she saw the hope that refused to let her sister darken its unquenchable light.
The night was drawing in, taking with it the last rays of the dying sun's light as it enfolded the land in its velvety darkness. Lost in thought, a woman sat gazing out upon the blackening sky. The clear, jewel-bright stars shone above the tranquil waters of the sea.
A knocking drew her from her reverie.
"Come in."
A young woman was framed against the darkness of the passageway. Her usually merry face was pensive as she approached.
Her sister rose to greet her. "This is a pleasant surprise," Susan began with a smile, but something in her sister's face stopped her, "why so sombre, Lucy?"
The young queen observed her sister, seeming to choose her words with care. "Susan, are you sure that you wish to do this?"
In surprise, Susan assured her that she did.
"But do you truly know his character?"
"Yes I think I do, Lu," Susan replied, with growing bafflement. "Why would I not? Do you not think him worthy? Do you doubt his intentions?"
Uncertain and clearly troubled Lucy began to pace the chamber, before coming to stop before her sister. "I don't know why I feel this way," she admitted, "but I saw something false in his manner when we last met. I feel a foreboding, some anxiety for your safety."
"But what have you to fear, Lucy? I shall have Edmund for an escort and he shall hold my safety as his utmost priority. Not to mention the presence of dear Peridan there these past weeks. Surely he shall have made the preparations and discovered the expectations of both Prince Rabadash and his father."
Her anxiety rising, Lucy flew to her sister's side, "Do you mean to accept him then, Susan?"
Her older sister paused. She contemplated for a long moment, before eventually admitting, "I am uncertain, Lucy. To marry one such as he … to live so great a distance from our fair land, and to make so great a commitment to a man I hardly know … I truly am not sure."
Lost in thought, her fingers unconsciously took a lock of her long hair, braiding and unbraiding it in pensive agitation. After a while, she turned to her younger sister, suddenly feeling a little afraid.
"Do you think that I should refuse him?"
Lucy waited a few moments, not wanting to prejudice her sister's decision.
"Only you can make that decision, Su. My advice would be to trust your own judgement and discover Rabadash's true nature. I personally have my doubts, as do Peter and Edmund. But this is your choice and whatever decision you make, we shall support you, always be sure of that."
Susan's smile faded and she merely nodded, her heart suddenly troubled.
All about Tashbaan the evening was drawing in, bringing with it a much needed cooling of the air after the oppression of the day's heat. In the back streets of the city women opened their doors, letting the fresher air blow through the dusty stuffiness of their dwellings. The fragrance of cooking food mingled with the smell of sweat as men returned from their long day's work.
In one such dwelling a young wife stood, gently humming to herself as she stirred the stew she had prepared for her husband's evening meal. Her face was utterly content as she tasted the broth and added a little seasoning. With a careful eye she checked the preparations she had made before moving through the doorway into their sleeping chamber to quickly pull a wooden comb through her dark hair in anticipation of her husband's return.
She was unable to stop herself smiling as she returned to the fireplace. Within marriage she had found the one thing that she had always dreamed of, a bond of understanding and love with her husband.
With a gentle sigh she moved towards the door way. She glanced out into the narrow dustiness of the back street and looked up to watch the vibrant azure of the sky soften to a paler blue as the sun set in the west. Across the road, the eldest daughter of one of her neighbours swept the ground outside their dwelling with an old broom, singing softly to herself as she did so.
Glancing up, the girl smiled at her as she paused in her activity, "Good evening, Karlis," she said.
"Good evening Morana," Karlis replied amiably, "how do you fare this evening? Is your family well?"
Morana smiled, "We are all well, I thank you. We simply await the return of father and my brother." For a moment, she merely watched Karlis, a mischievous grin lightening her face, "you seem as happy as always. Your face is never without a smile and my mother always marvels at your cheerfulness."
Morana's expression softened, "I do not need ask why it is so. It is easy to see, and lightens my own heart to see a husband and wife so happily married."
Karlis looked down, slightly embarrassed for a moment. But there was no denying it, and she knew it. She looked at Morana and smiled, "I hope that you might have such joy in your own marriage as I have in mine, Morana."
Morana regarded her, now solemn. "I too hope for that Karlis. Tash has blessed you, (may he be praised), and I am happy for you. To see you so happy always lightens my own day and helps me to hope that I might have such a man as Ahoz in my future."
She opened her mouth to continue, but the calling of her name from her house stopped her. With a final smile she disappeared, quickly closing the door.
Her smile fading slightly as her thoughts turned inward, Karlis entered her own home, thinking about another wedding that was to occur the very next day. She recalled the hasty conversation that she had had with Tarlana a few days previously.
With a growing concern, she had listened to her sister relate the drastic change that had occurred in Karna. Where grave acceptance had replaced her easy smile and removed the dancing sparkle from her eyes. She had also mentioned the profound melancholy that had ceased her singing and laughter. Karna had called it an acceptance, but to Karlis it seemed more like the removal of all that made her sister so special. This marriage to Lavarin was so different to what she had always hoped and dreamed. But she had accepted it without argument.
Karlis forced her thoughts back to the stew and took it off the heat of the fire.
Why had Karna accepted the will of their father without a thought? It was just so unlike her.
With a sigh, Karlis moved towards the coolest part of the room and drew a loaf from one of the wooden shelves.
Was this not the same sister of hers who had dared to offer her comfort in her time of need, only to suffer the wrath of Tarneesh afterwards? But now, when she faced a marriage to a man that she could never love and the forced destruction of all her dreams, where was her spirit?
Karlis shook her head in confusion, cutting the bread as she did so. Her mind barely registered her actions as she attempted to make sense of the confusion that clouded her thoughts and would give her no relief of understanding.
She was still deliberating upon her sister's lack of fight when she felt a pair of arms encircle her waist and was barely able to keep hold of the knife in her shock. Feeling the touch of a cheek to her hair she turned, a smile brightening her face at the arrival of her husband.
"Good evening oh my wife and the eternal delight of my eyes," Ahoz murmured, kissing her cheek as he drew Karlis closer to him. In return, Karlis entwined one arm about his neck and smiled at Ahoz, stroking his cheek with a gentle touch.
"Good evening my husband and the true delight on my own eyes," she whispered, smoothing a hand over his hair before feeling the gentle touch of his lips to hers. They stood like this for a moment, before Ahoz forced himself to pull away.
"I praise Tash every day for you," he said softly, "to have found such love in marriage is something that I would never have thought possible."
Karlis smiled at him, "Well let us praise Tash together," she replied, kissing his again before pulling away to serve his meal.
"Sit down, my husband. I have been able to make another stew from that venison that your aunt gave us. You must thank her for me when you next see her, it has provided us with so many wonderful meals."
Ahoz grinned at the sudden change in the mood and obeyed his wife, amused. "I will be sure to thank my aunt," he assured Karlis as she placed a steaming bowl of stew before him.
He took a mouthful before looking at his young wife. Although still young, it had only taken Karlis a few days to adapt to the role of a wife and now it seemed as though she had been one for her whole life.
"Why are you smiling?" Karlis asked as she seated herself next to him. She tore some bread to dip in her own stew.
"I just find it amusing how quickly your mood can change from loving to domestic," Ahoz replied with a grin.
A smile tugging at the corners of Karlis' mouth despite her attempts to appear solemn. "Is my husband complaining about my efficiency?" she asked levelly.
Ahoz's grin widened. "Not at all, oh my wife," he teased, "I am just amazed that I have a wife so versatile that she can kiss me one minute and then thank my aunt for venison the next."
Gradually Karlis' composure broke and an unwilling giggle escaped from her mouth. The next moment, they were both laughing heartily and it was a while before either was able to stop.
"I did not mean to ruin the emotion of the moment," Karlis exclaimed, choking as she struggled to stop her laughter. "But I had been meaning to ask you to thank your aunt all day and it seemed like a good opportunity."
Ahoz nodded. "I agree, it was most kind of her and I will be sure to tell her or my uncle at the first opportunity."
Karlis nodded and returned to her dinner. With a rueful shake of her head, she sent a prayer of thankfulness to Tash for having blessed her so greatly in her marriage.
Finally alone in the solitude of his own quarters, Lord Peridan stood upon the balcony regarding Tashbaan. All about him, pinpricks of light were gradually being extinguished in dwellings across the city as the moon continued her journey across the heavens.
He sighed softly. His heart was heavy this night.
Try as he might, he could never feel at ease in this land. Neither among the pretension and oily condescension of the nobles or within the dusty aridity of the streets.
Every day he found himself longing all the more for the cool freshness of Narnia. He missed the ease and joyfulness of life at Cair Paravel among their just and merry monarchs. But as much as he longed for the arrival of Queen Susan and King Edmund, he also dreaded the coming of his friends to this place because it heralded the queen's final answer to Prince Rabadash's troth.
Dearly and with all his heart, he longed to keep Susan from this prince. He had seen nothing in this place to ease his qualms about the idea of an alliance between a young woman dearer to him than a sister, and a man as vain and arrogant as the Calormen prince.
Sighing again, Peridan allowed the pleasant freshness of the evening breeze to cool his brow. Finally, he allowed himself to relax after the stress and torment of the day.
It was late by the time that Karlis and Ahoz retired for the night. They had spent an amusing evening hearing Ahoz recount a ridiculous tale from the market that day. Karlis was just brushing her hair in preparation for sleep when they heard a gentle knocking on their door.
Ahoz glanced curiously and a little uneasily at his young wife. "Who would call at this time?" he asked. He cautiously took one of the candles and headed through to their front door.
The knocking had been growing gradually weaker and when Ahoz eventually opened it Karlis heard him gasp before calling her through. Completely mystified, she drew a shawl about her shoulders and picked up the other candle. She nearly dropped it at the sight that greeted her.
The front door was still wide open. Ahoz had immediately sprung forward to support the figure that stood at their door. It was only when he almost carried her in that Karlis was able to fully grasp the state that her oldest sister was now in.
Quickly running for water and a bowl, she told Ahoz to close the door and hurried over to Karna who sat, slumped in a chair. She was almost unconscious as she struggled to keep her head upright.
Her face was a mass of bruises, her lip was cut, blood was running from her nose and one of her eyes was so badly blackened that it was shut. Her clothes - the beautiful garments of red and gold that should have signified a joyful wedding were torn and muddied. She cradled her left arm protectively and it was not long before both Karlis and her husband realised that it was broken.
With a shuddering breath Karna forced herself to look up at Karlis, tears mingling with the blood that covered her face. Horrified by the state she was in, Karlis dipped a cloth in the water and sought to clean Karna's face, restraining her own shudder, as she felt her sister flinch with the pain.
She sent Ahoz through to their bedchamber to bring herbs to disinfect the wounds. With great care she started to nurse Karna by very gently wiping away the blood and disinfecting the wounds. She didn't speak, and merely sought to aid her sister, too horrified to ask what had happened.
Eventually, Karna's face was a lot cleaner and she was finally able to glance at her sister through her left eye, though her right was swollen shut.
In this moment, Karlis finally found her tongue. "Karna," she exclaimed, her voice coming out in a husky whisper, "what happened?"
In response, Karna wiped away the tears that fell and leant forward to gently kiss Karlis' cheek. Her voice was surprisingly calm when she replied.
"I displeased our father to the point of no forgiveness Karlis. I had actually accepted my fate and behaved as what expected for a lot of the evening, and then … suddenly, I wasn't able to bear it. I found myself unable to submit any longer. Just as father was completing the final ceremony of securing the betrothal and offering a blessing up to Tash, I couldn't bear it. I jumped up and I refused to obey.
"I can't quite remember, but I think I shouted … and father was so angry … I said that I couldn't bear to marry Lavarin. I said that I would never marry one so vile, and Master Lavarin lashed out, he said that he had never been so insulted and hit me, hard. He stormed out and Father wouldn't stop. I've never seen him so furious … he slapped me and started hitting and kicking me. At one point he picked up a chair and hit me with it."
"He shouted about how I had dishonoured him beyond forgiveness. He called me the daughter of a traitor, he spat on me and tore my clothing. He said that I would never be worthy to be called a woman of Calormen, and he threw me out of the front door. Both our brothers spat and kicked me after Father, before storming back into the house and leaving me out there."
Karna shuddered and cradled her arm all the more. She struggled visibly as tears streaked her face.
Gently, Karlis took her sister in her arms and hugged her tenderly. "You must stay here," she said firmly. "She can, can't she Ahoz?"
Her husband merely nodded and placed a gentle hand upon her shoulder. "Karlis is right, Karna, our home is your own. I will never forget your kindness to my wife on our wedding day. Karlis has never stopped speaking of your joyful laughter and the tender love that you both share. You must stay here, and I will protect you with all my strength. I promise you that no-one shall know that you are here, least of all Tarneesh."
Karna shuddered at the mention of her stepfather and nodded, helplessly grateful for their kindness and the risk that they were both taking.
Carefully, Ahoz lifted her from the chair and carried her through to their bedchamber. He set her down upon the spare mattress and Karlis tucked a blanket around her. She brought a bowl of hot water infused with some of the herbs that she had gathered.
"I will stay with her Ahoz, you go to bed. You have to work in the morning, my husband. She is my sister, and I will gladly nurse her."
Ahoz kissed his wife good night, leaving her to care for Karna.
Author's note:
I want to apologise for the long delay – it is almost exactly a month to the day since I updated. I know it's not good enough and I hope you remember what happened last chapter! The reality is a mixture of work getting ridiculous and exhaustion, but now I have a holiday so - Hurrah!
I have majorly struggled with the emotions and realism of emotion in this chapter. I know I am being vile to poor old Karna in this chapter and it's not a bed of roses for her, but it's part of the journey she has to go on to reach the end! I have tried to strike a balance between violence and realism here. I have tried very hard to be fair to Lavarin and Tarneesh because I see them mostly as the product of their upbringing and society.
On the plus side – I hope the Karlis/Ahoz scene was a bit of a break from the drama, drama, drama!
What do you think? Was it balanced? Please let me know exactly what you think! I thoroughly appreciate constructive criticism, it really helps me!
HUGE thanks to anyabar1987, meldahlie, guest (please leave your name so I can thank you properly!), Rosazul66 and Zoey Rain. Your reviews mean so much and are so worth getting for the time you take to feedback and give your input.
Thank you so much for reading and please let me know what you think!
I have two weeks of holiday so I should be able to update far sooner this time.
Thanks again,
Breeze.