Thank you all so much for the lovely reviews! As always they made me smile and inspired me to write faster! On a more solemn not I apologise in advance for Peter in this chapter...He simply won't stop being a complete fool! Although,I must remember that it is my fault.
The porter who opened the gates for them was rather shorter than any of them expected, perhaps only thirty feet tall, with a merry, red face and a loud cheerful voice.
"Welcome! Welcome!" He bent over the group of Narnians as they filed into the enormous courtyard; the horses, all save for Phillip, were terribly frightened and tried their best to prance away. The porter laughed, seeming rather more amused by this than was strictly necessary, and Peter bit his lip to keep from making a rather rude comment about his lack of manners. "Travelers from Narnia, eh?"
"You are addressing Peter, High King of Narnia, King Edmund the Just, and their royal sister, Queen Lucy the Valiant, here by invitation of your king, gatekeeper." Trebonius did a masterful job of keeping his voice steady, but the satyr made a much less imposing figure than Orieus would have, and Peter found himself missing his general.
"Royal guests, you say, little shrimp? Well now, that's different, isn't it? I don't know anything about royal guests, but perhaps you'd all better go in and see their majesties." He motioned broadly to an enormous, arched doorway with a careless wave of his hand.
Peter exchanged an annoyed look with Edmund; if they had need of a gatekeeper at Cair Paravel they would most certainly have informed him of the expected arrival of royal guests. Edmund merely shrugged, clearly too cold and tired to bother with being offended by the giant's manner.
Phillip snorted and shifted his hooves impatiently. "Not to overstate my own importance, Edmund, but could you possibly continue this fascinating conversation on the ground? Climbing that slope was no easy task." Peter frowned at the familiar tone the Horse used, but Edmund simply smiled and slipped off his back, patting his neck fondly.
The porter smiled pleasantly. "Your majesties, perhaps while you speak with our king and queen the stables might care for your horses?"
"Yes, thank you," Peter responded rather more shortly than he should have as he joined his brother on the ground. "Perhaps you would be so kind as to open the door for us?"
The porter laughed again, and though it sounded good natured enough, the sound set Peter's teeth on edge and reinforced the ache in his head. "Of course, your majesties, of course."
Peter offer Lucy his arm and she smiled as she accepted. "Shall we continue on to whatever adventure Aslan has sent us, brother?" she asked, very properly and promptly ruined the effect by giggling.
Peter smiled fondly; trust Lucy to somehow know when his mood was dangerously close to making him impolite and take matters into her own hands by cheering him up. "Lu, what would I do without you?" Her cheeks flushed happily and Edmund snorted in amusement.
"Doubtless you would punch a giant and be squashed into jelly," he offered helpfully and Peter laughed.
"Always the optimist, Ed."
Accompanied by Metelus and Trebonius the three rulers followed the porter through the huge arch of the doorway and into the cavernous hall beyond. The porter must have slowed his steps tremendously but they were still hard pressed to keep pace with him. At the end of the hall, which must have been a full six hundred yards long and took them five minutes to traverse, stood another door, this one of heavy oak, barred with iron. The porter knocked thunderously and a moment later the door swung inward and the porter stepped to the side, leaving the small party to continue alone.
The audience hall they entered was vast, there was no other word for it, and lined with huge stone chairs, many of which were occupied by stern faced, silent giants. At the far end stood a dais, higher off the floor by far than the top of Peter's head would have been if he had been on horseback, and on the dais stood two, beautifully carved and gilded thrones. The giants who sat upon the thrones were glorious to behold; their clothes were brilliantly coloured and very fine; jewels the size of small shields glittered in the folds of the queen's dress and in a necklace about her throat, and the king's crown would have been far too heavy and large for even Orieus to lift.
Peter squared his shoulders and stepped forward, terribly aware how shabby they must appear after weeks of traveling in comparison to their hosts. If they decide to attack us we have no chance. Aslan, guide our steps and let us return home safely. Let me not have led my family and my people into a slaughter.
The king stood as they approached and clapped his hands together in a sound like a small earthquake. "Greetings, your majesties! I trust your journey was pleasant and our fool of a gatekeeper has not caused offense by his ill manners?"
Peter bowed stiffly, terribly aware that only one of the giant king's feet was large enough to crush him. "Not at all, your majesty. My companions and I are simply relieved to find we were expected after all. Allow me to present to you my brother, King Edmund," Edmund bowed, looking even more uneasy than Peter felt. "And my sister, Queen Lucy." Lucy curtsied beautifully and the expressions of everyone in the hall seemed to lighten as she smiled. "Our royal sister Queen Susan begs your majesties pardon at her absence, but it was necessary for her to remain behind and oversee the running of the kingdom in our absence."
For a moment, the king's face clouded with anger and Peter heard the shuffle of hooves as Trebonius shifted backwards in fright. Orieus, if I am ever fool enough to leave you behind again, I swear I have not the sense to run a kingdom. Then the king's expression lightened once more, so swiftly that Peter could almost believe he had imagined the change.
"It is most gracious of your majesties to honour our poor celebration with your presence," said the queen, rising as she spoke for the first time. "But surely you must be tired from your travels! The feast is yet some three days hence; you must rest and eat in that time, else I fear your visit to our city will be of little entertainment to you." She clapped her hands and a cluster of servants emerged from the shadows at the edges of the hall to escort their visitors out.
The rest of the guards joined them in the hallway, looking very frightened, and even the dogs were silent, tails drooping and ears twitching uneasily. They were led down another hallway, even longer than the first, and Peter began to wonder,somewhat dramatically, if they would ever reach their destination, or if they would simply walk through the night in the enormous palace.
Edmund stepped close to Peter's side and tapped him on the shoulder, interrupting his somewhat disturbing thoughts. "We must not let them separate us, especially not from our guards," he said quietly, his voice barely audible, even to Peter, so there was no chance of his being overheard. "If they were to put us all in separate chambers and shut the doors there would be no chance of communicating until they see fit to open them again."
Peter nodded and was about to make the request of the nearest giant when the whole party stopped suddenly. In the wall before them was a little doorway, far too small for a giant to enter even if they stooped or crawled on their belly, in fact, it was a nearly normal sized door. The servants bowed and gestured towards it.
"If it please your majesties, these rooms have been prepared for you and your company." Then with a bow they turned as one and walked swiftly back the way they had come.
"Well then," said Peter, rather pleasantly surprised at their departure, and opened the door. The rooms were barely larger than they were used to and the furnishings were all of normal size; most surprising of all, however, was the cluster of human servants waiting just inside the door. They all bowed or curtsied and their faces all bore the same expression of terror. Lucy immediately smiled brightly and stepped forward to greet them. Though the terror in their expressions faded somewhat, and one girl who looked about Lucy's age actually smiled, upon seeing that Lucy obviously meant them no harm none of them spoke. Peter found the whole situation strange and rather eerie; it is not an altogether pleasant feeling to find yourself being watched intently by a crowd of silent, frightened people, and he saw from Edmund's expression that his brother shared his unease.
The room itself appeared to be a kind of sitting room with many doorways leading out of it into what Peter could only assume where sleeping quarters and a dining room. He scarcely had time to wonder why the giants had human sized rooms and human servants when a very different person swept into the room.
It was the Green Lady; though here she appeared even more stately and more beautiful than Peter remembered. Her hair was encircled by a thin band of gold and her dress was trimmed with emeralds, in her hands she carried a carved harp, which might have looked familiar if Peter had bothered to look at it, but Peter was not looking at the harp. His eyes were drawn to her face and almost instantly he felt his cheeks flush and quite forgot how to speak.
"Your majesties!" A radiant smile lit her face. "I bid you welcome! I hope you will not find this small estate granted me by our most gracious hosts too dull in comparison to your own home."
"My lady," said Edmund, inclining his head stiffly. "If you will permit the question, when last we met you upon the moors you traveled South; how is it you are now here before us?"
Peter glared at his brother but Edmund took no notice of him; his eyes were fixed intently upon the lady's face, but not in admiration. "Forgive my brother's lack of courtesy," Peter said, finding his voice at last. "He is weary and forgets his manners."
Lucy looked about to say something in Edmund's defense but Peter silenced her with a fierce glare. The lady, however did not seem offended. She laughed merrily and Peter thought it must be the most beautiful sound he had ever heard. "I traveled far more swiftly than you, my dear kings and queen. My business in the South was not difficult to conclude and I arrived back at this fair city no more than an hour before your majesties."
"Indeed?" Edmund, it seemed would not be silenced and Peter was later ashamed to admit that at that moment he behaved in a very unkinglike manner and stomped very hard on Edmund's foot. The younger king gritted his teeth but would not be dissuaded from his questions. "I thought perhaps I saw you upon the road some days ago?"
For the merest instant, the lady's smile faltered before returning, more radiant than ever. "I cry your pardon, lord king, but you must have been mistaken. But come! You must all be weary! Let us leave such conversation until after you have all eaten." She snapped her fingers and the servants silently filed through one of the arched doorways; the lady followed, beckoning the rest to accompany her.
Much to Peter's annoyance Edmund caught his arm before he could follow and pulled him aside, his expression grave. "Peter, whatever you do don't eat the food."
Peter wrenched his arm free of his brother's grasp and drew himself up to his full height, which, given that Edmund was now only an inch shorter than him, was not as intimidating as it had once been. "You forget yourself, brother." Even he was surprised at the coldness of his tone, but Edmund's behaviour was insufferable. "You offer insult to a kind lady who has shown you nothing but courtesy and now you presume to counsel me on my behaviour? I think not."
Edmund's dark eyes flashed dangerously, but to his credit he did not lose his temper, and when he spoke his voice remained calm and reasonable. "Peter, please, listen to me; you are not yourself, have not been yourself since first we met this fell woman upon the moors. I tell you that she is a witch and I beg you heed my warning; trust me brother, please."
And Peter wanted to, he truly did, but before he really knew what he was doing he had turned away from Edmund and was following the lady. "I trust you will remember your manners better," he growled back over his shoulder.
Edmund stared at his brother's retreating back with a strange mix of anger and worry. Lucy frowned as she joined him, obviously having heard Peter's last remark at the very least. "Whatever is the matter with him?" she asked, shaking her head in bewilderment.
Edmund sighed wearily and offered her his arm. "I promise I will tell you everything, as I should have from the start, but not now and not here. We cannot risk this lady overhearing us. Lucy, whatever else you do, I beg you, do not eat anything she gives you."
Lucy's eyes widened in alarm as she took his arm. "Edmund! What is it? What has worried you so these past weeks and caused such a change in Peter's manner?" But Edmund only shook his head and led her into the long dining room.
It was a merry gathering, so very different from the tense, silent meals they had eaten around the fire on their journey to Harfang, that Edmund could almost forget his suspicion. In fact, he had nearly convinced himself that he was being a distrustful fool, had nearly decided to eat the food on his plate after all, when he caught Peter's eye from across the table. For a moment, his brother's expression was quite natural, rather ashamed by their earlier argument perhaps, but not unlike his usual manner. Then, in a moment a terrible change came over his face. His eyes grew cold and his mouth hardened into a thin line as he glared at Edmund with thinly veiled hostility. You forget yourself brother. Then Peter turned away to speak with the Green Lady and his expression became one of attentive wonder as he listened to her words. Edmund looked away, certain now that he was not imagining the change in Peter. If I forget myself, dear brother, it is from concern for you. Perhaps you should consider what it is that makes you forget yourself, High King.
He pushed his plate away, suddenly nauseated by the very idea of eating, and closed his eyes. Oh Aslan! Help me, please; I cannot save Peter from whatever danger he is in if he will not trust me! Lucy shifted her chair closer and slipped her arm through his, offering what comfort she could. "He'll listen; whatever it is you need to tell him, he'll listen eventually." Edmund could only hope she was right.
Oh dear! This is a fine kettle of fish; Peter really should listen to Edmund, he usually knows when someone is being dishonest. At least Lucy is being sensible! Next chapter coming soon, keep reading and drop me a review if you have time!
Cheers,
A