Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or The Chronicles of Narnia, nor do I make any profits from posting this fanfiction.
Summary: Non-Epilogue compliant. Harry, mid fight against remaining Death Eater factions, finds himself somehow transported to a strange world, Narnia. He learns to live, to love, and eventually to be a little bit selfish.
Warnings: Slash. Cross dimension travel. Character death. Murder, violence, fighting.
Pairings: HP/EP.
Chapter 7 - Narnia year 1007, end of summer.
Harry wondered through the lower level of the castle to the throne room. Court was in session and all the Pevensie's were in attendance. Normally it would just be one or two of them who would hold court, and for the most part that would be Peter and Edmund. Susan was attending court to learn more about it and Lucy had decided to attend to escape a particularly annoying suitor who had taken to pestering her at all times of the day. Harry was to escort Lucy from the throne room at lunch time and hex the suitor if he came too close, a job he was particularly looking forward to because Lucy had become very upset by the suitors actions.
He entered the throne room and winced at the number of people vying for the floor. Lucy looked bored stiff, Susan looked a little bewildered, Peter looked sullen and Edmund looked annoyed. Harry shot them all a commiserating smile which was missed by all except Edmund who had somehow looked up at the exact moment Harry entered the room. Harry found that uncanny, and even a little scary how Edmund always knew when he was there.
He walked up to the dias, eyeing the arguing lords warily as he did so. It seemed they were arguing over being too noisy and disturbing each other's peace. Why couldn't neighbours just get along?
"Gentlemen! Gentlemen!" Susan called, only to be ignored completely. She gave Peter an impatient glare which had Peter open his mouth to yell. Edmund let out a loud whistle though which had a few people wincing at the volume.
"Thanks Ed." Peter muttered and Edmund nodded silently. Peter gestured for Susan to go ahead and speak.
"Arguing like that is not helping anybody."
"I'm sorry your majesty but he-"
"It's him your majesty! He's-"
"Gentlemen! Stop!" Edmund demanded, his sharp voice resonating loudly through the hall. The two men who had just got up in each other's faces once again immediately quailed under the glare Edmund forced on them. "Since it is quite clear that you cannot come to any agreement, and since from your tales and accusations it is clear you are both at fault, you must both be held accountable. I think a dusk curfew is acceptable for the next season after which perhaps you can find a suitable compromise amongst yourselves without resorting to acting like children. If you cannot agree after that time then the curfew will be extended over yet another season and then another until you can compromise. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes your Majesty." Both men chorused, bowed and left while sending nasty looks at each other.
"Edmund the Just…" A woman muttered from behind Harry and he twisted a little to get a look at her. Human, with long brown hair and brown eyes, her face was quite pretty with pink lips and cheeks radiating with good health.
"He is so handsome…"
"And so fair…he settled that squabble so easily." Another woman remarked, gushing over Edmund. Harry shook his head smiling in wonderment. Women. He looked back to Edmund and saw him looking over at Harry, a partial smile creeping over his lips. Harry smiled making Edmund smile and nod back.
"Oh! He smiled at me! Did you see that?!"
"No, he was smiling at me I am sure of it! I must talk with him later…"
Harry shook his head again at the silliness of the women and approached the dias before another applicant of the Kings and Queen's wisdom brought another matter to their attention.
"Your Majesties." Harry greeted and stooped into a bow. He had to be seen observing court protocols…at least some of them at any rate.
"Good morning Harry."
"Oh Harry is it lunch time already?" Lucy asked, sitting upright in her chair with relief etched into every sparkle in her eye. Harry smiled and nodded.
"It is, although I admit to being a little early." Lucy pouted, actually pouted. Harry huffed out a chuckle, meeting Edmund's eyes briefly and seeing him smirk at his sister.
"Perhaps one more applicant before lunch your Majesties?" Mr Tumnus asked tentatively and Peter sighed but nodded.
"Yes, I think that is a good idea Mr Tumnus. Please send the next one forward and let everybody else know that court will end for the morning and will continue again tomorrow. Make sure all important matters are first and all the trivial ones are last please." Peter drew out the please in a communication of his displeasure. Mr Tumnus nodded, bowed, then retreated backwards a few steps before turning. Harry made to do the same but he was called back.
"Come and wait with me Harry." Lucy called and indicated the space next to her chair on the edge of the dias. Harry nodded acquiescing easily and moved to stand where he was bade. Hopefully the next matter for the court's attention would be small so he didn't have to stand there for long.
The next person was brought forwards by Mr Tumnus. He was a short and dumpy looking man with a rather hesitant look about him, like he was skittish about being there. His blue eyes flicked around the room as if he was nervous of all the people around him. It would have been suspicious if he didn't try really hard to smile as he greeted the Pevensies.
"Y-y-y-your m-m-majesties, I am Beccon." The Faun stuttered with another deep bow.
"Hello." Susan greeted with as amiable smile as she could seemingly muster. Lucy was all but cooing over the poor man's nervous stutter.
"I-I-I am here to p-p-pet-t-tition t-to marry my l-l-love Delinia, the most beautiful lady I e-e-ever did see…besides your majesties of c-c-course."
"OK…what seems to be the problem? Does she not return your affections? Is she not a faun?" Peter queried, shifting in his seat uncomfortably.
"S-she does, your m-m-majesty, and she is a faun like I am…"
"Then what is it?"
"S-S-She is to be s-s-sold your majesty."
"Sold?!" Peter was upright in his chair immediately. Edmund looked equally alarmed and the girls looked fairly gobsmacked. As far as Harry knew this was the first case of slavery that had been brought to the court's attention.
"Y-yes your m-majesty." The poor faun looked fairly distraught. "Her f-father has debts to a C-C-Calormen Lord named Assif. Delinia is to be s-s-sold to p-p-p-p-pay them."
"Calormen…Harry, is it custom for the Calormen to keep slaves?" Edmund asked and Harry frowned thinking back on his travels.
"I did not come across any during my travels. Servants, yes. Slaves, no. However, I cannot admit to being surprised by the news that some Calormen do take slaves. Their consideration of others is not as developed as Narnia's for they have not lived under tyranny like Narnians have."
"Is Delinia Narnian, Beccon?" Peter asked and Beccon nodded his head.
"She is s-s-sir."
"Then as a Narnian she has our protection." Peter declared with a steely gaze. "And no Narnian will be sold to Slavery while I am alive to protect them. Mr Tumnus, please alert the guards that a small squad will be required to retrieve this Delinia and her father to appear in court. Beccon, please go with Mr Tumnus so that we have all the proper information with which to proceed."
"You understand of course that we can only stop her being sold into slavery, we cannot demand that she marries you."
"O-o-of course your m-m-maj-j-jesty! I just wish-sh her f-f-free."
Beccon was escorted out of the room by Mr Tumnus who sent a different messenger to collect the guards as Peter had asked. Once the doors closed behind them and once all the other people inside the throne room had cleared out, the kings and queens stood from their thrones and all breathed sighs of relief.
"Well thank goodness that's over."
"Slavery?! Oh that's truly dreadful!"
"And to think…" Whatever Edmund had been about to say was cut off by the throne room doors slamming open.
"YOUR MAJESTIES! YOUR MAJESTIES!" Two centaurs galloped into the room with frantic eyes, panting breaths and torn and sweaty clothes.
"Your Majesties! The Western Marches…they're under attack!" One of the centaurs announced and held out a scroll.
Peter and Edmund burst into action, rushing forwards to get the scroll. Susan stood stock still as if unable to believe it and waiting to see what would be said next.
"Are either of your hurt? Did you run all the way from there?"
"Yes Queen Lucy, we did run but we are not hurt any more than a few days rest would be able to cure." One centaur reassured her and Lucy nodded.
"I'll get you some food." She said and spun around to go about doing just that.
"Lucy, have it sent to the war room. We will be in there. Ed, you're coming with me. Susan, go where you will. Harry? Look after Lucy for me?" Peter asked and Harry nodded.
"Perhaps Harry should come with us to the war room. From the looks of it we could use his help." Edmund ventured, barely lifting his eyes from the scroll. Peter heaved a great sigh.
"You are right of course Ed. Sorry Harry. Lucy, I know we promised Harry would look after you today but…"
"It's fine Peter. I will stay with Lucy, she will be safe with me."
"Thanks Su. Come on then, let's go."
Harry didn't think they even left the war room for anything but sleep for the next week.