Full chapter title: Tides That I Tried To Swim Against
"Momma! Momma! There's a dragon in the sky!"
"I'm coming, babies."
Kilgharrah made it just in time to Narnia, and he landed safely down on Dancing Lawn.
"Your majesty Caoilfhionn."
"Kilgharrah."
"You know my name, your majesty?"
"I know the name of every dragon, whether I've met them or not. But, what reason do you have to come here all the way from Camelot?"
"I bring you a letter. The young warlock Emrys would only trust me to bring it here to you."
"What reason would Emrys have to write to me?"
"The letter is not from Emrys, my queen. The letter is from your brother Conláed. He is in Camelot."
Kayla wanted to believe that Kilgharrah was pulling a practical joke on her, but she knew that dragons do not make jokes.
"Why is my brother in Camelot?"
"I know not, your majesty. I wish I did. Emrys did not tell me anything of the matter, and I will only pry on your say so."
"Kayla, what is it?"
"A letter from my brother. He's in Camelot right now."
"Why?"
"I can only think of one reason. He wants to finally lay his eyes on his father."
"What does the letter say?"
"Dearest Sister Caoilfhionn, I am journeying to Camelot for a time period of at least one month, or longer, but it depends on you. The reason why it depends on you, well, I have put you in a very difficult predicament haven't I? What with the death of our beloved mother, and you only being Baroness of Dancing Lawn instead of Queen of Terebinthia. Though, I hear tell your title of Baroness of Dancing Lawn, Guardian of the Dancing Trees is your most beloved title. Are you saying your people mean nothing to you? If that is the truth, then you can stay in Narnia. But if not, then I ask that you come to Camelot. There are things we need to discuss, and I feel it would be better if we meet on neutral ground. You may bring your husband and children if you like, and even one of the Narnian royals, especially Lunradmund. I have heard good things about his mind. Sincerely, your beloved brother, Conláed."
"He is literally asking you to come to Camelot?"
"And he left out Guardian of the Dryads. But the thing is with this letter, I don't know, something is off. When he's written a threatening or a boasting line, it just always feels off and weak. But the times when he is being good and sincere is not put on."
"You think him threatening you is a fake?"
"There is only one way to find out."
"Oh no. No. No, no, no. No, you are not going to Camelot, Kayla?"
"And why not?"
"You're four months pregnant, that is why. That is too much travel."
"Ivar, if Catherine of Aragon can lead an army pregnant, then I can travel to Camelot pregnant."
"But Catherine of Aragon lost that baby, you know that."
"With all due respect, your Majesties, Uther Pendragon is not a fan of magic. He slaughters druids and other followers of the Triple Goddess. At this time, that would be you, my queen."
Kayla's people were not just the peoples of Terebinthia, Narnia, and Ettinsmoor. Her people consisted of humans, animals, monsters, and mythical creatures alike. Her people also consisted of those who followed the Triple Goddess, and she would only leave the ones who would use her for evil to hang in the wind.
"Ivar, if Uther meets the Triple Goddess face to face, then maybe I can stop this. How fares his son Arthur when it comes to magic?"
"He seems to share the views of his father, but Emrys is his manservant and best friend, so there is hope."
"Good. Ivar, do you want to go with me?"
"I'm not sure. I know that the moment I first look at Conláed, I'll want to hack him to pieces with my axe. But one thing I know for sure, our children are not going with you."
"I was not planning on taking the children."
"But, Edmund may want to go."
"I'll ask him. Kilgharrah."
"Yes, your majesty?"
"May I ask you to take me to Cair Paravel? A horse would not be fast enough and I do not feel like being coupled up in a carriage for hours."
"I will take you, your majesty."
"Thank you."
"It is my absolute pleasure."
Kayla climbed onto Kilgharrah's back and latched on to any handle she could find.
"Are you coming, Ivar?"
"I might as well. Otherwise I'll never hear the end of it when you come back here."
Ivar climbed onto Kilgharrah behind Kayla and wrapped his arms around her waist, placing his hand protectively over her womb. Like he was afraid she would lose the baby during this flight.
"We're ready, Kilgharrah!"
Kilghrrah took great care to fly gracefully and smoothly, for he knew his queen was pregnant again, and he did not want to cause her any harm.
"Kayla my love, please sit still. I don't want you to fall."
"Ivar please, you're the king of the Eagles, and you're afraid to ride a dragon. And neither you nor Kilghrrah will let me fall, especially with how tight you're holding onto me, but please be sure not to crush my belly."
"I'm trying to avoid doing that."
"And besides, you have ridden a dragon countless times already."
"What do you mean?"
"Ivar, we're married. What do you think I mean?"
Ivar could only look at her in complete and utter shock that such a phrase actually came from her mouth.
"I'm going to pretend I didn't hear you say that."
Kilgahrrah landed safely on a field just outside of Cair Paravel, with the royals coming out to meet the dragon.
"Ah, the rest of the Triple Goddess and Dragon royal family."
"There are many of those descendants, Kilgharrah. Family, this is Kilgharrah. He has flown all the way from Camelot to deliver a letter to me."
"If it's from Camelot, why wouldn't the royal family there just formally send a letter?"
"Because the letter was not written by a royal family member of Camelot. Well, it kinda was. It was written by my brother, Conláed."
"Do you have the letter with you?"
"Of course I do, Peter."
The main reason Kayla wanted to talk to Peter about this was because it was Peter who sent her on her last ambassadorial trip, and that was to Calormen to the court of Rabadash. Kayla liked to bring back bits of the Narnian Golden Age if she could.
"I have no idea that you're planning to go. I know how your impulses are. Are you wanting to go with her, Ivar?"
"I know that if I do, the moment I first lay my eyes on Conláed, I will want to kill him, and you don't need that. So unfortunately, this is the first ambassadorial trip that both the Lord and Lady Protectors of Narnia will not be going together on."
"I am absolutely fine with that, Ivar. But if I need you in Camelot at some point-."
"When you call, I always answer."
"Kilgharrah, you may go back to Camelot and prepare all of those who follow the Triple Goddess for my coming, both good and evil alike. I will send a formal letter to the court of Camelot, stating that I would like to visit as the Lady Protector of Narnia, representing only the court of Narnia. Matters of Terebinthia will only be between my brother and I."
Kilgharrah offered to fly Ivar and Kayla back to Dancing Lawn on his way back to Camelot, and they accepted. Kayla then prepared for her trip to Camelot.