Disclaimer cause I forgot to put it in the first chapter: I don't own Narnia, and likely never will.
A/N: I'm not entirely pleased with the ending of this one, but I don't have the time to work on it any more. Hope you enjoy!
Prompt: "Nothing is ever done beautifully which is done in rivalship: or nobly, which is done in pride." ~ John Ruskin
Often, there is only one way to resolve fights. People try other ways, of course. But they never work.
Sometimes, they try forcing both parties to talk with one another, to make them come to terms with each other. That rarely works if the two sides are truly angry.
Then they try drawing up all sorts of supposedly-equal compromises. That only works if both sides are willing to give something up, which almost never happens.
When all else fails, they turn to physical combat. In other words, war.
I've decided to skip the first two steps and move straight to the last option. If only the lords see it the same way I do.
Jadis is growing worse every day. If I don't take it to arms, I fear my perfectly royal sister will take the whole country down with her.
Some ruler she is.
I clap for attention. The sound resounds against the stone walls of the scarcely furnished cavern. "Gentlemen, if you please."
The eight lords, ten captains, and four magicians I'd convinced to join me fall quiet, and slip into their seats after a moment. The scraping of chairs against the stone ground fills the room for a minute before each one is seated at the sizable stone table.
"Princess, if I may." One of the magicians stands. "I am not assured of your forethought in this venture. What is to guarantee that we will receive victory? Why not death?"
I've explained all the reasoning to them a hundred times by now. Imbeciles. I fold my hands calmly on the table, fixing him in my gaze. "When, in any of the stories, do the wicked ones not pay? In the story of the goddess Carnathia's conquest, did not her adversaries fall before her like ice melts before fire? Was not she the one appointed by the higher powers to change the course of Charn's future?"
The men murmur softly among themselves.
I draw myself up higher, lifting my chin. "My sister, royal and magician though she be, has fallen into the trap of wickedness. I fear she will take the entire land with her when her downfall comes, as Plynthus did in the First Age. You've seen the temple our slaves and building resources are wasting at. You know the state of our economy, and the poor remnants of diplomatic relationships we have. Something must change."
Another wave of soft chatter runs around the table.
I clench fistfuls of my thick skirt beneath the table. They must see that this is for the good of Charn— it's for no other purpose.
Lord Argand rises. "We are of one mind, princess." He bows sharply. "We will assemble your army and begin conquest on the Princess Jadis." He spits on the ground after saying her name.
A slow smile spreads across my face. At last. "Thank you, sirs," I respond, bowing my head. "Your loyalty to Charn shall be rewarded."
"What may we do?" one of the most dutiful captains asks.
I clear my throat lightly, pushing myself to my feet. "Lords, I will ask you to integrate yourselves into my sister's court and learn what use we can make of those within it. If there are any like-minded nobility there, bring them to me that I may speak with them. Captains, assemble my army and make preparations for war. In secret, if at all possible. And magicians, by your arts, learn what defenses my sister may already have in place, build defenses, and share them with the captains."
The pounding of their fists on their chests fills the room for a split second, then there's utter silence.
I smile again, taking a step away from the table. "Thank you for coming, sirs. May Jadis' reign end redder than the sun itself."
Their response comes immediately, with the old phrase. "May your reign begin with beauty like the sun of old!"
"At long last," I murmur to myself as I leave the caves several minutes later. "At long last, sister, you'll get the treatment you really deserve."