Big Bang Fic: Fuel to Fire, Chapter 6

[narniabb_mod]

Title: Fuel To Fire
Author: snitchnipped
Rating: T
Disclaimer: Part of Four of the Dichotomy Universe. Familiarity with Dichotomy, Splintered, and Hail to the Days is highly encouraged. All can be found on my ff.net directory.
Possible Spoilers/Warnings: Implied Adult Situations, Violence
Author's Notes: Many, many thanks to my betas wingedflight21, lady_songsmith, and rthstewart for all the encouragement and hand-holding. My hope is that there is a little something in it for everyone. Whatever you get out of it, I want to thank you for taking the time for reading this monster. I hope you enjoy it.
Summary: “All the great things are simple, and many can be expressed in a single word: freedom, justice, honor, duty, mercy, hope.” — Winston Churchill



FUEL TO FIRE—CHAPTER SIX
“A king who always cares for the elephants like his own sons is always victorious and will enjoy the friendship of the celestial world after death.” — Kautilya

::x:x:x::
Eastern Tiered Gardens, Cair Paravel, Narnia. Thirdweek, September, 1010.
Lucy, Day 25.

Lucy skipped up the short staircase onto the next tier. “Come on, Durah, or we will miss the sunset!” she called down, already skipping over to the next stone flight of stairs.
It was the last huzzah of summer. They could feel a system moving into Narnia—this time for sure, not like the false one that came in weeks earlier with the rain. The steel grey clouds spotted across the sky in feathered strands slowly glowed into a light yellow as the sun edged behind the dark line of trees in the West.
The two friends slowly made their way up through the many levels of tiered gardens, eager to make it to the top before it was too late.

“This is quite the trek!” Durah huffed as she joined Lucy at the top. “Who knew the castle would end up so big!”

The highest tiered garden wrapped around the uppermost dome of the castle, and Lucy led the Elephant around to the west side to watch the setting sun’s progress. “But didn’t you say the Elephants were here for the construction of Cair Paravel?”

“We were, your Majesty,” Durah said as she sauntered alongside her. “But my grandmother said that we left with our Narnians before it was fully completed. After the Tree died, and war broke out, and the King was killed by the Witch Jadis. But before the snows came.”

“Oh,” Lucy sadly said. She thought it a shame that the last true King of Narnia never got to see the marvel and splendor that Cair Paravel turned into. And all because of that wretched woman who still haunts my brother’s dreams. It was strange how something that happened over one hundred years prior still had lingering effects. One hundred years! That was so long ago, I can hardly imagine, she mused as the clouds started to tint into an orange that grew brighter and brighter.

“But we also knew it would be finished,” Durah said, coming to a stop at the western edge with Lucy. “And we did what we could in preparation for you all before we left.”

Lucy turned abruptly to face the Elephant. “What do you mean? You prepared for us?”

Durah looked down at her. “The Elephant Prophecy. Well, the centaurs had their prophecy, too. My grandmother said that the centaurs’ didn’t rhyme very well. But ours was the first.”

“You’re really confusing me, Durah,” Lucy admitted aloud, even as her heart started racing upon hearing the things the Elephant was saying.

Durah rested her trunk on the ledge turned to watch the glowing fuchsia stretch out from the sun like flames. “The False Queen knew of the Elephants’ prophecy of her demise, and wanted them all brought in. She would take care of the one responsible, and the rest, she could put to good use.”

“Oh! How terrible,” Lucy muttered. The world started growing darker, and the pinks and greens bounced off the grey of her friend’s skin. “And that’s why you left, of course.”

“That and to help our Narnians flee. You humans, that is,” she said with a gentle poke at Lucy’s shoulder with the tip of her trunk.

Lucy smiled at the contact. “But you said you prepared for us…what did you mean by that?”

“Well, we always knew you would come,” Durah said. “Which is why we brought the stones from the North and left them for the dwarfs for when the castle was finally finished.”

Now Lucy was really confused. Stones for when the castle was finished? She looked back out, and saw the sun begin to dip beneath the horizon, trying to make heads or tails over what the Elephant was saying. “What stones are you talking about, Durah?” she finally asked.

“For the four thrones, of course. They came out very beautiful,” Durah said wistfully. “My grandmother would be very proud to know that. I wish she could see them.”

Lucy didn’t say anything. The very stones we sit on every day, she realized and she then remembered how Durah had admired them on her very first day at court.

“Come Four, and we’ll return to our home, our Narnians would sing. We prepared for the Four. And now I’m back, I’ve returned to my home,” Durah said, her mouth dropping open in a smile.

Realization settled into Lucy’s heart, and she had to blink back the tears forming in her eyes. “Of course,” she quietly breathed. She looked up at her friend. “We are most honored to have you here, Durah.”

Durah nodded once and her trunk delicately tucked a golden strand of hair behind Lucy’s ear. “You have been so lovely to talk to, your Majesty. It’s sometimes hard for people to understand me. I’m glad you stayed here.”

“Me too,” Lucy quietly said.

The two friends stood for several minutes in silence as they watched the sun make its final descent. Eventually, the sky melded into a mix of blues and purples as the last beam of light retreated behind the Western Hills and the starts started twinkling from above.

Lucy retrieved one of the lanterns hanging along the ledge, and lit it with the the flint stored in the compartment underneath. She held it up between them, casting a warm, cheerful light upon her friend. “Shall we return inside, Lady Durah? Mr. and Mrs. Beaver will be joining for dessert. I’m so happy you’re finally getting to meet them, and they you.”


::x:x:x::
“This marvel also have I heard, that the mighty Elephants have a prophetic soul within their breasts….” — Oppian
::x:x:x:x:x:x:x::
East of Elephant Valley, Darden, Archenland. Thirdweek, September, 1010.
Susan, Day 26.

To everyone’s relief, Obax kept eating along the way, and his strength and stamina grew the farther along the journey they went. Though he still led the way, they quickly learned to not follow directly behind him, either
The wind picked up, and Susan deeply inhaled the scent of rosemary in the air. Her mind flashed back to an image of her mother pulling out a Christmas roast from the oven, with brittle sprigs of rosemary crossed on top, the aroma filling the room. When their mother wasn’t looking, she and Peter would sneak bits off the caramelized top, occasionally offering one to Ed to keep him from fussing. Of course, this was long before that war—long before roasts became scarce.

It wasn’t just the rosemary around them, though. They occasionally passed by large bushes of bay, and sage also grew rampant in the area. Susan occasionally would come down her mount to collect a few choice herbs and store them in her saddle bag. She planned to give them to Turvalin later when they returned to camp. The kitchens at Cair Paravel would be most thankful for replenishing the castle’s supply for the upcoming winter months.

For the last mile or so, their pace had been enough that Susan enjoyed walking on foot alongside Baris. The herbs were too plentiful to stay on horseback, and it was worth the extra exercise.

She bent over a small plant growing between the cracks. “I’m not familiar with this one,” she said, reaching for it.

“If you would allow me, your Majesty?”

She straightened, slightly confused at the Elephant’s request, but nodded her assent to Obax.

The Bull ripped off a bit of the plant with his trunk, and lifted it to his mouth, delicately chewing the fuzzy leaves. “This one’s likely poisonous. Best avoid it.”

Susan stared at Obax in shock. “Poisonous? And you just ate it?”

“Don’t worry,” the Elephant said. “I am too big, and I ate too little.”

She watched Baris rip off a few leaves and give them a sniff, his slitted nose scrunched up in distaste.

Susan caught a bright flash in the sky in the corner of her eye, and with a hand shielding her eyes, she saw Beaknocker approaching. Though they were well north from the Calormene encampment, and despite the reassurances from Anradin, they did not want to risk being followed in the the Elephant Valley. Before they had left camp that morning, they had sent Milletpeck and the Birds out once again to patrol the area as they journeyed.

“What news?” Edmund asked with no preamble as the Gull fluttered to a rest on Obax’ rump. The Elephant didn’t seem to mind, and Susan wondered if he could even feel the webbed Bird feet through his thick skin.

“They were true to their word, your Majesty. The Calormenes are gone.” Beaknocker cocked his head and looked in the direction he had just flown from. “And you know, the Winding Arrow doesn’t really wind,” he remarked.

Edmund ignored the additional observation. “But they’re gone? You are positive?”

“Completely. No sign of tent nor chariot.”

There was a collective feeling of relief amongst the travelers. Luck—And Aslan, Susan thought—had been on their side in the rescue of Obax. Not only did Edmund and Obax have a successful escape, but Baris did, as well, though the poor faun had much farther to travel than anyone, by cliff, riverbank and field. And all on hoof, too.

Susan and her Narnian party had also made a clean break. Sure, there had been the interruption of yelling and the thunder of men running by the tent as they had been finishing their meal. But much to her relief, the Calormenes had covered the commotion, as if they were merely just embarrassed by what was happening on the other side of their camp. Being the polite and graceful Queen that she could be, she had politely ignored the screamed vulgarities outside their tent, the stressed look on her host’s eyes, and the sudden twitchiness of the Tarkaan’s companions. Susan, in turn, had chosen to comment on the desserts with Ferrin just when a frazzled messenger had come in to whisper in the Tarkaan’s ear. And when they had heard the distinctive Elephant trumpet….

“That’s quite the camel you’ve got out there, Anradin Tarkaan.”

“Ahhhh, indeed, my Queen.”

It wasn’t until the end of their visit when Susan had turned to Anradin and said, “I hope everything is well. The point of the evening was to help you avoid any further trouble, after all. It seems things may have been amiss with the rest of your camp, though?”

Anradin’s chin had lifted and he flashed her a steady, confident smile. “I thank you for your concern. Yes, we unfortunately had, ahhhh, had an incident. Something not all uncommon, though, especially in these savage parts of Archenland.”

Ferrin had noticeably bristled, but Susan had merely answered with an arched brow and a curious, “Oh? Anything that Narnia can assist with, perhaps?”

“Thank you, but no. A lone thief infiltrated our camp and made away with, ahhhh, one of our valuable resources. It’s not even worth pursuing the thief—to do so would cause more problems, I’m sure. And as you said, your Majesty, the point of the evening was to avoid those. But since the thief remains at large, I would advise that you take care on your return. And perhaps invoke swift justice were you to come across him.”

“Of course,” she had replied with a smile.

Upon their return to camp, Susan had expressed her relief that the Calormenes had assumed that the thief worked alone. Both Edmund and Baris appeared to have had escaped undetected, and therefore, any evidence pointing to Narnia had been avoided. Still, Anradin had seemed alarmed, even paranoid, that another faction may have tried to move on his territory, despite it being now defunct, and Susan had shared her observation with the others as they rode in the near moonless night.

“Other Elephant kidnappers? You think he was worried of a black market within the black market?” Peridan had remarked. “Then they would be on our side—sort of like ‘the enemy of our enemy is our friend.’

Ferrin had snorted. “Isn’t that a Calormene proverb?”

“I think you are right,” Peridan had agreed. “So if this is the case, I believe we could consider Edmund the Thief our friend. Except for you, Ferrin, for you are incapable of having friends.”

But Susan had doubted there really was another Calormen faction involved. There was no indication of another cell that was near as organized as Anradin’s. But such practices of undermining and sneaking were typical amongst the Calormene hierarchy, so she understood Anradin’s paranoia.

Once they had returned and found Edmund with an exhilarated smile on his face (“Much more breathtaking than riding a Gryphon, Su!”) and filled him in on their events of the evening, they all had agreed—Anradin worked alone and they had indeed gotten the message across to the Tarkaan. And he, in turn, would assuredly ward any other potential Calormene Elephant dealers off. After all, if Anradin was no longer allowed to deal in an Elephant trade, then he would make sure no one else would take his place.

After a full day of rest and recuperation for Obax’ sake, they were currently on their way to the Elephant Valley to reunite Obax with his loved ones. And, hopefully, to convince his family to join them in Narnia, even if Zanta and her Herd would not. We cannot go back to Narnia empty handed. Durah would be so disappointed, Susan thought.

“What are those trees up ahead?” Baris asked, his eyes shining in awe.

As they approached the small cluster of giant trees running along a trickling stream, Susan saw what had enraptured the faun so. The colorful, wind-stripped trunks reached up high towards leaves that rustled a beautiful melody with the wind. They soon found themselves under the towering branches, and a wondrous scent, even sweeter than the grasses they had been traveling through, invaded her senses. It was sublime.

Ferrin reached over from his horse and pulled off a strip of green and pink bark. “These’d be eucalyptus. We use them as windbreaks for the orchards back home.”

“Stunning,” Baris breathed, going up to pink-and-green streaked trunk and rubbing his hands up and down it. “It’s a shame we don’t have such trees in Narnia, for their dryads would be the envy of all.”

“The wrath of Tash cannot hold a candle to that of a dryad spurned,” Edmund teased.

“All too true,” Baris wistfully replied, while Obax reached up to break off some of the leaves and started eating them.

They continued walking through the trees, but no one spoke as they all relished the experience. Susan closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. Though incomparable to Narnia, Archenland had its own distinctive beauty that truly captivated her. It made her wonder if she could ever live in such a place, or any place for that matter, outside of Narnia. At this moment, Susan believed she actually could. But only for the right reasons, of course.

She leaned down and picked up a small twig full of leaves and tucked it in her the already-full saddlebag of herbs. Seeing as she regrettably had no room for more specimens, she got back up on her horse once they—regrettably—reached the other side of the small wood.

Obax suddenly stopped in place, spreading out its stumpy legs just so. He touched his trunk to the ground, eyes closed in deep concentration. After a moment, he lifted his head up and pointed with his trunk excitedly, “This way! They’re coming from over this way!”

Susan looked out in the direction he was pointing. They were not anywhere near the entrance to the Elephant Valley, and all she could see ahead of her were acres and acres of empty, rolling hills around them. “They’re meeting us? Are you sure? I see nothing ahead.”

“Me neither, but I’m positive.”

And with that that, Obax started running at an astounding speed. Once the initial shock passed, Ferrin and Edmund exchanged glances and each took off on their horses with a resounding “Whoop!” Baris was soon to follow, but as he was not on horseback, he trailed considerably behind. Susan and Peridan stayed where they are, watching the joyful chase enfold before them for a moment.

Peridan turned to her, squinting against the mid-afternoon sun. “I’m reminded of something my mother used to say,” Peridan said.

“And what is that?” she asked.

“She would say, ‘Peridan, we must follow our hearts and noses. They may point you in either the right or wrong direction, but at least you will be going somewhere.’”

Susan tilted her head back and laughed. “‘Follow our hearts and noses.’ It is rather fitting, isn’t it?”

Peridan smiled, his grey eyes warm with mirth as he nudged his horse back into a walk.

Susan followed and closed her eyes, appreciating the warmth of sun on her face. As they rode in silence, her thoughts drifted to their conversation from a few nights prior, the first time she had ever talked with Edmund’s friend. She opened her eyes. “Peridan?”

He turned to her, and his head tilted inquisitively.

“What was your mother’s name?” she tentatively asked.

Peridan blinked. “Her name was Nessa.”

Nessa, the true daughter of Archenland. Descended from King Col himself. “By serving Narnia, you serve Archenland, Sir Peridan. I should think your mother would be very proud.”

He glanced briefly down at his hands before facing her again. “Thank you,” he finally said. He hesitated before continuing. “As yours would be, Susan.”

Susan was not expecting a return in the sentiment and did not know how to answer. “Come,” she said instead, with a nervous laugh. “Let’s catch up with the others….”

The two urged their horses into a gallop to catch up with the rest of their party. Despite Obax’ poor health, it proved to be a challenging race to keep up with him. After twenty minutes of an invigorating ride through the autumn grasses, they all slowed to a stop at the top of the hill leading down to where they saw two specks waiting patiently in the distance. Except Obax, who surprisingly picked up his speed even more, the trail of dust clouding up behind him.

A loud cacophony of trumpets and bellows erupted at Obax’ reunion, causing Edmund and Ferrin to laugh in joy at such a sight. The Narnians let their new friends have a private moment with his loved ones, two Bulls of vastly different size, before they made their way down the hill to join them. As they approached behind Obax, Susan saw that the largest had his trunk intertwined with his, while the smaller Bull slowly walked around Obax, taking inventory of his condition.

“Are you sure you’re all right?” Susan heard the the second Bull ask as they all approached.

“I am now, Manta, I promise,” Obax said. He turned to face Susan and the other Narnians as they lined up in front of the Elephants. “Tunko, Manta, may I introduce you to King Edmund and Queen Susan of Narnia. And their friends and compatriots, Sir Peridan, Ferrin, and…oh, where is the little furry one?”

Susan turned in her saddle towards whence they came. Sure enough, Baris had yet to catch up with them.

“He’ll be here soon. I’m afraid in your exuberance to get here, we outpaced the poor faun,” Edmund said with laugh. “It’s our pleasure to make your acquaintances, gentlemen.”

Both Bull Elephants did the sweeping bow with their trunks, first to Edmund, then Susan.

“Greetings, King and Queen of Narnia. We are deeply honored and humbled,” Tunko, the larger and decidedly elder of the two, said. His tusks were longest Susan had seen thus far and were quite lopsided. The other’s tusks were quite short and stubbly in comparison. Susan assumed that when Obax had not been deprived of his own, that they were the length of somewhere in between.

“But what happened, Obax?” Manta said. “You completely disappeared and have been gone for months! We were so worried! Was it the Southerners?”

“It was,” Obax confirmed. “The Calormenes.”

“Such injuries, Obax, and how thin you are,” Tunko dolefully observed, as Manta continued running his trunk along the arrow scars and Obax’ torn ear.

“Yes, but I am back now, and all thanks to his Majesty, King Edmund and—oh, here he comes!”

At that moment, Baris made the last few bounds down the small hill to join them. Once he arrived, the faun rested his hands on his thighs and put his head down to catch his breath. His head popped up and he offered everyone a wide grin. “Sorry to keep you waiting! Did I miss anything?”

After a few re-introductions, Tunko once again turned to Obax. “Tell us, what did the Southerners make you do?”

“Not much of anything,” Obax replied. “I was mainly there as a pet and to show off to those interested. There were a few before me, I guess…Anyway, I overheard them talking about wanting to capture bigger, stronger elephants, but I don’t know what for. That was never discussed aloud. Under strict orders.”

Susan could tell that he was omitting quite a few details, probably for the sake of Manta. He seems so young, younger than Durah even.

“Were they afraid you would overhear?” Manta said, his eyes wide and his ears perched forward.

Obax shook his head. “I kept the secret, Manta! They thought I was an elephant all along!”

“Wow,” Manta breathed. “Good on you, Obax! So what did you do? You must have been very bored. How dreadful that would be!”

“Manta….” Tunko admonished.

“No, it’s all right,” Obax reassured. “There was little to do. I learned to whistle a new song, but that annoyed my captor, so he….” the Elephant faltered. “…Well, he beat me to stop. So I stopped.”

The elder Elephant gazed knowingly at Obax and patted him gently on his unripped ear. “That’s enough details for now, Obax. We have all the time to hear your story.”

“But—but how were you captured?” Manta asked.

Susan wondered that, too. In the day the Elephant had at the Narnian camp, everyone had agreed not to needlessly interrogate the former prisoner and to let him rest instead. After all, they did not need to press for details right away, since the threat of the Calormenes was gone and they had the time to get the story later.

Obax looked to Tunko for permission to continue, and the elder Bull nodded. “I wandered away to see my friend, Durah,” he simply said.

“Durah!” Susan exclaimed.

“You know her?” Edmund asked, his brows low in disbelief.

“Yes. She had told me that she had wandered out of the Valley and had met some men—the only men, Durah believes—who knew our secret, one of which agreed to escort her to Narnia. Once she had left, curiosity got the best of me, I’m afraid. I thought maybe the other man would take us to Narnia, too, so I left the Valley in search of him without telling anyone. I’m sorry, Tunko. Manta.”

They want to come to Narnia?

Peridan turned to Edmund and said, “Rovaper.”

Edmund nodded in agreement. “You were to meet with our friend Rovaper, a Telmarine. Did he know of your coming?”

Obax shook his head. “No. I was not sure where I was going, but I still travelled far and got lost. And instead of finding the man, I was ambushed by many Calormenes with their arrows and long ropes. I did not stand a chance.”

Tunko’s tail whipped in frustration. “Did you not hear them, though, Obax? Not even their breathing?”

Obax trailed the tip of his trunk through the dust in shame. “Not over my whistling, no.”

To everyone’s surprise, Tunko chuckled lowly. “Oh, Obax.” He lovingly traced Obax’ face with his trunk, gently pausing at the stubs of where his tusks used to be. “Oh, Obax,” he repeated. “Sometimes you can be so young. But I forgive you.”

“We both do,” Manta reassured with an enthusiastic nod.

“And you needn’t worry about them coming after Obax again,” Susan said. “Narnia has intervened and put a stop to the operation. The Calormene Tarkaan responsible will no longer be enslaving innocent elephants. Or Elephants,” she added, sharing a knowing smile with Obax.

The elder Bull swung his massive head to address Susan directly. “But what of other Southerners, your Majesty? Will others come after the Herds and herds in the future?”

Susan did not dare lie by offering a false guarantee. She turned to Edmund, at a loss for words.

“We don’t believe so, gentlemen,” Edmund said without any hesitation. “And you have and always will be under the protection of King Lune, remember. I don’t believe present circumstances would allow that to happen.”

“So, is this true?” Susan asked, eager to change the subject. From what Obax had said earlier, perhaps there was hope in returning at least some of the Elephants back to their original home. “Are you wanting to leave for Narnia?”

Obax looked from her to the other Bulls. “Well…the curiosity is still there, I admit….”

Manta nodded. “We sing of Narnia often, your Majesties!”

“Then, friends, let us formally invite you with us as we make our journey back home,” Edmund said.

“You will see Durah again, Obax!” Baris added. “She’s quite well, from what the Queen Lucy has been writing.”

Obax sighed in relief. “That’s a relief to hear, thank you. I spent many long hours in the Calormene tent wondering if she had made the trip safely. And whether she was learning if Narnia was everything we ever dreamed it to be.”

“The dream is there,” Susan said with a gentle smile. “Will you join us?”

Tunko looked at Obax expectantly. “The choice is yours, Obax. You have earned it after such hardship.”

“You would not to join me if I went, Tunko?” he asked.

“I would!” Manta said excitedly.

The elder Bull gave the young Bull an exasperated grunt before turning back to Obax. “You know that my responsibilities lie here,” Tunko softly answered.

Obax turned and looked out at the fields beyond, towards the Elephant Valley. “Thank you for allowing me to go, Tunko,” he quietly said. “But you know I would never want to leave my loved ones behind, not ever again. I shall stay here. With you.”

The Elephant’s answer had a profound reaction within Susan, but she couldn’t pinpoint why it effected her so. She swallowed heavily and looked away, not wanting the others to notice.

Tunko’s mouth opened in a wide smile, and he stepped closer to nudge Obax on his side. “I am glad you are staying.” The Bull turned back to the Narnians. “Though we are not directly involved with the Grandmare Zanta and her group, we still share the same responsibility, and you will find us all in agreement,” he explained. “Our duty is to protect the lesser herd. We have vowed to do so.”

In all honesty, Susan should have expected nothing less, having learned from Durah back in Cair Paravel that Elephants took their vows quite seriously. “Your dedication is admirable, good sirs,” she admitted. “Please know that the invitation will always stand.”

“Even if it’s just for a visit. Narnia’s borders are always open to you,” Edmund added.

The Elephant nodded his head once. “Thank you, your Majesties. All of you,” he gestured with his trunk. “Our memories of Narnia run deep, and even from afar, please know we are still devoted to her.”

“And I would still like to visit! Some day,” Manta wistfully added.

“Perhaps you all would like to meet Grandmare Zanta?” Tunko pointed with his trunk up over his head. “The Greater Herd is quite close. About ten miles in that direction.”

“That’s close?” Ferrin muttered under his breath, barely loud enough for Susan to hear.

Tunko lowered his trunk. “Quite so, sir,” he answered, to which Ferrin coughed in embarrassment for being overheard. “Usually at this time of year they are on the western borders of the Valley. But with this latest threat, they have also been patrolling the eastern border more so. We all have.”

“You do noble work, as does the Grandmare,” Edmund said, “who we have already had the privilege of meeting early on in our mission.”

The elder Bull looked at him inquisitively. “Your mission, your Majesty?”

Her brother smiled sadly at Tunko. “To bring the Elephants back home Narnia,” he admitted.

Tunko didn’t say anything at first, his eyes closing briefly in thought. Finally, he lifted his head up proudly and said, “Might I say, then, your Majesties, that your work is also noble. Thank you for your care and interest,” he said.

Susan found herself turning to Peridan, reminded of their earlier exchange. He met her gaze and gave her a faint wink.

“High praise, gentlemen. We are honored,” Edmund said, to which the rest of the Narnians nodded in agreement. Edmund gathered up his reins. “I’m afraid we must take our leave. Until we meet again, friends!”

Obax and Manta stepped closer alongside Tunko so all three faced the Narnians directly. “May the Lion guide you on your journey,” Tunko said.

The three Bulls bowed graciously in Edmund’s direction, which prompted an amused smile from her brother as he turned his horse and started up the hill.

At last, some recognition for the King of Narnia, she thought, but her humor was short lived. With a bittersweet, heavy heart, Susan followed the others as they slowly wounded back and forth up the hill towards their camp. The company rode in silence at first, allowing Susan to take time the to reflect on the previous couple of weeks and all that happened without distraction. Or didn’t happen, she sadly admitted to herself.

Her mood did not go unnoticed and Edmund slowed his horse for her to catch up. “Are you all right, Su?”

“I will be,” she said, but her smile was false.

Edmund scrutinized her in the way that always unnerved Susan. Her brother always had been able to read her like a book. “It’s all right, Su. We did the best we could.”

Baris also momentarily slowed his pace. “Their answer was not all that surprising, was it, your Majesties?” he offered, keeping pace between her and Edmund’s horses.

Susan bit her lower lip. “No, it wasn’t,” she admitted. “But still…it feels like this entire journey was for naught. That we failed in what we came here to do. Lucy’s going to be so disappointed. Durah’s going to be so disappointed.”

“That’s nonsense, Su. What we did was invaluable. We didn’t even know what we were facing when it came to the Calormenes, and look what we accomplished there? What you accomplished,” he added, his eyes wide in recognition.

“But we still cannot protect them fully—not unless they came to Narnia.”

Edmund emphatically shook his head. “Listen, everyone!” he called out, pulling his horse into a halt. Everyone followed suit and turned to face him. “Let us not be discouraged. Though it may not seem so, we actually succeeded on our mission. We did what Aslan put us here for—to instill the wishes of Narnians, everywhere, for the greater good. Do not think otherwise.”

None of them responded, taking the moment to absorb what Edmund just said. At that moment, Susan felt very proud of her little brother, and all that he had done on since they left Narnia all those weeks ago.

Ferrin snorted. “That’s precious, Ed,” he said.

Edmund grinned widely at his friend. “I have my moments.”

“Well,” Ferrin continued with a sniff. I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m itching to get back to Esting. First round’s on me.”

“By my count, you owe us the next five rounds, Ferrin,” Peridan said.

“I’ll need an advance, then, your Majesty.”

Susan tuned out their bantering and looked over her shoulder. In the distance, Manta had wandered off while Obax and Tunko were still watching them depart. Perhaps not so much as watching—Susan was now quite familiar with their limited eyesight. She did wonder if they had overheard their entire conversation, even at such great distance.

Knowing it may be missed, Susan gave a final wave, to which they surprisingly reciprocated with waves of their trunks. After which, they both turned around, and trotted towards Manta, their trunks affectionately intwined. Susan’s heart swelled at the thought of such love, such a sense of belonging. She longed to feel the same way. Someday.

::x:x:x::
“The elephant’s a gentleman.” — Rudyard Kipling
::x:x:x:x:x:x:x::
The Orange Thorn Inn in Esting, Darden, Archenland. Fourthweek, September, 1010.
Edmund, Day 28.

“Make sure to write down that the Queen of Narnia visited the very same inn we did while were there. And that she does not live up to the beauty they claim she is.”
Edmund, hunched over his journal, lifted his eyes briefly to shoot Ferrin a glare. He dipped his pen back into the well and finished adding up the sum of figures he had in the margin—mileage estimates of all the times they traversed back and forth through Darden. Damned province. I bet we know the Lord Dar’s land better than he does.
The dinner hour was coming to a close at the Orange Thorn Inn, and the drinking hour was soon to follow—if the musicians setting up in the corner gave any indication. Edmund was rather glad that they were not able to find a table in the back. They had to settle for one by the cold, drafty windows in the front, but at least the music would not be as distracting as he scribbled in his journal or talked with his friends.
It would be their last evening in the area. With nothing more to do, Edmund had returned to the Inn the previous evening with Peridan and Ferrin while Susan and Baris returned to the official Narnian Camp just outside of town. The rumor in town was exactly as Edmund was hoping for—that the Queen Susan had not been seen in and amongst Esting for she was courting the Lord Dar at his Estate. (“Much to the Lord Mayor’s chagrin,” Beaknocker had reported.)
Ferrin crumpled his napkin and tossed it on the table, nearly taking out Peridan’s goblet of wine. “That hit the spot! All we need is Baris with his pipe, and it would be the perfect way to cap off our adventure.”
“You two smoke enough as it is, Ferrin,” Peridan scoffed.
“No, no, not the lasaia, idiot, I meant his other pipe. I could stand some music right now.”
Peridan gestured with his head to the corner. “Looks like you’re about to get your wish then.”
The three musicians started in on a lively Archenlander reel while several of the servants made a final sweep through the room to collect dinner plates. Edmund didn’t pay much attention while the remainder of his meal was taken away, but was rather happy to have more room to write. He moved his journal into the cleared space and started a rough sketch of an elephant at the bottom of his page before he noticed that the servant was still hovering over him. He looked up to the dimpled, smiling face.
Oh, no.

“I’m oh so glad to see you again! Will you be staying long, sir?”
Edmund snapped his journal shut. “Only for the night, I’m afraid.” The small pout of disappointment on Tarna’s face almost was Edmund’s undoing, and he consciously had to keep his eyes from traveling downward. It was best to get rid of her now before it was too late for him.
“Oh, that’s too bad. Is there anything else I can get for you, sir? Perhaps something…later, sir?” she asked with a hopeful bite of her lip.
Eyes up. “No, but thank you, Tarna.”
With a sad smile, the girl dipped. “Thank you, sir. Ferrin,” she bashfully added, before hopping off.

Ferrin scowled in confusion. “What’s she thanking me for?”

“No idea,” Edmund mumbled into his wine goblet.

Ferrin watched her as she bounced through the busy room. “I could give her something to be thankful for. Mind if I have a go?”

“Actually, I do,” he said with a glower.

As if on cue, a baby let out a cry from the corner, and both Edmund and Ferrin watched Tarna’s trajectory change towards its direction. The baby gave a squeal as Tarna lifted it out of the arms of an older woman, cooing at it with bright eyes and a smile before tucking the baby’s fuzzy head into her neck and swaying.

Ferrin’s dark eyes opened wide. “You know, never mind. Perhaps it wouldn’t be a good idea.”

Ideally, Edmund would like be able to leave Darden in the morning without bringing any more attention to themselves by blundering through another drunken evening. After all, they still had a portion of Susan’s mission to complete—with the autumn already settling in, the Doves had sent word out that she would only make one last visit to another Archenlander province. Of course, Edmund still had to remain undercover, and he preferred to have his Company with him. They were only to shadow Susan, Baris, and the her entourage at a respectable distance, until they could reconfigure once past the border and well back into Narnia. Edmund still wanted to keep their wits about them for the remainder of the trip.
Peridan slapped Edmund’s arm with the back of his hand. “Ed, look who just arrived,” he quietly said.
Edmund looked up. In front of the entrance, not ten feet away from them, stood their friend Rovaper. Once they caught the Telmarine’s eye, the burly man gave a wave, and started taking off his cloak to hand off to the waiting servant.

“What should we tell him?” Ferrin asked. “That we found the elephants?”

Peridan took a swig of his wine. “I don’t see why not, just as long as we stick to our original story.”

“Gentlemen! What a pleasant surprise to see you hear again!” Rovaper said in his familiar, thick accent as he arrived. He took the empty seat that Ferrin pushed out for him.

Edmund tucked his journal away into the large pouch on his belt. “And you, sir. How fares the fishing on the Winding Arrow?”

The man grimaced and ran his hand through his mussed dark hair. “The rains got to us before we could get to the fish. The river raged too much for us to even try,” he said. “But what about you? Did you find what you were looking for?”

“Aye, we did,” Ferrin said. He flagged down a servant and called, “Another cup for my friend here!” He turned back to Rovaper and said, “You were right, the country and valley were perfect. We cannot wait to start construction, which has unfortunately been delayed ’til spring.

Rovaper laughed and leaned in closer. “But did you see them?”

Edmund exchanged a quick glance with Peridan before also leaning in with a wide smile. “We did,” he said with a wide smile.

“Amazing sight,” Peridan added, accompanied by a convincing shake of his head in awe. “Truly wondrous.”

“Yes, they are,” Rovaper said. He clammed up and leaned back into his seat when a servant plopped down a goblet of wine before him. He did not speak again until the servant was well clear of their table. “But I still have your word—that you will tell no one of what you saw?” he asked.

Edmund had to bite his tongue. There was so much he wanted to discuss with this man—their knowledge of the Elephants’ secret, that they had met his missing brother Bazner in Narnia who had yet to check with either Peter or his brother’s steward, to talk about their successful rescue of Obax earlier in the week, and the reunion with his loved ones. But Edmund knew to speak of any of these things, even with this friend who was entrusting them with his secret, would only implicate himself. He just could not find it himself to take that chance. “You have our word,” was all Edmund said.

Rovaper leaned back in his seat and took a small sip from his wine. “Good. I shall sleep easy tonight knowing they are protected.”

Edmund also desperately wanted to tell him that they protected the Elephants and elephants more than Rovaper would ever know.

“Well,” Ferrin said loudly, “it’s a shame of our delays. I have grand designs for my new farmstead down there. I think we all do, yes?” he asked, looking from Peridan to Edmund. “But now it’s just a matter of convincing the wife of my plan for a vineyard!”

“I wish you the best of luck with that, Redian!” Rovaper said. “Make sure to save a bottle or two for me!”

“I will sir!”

Rovaper laughed and scooted back in his chair. “Well, gentlemen, I must be off. Sorry I cannot stay longer, but I’m glad to hear your scouting mission was a success, even if you are not able to start building until the spring.” The Telmarine stood and placed his wool cap on his head. “Until next time I run into you, sirs. I’m sure I will see you at the taverns in Talstan next!” he joked.

“Take care!” Ferrin said with a single wave.

Rovaper placed his cap on his head, crossed to the front door to collect his cloak, and slipped out the door. The cold blast that crept in with the opening of the door hit them a few seconds later.

Peridan fingered the stem of his goblet and frowned. “He wasn’t here very long at all, was he?”

“Barely touched his drink,” Ferrin added. He polished off his own goblet before pulling the leftover one full of wine towards him.

“What did I say earlier, Ferrin?” Edmund admonished. “We are to leave early in the morning, and I have no interest in dragging you out of bed to get you on the road.”

“I should hope not, for my company would be quite put out at the intrusion.”

Peridan sighed and pounded his fist on the table. “For once could we go somewhere and you not—“

A crash of exploding glass came out of nowhere, and it was only out of pure instinct and experience that Edmund managed to shield his face from the influx of flying shards and dive under the table.

The Inn erupted into shouts and yells as more windows shattered and people dove for cover. Edmund carefully stood up to take inventory of his friends. Peridan had also ducked in time and was pulling himself up off of a servant he must have shielded.

Ferrin had not been as quick. Edmund saw the line of red on is friend’s forehead get wider as it started to pool and drip down his face as he righted his chair and slowly stood up. “What in Tash’s name was that?” Ferrin cried.

Through the broken window, they saw a rush of men on horses thunder by, torches alight and gleaming weapons held out. The night was too dark, the men rode to fast, and their shouts unintelligible for Edmund to identify who they were. More sounds came from the south, from the direction of the open fields—sounds of crushing, sounds of screaming, sounds of more destruction. But above all that came the distinctive sounds of piercing trumpets.

He turned towards Peridan, whose face must have mirrored his own startled look on his face. “Oh no,” Peridan said under his breath, barely heard above the yelling of the crowd.

“It can’t be….” Edmund added.

In a flash, Peridan took off for the stairs leading to their rooms, quickly weaving through the throngs of patrons all trying to rush towards the back of the room. Edmund sprung himself over the table, pulling Ferrin by the arm towards the exit and outside into the cold night air.

Edmund stood numbly in the center of the road, and watched the events unfold before him. The three attackers on horseback had turned and were racing towards them from the north, flinging rocks at windows they had missed on their first pass. In the other direction, however, it was much, much worse. The running beasts were larger than any that Edmund had seen before, and he knew right away that they were the elephants from the lesser herd. And they were on a rampage, crashing into carts and horses, fences and people, in wide-eyed terror. Their frightened roaring and trumpeting made Edmund’s heart nearly beat out of his chest and his eardrums pound. And the beasts were quickly coming his way.

“Ed!”

Edmund swung around and saw Peridan barreling through some of the men that were brave enough to face the onslaught. His friend’s arms were full of their weapons, and to Edmund’s brief relief, Peridan tossed him Skarpur. “What is it, who are they?” Peridan yelled as he handed a sword to Ferrin.

Before Edmund could answer, more screams erupted from behind him. All three of turned to see that the men on horseback had ceased throwing rocks and had begun going from building to building, lighting the thatched eaves on fire with their torches.

He unsheathed Skarpur and tossed his scabbard on the ground. The elephants were almost upon them. “Go! Stop them!” he yelled, and flung himself out of the way, towards one of horsemen. Ferrin and Peridan likewise split, each running straight after the other two arsonists and out of the path of the incoming elephants.

Edmund’s target yanked back the reins on his horse and turned to see Edmund storming towards him. He flung the torch up and over the closest roof and took out his weapon.

Scimitar. Calormenes. Anradin lied to us!
The elephants stormed up, and Edmund dived and rolled out of the way, knocking straight into the legs of the Calormene’s mount. The horse toppled over, screaming as it fell, and Edmund narrowly escaped the beast falling on top of him. The hulking Calormene was flung off his horse, but more or less managed to land on two feet, and Edmund barely got his baring before he saw the snarling man charging at him.

He attempted to stand up meet his immediate opponent square on, but didn’t make it in time. Edmund took a hard hit to the jaw with the hilt of the scimitar and Skarpur became dislodged from his grip, flying away and landing somewhere in the road, trampled underfoot by the stamped. The Calormene prepped for a final back-handed swipe, but Edmund was quicker, unsheathing his dagger and shoving it in and out of the man’s gut before he could deliver the final blow. The man collapsed before him, and Edmund shoved the bloody body out of his way.

Panting for breath, he watched as the terrified, bellowing elephants raged by, and to Edmund’s dismay, he saw that they were being chased by a dozen more Calormenes on horseback. He slowly stood to look for his sword, but a familiar battle cry from his right came to his attention.

Susan!
Edmund was momentarily stunned to witness his sister amongst the battle. The attacker that presumably prompted her scream lay crumpled at her feet, and she was already raising a bloodied arrow up to loose it with her bow.

Nearby, he also saw Baris engaged with one of the newly arrived Calormenes. The faun was leaping back and forth, to and fro, singing as he engaged his Calormene with the musical phrases’ respective maneuvers, causing maximum damage to the Calormene.

Edmund quickly scrambled to retrieve his sword. At this point, the town was in utter mayhem—the initial stampede was over and the dumb elephants were scattered, backed into corners in fright, but fire had engulfed several of the buildings in flames. Not enough armed townsmen were fighting back the Calormenes, but that was to be expected with a surprise attack. The townspeople that were not fighting the fires or had escaped were out in the street, fighting and defending with what weapons they had or came across, but it was a losing battle—the armed and dangerous Calormenes were quickly overpowering them. Screams of anguish ripped through the town.

No…no…how can this be happening?
Edmund’s defenses were down, and another crazed Calormene came charging towards him from across the road, his scimitar raised over his shoulder, ready to strike. Edmund braced himself, dagger at the ready, standing his ground until just the right moment in which he tucked, rolled, and twisted his feet under the Calormene’s. As the man fell, Edmund rolled away and luckily found his sword in the gravel. With Skarpur once again in hand, Edmund got up on a knee and slashed the Calormene’s throat as he was struggling to get up, the blood spattering across the front of Edmund’s shirt.

Edmund desperately looked around to catch sight of rest of the rest of his Company. Peridan was nowhere to be seen, but Ferrin was fighting two men a few dozen yard to the north of him. Edmund started to run towards to lend a hand to his friend, but the familiar sound of thundering feet from the south stopped him half way.

Not again!
This time, to both Edmund’s relief and dismay, it was the Elephants charging straight towards the center of town, with Zanta and her sister Hasina leading a dozen of their Herd. Once she recognized Edmund through squinted eyes, Zanta and Hasina both raced towards to meet him, through the throngs of battle, while the other Elephants circled the area, taking inventory of the turmoil.

“Your Majesty!” Zanta said, though her lips barely moved. “What do you suggest we do?”

The smoke was starting to build throughout town, and Edmund coughed out his answer. “Round up the lesser herd and get them out of here, somewhere safe. Whoever you can spare fight shall fight!”

Zanta nodded once, while Hasina charged off in the direction of the fight. The Grandmare tilted back on her haunches, lifted her mighty head and let out a deafening series of roars. At this, the Herd split up—half of them ran in and immediately engaged into battle with the Calormenes while the other half continued through town and started herding the stray elephants, leading them away from the battle and the fires.

Edmund shook his head to clear the ringing from his ears. “Thank you, friends!” he called. He didn’t wait around for a response, and instead dove back into the array to find his friends.

Ferrin had taken out one of his opponents and was cleaning up with the second. Figuring he had it handled, he turned to race to the south, hoping to find Peridan.

He had not taken five steps before another Calormene came at him. The man did not stand a chance—Edmund slashed across his adversary’s face with the sword in his right hand, and gave a meaty thrust of his dagger with the left. He kneed the dead Calormene in the gut to disengage his knife, and when the man crumpled down into a heap, Edmund gave him another kick for good measure, causing the dead man to flip onto his back and Edmund’s knee to scream in protest. He looked down and recognized the dead man as Obax’ handler.

With his bad knee throbbing, Edmund leaned over in exhaustion, causing sweat to run into his eyes. From across the way, he saw Susan was down to the last few of her arrows. To his dismay, a Calormene dodging falling, flaming debris was slowly approaching her from behind. Edmund stumbled forward and nearly shouted out her name when he realized to have done so would reveal their identity—which would have been an immediate death sentence for her in present company.

“NOOOO!” he yelled, completely at a loss. Aslan, no….

His cry got Ferrin’s attention. Just as his second opponent fell, Ferrin turned to see where Edmund was looking. In a flash, he yelled out, “Helen! Behind you!” and stepped behind Susan to block the charger with his sword while tossing his spare knife into her now-empty hands.

Edmund cursed to himself for the near catastrophe. Satisfied that Susan and Ferrin had it under control, he turned in place to take stock of the situation, desperately trying to catch his breath.

Shouts and yells came from behind him, and Edmund saw that he was again standing in front of the Orange Thorn Inn—the Inn that was slowly succumbing to the flames from the building next to it. Patrons that had taken refuge inside started racing out, screaming in terror. Amidst the throng of people, Edmund was comforted to see Tarna escaping, her babe clutched tightly her arms.

“Go! Go! Find refuge in the fields!” he yelled, and started pushing the people into the alley alongside. After awhile, Peridan raced up to help and Edmund was relieved that his friend was relatively unscathed. After the last of the people had escaped, backed quickly into the road. The Inn had become thoroughly engulfed in fire.

Baris sprung up towards them through the smoke and clasped Edmund by the arms. “Are you all right, your Majesty?”

Edmund could only nod in response, his voice dry and cracking from the yelling and the smoke.

They quickly looked around them—the Elephants were making short work of the remaining Calormenes, who despite being outnumbered, were still putting up a big fight. Edmund saw Zanta shove headfirst into two charging men, trampling them underfoot once they had fallen. Another young Bull, pierced an attacker through the chest with a short tusk, tainting the ivory in red.

Several of the Elephants had initially joined the fight had now taken to herding several horses that were running loose. Two were taking turns going back and forth from the well in the center of town, attempting to put out flames with the water they sucked and spouted on the buildings on fire. It was lost, if not noble, cause.

“The stampede had nearly taken out our camp,” Baris panted. “Once the elephants had past, we quickly pursued the Calormenes here, by her Majesty’s insistence.”

Edmund nodded, for he would have done the same, and he expected nothing less of Susan. “How many of them? How many Calormenes?” he demanded.

“At least two dozen, sire.”

Edmund raised two hands to his forehead as if to shield himself from it all. There were definitely not that many fighting now, but there weren’t that many dead, either. “What in the name of Aslan are they doing, Baris? It doesn’t make any sense…they had gone…they had agreed to our terms….”

Baris shook his head, his face in utter despair. “I’m sorry, I have no answer for you, sire.”

“But how did they find the elephants?” Peridan asked, wiping the soot out of his eyes. “The Valley? We made sure we were never tracked!”

But no one had an answer for him, either. Behind them, the upper story of the Inn started to collapse, and they quickly moved even farther to stay clear of the impending fall. Edmund’s mind started to race as the implications hit him.

“Baris, we need a way out of here,” he said.

“Aye sire,” Baris said, and raced off, needing no further instruction.

Edmund turned to Peridan. “And we need to find Ferrin and my sister. And there are still Calormenes to fight,” Edmund said. At Peridan’s grave nod, the two dashed towards the north end of town, weapons at the ready. As they ran, another Calormene came towards them, and without stopping, Peridan slashed at his chest while Edmund swept Skarpur at his shins. The man collapsed behind them in an anguished cry.

They spotted Susan and Ferrin soon after, both of them huddled over, trying to catch their breaths from smoke and exhaustion. “Su, are you all right?” Edmund asked, going to her side to brace her upright.

She shook her head and coughed. “I’m fine, I’m fine, I’m just—“

A horrifying trumpet from nearby cut her off. The Narnians all turned too see where it came from.

In the adjacent side street, an Elephant collapsed on its front knees and keeled over onto its side, the ground shaking underneath from the fall.

“That’s Hasina!” Ferrin exclaimed.

The Calormene responsible for Hasina’s fall made short work of his conquered Beast, slashing off the trunk in one stroke with his sharp scimitar while a second Calormen buried his spear deep in the Elephant’s chest. Blood spattered up, drenching their short robes with scarlet. A third man approached from behind started slicing and pulling on one of the tusks.

Susan screamed in rage, started towards the Calormenes responsible with naught but Ferrin’s knife in hand.

“Susan, no!” Peridan ground out, reaching for her and holding her back by the waist.

Behind them, a long tone from a Calormene horn rang out. The Calormenes looked in the direction sound originated, and all three quickly ran towards it, with the prize of one of Hasina’s tusks carried between them

“How dare they!” Susan cried, tears streaking down her sooty cheeks, struggling against Peridan’s tight grasp.

“No, Susan, no, it’s too late.…” Peridan mumbled into her tangled hair. “I’m sorry, but it’s too late.” Peridan abruptly turned to him, “Do we go after them?”

Panic rose within Edmund, and he felt the bile threaten to rise as he looked from the Elephant’s corpse to the raging fires around them. More Calormenes ran past, no longer engaging in battle, all fleeing towards their call. Baris came bounding from the direction of the Inn, somehow managing to lead Edmund and Peridan’s skittish horses without reins.

“No, we don’t follow,” Edmund said. “Peridan, go. Go with Susan to the Official Camp. The townspeople will soon be here, and we can’t be seen as we are here.”

“But, Edmund, we need to—”

“It’s too late, Susan! Now go!”

Susan wiped her face with her sleeve and nodded, and Peridan loosened his grip from her middle. He brought her to Edmund’s horse and assisted her up, while Ferrin took Peridan’s off of Baris’ hands. The faun quickly took off back in the direction of the Inn’s stables.

“Ride as fast as you can and make sure no one trails you,” Edmund ordered. Peridan nodded as he leapt onto his horse.

Susan’s eyes lingered sadly on Hasina’s giant, still form. She eventually straightened and nodded stiffly to Peridan, and they both urged their horses into a gallop.

Edmund watched the two ride off, gravel and ash dust in their wake, towards the northwest. At his friend’s familiar cry, he turned around and saw Baris running up with two more horses, these by the reins, who were saddled. “Are there any more Calormenes around, Baris?” he asked.

Baris shook his head, and ran a calm hand down one of the horse’s neck to calm him. “None that I saw. I think they all fled. The Elephants are still trying to round up as many of the dumb beasts they can.”

Ferrin looked from one horse to the other. “Neither of these are mine,” he said numbly.

The faun sadly shook his head. “I’m afraid many horses are lost…The stables are untouched by fire, but I think the Calormenes took some of them during their retreat. The Inn owner arrived just as I had and was at a complete loss, your Majesty. He went ahead and sold these two to me,” Baris said, giving the bay a reassuring pat after it gave an anxious toss of its head. “I paid double, considering.”

Edmund wiped the grime from his hand on his thighs and looked back towards the center of town. Several bodies, both Calormene and townsfolk of Esting, were strewn all about. Loved ones cried over the latter, while the injured were being tended to by others. Very few buildings were spared by the arsonists or the dampness from the recent rains. Some of the burning buildings had been put out by the Elephants, while at least six still raged in flames. The Orange Thorn Inn was it its dying stages, though, completely destroyed.

Double is not enough for their loss. “You shall be compensated. Thank you, Baris.” It was a risk being seen with the faun at this present moment, but he was assured that no one was paying much attention to them as their village had collapsed into chaos.
A loud squawk! came from above, causing Edmund to flinch and lift Skarpur high in defense.

“I saw them!” the Seagull screamed as he landed on one of the horse’s saddles.

“Saw who, Beaknocker?” Edmund asked, lowering his sword.

“The Calormenes, sire, as they gathered south of town to flee.” The Gull ruffled his feathers in agitation. “Your Majesty, the Telmarine—the one you call Rovaper—was with them!”

“As a hostage?” he asked worriedly.

“No, sire! As a leader!”

Edmund felt his heart fall into his stomach. What?

Milletpeck soon flew in and landed next to Beaknocker on the horse. “You’ve heard then.”

“It’s true, Millet? That Rovaper is responsible?” Edmund asked in disbelief.

The Jackdaw dipped her head in apology. “It seems that way. There was no sign of the Tarkaan or any of his men. These were all the Calormenes from before Anradin’s arrival.”

Edmund realized that they retaliated on their own, thereby avoiding implicating the Tarkaan in any official means. “But why? Why did he do it? I don’t understand!”

“I know not, they spoke not a word, just gathered and fled towards the Winding Arrow,” Milletpeck answered.

Never in a million years did he suspect their source to be associated with the Calormenes. They had been utterly and completely duped.

“Ed, I never told him my name,” Ferrin cried, scrubbing at his bloodied face. “He called me Redian. I didn’t come up with that until we met with the Calormenes.”

Edmund reeled and he clutched at his hair in despair. His comprehension of the entire past couple of weeks was completely fleeing him. And now it was evident that Rovaper had not only led the Narnians to the Elephant Valley, but he also did the Calormenes. And that this was all a punishment for blowing Anradin’s operation, Edmund was sure of it. But why?

For the first time in years, Edmund felt the urge to cry. He crouched down on the ground and pressed his palms hard into his eyes, but the soot and sweat only irritated them even more.

Why?!
“Ed,” Ferrin quietly said. “The Elephants…look.”

Edmund blinked away the stars, and slowly raised himself to see where Ferrin was pointing.

The Elephants had gathered from throughout the town and had circled around Hasina’s body. Zanta stood at her sister’s head, gently caressing her face and trailed where the tusk was torn from her. The other Elephants picked up small handfuls of dust and gravel with the tips of their trunks, tossing it all over her body. One slowly nudged Hasina’s trunk closer to her body, and it, too received the blessing of dust and ash. A low, rumbling keen came from Zanta, and the rest followed suit—a chorus of Elephant mourning echoed down the road and through the town, momentarily drowning out the distant crackling flames from the Inn.

Edmund swallowed heavily and steeled himself. This was not the time to lose his resolve. “Baris, who is last on Susan’s agenda?” he calmly asked.

“Of the Lords? It hasn’t been decided yet. Either Nel or Hane, sire.”

Edmund nodded. “Then we shall stick to plan. I want no word of her being involved with any of this. I suggest she continues to Lord Hane’s under the pretense as before and continue home to Narnia as soon as decorum allows it.”

Ferrin slowly peeled his eyes away from the impromptu funeral and looked questioningly at Edmund. “Are we to follow?”

“Eventually. But first thing’s first,” Edmund said, pulling out a handkerchief from his pocket to clean the blood off of Skarpur. “Baris, go catch up with Peridan and my sister. I would like them to leave for Haneden in the morning as planned, but she is to take only half of the Narnian Camp. Tell the others, including Turvalin, to await my arrival in the meantime.” He turned to the two Birds. “You two, go with Baris, and await further orders from me in the morning.”

“Aye, your Majesty,” Baris said, and turned and ran, the Birds quickly taking flight and following in his wake.

Ferrin turned to watch as the Elephants slowly backed away from the Hasina’s body. “And what do you need me to do?” he asked. The blood from his wound still oozed down the side of his face his face.

“You and I will help aid the wounded, put out the fires, and bury the dead. And we’ll stay here for the night… somewhere. I wish there were more of us, but this will have to do. Once everything is secure, I’m returning to the Camp in the morning. But I need you to stay here and help the Birds relay a message throughout town tomorrow.”

“What message is that?”

“Word has it that the King of Narnia, Edmund the Just and his Company will be here by nightfall.” His cover would be completely blown, along with Baris and Ferrin’s. But it didn’t matter now. They would just have to apologize to Lune later.

Edmund and Ferrin both bowed their as Zanta led her Herd past them in a long line, on a slow march towards home. I’m sorry, my friends, Edmund thought.

While Ferrin ran off towards where the injured were being gathered, Edmund followed south, intent on first catching up with Grandmare Zanta and her Herd of Original Narnians and offering condolences on behalf of his country. He paused momentarily in front of the Orange Thorn Inn and watched the chimney—the last standing structure—topple over into a pile of rubble. The heat radiating from the ruins rushed towards him, adding to the blazing fury that was already running through him.

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“I cannot omit their care, to bury and cover their dead carcasses of their companions, or any others of their kind; for finding them dead they pass not by them till they have lamented their common misery, by casting dust and earth on them, and also green boughs, in token sacrifice, holding it execrable to do otherwise.” — Edward Topsell
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The Kings’ Study, Cair Paravel, Narnia. Secondweek, October, 1010.
Susan, Day 42.

For Susan, to be on time meant to be early. She preferred to be the first one present, be it a meeting, party, whatever the occasion. That way, she could get herself settled, assess the situation and environment, witness everyone else’s entrances and get a jump start on determining their moods. Doing so allowed her to always be one step ahead of everyone else, with little chance of surprises.
Today, however, was proving to be the exception to the rule. For the first time in years, she had slept in way past than she had planned, past the time she had told Peter she would meet with him. Of course, she had already factored in a longer lie-in this morning, but it being closer to the noon hour than breakfast—it was just unheard of. If it wasn’t for the Raven tapping on her window with an unrelated message from the Rookswarden she would have slept even longer. And why the chambermaids hadn’t woken her up…Peter must have had something to do with this. Which annoyed her. She was thankful for his thoughtfulness, but she was still annoyed. It’s the principle.

She quickly descended down the main stairs leading from the hall Royal Chambers into the Great Hall, her winter skirts trailing behind her on the steps. It had been a comfort to don them this morning—albeit quickly, since the autumn chill had already settled into the stones of Cair Paravel—her winter clothing had a tendency of giving Susan the feeling of being more grounded.

It got cooler the closer the farther down the stairs she traveled. The morning fog had not burned off, and the overcast sky was not providing the solar heat through the Hall’s glass roof that it normally would have provided. Once she reached the bottom step, Susan breathed in deep—she could almost feel the tingle of familiarity within her limbs of being home. As beautiful as some of the parts of Archenland truly were, offering vistas and terrain foreign to what she was used to, it truly was a relief to be back on Narnian soil. The magic just did not permeate the bones as much outside of her borders, enveloping her with a warmth from the inside out that not even the heaviest of winter skirts could ever provide.

As she made her way across the cold Great Hall, she saw Baris just about to enter the double doors of the Kings’ Study.

“Good morning, your Majesty,” the faun kindly said as she approached. “And I thought I was the one holding everyone up,” he teased.

She shook her head in dismay. “I believe I slept off the stress of our journey in one go.”

He reached for the elaborate handle of the door. “Likewise,” Baris said with a smile, holding the door open for her, to which she gratefully bowed her head. She entered into the welcome warmth of the conference room. What was not welcome, though, was the heated exchange already taking place inside.

“—but a wall, your Majesty? You do realize what that would all entail? The resources alone! Not to mention that a wall to them is nothing but a mere—”

The man —Bogdan, from Galma, Susan remembered—was cut off as Peter stood up from his seat at the head of the long, narrow oak table and made his way over to her. The rest of the assembly, some dozen members of Peter’s Council, also stood and bowed for their Queen. They seemed to be just as surprised to see her as she them.

“Welcome home,” Peter said with a smile, holding her at arm’s reach after his warm welcome hug.

Susan sighed wearily. “I should be saying the same for you since you were gone the longer,” she said as she broke away to her customary seat on the far side of the table. Baris followed to his, which was right next to her and across from Tumnus—a familiar and welcome face amongst the tension in the room.

“Mr. Tumnus!” Susan said over the murmur of the room as those that could sat back down. Oreius remained standing by the corner fireplace, while Peter’s Hawk remained perched on the mantle. “A pleasure to see you here. I thought you had returned to the Waste for the season.”

Tumnus smiled at her from across the table, his gold tipped horns catching the light from the hanging lamps. “His Majesty summoned me here upon the news of your recent events of your trip to Archenland.”

Susan had to keep herself from frowning as the rest of the council reacted with raised eyebrows and low mutterings. They all knew that Tumnus dealt with Calormen, not Archenland. And Archenland was evidently not what they were gathered for.

“I’m not interrupting anything here, I hope?” she asked with an arched brow towards her brother.

“Actually, no, we were just finishing things up here,” Peter said with a pointed look at Bogdan.

The Galman looked between Peter and Oreius. “Once I know more from the Ettins, I will report back. But as it stands now, I am still of the opinion—“

“Yes, thank you, Bogdan,” Peter clipped. “But just so everyone is made clear, Narnia will keep all options open. Including everything discussed this morning,” he said with a glance towards Oreius. The stern centaur dipped his head slowly, never breaking eye contact with the King. “Dismissed, everyone. We will convene again in the morning.”

Everyone stood from their seats, Susan and Peter included. While Susan curtseyed to those council members leaving the room, she saw Peter talking briefly with Oreius out of the corner of the eye. The two grasped each others wrists before Oreius clop-clopped his way towards Susan.

“Welcome back, my Queen.” Another slow, stern bow of his head. After her curtsey in return, he slowly made his way out the door, with Peter’s Hawk quick to follow.

“Mr. Tumnus, Commander Baris, please stay,” Peter called out. The two fauns stepped out of the way as the other members shuffled out. Peter’s steward was the last to leave, and the red dwarf closed the door behind him, leaving just the four of them alone in the large room. Peter moved from the head to join them at the center of the table.

“A war council, Peter?” Susan carefully inquired, slipping back into her chair. “Edmund will be sorry to have missed out,” she added as her brother sat down, the fauns following suit. She noticed that he was uncharacteristically unshaven, and that unlike some men, the look did not suit him at all. She refrained from saying such in front of present company.

Peter leaned back in his seat and tapped his fingers on the arm of his chair. “No, no war council. Not yet, anyway, I hope. This is just a follow-up from my campaign in the North. I intended for them to stay to hear yours, Baris’, and Peridan’s account, but decided that you may not be up to that quite yet.”

Susan was somewhat irked her brother made the decision for her, but she was mostly relieved. She was definitely not in the mood for the stiffness and formality expected with such company.

Two knocks came from the door and it opened without prompting. Peridan slipped through the door, once again in a pristine gold King’s Patrol uniform. He bowed and took a seat next to Peter, offering a quick smile in her direction. After two weeks of his personally escorting her from Esting, to Haneden, and then on to Narnia, Susan had grown fond of his company. Edmund’s friend had proved to be a comforting presence, and she was relieved to notice that he looked more rested. She wished she felt the same.

“What is the latest word from Edmund?” she asked, Peridan’s presence reminding Susan of her younger brother. “The last message I got said little more than ‘everything’s being handled and have a safe journey’. And that was well after we crossed back into Narnia,” she said. “That’s not like him.”

Peter looked up surprised. “You’re one to talk, Su. Your messages weren’t much longer.”

Susan could not disagree with him. And it wasn’t like she pressed for information from either of her brothers, either. “There wasn’t anything important to say that couldn’t waited until my return,” she said.

Her brother carefully eyed her, but didn’t press the matter. “Well, I have been in correspondence with both Lune and Edmund. The Birds between here and Anvard alone….” Peter said, his head shaking in disbelief as he stood up. He walked to his desk by the window and picked up a considerably sized stack of letters. “As it turns out, Edmund’s timely arrival in Esting provided some much needed embarrassment for Lord Dar, not to mention a rude awakening for King Lune.”

Susan felt a surge of sympathy course through her for the Archenlander King. “I bet it was,” she simply said.

Baris let out a low whistle. “And what an entrance it was, sire,” he said. “For being unplanned, it certainly was effective. The people of Esting consider him a hero, yet I am convinced that no one realized he was there all along.”

“That certainly works in his favor. Our favor,” Peter corrected.

“That being said, I was more than glad when King Edmund sent me on to Haneden,” Baris said with a nod towards Susan. She smiled faintly back—she was happy to have his support again, too. “I was able to avoid whatever backlash awaited the King in Anvard.”

She turned to her brother. “How receptive was Lune of Narnia’s involvement?” Susan warily asked, hoping her anxiety—and guilt—would finally be eased. Especially since I’m the one who deceived Lune in person.

“You all will be relieved to hear that Lune has forgiven for our transgressions, especially considering what came of it—the ceasing of Anradin’s operations and the clean-up of Esting,” Peter clarified. “Ed didn’t have to grovel too much, not when Lune learned of the disciplinary action he was going to have to take with a few of his Lords. Especially Lord Dar—he seems to be as effective at his duties as a dirty mop,” he mused as he returned back to his seat.

Susan let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. “I agree, King Lune has ignorant of the effectiveness of some of his Lords for too long,” she said. “But really, there was not much he can do about it either, is there? The Lords titles are all hereditary, after all.”

“He can still strip lordships away,” Tumnus added gravely.

She looked from Tumnus to Peter in shock. “Will he?”

Peter tossed the stack of letters onto the table and leaned back in his chair. “No, nothing extreme. He’s called the Lords Dar and Darrin to Anvard for an indeterminate amount of time. To keep an eye on them, train them better…I’m not sure, he didn’t say. It’s none of our business, either.”

Susan nodded, and not for the first time, she pitied the man she had gone riding with that miserable day. She still partially blamed herself for that, but did not want to admit that to Peter. Besides, she never met Darrin, so she could not form a fair opinion on him. “They do deserve a second chance,” she said. “Their actions weren’t malicious.”

“It’s hard to be malicious if you’re not doing anything,” Baris sarcastically added.

“True. But there’s a lot to say about neglect and the damage that can cause,” Peridan said to the faun. “As in our case with the Elephants.”

That’s true, too, Susan thought.

“Lune has been in full force since,” Peter continued. “Making up for his own neglect, I suppose.”

“But he wasn’t even aware of his own negligence, Peter,” Susan said, knowing full well how defensive she was sounding. “We can’t liken him to Lord Dar. They’re nothing alike.”

“I know that Su,” Peter gently replied. “I had the pleasure of Dar’s company at a dinner once, too, you know.” She didn’t know, but Peter’s soft snort spoke volumes. She had to stifle a laugh. “We may not blame Lune, but I can tell he’s reeling. After all, it was not like he wasn’t aware of certain Calormene interests in them. And he takes as much responsibility for his Archenlanders as we do our Narnians.”

And Zanta is proud to say she is an Archenlander. All the Elephants they had met seemed to be proud of their native country as they were of their ancestral one. And others are proud of their adopted country, too, she thought, as she stole a glance to the man across from her.

“Lune has been madly investigating,” Peter continued. “There has been no sight or sound of the Telmarine—“

“Rovaper,” Peridan interrupted, his jaw tight with tension.

“Don’t blame yourself, Peridan,” Peter ordered. “I had to say the same thing to Ed, too.”

Peridan nodded, but he didn’t seem completely placated.

“Anyway, they are still keeping a tight watch for the man. What they did find,” Peter said, shuffling for one of the letters and opening up, “were four families who had each purchased an elephant for their farms. One as early as this past spring, the others a month later or so. All the families swore that they had not had any dealings with either this Rovaper or the Calormenes since. Rest assured, the elephants have been returned to their Valley.”

Susan bit on the inside of her cheek. That was more than any of them had been aware of. Lune has been quote thorough. “Then we were the first ones to inquire about them since then. What were the odds that we found him?”

“We didn’t. Rovaper tracked us down, Su—your Majesty,” Peridan amended.

Susan frowned at his correction, but then noticed that his focus was pinned on Peter. Oh, of course.

Baris shook his head in dismay. “He baited us just as much as we baited him.”

“The first meeting in Mittelward was by chance. But after that, nothing was by accident,” Peridan said, his voice bitterly thick.

“Even the elephant stampede and the destruction of Esting,” Susan sadly added.

“Especially that,” Peridan clipped. During their lengthy hours of travel back to Narnia, she and Peridan had discussed the events at length. He felt just betrayed as Susan knew Edmund must.

“But then why did the Calormenes attack?” Baris asked, scratching behind one of his horns. “How involved was he with them?”

“That’s what Edmund and I have been corresponding about,” Peter said, waving another letter up. “Ed is to believe that Rovaper was the one feeding elephants to the Calormenes all along. They did not know where the Valley was, but he would make sure that from time to time, one came available for the Calormenes to capture.”

And that’s how he ensnared Obax, Susan realized. It was not with ropes, nor even words. The man played to Obax’ weaknesses, and the Bull had been captured by his own shortcomings.

“And when Rovaper learned of the stolen elephant from the Calormene camp, he knew right away that it had to have been either Edmund, Ferrin, or you,” Peter said, turning to Peridan. “Ed doesn’t think this was about the ending of the Calormene’s operations. Rovaper was more concerned of losing his operation with someone else moving into his territory. He just happened to take advantage of the Calormenes’ ire to scare the thief away. Of course, at the time he did not know that his thief was a Narnian King.”

“Then Anradin and Rovaper may never know it was Edmund,” Susan mused. This may just work out, after all.

“And we would like to keep it that way,” Peter stated. “And Lune agrees. Lune has already made an official declaration saying that all elephants stolen or sold have been returned to their Sanctuary and those responsible who were still in Archenland have been captured. He’s made swift work, Su.”

“It seems he has,” she replied, thankful of the Archenlander King’s diligence.

“So….” Baris trailed, tilting his head in thought. “So this means that both Rovaper and Calormenes will think that King Edmund, or rather, Edmund the Thief, has been duly punished. If not killed in the attack.”

Peter gave a satisfied smile. “Exactly.”

“What about Rovaper’s knowledge of the Elephants’ secret, though?” Baris asked. “What if he tells others that?”

“Perhaps he won’t say anything,” Peridan offered. “Knowledge is power, after all. And from what we can tell, he prefers to have the upper hand.”

Peter idly gathered the letters on the table and laid them in a neat pile before him. “But even then, security has tightened throughout all the provinces, and now that the people of Darden, Darrinden, Nelden and Vanden have been made aware—”

“Vanden?” Susan exclaimed in disbelief. “But that’s all the way out in Western Archenland!”

“Lune informed me that he and Lord Van have been protecting the Western Elephants for years,” Peter said. “And those Herds are apparently even more reclusive than Durah’s.”

Susan was shocked at the idea that Lord Van also knew of the Elephants and their secrets. All along, they were under the impression that King Lune was the only one with the knowledge. And then she speculated on whether Zanta’s Herd was even aware of Lord Van and the Western Elephants. Susan’s mind drifted to the conversation they had about Lord Van that evening in Anvard. I wonder if his wife the Lady Van has had her baby…

“And I can understand why Van would be eager to shelter them there,” Peter continued.

…and its arrival would be such a joy to the province since Van nearly lost his life during the battle of— “Olvin Fields,” she said, her eyes widening. “Telmar.”

Peter nodded his head gravely. “A potential army in reserves. Just in case of another Telmarine invasion.”

An Elephant army. “Oh, my,” Susan breathed. She exchanged a worried look with Peridan—it was he who had predicted such a thing during that cold, rainy night in Edmund’s tent, after she and Ferrin had returned from visiting the Calormene camp.

“Van’s a good man, Susan, and he would never do anything rash,” Peter reassured, and her fears were somewhat assuaged. “The secret remains safe in Archenland with Lune and Van for the time being,” he added.

“None of the other Lords have been made aware, though?” Baris asked. The faun also did not seem entirely at ease with the news, either.

“Lune thought it best they weren’t. It will eventually get out, of course, especially with news of Durah’s arrival has spread like wildfire throughout Narnia. And she’s only been here a month!” Peter exclaimed, pointing one finger into the air. He shook his head and sighed. “But we all will be more prepared from here on out. Both Narnia and Archenland.”

For the very reasons that Peridan feared, she thought, shifting her attention to the view out the far window. A flutter of gold and scarlet leaves swooped by, reminding Susan of why she loved this time of year and was eager to return to the safety and comfort of home. And away from the mess they had left in Archenland.

“But as I was saying before,” Peter continued, pulling Susan out of her thoughts, “after the destruction in Esting, the villagers were quite confused as to what happened and why it happened to them. I’m not sure how Lune has addressed those matters, but he did state that awareness was risen in all those provinces of the elephants’ endangerment. Their Lords are vowing to protect them, and thus, in turn, their own people.”

Susan felt the urge to ask if this meant the horses would also be protected, but stopped herself. Of course they would, she reassured herself, though Susan did wonder how many had gone missing and unchecked, forever lost to thieves. Possibly also by Calormenes….

“But then where does Narnia stand with Calormen?” she asked.

Peridan rapped the knuckles of his left hand on the table. “You know, technically, Anradin has not gone back on his word. The Calormenes respect words more than they do their own people at times. And we have no evidence that Anradin was directly connected to the attack,” he said.

“Even if he was, Peridan, this intentional stampede and subsequent attack was nothing but spiteful retaliation, hitting hard only on those of us it effected directly. With a few innocent victims caught up in this mix, unfortunately,” Peter gravely added. He folded his arms in front of him. “It’s not enough for any country to war. And because it was not under the direct order of the Tisroc himself, the few who were responsible know they can claim ignorance and innocence were they ever caught. And most importantly, get away with it. Especially since, officially, Narnia was not present during the conflict and could not prove as such.”

“But the Tarkaan has the Tisroc’s ear, does he not? Suppose Anradin does say something to him about Narnia’s involvement,” Susan said, worry now settling into the tone of her voice. “It was bargaining chip, Peter, that he used against me—Narnia interfering in Archenland.”

Peter’s brows furrowed. “Didn’t he believe you came as an agent of Lord Dar?”

“He did at the time, but if he catches word of Dar’s reprimand for being too uninvolved…” she trailed. Her heart started beating faster in panic of the implications. This could be terrible!

“It may even put him in higher favor with the Tisroc to admit his role in the elephant trade, if it meant that the Tarkaan learned that Narnia meddles with affairs of Archenland,” Peridan said, confirming her worries. He looked at Susan, face full of regret. “I’m sorry, your Majesty.”

Susan shook her head. He had nothing to apologize for. The idea to meet with the Tarkaan had been hers alone, even if it was Edmund’s suggestion to pretend to speak for Dar. It was our only option at the time, she justified to herself despite all her doubts. She turned to Peter in a silent plea of help.

Peter’s blue eyes held hers for a moment before he eventually turned to his right. “Tumnus? What are your thoughts on the matter?”

Up until now, the elder faun had remained quiet as the discussion unfolded, to the point that Susan almost forgot that we was present. This was not new, though—Susan had always admired how he would carefully observed everything and not interjected with questions, knowing full well he would eventually get the full story, and only offering his expertise once prepared and prompted.

Tumnus, however, did not seem at ease this time—or at least not as much Susan was expecting. “The relationship between the Tisroc and a choice few of his Tarkaans, including Anradin Tarkaan, I regret to say, has always mystified me. I’ve been trying to crack it for years. I’m sorry to say I don’t know what to think on the matter.”

“That is indeed unfortunate,” Peter said, his head falling into his hands in frustration. He quickly popped up. “Worry not, Mr. Tumnus, I mean not to accuse nor offend.”

Tumnus smiled wanly and bowed his head. “No offense was taken, your Majesty. I only wish I could help more.”

“We will just have to play this out, make nice with Calormen when the correct time presents itself,” Peter lightly said, and though his smile was genuine, it was transparent enough that Susan could see the concern lying underneath.

“I think I already have,” she said, reminded of how she had appeased the Tarkaan of his concerns. Peter turned to her expectantly. “I promised Anradin improved relations between our two nations.”

“In what way?” her brother asked.

She looked down at the blue cuff of her sleeve and saw a thread poking out of its hem. “Well… not next year, since I know we are scheduled to visit the islands…but perhaps the following spring, we should spend a month or two in Tashbaan. As a family,” she said, looking at her brother square in the eye. “None of us have ever spent considerable time there, not like we have in Archenland.”

Peter drummed the fingers of his right hand on the oak table as he considered what she said. “You’re right,” he declared. “Let’s plan on it.”

Susan nodded and turned away from his penetrating gaze. Once again, the colorful leaves blowing across the window panes caught her eye. She wondered if Lucy was outside admiring the views with Duran, and she suddenly had the urge to join them.

“But not today,” Peter continued. “Tumnus, I think I’ve held you here long enough. Thank you for your added counsel this morning, and I look forward to your contributions tomorrow. Please find yourself some lunch in the kitchens. I’m sure Stor will cook something up for you. You as well, Baris, thank you for everything,” Peter said with a nod towards the faun sitting next to her. “Oh, but before you go, I meant to ask—where are you on your rotations with the King’s Patrol?”

Baris stood and pushed in his chair. “I’m due to report in immediately, your Majesty.”

Peter turned to his left. “Peridan?”

“I still have a month, sire, but Ferrin was to be up for furlough two weeks ago,” Peridan answered.

Peter scraped his chair back and stood up. “Ed would like both of you to take a week before you return,” he said.

“Thank you, your Majesty!” Baris said as he made his way around the table, his hooves clopping against the tiles.

“Don’t thank me, thank my lazy brother,” Peter said, his eyes sparkling in mirth. “Gentlemen, thank you,” he said to the fauns, opening the door for them. The two friends bowed in their direction, and quickly clasped arms as they exited, the sounds of their conversation on the goings-on in Lantern Waste trailing in their wake.

Peridan also made to rise, but Peter clapped a hand on his shoulder to stop him. “If you would not mind, please stay, Peridan. It has occurred to me that I could use your valued counsel on regards to the North, and since you were not here this morning, I’d like to chance to fill you in once Su and I are done,” he said, shutting the door closed again.

Peridan nodded, idly tugging the wrist guards down on both his hands.

“Peter, when is Edmund set to return?” Susan asked as her brother retook his seat.

Peter scratched at his chin. It wouldn’t itch if he shaved. “Hopefully in the next couple of days. I requested he hurry soon, to avoid the rains, but it was really to keep Edmund from sniffing out any more of Jadis’ supporters on the journey back.”

“He’s frustrated, of course he will anyway. It’s becoming sport for him, I’m afraid,” she wearily added.

Peter’s mouth turned down in a slight frown. She noticed how tense he was, and how worry lines had somehow become a permanent fixture on his brow since she last saw him earlier in the summer. It was not an attractive feature on his otherwise handsome face. Though he was definitely getting more accustomed to his position as High King, it did not mean that it was getting any easier for him. Peter was taking it all remarkably in stride, though, and Susan couldn’t help the feeling of pride she felt for him. Nor the feeling of worry.

“Are you all right, Peter?” she implored.

His sighed and hunched over the table, balancing himself on his elbows. “I think so. Now that I am somewhat reassured that we have avoided a diplomatic catastrophe with Calormen….” Peter sighed again. “We really should set up some sort of permanent embassy down there,” he muttered. “I can tell Tumnus is growing weary of traveling to Tashbaan year after year.”

Susan nodded in agreement. “And Anradin stated that they weren’t thrilled with having someone so….”

“Narnian,” Peridan contributed.

“Exactly,” she said, sharing an amused smile with her friend. “Which is all the more reason to keep him there, if you ask me.”

“And he does good work,” Peter agreed. “And I do not desire for Narnia waking in the spring with the threat of Calormen hanging over shoulders. It’s enough as it is keeping the Giants at bay. Though I do have an idea….” he trailed and rubbed at his scratchy chin again.

Was this what she walked in on earlier? “Oh?” she implored.

Peter closed his eyes shook his head. “Never mind, Su. It’s in its infant stages, and I doubt it’s even plausible. At least, now that our new Elephant friends will not be coming home….” he trailed again. “And as I learned this morning, it would be hard to get everyone’s approval on such a plan anyway.”

Susan did not know what to make of this information. He wanted to use the Elephants, too? A wall, was it? She reeled at the idea. Part of her was angry that Peter was quick to take advantage of the prospect of the Elephants coming home to Narnia. Was that why he encouraged their mission to begin with?

But no, that couldn’t have been it. Susan quelled her churning emotions. After all, she had no idea what her elder brother had in mind, but she did know that Peter’s motivations were never selfish. Not when it affected all of Narnia, that is She made a note to ask him more about this idea later—if Peter was not ready to discuss an idea with her, then she would wait until he was. That’s how it always worked between her and her elder brother. And most of the time, it only took a few minutes to get him to crack.

“Most importantly, though,” Peter continued, dragging Susan back to the task at hand, “Narnia just need a bigger presence. Everywhere.”

“We can’t be everywhere at once, nor do we have the right to,” she said, suddenly growing weary herself. “Anradin was right on that point.”

“Don’t we, Su? It’s obvious now that other nations have infiltrated Narnia. Who is to say the Telmarine was the only one?”

Bazner. Who never checked-in with Peter, she thought. That was an unfortunate development, too. Now that they knew what his brother Rovaper was capable of, the idea of another Telmarine opportunist roaming the wilds of Narnia was rather unsettling. Susan found she had no answer to her brother’s question.

“But we need to improve and maintain our relations with everyone, and not just our allies, either,” Peter added.

“Although, I’m sure we could still stand to patch things with Archenland, too,” Peridan said with a humorless laugh.

Peter let out a low groan. “You know, Lune did question why we never approached Archenland with the Elephant issue to begin with, wondering if all the duplicity could have been avoided. I think Ed and I managed to placate him with our reasons, but he still feels understandably slighted. Especially coming from you, Su. And you can’t deny that our relationship was already stilted since the Lune affair from last year,” he said, chancing a glance at Susan.

“There wasn’t any affair, Peter,” she said, her cheeks coloring. She put her hands flat on the table and leaned in. “I will deny that.”

Peter smiled in apology. “I know there wasn’t, Su,” he said, reaching out and briefly giving one of her hands a gentle squeeze. “But while we’re on the matter—did you get a chance to visit with all the Lords you wanted while in Archenland?”

Susan swallowed. “No. Just the ones I already wrote to Lucy about before…well, before everything happened. And we only stopped in Lilnsvort to see Lord Hane on the way back,” she said. “We did not stay long.”

Peter still looked at her expectantly. “What about Lord Nel?” he slowly inquired. “Were you able to go back and visit him? You had mentioned in a previous letter that you had the opportunity to earlier, but didn’t.”

She nodded her head and looked down at her hand grasped in her brother’s. “After we reunited Obax with his family, Ed and I put out the word that I was only going to make one more visit. I was ready to come home,” Susan said. “Nel did express interest in my coming, but after the attack, it was decided that Hane would be best since it was closest to Narnia.” What a regrettable decision that was, she thought, but didn’t say aloud. “I sent a Dove and begged Nel off, claiming the weather was changing and that we best return to Narnia. Which was all technically true, too.”

Peter looked relieved. “Yes, well, that’s for the best. We can…we can send word of apology to Nel.” Peter rubbed the bridge of his nose. “And his sisters,” he added as a quiet afterthought.

What is it with my brothers and the Lord Nel?

“How was the visit with Hane?” he further implored.

“It was fine,” she said, pulling her hand out of his grasp. She wished to give no further details to anyone, and it was under silent agreement that Hane would likewise do the same. In her periphery, she saw Peridan subconsciously pull down his ceremonial wrist guards that were serendipitously masking his bandaged knuckles. And Peridan had just removed his bandage from when his horse fell, too, she thought with a tinge of guilt.

“How fares Narnia?” she said, eager to change the subject again..

“Things have been blissfully peaceful here,” Peter said, a smile finally returning to his face. “Well, as peaceful as a castle can be with Lucy running around everywhere with her new Elephant friend.”

“And how is Durah doing? I’m sure the news of Hasina was distressing.”

“It was,” Peter confirmed. “She had hoped to have convinced her aunt to come to Narnia one day.”

Susan closed her eyes and shook her head. The image of the Elephant’s brutal murder had already plagued her thoughts and dreams for the past two weeks. She made a mental note to offer her condolences to Durah in person. But in the meantime, she wanted to inquire again about what was troubling Peter, and she deemed it the right moment to do so. “I cannot believe it’s been almost four months since I saw you, Peter. How were your negotiations up North? Be honest with me.”

Peter’s mouth tightened, not saying anything at first, his focus on the stack of letters before him. “They’re calm for now,” he finally admitted. “But I’ll be honest, Su, I don’t know how long this peace will last. I feel that for every step forward, we take a step or two back with the Giants,” he said, turning to Peridan to include him into the conversation. “But never mind all of that. You two don’t need to hear me worry for no reason.”

“A worry is different from a genuine concern, sire,” Peridan wisely stated.

“Genuine concerns are gone, Peridan,” her brother answered with a slight smile. “We accomplished enough this summer to eliminate those, I assure you both.”

Susan felt far from reassured. Instead, she felt very, very tired, and not just from the journey. Her mind started tracing over the memories of the past month, and all that she, Edmund and his Company had been put through. And to know that Narnia stood on shaky ground with Calormen…And Archenland! she thought, wondering how King Lune was disappointed in her for her participation in the deception. Other thoughts tumbled through her head—how Durah must be disheartened that they failed to convince any of her kin to join her in Narnia, how Zanta and her Herd must be mourning her poor sister, how upset Peter was over dealing with the North, though he would not admit as much, and then there were her own issues with her mission with the Archenlander Lords…

Not now, she scolded herself, feeling the moisture forming in her eyes as she turned away to face the window. At this moment, Susan wanted nothing more than to retreat back into the warm cocoon of her bed, and watch the fog and pretty leaves roll by her own window.

“Please don’t worry, Su,” Peter said. She quickly blinked and turned back to her brother. “This is your favorite time of year isn’t it? And your birthday is in a couple of days. Edmund should be back by then, and perhaps we can properly celebrate this year without you having to lift a finger,” he offered, once again reaching for one of her hands. “I’m truly sorry Archenland did not work out for you, Su.”

She felt her shoulders tighten. “It had little to do with me, Peter. We were there primarily for the Elephants,” Susan insisted with a huff.

“I realize that,” Peter said. “But I also know my sister, and I know when her heart is heavy as it is now.”

Susan didn’t have anything to counter that and instead concentrated on the loose thread on her cuff again. Peter still held her other hand grasped tightly in hi, but it gave her little comfort. She already had this unpleasant discussion with one brother and had little desire of repeating it with the other, and especially not with others present. Susan refused to look over at Peridan to see if he was looking at her or not, but she felt the heat rise to her cheeks regardless.

Peridan is no Milletpeck, she thought, remembering the sympathetic words of Edmund’s melancholic friend.

“Don’t worry, Su, all will be well,” Peter reassured her, relinquishing her hand. She immediately noticed the absence of warmth as he drew away. “There’s always next year when we visit the Lone Islands and beyond. Perhaps there will be promising suitors amongst the governors there.”

She didn’t say anything, nor could she dare to meet his eyes.

He stood, stooping over the table down to plant a kiss on her temple and give her shoulder a warm squeeze. She looked back up in time to see Peridan stand to bow as her brother turned and paused at the door. “Peridan, I will meet you shortly on the pitch. I will fill you in on everything there.” And with that, Peter exited without another word.

Susan closed her eyes and let out a shuddering breath. She felt so very tired.

“Susan?”

Her eyes opened again to Peridan watching her intently. She found herself desiring one of his comforting, reassuring winks she had grown accustomed to on their travels, but he did not send one her way—Susan had no idea what he was thinking, for she could not read the expression on his face at all.

“Will you be all right?” he softly asked her.

She nodded slowly. “I will be. I always am.” I have to be.

Peridan hesitated, but then bowed in her direction. He quietly exited without another word, leaving Susan in the room—alone.

::x:x:x::
“The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper.” — William Butler Yeats


Map | Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6