yeah

[bedlamsbard]

Seriously, after a year, Golden Age Narnia suddenly returns and says HI HI HI I DO IN FACT HAVE MORE STORIES TO TELL. I mean, it's lovely, don't get me wrong, I now want to write Peter/Osumare after this and Jaisen Ettore's origin story and fortunately that is all I know of right now, but this is on top of other parts of my brain going, "TWO MORE RILIAN STORIES" and also, "Aha, the third Jill story!" and also, "Now would be a great time to write that DVD commentary on The Land of Silent Seas!"

Look, brain, I appreciate the effort, but now is not actually a good time. I'm willing to reschedule for next week, though, and also, please let me know what's happening in the next chapter of Dust, as that appears to be the one thing you aren't plotbunnying wildly. Unless you count that JP thing, but I have no idea where that's going.

Comments

[aella_irene]

"Iulius, Iulius, no, please, Aslan no, why--"

*

"No."

*

Cal clasps his arm, a warrior clasp, and Peter gives into the urge to embrace him.

[bedlamsbard]

"Victoria, sweetheart --"

*

Peter just looks at him, tired.

*

"It's good to see you again," he says, soft.

[aella_irene]

"Nats, no, Nats--"

*

"We'll fix this. We're good at that."

*

"Forgive me for not returning the sentiment," Cal says, even softer, "But Narnia is invaded, and my wife and children have been dead for the last thousand years."

[bedlamsbard]

Susan shakes her shoulder. "Victoria!"

*

Peter nods, distant.

*

"I'm sorry," Peter says, because he doesn't know what else to say.

[aella_irene]

Victoria's crying, still asleep.

*

Edmund hugs him, clumsy.

*

Cal's mouth tightens, so like Fio's. "I'll manage."

[bedlamsbard]

"Darling, wake up!"

*

"It will be all right."

*

Peter nods. "Good lad. Cal -- this is King Tirian."

[aella_irene]

Victoria shakes her head.

*

Peter nods, slow.

*

"Your Majesty," says Cal, with a half bow. "Cathal Paolucci, last a Governor of the Alvedaran Islands, before that, a General of the Armies of Narnia under her Majesty Queen Helen, at your service."

[bedlamsbard]

Susan shakes her again.

*

"Just wait until the girls get back!"

*

"It's an honor to meet you, my lord," Tirian says.

[aella_irene]

Victoria wakes.

*

"Yes."

*

"A pleasure," Cal says shortly, "But-- Uncle, where are the others?"

[bedlamsbard]

She blinks at Susan, stiff. "Mama --"

*

Peter hangs onto that thought.

*

"As far as we can tell," Richard says, "it's just us. We think that Victoria has to be around somewhere --"

"She's with your mother," Peter says. "A bird came this morning -- apparently, she ended up in Archenland."

[aella_irene]

"Darling, what happened? What's wrong?"

*

It gets harder, and harder.

*

"Oh, thank the Gods," Helen says.

"Just you," says Cal, "Not Mama, or Uncle Osumare, not any of the cousins, not any of my sibs--"

[bedlamsbard]

"Oh, Mama," Victoria says jerkily.

*

He doesn't know what's happened, and he doesn't dare ask, not until Susan gets back, at least.

*

"I suppose," Richard says thoughtfully, "that this may answer the question of who your father is."

[aella_irene]

Susan hugs her, tight.

*

Helen and Dicky have an argument, a few hours later, an enormous blow up that ends in Helen taking her sword and having a practice bout with Tirian that leaves them both sweaty and winded.

*

"Then why just me? Why not any of your children, they were anointed kings and queen, I was there--"

[bedlamsbard]

Victoria clings to her, pressing her face into Susan's shoulder.

*

Jack trails after her, looking worried.

*

"We don't know," Peter says. "We're not even entirely sure why we're here -- we're not supposed to be able to come back."

[aella_irene]

Susan strokes her hair, rocking her.

*

Helen's back is tight with tension, and she doesn't seem to want to look at him.

*

"I see."

[bedlamsbard]

"Darling, it's all right, I'm here now --"

*

He waits.

*

"Your majesty?" Helen inquires of Tirian. "Do you know anything about this?"

[aella_irene]

"Mama."

*

Eventually, Helen gets up, and heads towards the boundary wall.

*

"No, your majesty."

[bedlamsbard]

Victoria hugs her, hard.

*

Jack trails after her.

*

"Well, who does?"

[aella_irene]

Susan rocks her, desperate.

*

Helen's back is stiff and unwelcoming.

*

"I-- do not know, your majesty."

[bedlamsbard]

Victoria hangs onto her.

*

Jack waits, anxious.

*

"Huh."

[aella_irene]

Susan meets Jill's eyes over Victoria's head.

*

"What is it?" Helen demands.

*

Tirian looks down.

[bedlamsbard]

Jill takes a deep breath, and leads.

*

"I just -- thought you shouldn't be alone --"

*

"So," Cal says awkwardly.

[aella_irene]

"Thank you," Helen says. "Did you not think that I might want to be?"

*

"So!" Dicky says. "...game of cards, Cal?"

[bedlamsbard]

"Well, we're -- out in the wild, and it might be dangerous --"

*

"What, now?"

[aella_irene]

"We're in Arn Abedin."

*

"Why not?"