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]

"If she's their child. Maybe they thought she could--" Jill shakes her head. "She said that she killed them."

*

"Cousin," Helen says, nodding, and Richard does the same.

"Family how?" asks Eustace, looking dubious.

*

"I'm real," Edmund says. "To everyone's surprise, I assure you."

[bedlamsbard]

"Mmmm."

*

"They're my children," Peter says mildly.

*

"Oh, Aslan," Jack says faintly.

[aella_irene]

"Graynor?"

*

Eustace splutters. "Your child-- how?"

"The usual way," says Helen. "At least, so I was always told, and I think they would have said if we'd turned up under a strawberry plant. Not that I would have objected to the strawberry plant method of obtaining children during some of my pregnancies--"

*

Edmund strokes his hair. "Why did you think you were dead?"

[bedlamsbard]

"I doubt she killed them herself."

*

"I'm not entirely sure," Peter says. "How did you get here?"

*

"Because I killed myself," Jack says dully.

[aella_irene]

"She's strong enough--"

*

"I woke up," Helen says. "In Cair Paravel. And I fell in with Elizar--"

*

Edmund's stomach twists. "A challenging argument."

[bedlamsbard]

"They would have fought back."

*

"Confesor?" Peter says, blinking.

"Yes. Him."

*

"So I should be dead. Only I'm not," Jack says.

[aella_irene]

"And a lot of them, against one woman--"

*

He gives her a thoughtful look. Helen tosses her hair.

*

"I should be in England," Edmund says, "But I'm not, and the others aren't either. It's a family reunion."

[bedlamsbard]

"Mmmm."

*

"His sister's here," Peter says finally. "And his second. They'll probably want news."

*

"That's impossible," Jack says.

Edmund takes the dagger from his hand, carefully. "Well, this is Narnia. Lots of impossible things happen every day."

[aella_irene]

Jill looks at the bodies, then back at the hut where Victoria and Susan are. "What was that line from? The ballad? What was it about?"

*

"Oh, of course."

*

Jack looks at him. "Uncle Ed--"

[bedlamsbard]

"Oh. Mmm --" He hesitates.

"Tell me," she insists.

*

She hugs Peter again.

*

"Yes, Jack?"

[aella_irene]

"Queen Helen's son was murdered. In Lasci. And it's the tale of what happened afterwards."

*

Peter strokes her hair.

*

"Were you in Aslan's Country? Did you see Iulius?"

(Going to give blood.)

[bedlamsbard]

The names don't mean anything to her.

*

"Are Aunt Lucy and Uncle Edmund here too?" Richard asks.

*

Edmund shakes his head slightly. "We weren't in Aslan's Country. And -- who's Iulius?"

[aella_irene]

"Lasci used to be on the border," Graynor says. "You've heard of the Dead Lands? Those were Lasci."

*

"Yes, they're both away, though."

*

"My son. He died. I hoped--"

[bedlamsbard]

"Oh," Jill says softly. "And that's because --"

*

"So almost everyone's here," Helen says. "Well, this is odd --"

*

"I'm sorry," Edmund says. "Look -- we're only a day's ride from Arn Abedin, why don't you come with me --"

[aella_irene]

"They were salted, and burned, and cursed."

*

"Very. I'm half expecting Fio or Osumare to turn up--"

"Or Cal," says Richard, "If it's blood. If you have to have been crowned, though--"

*

Jack thinks about it, then nods.

[bedlamsbard]

"Oh," Jill says, soft.

*

"Who are all these people?" Eustace says, sounding rather lost.

*

"Good lad," Edmund says. "Come on --"

[aella_irene]

"They say that the sand of the Dead Lands is the bone of those who were slain, in revenge for the death of a Prince of Narnia, and a dozen peers."

*

"General Paolucci and Admiral Seaworth," says Tirian. "They have statues. But I don't--"

"Cathal Paolucci," Helen says. "He might be, you know. We just wouldn't notice until he wandered out of a bar looking jovial and gave us a solid tactical plan."

"With helpful lists of our enemies' weaknesses, as divined by their choice of beer," Richard agrees.

*

Jack follows him. Edmund looks at him thoughtfully, then boosts him onto the horse.

[bedlamsbard]

"Um," Jill says, and tries to think of a way to hastily change the subject.

*

"We could use a solid tactical plan," Peter says. "Oh -- this is King Tirian, by the way. No familial relation."

*

"What about you?" Jack says, blinking.

[aella_irene]

"It is why Queen Helen is the Queen of Winter, patron of the vengeful."

*

"Um," says Tirian.

"Not if he's descended from any royal family on the continent," Richard says. "Ten children, 1000 years..."

*

"I can walk. You look like you're going to fall over."

[bedlamsbard]

"Um," she says again.

*

"Archenland," Tirian says in an undertone.

*

"I'm fine --"

[aella_irene]

Graynor snorts, softly, and goes back to sniffing at the bodies.

*

"Cottia," Helen says, and smiles.

*

"No, you're not, and I'm your uncle and your king."

[bedlamsbard]

"Butcher's work," he says. "The king won't be happy to hear about this."

*

She goes on to say, "Prince Bahadur is probably related too --"

"No, he's not," Richard says swiftly. "Not that directly, anyway."

*

Jack nods, leaning over the horse's neck.

[aella_irene]

"Which king?"

*

"--Dicky?"

*

It takes them two days to get back to Arn Abedin. They double-ride, some of the time. They're both lean.

[bedlamsbard]

"Well, I doubt the High King will be happy, but I meant King Eian."

*

He looks shifty.

*

They get back around dusk.

[aella_irene]

"No. What will he think about Victoria?"

*

"Lucinde married the Tisroc," Helen said slowly. "So--"

"They were divorced. And he fell in love with Cosetta."

*

They're greeted by an anxious watchman, who stares at Jack.