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

[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.

[bedlamsbard]

"Damned if I know."

*

"But the Calormenes don't allow divorce. Not unless --"

"Pauli kidnapped her," Richard says, and coughs. "On the way back from Jack's funeral."

*

"Here to see my brother," Edmund says shortly.

[aella_irene]

"Oh dear."

*

Helen makes an irritated noise.

*

"Who's he?"

[bedlamsbard]

"Well, he's an Archenlander. What do you expect?"

*

"It was arranged," Richard adds. "But I don't know what happened after --"

*

"My nephew. Do you mind?"

[aella_irene]

Jill sighs.

*

"Well," Peter says. "Having established that we are related to all the players in this drama--"

*

The watchman gets out of the way.

[bedlamsbard]

She goes back to talk to Susan.

*

"Very distantly," Helen points out. "So probably no chance of calling on latent family feeling."

*

Peter comes out to meet him.

[aella_irene]

Victoria is sleeping, restless.

*

"Well, that's a blow," Peter says drily.

*

"Jack," he breathes.

[bedlamsbard]

Susan is sitting by her.

*

"It would be like trying to prove you were related to Constantine," Eustace says, eyeing him.

*

"Papa?" Jack says, bewildered.

[aella_irene]

Every so often, she strokes Victoria's hair.

*

"Well--"

*

"Jack, oh, gods, Jack--" Peter hugs him.

[bedlamsbard]

Susan looks up as she comes in. "What did you find?"

*

"Who's Constantine?"

*

"Papa," Jack says, and clutches at him.

[aella_irene]

"A lot of dead villagers. Graynor says Calormenes."

*

"A long dead Emperor from our world," Peter says.

*

"Jack," Peter breathes again, and holds on as tightly as Jack is holding onto him.

[bedlamsbard]

"They're not supposed to be here," Susan says, frowning. "I'll speak to King Eian when we get back to Anvard."

*

He changes the subject. "You were with Helen, Richard?"

*

Richard and Helen emerge to see what the fuss is about.

[aella_irene]

"You'll have to explain all this, won't you?"

*

"I started off with the Black Fleet."

*

"Jack," says Helen, and runs, Richard on her heels.

[bedlamsbard]

"All of -- oh, you mean Victoria."

*

Peter blinks. "That's quite a ways away."

*

She nearly bowls him over.