#lord miraz

[medievalandfantasymelee]

Now that they've all been eliminated it's time to determine by popular vote...

*In the interests of thoroughness, the definition of "Man" in our tournament requiring the characters to be "Humanoid", I actually went and looked up the necessary qualifiers for "humanoid" and determined that for our purposes, non-human characters are admissible if they meet at least 2 of the necessary requirements. Said Requirements being: the character must 1) have binocular vision (have 2 eyes), 2) have opposable thumbs, 3) be bipedal.

[cultivating-wildflowers]

absolutely fantastic to me that when Trumpkin meets the Pevensies he goes "well we're doomed" and when the lords Sopespian and Glozelle meet Edmund they go "well we're doomed" and they mean two completely different things

[justjudethoughts]

In Defense of Peter Pevensie. Originally written in response to accusations of Peter being "less complex" than other Narnia characters

If King Lune is the embodiment of masculinity as father, then Peter is the embodiment of masculinity brother. As High King, he becomes the brother of his people, but those seeds were sown in his own family. 

From the very beginning of the story Peter is the leader of the Pevensie children, a job he evidently takes very seriously. But, unlike a lot of eldest siblings, he doesn’t use his status and power as a means to swagger around and lord it over the others. Quite the opposite, actually. It is immediately clear that one of Peter’s main functions in the Pevensie family is cheerleader of his siblings. This is shown not only in his open praise of their talents (for example, he hypes up Susan’s talent of archery in PC and cheers on Lucy for having been right after none of them believed her), but also generally tries to keep them in high spirits. 

Take the context of LWW. The Pevensies are sent to the countryside because of air raids. They are going into a strange house with a strange man because the Germans are obliterating everything the children have ever known or called home. All of them are scared, Edmund’s bullying Lucy, and Lucy may or may not be going insane. But Peter can’t show any of them that fear, because he’s the oldest. They can’t know he’s scared, so he puts a bold face on it. One of the first things he says in LWW is “We’ve landed on our feet and no mistake” when he looks at the big house. He argues they are going to have a delightful summer after all. The next day, when the others are disheartened by the rain, he suggests they explore the house.

As the years go on, Peter earns the title “Magnificent.” In this, Peter truly embodies the  JPII quote, “the ultimate test of your greatness is the way you treat every human being.” He has a bleeding heart for the least of these, but in an unassuming, humble way. Peter is not a man of pomp and circumstance. He has a servant’s heart, perhaps most evident in PC. 

Upon returning to Narnia and learning of Caspian’s plight, he immediately makes it known that he has no intention of replacing Caspian. “I haven’t come to take your place, but to put you in it” is among the first things he says to his new friend. This isn’t about winning fame or glory or reliving the old days. This is about making right what was wrong. 

He is generous with the Narnia creatures, even when they are a bit silly. When trying to pick a Marshall, he suggests the Giant Wimbleweather. Caspian warns him that the giant isn’t very smart, to which Peter responds, “Of course not. But any giant looks impressive if only he will keep quiet. And it will cheer him up.” Part of his reasoning is simply the injured feelings of poor Wimbleweather who earlier entirely messed up an important battle.  The following conversation also takes place while they are searching for a Marshall. Reepicheep offers his assistance:

"I am afraid it would not do," said Peter very gravely. "Some humans are afraid of mice——"

"I had observed it, Sire," said Reepicheep.

"And it would not be quite fair to Miraz," Peter continued, "to have in sight anything that might abate the edge of his courage."

Instead of embarrass and insult Reepicheep by explaining that he is far too small and unassuming for such a job, he appeals rather to humans' fear of mice. Even while battle prepping, his is concerned about the hearts of his people. Bulgy Bear, too, he allows to be a Marshall, as it is the right of bears, no matter how silly they are. 

Peter understands that duty means doing what is right, regardless of how it makes you feel. His first battle happens because Susan and Lucy are being chased by the wolves. When he hears Susan’s horn, he runs to help her. The book says, “Peter did not feel very brave; indeed, he felt he was going to be sick. But that made no difference to what he had to do.” His sisters needed him. And so he showed up. The same is true in PC, when he engages Miraz in single combat. Edmund asks if he can beat Miraz. Peter responds that he is fighting to find out. He goes in completely unsure that he is ever going to see his family again, but he does it anyway. Because Narnia needs him. Caspian needs him. His people need him. And his feelings aren’t the deciding factor. 

When he makes mistakes, he owns up to them. In LWW, when the children plead before Aslan on Edmund’s behalf, Peter blames himself for being too hard on Edmund. In PC, when they finally see Aslan, he apologizes for having led them wrong the whole time. He is always trying to do his very best and falling short like the rest of us. But he accepts his fault with humility, gets back up and tries again. 

By the Last Battle, we get to see Peter in his truest form. Even though he has been in England for years, when the seven friends see what looks like a ghost, he is the one who stands up and orders it to speak. Clad in his suspenders and button-down shirt, Peter is once more High King. “Shadow or spirit or whatever you are," he says, "If you are from Narnia, I charge you in the name of Aslan, speak to me. I am Peter the High King." And when night falls on Narnia for the last time it is Peter, once so scared to speak to Aslan (and even attempted to make Susan do it for him) that shuts the door. It is Peter that jests with Lucy when she weeps for Narnia, trying to lighten the mood. It is Peter that she turns to, time and time again, with her questions. It is Peter that Lucy, and all of the other friends of Narnia, trust to lead them. 

It is also Peter, who, “shortly and gravely” tells Tirian about the fall of Susan. Because he has to. Because here he is, once again, the eldest, the leader. Here he is once again faced with the unpleasant task of shouldering the burden for others. But he won’t make Edmund or Lucy explain (in fact, they don’t say anything about Susan). Peter takes that pain for them, forces himself to form words. Perhaps, deep down, he blames himself. He always was a bleeding heart. 

There are so many other things I didn’t include. I could talk about how Peter immediately offers to help Tumnus, simply because he did the decent thing and didn’t kidnap Lucy. Or his beautiful, redeemed relationship with Edmund. I could talk about all the times he is a rock for Susan, or his steady leadership despite his own hesitation. But really and truly, my point amounts to this: Peter is a brother. He is steady and humble and down to earth. He is brave. He is chivalrous and courteous and overflowing with affirmation for those he loves. He is a servant heart. 

When I think of Peter, I think of carpentry and the honesty of working with your hands. I think of campfires and a night sky full of stars, and the feeling of warm flannel. I think of laughter and 19th century books for boys, and tomes upon tomes of Latin. I think of warm drinks, hot cocoa or coffee or tea, and the safety of home. It is home I think of most of all. 

[inej-ruination-ghafa]

snow on the beach - c.x

anti-hero | you're on your own kid | midnights

summary: the one where you realise that there will be a change in your whole life and you have to leave to behind with someone you don't like

wordcount: 2.1k

Professor Cornelius was one of Miraz’s most trusted advisors. He had trusted him to raise his nephew, Cassian the tenth after the death of his brother, Caspians father. What Mirza was unaware of that was during Caspians joint lessons with the Professor and one of the ladies of the Telmarine court, that he was being taught all about Narnia history.

Caspian couldn't stand the girl who he worked alongside in his lessons with Professor Cornelius. She was stuck up, arrogant and downright annoying. He didn't care if she was the daughter of Lord Sopespian, he did not enjoy her company.

What he liked least about her was that his uncle was trying to propose for there to be a marriage alliance between the two teenagers. Caspian knew that his uncle needed alliances but there was no way he would ever want to marry you.

You felt the same way. There was no way you would marry someone as naive and ignorant as Caspian. You could see all the other ladies in the court fawning over him and even though you felt a little sick picturing him in love with these other women, you knew they would be better fit for the role; there was no way you could tolerate the Telmarine heir. Your whole life was to be unglued, all thanks to him.

He was insufferable but you would never wish harm on him. As you drifted in and out of sleep, you were unaware of the plot against his life. It was one night that would change your life, the moon high above your heads.

The professor that you shared with Caspian did though. As soon as he heard news of Prunaprismia and the child that she had given birth to earlier in the evening, he raced to Caspians bedchambers.

In the cover of night, he crept into the room and drew back the curtains on his bed to reveal the sleeping prince. He looked so peaceful and Cornelius knew that it was all going to change in a few minutes.

He shook Caspian awake and the young boy stirred for a second before squinting up at him in confusion, “Five more minutes,” he mumbled out, reaching a hand out to push his Professor away.

“We must hurry,” he said and when Caspian heard the urgency in his voice, he sat up and looked at the man he trusted most. He would not be making this up if it wasn’t urgent. “The baby is a son,” His eyes went wide at the realisation of what Cornelius meant, “Come, you must grab the duchess and leave,”

Caspian stood up, wrapping a jacket around himself before he followed Professor Cornelius down the steps. They split off for a second and he rushed into your bedroom.

He’d never seen you so peaceful. You were just lying there asleep, no furrowed brow, no condescending look on your face. He could feel his breath hitch in his throat as he looked at you. You were beautiful.

he shook off that weird feeling in his chest as he reached forward and shook you awake.

You were a light sleeper and when you opened your eyes to see him standing above you, you instantly pulled the covers over yourself.

“What's wrong with you Caspian?” you exclaimed as you reached for the dagger on your bedside table.

He grabbed your wrist, stopping you from brandishing a weapon at him. He looked down at you and he knew that you wouldn't believe him, “Shh, they're coming for me,”

He was right. You didn't believe him, not even for a second. Who was coming for him? You sat up in your bed, looking at him like he was a crazy man.

“You're insane,” you shook your head at him and he gave you that look hee used to give you when you were kids, the one that begged for you to trust him. You were teenagers now, not some starry eyes kids - he had finally gone insane, “Get away,”

Caspian knew that this must have felt like some scene from a book to you and he began to curse Cornelius for not taking this job, “Now that my cousin has been born, my uncle has sent people to kill me,”

That got your attention, “Your uncle is a good leader, he would never-”

You stopped talking when you heard the sounds of yelling outside and a lice that you recognised as General Glozelles voice. He was telling the truth.

Your eyes went wide at the thought and you pushed the blankets off of yourself. His eyes grew wider as well at the sight of you in your nightgown, the slightly sheer fabric flowing off of your body.

“What have you gotten yourself into?” You asked him, turning your head over your shoulder to look at him as you grabbed a bag, stuffing your dagger inside.

“Come with me. If you challenge him he will surely catch you too,” he suggested and you scoffed, slinging your satchel over your shoulder.

“What does it look like I’m doing, of course I’m coming with you,”

Without any hesitation, you followed Caspian down the steps to the stables where your professor was waiting.

He handed you your sword and then Caspian his. You suddenly realised how real this all was and that she was going to have to leave all of this behind for a life that she didn't know.

You hated your father. You hated him more than anyone else in the world and even though he was physically and emotionally abusive to you, his only child, you felt weird at the idea of leaving all you’ve ever known behind.

You took a deep breath before putting the sword into a holster that you strapped round your waist. You pulled a jacket on and looked at Caspian as he sat up on his horse.

He reached a hand out for you and you grasped it tightly, allowing him to pull you up so that you were sitting behind him.

When you saw Professor Cornelius standing there, you realised that he wouldn't be able to come with you. It would look too suspicious.

“You must make for the woods, they won't follow you there,” he said and you both nodded in response.

There was a chill that ran down your spine at the thought. You weren’t superstitious but you knew that there were stories of Narnians who lived in that forest, of trees that came to life and of centaurs and fauns.

The professor dug into his satchel before passing her a conch horn. She looked at it for a second, unsure what this was.

“Do not use this unless at your greatest need,” he stated and though she didn't understand why, she put it into her satchel and nodded her head.

Caspian sat there for a second, silent, “Will I ever see you again?” You had never felt sorry for him until this moment. He sounded like a little boy who was being separated from a parent and your heart broke a little.

“I hope so my prince, I still have so much to tell you both. Be careful. Look after one another,” he said.

Professor Cornelius placed a hand on your shoulder, shooting you both a sad smile before opening the gates

Without any hesitation, Caspian whipped the reins and the two of you started to travel out. You turned around when you got to the gates, a sad expression on your face as you looked at the castle.

This was all you had ever known. You had never travelled outside of the palace walls without a chaperone and now you were starting to wonder if you would ever get to come home.

The ride was bumpy but as you turned around, hands secure on Caspians shoulders, you knew that the two of you would be okay.

You could hear the fireworks and then you turned your head around again, watching the colours explode over the castle as they celebrated the birth of Miraz’s son. It was ironic that the happiest day of his life would be the worst of yours.

What was more important was that you could see the soldiers on their horses chasing after you and Caspian.

”They’re coming, and quickly,” you exclaimed.

You could feel a slight tug of hesitation in Caspian when you reached the border of the forests but he sped through the woods.

There was a chill that ran down your spine as you entered the woods. Everyone claimed they were haunted by the ghosts of the Narnians and even though your professor would always guarantee there was nothing dangerous about it, you couldn't help but feel fear of the Telmarine folk tales.

They crossed a river and you could feel the water resistance, “Hold on,” Caspian said as you reached a particularly deep section of the crossing.

Begrudgingly, you reached an arm around Caspians waist and held on tight, the side of your face pressed into his back.

There was an intimacy about the whole thing and you could feel a weird emotion in the pit of your stomach as you held onto him close. He would be lying if he didnt feel the same thing as you wrapped your arms around him.

Even when you crossed the river, you didn't let go of him and neither of you mentioned it. Him wanting you felt impossible, like some sort of dream. This can’t be the real thing. Can it?

“Are you okay?” He asked after a second, turning back to check on you. The question vanished from your head as you looked at him. There was no sound, only him.

You looked up at him, your heart pounding in your chest. Before you could answer him, the horse ran into a branch and you watched as he was knocked off of the horse.

Within a second, he was knocked off, his foot caught in the stirrups. You leaned down, trying to untangle him from the straps but as you did so, you fell off, hitting your head on a boulder.

Caspian watched as the horse sped off without either of you and when he turned to see you lying there in the middle of the clearing, he felt his heart speed up.

Although he hated you, he never imagined a life without you in it to annoy him. He instantly crawled over despite the pain in his head from having been dragged along the forest floor and he knelt by your side.

He could hear the Telmarine soldiers getting nearer and he knew that he had to make a decision. Run away and leave you there or stay and fight for you both.

He couldn't leave you.

“Wake up, wake up,” he muttered to himself as he tried to shake you awake.

He reached one hand out to grab his sword but it was too far. Before he could get up and grab it to make his final stand, he looked up to see two dwarves emerging from a hut.

He looked at them with wide eyes and instantly pushed you behind him. He wasn't going to let these creatures get you both.

One of the dwarves ran right past him and into the fight. He was confused as to why this dwarf would be so willing to fight against the Telmarines but did not question it.

When Caspian saw the other dwarf heading towards him, he knew what he had to do. He grabbed the conch from your satchel and blew it. The entire woods shook at the sound and he wondered what strange powers this conch had.

He looked down at you, a hand on your face as he realised that this dwarf would probably kill you both at the first chance. As he looked at you, he realised all of his feelings. They bubbled up in his chest and he realised that he wasn't going to be able to leave you.

Caspian reached over for his sword but before he could, the dwarf hit him over the head, knocking him unconscious.

The badger emerged from the hut and looked at the two of you lying there, Caspians hand still on your cheek, your faces turned to look at one another. He knew then that he couldn't let either of you die and that there was something special about the two Telmarine teenagers.

“Help me get them Nikabrik, we must help them,” he said and begrudgingly the dwarf helped to drag the two of you inside.

Little did they know what they had gotten themselves involved in

[the-nettle-knight]

Prince Caspian rewatch notes:

-Caspian has a sun on his chemise and Ray like embroidery, which I feel like is a parallel to Peter and a symbol of Caspian's destiny to take on Peter's mantle

- Also a possible reference to Aslan, perhaps it's Dr Cornelius' influence or a suggestion that there might be more part Narnian (or Archen) servants in Miraz's castle

-Caspian's naivety about Miraz's intentions may have been more believable if Ben Barnes wasn't in his mid 20s

-When Trumpkin first sees Caspian he's very obviously got a rubber knife

-Susan is reading a copy of the Picture Post that was published on December 9th 1939 featuring a photo of a girl in the Land Army, so as this was probably 1941 this is an old issue

-This definitely shows her practical and logical nature and might suggest that her role as Queen in Narnia may have focused on the practical elements of farming, land management, supplying their armies etc

- There are at least four schools shown in the Underground scene, St Finbars, Hendon House, a boy's school with a red uniform and a possibly mixed sex school with a grey uniform

-St Finbars' crest is a varient on the Tudor Rose - a lot of the Narnian leather belts/straps have rose motifs

-Hendon house has a cross with three stars over it, which also feels very Narnian and looks quite knightly

-Cair Paravel's ruins look to be in pretty good shape for being 1000s of years old. In our world, when a castle is abandoned, people tend to repurpose the stones and timbers. However, due to the Telmarines' superstition they probably left it completely alone

-There's a big wild rose bush covering the ruins, adding to the rose motif

-Susan is the only one who's throne is partially intact, and she's the only one who survives the series

-On the Telmarine Lord's thrones there is a sigil of their mask-helmet over a horizontal spear with a a personalised image beneath. Miraz has tentacles wrapping around shields, probably a nod to their piratical origins

-Lucy's dress sleeves look like an odd length, as if they were 3/4 length sleeves on a taller person

-Peter Dinklige's accent has definitely improved by the time GoT comes round

- The fact that Cornelius is a doctor suggests that there is a university somewhere in the wider Narnian world to award such a title

-I really like the fact that Edmund and Susan basically have their heads right next to each other

-The trees that move first for Lucy are silver birches. They're one of the last trees to loose their leaves in the winter and they start to bud relatively early

[little-bit-obsessed]

The Story of Peter & Caspian

Prince Peter of Narnia is the heir to the throne. Although dedicated to his people, he's been known to have a hedonistic streak now and then—but nothing his parents, the King and Queen, can't handle.

What Peter doesn't tell anybody, not even his three beloved siblings, is that for the past three years, he's been meeting up with Caspian, the nephew of Lord Miraz, who longs to steal the Narnian throne.

He knows his feelings for Caspian have now grown beyond that of simply being friends, and one day, when Peter accidentally finds himself waking with Caspian in the Telmarine Castle after a drunken night, he has to get himself out of trouble by inviting Miraz, and his whole family, to visit Cair Paravel.

This is a sort of forbidden romance fic I'm working on, and I've currently finished two chapters and have written some of the third (so I'm about 8000 words in). The first chapter is already up, but the second won't be posted until sometime between Monday and Wednesday, at which point I'll decide on a more certain schedule.

Here's the link to the first chapter!

https://archiveofourown.org/works/57887269/chapters/147347782

[dw-flagler]

BLONDE WILDBOW CHARACTERS

Every wildbow character with hair color described as blonde or similar to blonde. Characters are listed in alphabetical order.

A character's category is determined by their debut appearance. Though Lisa Wilbourn appears in both Worm and Ward, she will be listed as a Worm character, and not as a Ward character.

WORM:

Ashley Stillons I (Damsel of Distress)

Ava ? (Cuff)¹

Brad Meadows (Hookwolf)

Carol Dallon (Brandish)

Crystal Pelham (Laserdream)

Dean Stansfield (Gallant)

Elijah Mathers (Valefor) (Later dyes white)

Elle ? (Labyrinth)

Emily Piggot

Eric Pelham (Shielder)

Gabriel Maxberry (King)

Glastig Uaine/Valkyrie

Greg Veder (The Worst)

Hero

Hoyden

Jaager Charles (Gasconade) (Appears ONLY in PRT Quest)

Jeanne Wynn/Brown (Citrine)

Jessica Biermann (Fenja)

Katherine Oldershaw (Grace)

Kurt Wynn (Harbinger/Number Man)

Leonid(?)

Lisa Wilbourn (Tattletale)

Marissa Newland (Sundancer)

Melody Jurist (Cricket)

Mike ? (Lightstar)

Missy Biron (Vista)

Mrs. Knott

Neil Pelham (Manpower)

Nessa Bierman (Menja)

Oliver ? (Oliver)

Principal Blackwell

Riley Grace Davis (Bonesaw)

Sam ? (Prism)

Sarah Pelham (Lady Photon)

Tammi Herren (Rune/Scribe) (last name presumed)

"Tom Moss" (Acidbath)

Victoria Dallon (Glory Girl/Antares)

"White Fairy"²

Blonde Adjacent:

Alabaster (white hair)

Kamil Armstrong (white hair)

Madeline ? (Winter) (white hair)

Paige Mcabee (Canary) (yellow feathers, hair unknown)

Polka (white hair)

Scion (gold hair)

Scrub (white hair)

The Simurgh (silver hair)

Worm has: 38 blonde characters, and 8 blonde-adjacent characters, for a total of 46.

WARD

Ashley Stillons II (Swansong)

Ashley Stillons III (Damsel of Distress)

Axehead? (Presumed)³

Bianca ? (Goddess)

Harbinger V (Limerick)

Hunter ? (Mincemaid)

Jay ?

Kathlee Rosenthal (Monokeros)¹

Lachlan ?

Lionwing

Moose

Mr. Drowsing

Nate ? (Reconciliation)

Paris

Rain O'Fire Fraizer (Precipice)

Ryan ? (Cradle)

Samuel Vasil

William Giles (Scapegoat)

Blonde Adjacent:

Anita Vera (white hair)

Christine Mathers (Mama Mathers) (silver hair)

Coiffure (silver hair)

Colt (Colt) (bleached hair)

Dino (silver hair)

Egg (yellow hair)

Engel ("glowing" hair)

Enyo (silver hair)

Foggy Idea (gray dyed hair)

Nailbiter (bleached hair)

Presley ? (gray-white dyed hair)

Vince Crowley (poorly-bleached hair)

Voltrage ("pale" hair)

Ward has: 18 blonde characters, and 13 blonde-adjacent characters, for a total of 31.

PACT:

Blake Thorburn

Chloe Duchamp

Diana Thompson

James Thorburn

Joanna Duchamp

Lea Duchamp

Lola Duchamp

Paul Thorburn

Penelope Duchamp

Peter Thorburn

Rose Thorburn Jr.

Rose Thorburn Sr.

Roxanne Thorburn

Sandra Duchamp

The Briar Girl

Blonde Adjacent

Malcolm "Fell" Atwell ("light" hair)

Pact has: 15 blonde characters, and 1 blonde-adjacent character, for a total of 16.

TWIG:

The Baron Richmond

The Duke of Francis

Duncan Lambsbridge

Emily Gage

Gordon Lambsbridge(?)

Helen Ibott

Jamie Lambsbridge

Jessie Ewesmont

Lord Carling

Lord King

Lord Leeds

Marcella

The Duke of Francis

The Twins (counts as 2)

BLONDE ADJACENT

Lady Glora ("pale of hair")

Lara (white hair)

Nora (white hair)

Twig has: 15 blonde characters, and 3 blonde-adjacent characters, for a total of 18.

PALE:

America Tedd

Anthem Tedd

Avery Kelly

Edith James

Eloise Miraz

Freak (of Freak & Squeak)

Gillian Ross

Liberty Tedd

Reggie the Composite Kid

Snowdrop

The Family Man

Ulysses Miraz

Wallace Davis

BLONDE ADJACENT

Mrs. Schaff (white hair)

Crooked Rook (white hair)

Gemma Duchamp (Grey hair)

Luna Hare (white hair)

Pale has: 13 blonde characters, and 4 blonde-adjacent characters, for a total of 17.

CLAW:

"Valentina's Mom & Sister"

Claw has: 2 blonde characters, and 0 blonde-adjacent characters, for a total of 2.⁴

Notes

¹ Both cuff and monokeros are noted to have dark hair in Ward while having blonde hair in their original appearances (Worm and WD Helena respectively).

² White Fairy is Mr. Gladly's girlfriend and a prolific redditor who is seen during the leviathan battle and the PHO greg interlude. deep cut. As a mortal enemy of greg veder, please treat her with appropriate respect.

³ Axehead is never seen in ward. However, Titan Skadi (who forms from Axehead) is described as having golden hair. I am presuming that this is from axehead the human having blonde hair.

⁴ Literally 1 person told me any characters from claw. i haven't read it. there's more than 2, but i haven't seen anything.

[stargender-lilandil]

I think the unsubtle religious themes and inconsistencies in the writing that people complain about in Narnia are kind of compelling and three dimensional when applied to the characters.

for example, caspian finds refuge in the narnians after miraz’s attempt on his life and claims to want to “return the kingdom to narnia.” in revenge. at what point did his pain and isolation from one person’s crime become a lack of respect for the culture he was raised in? did he feel that way before and why? did Telmar truly belong to Narnia long ago, or is it something he believes because he really only recieved kindness from the Narnian people?

it’s very possible that Aslan as a religion is influenced by that experience of kindness and not a fully reliable Wise One

and maybe the parts of the later books with more problematic Implications (*ahem degrading Tashbaan*) are the result of taking that too far believing it is charitable

but in the Dawn Treader, Caspian seems to be curious about the lords of Telmar that disappeared. does he long for that shared experience? does he regret what he did to Telmar as a culture as a brash prince who was hurting? or does he see them as fellow expats to seek out and talk to?

this is why I think he’s an interesting hero that deserved a little more focus

[lemonprick]

lord forbid i have narnia thoughts at midnight when i’m supposed to be studying but here goes

so remember how at the end of prince caspian, all the telmarines chose to return to their homeland? which is Earth, since the telmarines were descended from some pirates that got into narnia through some rare gateway? let’s say they return to Earth’s modern times (modern for the books, at least.)

i raise you- telmarines somehow finding their way to england and getting enrolled in boarding school only to be roommates with the kings and queens of narnian old. cue narnia-telmar shenanigans

peter, at a biology lesson: weren’t you one of the guys who tried to kill caspian

telmarine child: in my defense, i was drafted at sixteen and didn’t know what was going on

peter: fair point, pass the pencil sharpener

---

telmarine child, snickering: queen susan! what a surprise to see you here among the peasants

susan, stil staring at her history paper: i may or may not have watched your father and uncles drown at the fords of beruna

---

edmund, dangling upside down from the top bunk: what do you mean you had a crush on my sister

telmarine child at the bottom bunk: there was this book of old narnian tales at the library before miraz had them confiscated, i thought she was fictional and the illustrations were really nice

edmund: still, it’s weird considering she’s a thousands years older than you

telmarine child: you're a thousand years older than me

edmund: which is why you should let me copy tomorrow’s essay

---

lucy, post-dawn treader: isn’t your dad lord restimar

telmarine child: yeah, but i haven’t seen him since he left for the lone islands when i was six

lucy: one of the seven lost lords, right

telmarine child: ..one of the seven what

(voyage of the dawn treader context: lord restimar was one of the lords who sailed to the east and went missing, lucy and co found him drowned in a pool on deathwater island and turned into gold)

anyways, a lot of comedic potential here

[jiliansky-blog]

Wake me up. Chapter 11. I can change it

Pairing: Morpheus x FemaleReader

Rating: PG

Words: 1550

You shouldn’t feel hurt because of his words. He wasn’t human and didn’t get many things people do or don’t do in their communication. But it sounds like he wanted to get rid of you. That hurts for some reason.

“Is he going to help?” asked Edmund when I flew with him on griffon’s back.

“I hope so”, you replied. “Especially if he sees that I’m in danger”.

“So, he should like you”, he said.

“No, I think not”, you whispered.

“Did you two have a fight?” Edmund asked another question.

“We are already in the castle”, you replied. “We talk about it later”.

Or perhaps not, you thought. You hope that other battles won’t be necessary after that siege. You are going to win. Furthermore, you asked Morpheus to make all the guards sleep. Susan should release Caspian’s teacher. And Caspian, you should go to Lord Miraz. You felt anger and pain when you heard the usurper’s words about conquering Narnia and killing Caspian’s father. And you were surprised to slap him first. Everyone was surprised by your reaction.

“He is disgusting”, you said. “I hate usurpers”.

And you feel like your anger has very personal reasons. Miraz was very surprised when he was captured and his castle was taken away, but nobody noticed your attack.

“What the magic?” he hissed.

“Everyone is sleeping”, you said. “Give up already. That throne is not yours, but Caspians. And you can explain how you killed his father”.

“Who are you? And how do you know?” he asked again but was hit by Caspian.

After that, Caspian took his uncle and aunt to prison and became king of Narnia. Aslan visited them at the coronation.

“You helped them again���, he said. “It’s time for you to go”.

“I know”, you nodded.

“But you shouldn’t come back”, he said. “You have your own path”.

"But..." you tried to object.

“You didn’t find answers here”, he said. “Only the pieces of memory. You know you were almost there”.

“What?” you asked, confused.

“You could stay here for good, but I think your time hasn't come yet”, he said. “You should hurry to finish your quest”.

“Why?” you asked.

“Because something can change”, he said. “And you should think about feeling you have for the god of dreams”.

And then he went away, leaving you even more confused than before. And then Morpheus approached you.

“So, this story comes to an end,” he said.

“It looks like it”, you replied.

“What did he say?” he asked.

“Then I shouldn’t return to Narnia”, you said. “But I’m glad I can accomplish something. I can change something”.

You didn’t tell him about your feelings, of course. You need to think it over. Likewise, you were sure that he wouldn't reciprocate your feelings.

“Is that so?” he asked.

“He said that I could stay here, but my time doesn’t come,” you said. “What did he mean? Do you know?”

“He said that you almost died”, he sighed.

“What?” You looked at him, surprised. And then you understood that he was right. You can stay in Narnia after your death. “So that's what happened to me”.

“It seems you are somewhere between”, Morpheus admitted. “The same rule is working in the Dreaming. You can stay here permanently after you die in your sleep”.

“Oh”, you said and sighed.

“So story will be next?” he asked.

“I think we need continue our way in Fellowship”, you replied. “I missed that world already. Are you with me?”

“What do you think?” he smirked.

Morpheus

So she didn’t realize yet that she was probably in a coma in her world. And that explains why she is still here and doesn't wake up. But still, she refuses to give up.

“And what do you want to do in this part of journey?” I asked.

“I want to save one elf, meet one girl and join the battle”, she replied.

“Why do you need to participate in all the battles?” I said.

“Because…” she began and then frowned. “I feel the need to fight. But I don’t remember why”.

“Perhaps, you wanted to fight in your life”, I admitted.

“Perhaps”, she shrugged. “Are you ready?”

“When you are”, I replied.

She opened the portal with ease. If I used the sand to move between realms, she just opened doors. It makes me think that she has great potential.

We appeared near Rohan. And she went to town. I followed her. And the king, the elf, and the dwarf were already there.

“Y\N”, the elf came to her. “We thought we lost you”.

“We just needed to do something else”, she smiled. “I’m glad to know that you already got here. Is everything okay?”

“Yes”, he nodded.

While I was watching how they exchanged smiles, I felt irritation. Why did I feel like that? Maybe, because she shouldn’t stay with her dreams.

“Welcome”, a blonde beautiful girl met us. “My name is Eowyn. Aragorn said, You are very brave”.

“I don’t think so”, Y\N said. “Morpheus saved me all the time. But I want to help you in any way I can”.

“This is so kind of you”, she said, looking at me quickly. “Is he your husband?”

“No”, Y\N blushed. “He is my friend”.

“Oh”, Eowyn blushed too. “I will send you some food”.

And she hurried away. Perhaps she felt guilty for asking such personal questions.

“A friend?” I whispered.

“What should I say?” she replied. “That you are a god?”

“You can confirm that we are betrothed”, I admitted.

“I didn’t think you approve it”, she said.

But I was annoyed again that she didn’t confirm that we were together in more romantic way. It was irritating thought and absolutely illogical.

You had a little rest in Rohan, and then you should move to Helm Deep. You were thrilled that you were going into the battle.

“Is there any chance that you change your mind about battle?” Morpheus asked. “Should I save your life every time?”

“Don’t tell me that you don’t like to be a hero”, you said, smiling.

“This game has been going on for too long”, he sighed. “And I began to think that you don’t want to leave this world”.

“Do you mean your realm or Middle Earth?” you asked.

“Both”, he said.

“Well, perhaps you are right”, you shrugged. “And I already told you that I’m not ready to leave your world”.

“You will never be ready if you are going to avoid your fears”, he said and made me angry again. Why does he need tell these things all the time?

“How many times are you going to tell me this?” you asked, annoyed. “I don’t know what my fears are, and that’s the problem”.

“And how many times are you going to make…” he was going to say something but stopped and blushed. “Never mind”.

“What?” you asked.

“Nothing”, Morpheus pouted again.

“I don’t have many stories left”, you sighed. “So relax. Soon you will get rid of me and my adventures”.

“That’s not what I mean”, he said.

“So what do you mean?” you looked at him.

“I don’t want to get rid of you”, Morpheus replied.

And I felt that my heart had flipped for some reason. No, I shouldn’t fall for him. He can be as unreal as the rest of them if he tells me the truth.

“Oh”, you said.

“And you tried to find romance here”, he finished.

And you blushed. It sounds like jealousy. But it wasn’t, right? He doesn’t have feelings for me. Am I just a temporary problem for him?

“It’s a dream”, you said. “What else should I do here?”

“Find the solution”, he said. “But… I need to apologize. My family said. I’m bad at communication”.

“That’s alright”, you sighed. “What else did they tell you?”

“That I am too much, and no one will stay with me”, he said emotionlessly. But you felt pain behind this calmness.

“You know that doesn’t write in stone”, you said. “I don’t think that you are too much. You are different, but you are not human”.

“My brothers and sisters understand humanity better than me”, he said. “Their nature doesn’t depend on that. Or rather, it doesn’t depend on their nature”.

“So what?” you asked.

“That’s me who is wrong and defected”, and again, this pain in his eyes made your heart break at the thought.

“Don’t think that”, you said, touching his hand and he looked at you. “You are hurt, not broken. There is a difference”.

“What difference?” he asked.

“I read once: I thought that I was broken and needed fixing. But in fact, I was hurt and needed healing. Entire different concept. You are not wrong. You are just hurt”.

“And how are you supposed to know about me?” he pouted.

“Perhaps I don’t know you well”, you replied. “But I can see you now. You are very responsible and serious. And it’s not a defect”.

Now you can see hope in his eyes and almost the stars. And you thought that you have a connection, but then Legolas interrupted you.

“We need to go to Helm’s Deep,” he said. “Are you going with us?”

“Yes, of course”, you said.

So you are going to the next battle. And your conversation with Morpheus should wait.

@shadowqueen1318 @mypsychoticlove @justathirstyhoe​ @ladymoztaza @sapphireonline @deniixlovezelda

[charliewrites-stuff]

Unexpected Friends

Prince Caspian x oc (Lillian Monroe)

Slight Peter Pevensie x oc

Words: 2.1k

Chapter 3

Series masterlist

Back at the castle Glozelle and his men have just got back with two prisoners, one covered with a blanket and the other sitting on a horse with her hands tied behind her back. Glozelle catches the eye of Lord Miraz up on the balcony holding his newly born son before riding into the stables. By the time everyone is off of their horses the Lord had made his way down to the stables believing that the covered figure was his nephew.

“Wait, my lord!” Glozelle exclaims, stopping Miraz from checking under the blanket. “It’s not what you think.”

“Then what is it?”

“We’re not exactly sure.” 

“It’s a Narnian you idiots” the two men turn towards the girl who is currently sitting on the floor from where she was unceremoniously thrown not too long ago, almost forgetting she was even there before she spoke up.

“Impossible” Miraz claims before pulling off the blanket revealing a dwarf who looks quite pissed off from the night that he has had. Miraz shares a look with Glozelle before turning his attention to the girl threatening “'I’ll deal with you later. Someone take her to a cell.”

“Yes, my Lord” Glozelle responded, turning towards Lillian grabbing her arm and dragging her towards the dungeons.

“Since when do you do Miraz’s bidding?” Lily spits out struggling in the man's grasp.

“Shut up, traitor.” 

They end up in a room with a chair which he shoves the girl into before tying her wrists to the arms of the chair, giving the rope a quick tug to check that it is secure before making his way to the nearest wall leaning against it whilst they wait for Miraz to come down.

They sit in silence for about 10 minutes before footsteps are heard and Miraz enters followed by a guard who is holding the dwarf.

“Put him over there.” instructs Miraz and the guard does that, throwing him on the floor.

“What is wrong with you?” The sixteen year old shouts. Looking at the dwarf in concern.

“Shut up” the guard dismisses her before leaving the room.

Miraz turns towards the girl, finding the state she is in quite amusing.

“Where’s Caspian?” he starts, taking a step closer.

“I haven’t got a clue what you are-” she doesn’t get to finish her sentence before he hits her in the face making her head snap to the side.

“Do not lie to me. I haven't got time for your games, where is my nephew?” he shouts.

The girl turned back towards him, laughing a little as she spat out the blood that started to pool in her mouth.

“I. Do. Not. Know.” she calmly says again and it’s not technically a lie, she was knocked out the second her head hit the floor earlier, Caspian could be anywhere by now. “Why don’t you ask him?” She gestures towards Glozelle."He's the one who tried to kill him.”

“I don’t have time for this, you can either tell me where he is and live or you can stay quiet and die along with the dwarf.” 

“Why would I go through all of the trouble to get him out just to tell you where he is now? Seems pretty pointless to me.”

The man who has already had enough of the teen turns to Glozelle, instructing him to gather a few men to deal with the two prisoners. Before storming out of the room, slamming the door shut behind him.

So that’s how Lillian ended up trapped on a boat with two soldiers and a dwarf with her hands tied tightly behind her back and a piece of cloth tied around her mouth to prevent her from talking. They have been on the boat for quite some time and Lillian is running out of time to do something to stop her and the dwarf from meeting a not so pleasant death. She notices how the man who is rowing the boat keeps glancing down at the dwarf who hasn’t stopped glaring at the man, making the soldier very uncomfortable to the point that he starts to complain to the other man.

“He won’t stop staring” he complains, and Lillian lets out a laugh that is stifled by the gag in her mouth.

“So don’t look” but this does nothing as the first soldier can feel the dwarfs' glare burning though his skin.

The man rows the boat for a little longer before stopping and saying “here’s fine” he then turns to Lillian and suggests “let’s drop her in first, less chance that we will have any problems.” and they do just that, both grabbing the girl from each end and lifting her up, despite her struggles and pleas to leave her alone, throwing her into the deep water. Immediately water fills the girl's lungs as she had her mouth open from screaming at the two men, she thrashes around for as long as she can before she gives up sinking to the bottom of the lake.

Meanwhile the men turn towards the dwarf with the intention to do the same, but before they could throw him over they are interrupted by a red arrow hitting the side of the boat. The three look over to where it came from spotting four figures running towards them.

“Drop him” the girl with the bow shouts, however that wasn’t entirely helpful because they take that as an opportunity to throw the dwarf into the water. 

Peter and Edmund immediately jump into action running towards the water and jumping straight in whilst Susan takes care of the soldiers. Peter rescues the dwarf whilst Edmund grabs the rope attached to the boat pulling it to shore.

When Peter puts the dwarf down on the ground Lucy wastes no time in cutting him free and as soon as he removes the gag he's shouting  “the girl, get the girl” between coughing up water. The four look at him in confusion for a moment before Peter realises that there must have been another person and sprints towards the water diving in and swimming towards the bottom where he spots a girl who looks to be almost lifeless. He quickly grabs her before kicking up off of the ground and making it out of the water in record time. Once he gets to solid ground he lies the girl on her back putting his ear by her mouth to see if she is breathing, she’s not. Completely forgetting about his sister's healing cordial he starts to push down on her chest, starting CPR and after a few seconds he pinches her nose and blows into her mouth. He keeps doing this until his siblings reach him and Lucy stops the boy and gives the girl a drop of her healing cordial.

They all wait a few seconds before the girl's eyes shoot open and she starts to cough, choking on the water in her lungs. Peter helps the girl roll onto her side and hits her back a few times to try and help get the water out. Once she had recovered she rolls back onto her back and notices that she had gathered quite the crowd. It was at that moment that Trumpkin decided to question the Queen's choice of words.

“Drop him? That was the best you could come up with?” he shouts glaring up at the girl with a bow.

“A simple thank you would suffice.” 

“They were doing fine drowning us without your help.” 

“Maybe we should have let them” Peter snaps, only to receive a pissed off look from the girl lying down on the ground below him. “Sorry” he mutters.

“Why were they trying to kill you anyway?” Lucy wonders, a little disturbed by what she had just witnessed.

“They’re Telmarines. That’s what they do.” The dwarf explains, pushing himself up off of the ground before offering a hand to Lily which she takes gratefully, getting up and making her way towards the boat to search for her weapons.

Edmund looks at the dwarf in confusion asking “Telmarines? In Narnia?”

“Where have you been for the last few hundred years?”

“It’s a bit of a long story.” Lucy responds whilst Susan turns towards Peter handing him the sword he discarded when he ran to go and rescue the dwarf and the girl whose name they have yet to find out, from drowning. Trumpkin takes notice of the hilt and looks up towards Peter before taking in the four of them. Suddenly he is hit with a wave of recognition and lets out a loud drawn out groan.

“Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me. You’re it? You’re the Kings and Queens of old? He asks in disbelief.

Peter holds out his hand before introducing himself as “High King Peter, the Magnificent.”

His oldest sister rolls her eyes before saying “you probably could have left out the last bit.”

The dwarf lets out a little chuckle, repeating “probably.” 

And at the same time the five hear the voice of the nameless girl shout “oh he definitely could have.” from where she was sitting in the boat watching the interaction.

Peter looks over at the girl before saying to the dwarf “you might be surprised.” Before drawing his sword.

“Oh, you don’t want to do that, boy.” the dwarf taunts.

“Not me. Him.” Peter responds, gesturing towards Edmund before giving his sword to the dwarf. Trumpkin takes the sword in his hands, which suddenly drops to the floor and the girl in the boat gets up and walks towards the group curious about what was going to happen next. After all she had grown up reading tales about the Kings and Queens of old and knew that this was about to be very interesting. Edmund takes out his sword whilst smiling at Peter, getting ready to duel the dwarf. Suddenly, Trumpkin swings his sword towards Edmunds, knocking the blade away from him before swinging again. Edmund ducks which gives Trumpkin the opportunity to whack him across the face which causes Edmund to back up a few steps and Lucy to shout his name in a warning.

“Awe, you alright?” the dwarf mocks, which Lillian finds quite funny.

The two continue to fight, circling around each other before Trumpkin slashes at Edmunds feet which he doges by jumping over the blade. Edmund retaliated by delivering one final blow which caused Trumpkins sword to go flying out of his hand and onto the ground. The dwarf stumbles back in disbelief, falling down onto the sand.

“Beards and bedsteads! Maybe that horn worked after all.” the dwarf mutters the last part under his breath.

“What horn?” the High Queen asks and the dwarf and girl start to explain the very long story that was the last two days off their lives.

“Wait so let me get this straight, because that was a lot of information to process,” starts Peter. “Lillian, you had to rescue a Prince because his uncle gave birth to a son and you thought that that meant that he would be in danger, which ended up being correct, so you and his professor broke him out of his room and stole a horse and the professor sent you to protect him, which obviously didn’t go too well-”

“Hey”

“Sorry, and then he gave Caspian a horn which happened to be my sisters which he told you guys to only use at your greatest needs, which judging by the fact that we are here means that he ended up using it at some point. You guys then ran away from the castle on a horse but were followed by Lord Miraz’s men through a mystical forest until Caspian rode into a tree and you were separated. Then the two of you were captured by the Telmarines and sentenced to death because one, he’s a Narniain, which they didn’t even know existed until a few days ago and two, because you wouldn’t give up the location of the Prince?”

“Yeah, that just about sums it up.” Lily confirmed before suggesting, “we should probably start to make our way to him, before it starts to get dark. We don’t want to be here when the Telmarines come looking for their missing men.”

“You’re right” he responds before the six of them make their way towards the boat setting sail to their next destination.

[roseunspindle]

We, Peter, by the gift of Aslan, by election, by prescription, and by conquest, High King over all Kings in Narnia, Emperor of the Lone Islands, Lord of Cair Paravel, and Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Lion, in order to prevent the abominable effusion of blood and prove our trusty servant Caspian lawful King under us in Narnia both by our gift and the laws of the Telmarines, do hereby challenge the usurper Miraz to single combat upon the field of battle. Wherefore we most heartily provoke, challenge, and defy your Lordship to the said combat and monomachy and have sent these letters by the hand of our well-beloved and royal brother Edmund, sometime King under us in Narnia, Duke of Lantern Waste and Count of the Western March, Knight of the Noble Order of the Table, to whom we have given full power of determining with your Lordship all the conditions of the said battle, this Twelfth day of the month Greenroof in the first year of Caspian the Tenth of Narnia. - Letter of Challange From Peter to Miraz

[raging-violets]

The Night Witch Chapter 34 || FFN  • AO3

"Yeah, I guess I understand that," Brielle said, voice turning quiet. "You want to be sure the love is true." Susan stopped. Oh. Oh! She looked Brielle in the eye, finally understood what was making her friend worry so much. "You think Peter's still in love with Diane, don't you?" Brielle looked at Susan from the corner of her eye. "Well, he's always going to love her. You know that. But that doesn't mean that he's not going to be able to have some love for you as well. You can love more than one person; I love you and my brothers and sister equally. I love my mum and dad. I love Narnia…" "How can he love a servant rather than a queen?" Brielle asked bluntly. She folded her arms. "I'm not saying I don't enjoy my life; I do. I don't want to run an entire country—" "—if you marry Peter, you'll be the High Queen—" "—and I'll take that with the name but I'm not going to be the one to make the rules," Brielle interrupted. "No one would follow me. They'll just look at me as a lonely servant, as your lady in waiting, as…his…bloody mistress and nothing else." "You mean those rumors that are going around the castle? Since when have you cared about what anyone else has to say? You disregarded Peter telling you to stay with Lucy back when we went on that blitz on Miraz's castle and went to fight anyway." Brielle looked at Susan like she was stupid. "Well, I needed to make sure you were okay. That's my job." "And you didn't stop to think about your safety at all. You wanted to come in and do what you could for Narnia, and for us, because you love everyone and everything here. You've grown to love it as much as the rest of us have in the time you've been here." She grasped Brielle's hands and firmly held them. "Your station in our life, your 'status' doesn't matter. If Peter wants to be with you and you want to be with him, then it's because it's what you want. It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks or says. All that matters is what you think of each other." Brielle nodded. Something washed over her face for a moment, something Susan suddenly thought her friend didn't want her to see. Something of a dark look that sent a chill down Susan's spine. Almost like a sinister thought had crossed Brielle's mind in the seconds before the look went away and she appeared more serene. "So?" "So?" Brielle repeated. "Was it a good kiss?" Brielle let out a long sigh and stopped to rest her back against the wall behind her. Susan watched with a small smile as her best friend seemed to swoon directly in front of her. Something that lightly put it off because it was her brother, but at the same time was sweet. Susan hadn't seen Brielle genuinely interested in anyone since Lord Peridan just as Susan hadn't seen anyone genuinely interested in anyone since his late wife. Even if things didn't worked out… At least they would keep each other company with their bickering, Susan thought with a small, amused smile. "How was your kiss with Caspian?" Brielle asked in response. Susan smiled. "It was very lovely." "Yeah," Brielle agreed, voice going soft. "Mine, too."

Tag List: @darknightfrombeyond @farfallasunicas @foxesandmagic   @witchofinterest @ocappreciationtag @arrthurpendragon

[valiantvillain]

WIP Wednesday

Chapter 3 of Duty, Diligence, Devotion (The Bastard of House Cordaign)

Snippet from my more Miraz-centric chapter for this fic. Also I meant to do this earlier today but totally forgot so sorry for late night tags to my mutuals.

-----

One would think they could get used to walking into nightmares at this point. Everyday another corpse. Everyday another tragedy. A raging fire seemed so mundane compared to the slimy stinking bodies of mindflayers and the violent depraved delights of goblins. It inspired a most shameful relief in the knowledge that the screams were the result of smoke and flame and not broken bodies bursting with the snapping of bones and shifting of sinews. You could help someone from a fire and leave them in tact. Disturbed and changed in spirit, but still themselves, minds and bodies yet their own. The mindflayers offered no such mercy. 

Fires Miraz could handle. Even if the ghostly tendrils of gray were more akin to tentacles than she would have cared to admit.

With Wyll, Karlach, and Gale not far behind, Miraz strode into the still burning ruins of Waukeen’s Rest with purpose. She saw the wide doors of a building and the line of Flaming Fist straining against the burning wood and hissing iron. From there she did not think. Only acted, guided by the unerring flow of experience. Without hesitation the paladin joined the struggling soldiers and, clasping her hands, bore the weight of her broad shoulder upon the door. Heat flared against her cheek, wrought forth beads of sweat upon her brow, as it gave with a groan. Miraz was vaguely aware of Karlach’s bulk beside her, adding her strength to the chain. A flash of memory. Of breaking down similar obstacles with Armand gritting his teeth at her side, synchronizing into a rhythm of one…two…three. This door proved no different, caving in on itself in a shower of splinters as it surrendered to their collective assault. 

Miraz drew in a long, acrid breath before she followed the lot within, the party close at her heels as she followed the lot inside, up the stairs. Then they repeated the process twice more to allow a slender elven woman to race out to safety and a poor fellow far more injured to be guided along until the mere sight of a sliver of blue sky spelled safety and he stumbled off on his own. 

So busy had they been with freeing those trapped within the flames that Miraz had hardly bothered to look at them save for the passing realization that the woman had been dressed too splendidly to be a commoner. Perhaps even a distant inkling of familiarity in her low voice swiftly forgotten in the chaos. She had not expected to recognize the elf that stood before them as they exited the building, coughing smoke from their lungs and half-heartedly shaking ash from their hair. She had not expected Counsellor Florrick, even less so that she would recognize her and Wyll. 

The shock at his new fiendish appearance however, was sadly a little too expected. She called upon him first and so it was revealed that the Blade of Frontiers was in fact Duke Ulder Ravengard’s wayward son who had been whispered to have been unceremoniously exiled from beloved Baldur’s Gate. A shock to say the least, but it made sense, when Miraz thought about it, followed the path through the years past. When she and her old crew had returned from a job dealing with a group of Shadow Druids trying to breed manticores to find hushed whispers of the boy’s forced departure abound. You could have scarcely stumbled from one market stall to the next without catching wind of another wild theory or speculation. It was a matter of great interest to Lord Cordaign at the time, Miraz remembered. Or rather the potential for political gain, the subtle poking and prodding of a powerful man nearly as aloof as he to find a newly received chink in his armor. A sliver of grief to seize and exploit. She had always been rather pleased to know he had come up with little opportunity. 

Now the boy of rumor stood shoulder to…well, not exactly, more like shoulder-to-some-unclear-point-on-his-jaw with the boy of legend. Now a young man of age with her second brother and with a career of heroics behind him. Who would have thought that the Blade of Frontiers and the young Ravengard had been one in the same all this time? 

It begged the question of whether Mizora might have been involved. How very like wily patrons to isolate their charges. 

Miraz offered a silent prayer to Helm that the reunion between father and son would be far warmer than any she would have with her own family. Provided avoiding one entirely was out of the question. 

Rescuing the duke. Yet another reason to pursue the trail of this Absolute cult, if the glowing members of bodies of drow and goblins were any indication. What was another item on the list of impossible tasks? 

Then the Counsellor turned her steely gaze on Miraz. Instinctively, her spine straightened, shoulders rolling back as though a soldier awaiting orders. Instead, the woman’s eyes narrowed, scrutinizing her an instant before something like a knowing relief eased the creases in her face. 

“Saer Miraz Cordaign,” she said, letting each word fall with a gravity befitting of something more dignified than a bastard. “How fortunate I am that you bear little in common with the rest of your family. Though I rather imagined I'd not see you again, given the circumstances of your departure.”

Shame tore through her, burning and white hot. The phantom of fear, however, gripped her heart with icy fingers. The shattering of bones and screams rang in her ears. She had not thought then either. Only acted. Only swung her hammer. Up, down. Up, down. Until her arms were nearly numb. 

It hadn't been justice. It shouldn't have been justice. It should have broken. Why had it held? Why was it guilt that haunted her and not a broken path?

Miraz’s hands clasped behind her back, then squeezed one hand around the other's wrist. She sensed the eyes of her companions upon her. The astonishment of wide-eyed revelation bore into her skull at three angles. She stared straight on at Florrick, just as she was taught. Muscles made rigid by memories of blue-veined hands manipulating her posture until it was acceptable and made to stand still as a statue. 

“They were most regrettable circumstances, Counsellor.” Miraz’s answer was level, formal as befitting one of Florrick’s lofty status. Though if she knew of what Miraz had done, than regrettable was a gross understatement. The paladin swallowed a sudden hard lump in her throat. “How does Aldred Cordaign fare?”

Her jaw clenched at the thought of his death. Tighter when Florrick arched a brow, her own face as meticulously unreadable as that of Miraz. 

“Your brother yet lives, if that is what you are asking. Though if there exist healers capable of restoring bones from dust, then they are not to be found in Baldur’s Gate. He will never walk again. As well as a fair few other things. Some, given his reputation, might consider it a just punishment. Would you agree, Saer Cordaign?” 

The briefest bubble of relief to learn that her brother had not succumbed to his injuries. But then Miraz’s grip tightened around her wrist, so hard she could already feel the steady bloom of a bruise like a flower unfurling under sunlight. Tension hung thick in the air, thicker than the smoke that burned her nostrils and irritated her throat. 

“I…am not sure I can say, Counsellor. Judgment was warranted, I will say that much. Whether the one I gave was fitting however, of that I have my doubts.”

“Does your oath still hold?” 

Miraz nodded. “It does.”

“You are certain?” She asked, the tentative shadow of skepticism creeping across her unlined features. 

“With all due respect, I am a paladin. I would know if I was an oathbreaker.” 

A half-truth. In the heat of the moment it was easy to mistake the sick sensation of guilt rising in your gullet for the sundering of an oath. Yet all the abilities granted to her by the oath of devotion had been just as present as before even after days of doubt had gnawed at her heart. Miraz certainly did not relish the thought of losing them, of losing that which had defined her by the virtue of her own deeds, her own will, the one thing that had always been well and truly hers to claim. But it seemed so very, very wrong to consider what it meant: that violence, raw and angry and uncontrolled, unburdened by restraint, had been justice. 

The elven woman’s shoulders sagged incrementally, almost imperceptibly, with what looked like relief. Why would she be relieved? What did a single inconsequential bastard of a disreputable noble house matter to her? Especially one who had fled before the blood could stain the carpet.

“Should you rescue Duke Ravengard, I shall ensure you may return to Baldur’s Gate without being accosted.” Florrick’s words were sharp with the edge of an offer, likely an additional incentive should Miraz consider the duke’s rescue low on the list of priorities. If there was one thing the Counsellor had in common with her grandfather, it was that they were both shrewd. “From the Flaming Fist anyway. I unfortunately cannot say the same for whatever sellswords Gaetan may have hired.” 

Of course he had. She had finally given him reason to retaliate in full force, hadn’t she? All these years spent loathing her ugly illegitimate existence and now he could justifiably persecute her in the eyes of the coin-swayed law. 

A rueful grin worked it way across her lips with a snort. “So he’s already set his sights on arresting me.” 

“To the fullest extent of what the law will allow, from what my people have told me.” 

In a way it was a relief, to have the breadth of the animosity laid bare. The threats would be veiled no longer, all the aggression divested of the passivity he’d displayed for so long for fear of a broken jaw. 

She supposed it was too much to hope that Aldred would have grown a conscience. The sigh that left her lips tasted of cinders and regrets. 

“I thank you for the generous offer, Counsellor Florrick but such promises will not be necessary. I would have agreed regardless, with or without Wyll. Nor do I intend to return to the city once our work is done.”

“You would prefer a self-imposed exile? When even your oath sees fit not to condemn you. Most in your position would argue their innocence far more vehemently.” 

“My intent is not penance,” replied Miraz, shaking her head. “Merely to get out from under the Cordaigns’ long shadow. Nor was I innocent. What that means for my oath, however, is something to ponder in time.” 

Preferably when her head was blissfully absent of a parasite. 

Florrick, however, seemed to remain unconvinced, frowning haughtily. Truthfully, Miraz had only seen the woman a handful of times when her grandfather had dragged her to those cursed balls and events of the Gate’s rich and powerful, and always at a distance. Standing near the walls, ever in the backdrop like a piece of crudely hewn decoration someone had placed there more for the novelty than any sense of aesthetic pleasure. Yet it appeared that the Counsellor had taken more notice of the bastard of House Cordaign than she once thought. Did Miraz dare to consider such interest may have carried a touch of admiration? That an illegitimate half-orc such as her could garner enough of a cutthroat patriarch’s respect to yank her out of the temple to which he had given her at his discretion? To sculpt and chisel her into his version of perfection? 

Nonetheless, in that moment the woman did not yield, only nodded in an imitation of acceptance. 

“Be that as it may, the offer will stand,” she eventually said, after having given Miraz one last appraising once over. Perhaps trying to catch a hint of trepidation, an uncertain shuffle of her feet or an instant’s aversion of her eyes but finding nothing. “Baldur’s Gate may yet benefit from your strength.” 

You mean my hammer, Miraz thought to herself. Such was always the case, wasn’t it? Both beneath notice when all was at peace and yet vital when something needed doing. Either way, some form of ridicule or reticence usually came with it. At least when it came to nobles anyway. 

“Of that I have no doubt, Counsellor. Rare is the city that does not have a use for strong arms and stronger wills. May Helm watch over you on your journey.” 

“You as well, Saer Cordaign, Wyll.” 

It wasn’t until the Counsellor and her retinue of Fists had passed beyond the smoldering outer gate that a long exhale released from Miraz’s lungs. Her eyes briefly shut with relief and the muscles pulled taut in her shoulders finally relaxed. A faint soreness ringed the wrist she had held for the entirety of their conversation. Even so, her heart thudded knowing that she still felt the weight of her companions’ stares. 

No pressure tags: @poetikat, @arendaes, @captastra, @perhapsrampancy, @isobel-thorm, @mxanigel

[whats-in-a-sentence]

An hour later two great lords in the army of Miraz, the Lord Glozelle and the Lord Sopespian, strolling along their lines and picking their teeth after breakfast, looked up and saw coming down to them from the wood the Centaur and Giant Wimbleweather, whom they had seen before in battle, and between them a figure they could not recognize.

"The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian" - C. S. Lewis

[crazy-narnian]

All I’m saying fellow Narnians, is that we deserved a fucking eye roll shot of Susan when Peter was writing his letter to Miraz in Prince Caspian.

Like I could literally imagine the scene playing out with Peter speaking out his words while Trumpkin or some other individual writes it out and Susan just standing in the corner with arms crossed and cringing internally as he says the following:

“I, Peter, by the gift of Aslan, by election and by conquest, High King of Narnia, Lord of Cair Paravel, and Emperor of the Lone Islands…”

Then by the end, she walks out. Not wanting to hear a sentence more because she so annoyed with his boasting.

Ugh, if only…