F A L L 1 0 0 3
"Good morning, Imira," Edmund greets me as he enters the dining hall. "And may I just say you look particularly beautiful today,"
"Thank you," I reply. Hmm, how pleasant from Ed. He must want something.
He goes on around the table siblings and then returns to face me once more.
"So, Imira, how are you? Did you have a good day?" Edmund asks.
"It has only started, but yes." Where is he going with this?
"That's great. That's great," he goes around the table greeting his siblings and once he's finished he turns his attention to Peter and I. "So I have some news,"
"Good news of bad news?" Peter asks as the dessert is being served. Apple pastries, Lucy's favourite.
"I think they're good. But someone," he says looking at me, "might disagree,"
"What sort of news are we talking about?" I ask suspiciously.
"Remember how Lord Remont was not very pleased with our trade agreement with Terebinthia?" Edmund asks us.
"Yes," I said. The deal did not include Galma and therefore did not benefit their economy. And so, of course, they retaliated upping the taxes on their most important Narnian imports.
"Well I am glad to say that I sorted it out and the taxes are gone," he announces proudly.
"Fantastic Ed! Well done," Peter says. "Well done,"
"However did you manage that?" Susan asks pleasantly surprised.
"And why might I not like this? This is great news," I ask.
"Because, well the negotiations involved a bit of compromising from our side," Ed says.
"Compromising how?" I ask her.
"They want me to marry the Duke's daughter," Edmund says.
"What? That's ridiculous!" Edmund, married? No. No no no no and no. He's a sixteen-year-old boy, he can't be married. "You can't do that. What did you say?"
"Oh, I declined. I am not marrying anyone anytime soon," Oh, thank Aslan. "But it didn't sit very well with them so we have to do something else," he says. "It was suggested, and I do believe it is the best option, that the Duke's daughter and niece be made ladies-in-waiting to Narnia's Queens. Particularly yours and Susan's,"
What?! "But the Duke's niece is... Danielle,"
"I call for the Duke's daughter," Susan says beating me to it.
"No! nO, Susan, please," I protest.
"Too slow, Imira," Susan says.
"Why does it have to be me?" I ask him.
"You're the High Queen, remember?" he replies.
"But I don't like her," I protest through gritted teeth.
"Come on, Imira. This is a crucial part of the negotiation," Edmund tells me.
"What do I and my ladies-in-waiting have to do with your trade deal?"
"Look, we all know her father is a bit power-hungry. The man wants his daughter to get into an advantageous marriage and the best way for her to do that is to become your lady-in-waiting. You're the Queen," Edmund explains.
"Well, why not Lucy? She's also a Queen," I reproach.
"Yes, she are. But you are the one with the important family relations. All your cousins are princes, some will become Kings,"
"If you expect me to set her up with one of my cousins, you and Lord Remont are going to be very disappointed,"
"Isn't Darren involved with her?" Susan reminds me.
"I hardly see a future between those two," I lie to her. Honestly, her relationship with her bothers me greatly. Why out of all the other ladies in the Kingdom did he have to choose her? It doesn't seem to be anything too serious, but still, why her?
"Look, I am not asking you to arrange anything. Just name her your lady-in-waiting. You will be saving us from having to grant him a title or gift him some land, which is the alternative,"
"But I do not need another lady,"
"But we do need this deal," Edmund insists.
"Isn't Lady Baldwin leaving?" Lucy asks. No, Lucy, stop.
"That's right," Susan adds, ruining my excuse. "After she and Lord Stryder get married, you'll have a spot open,"
Oh, don't even remind me of that. I do not want her to go. Don't get me wrong, when she and Henry told me the news I was very happy for them. At last, he asked her and at last, she said yes. I am so looking forward to their wedding, but at the same time, I do not want her to go. She is so nice to be around and she has helped me so much with Edward and Peter... I simply cannot fathom what I will do when she's gone.
"But I don't like her," I repeat. I know it's not a good argument, but still.
"And I don't like entertaining dull diplomats. I still have to do it," Edmund retorts.
"Take it as an opportunity," Susan says.
"Easy for you to say, you took the Duke's daughter,"I say, throwing her a shady look. "Although I suppose I could use this as an opportunity to mess with Danielle and break her and Darren up,"
"No," Susan chastises me, "Imira, an opportunity to make friends with her,"
"I'm not interested," I replied plainly.
"It doesn't matter whether you are interested or not. We need the Galmian's favour," She insists.
"You're being uncharacteristically quiet," I say, turning to Peter.
"Trust me, love, you do not want to hear what I have to say," he replies, picking at his pastries.
"So you agree with Ed?"
He sighs and puts his fork down. "I do. It is the easiest solution. And it wouldn't hurt to make friends with her,"
"You're wrong. It would hurt my pride,"
"I think you have enough to spare," Edmund tells me, making Susan and Lucy giggle.
"I'm afraid I'm going to have to insist," Peter tells me.
"Come on, Imira. We all do things we don't fancy. It's your turn," Edmund says.
When he puts it like that there isn't much I can say, is there? "I'll sound petty if I don't agree, won't I?"
"So you'll do it?" Edmund asks.
"Do I have a choice?" I ask them.
"Not really," Peter tells me. I don't want to push this any further, I am pretty certain what comes next is Peter ordering me what to do and will not let that happen.
"Then I'll do it," I agree. Giving him land is no option, that will only make it impossible to get rid of Danielle. At least if she gets married to someone she can go away.
"Thank you," Edmund says.
"Thanks, love," Peter tells me, reaching for my hand.
"So how did your date go with Lord Persivell?" Peter asks Sue, changing the subject.
"Oh, you just had to bring that up, didn't you?" she complains.
"That bad?" Peter asks her.
"Was he inappropriate?" I ask. Because if he was then I am going to have to pay Lord Persivel a little visit.
"No, he's just... he's just a prick,"
"Susan, using a nasty word to describe someone? I thought this day would never come," Edmund says, earing a chuckle from us all.
Susan smiles bout otherwise just shakes her head at him.
"Did he do something?" Edmund asks seriously.
"I just don't want to see him again. Please excuse me," She places her napkin on the table and leaves.
"I'll go talk to her," I said.
"I see," I say after hearing the entire story. "It was a good decision not to tell your brothers. Especially Edmund. Peter knows you can handle anything, but Aslan knows how Edmund would have reacted,"
"Yes. I am ashamed to say it, but it seems like all he wanted was to be able to say he had kissed the Queen,"
"He really is a prick," I say and we both chuckle. "So, what are you going to do about it?"
"I am going to ignore him, that's what I'll do,"
"He's a knight, he's gonna be around. You can't ignore him forever,"
"I never said it wouldn't be difficult," she says, leaning over the bannister to stare at the ocean.
"I have an idea,"
"I'll humour you. What's that you're thinking?"
"We can send him north. Beyond the marsh. There's a small outpost at the end of the River Shribble,"
"Your plan is to banish him?" she asks me skeptically.
"No, not banish, just send him away," I explain. "He'll have a proper knight's job and you will never have to see him again,"
"As long as I don't have to see him it sounds good to me," she says with a sigh.
"Don't you worry about it, I will sort it out and talk to Peter about it,"
"Just... spare him the details, please,"