Lenisgale 27th, 864
Twist-twirl-swing…
Amesh and I moved swiftly and smoothly across the filled dance floor of Cair’s Grand Hall. We moved our feet quickly to the fast beat of the Calormene drums and Narnian Flute.
“Enjoying your birthday, sweetheart?” I called above the music.
Amesh dipped me in response and held me there. “Of course, Swan.”
He brought me up and spun me away as the music ended. I smiled at my husband and breathed heavily as we made our way to the side to join Queen Laudine, King Frartin, and Princess Olwen. Laudine was armed with full wine goblets for both of us. I nodded my thanks to her and drank slowly while I slowed my breathing. After I placed my goblet on the table of refreshments, I felt a tug on my skirts.
“Mommy, Brem won’t dance with me!” Mezinda complained.
I looked to her twelve-year-old brother. “Is this true, Bremton?”
“Yes, Mother. But only because I danced the last three with her,” the Prince answered, exasperated.
Our little group chuckled. I bent down to eye level with my six-year-old. “Now Mezinda, that is quite a lot of dancing. Bremton might wish to rest his feet or eat. Okay, Buttercup?”
“But I wanna dance, Mommy!” she whined.
“Mezinda Bethany, don’t. Not unless you want me to spank you here in front of everyone on Daddy’s birthday,” I told her sternly.
The Princess looked down, and she spoke quietly, “Yes, Mommy.”
I smiled at her when she looked back up, and offered her a hug. “That’s a good girl.”
Narnia’s King stepped forward and bowed to the young Princess. “It would be my honor, Princess Mezinda, if you would join me in the next dance.”
Mezzie curtsied to Amesh, giggling. “It’d be my honor, Daddy.”
Amesh took our daughter’s hand and led her out onto the dance floor. Bremton had moved down the table, and he looked to be making conversation with Princess Olwen.
“If you’d excuse me, ladies,” King Frartin said. “I wish to speak with General Kaymen.”
“Of course, Frartin,” I replied. The Terebinthian King bowed his head and took his leave of us.
“He’s just being polite, you know,” Laudy said after Frartin left. I gave my friend a questioning look. She shrugged and smiled as she took a sip of her wine. “He could tell you wanted to talk to me.”
I nodded understandingly. “Your husband is very perceptive, Laudy.”
“And yours, Swan.”
I looked over at Bremton and Olwen; Laudine followed my gaze. “Do you think they’ll court each other?” she asked.
I sighed and shook my head. “The Prince is not one for that.”
“Really? How so?”
“Ever since he learned to talk, he would ask when he could start swordplay. There have been many young girls visiting Cair Paravel with their Mothers and Fathers, but Bremton has taken no interest in getting to know any girl in a romantic way.”
“Tis a shame, they make a lovely couple.”
I let out my breath in annoyance. “Just because they make a ‘lovely couple’ doesn’t mean they are meant for each other. I thought you of all people would know that.”
The Terebinthian Queen dropped her eyes to the floor and smiled sheepishly. “You are right, my friend. I am sorry.”
I shoved Laudy playfully. “That is quite alright. Besides, if they did marry, Princess Olwen would have to come to Narnia.”
“Says who? Prince Bremton could defer the throne to his sister. And Olwen is my only child – I won’t have her giving up the throne.”
I giggled. “I jest, Laudy. I know what would need to be done.”
“Queen Swanwhite. I must speak with you.”
It was Riker – I had forgotten that our guards were on watch. “Yes, good Wolf?”
“Camsheer reports that he smells one who was not invited.”
“Is he sure?” I asked as I started to worry.
“Quite sure, your Highness. My brother says he can smell the danger the person presents,” my guard replied.
“What about Petra?”
“She confirms it.”
“Can you tell what country the person is from?”
“No, Majesty. He has used something to remove the scent.”
“Each country has a scent?” Laudine asked.
“Yes, Queen Laudine,” Riker answered. “It’s hard to explain, but varied countries have different scents. For example, Narnia and Archenland have similar scents, for they are neighbors, but Archenland smells more of mountains and Narnia of trees.”
“I see.”
“Riker, have you put the other guards on alert?” I asked.
“Yes, your Majesty. There is nothing else we can do but wait.”
“Thank you, Riker. You are dismissed.”
My guard bowed and took his leave. Laudine put her goblet down and rubbed my arm. “Are you okay?”
I hesitated and stared off into space before I nodded. I looked to my concerned friend. “Yes, I’m okay.”
Laudine narrowed her eyes. “I don’t believe that for a minute. You’re worried out of your skin.”
“That may be so, but I can’t show it!” I hissed. “At least not now.”
“I know,” she said quietly. “Let’s try to get your mind off it.”
“Are you nuts?! These people are in danger, and you want me to not think about it?”
“Calm down, Swan, calm down. Hopefully nothing will …”
“DADDY!!!”
I spun around when I heard Mezinda’s shriek; the crowd on the dance floor quickly moved away from her. Amesh was on his knees with a dagger in his back, and Mezinda was trembling in front of him. The assailant stood over my husband, holding the dagger and talking to him. I saw Amesh reach for his boot – he was going for his dagger. Amesh said something, and the murderer turned in my direction, taking the dagger out of my husband’s back as he did so. I reached up for my hair dagger and let it fly; at the same time, Amesh took his boot dagger and buried it in the other man’s side with the last of his strength. The assailant slumped to the floor.
“Get the healers!” I shouted as I ran to my fallen husband.
Bremton and Laudine followed me to him. General Kaymen tried to quickly remove the body of the murderer, but I saw his face before they took him away. It was Xemphar, the man who hated Narnia to begin with. I tried to push my thoughts about the man out of my mind as I tended to my bleeding King.
I sat down on the floor and pulled Amesh into my lap.
“You know… who?” he painfully asked me.
I nodded with tears blurring my vision. “Why?”
“Payback… called me… traitor.”
I shook my head. “No, Amesh, you’re not a traitor.”
He smiled up at me, but I could tell he was beginning to fade. I looked up and gestured for Bremton and Mezinda to come to us.
“Daddy?” Mezinda timidly asked.
Amesh reached out to her. “Buttercup. You be a good girl now… and don’t court anybody Camsheer doesn’t like,” he teased.
“Yes, Daddy,” said Mezinda shakily.
“I love you, Mezzie.”
Tears were streaming down my daughter’s face. “I love you too, Daddy,” she sobbed.
Amesh turned to look at our son, who was holding his little sister close. “Bremton.”
“Yes, Father?” he asked, trying to keep his own tears at bay.
“I need you… to protect your mother… and sister,” my King said painfully.
Brem gave a hard nod. “I will, Father.”
“Take care, young man. I love you.”
“And I you, Father.”
I glanced at Laudine and gave her a look that asked her if she could take the children to the side. My friend nodded. “Come, children. Let’s get some food.” Mezinda and Bremton left us reluctantly.
Once the children left, I looked back at Amesh. He was gazing at me intently, as if to remember me. I did the same.
“I’ll miss you, Amesh,” I confessed.
“But we shall see… each other again.”
“Yes… in Aslan’s Country.” My dear husband nodded. “Would you do me a favor, my King?”
“What is it, my Queen?”
“Tell Mum and dad that I miss them, and that I’ll see them soon,” I said.
Amesh bowed his head. “Of course.”
The end of my husband’s life drew closer, and I felt there was one last thing to do. I bent over and kissed my husband and King.
“I love you, Amesh,” I said looking into his eyes.
“I love you too, Swanwhite.”
Amesh closed his eyes, and then went limp in my arms. I bowed my head and prayed that he made it into Aslan’s Country. I then moved Amesh from my lap, and stood to clear my skirts, but they were sticky with blood. The healers, who had been standing back, came forward to take care of my King’s body. I also took notice that the Hall had been cleared of all the guests, except for Laudine.
I walked over to Laudine, Bremton, Mezinda, and our guards. Mezinda sobbed uncontrollably, and I could see tears going down Bremton’s cheeks. I opened my arms to them. Mezinda ran right to me; I picked her up and she cried into my neck. I held my right arm out for Bremton. He slowly walked over and put his arms around me. I kissed both of their heads and held them close. After a few minutes, we went up a private stairway to our rooms so we could change our soiled clothes.
-x-x-x-x-x-
Gracia was silent as I changed. I had no doubt that by this time everyone in Cair Paravel knew that Amesh was killed. I finally broke the silence before I put my crown on.
“Gracia?” I asked quietly.
“Yes, Queen Swanwhite?”
“Could you ask the General to gather everyone in the castle in the throne room? I need to make an official announcement about Amesh’s death.”
“Of course, your Majesty.” The Dryad headed for the door.
“Oh, one more thing.”
“Yes, Majesty?”
“Prince Bremton and Princess Mezinda need not come. They do not need to be put through it.”
Gracia bowed. “Of course, Majesty.”
-x-x-x-x-x-
Two weeks later…
“How are the children handling the death of Amesh?” Laudine asked me as we sat on my bed.
“Hard, but differently,” I answered.
“How so?”
“Bremton gets consumed by his training and lessons. He’s willing to do almost anything so he won’t have to remember that his father is dead,” I explained.
“And Mezinda?” Laudy inquired.
“She’s sad most of the time. She will throw an occasional temper tantrum because she doesn’t want to learn, she’s so upset.”
My friend gave me a small smile. “And what about you?”
“Me?”
“Yes, you. How are you dealing with your loss?”
I hesitated. “I guess I haven’t been.”
Laudy gave me a ‘come-on’ look. “Why not? I know you’re supposed to show the rest of the world that you’re ‘fine’, but why haven’t you dealt with his death?”
I thought about it for a while. “I guess because for me to release my emotions, I’d need to cry, but what always stops me is if Brem or Mezzie needs me,” I said shakily. “Because if they need me, they’d be afraid if they saw me upset.”
“You need to do something, Swan. Have you prayed to Aslan?” Laudy asked.
I nodded. “And it helps every time, but there’s still a hole in my heart that will probably never heal.”
“Aslan will help it heal,” my friend said confidently.
I gave a small smile. “I hope so.”
Laudy smiled back. “Though I must say, if you don’t know if Aslan will help you, you need your mind examined,” she said with a hint of tease in her voice.
I gave a short laugh. Silence fell like a blanket between us. For a few minutes, we just enjoyed sitting together.
Right before the silence got awkward, Laudine spoke. “Why did you lay Amesh next to your father?”
I stared off into space and remembered that night in Calormen when Dad got my late husband to dance with me…
“My lord, I have observed that you and the Princess have not made one move to dance at all this night. Why not dance to this last song?”
I had closed my eyes, and let out a small exhale of annoyance at Dad’s scheming as I waited for the Tarkaan’s answer.
“Princess?” Amesh had started, then paused. I looked into his black eyes, which were full of hope, and I smiled.
“I’d love to.” I had offered him my hand, and he led me out onto the dance floor…
“Swan?”
I looked to my friend and blinked away the forming tears. “When I was nineteen, Dad took me to Calormen so I could observe how to deal with foreign dignitaries. Amesh watched me throughout the proceedings, and I think Dad picked up on it. At the ball afterwards, Amesh approached me to learn about Narnia and myself. Near the end of the ball, Dad came over to make small talk with him, and Dad convinced the former Tarkaan to have the last dance with me. Dad always had a feeling that Amesh was the one for me. That’s why I buried him there.”
“They would’ve been good friends,” Laudy commented.
I nodded in agreement and tried to suppress a yawn at the same time. Laudine grinned at my failed attempt, and then she yawned herself. We looked at each other and laughed at out attempts to hide the fact that our beds were calling. We leaned in and hugged one another.
“You set sail tomorrow, don’t you?” I asked even though I knew the answer.
“Yes. We’ve already been away from Terebinthia for a while, and Olwen wants to go home. If it were my choice, I’d stay a few days longer to make sure you were okay,” she answered.
“Thanks, Laudy.”
She gave me a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “You’re welcome. Good night.”
“Good night.”
Laudine left the room, and I sat on my bed and stared off into space. After a while, I dragged myself off the bed to change into my nightgown. I put a few more pieces of wood in the fireplace to keep my room warm all night and to keep the dying chill of Lenisgale outside with the snow. I said my prayers and slowly fell asleep.
-x-x-x-x-x-
I was in a brilliant green meadow, more beautiful than one could imagine. There were mountains in the distance that circled around me, and various flowers painted the bottoms of the mountains with what looked like pictures. On one mountain it looked like a boat was painted; on another, a horse. The sky was a deep blue with no clouds, and the sun shone like it would never end. It was all very breathtaking.
I looked to one of the mountains and noticed a man walking towards me. I immediately knew who it was, and I began to run for him as he ran to me. When we came together, he picked me up and spun me around, and I laughed in delight.
He put me down and I gazed into his eyes, and he into mine. It was odd. I felt like crying, but no tears came. Instead, I smiled brightly in joy.
“Sorry it took me a while to talk to you,” my husband said.
I slapped his arm playfully. “Don’t be. I’m happy to be here with you now.”
“I don’t want you to be lonely, Swan. If you need to, go courting again.”
“Thank you, but you know I can’t. Not with Jadis attacking soon. And if I did, the children would have to get used to someone else being around, and I don’t think they’d want anybody else.”
Amesh nodded. “That and what Aslan said to us, what, thirteen or fourteen years ago. That we are the last monarchs before Jadis succeeds?”
“Yes, that’s also a factor.”
“Well then, know what I’ve told Mezzie and Brem. I am always with you, wherever you are.”
“Wait…” she said. “You’ve talked to Mezzie and Brem?”
“Yeeeesss. That’s why it took me a while. I was able to comfort Mezzie in one dream, but Brem took a couple.”
“Well, as long as they’re feeling better,” I said as I looked into my husband’s loved-filled eyes.
We stood there for a while, just staring at each other. Amesh then playfully smirked. “Ever kiss a dead man?”
I glared playfully back. “No, but I’m about to.”
Amesh leaned over and tilted his head. Our lips touched, and my King pulled me closer. When we parted, it seemed far too soon.
“I love you Swanwhite.”
“I love you too, Amesh.”
“And remember that I am always with you.”
“I shall.”
After I said those words, everything began to blur and fade away. Just before it all disappeared, I heard the faint sound of a Lion roaring.
<Previous | Next>