Chapter Text
[chronicles of narnia -- intermediary]
“Your Majesty, with your leave, his Majesty King Edmund has sent me to tell you,” Reepicheep says, “that your conduct is ridiculous, and he strongly urges you to reconsider your stance and behave as behoves your royal person.”
“Well, you can tell his Majesty King Edmund that if he has something to tell me, he knows where to find me, and tell me in person, or otherwise tell him to keep his mouth shut, or I will have him keelhauled.”
*****
“Your Majesty, if I may, his Majesty King Caspian has requested that I rely to you that he has no intention of heeding your sensible advice as he might be inclined to drastic reactions. Furthermore, he would rather you dispense your sound advice personally.”
“Tell him I have no intention of talking to him until he gets his act together, grows up and stops acting like a spoiled brat! By the Lion, are we schoolboys, or are we kings?”
*****
“His Majesty King Edmund has further doubts as to your conduct and advises you to consider your age and obligations, sire.”
“I am considering my age. I am doing exactly what my age and my honour requires me to do. As to my obligations I need not be reminded of them by someone who relinquished his after a mere fifteen years.”
*****
“His Majesty King Caspian finds that his conduct is becoming of both his age and his position,” Reepicheep says, though in truth he is siding with King Edmund on the issue, “and furthermore he is doing no more than his honour requires.” He isn’t quite sure what it is supposed to mean, but evidently King Edmund has an idea, as he looks away.
“Tell Caspian he is an idiot, then.”
*****
“His Majesty King Edmund,” Reepicheep starts and wonders how to phrase it. “If I may quote directly?” King Caspian makes no move. He isn’t even looking at him, but stares out the window listlessly. Reepicheep takes the silence for consent. “His Majesty said, ‘Tell Caspian he is an idiot’.”
That turns the King’s head, kindles fire in his gaze, which is a welcome change after the emptiness. He raises from his perch and throws a punch at the woodwork, indubitably damaging his hand in the process. There is a faint smear of blood on the panels, one that Reepicheep smells rather than sees.
He wonders what is it that has come between the two monarchs, and how serious it was. Surely, it was nothing that young men were prone to arguing about, as the argument was fiery on the surface alone, while its core was submerged in sorrow.
“Tell Edmund,” King Caspian says, “that I will not withdraw my words. Tell him…” he trails off and sits back down. “I don’t know. Tell him whatever you like.”
*****
“You Majesty, if I may be so bold as to speak freely?”
“Please, Reep.”
“I think you are both fools,” Reepicheep says, and truly it is bold, as it would be well within the king’s right to throw him overboard for the presumption. “I am just a mouse, a humble knight at that, and I have no knowledge of what had transpired between you, but I see that whatever did must be wrong, for you are both suffering for it, and when it is wrong, how can you pursue such an argument?”
Edmund gives him a long look and smiles sadly. “Wrong? Reepicheep, the worst arguments, at least the most painful ones, are those in which both sides are in the right.”
“Then, you think His Majesty is justified in his actions?”
“No, certainly not. He is right, though, and I’m thankful for it, but Lady Justice is, I’m afraid, on my side. Tell Caspian that, if you would be so kind.”
The king grasps the rope ladder and climbs to the crow’s nest, leaving Reepicheep quite confused.
*****
“Your Majesty, his Majesty King Edmund has requested me to say he agrees with your position, and he is grateful for it,” Reepicheep says, quite puzzled, especially when King Caspian’s head swivels and his dark eyes bore into his. “But he has also said he considers the Lady Justice to be on his side.”
King Caspian laughs. “He would say that, wouldn’t he.”
“Sire, I do not understand, how can you be right, and have justice against you?”
“I wish I could tell you. It’s a mystery, Reep.”
Reepicheep still doesn’t understand, but he supposes this is something for the humans to concern themselves with, not him. “His Majesty is in the crow’s nest,” he says and leaves the king to his thoughts. He is not surprised when, a few minutes later, the king emerges from his cabin and steps to the ladder to the crow’s nest.
Once again, he finds himself thanking the Lion that he is but a mouse, and therefore must never choose between what is just and what is right.