Chapter Text
Ruskin stepped hurriedly through the halls of Cair Paravel, hooves clacking on the marble, keeping a hold of his scrolls as best he could and trying very hard not to pant. It would be unseemly to barge in out of breath- it was unseemly enough that he was planning on barging in at all, but there wasn’t much to do there. He had no choice at this point, he had to get Peter’s ear before those horrid Beavers did.
He finally made it to the king’s study and started knocking loudly and repeatedly. “Your Majesty? Sire, it’s Ruskin, please I-” The door opened before he could finish his sentence.
“Is it that important, Ruskin?” The High King looked exhausted.
“Yes, Your Majesty, it is. Please, may I come in?”
Peter nodded and waved him in, slumping back into the chair next to his desk. He always did a passable job of keeping a regal demeanor in public, but every time Ruskin saw him alone he was reminded again of just how inexperienced he was. He didn’t even try to stifle his yawn or hide his irritation as the satyr placed his pile on the desk. The boy was so young - the kingdom went on about his heroics and nobility, but it was hard to understand why sometimes. He was just a boy, a boy who had spent less than a year trying to learn how to run a country. Ruskin was glad he had been able to return to Narnia so quickly- the monarchs needed his help so badly.
“Your Majesty, we need to talk about the relief plan.”
He could see Peter repress a groan. “We just did. For four hours. I’m not sure what else can be said on it at this point.”
“Well, yes, but not quite. I mean, the council did. But we haven’t yet.”
Peter gave him a flat stare. “I didn’t realize there was anything that you haven’t already said. Repeatedly.”
Ruskin bristled a bit but kept himself in check. Yes, of course he had said everything he wanted to say, several times and in several ways, but Peter must learn that who things are said to can make all the difference. Lion's mane, he had a lot to teach him if he was going to be an effective leader.
“Not in so many words, sire, but please, hear me out.” He pulled up a chair so he could face Peter directly. “I, for one, wholeheartedly agree with your plan, as I mentioned. Our resources don’t stretch very far right now, and repairing the infrastructure first will have significantly better long-term benefits than repairing the homes will. The flood damage is extensive , if you look here...”
“I’ve seen the reports enough times. If you already agree with me, then what exactly are you here for?”
“Well, yes, I agree with your position, but I think we’re going about it the wrong way. You see...you know, I’ve seen how other governments work. In Calormen, the Tisroc has his Tarkaans, but all decisions come from the mouth of the Tisroc himself. And my dear friend in Archenland, they have more of a counselor process as Your Majesties have set up, but the king rules at its head unquestioningly. Your Majesty-” he adjusted his spectacles, which had slid down his nose as he became more animated- “no other country in all the world, anywhere, has a government ruled by four monarchs. It’s counterintuitive to stability and consistency! We’re being laughed at in other courts, you can count on it!”
“Ruskin. We’ve talked about this. We rule together by the will of Aslan. You can take it up with Him if you disagree.”
“Yes, yes, I’m very aware, but listen. What if Aslan had meant for the four of you to take the thrones, reinvigorate Narnia with the fulfillment of the prophecy, but never intended you to keep it that way?”
“I think He would have mentioned it.”
“Do you really? I’m quite certain there were many things He should have mentioned that He didn’t.”
Peter glared at him petulantly, but Ruskin held his gaze with confidence. Of course, the boy had spoken with, fought with, and was crowned by Aslan personally, that held weight. But Ruskin had traveled . He had seen the world and learned about governments. While his kin spent a century freezing and waiting for heroes to bring spring, he had traveled the world, learning and studying and experiencing. Why had Aslan graced him with escape, if not to return and lend his wisdom to the newly reborn kingdom? He had seen, many times over, a simple truth- power was not strong when shared. It just wasn’t efficient . Much was lost in the conciliatory efforts of keeping the peace. He was experiencing it firsthand now. The more he tried to stretch his guidance across four children, the less it was followed. If he could only concentrate it on a single monarch, Narnia could flourish under his wisdom. He knew it, he just needed to make Peter see it.
“High King Peter. You are High King . Your voice matters more than all the others in that room. This issue is proof of that. Your wisdom has chosen on the right path to bring aid to the suffering in the south, but because your royal siblings can’t see it we can’t move forward. Every minute you take trying to convince them is another minute we’re not helping those who need it.”
Finally he saw a glint of something other than annoyance in his eyes. “Yes, but...we’re setting precedents. If I start making unilateral decisions now, we’ll drift away from the charge Aslan gave to all of us.”
It took all of Ruskin’s efforts not to growl in frustration. Those blighted Beavers. It was probably word for word what they told him. What they had been telling all of them. What did they know about matters of state? They spent the Winter hiding in a dam, eating fish and jam. Probably reiterated by Tumnus, that flakey faun. He calmed himself and regathered his thoughts.
“And what better precedent to set than that of the charge of the High King? Why would Aslan even make you a High King, if He didn’t mean for you to have authority over the others?”
Peter looked away, absently adjusting his crown and frowning.
“High King Peter, Your Majesty, they’ll understand. Once they’ve grown up some, they’ll see it’s for the best. For Narnia. Truly, it wouldn’t even be that much of a change. Princesses and princes hold great authority as well, you know. We just need a leader . Narnia needs you . Please, tell them how much you appreciate their contributions to the discussion, reiterate how none of these decisions are easy for anyone to make. But make it, and show them how effective true leadership can be.”
Peter continued to stare at the wall, but Ruskin could practically hear his thoughts turning. He didn’t smile, he kept looking at the king sincerely and pleadingly, but inside he was excited. Finally, after all these months, he may be getting somewhere.
Ruskin hummed to himself as he jaunted towards the council room. He couldn’t help it- things were about to get much easier. Peter had called another council immediately after dinner. Everyone else, the other monarchs included, were practically fuming- they'd been dealing with the aftermath of the flood non-stop for a day and a half, and they had been counting on a break. That only went to show that Ruskin was right about them. Government couldn’t take a break, it must move forward until the job was done. He would see that it did from now on, he’d show Peter how to run things so smoothly that no one could ever question his wisdom again. Chief Advisor to the High King- he grinned, he liked the sound of that.
He wasn’t surprised then, when he entered the room and found it already filled with several angry faces fixed on him. Queen Susan looked like she was trying to set him on fire with just her glare. Mr. Beaver was muttering under his breath while Mrs. Beaver halfheartedly shushed him. Even the tiny Queen Lucy looked so angry she may just burst into tears. He looked to King Peter. Perhaps he had already told everyone the new structure, and they were taking it out on him. Peter’s face, though, was as inscrutable as he’d ever seen it. Starting to look more regal already, very good, very good.
“ Ruskin, thank you for joining us.” Peter gestured towards Ruskin’s usual seat, and he sat down hastily.
“I apologize, Your Majesty, I appear to be late.”
“Not at all.” He turned towards the dwarf Belwin ( Edmund’s sycophant , Ruskin thought with exasperation). “Belwin, will you please share the agenda for this meeting.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. The main order of business is the determination of how to allocate the building resources for the flooded areas. Before that, though, High King Peter would like to address the council on protocols for decision making among its royal members.”
Ruskin hid his smirk. Oh, the reactions were going to be enjoyable, he was sure.
“Thank you, Belwin. It has come to our attention that there are some different ideas on how best to make this council, and this government, work. We all know we have a difficult journey ahead. There hasn’t been a proper government in Narnia for a century, and we are all doing the best we can. I have no doubt that every single person in this room has only the best interests of Narnia in mind as we work through these problems.” His eyes settled on Ruskin, but he still found it difficult to read the king’s face. That was progress- keeping his feelings in check when delivering difficult news. Knowing he was capable of such control was promising for their future.
“Now, we are all aware that Aslan has granted us a difficult charge. But He has charged it to us, and we will not back down from the challenges it presents. This is why I wish to reiterate to all of you, that my brother and sisters and I will always honor the task Aslan bestowed on us as sacred.” He turned his attention back to Ruskin, and the satyr shivered involuntarily at his sudden and angry determination. “I am High King Peter, it is my duty to lead Narnia and make decisions for the good of all. But my siblings- Queen Susan, King Edmund, Queen Lucy- share equally in authority. As High King I can resolve arguments and disagreements, but only after no other option is possible. I honor their authority, as they honor mine. A country is not one person, so cannot be run by one person. It is only with our support of each other, our sharing of wisdom, and by the grace of Aslan, that we’ll be able to help Narnia thrive again.”
His speech was met with applause and happy assent from around the table, and not a few sideways glares at Ruskin. What...what happened? I had him! Who got to him?!
“If anyone here...” he continued as the ruckus died down. “If anyone here does not accept our joint reign, they are welcome to leave the council.” All eyes turned to Ruskin. He stared down at his lap, not meeting anyone’s gaze. He gave a small shake of his head.
“Very good. Now, we will decide on the matter of resources tonight, and not leave until a decision is made. Our people need help, let’s focus on providing it. Edmund, I believe you had some good points you were trying to make at the end of the last session?”
The other council members continued the discussion around him. For once, Ruskin couldn’t bring himself to participate. It’s so much easier, he thought, it’s so much easier when there’s just one. Maybe one of the others...?