testing out a newish muse

[splendide]

It's quite nice of you to go to all of this effort for me. I appreciate it, but let me make this clear: If you're trying to send me to some odd place away from home, the only place I want to go is Narnia. I'd really rather not go anywhere else.

[Though getting back to Narnia isn't going to happen any time soon.]

Comments

[resolvere]

[Oh dear. She doesn't mean to come across as intimidating in the least. A mother's worries are extensive and all.

She looks down at the ground between them, lifting a paw and bringing it down where now letters are forming words, as if by an invisible brush.

NOT IN THE SAME MANNER AS YOU, BUT I SPEAK.]

[splendide]

[He glances down at her paw, then watches the words as they form. He's never seen an animal speak quite like this.]

That's quite a talent you have. What's your name?

[resolvere]

[There are no others quite like the sun god, that is why he has never met one like her. Without her Celestial Envoy, it is the only way.

I AM AMATERASU. AND YOU?]

[splendide]

[She reminds him of Aslan for reasons he can't quite place yet.]

I am Peter, High King of Narnia. It's good to meet you, Amaterasu. [With his accent, he probably mangled pronouncing her name.]

[resolvere]

[It's of no consequence that her name was butchered; she has heard many strange accents in this place, it is not unheard of. She is definitely not bothered by it in the least.

NARNIA? THIS IS A LAND I HAVE NOT HEARD OF. DO ANIMALS SPEAK IN YOUR WORLD, KING PETER?]

[splendide]

[Good! He wouldn't want to offend her, but he hasn't heard what it sounds like normally.]

Narnia is pretty far away. Most of the animals there do speak, though... [He frowns.] After a time, some of them seem to have gone wild again and don't talk at all.

[resolvere]

[It's a big difficult to offend her, really, though there are a few buttons. Treating others—particularly animals—poorly and assuming she's a stupid, mangy mutt are the main two.

AND THE GODS HAVE DONE NOTHING?]

[splendide]

[He knows better than to try. They're his people.]

Aslan has intervened, and things in Narnia are improving. Though I'm not sure if the animals who forgot to speak will remember how.

[resolvere]

[Then he has the makings of a great king, if his heart stays strong, steadfast, and pure.

SO THEY ARE DOOMED TO SUCH A THING? THAT IS TRULY A TRAVESTY.

Not that many of the animals in the land of mortals could speak. At least, not to all.]

[splendide]

[He'd like to think he does. He certainly misses being there.]

I hope not. They shouldn't have been allowed to forget that in the first place.

[That he and his siblings couldn't prevent Narnia falling to such a state still stings.]

[resolvere]

[In cases where one is so young, it makes sense that he would have others to aid him. Not all emperors grew to be where they were without any help, after all.

IF THAT IS THE WAY OF YOUR LAND, THEN THAT IS THE WAY OF YOUR LAND. PERHAPS YOU SIMPLY NEED TO CONTINUE ON YOUR PATH AS KING TO SET IT BACK IN ORDER.

And perhaps, whoever this Aslan is can be of great assistance in that endeavor.]

[splendide]

[Most kingdoms only have one king, but he can't imagine ruling Narnia without his siblings. They work well as a unit.]

I don't know if that's possible, actually. After the last time, I don't think I can go back.

[Aslan told him he wouldn't, as much as Peter wishes that wasn't true.]

[resolvere]

[A king, queen, an emperor...

YOU CANNOT RETURN TO YOUR REALM?

A pause.

HOW ARE YOU TO RULE AWAY FROM YOUR PEOPLE?]

[splendide]

[He was two of the three!]

No. I helped the new king take the land back for Narnia, and after that Aslan told me that I had learned all I needed to there. It's not my duty to rule anymore.

[But he still misses it.]

[resolvere]

[Sounds like Narnia is one happenin' place!

SO YOU TRAINED ANOTHER KING HAVE BEEN REPLACED?]