rthstewart (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
rthstewart) wrote2019-09-16 10:44 pm
rthstewart) wrote2019-09-16 10:44 pm
Entry tags:
Black White Gray In between, AW, Heart, Crow and the Traitor Noll
So, this is only for those who are really super interested in the backstory behind this story.
First, some research! Oxford Famine Relief Committee will become Oxfam. Research on Oxfam took me here and here. Edith Pye was one of the founders of the famine relief committees and others who were involved included Vera Brittain and the Canon of the Oxford University Church at the time.
It was a late decision was to add Helen and Briony. I was trying desperately to get this story done as an NFE treat and I realized that there was an enormous about of follow up -- Lucy going into the mountains to find the Witch's Forgotten Remnant and bring them home. I needed some way to handle that economically. At the same timeeinahpets -- the fabulous fan artist who contributed art to this year's NFE -- posted a short prompt -- essentially, children in adult bodies and others finding out about Narnia. Welp, that's my jam but how could I do a whole separate story? And then, voila, add Helen and Briony and all the problems were solved.
Chapter 18 of AW was supposed to be titled The Least of My Brothers and Sisters, which if you've now read Black, White and the Gray Wolf In Between, also fits. I will post an update to AW indicating that the story ends at chapter 15 -- it's a logical break, and will then begin posting Heart and Crow Make the Peace, with Chapters 16 and 17 of AW becoming new chapters 1 and 2 (with some clean up) and Black White and Gray as the new chapter 3.
And on to much blather about where this story came from and that it has been 10 years in the making. Ware, this is only for those who are really interested in the backstory of the backstory and some things about what should be in here and isn't, yet.
In October 10 years ago, I posted Palace Guard and it ended with Edmund taking on Jalur as his new guard in Year 7 of the Golden Age. (By Royal Decree, incidentally, is about 3 years later). Prior to that, there had been a discussion on the old NFFR Boards about whether the Pevensies would have supported capital punishment and execution. I decided that they didn't and there had to be a good reason for it.
And so, I wove into the chapters with Jalur the hints of a greater conspiracy concerning the Faun Mr. Noll who is the night housekeeper. He appears once, in text, throughout the whole sprawling vision. No lines. He's on the front steps of the Palace when Jalur arrives his first day. After Palace Guard, I started a story with Edmund discovering the treachery and that Merle was dead as a result of an assassination attempt gone awry, and with vengeance in mind, he pursues the fleeing Faun and his accomplices. Death and mayhem result, with the aftermath told in Father Goose and elsewhere. This story was going to be, Black, White and the Gray In Between. But then I got distracted and a few years went by.
The set up to actually tell the story began in Chapter 17 of AW as Morgan asks Edmund to tell her the story:
**
"Jina would have said, Come now Son of Adam and Daughter of Eve, that might you hear the tale of the Mole spies and the Traitor Noll, and of the Valiant Queen and the Just King." Jalur wasn't on duty but still Morgan lowered her voice so any outside wouldn't hear. "And of the noble sacrifice of the Hound Merle, Guard to King Edmund, Knight of the Order of the Table, Duke of the Lantern Waste, Count of the Western March, and not father, brother or Peter."
Edmund laughed. "Perhaps you should recite it?"
Morgan nudged him and shook her head. "Your turn, now.
He cleared his throat. "The Tale of the Mole Spies and the Traitor Noll is told in cave, nest, and den, in wood, mountain, meadow, and pond, so that we might remember it. For though Dwarfs build, and Birds fly, and Fauns dance, Naiads flow, and Dryads green, the Good Beasts of Narnia remember. So, Friends, heed my words. Stop and listen with your sensitive hearts so that all may know this tale of ill judgment, betrayal, and fidelity. Harken to me now."
"It begins thus. In the start of the second year following the defeat of the Usurper Jadis and the end of her interminable winter, the Four, though they ruled with Aslan's blessing and by his will, were still young and most inexperienced. They made many errors; one though, was most especially grievous. It was the Queen Lucy who was first to perceive the wrong and, as her wont, act to correct it…."And that flows into what is now the next chapter of the Heart and Crow book, Black White and the Gray Wolf In Between.
**
There are some things that are missing. Having introduced Alice, Lucy's prefect, who introduces Lucy to pacifism, the famine, and some of the relief efforts, there should be another scene where Lucy resolves to leave school and Alice helps her, as best she can. Also, I think that Asim has provided Lucy with an identify card identifying her as Age 16 and maybe a little money. And, tying it back to Noll, there was originally this scene in Black White Gray and a version of it does need to get put in somewhere:
Only back in the privacy of their den, in the heart of the Cave, did Briony finally relax. Lambert was here, the den smelled just of them, and they usually knew, from scent and touch, what the other thought.
He rested his head on her back. “This was surely difficult.”
“Yes. I suppose I am at peace with it. Lucy shows greatness in a way others are not. Any of us, maybe. I hope I can learn that from her. I’m not ready to trust them, or forget what they did, even if all they did was nothing to stop it, to stop her.”
“I could not,” Lambert said solemnly, “especially for their cruelty to you.
“Thank you, my Heart. But with Lucy leading the way, maybe I can start to forgive, a little, maybe hate a little less.”
She paused, just enough to listen, as attentively as she could, to smell for anything. And Lambert, next to her, tensed as well, sensing for the same things.
“Nothing,” he whispered.
Rolling over, she put her mouth as close to Lambert’s ear as she could without biting it. “How did Armejy know we would be on that road?”
Lambert stiffened next to her and growled.
“I dare not say anything in the Palace. Everyone knew our plans. Armejy meant us no harm. But…”
“Someone else might.” Lambert moved his head and stuck his nose inside her ear. “There are counsels my Queen has begun with Sallowpad and Willa. I will raise it there. Quietly.”
Sallowpad she knew. He was Chief of the Crow Murder. “Willa?”
“A Rat.”
So Rats and Crows were advising Queen Susan on something so secret, Lambert would not tell of it. Speaking so softly she was barely speaking at all, Briony said her fear aloud. “I don’t know want to call it, Lambert. But it feels wrong and I don’t know why.”
***
Last, though I should be working on answering reviews and then jumping to the conclusion of Star Husband and then back to this, several readers, after reading Briony showing up in Helen's dining room really, REALLY want another character appearance. So... maybe I'll get that done this week.<
Thank you so much. I could never had done it without you.
First, some research! Oxford Famine Relief Committee will become Oxfam. Research on Oxfam took me here and here. Edith Pye was one of the founders of the famine relief committees and others who were involved included Vera Brittain and the Canon of the Oxford University Church at the time.
It was a late decision was to add Helen and Briony. I was trying desperately to get this story done as an NFE treat and I realized that there was an enormous about of follow up -- Lucy going into the mountains to find the Witch's Forgotten Remnant and bring them home. I needed some way to handle that economically. At the same time
einahpets -- the fabulous fan artist who contributed art to this year's NFE -- posted a short prompt -- essentially, children in adult bodies and others finding out about Narnia. Welp, that's my jam but how could I do a whole separate story? And then, voila, add Helen and Briony and all the problems were solved. Chapter 18 of AW was supposed to be titled The Least of My Brothers and Sisters, which if you've now read Black, White and the Gray Wolf In Between, also fits. I will post an update to AW indicating that the story ends at chapter 15 -- it's a logical break, and will then begin posting Heart and Crow Make the Peace, with Chapters 16 and 17 of AW becoming new chapters 1 and 2 (with some clean up) and Black White and Gray as the new chapter 3.
And on to much blather about where this story came from and that it has been 10 years in the making. Ware, this is only for those who are really interested in the backstory of the backstory and some things about what should be in here and isn't, yet.
In October 10 years ago, I posted Palace Guard and it ended with Edmund taking on Jalur as his new guard in Year 7 of the Golden Age. (By Royal Decree, incidentally, is about 3 years later). Prior to that, there had been a discussion on the old NFFR Boards about whether the Pevensies would have supported capital punishment and execution. I decided that they didn't and there had to be a good reason for it.
And so, I wove into the chapters with Jalur the hints of a greater conspiracy concerning the Faun Mr. Noll who is the night housekeeper. He appears once, in text, throughout the whole sprawling vision. No lines. He's on the front steps of the Palace when Jalur arrives his first day. After Palace Guard, I started a story with Edmund discovering the treachery and that Merle was dead as a result of an assassination attempt gone awry, and with vengeance in mind, he pursues the fleeing Faun and his accomplices. Death and mayhem result, with the aftermath told in Father Goose and elsewhere. This story was going to be, Black, White and the Gray In Between. But then I got distracted and a few years went by.
The set up to actually tell the story began in Chapter 17 of AW as Morgan asks Edmund to tell her the story:
**
"Jina would have said, Come now Son of Adam and Daughter of Eve, that might you hear the tale of the Mole spies and the Traitor Noll, and of the Valiant Queen and the Just King." Jalur wasn't on duty but still Morgan lowered her voice so any outside wouldn't hear. "And of the noble sacrifice of the Hound Merle, Guard to King Edmund, Knight of the Order of the Table, Duke of the Lantern Waste, Count of the Western March, and not father, brother or Peter."
Edmund laughed. "Perhaps you should recite it?"
Morgan nudged him and shook her head. "Your turn, now.
He cleared his throat. "The Tale of the Mole Spies and the Traitor Noll is told in cave, nest, and den, in wood, mountain, meadow, and pond, so that we might remember it. For though Dwarfs build, and Birds fly, and Fauns dance, Naiads flow, and Dryads green, the Good Beasts of Narnia remember. So, Friends, heed my words. Stop and listen with your sensitive hearts so that all may know this tale of ill judgment, betrayal, and fidelity. Harken to me now."
"It begins thus. In the start of the second year following the defeat of the Usurper Jadis and the end of her interminable winter, the Four, though they ruled with Aslan's blessing and by his will, were still young and most inexperienced. They made many errors; one though, was most especially grievous. It was the Queen Lucy who was first to perceive the wrong and, as her wont, act to correct it…."And that flows into what is now the next chapter of the Heart and Crow book, Black White and the Gray Wolf In Between.
**
There are some things that are missing. Having introduced Alice, Lucy's prefect, who introduces Lucy to pacifism, the famine, and some of the relief efforts, there should be another scene where Lucy resolves to leave school and Alice helps her, as best she can. Also, I think that Asim has provided Lucy with an identify card identifying her as Age 16 and maybe a little money. And, tying it back to Noll, there was originally this scene in Black White Gray and a version of it does need to get put in somewhere:
Only back in the privacy of their den, in the heart of the Cave, did Briony finally relax. Lambert was here, the den smelled just of them, and they usually knew, from scent and touch, what the other thought.
He rested his head on her back. “This was surely difficult.”
“Yes. I suppose I am at peace with it. Lucy shows greatness in a way others are not. Any of us, maybe. I hope I can learn that from her. I’m not ready to trust them, or forget what they did, even if all they did was nothing to stop it, to stop her.”
“I could not,” Lambert said solemnly, “especially for their cruelty to you.
“Thank you, my Heart. But with Lucy leading the way, maybe I can start to forgive, a little, maybe hate a little less.”
She paused, just enough to listen, as attentively as she could, to smell for anything. And Lambert, next to her, tensed as well, sensing for the same things.
“Nothing,” he whispered.
Rolling over, she put her mouth as close to Lambert’s ear as she could without biting it. “How did Armejy know we would be on that road?”
Lambert stiffened next to her and growled.
“I dare not say anything in the Palace. Everyone knew our plans. Armejy meant us no harm. But…”
“Someone else might.” Lambert moved his head and stuck his nose inside her ear. “There are counsels my Queen has begun with Sallowpad and Willa. I will raise it there. Quietly.”
Sallowpad she knew. He was Chief of the Crow Murder. “Willa?”
“A Rat.”
So Rats and Crows were advising Queen Susan on something so secret, Lambert would not tell of it. Speaking so softly she was barely speaking at all, Briony said her fear aloud. “I don’t know want to call it, Lambert. But it feels wrong and I don’t know why.”
***
Last, though I should be working on answering reviews and then jumping to the conclusion of Star Husband and then back to this, several readers, after reading Briony showing up in Helen's dining room really, REALLY want another character appearance. So... maybe I'll get that done this week.<
Thank you so much. I could never had done it without you.