rthstewart | Harold, Morgan, Chapter 9, a nod to Anastigmat, and dread visuals

Hooray for a new chapter! I enjoyed Edmund's investigations, and I believed Director Linch's agony.

Thanks for writing! Thanks, too, for the birthday good wishes.

Thank you!!!

Hooray! I left a review in your inbox but there was so much wonderful that I completely forgot to mention HOW MUCH I love your portrayal of Peridan! Awesome, awesome, and I look forward to seeing how he progresses from the street vagabond drunkard to a Lord of Narnia.

I seem to prefer my Peridan's as drunk actors.... Thanks so much!!

I loved this. Edmund, by being himself, got Linch just exactly where he needs him to be. I just hope he also had the realization that banking only works when there is peace and stability and a strong military to back that up.

That being said, I would love for Swallowpad to bring in Susan to crash the conclave. I somehow doubt the bankers would respect Peter, as Edmund would only crash conclave if he knew who tried to poison Morgan.

Two highly intelligent, sophisticated crowned heads would do Linch in!

Doctor dolly

Gate crashing ... why yes, that is in the outline. I'm just getting distracted by Pierce and Maeve's infatuation, which is really not helpful, but is very amusing. It's basically a repeat over and over of S/he's going to kill me!

Thank you so much for reading.

*fangirling you madly* You've managed to hit my absolute bulletproof kink in the last scene, and I have not been able to get it out of my head all day. Brilliant, simply, utterly brilliant!

On an entirely different, niggling note, I would point out the point of rolling rahat lokum in powder - usually sugar - is so that it doesn't stick to things, but that's last chapter. :)

But the sugar gets ALL OVER EVERYTHING. :P

Thanks so much for commenting. I really appreciate it.

Wonderful chapter. If you were going for the parental whammy, you absolutely hit it.

If you can, I'd love to know more about the head-canon regarding succession in the Houses. I think I'm starting to see the edges of it, but it's more complicated than that. Obviously, marriages as regarded as nothing (much) more than business processes, which isn't really that dissimilar to the typical Royal succession, come to think of it. So, how does it work?

It's obviously not primogeniture, but can be based on birth (depending on talent). But what happens if the "birth heirs" aren't suitable. Do you always marry someone in, as with Morgan and Meryl? Find another connection within the House who's suitable? And what if the Director of a House dies and there's no obvious sucessor? Smashballs at twenty paces? Civil war in the streets? Yes, even poison?

Oh, and what's the deal with Morgan and the Director? He obviously realises her value, if he can see that empires would be built on her talents. More than that, others can obviously also see it if Linch has been offered a fortune for her. So why doesn't she see it herself? Has the Director deliberately 'undermined' her to keep her in her place? Or is it nothing more than an extension of the Asperger's, that she cannot see it herself?

Oh, I've just had a thought of total randomness (yes, I've probably got too much time, and yes, I spend waaay too much time playing with legal materials). Ed says that it's not his first investigation, blah, blah.

It then occurred to me that modern democracies have a separation of powers between investigator and judge for a reason. Yes, Narnia isn't a democracy, it's a monarchy, but what's to prevent a misuse of power if the Just King is emotionally invested (which he is with Morgan). Leo ex machina? The fact that he has to justify himself to his sibs? Just his innate desire for justice?

Yep, totally random : )

And, I just jumped on Skype in case you are free. Just Instant messaging, typing chat, not talking -- I can't find the headset and the spousal unit is sitting RIGHT THERE so I don't talk fic when he can overhear. It's mom's dirty little secret. I'll respond more later, but...

And about that separation of powers, I am assuming that none of the Pevensies had a sufficient grounding in law and concepts of separation of power to meaningfully implement an English style common law system - to say nothing of a civil system. I think the best that can be done is that aim to, and try to be fair, afford some sort of process and to find truth in a combined investigative, prosecutorial function. Edmund knows he is accountable to Aslan and to his sibs. This is also where I feel his experience as reformed traitor is profound. I will assume that they have enough understanding to have gotten the concept of "presumption of innocence" and they all powerfully believe in the capability of redemption. So, I see Edmund as very slow to judgment, as affording process, as using the tools of the Beasts as sort of lie detectors in aggressive interrogation that is, yes, marginally coercive to secure confessions. That comfort with coerciveness isn't a nice place, but in the post-WW2 war crimes investigations, it was very real and routinely done. "Tell me the truth, or we hand you over to that mob." Our notions that coerced testimony might not be reliable post date WW2 and are part of more modern, recent jurisprudence. The unwritten story of Black, White and Gray in between was to explore all this -- the traitorous Moles and Mr. Noll and how they investigate and try the matter. And, well, there is the fact, in this chapter, that Edmund views his duty very seriously, he is a pretty emotionally detached person, and he views even the perpetrator(s) as under his authority and protection. He doesn't tell Linch that, but that's what he's thinking. That sense of duty trumps even Edmund's commitment (at this point, whatever it is) to Morgan.

It should be pointed out that judicial power is one of those which stand for most primal base of monarchy (see e.g. Old Testament). Also among theories about modern role of monarch is that he/she – leaving legislature and executive for elected offices – could play a role of the supreme court. Idea of trias politica principle is an invention of 18th century (Montesquieu).

Krystyna

Something that has developed errrrr during the writing is in the qualities of the Houses, much like in Harry Potter, actually. Linch suggests this in his description of his loyal, stalwart son and how if you want brilliance, you go to Stanleh, loyalty, you go to Linch. Sterns is as changeable as the weather -- it's where a client goes when it wants a "yes" answer more than a "right" answer. And Meryl, well, that one is more complicated. Meryl is all about getting to "yes" -- getting someone to do something and being happy about it, manipulation of people and processes.

And so the union of Morgan and Meryl makes perfect sense. It's a really, really good arrangement. Morgan knows she's rotten with people and Alan is superlative at it and she is ambitious and sees how she'll be able to really build something with Alan to drum up the business. He gets the clients, she does the work and the House will grow and succeed. Her loyalty, a personal trait and her House trait, really doesn't allow consideration of other outcomes. It's good for everyone and while she doesn't respect Alan's intelligence, she does respect his skills with people.

Linch's lines about Morgan's worth originally were a part of the story that has since been eliminated. After the Lone Islands, Morgan was going to return to Narnia when a Calormene delegation arrived. There is LOTS of consternation among the Calormenes when they realize Morgan of Linch is there. One of them approaches Peter to buy her services and Peter gets all offended and the Calormene laughs at the High King and Narnia for thinking this was a sexual inquiry and that all Narnians think between their legs, or something like that. The Calormene would have told Peter that the Narnians are idiots to not understand what it means to have a Linch banker, Morgan specifically, support Narnia.

As for succession, I see the Bankers as being very much focused on meritocracy and bloodlines. They want to keep their Houses in the family and but will also marry people into and out of their families to achieve those ends. To make it more complex, I also assume that who inherits the House Directorship is voted on in the Conclave, to assure that the person is smart enough, competitive enough, and competent to manage the business.

It is very unorthodox in the conventional sense, but the firms do carefully monitor each other's work -- there is interdependence. If, say Sterns, does a bad job or misses something, the assumption is that the rest of them could suffer if they have relied on Sterns' bad analysis. In RL here, of course, everyone would sue Sterns and the securities and banking regulatory authorities would bring an enforcement action. Without the power of the State to enforce, they have to self-police and so this mutual checking and challenge is a method of industry self regulation. It's in their self interest to keep things running smoothly. That's the head canon anyway. Whether it makes sense is another matter...

If looking for resemblance with royal succession - history knows something like monarchy elective within a dynasty. I suppose that's the closest pattern.
Krystyna

Very nice chapter. Actually last few chapters, since I was out of tough with your great writing for a short while. I am glad to see that you are continuing one of my favorite stories. Great fresh new way to present Peridan. I hope to see him more. Also, I like how you do not go for obvious villains and do explain Maeve and Morgan mutual dislike by the way they were positioned by their families.

One note on the comment that you made regarding painted grass in SU. I remember an American soldier telling me in response to such a story "no we did not paint grass, but we did spread chalk on snow before a general's visit". Sorry, just feel a little bit like Lois Bujold's Miles, each time somebody say's "oh, they do it on Barrayar. Must be awful" :).

Very nice chapter. Actually last few chapters, since I was out of tough with your great writing for a short while. I am glad to see that you are continuing one of my favorite stories. Great fresh new way to present Peridan. I hope to see him more. Also, I like how you do not go for obvious villains and do explain Maeve and Morgan mutual dislike by the way they were positioned by their families.

One note on the comment that you made regarding painted grass in SU. I remember an American soldier telling me in response to such a story "no we did not paint grass, but we did spread chalk on snow before a general's visit". Sorry, just feel a little bit like Lois Bujold's Miles, each time somebody say's "oh, they do it on Barrayar. Must be awful" :).

Hellen

You are quite right of course -- painting the grass green is very common. I remember it in Romania when Michael Jackson came for a concert -- the only time the fountains in Bucharest were turned on. The deceptions during VP Wallace's visits were also on my mind there. But I've seen the phenomenon in my own work environment when we were asked to get new trash cans when someone came for a tour. The practice is by no means limited to former Communist governments.

Thank you so much for reading!!

This may be my favorite chapter so far of this fic. I love the working the broach into the story and the exploration of Narrowhaven.

So, Peridan may be a spy, but most of all, he's an actor. The best spies are! Goodness, actors are my downfall, but I won't get into that. I definitely look forward to seeing more of Peridan, possibly more of his origin, and how he eventually gets involved with the Narnian court enough for Susan to nomer Tebbitt after him.

The best, though, was the final section with Linch's POV. It's funny -- Harold & Morgan's non-romance seems so stilted and clumsy when taken from either of their POVs, but when we see other peoples' perspective on it, their relationship comes across incredibly fluid and natural, and borderline healthy! I love it. And you nailed Linch's paradigm shift of the lordling --> The King. The sheer power that Edmund exudes in those final moments... it was goose-pimply, truly.

Excellent reading... thank you!

--Indil

Ohhh, one thing I meant to put in my original review. At the very end, when Linch is on his knees, offering Edmund "...anything, the wealth of my House, anything."

Morgan was pretty much his for the taking. And it never even occurred to him, was never a question that he would do any of this for his own benefit or purely out of selfish reasons of protecting Morgan. Because he's a most honorable, Just Narnian sovereign. Awesome.

--Indil

Thank you, Indil. Something that did not make the cut, but is implicit in what Edmund says, is that he feels responsibility for all of them, meaning the perpetrator as well. He doesn't say that to Linch, but his choice of words when he speaks of them all being under his protection is very sincere. Maybe that's not realistic... Maybe he should not be able to so completely divorce himself so completely from the emotional ties. But, I really wanted to pursue the idea that maybe he can. This depiction of Edmund is emotionally detached. Unlike Susan, he is slow to and more measured in his judgments and takes his charge very, very seriously. Admittedly, his methods do not accord with our modern notions of civil protections in criminal investigations. He is aggressive and manipulative, which I think makes sense. He is not above lying, misdirecting, flirting, and taking advantage of compromised persons. But, this is not abusive, rough justice, and he is following an investigative process.

And so, it would never enter his mind to do anything but what he does. It is a fundamental quality of being Narnian and being King.

Thank you so much!!!

Peridan was a throwaway here -- and it's only been after posting that I've made the conscious effort to link him to Tebbitt. I now see that they are similar, with their use of the flowery language when they wish, an artistic or creative bent, flexible morality, but a core of loyalty.

Yes, Anastigmat created the broach and now I'm running wildly with it through the story with it becoming a major THING. This happens. A lot.

As for the relationship, other people have commented on your comment about how it looks to others on the outside. I'm not interested in writing nasty relationships -- this is not a relationship marked by emotional honesty or communication, but it does work.

I left a review over at ff.net, but wanted to leave a little note here as well!
I adored that final scene. I think I often forget that the Pevensies are actually Kings and Queens when I read your stories because you show them so well as actual relatable people, but the unveiling of Edmund was fabulous. And it was nice to see Linch humbled, after he had been going out of his way to do the same to Harold the Clerk.

Thanks for the story, and the interesting info on Siena!

J.Apple

Thank you! and thank you for the review! Siena was where the districts ideas came from. The walled port city has its precursors as well, and reader Clio pointed out Vernazza as a likely one. I had been to Quebec recently with its upper and lower towns and that influenced my development as well.

Thanks so much!

So the romance-that's-not-a-romance-turned-adventurous-journey has now become a caper. I love it! This story just keeps you guessing with all the plotty twists and turns. I can't wait to find out what's going to happen next.

I love your Linch Director and his paternal dilemma. I wonder if his gratitude and relief at having his children safe will outlast the 'Oops we've been married for years' that you've told us is coming.

Thank you! We are nearing the end, though I somehow managed 2,500 words of Pierce and Maeve in Zalindreh the morning after, speaking of OOOPS. They decide to blame the Narnians.

Thank you.
I really like this chapter, all three parts of it.
Anxious Director Meryl in the presence of her King; "How might Meryl serve?", "Please" after second thought – it must have made Edmund suspicious.
Note about a gap in Bankers’ Code – small thing, but really meaningful.
I like that when Morgan is not around, Maeve turns from villain to normal human being.
I’m somehow not surprised that your mental image of the city of Bankers is based on Italian town... Thank you for description.
Peridan is sweet. I will gladly meet him again. And it’s true that he resembles „American Peridan” much.
Director Linch – poor man, so out of his element. Not knowing what to do must be really difficult for him – more than for somebody else as he is completely unaccustomed to such a situation. And that sudden understanding of what „King” means – clearly the whole idea is beyond the world normaly surrounding him. No surprise that – as it caught him off guard – it bowled him over.

As to what you and Indil where talking about – you shouldn’t worry about making Pevensie children too idealistic monarchs. Unlike those of our world (?) they were really chosen by the God. So it is not your fault, but Lewis’.
All that talking about barbarism, also about ways of treating Morgan – but what will Director Linch say when Calormen attacks North because of a woman? And one point more – it is easy to accuse others of barbarism when oneself lives in a safe world.
I was wandering that maybe few sharp changes on Lone Islands wouldn’t be so out of line. Islanders are practical and realistic people. Given choice „adapt or die” they would adapt without making too many objections. Maybe they need a bit firm hand?

Best,
Krystyna

Thank you, Krystyna! I've spend the weekend writing Pierce and Maeve, 2,500 words of it -- so I am officially insane, writing romance fic for OCs where there is barely even a mention of a canon character. Pathetic, but I'm enjoying playing with the Banker mentality. The Bankers and Lone Islanders have lived alone and isolated and regulating themselves for a long time and this is going to be a significant change for them.

Writing Linch was enormously fun. You raise interesting points about what is to happen with Rabadash's invasion. Something being set up here to provide a more rational backstory for that -- that Rabadash is under pressure to retain his succession to Tisroc. There are other scheming factions that outright oppose him and others that are more subtle about it. He's not stupid and not totally irrational. But, Susan makes a fool of him, which he cannot afford -- his pride takes a SEVERE beating, and off camera in Horse and His Boy, you can just imagine some oily advisors who really support other factions saying JUST THE WORSE things possible to really enrage him. If you look at the possibility that there are others in the background, unseen, trying hard to and succeeding in manipulating him. say factions that bitterly oppose any alliance with the North, it is easy to see how the whole mess could come about. They make sure Rabadash is shown to his worse possible advantage, drive the Narnian Queen away and then when Rabadash might try to retain some dignity or show some restraint, they undermine him, too.

Ahem. Done now! thanks again!

Tonight I've been reading this instead of the chapter itself - I guess I've treated myself to a few spoilers ...

I've been rather busy the last week, haven't had time to do that Ch 8 review I promised you, and I think I'll try to do it before reading Ch 9. I realize I've got something to look forward to :-)

Oh! You are alive! Lovely! I hope all is well!! I look forward to hearing what you thought of 8 and 9!!!

My review over at ff.net got so massive that I'll move some of it over here. I opened Notepad and kept a running review while reading Ch 9, which gives me a much longer review than if I finish reading and then try to recapture what I ought to say.
So, two sections from my review that I post here instead of at ff.net.

The Director is right, to some extent, about the Pevensie's less than brilliant background. "uneducated, poorly capitalized, no family, no history." I would say that he underestimates Narnia, though - "a tiny land that depended on luck, magic, and the provenance of the Divine to survive." Or rather, he underestimates the provenance of the Divine - and thus, underestimates "the Narnian children chance had placed on thrones".

Also, you show the us the Narnian sense of kingship. A King serves, first and foremost. He owns the lands and the people, and therefore it is his duty to serve them and protect them. They owe him their allegiance, nothing else, but even that is not a prerequisite for his service.
"How could someone give something and ask nothing in return?"
That's the way the King serves because it is the way Aslan makes himself a servant and a protector of his creations.

Harold, Morgan, Chapter 9, a nod to Anastigmat, and dread visuals

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