rthstewart | And Conclave concludes with a bang

Dear God. Cannot Read. Cannot Read... not when I have to go out and meet people. You are EVIL Rth for putting this up so early today. I will admit to reading almost 1/4 of it before coming here. Arrgh. It's looking so good right now and now I must force myself to stop.

(In other words, a review will be forthcoming some time later today.)

Now that I've finally read it, it was spectacular! The action, the drama and the big splashy scene at the end. I don't think I've such a plot-filled chapter in any story in a very long time.

(Also, I love Susan's disapproval of her brother's appearance when they finally greet each other. Heh. Lean times and long hours shut in have not been good for a Narnian at all.)

Lean times and long hours shut in have not been good for a Narnian at all.) What I wrote but did not include was Susan's line:

"Green? Edmund, my brother, green is not your colour."
Truth be told, I had a lot of problems with the final line of the chapter. But yes, the shut in and conclave have not been good for anyone, and Edmund has had to see to his own mending and laundry and dressing for weeks and weeks. She does also disapprove of the fact that having declared himself, he should have been able to whip out of hiding a quick, appropriate, kingly, and colour-neutral item.

Of course, Edmund has been learning accounting all winter. Susan, on the other hand, has been plotting her entrance and wardrobe.

What a great way to start my morning! I was wondering when Edmund would reveal himself, and it's good to know who the poisoner is. Susan's arrival was suitably impressive.

Thanks for writing!

I second that! I started rereading TSG Part 1 (again xD) last night since I recently introduced one of my classmates to your writing and expected to read that over my breakfast. Instead, to my delight, I get a new chapter of Harold and Morgan :)

Awww, thank you! TSG Part 1 has been tweaked a bit. When I first wrote the chapter Argentum, Chapter 7 and Chapter 8, Lions' Business, I did not have Morgan as part of Edmund's past. Nor were the Rats and Crows so well developed. I've tweaked those parts to make them more consistent with where Haroldmund and Morgan end up.

Thank you so much!!!

LOVE IT!!! Will be reviewing shortly!

Oh thank you! I look forward to reading the review!

I will try to leave a real review later, but I have to say right now that I love, love, love getting to see Morgan self-confident and assured and RIGHT, finally in her element, and especially getting to see her being all comfortable with the Narnians (esp. Jalur - who, by the way, I was beyond thrilled to see back) while the rest of the Bankers were confused, frightened, and fainting. Awesome.

Thank you so much for giving the story a few moments of your precious time! I have wobbled on Morgan's character and did wonder if I had gone too far. But, this is her milieu. She has been preparing for weeks and she believes deeply that this is wrong. In one of the flashback chapters in TQSiT when she is briefing Peter on the mine, the problem is that 1) Peter still makes her very nervous 2) she WOULD go on and on, just as she had rehearsed it, because she is very good at the exhaustive recitation, and that is not what Peter wants to hear. This is all playing to her strengths and I think we wanted to see her succeed. So there. Thank you

In case you’ve been wandering: I decided to wait with my review for a second part of the chapter, as - from your comments - I expected it to come soon. Clearly I was right.
And - unlike some others, as I could notice - I am really glad that you posted it in the morning. Thanks to that for the first time I don’t read a new chapter in the morning, shortly before leaving the house, but in the late afternoon, so I can review immediately after reading.

- About Maeve-Pierce relationship much has already been told, so I’ll just add one thing - it is really shocking how immature is their behaviour when concerning private matters in comparison with their - especially Maeve’s - maturity when concerning banking.
- Since the begining of „The Stone Gryphon” I’ve been repeating that I like kings being incognito, giving themselves away in more or less subtile ways, so this time I won’t elaborate on that subject.
- „Morgan was usually a very poor judge of how much information her audience needed.” That is really well pointed. That all is not about being talkative on particular subjects, but complete inability to assess how much one is expected to say. It is even worse when an interlocutor politely pretends he is interested; but in this case, when there is no limit of time, it must be also bad.
- One technical point – why Sterns and Meryl have only one AD each? Why would they allow for that, knowing that more ADs gives Linch and Stanleh more votes?
- Constance Meryl is really intriguing. I've already been praising her perceptiveness, but there is more than that in her. Even Linch family - although they have Narnian King at home – didn’t really understand what would be consequences of his presence. „Based upon weeks with Harold, Pierce had seen the Code was going to be changing.” Yet still, Pierce is not able to think about breaking settlements of Houses (cf. his alliance with Maeve) in categories other than fantasy. Constance is the only here who really understands what’s going on. Linch know that the changes are coming, she not only knows, she can feel that. Actually, it would be quite interesting to see Conclave from her point of view. Quite amusing. Observing all that deadly serious bankers, debating over matters, half of which will soon occur to be completely irrelevant. Bankers behaving in their usual way, not realising that the Change is (quite literally) hanging over their heads. Even Edmund didn’t have that much fun - he was too busy looking for a threat and observing everything and everybody. Constance, I suppose, knows all the steps of the dance by heart, so she could concentrate on how futile they are now.
Constance counts chances very fast and does not challenge those with whom she cannot win. Quite the opposite, she immediately adapts to that on which she has no influence (it is especially visible in comparison with behaviour of other bankers after Edmund's disclosure and Narnia's coming). Hence, she doesn’t waste time, her energy and doesn’t create herself powerful enemies. She knows perfectly what is out of her range.
She’s not easy to surprise, but from her behaviour after prevention of poisoning and Edmund’s disclosure we can assume that even in such a case she would be able to behave properly.
Last, but not the least - despite all her qualities she managed to remain in shadow for all those years. True, that now she gave herself away, but there is a chance that everybody was too confused to apprehend what her behaviour means. Except for Morgan, but she is hardly a good judge of people’s characters anyway. Or maybe it is time for her for a little disclosure? Using the shadow of Edmund’s?
In conclusion, within maybe dozen years Constance will be in control of everything what is happening in her range (Narrowhaven? Islands?). And nobody will notice it until it is too late. (With possible exception of Narnian monarchs, but she doesn’t consider them as competition, so it’s not a problem for her.) It’s a shame that in the next chapter we’re leaving the Lone Islands. Such a waste of an interesting character.

Perhaps I should just say regarding your observations about Constance: Yes. Yes. Yes. I have a lot of the final chapter complete, save for the look into Constance's point of view. Among other things, I'm trying to decide how much is done via internal expository dump and how much is in conversation with Maeve. From the introductory section,

It had taken some significant effort. Fortunately, the Queen Susan had traveled with two very skilled dressmakers who could, for good cause shown, quickly alter gowns to a Narnian fashion. The clever Dwarfess and Faun would not have been cooperative at all if the goal had been frivolous. However, they knew their Queen's wishes. Changing from Calormene and Banker dress to Narnian was not about style, but politics and power.

Constance Meryl had never set a fashion in her life. That, like so many other things, was changing.

To get everything in that point of view character is going to take some manipulation but I think a lot of things will be clearer.

Such as,

The worse day of her life had been when the idiot Gertrude (Constance refused to call her Director or the Meryl unless unavoidable) had decided that Morgan Linch or Maeve Stanleh would marry Alan (and none of this joint venture nonsense – call it what it really was) and take Constance’s own House from her.

The second worse day of her life had been when the young Constance Meryl of Anvard Pass Keep learned she could not leave her dreary home to become maid to the child-Queen Lucy of Narnia.

so yes, working on it. And of course Constance has an enormous interest in seeing Morgan leave the Lone Islands for good, go to Narnia, and never come back.....

- Big plus for the role of Maeve in this chapter; for her independence, for strength of her character. And - what I mentioned in my last review as well - that despite of what we could assume when she was introduced to us, she is not a villain in that story. Not only for Pierce’s sake. It just would be too easy. Too black and white.
- A very nice entrance Susan had. I also like using colours as symbols, not to mention grand entrances of monarchs surrounded by half of an army, so visuals were quite in accordance with my taste. To all that colours I cannot abstain from adding some music. What about Gounod’s „Faust”: „Merci de ta chanson!” (03:30-04.48). Ignore the text, instead put here „All hail and welcome...”. Earlier part (about minute and half) could also be a background for earlier mess.
Just one thing - do not offend Susan by calling her „Her Highness”. It is good for a princess or a duchess, not for Her Majesty the Queen.
It was very kind of Peter, that he sent Queen Susan the Gentle. Coming of Queen Lucy the Valiant would have a bit different impact. Not to mention personal appearence of The High King, Emperor of Lone Islands. There is such a word in Egyptian - khai - „appear in glory”, with basic meaning „rise” (about sun). Susan’s khai-ing was such a shock for bankers, that it’s better not to even contemplate what would happen if the High King would khai - without any warnings, preliminary steps and envoys.
Not to mention that Susan - as the other half of Narnian Concert of Minds - will be able to speak with bankers in their own language.

Well, I suppose it’s all what about I can think offhand. Maybe there will be something more in further discussion.
Best as always.
Krystyna

I agree with the comment about Susan. Having the two incredibly diplomatic monarchs there is wise. They both see the details and know how to diffuse situations. In addition, I love seeing Edmund and Susan together. Their understanding of each other and the way the other's mind functions is so interesting to read. I already said this on FF.N but I loved this chapter.

Susan has been planning this trip all winter! I've not been able to decide if her gown was embroidered or tie-dyed! Thank you so much for the lovely, long review. I hugely appreciate it.

Thanks so much, again. I has always known it was Susan, though I thought of throwing Peter in there too. Susan is enough. She has been orchestrating this appearance for weeks and weeks. She's had all winter to prepare. Further, it's nice to give some substance to the importance she places on appearances -- in an environment such as this that is very conscious of status and clothing. This is very true of business people of a certain type -- the women in their designer suits and shoes and the men in their tailor made suits. Susan has decided to make an entrance speaking their language. I'm afraid that given the slightest incentive I could really "ship" Susan and the Linch Director, for all that he's probably 25 years older than she is.

As for musical cues, the Faust is gorgeous, I did listen to it!! Thank you!

My own musical inspiration, I confess has come from two parts of the Children of Dune soundtrack by Brian Tyler

Title Track, House of Atreides
and
Arrival of Lady Jessica

I am even more musically impaired than I am visually impaired but when I abandoned this story last year, this music was part of what made me pick it up again.

Ah, now I see what the Conclave room is supposed to look like; for some reason, I juswt couldn't picture it before. Thanks :)

(I've left a review over at FF.N, so don't think I'm neglecting you here! It was lovely, as always. I really should review more often, but it would probably always be some variation on that sentence. Just be warned ;) )

I really appreciate every comment and the dialogue. Thank you, for commenting here and reviewing there.

You're most welcome :)

Wonderful chapter. More comments plus review later when today's mad running around ends, but I think it's a triumph.

Brilliant chapter. I really love the way you've got the building tension, which erupts into swirls of movement and colour. And there are so many wonderful lines from different characters. Harold stepping forward and disappearing; Jalur's hacking the door down and eating people, and the Linch's cool disinterest in the Stern's hysterics.

I can't say I really saw it coming, so I will be very interested to know more about what was driving Seth. I'm also curious about Susan's disapproval - is it that Edmund is wearing green (and thus favoring one House over another), or his tired, messy condition, or something else?

Oh, and I'm really interested in knowing if there's anything more to be revealed about Constance, given your comments about not trusting her. And if Alan Linch is that thick, and the Meryl isn't capable of independent thought, how is it that Meryl hasn't collapsed in a heap?

I realize that the Islands became very isolated during Jadis' reign, but I was surprised that there was no recognition of the Magical Beings. Personally, I would have thought that gryphons, satyrs, centaurs and all the rest would have entered the mythology of the Islands (the way fairy and folk tales are part of our cultural subconsciousness). Or is it merely that Pierce is a man of numbers and logic, and thus fairytales don't figure is in worldview?

Anyway, fabulous chapter. I've now read it over a dozen times, and I'm still finding new stuff to think about. Looking forward to reading about the why's and wherefores, and Morgan's POV.

Oh, I just thought of some other things. Edmund's words on redemption and forgiveness were very powerful. Which got me thinking that we've not yet really seen much of the early Golden Age in your worldview. We've already established that, no, the Pevensies were never 'ordinary' school children, or they wouldn't have been called. Even so, they had to get from Beruna to what and who they are here. That didn't happen without growth and mistakes and learning and forgiving one another. So I'd love to see your take (hell yes, I'm inciting : ).

It also occurs to me that all of Narnia knew about Edmund and the witch, so how is it that the bankers don't seem to know about it. Rumors have this way of getting around, so I would have thought it would be known in the Islands.

>It also occurs to me that all of Narnia knew about Edmund and the witch, so how is it that the bankers don't seem to know about it. Rumors have this way of getting around, so I would have thought it would be known in the Islands.
I beg to differ. Fact that bankers of Lone Islands know nothing about creatures living in Narnia clearly indicates that there was no communication between these lands.

Krystyna

That's true, but the bankers have dealings with Tashbaan, and mad rumors have made their way into Calormen - case in point, Pierce's ruminations re power and status etc. in chapter 10. The bankers get around when seeing their clients, and hence my point about information (albeit sometimes wild and inaccurate) getting out there. Not saying that this type of 'rumor' would necessarily be given much credence, but still...

I've been watching this play by play, as I'm sort of wrestling with an exchange between Morgan and Sallowpad. There are so many elements to this. Morgan and Edmund do discuss some of this in Two Hearts Day and back in Narnia. So, Aslan is a Lion? Really a Lion? And you really did just come from nowhere? And you really defeated the Witch? In my head canon, the Bankers are a very practical group, with no particular spirituality and no tradition of magic. At the very least, they are going to assume there is some rational, non-supernatural explanation first. For them, Aslan isn't any more or less probable than Tash and the other Calormene gods, and while the Calormenes have a healthy respect for such things (at least the Tisroc seems to in HHB), to the Bankers it's all pretty fantastical. What I am wondering, and I've not read enough fan fic to know, is whether it really is commonly reported, 10 years later, that Edmund turned traitor. The older Beasts, those who were there when the Witch claimed Edmund at the camp, and the Beavers, they know/knew. But, is that really something that is going to be commonly told? Is that part of the oral tradition that fell out? I'm assuming it is commonly known that Edmund was her prisoner but not that he was traitor? I've sort of assumed that the mercy he shows is attributed first to his title as Just -- and not the "even a traitor may mend" personal history. Thoughts?

Hmm, food for thought. I think I would land in the camp that believes that no, it was not common knowledge that Edmund had betrayed his siblings. One could make the common argument that not everyone was an upstanding citizen prior to the Witch's fall (Tumnus, anyone?) If that's the case, even the mildest of traitors could be considered more or less victims of fear. Here comes a little boy deposited at their feet, saved by Aslan, and they quickly embraced him just as much as they did his siblings.

For that matter, it's possible that his own siblings don't know the extent of what Edmund ratted to Jadis:

"Here is your brother," he said, "and -- there is no need to talk to him about what is past."

If they don't know what's all happened, what he exactly said or did, who else did?

My overdue review... I've been caught up in work, and, actually, working on a fic for the exchange. Eep! But considering I've been reading so much, it's time to give back, even if it's been a decade since I've written anything of the sort.

Loved it! The drama! The choreographed entrance! The costumes! And of course, Edmund's grandest line! Why yes, I did punch the air and scream into a pillow when he revealed himself. Oh, how I love the theater.

It's fantastic you brought Susan in, for I admit that I don't have a grasp on what your Susan in Narnia is like as much as I do of her in TSG. And Susan and Edmund working together is dangerous and exciting -- I just love their relationship.

Thank you and congrats this chapter!

--Indil

Now that's an Interesting line of thought. When I started to dissect it a little more, it's obviously all laid out there in the Aslan's camp scene (and that's bookverse and movieverse, both) so the army knew, but that does sort-of beg the question as to what percentage of the Narnian population fought (as opposed to hiding/being turned to stone/refugee in Archenland/etc.). I've read quite a bit of fic that has the betrayal as an open secret, but your point about the rescue and not talking about what was past strikes me as equally legitimate. It's a fairly fine distinction, but certainly plausible. And ten years on, memories could well have blurred significantly. I buy the scenario that you've described from the head canon, and I certainly buy the premise of the Islanders looking to the rational to explain away the mystical.

Absolutely. And exaggeration goes both ways, too. Some would take the story of his betrayal and salvation, and the subsequent battle and blow it way out of proportion ("The boy king fell at Aslan's feet, begging - crying! - for mercy. And the Great Lion bade the clouds to part, and a beam of sun shone through, bathing the boy in forgiveness! And all was good).

Whereas others, like the Islanders, would say it was all a perfectly reasonable mistake. ("Apparently, there was a misunderstanding amongst the siblings, as is wont with siblings, you know, but it all got settled in the end. It was all just a matter of getting everyone's facts straight and on the same page.)

And with time, the story could get more exaggerated, or more... well, boring and forgettable.

--Indil

I really think that Aslan's line about no need to talk of the past is incredibly significant. Would they have discussed how she seduced/tricked him with the Turkish Delight and the promise of being King? I'm thinking, no. I don't think they would discuss the nature of the betrayal, I don't think they would know it. And yes, the Witch talks about him being a traitor and such but that is the army and how much would they want to keep thinking of Edmund as traitor when he breaks her wand and almost dies? Where I"m going with this (obviously) is that Edmund's head, during the Lone Islands departure, is very much on Seth Stanleh and family betrayals, and meting out a just punishment. Tender and loving farewells, not so much.

Well given that neither one is terribly capable of communicating their emotional state, to themselves or another, that makes a good bit of sense

These are not only Witch’s words. If I recall well, Mr Beaver said that Edmund betrayed his siblings and joined the Witch when they first appeared in Aslan’s camp.
But anyway, I stand in a position, that Edmund’s betrayal wasn’t known in the country afterwards. Few reasons:
- as already mentioned, Aslan said there’s no need to talk more about it; anyone who would elaborate on this subject would go against Aslan’s straight wish; I don’t suppose that creatures which were in the camp then would be willing to do so;
- the treason was in fact against his siblings, not Narnians; so it was for them to decide whether to keep resentment against Edmund or not;
- also mentioned – just afterwards Edmund was fighting against Witch, side by side with those creatures, which were earlier in Aslan’s camp; and he was nearly killed when doing so;
- then he was made a king by Aslan himself.
How many of veterans from Beruna would be willing to spread rumores about Edmund being a traitor? Especially that none of them new precisely what happened. And even if there would be someone to speak about it, he would have grave difficulties with finding someone to listen. Just try to immagine such a situation (we’re talking about a newly appointed, long awaited king):
„You know what? He was a traitor. He...”
„How dare you?! One word more and I’ll send for guards to arrest you for laesa maiestas!”
End of conversation.

Krystyna

This is indeed the direction I'm going. I can see arguments spinning in various ways, but I think this is the most plausible. Also, while I assume Sallowpad knows, as he is older and Knows Things, the other animals are younger and so would not know the story unless someone told it. Edmund so strongly acquitted himself at Beruna and since, I can construct an argument for the story not being well know. Thank you for helping me work through this!!

That was wonderful! So much to dig into. I loved the women here, standing up against Stanleh, and Harold showing Pierce that they really are capable on their own. The revelation of King Edmund was fabulous. I especially liked the way the bankers were made to realize that they weren't the supreme authority, that Edmund, as the Law, was. The image of the black birds sitting in the rafters was great. And I am so happy that Jalur is back. Really, I loved everything. haha

Thanks!

J.Apple

Thanks so much! I'm glad you liked it! Yes, there's the whole Supreme Law of the Land thing going on, which is very much how Common Law States (like the UK and US systems) operate. I really appreciate your thoughts. Jalur is a great straight man. He's such a grumpy Tiger.

Thanks so much. The Law and the black birds developed over time in the story, but originally, one reason why I introduced the birds was that I had been affected by the visuals of the old film, Becket, with Peter O'Toole and Richard Burton as King Henry and Thomas Becket respectively. The black bird is Becket's symbol and you can see them in Canterbury cathedral. So, that's where they came from. Becket and the law and the black birds and Burton's portrayal took me to the Edmund characterization.

Thanks so much for reading and reviewing. And yes, it was nice to have the women rock a bit. it's been all male point of view and Director Meryl isn't much and Morgan really needed to show her stuff a bit.

This chapter is fantastic. What a wonderful way to end the conclave! I love how Morgan and Maeve worked together to beat down The Stanleh.

In truth, I wasn't sure about Maeve. I think I've been a little conditioned in fanfics to dislike those characters that the main characters distrust or dislike. Since Morgan hated her a bit and Jina didn't trust her I was thinking "Eh, she could be the evil would-be-murderer."

But I was actually leaning towards (and I blush to think of it) Alan Meryl as an evil mastermind in hiding, who was trying to get rid of the contract between himself and Morgan. (More of that "I don't like him because he's destined for our hero's love interest. At this point anyway.)

I never even considered Seth. I sort of considered him evil by association to Stanleh rather than truly more than just a jerk. So I congratulate you on an entertaining mystery and a bad guy well-hidden in plain sight.

I really enjoyed this chapter. Jalur threatening to eat anyone who continued to keep him from His King was just priceless and so was Morgan being so nonchalant about it when everyone else is petrified.

I also truly loved the part where Susan entered the conclave so elegantly and imperiously and saw her brother in his Harold the clerk costume and plucked at his sleeve and I can so clearly picture her face and his reaction.

Thank you for sharing this with us.
Tsornin

Thank you so much for reading and reviewing. I'll write more about my characterization and plotting issues once I finally post the whole of this arc. The story changed a lot from the original outline. The original was much more complex with Alan Meryl not as the villain, but as the prize, and really, once I wrote him, I just could not see it. Jalur is such fun to write. He is the perfect straight man. And yes, in my head, I always new it would be Susan arriving in her Most Noble Stately State. That was always in the outline, though I considered bringing Peter along. I fear I'm sort of shipping Susan and the Linch Director, for all their age difference.

Thank you so very much for sharing your thoughts.

I am still seriously loving this series.

Hmmm. Hello? You do not appear to be a spammer. Did you mean to find me? I followed the links and clicks as one does in our interconnective and interconnected age, so hello! And thank you! And how on earth did you find me? And was that a picture of the Aran Islands I saw? I almost pedaled a bike into the ocean there once, in the dark of night after a few too many pints and a long day's cycling.

And Conclave concludes with a bang

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