rthstewart | Chapter 13, Harold and Morgan

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Chapter 13, Harold and Morgan

Roses shed pollen
Ink is black-blue
Harold and Morgan both get a clue.
Here.

This one, F-list, is all for and because of you. Everyone was getting a mite frustrated and wondering, gosh, there must have been some happy times for Harold and Evil Banker Morgan of the House of Linch. So here ya go. The big reveal trope and some good times before Bad Things Happen.

Thanks so much. I never would have done this detour without the commentary here.

Two things of import. First, I return, again, to Edmund's characterization. I've hinted at it from BRD but it has become more developed in other places, including flashbacks in AW and TQSiT, in his discussions with Col. Clark, and with Morgan, several times in H&M. It's a touchy thing. I don't want him to come across as angst-ridden and wallowing but as a very active character. He received grace he did not deserve and that is a call to bestow it upon others. They all have an ability to love the deeply flawed even if they don't like the flawed very much (returning to Susan's observation about the Hummingbirds and Edmund's observation about an un-dragoned Eustace in Part 1). Edmund's capacity for grace goes very deep, in that he has the ability to love the deeply flawed in spite of and because of their flaws.

Second, consent. This is one I've danced around with since Chapter 4 of BRD with Peter and the Dryad, Dinan. When I first wrote that segment by the pond, I knew I was pushing a boundary, a little. Still my biggest concern wasn't pre-marital relations at all. It never entered my head. I was worried I would get hit with the fact that she was his subject and so her consent must be suspect. Pretty funny, huh? It was not enough to assume that Peter was a good guy character. I knew I had to go further, to show something done expressly, joyously, and freely in a relationship with an inherent and unresolvable imbalance of power. I was so innocent in the ways of this fandom and each time I've bumped up against this issue, I keep thinking, "Is someone going to call me out on a lack of proper consent?"

So here I threw caution to the wind and went there. We as readers know Morgan doesn't feel coerced. Harold is not written as a coercive character (though he does throw his royal weight around and some of the behavior is pushy (I don't think he crosses the line to stalker, but I have something written out about that if FB indicates otherwise). The point is that, as he bluntly acknowledges, they have an inherently imbalanced relationship and he tries to put safeguards in place so that Morgan is both protected and empowered, and may reject him without fear of repercussion.

So, that's all folks! Back to the NBB. The end is nigh!

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YES!

Excuse me, I must dash off and read it. I promise I'll review. Thank you!

Thanks so much for going to the effort to review! FF.net did NOT make it easy. I'm so glad you like Morgan. I wondered if maybe she was too socially adept as compared to earlier chapters... Clio had made the point that you did -- that Edmund is pretty imperial and that he confuses her lack of demands with emotional sufficiency. But they do both try.

As for his inked hands, I should make that clearer -- which I can do now that ff.net seems to be working again. Grrrr. My idea was that he had to brew test batches to perfect it. And even if it does come out, he's been doing A LOT of ink brewing and the stuff is everywhere.

anyway, thank you so much for going back and reviewing. I HUGELY appreciate it. I really wanted people to get this and to like it, so thanks.

That it didn't - I had my whole review typed up and saved as a text document all day waiting for FFN to let me log in. At least it did in the end. And you're most welcome. I like reviewing for you.

I don't think Morgan is "too" socially adept compared to before - I think she's grown, but is definitely still herself. If she hadn't become a bit better at it I think she'd be much less delightful even aside from the "get a clue!" frustrations. The thing is, I didn't really notice her growth, if that tells you anything about how natural it seems ;)

Ah yes, that'd make sense; tests that stained but a result that didn't. Thanks for clearing it up.

Thanks for writing this! I love seeing Edmund and Morgan together, trying to understand each other. This meeting would be incredibly hard for both of them. I'm glad Edmund's decided to court Morgan deliberately.

Thanks so much! It was strange to write something so very romantic, well at least for them. It was fun!

I've never given any thought to Peter, Dinan and the consent issue to be honest. (This is probably because your Peter has been written/built up as such a noble and selfless person that I assumed he had made sure anything that occurred would be with the agreement of his partner.)

As for Edmund, well, I think we've already seen hints of his protectiveness for his people (lovers, killers, and everything else in between) and making sure that the other party can freely express themselves without fear of unfair treatment by their King. After all, he made it very clear to Pierce his thoughts about the joint venture between Alan and Morgan, and in a more minor way, how he offered to help Maeve and Pierce if they wanted to go into business on their own without fear of raising the ire of their Houses.

What I didn't mention in my review (as it occurred to me only after I submitted it) is that Edmund telling Morgan of his past seemed to be the first real honest and very personal conversation between the two of them that they didn't really need interpreters for. Morgan seemed to understand quite well what Edmund was saying and she knew why he thought she would leave him after the revelation and yet she made it clear to him that now knowing this was not an obstacle to their relationship. For his part, I approved of Edmund and his attempts at formally wooing his Lady. It was not easy for him but he was rewarded by her genuine delight at his belated Two Hearts Day gift and finally, both of them know the other truly feels.

Gawd, it's all so romantic, isn't it? There is a development here. They are both trying really hard and I wondered if maybe Morgan had developed too much. I dunno. There is growth to her character. She does get better and I think the support and friendship of the Narnians does help her. And she is pleased that Edmund is interested in her. He is, as I mentioned above, probably assuming too much about her seeming lack of demands. I think Morgan seriously devalues her emotional needs.

He does still come across as imperial and a little arrogant and very male, but that's part of the character -- he's maybe 22 here? 23? He's a young and very responsible guy, but still very much a guy and a King.

As for the consent, as I wrote below, the whole mention of Dinan, first in Part 1 and then in BRD was written to deliberately make her the aggressor because I did not want to address consent and the inherent imbalance of power. That was my solution to avoiding the issue.

Thank you so much!! It's been really hard to deal with the site lately and I really appreciate it!!!

Given what's been written about Dinan, I always figured she jumped him and if anyone needed to worry about consent...

ROFL. I always assumed Dinan cornered Peter at a revel, with a follow up royal audience or two.

13 exceeded expectations and the inkwell was particularly delightful. For someone who isn't a romantic Harold does quite nicely.

Doctor dolly

It's funny you both say that about Dinan. The assumption is correct and I wrote her that way precisely to be clear that it was not coercive. Back in Part 1 when I wrote Edmund and Lucy speaking of her and then the actual appearance in BRD I deliberately wrote her as the aggressor.

And thanks! I'm glad you liked it. FF.net went down which means no commentary or FB since last night which means I won't get much which means obviously I suck and should stop writing and go back to baking cookies and regulatory consulting as I'm better suited to that and it's obviously God's will that I chuck the laptop and all my writing into the river. I really hate when this happens. I've also spotted typos I can't fix and it's all just so very, very depressing. Fatalistic much? Why yes!!

Great job! I'm so proud of Haroldmund and Morgan for finally getting things together! Review to follow

Thanks so much! The site if finally up again. I've been very angry about it. I assume it's the will of God telling me to give up fan fic.

Nonononononono! Do not give up fan fic! Reading your work is what keeps me sane some days: gives me something to read that is simultaneously intelligent, fun at times, sad at times, easy to read, and full of relatable characters.

Also, it's a good thing you notify of updates on here, since I didn't get an alert from ff.net.

I'd wager more than one Shiny you don't mean that, and would be prepared to offer considerably more as a bribe to continue in case you do!! Re(re)reading your Narnia and Spare Oom stories makes a joy of my commute, and anything Harold and Morgan is like a delicious dark chocolate-covered treat. Like marzipan, for instance... Where was I going with this? Erm... While I think on that, you just keep writing! Pretty please with dark chocolate on top.
~Syrena

P.S. still want a sonnet for Susan?

Thanks so much, Syrena! Given the problems at FF.net this week, I haven't heard from most of the usual readers over there and I'm so happy that you weight in over here. I'm glad you liked it. I did enjoy it and I wondered if maybe it disappointed readers. It came really easily to me, especially after the long slog with the NBB. On the other hand, I did a lot of editing of the final reveal between them, too.

As for the sonnet, I only have two poems and could use a third, but it's no big deal, truly. I was trying edit one to fit what I needed it to do in the story and I realized how really, really terrible I am at poetry. It's pathetic.

But it's no big deal.

Thank you again for reading.

Fabulous chapter, I'm so happy to see this update. The "research" phase is utterly embarrassing, and their cluelessness had me going *facepalm*.

Love the way you've handled the betrayal. I had wondered how this might play out, but it's very in keeping with the head canon you described in an earlier post, so I found it very satisfying.

The other little touches are very nice too: Rafe Linch an Susan, Peridan v. Tumnus, the ink and pollen, otters, oranges and Jezebel. Delightful : )

Thanks so much! And I HUGELY appreciate you weighing in over on ff.net. The ff.net was acting up so I think an awful lot of people decided it wasn't worth the bother.

There are a lot of details here that are specific to the relationship. The reveal is one I'd thought about and someone else pointed out that at this point, 10 years out a lot of the Beasts who are around them don't know the story as they weren't born yet. And we had a post that went around about this -- I'm assuming that the betrayal of King Edmund isn't a story that was told much in the oral traditions? If they were there, they knew. But even at Aslan's big camp, how many really understood what was going on? They knew Edmund wasn't there, they knew there was a rescue mission. How many even knew that Aslan went to the Stone Table? Or specifically that he did it for Edmund? I'm guessing that crucial bit -- Edmund first betrayed them all to the Witch was something that wasn't widely known.

Head canon, anyway.

Thank you again.

It's so lovely to see Harold and Morgan again, and thanks so much for showing them working things out! I love that we get to see Morgan wrestle with the conflict between her thoughts and her feelings. And particularly that she takes advantage of her independent role in Archenland and resents him dragging her up to the high table (which at the same time seems completely in character and even not unreasonable for Edmund).

Tons of great character moments for both of them (Maeve? Really? amused me each time). Never investing in anything that eats. I love that Morgan actually did notice that Edmund was wearing nicer than usual clothing.

On the topic of consent, the "It's good to be kind" line (which Peter never actually said) did sort of allude to the issue, but Dinan herself came across, as everyone had noted, as the aggressor. Which really seemed to be one of the few ways Peter could allow himself a casual lover at all (and I mean that as how he would think of it himself, not as an external ethical judgement).

As far as the other characters, I also loved that Susan wanted Peter's approval of Director Linch, but didn't want to say so directly. And it's nice to see Peter find that kind of friend/advisor as well.

The revelation of Mr. Hoberry's past involvement with Mr. Noll was a touching and unexpected highlight. I don't think this had been mentioned before? If it had, I missed it, and the surprise in this scene worked to its advantage. The glimpse into life under the White Witch was also fascinating.

But really, the absolute best part of the confrontation-of-Edmund scene was Fooh's utterly sincere confusion. All the more hysterically funny for it *not* being an example of him being young an naive, not really. No one else gets it either. Certainly not Edmund.

Also, "their ...ship" Oh no, no denial there.

Thanks again for the fic, and really looking forward to the results of the Big Bang!

And of course I forgot to comment on one of the biggest points, Edmund's traitorous history and its reveal. I do find it fascinating how secret it is in this version. But really, very few people were in a position to know what was going on, and Aslan did specifically instruct all to move forward and leave it behind. But I'm glad to see Morgan bring up the difference in ages between Edmund and the traitors and criminals he now judges. I think it's something that is often glossed over, even in the actual books (perhaps because having the reader dismiss the main characters' actions over their age would have been counter to the entire point). But, as Morgan insists, it's really not the same thing, even though it was traumatic and horrifying.

And I love that Morgan does eventually see, without Edmund spelling it out, how it all fits with Seth. And I love even more that Morgan is already quite willing to dump blame on Aslan (and really, who expects a petulant 10-year old to resist temptation?).

It is WONDERFUL to hear from you. I hope all is well? All projects done? Good holiday?

Your thoughts on Edmund and Morgan have been so valuable so I'm glad you read it and that it worked for you. I talked a little bit above in response to Min about the reveal and how many would have known. I'm assuming that it's not a tale that's told and so the younger beasts, born since Beruna, probably don't know it at all. Among the older beasts, how many would have really understood what happened at Aslan's camp in the meeting with the Witch. She says the traitor belongs to her, but how many actually would have heard that? Or understood it? And how many would have known that Aslan even went to the Stone Table. I'm assuming it's just not a lot.

As to the backstory of Noll -- he's been part of a head canon story Black White and the Grey In Between that I began years ago. It's hinted at in Palace Guard. Noll is the Faun on the night duty who Jalur greets when he enters the palace. Edmund tells Morgan in an AW flashback that Noll was part of the ring of Mole spies and that he took his own life. In a form of rough and uncomfortable justice, the party that apprehended the mole spies and Noll killed one of the moles in cold blood. I'd wanted to write the story in part as a reaction to the stories that have execution in the Narnian judicial code. I disagree with that pretty strongly and so have wanted to address that issue in a story where they wrestle with it and dismiss. A part of the challenge is that Noll's group was responsible for Merle's death so Edmund is VERY personally involved.

I'd assumed that Noll and Hoberry had been together for years and years and that something terrible snapped inside Noll and he began selling secrets to Calormen interests -- the same faction behind Col's disappearance and the political backstory hinted at in the Lone Islands part of H&M.

Anyway and last, I'm glad you liked Morgan's development here. I just couldn't keep writing her as continually clueless. There needed to be some growth and development. Clio pointed out that one issue here is that Edmund is mistaking the ease and lack of emotional scenes in their ...ship as an indicia of Morgan's emotional self-sufficiency when that's not the case. Morgan and Edmund both approach this so intellectually, they both have problems being honest about their emotions or even admitting to them. Morgan is the sort who continually concludes, it's my problem, not his. The fact that she does stick to her guns and tell him is, I guess, a big step for her. Maybe too big. But we need to the move the story along and people did want to see some of the good before I start killing characters again.

A component of this, I think, is consistent with her character as written. Edmund does trust her even if he intuitively doesn't really understand that he does so because she is so loyal to him. To her, there was never anyone else, there never will be anyone else. She's not blind to his flaws but does, as she says, see a goodness and greatness. Once she knows the truth she is smart enough to draw the connections between past and current behavior. It's still an intellectual puzzle, more than an emotional challenge but she handles puzzles well.

So, again, thanks so much.

I can see her handle an intellectual puzzle far better than an emotinal challenge - I guess this helps her. And keeping her undeveloped would be to have her as some one-dimensional comic relief, which perhaps is what you started her as, but which changed very soon. Fortunately.

I guess that she has learned something from the Narnians over the time she has been with them. They have tried to encourage her, haven't they? They have certainly tried to help, and they aren't really sure that their interpretation help won't be needed just now. But I can see that Edmund wouldn't want to share his past with them at the same time as sharing it with Morgan. He needn't share with them at all, but if he chose to, he would do that separately. And it makes sense that he only shares with Morgan.

"To her, there was never anyone else, there never will be anyone else."

She doesn't easily invest emotionally, so when she does, it's her final decision. It's good to see her in a time when she gets some return for her investment.

She doesn't easily invest emotionally, so when she does, it's her final decision. It's good to see her in a time when she gets some return for her investment.

This. Perfect. Thank you

And yes, initially, she was to have been one shot comic relief. I'm glad I didn't stay in that mindset for long but I would have never pushed it further were it not for readers.

It's fascinating how an untold story can be such a key point (without necessarily needing to be told, although I'd happily read it if it were to appear). I remembered Noll being the traitor, and that he had a cameo somewhere before that- it was his involvement with Mr. Hoberry that was such an effective revelation here. And thanks for a few more peeks into the story with the moles.

I do like how Edmund and Morgan have trouble thinking that the other is feeling just as confused and conflicted as they are. I don't think Morgan's development is too big of a step here- it feels natural, given all of her time around Jina and other Talking animals that have given her some social experience that she can actually handle. And I love that she gets bravery points for hugging Jalur. And the Otter! How did the little blighter manage the journey with no one killing him, I do wonder.

As for me, yes all projects (of the overwhelming, free-time draining sort) are done, and things have finally calmed down. I have a whole week off in a few weeks in which to do Absolutely Nothing, which I will enjoy greatly. Perhaps it will be enough mental space to get me writing again- I certainly hope so. I've been poking at it but haven't quite found my route back in yet. But I still very much need to tell the story of Jill and Eustace coming back from the Last Battle in the Everyone Lives AU. So stay tuned....

And thank you again for developing this part of H&M!

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Chapter 13, Harold and Morgan

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