She does not always come to these things. Edmund found her in a tree only a few hours before the Calormen arrived, her feet dangling as she talked to the dryad of the tree, and convinced her to come down, to change from her petticoats and her bodice into a proper dress, to come and sit on her throne and not leave it empty when the Prince Radabash came courting. I could go there in my underthings, she says, and Edmund quips that it certainly would be one way to make people look at her instead of at Susan. She does not like that particular comment, but she goes and changes anyway, into a midnight blue dress and her jewelry all diamonds like stars.
Lucy does not like watching the retinue come into the castle. She does not like knowing that so many of those people are slaves, when slavery is illegal in Narnia and will always be illegal in Narnia. She does not like the way that Radabash looks at Susan, no matter how much Susan looks back at him in almost the same way, which is surprising. Susan is not easily swayed with pretty words.
She thinks they will be here a month, for parties, and for courting, and hunts, and Lucy is already exhausted, right until-
-he's so tall. And he doesn't stop looking at her, even when he is gifted to Susan, as if a human can be a gift. Susan blushes, and Peter looks distinctly uncomfortable, and so do all the other Narnians, but Lucy can't keep her eyes off him. There is something about this man that makes her think he is more, and better. He is certainly no one from Calormen.
Susan accepts all the gifts, the flowers and fruits and smoked meats and jewels, and the party starts, and it's a whirl. Lucy waits as Susan opens the dancing, she waits as Edmund makes noises about slavery, she waits until her own guards finally go to mingle, she waits, remarkably patient, until she spots that man, that guard who is meant to stay in Narnia if Susan does not marry him and comes up near him.
He is so much taller than she is, and she reaches and touches his wrist, gently.]
Will you accompany me, please?
[There's a balcony, wide, with benches, and the air is cool and crisp.]
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She does not always come to these things. Edmund found her in a tree only a few hours before the Calormen arrived, her feet dangling as she talked to the dryad of the tree, and convinced her to come down, to change from her petticoats and her bodice into a proper dress, to come and sit on her throne and not leave it empty when the Prince Radabash came courting. I could go there in my underthings, she says, and Edmund quips that it certainly would be one way to make people look at her instead of at Susan. She does not like that particular comment, but she goes and changes anyway, into a midnight blue dress and her jewelry all diamonds like stars.
Lucy does not like watching the retinue come into the castle. She does not like knowing that so many of those people are slaves, when slavery is illegal in Narnia and will always be illegal in Narnia. She does not like the way that Radabash looks at Susan, no matter how much Susan looks back at him in almost the same way, which is surprising. Susan is not easily swayed with pretty words.
She thinks they will be here a month, for parties, and for courting, and hunts, and Lucy is already exhausted, right until-
-he's so tall. And he doesn't stop looking at her, even when he is gifted to Susan, as if a human can be a gift. Susan blushes, and Peter looks distinctly uncomfortable, and so do all the other Narnians, but Lucy can't keep her eyes off him. There is something about this man that makes her think he is more, and better. He is certainly no one from Calormen.
Susan accepts all the gifts, the flowers and fruits and smoked meats and jewels, and the party starts, and it's a whirl. Lucy waits as Susan opens the dancing, she waits as Edmund makes noises about slavery, she waits until her own guards finally go to mingle, she waits, remarkably patient, until she spots that man, that guard who is meant to stay in Narnia if Susan does not marry him and comes up near him.
He is so much taller than she is, and she reaches and touches his wrist, gently.]
Will you accompany me, please?
[There's a balcony, wide, with benches, and the air is cool and crisp.]