The Magnificent, A Father

The Aerial

The High Queen of the Zephyrs descended from the cerulean, emerald bough trimmed skies. The sound of her striking the ground caused Caspian to gulp. Out of the corner of his eye, he turned to Peter and desperately wished that the High King would step up and help him deal with this diplomatic incident. Oh, she was fearsome.

Eagles's wings flew from her back, their tips gilded and stiff with the precious metal. Her eyes were blood red, and her features were frigid with a deathlike chill. Her dress was the silver blue of the rich winter skies, woven out of feathery metal scales all equally delicate and resourceful in rebuffing a blade. By her side, a double-edged sword hung and her hand rested there constantly, her features a guarded aquiline.

Behind her, three other Zephyrs descended while the rest flew in rotation above the clouds. Edmund lifted his black brows to look at them and an unconscious laugh slipped from him. He could only imagine what frights the superstitious Telmarines were being subjected to. 

The Aerial looked imposingly and expectantly at Caspian. She seemed to await some measure that was due to her. 

But one look at Caspian's face gave evidence that he was so overwhelmed by her masterful presence that he could say nothing.

Elain cocked one silver eyebrow and then spoke frigidly, " Are you going to welcome me at all? Do you not realize that I am a queen and deserving of the observance of some customs despite the ruggedness of this court?" 

Caspian gave a sound like a beaching whale and then gasped, " Welcome, your majesty-oh I can't do this!" And he started shaking and just decided that it was best to bow as soon as he could.

One of the younger Zephyrs behind Elain laughed and then quickly covered her face. Golden hair and ice blue eyes rimmed with scarlet were her most distinguishing features. Besides this she shared the chillness of her kin and their glacial appearance. 

Elain's exterior cracked and she allowed an a kindly smile to decorate her features. " Thank you for your greeting. I hope that I did not frighten you, my lord. Who are you?"

" I am Caspian, King of Narnia," he replied still not daring to rise from his deep bow.

Elain's eyes turned bright red and then she moved forward menacingly. " Caspian is a Telmarine name. I hope that I am sure in assuming that you are half-Telmarine? Perhaps your mother or your father is Narnian?"

Caspian gulped painfully and caught Peter's gaze out of the corner of his eye. Peter's fixed and concerned look did nothing to ease the discomfort that was welling up within him. " No, I am completely Telmarine."

Elain's temper flashed forward and she leaned down towards Caspian's feature, one slim finger lifting his head so that black eyes stared fearfully into icy blood. " No Telmarine can be King of the Narnians. No Narnian would dare accept such a treacherous whelp." And then she yanked him up so that she held him as though she was parading a sideshow.

Peter moved forward, his golden brown hair billowing in the winds stirred up by the descending Zephyrs who had heard the fierce words of their queen. " He has been accepted and chosen by the Narnians. And his kingship has been become by us and our consorts. Caspian the Tenth is King of  Narnia." His inflection was commanding and he met the terrible eyes of the queen before him. Though his heart was sick with her potential reply, Peter did not dare allow Caspian to suffer by her prejudice.

Elain released Caspian and her eyes pinioned upon Peter's. With reptilian swiftness, they scanned both Peter and Edmund before flickering to her guards behind her. " High King Peter the Magnificent. Edmund." She bowed slightly to the younger before her snake-like eyes once again moved to the King. " I see that you have finally returned from War Drobe. I am surprised. I thought, perhaps, the wonders of Spare Oom more than made up for the confinements of your throne."