[Fic] "The Consolation of Philosophy" -- Chronicles of Narnia/Harry Potter
It's time for another tiny installment in Edmund and Ginny Go to Harfang. :)
Written 3/25/18, in response to the
genprompt_bingo square introspection. (300 words)
[ETA: the AO3 crosspost is now up!]
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The Consolation of Philosophy
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"My sin? Pride, naturally," Coriakin said as he unrolled a brilliantly colored map over his banqueting table. "They all come to pride at the root -- to thinking that we alone know best and others' needs or wants signify nothing when set against our own. Even when masquerading as a virtue -- the desire to take all suffering onto oneself and so spare others pain -- it remains a magnification of one's own ego over anything that others wish."
"I know a dozen people who could stand to learn that last part," Ginny said without looking up from the pages of Coriakin's grimoire. "A baker's dozen, really, if I'm honest and include myself. It's funny how often people do the worst things from the best intentions."
"Mmm," Edmund said, peering down at the painted expanse of ocean, broken here and there by the green rise of islands that seemed almost real enough to touch the closer he examined them. "And then there are the ones who don't bother with any such pretense, who simply reach for whatever they want, and damn anyone who stands in the way." As he and Jadis had both done. Her reach had been far greater than his, but petty cruelty stung those it touched just as deeply, especially coming from one they loved. "I suppose the real trick is to avoid falling into one form of pride while trying to avoid the other. And speaking of falling, are you two quite sure your magics will mesh well enough to transport us to Ettinsmoor without dropping us into a trackless waste of water?"
"I am not still so proud as to assume I can foresee all possible circumstances, let alone command them," Coriakin said, "but I think, on the whole, yes."
Behind him, Ginny twirled her wand and smiled.
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End of Ficlet
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Spoiler: they are not going to land in Ettinsmoor. *evil laughter*
If you want to comment on this post, you can do so over here on Dreamwidth, where there are currently (
comments)
Written 3/25/18, in response to the
genprompt_bingo square introspection. (300 words)
[ETA: the AO3 crosspost is now up!]
---------------------------------------------
The Consolation of Philosophy
---------------------------------------------
"My sin? Pride, naturally," Coriakin said as he unrolled a brilliantly colored map over his banqueting table. "They all come to pride at the root -- to thinking that we alone know best and others' needs or wants signify nothing when set against our own. Even when masquerading as a virtue -- the desire to take all suffering onto oneself and so spare others pain -- it remains a magnification of one's own ego over anything that others wish."
"I know a dozen people who could stand to learn that last part," Ginny said without looking up from the pages of Coriakin's grimoire. "A baker's dozen, really, if I'm honest and include myself. It's funny how often people do the worst things from the best intentions."
"Mmm," Edmund said, peering down at the painted expanse of ocean, broken here and there by the green rise of islands that seemed almost real enough to touch the closer he examined them. "And then there are the ones who don't bother with any such pretense, who simply reach for whatever they want, and damn anyone who stands in the way." As he and Jadis had both done. Her reach had been far greater than his, but petty cruelty stung those it touched just as deeply, especially coming from one they loved. "I suppose the real trick is to avoid falling into one form of pride while trying to avoid the other. And speaking of falling, are you two quite sure your magics will mesh well enough to transport us to Ettinsmoor without dropping us into a trackless waste of water?"
"I am not still so proud as to assume I can foresee all possible circumstances, let alone command them," Coriakin said, "but I think, on the whole, yes."
Behind him, Ginny twirled her wand and smiled.
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End of Ficlet
---------------------------------------------
Spoiler: they are not going to land in Ettinsmoor. *evil laughter*
If you want to comment on this post, you can do so over here on Dreamwidth, where there are currently (
comments)