Tirian-Edmund. So much Millitime.

[last_king]

More than a month in Milliways, and the House of Arch, and Tirian is still prone to fits of restlessness and wanting to be somwhere (home) doing something (fighting for Narnia, even if it means dying for her).

Currently he's prowling the House's library, hoping to combat the feeling by finding something interesting to read.

Comments

[iustus_rex]

Edmund has read every book in his room. (Some of them twice.)

So he has a small armload of books to return to the library, and the intention of borrowing at least as many to replace them.

He hasn't been consciously avoiding everyone, but he's mostly succeeded in doing so all the same. He doesn't really expect to run into anyone here.

[last_king]

Tirian is standing off to one side, bent over the book that's open in his hands.

When Edmund walks in, he glances up, and then offers a polite half-bow.

[iustus_rex]

Edmund half-bows in automatic response, because that sort of politeness is ingrained once you have been a king in Narnia.

And then he gets a proper look at the other man's face, and his eyes widen.

"By the Mane -- Tirian?"

[last_king]

Tirian blinks, uncertain.

"Do I know you, sir?"

[iustus_rex]

Oh bloody hell, it's another muddle about times. Milliways is worse than even Narnia about that.

"I've heard about you from some very good friends, sir, though perhaps you don't know me. It's the usual Milliways problem with times, I should think."

And even that may be giving away more than he ought, depending on when Tirian is from, but it's too late now.

Edmund offers another bow, this one a little deeper and a good deal less absent-minded, with a small smile. "I am Edmund, once king of Narnia, and so we are kinsman of a sort."

[last_king]

Tirian doesn't seem entirely satisfied by Edmund's explanation, but it so happens Edmund has just offered a very good distraction.

His eyes widen slightly, and he bows again, deeper and more formal.

"My lord--it's an honor to meet you."

[iustus_rex]

"And you," Edmund answers easily, and with clear sincerity.

And spares a brief moment to be thankful he's not Peter; it's strange enough for him to meet Narnians who regard him as a legend, but at least he doesn't have to talk them out of bowing to him as High King.

"How are you finding it here?"

His glance takes in Tirian's book and the room at large, inviting Tirian to interpret that as broadly or narrowly as he likes.

[last_king]

"Well enough," Tirian says. "It's been...something of an adjustment, but there's been little I've found truly unpleasant."

[iustus_rex]

"Capital."

Edmund pauses.

And then says, more tentatively, "This is rather an awkward question, but -- when are you here from? I mean, how is Narnia?"

[last_king]

And here Tirian looks aside, swallowing.

"I regret that I can tell you little for certain, and not much of that is good, my lord. I arrived here from the midst of a battle, and the outcome did not look hopeful."

[iustus_rex]

Well. That's that.

"Narnia has faced long odds before," Edmund says, but it comes out more bleakly than he quite wants it to.

Because, of course, he knows how this ends. And for all the joy of the new world, outside of Aslan's Country he grieves for the old.

[last_king]

Tirian gives a wry, faint smile.

"So she has. I did my best not to lose heart then, and I will do the same, as long as I am here."

[iustus_rex]

Edmund's half-smile mirror's Tirian's, and fades.

"There is always hope. In Narnia, and in Aslan."

[last_king]

Tirian nods, his own smile widening a bit.

"Aye, there is."