They feasted and drank, danced and laughed until the wee hours of the morning celebrating their victory and the return of Prince Cor. By the end of the evening Cor had heard the story of his kidnapping more than ten times and shared his whereabouts more times than he could remember. 

Raised in Calormen by a fisherman who sold him right the day he escaped. Imira couldn't even fathom. She had questions, so many questions, as well as an ardent urge for revenge she, unlike the others, had not quenched during the battle outside the castle gate, but just as her vengeance was out of place at a celebration, so were her questions. 

All but one. 

Imira approached Edmund from the side. He stood by the banquet table, searching for wine. 

"Where is Rabadash?" She asked Edmund in a whisper. 

"Locked up in a room somewhere," Edmund picked up the wine jug and filled his goblet. "Why do you ask?" he asked and took a sip. 

"You didn't kill him," Not a question but a statement. One laced with accusation. 

Edmund took a big sip. 

"No, I didn't," Edmund said and refilled his goblet. 

"Why?" Imira questioned. 

"The battle was over, we had won," he looked at her at last. 

"You should have killed him," Imira said, her lips slightly pulling to the side in annoyance. 

He stared quietly at her. "Probably," he said a moment later. 

"Will Lune have him executed?" Imira asked in a hushed tone. 

He took a deep breath and exhaled loudly. "You'll have to ask him," Edmund said and lazily walked away from the table. 

"I shouldn't," she said, easily keeping up with him. 

"Why not? You asked me," he said, his wrist resting idly on the pommel of his sword.

"To sense the waters," Imira explained. 

"I don't think he has made up his mind yet," Edmund said. "But you clearly have," 

"I know what I want, but I haven't decided yet what I should want," Imira said. 

He hummed in agreement. "Right there with you. I also want him dead," he brought his goblet to his lips. 

"But we can't have that," Imira said. 

"Not unless Lune decides so," Edmund glanced at the King. "And with this outcome, I don't think he has the stomach for it. And then there are the repercussions to consider. He has all the right to his head and we would back him, but Calormen is powerful. Lune has a difficult choice to make; one I do not envy," 

"He can't just let him go, that would show weakness," Imira argued as if it was Edmund she had to convince. "He cannot go unpunished. If the situations were reversed, they would not keep prisoners," 

"They might. As insurance," Edmund said and took a sip. 

"From what I know about him, I have a feeling he would make for a terrible political prisoner," Imira commented. 

"Do you have any better ideas?" Edmund asked. 

"No," Imira admitted. "But perhaps they will," she looked at Lucy and Peridan, chatting by the garden fountain. 

--------------------

"Speak plainly," Edmund demanded, stretching his legs before him. 

He sat opposite to Imira, in the common room outside his and Lucy's guest rooms. They had explained the proposal they had come up with to Lucy and Peridan, but neither looked convinced. 

"I don't think Lune would like that. I know I wouldn't," Lucy said. 

Peridan nodded. 

"And you agree," Edmund turned to Peridan, his tone more defensive than he intended. 

The bite in Edmund's tone took Peridan aback, but when he glanced at Imira and found amusement in her eyes, he relaxed. "I just don't think he'd like to share a roof with his enemy," Peridan replied. "I wouldn't," 

Imira had to nod at that. 

"And if he is kept alive, someone will attempt to free him. Prince Rabadash is many things, but he is not a defeatist," Peridan continued. "He won't stay here quietly. I overheard the servants earlier, he's a caged beast in that room," 

"He can't be sent back without punishment," Edmund exclaimed and a dark idea crossed Imira's mind. One that scared her. 

What if we have him killed? 

A midnight assassination, a poisoning, maybe smothering him in his sleep? She didn't dare say it out loud, not even to Edmund, the only one she figured might understand. But the thought was there: what if? And it worried her. 

"He is not our prisoner, he is Lune's. What happens to him is, fortunately, not our decision to make," Lucy reminded them. 

"It's not," Imira stood. "It is, however, our concern. Whatever decision Lune makes will affect us," she stood behind Edmund's chair. 

"Exactly. Rabadash attacked Archenland, but that was not his goal. Susan was," Edmund said. 

"Yes, but his actions didn't affect us," Lucy said. 

"Fortunately," Imira pointed out. 

"Didn't they? We fought outside this castle. He could have killed me. He came this close. Had he not gotten caught in the wall, this conversation would be very different. Like it or not, we are entwined with Archenland in this," Edmund said. 

"I know," Lucy said, getting exasperated. "And I am not saying we are not. I am just reminding you, King Lune is the one who will decide. We should not tell him what to do or give an opinion unless he asks for one," 

"I never said we should," Edmund said. "And that is exactly what we are doing, agreeing on which opinion we should have if he asks us for one," 

"And we all have to have the same opinion?" Lucy asked, crossing a leg. 

"We just figured this is the best viable solution," Imira said, leaning against Edmund's chair. "I mean, if you have a better one, Lu, please share," 

"What you propose is a merciful solution," Lucy said, "I'm not saying it is not a good idea, I just don't think it might not be the appropriate one for this situation," 

"It's not a bad idea," Peridan added. "I certainly cannot come up with a better one, unless having him killed counts," Imira looked at him with interest, "but I don't think King Lune would like that either. If you offer it, it will make you look good. King Lune is unlikely to take it, but it is a good answer to give should he ask," 

"I agree with you," Imira whispered to him. 

"With what, My Lady?" Peridan asked. 

"Having him killed would be the best solution," Imira said. 

Peridan stopped and stared at her. 

"I thought it but you dared to say it," Imira continued. "I thought you should know that I agree with you. Would you go through with it?" she asked. 

"Your Majesty, I–" Peridan began, but she interrupted him. 

"Simple question, yes or no?" 

"If you command it," Peridan said. 

Imira smiled. "Meaning if the responsibility would lie on me," she said. 

Peridan nodded. 

"I didn't know you could be so ruthless," Imira smirked and laced her arm with his. "I do not command it," she clarified. "I wish for him to drop dead, but I will not order it," she added in a conspiratorial whisper. 

"So, you're marrying Susan?" Imira changed the subject.  

"I am," 

"Shouldn't you be on your way to Cair than?" she asked. 

"I want to. But I also want to see this business with Prince Rabadash concluded before I return to Susan," Peridan said. 

"It would have saved us all a big trouble if you had just told Susan from the start," Imira said. "But then you wouldn't have found Prince Cor so, who knows. Maybe all of this was necessary," 

"Wondering what if is never useful," Peridan said. 

"No, it's not," Imira agreed. "King Peridan. Has a nice ring to it," 

He snorted. "I think not," 

She looked at him questioningly. 

"Suppose the others get married," Peridan looked to Edmund and Lucy, "is Narnia to have eight kings and queens?" 

"That would be problematic," she acknowledged. 

"Indeed," 

"What title then?" Imira asked. 

"I do not need any other title," Peridan said. 

"I didn't need one either, but it has its perks," 

"Undoubtedly," he agreed. 

"We shall think of something," Imira said. "I've no doubt everyone will agree you should get a new one," 

--------------------

Imira arrived with Edmund for lunch on the terrace the following morning and was surprised to see a young Calormen girl approaching with Lucy. 

"That must be the calormen girl Cor spoke of," Edmund said to her. 

"What if she's a spy?" Imira whispered. After all, the Tirsoc had previously managed to infiltrate spies to the Archenlander court. 

Edmund snorted. "Don't let your prejudice show," 

"Don't let your prejudice show," she whispered back and smiled at the approaching Calormen girl. 

"This is Aravis," Lucy introduced. "She fled Calormen with Cor. Aravis, this is my brother King Edmund and this is our sister-in-law, High Queen Imira," 

"Your Majesties," Aravis curtsied gracefully in the Calormen fashion. 

"Prince Cor told us about your trip," Edmund said. "It is good that you four could make the crossing," 

"An Archenlander Prince, a Calormen girl and two talking horses venture into the desert, sounds like the start of a bad joke," Imira said. 

"It certainly felt like being in one," Aravis said easily. 

Imira claimed her seat to Edmund's right, across from Corin and soon after, everyone sat for lunch. Lucy sat on the King's right and Aravis on his left. King Edmund sat at one end of the table and the Lord Darrin faced him at the other. Dar and Peridan and Cor and Corin were on the same side as the King. Cold birds and cold game pie and wine and bread and cheese was the meal and, once everyone had had their fill King Lune ruffled up his brow and heaved a sigh and said, "We have still that sorry creature Rabadash on our hands, my friends, and we must resolve what to do with him,"

"Your Majesty would have a perfect right to strike off his head," said Peridan. "Such an assault as he made puts him on a level with assassins." 

"What he did was treason," Imira agreed. "He had no right to invade you," 

"It is very true," said Edmund. "But even a traitor may mend. I have known one that did." And he looked very thoughtful. 

"To kill this Rabadash would go near to raising war with the Tisroc," said Darrin.

"A fig for the Tisroc," said King Lune. "His strength is in numbers and numbers will never cross the desert. But I have no stomach for killing men in cold blood. To have cut his throat in the battle would have eased my heart mightily: but this is a different thing."  

"By my counsel," said Lucy, "your Majesty shall give him another trial. Let him go free on strait promise of fair dealing in the future. It may be that he will keep his word."

"Maybe Apes will grow honest, Sister," said Edmund. "But, by the Lion, if he breaks it again, it may be in such time and place that any of us could swap off his head in clean battle."

"It shall be tried," said the King: and then to one of the attendants, "Send for the prisoner, friend." 

Rabadash was brought before them in chains. To look at him anyone would have supposed that he had passed the night in a noisome dungeon without food or water; but in reality he had been shut up in quite a comfortable room and provided with an excellent supper. But as he was sulking far too furiously to touch the supper and had spent the whole night stamping and roaring and cursing, he naturally did not now look his best.

"Your royal Highness needs not to be told," said King Lune, "that by the law of nations as well as by all reasons, of prudent policy, we have as good right to your head as ever one mortal man had against another. Nevertheless, in consideration of your youth and the ill nurture, devoid of all gentilesse and courtesy, which you have doubtless had in the land of slaves and tyrants, we are disposed to set you free, unharmed, on these conditions: first, that — "

"Curse you for a barbarian dog!" spluttered Rabadash. "Do you think I will even hear your conditions? Faugh! You talk very largely of nurture and I know not what. It's easy, to a man in chains, ha! Take off these vile bonds, give me a sword, and let any of you who dares then debate with me."

Imira scoffed, looking at him down her nose, but her hand instantly went to the knife in her place. If she used her eating knife and threw it at his manhood, would he be as bold? Perhaps that was a fitting punishment. How come she hadn't thought of that earlier? That or to cut off a hand like they did in his land for would-be thieves. After all, he had tried to kidnap Susan. 

 Nearly all the lords sprang to their feet, and Corin shouted: "Father! Can I box him? Please."

"Peace! Your Majesties! My Lords!" said King Lune. "Have we no more gravity among us than to be so chafed by the taunt of a pajock? Sit down, Corin, or you shall leave the table. I ask your Highness again, to hear our conditions." 

"I hear no conditions from barbarians and sorcerers," said Rabadash. "Not one of you dare touch a hair of my head. Every insult you have heaped on me shall be paid with oceans of Narnian and Archenlandish blood. Terrible shall the vengeance of the Tisroc be: even now. But kill me, and the burnings and torturings in these northern lands shall become a tale to frighten the world a thousand years hence. Beware! Beware! Beware! The bolt of Tash falls from above!"

"Does it ever get caught on a hook halfway?" asked Corin and Imira had to try very hard not to laugh. 

"Shame, Corin," said the King. "Never taunt a man save when he is stronger than you: then, as you please."

"Oh you foolish Rabadash," sighed Lucy. 

Imira was glad she did not laugh because the next thing she knew, Aslan stood there, between them and Rabadash. 

She stood at once, solemn. 

"Rabadash," said Aslan. "Take heed. Your doom is very near, but you may still avoid it. Forget your pride–what have you to be proud of?– and your anger –who has done you wrong?– and accept the mercy of these good kings." 

Yes, Imira thought, because if it were up to this Queen you would not have seen today. 

Then Rabadash rolled his eyes and spread out his mouth into a horrible, long mirthless grin like a shark, and wagged his ears up and down. 

Imira looked to Edmund. Was Rabadash about to vomit? 

"Demon! Demon! Demon!" shrieked the Prince. "I know you. You are the foul fiend of Narnia. You are the enemy of the gods. Learn who I am, horrible phantasm. I am descended from Tash, the inexorable, the irresistible. The curse of Tash is upon you. Lightning in the shape of scorpions shall be rained on you. The mountains of Narnia shall be ground into dust. The — "

"Have a care, Rabadash," said Aslan quietly. "The doom is nearer now: it is at the door: it has lifted the latch."  

"Let the skies fall," shrieked Rabadash. "Let the earth gape! Let blood and fire obliterate the world! But be sure I will never desist till I have dragged to my palace by her hair the barbarian queen, the daughter of dogs, the — "

"The hour has struck," said Aslan the prince's ears began to change. They grew longer and more pointed and soon were covered with grey hair. And while a perplexed Imira was wondering where she had seen ears like that before, Rabadash's face began to change too. It grew longer, and thicker at the top and larger eyed, and the nose sank back into the face (or else the face swelled out and became all nose) and there was hair all over it. And his arms grew longer and came down in front of him till his hands were resting on the ground: only they weren't hands, now, they were hoofs. And he was standing on all fours, and his clothes disappeared, and she and everyone started laughing for now what had been Rabadash was simply and unmistakably, a donkey. 

His human speech lasted just a moment longer than his human shape, so when he realised the change that was coming over him, he screamed out:. "Oh, not a Donkey! Mercy! If it were even a horse — even a horse — e'en — a — hor — eeh — auh, eeh-auh." And so the words died away into a donkey's bray.

"Now hear me, Rabadash," said Aslan. "Justice shall be mixed with mercy. You shall not always be an ass." 

Imira tried not to laugh, but when the Donkey twitched its ears forward, she could not stop herself and she snorted and laughed, thankfully along with the others who had found the comment just as comical. 

"You have appealed to Tash," said Aslan. "And in the temple of Tash you shall be healed. You must stand before the altar of Tash in Tashbaan at the great Autumn Feast this year and there, in the sight of all Tashbaan, your ass's shape will fall from you and all men will know you for Prince Rabadash. But as long as you live, if ever you go more than ten miles away from the great temple in Tashbaan you shall instantly become again as you now are. And from that second change there will be no return." 

There was a short silence and then they all stirred and looked at one another as if they were waking from sleep. Aslan was gone. But there was a brightness in the air and on the grass, and a joy in their hearts, which assured them that he had been no dream: and anyway, there was the donkey in front of them.

King Lune was the kindest-hearted of men and on seeing his enemy in this regrettable condition he forgot all his anger.

"Your royal Highness," he said, "I am most truly sorry that things have come to this extremity. Your Highness will bear witness that it was none of our doing. And of course we shall be delighted to provide your Highness with shipping back to Tashbaan for the — er — treatment which Aslan has prescribed. You shall have every comfort which your Highness's situation allows: the best of the cattle-boats — the freshest carrots and thistles — "

Imira and Corin could not help but to laugh. 

But a deafening bray from the Donkey and a well-aimed kick at one of the guards made it clear that these kindly offers were ungratefully received. 

"Guards, lead his highness to the royal stables, please," King Lune ordered and the furious Rabadash was dragged away. 

"I pity those guards," Edmund said to Imira, both exchanging amused looks. 

"Well, that was most fortunate," Imira said and pushed her chair towards the table. The lunch was over and the matter settled. "One less problem to worry about. King Peter will be most amused when I tell him of this," 

"You are leaving so soon?" King Lune asked. 

"The battle is north so I shall go there. I've been gone long enough and Firestream is a feeble ally. I'd rather be there when the battle ends else he turns on us," Imira said. 

"The dragon, right?" Corin asked, eyes gleaming with mischief. 

"Indeed," she said. 

"Father, can I go? Please?" the prince looked to his father. 

"A wise king does not go looking for battle," King Lune said. 

"But that's the beauty of it, father. I will not be king," Corin smiled. 

"Your twin brother just came back to us and you want to leave? I think not," King Lune said. 

"But I wish to meet the dragon. As does Cor, right?" Corin said. 

"Uhmm," 

Cor most certainly did not, Imira saw clearly. "Once you are knighted," Imira said, "I shall introduce you to him, if your father approves," Imira proposed. 

"That sounds like a sensible idea," King Lune said. 

She went inside and before the hour she was at the courtyard, waiting for her pegasus who had been convinced by Corin to give him and his brother a ride. 

"That is Corin, right?" she asked Cor. 

"Yes," 

"Your brother knows no sense of danger," Imira declared. 

King Lune came out then. He didn't have to ask which of his sons was flying on the horse. 

Imira whistled absurdly loud and the pegasus landed before them in a matter of seconds. 

"Father, did you see me? Wasn't I fantastic?" Corin grinned. 

"Yes, indeed. Now let her Majesty get on her mount," the king said. 

"Where can I get one like him?" Corin asked Imira, dismounting with an exhilarated grin. 

"Datram. But they are very rare," Imira said, taking the reins of her steed. 

"Can Edward and William visit?" Corin asked Imira. 

"So you lot can make fun of Rabadash?" Imira asked, one brow raised.  

Corin gave her an impish smile. 

The stable hand brought the three wooden steps for Imira to mount the pegasus. 

She paced her hand on his reddened cheek and smiled at him. "As much fun as you would have, that does not sound like a wise idea. He won't be an ass forever," Imira reminded him.  

Ass. Corin laughed. 

"But you know you and Cor are always welcome at Cair Paravel," Imira said and turned to King Lune. "I hope my sons can meet Cor soon," 

"As do I. It is good to have allies but better if they are also your friends," King Lune said.  

"Quite right," Imira agreed and mounted the flying horse. 

She looked at King Lune once more.  "I thank you for your hospitality," she placed her right palm above her heart and bowed her head from atop the pegasus.  

"A pleasure to host you, as always," King Lune said, his voice filled with sincerity. 

She had already bid farewell to Edmund, Lucy and Peridan, but still, she turned to the Narnian king. 

"Edmund," 

"I will meet you in the north shortly," Edmund said. 

Imira nodded. 

She pressed her heels gently against her mount's side and the pegasus broke into a gallop before extending his wings. Up they rose, high above the Archenlander court, sailing the wind amongst the clouds. For Narnia and the North.