A Secret

A sequel to Back in Narnia

Karen was lying down in her bed, but sleep wouldn't come. She rolled onto her back, and stared at the white see-through canopy handing above her bed. Sighing, she rolled back onto her side, and looked at the wall. Karen figured that she must have dozed off when she felt someone brush her hair out of her face. Rolling over, she came face to face with her husband, King Peter the Magnificent. They weren't officially married, but in Narnia they were.

"What time is it?" she whispered. Peter was propped up on one elbow on their bed. His sandy hair fell into his blue eyes, but he didn't seem to really care.

"Late. I didn't expect to be out so long," he replied. Peter began to kiss Karen, but she pulled away, and turned her back to him. "What's wrong, honey?" he whispered in her ear. He then kissed the exposed skin on her shoulder and neck.

"Nothing, I'm just really tired tonight." Karen closed her eyes, and heard Peter lie down next to her.

Karen only got a few hours of sleep that night. Around six in the morning, she finally got up. The crept down the three steps that led to her bed, and pulled on her green cloak and brown slippers. Karen had fallen in love with the clothes in Narnia. She tied the leather straps around her ankle, and left.

The cool, salty air felt refreshing against Karen's skin as she stood on one of the secluded balconies overlooking the Eastern Sea. She was so deep in thought that she didn't hear Susan join her until her best friend said something.

"I never thought that I'd see the day when you got up before me," Susan said from the doorway. Karen spun around.

"Susan! You startled me!" exclaimed Karen. Susan smiled as she joined her friend. She had her hair in a thick braid, and was wearing a simple orange gown under a red cloak.

"Sorry. So what was so important that you got up before me? You've never been one to get up before nine on your own."

"So that means that something's wrong?" Karen asked.

"Karen, you were my best friend long before you were my sister-in-law. I know when something's wrong. Is everything alright between you and my brother?"

"Everything's fine between me and Peter. Things actually couldn't be any better right now between the two of us."

"Then what's wrong?"

"My period's late," Karen said as she began to cry.

"So, that doesn't mean anything. You could just be late."

"No! I was late last month too. I didn't say anything, because I thought it was nothing. Now I know that it's not nothing. Susan, I think I'm pregnant." Susan smiled, and threw her arms around Karen's shoulders.

"Congratulations! I can't believe it! Does Peter know?"

"No. I haven't talked to him about it yet. I'm going to tell him this afternoon. Just don't tell anyone. I want to keep it under wraps until I'm positive."

"Here are two of my favorite girls," Peter said from behind them. He wrapped an arm around Susan, and gave her a quick hug. The then kissed Karen. "How long have you been up?" he asked her.

"Not long. I couldn't sleep, and I didn't want to wake you."

"I guess I should thank you for that then."

"Peter, what if we went out just the two of us today?" Karen suggested. Peter looked at her.

"Out? Out where?"

"I don't know; just out. When was the last time we were alone, just the two of us?" Karen began to pout a little to get her way.

"Last night," Peter said with a smiled. Karen whacked his shoulder playfully.

"I mean besides at night! Come on. Please? It'll be good for you to get out of Cair Paravel for a few hours."

"Fine. Let me get some things done, and then we'll leave." Peter kissed Karen's nose, and left. Karen also left too to got and change.

Around noon, Peter and Karen left Cair Paravel on horseback. They rode through the forest until they came to the Great River. When they stopped, Peter got off his horse, and helped Karen down.

"I can get off my own horse, you know," she said matter-of-factly. Peter pulled her close to him.

"I know," he replied. Karen wrapped her arms around his neck, and began to kiss him. She ran her fingers through his short hair as he gently stroked her cheek. Peter pulled them both to the ground. He sat cross-legged with Karen's head on his thigh. She entwined her fingers in his, and kissed his hand.

"Have I ever told you how beautiful you are?" Peter asked her.

"Only all the time."

"Well, how about today?" Karen pretended to be thinking really hard about his question. She shook her head, smiling.

"No, you haven't told me today."

"Well, then, I'll tell you now. You're the most beautiful person in the entire universe, and I love you more than anything."

"I love you too, which is why I need to talk to you about something really important."

"Is everything alright? Are you sick?" Peter looked really worried about what Karen had said. Karen ran her fingertip over his cheekbone.

"I'm fine. Actually, I'm more than fine. I didn't want to tell you until I was sure, and now I'm pretty sure. Peter, I'm pregnant."

Peter didn't know how to react at first. When Karen's words finally sunk in, he stood up, and swung her around.

"A baby," he said, putting Karen back down on the ground. "I'm going to be a Father!" Karen giggled and nodded. Peter tipped her chin up towards him, and kissed her passionately. When they stopped kissing, Karen laid down by the river, and dipped her fingers in the water. Peter rested his head on her stomach, and she rested her dry hand on his chest.

"A baby," he breath. Karen laughed.

"So, was this worth a trip outside Cair Paravel for a few hours?" she asked him.

"I'd have to say, yes. It was worth more than a day trip outside Cair Paravel. I'm still in somewhat of a shock right now. Does anyone else know?"

"I told Susan right before you woke up this morning."

Peter pulled Karen to her feet, and rushed over to their horses that were grazing peacefully farther down the river. Karen mounted her horse, and Peter mounted his, and the couple raced back to Cair Paravel to tell everyone else their great news.

Lucy, Susan, and Edmund were sitting in the front courtyard talking that afternoon. Lucy had sensed that her sister was keeping something from her, but Susan wouldn't tell her what.

"Susan! Please? Why won't you tell me? I know you're keeping something from me," Lucy said.

"I am not going to tell you, Lucy," said Susan. Pouting, Lucy leaned against a tree, and closed her eyes. She was just about to doze off when she heard Peter and Karen returning home. Karen was smiling as she jumped off her horse. Edmund put down his book, and went to see what Karen was so happy about.

"Peter and I have great news!" she exclaimed. "I'm going to have a baby!" Lucy squealed with delight, and threw her arms around Karen's neck. She then gave Peter a huge hug, and Edmund gave Karen a warm hug.

"Is this the big secret that you've been keeping from me?" Lucy demanded as she turned to Susan. Susan nodded.

As the next few months progressed, it became obvious that Karen was pregnant. All of Narnia was thrilled for their King and his wife, and sent them many gifts. A month before Karen was due, Peter insisted that she remained in bed until she gave birth. That caused a huge fight between them that the whole castle heard. Luckily, the four rules and Karen were the only ones there.

"I will not be confined to my bed, Peter!" Karen yelled.

"Karen, you can barely walk! What if you fall or something? This place is huge, and no one will hear you call for help."

"I have a big mouth! I am perfectly fine, and completely capable of getting around Cair Paravel on my own until I have this baby!"

"No, you're not! You're going to hurt your back walking around so much. You try not to act like it, but I can tell. I'm your husband, I know that you're just being stubborn." As soon as those last words left Peter's mouth, Peter regretted them.

"Stubborn?" Karen asked, almost in disbelief. "Stubborn? I'm the one being stubborn?"

"Karen, I didn't mean it like that…"

"No, I get it," Karen said darkly as she sat on the bed. "I'll stay in bed, but as soon as I have this baby, I'll be up and walking again."

Karen stayed in bed all the time for the following month. Peter would visit her periodically throughout the day, but Susan and Lucy almost never left her side. On some occasions, Lucy would actually fall asleep on the bed after talking to Karen well into the night, and Peter would either sleep on the couch in their room, or move Lucy to her bed. Lucy and Susan were sitting on Karen's bed one day, when Susan pulled out a colorful box.

"This is from the both of us, and I guess Edmund too," she said, handing Karen the box.

"You guys didn't have to get us anything," Karen said. She opened the box, and inside was a gorgeous baby blanket. It was made of red silk with a gold silk trim, and Narnian pictures embroidered into it. Karen gasped. "Oh me, this is amazing!" she breathed. She gave Susan and Lucy each a warm hug. "Lucy, give me your hand."

Confused, Lucy gave Karen her hand, and asked, "What? What are you doing?"

"You'll see," Karen replied. With a smile, she placed Lucy's hand on her stomach. Lucy felt the baby kicking from inside her sister-in-law. Her face lit up.

"That's so awesome," she said.

The three girls talked animatedly through the morning. A little after lunch, Karen grabbed her stomach suddenly, and shifted uncomfortable on the bed.

"Are you alright?" Susan asked. Karen nodded quickly with her hand still on her stomach.

"I'm fine," she said. "It must be something I ate, that's all." Susan didn't buy it, but continued talking. A few minutes later, Karen grabbed her stomach again.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Lucy asked, starting to get worried.

"I'm sure, Lu. Something I ate is just disagreeing with me," replied Karen.

Susan said, "Karen, you hardly ate yesterday, and barely ate today." She paused. "I think you're in labor." The color drained from Karen's face, and she leaned back against the pillows used to help her sit up.

"Someone go get Peter for me," she said shortly. Lucy jumped off the bed, and ran out the door towards the throne room.

Peter was discussing security matters with one of his generals, Burlieous the faun in the throne room when Lucy came rushing in. The young Queen quickly composed herself, and walked briskly up to her brother.

"Good afternoon, Queen Lucy," Burlieous said with a deep bow. Lucy nodded respectively.

"Peter, I need to talk to you," she said to Peter.

"Could it wait, Lucy? I'm in the middle of a very important meeting," Peter asked.

"I'm afraid not." She motioned for Peter to bend down, so she could whisper in his ear. "Karen's having the baby," she said quietly.

"What?" exclaimed Peter.

"Sire, is everything alright?" asked Burlieous.
"Burlieous, I'm afraid that we're going to have to postpone our meeting. Something very urgent has come up. For your trouble, I invite you to stay here at Cair Paravel until we can meet again."

"With all due respect, Your Highness, I haven't traveled far to meet with you. I'll just return home." With another bow, Berlieous left. Peter and Lucy ran out of the throne room, and to the bedroom that the High King shared with his wife.

Karen was lying on the bed, suffering from another contraction by the time Peter and Lucy got there.

"Her contractions are getting closer and closer each time," Susan said from her seat next to Karen. She got up, so Peter could sit next to her.

"We need to get a nurse here to deliver the baby," Lucy said from the doorway.
"There's no time," Susan said quietly.

"Su, I need you to deliver the baby," Peter said to his sister.

"Me? I don't know how!" she cried out.

"Susan, please," Karen pleaded.

"Are you sure there isn't a nurse or somebody that can deliver the baby?" Lucy asked, slightly unsure about her sister's ability to deliver a baby.

"No, Lu, they're all in Archenland helping with that town that burned down," Peter informed her. Sighing, Susan tied her back into a bun, and began to prepare herself mentally for what she was about to do.

Karen couldn't believe the pain. She had been in labor for almost 3 hours, and Susan had just told her to keep pushing. Karen gave one final push, and she heard a baby crying.

"It's a girl!" Susan exclaimed. She wrapped the child in a white cloth, and handed her to Karen. Karen kissed the top of the infant's head while Lucy and Susan slipped out of the room. Karen slid over on the bed, so Peter could lie down next to her.

"So, Mommy," he said, causing her to smile. "What should we name her?" Karen looked at her daughter, who had begun to fall asleep in her arms.

"Lorelei," she said quietly. "Lorelei Katherine." Peter kissed Karen.

"Lorelei Katherine Pevensie. Princess of Narnia," he said. Karen closed her eyes, and rested her head on his shoulder.

Late that night, Karen crawled back in bed after feeding Lorelei. The small infant was now asleep in the bassinet at the foot of the bed. Karen rested her head on Peter's chest, and curled up into a tight ball pressed against his body. When Peter kissed her forehead, he noticed that her forehead was hot, and she was shivering.

"Karen? Are you feeling alright?" Peter asked her as he sat up. Karen nodded, and mumbled something under her breath. Peter felt her forehead. "You're burning up!" he exclaimed. He rushed out of bed, and pulled on his robe. He then went to Susan's room to get her help.

Susan was up reading a book, despite the late hour, when Peter came into her room. She could tell just by looking at him that something was wrong.

"Peter, what's the matter?" she asked, putting her book aside.

"It's Karen. She's burning up," Peter said. In a flash, Susan was out of bed.

"We have to send for a nurse and a wet nurse from Archenland. There's no on here that can feed the baby," Susan said as she brushed past Peter, and swept down the hallway. "Edmund's also there seeing what he can do to help, he should probably come home too."

"I'll go," Lucy said from behind them. Both Peter and Susan turned around. "I can leave right now, and get to Archenland a little after sunrise if I really hurry. You both need to be here with Karen; I don't. please let me go and get Edmund." Peter look reluctant to let his baby sister travel clear across Narnia alone to get help.

"Fine-" he started.

"Peter!" exclaimed Susan.

"Let me finish, Su. Lu, you may go and get Edmund, but not alone. I want you to go and find Camen the hawk to go with you."

"Okay, I'll leave right away," Lucy said, and she left to go get into some riding clothes. Susan grabbed Peter's arm.

"Let's go!" she exclaimed, pulling him down the hall.

A/N: This was going to be a one-shot, but it got too long. It'll be short though, and don't get used to really long chapter! While you wait, you can hit that lovely review button!

Tina101