The armies were assembled and the campsite was busy with soldiers practicing or polishing their swords whilst discussing strategic plans. And in the midst of the whole hubbub in the site stood a young boy king, his hair blonde as gold, hunched over a table with a map spread out. Peter was alone that day. Susan had brought Lucy out for lessons on archery, and Edmund was out somewhere training in sword fighting. Peter on the other hand, was trying to crack his head assembling a proper strategic plan to attack the White Witch when she comes without losing too much of his troops.

So far, he wasn't getting much progress. Aslan dropped by to visit and give him some tips, but so far Peter was on his own, not to mention he still hadn't gotten much practice on his sword fighting. What with trying to figure out a plan, make sure that his siblings stay out of trouble and dealing with the questions from his troops, he had his hands full, and he was barely seventeen!

Running a hand through his blonde gold hair, Peter sighed, his hands clenching in to fists. There was just too much to do in too little time, and Peter was starting to get a dead end. His head hurt constantly, and he was close to giving up.

Suddenly, his attention was distracted when a loud furor came from the middle of the camp, and fearing the worst, Peter grabbed the sword leaning against the table next to him and rushed there.

The only scene that greeted him there however, was a glorious gold gryphon, accompanied by a girl hardly any older then him, her hair dark as night and her eyes green as the forest, she stood with a hand on the golden feathers of the gryphon, and a smile offered to everyone around her. Apparently, she seemed well known, for as soon as the initial surprise was gone, some of the guards whom Peter had known to have been around Narnia for quite some time called out greetings. Peter frowned when he heard the name, 'Jade'.

"Who is she?" he questioned curiously, his sword now held limply at his side since the girl seem to pose no danger, but still curious as to who the newcomer was. The soldier at his side looked up, before bowing his head respectfully, and replied. "She is the Immortal Maiden, the one whom guards the gryphons. But that is only a formality. She insists that everyone calls her Jade."

"Immortal Maiden?"

"She has been around for as long as anyone knew, at the start of the Ice Era when the White Witch arrived. The name was something the Narnians gave her, not something she called herself."

"You mean she has been that way since a hundred years ago?" Peter asked incredulously, only to get a nod back. But he didn't get a chance to reply, because just then she looked over at him, and whispered to the gold hybrid for a while before walking over to the blond boy king, tilting her head a little in a sign of respect, before smiling at him. "I'm glad I finally have the chance to meet the famed boy king of Narnia, your Highness."

"No, call me Peter, that's enough." Peter immediately replied, shaking his head. But he did like her attitude, and she seemed sincere. "Everyone, get back to your duties. I'll be speaking to the Immortal Maiden alone."

"Oh no, did they tell you that?" Jade lamented when she heard the name uttered by Peter, her groan audible, and Peter couldn't help but chuckle. "Do you really dislike it that much?"

"Not really, it just sounds too formal. Definitely not for someone like me."

"And why not? You look pretty regal yourself." Peter teased, unable to comprehend why did he feel such at ease with a newcomer, yet unable to resist himself at the same time. Jade rolled her eyes, and directed a look of disdain at Peter, before explaining. "I'm just a normal girl whose lucky enough to have been granted immortality by the Emperor. What's so regal about that?"

Peter laughed as they started back to the table where he stood earlier, and then turned to look at Jade again. She was petite, her dark haired wavy around her shoulders, but her expression was nothing like an immortal. In fact, it looked like every other seventeen year old girl. "I'm sorry it took me so long to come though. Mecha's wife was having birthing difficulties and he didn't want to leave." Jade suddenly explained, and Peter's attention piqued again.

"Mecha?"

"The gryphon with me earlier. His the head gryphon of the clan."

"Aren't you the leader?"

Jade again, shot him a disdainful look, and by this time Peter was starting to feel rather clueless about Narnia and its ways, even if Aslan himself had explained that he was to rule the lands one day. "Gryphon clans are led only by their own kind. I'm only there for support and assistance."

"Oh." He stated, rather bluntly, as they stopped by the table with a map, and Jade's jovial mood immediately shifted, as her smile turned to a blunt frown, her forest green eyes scrutinized the map on which various little figures were scattered around, and her features turned thoughtful, her slender fingers spread out on the table. Peter watched her through his own cerulean blue eyes. All of a sudden, she seems to different. the blunt thought passed through his head as he took in the focused Jade. The thoughtful girl was so vast in differences from the one he bantered and chatted with earlier.

"Jade?"

"Huh?" she looked up at the sound of his voice, and then suddenly broke in a sheepish smile, rubbing the back of her neck to accentuate her rather sheepish expression as she looked at him. "Oh, sorry. I think I got too caught up strategizing. Mecha always says I space off when I get to a plan."

"Oh no! I don't blame you, Su says the same of me. I'm just wondering what you thought of this." Peter replied, and was relieved when Jade nodded. Being a first timer at this, and barely seventeen at that, he was worried he had messed up somewhere. Jade laughed at his words, before continuing. "Its pretty well thought out, actually. You did good when you placed the importance of your siblings and troops before you." She praised, and gave him a grin, before biting her lips again. "But… you couldn't have been training a lot have you? Looks like you've been putting a lot of work in this."

This time, it was Peter's turn to be sheepish, rubbing his head as he grinned rather abashedly at Jade. "Well… you're right, actually. For the past week I think I barely got an hour or two."

Shaking her head, she looked up at Peter, wagging a finger at him playfully. "That won't do. You'll save everyone in your troops and kill yourself. Then what would Narnia be left of?" she chided scoldingly, glaring at him playfully, before her hand went to the hilt at her waist, only then did Peter realize she too had a belt around her green skirt, encircling her waist. The hilt was gilded with gold and carved of gryphons, a magnificient work, able to rival his own blade, and Peter watched the gold edged silver blade being pulled out in wonder.

"Peter? Peter! Snap out of it."

Peter blinked and shook his head sharply when he heard Jade's sharp voice, and grinned sheepishly again. "Sorry, its just… your sword looks gorgeous."

"Oh, this? The gnomes did it for me before the White Witch came. Its been with me for a hundred odd years."

Peter's eyes widened when Jade revealed that little information, but Jade laughed, and then poked at him with her foot, indicating the sword he held. "C'mon, get your weapon, its time I assess how good you are, lest you get killed out there." She prodded again, and Peter did as she told, but also accompanied his movement with words. "Go easy on me, I've never held a sword in my entire life before this."

"Then its time you learnt." Jade teased, laughing before she dropped her sword hand and slide her blade back in its sheath, before starting towards the training fields. When Peter didn't follow her, merely staring at her in confusion, she looked back and rolled her eyes at him good naturedly, before running back and grabbing him by the shoulders, pushing him towards the field. "Come on you slow king, it isn't everyday the Immortal Maiden decides to teach someone combat you know!" she said in a teasing tone, and Peter couldn't resist the laugh that bubbled at her words.

"You're kidding me, you haven't seen Narnia yet, even after all the snow had melted?"

Jade and Peter were seated at the edge of the training field, just after another bout of serious sparring. It had been a week since the Immortal Maiden had first made her appearance in the fields, and both of them had been spending rather a lot of time together. Peter had been making excuses that he needed combat lessons and strategic tips from the more experienced fighter, but truth was, he just liked spending time with her.

She had met his siblings a couple of days ago, and although it took some time, it wasn't long before Jade was busy chatting them up, and Peter was not surprised. Albeit her rather blunt comment sometimes, Jade was endearing, and her bright outlook on life made everything seemed more positive. Edmund had been glad for more help on his training, and Susan was happy for another rival in archery. As for Lucy, she was just happy to have another person to chatter with when she was bored.

For the day though, Peter had sent both girls to make sure the troops had adequate supplies, and Edmund had again wandered off to do his training, and the two were left alone again. They had been chattering about Narnia, and Jade had been explaining about her homeland of which she was born with, when Peter abashedly admitted that aside from the camp grounds, he hadn't really seen much of the land he was supposed to rule, much to a surprised Jade.

"No way. Peter, you despicable nut. You have to see the land you're about to rule!"

"Well you can't blame me! Do I look like I have the time to wander around idling?" Peter rebuffed, crossing his arms and looking at her pointedly. Jade sank in to silence, rubbing her chin with her fingers for a second. "Good point." She finally admitted, and Peter grinned triumphantly. Bantering with Jade was always fun, and Peter realized he was reaching a point where he couldn't imagine one day without exchanging playful squabbles with the dark haired maiden he sat before.

However, his triumphant grin didn't last long, as the next second, Jade pounced on him again with a sharp glare. "Well, it doesn't make a difference, you're going to see it! Besides, everything is in order now. You're going to work yourself to death if you continue to train every day. Come on!" Jade grinned at him, and before Peter could neither agree nor protest, Jade had too hold of his hand and dragged him across the fields much to the amusement of his troops. It wasn't everyday they got to see their leader and king getting dragged along by a mere maiden, but Peter was hardly paying attention. Instead, his eyes was riveted on the smiling form of Jade. What didhe find so attractive about looking at her smiling rosebud lips and sparkling green eyes he would never find out, but he did know it was getting worst everyday.

Before he knew it, Peter was seated behind Jade on her gold gryphon, and she brought him airborne in the sky, animatedly explaining and pointing out to him all the landmarks they passed whilst flying. Peter replied, and made as if he was paying attention, but all he could pay attention to was Jade's attractive green eyes and absolutely addictive smile. Her voice was like music to his ears, and Peter knew without a doubt he liked her a lot, love her even. But yet, what did he know about her?

"Peter? Peter! You're spacing out again!"

He snapped in to attention, and then grinned sheepishly. "What is it?" he asked, not bothering to explain. He knew Jade wouldn't listen anyway, since he had been spacing out a lot lately when it came to her. She would just pass it off as one of 'Peter's phases', as she calls it.

"Want to land? I'll show you this awesome pool. Its like a cauldron." She grinned at him, and Peter could do nothing more then nod in agreement. He didn't want her to leave him, yet he knew that was inevitable. Yet, would she? If he asked her, what would be the outcome? Looking back at her again, Peter debated with that idea himself in his head. He was almost sure that throughout the week, he had seen her occasionally glancing at him. The few times he had caught her, she had waved back jovially at him, yet Peter couldn't be sure.

"Get down Peter."

Again, Peter had spaced off, and again he gave the sheepish grin, before going to join her by the pool. Jade giggled, but turned faced the frothing pool, the waterfall that gushed from its mouth bubbling the clear blue pool. She was amused by the blonde haired king, but Jade couldn't resist the liking that bubbled for him. She turned back, and then smiled again as she saw him clambering off Mecha. The golden gryphon had spoken to Jade before about the new boy king, and it seemed the wise old gryphon had developed a liking for Peter, despite his inexperiance. Mecha could see that he would work with everything he had in his body to protect Narnia, and that was the quality Jade admired most. That, and the fact that he seemed completely family-based.

The girl had observed how he interacted with his three siblings for the past week, and seeing as how Peter always put everyone's importance before himself, as much as Jade found it endearing, she wondered who would put him before everyone else. The way he was strategizing the war, he was going to put himself in the front line just to make sure no one else gets hurt, and that in itself was a terrifying thought to Jade.

"… consider to get someone to stay with you?"

"Huh? What?" Jade questioned suddenly, not catching the front part of her question. Peter looked at her curiously, an amused smile playing on his lips when he realized that Jade had zoned off this time. His blue eyes scrutinized her rather fine features, before he relented and repeated his question. "I said, have you ever considered finding someone else to stay with you?"

Jade blinked up at him in surprise, his question shocking her in to mute surprise. Peter was rather worried when his question was met with silence. Fearing that he had touched yet another taboo subject in this new world he had yet to learn about yet, he leaned in closer to give her a questioning look. His worry subsided however, when Jade suddenly broke out in a soft laugh, before it trailed off, and then she replied with a shake of her head, before expanding on her answer. "Not really Peter. I don't see a need to."

"But…" Peter gulped, and his knuckles clenched, a little apprehensive. "But what if I tell you I want to stay with you?"

Jade blinked, and turned to Peter in surprise, a little unable to comprehend his words. Peter saw the look, and trudge on in a hurry, almost pleading Aslan for her to understand. "I think I love you Jade, can you please please stay, even after the war? I know its illogical and immature for me to be asking you this, and only after a week but I really…"

"Stop it Peter."

His words came to a gravelling halt when he heard her words, and he turned cerulean blue eyes up to meet hers, only faced with the side of her fine features, and a facial expression he had never seen before. It was a mix of everything, but did he see regret there?

"I can't."

"Why?" his single syllable question came a little too rash even to his own ears, but now was not the time to act like a knight, since he was starting to panic a little now. Didn't he see her signs correctly? Or was he still too young.

"I'm not going to lie to you Peter. I do like you. A lot. Maybe even love. But I can't."

"Why?" Again, Peter repeated, unable to understand. In fact, he didn't want to understand her words. His pale pink cheeks had drained white, and his knuckles were clenched. Jade's expression was unreadable, and he god as much wanted to know what was going through her mind now. He would do anything just to have her. Anything. Peter didn't understand the want, nor the need for this maiden he had met barely a week ago, but he didn't want to understand it. He just wanted her. Jade.

"I have my responsibilities. My role as the guardian of the gryphons doesn't end merely after a hundred years Peter. Its for life. They may be able to handles themselves, but living in a world mostly comprising of humans have risen thee need for them to have a human guardian, and Aslan had entrusted me with that role. I can't betray his trust." She stopped, her forest green eyes downcast as she looked down. Silence settled over the two of them, but Peter still couldn't comprehend. The same words rang in his head as he looked at her now rather forlorn figure. Why? Why?

"And don't lie to yourself Peter, you have responsibilities too." She turned to him, looking up to bring forest green eyes against blue ones, she continued again. "After this, you're going to be King. You're going to have a whole land to put back to rights again. You don't have time for such things Peter."

"I..!"

"That's enough Peter. We each have our own responsibilities. We can't afford to shirk them. Lets go." Jade said, as she stood up, brushing the dirt from her attire, she walked to where the golden gryphon stood waiting.

Why, Mistress?

Jade looked up at the wise old gryphon's black eye pupils, and sighed, stroking his gold feathers adorning his neck, she thought for a while, before replying. Its not the time, Mecha. And it would hurt too much. For both of us. Its for his own good. He needs to pay attention to Narnia, lest he runs out of time.

It would hurt either way. the male gryphon replied, and Jade nodded, agreeing.But at least it would hurt less for him this way.

And you?

Jade looked up, but didn't reply. But the gryphon knew his Mistress. He knew that no matter what, Jade always placed the importance of the one she loves the most above her. As much as she chides Peter about that, she too has the same trait, and this was the reason why Mecha saw the two teens suited for each other. Yet if his Mistress has made a decision, he holds no right in trying to sway it.

But when the gryphon looked at the forlorn King walking up to him, he couldn't help but wonder. What kind of fate has Aslan arranged for them?