Peter Gets Some
By Chicken and Rosie
In the final scene…
There was a stillness at the top of the hill where the tree portal had opened before the Talmarin people, a quiet moment among the many different faces gathered to listen to Aslan speak. There was little more to be said. Now all that remained was to leave Narnia behind. Peter took Lucy's hand and waited, looking pointedly away as Susan and Caspian's lips met. If he looked, he wouldn't be able to do what he had to do: leave.
Peter felt, rather than saw, Susan rejoin them, and as he walked toward the wood portal, he broke away from the group and approached Aslan.
"Aslan, I need to speak with you," Peter said in hushed tones. He couldn't resist glancing over his shoulder. "In private. Now."
The great lion raised an eyebrow and strutted magnificently off to the side, closely followed by an anxious Peter. "Yes, Peter?"
"Aslan, I think I should stay a little longer," Peter started, trying his best not to look past Aslan to where Caspian stood solemnly, his brown tresses framing his aristocratic features handsomely. "There are still many wounded, and I could help to rebuild what has been broken here." Aslan said nothing, but continued to watch Peter. Taking this to mean that he should continue talking, Peter searched for something else to say. "I think a week would be sufficient. Caspian may still need help winning the people, and…" he trailed off, out of logical reasons to stay. Aslan still hadn't said anything, just watched him. Finally…
"Peter, I think your brother and sisters will need you more than the people of Narnia when you've returned home," Aslan said. His voice was measured, still, and understanding, but firm.
"But…" Peter searched frantically for something more to say. There had to be some other reason for him to be here. He was bloody High King and he couldn't find an excuse to remain in Narnia?
"Peter," Aslan wasn't giving him any more time to think, "what is the real reason you wish to stay longer than Susan, Lucy, and Edmund?" Peter was getting desperate. He cast wildly about for something to say, and the first words that fell out were, "Caspian," "needs," and "me." Aslan said nothing, but quirked a lion's eyebrow.
"Work with me here, Aslan," Peter said, lowering his voice conspiratorially. "I'm not asking to stay forever. Just give me, give me a few weeks."
"Peter…"
"One week."
"Peter…"
"A day! Ten minutes!"
Peter stopped, breathless. Looking up from the total concentration he'd been pouring into Aslan, he realized that Caspian was now staring at him, listening to every word he said. Aslan looked from one to the other, and his eyes twinkled sagaciously. Out of the ground another portal grew, and Aslan stood back. Caspian and Peter looked at each other, each shocked by the other's smoldering gaze.
"Where does that one lead?" Peter asked. Aslan looked at him for a moment, then raised an eyebrow and said, "I think you know." Peter grabbed Caspian's collar and started hauling him toward the portal. Caspian, meanwhile, was looking doe-eyed from Aslan to Peter repeating the word "what?"