Peter, Edmund, Susan, and Lucy, also known as the monarchs of Narnia, were exhausted. They had been working non-stop in the six months since their coronation. There was so much to be done to restore the country after a hundred years of cruel winter under the White Witch's rulership. There were so many things ruined. Everything had been built for surviving the long winter so getting used to the changes in weather was quite an adjustment for the Narnians. Everyone had been working non-stop to build normal housing that was good for warm weather as well as cold. The Narnians were also trying to rebuild their livelihoods. The dwarves were back to their blacksmithing, the Dryads were thrilled because their leaves were in full blossom, and the fauns and Dryads once again danced during summer nights.
But the exhaustion was getting to them all, especially Peter. As High King he seemed to feel that his title meant he had to do all the work and have no fun. As he sat at his desk with a stack of papers, quite literally, a foot and a half tall, he knew he had to have a break. He had made some headway, but the stack kept growing. "At least," he thought to himself, "it is only half as high as when we got here. And I know the total number has doubled. Maybe I will get through all of these after all." Finally he made his decision. He would find his siblings and see if they wanted to go on a picnic. They would all appreciate a break and they had not got to spend hardly any time together since their coronation.
"Edmund should be the easiest to find," Peter thought. "He is fairly predictable. He seems to spend most of his time in the library studying law books lately." So he headed to the library. Although it was inside Cair Paravel, it still took a good ten minutes for Peter to get from his office to the library. "Why can't the two things be closer? They seem to go together. I guess everything works together in here," Peter muttered under his breath.
"Sir, did you say something?" Peter heard one of the guards ask.
When Peter realized that he had been thinking out loud that simply reinforced his thoughts about needing a break. "No. I am sorry, I was just thinking."
The guard nodded, as Peter continued on his way. As he reached the library he saw the lantern burning inside. As he walked in, he saw Edmund hidden behind the desk and a stack of about eight or nine dusty old tomes. "Hey Ed," Peter said quietly.
Edmund started at the sound of Peter's voice, reaching for his sword. He removed his hand from the hilt, when he recognized the voice. "Peter, what is it?" Edmund grunted as he shifted.
"I was just thinking today."
"Hmm, about what."
"We have all been working too hard. Why don't we take a break and go on a picnic?"
"Do we really have time for that, Pete?"
"We'll make time. It will be worth it. We are all worn out and we will never be any good to Narnia if we continue to work ourselves like this. It would not hurt us to take a break. I think we will work a whole lot better once we take a break. Then we will be able to focus better. What do you say?"
"I say that it is a brilliant idea. These old law books are fascinating but one can only tolerate reading them for so long before they become monotonous. Have you talked to the girls yet?"
An hour later the four monarchs were down in the kitchen, preparing to go on the picnic. The girls had not even questioned Peter and Edmund when they suggested a picnic.
Susan and Lucy were telling the kitchen staff of two fauns, three dryads, and a fox what they needed. Each of the kitchen staff was getting things from their particular 'department'. However, unnoticed by them two young kings were snatching food from the tables when no one was looking earning them dissaproving glares from the girls.
After about a half an hour they set off on horseback for the grassy area about three miles away from Cair Paravel. It was the perfect place for a picnic. There was a large lake with beautiful scenery and lots of room to act like the kids they were. They might be monarchs but they were still kids. So that is how they set off on a thirty minute ride towards the picnic area.
TBC...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A/N 1: I know you didn't expect that. I didn't either, but the way it was going, it seemed to be better as a two-shot. I promise the next chapter will be better. It will have more action but it will be humor. However, please let me know. I could do a take-off from this where it starts out as a picnic, but they get attacked and one gets captured or hurt. Please let me know
A/N 2: Please know, for those of you waiting on Scars and Memories I have not forgotten. Scars is really causing trouble for me and I am trying to finish that before I start Memories. My goal was to have both out by July 7th, and then July 10th, but I am only about halfway. I apologize for the delay and hope to have it out by July 14th and Memories by July 18th.
A/N 3: I apologize for not posting another chapter of To SOME FanFiction Authors... but I had a headache earlier and I am out of ideas. Please let me know if you have any. If I come up with any tonight or get any suggestions, I will write it and post it.
A/N 4: I am also on Fiction Press under the same name, Ashleigh M. If you like my writing please check me out on there.
May The Lion Be With You and His Blessings Upon You,
Ashleigh