Disclaimer; The Chronicles of Narnia belongs to the estate of C.S. Lewis. I am many things, but I am not an estate.
Peter had never thought of himself as someone who needed to be followed around, and found it highly unnerving to turn his head and see a Griffon and a Great Cat or a Hound following him. One of the few consistencies was that there was always a Griffon, and if he was in audience, it was a matched set on either end of the dais. In the halls and terraces of Cair Paravel, there was usually a Great Cat or a Hound around as well.
Swiftwing was his most constant companion, the grey Griffon having been confirmed as the head of his guard. His most visible partner was a Cat named Fionnlagh, a snow leopard who seemed to enjoy trying to make Peter laugh at the most inopportune times. Swiftwing did not leave him and Fionnlagh arrived at dinner the day of the attack.
The next morning, Patrouse approached Peter after breakfast in his office with a scroll in hand. "Majesty," he said, "I have completed my preliminary work on the Guard."
Peter nodded, "Let's hear it then."
"At your word, I am to command the Guard," Patrouse said, "with either the title of Captain or Commander as you wish, Majesty." He placed the scroll on the table before Peter, "I have reached an ideal estimate of a hundred and fifty forces, divided into one of five units. The primary unit is specific to the defense of Cair Paravel as a whole and consists of the largest division of Guards given the size and scope of their mission. The remaining one hundred will be divided into four units devoted the personal safety of your majesties. There will be five units of five beings, with specific attention paid to night and day guards."
"We're to be surrounded by five beings at all time?" Peter asked.
"Not exactly, Majesty," Patrouse replied. "I would recommend a minimum of two Guards at all times. At the moment, Swiftwing and Fionnlagh are the primary two. The other three guards on duty would not be a visible protection. The current projection is for the guards to be on a rotating four period watch duty. One group would begin their duties just before dawn and extend through most of the morning, and then switch to the day guard. A third group would take up the task until nearing midnight and then the final watch would be on duty. The fifth group would be on down time."
Peter nodded, "This looks excellent, Patrouse. You clearly put a lot of thought into this."
"Thank you," Patrouse replied.
Peter stood and opened his door, spotting the young Hound that had been assigned to run his messages, he said, "Go to Her Majesty, Queen Susan and request that she make time for a meeting after the noon meal. Then bear the same message to King Edmund and Queen Lucy."
"At once," the Hound said, and took off.
Peter turned, "I give you permission to continue preparation for the Guard. After I speak with my siblings, I have every confidence that you will be given full authority."
"Thank you, Majesty," Patrouse said with a bow.
"Excellent," Peter said, "I am sure you have much to do."
"Of course," Patrouse said, and hurried from the room. Peter sighed and bowed his head for a moment, then straightened his shoulders and headed into the corridor. Trying to ignore his shadows, he headed up, towards the Great Library. As they walked through the atrium before the library, an outraged shout rang out.
"King Peter," Swiftwing cried, and slid into him, knocking him to the floor.
Fionnlagh leaped over the two and crouched before them, tail lashing back and forth.
Lucy came running, crying, from the library, Sláine right behind her. "What?" Peter managed.
Lucy turned and stared into the library, "I won't," she shouted, "I won't, I won't, I won't!"
A faun appeared in the doorway with a large cane in his hand, "I have been entrusted with your education. You will sit and do your work." He slammed the cane down on the ground.
"I will not," Lucy replied, "not if you're going to hit me."
"Impertinent child," the faun roared.
Swiftwing managed to get up, and Peter surged to his feet as well, "Faun," he snapped.
"Peter," Lucy said joyfully.
"High King?" The Faun said.
"You are the Faun Aelius, are you not?" Peter asked.
"I am," the Faun said, bowing deeply.
"I regret to inform you, Faun Aelius," Peter said, "but your services are no longer needed. Between your fondness for corporal punishment and the reports I have received of your inept teaching there will be no recommendations coming from Cair Paravel. In fact, it is our strong suggestion that you rework your material and rethink your discipline strategy before you seek any other teaching position."
"Your Majesty, it is often necessary to be firm with a willful child," Aelius said.
Peter gripped Rhindon in an effort to keep his temper. "Firm does not mean hitting a child. Or did you forget that you were instructing Our Sister-Queen?" He stared at the Faun, wishing he had a few more inches so that he could be taller than his opponent was. "You have one week to vacate any rooms you use in Cair Paravel and you are not welcome to return. Have I made myself clear?"
"Yes Majesty," Aelius said.
Peter watched the Faun vanish back into the library and turned to Lucy, "Now, I believe that Mr. Tumnus has not yet left the Cair."
"No," Lucy replied, drying her eyes with a handkerchief. "His home isn't ready yet. Between what the secret police did to it and the thaw it's bad off."
"Then we should see if he would like something to occupy his time," Peter replied, putting his hand on Lucy's shoulder and steering her away from the library.
"What do you mean?" Lucy asked as they walked.
"Well," Peter said, "I'm sure that Mr. Tumnus could not only tutor you in the important aspects of Narnian history, but he might be willing to serve in a similar aspect for Edmund, Susan and I in our free time."
"Oh," Lucy said, she clapped her hands and skipped, "That would be wonderful."
Peter looked over his shoulder at the four guards following him. "Swiftwing," he said, "I want you to start thinking. When I go to arms lessons, we are going to practice drills for various occasions. When you have down time, I would also like you to discuss with Patrouse and Oreius the need for threat assessment in the Guard. I'm sure there are better ways to protect us from harm than giving us more bruises."
"I'll see to it," Swiftwing said.
"After all," Peter continued, "I'd hate for the head of my personal guard to be less than the best."