Muffled sounds of chuckles were heard as a drowsy, cloaked creature landed in the wet mud. "You've had enough, boy", a deep and beastly voice growled from inside the tavern.

The deported drew his sword with one clumsy movement and aimed it to the gloomy minotaur standing in the doorway.

"Is that the way to address the High King of Narnia?" he mumbled. "I'm Peter the Magnificent."

The minotaur's low-pitched laughter echoed in the street, followed by many other's hysterical guffaws. A shadow fell upon his face and the very familiar voice of a woman interrupted the events. She handed over something small and declared that she was sorry for the inconvenience.

When the street was once again calm the woman spoke again: "Stand up! I have been searching everywhere for you, and now I find you in this poor manner. Drunk!" She was clearly very upset.

"I'm not too drunk, Su. I'm not even drunk enough, because my brain can still think, I think... Wait, do I know you?" Peter mumbled as he squinted up on his sister, even though it was a dark night. Susan didn't care to answer and had two servants help him get on his feet. The creature to his left was distantly familiar with a dark appearance, kind eyes and dressed in a king's clothes under a well covering cloak. "Do I know you?"

"Of course you do", Susan muttered annoyed. "It's Caspian."

"Are we enemies?" Peter glanced suspiciously at him.

"Later", Caspian said with a discreet voice. "The council awaits us." They dragged the High King Peter out of the village that on a distance was only seen as small points of light. It was almost impossible for anyone to discover the royalties as their cloaks were as dark as the night.

It was early in the summer, and yet it was getting colder everyday, the leaves were already beginning to wither and the people of Narnia had grown rather anxious.

Susan went on and on about something, that Peter didn't hear but assumed it was important, all the way until they reached the castle. Within the stonewalls there were no need for the big cloaks and they could move around freely without the feeling of having to watch their backs.

Peter did not remotely appreciate having his head shoved into a barrel of cold water. Several times Caspian had to beware of the fists that were swung in all directions.

"I'm King Peter the Magnificent!" he shouted as he spat and shook his hair to dispose of the water. "I can drink whatever the witch I want."

Once more Caspian submerged his head under water.

"Watch your language High King", Susan demanded upset.

At last Caspian decided that it would have to do. "The council has waited long enough." He hung his own, dry cloak over Peter's shoulders and nudged him in the back, only to receive another grouchy glance from him. "Do you mind?" Caspian aimed a hand to one of the many doors that would lead them to the council. "We shouldn't keep them waiting any longer."

Peter gave no response to his question. He was staring at the little boy standing in the doorway. Susan had also discovered the boy and walked up to him with a childish smile. "Are you not in bed yet, my darling?" She bent down and pinched his nose that induced a loud giggle from the boy. "Go and say good night to your daddy and your uncle", she said and watched him running towards Peter and hugged his leg. He looked down at him with a bit of annoyance in his face and waited for him to let go. "Good night, good night and sleep without a fight", he shouted with a high-pitched voice before he moved on to Caspian, who gladly took him in his arms. "Good night, good night and sleep without a fight", he repeated with a smile on his chubby face.

"You, sleep like a prince tonight, all right?" Caspian said and gave him a quick hug. "I love you!" He kissed him on the forehead and put him down on the floor. The boy's nanny showed up behind Susan and took him away after she had hugged and kissed him.

Peter told Caspian to go ahead and grabbed Susan's arm. "Does that kid have to be everywhere?" he fizzled.

"How can you say that? Of course he does, he is your family too", she exclaimed. "And he has a name you know."

Peter snorted. "It's a castle with hundreds of rooms, but somehow he always manages to end up in the same as I am." Water was still dripping from him, but his forehead was already sweating. Susan took a few steps away towards the door. "It's sad, Peter", she said before she went to catch up with Caspian.

The council was impatient and frustrated when they arrived. The big room was filled with noise, sweat smells and suspicious thoughts. Caspian was seated with Susan and Peter on each side. "Our dear and respected High King Peter is once again among us", Caspian called to get everyone's attention. "Let us get this meeting to order, gentlemen." At once all fell silent. "Now, what nonsense is it that I hear about the termination of the rebuilding of Cair Paravel?"

"Not nonsense, your majesty", one of the lords said. The telmarine king turned his attention to the man who had spoken. "What then, Lord Grishma?"

The lord swallowed and looked nervous about what he was to say. "The men are frightened, your majesty." He swallowed again and rubbed his wrists. "They have seen strange things, foul things. The people have felt it also, your majesty. Something stirs like a shadow in the night." He swallowed a third time, hard, and wiped the sweat off his forehead. "There are evil forces in that forest."

Peter stood up and started to walk back and forth. The room was dead quiet except for the echo of his steps. For some time he continued to walk around quietly until Susan began to wonder if it was only to keep himself awake. But eventually he did stop. The eldest Pevensie stood slightly crooked and still as a statue in the centre of the cold stone floor. "What do you suppose dwells there, Lord Grishma?" His voice was hoarse and monotonous.

"I am not sure", he stuttered. "Ghosts, demons, maybe the witch herself… If she ever excited, that is", he added to bring some calm to himself and to the spooked gentlemen in the council.

"That is impossible, the White Witch is dead", Peter protested.

Then another man stood up. "She was dead, your majesty! But, surely you should know that there are people who have meant to bring her back." By those words Peter turned to Caspian and looked him straight in the eyes with a reproaching gaze.

"Peter!" his sister exclaimed, offended by his silent accusation.

"Is it untrue?" he said approaching the two royalties.

Caspian bounced up from his chair to stand face to face with Peter. "You know that was not what I wanted, you were there. The witch almost had you as well", he whispered frustrated.

"It would never have happened if you'd been more cautious", Peter sputtered.

Caspian clenched his fist with a considerable desire to paint his eye blue. Susan laid a soft hand on his arm and could feel his muscles relax a little. No king was hurt on that gathering, instead Caspian left the council with determined steps. The young queen stared disappointed at her brother and adjourned the meeting before she rushed out to find Caspian. It was getting late and the castle halls were rather dark.

Susan walked passed several doors without a trace of him. He wasn't in the dining room, the courtyard or his chamber, but in the nursery, watching the peacefully sleeping boy. Susan put her arms around his shoulder and drew a breath of his scent. "Eldarin looks more like his mother every day", Caspian said calmly. "Those big, blue eyes and dark curly hair." She leaned over the crib and her heart melted by the sight of the sweet child. "I suppose he does. I can't believe he's two already." Then she turned back to the telmarine and pecked him on the cheek. "Thank you, for walking away." His dark eyes met her gaze and chuckled. "I really wanted to hit him, a black eye would definitely look magnificent on him."

Susan answered distantly with a "hm" as she buried her face into his neck.

"What are you doing?" Caspian asked, slightly chuckling.

"I'm performing the action which defines the word snuggle, I don't suppose you've heard of it", she said and straightened up and suddenly sounded rather frustrated. "Never mind, I'm going to bed. Don't stay up too late." Susan was so tired that she didn't even feel like trying to be patient.

"I won't", was the last thing she heard before she left the room. As the queen passed through the great halls she discovered a strange feeling inside and when she thought about it she realised that it had been there for quite some time, it was only growing stronger and more noticeable now. It was a gray and gloomy atmosphere in the entire castle, spreading the same way as the weather outside was getting unnaturally chilly and bleak. A cold wind came from an open window near the door to her bedchamber. There was an icy smell in the air and Susan felt no doubt that, despite the season of the year, it would snow any day now.

She closed the door behind her and had look around her somber and darksome room. A couple of half burned candles didn't help much, but at least gave some light. Susan got to bed but found it impossible to fall asleep even after she had been trying to read for more than an hour. Her head was spinning of thoughts and she started to wish she hadn't walked out on Caspian like that. Somewhere in the castle he was wandering around unaware of how much she missed him in her despair and just wanted to be near him.

A gentle knock on the door interrupted her thoughts, closely followed by the door's creaking as it was opened. "Susan? Are you awake?" Caspian whispered with his head in the door. She nodded and put the book away while he walked in and sat on her bed. "My dearest and most treasured Susan", he said and reached for her hand that rested on her covers. "I have reflected and considered the most recent happenings of this evening, over and over again, but now I must tell you that I cannot figure out what I did wrong. I am sorry." When he bent over to kiss her hand she couldn't hold the tears back. The (suddenly confused) man was apologizing for something he didn't even do. "Why are you crying", he said and gazed concerned at her.

"You didn't do anything, Caspian", she sobbed. "It's the awful haze of desolation that is obfuscating this land, it is stirring up my mind." Susan swallowed and tried to smile. "I am sorry it made you feel that way. I do hope that it will subside before the wedding."

His dark eyes was sparkling as ever when he leaned closer and pressed his wonderful lips against hers. Susan ran her fingers through his soft, thick hair that gave her the chills and she could feel his tender hands touching her face. It was the perfect moment in a desperate situation that could only be ruined.

"Caspian!" Susan panted as she pulled away for a second.

"Mhm?" Caspian caught her in another passionate kiss.

"You should go", she said reluctantly and pushed her hand to his chest to force some space between them.

"Do I have to?" Susan could almost laugh because of the very disappointed look that appeared on his face when he realised the only true answer. She declared that she was very sorry but that he did have to and he obeyed her demand.

Author's note:

Here you have it; the first chapter! I hope you will enjoy my story, which is also my first fanfic ever!

Questions? Ask away!

/Lois