He closed the large door of the meeting chamber behind him as he left, not caring that the noise he created had likely disturbed most inhabitants of the castle.
It was unusual for him to loose his calm like this, but the past few weeks had put a strain on his usually impressive patience.
Everything, it suddenly seemed, was about to come tumbling down; the giants were causing disturbances (yet again), remnants of the Witches' army had been spotted on the eastern border, the Calormene ambassador had been hinting of his kingdom's hostility, and a rumour that the Lone Islands were facing a military coup had reached the Cair earlier that evening. Something, clearly, had to be done to remedy all of these problems and he was disturbed by the fact that none of his advisors could do anything but bicker over small details. He had had enough of it and, for tonight at least, he needed to escape. He needed to clear his head, and to assess the situation in peace, well away from the political squabbles of the meeting room.
"Peter!" A familiar voice behind him called.
He did not slow his footsteps, and did not acknowledge his brother as he approached.
"Come on Peter," Edmund urged, for once the calm and collected one of the pair, "I know it's a pain, but don't you think we should at least get through tonight's meeting? Everyone is gathered, and it seems a shame to dismiss them."
Peter slowed for a second, and stared down at the smooth marble floor of the front entance way. He was not annoyed with Edmund, one of the few people at the meeting who had not resorted to childish quarrelling that evening, and he did not wish to take out his irritation on an undeserving target. Drawing a deep breath, he sighed and turned to face his younger brother.
"You make a good point, Ed." He began, "But I do think dismissing everyone is the best thing we can do at the moment. It is apparent that no one is willing to listen to the opinions of others, and until everyone is able to consider all of our options, without pointless arguing, I see no reason to keep the meeting in session." Peter paused for a moment, trying not to glance back at the meeting room door or think about the unpleasantness of the evening. "I need to clear my head, or I fear I will make a decision or statement I will later regret. Here-" he pulled his crown off of his head and passed it to his brother. "Take this, I am going for a ride."
Edmund, held the golden crown at his side, his dark eyes full of concern for his older brother. "Would you like company?" He asked, hoping that he could be of some further comfort.
Peter gave him a small smile. "Not tonight." He replied quietly, "I think it is best if I go alone."
Edmund looked as if he wanted to say more, but then thought better of it. He knew his brother well, and he knew that when Peter was in an uncharacteristic mood such as this, it was best not to push things further. Having witnessed the disastrous meeting himself, he could understand Peter's current frustrations and was fighting back similar emotions himself.
"Dismiss the meeting and get some rest." Peter continued, giving the younger man a comforting pat on the shoulder. "Tell them that we will resume tomorrow after breakfast, and make it clear that I expect everyone to be in a much more productive mood after a good nights rest."
Edmund nodded and turned back towards the meeting room as Peter took a few more steps towards the front entrance and threw on the plain brown riding cloak which had been left nearby.
"Good night Peter." The younger king called, turning back to see his brother yank open the door with more force then was necessary. "Stay safe."
Peter gave him the warm smile he reserved exclusively for his siblings. "Good night Ed." He replied. "And thanks."
XXXXXXXXX
After making his way down to the stables, enjoying the cool fresh autumn air as he went, Peter had selected one of his favourite horses (a noble white steed named Lugh) and set off through the quickly darkening forest.
He knew it was somewhat foolish of him to go out riding alone at night. Although Narnia had come a long way since he and his siblings had been crowned at Cair Paravel, there were still creatures lurking in these woods which wished to see them deposed. They had received several troubling reports that the Witch's followers had been unusually active in recent months, and Peter was well aware that this was a significant cause for concern. At the current moment, however, the thought of confronting hostile hags and minotaurs was much more appealing then the thought of facing his royal generals and advisors.
Not that they were all bad, of course. He knew that they meant well, and he was certain that they all cared for Narnia just as much as he and his siblings, but as the threats and problems facing the kingdom became increasingly complicated, what had once been minor policy disagreements and personality clashes suddenly became magnified. Everyone seemed to disagree about everything, and Peter was unable to come to come to any sort of consensus or develop a productive course of action in such a hostile atmosphere.
Tonight's meeting had nearly pushed him to the breaking point and, although he knew that many would be annoyed by his sudden exit, he knew it was better then sticking around and completely loosing his composure.
Earning the trust and respect of the court had not been as easy as he had initially hoped, and now that he had gained it he did not want to let it go.
True, the coronation had been a joyous event, and all present had been humbled and awed by Aslan's presence. But once the Great Lion had left, and the festivities had died down, Peter and his siblings had quickly found that the day to day running of the court and country, even with the White Witch gone, was not an easy or carefree endeavour.
At just fifteen, Peter had found himself to be not only the head of his family, but also High King of a country in need of much repair after one hundred years of despotic rule. Many had quietly questioned his capabilities in the early years of their rule, and Peter was well aware that several had their doubts about this young boy's capacity to be the High King they so desperately needed.
Truth be told, he had similar doubts about himself,
He could remember many sleepless nights, lying in his grand bed and wondering why in the name of Aslan he had been selected for this seemingly impossible task. He was just a boy, and nothing could have prepared him for such an important responsibility.
But, despite his worries and fatigue, he had pulled himself out of bed bright and early every morning and carried out his wide array of duties to the best of his ability.
Meetings with advisors, generals….receiving foreign ambassadors and Kings…overseeing all changes to the laws and legislation of the country…leading his army into battle…listening to the grievances of his citizens…
The list went on, and Peter did all he could not to feel overwhelmed by the enormity of it all. He had his siblings to help of course, and as they grew and took on more duties things did become easier; be he was still the High King, and the final word often fell to him, whether he liked it or not.
Over time, he had managed to prove himself to the vast majority of Narnians, but he knew that it was important that he, still only twenty and barely a grown man, continue to conduct himself with the strength and dignity they expected.
That was why he did not feel that he could stay in the meeting that night. Although, in his opinion, some of the fighting and insults being hurled around the room by various dignitaries were childish, he knew that if he gave into his own desire to partake in such bickering, the whispers that the High King was a frivolous boy incapable of leading his people would begin again.
He could not afford to let that happen. Especially not now, with all of the troubling news which had been arriving at the castle. The giants, the Witch's followers, the Calormenes, the rumours from the Lone Islands…all were causing him significant grief, and casting doubt on his maturity and rule was the last thing he needed.
The price of failure was too great to jeopardize everything with a childish outburst.
"Come, Lugh." Peter said quietly, giving his horse an encouraging pat. "Let's head north a bit. Perhaps to the river."
The horse, which was not of the talking variety, neighed approvingly and veered to the left. They trotted in silence for several minutes, and Peter focused on nothing but the sound of fallen leaves crunching under Lugh's hooves.
It was times like these that he wished things were simpler, as they had been in Spare Oom. As the weeks and months passed, it was becoming harder and harder to remember that place, but sometimes he could picture past moments with his siblings, laughing in the rain or enjoying a stolen biscuit from the kitchen. He treasured such memories, and in times of particular stress would always try to recall how carefree and happy he had been.
Not that he was unhappy now, but his happiness had been of a different sort then.
A rustling noise behind him sapped him out of his daze, ad he placed his hand on the hilt of his sword in readiness.
"Who goes there?" He asked, his voice firm. He decided against declaring that he was the High King- if he had come across a hostile band of rebels, there was always a chance that they would not attack if they did not recognize him.
There was more rustling, and Peter was about to call out again when the source of the noise came into view.
It was a woman, dressed in a simple yet elegant manner, riding atop a strong brown horse. She looked tired and dishevelled, but her overall appearance was not displeasing.
"Sorry if I startled you." She stated, trotting closer to Peter. "I am attempting to get to Cair Paravel and seem to have fallen off the path."
Peter smiled, happy for the distraction. Although he had hoped to sit alone near the river for awhile, helping her would give him a reason to push thoughts of the unpleasant meeting to the back of his mind, at least for awhile. "I live at the Cair." He replied, "And I am happy to show you the shortest route back, if you like. The woods aren't safe for a lady to brave alone at night."
She gave him a look which he was unable to interpret, but did not reply.
Peter held out his hand "I am," he hesitated, for some inexplicable reason "John." He said, surprising himself with the sudden urge to lie about his identity. "It is a pleasure to meet you." He had had enough of being kingly that night, and the prospect of being someone else was suddenly appealing. Without his crown or regular riding cloak, he could easily pass for a regular man.
Sometimes, that was all he wanted to be.
She did not take his hand, but simply looked at it with confusion before nodding. "I am Lady Adara, of Doorn." she replied "Your assistance is appreciated, John."
He returned her nod and turned his horse back towards the castle. There was something about her tone, and her eyes, which unsettled him. He knew that she had given him little reason to judge her, and he hesitated to reach any sort of conclusion, but she seemed…withdrawn. Her eyes were somehow lifeless and, despite the pleasantness of her voice, her words filled him with a sense of hollowness.
It was as if she wasn't really there, not in spirit at least.
Intrigued, he turned to see her following behind him, her eyes fixed dully on the Cair. The silence was stifling, and he pulled back a bit to ride beside her and make conversation.
"What brings you to Narnia?" He asked, hoping that it did not seem as if he was prying.
"My father wants me to visit Cair Paravel and learn what I can about the country." She stated, her eyes fixed ahead and her tone formal. "He has heard of the Royal Four's hospitality and thinks I will enjoy it here."
Peter nodded, slightly pleased to hear that nobles far and wide spoke well of their hospitality (Susan was primarily to thank for that), and wondering if he should push it further. "And what about you?" He asked, his curiosity getting the better of him. "Do you think you will enjoy it here?"
She hesitated, displaying a hint of emotion for the first time since they had met. "No." Adara replied softly. "I wish to be at home."
More silence passed between them, and Peter found himself unsure what to say next. It was rare to have such and unenthusiastic visitor, and he wondered if there was more behind her dreary mood then she let on.
He wasn't exactly sure what inspired him to say it, but he seemed to be particularly daring and unrestrained that night. "Does your father intend for you to gain the attention of one of the kings?" he asked, internally scolding himself for being so bold. He was curious, however, and it was not unusual for ambitious young ladies to arrive at the Cair hoping to gain his, or Edmund's, affections.
It was, it seemed, one of the many perils of the job.
"No." She replied in the same even tone. "I do not particularly care to meet the Kings."
After another pause, she sighed and averted her gaze back down to her horse's mane. "I am sorry." She said quietly, interpreting his silence as disgust. "You must think me a horrible companion. I did not mean to disrespect your rulers."
Peter could not hold back a smirk, finding their conversation to be a completely bizarre experience. He could not resist continuing his game, though a part of him felt terrible for deceiving this unsuspecting young woman.
"I take no offence." He stated, guiltily avoiding her eyes. "Though I am curious, what do they say about the Royal Four in Doorn?" He wondered if her thoughts on the royal family were typical in her region.
The woman sighed, her eyes flickering towards the castle again. "One mostly hears praise." She began. Peter was happy to hear her formality beginning to falter somewhat.
"Queen Lucy, they say, is a young, but a caring girl who is always willing to help all of Narnia's creatures."
Peter gave a slight nod, thinking that to be a pleasant and accurate description of his sister.
"King Edmund is devoted and fair." She continued, as if reciting something she had heard countless times. "He is a good swordsman and a loyal knight. Queen Susan is beautiful." Adara went on, "And kind. Her parties, it is believed, are the most elegant and spectacular in Narnia's history."
The King smiled again. Susan would be pleased to hear that her balls were famous as far away as Doorn.
"I used to dream about attending one." Adara stated, her eyes tightly closed, as if in the midst of recalling a painful memory. "My sister and I used to talk about grand they must be, we…" She trailed off, and Peter noticed her discreetly drawing a few deep breaths to steady herself.
Her behaviour was rather odd, he thought, though he was glad to see her initial formality fading away.
"And then there is King Peter." She began again, her voice stronger then before.
Peter felt pangs of both guilt and curiosity.
"They say that he is noble, and possesses the grace and strength that a High King should. He is said to care deeply about his people, and be a fearless leader in times of battle. His exploits against the White Witch are already legendary." She paused, and the faintest of smiles flittered across her face for the first time that night. "The village girls also like to say that he is extremely handsome, though none have ever seen him."
Despite himself, Peter let out a short laugh, amused by her very generous (and, in his opinion, very exaggerated) description of him.
"What?" She asked, misinterpreting his response. "Is this not true? Is the High King not what they say he is?" He noted, with yet more curiosity, the tone of hope in her voice.
"I think you will have to judge that for yourself." He replied carefully. "But in my own experience, I would have to say that he is not nearly as glorious as some might think."
She seemed oddly pleased by this news, and Peter found himself more and more perplexed. She was a strange woman indeed.
"Are you close to him?" She asked, her voice quiet once again.
Peter suppressed a smile. "You could say that." he said before adding, "The castle approaches."
He was happy to change the subject. He should not have lied, and he should not have asked what he did, but he had to admit that it was one of the most amusing conversations he had had in quite some time. Certainly a good distraction from the meeting.
"You can tether your horse to the front gate and I will see to it that someone takes him safely to the stables tonight." He paused. "Follow me inside, and we can get you a room to stay in during your visit."
She gave him a perplexed look, but said nothing.
Peter jumped off of his horse and quickly moved towards Adara to help her dismount. She slid off of the saddle before he could reach her, however, and recoiled when he offered to help her with her bags, as if afraid of his touch. Despite their eventually cordial conversation, it appeared that she wanted to keep her distance.
He gave her a warm smile and helped tether the horses before leading her up the walkway to the front entrance in silence. The guards nodded and moved aside as they approached, and he could almost sense his companion's confusion.
He would have to come clean, and hope that she would forgive him for his foolish deception. Perhaps his attempt to avoid looking childish that evening had failed after all.
As they pushed through the front doors, he was surprised to see Edmund (who had clearly decided not to go to bed) and Oreius talking quietly a few metres away. They looked up as he entered, Edmund giving him a slight nod and Oreius bending in a deep bow (no matter how many times he told his trusted general that formalities were not necessary, he persisted in such behaviour).
"Still awake I see, Ed." Peter said, throwing his cloak back on a nearby hook.
Edmund gave him a small smile. "Do you honestly think I can get any rest when I know you're out there riding around in the dark, and possibly hostile, woods? Honestly Peter, you're not the only one prone to worrying about his siblings."
Peter avoided his gaze, feeling guilty for the umpteenth time that night.
"Sorry, Ed. I know I was being a bit…irrational."
The younger king nodded in agreement before noticing the fourth, and unknown, person in the room. Raising a dark eyebrow, he nodded in her direction and shot his brother a questioning look. "I see you have not returned alone."
Peter was confused for moment before remembering that Adara had indeed been following him as he entered the castle. Seeing his brother and Oreius had temporarily distracted him from the strange woman.
"Ah, yes, of course." He began, turning to her with a smile. "Terribly rude of me not to introduce you."
As expected, there was a look of shock and confusion on her face as she stared between the two kings and the centaur. The ruse was up.
Peter hesitated, his guilt returning. "I suppose I should begin with myself…properly." He began quietly. "I am-"
"Peter." She stuttered her brown eyes wide and her voice once again cold and distant. "You're High King Peter."
Peter nodded, and Edmund and Oreius looked perplexed by this strange exchange.
"I am afraid so," He said, with a slight smile, hoping that she would not think him too horrible for his earlier deception. "And this is my brother, King Edmund, and our trusted general, Oreius. This," Peter continued, turning to the other men in the room, "Is Lady Adara of Doorn, she has come to stay with us at the Cair for a few weeks."
The other two bowed, but Adara remained frozen, her eyes transfixed on Peter.
He shifted uncomfortably under her penetrating gaze, but supposed that he deserved these moments of awkwardness for what he had done.
"I do hope you can forgive me, milady." He said, with a slight bow.
A young faun scuttled down the hallway, stopping abruptly as Peter raised his hand in his direction.
"Good evening, Mordus." Peter said, with a nod towards the faun. "If you are not otherwise engaged, would you please escort Lady Adara to one of the guest rooms in the northern wing. I trust that she is tired after her journey and would appreciate the rest."
He turned his attention to her as the faun came towards them and picked up her two small bags. "Let Mordus know if you are hungry and he can have someone fetch you something from the kitchens." He gave her another slight bow, as the stunned woman was led away by the faun. "Good night, milady, it was a pleasure to ride with you."
She did not reply, and Peter watched with a mixture of amusement and guilt as she disappeared around the corner.
He looked up to see Edmund shaking his head, confusion evident in his brown eyes. "I am not even going to ask." He muttered.
XXXXXXXXXXX
A/N Let me know how it was. Good? Okay? Horrible? Should I continue?
This is my first attempt to work with these characters, and hope they are alright so far. I love Peter, but I don't want to make him excessively pure and noble, nor to do I want to stray from the character and make him un-likable. Same with Edmund. It is hard to find a balance. Susan and Lucy should appear soon.