Disclaimer: I own nothing other than Faiana. All else belongs to C.S. Lewis.
Summary: What is there in the making for one who is called 'High King' and 'the Magnificent?' A story of how Peter grew into his position and title with an eventual Peter/OC.
AN: Hey there everyone! I suppose one review after one day on my very first fic is all I ought to expect. No worries though! My thanks go out to Calyn and I am gladdened that I am not the only one who appreciates the true canon over special effects and 'epicness.'
Chapter Two: To Think as a King Would
Peter awoke the next morning at the sound of the flap of the pavilion rustling. He yawned and stretched and looked and saw Faiana standing with a golden tray in her hands very similar to the one she had had just the day before. "Good morning!" She said with a bright smile. "I've brought you some milk!"
Peter returned her smile and nodded. "Thank you, Faiana." Then turned to wake Susan and Lucy who had slept in the pavilion with him. They both yawned and stretched and thanked Faiana for the milk in turn.
As they sat in silence for a moment, Peter's thoughts drifted to the day before. Of how they'd met Father Christmas after spending the night in the cave the Beavers had brought them to in their flight from the dam, and of receiving their presents from Father Christmas. The time to use them may be near at hand. Bare them well. That was what Father Christmas had told Peter as he'd given him his sword and shield. Peter could have never guessed that the "near at hand" Father Christmas spoke of would have been that afternoon when he'd slain Maugrim and been knighted by Aslan Himself as Sir Peter Wolfsbane.
After the trickle tarts that Faiana had brought to him after he'd freshened up, he had spent some time talking to Aslan about his responsibilities that would be coming as Narnia's High King. Aslan had told Peter that when the time of trials and tests had come that he would know what to do, even if he was scared to do them, and that he had proven that by defending Susan and the rest of the encampment from Maugrim. Aslan had also told him that if He did not feel that Peter were the right Son of Adam to take the position of Narnia's High King, He would not have brought Peter to Narnia.
At this, Peter was instantly filled with wonder, for it had seemed to him that he and his brother and sisters had stumbled into Narnia by sheer luck.
I have never met a creature by the name of Luck before, Son of Adam. Was Aslan's reply as he reassured Peter that He had brought him and his brother and sisters to fulfill a purpose. Peter, though still filled with wonder at the Great Lion's words, decided not to press the issue further for he was of the age in which children begin to think for themselves instead of having all things told to them. Could his role in being brought to Narnia be something of far grander design than just to be its High King? That position alone sounded grand in of itself, but after his talk with Aslan, he was of the mind now that it could not have been by luck, for Aslan Himself had said he had been brought here and not by luck, but he had not been brought to Narnia by luck… It astounded and amazed Peter. He had never been too deeply practical – he left that up to Susan, but he still enjoyed deep contemplation and thought. But this – this was beginning to be something far more amazing than he'd first thought.
After the feast, Peter had retired early in the evening. Though he had desired to see the things that Lucy had told him about when she had told them everything Mr. Tumnus had told her about the old Narnia before the White Witch; about the Fauns and the Naiads and Dryads all coming out to dance and to see the forest give itself up to 'jollification,' as Mr. Tumnus had put it, Peter was weary from the fight earlier in the day and when he'd come in the pavilion to bathe and seen the bed which had been prepared for him, he desired nothing more than to slip under the comforter and sheets and sleep till he could do so no more.
His mind came back to the present after he'd finished the goblet of milk that Faiana had brought to him and he handed it back to her, giving her his appreciation.
"Son of Adam." Faiana said. "Daughters of Eve, your brother arrived at camp late last night. He's come back."
Instantly, Peter, as well as Susan and Lucy, were on their feet. "Where is he?" Asked Peter.
The Naiad smiled at him. "He is with Aslan." Was her reply.
The three Pevensie children looked at each other, an expression of worry coming over each of their faces.
"Oh dear…" Susan said.
Faiana gathered the rest of the goblets and gave them all another smile as she began leaving the pavilion. "I am quite sure he would want to see you after what he has been through."
Peter nodded and looked to the other two and they all got themselves ready before heading outside. Edmund and Aslan stood beside the Stone Table quietly talking – well, rather Aslan doing most of the talking with Edmund listening and only occasionally speaking. Peter felt it might be best if they waited until later, but then Aslan turned His head toward them and Edmund turned as well.
At that, Lucy raced ahead of her siblings, rushing towards her brother. "Edmund!" Peter and Susan followed her, stopping just short of him. The smiles they wore diminished slightly when they saw the look of utter remorse on Edmund's face.
"Here is your brother." Said Aslan, gently nudging Edmund forward with His nose.
Edmund took a step towards the other three, his eyes darting about as he tried to look at them but felt he could not. He licked his lips in an attempt to talk. He sighed and attempted to speak again but his voice faltered.
It was only when Aslan spoke again that Edmund seemed to find himself. "There is no need to talk about what is passed." Then he looked to the others and spoke in a meek voice.
"I'm sorry…" Edmund looked first to Peter with doubt in his eyes and Peter knew that he'd always been the on for reservations and had often held grudges when things had gone wrong, but Peter knew too that his anger with Edmund at having lied about coming to Narnia before with Lucy had added in helping him choose to side with the White Witch and with Aslan's words, he felt that the only thing right to do would be to accept his brother's apology.
"That's alright." He said with a small smile and shook Edmund's hand. If nothing else, he felt that he ought to be glad that Edmund was back with them all.
Edmund smiled hopefully and looked to the others. "I am sorry!" He said, a hint of desperation in his voice.
The girls, who seemed much less reluctant about accepting his apology rushed forward to embrace him. "Yes Edmund!" They both said and hugged their brother tightly. Peter smiled and joined them. Yes, this was right. Even though Edmund had betrayed them, he had come back with a remorseful and sorrowful heart and asked their forgiveness. If Aslan had forgiven him then who was anyone to say that they could not forgive Edmund in turn.
They showed him around the camp and all seemed merry and gay. Peter took the others and showed them the overlook where Aslan had taken him the day before and explained that they were to become Kings and Queens. Edmund looked guiltily at the ground during most of the explanation and after being asked what was the matter, he told them that the Witch had promised that him that he would be a Prince and would be King of Narnia after she was gone. Lucy told Edmund not to worry, and that he'd been forgiven by everyone. Susan did the same to reassure him and even Peter attempted to make light of the fact.
"King of Narnia when she's gone, huh? Well, at least there's some truth to that. Once Aslan has taken care of her, we'll all be coroneted."
The three of them laughed at that and headed back to camp.
It was just after noontime and Peter and Edmund stood idly chatting about 'what it would be like to be King' and Susan, Lucy, Mrs. Beaver and Faiana sat making garlands of roses and other wild flowers with the Dryads in the shade of a pavilion overhanging when a leopard suddenly bounded up to Aslan and bowed its head low before the Great Lion. "Sire, there is a messenger from the enemy." At the leopard's words, Faiana stood, her hand dipping towards the dagger that rested on her belt.
The Great Lion nodded His head slowly as His eyes narrowed and His ears turned and flatted in His mane and He let out a low growl, "Let him approach."
The leopard bowed its head again and made off to the edge of the hilltop. A murmur rose about the encampment as the four children and the Naiad looked to where the leopard had took off to and saw it returning with Witch's Dwarf ahead of it. It was easy to tell that the closer the Dwarf got to Aslan, the more fearful it became. The leopard bowed before Aslan and sat on its haunches beside Aslan as the Dwarf stood uneasily in front of the Great Lion and Aslan spoke in an extremely stern tone. "What is your message, Son of Earth."
Peter swore he saw the Dwarf tense and its knees buckle as Aslan spoke to him and it replied in a nervous, quivering voice. "Th-The Queen of Narnia – and Empress of the Lone Islands… desires safe conduct to come and speak with You…"
"Queen of Narnia, indeed!" Mr. Beaver snapped. "Why of all the cheek!"
"Beaver, peace." Aslan said as he gently turned his head toward Mr. Beaver, then back to the Dwarf. "Tell your mistress that I grant her safe conduct on one condition. That she leave her wand behind that tree at the edge of the encampment."
The Dwarf seemed to have relaxed slightly, nevertheless, nervousness still permeated from it as it replied. "She expected such a request… on degrees."
"My people will go with you to see that the condition is properly observed." With that, Aslan turned to the two leopards at his side and nodded. They bowed in return and followed the Dwarf back to the edge of the hilltop.
Lucy glanced around nervously and looked up to Peter. "But – what if she turns them to stone?" It was obvious that the same thought was passing through the leopards' minds in the way that the fur on their backs and tails was bristled out.
Peter knelt down to Lucy's level and looked to her. "I think they're thinking the very same thing." He said to her. "But it's sure be alright."
"Aslan would not have sent them if it weren't." Faiana added then gasped, taking a half a step back, her eyes going wide. Seeing this, Peter stood as well and looked at where her eyes were focused and his went wide as well and he reached for the hilt of his sword as chills ran up and down his skin.
The White Witch herself appeared at the edge of the encampment and the Talking Beast let out all sorts of hisses and growls and roars. The Witch sneered at them all as she raised her wand high into the air. Peter tensed, expecting the worst, then the Witch lowered her wand and sat it beside the tree that Aslan had bid to do so.
She and the two leopards made their way toward Aslan and the Narnians in the encampment who had been lounging before all stood, not out of respect, but to move back safely away from the Witch. Many of them did not stop moving until they were well behind Aslan. As the Witch stopped in front of Aslan, the leopards quickly bowed to the Great Lion and took their places back at his side, looking very relieved to be away from the Witch. Peter did notice something about her. She never looked Aslan in His eyes.
"Aslan, you have a traitor, there!" She shouted turning her head toward Edmund and pointed her finger accusingly at him. Peter set his jaw and took a step forward, putting himself between his brother and the Witch.
"His offense was not against you." Was Aslan's reply.
"Have you forgotten the Deep Magic?" Said the Witch, turning back to Aslan, still refusing to look Him in His eyes.
"The Deep Magic from the Dawn of Time. Yes, I remember – but suppose I did not? Tell Me of this Deep Magic."
The Witch scowled. "You know what is written there!" She said, pointing over toward the Stone Table. "On that very table of stone! You know the magic that was put into Narnia at the very beginning by the Emperor-Over-The-Sea! You know that every traitor belongs to me, as my lawful prey! And that for every treachery I have the right to kill!"
"Oh, so that is why you hold to your claim to being a Queen, being the Emperor's hangman, I see!" Mr. Beaver shouted in return.
"Peace, Beaver." Aslan said admonishingly, a low growl in His voice.
Peter glanced back at Edmund and put up his shield as Susan and Lucy stood and Faiana joined them, bunching themselves up against Edmund to shield him from the Witch.
"You know, Aslan, that human creature is mine!" She turned her head and pointed toward Edmund again. "His blood is my property! His life is forfeit to me!"
Peter stared the Witch down, working his jaw nervously. It would have been so easy for him to have leaped forward and simply ended it there, drawing his sword and embedding his blade into her black heart, but Aslan had granted her safe conduct.
"Come and take him then!" Faiana shouted at the Witch. Peter could tell that she had mustered as much courage as she could to do so, but the Witch merely laughed at her.
"Fools! Do you think your Master can rob me of my rights by mere force? He knows the Deep Magic better than that! He knows that unless I have blood as the Law states!" The Witch's voice raised in pitch as her shouting turned into outright yelling. "The whole of Narnia will be overturned and will perish in fire and water!"
"It is true. I do not deny it." Said Aslan as a triumphant smirk crossed the Witch's face.
"Oh Aslan, can't You do something – to work against the Deep Magic?" Susan cried.
Aslan turned and stared at her incredulously. "Work against the Deep Magic?" Was His reply. "Wait, all of you. I will talk to the Witch alone." With that, Aslan walked with the Witch at his side past the edge of the encampment and out of sight.
As Aslan walked off with the Witch, Lucy turned to look back at Edmund who had remained silent throughout the whole ordeal, then looked to Peter, her lips trembling as she raced into his arms and hugged him tight. Peter wasn't unfamiliar with this. As the oldest of the four, he had always been the one they'd turned to for protection and comfort. He dropped his shield and held tight to Lucy with one arm.
Though he did not show it outwardly, inside he felt like a complete failure to all of them, especially to Edmund. His Knighthood, his destiny as High King, what did it all matter if he could not even protect his own brother from something as trivial as a law? Trivial it may have seemed to him at first as the Witch spouted off what dooms awaited Narnia of this supposed law was not kept to the letter, but to have her say those things and then for Aslan to have confirmed them? Peter was at an utter loss and he bowed his head. He could not bring himself to voice his thoughts, so great was the shame in his heart.
Faiana seemed to notice his distress and laid a pale hand on his shoulder. Her touch was cool and refreshing and Peter raised his head to look at her. Her eyes seemed to convey a look of a mixture of It's not your fault; have faith that Aslan will put things to right. But Peter slowly closed his eyes and shook his head.
Faiana let out a quiet sigh and lowered her head, then raised it again and leaned close to him. "When you have a chance, walk with me, Sir Peter." He noticed the lack of grace in her addressing him, but he also noticed her usage of his title. He stared at her, a moment puzzled and Lucy seemed to have heard Faiana and gently pulled away from Peter, drying her tears, trying to be brave. Peter let out a resigned sigh and turned and followed the Naiad away from the crowds.
The entire camp seemed utterly silent as the other Naiads and Dryads huddled together amongst their kin with the occasional Faun standing near them. Centaurs frowned deeply and pawed at the ground with the hooves and the Talking Beasts bowed their heads making subtle rustlings. It seemed like a solemn, sad time for all. The joy of having not only the four humans of the prophecy in their encampment but Aslan Himself with them had been utterly spoiled by the Witch's arrival. She was everything that Aslan was not. Where He was kind, she was cruel. Where He was just, she was tyrannical. Where He was understanding, she was pitiless. Where He was glorious, she was reprehensible.
Peter and Faiana continued walking until they were well away from the crowds before Faiana turned around and spoke. "What troubles you, Peter?" This time she spoke informally to him and he was appreciative of her for it.
Peter sighed and looked down. "This – if I cannot protect even my own brother from something like this… Deep Magic…" He trailed off for a moment before he spoke again. "How can I be a good King when I can't even protect my own brother? How can people expect me to be a good King when my own brother is in danger, but there is nothing I can do for him?"
Faiana's mouth fell open slightly at his admission then closed it as she took on a contemplative look, searching for the right words to give him. "Remember what is said of Aslan, Son of Adam." She gave him the smallest of smiles, her dark eyes gently looking into his own as she attempting to reassure him.
Peter looked at her uncertainly as the rhyme that Mr. and Mrs. Beaver had told to the children two days ago at their dam came to his mind.
Wrong will be right when Aslan comes in sight
At the sound of His roar, sorrows will be no more
When He bares his teeth, winter meets its death
And when He shakes his mane, we shall have spring again.
You'll understand when you see Him. Mr. Beaver had said. Peter had been now with Aslan for a full day counting by the hours and at first, it had seemed that Mr. Beaver's words were true. But the confrontation with the Witch just moments ago had shaken his faith entirely. It had, at first seemed that Aslan could do the impossible, but to hear from Aslan's own mouth that He could not undo the laws set into Narnia, the Deep Magic – oh how had disappointment flooded his soul. It troubled him too. The Beavers had made it seem as though Aslan was incapable of allowing harm to come to anyone. Now that disappointment had settled into Peter, he began to see how rash, how illogical it had been to believe something like that. Such a childish notion.
"Faiana, how can you have such faith, such hope in Aslan when something like this happens? There's nothing that can be done and Aslan Himself said it."
Faiana shook her head. "Remember what he said when your sister asked Aslan if anything could be done to save your brother." Peter sighed as he recalled the Great Lion's words. All shall be done, but it may be more difficult than you think. "Difficult does not mean impossible, Peter. Things may not work out as we wish them to, but Aslan will find a way."
Her words made sense to him, but his heart held him back. "But how – why do you believe that?"
Faiana smiled that beautifully small smile at him again. "Because He is good. And He has kept His word… It was Aslan that long ago foretold of your coming, Peter. You and your brother and sisters were not the first humans in Narnia. Long ago, at Narnia's beginning, Aslan gave everything in Narnia – every stick, every rock, every river – He gave the Sons of Adam and the Daughters of Eve dominion over all of Narnia. Over all beasts both those that could talk and those that could not – over all the spirits of the world, the Naiads and Dryads. There were many generations of Kings and Queens in Narnia all that came from the first Son of Adam and Daughter of Eve that ruled Narnia."
"Then the White Witch came…" She trailed off for a moment before continuing. "All of Narnia fought against her but nothing could overcome her. We prayed to Aslan –
"You were there?" Peter's mouth fell open slightly and the Naiad nodded.
"I was. I am a Naiad, Peter. A River Nymph. A Daughter of the River God – so long as the waters of the Great River flow, we're immortal. Granted, if we are wounded to the point where our bodies can no longer stand it, we die. But unless that happens, we do not die."
Peter stared at her, dumbfounded. She truly was as ancient as her eyes suggested her to be, yet still, it was a shock to him. Just how old was she? Had she been there at Narnia's beginning?
But before he could ask her, she continued. "In desperation, the last King of Narnia stood on the eastern sea at dawn just before the sun rose and prayed to Aslan for deliverance and there, Aslan appeared to him and told him:
When Adam's flesh and Adam's bone
Sits at Cair Paravel in throne,
The evil times will be over and done
It puzzled him greatly, for the King was a Son of Adam himself, no matter if he shared the blood of my sisters." At this, Peter frowned. What had she meant by a human sharing the blood of a Naiad? But again, she continued before he could ask. "And then Aslan told him that He would place four thrones in Cair Paravel and that when two Sons of Adam and two Daughters of Eve sat in those four throne, then it would be the end, not only of the White Witch's reign but of her life."
Peter nodded. "The Beavers told us as much back at the Beavers dam, but what does that have to do with having faith that Aslan will make all well?"
Faiana blinked at him, her eyes going wide. "It has everything to do with it!" She took a step forward and lifted her hand to gently cup Peter's cheek. "Do you not see, Son of Adam? Over one hundred years ago, Aslan said these things and for one hundred years, we Narnians waited for the day when the two Sons of Adam and two Daughters of Eve would come… And now, you are here." She smiled at him and he could see the whiteness of her teeth and the expression of joy that crept into her eyes. "Aslan has kept His word. He is good." She lowered her hand and took him by his shoulders. "If we Narnians can wait one hundred years for Aslan, surely it could not be such a task to ask you to wait for Him for so short a time."
Though her words were encouraging, Peter felt suddenly selfish and lowered his head and spoke in a low voice. "You are right… of course, Faiana." He frowned and gave a defeated sigh. "I'm just being selfish."
She shook his shoulder slightly and caused him to look back up at her. "Now none of that, Peter. Self-pity is unbefitting for a Knight of Narnia, let alone its future King." She smiled at him and lowered her arms once again to her sides. "Now, just close your eyes and take a deep breath and tell yourself that Aslan will put all to rights."
He did as she bid him to do so and the words of the Beaver's rhyme came back to his mind. Faiana was not Aslan, but in that moment, he once again experienced that emotion that had filled him the day before when Aslan had breathed on him and knighted him that serene feeling of joy. And that in turn gave way once more to that feeling when Mr. Beaver had first mentioned the name of Aslan to the children that day in the snow-covered forests, that feeling of heroism, valor, nobility and courage.
He smiled and opened his eyes, only to find them welling with tears, so great were the feelings that overcame him. He gave a small laugh and took another breath as he wiped his eyes. "Thank you, Fai."
She blinked and giggled. "Are you attempting to give me a nickname, your Highness?" Her voice held a teasing tone to it, but he could tell by her using his formal title again that she was reminding him of his future.
Peter smiled again. "Only if you bid me to do so… Daughter of the River God."
Faiana shook her head. "Oh, you are impossible. Come the rest of the encampment awaits us." And with that, they made their way back to the encampment, still wearing the smiles they had had before. The other Pevensie children looked to Peter curiously as he came back.
"How can you be smiling at a time like this?" She asked with a frown.
"Don't worry, Su. Aslan will put all to rights." Was Peter's reply to her. "He's still speaking with the Witch?"
"We heard his voice a few moments ago – Oh look! They've returned!" Faiana said, and so they had. The Witch and Aslan walked quietly back into camp and all stood and peered at the two (especially Edmund) with bated breath.
"I have settled the matter." Said Aslan. "She has renounced your claim on your brother's blood."
With that, the camp gave a sigh of relief and the four children all embraced each other in joy and relief.
But then the Witch's shrill voice rang out across the hilltop. "But how do I know this promise with be kept?"
At that, Aslan's face twisted into one of deep-seated anger and he opened his mouth wide. Terrible was His gaping maw, but even more terrible was the roar that He let loose and the encampment barely had time to cover their ears from the wrath of the Great Lion. Everything about the gentle, loving Aslan was gone and this new terrifying one even made Peter tremble in fear. He remembered the Beaver's words. Safe? 'Course He isn't safe! But He's good. He's the King.
As for the Witch, she gasped in horror and picked up her skirts and fled for her life, only stopping to pick up her wand that she had set down.
When the rest of the encampment finally caught their breath, Aslan turned to them. "Come, we must move from this place at once. It will soon be needed for other things. Tonight, we encamp at the Fords of Beruna."
The camp was hastily broken down and everything packed away and they all made their way down of the hilltop and into the forest. Aslan called Peter over to Him at one point.
"What do you make of the Witch's movements, Son of Adam?" He asked. "What do you think would be her most likely course of action?"
Peter blinked at Aslan. Did Aslan not know what to do? It couldn't be. Then he saw it in Aslan's eyes. He was testing Peter and he thought a moment. "If I were the Witch…" Peter began. "I would have my crew fall back to her house and prepare for a siege." He couldn't help but notice that Aslan seemed strangely sad even as the Great Lion smiled at him.
"Yes, very perceptive. Now, you may or may not be able to cut her off and prevent her from reaching it, so you must have two battle plans ready. One plan is for assaulting her castle. The other is for fighting her and her forces in the forest, but it will be difficult to know where she will decide to strike."
Peter frowned. "Yes, I see that, but -" He begin to say, but a look from Aslan cut him off.
"You must post scouts at all outlying points so that she will not steal up and catch you unawares." Said Aslan.
Peter frowned again. "But – You'll be there Yourself, Aslan…"
That sad look seemed to permeate from Aslan all the more now and the Great Lion let out what Peter took to be a resigned breath. "…I can give you no promise of that…" He said and moved on, leaving a very befuddled Peter standing there a moment. Was Aslan not to be at the battle? How could it be?
Peter closed his eyes and took a breath, attempting to calm himself, reciting the rhyme he had done earlier that day. He did not notice Faiana moving to walk alongside him or that he had been mutter it under his breath until she was upon him and finished reciting along with him.
"And when He shakes his mane…" Peter looked over to her to see her smiling as she gestured to the forest about her. "…we shall have spring again…"
This encouraged him a bit and he thanked her for earlier when he'd doubted himself. Her only reply was "I was merely doing my service to my future King, Highness." It may have been just Peter, but he detected a slight playful tone to her voice. "I am glad that we're camping near the river. That way coming into camp in the mornings isn't such a chore." At that, Peter looked over to her curiously and she explained. "We Naiads do not… sleep in the way Sons of Adam do, Highness. We return to our waters. That is our way of being refreshed and renewed."
Peter nodded and they continued on for a time until they came to the Fords. The Naiads in the encampment rushed to the riverbank and leap into the river, their bodies seeming to dissolve into the water. Peter stared in wonder when a large figure arose from the river. Twice the height of a grown man, he looked like an incredibly old Naiad with what appeared to be a crown of seaweed and water lilies.
Aslan approached the riverbank and looked to the giant figure, then bowed His head as if in respect and the figure did the same thing before it knelt (or at least, it appeared that it knelt) into the river and was gone again. Again, Peter stared in wonder and approached Aslan and the Great Lion turned and smiled at him, though sadness still lingered in His great eyes.
"The River-God, Son of Adam. One of Narnia's greatest allies and perhaps one of the oldest in all of Narnia. The father of all Naiads including Faiana. Though he will be one of your subjects when you are King, respect to him is due. For it is he who keeps Narnia's waters clean and fresh."
Peter nodded to Aslan and surveyed the area. "Aslan, would it not be better if we camped a little away from the Fords? That way, encase the Witch were to attack at night, we wouldn't be cornered against the river."
Aslan's smile brightened at Peter. "Now you are beginning to think as a King would. As I told you before, Son of Adam, when the time of trials and tests is come to you, you will know what to do. Just have faith in Me and faith in yourself."
The camp was set up about half a mile east of the Fords as Peter had suggested and everyone was settling in for the evening. Faiana and her kin made sure that the camp was supplied with food for the night. Since a confrontation with the Witch was nearing, there was no grand feast, no dancing in the forest and fires were kept as small as possible so as to not give away their position.
As Peter and the other Pevensie children settled in for the night, Peter could not help but occasionally take a peek out of the pavilion flap to ensure that Aslan still remained. Each time he checked, the Great Lion remained, though He looked greatly saddened as He had all afternoon.
"Peter?" Lucy asked and he turned around to see his youngest sister staring at him with bated breath.
Peter turned around and sat with the others on the bed. Susan offered him a dish that had been leftover from earlier, but Peter shook his head no. There was no way he would be able to eat. Not with his stomach flip-flopping inside him "He's still there."
Susan sighed and frowned. "He seemed so sad all afternoon."
Peter hesitated a moment. "…He's not going to be there." The other three looked up at him questioningly.
"But – the battle?" Said Edmund.
Peter frowned and shook his head. "He's leaving it to me… to us… But He wouldn't desert us. Not just as we need Him."
Then, for the first time in a long while, Lucy frowned. "Not unless He had to."
That was not a comforting thought at all. Since Lucy had brought it up, Peter began to wonder. Was Aslan's agreement with the Witch that in exchange for Edmund's life, Aslan would not be present at the battle? Peter tried to think of other things, yet he felt in his heart that this was what was to be. That was why Aslan had been leaving him with battle plans among other things.
Faiana, who had returned from the river a few hours ago, looked down at the troubled humans. "Aslan will put all to rights, just have faith. He's driven away the winter and He's had the Witch renounce her claim on high Highness' blood. Do not give up hope now."
Peter looked up to Faiana and gave a sigh. "You must tire of telling me that, Faiana."
The Naiad shook her head. "I do not tire of it, for the four of you have only known of Aslan for but a few days. We Narnians have known Him our whole lives. It is just something that you will do once you've been here a while." She moved toward them and took away the empty dishes that remained. "It would be well for your Highnesses to rest. Tomorrow may very well be the day of the great battle and it will not do to have you weary from no sleep."
Peter sighed. "She's right. Come on, off to bed everyone."
Reluctantly, everyone began bedding down for the night. Peter lay awake for a while staring up at the pavilion ceiling. He kept telling himself over and over again that all would be put to rights. He reminded himself of what Faiana had told him earlier today. Oh, even after witnessing and hearing such things that he had, he still found it difficult to find comfort. Did he have so little faith? Soon, what he found though was that he did not lack faith in Aslan, but he lacked faith in himself. The thoughts continued rolling about his mind for a while before he finally muttered. "Oh Aslan… help me to not doubt myself, help me to be able to carry out Your will should You not be here during the battle. Give me the wisdom to lead wisely. Give me the strength to lead and be strong for the Narnians. Do not abandon me when I need you the most."
Though he expected for nothing to answer him, it was suddenly brought to the front of his mind what Aslan had said the day before
If you were not fit to be the High King of Narnia, Peter, I would not have brought you here. … I have never met a creature known as Luck.
This seemed to give him a small amount of comfort. For if Aslan had faith in him, why should he, himself not have faith in himself? And with that, Peter drifted off into an uneasy sleep.
AN: Well, there we have it. Second chapter up. I have not yet begun work on the third chapter so it may be a few days before I am able to post it. As to be expected, the next chapter will be the Battle of the Fords of Beruna. Since this is a bookverse fic, it will not be a simple pen and paper enactment of the Battle of Beruna as seen in the 2005 movie. Again, reviews and constructive criticisms are more than welcome. Until next time!