Chapter Three: Telling Peter
(Corin)
Peter is still in Narnia, so the next day when Lucy and King Edmund leave with their troops I 'volunteer' to go; in case there is any information my father might need to know—at least, that's what the king thinks. It does not take us long to reach the magnificent Cair Paravel. We are met by another faun, one whom Lucy affectionately calls "Philos", who leads me to a set of elegant rooms. Eventually, after I freshen up a bit, I am summoned to the throne room. A badger leads me there. The four Kings and Queens are seated. I make my way to them and kneel. Peter laughs. "Rise, Prince Corin. Lucy tells me you have something you wish to ask?" I glance over at Lucy, who is smiling encouragingly. She looks beautiful, her golden curls smooth and free with her wavelike crown nestled in them. She wears a silken dress the same color as the sea that is her dominion. I take a deep breath, turn back to Peter, and say, "High King Peter, I wish to ask for Queen Lucy's hand, if it pleases you and she." I look at his face. It is a thundercloud of anger. Lucy, however, is beaming. A fact which the other three monarchs notice. "Lucy, does it please you?" Peter asks. She laughs and says, "Aye, it does, brother. What say you?" Peter thinks for a moment and it almost looks as though he's going to smile. "You must fight, with Lucy by your side, against King Edmund and me. If you win, Lucy's hand is yours to ask her for." 'Well, he's good.' I think. Both Kings are excellent fighters, though not as good as Lucy is. Still… "As you wish, my king." I bow low. Suddenly Peter laughs; a great, booming sound that echoes through the hall. "Then let's go!" he roars.
We arrive at the training field. Lucy snickers the whole way here. Neither of her brothers has truly seen her train, they think her a fair archer and mediocre dirk-thrower, as well as a barely competent swordswoman. She told me once that she kept it a secret for this sort of situation—that, and if she were taken prisoner, they would believe her weak and underestimate her. It's a good plan, but I've seen her really train. It's chilling. Peter digs out a shield for me to use and I unsheathe my sword. Lucy draws her twin blades as well. She also has a long, straight hunting knife and daggers. "I'll take Edmund, you go for Peter." She whispers. "He's no boxer, but an excellent swordsman, so if you can, box him." I nod. I don't know if I can do this. But one look at Lucy's beautiful face and I know I can. We walk out into the sparring area. Lucy is now wearing a crimson dress, her 'battle dress' I suppose, with chain mail on top. Her twin swords, Aurora and Nyx, I've learned, are at her hips. Queen Susan is to referee us. The two Kings walk out. I immediately face Peter. Queen Susan yells "Begin!" and I yell, slashing my sword, blocking an attack with my shield, and darting back and forth, hacking fruitlessly at the High King. Finally, when both of us are panting heavily, I take a chance where he is distracted and knock the sword from his grasp and point mine at him. He bows, acknowledging surrender. I bow back and we turn to Edmund and Lucy. Lucy is twirling her swords boredly in hypnotizing silver arcs. Edmund is sitting on the ground, gaping like a fish. "How…how…how…?" he gasps. Lucy laughs her voice light and melodious. "You didn't think I was really that bad a fighter did you Edmund?" Peter looks at him questioningly. "She had me disarmed in five minutes." He whimpered. "She knew every movement before I made it. How did you do that, Lucy?" Edmund looks ready to cry. Lucy merely looks smug. "I told you all, brother dear, that I was better than you thought, but you chose not to believe me because I'm just sweet little Lucy." She explains. I stifle a laugh. Peter croaks "What else can you do, Lucy?" to which she merely laughs and says, "I had better just show you." She gracefully goes into the weapons room and comes back to the sparring field in a few moments, armed to the teeth. Edmund pales. Peter gulps. Susan gasps. I chuckle. Lucy has a bow slung over one shoulder, two shoulder belts of daggers, and her two swords sheathed at her sides.