After the decision had been made that Susan would go to Archenland, there was a rush to begin travel before the week was out. If Susan had any apprehensions about leaving, she would have had no time to express it. The following days were filled with meetings. Meetings of military intelligence, meetings of the other nobles, meetings of every other shape intent and form the children could think of.
Peter would have been lying if he said he knew what he was doing. London public schools did not hold diplomacy and politics in their curriculum. All Peter had was the few books from the library, the expert opinions of his advisors, and the unfailing support of his sisters and brother.
There was a turn of luck in their situations when Clement suggested they enter the Witch's castle to regain what was stolen from them. What they found in there was amazing. They found they had just enough gold and treasure to hire workers to get the mines started and to give King Lune a suitable offer of friendship.
The other pleasant surprise was the recruits that came flooding in to defend their country and new monarchs. Peter felt relieved now that he could send some troops to guard his boarders, as well as a fort along the road to Archenland with out compromising the safety of Cair Paravel.
The evening before Susan embarked on the journey, the children found themselves with some free time and decided to fill it with time on the beach.
Lucy skipped ahead of them in the sea foam singing in short spurts of breath, "Don't go sit under the apple tree with anyone else but me!"
Peter smiled widely at this. His little sisters had always been fascinating to him. And although Susan became easier to understand as with in the past few months, Peter could not fathom Lucy at times. All four had seen the terrors of war, both at home and in Narnia, and it was apparent in all of them. All of them save Lucy. Perhaps it was her age but what ever it was Lucy never ceased to smile and play.
"Peter, look!" Lucy cried with a smile as she pointed to the horizon. "Dolphins!" The High King paused and looked out to where Lucy pointed, his right hand shielding his eyes. Susan hiked up her skirts and followed them with Edmund close behind. They watched for a short while until a large wave knocked Lucy over. Susan giggled at her sister's shocked expression. With her pride a little hurt she gave her sister and her out stretched hand a sour face. And then promptly splashed her.
It was with great misfortune that Lucy's aim was not fully developed yet and instead of splashing just Susan, Edmund got most of the splash. "I'll show you, I will!" Edmund vowed just as another wave came and knocked him off his own feet.
With in moments, splash war had erupted. The children's voices drifted to the castle and to a small room where three creatures looked out. One, a centaur shook his head ruefully. He turned to his companions, a dwarf and another creature hidden in the shadows.
"This is wrong, they are just yearlings, if that." He protested. His voice held the wisdom of many years, yet the timidness of one lower in the ranks.
"But they'll grow." The dwarf protested in an urgent voice, "Already now they are planning to round up the rest of us and do goodness knows what."
"I agree," the creature in the shadows hissed, "They are still trying to get a foot hold here. Prophesized siblings or not, the Narnians will grow angered if they do not solve the budget crisis soon. We are not killing younglings, Master Centaur, we are merely causing situations to rouse a revolt."
"I have planted several informants in the castle, and one at the fort on the way to Archenland." The dwarf informed the other two gazing out the window before he continues, "Rumor has it that the High King is escorting Queen Susan to there where a guide will take over. The informant will join the party there and sour the diplomacy. And I trust you'll engage King Peter in battle, is that not correct, Master general."
The creature nodded and replied with a clipped tone, "Aye, Peter shall be dead with in the fortnight."
XXX
A/N: thanks to my reviewers!
