I know, I know, it's been ages and I'm sorry. My life decided to become the world's largest ball of string tangled complicated, no excuse I know, it's not supposed to be, I'm just stating. Well, enough of my prattle, on with the show! Next stop: Narnia's past. Again.

Disclaimer: I do not own Narnia, Aslan, the Pevensies, so on and so forth, ditto ditto, etc, etc, etc.

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"No, no, no, and no!"

"Kat-!"

"Your majesty!"

"Lucy!"

Katerina sighed as she dropped back into a chair in the youngest queen's tent.

"Fine, Lucy, but how can you possibly say that?" She scowled. "He's pretentious, and careless about his own safety, and emotional, and intelligent, and brave, and handsome, and – oh by the Lion you're right." Her face paled. "I have feelings that are NOT animosity for the High King!"

"And this is bad because…?" Lucy questioned, taking her own seat and pouring the tea before sitting back to nibble on a biscuit.

Katerina stared at the fifteen year old.

"Lucy, a large part of the past seven years of my life have been stating that I believe your brother to be an unfit king of Narnia! And that was before I even knew him, much less became the spymaster! And now I have, dare I say, affection for him!" She slumped. "This is very much beyond BAD!"

"While it's refreshing to see you acting like a normal young woman," the queen steadfastly ignored the glare sent her way, "perhaps it is time to re-evaluate your relationship with Peter." The Valiant sipped her tea. "If you truly are in love-."

"AFFECTIONATE! I'm affectionate! I never said love!"

"Very well, if you do have affection for my brother, get to know him better."

Kat gave an unladylike snort,

"Right and have him bite my head off."

Lucy set down her teacup and daintily brushed some crumbs off her dress.

"Peter has only ever snarked at you because you snarked first. Were you polite-."

"I've been polite-." At her queen's pointed look, she amended. "Well, for most of the last two years, since Cair Paravel was attacked."

"That's a fair call." Lucy leaned forward and clasped her friend's hand. "I believe you two know and care for each other much more then even yourselves can possibly imagine."

Katerina bit her lip, eyes gazing into a future only she could see as she thought.

"After this conflict is over," she promised in a whisper. "I will speak with the High King and see where it leads us."

"I couldn't ask for more. Now, my friend, you have told me a secret of your heart, I will return this gesture of trust with one of my own."

As Kat leaned forward eagerly, a horn nearby sounded. It was quickly followed by a dwarf dressed as a nurse.

"My Queen, forgive the intrusion," she said, curtseying quickly. "But the enemy is preparing to attack and the High King would like you and Lady Katerina to arm yourselves." Lucy nodded, Kat was already moving towards her own weapons. "He also stated that he wants Lady Katerina at his side immediately and you to lead the second flank."

Kat had stilled at the command but Lucy simply shrugged it off.

"Where will my sister and brothers be placed?" she pressed.

"I believe the High King is leading the main body of the army alongside General Orieus while King Edmund takes the third flank and the Queen Susan commands the archers." The horn sounded again and the nurse dropped another curtsy. "Forgive me, your majesty, but I must go prepare as well."

"Oh, yes, of course, you may go."

As the nurse left, Lucy turned her eyes on her friend,

"Tumnus."

"I beg pardon?" Katerina asked, shaking herself out of her daze.

"My secret, lately I've been noticing Mr. Tumnus less as my friend the faun and more as…"

"A male?"

"Yes."

"Well," Kat paused for a moment, taking it all in before grinning. "Consider that incentive to stay alive." The youngest royal felt her jaw hit the floor. "Don't you want to know what happens?"

Lucy couldn't stop the laugh that escaped,

"Oh yes, yes I do."

"Good, because there are many joys to being nearly 16 and I want to watch. Your secret is naturally safe with me." Kat buckled her final knife before leaning forward to kiss her queen on the forehead. "Be safe, Valiant One, we still have much to talk about."

Lucy grasped her arm and nodded then turned to finish arming up as Katerina strode from the tent.

By the High King's tent, Peter was looking over a map of the battlefield that had been set up on a table, his mind whizzing with information as he planned.

"I suppose this wouldn't be the time to mention that Orieus would like permission to court me?" Susan's voice cut through battle plans and frustration to her brother's ears.

"No, Su, it's really not," he replied absentmindedly, tracing a line of troop formations with on finger and reaching for his water goblet with the other. "Not unless it's a joke in which case I applaud your new found humor and beg you to bare it some other time."

The Gentle scooped up the goblet, pressing it into his hand as she settled on the map and tilted his head up so his eyes met hers.

"Peter, tell me this is all right," she begged.

"We're about to go into battle-."

"All the more reason, your actions shall be emotion fuelled and therefore truthful."

"Susan." Peter set down his water to take his sister's hands. He turned them over a bit, tracing calluses made by years of bow strings. "I suppose you're not a little sister anymore."

"Little, no, but sister is the one name and title that will never change."

The Magnificent smiled softly,

"I know it's just courting but he's still my general, Su, I need him by my side during battle. He could be killed-."

"And so could you, or Ed, or Lu, yet I do not love you less nor demand that you remain at Cair Paravel. Doing so would deny part of who you are. I cannot do that to Orieus."

"Oh, Susan." Peter pulled her into a hug. "If this is what you truly want, then who am I to deny you?"

"The High King, of course!" Susan laughed, pulling back slightly to wipe away tears. "How silly of me to cry, you've always allowed me the suitor of my choice before." She shook her head. "Besides, you are the head of our family."

"Speaking of which, why are you the one requesting permission and not him?" Peter grinned and ducked a playful blow. "I'm serious! There are proper ways of doing these things, namely that the boy, well centaur, in question should be beside you!"

"Oh you're a riot!" Susan proclaimed, trying to smack him again.

"Are we interrupting your majesties?" Katerina asked, an amused expression on her face as well as on Orieus's, who stood beside her.

"No, not at all," Susan replied, walking over. "My royal brother was simply displaying his lack of a sense of humor." She smiled broadly at Orieus and stood on tiptoes to kiss his cheek. "I will be inspecting the archers."

"I've lived in Narnia my whole life and I've never seen a centaur blush before," Katerina teased after the queen had walked away. Her smile did not dim as he scowled at her. "Are you courting the Queen, General?"

"He better be or I just went through a teasing for no reason," Peter grinned, he too was leveled with a scowl he merely chuckled at. "Never fear, my friend, I approve because I trust you and my sister. But-." He turned mock serious. "I still expect chaperones."

"Of course, High King," Orieus bowed. "Shall we speak of the battle now?"

"Oh yes, of course." The King beckoned them over. "Now, Kat, what do you know?"

"Well, my squad leader, Astrid has reported the enemy weapons to be shoddy at best but especially bad here, here, and here," she pointed at the places on the map. "As well as here but there's the river to consider…"

"Of course, but good work, Katerina, thanks." Peter reached over and squeezed her hand for a moment before pulling away, not noticing the blush on her cheeks but very much aware of the one on his own…

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So yeah, hope ya'll like it. Please let me know. Maybe this will get certain people (glares at certain people who know who she is off) my back for a tiny bit. Next update should be sooner rather then later.

Sailor Ppearl