Chapter 6 - Breath of Fresh Air

Peter, true to his word, enlisted help with everything that did not require his personal touch. He would not delegate much to April since he instead wanted to spend time with her. So, in the mornings following, he showed her more of Narnia. They visited the fields and Fords of Beruna and she could imagine the battles fought there. They canoed on Glasswater, walked on the sandy beaches, and even rode to Beaversdam.

But the wedding was fast approaching and the preparations became more feverish. April was stretched to her capacity, never having planned any event before. The palace, too, was busier than ever. Guests started arriving – mostly Advisors and Council Members – but members of the old court and the Heads of State from surrounding Countries began to arrive as well. The official 'greeting day' would not come until the day before the wedding, but Peter tried to spend time with the key people who had come to wish him well. He always called April to visit with them too, so she stayed within range as she worked on the preparations. These visits were a bit stressful for her, this being so new, but she loved getting to see Peter and would take any excuse she could to spend time near him.

One such visit came as she was doing a task that she really disliked and was glad for the excuse to run to his side. She came smiling into the salon where he greeted his favorite guests, and two young people turned towards her. Used to seeing aged nobles and court members who tended to stare down their noses at her and Peter's supposed 'youth,' it was refreshing to see a couple not but a few years older than she who had merry smiles and laughing eyes and crowns on their heads. The Queen was a dark haired and skinned beauty and the King was fair with reddish blond hair and blue eyes. She looked expectantly at Peter, who was wearing an expression of excitement and relief that she hadn't seen in days.

"April, it is my great pleasure to present to you two very good friends of mine. King Cor and Queen Aravis of Archenland. Cor and Aravis, this is my beloved, April; Lady of Cair Paravel and soon to be Queen of Narnia."

As April curtsied to them both, Peter continued, "Cor's Father, King Lune, was my mentor when I first came to Narnia, and Aslan rest his soul, was a wonderful King. I watched Cor and his twin brother Corin grow up. I went to Cor's coronation and attended their wedding and Aravis' Coronation two years ago."

Turning to the couple, he said, "I am so pleased that that you could come."

Aravis said teasingly, "How could we not come? You can imagine our complete surprise when the wedding invitation arrived. We had to see what she looked like!"

"Aravis!" Cor scolded. To April he said, "You'll have to excuse my wife, she tends to speak her mind– all the time!"

April hid a smile at the couple who were now exchanging dirty looks and then giggled as Peter threw his head back and laughed loudly. He clapped Cor on the back.

"I see nothing has changed between the two of you. What a breath of fresh air you are. Come, sit; I know you will want refreshments after your long journey."

Peter and Cor walked over to pour the drinks and Aravis leaned close to April.

"I meant no disrespect, Lady April; the High King has chosen well. I can tell from here how much he cares for you," Aravis said.

"Please, call me April. All this is so new to me. Sometimes I feel in over my head and wonder why he would choose me."

"Oh, King Peter could have chosen any woman to be his Queen. But, according to most, he loved Narnia too much to think of sharing his affections with a wife. But, between you and me, I think he never wanted to marry because they all knew how to handle this. You, obviously, are from his world, and understand him differently. Plus, he seems different now. Not just in looks, he is so much younger than when we saw him last, but in spirit too."

"Thank you. He has been through so much since he left this era," April said quietly as the men joined them. Peter sat next to her on the settee and put his arm around her waist, shocking her. He was always very careful about not touching her in front of others that might be offended.

Cor and Aravis shared a knowing smile and shook their heads in disbelief. Cor spoke first, "So, I have to ask, why . . . how . . . are you so much younger than when you left?"

Peter smiled and said, "That is the question I dread to hear these days, but I'm relieved to be able to tell you, and only you, the whole story." As briefly as he could, he recounted going back through the wardrobe, the years following, his second time in Narnia far into the future, being told he was not to return, his meeting April, the battles they faced together, his proposing, and their finding themselves in Narnia now and their purpose here.

When he was finished Cor let out a low whistle. Aravis looked sympathetic and spoke to April, "When you said he had been through a lot you weren't jesting. You have our confidence, Peter; we will keep your secrets." A look of mischievousness crossed her pretty face and she said, "We should tell them all that when you fell in love with April, she placed you under an enchantment so you would appear as young as she!"

They all laughed and April knew then they would be fast and lasting friends. They spent the rest of the day talking and laughing together. April got a chance to hear most of their story and she was very touched. Especially so, since Aravis had been new to the Archenland culture at one time, and Cor was new to the throne–having been raised as a slave in Calormen and not knowing he was the Crown Prince of Archenland until he saved his Country, and Narnia, from being ambushed by a raiding Calormen army. What a romantic story. They were so young and had journeyed so far together being guided by Aslan himself. Even more amazing was that they grew up together and realized they had loved each other for many years before deciding to marry.

Cor seemed very humble indeed, even after being King for two years he said that sometimes he would rather live out in the woods and hunt for a living. Of course, they then had a laugh and talked about Corin, his twin brother, who was doing that very thing right now at their Father's hunting lodge.

Watching the two of them, though they traded barbed remarks, she could sense the deep love that bound them together. She wondered if she and Peter had that kind of love. At one point when Cor leaned over to whisper something to Aravis, April looked at Peter and met his eyes. Yes, they did have the beginnings of that deep love; they just didn't have the years behind it yet.

She knew she loved him more now that when they first arrived and that has been less than two weeks ago. How much more would she love him after two years of marriage? She sighed in contentment just thinking about it. His arm tightened around her and she put her head on his shoulder.

That mood broke when Cor and Aravis started telling stories about Peter. His conquests in battle, tournaments he had won, strategic diplomacy, it all started to overwhelm April. It was a side of Peter she had never been truly presented with other than reading the Book of Chronicles from the Golden Age that her family had passed down for generations. She felt very, very intimidated, especially when Aravis said. . .

"I remember when I first met the High King; I was young and it was my first time in Narnia. I remember being so in awe of him. He seemed much older than me then. I recall someone saying to me that there was not a maiden from Narnia to Calormen who had not dreamed of the High King at least once."

Cor looked shocked, "Aravis! Are you saying . . . ?"

"Well," Aravis teased, winking at April, "maybe only once!"

They laughed and Peter turned bright red.

Cor noticed that April seemed uncomfortable and changed the tone of conversation. "Of course, they didn't see him when. . ." and he launched into an outlandishly embarrassing tale of a hunt they had once been on. The stories only got funnier as Peter told ones about Cor. April started to relax again, watching and enjoying the banter and rapport that only the best of friends can pick up from when they last saw each other.

They took dinner together and Peter brought out some of his best wine. She was not used to drinking anything and was starting to feel sleepy when they decided it was indeed late. After making plans for a ride together in the morning, they showed the royal couple to their rooms and Aravis spoke about Cair Paravel on the way there.

"That is the best part of coming here, the hot baths. Really, Cor, we should try to figure out how to get that at Anvard. Or maybe the best part is being near the ocean, or maybe the great feasts that you all are famous for . . . regardless, it is good to be here. And, Peter, she is a gem. You best treasure her!" Then she turned and went into their rooms.

Cor stood back looking shocked. "I know she hasn't had that much to drink! My practical Aravis, who is much more comfortable with a sword in her hand in the company of men, just paid you the highest compliment I have ever heard her say out loud to a woman."

Peter squeezed April's hand and on the way to her quarters, she talked about how much she enjoyed had their time with them. Being around another young couple, so in love, and whose situation was so similar to theirs was very encouraging. Of course, quarrelling all the time with Peter would be too stressful for her, but she could see the positives of the making up.

Peter stopped just outside of her door, "I can't come in to say goodnight, not this evening. I've had too much wine, and I don't trust myself to be able to leave."

But, he did take her in his arms and kiss her lingeringly. "You are a treasure, my love. I know that full well."

He opened the door for her and checked to be sure she was safely inside. She wandered out to the balcony and breathed deep of the salty sea air. Yes, more than Aravis could ever be aware of, April was glad to be here as well.

(A/N: I have modified the timeline for Cor's coronation and Cor and Aravis' marriage. Technically Cor would have been 15 when the four went back through the wardrobe. As they are two of my favorite characters, I thought it would be fun for them to be just a bit older, so they could fit into this story.)