Chapter Nine
A Free Day
He couldn't believe how time had passed. Peter grew more engrossed in his duties that he had ever thought and he was learning what it meant to be king. People came to he and his siblings seeking their judgment on anything from matters such as citizenship (for both Beast and human alike) to the returning of ancestral lands (mainly for the human subjects) to what they should make their home out of.
Peter, Susan, Edmund and even Lucy agreed they could not handle all their peoples' problems personally and, with Mr. Tumnus at the head; they organized the council to sift through the petitioners. This allowed them to oversee other items of business that had become neglected.
At the moment that meant Susan was fussing over a ball they had all agreed upon. While Edmund and Peter were concerned about the over all outcome of the up coming party the only thing they were concerned about what time they had to show up and who was deciding on what they were wearing. They both thought Susan would be taking care of latter for sure but when they expressed this thought out loud at the breakfast table it was Lucy who had responded.
She laughed joyously at their comment. "No, silly, I'll be deciding what you'll be wearing."
"Really?" Peter asked, taken back a bit.
"It's a costume ball, silly. Susan is all ready over seeing the guest list, the decorations, entertainment, and such," Lucy said. "The least I could do it decide what to dress you up in. I'd do a better job than you are doing not. At least you'll be cleaner." There was mischievous glint in her eyes, as she looked her brothers over.
Peter looked himself over. He wasn't exactly filthy, but he was covered in a fine layer of dust from the sparring he and Edmund had done early that morning in the training grounds. While Peter was turning out to be good swordsman, Edmund was turning into a great one and the elder brother found himself more than once in the dirt that morning.
"Well, what are you dressing us up as?" Edmund asked. "If you say fairies…" He let the unsaid threat die as Susan gave him a death stare.
"No, silly." She laughed. "Peter is going as a wolf and you're going as forest spirit."
"A forest spirit," Edmund said, sound very unimpressed taking a bit of his toast.
Lucy beamed at him despite his obvious disapproval. "Yes, and Susan shall be a peacock and I a mouse. There's no getting out of it. I've already had Mrs. Beaver give Mrs. Hare your measurements."
"Though we'll probably have you have you resized, as the event is not until fall," Susan added. "With you two growing like weeds it's a wonder you have any clothes to wear at all."
"What's on the agenda for today?" Peter asked, trying to think what he had scheduled and change the subject.
"Nothing really," Susan replied, peeling the fruit she now held in her hand. "Lucy, Mr. Tumnus and I are going out toward Owlwood to visit a friend of his. Care to join us?"
"No thank you," Peter replied. "Ed?"
Edmund just shrugged, still eating his toast. "Was going to spend the day with Oreius down in the practice grounds, do you want to join me?"
Peter was about to agree when a thought occurred to him. Susan and Lucy were off for the day and Edmund had his own plans. Nothing pertinent was on Peter's schedule and he felt a grin take over his face. "Sorry, Ed, I think this once I'll have to pass." Edmund looked surprised. "I'm going to visit Professor Ulley and see how the man is progressing."
Lucy was taking a drink of her orange juice when she paused and looked at her eldest brother. "Since when did you become so interested in history?" There was a teasing tone in her voice.
"Oh leave him, Lu," Edmund replied, surprising Peter by coming to his defense. "It's about time his filled his head with something useful." Edmund looked at his brother and smiled. Peter rolled his eyes.
In the afternoon, after Susan and Lucy left with Tumnus he went to the stables to get a fresh horse and head to Ulley's home. Much had changed at the Archenlander's place in the past two months as he found out on arrival. A room was added to the side of the small place and a stable had been built in the back for two horses. He dismounted and tethered his steed to a near by tree to allow him to graze. He was about to knock on the door when he heard a scream come from inside. Without thinking he pulled the rope that was the door's handle, drew his sword and stormed in.
What he found were two very confused people. Sarah was standing up next to the table that doubled both as workspace and dining area. She looked shocked and unsure what to do. Next to her was a young man, perhaps around Peter's age, with dark hair that fell to his shoulders. His dark eyes sparkled with laughter after the initial confusion wore off. He was the first to speak.
"Put that thing away before you hurt someone, Blondie," the young man laughed.
This brought Sarah out of her shock and she gave a small laugh to her companion's remark. "Oh do be nice," she said to him. To the king standing in the doorway she said, "Welcome back, Peter. Long time no see."
Sheathing his sword, and feeling rather silly, he closed the door and stepped further into the room. "Sorry about that. I was called away for a while."
Sarah just nodded, accepting his excuse. "Oh, by the way this is Mark, Mark this is Peter."
Mark rose from the table that had books and sheaths of paper cast about in front of him. He held out his hand for Peter to shake. "Didn't mean to make your burst in like that, I just pushed Sarah's buttons' wrong and she screamed instead of hitting me." There were mischievous smile upon his face as his said this. Sarah just rolled her eyes and began cleaning up the papers.
Peter took Mark's hand and shook it. "Well, can't say that I blame you. Do that to my sisters all the time." So this was Sarah's Telmarine suitor. He looked like he was built like a solider – solid, muscular, and tall and for whatever reason Peter felt like he didn't have a chance. A chance for what? He wasn't quite sure of that himself. He looked to Sarah then. "I was wondering where your father was. I wanted to ask him something."
"He's out back, going over the lay of the land with a new student," she replied, not looking up from her cleaning.
He didn't like the idea of leaving her alone with Mark, but then again, they were alone when he came in. Thanking her he went out the back door. Ulley was pointing to different things in the distance, and young man next to him with curly blonde hair listening to him; their backs were to him.
"Um, excuse me," Peter started and then men turned around. "I was wondering if I could borrow Professor Ulley for a moment."
The older man began to stutter, not sure if to call him by any of his formal titles. "Milord," he said, finally settling on a title, "it is good to see you again. Yes, just a moment. Oh, you don't know my new student. He's just arrived yesterday. This is Jensen." The young man inclined his head and the High King did the same. "Yes, well, Zoran," and Peter noticed the Fox at the Professor's feet, "take over for me, if you would." Zoran nodded and hopped onto a near by stump and began to tell Jensen about the history of the land around them. Ulley walked with Peter a short distance off. "What may I do for you, my Majesty?"
"I was wondering if, for the day I could spend it here and learn a bit more about Narnia before the time of Queen Swanwhite."
Ulley laughed, "Yes, of course your Majesty, it would be an honor to take you on as a student for a day. Word travels fast, sire. Perhaps I you'd like to learn about the origin of the ball that is coming up." He paused, and Peter felt as if he could see the man go through his mental library before answering. "The first one was held by King Frank the First and Queen Helen. They seemed rather fond of costumes and such. Queen Helen's always went disguised as a nymph, they say."
The king was about to speak only to have his attention caught as he watched Sarah and Mark came out. Mark made for the small stable and was readying the two horses there. Sarah walked to Peter and Ulley. "Father," she said, "Mark and I are going to a ride. We're going to the beach."
Ulley made a face at this, and looked to the sky. Peter wondered if he didn't approve of his daughter's suitor. "I don't know. This time of day there may be a tide."
Sarah rolled her eyes. "I'm sure I'll be fine."
"Still," her father replied, "be home before it gets dark dear."
She nodded, "Of course." She looked at Peter and smiled at him. "See you later, Pete."
He raised his hand in good-bye and watched her walk away. He noticed, and didn't know why he had missed it before, that she had gotten her male clothing. She was wearing trousers tailored to her form; her tunic was loose fitting and leather bodice over it, and boots that went to the middle of her calves. While he felt on any other woman it would have been inappropriate he found it very pleasing to the eye to him on Sarah's form.
Mark looked up then and caught Peter staring at Sarah and shot the High King and rather nasty look. Peter pretended not to have seen; as he made out he was looking at Jensen and Zoran, who were next to the stable. The Telmarine then looked away and helped Sarah on her steed once it had been saddled.
Peter watched them out of the corner of his eye as they left. He wanted to join them but knew he would be intruding and didn't want to be rude. So out of the corner of his blue eyes he watched them ride of once ready.
"Majesty," Ulley said and Peter knew the man had been trying to get his attention for the past couple moments. "Are you sure you came down here just to speak to me?"
Peter opened his mouth to reply then closed it finding that at the moment he could not answer the man as readily as he at thought he could.
