Chapter Ten
Hasana nickered her thanks as Amira removed her saddle and Hasana was off to roll in the dirt to her heart's content. They were just on the edge of a meadow, which was at the edge of the wood, and there was a copse of trees which offered cool shade in the summer sun. Amira paused beside a tree, watching to see that Hasana was busy before slipping behind it and closing her eyes. She felt a tear trickle down her cheek and she stubbornly wiped it away.
"Daughter of Eve," a voice rumbled, "why are you crying?"
Amira's eyes snapped open and she gasped. "Aslan!" she said.
That magnificent lion stood before her in all his glory and it seemed to Amira that he was more beautiful than she could have ever imagined. She nearly flung herself at his paws, prostrate.
"Amira," he said, "arise."
Amira lifted herself off the ground so she was kneeling before him and clasped her hands together to keep them from trembling.
"Amira," Aslan continued, "you have been chosen thrice over."
"I—what do you mean?" asked Amira. "Chosen for what?"
"As High Queen, you will rule beside King Peter as a good and faithful queen."
"But—but Aslan, Peter hasn't chosen a queen yet."
Aslan smiled as only a lion can. "Do not worry about King Peter. He will soon come to see the wisdom in the counsel's choice."
"The counsel? The counsel has chosen me if Peter does not chose his own bride?"
"Yes. Susan, Edmund and Lucy all approve of this choice, as do I. You will be High Queen, Amira."
"Why me? I—I have not been trained as a ruler. That is my brother's lot in life, not mine."
"Amira, you have something this country needs."
"What can I possibly—"
"You have a deep understanding and empathy for all creatures. More importantly, you will grow to understand Peter more than anyone else can. It is what he needs, to be understood by his helpmeet in life, as we all need to be. Your life experiences have shaped you to be that person."
"But we've argued almost every time we've talked," Amira protested.
"And every argument reveals more of his character to you, does it not? And as you've gained this understanding, have you not wished to ease his burdens?"
"Yes," said Amira softly. "But I do not wish to be one of those burdens, either."
"You will not burden him," replied Aslan firmly. "You will relieve his suffering as only you can. You have great depth of feeling, Amira. This is both an asset and a hindrance. Do not let your fears overcome your desire to help and love him."
"Yes, Aslan," said Amira as more tears rolled down her cheeks. She threw her arms around him and clung to him fiercely. "Thank you," she said hoarsely. "Thank you."
As Peter rode away from Owlwood he glared at nothing in particular. He rode in silence and was thinking of the ways that he could kill his brother. After all Edmund deserved what was coming to him. As Peter was planning Edmund's demise a thought came into his mind. Why was he being so mean to Amira? She did seem to be what he was looking for in a wife, in a queen. She was beautiful, kind, intelligent, and most importantly had a growing love for Narnia. He could see that she was in love with Narnia in her desire to learn more about his beloved country, and the way that she treated everyone. In short there really was nothing wrong with her. Then he remembered that appearances could be deceiving. After all he had been deceived by many of the court women however that did not excuse his rude behavior. Peter sighed knowing that he would have to apologize to Amira. The sooner, the better, he thought to himself.
Peter turned his horse back to Owlwood. Peter began to think what he would say to Amira, and began to practice his speech in his head. He cringed a little, and shook his head. That won't do. Maybe a simple I'm sorry will work. Peter just hoped that his Amira would find it in her heart to forgive him. As Peter neared Owlwood he stopped his horse, and a wide smile appeared on his face. There Amira stood talking quietly to the greatest Lord of all, Aslan.
"Aslan," Peter exclaimed. He hopped off his horse and rushed to Aslan's side.
"Aslan, it is so good to see you." Peter smiled boyishly at Aslan, and Amira smiled pleased to see him so happy. Aslan laughed, and it seemed that all was well in the world in that small moment.
"And it is good to see you as well, Peter. I wish to speak with you." Peter nodded, and together they walked off. Amira watched as they left and went to collect Hasana from the meadow. The pair left quickly, though Amira briefly wondered if she should have waited for the High King.
Meanwhile, Aslan was having a serious talk with Peter.
"You're upset about the decree," observed Aslan, starting with a simple statement of fact to open up the conversation.
"Yeah," said Peter, ducking his head unhappily. "I just—I don't know. This whole thing—it completely blindsided me. Marriage was the farthest thing from my mind before this happened. And now, suddenly, there's so much pressure on me to pick a good bride, you know, someone who isn't power-hungry, who will be good for the country, who won't mess things up."
"Peter, everyone makes mistakes," said Aslan solemnly. "It is more important to find someone who apologizes for those mistakes than to find someone who never admits to making them in the first place."
"I suppose," said Peter.
"What of Amira?"
"Amira?" said Peter looking down at his hands. "She's—perceptive. She cares for her brother a lot; anyone with eyes can see that. And—well, I don't know. Everyone likes her; maybe I should marry her."
"Peter, you cannot spend your life doing things just because you think other people would want you to do them."
"I know, but I feel so confused right now. I don't know if I could trust myself to make the right decision."
"Fear is one of the most common sins, Peter," said Aslan. "Do not let it cloud your judgment."
"I know, I know," said Peter. "It's just difficult, that's all."
"Of course it is," Aslan rumbled. "It is difficult because you care, because it is important to you to make a good decision."
"Yeah," said Peter looking at Aslan wonderingly. "How'd you know that?"
Aslan chuckled. "You would be surprised at what I know."
When the pair had finished their conversation, Aslan and Peter bowed deeply before one another before Aslan bounded off and Peter was left alone. His horse was not far off and it was a matter of moments before Peter was heading back to the castle. He needed to have a talk with Amira. Once Peter reached the castle, he headed toward the stables. He was taking care of his horse when Susan appeared out of breath.
"Peter, you must come quickly," she said. "There's been an—incident."
"What's the matter?"
"Oh, I don't know," said Susan wringing her hands together. "It's all a big mess. Edmund somehow got involved and now we could have a war on our hands, for all I know."
"Edmund?"
"Yes," said Susan miserably. "Come on, Peter. We don't have all day."
Peter grew increasingly worried as Susan led him toward the infirmary.
"Nobody's hurt, are they?" he asked.
"Yes, people are hurt, Peter," huffed Susan as they went through the infirmary doors.
"I said stay the bloody hell away from her," Edmund was yelling. "How difficult is it to follow instructions?"
"Shut up, Edmund," said Lucy desperately. "You aren't helping."
"Damn right," roared a man from the opposite side of the room.
"Stop it," yelled Susan. The group in the infirmary stilled as they saw Peter and Susan in the doorway.
Edmund was laying on a bed on the opposite side of the infirmary from the only man Peter couldn't recognize and was presumably the man with whom Edmund had had a fight. Amira and her brother Damien were hovering over a young lady who was sitting on the edge of a bed close to Edmund. Susan quickly went to Edmund's side and was whispering furiously with both him and Lucy. Peter frowned, strode to Amira's side and grasped her arm.
"What's going on?" he asked in an undertone.
Amira shrugged unhappily. "My friend, Diane, was coming to visit me when that man, Sylvain, I think, grabbed her and tried to kiss her and Edmund saw," she said.
"I see," said Peter. "Who is he, anyway?"
"I think he's an escort to one of the ladies, you know, who came to—" Amira trailed off uncomfortably.
"Where's the nurse?"
"Gathering herbs," said Amira. "There was only an apprentice here and she went a little spare with all the commotion. She went to get the nurse."
"Alright," said Peter. "I need everyone out except those involved or injured."
"Of course," said Amira. Damien had been speaking with Diane and Amira tugged on his arm. He looked at her and nodded, said good-bye to Diane and the pair left quickly.
"Are you alright?" Peter asked Diane.
"Yes, I think so," said Diane, except she was shaking and she had a strange v-shaped mark on her forehead as if she had hit her head on something.
"Alright, stay here," said Peter. "The nurse will be along shortly. I need to speak with my brother."
Peter dismissed his sisters; Susan looked at him sourly as she left, but Lucy only looked worried. She looked pointedly at Sylvain, but Peter ignored her and turned his attention to his brother.
"Where are you hurt?" Peter asked Edmund.
"Pulled my arm out of the socket and sprained my wrist, I think," said Edmund.
"Really?" asked Peter incredulously. "You only sprained your wrist, but somehow Sylvain's bloody leg got broken?"
Edmund shrugged and scratched his head. "I don't know how it happened either. It's all muddled, really. There might have been stairs."
"So from what I've heard, you were defending a woman's honor, is that right?"
"Basically."
Peter sighed. "And you couldn't have been more careful about it? Susan's right; we could have a war on our hands. We don't even know who this guy is."
"Exactly," said Edmund. "We don't know who he is, so he's probably not anyone important."
"Doesn't matter," said Peter. "It's still a scandal."
"But I wasn't the one who did anything wrong!" protested Edmund.
"Did I say that?"
"You implied it."
Suddenly the infirmary doors burst open and the head nurse sailed through with her apprentice on her heels.
"Good gracious," the good woman said disdainfully. "Did none of you notice that poor girl's going into shock? Go take care of her," she commanded, pushing her apprentice in the direction of Diane's bed. "You," she snapped at Peter, "Come help me set this man's leg. He's fainted, but the pain may wake him."
Peter helped the nurse set Sylvain's leg. Unfortunately, he did wake and nearly bit through his tongue in the process, but the difficult part was over and the nurse bustled about, trying to make the man comfortable. Peter made his way back to Edmund's bed where the nurse's apprentice was looking him over after settling Diane.
"He'll be alright," the apprentice assured Peter just before she left.
"Yeah, sure," said Edmund who looked decidedly pale after his arm had been put back into its socket.
Peter sank into a chair next to Edmund's bed and ran a hand over his face.
"What are we going to do?" he asked.
"I don't know," replied Edmund distractedly, looking over his brother's shoulder.
Peter turned to see what Edmund was looking at. A girl had just entered the infirmary and approached the head nurse. Her soft and gentle voice nevertheless carried to where the boys were sitting.
"How is my uncle?" she asked, concern etched across her face.
"She's the man's niece?" hissed Edmund furiously. "She ought to be ashamed."
"Should we be ashamed of you?" asked Peter sharply.
Edmund looked stricken. "I—I didn't mean—"
"Forget it, Edmund," said Peter tiredly. "I need to talk to Susan. She'll probably know what to do."
A/N: Ok, so there won't be another update for a long time. My co-writer and cohort on this fic is busy with school and I've been busy with other writing projects, including a poetry portfolio which can be found at . Just look in the bookstore; it's called "Haunts" if you're interested and contains such titles as "My Bloated Heart", "The Ghostly Garden," "Pan's Winter," and "Hades' Hell".