Tanya had to remind herself to breath while she walked down from her room. She was probably the last one, Peter would've gone inside already. After all, he was King Peter, he couldn't let the guests wait.

She peeked around the last pillar and saw her friends walking in through the doors. Henry walked first in line, alone, making sure that the others could go through the crowd without any problem. Caspian and Susan came after him, then Edmund and Lucy, and Jonathan and Amy.

But Peter didn't follow them. He stood completely still, looking at the ball from a "safe distance". Tanya felt that her heart skipped a beat when she realised that he was waiting for her.

With one last, deep breath, she took a step forward and slowly started to walk down the stairs, careful not to trip.

There was a gasp from the door and suddenly, everyone turned to stare at her. She concentrated on her cheeks, making sure that she didn't blush.

Peter was the last one to turn. Slowly his face came into view and their eyes locked. Amy had been right; the red dress stunned him. Tanya smiled at him and he smiled back, but still didn't take his eyes away from hers.

She walked down the last step and stood in front of him.

"My Lord", she whispered and curtseyed. He bowed back at her.

"The Lady guarding my heart", he said. Now she was unable not to blush and he smiled at her. Then he offered her his arm and she gratefully accepted it.

As they walked in to the crowded room, people followed their every move. Peter felt like he had just lifted off the ground and soared up to the clouds. He was escorting the most beautiful girl he'd ever met to a royal ball and people couldn't take their eyes off them!

"How long…" Susan whispered to Amy.

"Since yesterday", Amy answered, smiling at her friend. "I just found out myself."

Peter hesitated once they reached the middle of the dance-floor. It was tradition that the King should dance the first dance, he should start the whole ball, but this was Caspian's ball, not his. He glanced up at Caspian, who nervously looked at Susan. Susan looked back, then nodded at Peter. Caspian nodded as well and actually grinned.

"Tanya", Peter said and turned towards her. She looked back at him and he swallowed once.

"May I have this dance?"

Tanya blinked in surprise and also glanced up at the others. Now Amy gave her a slight wink, telling her to do it. With a nervous smile, she turned back to Peter.

"Of course, my Lord."

To be honest, she had never danced any kind of dance that should be danced at a royal ball. But how could she possibly resist him?

Peter gently placed his left hand on her hip and used his eyes to tell her that she should put her opposite hand on his shoulder. Then the fingers of their two free hands intertwined as the music started to play.

"Ready?" he mumbled. She managed to give a quick nod before he started to lead her across the floor.

Of course, Peter had not forgotten how to dance over the year back in England. Susan had been correct about that. But before he had only been dancing with women, pretty or beautiful, that he had no certain feelings for. Now he was dancing with someone that, in his eyes, was the most beautiful of goddesses. And that made him a bit nervous, a bit unsure about how to dance.

Luckily, Susan noticed that from her place and gestured to Caspian that they should join in on the dance-floor. And after them came the others as well; soon the floor was crowded with all kinds of creatures.

But Peter only had eyes for Tanya, as if they were in their own hall, filled with music and love.

As the hours passed, people left the floor for some refreshments or paused by the wall, where they stood in groups, chattering and having a good time. Some returned to the floor later on, others did not.

Peter and Tanya had moved out to one of the balconies set behind the thrones, meaning that only the royals were granted access to them.

"What do you think will happen?" Peter asked silently. Tanya turned her gaze from the stars towards him.

"What do you mean?"

"We can not stay here forever. In Narnia, I mean. Aslan will, one day or the other, send us back… do you think that…"

"No, I don't want to think about that", Tanya said and shook her head. "Don't talk about it."

"Tanya, what if we do not meet again?" Peter continued, piercing her with his eyes. "What if this is it?"

Tanya shook her head, but was afraid that her voice would fail her if she answered. After a while she took a deep breath and looked at him.

"Aslan knows, he won't allow this to happen", she said.

"What if there's nothing he can do about it?" Peter asked. "We have to be sent back to the place where we were before we got here or people will notice."

"My grandmother will understand", Tanya said and blinked to fight back the tears. "She knows that… that I might have gone somewhere."

"Tanya, you do not believe that yourself", Peter said softly and placed a hand on her cheek. She blinked again, knowing that he saw the glimmer in her eyes but not wanting to cry.

"If you are right…" she said. "I'm not saying you are, but if… what shall we do then?"

Peter looked at her for a while, searching her face with his now soft gaze, before he suddenly kneeled in front of her.

"Marry me, Tanya."

It took her some time to understand what he had just said.

"But… we're too young, people will think it's strange…"

"It doesn't matter", Peter said. "The only thing that does is that we love each other and can't live without one another. We are both older than we look."

He gave her a soft smile and she realised that she had already decided what to answer, despite trying to get out of it.

"Yes. Yes, Peter, I want to marry you!"

He rose at once and kissed her, more passionately than ever before, as she let the tears fall from her eyes. But now they were not tears of sorrow, but tears of joy.

"Who should marry us?" she whispered and leaned against his chest as he embraced her.

"I'll talk to Aslan about it", he suggested. Then he stiffened for a moment before a soft laughter came from his mouth.

"Or maybe I do not have to."

She looked up and noticed that he was looking at someone below the balcony. There stood Aslan, his mane glimmering in the light of the moon. He seemed to smile and with his eyes he beckoned them to come down.

Peter looked around and noticed that an emergency ladder was attached to the wall next to the balcony.

"Are you able to climb in that dress?" he asked Tanya. She studied herself, especially the shoes.

"Don't know, I can always try."

Peter smiled.

"Get onto my back."

"You're crazy", Tanya said with a grin as she did exactly that. Then Peter slowly climbed down the ladder and landed on the soft grass below.

"You're alright?" Tanya asked. Peter smiled again.

"A few bruises, maybe, but you're not that heavy."

Tanya blushed before she accepted his arm and let him lead her after Aslan. The great lion was walking through the garden towards a group of old trees. Next to them were two stone pillars that were now placed so that the moon was seen in the middle of them. Aslan stopped as he reached them and sat down, turning towards Peter and Tanya.

"Will you marry us, Aslan?" Peter asked.

"I'd be honoured, Peter", the lion answered, smiling towards them.