I'm astonished at how quickly I'm writing these chapters, my mind just seems to be in Narnia at the minute and nowhere else! It must be all of you wonderful people reviewing and adding this story to your alerts and favourites that are motivating me to write more, so thank you all for that! I know some of you were less than happy with Peter and Anna in the last chapter, but I can tell you that you'll find out if their relationship survives in this chapter, so I'll not keep you any longer and let you read on. Please feel free to leave a review at the end if you wish!

WillowDryad: Unfortunately they're both too stubborn for that! But hopefully you won't stay heartbroken for too long...

Dream Lighting: Thanks for waiting, you'll see the outcome in this chapter!

Rachel (Guest): You'll have to read on to find out!

The ship docked in Archenland that night. I remained in my cabin for the duration of the voyage, avoiding the whispers and pointed stares from the crew who I knew would no doubt be wise to the situation. When I finally emerged on to the deck I was glad of the warm, soothing feel of the night air after being stuck inside for several hours.

Evelyn was waiting for me when I disembarked from the ship, and we quickly caught each other in a tight embrace.

"My dearest Anna, how I have missed you!" she greeted.

I smiled widely. "It's good to see you again, Evelyn."

"And how much more beautiful you look since I saw you last year! Oh we shall have such fun while you're here. Though of course we'll have to have a little discussion about matters but we won't worry about that for the present, let's just get you back to the castle and something to eat, I'm sure you're exhausted!" she rambled, leading me to the waiting carriage.

I could only laugh, knowing any attempt to interrupt her would be futile. You could always count on Evelyn to put you at ease.

xXx

"Queen Anna, an absolute pleasure to see you again," King Lune greeted me warmly as Evelyn and I stepped out of the carriage.

I embraced him before answering, "And it is a pleasure to see you again, my friend."

"Anna!" Corin called enthusiastically, running down the stairs towards me.

A wide smile broke out on my face as he flew towards me, attacking my waist with a hug. He received stern looks from his parents, but I waved my hand at them in a dismissive gesture with a smile as I hugged him back. He had always been an affectionate boy and we all doted on him when we visited Archenland. In a way, he reminded me of my own children. I missed them already.

"You've grown again since I last saw you," I told him, much to his delight.

"I'm eight years old now, dad says I'll be as tall as him soon!" he chirped happily, beaming at his father, whose stern expression instantly melted away.

"And so you will be my son, but you must first get your sleep otherwise you shall never catch up to me! Say good night, you'll be able to talk to Anna in the morning."

Corin was disappointed but didn't argue. He gave me another hug before charging back up the stairs, barely calling "Good night!" over his shoulder before disappearing from view.

I turned to the King and Queen with a wide smile. "It's good to see some things really do never change."

xXx

Friday

I had no trouble settling in at the royal castle in Archenland, quickly adapting to life there as I always did. In many ways, it was a second home to me. Evelyn made sure to keep me busy each day, and I was always exhausted by the time I crawled into bed every night. While I still wasn't exactly happy, I felt better than I had ever been in the past few days. But the subject I so desperately wanted to talk about and yet avoid was never broached. Until now.

"I trust you already know what I am going to ask you?" Evelyn said as we walked through the castle gardens that afternoon.

I nodded and gave a humourless laugh. "What else could there be for you to ask?"

"Indeed. So, what exactly did happen?" she asked gently.

I sighed, thinking over my answer before responding, "We both blame ourselves for what happened. Peter believes that he could have stopped me getting on the horse, and that it is therefore his fault that I fell off. But I know I shouldn't have taken the risk of riding, it's my fault for not listening to him and he won't accept that."

Evelyn remained silent for a few moments, contemplating all of this information. "The way I see it is as your husband, Peter will naturally want to protect you and easily blame himself when you do become hurt. But you are an adult who can make her own decisions and not even Peter may try to control you. I know how stubborn you can be my dear. But I think you both know that neither of you can really be held accountable for this. It's simply one of those things that happens, even if we can't understand why. If anything, you should blame the cat!"

I bit my lip as I realised she was right. It really was no one's fault that I had been thrown off. Lily normally never went near the horses, it was merely an unfortunate coincidence that she had been in the wrong place at the wrong time, as I had been in a way. But there was still a part of me that felt so incredibly guilty. I knew I should never have gotten on the horse and listened to Peter's warnings, and now it was driving us apart.

"I just don't know what to do Evelyn," I whispered, fighting back tears. "I feel so guilty about all of this. None of it would have happened if I hadn't got on the damn horse, and I won't let Peter take the blame for it."

Evelyn gave me a small smile. "Then the answer to my next question should be obvious. Do you love him Anna?"

I didn't even need to think about my answer.

"With all of my heart," I said firmly.

"Well then if I were you, I'd be on the next ship back to Narnia to tell him that. Wouldn't you agree?"

I gave Evelyn my first true smile in days and I quickly embraced her.

"Thank you."

She laughed in response. "I'm just glad you've finally seen sense!"

xXx

"Please Em, just go and put your nightdress on," Peter said with an exasperated sigh, his young daughter refill refusing to move from her place on the nursery floor. She had been less than reasonable all day, but Peter knew it wasn't her fault. The poor girl just missed her mother. Even if they were both equally as stubborn at times.

"Don't want to," she said defiantly, not looking up from the doll she was playing with.

Peter closed his eyes, now finding it very hard to keep his temper under control.

Emma was saved by Lucy and Edmund's arrival, who had been wondering what was taking their brother so long. They were able to immediately assess the situation.

"Hey Em, if you go and get ready for bed I can promise you a new story tonight," Lucy bargained.

The child paused in her play. She knew Lucy was the best story teller in the family next to her mother, and a thoughtful expression appeared on her face before she smiled at her aunt.

"Ok," she agreed happily, before taking her hand and all but skipping from the room.

Peter watched with awe and frustration while Edmund smirked at his brother.

"Not tonight Ed. Please not tonight," he warned through gritted teeth.

Edmund's expression softened to one of concern and he firmly closed the door as Peter began to tidy away the toys strewn across the floor.

"You miss her, don't you."

It was a statement, not a question.

Peter paused before turning to face his brother. "You have no idea."

Edmund sighed. "Why did you even start a fight over this in the first place?"

Peter stared back at his brother with an incredulous expression. "Edmund, you know we both blame ourselves. I for not stopping her and Anna for having gotten on the horse in the first place. But I know it was a freak accident and I was being too over protective. I really don't blame her, but she seems to think I secretly do. And I was so angry about it all, I just took it out on her."

Edmund remained silent for a few moments, surveying his brother. But he didn't see the Peter he had always known. No. This was a different person; a broken man who was still grieving for his unborn child and who was now losing one of the most important people in his life as a result, and despite having always been the leader, he just didn't know what to do anymore. So Edmund did the only thing he could think to do, shocking both himself and Peter. He quickly crossed the room and hugged his brother.

It was a very brief moment of contact, but it was enough for Peter.

"Thanks Ed," he said, his voice thick.

Edmund gave him a small smile. "Mention this to anyone and I will kill you."

Peter gave him the most genuine smile he had given in the last few days, even chuckling slightly. "My lips are sealed."

"But Peter, there really is only one question I need to ask you," Edmund said, his expression serious once again.

Peter raised an eyebrow. "Which would be?"

"Do you love her?"

He didn't hesitate in his answer.

"With all of my heart."

xXx

"Good night Josh," Peter whispered as he kissed his son on the forehead.

Josh smiled up at his father and wrapped his arms tightly around his neck. "Night daddy. Love you," he whispered back sleepily.

"I love you too," Peter replied before releasing himself from Josh's grip and crossing over to Emma's bed.

"Good night Em. And thank you for finally going to bed," he said with an attempt at a stern tone, but Emma only giggled, knowing he wasn't really angry with her.

"Good night daddy."

Peter smiled down at her. "I love you."

Emma yawned before replying, "Love you too."

But before Peter could move, she cornered him with her question.

"When will mummy be back?"

"Yes, I miss her lots," Josh added.

"I'm not sure, but probably very soon. And I'm sure she misses you too," Peter said softly.

There was a pause before Emma spoke again, "Are you and mummy angry with each other?"

Peter raised an eyebrow at his daughter. She was clearly much more astute and observant than she was given credit for.

"No, we're just sad," he finally responded.

"Is it because the baby had to go away?" Josh asked in a small voice.

Peter closed his eyes for a moment before replying, "Yes. But we still love each other, and you know that we love you both very much. Now go to sleep. I'll see you in the morning."

xXx

"Anna? You're back?" Edmund said incredulously as he approached me.

I smiled and nodded, standing at the door to the castle. "I missed all of your craziness too much so I took the next available ship back home this morning."

Edmund laughed as he finally reached me and gave me a quick embrace "It's good to see you again," he said sincerely once he had released me.

"And you," I responded. "How were the twins?"

Edmund laughed. "Their usual selves, but we had to step in a few times. Honestly, they have Peter wrapped around their little fingers so tightly, they're almost worse than Lucy was when she was younger."

I laughed. "That sounds like them."

"How's Peter?" I asked after a few moments of hesitation.

Edmund looked slightly amused for only a second before he shook his head and sighed. "I think you'd be better asking him yourself."

I bit my lip, not sure I was entirely ready for that conversation yet.

"Does he hate me?" I asked suddenly before I could think about what I was saying and stop myself.

"Why would you think that? Of course he doesn't!" Edmund said, his eyes wide with shock and disbelief. "You have no idea what he's been like while you were away."

I raised an eyebrow at him. "You have been know to over exaggerate a little Edmund." But he shook his head at me.

"I'm not this time."

"Where is he?" I asked.

"Putting the twins to bed, so he should still be in your chambers," he replied.

"I'll go talk to him now. Thanks Edmund."

"Really, don't mention it."

xXx

I stood outside the door to our chambers and gripping the handle tightly as I willed myself to move. Taking a few calming breaths I finally found the courage to open the door and stepped inside, quickly closing it behind me. But the room was dark and empty.

Silently, I moved to the twins bedroom and slowly opened the door. They were both fast asleep. Glancing down the small hallway I could see the only source of light was coming from our bedroom. I approached it warily as I would a wild animal before finally opening the door.

Peter was sitting on the bed with his sketchbook in his hand and a deep frown on his face as he concentrated on the page before him. I watched him for a few moments before he finally realised that he wasn't alone. He glanced up over the top of his sketchbook and froze when he saw me, his eyes widening slightly. The book was gradually lowered and placed on the table next to him as he stood and approached me slowly before coming to stand in front of me.

"Hello," I said softly, meeting Peter's gaze steadily.

There was nothing but silence between us for what seemed like hours as we looked at each other, before Peter suddenly reached forward and pulled me into a tight embrace. I all but melted in to his arms, relief washing over me like a tidal wave as I began to cry, not even bothering to try and stop myself. I held on to him tightly, never wanting to let go of him again.

"I am so sorry," I choked, causing his hold on me to tighten.

"Don't say that," he whispered in my ear, and it only served to increase the flow of tears.

Peter brought his hands up to gently cradle my face, and he placed a tender kiss on my forehead.

"But I am," I insisted once my crying had somewhat subsided. "I know you were only trying to protect me and I just pushed you away."

"Then I'm sorry too, for being such an idiot and taking everything out on you. Can we just agree that it really was no one's fault? These last few days without you have been absolute hell, and I never want to go through it again. You know that I'll always love you."

The only thing that I knew to do was kiss him, because words really never will be enough with Peter.

xXx

I woke the next morning to Peter kissing my cheek gently, before trailing his lips further down my neck and to my exposed shoulder.

I smiled. "You could always just ask if you want me to wake up."

He laughed quietly in my ear, the sound sending shivers down my spine. I hadn't heard him do that in so long, it was almost foreign to me.

"I'm just going to check on Emma and Josh. I'll be back in a minute."

I listened as he walked out of the room and gently closed the door behind him before making his way to the twins room. Stretching and rolling over, I ran a hand through my hair and rubbed the sleep from my eyes before slowly opening them and blinking at the faded sunlight seeping through the curtains. But what caught my eye was the blue sketchbook still sitting on the table, forgotten after my return last night.

Pausing to see if I could hear Peter returning and realising he wasn't, I quickly sat up and reached for the sketchbook, admittedly still curious as to what he had been drawing last night. I flipped through the pages until I came to the last entry. Tears filled my eyes as I choked back a sob.

It was a drawing of a beautiful baby girl wearing a long white dress and her eyes were closed so that she was only sleeping, surrounded by dozens of small, delicate rose buds. I never told him I had seen the drawing or asked who the child was. I didn't need to.