A/N I don't know why, but apparently listening to Jimmy Buffet is a good muse for insperation. Maybe it's because I admire how well he can tell a story in such few words and the emotion I encounter listening to some of his songs. So the songs I listened to were Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes, Last Mango in Paris, He went to Paris, Trying to Reason With Hurricane Season, and Son of a Sailor. Just in case someone was wondering where the insanity comes from.

Perna looked towards the shining lights far on the eastern horizon. She had left her home and family two days ago, now they were entering the last leg of their journeandy. It was terrifying, but part of her was relieved to know her people would be taken care of. Perna was so lost in thought, she didn't even notice when Queen Lucy came up beside her. A dwarf, his name was Stubblebrine, was with the Queen and handed Perna a plate with some dried sausage, cheese, and bread. She gratefully accepted it along with a cup of wine. Lucy looked on the horizon towards where Perna had been gazing and a smile touched her lips.

"Cair Paravel," she said. "Home again."

"It's so bright," Perna replied. "It looks almost like star rising in the east."

"All the lights are lit in the great hall. It has a grand glass ceiling, and all the lights reflect beautifully. My sister and brothers are probably settling down to dinner right now. We should be there afternoon tomorrow, if we leave at dawn."

"Your Majesty, I beg you please, tell me about your brother. Is he handsome and kind?" Lucy gave Perna a tender smile.

"I think you'll like Peter very much. It's hard not to like him. Don't worry, he is handsome, fair hair and broad shoulders, very fit indeed. But the beauty of my brother isn't his looks, it's his heart. He is tenderhearted and jovial. He rules out of love for his people, and he is willing to do anything for the ones he loves. Peter- practically raised me, along with my older sister Susan. I remember when we first came to Narnia; he would do anything to protect our family. When Peter loves something, he loves it with all his heart and soul. There is no middle ground. He will invest everything, all his energy and strength, to keep what he loves happy. Aslan help who, or whatever threatens that." Perna liked the way Lucy described Peter very much.

"Do you think he'll like me?"

"It's hard to say, my brother has been very fickle when it comes to women. He's turned down some of the most beautiful woman in court. I'm not sure what he's looking for, really. I think you've got a nice allure about you. Sorry, I wish I could tell you more. But if he wasn't interested, he wouldn't have agreed to meet you." Queen Lucy gave Perna a cheering squeeze on the shoulder as she turned back towards Cair Paravel. "I'm going to bed, it's going to be an early morning tomorrow, and we still have many miles to travel." Perna nodded and laid out for a few minutes longer looking at the lights from the castle. She tried to imagine the ocean beyond, hearing a deep voice in the back of her head describing its splendor.

It was tea time when Queen Lucy, and her party, returned to Cair Paravel. When the gates rose, it was Peter who greeted them. "Peter," she called as she ran into his arms. "Is it true, are the rumors I've been hearing true?" She asked, excitement building in her voice. "Has Edmund really returned?" Peter's eyes danced with joy as he nodded. Lucy let out a happy gasp and clapped her hands together. "Oh I knew it! As soon as I heard the dryads whispering and saw the lights; I knew something grand had happened. What a miracle this is, how did it happen?"

"He didn't really explain too much. He's still in bed right now. He was half starved and weak when he came back, so the doctors have been having him rest."

"Where's Susan? I thought she want to be here to meet the Lady." Lucy's head jerked back towards the young woman. Perna had been standing a ways back with the two fauns, centaur, and dwarf who had been escorting Queen Lucy. Peter squinted his eyes trying to get a good look at her, but couldn't get a clear picture.

"The moles and the squirrels have been bickering again. Susan went out to smooth things over with them. She should be back tonight. I will present Lady Perna at court tomorrow. It will be Edmund's first court session back with us."

"Oh Peter, what a grand occasion it'll be."

"Now tell me, what's the Lady like?"

"Well…" Lucy stopped for a moment to think. "She's very frightened right now so be gentle with her. The Lady has a very curious nature about her. She has a commanding presence which I think you'll like. Her people speak very fondly for her kindhearted nature. But she seems a bit of a loner, not used to people telling her what to do. I think coming here was the first time her father ever commanded her to do something, so there's a slight resentment about her. She tries to hide it, and most of the time does a very good job, but every now and then you'll see it break through." Peter nodded at this and rubbed his chin in thought.

"What of her face?"

"You'll have to be the judge of that dear brother. Personally, I think she's lovely, but I know how fickle you are." Lucy beckoned for her guards and Perna to come over. Perna's eyes bored in to Peter before she remembered her self, and averted her gaze towards the ground. He was even more handsome than Lucy had described. Maybe he was even more handsome than her knight from the mountain, but he wasn't the same. She could see herself liking the King, but she could never love him. She had touched her knight intimately, and her heart belonged to him. Perna briefly wondered if she would see him here. Was here now? Had he returned back to duty? Maybe he had one of those small homes just outside the walls of Cair Paravel, or an apartment in the barracks. But what did it matter. If the king chose her—wanted her—than there was nothing she could do.

"Your Majesty," she said quietly as she curtseyed. Peter lifted her chin so her eyes met his. At first thought Peter thought Perna was pretty, but she was skinny as a waif and her cheeks were sunken. She definitely needed some rich food to fill out a bit. He also thought her nose seemed too big for her face. However, she had eyes like a wolf. They were expressive and wide. He saw the fear and uncertainty that Lucy had mentioned. There was also some insecurity. She was trying to hide it, but it was the first thing Peter noticed. But there was also a cunning, enchanting nature to them as well. She had a regal quality to her, there was no denying that. Lucy left to see Edmund and bid Perna a farewell. Peter stayed for moment studying the woman before him.

"My Lady," Peter replied back in a gentle tone. He took her hand and gave it a kiss. Then he continued to guide her into the castle. "I apologize, the rest of my family cannot meet you at this hour. My royal brother has been away from us for many weeks and is under the weather. My other royal sister is settling a minor dispute in our kingdom. I hope your travel here was comfortable." Perna's shot him a questioning look, his brother was thought to be dead. But she decided not to press the matter. Maybe her father's men had been misinformed. If Peter said he was alive, then who was she to question that. Alive or not, even if she had not met him yet, she told herself she wouldn't like him.

"It was your Majesty. For my first trip away, far away, it was grand. Her Majesty Queen Lucy took excellent care of me." Peter smiled.

"You like my sister I take it."

"Yes sir, very much."

"You don't talk much, do you? I could get used to this. A woman who doesn't takeover a conversation," Peter tried to joke to ease some of the tension between them. Perna just offered him a courteous smile.

"I'm sorry sir. It's just so overwhelming, the journey, this castle, meeting you, everything. Please don't be offended. I'm just trying to sort through things in my head." Perna squeezed Peter's hand, which was guiding her, trying to emphasize her sincerity. "And looking around to see if my knight is near by", she added silently. Her eyes scanned every inch of the room they were in. Despite its vast size, it was very warm and cozy. Bright tapestries covered the walls and there was a plush carpet under her feet. She wanted to kick off her boots and squish her toes into its softness. She hadn't felt carpeting since she'd been forced from her home in the valley.

"Of course my Lady. My dear sister Susan…"

"Susan?" Perna interrupted as her eyes narrowed. It was a familiar name. She heard Lucy speak of her sister Susan, but it was in passing that Perna hardly noticed. But hearing the name again brought an awkward feeling to her stomach. Ed, her knight mentioned the same name many times, mostly calling for her in fevered dreams.

"Yes my sister, Susan, had an apartment made up for you. The tailor is on call to fit you for some new clothing. Why don't I have you brought to your room? You can have a wash and a rest. I would very much like to get to know you before I present you to court tomorrow, so will you join me for the evening meal?" Perna nodded. "I will send for you in a few hours."

Perna opened the doors to her apartment and looked around at how large it was. A posh looking bed on her left and the armoire on her right was full of many fine dresses in all colors. There were dresses of velvet and silk, and even a fur lined cloak laid out for her on the bed. She bent down to unlace her boots and finally got to scrunch her toes into the soft, luxurious carpeting. As she shuffled around the room, she took a moment to examine an interesting tapestry on the wall. It was of four children standing before a large and vibrant lion. The gold lion seemed to shimmer and dance on the fabric. Perna looked away for moment, but her attention was quickly drawn back to the lone. Why she could have sworn it had just winked at her.

The greatest of all her discoveries, was finding a window that faced east, and offered an unobstructed, glorious view of the Great Eastern Sea. Perna found herself falling to her knees and weeping at the ocean's vast splendor. It was all her heart had been longing for, too finally see the ocean, now that it was before her, words couldn't describe the awe-inspiring joy she felt hearing the crashing wave. Her heart took flight. For that moment Perna forgot everything, leaving her family, possibly seeing her love, or marrying another, and she stood in sheer contentment. She was brought out of her revelry by a knock on the door. A very graceful, slender woman entered her room. She had very curious silver hair and an ethereal voice. It took a moment for Perna to realize she was the tailor, and an excellent one at that, Peter had mentioned. What he forgot to mention was that she was a dryad. Perna had never seen a dryad before, and she was stunning. She got used to the centaur, fauns and dwarf on her journey, but there were still so many creatures to get used to. After quite some time Perna was clothed in a beautiful navy velvet dress. Another dryad entered into her room and brought soap for a wash and a comb for her long hair. I seemed like only and instant had passed when an enormous leopard, one of Peter's gentlemen, came to fetch Perna.

The dinner was held in a small room off to the side of the great banquet hall. Peter stood up as Perna was escorted into the room and gave her a small bow. "My Lady," he greeted as she blushed slight.

"You Majesty," Perna bowed back, as a faun pulled her chair out. She was a little taken back by this gesture, no one had ever held a door, or pulled a chair out for her before. It almost seemed like a silly thing to do, as if the faun doubted her ability to fend for her self. But she felt the good nature to the gesture and accepted it. She tried to give him a confident smile, but it came off lopsided and comical looking. Peter had to stifle a laugh; he did not want to hurt the lady's feeling.

"You can call me Peter. If no one is around, there's no need to stand on ceremony, or if it's close confidants and family."

"Alright, Peter," she tried the name, but it felt funny on her tongue. "I just want to let you know, even if you do not choose me. I am very grateful for your hospitality and kindness you've shown my people. You've brought hope to my village, and that's something I could never repay you for. No crop tribute, no soldier could ever equal what you have given my people." Peter was speechless for a moment. It was a rare thing indeed, to hear such sincerity. Now he noticed the charisma Lucy stated earlier.

"I am just happy I could assist you. Although, I wish you had come to us before there was blood shed. I heard you lost many strong men."

"We did indeed," her tone became forlorn, "including the man I was supposed to marry." A frown twitched across Perna's face for a moment and Peter's ever watchful eyes caught it. A twinge of guilt went to his gut. These people had lost so much, and now that Edmund was safe, he could no longer blame them for any serious wrongs.

"I am deeply sorry for your loss, my Lady."

"Perna."

"I beg your pardon?"

"I'm not comfortable standing on ceremony either, please, call me Perna."

"If it pleases you my… Perna, this is suppose to be a merry occasion, shall we talk about something more pleasant? How does your apartment suit you?"

"Ooh…" Perna stuttered for a moment, recalling the splendid view of the ocean. "It is truly magnificent your… Peter. I have never seen the ocean before, and I must say, I have never seen anything like it. If I take nothing else from this visit, it will be the absolute beauty of the rushing waters. I've had the ocean described to me before, but words cannot capture its magnitude." Peter saw the sparkle in her eyes and couldn't help but grin back. The look on her face brought back the memory of the look Lucy and Susan had when they first entered Narnia. He wasn't sure how or why, but in that moment he felt an inkling deep in his stomach. If something as simple as the ocean could bring such emotion, such joy to a person. This was a person who was worth getting to know.

So in the words of Jimmy Buffet, "And Now I must confess. I could use some rest. I can't run at this pace very long. Yes, it's quite insane. I think it hurts my brain. But then it cleans me out, then I can go on."