It's finally here!

I have been debating posting this as is vs. writing more to avoid a cliff hanger, but I've written and rewritten this chapter three times, and I need to let it be free. I'm worried I will mangle it with my need to mettle, so let there be hanging cliffs!

As always, thank you guys for your patience. I hope this chapter was worth the wait.

Enjoy!

GS

PS. Narnia isn't mine.

Songs: Dancing in the Dark by Rihanna, Force of Nature by Bea Miller

The heavy hairbrush made a soft thunk as Olivia set it down. She pulled all her hair to the side and began to braid it; going through her usual steps before bed.

It was hard to believe she'd already been in Narnia for two weeks. It felt both like the blink of an eye and like she had always been here.

Lucy had become her constant companion. She was a few years younger than Olivia, but they enjoyed each other's company, and Lucy had made sure Olivia was never bored. Their days had been filled with trips to the beach below Cair Paravel, berry picking and rides through the surrounding woods and fields.

As much as Olivia loved spending time with Lucy though, she couldn't help thinking about Peter. She had barely had a chance to see him again. Ever since their almost walk, he'd been constantly busy. A few stolen moments at breakfast seemed to the best she could hope for most days. A few times she'd walked past the door of his study and thought about knocking, but fear of intruding without a good reason had kept her from stopping.

It didn't help that some Prince was arriving next week to see Susan. The whole palace has been in a near uproar preparing for that. Olivia spent most of the time that she wasn't with Lucy just trying to stay out of the way.

She had just tied off the braid that hung over her shoulder when a soft knock broke the silence of her room. Her heart picked up a bit remembering her first night at Cair, but when she cracked opened the door, the voice that hissed at her wasn't Peter's.

"Olivia! It's me!"

She pulled the door open further. Lucy stood on the other side. She had on a dark hooded cloak over leggings, a tunic and a pair of well used boots. Her eyes were glittered with excitement, and her smile was wide.

Olivia quirked an eyebrow, her disappointment turning to curiosity.

"Are you up for an adventure?"

Twenty minutes later, she found herself dressed and being dragged by Lucy at a brisk pace through the woods.

"Lu, where are we going? You still haven't said." She said slightly breathlessly as she tugged at her thick cloak with her free hand.

Lucy didn't look back as she continued through the trees, "We're going to celebrate the coming of Autumn. One last hurrah before the trees go to sleep!"

Olivia vaguely recalled Peter mentioning something about tree parties. She let out a small laugh envisioning a tree kegger in the woods.

It wasn't long before they came across something close to that in a large clearing.

Tall tree-like people danced around a large bonfire. Their dance was wild and elaborate.

A troupe of fauns stood off the side playing music, and satyrs moved between the dancers gathering up fallen branches and sticks before tossing them into the fire.

Lucy let go of Olivia's hand and was whisked away into the crowd. Olivia spun around to find her but in the fire light and chaos, everything blurred together.

A hand with long, slender fingers grasped her hand suddenly, and she found herself being tugged into the midst of the dancers. Her partner was a tall wood god. His beard had acorns sticking out of it, and Olivia assumed that meant he came from an oak. He looked both man and tree, and it hurt her head to ponder the hows too closely, so she let it go.

He smiled and patiently helped her through the steps. It didn't take long for her to pick up the dance and soon they moved freely around with the other dancers. It was a fast and busy dance, but Olivia hadn't felt this free in years.

The music ended and all the dancers collapsed around the fire. Laughter and noises of amusement rose from where they had flopped. Satyrs dodged around passing out rough wooden cups filled with a dark liquid.

Olivia hesitantly took a sip only to discover it was very light and sweet. The music was beginning up again, so she tossed back the drink before being pulled to her feet by a new partner.

Time passed like this at an unknown rate. Whether she danced for a few minutes or a few hours, she didn't know. Dances blurred together, music floated around, the fire crackled.

At long last, Olivia managed to get away from the group. She moved with shaky legs towards the edge of the forest and flopped down against a tree to watch.

The world was warm and the fire light made everything seem softer. She smiled as she watched the trees whirl around with seemingly boundless energy.

A hooded figure crouched down next to her, and she turned calmly to look at the intruder, too warm and happy to be alarmed. He pushed back his hood, and she smiled widely.

Peter had been following them for some time. It had been years since he had attended the celebration. Usually he was too busy to participate in a frivolous celebration, but when whispers had floated past his office door, he couldn't help himself. His need to see her was too great.

Watching from a far as his youngest sibling dragged Olivia through the woods, it made him glad to see Lucy so happy. It was easy to forget sometimes that she was barely out of adolescence, but seeing her come alive the last few weeks as she dragged Olivia all over Narnia made his heart swell.

The girls reached the clearing, and he watched with great interest as they were enveloped by the crowd. He quickly lost sight of Lucy, but his eyes tracked Olivia's every movement.

Watching her dance had been worth coming.

It hadn't taken long for her to learn the steps to various dances. Her feet moved with years of practice. Graceful and sure as she was spun around, twirled and occasionally lifted by a variety of tree partners.

Peter leaned quietly against a tree, arms crossed as he watched her. There was something so free about her when she was dancing. A wildness he hadn't witnessed about the usually reserved young woman. He felt almost like he was intruding on a private moment.

She finally broke free after the end of another dance and tiredly sat down against a tree. Peter moved quietly to her side and crouched down. She smiled when she saw his face.

"Peter!" She said brightly. Her dark eyes were happy, and her hair, having long escaped it's braid, fell about her shoulders in messy waves. She snatched up his hand, lacing her fingers through his. They tingled every where they touched hers.

"Have you been dancing? I didn't see you out there." She asked while her eyes watched the wild frolic going round the fire.

Peter shook his head, "No, I've had more fun watching you."

Her gaze swung back to his. The corners of her lips lifted, he knew her cheeks were pink even in the poor lighting. She tugged sharply on his hand causing Peter to sit rather unceremoniously before she leaned her head against his shoulder.

"You looked like were having fun." He said quietly. She nodded, her face rubbing against his shirt.

"I miss dancing for fun. I only dance when I teach now."

Peter rested his head against hers, inhaling the soft scent of the lavender used in her hair as it mixed with the smokiness of the fire.

"Why not? I don't think I've even seen anyone look happier than you just did."

Her hair tickled his cheek as she shook it gently, "It's…complicated." Her fingers were soft as they brushed gently against his callused hand, causing Peter's stomach to flip.

His voice was low and rough when he spoke, "The best things in life are usually complicated."

Olivia moved to look at him, and Peter couldn't help himself. His free hand came up to cup her face as he lowered his mouth to hers, in a slow and gentle kiss. She tasted like the sweet wine she'd been drinking, and he couldn't get enough. She moved onto her knees as she released his hand, curling her fingers into the hair at the back of his neck. Peter groaned softly, and it seemed to break the spell.

She pulled back, bracing a hand on his chest. Peter reached out to bring her closer, but Olivia shook her head even as she stared at his lips.

"You shouldn't have done that. You can't want me, Peter." She whispered sadly.

"Why not?" He asked softly.

She sat back on her feet. Her hands dropped into her lap where she stared at them, "People like me don't kiss kings. It doesn't work like that."

Peter grabbed her hand again, pressing it against his wildly beating heart. He leaned in, brushing his nose against hers.

"Here's the thing about being high king," He began. Her wide eyes lifted to stare into his, "I actually get to decide how things work. It's a perk." He grinned. She started to protest, but he cut her off with another kiss. She melted against him immediately, the hand against his chest gripping his shirt tightly.

Peter could feel the wetness of tears on his face as he kissed her, and he raised a hand to brush them away only causing fresh ones to fall.

It was several moments before they parted for air, but neither moved away. Her breath fanned across his face when she spoke, "You wouldn't like the real me, you know? If we met back at home."

Peter shook his head slightly so that they bumped noses, "No. I don't think that's even possible."

"You don't even know me." Olivia said softly.

His fingers continued to trace her cheek as he closed his eyes, "I know you hate peas, and you pick them out and tuck them aside when you think no one is watching. I know you drink your tea with far too much sugar because really you wish it was coffee. I know you have a stack of books next to your bed, but you've only read ten pages of each of them. I know that when you laugh the corners of your eyes crinkle, and I wish you would do it more often. I know that you look lovely in gowns, but you look exquisite just like this. I know that I haven't seen Lucy this happy in years."

Peter paused and opened his eyes, "And I know that when I'm near you everything seems a little better; a little lighter; like maybe being king isn't as hard as it feels."

Olivia stared at him like he was the oddest thing she's ever seen, "You snuck into my room?"

He shrugged sheepishly, "I came to see you, but you were out with Lu. I was curious to see what you were reading."

She quirked an eyebrow, "Some might call that an invasion of privacy."

Peter grinned again, "King perks, remember?"

She kissed him them. Fiercely at first, like she was afraid he'd disappear, and then more gently before releasing him rather suddenly and twisting around to face the fire.

She leaned back against his chest, tugging his hands till his arms circled around her, dropping her head against his bicep. Peter rested his chin on top of her head, deciding to let the matter drop for now.

They quietly watched the dance. It was beginning to slow now as one by one the dancers moved away, falling asleep where ever they landed.

"You're really warm, you know?" She said with a yawn, snuggling back further against him. He looked down at her, realizing for the first time that she was no longer wearing any protection from the cold.

"Olivia, what happened to your cloak?"

He tugged the edges of his own cloak snuggly around them.

"Mmm, I don't know. It disappeared." She mumbled. Peter shifted so that he leaned against the tree. He could feel Olivia's body relax as she eased into sleep. Peter yawned, his own eyes growing heavy.

The pounding of hooves startled them awake.

Peter was on his feet and drawing his sword in a flash. Olivia stood quickly, tucked safely behind him. The intruder emerged into the clearing, and Peter was relieved to see it was only Raenius. The look on the general's face, however, made his blood run cold.

The centaur came to a stop just before he reached them, "Your majesty. I apologize for the sudden intrusion, but it's your brother, King Edmund. We were attacked."