Author's Note: I'm SO sorry guys. decided they didn't like me for the weekend, but I'm back! Oh,I would like to acknowledge Jean Ferris as the person who came up with the line "ripped a tear in the corner of his heart." I just altered it a little bit. Everyone should read Once Upon a Marigold. My undying gratitude goes to: Raine Ishida, Ava Rainna, EmoradaConDios, brezzybrez, musafa, mauradersminuspeterarehot, and kudos to the newest member of the sect: ilovenarnia. I hope I don't ruin you. Have a good weekend guys! You all make my mouth smile!

Chapter 24

In Which Peter's Heart Is Torn, Literally

Lucy was the first to break the silence.

"To who?"

"I don't know yet...Aslan said he'd tell me later."

"When?" Edmund asked. "You know, it could be years away. I mean, everyone here is bound to get married, eventually. Right?"

"Aslan didn't say. But I don't think he was telling me just because he wanted to."

"This is hogwash!" Susan cried, finally picking her jaw off the floor and thinking sensibly again, "treating a dream as if it were really real. Why, if I did that the rabbits would be running the country!"

"But Peter said it wasn't like a dream..." Lucy said. Peter nodded in agreement with Lucy.

"I tried to make out to be Su, honest I did. But it was too real, the colors, the sounds, I touched Aslan's mane and I felt his breath on my face. I was standing on top of a mountain, looking over all of Narnia and...He met me there. And you know how you forget dreams? I haven't. I still remember every little detail. Perfectly. It wasn't just a dream Susan. It has to be."

"But Peter..." Susan said, still trying to wrap her mind around it.

"I believe you." Lucy looked up at her big brother with crystal clear eyes. There was no trace of tears in them now, just simple acceptance. "You wouldn't make anything up."

Edmund stood and stuck his hand out to his brother. "Congratulations." He said with a strained smile. Peter gratefully clasped the offered hand and managed a smile too. Susan sat there, gazing at him with probing eyes. He seemed calm now that he'd told them. There was a peace and acceptance in his face that she didn't recognize as belonging to her brother. Finally she was convinced.

"If you say so..."

"I really do."

"Then I believe in you." Peter dislodged Lucy from his lap and stood and hugged Susan. The two had a bond, though not like the one he had with Lucy, his favorite sister. This one was stronger, derived from struggling to protect their family during the war and then during the beginning of their time in Narnia. She was the one that broke the embrace and started thinking sensibly again.

"I wonder who she is...She could be anyone, you know? Especially with all the people here left over from the ball. I do hope I like her."

Peter shrugged, "I'm trusting in Aslan that she'll be someone I'll like, and maybe learn to love." A vision of Fae flashed in his mind's eye and his new found peace faltered for a split second. As if she was reading his mind, Lucy was suddenly prompted to speak:

"What about Fae?" Susan and Edmund had the same awful realization hit them at the same time and both turned to Peter with concerned faces.

"Oh no..." Susan said, remembering her friend and the attachment Peter had to the girl.

"Peter," was all Edmund could muster, shaking his head. "Peter what are you going to do?"

"I...I am going to tell her soon. I wanted to tell you all first. Please, don't say anything to her about it."

"Be gentle," Susan reminded.

"But don't beat around the bush. That'll just make it worse," was Edmund's contribution.

"You should tell her now." Lucy spoke with a soft sort of authority that was far beyond her years.

The other two nodded in agreement. Peter blanched, breathing a harried prayer to Aslan for strength before nodding too. Susan and Lucy both hugged him again, and Edmund clasped his shoulder.

"Go now." Peter looked down at Lucy with disbelief, she removed her arms from his waist and planted stubborn fists on her hips.

"You're growing up..." The little girl just raised her eyebrows and nodded.

"Go!" He smiled and ruffled her hair, reminding himself that she would still be a child for several more years. She pursed her lips and gave him a shove towards the door. He nodded and left the room, an unusual feeling filling him from head to toe.

It took Fae a minute to answer her door. The one guard at her door from earlier in the day had been replaced, and the new one stood at attention with his hand on his sword. Peter nodded to him and the guard responded with a quick bow. As soon as he straightened he scanned the hallway, as if in the second he'd looked down a swarm of pestilent murders could've invaded the space. Satisfied the hall was empty, he relaxed again. Peter nodded to himself; a second guard could do no harm. When Fae came to the door he was very glad to see the she had simmered down some since storming out of his study earlier. In fact she looked quite contrite. She invited him in, and before he could open his mouth had apologized. Once he forgave her and the air was cleared he felt a little better, but not much.

He had interrupted her reading. A chair was pulled close to the fire and a lap blanket was lying on the floor. Her book was open on the edge of the arm of the chair, teetering hazardously. A cup of tea and a small teapot rested on the raised hearth stones. He decided from the wrinkles in her skirt that she'd had her legs tucked under her in the chair. The gold colours in the room and the soft firelight made him notice her complexion and the creaminess of her skin in way he hadn't before. She invited him to sit as she took up her seat, marking her spot in the book with the ribbon from her hair after a quick search produced nothing suitable. She looked at him silently, as if appraising him.

"What's the matter?" She finally asked, leaning forward and taking one of his hands. "You've been distracted all day, but I haven't really been able to ask..." She trailed off. He decided to tell her outright, but paused. He let go of her hand and firmly told the guard to step outside. When he turned back she was prying at him with her eyes. He felt as though he could get lost in those deep orbs without trying too terribly hard. And then he remembered his purpose in the room and stiffened. She noticed this and something cold and slimy seemed to coil up in her stomach.

"What is it?" Peter swallowed, even though his mouth and throat were both suddenly very dry.

"I'm to be married," he said carefully; the way he said the words let her know that it wouldb't be to her. Fae stared at him; he could see the words slowly sinking in. Then all at once, she fell back into her chair as if she'd been slapped. Her hands dropped to hide in the folds of her skirt and he could almost feel how she twisted the cloth and dug her nails into her palms. Her eyes closed and she breathed deeply for several minutes. Then she gave herself a little shake and opened her eyes.

"To whom?" She asked. Her voice was strained but she seemed to have regained her composure.

"I don't know."

"What?"

"I was told that part."

"Told?" She eyed him dubiously.

"Aslan brought me to him a dream last night. He's the one that told me."

"It was a dream?"

"Yes. But it wasn't just a dream. It was too real."

"Aslan didn't say who?"

"No."

"Did he say when?"

"No."

"How can you be so calm?" She burst out. "Aren't you afraid?"

"I was. But I trust Aslan. He wouldn't do something to harm me." She stared at him, not believing the peace that had infiltrated his entire being. She stood up abruptly and walked to a window, not wanting him to see her tears. He followed her, standing just behind her, laying his hands gently on her shoulders. He felt her stiffen at his touch, and then she turned and fell into his arms. He held her like that for a very long time. She didn't cry, though she took several deep, shuddering breaths. He held her with one hand on her back and the other stroking her hair. He lowered his face to rest on top of her head and after awhile kissed the crown of her hair gently. She pulled away from him as if she'd been stuck with a hot poker.

"No. You're not mine." Her voice was choked with emotion. "Save your kisses for the one they belong to." He tried to reach out to her again but she pulled away, hugging herself instead.

"Go," she whispered intensely, her eyes pleading with him. He stepped towards her, but she held out a hand, palm pressed towards him. "Just go...Please."

Her voice cracked on the last word and she turned from him again. He felt a numbing pain completely soak all his senses before he turned around and slowly walked out of the room. As soon as she heard the door click shut behind him, a heart broken sob escaped from her lips. She immediately stuffed a fist in her mouth to keep from letting out another cry, but it was too late. Peter had heard the cry from halfway down the hall. He stopped and his body shook, it was as if he felt someone a rip a large tear right in the corner of his heart. He ran the rest of the way to his apartments.

The two guards stared after him in bewilderment; both had heard the heart rending sob, and it was the sort of sob that made you want to cry out, just out of sheer human empathy. They stared at each other and one slowly turned and reentered the room. The Princess had thrown herself onto her bed and was crying as if her heart had broken right in two. Outside a storm had rolled in off the sea and thunder was clashing and snow was beating at the window pane. The poor guard stared at the young woman's prone form in dismay. He had never been able to stand seeing a female cry. He knew he was in for a very, very uncomfortable night.