Ok I have actually outdone myself...this is definitely the longest chapter I've ever done! Thank you to everyone who's reviewed, favourited or alerted the story, I hope you're enjoying it and not getting bored! Oh, and I hope everyone had a nice Christmas! As always, please review, it does make me happy...and (I hate to admit it) but I'm more likely to read a story if it has lots of reviews...which is part of the reason I'd like lots of reviews, just in case there's lots of people out there like me who are incredibly bad! Enjoy my super long chapter!
"The horses are too tired to continue much further." Peter called out to Felicity over his shoulder as the two horses plodded through the field. "We're nearly at Leningsly anyway. We can get new horses there."
"It's too dangerous to risk going into a town." She called back.
"They won't know who we are. News won't have travelled that fast!" Peter said, halting his horse and giving Felicity a moment to catch up.
"It's just too risky, Peter! I'm the Queen of Gardania, someone will recognise me!" She said, practically pleading with him.
"It'll be fine. We need new horses and some food; we have no option but to go there." He explained gently, unable to think straight from the lack of food, water and sleep. "Actually, you're right. It's too dangerous for you to go into the town...you stay hidden outside it and I'll go in and get everything we need.." He said, finally starting to see sense.
Felicity rolled her eyes at him. "If you're going in then I'm going with you! I'd just prefer it if we didn't go at all!"
Peter considered arguing with her before biting his tongue and keeping his own concerns of her safety to himself because, in truth, he did not want her to leave his sight.
The two rode into the city past the ogling guards at the gate and Peter cursed himself for overlooking her dark hair that stood out amongst all of the Gardanians.
"You need to cover your hair." Peter hissed at her as a few other passerbys stared at her. Felicity gave no indication of hearing him but subtly hooked a piece of pale material from a passing cart on her foot and stooped down, covering her head and shoulders with it in an attempt to at least hide some of her hair.
She looked at Peter questioningly and he gave a slight nod before casting a furtive glance at the people around them. "This place will do." He muttered, pulling on his horses mane to make it turn right to a house with a stable visible just behind it. Felicity pulled on her own horse and the two plodded off the main road.
Dismounting their horses they started to walk to the front door of the house when a guard behind them gave a sudden shout. The two broke into a sprint without a backward glance and instantly ran away from the house and their exhausted horses.
Peter immediately pulled ahead of Felicity with his longer legs and he had to keep slowing to make sure she was behind him. As he paused and glanced over his shoulder for the sixth time he realised the Guards were gaining on them and he grasped Felicity's wrist, pulling her deeper into the city along behind him. She could barely keep up as he pulled her after him so fast it seemed her feet were hardly touching the ground as she tried to stay upright.
Peter could feel her struggling and looked around for any diversion or escape route. The city was becoming busier and more intricate as they emerged into the original layout of winding alleys and narrow roads. Spying an alley to their left he pushed Felicity down it and turned back, heaving over a cart full off apples to obstruct the guards as he slipped down the alley. He knew that he'd just destroyed someone's livelihood, but by law the owner of the cart should receive compensation, and right now he couldn't afford to think of anyone but Felicity and making sure she escaped safely.
He could see her up ahead and he could see the alleyway getting narrower and narrower ahead of him. After a few seconds Felicity had to run with her shoulders sideways to prevent them from scraping the looming walls. Peter's footsteps slowed behind her as he had to turn much sooner than her because of his broader shoulders. Felicity checked to make sure he was ok and she gave a gasp as she realised the guards were just entering the alleyway behind him. He was walking slowly now, sidestepping with his shoulders turned completely to the side. Felicity continued on and managed to get out of the alleyway without hitting the walls but Peter was struggling now. His body was almost touching the walls on either side of him although he still had a few feet to go before he reached the street and the alleyway was getting narrower and narrower.
Felicity frantically checked the street they were on and satisfied herself that there were no guards waiting for them as Peter started to struggle against the walls that were now trapping him. He was so nearly safe; he reached his arms forward and put them either side of the alley's opening as he painfully tried to haul himself through.
He exhaled as much air as he could and finally managed to squeeze through. He grabbed Felicity and the two started to run left before a guard appeared from another alley and wrapped his arms securely around Felicity. She screamed at him to let her go and Peter punched the guard on the nose. The guard let go of Felicity but another one appeared behind her and grabbed her again. Several guards approached from all different directions and started to fight Peter as Felicity tried to wriggle free herself.
A guard gripped Peter from behind and he ran backwards until they collided with something solid and the guard was winded. He pushed another one away and he fell straight over a stall selling china ornaments. The ornaments broke around him and the vendor shouted in fury. Peter jabbed at another guard with his borrowed dagger and he walked backwards straight into a young man helping his sister with the shopping.
Within moments a large fight had broken out as guards ruined vendors merchandise on the road and Peter managed to duck out of the way of a swinging fist from one of the guards and free Felicity. He knew King Riordan must want them alive for none of the guards had drawn their sword, even when he had stabbed with the dagger.
The two continued right, then left and then left again until they emerged on exactly the same street, just further down. A riot had broken out and blood gushed everywhere as the guards finally pulled out their swords. A young man with a saucepan ran past the two and whacked Peter on the back of the head before running on and joining the chaos.
Felicity screamed as he fell to the floor and tried to shake him awake frantically as people's tramping feet threatened to harm him. She cried his name again and again before finally grasping the shoulders of his shirt and trying to pull him the few feet back into the alley they'd just emerged from. He moved a few inches before coming to a stop completely. Felicity leant back, putting all of her weight into making him move but still his body stayed resolutely in the same spot. She was sobbing at the hopelessness of it all when a hand covered her mouth and an arm wrapped around her torso, forcing her back into the gloom of a nearby house. She struggled to escape and return to Peter as she observed two men picking him up, one by his shoulders and the other by his feet and carrying him into the house behind her. The hands released her and she hit out at the person who'd abducted her, fearing the worst.
"Calm down! It's me!" Someone cried out as she hit their chest with her fist. Recognising the voice she squinted in the dark till she recognised Adam, the chef from the castle.
"Adam?" She whispered, hoarse from the screaming and sobbing. He smiled and nodded at her in confirmation.
"What're you doing here?"
"I'm head of a gang. We work against Riordan." He told her as she wiped her tears away. "Are you ok?" He checked anxiously. She nodded and ran over to where the two men had placed Peter on the kitchen table and checked for a pulse.
"I'm guessing he's King Peter." Adam called out to her, screaming and shouting still audible from the street. A candle flickered as someone brought one into the dark room and Felicity could see Adam properly. He was dressed well in good clothes and had a sword by his side as well as a dagger. There were five other men all stationed around the room at different points in similar attire and they all stared at Felicity sullenly.
"Yes. He is." She replied, checking he was not injured. She smiled as she spied the boot boy Callum as one of the five men around the room. "Hi, Callum." She said quietly. He gave her a curt nod and smile in reply.
"So what's going on?" Adam asked.
"We're running away. Riordan tried to kill me yesterday because he found out I was having an affair with Peter. But I never wanted to marry Riordan; he said he'd go to war with Narnia if I didn't and he gave me a potion to take away my magic." She couldn't be bothered to explain every detail of their situation.
"Ok, we need to get you out of here. Alec, Malcalom, take him to Georgiana's house. Triwan go with them." He said. Three men sprung up and carried Peter out of the back door.
Felicity watched them go anxiously. "Don't worry. We'll follow them in a moment; it's just easier in smaller groups." Adam told Felicity reassuringly. "Georgiana's is one of our safe houses in the city. Here, put this on." He handed her a blue scarf and she wrapped it around her neck and head, covering her dark hair again. The remaining three men accompanied her out of the house; Adam and Callum either side of her and the man she didn't know scouting ahead.
"Why are you helping us?" Felicity asked Adam quietly once she and Peter were settled in the safe house. Peter was still unconscious and the men had placed him on the kitchen table. Felicity sat beside him, stroking his hair absentmindedly as Adam stayed with them whilst his men carried out various jobs and kept an eye on the movement of the guards. "You'll be in serious trouble if Riordan finds out..."
Adam stared at her for a moment before leaning forwards on his knees. "Do you remember when Damien was accused of stealing wine from the cellar? You stood up for him and gave an account of his good character and saved his job and reputation... And then when Michael hurt his knee and couldn't serve at dinner you suggested another job he could do in the castle, you saved his job. And when Maria was upset because of her mother's illness, you sat her down and listened to her and paid for the medicine that her family couldn't afford from your own pocket." Felicity nodded as he recounted a few instances when she'd been able to help the people who made her life easy everyday by assisting her in ordinary tasks. "That's why I'm doing this; because you're a kind person and you deserve some help."
Felicity looked down at Peter's sleeping face in embarrassment.
"You know..." Adam continued hesitantly, "you don't have to settle for him. He may be a King but I can name over 50 men who'd die for you." Felicity stayed looking at Peter's peaceful face as she processed what he'd said.
"I love him." She finally whispered.
"Sometimes love isn't enough. Your love wasn't enough to stop him marrying Tarkaheena Marchella..."
Felicity stopped stroking Peter's hair for a moment at Adam's words. He was of course right, but there were too many components in their relationship for her to explain. Adam wouldn't understand that Peter was a King and his country had to come first. But she didn't understand it herself for now Peter was putting her before his country.
"Choose the right man, and with your magic you could rule the world." Adam whispered, kneeling down beside her and bending his head to look her in the eye.
Felicity stared at him for a moment, searching his face. She knew that he considered himself to be the right man. "I don't want to rule the world." She whispered back, starting to slowly stroke Peter's hair again as the front door opened and closed and frantic footsteps started in their direction.
"Well, you know where I am if you need more love." Adam muttered. Her hand froze at his words as he rose to receive the news the messenger would bring.
"Triwan's betrayed us." The messenger muttered.
"What?" Adam exclaimed angrily. "Deal with him. How long have we got?"
"A few hours. They only know the vague location and they're assembling a strong force before coming here and they don't know any of our names."
"Ok, that's good. Is Henry's house free?"
"No, and it's too far."
Adam stayed silent, frowning heavily as he thought quickly.
"Why are you even helping them?" The messenger asked in an even quieter tone with a furtive glance at Felicity and Peter. Felicity kept her eyes downcast on Peter's face, pretending that she could not hear.
"Why are you questioning my actions? As your leader you must obey me!" Adam hissed.
"Not if you're putting us all in danger! Riordan will kill us all if he finds us helping her..."
"I'm helping her because I love her...and I'm not the only one who does, so get back out there and deal with Triwan!" Adam turned to Felicity, "I'll be back soon."
Felicity nodded her understanding and Adam left with the messenger, leaving Felicity alone with the unconscious Peter. She grew tired of the silence in the room and pulled an armchair through from the living room to the kitchen. Climbing into it she drew her knees to her chest and tried to rest; her body exhausted from the nights travelling and the constant adrenaline rushes.
She awoke when she heard movement a few hours later. The sun that had been visible through the kitchen window was now out of sight, though its glow still gave a little light. In front of the window stood the familiar figure of Peter, his smiling eyes watching Felicity's every move.
"Peter." She said happily as she sat up and stretched. "How do you feel? How's your head?"
"Very, very sore." He said, coming closer and kissing Felicity loving on the forehead by way of greeting. "Where are we?" He asked, leaning back against the table and taking a sip from the goblet of water he was holding.
"A safe house somewhere. You got hit over the head with a saucepan, and then Adam and Callum; two servants at the castle; saw it happen and helped us. Adam's the head of some gang that works against Riordan." Peter held the goblet out, offering it to Felicity and she gratefully took a few small sips before giving it back to Peter. He needed it more; he was still recovering from his blow to the head.
"Where's Adam now?" He asked.
"I don't know. He just said he'd be back later a few hours ago."
"And what are we supposed to do until then, just sit here?" Felicity looked at him sharply at his tone.
"That's exactly what we're supposed to do. Adam is helping us at his own expense... the least we can do is follow his orders!" She stood up in annoyance and looked out of the window at the setting sun; she was cranky because of her tired state. Behind the small cottage was a large garden with numerous vegetables growing in it and Felicity tried to ignore her pangs of hunger. It had been over a day since she and Peter had eaten.
"What if they find us? We need to be escaping as quickly as possible, not waiting around like sitting ducks, ready to get into deeper trouble!"
Felicity whirled around to stare at him in fury. "We wouldn't be in any trouble if it wasn't for you!" She accused angrily, pointing her finger at him in accusation.
"Me?" He retaliated, "What've I done?"
"If you hadn't married Marchella, I would never have married Riordan and we wouldn't be in this mess!"
"If I hadn't married Marchella, Narnia might still be at war with Calormen!" Peter shot back defensively. He knew it was all his fault. He knew it was he who had endangered the woman he loved.
"I could've handled it! If you had given me the chance I could've defeated Calormen with my magic!" She stamped across the room to him and repeatedly poked her finger in his chest, stabbing him with her nail in her ire.
"If, if, if!" He shouted in return, grabbing her by the finger and pulling her arm down to her side. "Dwelling on the possibilities of the past will not get us out of this mess!" He lowered his voice as he realised that shouting would not help them either. Both took a deep breath in mortification at their childish actions and after a moment Felicity yanked her finger from his grasp and sank back down on the armchair.
"I will give this Adam another hour. Once the sun has set we are making our own way." Peter said quietly after a silence.
A longer silence ensued and Peter constantly darted looks at Felicity who sat tensely in the armchair, her hands clasped stiffly in her lap and her gaze on her knees.
He gave a sigh as he finally realised he'd upset her. Her face wasn't as easy to read as it used to be; she'd learnt to control her emotions and put on a brave face since working for Riordan. He lifted the chain that always hung around his neck over his head and slowly walked over to Felicity.
"Felicity?" He said quietly when he was a foot away from her. She gradually looked up and he realised he was mistaken. She had learnt to conceal her emotions, but not from him. He recognised the look in her eye; its usual light had diminished slightly and the vitality she had that was one of the things that made her so attractive had faded. He pulled a kitchen chair closer and sat opposite her, their legs touching. "I want you to have this." He held the solid gold necklace out to her and she caught the pendant; the Narnian crest. It was exactly like the Narnian shields; except it was smaller than her palm and the lion was engraved in the gold.
She flipped it over and read the tiny inscription out loud, "High King Peter the Magnificent." She looked up at him expectantly.
"It's the Narnia crest." He told her. She bit back a retort about him stating the obvious. "Only me, Su, Lu and Ed have them, each of us with our title on the back. I want you to have it."
"It's very beautiful and I'm touched, Peter, but only you four royals have them...it's not right for me to have one because I'm not a royal..." She looked up at him again and he looked back at her steadily. Footsteps were heard in the distance as a door slammed and she gave a gasp as she realised what he was implying.
"Think of it as a temporary ring." Peter whispered in their final few moments alone together.
"We need to move. Triwan betrayed your position to the Guard." Adam said as he burst into the room. "Oh, you're awake!" He commented with relief, giving Peter a slightly hostile stare.
Felicity quickly looped the chain around her neck and tucked the crest down her bodice and out of sight as Adam shepherded them out of the door.
"What'll happen to Triwan?" She asked a little later as they paused in a dim doorway and Adam waited for the next informant to reassure him it was safe to continue.
"He's being dealt with." Adam's face was grim and Felicity fought to keep herself from heaving; she knew exactly what that meant.