Chapter Twenty-Three: Moving Forward

Peter, Edmund, and Caspian, shortly upon arrival back at Telmar, left the girls at the castle and scouted the grounds. Scouted for anything that would alert them to cany coming danger. Finding the castle and its people held up well, they traveled into the village just outside the castle, where the majority of the Telmarines and the talking beasts had converged after the way had ended, and spoke with those there.

Telmar had been quite while they'd been gone. There hadn't been any hint or whisperings of attacks on the castle. It gave them a sense of peace, but Peter still insisted on checking the surroundings lands. So they went out to the woods, tracing the path that Caspian had taken from Telmar towards Narnia what would then be his salvation. Where he'd found Nikabrik, Trumpkin, and Trufflehunter. They continued their patrol until Peter gave a motion with his hand to stop, allowing the horses to rest.

It was a good place to stop, a creek that stretched through the woods, cutting in half. The trees around them bent and weaved, the Dryads waving their hello to their Kings, glad to be restored upon Aslan's roar. Flower petals swirled around the kings as they led their horses to the water and allowed them to drink.

It was silent between the three of them for a long time. Peter ran an arm over his face, taking note of the sweat that was wiped away. He hadn't realized how warm the day was for them or how hard the horses had been moving as they pushed them forward to cover as much ground as possible. Peter could see almost nothing but the whites of his horse's eyes. With a half-smile, he reached out and patted his horse's side, running his fingers along the smooth coat.

His horse's sides heaved, slowing down as it greedily drank the water before him. Edmund pulled off his boots and rolled up the bottoms of his trousers before stepping into the water. He sloshed inside and bent over, cupping water in hands to bring to his face.

"Now that we're back in Telmar, we should get the troops ready," Edmund remarked, running his hands over his face, flicking water everywhere. He wiped away the excess droplets and turned to Peter and Caspian, who eyed him warily. "Make sure they're ready for anything that could happen."

Caspian turned his glance toward Peter, who looked back at him. Peter could see the uncertainty in Caspian's eyes, unsure of whether or not he should take the lead on the decision. Just because Narnia and Telmar were going to have peace, it didn't mean there still weren't important things to figure out. Such as whether or not the Pevensies would share the reign with Caspian while their time in Narnia—while limited, Peter was sure—lasted. And, if that were the case, was Peter a higher-ranking king of Narnia, or was Caspian?

Who listened to who's orders?

"For Aslan's sake, I'm just making conversation, not trying to start another war," Edmund remarked with a hint of impatience. Nevertheless, there was an amused smile on his face. "You can decide which of you has the better chance of ruling Narnia later. Right now, we need to be on the same page in what we're going to do, moving forward."

Peter raised his eyebrows in amusement. "Oh, look at that. Little Edmund is starting to show his place as King once more." He folded his arms teasingly. "What happened to me sorting things out?"

"Look how well that worked out," Edmund lobbed back. "Your school clothes were torn, you were an inch from getting your face beat in, and Jadis almost corrupted you."

"Surely, she wouldn't have corrupted me." As he spoke, Peter sloshed into the water toward his brother. Peter reached over and pushed Edmund's head aside. "I have more control."

Edmund smirked back and bent, throwing his arm through the water that splashed all over Peter. Peter jumped back in shock before fixing his brother with a harsh stare. Then, withing seconds, he wiped the smirk off Edmund's face by splashing water back at him. Then, laughing, a fight broke out between them, water flying in all directions. Caspian joined in the fray when he was caught in the crossfire of one of Peter's swipes towards his brother.

Their laughter rang out through the woods as they took the time to enjoy the moment. Peter leapt atop of Edmund's back, knocking him down in the water the second Edmund reached for Caspian. The three fell, continuing to laugh as they splashed each other, wrestled to see who could come out on top. He felt himself starting to tire, but knew that he couldn't throw himself fully into the moment.

They still had to be careful.

Caspian must've felt the same, for he sat back, using both hands to brush his hair back from his face, and appeared pensive. "There is a matter that we haven't spoken about, since we have ended the war. There is a chance that the way the Calormens found everything out…" he sighed heavily. "There may be a traitor in our midst." He shook his head, looking between Peter and Edmund. "Lord Sopespian betrayed Miraz—he killed him. He was one of Miraz's followers but…deep down, it appears he couldn't stand the way Miraz was running things. He wanted to overthrow Miraz to take over Telmar himself. He manipulated Miraz into accepting his duel against Peter, hoping Miraz could be killed. They killed him and accused him of four play, led a charge as a cover. Then the river God killed him."

His eyes shifted off his fellow kings and turned toward the forest, looking at nothing. "How do we know there's no one who still feels the same way? Who doesn't want me to be King? Who doesn't want you to be kings of the lands we now rule over?"

"Well, that really brings down the mood," Edmund murmured.

Peter lightly rolled his eyes. "You were the one who brought it up, Ed."

"I know, as a conversation about what we're going to do to strengthen our men, not to talk about assassination attempts." Edmund took in a deep breath. "Though it really does make me wonder what it was that Miraz had done to want them to end his ruling."

"Pure greed," Caspian remarked. He shook his head. "It's why he killed my father. He wanted the land, the title…the power for himself. People are always going to be like that. They'll find something to be upset about and then decide the best way to get over it is to dethrone what's in their way."

"Well, that would be a sign then, wouldn't it?" Edmund asked with a cheeky grin. "If someone's making a bad leader, they try to get rid of you by any means necessary."

Again, Peter rolled his eyes. He turned and started to trudge his way out of the water, ringing out his tunic as he did so. The sloshing sounds behind him made it clear that Edmund and Caspian were following his lead and were walking out of the creek. The horses stayed, continuing to bathe themselves in the cool water.

"You've been rulers over Narnia for a while," Caspian said slowly as he went. His eyes swept over Peter, and, even without looking at him, Peter could sense it. The side of his face burned under Caspian's gaze. "Have histories and stories written about you. The kings and queens of old. Have you ever experienced anyone under your rule taking offense to your ideals?"

Peter pressed his lips together. Unsure of how to answer the question. He had memories of his time as the High King but having had gone back to England…sometimes it was hard to scrounge up again. Sometimes, one little thing would bring up a vivid memory: a smell, a sight, a Narnian looking sway of tree branches. It was an amazing time for him…when he remembered it.

"Not that I'm aware," Edmund said, . "But…we also outlived them by thousands of years so…" Awkwardly, Edmund shrugged, making Caspian mimic the gesture.

Peter hummed to himself. As he neared the bank of the creek he paused and frowned at his reflection. It was a strange thing to do. He wasn't vein but…he knew what he would eventually end up looking like. Had seen himself as an adult before being turned back into a child. A large, barrel-chested man who held more confidence than any other monarch he'd ever seen. Then, next thing he knew, he was looking at his reflection as a child in the next morning—shocked and surprised to see the face of a child.

Peter'd gotten used to it but being back in Narnia…it only reminded him, once more of what he had been. The other part was, he'd been startled when he'd seen pictures of his father again. Some that had been sent to him from his mother—updated pictures of himself in battle attire. He was surprised to see how much he was going to end up resembling his father. Or did resemble his father. Almost like looking at a distorted mirror image of himself where he wasn't sure if it wasn't the White Witch playing a trick on him, that some spell had been cast upon him to see his future.

He'd noticed the way his brothers and sister looked at him sometimes, after looking at a photo of their father. Like they'd seen a ghost, only to blink rapidly and look away once more, brows furrowing. He knew they saw it, too.

Simply a harsh reminder of what life they'd had before.

"Caspian?" He spoke before realizing he had. "What do you remember of your father?"

Caspian's eyebrows rose. "My father?" He repeated.

"Yes, you don't speak of him much." Peter finally waded out of the creek and turned back to his brother and Caspian. "What was he like? As a ruler?"

Caspian thought for a moment. He started to smile a little. "Well, as I believe many would say about their fathers, he was a calm, just man. Very much so the same was a ruler. I don't remember very much of his being a king getting in the way of him being a father. He made a lot of decisions with him and my mother in mind. He loved everyone within his kingdom." His smile faded slightly. "I don't remember much of him talking about the ramifications of deciding things with my mother and myself in mind. He spoke a lot to me about the political views he had and what he thought of Narnia, Calormen, and the others…but only the surface level things." He nodded once, pursing his lips together. "But he loved his people and his people loved him."

"And when he died?"

"When he was murdered, you mean?" Caspian reminded him. "Yes, it's difficult to keep that in mind now that I know the truth. When my uncle murdered him, we thought he agreed with what my father had for his rulings. Things changed quickly under Miraz's rule. He always treated me well…until his son was born. I should've known there was that chance that things would change…but he'd never given me any reason to thin otherwise." He shook his head. "I was naïve."

"No." Peter shook his head. "You were trusting your faith."

"I had faith in the tales of your time, in the stories of the Kings and Queens of Old. I should've known there was something wrong with Miraz banning everything that had to do with you all."

Edmund shrugged. "Maybe he just doesn't like a good story."

Finally, Peter laughed. He placed his hands on his hips, looking back and forth between Edmund and Caspian, briefly wondering what it was that managed to let Edmund continue to makes jokes and light of situation, but found that he was having a moment of envy toward his brother. Being the eldest sibling, he didn't always have that luxury, having been a king, he remembered the few times his subjects and followers would appear surprised when he made a joke or a teasing comment that took a second before laughing themselves.

He hadn't been able to enjoy any of their time in Narnia since returning, save for that moment on the beach. Things had been moving a million miles an hour since returning. There had to be moments where they broke away for fun, to remind themselves that they were in the land that had given as much to them as they'd given to it.

A smile came to Peter's face when the wind blew once more, the dryads in the trees blew petals around that rained down like snowflakes. He caught one in his hand and gently rubbed it between his fingertips. This was his home, this was Narnia. It was a place that was as peaceful as it could be war torn. Something may be going on, the Calormens may have something up their sleeve, but they had to take time to withhold the peace between Telmar's and Narnia's kingdoms.

Ed is right, Peter mused. We need to ensure our troops are ready for anything. But we can't show any fear. "If the Calormens decide to attack us, it's an all-out war," Peter said out loud. "They've made the first draw and show where they stand. Miraz had done the same, showing his hand before he truly needed to. We're not going to respond unless there's something to respond to." He moved to Caspian, placing his hand on his shoulder. "You're not your uncle, you're going to be a different ruler. And we're going to help you do so."

Caspian nodded in response. "I appreciate that."

"Let's head back."

Peter, Edmund, and Caspian took the path back to Telmar and left the horses with Brielle and the servants before going inside to get cleaned up. On the way to his room, Peter ran into Lucy, who was marching purposefully in the opposite direction.

"And where are you going in such a hurry?" He asked her in amusement.

"I'm making plans to go into the village," Lucy explained. She stepped to the side of the hallway with Peter, smiling at the servants that bustled by, holding armfuls of bedding. "I want to take another look around."

Peter rolled his eyes. "You're not going to go see Dulcea again, are you? Not to mention that she's all the way in Archenland, Lu. We're not going back there."

Lucy shot back his look with a smug one of her own. "Don't you want to go see Vivienne again?" She teased. "Or did you buy it to give to someone else?" For a moment, Peter's eyebrows came together in confusion, then he remembered having bought the necklace—and simultaneously understood her words—and rolled his eyes, making her giggle. "You know, there's nothing wrong with wanting to have some fun, Peter."

"Coming from the girl who finds looking at the clouds fun," Peter teased back.

Lucy's cheeks puffed. She folded her arms across her chest. "I was just trying to liven things up a little! It was better than Susan's suggestion of guessing words in the dictionary!" She reached out and jabbed Peter in the chest. "And, don't forget, if it weren't for me suggesting we watched clouds, then we wouldn't have started to play cricket, and we all never would've been to Narnia!"

Peter opened his mouth to protest, then closed it once more, realizing she was right. If she hadn't had suggested they go outside that day, spurning Susan to insist it, then they never would've played cricket. And if he's never played cricket, he never would've broken the window that would've had them running from Mrs. Macready, and wouldn't have had them decide to hide in the wardrobe and…

Well, he always knew he owed everything in Narnia to Lucy, prophecy aside. He owed a lot to Lucy. She always made sure that they were able to stay as much as themselves as they possibly could, even while growing and learning what it means to be a monarch. She was the ruler that everyone had the same compliment for; she wears her youth, and wears it well, and uses her youth to be a better queen.

Lucy didn't go into battle much, but she always used her big heart and creative ways of thinking to come up with some of the more difficult political answers that seemed to escape Peter and Edmund. Was always the one that came up with the different events and ways to show the people of their kingdom how much they cared for them.

It was Lucy who had taken some of their home world festivities and celebrations to bring to Narnia, along with Susan's help. They'd all gone over well. Some better than others. Peter still remembered how they had tried to teach the Narnians about pinching someone not wearing green on St. Patrick's Day and how that resulted in a nursey filled with screaming infants while the toddler servants looked back at the kings and queens of old with infantile confusion.

It also ended with Susan and Peter both glaring at Lucy when Edmund went on a pinching spree, noting their monarch colors; his yellow, Susan's blue, and Lucy's red, all being targets for his mischief. (It was one of the few holidays they decided to ban from Narnia, notably).

And, it was still Lucy, who made Peter smile, no matter how deep in his own mind and worries he found himself falling.

"Well, what did you have in mind?" He asked.

"Our first big celebration with peace between Narnia and Telmar," Lucy said without taking the time to stop and think. "We've celebrated the fall of Miraz with the village, but we've never celebrate this peace treaty that we've made. We need to focus on that even if…" she shook her head. "Even if things don't go well with Archenland…" She took a deep breath. "We need to focus on our people. Put their faith in us. That's what's important. Just as our faith in Aslan is."

"You're right, Lu."

"I'm always right!"

Peter chuckled.

"We should have a big feast, a celebration, get everyone through the changes that are coming. Either we're going to rule…or Caspian is…we need to be prepared for that. And…at some point…we may not be needed here much longer, we need to be prepared for that, too." She shook her head. "I don't want to go to, what could be my last day in Narnia, again, and not be prepared for it. Not be happy that I've had the time here, this time." She lifted her chin. "I want everyone to be able to be happy, as long as the time shall last."

"I think that's very honorable, Lucy," Peter said honestly. He reached out and ruffled her hair, making her gasp and duck away from his hand. "I'll be glad to help you with anything you need."

"Anything, huh?" Her eyes shone with mischief. "Then do you think you could help me with Caspian and Susan? Seems to me he becomes a little…tongue-tied when he's around her. I thought I'd work some of my magic to make things easier for him."

Peter thought for a moment. Being a king aside, he did understand why Lucy would be interested in the idea. They were older, boys were starting to court his sister, Peter had seen it first hand when they had been older in Narnia, and he'd seen it when they were in England. But having come back from Narnia, Susan had never been interested. Simply kept to herself. There was nothing wrong with going on a few dates. He'd encouraged her to do so a few times, only earning a glare in response.

And, as much as he loved his sister, there was also a bit of a political gain for any matching of Susan and Caspian. Their subjects were being told of a companionship between Narnia and Telmar…but if they saw one.

For a moment, guilt made Peter's face flush. How could he think about political gain when his sister's feeling were involved? Feelings she may or may not share with him when the time was right. There'd been enough times he'd caught Brielle and Susan—even the two and Lucy—giggling to themselves, looking the boys' way and shutting up whenever one of them came close.

But serious feelings, between a king and queen of two different countries? Who wasn't to say even a passing glance couldn't start a war?

"Or, maybe you want to talk about the rumors of you and Brielle?"

At that, Peter turned his attention back to his sister, his features twisting into an expression of impatience while she giggled once more. "Mind your own business, Lu."

"I will." With that, she moved around him and started toward the castle grounds once more. "But you know, all of your business is my business."

Peter shook his head and sighed. Wondered, if the older he got, if the more revered they became as kings and queens…was he always going to have to handle Lucy as a little sister?

It took him only a moment more to realize he wouldn't want it any other way.

A/N: So, I re-watched Caspian and Voyage of the Dawn Treader and read some Narnia discourse on tumblr, so I got excited and this had to be the first fic I updated again. Finally, we've gotten some time for peace with Peter that is, as always, pushed forward by Lucy. But who's to say she doesn't have her own agenda with it, haha. That being said, more with Suspian and Prielle does start in this arc as well, which is something else I'm excited for! :)

Thanks for sticking around as I start to update again.

Cheers,

-Riles