Feel the wind, darling
I think your love sinking in
I could swim
Now that I love somebody

~"How It Was" by Yoste

Evelyn awoke the following morning to Ira waiting outside of her sleeping quarters. With the monarchs of Archenland and Narnia attending Rabadash's trial, Ira had insisted they keep one another company. Evelyn was grateful, needing someone to bring her out of her misery. She was still disappointed from Peter not standing up for her the previous day and being unable to witness Rabadash being brought to justice.

Since Ira had served as a ladies maid to Princess Aliena, she knew every nook and cranny of the palace at Anvard. While splendid, it was nothing compared to the beauty of Cair Paravel. Evelyn listened politely while Ira gave her a tour, reminiscing about old times. As they made their way through one of the many large ballrooms, something gold caught Evelyn's eye.

"A lyre!" she exclaimed happily, running over to the instrument. She examined its delicate strings and gently plucked out a melody.

"I've heard the Narnians talk about your playing," Ira said, watching her with fascination. "They say you can play just about anything."

Evelyn blushed, setting down the lyre. "I wouldn't say that's true. But I do love learning new instruments." She paused, before a mischievous grin crossed her face. "You said you used to be a court dancer here as well?"

Ira raised an eyebrow. "Many years ago, yes."

"We're a fine pair, then," Evelyn said. "Since we've been exiled from the trial, we should make our own show tonight at dinner, give King Lune a taste of what we have to offer. I'll play and you dance."

Images of Edmund watching her move across the ballroom filled Ira's mind. Color rose to her cheeks and she looked at Evelyn incredulously. "Do you think they'll let us?"

"They have to," Evelyn insisted. "You're the one who secured Rabadash's imprisonment and I fought alongside Peter at Ettinsmoor. The least they can do is give us a dinner performance."

Evelyn began plucking out a melody on the lyre once more and Ira smiled, admiring the girl's spirit, before letting her feet guide her across the room. The two women spent the majority of the morning rehearsing, deciding what tunes Evelyn should play and the movements Ira should perform. Evelyn decided on another English folk song while Ira chose a strange, exotic dance she had learned from a traveler from The Wild Lands of the North. Ira's ability to dance with the music rather than to the music astounded Evelyn. Ira had pressed Evelyn where her strange music was from, but she had refused to tell her. Peter and his siblings were the only ones who knew where she was from and she intended to keep it that way. Instead, Evelyn had chosen to tell Ira about her separation from Freya, leaving out the detail of her coming from another world.

"I'm sure your sister will be waiting for you when you return home," Ira said when they had finished practicing. They were sitting in the Anvard gardens, enjoying the sunshine and fresh air. Ira had been showing Evelyn how to make an herbal paste that would remove the dye from her hair, both of the girls' hands covered in green and mud. The trial was still going on inside the palace, leaving them both all the more anxious to hear the final verdict.

"I hope," Evelyn said sadly, helping Ira crush mint in a small bowl. "It's been twelve years since I last saw her. I don't think she would recognize me if she saw me now."

"How old were you when you two were separated?" Ira asked, placing a small amount of the paste on a small piece of Evelyn's hair. She smiled victoriously when the henna and indigo gave way almost immediately, leaving the hair underneath the paste its natural, golden blonde.

"Nine," Evelyn said. "And Freya should be twenty-four by now! We were inseparable as children. I can't believe I've gone this long without her by my side."

Ira nodded, a sad smile on her face as well. "Believe it or not, I was one of eleven children. When I lost my family, I felt like my life had no purpose. They were killed over twenty years ago and yet the pain still feels so raw."

"Twenty years ago?" Evelyn couldn't help herself. "But… how old are you?"

"Twenty-seven," Ira said. "I know I don't look it."

"You certainly don't," Evelyn replied, inspecting the end of her hair that was removed of all dye. "I thought you were my age… or younger!"

Ira shrugged. "It doesn't help that I'm not that tall. I actually feel much older than I am. Life has a funny way of—"

She was cut off by the sound of someone approaching. Peter was making his way towards the gardens, nearly sprinting from the palace. His crown was perched on his head, wearing clothing that would only be suitable for a high king. Ira and Evelyn leapt to their feet, curtsying deeply as he approached.

"Ladies," Peter said, smiling. Ira was enchanting as always with her exotic clothing and wild hair, and despite reconciling with Evelyn over his flirtatious mannerisms, he couldn't help but stare. But when he glanced towards Evelyn, and saw the way her eyes sparkled in the sunlight and somehow more of her blonde hair was shining through, he found himself focused only on her.

"Is it finally over?" Evelyn asked.

"It is," Peter said. "I can escort you both inside and tell you about it."

Ira took the herbal mixture that Evelyn had been holding. "You both go ahead. I need to give this to the healers."

Peter and Evelyn watched her curiously as she left. Evelyn took Peter's arm and they began to walk alongside the palace's walls, enjoying the beautiful weather.

"Prince Rabadash is no more," Peter said at last, pausing underneath a large tree. Evelyn nearly tripped upon hearing his words. Peter caught her, giving her a concerned look.

"Is he…?"

"What?" Peter asked, his blue eyes narrowing. "Oh! No, no. He's alive, but in a very different way."

Evelyn sighed, resting against the cool, stone wall of the palace. "Peter, what's going on? I don't like this guessing game. It was torture enough not being able to bear witness to the trial."

Peter bowed his head slightly. She was right. "King Lune offered mercy to Rabadash," he said. Evelyn's eyes widened and Peter held up his hands. "I know, I was shocked as well. But you know the boy, Shasta? It turns out he is Prince Corin's twin and King Lune's long lost son. His true name is Cor, not Shasta."

"So he was like me, then?" she asked. "Given a Calormene name?"

"Precisely," Peter said. "The good news put King Lune in a merciful state, but the prince was extremely vengeful regardless. Any act of kindness shown to him was rejected. We were going to sentence him to death when he began to lash out, threatening all sorts of things against Aliena and Susan, but then Aslan appeared."

The name of the great lion was enough to bring Evelyn to her knees. She swayed unsteadily before Peter caught her once more.

"Oh, Evelyn," Peter said, helping her sit on a nearby bench. "I know how much you want to see him."

Evelyn couldn't fight the tears that were spilling down her cheeks. After everything she'd been through, Aslan had been here, within her grasp, and yet she'd been unable to see him. All because of a silly law that King Lune refused to break.

"Why didn't you come and get me?" Evelyn asked him, her anger growing. "You know I wasn't allowed in the trial."

Peter's eyebrows knitted together. "Evelyn, you don't understand. The trial was absolute chaos with Rabadash's behavior. I barely had a moment to speak, let alone leave to find you."

This didn't ease Evelyn's anger. Peter knew the reason why she had escaped from Prince Rabadash, traveled to Ettinsmoor, battled against the giants, and returned with him, were all in the hope of meeting Aslan. But as Evelyn watched Peter, she was realizing that he was a selfish man, content where he was and unable to see the suffering of others. Why would he deny her the opportunity to go home?

Peter watched her warily. Yes, it was wrong of King Lune to deny Evelyn from being present at the trial, but Evelyn had no idea how drastic the situation had become. There was no time for testimonies from those Rabadash had abused in the past, as the trial would have gone on for days, if not weeks. Rabadash had been threatening to kill the Narnian and Archenian rulers, almost injuring a nobleman after taking his sword in a daring attempt to escape. If Aslan hadn't of revealed himself when he did, someone would have surely been killed.

"Evelyn," Peter said, "Listen, please. Aslan knew Rabadash needed to be dealt with immediately, for the good of all Narnia and Archenland. He's been turned into a donkey and can only return to his human form if he remains at the altar of Tash in Tashbaan."

"A donkey?" Evelyn wasn't sure if she heard him correctly.

Peter nodded. "Aslan showed greater mercy than King Lune would have after he attacked one of his soldiers. If it had been up to me, he wouldn't have lived to see tomorrow."

Evelyn gritted her teeth. "But why would Aslan do this? Doesn't he know everything? Doesn't he know all of the terrible things Rabadash has done?"

"We can't understand why Aslan does what he does," Peter said, sitting beside her. He put an arm around her shoulders and felt her stiffen slightly. He had clearly upset her, but he knew that even if he had been able to talk to Aslan after the trial, he wouldn't have seen Evelyn. Although it may have been selfish of him, Peter remembered the conversation he'd had with Aslan just a few weeks ago on the beach, telling him that he would find his strength. As he looked at the feeble girl in front of him, it was odd to him that this is what Aslan must have meant.

"Please, Evelyn," he said, turning her head so that she was looking at him. "We all keep telling you to be patient. Aslan will reward you for your perseverance. You must accept his timing."

"But I can't wait any longer," she said, inching away from him. "Freya is still alone, I'm stuck here… I need to see my family again!"

Peter cocked his head to the side. "Don't you want to stay here with me?"

His words were what both of them seemed to have been avoiding for several days now. It was the unspoken conflict between them, the only subject they dared not touch upon. He was a king, she was a former slave. He belonged in this world, she belonged in the other. Their night on the beach had been something out of a dream, not attainable in the real world. She had heard the rumors of how Peter had bedded other women in his youth. Why then had he not bedded her already? He was so handsome, every part a king and a warrior; it had flattered her to receive such attention from him since their first meeting. His words just now made her feel singled out, wanted. She glanced up into his eyes and saw a longing for her that went just beyond mere fascination and desire.

"Peter," she breathed, taking his hands in hers. "You're the best thing that's happened to me since arriving in this strange place. But asking me to choose between you and my family isn't fair. I don't belong here. I belong with them."

Her words stung and he tore his hands away. "So you'd rather return to your Nazi-filled country?"

Her eyes filled with hate. "Stop that. I've told you what happened. I can't stay here, Peter. And saying things like that doesn't make me want to stay here with you." She stood up, crossing her arms and glancing at where Ira and Aliena were talking just a few feet away. "Perhaps it's better if both of us remember that," she said softly before leaving to join the two other women.

Peter stared after her. Damn it. It seemed after all these years he'd completely forgotten how to talk to women. The thought of Evelyn leaving to return to a war torn world where she was vulnerable, unable to be protected, tortured him. Why couldn't she see she was so much better off here?

He stood as well, waiting to see if she would look back at him, but she never did. Running a hand through his hair, he made his way back to the palace. Peter didn't usually admit this, but he was beginning to feel like Edmund right about now.

As Evelyn gently played scales on the lyre in the banquet hall, Ira tapped her on the shoulder.

"Ira!" Evelyn cried, nearly dropping the instrument. "Don't do that! I nearly broke a string."

Ira smirked. She was wearing a green dancing dress, in fact, the very dress she had worn when she had been a court dancer. She had found it tucked away in one of the many closets in the servants quarters, untouched after all these years. Her hair was as wild as ever, billowing down to her waist. Evelyn, on the other hand, chose a dress similar to the other ladies of the court and had her hair pinned up. Ira had tried to see if they could apply the rest of her herbal mixture to Evelyn's hair, but Evelyn's quarrel with Peter had left her in her room for the rest of the afternoon, unwilling to see anyone. She had chosen the updo to once again cover the chaos of color on her head.

"I just spoke to Aliena," Ira said. "We'll begin after the main course." She couldn't help but smirk again. "We're an unbeatable match, you and I. Peter and Edmund think they're so great in combat? Wait until they see the magic we'll make."

A servant waved them to the center of the banquet hall a few moments later. Evelyn seated herself on the floor in a corner with her lyre, nodding reassuringly to Ira who stood in the center.

Both Narnian kings watched the two women with curiosity. Peter marveled at Evelyn's beauty and the way her blue eyes sparkled as she began to play. He could feel his heart pulling towards her as he thought about what he had said to her just a few hours earlier and he itched to rip the lyre from her hands and kiss her fiercely.

Edmund was once again entranced by Ira's graceful movements and the way her hips swayed as she danced to the music. He could feel himself fighting against the turmoil of emotions he had for her once more. Why had this woman decided to torture him like this? As he glanced at Peter, he seemed to be in similar agony. Had he fought with the slave girl as well?

Whenever Ira and Evelyn caught each other's gazes as the former twirled, they couldn't help but smile. They were an unmatchable duo with Evelyn's musicianship and Ira's dancing. The court watched with awe as they performed. Evelyn admired the way Ira moved seamlessly with her playing while Ira marveled at how the rhythm of Evelyn's song matched perfectly with the organic rhythms in her steps. When at last their performance was over, the room broke out in deafening applause. Ira glanced at Aliena, who was beaming proudly at her old friend.

Ira gently took the lyre from Evelyn before beckoning her to stand. She took Evelyn's hand in hers and they curtsied together, earning another round of applause.

As the two left the room, Peter nudged Edmund who was beside him at the large table.

"It seems we both have some apologizing to do," he said, just soft enough so that only Edmund could hear.

"At least that slave girl likes you," Edmund muttered.

"Well, the age difference between you two certainly doesn't help anything. You should've chosen someone closer to your age," Peter said, watching Ira leave. "Does she even like younger men? She's older than me!"

Edmund scoffed. "And how old is that Eviz? She seems a little young for you. Isn't she around my age?"

"Evelyn," Peter said defensively. "And we're only four years apart. Besides, shouldn't the man be older anyway?"

Susan and Lucy were watching the two brothers with amusement. Now that the threat of invasion from Calormen was gone and Rabadash's proposal wasn't hanging over their heads, it was almost as if everything was back to normal.

Lucy caught sight of Evelyn and Ira eyeing the two kings as they made their way out of the banquet hall, giggling with one another.

Well, almost.

At last, Evelyn and Ira collaborate! Don't forget to R :)