Chapter Seven: Preliminary Negotiations

The festivities continued long into the night, with the Pevensies, Caspian, and Brielle not retiring to the bedchambers waiting for them until the moon was high in the star filled sky. Peter hadn't realized how long the night had gone on until he retired to his bedchamber, dragging his feet.

His feet throbbed after a night full of dancing, his stomach was full of the food the Archenlanders continued to bestow upon their guests—he couldn't help but take an extra helping of Turkish Delight to rub it in Edmund's face a little—and his head swam from the wine he'd partaken in that night. He was old enough, more than old enough as he'd grown up in Narnia once before. But it'd been a long time, it hit him faster than he'd expected.

And, King Nain had insisted. Peter hesitated at first, looking toward Caspian to see what he was to do as well, but having been one to be born and raised in Narnia, Caspian hadn't worried about the offer—or of the possible offense of turning it down—taking his goblet and taking a hearty swig. It may have been, in some way, Peter's want to be seen as a rightful king, or a means of competitiveness, that had to do the same.

Finally, he dropped into bed, head heavily hitting the pillow.

He fell into a restless slumber his dreams starting out empty, void of any color. Then slowly filled in with swirls and stars that morphed until they replayed memories of a life he'd previously lived. Memories of his first foray into Narnia. Twisted memories. They played out the same, at the beginning, then suddenly shifted. His frolicking in the snow with his siblings went from a snowball fight to unbridled rage toward his brother and his attitude that had him grabbing Edmund around the throat and punching him mercilessly in the face.

The memories of meeting the beavers ended with their slaughtering by Jadis's secret police. The memories of meeting Father Christmas morphed into Jadis running them down with her sleigh, her triumphant laughter filling her ears. The memories of escaping Maugrim and the rest of the secret police across the ice turned to him, Susan, and Lucy drowning with Peter shooting away, gasping for air. Sweat dripped down his face, rolling to his chin.

He wiped them away, fought to catch his breath. He looked across the darkened room and out the window that opened over the courtyard of the castle. From a distance, he could see servants starting up the day for the castle and country to be run. Saw carriages being prepared and the livestock being tended to along with the light pinks and purples that swirled along the skyline.

It wouldn't be long before the day started.

It'd be best if he got the most amount of sleep he could, Peter reasoned. If there was to be a long day of negotiations with King Nain and Queen Aria, they needed to be in top form. But sleep wouldn't come to meet him once more, or, maybe, he was afraid of what sleep would bring him that time. If it managed to twist and turn his memories of some happier and more triumphant moments in Narnia, he could only imagine what his mind would show him of the raid on Miraz's castle.

The same castle that he and his siblings now called 'home' as they waited for Cair Paravel to complete its restoration. Peter frowned, briefly closing his eyes as he had to do every day he woke up there. Had to prepare himself for the harsh memories that were to come of the fallen magical creatures who would gratefully and willingly follow him into battle. He could still hear the minotaur's screams as he worked to hold up the closing gate and was filled with arrows.

Could still hear the screams of the Narnian army as they were struck down by the Telmarines who were working to defend their castle. If he was ever taking a walk around the castle grounds, he could, sometimes, see the rust colored streaks of blood left behind by those who courageously gave up their lives to help him, Susan, Caspian, and Edmund get out before they found their untimely deaths as well.

He closed his eyes, steadied his breath, tried to think about something else. Anything else, but found his mind turning back to the day he worked to figure out what it was Narnia had for him.

"Aslan," he'd said, a mere boy of fourteen whose only concern was to find his brother and return home. Not caring, one way or the other, about a magical world he still couldn't quite believe he found himself in. Let alone with a majestic lion who could speak. Who tried to remind him of the prophecy that bestowed him and his siblings. "I'm not what people think I am."

He was just a boy. Just a boy who had wandered into a closet after playing a game of hide and seek, trying to keep the trouble they'd most certainly be in when Mrs. Macready after an ill-fated game of cricket. They were just trying to have fun during one of the sunny days in the rain-filled countryside and ended up on some sort of quest to find their brother after he snuck off.

"Peter Pevensie," Aslan replied calmly, making Peter glance at him in surprise. Formerly of Finchley." If it were possible for lions to smile, Aslan did just that, his voice taking on a tone of amusement as he added, "Beaver also mentioned you planned on turning him into a hat." Peter smiled back, lowering his head as he remembered the threat he'd thrown against their now friend, working to keep up a brave façade as he worked out what was going on in the magical world. "Peter," Aslan's voice turned compassionate, immediately capturing his attention. "There is a deep magic more powerful than any of us that rules over all of Narnia. It defines right from wrong and governs all our destinies. Yours and mine."

Peter's shoulders rose and fell in one quick movement. He tightened his grasp along the hilt of Rhindon, looking down at the sword that'd been bestowed upon him by Father Christmas. At the pommel shaped like a lion's head, at the red hand grip bisected by a gold ring. At the silver-colored blade with When Aslan bares his teeth, winter meets its death. When He shames His mane, we shall have Spring again, written on both sides. The prophecy that was tied to his and his siblings.

He shook his head, his mind had switched to Edmund in that moment, wondering—and doubting—he'd ever see his little brother again. "But I couldn't even protect my own family," he murmured. What kind of big brother was he if he couldn't even keep them together for a frolic in the snow and a game of chance.

Aslan shook his head. "You brought them safely this far."

"Not all of them."

"Peter, I will do what I can to help your brother," Aslan said, voice turning firm. "But I need you to consider what I ask of you." He nodded toward his camp, at the subjects that willingly followed him with every word he spoke and every move he made. "I, too, want my family safe."

Peter hummed quietly, looking over the centaurs, minotaurs, gryphons, badgers, beavers, boars, cheetahs, dryads, and other magical creatures that aided Aslan in his work to protect Narnia and rule in his army. The next thing Peter knew, a horn was blown and upon instinct he knew it was Susan's. He turned on his heel and raced back toward the creek bed nearby, moving as quickly as he could to reach his sisters.

Peter skidded to a stop among the muddy bank, finding Susan and Lucy up a tree with Maugrim and his soldiers snarling at the girls, leaping up to nip at their heels. Peter took one glance around and relaxed a little, seeing Brielle was nowhere with them, had to have been still at the camp. Then he focused on Maugrim once more, tightening his grip on Rhindon's hilt. He turned the tip of his blade towards Maugrim, who lowered back on his hackles.

"Get back," Peter called, voice shaking ever so slightly.

Maugrim chuckled, an evil chuckle coming from deep in his chest. "Come on, boy, we've already been through this before." He paced back and forth in front of Peter while his two soldiers continued to leap off the tree, snarling toward Susan's and Lucy's dangling feet, spurned on by their shrieks of terror. Maugrim had lunged forward, making Peter cry out and wave the sword toward him. Maugrim only laughter louder. "We both you haven't got it in you."

"Peter, watch out!" Susan called from the tree. A warning shout.

Peter turned to the right, seeing the other soldiers had turned their attention from his sisters and had trained their sights on him once more. He turned around to find the three wolves were now circling him, inching tighter and tighter before making their move. All before Aslan roared, bounding across the creek bed and knocking one of the wolves aside, holding him down with his large paw.

The other wolf turned tail and ran. Maugrim, on the other hand, kept his eyes on Peter. His lips pulled back into a snarl, showing off all his gleaming white teeth. He padded the ground in front of him and leaned back. "You may think you're a king," he growled. "But you're going to die like a dog!" With that, he leapt toward Peter with blinding speed.

Peter's eyes had widened, he lifted his arm, pointed the sword straight up, closed his eyes. A cry escaped his lips, screams surrounded him, blared in his ears, a heavy weight crashed upon him, driving him back to the ground. Peter was crushed into the dirt, continuing to hold the phone straight up. He felt when Maugrim's life ended, left his body, the weight became even heavier, but the heavy breathing, quiet whimpering stopped.

Then Maugrim's body was rolled off him and Susan and Lucy were in his arms, hugging him tightly. He wrapped his arms around them, pressing his forehead into their shoulders, working to catch his breath, adrenaline filling his veins more so than any game of cricket or other sport ever could.

He opened his eyes and looked up with a start when he saw Brielle kneeling along with his sisters, staring at Maugrim's body. Her eyes widened, lips parted, jaw dropped, before she shifted her gaze to Peter, shaking her head. She leaned forward, resting her head against Susan's shoulder, who released an arm from around Lucy and dropped it over her shoulder, pulling her into the four-way hug.

"Peter!" Peter's head snapped up at the seriousness in Aslan's tone. The lion was staring straight at him, nodded when he saw he had Peter's attention. A twinkle came to his eye. "…Clean your sword."

And then he'd been named Sir Peter Wolfsbane, Knight of Narnia.

Something in those words, in the way Aslan bestowed the title upon him, made Peter realize and accept what they were about to do and what would potentially happen. And so he'd made the decision then for his brothers and sisters to go back. He should've known they wouldn't listen to his orders, they could be just as stubborn as he was. But it was that sense of brotherly love that made him feel the need to keep them as close as possible.

And the same brotherly love that made it so that he knew how important it was that Narnia was able to rekindle their relationship with Archenland, despite the tension that mounted between them. It's our fault, Peter thought, continuing to watch as the sky changed from a pinkish purple to a bright blue. That all this happened. If we hadn't had left Narnia so long….Miraz wouldn't have taken over. Wouldn't have ruined everything we tried so hard to keep together.

Everyone around Peter saw a strong king, who knew what to do at every turn. And that's what he would give them. The moment the meeting started, he would stand tall and make sure they could rekindle what Narnia and Archenland lost.

He couldn't bare to lose more allies, due to the fractured alliance.

Couldn't bare to think of what would happen if they weren't able to mend things and a war broke out.

Didn't know if he could handle the thought of losing anymore innocent lives when knowing it was his fault.

King Nain and Queen Aria swept into the conference room under the call of the knights that presented them; a londe and brunette they'd met the night before. Peter and Edmund exchanged glances as they watched the royals approach the table, then looked to Caspian, who stepped forward to greet them.

"Your majesty," Caspian said, with a quick bow. Then he turned to Queen Aria and added, "Your highness. As you know, we've traveled far to hold counsel with you to see if we can mend the alliance Archenland has had with Narnia."

"Yes, I understand," King Nain replied. He eyed Peter, Edmund, and Caspian. He took in a sharp breath before responding, "The correspondence we've been sending back and forth have made it very clear what it is that's brought you to Anvard. And while we greeted you with open arms with last night's festivities, that is the way that Archaneland has always greeted their guests." King Nain's eyes narrowed, shifting over their faces once more. "Though that doesn't ignore the destruction and turmoil that the Telmarines have bestowed upon your country the past few years. Destruction and turmoil you've caused."

"With all due respect, your majesty," Edmund said, tipping his head. "That wasn't us." He motioned back and forth between himself, Peter, and Caspian. "That was Miraz."

Caspian swallowed hard. "Yes, my uncle made sure that the Telmarines were able to take whatever it was they wanted by force," he said, eyes downcast. "Once my Aunt gave birth to an heir…it was when he really put his rein of terror into practice." He lifted his chin, looking at King Nain and Queen Aria with a regal air. "But my uncle's rein is something I want to leave in the past. I fought alongside King Edmund and High King Peter to remind you of the alliance we had and how it benefits both of our kingdoms."

Queen Aria let out a light, air laugh. "And what makes you think that we'd be willing to bring back an alliance that burned us? And abandoned us in our time of need?"

Peter internally grimaced, but outwardly kept a straight face. It wouldn't help if any of them were to lose their temper when they were negotiating. "The way we understand it, Miraz only came to power when Edmund, my sisters, and I disappeared from Narnia—"

"—Yes, it's a tale as old as time," King Nain interrupted. He ran his fingers over his goatee. "For nearly three hundred years, the Telmarine Dynasty reigned unchallenged, all due to the loss of our Kings and Queens of old." He leveled his gaze to Peter and Edmund. "I am hardly able to believe it is you two who were the ones we'd aligned with before, though seeing is always believing I suppose."

"It wasn't like we wanted to leave," Edmund said, hoping to defend himself. Peter shot him a sharp look, making Edmund lower his gaze, though continue under his breath. "We just went back through the wardrobe after chasing the White Stag."

Peter understood Edmund's desperate need to defend himself. It was something he was desperate for the people of Narnia to understand that they hadn't wanted to leave. If it were possible for them to see how he and his brother and sisters were miserable in the real world, wondering what it was that was going on in Narnia while they tried to lead normal lives, they wouldn't had held so much anger and resentment upon their return.

"Our disappearance from Narnia was something we couldn't control," Peter said earnestly. "And we're working to make up for it now. Just as we did with our work to end Miraz's rule. We risked our lives within that battle for Narnia as we always will. Narnia is our home no matter how long we've been gone. It was a part of us in our lives then and will always be part of us. Including those in Archenland, whether you're our current allies or not."

"It wasn't his battle to fight, but King Peter faced my uncle, faced Miraz in a one-on-one battle to take back control over Narnia." Caspian nodded to Peter. "If that isn't bravery in the face of danger, I don't know what is." Caspian addressed King Nain once more. "Surely you can see a man of that stature is someone you want to align yourselves with in case of coming danger."

Queen Aria's eyebrows rose. "And what danger is it that you speak of?"

"There are others out there that may see Archenland as weak now that there's no one on their side," Caspian pointed out. King Nain frowned at that. "You have the superior army, but the word of the Old Narnians has spread throughout history. It is only a matter of time until someone wants to try to take advantage of that weakness."

"I assure you that Archenland isn't weak."

Peter gently shook his head. "That's not what he's implying, your majesty," he said quickly while Caspians' cheeks reddened at his faux pas. Peter clenched his hands at his sides, quickly releasing them when Queen Aria's gaze flickered downward. "Anvard is the center of the Narnian Empire, with the seat of the government. Without Archenland as an ally for Narnia and Caspian's rule for Telmar, the other islands and territories within the Narnian Kingdom will fall apart."

"Then let me ask you, what is the ultimate goal of the alliance for both sides? And what area you willing to do to ensure that this alliance is successful?"

"With all due respect your majesty," Edmund said. Peter held his breath, a little worried

"Was that wise? Since you believe we were friends."

"Yes, I'd believe that."

"Then why risk your follows, your country, for our friendship?"

"Because, of that friendship we once had before," Peter said firmly. "Because of the friendship that, deep down, you know will be a source of restoration for Narnia, Telmar, and Archenland. We've had strength once before and shall have it again. And we'll find anything we can that will make it so that you are able to see the future of this merger and agree to repair out friendship."

King Nain nodded slowly. He rubbed his goatee once more. He paused. "I'm not agreeing to the demands, but I will think about it. Matters such as these cannot be made based on emotions and in rash decisions. We shall work closely with you to work out the benefits of this alliance and how it shall benefit most kingdoms. As we are to do this, you shall have an escort to and from Anvard as you please, as I'm sure there are still matters you'd need to oversee within Telmar."

Caspian nodded and bowed once more. "Thank you, your highness, your majesty, for your time. We'll be sure this is something you can't turn down."

With that, Peter, Edmund, and Caspian were led from the conference room by a set of guards. But not without King Nain getting the final word, "For your sakes, I hope so."

A/N: What did you think? Do you think Archenland are going to take Caspian and Peter up on their alliance or do you think it's been too heavily damaged by what happened with the Pevensies' disappearance from Narnia and the Telmarines who took over?

I also hope you liked the look into what's going on with Peter as well. The scene where he killed Maugrim was one of the things I was excited to get to and it's not the only time you'll see the scene and we'll be getting more POVs from Peter as well.

Don't worry, there's going to be nice moments with the characters as the story goes on.

Cheers,

-Riles