Hi everyone and happy new year!

SO this chapter didn't turn out nearly as I expected it would but I still like the result. It shows a bit of the Pevensie's darker side. I always thought they couldn't as perfect as they seemed, specially Peter… Or maybe that's just because I don't really like the character. I don't know. Either way here is chapter 3.

I was woken by a soft knock in my chambers door. My maids weren't there yet which annoyed me a little since I had to pen the door looking disarrayed. This was shameful. No Lady was supposed to be seen in such attire. I approached the door and decided that I would avoid opening the door the most I could.

"Yes?" I said stifling a yawn. Usually mornings didn't bother. I'd been raised to not mind but I stayed up late in my terrace trying to drink in the beauty surrounding me.

"My Lady, his Majesty, High King Peter, has asked for you to join him and his siblings for breakfast in their private terrace. I am here to escort you." Announced the butler kindly. From the other side of the door.

Oh God! The High king wanted to spend more time with me? Sure, we had fun last night but it thought it was only a divertissement. But apparently it meant more to him as well. No. I wouldn't get my hopes up. Maybe he wanted to build a breach with my Father and thus the king Anur. Yeah, that must be it. 'I am no one' I reminded myself firmly. Still, butterflies fluttered in my stomach and a grin broke my face. This had to be the best day of my life! "Thank you. I'll be ready in a minute." I said shakily as emotions overflowed me.

I went back into my room and immediately called my maids to help me clean up, all thoughts of complaining long gone. I had to ensure I looked better than ever before but that I wouldn't seem out of place either. I wasn't prepared for this. I checked all the clothes I brought twice and still I couldn't find a thing to wear. Every dress was too portentous or just not enough. Was this a casual occasion? What did this even mean?

In the end I settled for a light blue dress that matched my eyes. I chose not because I thought it was good enough but mostly because the butler had been waiting for me for over half an hour and it'd be rude to keep him waiting any longer. He didn't seem bothered when I came out which was good. We walked through a maze of halls and with every step my discomfort and anxiety grew worse. Was this right? Should I have warned my father? Was this proper? I knew the High King would never take advantage of the situation, he was too much of a gentleman. Still a part of me wouldn't stop insisting his wasn't a good idea. Yet I couldn't turn back much less refuse this honor.

Finally, we arrived at a beautiful terrace that was three times the size of mine yet no less beautiful. The place was decorated with discrete flower pots that made the view of the ocean seem a little wilder. The ebony table in the center was filled with exquisite biscuits and dishes. The mere small made me wonder if their taste would put to shame every meal I ever had.

"Lady Maucin, I'm glad you could join us!" greeted the High King as I entered immediately taking a stand and kissing my hand to which I blushed and bowed. His proximity made most of my doubts vanish. "You look ravishing." I smiled and was about to say he looked equally as handsome when I took a good look at him. He clearly hadn't washed up yet. His hair was tousled, and his breeches and tunic were too.

He must've noticed the way I looked at him because he laughed a little while rubbing the back of his neck in an embarrassed fashion. Did I just made a king feel ridiculous? What was I doing to make everything wrong?

"Sorry about my appearance I did some early training and didn't wash up afterwards." His sheepish mile made my heart hammer against my ribs.

"It's alright. I was merely surprised." I answered, and happiness threaten to break his features. For what seemed like eternity we just stared at each other. I took in very detail I could from how blue his eyes were to how his tanned skin tried and failed to cover the freckles that decorated his face…

"Pete!" screamed Queen Lucy in that instance and we both jumped startled.

"Oh! Right! I might have forgotten to tell you I invited Lady Maucin to have breakfast with us…" he admitted and suddenly I felt as uncomfortable as I had when I had first come into the room. I was an outsider, an intruder…

"I'm sorry" I said. "I didn't mean to bother you. If you wish for me to do so I will leave now."

"Nonsense!" exclaimed the younger Queen. "Anyone who can make Pete blush like a little girl is welcome to stay." I stared at her, transfixed by the casual tone in her voice and manners. Of course, this was a space for their family but even in the privacy of my home I wouldn't dare speak to my father in that fashion. A sigh from Queen Susan seemed to agree with me.

"Lucy, how many times do I have to tell you to keep your decorum even in private. You are a Queen and should behave like one at any given moment." She scolded like one would scold a young kid. Maybe it was because she acted like a parent or because the Valiant Queen was my age, but this made said figure to raise her eyebrows and stare at her sister incredulously.

"Oh, come on Su! I know that we need manners and all of that but it's just us. Well us and Lady Maucin who has to be a great person since she's got Pete in the palm of her hand." She countered pouting like a little girl.

"Lucy that would be enough!" said her brother clearly fed up with such a disrespectful attitude. The youngest huffed and sank in her chair.

"If Ed was here he'd agree with me."

The room went silent. Everyone had both tensed up and saddened. I immediately realized that the Just King's health must be more precautious that I knew. They all looked so worried… I really hoped the illness that had taken over him would dissipate soon so they could enjoy the celebration ahead of them.

"Well his not, so why don't we all try to behave? We have a delicious breakfast in front of us and we won't enjoy it if we fight." said the oldest Queen gently. But apparently kindness wasn't enough. The young Queen stood up and left briskly clearly making her point. I tried for my surprise and displeasure for such aggressiveness to not be displayed in my features, but it was unheard of for someone of their rank to behave that way.

"I hope you can forgive our sister, she's always been the closest to Edmund and his condition has her very worried." Said the remaining Queen.

"There is nothing to forgive, worry makes us all act in unjustified ways. I do, however, hope your royal brother's health will improve soon." I replied.

"So do I." sad she.

We ate in silence and all joy this morning could have brought was gone, the weight of a family burden bigger than I could take. So I thought of everything but the present, I thought of last night, of how the young man was right, the terrace was too bright in the morning. I thought, guilty, about how I didn't even know his name. I thought of how much more he could tell me, and I found myself longing for the simplicity and informality of our encounter.

When the meal was over the royals excused themselves to a council meeting and I bowed in goodbye. I was left in the privacy of their terrace. They were not what I expected from them. For once Queen's Lucy informality, Queen's Susan parent role and King Peter's shyness. I guess I had been too transfixed with what they were supposed to see the persons behind. It was scary to think sovereigns could be so… human.

Drawing a breath I took a couple of pastries for tonight's meeting and went to my terrace to wait for him. it was too early, but I didn't know what else to do. Being alone wasn't appealing but the company of those I had known all my life seemed out of place in this magical and mysterious land. What I didn't expect was to see Queen Lucy standing there, looking at the horizon. I tried to leave discreetly but she'd heard me.

"Your Grace, I am so sorry I got lost and I…" I stammered for words trying to look as lost and confused as I had the first time.

"This is Ed's balcony you know? Right next door are his chambers." She said looking back at gazing to see, seemingly unmoved by my presence.

"Oh."

"He always loved to come here and read a book when he wasn't feeling like dealing with Peter and Susan. I don't blame him, thought. They can be really… how do I say this nicely? Overbearing." She explained with such love I couldn't help but feel sorry for judging her earlier. She was in pain and worried for her brother. She was bound to act a little weird. "I don't know what is taking over me. I'm behaving just like he did before the war. I'm not like this but I'm just so worried. What if things never get better? What if he never comes back?" tears were streaming down her face and I was paralyzed.

What was I supposed to do? Should I offer comfort or spare her honor and pretend this wasn't happening? My learning of etiquette wasn't extensive enough. In the end I decided that I should behave in the way she and her siblings did, the human way. I walked towards her and put a hand on her shoulder gently. Immediately she buried her face in my shoulder and sobbed harder. I murmured that he'd get better, I told her that he was stronger and tougher than his illness, but she kept shaking her head. "I don't want to lose my brother" she said, and I had no answer. This went past beyond me. So I hugged her and let her cry.

When she finally calmed down she let go and looked down sheepishly.

"I'm sorry. For everything. I shouldn't have taken my frustration out on you or made you uncomfortable at breakfast." She apologized and that's when it finally hit me. This was no ordinary royal family. Sure they showed how majestic they were, but they didn't lose their humanity. They were a symbol of humility. And suddenly I felt like I needed to learn from them.

"It's alright." I assured her, but she clearly didn't believe me. She didn't disagree either way.

"He really likes you." I tilted my head and she smiled. "Peter. He really likes you."

"Well thank you but I believe is just curtsy…" I justified myself as my favorite sentence since I came here repeated itself in my mind 'I'm no one'. However her bubbly laughter made think about it twice.

"It's not. I've seen him be nice to other people. It's not even close to how he is with you. He likes you." She confirmed, and I smiled widely for this was the greatest gift anyone could have given me. "Can I give you a piece of advice? Pete is really competitive and sometimes he takes it to extreme levels so it's better if he doesn't see you too close to others…"

"He doesn't strike me as such a person, but I shall trust you." I answered, and it was true. The High King was as nice as one can be. He might've raised his voice at his sister, but he had every right to do so seeing her behavior. He might be competitive but never enough to harm someone. Was he? This was his sister after all. She knew him better than I did.

Doubt plagued me as she walked away.

I left the terrace shortly afterwards only to realize all I wanted was to be there. So I came back. All day long I stared at the woods and the sea and I wondered if the Just King would force me to leave once his health was better. This was, after all, part of his quarters. He probably would but it was only fair to enjoy this guilty pleasure while it lasted.

I left the pastries in the table and explored every corner of the terrace and when I dimmed it discovered I went next door to the piano. I had played the instrument all my life. My mother had thought me how to do so before her death. It was a thrilling feeling but without her melodies just never sounded the same. Thus, I stopped.

Yet here… here magic was in the air and the tiles seemed to call me. My manners screamed to leave. It was bad enough for me to intrude in a King's terrace now I was intruding in the rooms surrounding his chambers too. Did know no boundaries? Had all that'd been thought to me over my life vanished? It must have because soon I was sitting in the bench and letting my fingers press the keys ever so softly. It felt like mother was with me. So I sat and played her favorite song. Every note washing over me like waves in the shore. When I was finished I heard soft clapping.

Behind me was the boy from the balcony he was smiling, and I knew a teasing remark was about to be thrown my way.

"You'd be a terrible spy. Or an infiltrate. You make to much noise and touch everything you're not supposed to." He commented as he leaned on the doorway.

"Well I rather make my presence known than sneaking on people like a ghost." I retorted.

"You really think I'm anything like a ghost?" he asked, and the smirk grew. I trembled a little. This man was so intimidating even when he was being playful. Not wanting to answer and say something that could ruin the precarious state of our relation I changed the subject.

"I brought pastries." My answer made the smallest smile to tuck his lips and his eyes to sparkle for a minute.

"Good. I always had a sweet tooth. What'd you bring?" he said, and it was my turn to chuckle a little. How could someone be so simple yet so complicated?

"I don't know the name of the pastries. They're in the terrace." And I felt dumb because I didn't even know what I was offering.

"Well we better go find out then." He said and as he was walking threw the door words escaped my mouth without my consent.

"Do you know how to play?" Stupid! He was a servant boy! Of course he wouldn't know how to do such a fine activity.

"How about we leave that question for another day?" he proposed, and I nodded, grateful he wasn't offended yet surprised he didn't deny it immediately. Together we walked to the terrace. Each of us took a pastry. I stayed near the table as he hoped on the marble rail.

"Do you know what these are?" I asked.

"They're called muffins. They're one of my favorite sweets. Second only to brownies." He said as he pinched the soft surface and ate the little bit he had in his fingers.

"Are those typical from Narnia?" I questioned as I took a small bite, refusing to eat the same way he did. Sometimes servants could just be too casual.

"No. I don't think anyone knew until Lucy…. Until ten years ago." He corrected himself slowly, like he didn't really regret the way he started. I let it slip for if I knew one thing about him were that secrets were his shelter, one I did not mean to break. We fell into comfortable silence.

"What's your name?" I finally said, wishing to call something other than 'the man from the terrace'.

"Hm?" he seemed distracted and I smiled. Seems like he could lose his focus in the sea too.

"Your name? What is it?" I repeated. I wasn't usually this casual, but he was no nobleman and I didn't want to favor segregation. I wasn't surprised when he smirked.

"I don't like names. They impose status, familiarity. They're like a leash." He answered but this time I would not back down easily. I had to know what to call him.

"Names also mean trust and recognition." I countered. "Mine is Arina. It means sunshine."

"That's nice but whoever said I trusted or recognized you?"

My heart broke.