Disclaimer: I as much own Narnia as I own the weather; and neither are obeying me right now, so I'm pretty sure I don't own them.

OOOOO

The council took place in an antechamber adjacent to the Great Hall, a comfortable room with colorful tapestries on the walls (telling the tales of Fair Olvin, Lady Liln, and the two-headed giant Pire), a round table in the middle with four smaller thrones on one side and five comfortable chairs on the other. Edmund had thought Orieus, Tumnus, and Sallowpad the Raven ought to attend as well, but Susan had noted both the scorn and the fear of their youngest guest, and had insisted their guests would be more comfortable dealing with humans alone. Peter, after some thought, sided with Susan, leaving the impressive councilors as a reserve, should the negotiations go ill. Thus it was that only the race of Adam and Eve met that night.

"In the name of Aslan, come and be welcome," Lucy began. The Four seated themselves, and the Calormenes bowed and sat as well, though Ikelken stood up to speak a moment later.

"O great Kings and Queens and O munificent Rulers of Narnia, we come at the bidding of Tisroc (may he live forever) to speak and discuss with you the terms for an agreeable peace between our peoples. We bring with us the demands of the great country of Calormen, knowing that kingdoms such as yourselves may benefit from the protection of our ships and the peace we bring to the waters-"

"I think by sea our strength is equal to yours," Peter interrupted dryly. Beneath the table Susan laid a cautioning hand on his arm. "But insofar as it depends on our actions and is agreeable to our beliefs, peace is to be sought."

Ilkelken nodded gravely. "Thus with the favor of the gods and by fortune's blessing, we sailed across the sea to fall in to a council with the people of Narnia and reach an agreement beneficial to all. We bring with us this scroll," and again Uvayeth produced it, setting it on the table, "and we ask and charge that Narnia considers our demands and requests, and the peace be concluded and upheld."

Edmund was already reaching for the scroll, ignoring the discourteous way Uvayeth refused to slide it towards him, forcing the King to nearly stand to reach it. The Just King brought it back to his seat, unrolling it on the table far enough out his siblings could see. Lucy and Susan, on either side, leaned towards him to read as well. Peter kept his eyes and pleasant smile fixed on their guests. His siblings reactions would tell him what he needed to know till they could pass the scroll and take over the conversation while he read.

"We thank you for the efforts of your journey, and we look forward to your skill in negotiating." He still kept his peripheral view on his siblings, but he knew they were currently going through the two or three paragraphs of greetings and statements of intent every Calormen document began with and would be a while. "As peace is agreeable to both our peoples, we also look forward to the conclusion of our efforts." He smiled again, even as he watched one of the dignitaries' eyes glaze over (one of the Tarkaans he didn't remember meeting yet). It made his smile much more genuine; he knew that some of the Calormenes enjoyed listening to meaningless words about as much as he did. "Our requests are mainly for the capture and punishment of the Calormene pirates who wage war on our ships and murder our Narnian people. For every outrage against a Narnian ship, we demand the help of the Calormen navy - great indeed - to capture the miscreants. For surely with two such fleets on our seas, the capture of the pirates who murder and harm all would not be hard to accomplish. And they would have nowhere to flee, if Calormen and Narnia both seek their destruction." He could feel his smile growing fiercer, and two of the Tarkaans leaned away.

He was rather good at implicit warnings, Susan had complimented him.

But his smile was hard to keep when Edmund stiffened and Susan sucked in gentle, quiet breath. Whatever they'd read hadn't bothered Lucy - she glanced quickly at her siblings in confusion - and Edmund abruptly rolled up the scroll and stood, his siblings following his lead a few startled moments later and the Tarkaans rising in response.

"We ask for time, good guests, to consider your requests in council with each other," the Just King stated, eyes watching intently for the Calormenes' reactions.

Ikelken began to bow, and another - the third, who had not moved at Peter's smile - nodded as well, muttering, "The blessing of Tash be on that, for the terms are neither fair nor wise," but he was interrupted by a frustrated voice.

"O great Rulers and O strong Kings," Uvayeth rushed, passing over the words as quickly as possible, "could this not be resolved tonight, all charges and agreements sealed? The favor Narnia is shown is clear for all to see. Only an ignorant ruler with no knowledge of Calormen's strength and army would reject such an offer. Of what need have you of council? The scroll is clear before you. Sign it at once!"

"Uvayeth!" Ikelken spoke sharply. "By the gods above, I charge you speak no more! Be silent! Be assured that never again will I drag you to council of king or common merchant!"

"Curse you for a cowardly Calormene! Think you I, nephew of the Tisroc himself (may he live forever) will listen to the son of a merchant? Your peasant blood shows in every softening word. There has never been more favor offered by Tisroc's (may he live forever) own hand!" He turned from his countryman to the Four. "At the peril of the gods do you refuse or parley. Sign the scroll and be done!"

"That we will not," Edmund said softly, but at his voice the room stilled, the Tarkaans frozen at the dark threat within it. "We are not yours to command, no matter how great your power in Calormen. Even your Tisroc himself may not command us; Aslan alone is our great leader, and after that the High King." Uveyath's eyes flashed to Peter, anger, and something else, written on his face. Edmund's gaze sharpened further. "Be wise in the eyes of all and let your betters speak of peace, if you would have it done." Edmund turned to Peter, ignoring the growing anger on Uvayeth's face. "Would the High King be pleased to adjourn for council?" Peter nodded, and the Four filed out the door, leaving their guests to be served with food and drink by the servants standing in the corridor. The hall had been filled with whispers when the Four came out, but the Narnians immediately offered a bow or curtsey and went in to serve the guests. The Four swept into a small, windowless room, with a plain tapestry hung over the wooden door to keep out sound.

"What bothers you, fair friends?" Peter asked quietly. "What have the Calormenes requested that causes such alarm in face and voice?"

"They have requested but little, brother of mine. Almost nothing." Edmund still had the scroll in his hand, and he raised it, offering it to Peter. "They but ask for free passage for unarmed ships in any of Narnia's waters, and for goods to be untaxed when they be sold on our shores." Peter frowned; this was nothing Narnia could not grant, and that easily. "They are Calormenes, born to bargain, with greed for gain, and yet this is all they ask? This is not what their hearts desire." Peter took the scroll, and Edmund began to pace back and forth in the small chamber. "What they do desire is hidden from my sight. I mistrust these requests they come bearing."

Susan spoke, her eyes thoughtful. "Fault not yourself for what you cannot see, my brother. Methinks your eyes be blind for this cause, that the Calormenes are not united in desire. Ikelken wishes for peace, even to the sacrificing of his dignity; hast noticed?" Edmund, who had stopped pacing and turned to listen, nodded. "But Uvayeth desires something else altogether. I like not his face when he looks on our brother."

"Or our sister," Edmund agreed, eyes flicking to Lucy before coming back to Peter. Peter nodded calmly; he had little fear of what Uvayeth could do to him. For Lucy's part, her hand was skilled with dagger and her heart fierce for what was right.

"What of the other three?" Peter asked quietly.

There was a brief pause. "The one that spoke last desires naught but the gain of Calormen, I would think," Lucy offered slowly. The other three nodded.

"Such are easy to treat with, for truly Calormen's good is to be at peace with sweet Narnia," Edmund said. "Lamash may even prove useful, to balance those who lean too far to haste or cheating. The other two, sweet sister?" he asked of Susan.

"They are but un-Narnian sheep, who follow where led like the quietest of charges," Susan said, though her eyes were troubled. "I remember many of Rabadash's followers being such."

"Then we leave little attention - though some, to be wary - to the Lords Aikaden and Igteroth," Peter decreed. He slumped, a little weary, against the wall, for the day had been a long one. "What is to be done with this offer from the Tisroc?"

"Put it to rest, till further chance is had to sound out the hearts of the three who are not as dumb as unspeaking animals," Edmund said, also leaning back against the wall. The two kings leaned their shoulders on each other, an unspoken promise that gave them both heart.

"And what ways would you test them, my brother?" the High King asked.

Edmund looked to Susan with a raised eyebrow. She thought for a moment before speaking. "I would give excuses to show them the different riches of Narnia, good consorts, and watch their eyes, to see what most lit them-be it arms of Dwarven skill, treasure of kings, land rich and green, or the bustle of the market."

"And when what they desire is revealed, then we speak on the subject of their heart, and wait for their heart to be revealed," Lucy finished, her head tilted to the side. Susan nodded, touching her arm with light fingers in thanks.

"And what be our excuse for the delay? Uvayeth, at least, will demand one, and that right loudly," Edmund said, grimacing. Peter shoved himself off the wall, standing straight.

"He has no power to command here, and I would have him know it. Our actions need no excuse to him, for having given no courtesy, he deserves none."

"And if the Tarkaan Ikelken asks?" Susan questioned gently.

"Then we tell them we seek Aslan's council on this, and we make such a statement true," Peter responded. "I have heard tales of their daughters seeking the council of their own foul gods before marriage*, or sometimes by their sons before war, and such a reason is beyond quarreling." Edmund's slowly growing smile lit his dark eyes, and Peter smiled back, looking at his sisters, who were also smiling in approval. The only thing stronger was the affirmation of Aslan, and that was still to be sought. "Shall we ask for a week to consider, fair friends?"

A week they asked, on returning to council. The Calormenes were standing and did not seem inclined to sit, so the Four announced their decision immediately. Uvayeth, standing sulkily at the back and scowling, looked up sharply at their words, but he said nothing. Peter wondered if Lamash had stepped on Uvayeth's foot to stop him speaking, as Susan or Lucy had sometimes done to him. But the pause after Peter spoke was heavy, and Ikelken's dark eyes were watching the Four hesitantly.

"Might I ask, O glorious and exalted ones, what in the scroll meets with the disapproval of such wise and judicious monarchs? If it be the outburst of the son of Tisroc (may he live forever), then the apologies of myself are extended towards each of you. Surely as those who are wise beyond your years, with the wisdom acquired over years of gentle reign and courteous visits, must not allow the actions of a beardless boy to disrupt the negotiations of nations?"

"Such an insult to the throne of Narnia we do not take lightly, Calormen Tarkaan, but neither would we let it stand in the way of peace. The terms are fair to us, and welcoming. We merely wish to ask the blessing and guidance of Aslan on this treaty, for we do not take it lightly." Ikelken's shoulders relaxed slightly; then he bowed. "If it please you," Peter continued, "We would show you more of Narnia within the week wherein We seek His will. Please stay as our guests, for the hospitality of Narnia is open to you." Ikelken bowed again, and Peter inclined his head. "Today has been filled with many of the duties of Kings and Queens, and we would retire. May your rest be sweet, and your dreams be of peace."

"May the - light of the stars shine on you," Ikelken temporised, catching himself mid-sentence.

After the Four were back in the hall, Peter offered Susan his arm. "Tomorrow morn, we divide our guests for testing, if it is to your liking?" he asked, partly over his shoulder so Lucy and Edmund could join as well.

"Uvayeth is mine," Edmund said grimly.

"Already Rabadash was yours; Uvayeth will be my challenge, my brother," Peter responded just a grimly, feeling a small flinch run through his sister at the recollection of Edmund's fight.

"A pity, for I had thought to see what I could make of him," Lucy sighed, then smiled at both her brothers, teasing them.

"A discussion for the morning, methinks," Susan remonstrated gently.

"As you wish, Gentle Queen," Peter acceded. "Lucy," he called back, recollecting one more thing from the very long day, "know you the name of a new Squirrel page, who clambers nimbly on walls and falls off them when spoken to?"

Lucy laughed, once again lightening the hearts of her siblings. "Yes, truly! Patterfeet he is named, and he comes from the Western Wood. I greeted him in the gardens, and he fell from the tree in his shock, only to arise unhurt, thank Aslan. But when I asked for his help, he flew faster and lighter than any page I have seen. 'Twas a marvelous thing." She paused, looking down the corridor where her own bedroom rested. "Methinks he will take well to life here after he realises how much dreams and duty mix to become joy, for those doing Aslan's will," she finished softly. "Sweet rest and peace be yours, my loved ones."

"Peace and rest," they chorused, watching her go. When she was safely within her chamber, they went to Susan's corridor, and bid her goodnight as well, again watching to make sure she was safe, a habit of their nights at home. Edmund was next, and he stopped Peter from going with a hand on his arm.

"Uvayeth has the temper of a youth, the arrogance of an untested Lion, and the sense of a frightened Rabbit. But for all that, my brother, he is dangerous. Walk warily, if he be yours to guide tomorrow."

"I will take your words to heart, brother of mine. Rest in Aslan's paws." Peter smiled, watching Edmund safe as well. But as he departed for his own chambers, his hands strayed nearer to the hilt of his sword, and he watched the shadows as he walked. He could not tell if his awakened suspicions were playing him tricks or if he was truly being watched that night, but for the first time in years, Cair Paravel no longer felt safe.

OOOOO

*At least the daughters of Tarkaans, according to The Horse and His Boy.

A/N: I've had a couple of comments asking when the story's action will pick up, and for any readers who are wondering, the negotiations will probably last for three or four more chapters, and then it goes more from politics to action.