Disclaimer: I don't own Narnia or any of the characters associated with it.

Chapter 4: Head Servant

"This is probably the best idea you have had in ages. I feel sorry for Peter – actually no, no I don't," Susan tells me before she takes a massive bite out of her chicken breast. Edmund and Lucy laugh while I just roll my eyes. Since Bree and I had such terrible sleeps last night, I suggested we should all go out for a picnic in Dancing Lawn to de-stress. Sadly, Peter had to stay back at the castle since he had a meeting with King Lune, but everyone else was able to come.

"I wish Prince Corin could've come to visit us too. I haven't seen him in a while," Bree says in between bites of her salad. I smile slightly.

"Prince Corin? Really? Brianna, you've got to pull yourself together and realise that there are so many better people than him in the world; for example, me. Find someone like me," Edmund says. I raise an eyebrow and glance over to him. He's too busy entertaining my son with an acorn to pay any attention to me though.

"You're not good looking though!" I kid you not, Edmund pouts at that one.

"Ask my lady friend that."

"Lady friend? I'm not certain, but I'm pretty sure a mop doesn't count as a lady friend," I say.

"Ha! You think you are so funny, don't you?" he spits back at me. I keep my eyebrow raised. "Okay, fine, I don't have a lady friend. Golly, you can't give me one minute, can you?" I chuckle.

"Speaking of men...Susan? Any on the horizon?" I ask, turning my attention away from my brother-in-law and over to my sister. She laughs.

"No way. I don't want to get married for a while yet. It's too much drama," she says as she throws me a mocking smile. She makes a point.

"It's not like no one's interested in you. If you wanted to you could," I tease. Susan has no interest in courting. I can't really blame her for it either.

"I'm not one to lie to you, Ash, so I will tell you that any advice you give me is not going to help. You were married by my age," she says as she plays with the food on her plate.

"Yes, I was, but you also constantly get letters from possible suitors, Susan, so the only one you have to blame is yourself." She chuckles.

"That's a good point, but if you think I ever would consider marrying that foul Prince Rabadash you are sorely mistaken." Prince Rabadash is a very - interesting - character from Tashbaan. He has taken quite the liking to Susan, but if I'm being honest to myself, I don't want him within a 100 kilometre radius of her. He makes all of us very uncomfortable.

"Oh don't worry, we won't let that happen," I laugh. She sighs with a smile before she looks away from me and instead tries to grab Anna as she walks past. Of course she is my daughter though so, naturally, she protests by pushing against Susan's arm. "She does not want to be held today. Trust me, I tried earlier," I say while turning back to ensure my son is still with Edmund. He has a habit of wandering off while I'm not looking and today is apparently no different. He can't have gotten too far. "I will be right back." It takes me a few minutes, but I do eventually find him tucked under one of Yerialds' legs. Thank Aslan Yerialds felt him or it could've ended very badly.

"And this is why we can't go out," I tell everyone as I come back to the picnic rug. Brent's cheeky smile says it all. He loves wandering away, which panics me to no avail. I feel like our family is being observed by someone or something. I don't feel comfortable with him being out of my sight.

"Well I give up on Annabella. She is not having anything to do with me today," Susan says as she lets her niece run free. Anna immediately goes over to Bree and sits down next to her before picking up pieces of lettuce and throwing them on the ground. At least she's entertained.

"What about you, Lu? Any potential suitors?" I ask, easily turning the attention away from a very absent-minded Susan. Lucy immediately blushes bright red. I can't help the laugh that escapes my lips. I guess I know the answer to that now. "What's his name?"

"Lord Damien of Archenland," she replies while looking down. Her cheeks are a dark shade of red.

"Don't be embarrassed! It's a perfectly normal thing to have boys you're interested in; especially at your age. Just please don't start courting till you're sixteen. I will be the one copping the earful about it every night otherwise." She laughs out loud.

"Noted. Peter will have to put up with it one day, though."

"That doesn't mean it has to be while his little sister is twelve." She smirks.

"You make a valid point, sister." We spend the rest of the afternoon swimming and exploring before deciding that it's probably time to head back to the castle. Upon arrival, we all head straight inside. I take a slow walk past the throne room once we get inside to check up on my husband. The stone flooring rings with each step I take, but there is no other noise. Maybe he's finished? I place my ear to the door whilst putting a finger to my lips, telling the guards to stay quiet.

"King Lune! We need to find out who they are and what they want! Not only is my country at stake, but so is my family!" I hear Peter bellow. I can't believe they're still in the meeting. They have been in there for at least five hours now which means I'm going to have to bear the full brunt of an extremely tired Peter later on. Great. Just how I want to spend my evening. My head pulls itself away from the door just as a light ring fills the air. It's not a familiar sound. What was that? I hear hooves on the ground from behind me and turn around in time to see Tamilla come to an abrupt halt. Her wavy, brown hair is full of tangles as she pants, trying to catch her breath. Wherever she's headed, she's obviously running late.

"Ash! Are you coming?" she inquires through pants.

"Coming where?"

"To the choosing of the new head servant of course!"

"Wait! That's today!" I exclaim. Tammy rolls her eyes at me before beginning her race back down the hallway.

"Yes! Now hurry up! We're already late!" she shouts out behind her. I quickly follow her down the main corridor and over to the staff lounge. All the servants are gathered, including the twenty-four brand new trainee servants. It's packed in other words. Malina and Kabella gesture me over to their seat so I somehow manage to squeeze my way through the hoards until I'm at the long lounge. I gesture for them to move aside a bit before plonking myself down between the faun and mermaid. Tammy sits down on the ground in front of me beside Emolise, Killara, Cabigail, and Henrietté. Mirasdean sits on the arm rest of our chair.

"So any idea who is going to get picked for Head Servant?" I whisper to my friends.

"Well if you were still a servant, I would've guessed you, Ash, but, since you're not, I wouldn't have a clue," Malina tells me honestly.

"I think you're in for a shot, Mal," Lara says.

"No, I think it will be Cabigail," Mirasdean cuts in.

"Henrietté, no doubt in my mind," Kabella says.

"Who do you think it will be, Ash?" Cabigail asks me.

"Well just looking at track records, I would assume Emolise since both her parents were in leadership." Em looks down at the ground as I say it and I can't help the frown that forms on my face. "Unless, of course, Em doesn't want it."

"I don't know if I'm ready for that much responsibility. I wish there was a way to pull out," she replies just as Oreius walks up to the front with Grassweed the Satyr. Obviously, they're the ones picking the Head Servant. Poor Em.

"Thank you, everybody, for being here on time – well most of you anyway." Oreius gives Tammy and I an all-knowing look. I chuckle slightly. "This won't take long, I promise," Oreius starts. Grassweed passes him some parchment before he begins to read it. "We need people to nominate some of our main staff for the position. The staff who are put up for nominations must have been here for a minimum of five years and know what is involved in the position of Head Servant. This is not something that is to be taken lightly. So if anybody who has worked here or is working here would like to give us some nominees that would be great." It goes quiet in an instant. Well if nobody else is going to...

"I nominate," I begin. I see Em's eyes look at me in fear. I know she can do it, but if she doesn't feel comfortable with it then I don't want to put her in an awkward position. "Malina." Emolise smiles at me in thanks before she breathes a sigh of relief.

"I'm sorry, Your Majesty, but you are unable to nominate someone," Grassweed says.

"Oreius said anyone who works here or has worked here in the past. I used to work here, therefore, I can put up a nominee." Grassweed frowns slightly before turning to Oreius for confirmation. Oreius takes a moment to re-read the parchment before shrugging at her.

"She's right, Grassweed. The Queen's vote must count. Okay Malina is nominated. Anybody else?"

"Gealinera."

"Henriette."

"Cabigail."

"Killara."

"Ferinah!"

"Tamilla."

"Ladies, slow down. I can't write that fast," Grassweed chuckles as she writes all the names down on the parchment with a smile.

"Are there any last-minute additions?" Everyone is silent again.

"Emolise." I look towards the very familiar voice only to see Peter leaning up against the stone door frame with his arms and legs crossed. He's looking intensely at Em and I can see her nerves kicking into gear.

"King Peter, you have never worked here, therefore you cannot nomi – " Grassweed starts before Peter cuts her off.

"I wasn't nominating. I am telling you. Emolise is our new Head Servant. Put away the other nominations."

"I'm sorry, Your Majesty, but there are certain legalities we mu-"

"Grassweed and Oreius, I respect your legalities, and I know you're following protocol, but I have not come in here to argue about it. I am the High King and you will do as I command. Emolise is our new Head Servant and that is final." Grassweed and Oreius both bow their heads in defeat. Emolise turns to me instantly. I can see in her eyes that she wants me to talk him out of this. I know this side of Peter well and am aware that there is nothing I can do to change his mind, but I suppose I should at least attempt to, even when I know it's doomed to fail. I stand up and clear my throat, all eyes turn to me instantly. Peter's posture changes almost immediately. I don't think he realised I was here. He straightens up, his eyes locking to mine with an intensity that could set a forest on fire.

"Peter, Emolise does not want to be Head Servant. She doesn't feel ready," I say. He reads my face for a minute, his fingers tapping against the stone door as he takes in what I said, before focusing his attention back onto Em.

"Sorry, Emolise, but my orders come from higher up than even me. It's Aslan's orders." His eyes flick to me for a moment again as realisation crosses my face. That explains a lot. He turns his attention to Oreius. "So Emolise is Head Servant and that's final." He walks away then leaving an absolutely distraught and panicked Emolise in his wake. All of us gather around her and give her a hug.

"Em, you'll be fine. I promise!" I say as I grab her shoulders forcing her to pain attention to me.

"Ash! I can't do this!"

"I will always be here for you if you need a hand. You're going to do an amazing job! Think of it this way, Em; Aslan, himself, has bestowed the honour of Head Servant upon you even if Peter was the one to break the news. He wouldn't put you in this position if he knew you couldn't handle it."

"But – can you at least try to talk your husband out of it?"

"If Aslan told him it was you then I don't think there's much I can do or say to change his mind."

"Emolise, you'll be fine," Oreius says as he comes to give her a hug. There's nothing better than a father's hug in my mind.

"What if I can't do it though?"

"We all believe in you, Em! You're going to make the best head servant ever!" Kabella exclaims as she hugs her.

"We know you can," I encourage. Her eyes lock with mine and I can see the pleading behind them.

"Can you please try and change it?" she asks me. I lock my jaw and sigh before I look down slightly and nod. What she's asking me to do is like asking me if I can stand in front of a pack of wolves and hand-feed them meat. This is not going to go well.

"I can't make any promises, but I will try." I hold my hand out to Grassweed who in turn hands me the parchment with all the other names on it. My eyes scan through the dozens of names. Surely he can pick someone else with all these other options available.

"Thank you, Ash!" I grip the parchment tightly in both hands before taking my leave. Peter changing his mind on this is going to take a miracle. It's not like this was even Peter's decision though. He was told from higher up. I doubt he's going to be very cooperative about it. I head over to the throne room, which is thankfully open now, and go inside before closing the heavy door as quietly as I can. Peter's head is buried in parchment. Not going to lie, I'm very worried about discussing this with him. If yesterday's rant is anything to go off, I must be mad. Emolise, you'd better understand the lengths I'm going through for you here! Hmm, now, how to bring up the subject.

"Peter, honey?" He looks up from his parchment for a split second before shaking his head and burying his face in it again.

"Not now, Ash. I have heaps to get done by tonight." Be persuasive.

"I will only be a minute, please?" I ask with a flutter of my lashes. The look he gives me is nothing short of disbelief.

"If this is about Emolise being head servant, the answer is no. Aslan has given me strict instructions and I am to obey them, nothing more, nothing less. Now, please, I'm trying to work." He looks back down again. Time to step it up, Ash. I put a hand on my hip before jutting out my hip and sauntering over to him. I take seat on his lap and cross my legs over each other, ignoring all the parchment around us. His gaze runs up my body before he raises an eyebrow at me. His hands go to my waist as he smirks.

"Please, Peter. I will do anything." He chuckles slightly and starts to lean in for a kiss. Our lips are just about to meet when I feel my bottom hit the tile flooring. What in Narnia... "Did you really just push me off you?"

"No amount of seduction is going to make me change my mind. Now go, Ash. I don't even want to see you till dinner time." I stand up, arms folded over my chest. Is he serious?

"You can be a real ass at times you know?" He laughs without looking up from his parchment.

"Yes, I do know actually. Now get away from me, wife. I'm not talking about this anymore."

"Bu-"

"Ah."

"I don-"

"I mean it." His blue eyes meet mine. "I'm not discussing this anymore with you." I throw the parchment with all the names on it on his lap in anger.

"Fine then, but just know they all hate you and so do I," I scream while storming out.

"Love you too."

"You are the most frustrating man in the world."

"Says the most stubborn woman in the world." I bash open the gold doors, scaring the guards outside of it, before storming over to the servants' quarters. I storm into the room, my nostrils flared. Every eye in the room turns to me expectantly. I take a deep breath in to try and calm myself, which, admittedly, proves to be rather unsuccessful, before stomping over to all my friends.

"I'm sorry, Emolise, but you're head servant because my husband is too proud to even consider changing it and that's the way it is." I storm back out, slamming the door behind me again before I hear the gentle sound of hooves clicking along the stone floor behind me. I sigh and close my eyes in defeat.

"I'm sorry, Emolise. I did try," I say gently as I come to a stop.

"No, I'm sorry. I should've accepted it gracefully. I didn't mean to cause a fight between you and Peter. That was not my intent."

"I wouldn't call it a fight – more a petty disagreement." I spin around to face her. Emolise is an open book. Her face shows her apology with one glance. "Honestly, it will be forgotten about within the next hour," I clarify.

"It doesn't mean I don't feel bad about it. I'm just scared. What if people see me the same way as they saw my mother? I don't want to be the most hated person in the world," she admits while looking down at her feet.

"Emolise, no one could ever hate you! You're the loveliest girl out of us all. Just relax." I go over to her and give her a massive hug immediately.

"Thanks, Ash. I suppose I'll just try and do it to the best of my ability. On a positive note, this means we can be leaders together." I laugh.

"For sure." She heads upstairs then, leaving me at the entrance to the castle by myself.

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