Disclaimer: I don't own Narnia, only my OC's and plot.

Hey readers! Welcome back to a new chapter! Let's find out what's happened to Bree shall we? ;)

We scurry over and take a quick peek inside, but come up short. She's not in there. We look at each other worriedly before leaving the dining hall and ripping through the hallways on the bottom floor. Brianna is nowhere to be found.

Chapter 7: Black Magic

"We need to find her. What if she's in trouble?" I say as we meet together at a random set of doors. I'm worried about the wolf. What if it finds her alone and hurts her? We can't let that happen!

"Is everything alright, Your Majesties?" Oreius asks from his post at the door, obviously over-hearing our conversation. I jump slightly. I hadn't even noticed him there.

"Yes, everything is fine," Peter says, as he gives me the slightest nod of his head. I don't know who he's trying to convince right now – me or Oreius! He turns back to face the centaur. "Have you seen Bree at all?" he inquires trying to keep himself calm although I can tell that his voice is laced with worry and a tad bit of anger. Oreius looks between us, concern written all over his face.

"She ran past not too long ago. She seemed to be in a hurry. I tried to talk to her, but she was gone before I could even get a word out," he explains.

"Thank you for the information," Peter responds. We both calmly turn ourselves away before we run down the hallway, arriving at the front door not too long after.

"Brianna?" Peter calls out. Nothing. I put my head in my hands in frustration. If anything happens to her, I will never forgive myself. I hear footsteps walking up behind me before I hear the soft voice ring out.

"I saw Bree go upstairs a few minutes ago," Malina tips off as she walks by with a basket full of towels and sheets. I straighten up in an instant, my brain traveling a million times a minute. At least she hasn't run outside. Maybe she's just gone to her room? She is pretty angry at us for prying.

"Thanks, Mal," I say as we begin to run upstairs. We reach the first corridor in record time. I don't think she'd be here.

"None of our family are in their rooms. They're all down stairs eating," Pete says.

"We'll check our room." We go up the next few levels before reaching the blocked-off corridor.

"No, I didn't tell them." Brianna's voice, muffled, but still clear. I stop Pete with my hand before looking over at the hallway. She wouldn't be in there, surely. A giggle.

"She wouldn't, you know, go into Bella's old room, would she?" Peter suggests. She better not have.

"Surely not. Brianna may be a pain sometimes, but she doesn't disobey us." Another giggle. Why, Aslan? "We have to go in there, don't we?"

"I'm afraid so. Follow me." I stand beside him instead.

"I don't want something jumping at me." He smirks slightly at my worrying tone before grabbing my hand and pulling me over the rope we had placed at the entrance to the corridor. No torches shine here anymore. The only light we have is the light coming straight from the window at the end. Another giggle. Only that came from my left? "Peter, she's not in Bella's room, she's in your old room."

"Why would she be in there?" Peter takes the lead immediately and slowly pushes open his old bedroom door. Everything inside was taken out a little while ago. We have so many other spare rooms we didn't see a point to having extra cleaning space, so we commanded for the room to be emptied which makes it even more confusing as to why Brianna would be in here. Once the door is fully open, we step in. Brianna is in the middle of the room, surrounded by five rats, a fox, a squirrel, and a hare. I don't recognise any of them. How did they even get in here without people noticing?

"I'm sorry to ruin the little party, but what is going on here?" All the animals freeze at once. Brianna, who had her back to us, now faces us; her face deathly pale.

"We mean no harm to Her Highness, Your Majesties. We have simply been helping her with her history lessons," the fox says slyly with a whoosh of his tail.

"That's our responsibility; not yours," Peter replies, his hand has left mine and now lies on his sword hilt.

"Your Royal Majesties, please believe us! We haven't been doing anything wrong!" one of the rats reply.

"Why all the secrecy, then? You could've spoken to us about it all. We would've understood, in fact, we would've appreciated the help, but you've abused our trust. We don't even know who any of you are!" I say walking further into the room. I grab Bree by the shoulders, forcing her to her feet. She turns to face me; a pleading look in her eyes. I take a glance over her head. The books in front of her are certainly not history books. Sorcery? Black magic. "Why are you teaching our daughter about black magic?"

"Well, it lies within the foundations of our countries history," the fox says, standing up.

"History? Rubbish! Get up all of you and step away from those books," Peter commands whilst drawing his sword.

"Father, no! This is all my fault. I asked them to help me!"

"Help you with what? Summoning the dead? Wreaking havoc? In MY old room!" Peter's voice has risen, almost into a shout. Black magic...

"You're trying to get rid of the nightmares using black magic," I whisper so quietly I'm amazed that anyone even heard of it. The look of guilt on my daughter's face is undeniable.

"Almost. I think our family is cursed."

"Brianna, that is not your decision to make," I say, stepping away from her, my voice trembling.

"I don't want the nightmares anymore and since I only just started to get them when I arrived, I think it might be a curse on our family."

"Then you talk to us about it. Black magic is not something to mess around with. And the fact that you've gone out and purposely asked creatures to help you to lift a curse that isn't even over our family is crazy dangerous!"

"I just want to help."

"Brianna, if something went wrong, you could bring a curse upon us. We have way too much stuff going on for you to be secretly practising the arcane arts." Her face drops.

"You don't know what it's like to have nightmares every night," she murmurs. I get down on my knees and turn her body so she's facing me before forcing her chin in my direction.

"Yes, I do. I get them too remember," I tell her defeated, "They make seem like a curse, but there's usually prophecy of some sort twisted into them. You need to talk to me. That's why I'm here as your mother, to watch out for you." A few tears roll down her cheeks at my words. I take her straight into my arms.

"I'm sorry," she murmurs. I rub her back a few times before kissing her head.

"I know you are."

"As for all of you, creatures," Peter intercedes, his anger pouring out like a torrent, "I never want to see any of you in my castle again! No one practices black magic within the confines of this castle! No one! Get out of here now and never return." They all stand to their feet looking very guilty indeed.

"No, daddy!" Bree pushes out of my arms, immediately running over to Peter. "They're my friends!" she pleads as she grabs onto his leg.

"I'm sorry, Brianna, but we can't tolerate creatures who are practising black magic. They're a danger to us all," he explains.

"His Majesty has every right to be mad at us, Your Highness. I do hope that someday he may forgive us," the fox says with a gaze to Peter before waltzing out of the room. All the rest murmur their agreements before exiting the room after the fox. Peter follows them out, obviously making sure they're actually leaving. I take a chance to look around. I can't help but smile. It brings back so many memories.

"Mummy?" I feel Bree's hand rest in mine after a moment. "What are you looking at?"

"Oh, nothing. Just thinking back to when your father and I just started to court. I used to sneak in here, pretending I was working, but spend time cuddling up to him instead. Don't follow my example in that case. It was a secret relationship don't forget, but anyway, enough of that." I pick up the books off the dusty ground before leading Bree back outside the room. "I don't want you in any of the rooms here ever again, Bree. Have I made myself clear?"

"Yes, mother."

"Good, now, come downstairs and have something to eat before lessons this afternoon."

"Are you coming to bed, my love?" Peter asks a second after I hear the door open. I'm sitting on Brianna's bed stroking her hair back. Her face is contorted, frown lines deep in her forehead. Maybe we should've let her try to lift whatever it is she's got. Don't be insane, Ashley, it's obvious it's important. She wouldn't be able to lift it even if she tried. I really don't like that she's having nightmares every night, but there is honestly nothing we can do about it.

"I'll just wait for this nightmare to finish." Instead of a reply I can hear the soft pads of his feet walk over to us. The bed shifts slightly with his weight as he sits on the end and starts to stroke my knee.

"There's nothing you can do." I look at his face. He looks extremely tired.

"I know, but she's probably going to wake up. She always does." As if on cue, Bree startles awake, her body drenched in sweat. I pull her straight into my arms. Peter's hand reaches out to stroke back her hair as she cries into my shoulder. I rock her back and forth. "You're okay, Bree. It was only a dream." She shakes her head.

"No, it was scary. It felt too real." I hold her tighter to me. "Daddy, can you cuddle me?" Peter smiles slightly at the question and opens his arms as a response. No matter how tired he is, he'll always give his little girl what she needs most and of course a mother's hug is never the same as a father's. She climbs into his lap and nestles her head into the crook of his neck.

"Do you think you could tell us what happened in your dream, Bree?" She leans back slightly and wipes away her tears with the back of her hand.

"I was in the woods, skipping along joyfully, when I heard this howl. Just like every other night. Of course I ran, but, as I was running, I came across a lady -"

"Is there usually a lady in your dreams?"

"No, I've only ever had one nightmare with her in it before and that was when I first came to the castle, but anyway, this lady was telling me about how she could help me from the scary wolf. I hid behind her, just as the wolf creature appeared. She told it to calm down and it did straight away. I didn't trust the lady, so I took a few steps backwards, but as I did, she turned around and her face looked just like one of them. That's when I woke up."

"Sounds like she could be the instigator of these Black Subjours," Peter comments while slowly rubbing small circles on her back.

"If it's a prophecy, quite likely. We'll keep an eye out for anything suspicious."

"Brianna, you're perfectly safe, sweetheart. Are you going to be okay to go back to sleep?" She nods slightly. "Good girl." He kisses her forehead before laying her back in bed and tucking her in. "Would you feel better if there was a guard outside your door maybe?" She shakes her head.

"I will be okay, daddy. Thank you."

"You're welcome. I love you." He kisses her head again before standing next to the bed.

"I love you too, darling. We'll see you in the morning," I say.

"Okay. I love you both, too." I kiss her forehead before Peter offers me his hand. I accept it gracefully before standing up and walking out with him. I go to the bath chamber quickly to wash my face before heading back into our room. Peter's already in bed. His elbow on the bed while his head is propped on his hand, watching me get undressed. His eyes skim over my body with a sly smile, but his eyes are distant. It's not hard to notice his distraction.

"Mr. Pevensie, I sure hope you're not already bored of me after only two years of marriage," I tease as I walk over to him. He moves over slightly to make room for me with a chuckle.

"Not at all," he ensures as I jump into bed next to him. I roll onto my left side and prop myself up like him before I raise an eyebrow.

"Are you sure?"

"Positive."

"Then what is on your mind because you're extremely distracted tonight," I ask as I push him onto his back. I shuffle closer to him before I wrap my arms around his neck and put my forehead to his.

"When was the last time we made love?" I move my face away from his slightly so I can look properly in his eyes.

"A few nights ago. Why?"

"Because," he switches us now, my back to the bed while his hands are in my hair with his body hovering over mine, "it feels like it has been ages. I miss you." His lips fall to mine passionately. One of his hands falls to my waist while the other one threads its way through my hair, pulling me closer to him. If there's something my husband does well it's kissing. His tongue pries my lips open before its exploring my mouth. I'm almost drawn in, but wait a moment. Regrettably, I push him away with all my might. His lips detach from mine, although his hand stays latched onto the skin at my waist which is still tingling from his touch. "What's wrong? Don't you want me to have sex with you?"

"Oh no, I do, but before we get any further you're going to tell me exactly what's wrong," I say with a smirk and a finger pointing at his chest.

"Well nothing at all, I just want to enjoy a night with my beautiful wife," he replies before his lips latch themselves onto my neck. Enjoy a night with my beautiful wife? What is he trying to pull? I grab his hair and pull him away from neck – again, a very difficult choice – before I force him to look me in the eyes. His face is charmed with a cheeky grin, his eyes smirking down at me.

"Stop trying to distract me with sex and tell me what is wrong. I'm not stupid, there is something going on." His smile falters as he realises I'm not giving in before he sighs.

"The spies have gone missing." I knew it. His lips immediately latch onto my neck: distraction again.

"When?"

"Yesterday night. We had been keeping a track of them, but they suddenly went missing somewhere in the forest at Lantern Waste," he says as he rests himself above me, propped on both elbows.

"So you did lie to me this morning."

"I didn't lie to you."

"Yes, you did. I asked you if you'd tell me if something happened to them and you replied with sure. You already knew they were missing when I asked you that, therefore, you lied to me, about lying to me. Why is everyone in this family lying to me today?" He looks down before sighing deeply.

"I know. I'm sorry; I just didn't want to be putting more strain on you. I also didn't want other people to find out. I know how stressed out you've been lately, the last thing you needed to know was that our best spies have gone missing. You will promise me right now that you won't worry about this at all. I've taken it on myself along with Edmund. We'll find them and fix this whole mess." He puts his forehead to mine again, his amazing scent overtaking my senses. "Promise me?" I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss his lips gently.

"I promise you, Peter Pevensie. I won't take this upon myself."

"Thank you. That's all I needed to know," he replies before his lips dance with mine again in passion filled euphoria. I smile in spite of myself. Men.

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Until next week! :)

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