Ehards29: Thanks for all you guys who reviewed! You know who you are, so go ahead and give yourselfs a pat on the back. This chapter is a bit longer; but its purpose is to set the scene for the rest of the story, so it has to be a bit longer. Sorry, but the OC is not in the story just yet, but after this chapter, things really take off, so just be patient!

Peter: What? I don't get to make out with someone yet?

Me: Ummm….out of character much?

Peter: Well you're taking forever!

Me: seethes with rage

Anywho…read and enjoy!

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The Chronicles of Narnia: The Sword of Andriah

By: Ehards29

Chapter Two: The Walled City

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The next few days following the Lady Alda incident were perfectly dreadful for Peter. He spent most of the days in his council room listening to arguments for and against reevaluating the Narnian tax code. When Peter was coronated High King only three years prior, he had never imagined that he would spend his time determining whether or not the Dwarfs were being overtaxed and if the Centaurs could afford an increase in their duties given the recent problems of the dry season, but as of late that was all he was doing. Taxes were something people in Spare Oom worried about, not Narnians. But funds for the recent war with the Giants in the North had left the royal treasury in a compromising position. So High King Peter had to forgo hunting and riding to listen to the creatures of Narnia bicker about how many Lions they paid to the Cair every year.

"You sir, are dreadfully out of line! The Fauns pull more than their fair share of tax burden; we simply will not tolerate paying a Lion more than we already do, period!"

The Centaur named Ruah snorted.

"Oh yes, it must be awful being a Faun! Dancing about with the Dryads while we Centaurs slave away in the fields all day producing the food you free-loaders eat on a daily basis!"

A Satyr piped up.

"I say we make the Dwarfs pay 30 Lions a year, instead of 25, they are the wealthiest among us!"

"Hogwash! The Satyrs are just as well off as us! We Dwarfs will not tolerate such a hike in our levy!"

And with that, the room of over thirty Narnians exploded into an enraged argument. More than a few choice words were thrown out. Peter's ears were ringing so loud he could barely hear himself think.

"Enough!" The mighty Centaur General and good friend of Peter's, Orieus bellowed, much to Peter's appreciation.

"Unless we can reach a compromise, none of us are leaving this room. So let us solve this matter like civilized creatures, and not dumb beasts."

And with that, the arguments began all over again.

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At the end of the day, Peter was both mentally and physically exhausted. The tax issue was eventually resolved, but it required an entire revamping of the Narnian tax code, something that is not pleasant in the least. Peter eyes began to close, just as the doors to the main hall were thrown open, followed by the laughing figures of his brother, sisters and Tumnus. Peter scowled.

"And just where have you been all day?" He enquired.

"We were at the beach Peter, Tumnus tried to make a sand version of Cair Paravel, but this huge wave swept it up before he had time to finish…" Lucy began.

"And were you going to tell me that you were at the beach. That while I was sitting for five hours listening to Juna the Dwarf talk about how he hates paying 25 Lions a year, and hear Unil the Centaur calling his a "sniffling little girl", you were building sand castles!"

Peter was not usually this harsh with his siblings, especially his baby sister, but the stress of the day had gotten to him.

"Peter, you're High King, these sorts of things are your responsibility." Edmund piped up.

"That doesn't mean I couldn't use some help doing them!" Peter resorted.

Susan who had been silent for most of the argument finally put in her two cents, and it wasn't pretty. She may be called "Queen Susan the Gentle", but at the moment, she felt anything but.

"How dare you talk to us like that Peter Pevensie! We have done nothing wrong, we only spent a nice day at the beach, oh, and last time I checked we don't need to ask your permission every time we take a breath! Whenever we ask to help you with something, it's always the same answer "I'm High King, I can handle it", but when we don't ask to help you with something, you get angry with us! What are we supposed to do!"

Susan's face was red with anger.

"I'm just asking that you think of me enough to tell me what you are doing and to offer me some assistance when I need it!" Peter resorted.

"We would be more than happy to help Peter Pevensie, our brother. But High King Peter seems to have everything under control and doesn't need our charity. Oh, and by the way, if you see our brother around, tell him that we miss him."

And with that Susan and his other siblings exited the hall, leaving Peter alone with Tumnus. But there was time to exchange a word between the two, as the doors of the main hall were violently swung open for the second time that day.

"A representative of his Highness, King Leon of Andrian has traveled many miles to seek an audience with His Majesty High King Peter the Magnificent." Lapold, the Royal Caller announced.

Peter exchanged a glance with Tumnus. Andrain? He had not been expecting a visit by a representative of Andrian, wherever it was, especially at this time at night.

"Send him in." Peter commanded.

In walked a young man, no older than Peter himself. He was dressed extravagantly with gold chains adorning his neck and vibrant colors dressing his chest. Behind him were two large guards flying a flag of green with a silver sword in the middle. Behind them still was a Narnian court councilor, a Satyr named Gio, a creature Peter never quite trusted, though he was loved by his sisters. The young man bowed before Peter, and announced:

"High King Peter the Magnificent, High King over all Kings of Narnia, Emperor of the Lone Islands, Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Lion, I have traveled many miles from the land of Andrian, to deliver this message to you from His Majesty King Leon to you my Lord. May it please you to receive it?"

Peter nodded, his head swimming, never had he been addressed with such pomp and circumstance.

The young man bowed, handing the letter to Gio, who handed it to Peter. The writing on the paper was surprisingly feminine for a king, but Peter paid it no mind. The letter looked important. It read:

Dearest High King Peter, High King over all Kings in Narnia, Emperor of the Lone Islands, ect.,

I am writing to you under the most dire of circumstances. I fear that the land of Andrian and all its people may be in jeopardy. The land of Siren to His Majesty's Far East may be readying an attack against our just island, an attack that the forces of Andrain's royal army will not fair well against. I am not a man to ask for undue charity from other nations; however, desperate times call for desperate measures. I am humbly asking for you to considering paying a visit to our island and consider signing a treaty in which you allowing us the protection of the Narnian army will be rewarded with a profitable trade agreement with Andrian's finest merchants. I am not being so forth coming as to ask for you to decide now, but simply for you to pay a visit to our fair island so that you and I may talk face to face. If it pleases your Royal Person, request that Kain, who I have sent the letter with, send me your response.

May the wind be at your back,

King Leon II, High King of Andrian

Peter was confused to say the least. He had never heard of Andrian, Siren, or King Leon. He turned to Kain.

"May I have a minute with my councils Sir?" Peter enquired.

"Of course My Lord."

Gio and Tumuns followed Peter in to the adjacent room.

"I am a bit confused; I fear I have not ever heard of Andrain." Peter confessed.

"There is good reason for that King Peter," Tunmus said, "From what I've read, the land of Andrain is one of the strangest nations in the entire world. The do not allow anyone to enter their capital city of Golden Gate, and they have an excellent way of doing just that, the entire city is surrounded by a wall 30 times my height! According to legend, there is a great treasure hidden with in the walls of Golden Gate, which the Andrains do not want to fall into the wrong hands, so they have isolated themselves from the outside world completely. I am quite surprised that they have traveled this far to ask for our assistance, they are a mighty proud people."

Gio spoke up.

"Sire, I do not believe that the Andrians are to be trusted, they are far too secretive. We have problems at home that need to be addressed. Leave the pompous Andrians to deal with their problems themselves."

"Oh don't be so cynical Gio, I believe they are to be trusted, they asked for our help, King Peter should at least hear them out, besides, the more friends we have, the better, especially considering our current situation with Calormen" Tumnus countered.

Peter pondered both arguments. True, the Andrians sounded mighty strange, but he was curious to say the least. Besides, he could use a good vacation, and he wasn't committing to anything yet, he was just going met with the king.

How wrong he was.

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High King Peter assembled the crew of the Glorious Sun, a gift from King Lune, the next day for their trip. He bid Edmund and Lucy goodbye, claiming their big brother would be back to normal after the trip. Susan however was still angry, and did not even show up to see her brother off, must to Peter's disappointment.

"Don't worry about her Peter; she'll be better when you get home." Lucy comforted.

Peter smiled and boarded the ship with Tumuns, who had volunteered to come along, waving to those who had come to see him and his crew off.

"Safe journey brother!" Edmund shouted.

And with that, High King Peter and his crew set sail for Andrian, King Leon, and a grand adventure.

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Ehards29: Wow, that was long. Next chapter Peter may meet King Leon's daughter, and Peter may consider staying a bit longer in Andrian. So if you want to see if said things happen, please as to review!

Edmund: To see if these things happen? I'm pretty sure you just told the readers outright that they do.

Me: Oh, cry about it. My story, my ending author's note.

Edmund: Scowls