Chapter 3

When Lucy reached the balcony, she stepped back involuntarily as Susan propped Peter up against the wall. "What has gotten into you?" she demanded.

"Textiles," Peter grinned.

An angry groan burst from Susan, and she slapped Peter so hard that his head jerked to the side. "Stop it, you bally idiot!" she barked.

"Why are you hitting me?" Peter snapped defensively, unsteadily placing his hand on his stinging face.

"Because you need it." Susan wheeled about and faced Lucy. "What's going on?"

"What are you talking about?" Lucy asked sweetly.

Susan's eyes blazed. "Don't play innocent with me, Lucy, you're behind this somehow; either you or Edmund. Now out with it!"

"I don't know what's going on," Lucy persisted.

"Oh, get off her back, Susan," Peter slurred. Susan glared straight at his face, but unfortunately, Peter sneezed.

"Augh!" Susan stepped back and wiped her face. "PETER! What in the--why does your breath smell like wine?"

"What?"

"Your breath smells like wine," Susan repeated. She placed her hands on her hips. "Why?"

"Wait a minute," Peter protested, "I didn't drink any, I swear!"

Susan whirled on her heel and marched back into the dining hall. When she returned, her face was quite red. "Peter, you were drinking wine and it was spoiled, too!"

"I was?"

"If you didn't know, then I guess I forgive you; but for pity's sake, couldn't you smell it?"

"No, I can't smell anything," Peter defended himself. Suddenly he wrapped his arms around his stomach and moaned, "Oh, good God--I think I'm--"

"You think what?" Susan asked. Her answer was Peter leaning over the balustrade and retching. Lucy watched him and suddenly felt quite sorry for what she'd done.

"Ohhhhh," Susan groaned. "How did he get wine instead of cider? And of course, he would catch cold right before someone gives him stupid spolied wine. I'll have to speak to Finola about this." She began to retreat toward the dining hall.

"It was my fault," Lucy cried out quickly, reaching out and grabbing Susan's elbow. "I was mad at him for not letting me have the hall for my spring party." She lowered her blue eyes guiltily. "I'm sorry, Susan."

Susan, after a long pause, folded her arms across her chest and spoke sternly. "Lucy, I'm glad you told the truth, and I'm glad you're sorry, but--" With an exasperated roll of her eyes, she let her arms fall to her side. "--but in this case, being sorry isn't enough. You've gotten Peter sick, you've muffed this banquet that I worked so hard to arrange, you've outraged the Lone Islanders. You've embarrassed the whole Narnian court and I'm sorry for it."

Lucy's eyes filled with tears and she bit her lower lip, and Susan softened. "Maybe it isn't as bad as all that. Or at least it won't be when this whole stupid night is yesterday's news." She sighed. "But it won't be yesterday's news until--"

"Until I make it right," Lucy finished quietly.

Governor Dalmas and his courtiers were rather irritated by the time Lucy re-entered the dining hall from the balcony. Lucy stood at the table in view of everyone, glanced at all their curious, annoyed faces, took a deep breath, and spoke.

"Friends, Governor--King Peter is indisposed. His Majesty requests that the day after tomorrow you have luncheon with us, so you may more properly discuss the eco--ecomonmi--emoconical--"

"Economical," Edmund, who was still in his hiding place, whispered loudly.

"I'm terribly sorry--economical history of your state. And now, I Queen Lucy, have a confession to make. This delay in your plans is all my doing. I was angry at my royal brother, and have been the cause of His Majesty's embarrassment and illness. I cry you all mercy for my foolishness," Lucy finished, with a sincerely repentant face.

Governor Dalmas stood up baggily, a smile on his chunky face. "You have our mercy, I'm sure, m'lady; and of course I accept His Majesty's invitation to luncheon in two days."

"Thank you, Governor," Lucy replied with a curtsey, relief sweeping happily through her brain. "And now do allow me to make amends by sending another round of wine."

Edmund slapped hisforehead with his hand.

And now the Governor laughed. "Nay, m'lady, I think we've had quite enough drink for one night!"

A monstrous hangover kept Peter in his room all the next day.

"See why hates wine so much?" Susan observed dryly to Lucy.

The following morning, Lucy crept into Peter's apartments. A faun attendant waiting in the receiving room, on noticing Lucy, bowed low to her. "Good morning, m'lady."

"Lindus," Lucy replied as she curtsied. "I want to talk to Peter. Will you please ask if he's seeing anyone?"

"His Majesty hasn't seen anyone since yesterday, m'lady, but I'll check." With another bow, Lindus knocked on the door to Peter's room and then entered.

Lucy sat down on the marble floor and stared absentmindedly at the wood ceiling's intricate, hypnotising carvings of Celtic-style knots. Susan had comissioned those carvings for all her siblings' apartments, despite vigorous protests from Edmund. Lucy thought they were perfectly beautiful.

As Lindus came back into the receiving room, Lucy was still gazing at the carved ceiling. "King Peter will see you now, m'lady," Lindus announced, and he ducked out of the apartments, but Lucy barely heard.

"Nice ceiling, eh?" Peter's voice jarred her from her daydreams of the ceiling, and she glanced at him as he entered. Except for his tunic, which he carried in his hand, he was dressed for his audience with the Governor. His face showed no apparent happiness at Lucy's visit.

"Peter, let me explain," Lucy began urgently, standing up.

Susan found Edmund standing outside Peter's reception room, ear smashed against the closed door.

"What are you doing?"

"I wanna hear what Pete has to say to Lu, now shhhh!" Edmund hissed, straining his ears.

Susan put her hands on her hips. "You had something to do with this, didn't you, Ed?"

"Me!" Edmund feigned shock as he turned to face Susan. "What would I have to do with it?"

"I happen to know that you know how to pronounce 'economical'," Susan smirked.

Edmund stared at her for a moment, and finally shrugged guiltily. "Yeah, I guess I helped a little."

Susan pressed her lips together tightly.

"But I'm really really sorry and I'll never let it happen again!" Edmund added hastily.

"Good, then you don't need to worry yourself about it anymore," Susan replied, and with that, she dragged Edmund away from the door.

"But why did you do it?" Peter demanded of Lucy again, pulling his tunic over his head.

Lucy, sitting in a chair nearby, shook her head. "I wanted to get back at you for not letting me have a spring party in the lower dining hall. And I knew you wouldn't realize it was wine, becuase of your cold."

Peter rolled his eyes and shook his head.

"I really am sorry, Peter. Really. Will you forgive me? Pleeease?" As she had a few days ago, she put on her biggest, cute blue eyes.

Peter sighed and offered a faint smile. "All right. We'll make it pax."

"Thank you, Peter," Lucy said humbly, relieved. "Well, I'd better go and help Susan and Finola with lunch." She stood up.

"Can I trust you with that?" Peter asked slyly, exiting his apartments.

Lucy laughed in exasperation and followed him. "I'll take my chances."