Peter stared out the window, watching the rain fall from the sky as the storm raged on around him. A flash of lightning lit the sky, illuminating the carriage that just pulled into the castle gates.

"Princess Evelyn and Princess Eilah has just arrived, your majesty." A faun had just entered the King's study, bowing as he entered. "Sir Eustace is already downstairs to greet them."

"Thank you, Myre." Peter heaved himself off his reading chair and followed the faun out into the hall.

The marriage arrangements had been made months before, when King Dorian reached out to King Peter in hopes to bring their two countries together by having him marry Princess Evelyn, the King's oldest daughter. Peter it felt like just days before.

Where had the time gone?

Peter felt almost annoyed that his quiet evening of reading by the fire was interrupted so soon. It was rare for him to get any peace and quiet, but he seized the opportunity whenever possible in order to keep his dark thoughts at bay. Alone by the fire, engrossed in a good book was when he felt most safe. Running the country, however, was a different story. It only reminded him of what could have been.

What should have been.

Back when Susan, Edmund and Lucy were by his side, ruling the country with him. The Golden Age, people called it.

It's been two years since that battle between Narnia and Delmer. Two years since he last saw his siblings alive. Alive. The word struck loudly in Peter's mind, like a deafening echo. Because he knew they never would be again, and neither would he. The only one left at his side now was Eustace. He's never taken on a lover, or found a partner since the Golden Age, so when Dorian reached out and offered to marry Peter to his eldest daughter, he felt he had nothing to lose. But the thought of having a wife and a family felt foreign to him whenever he gave any thought, which was rare.

He knew, as he made his way down the marble staircase towards the front doors, that he should feel something towards the idea of gaining a wife. Excitement. Thrill. Anticipation.

Anything.

But all he could feel was numbness, deep inside him, and he knew he couldn't care less about marrying anyone or doing anything other than curling up by the fire, isolating himself from everyone forever.

"There you are, Pete." Eustace called to him from the foyer, which was lined with staff and guards. "They should be here -"

Just as he spoke the front doors swung open and the faun standing outside announced the newcomers loudly.

"Princess Evelyn and Princess Eilah of Terebinthia!"

Peter straightened his posture as two women drenched from head to toe drenched in rain water entered the foyer, gracefully bowing to him and Eustace.

The first one stepped forward and kissed Peter gracefully on the hand. She had long bright hair pulled into braids, matching the red on her silk dress.

"Your Majesty, thank you for our hospitality. I am honoured to become your wife, and I hope in the weeks following I can become your friend." She stood up straight and smiled at him softly before gesturing to the girl standing beside her. "This is my younger sister, Eilah."

The girl bowed in return, and though her hair was wet, Peter could see that her hair was red like her sister's only lighter, and instead of green eyes she had piercing blue. Peter felt a sharp pang as he looked into her eyes. They reminded him of Lucy's.

"Pleasure," he muttered to the two of them, nodding curtly, before turning to the faun who had gotten him. "I am going to retreat to my study now, Myre. Call me down when dinner is served." And without another look behind him, Peter left the foyer. Away from the smiling staff and overly charming guests. Away from the girl with blue eyes.

"My future husband didn't seem too impressed by me," Eva grumbled, as she and her sister changed out of their soaking wet clothes in front of the newly lit fire in their bedroom. Months were spent preparing Eva to become the perfect wife, and Queen of Narnia, and for half a year she waited for this moment. She pictured King Peter embracing her with open arms, offering her a rose as a token of his affection and gratefulness of her arrival, just like in her romance novels.

"I'm sure he was just busy," Eilah told her sister, as she threw on her dry lavender dress, the one that always complimented her eyes. "He'll be far more attentive of you at dinner, of that I'm certain." She turned around, facing her open back to Eva, who gingerly tied her up.

"I don't know," Eva sighed, lacing up her sister. "Perhaps he finds me ugly."

Eilah couldn't help but laugh and shake her head. "You are anything but, dear sister. Use this." She picked up her favorite perfume and placed two squirts on her sister's neck. "This always makes the men swoon."

"I know it does," Eva smiled as she rolled her eyes at her sister. Most of the boys swooned at her, and Eva knew it wasn't just because of the perfume. Her sister, though three years younger, looked and acted much older, which helped her keep the men's attention. Not that Eilah asked for ir, of course. And Eva knew this was because of their father.

"There. Ready?"

Eilah and Eva both examined themselves in the tall mirrors surrounding the walls of the bedroom before feeling satisfied enough to go down to dinner.

While Eva wore an emerald green gown, Eilah wore her lavender gown. They both wore their long red hair down and had their lips painted red. Oftentimes growing up, people at court called them twins. They used to think it was funny, but now as they both got older they began to embrace their differences, both physically and personality wise.

Eva was bold when it came to dealing with people - annoying people - and didn't take anything from anyone. Eilah was more quiet and shy, preferring to keep the peace between everyone. Eva called it having no spine. Eilah called it being mature. But despite their differences, Eva and Eilah were inseparable. That was why when the marriage was first arranged, Eva insisted the union wouldn't take place unless Eilah came with her.

She knew she wouldn't be able to protect her sister if she was in Narnia, and couldn't bear the thought of leaving her there alone. Thankfully, King Peter was nice enough to allow Eilah to stay with them. Or perhaps he just simply didn't care. Perhaps as long as the arrangement was made, and he had a wife and heir to the throne it was all that mattered.

"Welcome, your highness." The faun bowed and led them to the beautifully lit dining table. The food smelt delicious and Eva could feel her stomach begin to growl as she was led to her seat. Eilah sat on the opposite side from her as they were offered wine and water.

"Where is King Peter?" Eva asked the faun pouring her wine.

"He should be arriving soon, ma'am. You may begin to eat."

Eva and Eilah helped themselves as Euatace entered the room, looking flustered. "My apologies for being so late." He said sheepishly. He pulled his chair up next to Eilah and smiled at the two of them. "Peter is drowning in paperwork."

Eva's heart sank and she swallowed down her wine hard. "He's not coming?"

Was this what her marriage with Peter would be like? Always absent? Never caring?

Just in that moment, however, Peter entered and Eva stood up to greet him. "Hello, sir." She bowed.

He only nodded to her and sat at the head of the table. "Wine, please?" He called the faun.

Eva could see Eilah staring at him, and knew she was thinking of their father. The drunk.

Eva pushed all thoughts of her out of her mind and focused on her food, keeping her face neutral.

"Did you get the brief done?" Eustace asked Peter as he filled his plate with steaming potatoes.

"Yes," Peter sighed as he was handed the bottle of wine. "But I doubt it would help any. Those dwarfs are damn stubborn."

Eilah cleared her throat timidly and looked over to Eustace and Peter. "What is happening with the dwarves?"

"Nothing you would understand." Peter answered curtly.

Eva looked over quickly, and seeing the look on her face, Eutace spoke quickly.

"What he means is...it's a long and boring issue really. There's two families of dwarves who share a chunk of land. But there's been a dispute, and now each family believes they should keep the land and the other should leave."

"What dispute?" Eva inquired. She knew that as future Queen she would have to deal with this sort of thing constantly.

"Doesn't matter, dwarves fight about everything. So I'm banning the youngest family. It's the best solution." Peter grumbled, chewing on steak.

"Well...hang on." Eva chimed in, looking over. "That sounds like more conflict. Not a solution. What's the dispute?"

"They both claim the other is using too much water from the water well they share. Not that it really makes sense... but that's how it started." Eustace answered, looking over to Eva.

"Well," Eilah said, pressing her napkin to her lips. "Why don't we just give them a second well?"

"Why would we do that when they have one?" Peter scoffed, drinking his wine.

Eva swallowed hard. She knew working alongside Peter would not be easy.

"To solve the conflict. It's better than kicking one family out. Because then what? Then that family has nowhere to go. And you're to blame for it. You'll only end up gaining an enemy." Eilah answered promptly.

Peter stared at her and set down his wine glass. His features softened and Eva could tell he was impressed by Eilah's suggestion. Eva smiled smugly, smirking over to her sister. Eilah was a people person, and knew how to handle tricky situations.

Euatace turned to Peter. "She does have a fair point, you know. We have the funds for a second will. Why not?'

The three of them watched in silent anticipation as Peter stared into space twirling his wine glass in his hands.

"Yes," he said softly, staring at Eilah. "Perhaps you're right."