Disclaimer: I own nothing except my own characters and plots. The original universe and everything in it belong to C. S. Lewis. All photos used of film characters belong to Walt Disney Pictures. The content I have written is fanfiction and its only purpose is to inspire creativity and to further immerse oneself in the universe C. S. Lewis has created.

"Some journeys take us far from home. Some adventures lead us to our destiny."

- C.S. Lewis, "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" (1950)

Chapter 7 – The High King and his Lady – July – September 1004 – Narnia

You would think that because their first kiss was witnessed by so many – an embarrassed Edmund, a giggling Susan, a mischievous Lucy and a beaming Mr. Tumnus – Peter and Pippa would have addressed their feelings towards one another swiftly, but alas you would be wrong. It certainly did not mean those feelings were not present, and their relationship did change, there is no question about that – it just took some time to develop beyond stuttering conversations and fleeting glances. Two and a half years to be exact.

They still struggled to find time to be alone beyond emergency council meetings as the Giants of Ettinsmoor had begun their descend from the mountains, and now regularly crossed the border to wreak havoc. Allies of the Kings and Queens were reluctant to aid them in assembling an army, and the wild mountains made a treacherous battleground few seasoned warriors wished to fight upon. When Peter led raids with Oreius and his men, Pippa paced the halls of Cair Paravel, anxiously awaiting his safe return.

And it wasn't as if there were no other distractions beyond the giants attacks; there were beautiful ladies in silk gowns with innocent looks and sweet kisses, and noble lords who danced until they were breathless and spoke affectionate words as if they were poets longing for a new muse. But when the night ended, and the lords and ladies bid them goodnight, Peter and Pippa would meet in the library and enjoy the sunrise whilst secretly knowing within their hearts that nothing felt safer or more right.

When morning came, they were dutiful once more. A king and a trusted advisor tasked with ruling a country justly and obligated to serve their subjects' wishes and needs. At supper they were a family. Gathered around the table with Susan, Edmund and Lucy, laughing and acting playful. No one wore crowns on their heads or heavy responsibilities on their shoulders during these private meals. There were no one to pass judgement or to ask favours of the sovereigns. They were completely themselves; childish and loving, humorous and kind.

By the time evening were upon them they were occupied by their distractions again. Political and strategic conversations, flirtatious dancing and drinking strong wine or mulled ale as they met with wordsmiths and temptresses. But as always, before dawn, they were Peter and Pippa. Just a young man and woman with no titles or lands, no other agenda but simply a desire to explore the feelings within their hearts and souls. And for a time, these hours spent together would be enough.

As time passed, and the Pevensies were occupied with the threat from Ettinsmoor, Pippa found herself enjoying the success that came of her treaty with Archenland. She had nearly three years earlier struck a bargain with the enigmatic lord Talon in which she ensured him a seat on the privy council and he, in return, ensured the safety of all Narnian creatures were they to settle in Archenland. Lord Talon's presence in Narnia turned him into a peculiar ally and friend to Pippa. He was a passionate man; always in favour of military intervention before the more peaceful options, and his interest always lay in the expansion of the Narnian kingdom, particularly Telmar and other isles across the sea were of great interest to him. Peter did not care for him and argued often with Pippa about his usefulness in the privy council.

Many things had happened in Archenland as well throughout these past years. King Lune's wife Queen Selene had given birth to twin boys the following spring, but sadly passed away shortly after due to a complicated and much too early birth. King Lune spent months grieving her, and his only comfort was his two fair-haired little sons. Tragedy soon struck the King again as the eldest twin had been kidnapped during a state visit to Narnia. The Pevensies did everything in their power to aid Archenland in their search of the lost prince, but all attempts of finding the young prince proved fruitless. Their neighbouring countries grew restless as King Lune raided the great cities of Calormen in search of his son, and lord Talon did nothing but stoke the fire as he urged the Narnians to support his countrymen.

All of this and more was on Pippa's mind as she walked through the little village west of Cair Paravel. She had been banished from the castle for the day by Lucy, as the young Queen prepared the castle for Pippa's upcoming birthday celebration that was to be held this summer night. She woke early in the morning, ate a quiet breakfast by herself and then joined lord Talon for a midday ride through the fords of Beruna before she came to this little town to wait for her friends to summon her back to Cair Paravel. All in all, she thought as she roamed the charming village, what a tedious way to spend most of the day on her birthday!

"Your majesty, a word if I may?" Mr. Tumnus called for Peter as he entered the High King's study.

Peter looked up from the paper he had been reading from behind his large wooden desk and ushered the faun to take a seat.

"Of course, my dear friend. Sit, please."

Mr. Tumnus sat down gingerly and waited as Peter finished reading the scroll in his hand. Mr. Tumnus had looked after the young Kings and Queens since they first ascended their thrones. They were older now; wiser and more capable of ruling justly, but he still felt responsible for them almost in a fatherly way. The faun knew of the High King and lady Philippa's growing relationship, and he had watched them awkwardly walk the line between friendship and lovers. More than once these past four years he witnessed how the nature of their developing feelings for one another turned into quarrels which in turn affected their duties as regent and advisor. Mr. Tumnus felt it was his heavy duty to advise High King Peter to tread carefully this celebratory evening as their country was in a delicate state at the moment.

"Permission to speak freely, my liege?" The faun asked cautiously.

"Of course." Peter answered. "Although, I have known you long enough now to know you'll speak your mind anyway, Mr. Tumnus." He added with a humorous glint in his eyes.

Mr. Tumnus grinned briefly. "As you know, Narnia's diplomatic situation at the moment is delicate-" He began to speak, before Peter interrupted him with a sigh.

"Yes, yes, I know." Peter showed Mr. Tumnus the scroll he had been reading. "This is one of the letters from Princess Cirina's kingdom. I am urged by her father to spare no expenses during her visit with us."

"No one expects you to marry her, my king, but I strongly advise you to make sure she feels especially taken care of as our ambassadors work out a deal with her father. We need his men for our army against the Giants of Ettinsmoor."

"I know." Peter murmured again. Princess Cirina had been staying with them for almost three weeks, and while she was pleasant enough, she was also forward in her expectations of a romantic sort of relationship with him.

Cirina was beautiful, kind and polite, but unfortunately for her, his heart sought another. It was not before they had been separated for four long months, he realized Pippa had captured his heart. His mind and body longed for her to know of his true feelings, but caution against thrusting his life into the hands of someone else, kept him at bay. That, and no small amount of jealousy as he thought another man also fought for her attention. He was not blind to her affection towards the noble lord Talon from Archenland, and just this morning he had seen them gallop through the gates together for yet another private excursion. Peter knew his time these last weeks had been devoted to Princess Cirina, but that did not mean his feelings for Pippa subsided. He was shaken from his reveries as Mr. Tumnus spoke again.

"All I wish to convey to you, my king, is that you put your personal feelings aside to do what's best for Narnia."

Mr. Tumnus was no fool, Peter knew this. His advice, the same as Susan's come to think of it, was to hold off on confessing his feelings for Pippa until the deal with Princess Cirina's kingdom was secured. But a worried knot in his stomach urged Peter to do the opposite, and he feared that if he were to wait any longer someone else might take his place and ruin his chances with Pippa.

The summer's night was almost unbearably hot, were it not for the cool breeze of the ocean below Cair Paravel. Music echoed through the halls and the lit lanterns cast golden shadows across the marbled floors. There was plenty of food and drink; many of which were the birthday girl's favourites. Among them were honey-sweetened apricots, tender lamb-stew and the biggest chocolate cake Pippa had ever seen, adorned with twenty lit candles and juicy, red strawberries. Lucy truly had outdone herself this time, Pippa thought as she gleefully danced around in circles with the young Queen, her gown swishing around her ankles when they twirled gracefully in tune with the Narnian hymn.

The Narnians cheered loudly as Susan and Edmund joined them in their dance; the clapping of hands and feet drummed like thunder, almost blocking out the sound of the fiddles, harps and flutes playing the upbeat melody. Peter would have joined in too no doubt if he were not so busy whispering into Princess Cirina's bejewelled ear. Pippa unwillingly soured and excused herself from the dancefloor with an elegant curtsy – one of the many things she finally mastered decently.

She longed to sit down, but peace was not to be had for the birthday girl as well-wishers and gift-bringers swarmed her the minute she stepped away from the dancing crowds. When Pippa finally managed to tear herself away from her insistent guests, her eyes searched the room for the High King. Her heart sank as she caught sight of him and the foreign princess merrily gliding across the floors in an intimate dance. For weeks he had been prancing around with Princess Cirina on his arm, and if she had a just a tiny bit more courage, she probably would have stopped pining for him and actually done something about it. Pippa longed for solitude in the library, and was just about to make an escape, when a black-haired man clothed in shimmering red robes appeared by her side.

"Happy birthday, lady Philippa." Lord Talon declared heartily and bent down to place a kiss on her knuckles. Under different circumstances, Pippa would have blushed, but she was too focused on Peter and his dance partner to notice his lips lingering on her fingers a little as he kissed them.

"Uh, yes, thank you, lord Talon." Pippa turned towards him with a smile playing on her lips. "Perhaps you would honour the birthday girl with a dance?" She asked boldly. If Peter were too busy for her, she could certainly find pleasure in dancing with another man.

Lord Talon took her by the arm and led her back toward the dancing masses. "It would be my pleasure."

Some say the trick to enjoying a dance is to pick a partner who knows what they're doing. Lord Talon proved himself an able dance partner indeed as he skilfully swung her around and led her through an intricate waltz. Hours passed, and Pippa spent most of them dancing with lord Talon, Mr. Tumnus, Susan and Lucy, and occasionally a flustered Edmund. At seventeen Edmund had grown taller and more mature, but he still preferred chess-playing and political conversations to social events and ballroom dancing. Pippa could hardly blame him.

When the clock struck midnight most of her guests had left the halls of Cair Paravel, and Pippa found herself wandering through the large gallery in search of her soft bed; her feet and head aching from the dancing and the wine. Suddenly Peter appeared before her, an unbecoming scowl on his face. He pulled her by the arm to his study and slammed the door shut; ensuring their privacy.

"Peter, what on earth is the matter with you?" Pippa was surprised by his sudden roughness. "We've barely spoken all night, and suddenly you just ambush me in the gallery. Won't you please tell me what's wrong?" She pleaded when Peter continued frowning down at her.

"You fancy him, don't you?" He spoke abruptly.

"What?" Pippa uttered, baffled and irked by his unexpected behaviour.

"Oh, get off your high horse Pippa, just admit it. Go on!" Peter said as he paced back and forth in front of the unlit fireplace in his study.

"Admit what? Peter, I honestly don't know what you're talking about!" Pippa protested loudly. She was standing behind him with her hands on her hips and with an annoyed look on her face.

"Admit you fancy him! Lord Talon!" Peter turned and looked at her sternly.

Pippa, exhausted from the constant arguing about lord Talon, threw her hands in the air and moved towards the open window for some fresh air. Peter quickly followed, not wanting her to avoid him. "Don't be silly. I hardly know him." She said quietly.

"Then why do you pay him so much attention? Why do you accept his gifts and go riding with him? Alone?" Peter demanded. "You even asked me to make him a council member!"

"Are you jealous?" She asked curtly, watching the stars and listening to the music coming from the banquet hall and ignoring his questions. Peter was visibly taken back by her question and hesitated to answer.

"No." He replied after some time. "I'm just saying you've been spending an awful lot of time with him when you have no intention of courting him! It's very cruel to lead someone on like that you know!" Peter said, whilst scratching his scalp and stroking his unruly blonde hair out of his eyes. Pippa turned around abruptly.

"That's not fair! He's a lovely man, and I consider him to be my friend!" Pippa angrily pushed on Peter's chest with her index finger. "And you have absolutely no say in how I spend my time!"

"I'm the High King!" Peter replied briskly. "I could easily have this lord stationed elsewhere. That way you won't continue to make a fool of yourself, throwing yourself at him, dressing like this, and acting like such a … such a floozy!" Peter said, wishing he had taken the words back the minute he uttered them. She looked lovely in her gown. Absolutely ravishing. The most beautiful woman he had ever laid his eyes upon he thought. Looking into her large grey eyes now brimming with angry tears, oh, how he wished he had said something else.

"I didn't mean that." Peter moved closer to her, backing her up against the frame of the window. Pippa held her breath and suddenly felt too hot with his body in such proximity to hers. The warm breeze had blown some of her curled hair out of her braid, he gently reached out and tucked it behind her ear, whilst caressing her cheek.

"I'm sorry." He confessed openly.

Pippa, lost in his blue eyes, intoxicated by his scent and utterly confused about her feelings for him, stayed silent. Peter searched her eyes for an invitation to move even closer to her. He placed his hands on either side of the window frame, effectively pinning her between the window and himself. His breath hot on her neck as he inhaled the scent of her skin and the flowers in her hair. He felt drunk.

"Philippa." His forehead was now resting against hers, his eyes closed. "Forgive me." He was so close their breaths were mingling. She parted her lips and leant forward.

"Yes." She breathed just as Peter cut her off with a kiss. He pressed his lips to hers, wrapping an arm around her waist firmly, his other arm still leaning on the window frame. Pippa's eyes fluttered shut as she returned his kiss, finally receiving what she had been craving for such a long time. She wrapped her arms around his torso and pulled him hard against her body. Peter groaned low in his throat as their tongues clashed together, exploring and teasing each other until they were both completely out of breath. Pippa's hands were entangled in his hair and their lips swollen and red like cherries when they finally parted for air. While looking into his darkened, lust filled eyes, she realized how drunk they both were. Drunk on each other yes, but mostly on dwarfish wine.

"It's late. I think I should retire to my chambers." Pippa spoke quietly but she did not flee from him. Peter removed himself from her embrace and reluctantly opened the door for her. As she passed him, his mouth moved to speak, but no words passed his lips. Pippa swallowed and glanced at him before she nodded and moved down the hall to her bedchamber.

"Goodnight, Peter."

A week later, the two of them had apologized to each other for the words spoken that night, but their friendship was tense and near broken from the constant bickering and jealousy coursing through their hearts. Pippa eventually thought everything would go back to normal, especially now that Princess Cirina had left their home, but their regular routine of meeting in the library to read and spend time together never resumed after their rendezvous in his study. Furthermore, all hopes of reconciliation would soon seem lost to her as she met with lord Talon one evening after supper. The pair of them ventured to the sandy beach beneath Cair Paravel and the sand felt wonderful against Pippa's bare feet.

"Would you think it too forward of me if I were to speak openly for a moment?" Lord Talon asked unexpectedly, his green eyes intently focused on her.

Pippa's eyes narrowed, but she shook her head in response. "Of course not, you are welcome to speak your mind."

"I would know your heart's true opinion on two matters then." He began. "Firstly, I would know if you desire me; as your husband or as your lover it matters not which, they are one and the same to me."

Pippa's mouth fell open in awe of his forwardness. Lord Talon stepped closer to her.

"And secondly, would you be surprised to know there are some who wish that Narnia was ruled differently?" His voice was low and his gaze hungry as he awaited her answer.

Pippa was speechless. She had suspected lord Talon's influences reached far across the continent, and she knew he was an ambitious man, but she had no idea the man she considered a friend might be plotting against her friends and sovereigns.

"Cat got your tongue?" Lord Talon asked cheekily.

"I don't know what to say." Pippa stuttered. "But if you're implying there's a plot against their majesties then not coming forward would be an act of treason!" She warned.

"I imply nothing." Lord Talon brushed off her concern, his face void of emotions. "I simply stated that I hear talk of discontentment of the majesties achievements in these past years. So, I ask, what have they achieved?"

"What have they achieved?" Pippa's chested inflated and her anger grew. "Narnia prospers, my lord, surely you see it too."

Lord Talon did not reply at first. Pippa stared long and hard at the emotionless man before her.

"Very well, now I know your heart on that matter, but what of my first question to you? Would you accept my offer of marriage?"

Pippa stepped away from him, creating more space between them. She knew she was not lord Talon's first choice, and although he had denied his intent on pursuing Susan some years earlier, he had in fact proposed marriage to the Gentle Queen not long after arriving in Narnia. Susan had denied him, as she did all others, and lord Talon had done his best to hide the fact that he was insulted by her refusal. Pippa felt no love for the man at this moment as she now knew his heart as well – everything was business to him, and no love for her pierced his heart.

"Power." Pippa uttered. "You only want power. Marrying me would not gain you more favour with their majesties, nor would it strengthen your position with your discontented friends."

"You wound me, lady Philippa." Lord Talon drawled. He did not seem the least bit surprised or bothered by her statements. "Fine. At least you have spoken truthfully, and I respect that. My final piece of advice to you as your friend though is this; do not waste your years of youth waiting for someone to love you back. More often than not marriage is an arrangement of business rather than the otherworldly romance you read so much about."

His words stung, and angry tears brimmed under her eyelids as she glared at him.

"I thank you for your kind advice, my lord. In return I shall fail to mention your connections to their majesties, but fair warning, I shall be keeping a closer eye on your affairs lord Talon." Pippa promptly turned on her heels and marched away from the surprised lord, her threatening words rendering him speechless.

As Pippa left the beach and quickly rounded a corner in the nearby courtyard, she felt her body collide with another. She wiped her eyes furiously as she saw whom she had bumped into.

"You're crying." Peter declared, concern evident in his voice. "Why are you crying?" He pressed.

"Not now Peter, please leave me be." Pippa said as she moved around him, desperate to escape him. She almost made it through the door to her chambers as Peter caught up to her and gently stopped her by taking her hand in his. Pippa sighed and turned to face him.

"Lord Talon asked me to marry him." She confessed, watching as Peter dropped her hand as if he'd been stung by a vicious wasp.

"You said no, right?" Peter asked carefully.

"No." Pippa said plainly.

Peter's eyes bore deeply into hers, unyielding and full of accusation.

"You would marry him? A foreigner? Does your heart not lie with the Narnian people?" He accused, intending for his words to cut her deeply.

"My allegiance lies with the crown, with Narnia and its people, you know this!" Pippa scoffed and more angry tears escaped her wide eyes. "But my heart is mine. Mine to love whomever I choose, and mine to give to whomever I want, and before lord Talon, no one has ever asked me for it." She added. "You cannot ignore me for a week after we share a kiss and then question my loyalty the second it suits you!"

Her anger knew no bounds now, and before Peter could utter another word, she reached for the heavy door and slammed it shut between them. Her heart was shattered, and she allowed the tears to come as she rested her forehead on the wooden frame. Breathing deeply, she knew sleep would not come easy this night.

The entire castle felt the hostility between Peter and Pippa the following days. Lucy did her best to lighten the mood, but even she noticed that the pair of them had reached an impasse in their relationship. Susan had decided, along with Mr. Tumnus, after more than a week of tension that Peter should accompany his newly acquired army north to survey the situation in Ettinsmoor with Edmund to give Pippa some space to gather her thoughts. Ever the practical individual, Susan had encouraged Pippa once or twice to try to put her personal feelings aside, but Pippa remained distant and sullen.

Everyone's moods certainly changed as Peter and Edmund travelled further north, but not for the better. The inhabitants of Cair Paravel had not heard from the brothers and their army in weeks and everyone feared the worst had befallen them. Lucy spent her days anxiously pacing the halls, Susan became increasingly short-tempered, and Pippa locked herself away, preferring to keep her worrying thoughts to herself. She desperately needed them back, the idea of never seeing Peter again, never being able to make things right between them again, it drove her mad. She had decided to lay her heart at his feet the moment she saw him next. The risk of rejection and heartbreak be damned. She needed him to know that she loved him.

A month passed agonizingly slow, and one night, just as Pippa had finally been able to claim some sleep, the harsh pounding on her wooden door jolted her awake. She fastened her silk dressing gown quickly and ran to her door, unbolting it as fast as she could. She threw the door open and found herself staring into the face of the one she had longed for.

"Peter!" She cried. "What on earth is going on?" She asked, both sleepily and confused, but the relief in her voice was evident.

"We came back – Ed and I – just now." Peter explained as Pippa looked him over. She noticed his shortness of breath and the determined look on his face. His armour was covered in filth and his face was specked with dust and a little blood, but he looked to be unharmed.

"I can see that." Pippa answered in bewilderment. "You should have sent letters, we were worried sick, your sisters and I! I thought something might have happened, but here you are, looking well and smug! Peter what's going on-"

Peter swiftly cut off her rambling. "Marry me."

"What?" The short word escaped Pippa's lips in a whisper.

Peter held out a golden ring; the white sapphire gemstone glittering against the dirt on his palm. "Marry me."

Without warning, Pippa surged forward and started pounding on his chest. Peter braced himself as he gently tried to pry her beating fists from his armour.

"You can't just show up in the middle of the night after weeks of absence with a ring in your hand and ask me to marry you!" She sneered angrily.

Peter gently held her hands in his. "And why not?"

"Because I might just be loony enough to say yes!" Pippa said softly, all trace of anger gone from her voice. Astonishment crossed Peter's face as he snaked his armour-clad arms around her waist to hold her tight.

"Will you?" He asked again, his lips hovering above hers.

"Yes." Pippa breathed while she pulled him to her and kissed his lips tenderly. Her hands raked through his messy blonde hair as he lifted her off the ground in joy. A laugh escaped Pippa as they kissed passionately.

"Wait." Pippa broke their kiss and stroked the tip of his nose with her own. "How long have you had that ring?"

"Since your birthday." He admitted sheepishly. "When lord Talon proposed to you, I thought I was too late. Please say I'm not too late." He slid the beautiful ring down the ring finger on her left hand.

Pippa caressed his cheek as she stared up at him, no uncertainty left in her heart or mind. "Never."

TO BE CONTINUED.

Songs for this chapter:

Oblivion – Bastille

The Piano Duet – Danny Elfman

Canon in D Major, P.37 – Johann Pachelbel

Skydance – Kim Planert, Mariann Pleszkan

The Ballad of Robin Hood – Logan Epic Canto

Peter Pevensie – Born 19th of January 1924 (20 years old)

Susan Pevensie – Born 2nd of June 1925 (19 years old)

Edmund Pevensie – Born 6th of March 1927 (17 years old)

Lucy Pevensie – Born 25th of December 1929 (14 years old, turning 15)

Philippa Copland – Born 7th of July 1924 (20 years old)