This is to answer one of my guest readers: I would not leave this story to punish you guys; I just get discouraged when I'm not getting feedback. It's not because I want to, but I run out of inspiration. It's kind of like a writer's block.

Peter strode through the tall doors to the throne room with Lucy quickly on his heals. Opposite of where he stood was Susan, talking to Oreius before the thrones. She looked over to where he stood and gestured for him to come closer. Within a dozen strides he was standing beside Susan and Oreius.

"You wanted to see me?"

Susan nodded, "Oreius came to me with news from the Calormene Tisroc, Judas." She turned back to Oreius, "Why don't you tell Peter what you told me?"

Oreius nodded respectively, then faced Peter, "King Judas sent a message for the king and queens of Narnia. I read it to Queen Susan, but I think it would be faster for me to explain the contents to you rather than read them."

"Well, then, explain." Peter gestured for him to continue.

"His majesty, King Judas, has recently set out from his kingdom, bound for Cair Paravel. He explains his reasons as being concerned for your health. He says he would like to visit and meet with you; perhaps offer his hand in helping with the welfare of Narnia." Oreius explained.

"But," Susan began, "We don't believe those are his true intentions."

Peter nodded, "I can't imagine it would be. We all know that Judas has never been fond of us. He thinks we are too oppressive to the Calormenes, he wants us to change our laws concerning foreigners. Odds are he's heard of the state our kingdom has been in since the loss of king Edmund. If he sees us as weak as the rumors say, nothing will stop him from attacking Narnia."

Oreius stomped his hooves, "I shall send a party immediately and demand he turn around. I shall even go myself, if His Majesty permits it."

"That won't be necessary, Oreius. Don't send the party at all."

Susan knit her eyebrows together, "Peter, what are you talking about?"

"It's simple, really." Peter shrugged, "We let them come and see for themselves that we are not weak. I will meet with King Judas myself and he shall see for himself that I am doing fine."

"But perhaps he really does want to help. Everybody knows that it was his people that were responsible. Perhaps he wants to make up for it." Susan reasoned.

"Judas never laid claim to it. There was no clear proof, and we both know that Judas won't take responsibility if he doesn't have to." Peter sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, "Judas is a vile man. He doesn't want to be our ally, but he knows we're stronger than him and he doesn't want to risk an attack he knows he won't win. I have no doubt he would readily break our treaty if he knew he could defeat us in battle."

Susan nodded her understanding, "Of course. I've never met him personally, but I've heard stories."

"I don't want King Judas to come here." A quiet Lucy spoke for the first time from behind Peter. Oreius took this as his cue to leave. He didn't want to become too involved in their personal affairs.

Peter moved aside to let Lucy into their little circle, "I know, Lu, but it's for the good of Narnia."

"And Edmund leaving? That was supposed to be for the good of Narnia, but look what happened."

"This is different. King Judas will be no danger to us. There are guards everywhere - in fact, I plan to double guard while he is here." Peter bent down a ways to reach her level.

"King Judas is not a good man - he never has been. Why would we want him here?"

"We don't, Lu, and he's not a good man, but that's why we need him to come here. I'll make sure he is never alone for too long."

Lucy shook her head, "Why do we need him here? I think you should stay away from that man."

"You know, they say to keep your friends close, but to keep your enemies closer. If Judas is here and in sight then he won't be causing trouble. If he sees how we can hold ourselves together, he'll be intimidated because he'll see that nothing can break us down." Peter smiled, but Lucy didn't smile back

"But that's not true. We all know that's not true, Peter. Ever since what happened, we've been able to do nothing, but grow further apart. Are we supposed to change that in the blink of an eye?"

Peter shook his head, "This pain we have in our hearts, Lu- it won't go away; at least not for a while. For some of us, it might never go away, but if we continue to let it eat at us the way we have been; Narnia will fall apart. We don't have to forget Ed, but we do have to be strong - for Narnia and for him."

Lucy's eyes filled with tears, "Edmund would want us to be strong."

Peter nodded, "He would. And we all know how Ed hated to be disappointed and to see us disappointed. Remember what he said when Mr. Beaver's dam broke, flooding water into the forest. With all of those complaints we were up to ears in work. You never got to play since none of us had time."

Lucy smiled, tears still gleaming in her eyes, "'You lot look more upset than Mr. Beaver when he came home wet from river water and found out he missed dinner.' - I remember it all too well. I miss him so much."

Peter pulled her into a hug, "We all miss him, Lu, but we'll make it. I promise."