Hello! Yes, I know it has been super long again, but I'd need an entire chapter in order to tell you about how mad my life's been these past few months. Instead, new chapter! This is a fun chapter, full of comedy bits, so I hope the laughs make it up for the appallingly long time it took me to update. Note: the underlined bits are meant to be crossed out.
Enjoy!
Chapter 16: Trouble in Paradise
Dinner was a noisy and cheerful affair, conversation and jokes going round the fire. Chocolate cake was served after the stew, much to everyone's delight, until Scorpio retaliated to one of Gemini's statements by smearing some chocolate icing on his brother's cheek.
"I have half a mind to shove my plate on your face, brother" Gemini replied calmly, searching for a cloth to clean his face.
"A normal, uneventful dinner is too much to ask, apparently" Tairin murmured tiredly, stretching her arm to pass a napkin to Gemini.
"It was inevitable, Tairin dear, Gemini can't accept the fact that I inherited all the charm" Scorpio bragged, winking nonchalantly.
"Let me just point out that it was you who reacted violently towards me and not the other way around, so your argument makes no sense" Gemini sighed tiredly.
"Charm he says" Rainidan chuckled, sharing a conspiratorial look with Zephyr, who laughed.
"Mind you, Scorpio, charm is not quite the word going round Anvard when it comes to your… talents" Zeph told vaguely.
"Disappointing is what I've heard" Rainidan added, brown eyes trained on the young Prince's reaction.
"Alright, enough, some of us don't want – correction, don't need – to know about the indecent details of your private life, I beg for a change of subject" Tairin interrupted, looking pointedly at the men, who were still snickering mirthfully. Scorpio sat in silence, glaring daggers at the two men.
Much to Tairin's relief, the conversation took a new turn, and soon they were all laughing again, this time at the Pevensies' anecdotes of Mr Tumnus' stubbornness.
"So it was you who arrived in Narnia first, Lucy? All on your own?" Zephyr asked.
"I discovered it by mistake, or rather, by luck" she replied. "We were playing hide and seek and I simply stumbled in here" she explained. The rest of the company looked quite confused at her explanation.
"Well, it is hard to explain. You see, there was a secret passage to Narnia hidden in a wardrobe in the house we were staying at, and then one day we simply stumbled in, quite literally, we tripped into Narnia" Peter explained.
"And this is when you met Tumnus" Gemini enquired.
"No. Lucy had already met him by the time the four of us came. When we went to visit him we learnt he had been taken by the White Witch because he had been seen with Lucy" Susan explained.
"That is when we decided we needed to help him, and the rest is history" Lucy chirped in. Edmund looked gratefully at his siblings for not revealing his blame in Tumnus' imprisonment.
They then explained how they learnt of the White Witch's reign of terror and their journey back to Aslan's How.
"That must have been a fascinating trip!" Gemini commented, genuinely captivated by the Pevensies' stories.
"Well, we were running away most of the time" Peter argued.
"And we got soaked to the bone in a frozen waterfall" Susan added.
"Which nearly carried me away" Lucy added with a grin.
"Only because Peter lost hold of you" Susan replied, rolling her eyes.
"Excuse me? I was trying to keep us all from dying!" Peter cried, indignant. Susan and Lucy laughed at his miff.
"And after that you met Father Christmas? The Father Christmas?" Scorpio asked, flabbergasted.
"Yes! And he is exactly as you imagine him to be! He was the one to give me my cordial! And Susan's bow and Rhindon" Lucy told excitedly.
"What about Edmund?" Tairin asked innocently. The four Pevensies looked awkwardly at each other.
"Enough suspense, tell us about your arrival to Aslan's How and the Battle of Beruna" Caspian cut in, eliciting excited hums from the Archen men. Susan squeezed his hand, sending a thankful look his way. Caspian smiled at her and shot a look at his best friend, who rose his goblet at him in grateful gesture; Edmund had told Caspian the whole story, how he had been lured by the Witch's lies and had betrayed his siblings only to be imprisoned. Caspian knew his friend had not yet forgiven himself, even after all this time.
Peter and Ed then described the strategy of the Battle, while Susan and Lucy narrated the events at the Stone Table, their sadness at Aslan's death and the joy when he appeared before them, his Mane glistening like gold under the first rays of dawn.
"It must have been daunting" Zephyr noted.
"And it was. We had barely ever fought with sticks let alone command an army" Edmund agreed.
"The Witch's army is said to have been quite big; she had all sorts of creatures on her side" Scorpio noted, a frown knitting his eyebrows together.
"She may have had the numbers but we had something much better, we had Aslan" Lucy told with a big smile.
"Hear, hear!" Peter cheered.
"And how about the coronation? I've read such beautiful descriptions" Myrina asked, sighing dreamily.
"It was the greatest, most lavish, grand and cheerful celebration in Narnian history" Lucy chirped excitedly.
"Until our wedding, that is" Caspian whispered in Susan's ear, making the Queen blush a soft shade of pink.
"To this day I can close my eyes and hear Aslan giving me my title" Peter told with a smile.
"To the Clear Northern Skies, King Peter, the Magnificent" Lucy echoed, looking at her brother.
"To the Radiant Southern Sun, Queen Susan, the Gentle" recited Peter and Lucy.
"To the Great Western Woods, King Edmund, the Just" Susan joined in.
"To the Glistening Eastern Sea, Queen Lucy, the Valiant" Edmund told, Peter and Susan leaning in to tickle the little Queen.
"Once a King or Queen of Narnia, always a King or Queen" Caspian and Tairin voiced, having heard the story many times before from Professor Cornelius, this being perhaps their favourite of all. There was a moment of comfortable silence as the words danced in everyone's ears.
"I always wondered, was there an Archen ambassador or any foreign representative during your coronation?" Gemini asked.
"Mm, I don't think so. We only met King Lune some time later and I don't think the Witch's long reign of winter attracted many diplomats to be honest" Edmund replied with a chuckle.
For hours after they had finished their meal, the four Pevensies retold their adventures during the fifteen years of their previous reign, answering the avid questions of their friends. Caspian and Tairin, although having heard some of the stories before, listened to the siblings as mesmerised as their Archen guests. It was not until a the moon was high on the sky that Susan realised Lucy and the other children had fallen asleep, lulled by the fables of the Golden Age.
"As lovely as it is to revisit the past, I think we should all call it a day; there is still much to explore tomorrow" she said, motioning Tai to help her with the sleeping youngsters.
Still smiling from the magical tales, they all bid each other goodnight and headed to their respective tents.
"Peter, aren't you coming?" Edmund asked, holding the flap from their tent open with one arm.
"In a second, I will extinguish fire first" he replied.
Peter's mind wandered to Nabeela. She had not joined them all evening and she had also not eaten dinner. He sighed bitterly. Had he really been that discourteous? Had he insulted her so gravely by choosing honour over temptation? The King shook his head and rubbed his eyes, only then realising how tired he was. He would talk to her in the morning, they both needed the counsel of a good night's sleep.
Caspian was usually a heavy sleeper and he was not picky when it came to sleeping arrangements. In fact, he could sleep practically everywhere, but this was beyond anyone's threshold of tolerance. Peter's snores could give a bear a run for its money. Caspian groaned into the pillow he had stuffed over his head and which proved to be of almost no help to muffle the Magnificent King's snoring – and one magnificent snoring that was!
A dry soft sound caught his attention next and he removed the pillow slowly, cracking one eye open to see what had caused it. The tent the three Kings were sharing was still rather dark, yet, Edmund's dark head was very distinguishable, a tuft of messy hair having emerged from under the covers. His arm peeked out and was swinging limply on the side. Ed's pillow laid inches from Peter's hammock, and Caspian deduced it had been Ed's poor attempt of shutting his brother up.
"Ed?" Caspian whispered. His best friend groaned as a reply, and by its tone, Caspian could guess he had been awake for some time.
"Is there any way to shut him up?" he whispered again, pushing the pillow completely off his face now.
"Gag him with a pillow?" came the younger King's acid reply.
"Tempting, but seriously, is there any way at all?" Caspian asked again. The sound of covers rustling caused him to open his eyes and he distinguished Ed sitting on his hammock, blinking several times.
"Well, the problem is that he is lying on his back" Edmund explained, jumping off the hammock.
"How are we going to turn him then?" Caspian asked, imitating his friend. Despite the nearly absolute darkness, Caspian caught Edmund's sleepily evil expression, no words needed. In a quick, clean move, the Kings turned Peter's hammock over and the golden haired man fell with a startled yelp.
"What the hell...!" Peter croaked, sitting up and looking around.
"Keep snoring like a pig and I'll stuff an apple on your mouth" Edmund declared, grabbing his pillow from the floor and climbing back onto his hammock. Peter glowered at his brother and Caspian, who only shrugged and got back to bed. Peter cursed under his breath, picking up his covers and pillow and hopping back into the hammock, not before hitting Edmund with his pillow.
Susan got dressed in silence, making sure she did not wake up any of the girls in the tent. She liked to wake up early, enjoy the silence of the early hours of the morning and listen to how everything woke up slowly. As she grabbed her wash cloth and basin, she noticed Lucy was balled in her hammock, only her hand peeking out, holding Cora's in a loose grip, endearing Susan to no end. Grabbing her boots in her hands, the Queen slipped out of the tent and was greeted by the calm sight of their makeshift camp. The sun had not come out fully yet, and everything was bathed in the bluish light of early morning, a light fog blurring the shapes of everything at a certain distance. She took a deep breath, tasting the fresh air and all the subtle scents in it – pine, grass, dew, flowers – the fragrance of the forest she loved so much. Sighing contentedly, she made her way to the river to start her morning routine.
Caspian had been woken up again, this time by a current of cold air. Peter's snores were softer, coming out in small puffs, but still loud enough to distract the Faithful King from falling back asleep.
"Pet'r, shushup!" Edmund mumbled half-asleep, turning and burying his head under the covers and pillow, utterly ignored by his brother. Following his friend's example, Caspian turned and wrapped the covers tighter around him, thanking Aslan that Peter had moved and ceased his snoring, at least for now. He had been slowly drifting to sleep when a loud snap caused him to fully open his eyes, a jolt of alarm running through his body.
Susan walked between two tents, one hosting her brothers and Caspian while the Archen men slept in the other. Judging from the noises coming from inside the tents, the men were sleeping placidly.
"Pet'r, shushup!" she heard someone whisper, the sleepy irritated tone immediately hinting it as Edmund. She stifled a giggle, knowing Peter tended to snore like a hurricane.
"Very good morning, Your Majesty!" someone chirped behind her, spooking her. She gasped and turned rapidly, stepping into a thin branch as she did so. Perched on one of the cords holding the tents was a Lark, looking curiously at her.
"I am very sorry if I startled you, My Queen" he apologised.
"It is me who should be ashamed of being a scaredy-cat" Susan told, smiling relieved.
Caspian laid still, ears sharp to any sound. The snap was followed by a gasp and some high-pitched sounds; it was maybe just a bird starting its day early, but it was followed by a voice, one he knew and loved much. Susan. He relaxed and smiled, listening quietly to her words. She was so kind, always gentle and willing to talk to anyone who addressed her, kind-hearted words always on the tip of her tongue. Yes, he was very much in love, but how could he not?
With a soft sigh, he got up, deciding he could well start his day early, given that he was already wide awake. He slipped into his breeches quickly, scanning the room for his shirt and boots and cursing himself for tossing them carelessly the night before. His boots laid not far from him, but as he moved to grab them, his feet got tangled into something – his shirt most likely – and he fell, knocking a tray and a water jar on the way with a loud clatter.
"Ed, ye' nois' git" Peter maundered, shifting in his hammock.
Susan had parted from the Lark and had only taken a few steps forwards when a loud clatter erupted from the tent her brothers and Caspian were sharing. She heard Peter mumbling something as she got closer and she hesitated into taking a look inside. Growing up twice with two brothers had taught her of the horrors of an all-male cohabitation. However, before she could ponder any longer on the subject, Caspian burst through the flap, King and Queen yelping at the sudden encounter.
They both stared at each other in silence for a moment. Instinctively, Susan had raised her arms and held the basin high, ready to strike her attacker, while Caspian had his palms open in a defensive stance.
"Caspian? You awake?" Susan asked still in shock, not lowering her arms.
"Susan, I- please lower your… basin?" Caspian replied, taking a moment to identify the item in Susan's hands. The hilarity of their situation soon seeped in and they both started laughing hysterically, Susan trying to hush Caspian while muffling her own laughs with her hand. Snickering, Caspian stepped out and closed the flap, his chocolate eyes glistening with mirth when he looked back at Susan. She was a sight to behold, the morning dimness adding an almost mystic aura to her; he would have mistaken her for a deity if he did not know she was real, so very beautiful and real.
"May I join you?" Caspian asked, gesturing vaguely to the objects Susan was holding, his mind finally registering the purpose behind the basin and towel in her hand. Her full lips were tugged into a bright smile, inducing one of his own; her radiant smile was worth waking up this early.
They followed the natural path to the river in silence, enjoying the moment of closeness. Caspian would steal glances at her frequently, meeting her silver orbs once or twice, King and Queen succumbing to a fit of chuckles each time. The quiet rushing of the river reached their ears an instant later, the air filling with the light fragrance of fresh water and damp soil. Caspian let his eyes roam around the scenery, the forest around them starting to awaken to a new day, when a bump to his hip caused him to look over at Susan. The Gentle Queen was looking the opposite direction, yet the mischievous glint of her clear eyes did not pass Caspian's notice. Susan gasped in surprise when the King bumped her the next moment, and she glanced at him with an amused smile. Like she had done an instant before, he was pretending to look interestedly at the trees nearby on his side. They continued to bump each other every few steps in their walk, each time slightly harder yet not enough for it to hurt. The river could be heard very close now and Susan smiled mischievously before bumping Caspian once more, this time with enough force to throw him off balance and having to take a few steps sideways, and broke into a light run, laughing at his huffed complaint.
Caspian caught his slippery Queen just as the path widened into the river shore, wrapping his arms around her waist and twirling her around, her joyous laughter ringing in his ears, basin and towel hitting the ground with a dry thud, forgotten by the two royals. They stared at each other for a long moment, breathing heavily because of the run and laughter. Her crystal eyes were sparkling with joy, her cheeks slightly tinged with pink. By Aslan, she was so beautiful...! He captured her lips in a kiss, her arms locking around his neck. The kiss was intense yet delicate at the same time, and Caspian could not believe he had spent so long without tasting her lips. Caspian rested his forehead on hers as they broke the kiss, closing his eyes and taking a deep contented breath.
"This… I wish I could wake up like this every morning" he breathed, nuzzling her nose with his. Susan pushed away from him softly and gathered up her things.
"Oh, I... I better go... um.. there" Caspian said, suddenly growing very flustered, eyeing the basin in her hands.
"Oh, alright, I am only going to wash my face- oh!" Susan spoke, a soft blush tingeing her cheeks as realisation downed on her.
"Oh, you thought- I- no, no, I- just my face" she said, mortified by the misunderstanding. Caspian looked up, equally embarrassed. He felt utterly moronic and he had to overcome a need to slap himself. They both smiled embarrassedly at each other and silently walked towards the clear river.
Susan stood a moment on the shore, the murmur of water at her feet. The bluish light of dawn was steadily growing more fiery and warm as the sun made its way up slowly, colouring the sky with pale pink and violet hues. The first rays of sun were playing hide-and-seek behind the trees, leaves colouring up in many different shades, reddish gold peeking here and there. Everything was so beautiful. The water of the river was crystal clear, its constant murmur joining the first chirping of birds and the rustle of leaves. It was one of the things Susan loved the most about Narnia; its simple yet astounding beauty, the soft, delicate composition that delighted all senses, so natural, not made to be this way, just being so.
She took a deep breath, enjoying the slightly crisp air, tasting the subtle fragrance of wood, water, damp soil and a flowery hint: the scent of Cair. A small gasp escaped her throat when she heard a deep breath close to her; she had almost forgotten Caspian was there with her...! She was so used to being the early riser of the family, usually going through her morning ablutions on her own. She cast him a sideways look. He was looking ahead, not at any particular spot but at the whole landscape, a small smile tugging the corners of his mouth. And she knew he could feel it too, the magic that ran through Narnia and which could not be seen but only felt.
Not long after they parted ways, Susan finished her morning routine and folded the towel neatly inside the basin. She turned to see if Caspian had already finished, but was greeted with a rather unexpected yet humorous image. The Faithful King had apparently decided for a direct approach and had dipped his whole head into the water, as hinted by his dripping hair and the droplets sliding from his chin and nose. Susan chuckled lightly at him and most particularly at the cross expression on his face; it was a well-known fact among the royals that Caspian did not like cold water unless it was summer.
"You should have thought of bringing a towel, Your Majesty" she teased, handing him hers.
"Indeed, Your Grace, but my thoughts are solely of you and everything else becomes irrelevant in your presence" he said gallantly, making use of his gift for eloquent speech. Susan laughed and helped him dry his hair, snorting at its messy state once she had finished.
"I can only be so happy to amuse you, my love" he said with a childish huff, which was forgotten as soon as her lips touched his.
The light morning mist had dissipated by the time they decided to return to the tents. Although the air still carried a hint of the nightly chill, the clear sky held the promise of a hot sunny day. After all, summer was just around the corner.
"You did very well yesterday, Caspian" Susan said after a moment of silent strolling. Caspian turned to look at her, curious and clueless.
"With Lucy last night, it was very sweet of you and you handled the situation very well" Susan explained, understanding soon appearing on the Telmarine's expression in the form of a smile.
"I did nothing extraordinary, I just can't stand it when Lucy is upset. I get the need to make her feel better and smile" Caspian explained. "I like to think of her as my baby sister – the not troublesome and stubborn baby sister I never had" he joked with a chortle.
"Lucy is lucky to have yet another older brother caring for her" Susan said smiling brightly, entwining her fingers with his.
"Do I hint jealousy perhaps?" the King asked, narrowing his eyes in mock suspicion.
"No, not at all. As far as overprotective goes, Peter is enough" Susan joked, laughing as Caspian made a pained expression and shuddered.
Back in the tents, Ed growled in irritation. His sleep – and the amazing dream he had been having – had been interrupted once more by Peter's inclement snoring. By Jove, birds had not even started chirping yet and he was already awake...! Twice in a row! He would have kicked Peter out if he were not certain his brother would happily make his way to Nabeela's bed.
Rolling onto his side, he opened his eyes. There he was, sleeping undisturbed, peacefully even, while his absurd roars hindered everyone else's sleep.
"Moron" the Just King murmured under his breath, throwing the covers aside and deciding he had no choice but start his day, sleep now far from any possibility. He was tempted to stuff a sock on Peter's mouth or just hit him with his pillow as he put on his breeches. With a breath of resignation, he headed out, grabbing a towel hanging nearby. Peter grumbled incoherently in his sleep and turned, earning a glare from his brother.
"Twat"
Edmund narrowed his eyes at the still dim brightness outside and stretched, cursing Peter's snoring once more. A sharp intake of breath caused him to turn rapidly, battle-forged instincts causing his whole body to tense. Myrina stood a few steps from him, having just emerged from the girls' tent.
"Good grief, Ed, you gave me a right fright!" she whispered angrily, a hand pressed to her chest.
"In my defence, I couldn't have known you were there" Ed argued. Myr glared at him. She then took a moment to look at him and snorted.
"Don't you look charming. Did you fall off your hammock?" she teased. Edmund would have smiled in appreciation of her wit if it were not so early.
"I wish" he spoke, rubbing his eyes and trying to shake sleep off himself. As if to stress his point, a loud snore came from the tent behind him. Edmund sent Myr a pointed look and rubbed his face once again. Myrina arched her eyebrows and bit back a giggle at Edmund's current state.
"That's it, tonight Cas and I are forcing him to sleep outside!" he complained, yawning and stretching again. Peeking one dark brown eye open, he caught her looking away from him, a faint blush colouring her face. Only then did the King realise he had been wearing only his breeches.
"Like what you see?" he smirked.
"Oh, I have seen better, and better hair" she replied, smug and defiant.
"A touch of carelessness only adds more to my charm" said the King, snobbishly running a hand through his hair.
"There, your ego woke up too" Myr told flatly. "I better leave you two to exchange compliments in private" she said then, gathering the towel and basin in her hands and taking a few steps away.
"Wait, I'll come with you" Ed said, dashing inside the tent to grab his shirt and hurried after her.
"I take it Lucy gave you some of her cordial?" Ed asked after a few moments of quiet walking.
"Yes, it worked wonders. I don't even have a noticeable scar, look" Myr explained, lifting her skirts slightly so he could see the thin pale scar drawn on her calf. The King nodded and subconsciously rubbed the now faint scar near his hipbone.
They met Susan and Caspian further ahead, King and Queen holding hands.
"Ed? Did you fall off your hammock?" Caspian taunted.
"Did you?" the Just King replied, well accustomed to parry his best friend's wit, even at the early hour.
"The fall would have been preferable, I'd say" Caspian replied, stifling a yawn. Ed concurred with a nod.
"Yet, the early start turned out to be pretty pleasant" Caspian noted, sharing a look of complicity with Susan, who blushed lightly.
"Ugh, please, I cannot take this syrupy mushiness so early in the morning!" Ed whined.
"You're free to leave, Justine" Caspian retorted with a smirk. Edmund rolled his eyes and replied by an obscene gesture, earning a noise of disapproval from Susan.
Aiming a soft punch at Caspian's arm, Ed grabbed Myr by the arm, pulling her along down the path. The Archen turned to wave at the couple and mouthed an apology.
"Sometimes it is hard to believe it is just friendship between those two" Caspian pondered.
"Don't let Ed hear you say that or he'll stop talking to Myr altogether" Susan sighed. Caspian nodded, fully aware that his best friend was completely clueless to Myrina's feelings.
Edmund let go of Myr's arm a moment later.
"That was a bit rude, you know?" Myr noted, adjusting the sleeve of her dress. Edmund stopped walking and turned to look at her.
"Did I hurt you?" he asked.
"No you didn't, but it's not what I meant" Myr replied, touched by his concern. "I meant it is rude for you to be so intolerant to the slightest display of affection" she explained.
"I'm allergic to it, it gives me a rash" he replied, joking.
"Careful, Edmund, someone may think you are bitter because of a certain Calormene" Myr argued.
"Then someone is wrong" Edmund replied. "I have always been like this, ask any of my siblings" he added.
"Speaking of Casarah, have you told her about going to Ejdelhaegen?" Myr asked.
"I was going to write her a letter today, maybe when we come back tonight" he told.
"You mean if Scorpio doesn't set the camp on fire or something" Myr joked and they both snorted.
"He reminds me of Corin, he too would get involved in impossible situations" Ed chuckled, a few of the boy-prince's exploits coming to his mind.
"I would not be surprised if Prince Corin became a source of inspiration for Scorpio" Myr laughed.
The Narnian and the Archen found themselves at the river shore a moment later and separated ways in silent agreement, Edmund walking a small distance away to give Myrina some privacy. He eyed the rushing river and exhaled loudly. Stripping off his shirt, he plunged his head in the cold water, the feeling unpleasant at first, but just what he needed to wash off the remnants of sleep. He repeated the action a couple of times and dried himself, combing his fingers through his damp hair in an effort to make it less unruly. He stole a glance at Myrina, who was leaning over her basin, a thin layer of soap foam covering her face. The Narnian King smirked as a wicked idea crossed his mind. He crept quietly behind her and grabbed her ankle, succeeding in spooking her, water from her basin spilling everywhere. He laughed throatily as she tried to splash him, both spraying each other amidst fits of laughter. Ed then thwarted Myr's attempt of pouring the contents of her basin on him, resulting in both of them getting considerably drenched. Breathing heavily with the last remnants of laughter, they called it a truce. Still chuckling, he bent to pick Myr's towel, which had been spared during their skirmish. Folded neatly under it, he found a small piece of white linen.
"What is this– my handkerchief" he said, recognising the perfectly white piece of cloth, previously bloodstained. "You needn't wash it, you know" he told, dark gaze falling on her after rolling his eyes.
"I wanted to, it would have been permanently stained if I didn't" she replied, snatching the handkerchief off his hands and placing it inside the basin. Edmund grinned and raised his hands in surrender.
"Can we go now or have you brought any more laundry, Duchess?" he mocked, the still wet handkerchief hitting his face a second later.
Edmund's miff over the bad night's sleep diminished considerably during breakfast, his huff forgotten once he got to tell everyone – and exaggerate – about Peter's snores and nightly babbling.
"...I am only glad he doesn't sleep walk, Aslan knows he could scare some innocent souls with those unearthly sounds" he commented, eyes trained on his brother's reaction.
"You sleepwalked when you were younger, Ed" Peter retorted calmly. "I remember when you were five and you mistook the loo with a wardr-" he added, his tale left unfinished by Edmund stuffing a bun on his mouth, their squabble drawing loud laughs from the rest of the group.
Lazily, everyone finished their breakfast and left to get ready for the day, a small group heading towards the river amidst lively chatting. Peter smiled as Rainidan whipped Scorpio with a towel in retaliation for the Prince having stolen his shirt. The Magnificent King took his plate to the washing area and threw it inside a bucket along with the others. His smile faded as he thought of Nabeela, who had once again skipped a meal. He exhaled loudly and grabbed a clean plate, a hint of irritation quite perceptible on his expression.
"Nabeela must be starving" a soft voice said behind him and he turned to smile at Susan.
"I thought I'd bring her some breakfast" he explained, filling the plate with a bit of everything.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Susan ventured, her clear orbs trained on Peter's expression for any clues.
"I rather not, you don't want to know" he replied coarsely, grabbing a bottle of sweet wine. Susan nodded and he shot her an apologetic glance, but she dismissed it by shaking her head.
"Sphinx, remember?" she told him simply.
Peter chuckled. Sphinx was the code he and his siblings had chosen back in the Golden Age to design matters they wished to keep private or did not feel comfortable talking about, the four of them agreeing not to pry or interfere.
"I'm amazed you still remember" he replied.
"Well, I remember why we came up with it" Susan told with a smirk.
"Ugh, yes, me too" Peter winced. Susan laughed and sent him on his way.
Nabeela had spent the night fuming, walking from one side to the other in her tent. She had expected Peter to come to his senses when she missed dinner, but the whole evening had gone by without a sign from the King. Very well, she would have to turn this to her advantage. Quietly, she had begun to pack her things, as messily as possible. She was not going anywhere, but it was all part of her plan. She had woken up rather early that morning and could hear them all having breakfast in the distance. She kept peeking at the group through the a gap in the back of her tent, following Peter's movements. She had heard and seen Peter walking towards her with a plate of food and smiled victoriously. Dashing to her bed, she took out a small flask of eucalyptus essence, a thick dark green sap used mainly for breathing ailments, but if applied close to the eyes would cause them to tear up and swell.
"Nabeela? Are you awake? I brought you some food" the Magnificent King's voice was heard outside the tent. Nabeela smiled and sniffed pitifully.
"I… yes, give me a moment to make myself decent" she replied in a broken voice.
Outside, Peter frowned. Nabeela sounded faint and he feared she had spent the whole night crying. He pushed the flap of the tent open a moment later and found the Princess sitting up on her pillows, looking tired, her eyes red and puffy.
"Thank you, I did not realise it was morning already" she whispered, taking the plate and wine off his hands and placing them on a small table, nibbling absent-mindedly on a piece of bread.
Peter's heart clenched at the hurt look in her eyes when she looked at him; she looked so frail, so miserable, like a ghost of the exuberant and lively woman she was.
"I thought you would be hungry" he spoke awkwardly, looking around the tent.
"I had not realised I was, yes" she whispered faintly.
"Nabeela, why are your trunks packed?" he asked more seriously, a hint of alarm on his voice. Excellent, he had fallen for her trick.
"I can't stay after what happened, Peter" she replied, managing to make her voice quiver just right.
"About that, I was hoping we could talk" he told, sitting in front of her and searching her gaze.
"I would prefer not. I… I gave you my heart, my soul and only my body was left for me to be yours completely, but you… I feel foolish and humiliated" she argued, making sure she choked at the right moments, paying close attention to his reaction. She was happy to confirm the argument had touched a sensitive point, as per usual.
"Is that how you understood what happened? As rejection?" he asked, blinking in confusion.
"How else am I supposed to interpret your hasty departure? I was left feeling like a fool" Nabeela snapped.
"Then I am afraid you have the wrong idea of what happened" Peter stated, a deep frown creasing his eyebrows. Nabeela's heart skipped a beat. What...?!
"I did not reject you, I left because it was the honourable thing to do. Aslan knows what would have happened if I lost control and gave into desire. I care deeply for you, I would not be able to live with myself knowing I stained your honour during a moment of lust!" he exclaimed, his voice raising a few octaves.
"Lust? Is that all this is?" she asked. She had to turn the situation around somehow.
"Of course not, that- this- that is not what I meant" Peter told, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Listen, you are not a fleeting fancy for me. I care for you a lot and I would be lying if I told you I do not want you. But you mean more to me than just someone to fulfil a basic desire with. I want to be with you out of love, not mere temptation. I cannot ignore my honour and if you think I should be ashamed of it then I'm sorry to disappoint you" he explained gravely, his blue eyes dark with a mix of passion and anger.
Nabeela was taken aback. She had not foreseen this turn of events. Usually by this point of the argument, men were grovelling at her feet, telling her how much they loved her and how they would do everything to earn her forgiveness. Damn, she had underestimated him.
"Peter, I-"
"I think we both need some time to think about what happened" he told coldly, cutting through her sentence. "We will be at the beach, you are welcome to join us whenever you feel like it" he added, turning on his heel and disappearing though the flap. Nabeela stood watching the empty spot for a few seconds, her temper boiling. This- he- but- he was not supposed to leave!
My sweet darling Dear Lady Casarah,
I hope you arrived well and that the trip was not too tiring.I hope that this letter finds you well and that your trip back home was not too extenuating. I have thought of you everyday, trying to ignore the long, countless hours we have spent apart, only with the memory of your sweet kisses on my lips to ward off the anguish of our separation. I must admit I have thought about you everyday and find it hard to focus on my duties, daydreaming about the moment I will be able to kiss your lips again. How I wish we had had more time together, alone, so many places I wish I had shown you and so many love confessions words I wish I had whispered on your ear to you.
We arrived yesterday to Cair Paravel. It was a sudden decision. Officially, we have come to inspect the works the reconstruction of the palace, but in earnest, all of us needed a small break from work and the Council – a much deserved one, in my opinion.
I am happy to come back to my true Narnian home. The architects and workers have done a splendid job; Cair Paravel is starting to regain its former magnificence, and soon will stand to its former glory. I only wish you were here to see it, to see everything; all would have been much more charming enchanting in your company, yet I guess am sure opportunities will be plentiful in the future, perhaps on your next visit.
I have exciting news: I shall be leaving for Ejdelhaegen on a diplomatic mission as soon as we return to Telmartown.I must confess that the idea of going to an unknown country excites me; a part of me has been yearning for an adventure like this. I thought – and forgive me if I appear too straightforward – that perhaps your mother could be persuaded into allowing you to join me there. It is perhaps selfish from me to think she would agree, but I assure you, such invitation can only be born out of the most sincere and innocent fondness I feel for you.I am lost in daydreams of us meeting in this foreign and yet exotic backdrop Having you with me lifts my spirits against the thought of all the diplomatic drudgery awaiting for me would definitely add to the excitement of this trip and I would very much enjoy exploring the country and the local culture in your company.
But enough about me, do tell me about you and about Tashbaan. Extend my best wishes to your uncle and family.
Forever your servant Yours,
King Edmund.
Edmund let out a small cry of frustration. He had written hundreds of letters to diplomats everywhere, paragraphs and paragraphs of elaborate and carefully crafted prose, and yet a simple letter to Casarah proved too much for him. He reread the letter once more. If he had ever received a letter like this his reaction would be to either gag or bark with laughter. He had managed to fill the page with some of the soppiest thoughts ever committed to writing, as well as coming across as a lovestruck fool. Aslan forbid this fell on his brothers' hands – or worse, Scorpio's; he would never hear the end of it. Exhaling a breath of resignation, he scratched a few words, scribbling corrections on the margin. He would give it another go in the evening and hopefully come up with something a little more dignifying.
"Edmund? We are all ready to go to the beach, are you coming?" Myrina asked, pulling the flap of the tent open.
"Finally! I'm ready to go" he answered, standing to his feet. He hastily put the letter aside and shut his writing box. Myrina looked at him with an arched eyebrow.
"A letter to Casarah, I presume" the girl noted with a smirk.
"Royal mail is confidential, you nosy woman" Edmund parried jokingly, gently pushing Myr out along with him.
"Alright, alright, but you know, denial is the best confirmation" said the Duchess, playfully bumping her shoulder against his. "Who would have thought someone as diplomatically gifted would find it hard to write a love letter" she teased as they trailed behind the others; she had noticed a few scrunched up balls of parchment next to the King's writing box. Edmund shot her an annoyed glance.
"I am simply out of practice, pumpkin" he replied and she laughed.
The scent of salty water was the first to welcome them as they descended towards the beach, hints of the shimmering waters appearing in between the clusters of trees. The path soon opened and merged with the white sand beach, vibrant and warm under the sun. Narnia seemed to be spoiling them with this glimpse of paradise. The weather was perfect: scorching sun set high in the cloudless sky, the sea breeze pleasantly refreshing, the ocean rippling in calm waves that washed the shore with its crystalline water. It would not be any more perfect in a dream. This vision was met by gasps and whispers of admiration, and for a moment the group stood there, taking in the astounding view in front of them. Children often have different priorities, and the youngsters soon grew impatient, all four of them eagerly racing each other to the sea, shouting and laughing.
The rest of the company made its way closer to the shore, sand warm under their bare feet. The men quickly set to get the structure for the marquee standing, while Susan and Tairin unfolded the long pieces of white linen. In a matter of minutes, the large white marquee had been set up, towels and food safely stored under its shadow. Once he had been reassured that he was no longer needed, Scorpio rushed into the sea, the Prince unceremoniously throwing his shirt on the sand an instant later.
"Are you coming with us to bathe in the sea, my love?" Zephyr asked, kissing Tairin's fingertips.
"You go ahead, I want to get some sun on me before I venture into the cold water" she replied, sending him a look of utter adoration.
"Would you mind if I kept you company?" Susan asked.
"Do you even have to ask?" Tairin laughed.
"Oh, I see. It is pointless to insist, Zeph, it is evident that these two want to chatter uninterrupted" Caspian asked despondently, but with a smile which betrayed his teasing.
"My, aren't you clever, brother" Tairin joked.
With a final peck to their respective paramours, Caspian and Zeph joined the others, who had already dived into the ocean and beckoned them to join them.
The girls soon joined Myr on the damp sand near the sea, light waves washing over their feet and legs.
"I'd say, this bathing garments you came up with are simply marvellous, Susan" Tairin praised.
Indeed, Susan and Lucy had noticed the lack of comfortable bathing suits on their first trip to Narnia, and had had to improvise. The final result had been a muslin sleeveless undershirt and a light cotton shirt with short sleeves which tied around the chest and then flowed freely a few inches above the knee. Under it, a pair of light cotton breeches allowed them to swim comfortably while keeping their modesty. Thankfully, they had kept a few sets of bathing suits in their chests in the Treasury, allowing Tairin, Myrina and Cora not to be encumbered by layers of skirts and petticoats.
"It takes a little time getting used to, but I must say I have never been this comfortable" Tairin added.
"Not to mention refreshing. It is good not to be steaming under a dress" Myr agreed.
The blond Prince of Archenland insisted on showing off his swimming skills, calling for the girls' attention ever so frequently, until Caspian and Rainidan pulled him underwater, much to his discontent.
"I think this is the first time I have seen Rainidan as relaxed" Susan noted, smiling at Tairin and grabbing the towels she had just handed her.
"It is rare, but known to happen. That man breathes formality, he deserves a break from himself" Tairin laughed.
Right then, Scorpio had tried to pull down Rainidan's breeches, unsuccessfully as Ed and Caspian had had the same idea. As a result, the blond Prince's yelped as he tried to keep his breeches in place, although a bit too late, for his pale bottom had been exposed for a flash of an instant. The girls shook uncontrollably with laughter, covering their eyes.
"Such regal behaviour" Myr noted with a snort.
"Behold, the Kings, future sovereigns and noblemen of two great countries" Tairin mocked with a laugh. "Show offs, all of them" she added a moment later.
"And yet, I don't hear you complaining about Zephyr conveniently losing his shirt" Susan noted.
"Nor are you" the Princess replied.
"Fair enough. There is nothing wrong in admiring the male physique" Susan replied and they both laughed.
"Ogling, more like" Myr told with a smirk.
"Don't act so innocent, lass, you are looking as well!" Tairin exclaimed, splashing her friend with her foot.
Meanwhile, Scorpio had climbed on Rainidan's shoulders, arms clasped with Edmund's, who sat on Caspian's shoulders. Peter, Gemini and Zephyr watched interestedly, cheering occasionally.
"Ed, you're pulling my hair!" Caspian complained as his best friend swayed, aiming at Scorpio's side.
The match was tight. Scorpio was rather strong but Ed was fast and avoided his blows pretty well, causing the Archen to sway dangerously a couple of times. A moment later, Edmund clung tightly to Caspian, the last blow succeeding in knocking him off partially, yet he quickly regained his position.
"That is the best you can do, blondie?"
"Um.. guys?"
"You want me to kick your ass, Narnian?"
"Guys!"
"I'd be more worried about yours, pretty boy"
"Wave!"
"Wha-!"
On the shore, the girls were having a fit. The wave had crashed against the guys, arms and legs appearing occasionally before they were all washed onto the wet sand, coughing and dishevelled.
"Narnia wins this round" Susan said between chortles, the three girls shrieking with laughter.
"Glad to see you are amused!" Edmund howled, glaring at them. "And you, thanks for the heads up, really!" he added, looking at Peter, Zephyr and Gemini.
"We did warn you!" Gemini argued, laying on his back and taking deep breaths.
"Plus, we all got run over, so don't complain" Peter interjected, dusting sand off his chest and arms.
They recovered from the unfortunate encounter under the marquee, sipping some light wine.
"I say, that was fun" Scorpio said happily.
"Sure, there is nothing more exciting than getting mishandled by a wave" Rainidan commented ironically.
"If you liked it so much you can go, we are not preventing you, brother" Gemini mocked, his clear orbs sparkling behind the rim of his goblet.
"Ha-ha, hilarious. Now, I couldn't help to notice that handsome cliff over there" Scorpio told, pointing north at a medium sized scarp.
"Oh no, I know that look. I refuse to get involved in this" Gemini stated.
"Come on! Diving is so much fun!" Scorpio whined.
"I pass, I have breathed enough salty water for today" Rainidan hurried to say.
"I value my life and would like to make it back to the camp alive, so I'm out" Edmund declined.
"Well, I think it's a good idea, come on Caspian, let's put these Archens to shame" Peter spoke, bumping the Telmarine's arm with his elbow. Caspian looked at him with a mix of surprise and alarm. Peter had a smug smirk on his lips and threw a challenging gaze at Zephyr. Caspian exchanged a look with Edmund.
"I'm in" said the Lord, responding with an equally defiant glance.
"Alright, then" Caspian agreed, trying to sound cheerful despite the sudden awkwardness of the situation. There was something else than just friendly competition between Zeph and Peter, and despite his curiosity, he could not help worrying slightly.
"I don't like the look of this" Susan remarked, frowning.
"Don't worry, I've seen Scorpio and Zeph dive a hundred times from cliffs taller than this" Tairin reassured her, waving back at Scorpio.
"It is not them I am worried about" the Queen replied, following her brother with her gaze. Tairin remained silent. Truth was, she was trying not to make anything out the sudden tension between Zeph and Peter.
"Alright, Zeph, you go first, set some good standard" Scorpio indicated. The young Lord smiled and walked over to the border of the cliff. He smiled at Tarin and jumped a second later, piercing the water with a nice, clean dive.
"Not bad" Caspian gauged, looking down as Zephyr's head emerged from the water.
"Time to show you how it's done" Peter said as he stretched, walking confidently.
"He is a bit competitive, is he not?" Scorpio commented, leaning closer to Caspian.
"A bit" Caspian replied, lifting his eyebrows.
Once at the border, Peter turned, his back facing the ocean.
"What is he doing?" Myr asked, frowning confused.
"With luck, he'll dive face first into the cliff" Edmund said, snorting at his own joke before yelping when Myr pinched him.
"What a braggart" Susan sighed and shook her head, guessing what her brother was up to.
Peter looked down, dark blue gaze locking with Tairin's chocolate one for a moment and he smirked. Tairin rolled her eyes, irritated by the arrogance of his expression. The golden haired King took a deep breath and jumped, his body turning elegantly in a full circle, piercing the water lithely.
"Impressive" Gemini spoke, joining Rainidan who clapped courteously. Peter came into sight a moment after, wading – strutting, in Tai's opinion – on the shore along with Zephyr.
"That was spectacular, Your Majesty" Zephyr praised, extending his hand to Peter.
"Thank you, I am glad I still remember how to do it" he said, shaking the Archen's hand. His glance slid off to Tairin as he bent to take a dry towel, a vainglorious smile ghosting on his features. Tai looked away. She had the sneaky sensation that his looks were coated with something other than conceit. The Princess bit the inside of her cheek in annoyance. She wanted nothing more than to push him off that cliff with her own hands.
"Your turn Caspian" Scorpio yelled.
"No, Peter was last, so it's Archenland's turn" Caspian argued.
"Trivial details, my friend" Scorpio replied with a smile, pushing Caspian by the arm. Caspian pulled his arm back, nearly knocking the blond Prince down.
"Why are you making such a deal out of this, Scorpio?" Caspian asked, crossing his arms, his dark eyes slightly narrowed in a questioning look. Scorpio sighed.
"I want my dive to be the best and most impressive. I promise I'll jump right after you" the Prince explained, jackanapes grin plastered on his face. Caspian dropped his shoulders in defeat. Taking a deep breath, he broke into a small dash, but just as he was about to reach the border, he stopped, turning around to face Scorpio.
"Fooled y-oomph!"
His attempt to trick the Archen Prince was cut short when the very Prince crashed against him with full force, apparently taking his previous statement quite literally. Before Caspian could even register what had just happened, he was once again engulfed by the water, Scorpio lost somewhere in the mess of water and light. The Telmarine King thrust himself upwards, hoping to make it to the surface. Yet a sudden force pummelled him to the side, and soon, surface and sea depths were whirling before his eyes, the current tossing him in every direction. Finally, he was knocked onto something hard and warm, the sky blurry above him.
"Caspian, are you alright?" he heard Susan asking frenetically at his side, his cough so strong that for a moment he thought he would cough his lungs out.
"I... am... kill... Scorpio" he breathed between coughs.
"The ocean got ahead of you, brother" a slightly nasal voice said, and Caspian realised his best friend was also kneeling at his side, smacking his back and looking ahead. Scorpio was being helped out of the water by Gemini and Rainidan, seaweed tangled in his locks in a poor imitation of a Greek god. Across his chest several red jellyfish burns could be seen along a few scratches.
"Caspian! I'm sorry mate!" he yelled hazily, looking a bit stupefied.
Some of Lucy's cordial later, King and Prince were in perfect health again, the former having to be kept from strangling the latter once he had recovered. Under the stern look of Susan and Tairin, they were told to rest and do some risk-free activity, Scorpio choosing to join the kids at their game.
Some time later, Tairin was left alone near the marquee, Susan and Caspian gone on a walk along the beach while Myr was unsuccessfully trying to get the kids to drink something and have a bite to eat. Everyone seemed to be enjoying the trip very much, despite the small accidents, all of which – unsurprisingly – involved Scorpio. Unfortunately, she had a feeling her troublesome brother-of-the-heart was far from taking a break from troublemaking. Tairin sighed and chuckled. The blond Prince had made her sick with worry countless times, and she had wished to wring his neck at least daily, but she loved the silly man to bits, which was perhaps what allowed him to survive this long.
The Princess drew a long breath and exhaled a content hum. Every muscle of her body was relaxed and she felt like a happy cat stretched under the sun. She would not mind staying like this for the rest of the day. The Princess wriggled a bit in her warm spot in the sand so as to get more comfortable and was drifting to sleep when a shadow obscured the brightness behind her closed lids. Thinking it to be Zephyr, she smiled and open her eyes, only to meet a pair of piercing blue eyes and a smug smirk. Dripping wet and looking annoyingly complacent was the Magnificent King. In the very short time they had been out in the sun, his skin had gained the lightest honey colour, drops of salty water from his damp locks glistening on his chest and shoulders, specks of sand dusting here and there. Mind you, he was not as squalid as he looked. He had some well defined musc- wait, what?
Tairin shook involuntarily and checked herself. She might have stayed out in the sun a tad too long, because she had most definitely stared at the obnoxious man as she thought this. Worse still, he had noticed her staring and now the conceit in his smirk had gone up a few notches.
"Please, Princess, by all means, keep looking" he drawled.
What an insufferable git. Like his humongous ego needed any more boosting...! The fact that he is quite fit doesn't make him less of a git, she thought, snorting at her own rhyme.
"Oh, it's you, I thought the sea had washed a giant pile of waste at my feet" she bit back venomously. Peter just chuckled, his eyes flickering to something behind her.
"Whatever. I am only wondering what your ever-so-wonderful boyfriend would say if he caught you staring at me, mouth hanging open, as you did only a moment ago" he noted.
Tairin felt a very un-ladylike retort bubbling along with her temper. Luckily, before she could tell Peter where exactly he could shove his self-centredness, she spotted Zephyr walking in their direction, his shirt on his hand.
"Do everyone a favour and go suck some more venom out of Nabeela's snout" she whispered angrily, shuffling to her feet and meeting Zephyr with a bright smile.
"I have come to steal you, flower. I'm taking you for a swim whether you like it or not" he threatened light-heartedly, his clear orbs tracing her lightly clothed figure before returning to her face. The dark shade in his eyes sent shivers down her spine.
"Is that so? And how do you plan to accomplish that?" Tairin replied seductively.
"Well, I might have to resort to torture" Zephyr replied, expertly tickling her. He then threw her over his shoulder and carried her to the water, shrieking with laughter.
Peter threw his towel on a chair and raked a hand through his hair. He could hear her squeals in the distance, and each one of them pushed his mood further into the pit of darkness.
"Pete, are you ok?" a chirpy voice said behind him.
"Oh, hi Lu" he replied, relaxing his frown. "Yeah, I'm fine, just got carried away in my thoughts" he told.
"It is not about her, isn't it? Nabeela I mean. You two had a fight, didn't you?" Lucy asked. By the tone of her voice Peter could make out she was concerned.
"It is nothing like that, Lu. Why'd you-"
"Don't lie to me, Pete" Lucy said gravely. "I am not blind. Or stupid, in fact"
"Of course not" Peter sighed.
"Look, I won't ask because I am aware there are things you'd rather talk about to someone else, like, a masculine someone else" Lucy noted, sounding more like her sixteen-year-old past self.
"Sphinx" he whispered. Lucy looked surprised for a moment before laughing.
"It has been so long since any of us called a Sphinx, I had almost forgotten" she told.
"I know, me too" he replied.
"Anyway, come bathe in the sea, you'll feel better" the little Queen suggested.
"I'll have a drink first, Lu. I'm parched" Peter told, pointing to a bottle of sweet wine on the table. "Go on, I'll catch you in a moment" he added.
Lucy smiled and left him with a wave. Peter smiled, following her with his gaze and taking a sip of his drink. Lucy had always had the ability of clearing the dark clouds of his temper.
AN: I'd like to give a special thanks and shout out to Cacao85 for suggesting the scene in which the Pevensies talk about the Golden Age :)
I am also quite interested to read your thoughts on Peter's little dilemma; do you think he's being prudish? Or is does he have a good argument going on? Debate.
Thanks so much for all those how have favourited, followed and reviewed! Please, keep it coming!
Cheers!