Dashed Upon the Rocks

"Should we wake her up, your Majesty? It's not usual for humans to go into hibernation."

"Oh, fear not, Mrs. Bear. She's not hibernating, she's just tired."

"But it's noon, Sire! None of your Majesties ever sleep this long. Perhaps we should fetch the doctor."

"Lady Saedra just isn't used to all of this excitement, so last night just tired her out more. If she isn't awake in an hour, you can wake her because we do need to get going back to Cair Paravel soon."

Saedra woke up to the sound of soft voices. She lifted her head and looked around, unsure where she was. She was lying on top of a soft, downy comforter on a low bed that was just barely long enough for her. There was another bed across from it. The walls of the room were bare rock and rounded as if she was in a cave, and a little daylight came in through a hole in the side of one of the walls.

Why, I must be in the Bears' den! she realized, flipping her feet over the side of the bed. She rubbed her face, and remembering the sound of Peter's voice in the next room, looked around for a mirror. There was none to be found, so she resorted to combing her hair with her fingers and hoping that she looked decent in the same dress she had worn to bed.

She pulled back the curtain that hung in the doorway of the room and saw that she had been in a chamber adjoining another chamber of the Bears' den. The chamber she entered was larger and housed a large rug in the center of the room, openings to two other chambers, a door which surely led outside, and various shelves and food items hanging on the walls. Peter sat cross-legged on the floor, looking very rugged and content, eating lunch out of a flat bowl. He sat in a circle with two very large brown Bears and three adorable cubs who were also eating.

"Good afternoon," Saedra said, coming in.

"Hello there!" Mr. Bear said, clambering up to greet her. He held out his paw, and she shook it. "High King Peter has been telling us all about you, Lady Saedra."

Saedra smiled and raised her eyebrows, glancing at Peter. "I hope you haven't heard too many terrible things about me!"

"Terrible!" Mrs. Bear exclaimed. "Why, King Peter's been doing nothing but singing your praises!"

Saedra laughed, and Peter looked a little red in the face.

"Would you like a little breakfast, Saedra?" Peter asked, scooting over to make room for her on in the circle on the floor. "We're going to have to start to head back to Cair Paravel soon if we want to get there at a decent hour."

"Thank you—I'm famished!"

After a sumptuous brunch of porridge and milk, Peter and Saedra climbed their horses and began the journey back. At times they would race to cover more distance faster, other times they would go at a fast trot. Saedra was impressed with how well-trained the horses were and what great stamina they had.

They reached Cair Paravel after sunset. They headed for the stables, and met Tumnus on the way.

"Your Majesty!" the Faun said happily. "Your family has been curious where you were!"

"Then kindly let them know we're back," Peter said, dismounting.

"With pleasure!" Tumnus said, hurrying off.

Saedra happily slid off her horse and followed Peter into the stable. They gave the horses to the attendants, then went back out under the darkening sky. They were both very tired, but contented.

"Thank you for everything, Peter," Saedra said, looking over at him as they walked towards the castle. "Today and yesterday were...amazing."

"It was my pleasure," he smiled down at her as they walked along a wall. "I hope you weren't alarmed about sleeping at the Bears' den. It's a little different than the arrangements here."

"Oh, I loved it! I've heard stories about how the Talking Animals live, and of course they are all over Cair Paravel, but it was amazing to stay in one of their houses."

"So you liked it?" he asked, looking over at her for confirmation.

"I loved it!" she exclaimed. "I almost wish I could live out there with them for the rest of my life! The cozy accommodations, the simple way they live, the bonfires at night, talking with the Trees and Centaurs, the magic swirling though the air..."

Peter cut her off by suddenly grabbing her arms and kissing her. She was stunned and a little unsure why he was suddenly so passionate, but she had no complaints whatsoever.

"Oy! What's this!" a voice exclaimed.

Peter and Saedra broke apart to see Corin standing there with wide eyes. He had rounded the corner of the palace as they kissed.

"Hello, Prince," Peter grinned, not at all embarrassed that Corin had caught them. He put his arm around Saedra almost triumphantly.

Saedra was a little embarrassed that Corin had seen her and said, "Did your Highness come out here by yourself?"

Her question was answered when Edmund rounded the corner and said, "There you are, Prince!" He looked up, and seeing Peter and Saedra, smiled.

"Guess what I just saw!" Corin said to Edmund triumphantly.

"Prince—" Saedra started, horrified that Corin might blurt out what he had seen.

But it was too late. "King Peter and Lady Saedra were snogging!"

"Corin! That's not something a gentleman talks about!" Saedra chastised her cheeks warm. Peter slowly slid his arm off of Saedra's shoulders as she said to Corin, "We'd better get your Highness back to bed. Come on." She rested her hand on his shoulder and started guiding him back to the castle.

She heard Edmund say to Peter, "I have some important information that just came in, Peter." He started muttering something in his older brother's ear.

Saedra turned around to ask, "You two coming?"

"We'll follow you in a bit," Peter said.

She smiled at him, and he smiled back. Perhaps it was the moonlight, but it seemed like the smile wasn't completely genuine.

The next day was Rabadash and Rahai's last day at Cair Paravel, and the castle was busy with stocking their boat and transporting all of the attendants' things down to the dock. Saedra opted to stay out of the way of the business and instead caught up on letter-writing. Her old nanny Gilda was starting to question whether she was capable of handling Saedra's job, so most of Saedra's letter was spent reminding Gilda why she'd picked her for the job. Lune, on the other hand, was thrilled by the idea that Saedra and Peter might be a better match, and most of his letter was him gushing about how wonderful that would be.

The only nobles Saedra saw all day were Corin and Lucy when she had brunch with them, so she was looking forward to the farewell party that night for Prince Rabadash and Tarkheena Rahai. It was starting at sundown, and it would be another romantic evening with Peter…waltzing the night away…

He's going to ask to court me officially, she thought, tonight.

After the previous days, how could he not? They had practically disappeared together for a whole day, and even though they had slept in different rooms, it would still be considered quite scandalous back in Archenland. There was no way he couldn't ask to court her, at the very least.

That night as she prepared, she was simply humming with joy. She had never imagined or even dreamed that she might actually fall in love with someone so wonderful, thoughtful, and fun to be with, but she had, and now she was floating on clouds.

She wore a bright red dress, which was the most ornate and expensive garment that she owned. The fabric was smooth and light, and she felt like a queen in it. She had been saving it for an extremely important night, and the night where she and High King Peter announce their courtship was pretty big.

Before going to the great hall, she examined herself in the mirror. She had never thought of herself as especially beautiful, but on this night even she could say that she was a very pretty woman. Peter's affections had lit a fire in her, giving her energy and a passion for life. Her eyes sparked and her cheeks glowed.

She went down to the great hall where everyone was milling around, waiting for the Four to be seated for the grand dinner that would start off the festivities. Saedra consulted Susan (who was on Rabadash's arm) and found out that her assigned seat was between Peter and Rahai and across from Corin at the main table.

Saedra was excusing herself, but Susan stopped her and said, "Lady Saedra, may I have a word with you for a moment?"

Saedra stopped. "Of course, your Majesty!"

"Do excuse me for a moment, my Prince," Susan said to Rabadash, unhooking her arm from his and stepping a few feet away.

"What is it, your Majesty?" Saedra asked.

"I have something I've been meaning to ask you since we went on the horse ride," said the Queen. She looked stunning, with jewels hanging from her ears and wearing a bright blue dress that brought out her eyes. "Prince Rabadash has invited me to visit him in Tashbaan this summer, and I was wondering…if you would like to come with me."

Saedra's eyes bulged. "Me, oh Queen?"

"Yes, you," she replied. "Edmund is going as well. Just yesterday we received word about Giant movements in the North, so my brother Peter is going up there to check it out, and Lucy is going to stay here at Cair Paravel. The reason I ask is that the idea of being the only woman going down there is rather daunting, because I know there'll be endless parties and such, and it would be so much more comforting to have another woman with me. Besides," she added with a smile, "we did want to get to know each other better."

Saedra was surprised to hear that the Queen who was always composed was nervous about going to parties. She was also flattered that Susan thought Saedra a suitable companion; the problem was that she didn't want to leave Cair Paravel now that things were working out so well with Peter. However, she didn't want to say "no" because the idea of seeing Calormen in person was simply tantalizing.

"Would it be okay if I think about it and get back to you?" Saedra asked. "I appreciate the offer extremely, but it affects Prince Corin as well, so it might be good if I think about it for a little while."

Susan smiled, a hint of disappointment on her face. "Oh, of course! We leave within the week, so let me know as soon as you decide."

"I will, your Majesty," Saedra curtsied. "And thank you for the offer."

Saedra went up to the main table and found that Peter and Rahai were holding an animated discussion. Not a drop of envy flowed through her veins as she approached them, because she knew how Peter felt for her.

As she walked over, Peter looked up and locked eyes with her. But instead of smiling and greeting her, he quickly looked away and continued talking with Rahai. Rahai had noticed his eye movement, and looked back at Saedra.

"Duchess!" she said in her warm accent. "How are you this evening?"

"I'm well! And yourself?"

"Fine, thank you. I must say, you look ravishing this evening," Rahai said, gesturing towards Saedra's dress. "Don't you think so, High King?"

Suddenly, Saedra liked the Tarkheena lot more. She looked up at Peter, expecting praise.

"Yes, she does," he nodded. "As do you, Tarkheena. I must say, that green color suits you very well."

Rahai blushed. "Thank you, your Majesty."

Saedra felt like she had been slapped in the face. Peter was supposed to be complimenting her, not the Tarkheena!

"I hear that you're expecting trouble from the Giants," Saedra said to Peter, trying to start a conversation.

"It's only a rumor, but we're going to check it out," Peter replied.

"How big are the Giants?" Rahai asked with round eyes. "I can't even imagine what a Giant looks like!"

Peter smiled at the Tarkheena warmly, and any good will Saedra had just built up for her drained away quickly. "Oh, they're quite large and ugly," he replied. "And not very clever. Still, they're hard to fight because of their size. They could simply step on us like we do on large insects."

"Do you ever try to confuse them, since they aren't clever?" Rahai asked, launching her and Peter into a discussion of how one might battle Giants. Saedra was completely left out, and even though she sat between them when dinner started, they simply talked over her. The whole thing was simply mortifying, and Saedra was racking her brain the whole time, trying to figure out what she had done to make Peter angry with her.

Saedra tried several times to join the conversation, but it was no use. Peter, for some reason, seemed to be going out of his way to be rude to her. Rahai wasn't as bad, but she wasn't helping anything. A lump built in Saedra's throat, but she sat up straight and kept her face pleasant.

What did I do? she kept thinking. She replayed everything in her mind, trying to come up with something...anything that would make Peter want to hurt her so.

Was I right about him? Is love just a sport for him? He doesn't want me now that he knows I've fallen for him?

The questions swirled in her mind as she ate with a happy expression on her face. The delicious food tasted like sand in her mouth, but she forced it down as if she were famished. There was nothing else to do but eat; she couldn't talk across the table to Lucy and Corin without interrupting Rahai and Peter's conversation.

Wait a minute...

"Prince Corin, I have a proposition for you," Saedra said loudly, leaning forward and blocking Rahai and Peter's view of each other. She kept an innocent look on her face so they wouldn't know the devious thoughts running though her head.

"What is it, my Lady?" Corin came back enthusiastically.

"Queen Susan has extended an invitation for us to go with her down to Tashbaan, and I'm considering it. What does your Highness think?"

She secretly wanted Peter to join the conversation and say, "No, stay here!" but all he did was lean back and try to continue his conversation with Rahai behind her head.

"You're going down to Tashbaan?" Rahai asked, overhearing what Saedra said.

"Yes—" Saedra started, but Peter cut her off with, "As I was saying, Tarkheena..." and turned Rahai's attention back to what they had been talking about.

Corin's face lit up. "Another adventure? Why, I jolly well would like to go down there! I've heard such stories..."

It's settled then, thought Saedra. With Peter acting as he was, there was absolutely no way she wanted to stay in Narnia any longer. The quickest way to escape would be to leave with Susan, and besides, she had really wanted to go down—the only reason she hadn't said yes right away was because of Peter. And now he was being a complete ass!

Saedra engaged Corin in a conversation about Tashbaan, and though her throat was still constricted from the urge to weep, she did know that going to Tashbaan was probably the most exciting thing that could ever happen to her. After dinner ended and the pre-dancing milling about started, Saedra found Susan to tell her. She felt like she was in a daze, and all she could think about was Peter.

"Oh, I'm so glad!" Susan said earnestly, taking Saedra's hands. "We really will have the most amazing time!"

Saedra forced a smile and said, "Yes, I know we will—Oh: hello, Edmund!"

"Hello, Saedra, Susan," he smiled. "I was wondering if either of you'd like to have the first dance with me."

"Oh, Lady Saedra can. I've already promised Prince Rabadash the first dance," Susan said, looking around for her lover. "Speaking of which, I'd better find him. It's high time we started dancing." She trotted into the crowd.

"I'd better see if Lucy's dancing with anyone," Edmund shrugged, about to start walking off.

"Whatever for?" Saedra asked.

He stopped. "Surely you're dancing with my brother!"

The lump in Saedra's throat grew, but she hid it well. She laughed lightly. "Why, no! I'd like to dance with you, if you'll have me!"

Edmund grinned, and just then the intro music started. They walked onto the dance floor, which was being cleared out as the partiers moved to the edges of the room, and waited as the other pairs joined them. Susan was, of course, with Rabadash, Lucy was with Corin, and Peter was with...Rahai.

Saedra watched Peter as he glanced around the room, and suddenly their eyes met. Peter's expression didn't change as he looked at her, and neither did hers. She merely inclined her head to him courteously, as if there had been nothing going on between them before and as if she wasn't ready to explode with anger and jealousy. He nodded back, and they looked away from each other.

The couples started dancing, and Saedra looked up at Edmund. "I don't know if Queen Susan told you, but Prince Corin and I will be going with you to Tashbaan."

His face lit up. "It that so? I knew she was thinking of asking you, because she was worried that she'd be the only female on the ship. I actually recommended that she ask you to come, because I know how you've expressed interest in Calormen. Besides," he added, grinning sheepishly, "it'll benefit me more than her if you come. She'll be with Rabadash all day, so I'll probably be the lonely one!"

"Then I'm grateful to you both of you!" she laughed. The laugh felt a bit shaky because of the unshed tears within her.

"I'm curious, though," said Edmund, "how you feel about leaving Narnia, especially now."

She knew he was hinting about Peter, but she acted innocent of it. "I'm sad to leave Narnia, for it's truly an amazing place with wonderful people, but I think it's time we left."

"And if I may be so bold as to ask, how do you feel about leaving my brother Peter?"

"Peter?" she repeated, not expecting him to be so blunt. "Well, I'll miss him like I miss all of you, of course..."

Edmund raised his eyebrows. "And?"

"And I don't know what else you want me to say! As you can see, there is nothing special between me and the High King."

He studied her a moment, then said, "I don't believe you."

"Believe what you want," she laughed. "He's obviously more interested in the Tarkheena than me, though I wouldn't have thought so before tonight."

She'd slipped; not only did the words invite questioning, but the hurt manner in which she said them gave everything away.

"I'm going to talk to him," he said.

"No!" she exclaimed.

"This isn't like him to be like this. Even Lucy noticed that Peter seemed to be neglecting you."

"It doesn't matter," Saedra assured him. "Let's just leave things be. I'm leaving the country soon anyway, so it doesn't matter."

She thought Edmund had gotten the message, but later that night when she was at the wine bowl getting a drink, Peter came up to her. With how the High King had been acting earlier, she had no doubt that he hadn't come to her of his own accord.

"Lady Saedra, may I have this dance?" he asked, bowing politely. He looked stiff, and as if this chore was very hard for him to do.

"No, thank you, your Majesty," she said with a hint of smugness. "I'm quite comfortable talking with Queen Lucy and Tumnus over there, but thank you." She was getting him back for his horrific rudeness at dinner, and it eased some of the hurt.

"I insist, my Lady. We haven't spoken since yesterday."

"We have nothing to speak about, your Majesty," she snapped, more harshly than she'd intended.

"I disagree, my Lady. King Edmund informs me that you aren't too happy with me, so I'd like to clear the air."

"You brother knows not of what he speaks," she said, heading back to the table where she had been sitting with Lucy and Tumnus with her full goblet.

He followed her. "I disagree. Your Ladyship is obviously displeased with me."

"If I am displeased, it's only because you're making an issue of something that doesn't exist, High King." She spoke as she walked without turning her head to him.

"My Lady, it's obvious to me that we need to talk."

"We are talking!" she exclaimed, whipping around. They had stopped in front of Lucy and Tumnus, who stopped their conversation to hear what the other two were saying.

"No, we're arguing," he corrected.

"Argument is a form of talking," Saedra sighed, sick of being around him. Just the day before, they'd been kissing; now, they were fighting. And she had no idea what had changed.

"Come, Lady Saedra," he said. "I don't want there to be any reason for you to send bad word of Narnia back to Archenland."

Saedra couldn't believe it. "Is that all you care about? What I tell King Lune about you? That's the only reason you came over here?" she asked shrilly, the pain, if it was possible, was sharper.

Peter looked like he wanted to throw up. "Saedra, you have no idea why—"

"I don't care! You live your life, I'll live mine. And don't worry; Lune won't hear a thing about any of this!"

With that, she banged the goblet on the table, sloshing wine all over, and stormed away, leaving a stunned Lucy and Tumnus—and a green-faced Peter—in her wake.