Meet Me in the Southern Passage

Saedra awoke earlier than usual the next day because of the bright light shining in through the windows.

I forgot to close the curtains last night, she thought testily, then turned to get out of bed-but she ran into something.

It was...a shoulder? She rubbed her face and looked again.

There it was: a bare, muscular shoulder of a man. Her eyes trailed up from the shoulder, up the neck, and to the face of a very awake and grinning Peter. Her jaw dropped as the previous night's events came back to her.

"Oh!" she cried, realizing as she sat that she was, in fact, completely unclothed under the blankets and that most likely, Peter was as well.

"Good morning, Sleeping Beauty," Peter said tenderly, reaching over and running his fingers though her knotty hair.

"Ouch!" she exclaimed when he accidentally pulled too hard on a knot. "Who's Sleeping Beauty?"

Peter laughed. "You. You do love your sleep, don't you? I've been awake for half an hour already."

"And you've just been laying there?" she asked, looking back at him.

"You're awfully cute when you're asleep, you know that?" he teased.

"I'd still be asleep if I'd closed the curtains last night. I feel like death." She rubbed her eyes again, but they still felt like they had been half-sewn together.

"It's natural. You did have a lot of exercise yesterday."

She looked back at him with a fake scowl.

"What's that for? I meant the sledding, of course!"

"Good," she said, still faking indignance.

He reached up and tugged at her shoulders so she was lying down again, head resting on his shoulder. "Let's just relax for a while more."

Saedra had to smile at his sweetness and snuggled up against him.

It was a wonderful but strange feeling, lying next to Peter in such a state. Something like out of a dream. It was almost perfect; there just seemed to be something missing, though she couldn't put her finger on it. She felt close to him, but in other ways she felt like she didn't know Peter nearly as well as she should.

Relax! she chided herself. Can't you ever be happy? We can deal with all of that later. Just enjoy the moment.

"I never thought you were one to stay in bed all morning," she said aloud.

"I'll make an exception today," he said, running his finger up and down her arm.

"I'm going to fall asleep again," she warned.

"Be my guest, darling," he said, and she chuckled at the new term of endearment.

Saedra was true to her word, and in five minutes she was in a deep sleep. When she woke up, it was midday and Peter was gone. She gingerly climbed out of bed, her stomach aching with hunger. She washed herself, dressed, and went to the hall where lunch was being served. Peter, Talia, Susan, and Lucy were already there with the others, just beginning to eat. She went over to the empty spot next to Susan and sat down. She locked eyes with Peter as she did so, and a meaningful look passed between them.

Susan leaned in and asked softly, "Are you all right, Sae?"

"Of course! Why do you ask?"

"You sat down awkwardly, that's all. Did you hurt yourself sledding yesterday?"

Saedra bit her lip to stifle a giggle, and Susan raised her eyebrows. "No?"

"No, I didn't hurt myself sledding."

Susan studied her for a moment, and then said, "Ah."

"Ah?"

"So that's where you two were at dinner. I had my suspicions, especially with the way you were acting all day..."

Saedra couldn't hide her silly grin and glanced over at Peter again. He was watching her.

"I'll say no more," Susan whispered. "If you were married to anyone but my brother, I would want to know all of the gory details, but as it is I will choose to remain in the dark."

Saedra laughed and said, "All I know is that it is good to be back in Narnia."

Susan grinned and changed the subject. "So anyway, I've been thinking...I want to have an engagement party."

Saedra raised her eyebrows. "You haven't had one already?"

"I wasn't about to have it with you and Peter and Edmund and Lucy and Talia away!"

Saedra giggled. "True, true. When do you want it?"

"I was thinking Christmas Eve. But then I was worried...do you think the holiday would distract from the engagement?"

"Hm," Saedra paused to think. "I think it could be very nice, actually. The castle will be decorated and everything would be really beautiful. The problem is the weather. It's two months away, but do you think that people will be able to travel in the snow?"

"That's another problem I've been trying to work out," Susan sighed. "I'd love it to be a large celebration, but I don't think nobles from out of country will want to travel up here twice, once for the party and then for the wedding."

"Maybe you can make the engagement party for the Narnians, then have the wedding be huge. Unless you would rather have a large party and a smaller wedding."

"No, I want the wedding to be huge. That's a good notion to have the party just for us Narnians. You know, that's what I'll do! That's enough time for Ed to come back as well, so everything will be perfect."

But the two months flew by, and Edmund still did not return. Snow continued to coat the face of Narnia, and the Narnians prepared for the upcoming party and Christmas. Susan was in her element-planning-while Peridan was there to support her from the side all the way. Lucy and Saedra would also help when asked for advice.

Meanwhile, Saedra's days were filled with teaching Talia her lessons, twice-a-week sword lessons with Peter and Talia, governing Harden over mail, and getting used to her new arrangements with Peter. One would think that that sharing sleeping quarters with the High King of Narnia would be exceedingly glamorous and romantic, but Saedra found out right away that that was certainly not the case.

Yes, she had Peter were happier now than they had ever been, but their timing to finally move their relationship forward could not have been worse. They had missed the stage where they could shirk their duties to be with each other...that had passed half a year before. They were finally in their sparks-flying, giddy-with-attraction stage, but there was no time for it. With Edmund still gone, Peter had almost twice as much work to do; he would always come back to bed late, and though it was rare and Saedra always tried to be awake when he came back, sometimes she would have drifted off to sleep already.

But despite the demands on both of their times, Peter and Saedra would spend one day a week where they would shove their duties aside and do something as a family with Talia. Talia's favorite thing to do was to go hiking through the forests and meet the Trees and other creatures, so that is what they usually did. It had more than one benefit, because the creatures were always beside themselves with excitement about meeting the royal family, and Peter was able to speak with the inhabitants one on one.

The more time Saedra spent around and with Peter, the more and more she knew that she was falling back in love with him. Her face lit up whenever she was around him, and there was a permanent smile on her face. The past was in the past. It didn't matter what had happened between them when Rabadash and Rahai were visiting Cair Paravel; it didn't matter why Peter married her. All that mattered was now: the busy days and intermittent passionate nights. There simply wasn't time to dwell on things that seemed to have no bearing on her current happy status...no need to rock the boat. Everything was finally coming together, for Saedra and Peter as well as for Susan and Peridan.

The day of Susan's engagement party crept up quickly, and soon Peter and Saedra were in their bedroom getting ready for the party. They had transferred his things from his room to hers since hers was the nicer.

"I can't believe Ed hasn't come back yet," Saedra said from her seat in front of the vanity. She was putting the last pins in her loose bun. "Su's really disappointed about that. She was counting on the fact that he'd be here by now."

"I know," Peter sighed, walking over and leaning against the dresser. "I fear that I've waited too long to start making inquiries about him. After Christmas I'm going to make arrangements to send out people to search for him."

She turned her head every which way to examine her handiwork, then stood up and looked at him. "Well, I guess we'll have to be extra jolly to make up for it. This is Susan's day, and everything needs to be wonderful for her."

Peter's furrowed brow softened, and he smiled and cupped her chin in his palm. "You're so thoughtful."

Saedra laughed. "And don't you forget it!"

Peter chuckled and kissed her lightly on the lips. "Shall we go get Tal?"

The party was everything that Susan wanted it to be, save for Edmund's absence. A light new layer of snow was falling outside, Christmas decorations were everywhere, and the hall was lit by a multitude of candles that cast a glow over the dim room. After a very filling dinner, people milled about the room socializing with each other.

Susan found Saedra where she was talking with Lucy and Tumnus and said excitedly, "Sae, go find Peter! I want to start the dancing."

Saedra grinned at her and said, "Of course, my Queen."

Susan was too wound-up to catch Saedra's teasing tone at her bossiness. "Who are you going to dance with, Lu?"

Lucy raised her eyebrows, gave a light shrug, and glanced at Tumnus.

"Well, find someone," Susan said distractedly. "I'm going to tell them to start the music." The three of them watched her hurry off with amused expressions.

"She's really in her element, isn't she?" Tumnus asked with laughter in his voice.

Saedra laughed, "Well, I'd better go find that husband of mine. Want me to find you someone to dance with, Lu?"

"No, I think I'll be fine," Lucy assured her, glancing at the Faun again.

Saedra wandered around until she spotted Peter, then went up where he was talking to Stamprin and Moonshackle.

He noticed her right away and said, "Hello, my dear!"

"Susan told me to fetch you so we can start the dancing," she said, very aware of Stamprin's piercing gaze on her.

Peter smiled then said to the Dwarves, "I'd better heed my sister's wish. We shall continue this conversation later."

Saedra gave Stamprin a small smirk, just to annoy him; she hadn't forgiven the Dwarf for using Talia for information. He merely stared back seriously.

The Dwarves bowed to Peter, then he turned and wrapped his arm around Saedra's waist as they headed over to the dance floor.

"Stamprin doesn't let up, does he?" Saedra asked. "Does he ever have fun?"

"In his own way, I suppose," Peter laughed. "I think he's so serious because he's afraid I might drink too much and do something scandalous."

"Scandalous? What do you mean by 'scandalous?' I can't imagine the High King Peter doing anything that would warrant the definition of scandalous!"

"This," he replied, then planted a long kiss on her lips.

When he pulled back, she gasped, "Peter, how much have you had to drink?"

"Why do you assume I've been drinking a lot?" he asked jovially, pulling her onto the dance floor where the music was beginning.

"Because you're grinning like an idiot, that's why!"

He laughed and said, "Can't a man be happy without someone thinking there are darker forces at work? I have a wonderful wife and daughter, my sister is marrying one of the best men I know, and Narnia is prospering. I think I'm allowed to smile!" He leaned in and added, "Besides, you're smiling just as much as I am."

Saedra tried to wipe the idiotic grin off of her face. "I'm smiling just because you're smiling!"

"And what if I'm smiling just because you're smiling?"

She threw her head back and guffawed. "You are too much, your Majesty."

"And you, my Lady, are too beautiful," he countered.

She had a witty remark on the tip of her tongue-truly, she did-but it didn't come out. Maybe it was his wonderful mood, maybe it was hers, maybe it was the romantic atmosphere...maybe it was all of those things, but instead of the snappy joke she had in mind what she blurted was:

"I love you."

Peter's smile faded into a surprised, serious expression, and he pulled their dancing to a stop in the middle of the dance floor. He looked at her without speaking and seemed to be holding his breath, waiting for her to repeat what she had said in case he had misheard.

Saedra looked even more shocked than he did at her declaration, but then a small, sly smile crept onto her face. She inched closer and said again, "I love you, Peter."

A strange expression crossed his face, and at first she thought he looked like he was going to cry. His eyes shone and he said sincerely, "I love you, Saedra."

Warmth flooded her body; it was as if she was basking in the warmth of the love that was radiating from his eyes.

Whatever was happening around them was a blur. All they saw was each other. She let go of his hands and wrapped them around his neck, while he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her even closer. They inclined their heads towards each other and kissed deeply, completely oblivious to the people around them.

When they pulled back for air, they were shocked to hear loud applause greet them. They looked around and saw that the music had stopped, and with it the dancing. Almost every eye in the room was on them and had witnessed their passionate kiss.

Normally Saedra would have been mortified at their public display of affection, but she couldn't care less that half of Narnia had seen her making out with her husband. She wanted to scream from the rooftops...he loved her! The world needed to know!

Peter and Saedra looked back and each other and smiled, their noses close enough to touch.

"Now I know what you mean by 'scandalous,'" Saedra whispered as the music started up again.

Peter kissed her again, then murmured in her ear, "Meet me in the southern passage in fifteen."

Saedra blinked in surprise and whispered back, "We can't leave the party!"

Oh, did she ever want to!

Peter only looked at her, then jerked his head towards where Susan and Peridan were dancing closely, also in their own world. "I don't think she'll miss us. Neither will Tal."

Talia was happily dancing with some Dryads in a circle.

Saedra glanced around the room, then smiled conspiratorially. "All right."

They reluctantly released each other and went their separate ways through the room. Saedra walked along the edge of the dance floor, noting that Lucy had found a dance partner in Tumnus. Saedra said what she had to say to the people that came up to her, laughed along with the teasings about her big kiss with Peter, and did whatever it took to get to edge of the room. After what seemed like forever, she escaped and hurriedly walked through the dark hallways towards the southern passage.

Peter wasn't there yet, so she leaned against the wall to wait, her face beaming in the darkness as she replayed the dance in her mind. After what seemed like ages-but was more like five minutes-Peter rounded the corner.

She stood up and said in a mock-accusing voice, "You're late."

He sauntered over, engulfed her in his arms, and kissed her sensually. "Trust me, it was no fault of mine."

"Passing the blame, are we?"

A low chuckle rumbled in his throat and he said, "Is there any way I can make it up to you?"

Saedra giggled, but then a sound to her left made her turn her head.

Peter didn't see her movement through the darkness, so he leaned down expecting her lips-but met her cheek.

Saedra put her hand up to his scruffy chin. "Someone's out here," she whispered.

Peter perked up and turned in the direction that she had heard the noise come from, also hearing it now. It was the sound of footsteps, and it was coming closer.

"Who's there?" Peter called out.

"Peter?" the person asked.

Saedra froze. She knew that voice.

"Edmund?"