Chapter 16: Clear the Area

"Lorelei! Kid! Wake up will ya! Aslan's back!!!"

Lorelei jumped out of bed so fast the sheets began tangled around her legs. Quickly pulling them off she ran and grabbed a long tunic to throw over her dressing gown, not bothering with shoes. Running out of her tent, she saw an impatient Eli stomping his hooves.

"He's back? Are you certain?" Lorelei was afraid to hope too much. She had missed him so much and wanted to tell him about her and Peter's new relationship.

"Yes, yes he is. I saw him come in this morning. I don't think anyone else knows he's here. We could be the first to see him!!!" Eli said laughing and grabbing her hand. Together they raced down the hill to the edge of the forest where Aslan always took his tent. When they got there, they both slowed down, becoming instantly self conscious. Lorelei stared down at her dirty bare feet, and Eli tried to smooth down his rambunctious hair. Looking at each other one last time, they stepped forward and called out Aslan's name.

There was no answer. Gathering up her courage, Lorelei parted the tent's entrance. Eli hissed out her name in a whisper. No one ever went into Aslan's tent without being invited. In fact, Eli had never met anyone who had ever been inside; he always came to them. Lorelei just held up her hand to shush him.

Lorelei's heart was beating so fast she was afraid it would explode from her chest, but she was determined to see Aslan with or without Eli… though she definitely preferred it to be with him.

She stepped inside and gently called out Aslan's name again. She turned to see Eli had followed her inside. She shot him a smirk, but he was too busy taking in Aslan's dwelling. Lorelei greedily took it in too and was almost disappointed when she saw how simple it was. She had always envisioned Aslan living in grand luxury. Instead he had a bed that was only a little bit larger than hers. And while it definitely was made of a finer fabric and a thicker duvet, it was still modest. He had a table with a giant mirror on it and a comb for his mane. Beautiful paintings of unknown lands adorned his walls encased in wooden frames. But she still didn't see any sign of Aslan.

"Eli, are you sure he's back? Because he obviously isn't here."

Before he could answer, they heard a splash and a grunt coming from the rear exit of the tent. Worried that someone was hurt, Lorelei tiptoed quickly to the part with an apprehensive Eli behind her. She stepped outside, getting ready to ask who was in Aslan's tent. But what she saw stopped her question dead.

The grunt had come from Aslan himself. The great lion was slowly lowering himself into a huge tub of steaming water that was producing an odd smell. He's left shoulder was a huge mess of blood and matted fur. It looked like someone had taken a huge sword and tried to sever his left leg clear off. When the water hit Aslan's shoulder, he let a muttered curse.

Lorelei and Eli were gob smacked. They both were too afraid to move, but knew they should quickly retreat before the Narnian hero heard them. But they must have made some noise because Aslan sighed and called out, "I know you two are there. It is alright. You may come to me."

Slowly the two made their way to him. Even injured, he still was the most beautiful thing both of them had ever seen, and they both found that they were too ashamed to look at him. Instead, Eli talked to his hooves.

"We're horribly sorry sir. We felt something was off when you didn't answer our calls. And we were both so chuffed that you were back, we just had to see you."

Aslan just smiled warmly at the two when they finally gained the courage to look at him.

Cautiously, Lorelei moved forward to get a better look at his wound. It was even worse up close than it had been from the exit. Lorelei reached in the tub and cupped a handful of water to drip on his shoulder. The fragrant water sizzled slightly on the cut.

Lorelei had to choke back tears before she could talk.

"As-, Aslan what happened to you," she asked stroking his mane. "You're hurt something fierce."

Eli just nodded in agreement. He couldn't find the words to describe the fear he felt at seeing his childhood and adulthood hero injured. He had always thought Aslan was invincible, and to see him injured made him realise how vulnerable he was.

Aslan turned around as much as his injured shoulder allowed him and gently licked the tears off Lorelei's cheeks.

"Precious Lorelei, do not weep. You will not lose me until it is time to go on your own. Do not worry about me. For it is not my story to tell. You will know when you need to know, but do not fill your head with worry of me."

Aslan turned back to Eli. "My young centaur, I ask you to keep what you have seen to yourselves. You as well Lorelei. The good creatures of Narnia do not need to worry about my situation. They will panic and become careless where they need to be most vigilant at. I will make an appearance to them when I am healed. I know this will be hard for you two, but I have the utmost faith that you will be able to guard my secret well."

Lorelei nodded and buried her head in his mane, careful not to hit his shoulder. Eli bowed down and placed his hand over his heart.

"I will do as you ask Aslan."

Aslan nodded his head as a response.

"And now tell me of how Narnia has fared in the months of my absence."

Trying quickly to ignore Aslan's state, they quickly filled him in, Lorelei blushing furiously when she told him about her and Peter's new relationship, but broke into a wide grin when Aslan gave his full approval. They stayed until the water in Aslan's tub cooled and dusk began to creep over the horizon. Embracing him one last time, Lorelei and Eli exited his tent.

"Let's go grab some grub, eh?"

"Sure," she responded.

However when they made it to the eating tent, neither one had much appetite even though neither had eaten lunch.

"I have a date with Peter tonight. It'll be pretty tough keeping my trap close, you know?"

Eli poked his chicken with his fork.

"I know what you mean. I… I haveadatetonightwithSarah," he said blushing furiously.

It took Lorelei a moment to digest what Eli had just blurted.

Lorelei dropped her spoon to her plate and broke out in a wide grin.

"You have a date? Centaur's gotta date! Centaur's gotta a date!" she sang jumping up and doing a little jig.

"Leave off will ya'! Or do you want me to bring up that mysterious mark on your neck you've been trying to hide."

Lorelei stopped laughing and scowled at Eli while she pulled up her collar to hide her neck and sat back down. Eli, having won the argument finally decided to dig in.

That night Lorelei and Peter took a swim at their spot. Lorelei wanted to just enjoy their time together, Aslan keep popping in her head. She swam to the edge of the lake and crawled out with a sigh. Peter followed her, brow wrinkling with his frown.

"Lore, what happened today? You seem down."

Instead of answering, Lorelei just laid down on a warm, flat rock, and closed her eyes. She could hear Peter come over and stand over her, the water dripping on her face. He kneeled down and poked her side. Lorelei sat up with a jerk.

"Hey watch it!"

Peter grinned at her.

"Ah, so I must remember that in ordered to get you to notice me, I'll have to poke you.

Lorelei grinned and reached out to ruffle his wet hair.

"Sorry captain. I was just thinking. Eli had a date tonight you know. How do you think it's going?"

Peter realised she wanted to change the subject, so he played along. "Great I'm sure. We both have to make sure we take the mickey out of him tomorrow."

Lorelei, grateful that he understood her so well, leaned in and gave him a peck on the lips. She went to pull away, but Peter had another agenda on his mind. He snaked his arm around her and pulled her closer to his chest, her wet slip making it easier to feel her breast against his chest. With a groan, he deepened the kiss, and Lorelei eagerly let him plunder her mouth.

She fell back until she was lying flat on the stone, Peter laying half across her. With a sigh, she lifted her hands and threaded them in his hair, remembering from previous times how sensitive Peter's scalp was. Sure enough as she raked her nails gently through, his back arched and he shuddered. Pulling his lips from hers, he buried his face in the side of her throat and bit the skin there when she tugged gently on his hair.

"Lords Lore," he choked out hoarsely. "You don't know how good that feels. I don't think you realise what it makes me want to do to you."

Lorelei pulled his head up and deliberately ran her tongue over her bottom lip, enraptured by the way Peter's eyes darken.

"Then show me captain."

With a moan, he dove down and kissed her hard enough to bruise her mouth stroking her sides the entire time. Lorelei greedily ran her hands all over Peter's lean muscles, dragging her nails up and down his stomach.

Peter kissed his way from her lips down the side of her face to her throat. Finding her frantic pulse with his tongue, he licked at it and bit around Lorelei's throat. He was rewarded with mewling sounds from Lorelei.

He leaned back and firmly laid himself between her legs, groaning at the feel of settling his straining body against the warmth between her legs. He grinded roughly against her. He slid his hands up to cup her lush breasts, kneading them gently. Leaning forward, he incased a nipple in his hot mouth. Lorelei let out a strangled groan and started moving against him. But it wasn't enough for Peter; he needed to feel her bare skin. He slid his hands down and gripped the edge of her slip. They had never gone that far before, and Peter knew he should probably stop, but he couldn't. Lorelei was like a fire in his veins tonight. He began sliding his hands under the gown, and felt her tense a bit. He gently kissed her until he felt her relax. She shivered as he slowly dragged his hands up her thighs and her flat stomach. She let out a scream when his rough palms cupped her breasts. When his mouth connected with her nipple she practically sobbed his name. All she could do was lie there and take in all the feeling he was causing her. She tangled her fingers in his hair and arched her back when his stubble contacted her sensitive skin.

When it finally became too much, she forced his head up and attacked his mouth. Pushing him back, she straddled his waist. When he gave her a questioning look, she just responded by grinding her hips into his. Peter threw his head back and reached up to hold onto her hips. Lorelei leaned down and began sucking on Peter's ear. When she licked the skin right underneath his ear, he nearly came right then and there. Lorelei had a way off discovering the most sensitive skin on his body. She kissed down his chest and ran her tongue down his length of golden hair that ran into his shortened breeches. Peter growled in response and forced her mouth back to his. Taking control of the situation, he rocked her forward while moving himself, the movement causing Lorelei's center to come in contact along his length.

Lorelei sat up and let out a surprised gasp which quickly turned to a moan. The rough fabric and Peter were causing hot liquid fire to run to the center of her body. Bracing her hands on Peter's chest, she tried to move her body like he had, trying to get the blinding pleasure bolt he had caused. When she found it she let out a moan just as Peter did. Leaning back down, she attached her mouth to his as she kept moving back and forth, speeding up, seeking some elusive rush she didn't even know existed. Peter's hands gripped her hips harder, forcing her closer down to his body. His breathing harsh as his covered her face in kisses. Lorelei grabbed his hair as an anchor in the world. She was close, close to what she didn't know, and didn't care as long as Peter was there with her. And if sound was anything to go on, he was.

Lords, she was almost there, almost there and- then she heard someone clearing their throat. She and Peter didn't acknowledge them at first, so caught up in each other, but they cleared their throat and second time. The two stopped moving against each other, but didn't let go until their breathing slowed. Lorelei climbed off of Peter's lap and they turned towards the woods to see a beet red Susan, trying her hardest to avoid looking at them.

"Sss, sorry guys. I didn't know you were… busy. I was just looking for Peter to let him know that I wasn't going to be at the castle tomorrow morning. I have a meeting with a neighboring country's princess. Sorry. Um, carry on."

She turned around and walked away as quickly as she could. Lorelei and Peter looked at each other for a minute, confusion written on their faces, and then let out a laugh.

"What just happened?" Lorelei asked

"No idea."

The mood officially ruined by Susan, Lorelei felt a little shocked at her behavior. She had never been that domineering before. She hoped Peter wasn't turned off; she had just wanted him to feel the same thing he caused her to feel. Peter sensing Lorelei contemplative mood returning, grabbed her hand, and pulled her up with him as he stood.

"Come Lore, let's finish swimming."

Lorelei let out a laugh and followed him eagerly, doubt and insecurity quickly leaving her mind when she saw the way he stared at her.