Disclaimer: Still don't own it.

Chapter 2

"I'm so happy to be here at last." Serena said, leaning into Peter's embrace. "It was such a long ride."

"I'm just glad to have you to myself for a moment." Peter replied smiling contentedly, "The people love you."

She glanced back at the Great Hall, where Narnians were still celebrating her arrival several hours later. "I hope so. I certainly feel welcome."

"Oh, you are." Peter assured her. "Now, we have business to attend to, my lady."

"Already?"

"Aye." The High King said his eyes glinting "We're to be married in a mere two weeks…and we still don't have a honeymoon planned."

"Well-"

"Let me pass! A shrill voice commanded, and a young woman stomped past the fauns stationed at the entrance to the garden. "I demand to speak with the High King immediately!"

Peter moaned, and dropped his head his hands, as Serena laughed.

"Shh!" He hissed, glancing toward the newcomer "Maybe if we hold very still, they'll go away."

Almost as if she had heard him speak, the girl whirled, and stared directly at Peter and Serena. Grinning smugly, she walked gracefully toward them eyes hard.

"I have been trying to meet with you all day, High King." She said haughtily. "I demand an audience with you immediately."

"And you are?" Peter said, getting up from the bench where he and Serena sat.

"Lady Charis of the Northern Lands." She said. "I bring grave news from my home."

Peter frowned. "The North? I wasn't aware of any people settling there."

"It just shows how little you truly know." She snapped back, causing Peter's eyebrows to shoot up in surprise, and the Narnian soldier that had tried to stop Charis exchanged a glance. Not many people spoke to their High King in such a manner.

"Then I beg you, please, enlighten me, Lady Charis." Peter said, mildly. "Since you are so better informed than I."

She glared at him coldly. "I demand to speak with you in private. This is no small matter."

"And it shall not be treated as such. " Peter said sternly "But you would do well to remember who you are addressing, madam."

For a moment she met his stern gaze, then slowly lowered her eyes. "Forgive me, High King. I did not mean to offend."

"I shall meet with you in the morning." He said, his tone slightly gentler. "Until then enjoy the festivities. Narnia is at her best tonight."

She curtseyed gracefully and pushed past the guards into the Great Hall, clearly miffed.

"That was interesting." Serena murmured, glancing at Peter. "Does that happen often?"

Peter frowned. "No. The Narnians show us the utmost respect, and respect our privacy. Lady Charis, clearly was a little…different."

"Obviously." Serena said "Now, about that honeymoon…"

"How dare he speak to me like that!" Charis growled, pacing in her room angrily. "That impudent brat! He will learn not to cross me!" Angrily, she walked to the desk in the corner and pulled a needle from a pouch at her side. She stared at it a moment. Even now the plan was coming to a head, entering its most delicate stage. All the planning, all her work, the spells and enchantments, all lead to tomorrows meeting. She only needed to meet with the King alone.

Smiling cruelly, she glanced out the window at the party continuing below. Tomorrow they will all pay…

The next morning, the four monarchs of Narnia were gathered in a small study, just off the Great Hall, where they met normally to discuss affairs of state.

"And therefore, I do humbly beseech thee…it's the usual rot from Calorman." Peter said with a sigh. "They congratulate us on the acquisition of a new Queen and beg that our glorious desert flower- I believe that's you, Su- reconsider the marriage proposal set forth by the Prince Rabadash."

"And what is your reply, oh glorious desert flower?" Lucy laughed as Susan made a face.

"Honestly, you'd think he's take a hint." The elder queen said, rolling her eyes.

"Is there anything else, Peter?" Edmund yawned, as Lucy tried to suppress her giggles.

Peter surveyed the stack of paper in front of the four critically, and shook his head. "I don't think so. The rest seem to be letters congratulating me on the upcoming wedding…or letters pleading me to reconsider and marry their daughters."

"Who would have thought our brother was so…desired among the ladies of our court." Lucy teased "You'd better not let Serena hear of this."

Her brother's smile merely widened, and he happily pulled a cookie off the tray and munched away, thoughts on a certain fair-haired princess.

"So we're done for now?" Edmund persisted

Peter paused, and checked the list that sat on his desk, "I think so, Ed…no, sorry. One more appointment then we break for lunch."

Edmund moaned. "But I'm starving!"

"What's the appointment?" Susan said, shooting a glared at Edmund.

"That girl I told you about."

"From last night?"

Peter nodded. "The one and the same."

Someone knocked on the door, and Tumnas poked his head in. "Your Majesties? There's a young woman saying she has a meeting with you…a Lady Charis? She was not in my records…"

Peter nodded. "Send her in Mr. Tumnas. I'll explain later."

The faun raised his eyebrow, shrugged and trotted out. A few minutes later, Charis stood before them.

"Welcome to Cair Paravel, my lady." Edmund said "My brother says you wish to speak with us concerning a matter in the North."

"I wish to speak with the High King concerning a matter in the North." She said, glaring coldly at the other three. "This does not concern the rest of you.

"Perhaps you are not aware of how things work here in Narnia, stranger." Susan said, her eyes flashing dangerously. "Our brother may be High King, but he sits no higher than the rest of us, nor does his title give him a greater authority. We rule equally, or not at all."

"I am under orders to reveal this information only to the High King Peter." Charis spat. "You have no right to delay me. And if you were half the magnificent king you are supposed to be-"

"Enough!" Edmund thundered, jumping to his feet. "How dare you taunt my brother in such a manner!"

"Peace, Edmund." Peter said, sternly. "And you Lady Charis would do well to remember who is in charge, and who is a guest. We are not accustomed to ruling our country on the whims of strangers."

Again she glared. "This is not a mere whim, High King. It is a request. Share the information I give you with whomever you will, but I am ordered to give it to you in private."

Peter sighed, and glanced at his siblings. "Wait outside, my lady. My siblings and I need to discuss your request."

Charis nodded and stared suspiciously at Susan before turning and stalking out, as though she owned the very ground beneath her feet. As soon as the door shut behind her Susan whirled on Peter.

"I don't like her."

Peter resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "I couldn't tell, Su. It looked like you were getting along fine to me."

"I want to know who's giving her orders." Edmund said. "And how they do it. She's obviously used to getting her way."

"Why meet with just you, Peter?" Lucy questioned "Surely she knows you'll share whatever is said with us immediately."

Peter shrugged. "I don't know, Lu. Any other suggestions, besides letting her speak with me in private?"
The youngest two shook their heads, and Susan muttered something about stringing the girl up by her toes, but upon further prodding, admitted she had no other humane solution.

"Then you lot, go on to lunch." Peter said with a heavy sigh. "I'll talk with her and reply to these congratulation notes, and see you later this afternoon."

"What about Serena?" Lucy said "It is her first full day here."

Peter grinned. "I never said I'd see you first thing after my work, did I?"

Lucy laughed, and the three left the room, sending Charis in as they did so.

"Well, we have granted your request, Lady Charis." He said after a moment. "Can you now deliver your message, or is there something else you require."

She glanced about and pulled something out of the pouch at her side, motioning him to join her at the center of the room. Curious he did so. She stepped close to him, eyes meeting his. Slowly she raised her arms towards him, as though to embrace him, when a sharp stab of pain shot through his neck and her hands clutched his cheeks pulling him into a rough kiss. Shocked, Peter jerked away.

"I beg your pardon!" The yelled "That was beyond inappropriate, my lady! You would draw me here alone under the pretense of giving me a message-"

"That was the message, High King." Charis interrupted, turning to leave.

"What!"

She smiled at him smugly. "That was the message given to me by my mistress in the North. As I said earlier, I could only give it to you, and you can share it with whom you will." With that she turned, and left, shutting the door behind her.

Blinking, Peter stared after her, mouth slightly open for several minutes. When he finally shook himself from his stupor, he sat down to continue his work. Stretching slightly, he went to rub the back of his neck, when his fingers hit something. Frowning he pulled out the small object. A needle? He thought, confused as he stared at the silver metal in his hand. Why is there a needle in my neck? He shook his head, and pushed the matter from his mind, tossing the needle into the trash.

And in the dark of her room, Charis laughed at a job well done.