Chapter 12

"I'll kill him!" Peter bellowed, crumpling the piece of paper he had been reading and throwing it away from him. Georgie and Susan exchanged worried, confused glances.

"Kill who?" asked Susan, alarmed at her brother's sudden outburst. The three had been relaxing outside their lavish tents in the camp set near the Dancing Lawn. Georgie had arrived there earlier in the day and, after getting settled in her tent which she was to share with Susan and joining the siblings for a late lunch, she had given Peter the letter Edmund had sent.

"That rotten lout Caspian, that's who!" Peter yelled, storming away from where they had been sitting.

"Oh dear," began Susan. "Lady Georgiana, will you please find what Peter threw away? We must find out what happened!" She stood and hurried after her brother. "Peter! Peter, stop this instant!" she called.

Georgie walked towards where the letter had been thrown, searching through the low brush on the ground. She found it nestled in a small brier bush and plucked it out, careful not to catch herself on the sharp stickers. Uncrumpling it, she smoothed Edmund's letter and began reading, anxious to find what he had warned her of before.

Dear Peter,

I must inform you of some rather negative news. Until recently, our voyage has been fairly uneventful. We had a run up against pirates from Terebinthia a few weeks ago, but suffered no damage as they turned and ran after a round of arrows shot upon them by us. Our real dilemma came when we landed on Felimath. Wanting to stretch our legs, Caspian, Reepicheep, Lucy, Eustace (You remember our horrible little cousin, right? The rotter went up and somehow fell into Narnia. Lu and I have had the most horrific time attempting to convince him we came to Narnia with him, going so far as to jump into the ocean where we first found him and pretending to let Caspian save us) and I went ashore to walk to the other side while the ship sailed around. We were to meet the ship and board before sailing to Avra. During our walk we came upon some men who offered us a drink with them, and no sooner than we had lifted our glasses did they capture us. Slave traders they were, in our province! Caspian was bought by a lord, who turned out to be Lord Bern, on our way to Narrowhaven, but the rest of us were taken to the slave market and eventually sold. All except Eustace; no one wanted the brute, no surprise there. Caspian came to our rescue, freeing all the slaves in the market. He relieved the governor on Felimath of his title and made Lord Bern a Duke over the Lone Islands. We are still in Narrowhaven as I write, Caspian wanting to help ease Lord Bern into his position.

I tell you all this because I believe you should know of our capture. I'm not too happy with the fact that we were captured, but do not blame Caspian entirely and warn that neither should you. He was the one who suggested we walk the island, but Lucy and I should have known better, as well, as to take such a risk. The fault lies with all of us, although I have a hunch you'll simply blame Caspian.

Do not attempt to do anything rash. We're far to away for you to try to run after us and hunt down Caspian. Do something useful instead, such as practicing your sword fighting skills. I'll show you how it's really done when I return. Take care of Susan and Lady Georgiana for me.

Your brother,

Edmund

"Oh no!" Georgie breathed as she finished reading the letter. Tears welled in her eyes as she thought of her friends lost to her forever, slaves on some strange island. But they aren't slaves; Caspian rescued them! she thought, wiping away her unshed tears. I must find Peter and see if I can help calm him as Edmund told me to. She rushed to find where Peter and Susan had hurried to, finding them just outside the large camp.

"I don't care Susan! We should have never let them go!" Peter was yelling.

"I understand that, but as you said they both know how to take care of themselves," said Susan gently.

"That may be, but Caspian has no clue how to ensure their safety. This is his fault they were captured. Not only did he endanger two of Narnia's monarchs, but our blasted cousin as well!" Georgie stepped towards them, stepping on a small stick which snapped loudly beneath her feet. Peter and Susan turned at the sound, both their faces visibly easing of the worry in them upon seeing her. Peter noticed Edmund's letter in her hand and said, "I see you read his letter. Well?"

Susan walked over to Georgie and took the letter out of her hand, reading it to find out what had happened to her siblings and Caspian.

Georgie took a deep breath before answering Peter, "I feel horrible at this happening. I wish they'd never gone. It worries me that if this is what they've already come up against, pirate attacks and slave traders, what else will they find on this voyage?" she began, slowly explaining her fears.

"You see?! At least I'm not the only one who feels that way!" Peter cried.

"Peter," Susan said, rolling her eyes as she continued to read.

"But," Georgie said, raising her voice an octave to regain Peter's attention. "But, I trust King Caspian, Edmund and Lucy. They will all take care of each other, I know they will. Edmund admits that they all made a mistake, not just King Caspian. I think we insult them by allowing ourselves to over worry for their safety and not trusting that they'll do everything they can to protect themselves. We have to trust them or we'll go mad before they return," said Georgie firmly.

Susan, finished reading the letter, agreed, "Lady Georgiana is right, Peter. Edmund and Lucy know how to take care of themselves, we've both seen that many times over. And Caspian, although somewhat new to all of this, knows his responsibility as king of Narnia. He won't fail us."

Peter stared at his sister and Georgie, mulling over what they had told him, before sighing and accepting the truth of their words. "You're both right. I suppose I was being an ass about all this. What do you say we return to the camp and get ourselves ready for our feast tonight?" The girls both smiled and agreed, each taking one of Peter's arms which he had offered to them before walking back to the camp.

Hours later, George walked out of her tent with Susan. Both were dressed similarly in long simple white dresses, their feet clad in soft leather slippers. Susan had explained that these clothes were often preferred during feasts because of the dancing. "Our regular clothes can be too hot to dance in. All those layers make it quite uncomfortable, trust me," she said. Susan's waist-length dark hair was left loose, the soft waves floating down her back. A crown of bright yellow flowers had been made for her by a dryad and was resting on her head. Georgie had also been attended to by the dryad, who had braided her brown hair (Which has gotten very long. I must not have noticed, thought Georgie) in a loose braid and woven soft pink flowers throughout it, placing a few behind her ears as well.

Susan and Georgie met Peter, who was waiting for them near their tent, before walking to the celebration. He was dressed simply as well and was wearing an intricately woven crown, made of some type of long grass and leaves, Georgie surmised, deep red flowers interspersed in it where large gems might have been in an actual crown.

"Well, don't you two make the loveliest pair tonight?" he teased, offering them both his arms again.

"Thank you, Your Majesty," said Georgie, blushing slightly. "But I do think you are lovelier by far," she said, teasing him back. Susan and Peter both laughed loudly as the three walked towards the feast, which was happily underway.

The Narnians were laughing and playing, what Peter had explained, old Narnian melodies. When they arrived, cheers went up and the Narnians greeted their king and queen with hugs and handshakes. Georgie was welcomed similarly, instantly becoming a favorite among them as well. They were each given a plate filled with food, the delicious smells causing Georgie's stomach to growl eagerly. After being led to a large blanket which was spread out for them, they sat and began eating and laughing with friends who had joined them.

The music began to play again, this time more lively, and the Narnians began to dance. Georgie could see why Susan had warned their regular clothes would be too uncomfortable for dancing; the Narnian dances were wild and lively; the dancers never stayed in one spot and jumped and twirled lithely around the Lawn. A large bonfire had been constructed at the near center of the area, the flames causing the dancers to glow, making them all the more impressive.

When they were finished eating, Peter and Susan jumped up, eager to join in the dances they had once done so long ago. "Come on, Lady Georgiana!" said Susan, urging Georgie to come dance.

"No, I would fall on my face if I attempted to dance like that!" Georgie laughed, waving her hands in protest. "I really prefer to watch. They're all so graceful and beautiful, I would hate to ruin the moment!"

"Suit yourself!" Peter said, pulling Susan towards the dancers. They separated and began imitating the moves of the Narnian dances. Susan, no surprise, was just as graceful and beautiful (If not more so, thought Georgie) as the others. Peter, on the other hand, looked more awkward, his moves not as flowing as the rest of the dancers. He seems to know the dances well enough though, she thought. The melodies began speeding up, the dancing becoming even more lively than Georgie could have thought possible. She clapped her hands in time to the rhythm, laughing and thoroughly enjoying herself. She had never been to anything quite like this and hoped that she would again someday. The feast lasted late into the night, the dancers stopping periodically to rest and eat more, to tell and listen to stories of olden days, and to talk and joke with the king and queen, before once again starting up their lively dances.

When the feast began to slowly end, Peter, Susan and Georgie said their goodnights and returned to their tents. Peter walked the two girls to theirs and, as soon as they entered, Susan fell into her hammock, instantly falling asleep, exhausted from dancing. Georgie giggled lightly as she glanced at Susan, who looked very un-queenly with her still shoed feet dangling out of her hammock, an arm thrown over the side and her mouth slightly open. Georgie, quite tired as well, removed her own shoes and, without bothering to change from her dress, laid in her hammock and was soon asleep.

The next morning the three set out for Anvard, where they would spend the next month and participate in Archenland's annual festival. The trip was just over a half-day's ride for them and, after an uneventful trip, they reached the castle at Anvard just before dusk. They were greeted by King Sol and his wife Queen Clair, who were the rulers of Archenland, and shown to their rooms located in a spacious guest wing of the castle, which was made up of four rooms all radiating out from a large central sitting room. One must first enter the sitting room in order to go to his or her room, making the entire guest wing private for visitors. Peter had mentioned to King Sol that the guest wing was similar to his and his siblings' apartment at Cair Paravel, to which King Sol replied that it was designed after that very apartment itself.

Georgie walked into her room and noticed a bath had been prepared and one of her dresses (which she had sent to Anvard ahead of her) had been laid out on her bed. Undressing, she went to the tub and stepped in, the hot water soothing her aching body. Although she had ridden considerably more since coming to Narnia (in fact, she had only ridden twice in her entire life before), she had not grown accustomed to spending long periods of time on a horse and was very sore from their trip.

After finishing her bath, she dressed and tied back her hair with a ribbon and went into the sitting room. Peter and Susan were both in there as well, dressed in clothes they too had sent to Anvard. Their golden crowns, which they had not worn during their travels, had also been sent, and both were wearing them atop their heads. King Sol had promised them a ball tonight, welcoming them to Anvard. It was his hope, however, that Peter would there meet his daughter and a match might be made.

The three made their way to the grand hall, where their arrival was announced. The entire hall, crowded with people anxious to see the famed Narnian rulers, turned to watch Peter, Susan and Georgie walk down the staircase into the room. The king and queen walked from their thrones where they were seated to greet the three.

"King Peter! Queen Susan! Welcome! Please allow me to introduce my daughter, Princess Laira," announced King Sol. He pulled a young woman to his side. She was near Susan's age, blonde like her parents, with beady blue eyes and a slightly pointy nose. Her features, along with her slight, wiry frame, gave her a look much like that of a bird. Laira stepped forward and curtseyed to Peter and Susan, murmuring, "Your Majesties." Peter and Susan both nodded to her and Peter turned to Georgie and took her hand, leading her to the king and queen of Archenland.

"Your Majesties, let me present Lady Georgiana. She is a dear friend of our family's and has traveled with us here," he said. I suppose this must be the type of king and queen I should curtsey to, she thought, dropping into a low curtsey.

"My lady, welcome," said King Sol. "And now, let the dancing begin!" He motioned to the leader of a group of musicians and they began playing a gentle waltz. "If I may, Your Majesty," he said, bowing before Susan. She gracefully curtsied to him and accepted his hand as he led her to the floor. Peter, having asked her, led Queen Clair behind King Sol and Susan. The room broke into applause as the four monarchs began the waltz, couples joining in the dance until soon the room was filled with swirling couples. Georgie turned to the princess, but found that she had left Georgie alone and was now standing with a group of girls who were whispering quietly and pointing to various people throughout the room. Sighing and slightly rolling her eyes at their behavior, she turned back to watch the dancers.

"May I have this dance, my lady?" came a voice to her left. She turned and saw a handsome sandy-haired man standing next to her, his piercing eyes cool and smiling.

"I-I would, but I'm afraid I don't know the dance," stammered Georgie, gesturing to the dancers.

The man laughed softly and smiled, "Don't worry. I'm an excellent leader." He took Georgie's hand and led her to the floor, pulling her to him and placing her hand on his shoulder. As promised, he was an excellent leader and she soon found herself comfortable in the steps of the dance. "I'm Lord Brin," he said after several minutes of dancing.

"Georgiana. Er, Lady Georgiana," she hastily corrected herself.

"Well, Lady Georgiana, what brings you to Archenland? I see you know the king and queen of Narnia. Are you involved with King Peter?"

Georgie blushed and stammered, "N-no. I-I'm only a friend of their family."

"Ah, I see. I hadn't thought you were with him. You see, there's a rumor that he is here to court the Princess Laira, a rumor I would be very disappointed to find to be true," said Lord Brin, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"That I do not know, my lord. I have heard nothing of his intentions to court anyone, but we also don't talk about matters such as that," Georgie said. She worried if maybe stating that would damage any relations between the kings of Archenland and Narnia.

Georgie found herself partnered with Peter for the next dance. He, like Lord Brin, was also an excellent leader and Georgie was able to easily keep up with the steps. As they began twirling around the room, she noticed Peter's face begin to scowl, as though he noticed something across the room which suddenly angered him. Oh, what now? Georgie mentally sighed. "Is something wrong, Your Majesty?" she asked.

Peter looked down at her, his expression softening before explaining, "That man you were dancing with before is now dancing with Susan."

"And...?" prompted Georgie.

"And I don't like how he's holding her," said Peter matter-of-factly. "In fact, I didn't like how he was holding you either."

Georgie hadn't noticed he was holding her improperly, but she had never danced with a man like she had with Lord Brin, so she would not have known any difference. "How is he holding her wrong?"

"Not 'wrong,' I suppose. He's just holding her a bit too close, too familiarly. He held you the same way," Peter explained. "Susan knows how to handle herself around men like him, but she looks extremely uncomfortable dancing with him."

Georgie glanced at Susan, who looked perfectly at ease gliding across the floor with Lord Brin. "She looks alright to me," she said, confused at what Peter saw and she did not.

"Well, she's perfected that look, I suppose. She was always better at controlling her expressions and emotions in public than any of us. But if you notice her eyes, they're slightly wider than normal and her smile is tight around the edges. I remember learning that look before when suitors came to visit Narnia wishing to marry her," he said, his voice growing harder as he watched his sister.

"I see," said Georgie softly.

Peter looked down at her and smiled. "If it makes you feel better, I was also like this when you were dancing with him. I thought poor Queen Clair was going to faint until I managed to control my scowl. You've become like a sister to me over the past months and I worry about you as well." Georgie smiled back at him and his words. "And you can bet that if any boys down the street pick on you, I will happily threaten them for you," Peter added with a wink.

Later that night (or nearly morning as it was) when the ball was over, Georgie was in her room, too full of excitement and a little too much wine to sleep. Peter and Susan, who were more used to the lavish parties, had gone to bed, claiming to be too exhausted to stay awake a moment longer. She decided to go to the sitting room and read for a while until she began to feel tired. Queen Clair, when hearing of her interest in history, had found her a large book on the history of Archenland, promising she may keep it as the library at Anvard had too many books collecting dust and going to waste. Georgie was eager to read it, so she pulled on her wrapper and quietly opened her door to the sitting room.

Stepping into the large open room, she silently felt her way through the dark to a large chair which she knew was in the far corner of the room. When she reached it, she placed her book on the chair and turned to the small side table to light candle which was sitting upon it. Before she could light it, she heard the creak of a door behind her. Thinking she may have woken Peter or Susan, she turned to see which one had opened his or her door.

The door that opened was not one of theirs, but instead the main door to the sitting room. Georgie's eyes widened in fear as she saw a man creep past the large window next to the door, the moonlight streaming through it lighting up his features, a flash coming from something the intruder held in his hand. She stayed frozen in her spot, hoping he would not notice her in the dark corner. To her relief, he did not.

She saw him walk towards the first bedroom door and slowly turn its handle. Peter! she silently cried, knowing that the king was in danger. Remembering the small jeweled dagger Peter had given her on their ride to Anvard, which was laying on top of her trunk in her room, she silently dashed back to her room, miraculously dodging the furniture in the sitting room. She ran through her still open door and grabbed the dagger, pulling it out of its hilt.

Silently, she hurried back to Peter's door, which had been left open by the intruder. Slipping inside, she saw the man standing over Peter, a long knife poised to strike the sleeping king. She snuck behind him, saying a quick prayer to Aslan he would not turn, and, in a move she had witnessed countless times by Captain Perth during her practices, she pointed the dagger at an angle into the man's side, remembering Captain Perth's advice to "press gently enough as to not break the skin, but hard enough to show that you mean business."

"Drop your weapon," she said loudly, hoping she would be loud enough to wake Peter.

The man laughed, low and maniacal, and, in a move to quick too comprehend, he spun and grasped Georgie's wrist, squeezing it until she dropped her dagger. "Do you think I will be frightened by a little girl?" he asked, a cruel smile forming on his mouth. Georgie's eyes widened in fear, but suddenly felt the man's grip on her wrist loosen as his body froze and his long knife clattered to the floor.

Georgie gasped and saw Peter, half risen on his bed, pointing his sword at the back of the man's neck.

"No, but I suspect you might be by a king," came the deadly voice from behind the man.