The sun had gone down, the bonfires had been lit. Fresh kills from the hunting roasted over smaller fires. The camp was in high spirits. Peter had told Aslan of Susan's recent outbursts and asked him to speak with her. And they had disappeared a little under an hour ago. He only hoped Aslan could get through, and make some sense of it. In the meantime, he concerned himself with one thing. Mirsan.

He ventured back to the pavilion to see she was up to facing the people. He pulled the tent "door" across and saw her curled up on the bedding. The sheer loose dress she wore clung to her form, her feet were bare. He almost didn't want to wake her. He touched her brow gently, then her cheek. She woke slowly and smiled again.

"Hungry?" he asked

She nodded eagerly and stood up. He placed a cloak around her shoulders and led her out.

The centaur bowed before her. Lucy came running up. She hugged the older woman, which took her by surprise.

"You are Queen Lucy I presume."

Lucy nodded smiling. Mirsan smiled in return.

"I have heard much of your spirit and loyalty to Narnia, you are wise beyond your years."

Peter laughed.

"Stop, you'll give her a big head." He laughed more when Lucy hit him.

Edmund came to Mirsan and Peter. He bowed to Mirsan. She told him not to. Mirsan looked at the faces around them.

"No one bow to me. Anyone who is Narnian, or loyal to Narnia, is my family from now on."

Peter slipped his arm around her. She felt a little out of touch with time, but not the spirit of Narnia. He would help her find her feet after all these years. It struck him then that she was the much older woman. He smiled a little to himself. A handmaiden offered a plate of meat and mug of wine to Mirsan.

Sometime later, when all had feasted and were happy on ale and wine, some of the officers struck up their instruments. The music was fast and the beat well timed. Those who danced sang along and those who didn't simply clapped and tapped their feet. Mirsan placed her cup down and stood up. She shed Peter's cloak and turned to him.

"I feel the music within me. Dance with me my Peter."

Peter didn't usually dance, but he took one look at her face and relented. He took her hand and she pulled him into the throng of people circling about in dance and song. He spent more time watching her. Light on her feet with her arms in the air. Her hair trailed out behind her as she skipped and twirled in time. Then at some point she fell into Peter's arms. Her cheeks flushed from the activity. She was beaming. Peter lifted her up in the air. She threw her head back and laughed.

As he brought her back down to earth, the full length of her pressed against him, he did not hold back this time. Peter touched her face and tipped it up and kissed her there in front of the entire camp. Mirsan did not stop him, she merely held her arms tight around his neck.

When the kiss broke, they heard a slight tiny ahem from the side. They turned to find Aslan, standing with a solemn looking Susan. Her eyes were reddened. She stepped up to Peter.

"I'm sorry Peter, for all I've said. I've been selfish." She almost whispered. Peter hushed her and pulled his sister into a hug.

"Don't worry yourself Sue."

Susan let go of Peter. And she went to Mirsan instead.

"I have been unfair to you, I've said things, mistrusted you before giving you any chance."

"Queen Susan, do not even think of it. Think of us as sisters from now on yes?"

Susan nodded and Mirsan embraced her. Mirsan smiled and used the material that belted the empire line of her dress to wipe the small tears on Susan's face. She clasped Susan's hands in hers.

"You need to smile and have fun with complete abandon."

Mirsan pulled Susan away into the swelling dancing crowd. Peter took up residence at Aslan's side.

"Is she ok Aslan?"

"She will be. Susan feels the change of her life and her world as she knew it very strongly. It is a scary thing for someone who is used to being in control of the life around her, to suddenly not be able to do anything but go with the tide. She didn't see that we all have been in that place, or are there now, and that we all will always be flowing with Life's tide. Fate will always be beyond everyone's control."

They turned their attention back to the dancing crowd. Mirsan and Susan had started a dancing chain with Lucy and they traveled with music hand in hand with half the camp. Peter and Aslan laughed and Peter clapped in time. Susan was smiling for the first time in days and laughing. He watched Aslan nod slightly and looking a little sad.

"Aslan?"

"We all need to enjoy these light hearted days and remember them. As tougher days are ahead."

"There is more work ahead isn't there Aslan? It wasn't just for Mirsan you brought us back."

"No High King, Narnia isn't out of the woods yet, as those of adam and eve are prone to say."

Peter nodded in an understanding way. He hoped his siblings would have the strength for all to come. The night's festivities continued on. Eventually all began to dwindle to their respective resting places. Peter found Mirsan with Susan and Lucy again.

"Time for rest."

Susan led Lucy away after saying their goodnights, leaving the High King and his love alone. They wandered toward the small stream nearby. After several moments of passionate kissing, he just held her close.

"I am meant for you." She whispered. "I have waited for you always."

Peter kissed her again. He brushed her hair back looking into her eyes. This is what it was to feel for woman in such a way. She let one hand caress the back of his neck, the other rested against his chest where his heart was.

"Tell me," she said.

"I love you," he replied without hesitation. Mirsan undid the belt at her empire line.

They laid there together on the bank of the stream until the sun rose in the morning.