Disclaimer. Well...I own this book on my desk sitting open in front of me. Other than that, I don't think I own much of anything. oo

A/N. Well. I really did not like this chapter. I kept trying to force it, then hating myself and my writing, then going back and editing a lot, then editing that...So I finally just quit writing this chapter and moved on to the next one. So, I'm sorry if this isn't meeting expectations or anything...

A small flurry of dryads and naiads continually moved over the strange girl, Lucy and Susan in the mix of it all. Repeated questions mixed though the air- "Is she really dying?- Where's the fatal wound?- Perhaps there isn't one?" Small hands held the owner's precious cordial tightly, wondering if she should just stow away their misery and treat the brown haired girl herself. But under the command of her two brothers, she had been forbade to do so, permitting she was indeed not dying.

There was no question that she was scathed. Bloody gashes, some small or large, and dark, forming bruises were apparent. But, with each one discovered, the master healer, a young naiad by the name of Uili, confirmed that it was indeed not fatal, but painful nonetheless. Lucy tried to protest, but the small naiad assured her Queen that the damage would fade with herbal medicine and time.

The two kings remained outside the door, royally being bored, you might say. Absently, Edmund stared down at the beautiful mosaic tile, not really registering with what it was. Peter was practically mutual, his fair blue eyes subconsciously wandering around the hall. Both knew what the other was thinking; 'The longer we stay here, the longer we get to be away from…' Here, however, they're minds split. The younger King's head was filled with rather colorful language, while Peter mercifully ended with '-the so called prat.'

"It's obvious she was caught by the wolves," said Edmund suddenly, breaking the dead silence finally. Peter's mindless wandering ended, blinking once before turning them to gaze intently at his brother. "What I cannot understand is that three attacked, and one stayed. I know we discussed that back in the wood, but it seems wrong in a certain way."

"I agree," Peter nodded. "The four would either stay together near the Daughter of Eve, or attack together. Their training was to keep them together; even in Spare Oom, they lived in packs, did they not?"

He slightly regretted this question. Edmund's answer was an attempted confirmation, but it came out with uncertainty; "Yes."

Peter remembered, better than his younger siblings, memories of Spare Oom. He had, after all, lived there for many years; established his childhood that had ended so quickly through their entrance to Narnia. His thirteen years, however, had been more than enough to leave recalling fresh in his mind, though he did not hesitate to admit that, slowly, older memories were fading, his overbearing responsibilities and training managing to blot out bits and pieces of what he still called in his mind "England".

The silence dragged for a few awkward moments; Edmund felt heat rush to his cheeks. He wasn't quite sure that his words were the utter truth. He, too, shared memories of Finchley with his brother, but they weren't as joyous as one would hope. They were dark, often causing him to cringe, reminding him of what he had been exactly to his siblings. Or else, when not shameful, terribly sorrowed; the day their Father departed for war, leaving them all with the cruel tempting knowledge that he might never return. But he refused to let himself forget these, no matter how painful they may be. For within each one, once dusted off and clean, revealed a lesson he knew he shouldn't nor shan't forget.

Finally, he spoke up again. "Well, I'm not exactly sure," he admitted, breaking the slightly tensing silence.

"I don't expect you to be." Peter smiled softly.

Bless him; Peter was always the one to make everything right again, even without sincerely intending to.

But just on this moment, the healers' bustling faded to a satisfied musing, and Lucy emerged from the room. The two brothers shared a look; they would finish the conversation later. Edmund looked to her belt; her cordial hung innocently at her side, ever faithful. "She needed it," she said, following her brother's gaze. Edmund looked up again, letting his brown eyes meet her own. "She's asleep right now. Uili said she would awake sometime tomorrow; maybe even tonight. She's not certain."

The three filed back inside the room, meeting Susan, who stood vigil beside the other unknown Daughter of Eve. "You two found her in time," she informed her brothers. The steady rise and fall of the girl's chest was proof of that statement. Relief flooded through the two boys.

Edmund stared at her. Any and all wounds had disappeared, much to his shameful dismay. Earlier, as he had carried her back on Phillip, he had noticed that none of the damages had appeared to be…well, much to his confusion, wolf conflicted. Which they had to be. They had seen her blood, the wolves, her…He shook his head. Perhaps he had just seen wrong.

It was explainable why he had imagined it. His head was spinning terribly the whole ride back to the Cair, barely aware of the girl before him. As soon as he had dropped from Phillip's back, he had to clutch the poor horse's mane to keep from falling. Of course, Phillip didn't mind; in fact, he had offered to assist King Edmund to the castle, but the boy faintly thanked him but said no, he could handle the walk. He did, however, leave Peter to carry the Daughter of Eve.

"I guess I should go back to…er, what's her name?" Peter was ultimately confused again. Edmund only shook his head.

"Maible. Or something like that, I don't know. You expect me to pay attention to such unimportant matters?" he asked indignantly. Peter scowled, pulling his brother into a headlock, tussling the dark hair mercilessly.

"You know as well as I do, little brother, that matters such as a girl, here, in this castle, who I have to talk to, and her name, are important!" He stressed the last word, ignoring Edmund's protests, before finally releasing the boy, who promptly attempted to flatten his hair again while glaring haughtily at Peter.

"Oh, shuddap," he hissed good naturedly; "You know she'll introduce herself to you, idiot."

"Since when did Ed get so factual about girls?" teased Peter.

"Since the three hundred and fifty ninth girl to arrive on our doorstep, seeking you."

Peter's grin faded, replaced by an uncomfortable look. Susan and Lucy giggled. "Both of you shut up," said Susan cheerfully. "We need to let her get some uninterrupted sleep; you two carrying on won't help it."

"He started it!" Edmund fired back, still running his fingers trough his hair, his eyes narrowed on Peter's own sanded blonde hair. Peter always had the advantage to the classic hair mess attack. If only Edmund were taller…

"Oh, hush." Peter grabbed his brother's hand and dragged him out of the chambers, despite the squirming boy who began muttering 'lovely' words to his brother, who only tightened his grip mercilessly. Susan and Lucy both watched them with humored eyes, exchanging looks. The elder only shrugged, grinning.

"Boys will be boys," she laughed, taking her own little sister by the hand and leading her a bit more softly from the room. The girl remained sleeping all the while.

---

Dinner became an exiled meal, under Edmund's say.

Once greetings were exchanged between Maible and Peter, the five had been led to supper, where they each took seats at the rosewood table. Peter looked uncomfortable as he let himself into a chair; Susan seemed bored; Lucy faired a repressed disgust; and Edmund outright shared heated glares with their guest, only adding to Peter's embarrassment.

Before they entered the room, Peter had pulled Edmund aside, meeting his little brother's dulled eyes. "Don't. Do. Anything. Stupid," he hissed, trying his very best to sound threatening. Edmund only gave his brother a bemused glance.

"I can only say the same to you, brother." And just like that, he was gone, leaving his older brother standing alone, feeling very much regret.

But now, the blonde girl seated herself politely where led to, masking her absurd rudeness behind a small, almost confused smile. She glanced around the table, letting her gaze fly to Peter every so often before looking down, her cheeks giving in to the faintest shade of color.

Peter was fairly impressed. He saw no bratty, impatient girl he had heard so much about. Of course, that was permitting her sudden barrage at his entry with the unknown Daughter of Eve. But he brushed that aside a bit too lightly. After all, who could be mad at one who was wondering why she had journeyed to meet an engaged man?

Edmund, however, was simmering in pure hatred. He knew her; he was only waiting for her to slip.

Awkward silence filled the room. Nobody touched their food.

Finally, Susan spoke up, giving a small smile to Maible. "Where did you say you were from again?" she questioned, sipping wine from her goblet. Usually, she made a point not to drink, but tonight, each of the siblings' cups were filled nearly to the brim with good, strong, wine…Lucy couldn't help but glance at Edmund's cup, which had managed to empty within minutes.

Maible seemed relieved the moment Susan opened her lips, and having not seen Lucy's silent shock towards Edmund, she took up the conversation with pleasure. "Archenland," she explained. "My father sent…" But she trailed off quickly, her voice fading away. Desperately she hoped they would not have heard; but, with luck not in her favor, a bit of her discomfort spilled out across her face.

"Your father sent, what?" Edmund pressed, his voice tight.

Maible cursed the boy silently, but managed her composure. She hadn't wanted her father to arise in the conversation…It might lead to some bad favor. "I said that my father sent me in desperate want of ties with Narnia through the Moor family." Her voice floated on slight confusion, letting herself seem taken aback by the boy's snippy attitude. Thus caused a glare exchanged among the brothers.

Peter cleared his throat. "Who is your father?"

Maible let color tint her already rosy cheeks as the High King addressed her, though she fought with her mind to say what would suit the question. "He's a noble man; a cousin of King Lune. He thinks that if we have a tie…" She paused, forcing herself to seem uncomfortable by the word; "…by marriage, the bonds between Narnia and Archenland will strengthen."

All the siblings exchanged looks mixing disgust, horror, and bewilderment. It was no surprise; they had expected it, but the word caused similar reactions every time. To his siblings, Peter looked as if he might have fainted, but they knew him better than the wooing girl.

Though, at the remark about threads between Narnia and Archenland, both boys could not help but retort. Peter, of course, did it silently, but Edmund managed his voice well. "Our bonds with Archenland and its King are unwavering strongholds," he informed her smugly. Peter gave his brother a sharp kick under the table.

Maible seemed flabbergasted at the sharp words, of course, which was a falsely executed emotion. "I'm terribly sorry, King Edmund; I had no intentions of upsetting you." She flashed her eyes at him, letting thick sweetness trail through her voice.

Edmund couldn't take it. Leaving his platter of food untouched, he stood, his heated gaze on Peter, who returned it deathly. 'Don't you dare, Edmund Pevensie.'

Too late.

"Sorry," he said, not seeming very sorry at all; "Excuse me, please; I've lost my appetite for the evening and I fear I have work to attend to." And before Peter could do anything about it, his brother left in a flurry of heated anger.

As they watched the boy leave, Maible couldn't help but release a long held amused smile.

---

"He doesn't even see her!" he screamed. "He's falling for her fake little display!"

In the safety of the stables, King Edmund paced, raising his hands to better emphasize his disbelief. Phillip grinned the way Horses only can, watching his boy with knowing eyes from his stall. He could, at any time, let himself out of course. A latch for the Horses was always placed on the inside; in fact, half of the stable was empty, though each door had neatly been closed before its occupant left.

The Horses who had stayed, however, watched their King with the chestnut horse, interested in this new girl at the castle and the news he had brought of her.

"And what, pray tell, is this 'false display' she has set for High King Peter?" questioned the Horse, trying hard not to let the humor in his voice show through, though it would not have mattered; Edmund was too blinded by fury and exasperation to notice. He furrowed his brow, pausing in his useless pacing to look hard at Phillip.

"You know very well that she a disrespectful prat," he hissed. Phillip's ears flicked back for a swift moment. "Yet when her High King comes, she has each manner set acutely. It's highly aggravating!"

"King Edmund, please listen to me."

"Phillip, you know I am only Edmund to you out of council."

"Nonetheless, listen." Edmund picked up his head, understanding the stone seriousness in the Horse's voice. "If Peter wishes to believe her, then he shall. Understand; your choice for your brother does not matter. What does matter is the choice King Peter makes for himself." Edmund blinked.

"But on to lightening matters. How fares the other we found in the wood earlier?"

"She's fair in health. Uili says that she will be good as she was before her moment with the Wolves."

"Or better, perhaps," mused Phillip, nodding knowingly towards the boy. Edmund only shrugged.

"I suppose so."

"If it is not too bold of me to ask, King Ed-"

"Edmund."

"Fine, fine. Edmund- Would you please do me a small favor?"

"Of course."

"Rid your mind of these dark thoughts over Maible, and check on the newer Daughter of Eve for me. I wish to see her current condition through your eyes. Come back in the morning after you've gotten some sleep." Edmund sighed almost in a defeated fashion, but offered a mumbled "okay" as proof that he had indeed heard Phillip's ordered words. He knew he could fulfill at least half of his promise; he would check on the girl, and then sleep would be easy.

Ahh. Good, old, strong wine.

---

After Edmund's small outburst, Peter looked to Maible in desperation. "I'm terribly sorry, really, I am," he began spouting apologies. "My brother, he's a bit stressed right now; can't believe what's come over him; he's not usually like this-"

"Peter." Three femmec voices halted the strands of words coming from the eighteen year old's mouth. Susan and Lucy looked to their brother with half way alarmed eyes; Maible's gaze was a bit more sympathetic.

"It's alright, Your Majesty, completely understandable," she said softly, smiling. "I shan't ever scold your brother for being a tad unraveled. My welcome to you with the newcomer was hardly acceptable. And I haven't even apologized for that. So, now I will; I am sorry for my rude barrage earlier." Susan and Lucy gaped at her. Where had the evil suitor-ette gone?

Peter was just as shocked, though he managed his composure better than his sisters. Giving a small smile, he returned, "And I accept your apology, and am glad that you have accepted mine."

Maible curtsied. "Of course, Sire."

Uncomfortable as he was, Peter was approving of her formality. He still knew he could not accept her hand in marriage; both he and his brother did not approve of that. No. Way. But that didn't mean he could not be friendly (which was more than he could say for his brother).

Finally, the meal came to an end. Susan announced that she was going to bed. "It was nice meeting you, Maible," she smiled. 'Even if Ed was a prat about it.' Lucy also yawned in anticipation. "Yes, very nice to meet you," the younger mumbled sleepily. Before following after her sister, Lucy whispered in her brother's ear, "Next time water down Ed's wine, alright?"

Peter glanced into his brother's drained goblet and had to suppress a shout.

Maible looked up to the High King. "I suppose I shall be off to bed as well." Gingerly she took a step towards the door. Secretly, she wished him to escort her. Much to her dismay, he did nothing of the sort.

Instead, he too stood, nodding. "Of course. I should probably seek my brother." He turned from her, beginning to leave, before remembering- "And it was a pleasure to meet you." Then he was gone.

Maible finally released a sour sigh, but left for her room as well. She had much to think over.