Chapter 22
Stars and Midnight Blue
It was coming on evening when the remnants of war were finally cleaned from the valley. Fires flickered in the fading light, their brightness becoming more apparent as the sun continued her descent, while the billowing limbs of the tree people cast massive shadows that slowly receded. Although the rich music and laughter of Bacchus and his followers had quieted for a short period of time, the soft hum of a few faint instruments conveyed that it was not long before the party was to begin again.
Peter sat comfortably with the majority of his male companions, including Glozelle, with a half-sipped goblet of wine clutched loosely against his palm. Edmund was currently telling a story with a remarkable amount of enthusiasm, which, Peter guessed, was the product of the red liquid that his brother had repeatedly tossed down his throat. The High King laughed along with the others when appropriate, his amusement coming more from Edmund's expressive movements than the actual story.
Truly Peter's mind was far from his body's current location. It strayed instead to the happenings of the day. His duel with Miraz and the intertwined feelings of fear and hope that had accompanied it; kneeling before Aslan with Rhindon beside him and his heart in his throat; opening his arms wide for Susan and Lucy to crash into when they rushed from the forest with laughter akin to pure happiness. But the memory he replayed the most was short and breathtakingly simple.
It was Cara's smile. Her lip bloodied and tattered and her chin still crusted with red. Neither of which seemed to dim the enchantment that one look from her could place upon Peter. She had blushed under the heat of his gaze, her face disappearing behind her dark tresses as she turned away and ran to join Susan and Lucy for rest and a bathe. Peter stared at the spot where she stood only moments prior, his mind perfectly content to replay the vision repeatedly.
But alas, duty called. This time in the form of Edmund as he tapped Peter on the shoulder and ushered him back to the battlefield that was cluttered with debris and death. Peter felt weary as he looked at the task before him, but it was a feeling that dissipated when he joined his people and wordlessly began working.
More Telmarines stayed behind to help than he ever anticipated, the groups gathered and orchestrated by Glozelle. At first the Narnians looked at the group of dark, gruff men with apprehension, but Peter's quiet acceptance seemed to quell most fears, and soon both Old and New Narnia labored together accompanied by the occasional smile or laugh.
Those hours moved by quickly, and soon Silenus began another chant of Refreshments! Refreshments! that coaxed the entire remaining party towards the fires and food. It was in this way that Peter found himself at his present location, with Edmund pausing his story to take another gulp of wine and the fire crackling beguilingly before him.
The feeling shifted suddenly as Susan stepped into sight. Peter glanced away from the fire and laughed inwardly as Edmund gulped down the remaining liquid clutched between his lips and looked sheepishly up at his older sister. A small dribble of wine lazily fell down his chin as the two regarded each other. Susan allowed the tension to mount before laughing unexpectedly and taking Edmund's empty goblet swiftly from his fingers. "I believe you are out, dear brother," she said as she cocked an eyebrow and glanced into the goblet. "A refill?" she inquired as her gaze returned to his.
"If you insist…" Edmund questioned more than stated.
"I insist." Susan plopped down beside Edmund and placed the goblet back in his hand. "And, Ed," she continued when he rose on wobbly legs. "Get me a glass too?" The group immediately erupted into laughter, all giddy from the turn of events and the red liquid that was the current topic of conversation.
Muttering through his laughter, Edmund left the group in search of Silenus and his endless supply of drink. Truly the man was not hard to find, for he sang loudly and was followed by a slew of wild dancing women. They wore dresses of leaves and berries that covered only what was necessary, while their hair of light and dark hung freely atop their shoulders.
It was because of these women that Edmund never made it back to the fire. He tried. Honestly. For at least a solid ten seconds he tried, but when one of the girls tugged him into a dance and placed plump grapes against his lips, he found himself powerless against her and reluctantly—he assured everyone sometime later that it was reluctantly—gave in.
Cara came upon Edmund shortly after, his body swaying drunkenly to the music that now filled the night air. "Cara," he called happily upon seeing her. "Come join the romp." Cara laughed as Edmund danced wildly towards her with his arms entangled with those of a light haired girl.
"I don't think I'm ready for all that," Cara responded.
"Nonsense!" Cara had little time to react when Edmund suddenly wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her against him and his companion.
"Edmund," Cara reprimanded as she lost her footing and stumbled forward, Edmund's strong arm the only barrier between her and the ground. Although the trios' dance began gracelessly, Cara's shouts of protest turned into laughter as her steps fell into time with theirs. Soon the music reached a dizzying pace, and with a sharp sound of glee Cara spun out of Edmund's grasp and fell to the ground in exhaustion. Laughing, Edmund joined her.
"Where is Peter?" Cara questioned once the earth stopped spinning and their mirth quieted. Edmund groaned in response and rubbed his eyes. After a moment of silence Cara rolled onto Edmund's chest and glanced at his face. "Ed…"
"Hmmm…?" Edmund cocked his head and smiled a lopsided grin.
"Peter?" Cara repeated.
"Oh, I don't know. By the fire." With a wild gesture, Edmund pointed haphazardly behind him. Cara followed the line of his hand as she pushed herself from the ground and shook out her skirts.
"Will you be joining me, then?" she questioned.
"No," Edmund responded with a sigh, his back still flat upon the ground. "There is a fair-haired beauty that beckons me."
"I see." Cara hid her laughter behind the back of her hand and glanced down at the young King. She observed him for a moment longer before nodding a goodbye and continuing her search for Peter. The hum of the music dulled the further she walked, the feral dance becoming nothing more than a faint blur of movement and sound. Many of her people acknowledged her with nods and bows as she moved through the crowds. Cara graciously stopped to speak with them, each time saying a word of thanks or offering a kind regard.
Peter's eyes were drawn to Cara the moment she came into view. Her dark hair fell down her back with no constraint, while her dress of midnight blue glided down the contours of her figure and fluttered around her feet. He stared openly, his mind no longer focused on the noises of laughter and talk that surrounded him.
"Pete?" the sound of his name falling repeatedly from Lucy's lips caused Peter to jolt suddenly and look down. The petite Queen sat between his legs with a look of slight annoyance. "Did you not hear what I said?" she questioned.
Nodding sheepishly, Peter caught one last glimpse of Cara before granting Lucy his full attention. Catching her brother's shifting eyes, Lucy looked around in an attempt to locate what had so wholly caught Peter's interest only moments prior. Seeing the High Queen, Lucy smiled.
"Cara!" Lucy called excitedly causing the woman in question to look over from the centaur she was speaking to. After offering one last word of thanks, Cara turned away from the centaur and towards Lucy and Peter. Although the Valiant Queen was beaming up at her, Cara's eyes instantly found Peter's. It was only a moment; enough time to bid a silent hello that meant more than either of them could understand.
"Do sit next to us," Lucy continued once Cara had made her way around the fire and was standing before them. Peter offered Cara his hand as she eased herself onto the ground, his fingers staying intertwined with hers even after she was situated and comfortable.
Susan sat beside Peter, her face glowing with laughter at something Trumpkin had said, while Caspian and Glozelle looked on in amusement. Cara paid them little attention; her mind now focused on the feel of Peter's thumb as is drew lazy circles over the back of her hand. She felt delicate beside him now. She was no longer a warrior; no longer a leader of any kind; just the woman whose slender, soft fingers fit perfectly between Peter's rough, calloused ones. Cara slowly fell into a reverie, her eyes staring unfocused at the flames that flickered in cool oranges and reds, and her mind blissfully unaware of anything outside of Peter.
Gradually her head moved to Peter's shoulder, his fingers unconsciously moving from hers as he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her tightly to his side. "You all right?" he whispered into her hair, the question jolting Cara from her quiet, self-induced world.
"Yes." Her voice was raspy, but gave no other signs of displeasure. "I'm perfectly contented." Peter kissed Cara's forehead before turning his attention back to the current topic of conversation, which after Susan questioned quite suddenly as to the whereabouts of her brother, had turned into a jumble of ideas attempting to answer that very inquiry.
Glozelle began the assessment by speculating that the young King was fast asleep somewhere, while Susan opposed with a quick response of, "no, no, no. I would gamb—"
"You, gamble?" Peter questioned with a laugh.
"Don't interrupt, Peter," the Gentle Queen scolded before continuing. "I would gamble that my good brother has situated himself in such a location that he does not have to rise to reach for another drink, but can simply place his head under the container and let it drip into his mouth." An awkward silence followed, each member of the small party attempting to find something to occupy themselves while they mulled over Susan's extensive explanation.
"That was far too many words," Glozelle finally commented causing Caspian to choke on his drink as he attempted to laugh. Susan looked at both in disgust.
"Our brother is not a souse," Peter added as Glozelle patted Caspian harshly on the back.
"What's a souse?" Lucy inquired sleepily from the crook of Peter's arm, her small voice going unnoticed.
"Well what do you gamble he is doing then?" Susan retorted, the reflection from the fire making her wide eyes glow angrily.
"I judge that he has corned some poor, unsuspecting, sap and is discussing something political or militaristic." At Peter's words Susan turned her attention to the fire with a look of dejection.
"He is dancing," Cara interjected once her focus finally came to. The entire company immediately fell into a moment of awkward silence. Peter and Susan were—for lack of a better word—stunned, while Caspian and Glozelle were contemplating the oddity of their sudden response.
"But Ed doesn't dance," Peter finally countered with a look of skepticism.
"Bullocks, he doesn't dance," Cara responded as she situated herself away from Peter so she could see the others. Susan and Peter still wore corresponding looks of disbelief. "I even joined him for a brief time," she added offhandedly.
The new information made Peter frown. "He danced with you?"
"Aye." Cara looked between Susan and Peter, her lips brimming with laughter. "Why is this situation so incredulous to all of you?"
"He broke the toe of a girl once while dancing," Susan explained as if the simple sentence suddenly made her and Peter's reactions perfectly understandable. Cara stared blankly, her body language clearing indicating that she hoped Susan would elaborate.
"That's it?" Cara asked once she realized Susan's enlightening tale was quite done. Susan shrugged her shoulder in return.
"He never really cared for dancing after that."
"Well he seems to care for it now." Cara laughed at her own retort while Susan seemed only moderately entertained.
"He is probably dancing alone anyways," Susan added matter-of-factly.
"No," Cara countered. "When I first came upon him he had is arms tangled around one of Bacchus'—oh I don't know—one of those girls that follow him around."
The responses elicited by Cara's statement were all very different. Glozelle immediately leaned closer to Caspian and whispered "not a bad idea," while Susan looked appalled, a look that soon turned to irritation when she noted Peter's lack of concern. Trumpkin, at this point, was no longer entertained by the ordeal, and was slowly slipping away from the fire in search of more food. Cara simply sat and watched, her lips twitching into a smile.
"I refuse to believe it," Susan huffed, her eyes still burning into the side of Peter's head.
"Oh, it's quite true." Cara smiled brightly at Susan, which in turn caused the Gentle Queen's frown to deepen.
Ending the tension in the air, Glozelle jumped suddenly to his feet and clapped his hands together once. "I say we find out for ourselves." Caspian seemed to like this idea, for he too rose to his feet and downed the last of his wine.
"Fine," Susan agreed.
Cara went to stand when she noticed that Peter was making no indication that he intended to move. "Aren't you coming?" she asked softly. Peter shook his head as he shifted Lucy's sleeping form.
"I will stay with her for a bit longer," he explained. Cara nodded in understanding and when to situate herself beside Peter, her tight lips attempting to mask her look of disappointment. The look did not go unnoticed by the High King. "Cara," he continued softly. "Go."
"Are you sure?" she questioned.
"Very. I shan't be long. I promise." Peter smiled softly at Cara as she leaned forward and placed a soft kiss on his golden hair. Wordlessly, Cara gracefully rose to her feet and quickly caught up with the others.
It was nearly an hour later when Peter finally handed Lucy's sleeping form off to a massive bear that seemed quite content to hold the valiant Queen between his furry paws and whisper her name awkwardly. Peter watched the creature for some time, his mind slightly ill at ease with the situation, but after seeing a small smile form on Lucy's face and she cuddled deeper into the bear's chest, Peter became content and slowly made his way towards the dancing.
The moon was now a glowing half-orb above them, while the cool breeze that caressed the valley became lost among the throngs of people and creatures that milled about in jovial bliss. Peter's back was clapped numerous times as he made his way towards the dancing. He nodded politely back, but offered little in terms of words. The music grew louder the further he walked, the sounds of laughter the only noise rising above the consistent hum of Bacchus' instruments.
Per usual, Peter's eyes found Cara's form the moment she came into sight. Glozelle had his arms around her waist as he spun her in time with the music. She laughed wildly, her eyes bright and wide and her mouth agape. A strange feeling seized Peter. It wasn't jealousy, although he did envy Glozelle his current state, but a feeling more akin to anticipation. His future was before him now, and she was more beautiful and free than Peter had ever expected.
Susan's bright purple gown and musical laughter turned Peter's attention away from Cara. Her partner was Caspian, and for the first time since meeting him, Peter noted that the boy suddenly looked more like a man and less like a frightened adolescent that had the weight of an entire Kingdom upon his shoulders. Peter smiled inwardly at the realization. Caspian would make a great King.
Just as Cara had explained, Edmund's arms were still securely around that of a light-haired girl. She was beautiful in an animalistic way, her barely covered body glowing in the moonlight. Peter couldn't help but wonder if Cara's would glow in the same way. He imagined it would, but muted due to the richer tones of her skin; more welcoming and warmer, but just as soft and even more beautiful.
"Pete!" Susan's winded voice suddenly rang out. Shaken from his thoughts, Peter looked across the moving throngs of dancers until he finally caught sight of Susan. She laughed as she approached him, her slender arm still comfortably draped around Caspian's torso. "Come and join us."
Peter regarded the two quietly before shifting his eyes to the young King. "Caspian," he questioned, "may I steal my sister away from you for a short dance?"
"Of course." Caspian placed Susan's hand into Peter's before nodding to them both and moving off to the side. Peter squeezed his sister's hand affectionately as he led her back onto mass of dancing bodies. The two royals soon fell into step; Peter's hand resting softly on Susan's hip as he led her around. They danced quietly for awhile, both laughing at the drunken and sporadic movements of those around them that had over indulged on the wine.
Edmund was one of these haphazard dancers; his antics eliciting a laugh from Peter so loud that Cara caught hold of the distinctive sound and immediately cast her eyes around until she found its source. Peter's eyes were still on Edmund, their corners scrunched tightly together from the force of his laugh. Cara's lips involuntarily curved into a smile.
"He is a good man." Cara turned her gaze away from Peter and found the warm eyes of Glozelle watching her intently.
"He is," she responded, her eyes sending another look of longing in Peter's direction. Glozelle chuckled softly as his hands slipped from around Cara's waist. Feeling the lack of contact, Cara glanced immediately back at Glozelle.
"Go on," Glozelle explained as he nodded his head in Peter's direction. Cara went to protest when one of Glozelle's rough fingers fells across her lips. "Go," he repeated. "He is waiting for you."
Cara turned her head as Glozelle's finger fell from her lips. Peter was no longer laughing openly with Susan clutched softly beside him. He now stood only feet from Cara and Glozelle, his blue eyes darker than usual and resting comfortably on Cara's face. She looked quickly back at Glozelle and offered a small nod before stepping completely out of his grasp and towards Peter. The High King reached for her instantly, his large hands wrapping around her petite waist as he pulled her close. Cara sighed in contentment as her fingers ran slowly up Peter's chest. They both became lost for a moment, the music a consistent hum that enveloped them.
It wasn't until a dancing couple bumped forcefully into them that Cara and Peter remembered that they were far from being alone. "Shall we join them?" Peter questioned with a smirk.
"Only if you are as fair a dancer as your brother," Cara responded, her lips barely containing her laughter.
"I can't make any promises, but I can offer you my best attempt." Peter suddenly stood back from Cara and placed a stony expression upon his face. The High Queen followed suit as Peter bowed low before her and rose to await her curtsy. She obliged, her features twitching into a smile at the sight of Peter's glowing eyes. "My Lady," he said softy, his cool demeanor quickly slipping away.
"My Lord."
Soon Peter's hands were in their proper places for dancing, although Cara's body was pressed slightly closer to his chest than was usually acceptable. Within moments Cara's feet were swept up by the dance as Peter led her to the beat of the music. Time continued as such, with Cara wrapped happily in Peter's embrace while the others traded partners and laughed and drank as the hours dwindled away and the fires dimmed.
The moon was well into her descent by the time the music began to slow. Edmund had long fallen into a deep sleep beside one of the slow burning fires, his fair-haired dancing partner cradled against his shoulder. Caspian, Susan, and Glozelle sat close by speaking quietly and attempting to fight off the feeling of sleep that was creeping upon them.
Unbeknownst to the group, Peter and Cara were currently fleeing into the cover of night in search of solitude. The decision happened rather abruptly with only one look of longing from Cara that elicited a rush of emotion so strong in Peter that he latched securely onto her hand and pulled her away from the fires and music and prying eyes. She followed him without question, her heart pounding with a secret promise of what was to come.
Now intoxicated by more than wine, Cara and Peter broke away from their camp and ran through the trampled grass of the valley. The light from the fires faded behind them as the sky opened above. The air was cool and clear, the traces of early morning dew already settling upon the ground. Peter tugged Cara to a stop once the sounds of Bacchus' music barely graced their ears and the lights from the camp were nothing more than an extension of the stars above. She gazed at him breathlessly.
Peter's caresses began slowly; his fingers running lightly over Cara's face until her eyes closed and a sigh escaped her lips. Lost in the lightness of his touch, Cara intertwined her fingers within Peter's tunic and allowed her head and shoulders to fall back. Peter's skin heated as his eyes devoured the image of Cara's body languid and open before him. Her deep breaths pushed against the top of her gown causing her chest to become taut under the fabric. Peter released a ragged breath at the sight, the tips of his fingers leaving burning trails as they grazed across her collarbone. Cara's body arched against his touch as her tongue moistened the dry skin of her lips.
Urged by the sight, Peter pulled her close, his lips moving softly over her forehead and cheeks as his fingers wrapped themselves tightly around her waist. Cara's mouth fell open at the contact, her leg subconsciously rising up and encircling Peter's calf. Releasing her waist, Peter's hand grazed along the curve of Cara's hip and onto her thigh, his lips leaving burning trails as they tasted the skin at the base of her neck. Cara's stomach tingled as Peter's fingers pulled her leg even higher, her mind lost at the new sensation of having Peter pressed between her thighs.
A moment of fear caused by innocence bubbled in Cara's chest, but it drowned in the sound of Peter's moan as he pulled her even closer and ran his fingers across her lips. Hesitantly, Cara kissed the tips of his fingers, her eyes opening to watch his reaction as her tongue tasted the salt from his skin. Peter's eyes met hers instantly; their deep blue hooded behind his golden hair and heavy lids, but even in her inexperience Cara understood the desire behind them.
She kissed him suddenly, their bodies melting together as Peter's arms wrapped so tightly around Cara that her feet lifted slightly from the ground. The kiss was feverish and deep; a dance of tasting and teasing that only increased their desire for one another. Slowly, Peter pulled away. His lips were swollen and pink and his cheeks were flushed from the heat seeping from his body.
"Are you happy?" he whispered as his pushed a wild strand of Cara's hair from her face.
"I'm beyond that," she replied.
"Come here." Cara watched as Peter eased himself onto the damp grass and ushered her beside him. She obliged quietly, her body flinching slightly as her back touched the cool ground. "You cold?" Cara nodded at the question.
Peter rolled onto his side and shifted his eyes down the length of Cara's body. She suddenly became nervous under the weight of his gaze, her hands clutching at her sides as she fought the urge to curl them around her chest. Peter seemed to notice the twitch, for he pulled her hand away from her dress and held it close to his chest. Cara calmed once she felt how intensely Peter's heart pounded under her fingers, the knowledge of his anxiety making her feel more at ease. They regarded each other silently until Cara reached for Peter's neck and pulled him towards her.
"Keep me warm," she pleaded, her body suddenly aching to feel the weight of Peter on top of her. He moved closer and placed a soft kiss upon her lips. "Closer," Cara continued as she wrapped her arms around Peter's waist and tugged. With a smile laugh, Peter followed the weight of her pull and rolled until his elbows rested comfortably on either side of Cara's head. "Kiss me."
Peter followed Cara's command with no complaint, his kiss softer and warmer than the one before. Slowly the tingling in Cara's stomach returned, its ache increasing every time Peter's hips brushed against hers. She pulled him closer in an attempt to keep the feeling. Slowly her legs parted and Peter once again slipped between her thighs, both moaning at the new feeling of intimacy.
Cara's breathing continued in ragged huffs as Peter pulled away from her lips and began to trail open mouthed kisses down the length of her throat and chest. She faded into bliss as her eyes caught sight of the brilliant sky that glowed above them; the endless sea of stars heightening their solitude. Soon Peter's lips returned to Cara's and the sky became nothing more than a black blur, but the realization of solitude infused Cara with a bravery that she had not yet felt. Her fingers ran roughly down Peter's back until they reached the edge of his tunic. After only a moments pause, Cara's fingers slipped under the soft fabric and onto the warmth of Peter's skin. His muscles contracted under the feel of her cool hands, but as she continued to stroke and explore, Peter relaxed heavily against her.
She moaned at the feeling of the new weight, Peter's length now pressing fully against her. Peter stopped at the sound and lifted himself suddenly from her body. The cool air that surrounded them filled the empty space immediately making Cara's body tremble from the feeling of rejection and lack of warmth. Her frown and fears deepened as Peter rolled away from her and onto his back. Cara sat up instantly and pulled her knees to her chest, the blush on her cheeks barely noticeable in the faint light.
"Is something wrong?" she questioned, the fear leaking into her voice. "Di—did I do something wrong?" Peter looked at Cara immediately, the frown that graced his features quickly turning into a look of concern.
"No, Cara. No, you've done nothing wrong," Peter responded as he lifted himself into a sitting position.
"Then why did you stop so suddenly?" Cara's insecurities were at the brink of exposing themselves in the form of anger, her voice rigid and her arms securely across her chest.
"Because it wouldn't be honorable if I didn't stop," Peter replied in an even tone. Cara's demeanor softened at his answer, but she still did not seem wholly convinced. With a small sigh Peter kneeled before Cara and forced her arms away from her chest. "Because," he began softly as he attempted to force her to look at him, "if we continued much longer I wouldn't have been able to stop."
Cara still refused to meet his eyes, but the small slouch in her shoulders indicated that Peter was nearly through her hard exterior. "Because one day we will be married and won't have to stop."
Their gazes immediately met; Peter's relaxed and confident and Cara's open and filled with disbelief. "You want to marry me?" she whispered, the seemingly silly question causing Peter to laugh.
"Of course I want to marry you," he replied. Cara's cool composure melted away at Peter's words, her arms instantly wrapping tightly around his neck as her lips sought his. He rolled back onto the ground and cradled Cara comfortably against his chest.
Their kisses slowly dwindled away and soon both found themselves staring sleepily up at the sky, their hearts beating steadily in time with each other. Neither spoke, the lull of the cool night and the feeling of absolute contentment making words superfluous. Tomorrow promised another day of happiness and from the way the world looked from where they sat, all of eternity did too.