I would like to thank those of you that reviewed the last chapter. Please continue to, and I would appreciate it if everyone did, because as said before, how am I supposed to know if you liked the chapter, and what I can fix, if no one reviews?

Roma Lillian Potter-All your questions will be answered at various points in the story. I am so glad you like it. Thank you.

Shiloh-TDL forever! Thanks for reading this on there!

SARAH-Thank you so much! The way this story came to me will be revealed later on. Thank you!

Here's chapter 6!

Chapter 6: Treading On Protected Ground

"I suppose we are all taking turns falling asleep in our chairs?" Nerina laughed a few hours later.

The three teenagers were looking at the sleeping Lucy and Edmund.

Susan picked up Lucy. "Nerina, you go get some sleep. Peter and I will get these two settled."

"Are you sure?" Nerina asked her friend.

"Yes," Susan laughed. "This isn't the first time we have had to do this."

Nerina smiled sweetly, "Alright then. Good-night." She smiled and did a small curtsy looking at Susan, quickly glanced at Peter, then went inside.

"See?" Peter said when she was gone. "She is extremely cautious around me. She shrinks back whenever I come near her. She rarely says anything to me. What have I done to deserve it?"

"Nothing," was his sister's reply as he picked up Edmund and the two headed for their siblings' rooms. "Have you ever thought that it is something deeper than what it appears to be? That maybe, deep down, she has a reason to?"

They had reached Edmund's room by now and the future High King put his brother on the bed where he woke up long enough to crawl under the covers and say goodnight to his siblings.

As they shut the door, Susan let out a disgusted sigh. "Oh, I forgot to tell Nerina to prop up her pillow. Will you tell her if she's not already asleep, and if she is, prop them up for her please?"

"Is it really that impor-" started Peter.

"Yes!" whispered Susan. "She told me it's hard to breathe, especially when she tries to sleep. I can't believe I didn't think of telling her before!"

Her brother rolled her eyes. "You sound like her mum! She's seventeen you know!"

"I know, but I want her to continue to get better, and if you want her to trust you and feel relaxed around you, and if you want her to get better as much as the rest of us do, you will go prop up her pillows!"

Peter sighed. "We are arguing over Nerina's pillow elevation. Fine! I will go tell her." And he walked off.

NTMNTMNTMNTM

When Peter got to Nerina's room, which truthfully was on the way to his, the door was partially open, and no lights were on.

Cautiously, he stuck his head in the room and softly knocked on the door. "May I come in?" he whispered.

Hearing no reply, and assuming she was asleep, Peter entered the room. He had gone a few strides when he bumped into something that started screaming.

"Nerina?" he said.

The screaming stopped.

"Yes. Who's there?" replied a cautious voice.

"It's Peter."

"What are you doing in my room?" she asked accusingly.

"I'm sorry Princess, Susan wanted me to make sure you had your pillows propped so that you could breathe more easily, and she sent me." Peter apologized.

He heard a laugh in the darkness. "Yes, that sounds like Susan."

"If you don't mind me asking, why were you walking around in the dark?"

"I heard a noise," was the simple reply.

"Sorry, that would be me again."

"Thank you for telling me Susan's message," Nerina said stiffly.

Peter's eyes had now grown accustomed to the dark, and he could see Nerina's silhouette.

"At least let me make sure you get to your bed alright."

He escorted Nerina across the room and watched her prop up her pillows and get into bed. Her back was turned to him under the covers.

"Thank you," came a muffled response from the bed.

"You're welcome." Peter decided to be brave. He had been before, and now he was deciding what took more courage to do-fight the White Witch, or ask Nerina the question that was on his mind. He took a deep breath. "Why don't you trust me?"

There was no response.

He continued. "I don't mean to be rude, but it seems like you trust everyone else except me. You never talk to me, well, rarely, and all I want is just to be your friend."

I told you everything

Opened up and let you in

You made me feel alright

For once in my life

Now all that's left of me

Is what I pretend to be

So together, but so broken up inside

'Cause I can't breathe

No, I can't sleep

I'm barely hangin' on..

He heard the sheets moving and saw the girl pull her body into a ball. He looked at her and then it came to him.

He knew that if he were right, he would be treading on protected ground now, so he would have to be careful. "He hurt you, didn't he?" he said slowly. "That King Hunter. And now you don't trust any guy around your age."

Still no response.

Peter's heart filled with compassion toward the Princess. "Princess-er…Nerina, Hunter was only one guy. Not all of us are hurtful. I would never do anything to hurt you. Ever. We all care about you. I just want you to trust me like you trust my siblings."

Peter waited, but once again, there was no response.

"Goodnight Nerina," he said before he turned and left.

Here I am, once again

I'm torn into pieces

Can't deny it, can't pretend

Just thought you were the one…

If Peter had been facing Nerina with a light, he would have seen her eyes squeezed shut, and tears silently streaming down her face.

Song used-Behind These Hazel Eyes by Kelly Clarkson

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Thanks a lot!

Haras