Lucy accidentally found the king before she found her sister.
She had been hurrying around a corner when very abruptly, she nearly ran into a small group of people, all but one of whom were guards, and for a minute she had been so shocked that she had done nothing at all. Then she had realized who the other person must be.
He looked a little like the statue in the square, but less tall and not as strong-looking. He had shining chestnut brown hair and a perfectly trimmed moustache, and a rather large nose that curved over his thin, pursed lips. A look of perpetual irritation or disdain seemed etched on his face, and Lucy wondered if he looked so cranky because the golden crown on his head was too heavy – it certainly looked it. She wondered how he kept his head upright. She was just getting on to noticing his rather extravagantly fine clothes when one of the guards barked at her,
"Have you no respect? On your knees for the King of Caelan!"
Gasping out a quick apology, Lucy dropped to one knee in an instant with her face to the floor.
The king and his guards swept by, and Lucy heard him snapping at them all the way down the corridor. When her heart had slowed enough, she got back to her feet and resumed her movement, but her mind stayed on the king, the man who was forcing her sister to marry him…
Suddenly, she heard people talking in a nearby chamber and stopped frozen to listen.
"Excuse me," a male voice was saying, muffled through the stone wall. "I've been sent to relieve the guard at the future queen's room, but I've lost my way. Could you tell me where to go?"
Lucy couldn't believe her luck, and listened carefully to the directions that followed. Then, when the guard left the room, she snuck after him to follow, keeping a safe distance behind but walking very purposefully so that anyone else might think she had quite an important job to attend to. No one questioned her, and soon she was at the foot of the East Tower and climbing the stairs, past each level, thankful that her boots were soft enough not to make too much noise.
As she climbed, she sought for an excuse to be visiting what was obviously a heavily-guarded area of the castle. With a wedding in the air, Lucy knew how chaotic things must be, and decided to use this to her advantage. Another maid passed her on the stairs on the way down, and they both smiled at one another in greeting. Perfect – others of her like had been here. As she neared the top, she could hear the guard who'd asked directions talking to the other guards, but couldn't hear what he was saying. They seemed to be having a quarrel of some sort.
"The king gave orders," she could hear one saying vehemently. "We're the ones on duty, and we're on duty until the mid-afternoon relief is. You aren't a part of that watch and you're much too early. Now be off, or I'll report you!"
"Pardon me, captain," said the guard Lucy had been following – and she cringed, recognizing the voice. She crossed her fingers and prayed her brother would prove a better liar than usual, lifting her skirts to step up. "But I'm a new recruit, here, and I was told to go up and join this watch, for experience. To learn from you."
"I see," said the first voice, and Lucy could hear the self-satisfaction in it. He was flattered, which of course had been Peter's intention. She climbed the top step and now could see down the short stone hallway to the door, a sturdy oak structure by which two armed guards stood, one half a head taller than Peter and one a touch shorter with black, slick hair. Standing back, she waited politely with her face to the floor.
"Let him watch with us," said the black-haired guard to his captain. Lucy thought he looked rather suspicious about it still, and grew slightly nervous. "It couldn't hurt."
"I suppose not," said the captain, and he touched two fingers to his breastbone formally. Peter copied the gesture, which seemed to satisfy them, and he took his place with the other two. How this was to help, Lucy wasn't sure, but she wasn't about to ask him in front of anyone else. As the three men were now looking at her expectantly, she stepped forward in front of them with her hand in her apron pocket, as if she were carrying something.
" Delivery from the tailor's," she said politely, curtsying. The captain squinted suspiciously.
"I don't see any delivery," he said, looking her up and down.
"Part of the bridal costume, sir," said Lucy with a small, nervous smile, though the nervousness was more because it was in-character than because she was nervous. This was thrilling – a real adventure. The danger only made it more exciting, though she did honestly want her family safe.
"Show us," said the black-haired guard, holding out his hand. Lucy had seen ahead to this, and delicately replied,
"It's not the sort of thing a man ought to be interested in," she said with a raised eyebrow. "If he's not to wed the lady."
"Oh," said the guard, his face turning quite a deep shade of red. "Right then. Well."
Peter's eyes were twinkling and she fixed him with a cold look, as if offended by his light on the subject, but it was more to remind him to keep his act.
"In you go," said the captain, and drew back the bolt – Lucy noticed it had newly been added on the outside of the door, to keep someone in, and suppressed a shudder before giving her polite thanks and moving inside. There was another door here, but it was neither guarded nor locked, and the room she was in seemed to be some sort of antechamber in which visitors could wait. She knocked.
"What is it now?" came a voice from inside.
Lucy's heart nearly leapt right out of her chest. Susan!