When I returned from the healers the foul taste still in my mouth, Peter was asleep and I gave thanks to Aslan for this small mercy. I kicked off my shoes and climbed into the bed and closed my eyes.

It felt like I had just closed them when I felt that I was being watched, Peter steady breathing sounded from the other side of the large bed. A smell like the pine forest tinted with dew, crept to my nose, I opened my eyes cautiously, It was dark, the dark that came before the sun was ready to rise and my little sister was sitting on the floor next to the bed with her arms crossed on the edge of the bed staring intently at me.

Her eyes shone with a faint green and my heart sunk, she had entrusted her soul to the dryads again.

"My bats are very efficient, you could have used them" I whispered.

"Not nearly as much fun, " she whispered in return. "she's older than I thought she'd be, move over, and she is really human"

I moved across, putting my back against the warmth of Peters and lifted the covers, she crept in beside me, unlike me she was in her night gown, the lace on the hem and her bare feet were wet and cold.

I fought to stay awake, I hated waking up and there was the other thing.

"are you trying to provoke Su?, you know how she's got about sharing the bed" I said into her ear as I settled the blankets around her. "I'll just say you went to bed fully dressed" I could feel her grin.

"I'll say you spent the night with Bacchus" I whispered in her ear. She stiffened "you beast!" It was my turn to grin and I pulled her cold body closer.

I was almost back to sleep, lulled by Peters not quite snores and Lucy's returning warmth, "she's almost here" It took me a moment to think who she was whispering about, "she's camped by the river rush, with a huge horse".

I did come awake then, "that's less than a hard day's ride, why did she come? She must have left weeks ago",

Lucy was starting to drowse, the green glow seeping under her closed eyelashes" I asked her and she said Aslan had called her" , she sighed drifting further into sleep. "she's old, Ed, old as some of the trees around her camp, I'm not sure if she can still fight if she's that old"

Lucy could, with help from the trees, lift from her body as the dryads lifted from their trees. She said it was amazing fun and said it was the only way to dance. When she travelled, as she had this night, the trees had lifted her spirit from one tree to another. In this way, she tended to see the world as the trees did. I hated it, I hated that she left her body cold and lifeless, it smacked of the white witches magic. I am not sure of how Peter and Susan felt as I never broached the subject with them. I did not even know if they knew.

Lucy's breathing deepened and I know she slept; I turned to look at her. She was here to tell me that she thought Alsan approved of whatever action I was taking even though I skittered us along a path that took Narnia to war and endangered our sister's impending engagement. My mind started mapping paths that the day would take, Susan and I over the years disagreed but I didn't want to hurt her unnecessarily.

"stop thinking whatever your thinking Ed, Se'zann can fight, Su's a big girl, go back to sleep, we have at least another half hour, we will deal with it in the morn" growled Peter as he turned and wrapped his arm around both Lucy and I. As the high king commanded, sleep found me quickly.

Morning came in a flurry, Martil woke us early to say the Queen Susan was looking for Lucy, which got Peter out of bed immediately, followed by me much more slowly. Lucy just rolled over and pulled up the covers and started to suck her thumb.

"She's so innocent" sighed Peter as he pulled his training jerkin on.

I snorted "her best friend is a faun, she spends her nights with satyrs and dryads, innocence my foot"

I glanced at Lucy and could see the wicked smile form around the thumb as I disappeared from the room before Su's arrival. Lucy has Su wrapped around her finger and would be safe from Su displeasure. Peter and I, however, made ourselves scarce.

Training was hard and I didn't get time to speak to Orieus, which I longed to. He was the only one who I had confided in and I wanted to tell him that things were moving quickly. What I did gather from snatched conversations as I passed groups that the entire palace guard was ready to defend the Queens and march on Calormene immediately and did indeed see the insult as worthy as marching to war. As a very poor second they were prepared to accept a female champion as had been discussed at dinner the night before.

I had hardly put down the rough wooded training stave, when a cat slinked to my side, bowing his head in the way that the cats all had. "Your Majesty, the Gentle Queen requires an audience" I silently debated going to the guardhouse to clean up as I desperately wanted the baths there. I guessed that Su cursory look over the Tarkans luggage had most probably found the gold and weapons and she required my input.

It would be favourable, I decided, to show the calormene that the Queens of Narnia could call their Kings from the training grounds hot and sweaty.

It was only half way to Su did I realized that she may be calling me to berate me for allowing Lucy to share our bed last night, where my appearance hot and sweaty would not be in my favour.

So it was in trepidation that I approached the summer rooms, Su's temper was slow to heat but remained hot for some time. I did not want her angry during this period when a civil war loomed from the south.

The summer rooms, so named as they glowed a soft gold in the morning sun, were Su's hub as she organised the working of the Cair Parvel and its surrounding gardens. She would be seated at her desk in the centre of the room in the pale blue that she favoured looking like a sapphire set in gold, as most would be suitors saw her for the first time informally in this setting, it was no wonder Peter was always fending them off for her hand.

I paused, the door that customarily was closed and guarded, was wide open. The double doors gave clear vision to any passing traffic of a queen seated at her desk, the two calormen stood to one side while she worked. I felt a pang of sympathy in my knees, Su had used that tactic on me once on a occasion when she was especially displeased.

I entered the room and saw four guards in the corners. On the other side of the room out of view of the door was a large chest thrown back to show the gold. Su did not acknowledge my presence.

"You asked for my attendance, sister" I said to break the silence.

Su put down her quill and pointedly did not look at the Calormen or the gold. "My brother, I am most displeased with events this morning" she narrowed her eyes "there are many events that have consequence that I have encountered" She picked the quill. "do you know which has disrupted my morning the most"

I swallowed. Su was obviously making a point to the Calormen and I determined to play my role, that didn't change the fact that I knew that Su was seething and I would be the brunt of numerous slights for many days.

"I feel I may have an inkling"

Su's smile was devoid humour "an inkling?, It is court and petitions today , it is The High King and the Just Kings sitting"

I fought back a tirade of swearing that would not been out of place on a song bird. Lucy was still in bed, the lazy wench. I'm not sure how she'd managed to get around Su, it was Peter's and her sitting today. I was annoyed Lucy enjoyed her sitting days listening to petitions; I did not as I felt that each petition should be brought before the courts for real mediation instead of a blanket ruling that was akin to waving a magical wand.

"that will be all, thank you Edmund, please don't let me detain you" Su dismissal was curt. I left her chambers, my anger stiffening my gait despite my efforts .

"Lezi" I hissed and almost immediately the cat appeared at my side "find the valiant queens whereabouts, Im going to the wash house and then Im going to have a small talk to our most regal sister" my careful plans might fail because my sister wished to remain in bed.