Disclaimer: I don't own Narnia or any characters you may recognize from the books or the movies, I wish I did but I don't... I also don't own the Narnian Calendar. It belongs to Elecktrum who was kind enough to let me borrow it for my story. Her own stories are awesome and you should go read them too.

Summary: Not all shields look as we expected... Not all shields are physical...

Additional Disclaimer: Martil and Silvo are mentioned with the express permission of Elecktrum who was so kind as to let me borrow them...

A/N: I want to apologize to those of you had an alert for a new chapter and then couldn't read the chapter. Long story short is I made a couple of big errors in the first version of Chapter Eleven, so I pulled it down and rewrote a good piece of it (I'm sure those of you who read it before I pulled it can tell which section had the biggest revamp). Sorry for inconvenience! Here is the new revamped version of Shields Chapter Eleven.

Chapter Eleven

32 Nor'Wind 1001

Some days in life could be more random than others; this was especially true of my life (even more so after I arrived in Narnia). Some days ended in a completely different way from whence they began, sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worst, or, in my case, they change from a simple bet to a rather ambitious (and admittedly insane) prank. The Fourthday of the first full week after Oreius initially implicated my new training regime of three days in skirts and three days in my normal attire was a random day of the third variety.

It was about ten in the morning when I lost a bet to Edmund and Lucy (I have since made a policy to never bet against those two...never). Looking back, I should have known better than to let those two talk me into making the bet in the first place, especially since they didn't tell me what I would have to do if I lost the bet...until I lost it. Somehow I convinced myself that two kids who were nine and eleven wouldn't require me to do anything too terrible if I lost (of course, I had also convinced myself that I actually wouldn't lose the bet)...I was wrong (I blame Edmund's caffeine depravation). The bet I had lost would explain why I was pacing off a relatively deserted hall just off one of the many solariums with the two miniature evil geniuses watching with gleeful anticipation (I wondered if Edmund had been getting tips on these evil plans from Oreius).

Once I had paced off the distance, I walked to the farthest point and looked over my shoulder to see twin grins (if they weren't so cute, I would have been irritated), "So, if I mess this up, you'll patch me back together, right?"

They looked at each other then looked at me and chorused, "Of course, Kat!" Now, someone tell me why I didn't quite believe them...well, I definitely didn't believe Edmund.

I glanced at the ceiling and prayed I could still pull off the stunt I was about to try...on marble floors...if Murphy didn't get me, it would be a miracle. I tensed then threw myself up and backwards...and caught myself on my hands before I kept going. Yes, the penalty for losing the bet was a back flip...well, actually it was a series of four back flips, then a back flip with a half twist, and then the end stunt of a back handspring that morphed into an Arabian front, which I had not done in over ten months. Once I got through the first back flip, I quit worrying about the others since they would be easy once I got my momentum going. I transformed my back handspring into an Arabian front by using a half turn to change it into a forward somersault and landed with a step out (I was going to land like that anyway, might as well make it look graceful and hope no one noticed the wobble). It was when I turned another handspring into a handstand, I realized that I had gained a bigger audience (in more ways than one) as I was a little past where Edmund and Lucy were standing and I could see that they had been joined by their older siblings, Alithia, Ardon, and Oreius. This was in addition to the Tiger, Wolf, and three Fauns who were the guards assigned to the area for the morning (I'm a one-woman sideshow, oh joy). I felt the muscles in my shoulders and arms start to protest at the activity I was requiring of them and I refocused on what I was supposed to be doing at the moment.

I turned my handstand into a hand-walk as I moved forward five paces, only to stop as Ptah crouched in front of me (he had started to become rather attached to me...well, that and he was a rather nosy creature). "What are you doing?"

I blew some loose strands of hair out of my face then answered (he wasn't going to move until I did and having an adult male Leopard in the way was...inconvenient), "Well, at the moment, I'm doing a handstand."

He perked his ears as he tilted his head (that looked really funny upside-down...and I was going loopy from all the blood running to my head). "Why?"

Ah, that was a good question...did I have an answer? Yes. Was it a good one? No, not really. "I lost a bet. And, I've one more thing to do in order to make up for that loss, so if you would be so kind..." The blood was really starting to run to my head...fortunately, Ptah wasted no time in moving to the side (even though he only did it because he wanted to see what else I was going to do). I moved forward one more pace and then I slowly shifted my weight and raised my left hand until I was balancing solely on my right hand. I put my left hand back down, tensed, and then flipped back to my feet (the entire hall flipped with me...and after me...that was so fun...not).

I stood there a minute to make sure I did not fall on my face and to thank God that Murphy had actually left me alone in spite of the fact I was asking for it by doing gymnastics after not practicing in months and on marble floors no less. Lucy clapped her hands in delight while everyone else looked suitably impressed (okay certain Centaurs looked like they were also doubting my sanity...but that was normal so I ignored it...as per usual). The two culprits responsible for the show walked over to me and just grinned...oh, if I didn't actually like them, they would have been in so much trouble. I rolled my eyes at them, "The terms have been satisfied, yes?"

They looked at each other then nodded, "Yes!" Well, thank God for that because I was never going to do it again...well, at least not because of a bet...or on marble floors. I took the first opportunity to leave that presented itself and I was thankful that I had managed to escape without anyone asking for the details of the bet...or so I thought.

There was one problem with counting Centaurs and big Cats like Leopards in my group of friends and acquaintances...I couldn't get away from them unless they decided to be nice and give me a break. Ptah caught up with me first and brushed against my right leg (it was a subtle way for Sefu, Heru, and, of course, Ptah to correct my trajectory when they accompanied me as I moved through the Cair...I mean I couldn't exactly ignore over 200 pounds of big Cat pressing against me) as Alithia, Ardon, and Oreius joined us. I kept walking but started ticking off points with my fingers, "Before you say anything, yes I know that was rather risky to the point of inviting a cracked skull and a broken neck though that would be the least of my worries if it had actually happened while you were there. No, I did not intend to do that when I woke up this morning. Yes, I did know what I was doing when I did it...actually, I knew what I was doing before I even started. And, yes that part is a bit of a change from the norm. No, I did not leave my God-given common sense behind this morning. Yes, I realize you would prefer if I did not do such a thing again even if it was impressive. No, I cannot promise I will never do such a thing again, but then you didn't expect me to be able to anyway." I glanced down at Ptah who had enjoyed my little summarization of just about every lecture I have received from Alithia and Oreius at one point or another (there was a bit of a theme for those lectures), "Did I forget anything, Ptah?"

The Leopard gave a raspy chuckle, "Only one thing, my Lady. What was the bet that you lost?"

I glanced from the Centaurs (two of whom...guess who...looked distinctly less than amused...until Ptah asked about the bet) to the Leopard then back before I abruptly faced forward and tried to ignore the blush creeping up my face and neck. "I couldn't say…actually, it would probably be better if I told you instead of the two troublemakers who caused it all. All right, it was a simple enough bet, all I had to do was avoid running into you Centaurs for the morning. And, I was doing fine until I ran into you, Oreius, so the performance back there is really your fault."

It took them less than five seconds to realize that I was not referring to seeing and talking to Centaurs, but actually running into them. I, unfortunately, had a bad habit of skidding around corners and bouncing off the side (and occasionally front) of whatever Centaur happened to be in the vicinity...mainly Ardon, Oreius, and Stonebrook. That morning I had lost my footing after some Dogs tracked snow, mud, and water through several halls (much to the chagrin of the housekeeping staff) and I slid around the corner and slammed into Oreius' front...he had managed to catch me before I could fall.

I shook my head ruefully as I recalled how Edmund had looked far too pleased with himself that I had lost the bet (I almost suspected the miniature evil genius of planning for that to happen...but no proof meant no retaliation, just in case I was wrong). "Since I actually thought I could get through the morning without such a mishap occurring, I didn't press them for the stakes if I lost. After I lost, I found out that I had to do that little performance back there...on marble floors of all things."

They exchanged amused glances, then Oreius raised an eyebrow at me, "If you didn't know what the stakes of the bet were, why did you take it in the first place?"

Good question...I paused just long enough that all four of my companions sighed and shook their heads at me (sad, I know). "I was fooled by the innocent faces...I don't intend to let it happen again."

Oreius smirked, "And, how often do your intentions actually match your actions, Katerina Alambiel?"

We both knew what he was referring to but he said that as if I had meant for those things to happen and I hadn't...well, swapping the sugar out for salt in the officers' refreshments on Firstday had been intentional, but they all deserved it. The hilarious thing about that particular prank was Oreius and the other officers all assumed it was Edmund who had been behind the incident until I had confessed (that confession was promptly followed by me hiding for the rest of Firstday from every officer except Sherket...training on Secondday had been long and painful). I gave him a hurt look, "I've gotten better...mostly"

He didn't answer just shook his head again before he and Ardon caught me by the shoulders and spun me to the right so I would end up in the right hall for my quarters...Ardon sent me off with a light smack to the back of the head. After carefully stretching out my poor muscles, I hid myself in the library lost in the early days of Narnia with a cup of hot chocolate (Elwood was not in that day and Stonebrook didn't mind...unlike the grumpy Badger) until it was time for me to meet Lucy in the southeastern solarium for her knife training.

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As I had told Sallowpad at the end of Yule, the Royals and I had reached an agreement as to how continued lessons for Lucy were to proceed. This agreement included the decision that either Oreius or Sherket or both would be present as observers for each lesson, and on the days when neither was available it would fall to Ardon to stand in. So far, Ardon's presence had not been required (I wasn't sure if he was disappointed or relieved by that fact...actually, I had the feeling he didn't know either). Because Lucy did have courtly duties in the late mornings and early afternoons, we set our lesson times for late in the afternoon though I would make the final decision as to whether we would have true practice when I saw her in the solarium (teacher's prerogative was such a lovely thing...when it wasn't being used on me).

That particular afternoon both Sherket and Oreius were observing the lesson, which I admit could have been going a lot smoother. I was trying to teach Lucy one specific defensive move, but I wasn't having as much success as usual with communicating the concept of it in a way that she could grasp. I called a brief halt to our lesson and sheathed my knives while Lucy got a drink. I tapped my chin while I tried to think of some other way of approaching the lesson as I watched Sherket wander over to Lucy's side and talk to her (buying me time so I could figure out what to do). I started walking the length of the room (and walking off the lingering soreness in my muscles from my earlier gymnastics...that really was such a silly bet) when I met Oreius' gaze and...well, he was the senior sword master of Cair Paravel...might as well pick his brain while I had the chance. He raised an eyebrow as I walked over to join him (normally I ignored both him and Sherket until I had dismissed Lucy from her lesson), and then the cheeky Kentauri had the nerve to ask, "Experiencing difficulty, Katerina Alambiel?"

I had to remind myself that it would have painful repercussions during my training the next morning if I gave in to the urge to smack him, so I couldn't smack the cheeky Centaur (no matter how tempting). I settled for rolling my eyes as I replied with as much sarcasm as possible, "No, Oreius, I was planning to frustrate a nine-year-old this afternoon." I paused then continued in a normal tone, "This particular concept is just...hard...I mean, it took Charlie two months before he found a way to teach me so I understood it and I was older than Lucy."

Oreius decided to be helpful instead of just annoying as he looked from me to where Lucy stood across the room. "Perhaps you should consider what this Charlie did that worked with you, you never know, it might work with Queen Lucy as well."

A rather simple solution that I should have thought of myself (I blamed the gymnastics for why I didn't), I glanced over to see Lucy giggling at whatever Sherket was telling her. At that moment, I remembered the exact technique Charlie had used to help me understand not only this move but also other even more complicated moves. And, it would let me get a little revenge on Oreius for being cheeky and annoying (I always enjoyed my revenge moments, especially since I had to work for most of them). It was time for show, not tell.

I walked to the center of the room and called for Sherket and Lucy to join me. I quickly whispered my plan in the Leopard Captain's ear and she gave me an amused look before nodding her agreement to my request. I couldn't keep the somewhat evil (okay, it was completely evil) grin from spreading across my face as I turned back around and beckoned for Oreius to come join the three of us. He came, but he didn't look too eager to do so (step one of revenge plan: anticipation for me/dread for him...check). I waited until the Kentauri finally joined us (he took as much time as he could without looking completely reluctant...he knew I was up to something), then I looked down at Lucy and went back into teacher mode. "Some concepts, like this one, are rather difficult to grasp based on an explanation alone. Therefore, I believe a demonstration is in order. Oreius and I shall conduct the demonstration while Sherket explains what we're doing as the two of you watch."

Oreius graced me with a look that said I was not going to get off easy for this one (step two of revenge plan: turn Oreius into a guinea pig...check) and I stuck my tongue out at him...but only after I had my back to Lucy...I had to be a good role model, you know. I grinned at him as I slid my sai knives out of the hidden sheaths of my cuirass, "Come now, Oreius, don't be that way. This was your idea...and besides, we couldn't let a perfectly good general go to waste, now could we?" I stated that last bit in the same tone one would use when referring to a toy (which Oreius really...appreciated...me doing), causing Lucy to giggle and Sherket to sneeze twice as she tried to control her laughter (step three of revenge plan: bait Oreius as much as possible...in progress).

Lucy and Sherket quickly moved to the far wall as Oreius unsheathed his right-hand sword while I gave my knives a practice twirl as we began to circle each other. Oreius feinted to my right and I dodged to his right, my left, and barely missed landing a blow on his arm. I had to remind myself that I was solely fighting from the defensive position in this particular sparring match, otherwise there were several openings I could have taken advantage of and ended the game. He was taunting me by leaving those openings, trying to bait me into making a mistake. Well, two people could play that game. I dodged under another blow and he was forced to hop to the side in order to avoid my knife. I leaned forward slightly and taunted, "Experiencing difficulty, Kentauri?"

The mocking and taunting of Centaurs in general, and of Oreius in particular, was not something that most Narnians...or other sane people...did. Of course, that didn't stop me from indulging in the entertainment I gained from taunting Oreius, but then I counted on Oreius' very high tolerance for my antics to keep me safe from the worst repercussions (admittedly, I did push his buttons as often as I could to see what kind of reaction I might provoke out of him...normally, I ended up with a very hard day/week of training and/or tossed across/into something). I'm still not sure why I found it so entertaining to provoke Oreius, but if I was going to do something he would be less than thrilled about anyway, I figured I might as well enjoy watching his reactions (when he showed them...the Kentauri was one of the best I had seen at hiding his thoughts and emotions, almost as good as I was). Oreius, Alithia, Ardon, and several other people, including Tuulea, all adhered to the opinion that I did these things because I had no sense of self-preservation and my grip on what other people called sanity was tentative at the best of times (I disagreed with them on both points, by the way).

Oreius glared at me and I knew that step three of my revenge plan was now complete...now for step four: surviving until step five (step four would be the one that never changed for any of my plans). We took care to slow the speed with which we usually sparred, so Lucy could see everything we were doing with ease. I could hear Sherket softly whispering the tactics I was using as I had asked her to, but then I tuned them out as I caught Oreius' sword with the edge of my knife and shoved hard as I darted out from under the blade and around to his left. We went back and forth, neither scoring a hit or gaining the advantage, until I miscalculated my next move and gave Oreius an opportunity he would have been insane to pass up...and, my irritated personal opinion aside, Oreius couldn't really be called insane (somewhat arrogant and occasionally the slightest bit egotistical, yes...insane, not really).

I backed up as Oreius charged me and dodged his strike again by dropping into a roll away from him. I heard Lucy gasp and automatically glanced over at her to see what was wrong (I found out later that she had just reacted to me letting Oreius get fairly close with the sword aimed at my neck before I dropped under the strike), as it was I made an amateur mistake that got people killed in real fights. Charlie, oh my goodness, Charlie would have slapped me upside the head (and not as a sign of affection either) for doing such a thing. I would have slapped me upside the head for doing such a thing. I took my eyes off my opponent and the fight wasn't over (well, it hadn't been before I looked away), which meant I never should have taken my eyes off the Kentauri.

My eyes snapped back to Oreius as he sheathed his sword and I brought both knives up in an attempt to land a blow while he was vulnerable (although I misjudged his plan, so you can guess how it ended). He easily demonstrated why I had been pounding the litany of an unarmed opponent did not mean you were safe into Lucy since we first started. He caught both of my wrists and forced me to drop my knives, which landed with a soft thud on the rug beside my feet. It was a bad position for me to be in, but I was certain I could still pull off my plan as all I had to do was reach one knife. Oreius and I stared at each other for a moment, and then I twisted my wrists so I could wrap my hands around his wrists. I braced myself on his wrists as I leaped up and kicked him as hard as I could just below his ribs where there was a gap between the pieces of his armor (he hadn't expected me to do that, which was the only reason my tactic worked). He grunted at the impact of my boots, and he dropped his hold...unfortunately, I still had both feet in the air so my landing was...less than graceful.

I landed in an awkward crouch but I managed to grab both knives and bring them up just in time to meet a jarring blow, which knocked me completely off my feet. I landed hard on my back and I was thankful that I had insisted on covering the entirety of the solarium's floor with rugs, even though all the air left my lungs in a rush and I knew I was going to have a number of lovely new bruises by evening. Training was going to be such fun in the morning. The impact caused my knives to slip out of my grasp and then Oreius pinned me in place with one hoof to my abdomen (he might not have been as huge as Ardon, but you get pinned to ground by an adult Centaur and see how well you can move even if it is only by a hoof). My torso was not going to go anywhere until Oreius let me up, so instead I stretched my left arm out in a rather desperate attempt to reach my knife, which was lying scant centimeters from my fingertips. That effort lasted a whole two seconds before Oreius casually drew his sword and flicked my knife a good foot away...that just wasn't fair. I glared up at him, "Showoff."

He smirked down at me as he rested the point of his sword mere inches to the left of my head, "Did you not require that I help you with a demonstration? Something along the lines of not letting a "perfectly good general go to waste," was that not what you said?"

And, people thought I was vindictive...obviously, they never provoked Oreius. I tried to ignore the weight of his hoof on my stomach (it didn't hurt, but it was starting to get a mite uncomfortable) as I answered in a very nonchalant tone, "You need a sense of humor, Kentauri. A good one, unlike the one you have now. When I asked you to help with the demonstration, I meant to help me show Lucy how to successfully pull the concept together. I certainly did not mean for you to flatten me and then step on me. Now, let me up. You're heavy. Can't breathe."

The Kentauri had the cheek to raise an eyebrow at me and ask, "Then, why are you still talking, Katerina Alambiel?"

I had wrapped both hands around his fetlock and attempted to lift his hoof high enough that I could slide out from under it...I might have managed to lift it a whole half a millimeter. I glared at him as he gave me a look full of blatant amusement before I finally answered, "Well, apparently, I can't help myself. But that's not the point."

There went the eyebrow again...what was it with Centaurs and raising their eyebrows at people? I mean every last one of the Centaurs I had met during my time at Cair Paravel would inevitably do it, it was almost like it was a genetic trait for them...but I digress. Oreius smirked slightly as he looked down at where I was still pinned to the ground, "No?"

I gave up on trying to move his hoof and lightly smacked his fetlock as I answered, "No. The point, Kentauri, is that you are heavy and I don't find being pinned to the ground as one of the most comfortable positions in the world. So, get off!"

He eased most of his weight off but kept his hoof resting on my abdomen just enough that I still couldn't get up as he peered down at me. "Are you yielding?"

I glared at him as I once again reminded myself that smacking the annoying Kentauri was not allowed...but I did have several pairs of shoes that I could chuck at his head...maybe they would actually make an impression on that thick skull of his. "Yes, but I only do so under duress."

Lucy giggled and Sherket looked amused as Oreius sheathed his sword, moved his hoof, and then hauled me to my feet. I dismissed Lucy with the reminder that she had to wear skirts for lessons the next day (if I had to suffer, then I was going to make sure someone else had to share in my suffering). Of course, Lucy did not find the wearing of dresses to training that much of a bother, so it was a bit pointless save for her improving her ability to defend herself not matter her wardrobe. I picked up my knives and slid them back into their hidden sheaths before I brushed at the spot on my cuirass where Oreius had put his hoof, I heard him mutter something about being overdramatic but I ignored him.

He rubbed the spot where I had kicked him as I walked past him with Sherket trailing me. "I think you might have left bruises, Katerina Alambiel."

Did he actually expect me to have any pity for him? I didn't think so. I rolled my eyes at him as I opened the solarium door, "Good. You deserve them...for several reasons." Of course, that one comment I made turned into a somewhat...spirited...discussion about what he had done to deserve the bruises. Okay, we were bickering...and it was bad enough that Sherket vacated the area quickly (though that might have had something to do with the fact that most people don't bicker with Centaurs...unless they are kin by blood, marriage, or close friends). Most of my side of the...discussion...had to do with how Oreius had stepped on me, Oreius was more concerned with trying to figure out why I was irritated at him and defend himself at the same time, and anyone within range of our voices quickly left.

We both jumped as a new voice cut into our...discussion, "You both are bickering like six-year-olds. A lot of fuss with no real point." I spun around to see Tuulea watching us with a look of extreme disapproval tempered with just a hint of amusement. The Black Elder Nymph continued in a smooth voice that made me, at least, rather nervous as I remembered one of the little old ladies at the orphanage would use the same tactic and she had scared everyone from the boys getting ready to age out down when she used that tone. "Now since the two of you should both be old enough to not argue as if you were six years of age, I expect that this little disagreement to be resolved by the time the two of you reach the halls where people actually are, so you do not scare off any more guards from their posts. I am certain that since the two of you are friends, you will be able to accomplish this task with ease. If you cannot, you will go your separate ways until I have time to deal with you personally, am I understood? Good."

With a very satisfied nod to herself (although I had a sneaking suspicion it wasn't solely due to the fact that she had managed to shut us both up), Tuulea disappeared down one of the halls. I realized Sherket must have been the one who cleared out most of the guards...she probably had told Tuulea too. I looked up at Oreius and whispered, "Did you know she was there before she..."

He shook his head as he answered just as quietly, "spoke? No, no I did not."

I paused then I whispered, "She scares me."

Oreius looked down at me then he quietly replied, "It's Tuulea, she scares everyone...at one point or another."

We looked at each other in silence for a moment, and then I had to resist the sudden impulse to laugh as Oreius started to chuckle. I grinned instead as I shook my head, "Well, she did have a point that our little discussion was probably the most ridiculous one we've had thus far."

He chuckled as he nodded then he gave me a bemused look, "That was a 'discussion', Katerina Alambiel?"

I raised an eyebrow at him (yes, I could do it to...it was not solely for Centaurs), "What else would it have been, Oreius?"

He opened his mouth, then he obviously decided the safer option (from Tuulea and I both) was to not protest my choice of words as he moved on to a slightly different topic. "Does this mean you are no longer irritated? Or, must I go find some books and chocolate?"

I smiled brightly as I suppressed a laugh at his mention of the bribe that would always (well, almost always) work on me, "Since I already have a good book I'm working through and I shall find some chocolate on my own, you don't have to do that...today." He looked relieved then I continued in a soft, pleasant tone, "Nor am I that irritated with you anymore, however, if you ever step on me like that again, I shall be forced to throw every single pair of shoes I have, and probably some of the Queens' too, at your head as a matter of principle."

Both of his eyebrows shot up as he stared down at me in surprise before he slowly nodded, "Very well, I will not pin you that way again." He paused then gave me an amused look, "As a 'matter of principle', you say? And, that statement means you are not vindictive at all, is that right, Katerina?"

I smirked up at him, "Exactly, Kentauri." He snorted but didn't say anything else as he escorted me to the shortcut between the library and my quarters. I was probably going to pay for mouthing off and taunting him so much when we trained the next morning, but I admit that I enjoyed myself.

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I had just finished changing into fresh clothing and was about to let my hair down when I heard someone slam first the main doors to my quarters and then the sound of running feet before the door to my bedroom was opened then slammed shut again. I rolled my eyes at my reflection in the mirror and quickly shoved the two pins I had just pulled out back into my now very messy bun. I opened the bathroom door to see none other than King Edmund the Just pressing his ear against the door, apparently listening for whoever was chasing him. He jumped a little when I cleared my throat as I placed my hands on my hips and stared down at him while tapping one bare foot. "So, since you are disrupting my free time, I think I deserve to know why my free time is being disrupted, don't you agree?"

He ducked his head to hide a laugh before he carefully responded, "Well, I'm in here because...because I'm hiding from Martil."

Martil? Martil...I could recall hearing that name before, but no face came to mind. "And, Martil is who exactly?"

Edmund rolled his eyes at me, "Martil is my valet, Kat. You met him and Silvo both, remember? They're Fauns and they actually do not appreciate it when one King, umm, dumps oatmeal in every last one of the other King's footwear and adds honey to it." He paused then asked, "Can I hide here until all three of them calm down a bit?"

Oh yes, Silvo and Martil...I think I had made them nervous when we briefly (very, very briefly) met in Frostmoon as I never really saw them much after that first meeting. I smothered the urge to laugh when I heard what Edmund had done to Peter and then his plea to hide from the wrath of the valets and the High King in my quarters. I was definitely dealing with the eleven-year-old boy and not the Just King at that moment. Boys. I grinned at him and motioned for him to precede me into the parlor, "Fine, you can stay, but only for a little while."

He made himself comfortable on the settee and cast me a curious look when I walked by him, to which I gave another little grin as I started talking while working on stirring the flames to life in my fireplace (Oreius always made it look easy...actually everybody but me made it look easy...campfires, fire pits, bonfires, no problem but fireplaces...oy, I hate working with fireplaces). "So, oatmeal with a little honey on top in all his shoes, huh? Not bad, but it could have been better."

"Oh really, and what do you have in mind, Kat?"

I smirked, "Well, what comes to mind when you hear the words "syrup" and "flour"?"

Edmund's eyebrows rose then a mischievous gleam appeared in his dark eyes as we began to plot a rather elaborate prank for his brother. We spent most of the night collecting supplies and setting everything up. I was having even more fun than when I pulled the sugar and salt prank on Oreius and the other officers, and I expected the reaction to be even more impressive for this new prank of Edmund's and mine. It turned out that I was right about the reaction...it was just we had made a slight miscalculation in the mechanics of carrying out our prank, so it didn't quite go according to plan.

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A/N: Please Read and Review! So, this was Part One of the infamous Flour Incident! Hopefully y'all enjoyed it! I hope to have Part Two up no later than Friday or Saturday. There are three planned chapters left including the epilogue, so this is the last official call for any requests concerning chapters/scenes you would like to see. If you have any requests concerning POV for the next chapter, let me know in your review. Again apologies for the earlier confusion and delay for this chapter. Click the little review button below and let me know what y'all thought about this chapter and your guesses as to what exactly went wrong with Katerina and Edmund's prank on Peter.