The war waged for only six months, long compared to the Great Battle of Narnia, but short compared to the many wars the Pevensies had fought in. This chapter brings up to the fifth month of the war, when a pair of humans bearing an olive branch and a scroll, and wearing enemy colors, walking through the Narnian camp. The olive branch prevented them from harm, but only by a hair's breadth. Everywhere they walked, Narnian soldiers, human and creature, glared with unveiled contempt. The pair looked increasingly nervous, and gripped their sword hilts tightly with their free hands. Finally they reached the central tent. Peter, Susan, Edmund, Lucy, and Samantha waited with chins high and regal, albeit emotionless, expressions.
"Greetings, High King Peter. We come bearing the olive branch of peace-and a peace treaty," said one, who stepped slightly forward and presented the scroll. Peter took it and began to read aloud.
"'Majesties Peter, Edmund, Susan, and Lucy of Aslan's Narnia-I bade your good morn. I, King Albert Soreckt, wish this was to wage no longer. I have sent my best men with the olive branch of peace to deliver this treaty. My terms are simple-'" at which point Edmund spluttered in disbelief, "HIS terms? HE is the one surrendering," and so Susan elbowed him. "'-in order to prevent the lives of our brave soldiers being lost any further, I ask only for Lady Samantha's hand in marriage-an insignificant Lady of the Court of no use to you, as my queen. Pray send a reply with my noble men. Signed, King Albert the Magnificent.'"
At this point, everyone had gone from calm and royal to fighting, raging furious. Peter kept his head long enough to motion o an attendant "Please show these gentlemen to a tent and bring them refreshment while we discuss their offer. They will be retrieved shortly with a reply." The attendant nodded and scurried away with the two men.
"You're not going to give in, are you?" Edmund asked anxiously.
"Of course not. We started this war over that demand, why would we end the war with it?"
"The king must not know that, or he wouldn't have asked for what made us attack his country in the first place," said Lucy.
"I'm not so sure. Maybe he figures they're winning."
"Are they," asked Sam.
"No, not at all," answered Edmund.
Peter scribbled something on a piece of paper and read it aloud. "'King Soreckt, we refuse your terms. May the war continue until you come forward with a treaty lacking in terms other than immediate and complete surrender. Signed, High King Peter."