Chapter 2 Worries and Guests

"Peter could you spare a moment?" Susan poked her head over the threshold of Peter's private room. Although it wasn't exactly private as Peter would have liked.

The door was normally left open and everybody in the castle knew where to find him. The only reason it was private was because there existed and unspoken rule that no one but Peter were to enter here. Not like a written one would do anything, his siblings still managed to find him, Lucy most of all.

With a soft sigh, but still focusing on the document beneath his hand, Peter addressed his sister. "Have Edmund and Lucy returned?"

Susan blinked feeling slightly more comfortable with stepping into the doorway now that her brother had acknowledged her. And while he didn't respond to her question directly, the fact that he was speaking to her meant something. Still feeling slightly awkward Susan hovered on the boundary between Peter's room and the corridor outside.

"No, not yet. But Peter I was wondering—"

"Funny, those two should have returned by now." Peter tore himself away from the paper and looked up, but didn't direct his attention to Susan rather the empty space in front of him. "I told Edmund no later than midday." he returned to his work.

Susan heaved a heavy sigh and stepped further into the room raising her voice, "I'm sure they'll be back soon. But Peter I want to ask—"

"If he can't listen then he doesn't need to ride out anymore. Besides there are things that need to be done around here, I've been talking with Oreius. He says that he has heard more talk of rebellions from the remaining dwarfs and giants. Not to mention Archenland has sent word that they spotted an unknown horse and double rider crossing through their country coming from the desert. It's not safe for them to be out for so long."

Susan's mind didn't linger on anything Peter was saying; she kept trying to press on. "You know Edmund and Lucy are capable of handling themselves. Back to what I was saying—"

Peter cut Susan off for the third time. "It's just very irresponsible of him, and Lucy should know better too. Where would they be off to anyway?"

"I don't know Peter but—"

Peter looked up again not starring at his sister. "He has to stop acting like a child and dragging down Lucy too. Midday means midday, it's almost twilight for pity sake. And the farmer who saw the rider lost sight of him and they weren't found. I'm thinking of sending--"

"Peter!" Susan practically shouted. Peter's eyes finally met hers looking alarmed, and as if he just noticed she was here. "I'm sorry." she lowered her voice, "Peter, I wanted to ask you a question."

Peter shook off his surprise and dipped the pen back in the inkwell and went onto writing.

"What is it Su?"

Susan hurried over to the side of Peter's desk taking the pen from his hand.

"Would you stop writing for one second Pete?"

The frustration toward his sister quickly faded, but he couldn't ignore that it had been there in the first place. "Sorry. What's wrong?"

"Nothing is wrong. Not really." Susan began to flush and stammer. Peter sat back for a second; he had never seen Susan like this before. It made him frown, she was so nervous. Was he that intimidating?

"Susan, are you all right?"

"I've been thinking lately, and lately it has been bothering me. You know I wouldn't bring something like this up unless it was really troublesome. I didn't want to tell you but I can't shake it and I don't want to be—"

"Su, just tell me." Peter said taking his sister's hand.

Susan nodded and drew in a breath. "Peter, do you think we'll ever get to home?"

Peter frowned taken aback by the question, "What do you mean Susan, we are home. Cair Paravel."

"No, Peter that isn't what I mean. I told you, I've been sitting around here just waiting to wake up back in a house, a regular plain house in regular plain clothing. I dream about it sometimes and the dreams are getting worse. I suddenly don't feel like I belong here."

Peter sat and listened to Susan speak, although it all didn't make sense and sounded silly to him. Narnia was their home, Cair Paravel was their home where else could they go or belong? And for that matter how could Susan not feel right here in her castle ruling over her country? He looked down at the desk, now deeply troubled by the nature of Susan's presence and absurd worrying. He wasn't able to find the proper thing to say to Susan that would not offend her.

Susan stood at her brother's side waiting for him to reply. Perhaps she shouldn't have brought up the subject at all like she had thought seconds before entering. It was too late now though. Peter glanced up at his sister, looking ready to say something, but a voice broke their awkward silence.

"Peter! Susan!" Lucy's voice echoed into the room from the corridor. "We're back!" her voice was getting closer until she came bursting into the room smiling.

"Lucy don't you know how to knock?" Peter joked. Glad to see his youngest sister for more than one reason. It was good to see that she was all right and Edmund was clearly fine as well by the smile that Lucy carried.

"Sorry Peter. But you guys have to come!" Lucy grabbed Peter's arm and tried to lift him from his seat. He half laughed and got to his feet allowing for her to drag him to the door but no further.

"Lu what is this about, what has you in such a good mood?" Peter asked suspiciously. The happiness she had almost made him worry more than if she had come in crying, it just meant that she was up to no good.

"Just follow me." she giggled practically skipping down the corridor.

Susan followed silently but with an expression that said she was clearly unhappy about the surprise Lucy had in store for them.

She wasn't exactly upset that her and Peter's conversation had been interrupted but rather thankful. Why she decided to bring up that topic Susan had no idea. She knew it was something Peter didn't want to hear, but it was something that was eating at her. Susan wasn't sure if she could handle another night waking up to all of this, feeling out of place. It was a most uncomfortable feeling and unwelcome.

When they entered the throne room Edmund was busy off in the corner with two other people that Peter did not recognize. From behind their clothing didn't look Archenlandish. They were dressed rather shabby; their cloths caked with mud. As they moved closer Peter listened as Edmund was explaining a portrait that depicted Aslan and the stone table, coming back to life after the White Witch had taken it from him.

"Hello? Who do we have here?" Peter asked trying to keep his voice light and friendly despite the fact that they had two unknown strangers in the Cair Paravel throne room.

Edmund turned around at the sound of Peter's voice. He gave a half grin at his older brother. The two turned and when Peter got a better look at them he tried to keep his smile. The young girl was about Lucy's age with long brown hair that might have been a dirty blonde if it had not been for the dirt that wove through it. The boy was half a head taller than Edmund with a thin almost starved frame, his hair was dark but like the girls may have been lighter in color were it not for the mud.

"This is Kendra and Brind." Lucy said pointing to them. "These are our brother and sister Peter and Susan." she added to the children.

They both bowed low for a few moments before straightening up. Susan smiled at them examining their clothing, Kendra's sandy eggshell colored dress hung in tatters at the hem coming only T length, even if it had been clean and whole it was extremely common, simple and plain. Her knees were scabbed and her arms looked raw and scared.

Turning her eyes to the boy, Brind she found the same kind minor wounds except the tear in his left sleeve and a line of an almost healed cut, a cut that Susan noted had been made by the graze of an arrow. He was dressed in the same simple manor with a dark undershirt and pants and both were missing shoes. Beyond that Susan recognized how Brind stood with his arm around Kendra's shoulder, protecting her. It made her smile inside.

The state the two were in worried Susan and with a quick look to Peter she saw the same expression in his eyes but he was trying to down play it.

"We found them at Glasswater!" Lucy said standing next to Kendra now. "They had washed up on shore."

"What?"

Brind cleared his throat a little, and tried to speak but struggled to get through his sentence without stammering. "We came from Calormen, seeking sanctuary."

Peter cocked his head slightly, thinking back to the letter he received shortly after Lucy and Edmund left that morning, the letter that spoke of a double rider from the desert. He eyed them suspiciously no longer taking to hide behind a smile.

"Calormen? Sanctuary? Why should we grant it?"

"Peter." Susan whispered in warning, he ignored her though and continued in a less than friendly tone.

"What have the Calormene ever done for Narnia? Our alliance is with Archenland, and as far as I know the Calormene care not for an alliance. Besides, I had word from Archenland that there were two unknown riders on horseback that traveled through the countryside of Archenland. I wonder what two Calormene children are doing here in Narnia?"

Lucy and Edmund looked shocked at their brother for his coldness. Susan didn't seem so surprised, just annoyed. Peter didn't back down though he kept his head high waiting for them to respond.

Brind recovered though and was the only one to find words. "Your majesty, please we beg of you. Our affiliation with Calormen is no more. We cannot return and do not wish to. We hoped to live here, in Narnia where we heard Aslan ruled."

Kendra looked too terrified to speak; instead she starred at Peter with wide eyes inching behind her companion. Peter took his eyes away from Kendra, not liking the expression she had on her face. Calormene or not he hated when people looked at him in fear, it wasn't right. Taking a deep breath Peter moved casually over to his throne and took a sat. His face was soft and seemed kind but his words would suggest otherwise.

"You did not answer my question. What would bring two young Calormene here to Narnia?"

"Kendra was to be sold as a slave," Brind spoke slowly turning his head to face the High King. "And I protected her when her parents would not. We stole a horse and ran. Naturally we were pursued but we managed to escape them and rode through the desert, and through Archenland, our intent was to come to Narnia."

Peter sat back thinking over their story for a second. It wasn't possible for them to be spies, they were too young and terrified. The girl hadn't spoken once, the boy did all of the talking and even when he did speak his words were always carefully layered with as much respect as he could grant. Calormen would be missing two slaves that they may want to retrieve. His thoughts were broken by Lucy's pleas.

"Peter, please let them stay here for a while." Lucy ran to her brother's side and took his hand. "They have no where else to go. We have plenty of room here in Cair Paravel. Couldn't they rest here?"

Peter closed his eyes for a second before opening them with a grin. "Of course they can Lu."

He needed time to think this through and write to Archenland to express his concern.

The turn around in his attitude was noticeable but no one addressed it at this moment. Edmund smiled as Brind and Kendra's faces lit up with excitement and proceeded to hug one another.

"Thank you your majesty!" Brind said with another bow.

"Yes, well I should be off. I have more work to do. Lucy I trust you will show them around Cair Paravel?"

A wide grin stretched across Lucy's face and she ran over and linked her arm with Kendra. Surprised by the sudden attack Kendra flinched and tried to back away, but Lucy wasn't letting go.

"Thank you Peter." Lucy half giggled.

Peter nodded and rose from the chair. Without another word he exited the throne room. Susan lingered for a moment keeping her eyes on their guests seemingly wanting to say something but followed after her brother.

"Please excuse Peter." Edmund muttered glaring after him, "I don't know what his problem has been lately."

Brind shook his head, "It's perfectly fine your majesty."

"Please just Edmund."

"Of course your maj—Edmund." Brind caught himself with a grin. The name felt weird n his tongue, it didn't seem right to say it, but Brind obliged.

Lucy held tight to Kendra and began to lead her across the room to the door that Peter and Susan had just left out of. She began to talk adamantly about Cair Paravel and how big it was, what tower or wall had the best view, and the stables. Edmund smirked at Brind as they trailed behind.

They headed out into the massive corridors and began up the staircase to the next level. Brind's head moved back and forth looking from one decorated wall to the other.

"Is Kendra your sister?" Edmund asked still watching Lucy ahead of them.

"No. She's a friend of mine." Brind replied his neck craned back to the ceiling looking at the chandlers.

Edmund smiled. "That must be some friend if you risked everything to save her from becoming a slave. Leaving Calormen like that, it's very daring and kind of reckless. Oh, I'm not trying to scold you for it." he added seeing Brind frown from the corner of his eye.

Brind turned his gaze toward Kendra and Lucy. "It wasn't just Kendra. We were both going to be sold. Seeing them attack Kendra like that though I couldn't help but act hastily."

Edmund nodded thoughtfully, "So she resisted. Or did they try and, well," he didn't want to finish the thought relishing the idea that anyone would handle a young girl like that. Brind knew what Edmund was thinking and quickly shook his head.

"Not exactly sir, they—where do these doors lead?"

Brind stopped in his tracks seeing a large pair of heavy door towering over his head. They were finely carved with vines and creatures in its finish. They were almost as grand as the doors that lead them to the Throne Room. This room had to be of equal importance, Brind thought. Why else would they be so impressive if to only lead to a common room?

Edmund stopped beside him and let out a laugh when he saw the awe in Brind's expression. He looked from the doors and back to Brind.

"It's just the library." He said as if it were not an important matter. Edmund turned head to see that Lucy and Kendra had vanished from sight. "Lu? Brind I'll be right back. Lucy!" Edmund jogged off down the corridor in search of the missing queen.

Brind didn't take his eyes off of the doors. How could Edmund address such a place with mockery? Beyond these doors Brind was ready to bet that mountains of books stood waiting to be read.

Unable to remain outside of these doors any longer Brind took the handle pushed with all of his might to open them. They wouldn't budge. How was he supposed to get inside?

That was when Brind spotted a smaller door carved into the left one. He smiled and took this smaller handle and waited till he heard the click. What rested on the other side of the doors was something beyond the imagined library Brind had in mind. There were mountains of books all right, but they rested on the most beautiful shelves he had ever seen.

Rows of pearly white book shelves etched with gold shot up against the walls with smaller but extravagant shelves house even more books in the center of the circular room. A spiral staircase shot up against the back wall so you were able to get to rows of books beyond the reach of ladders.

The roof seemed endless and a large chandelier hung down with hundreds of tiny sparkling candles that were helping keep the room with no windows lit. Magic could be the only thing that lit each of those candles. Brind was ready to bet that they never melted either.

Brind didn't know where to start. There were just so many books.

"Wow." Brind muttered, his voice carried and echoed lightly. He laughed and headed for the nearest bookshelf and began to peruse the volumes of what seemed to be the history of the creatures in Narnia. Entire sections devoted to griffins, giants, fawns, and dryads amongst others.

"Who's there?" A young women's voice called out. Brind froze, he wasn't aware that someone was in here. Her footsteps approached and around from the adjacent bookshelf stepped Queen Susan.