Disclaimer: property of c.s. Lewis and Walden media.

A/N: yes, yes I know. I said that now my exams were over I would update faster and if anything I've been slower! I'm truly sorry but I have had such severe writer's block that I have literally worked on this almost everyday since my last update. Anyway, here it is Chapter 11 of my first ever fanfic. I'm thinking maybe one or two chapters then I'm done on this one and I can move onto my next one. I was thinking Torchwood :)

On another note, having read and re-read my last chapter (chapter 10), I'm thinking of re-writing it. I was happy with it and personally I love the fluffy stuff that's in it but I'm thinking maybe it's just a tad too fluffy? Let me know what you think please?

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Upon entering the tent, Susan felt her breath catch in her throat. So shocked was she that she had to blink to be certain of what she saw. Lying atop one another, on Peter's bed were both of her brothers! Both were obviously deep in sleep, Peter on the bottom, his left arm thrown carelessly out to one side, and Edmund lying with Peter's right arm about him, dark hair being blown gently by Peter's deep and steady breathing.

"See?" Lucy's smug voice cut through Susan's astonished thoughts.

"Lucy, I...well, when you said -" Susan, was for once, speechless. Lucy had of course told her of Edmund's state – she had almost sprinted back to the tent because of it! - but when Lucy had told her that Peter "had it under control." this was far more than she had ever expected. She could scarcely recall ever having seen her brothers so well, intimate. Not that she wasn't pleased; she was well aware of the closeness of the bond between their father and her brothers but she had never anticipated that Peter and Edmund's relationship would ever even vaguely resemble it. Finally, she managed to gasp out a strangled "Yes Lucy. I see."

Lucy's brilliant smile indicated that she was also pleased by this turn of events. And, putting aside her complete dumbfoundedness, Susan led Lucy over to the other bed and lifted the blanket for her to climb in. She fell asleep almost as soon as her head hit the pillow. Laying down next to her, Susan shifted to face her brothers and lay, suddenly wide awake, watching them silently until the room became so dark that she could no longer see any more than the outlines of their slumbering forms.

"What has this place done to us?" She wondered, smiling. Then yawning deeply, she added to the sleeping boys "Narnia's good for you two." Then, just as she was turning over to go to sleep:

"I know Su. Goodnight."

She sniffed a grin, "Goodnight Peter."

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The next few days passed in a whirlwind of impromptu celebrations, archery lessons, sword fighting lessons (on horseback and on foot!) and even more impromptu dress fittings. The Pevensie siblings barely had time to pass the time of day together and even when they lay under their blankets each night, they were all so exhausted that holding a conversation seemed unthinkable.

The party was making it's way towards Cair Paravel where the four of them would soon be crowned the new kings and queens of Narnia, but progress was slow. There was so much baggage and tools, weaponry, tents, clothes, cots, and food. Not to mention the wounded who needed to be carried, those who could walk but whose pace was painstakingly slow, and then of course there were those who could and were walking, weighed down by heavy armour in case of attack, the wives and children of the soldiers, and many creatures whom they had encountered and somehow picked up along the way. All creatures considered, their party probably came to about 2000 animals including Aslan and the Pevensies.

Now that Spring well and truly had arrived, the Narnian Sun shone for most of the day, it's rays hotter than that of England for it was a newer Sun. It bathed the abundant greenery and flowers in watery sunlight but it did at times, make the journey unbearably warm. The Great River, while providing ample and delicious fresh water for all, also hindered their journey. Were they able to travel straight across from the battlefield to the Cair, they could have reached it in perhaps three days. However, The Great River flowed fast and deep with no bridges and as such they were forced to take the longer route which led within a mile of the battlefield to where the river was at its narrowest and ford it there. After that they followed the land to Owlwood, which in Susan and Lucy's opinions made the whole journey worthwhile. The ground within the small woodland was a blanket of brightly coloured flora which shone and glistened in the cool sunlight of Spring – even Peter and Edmund had to admit that it was rather beautiful. However this detour, wondrous as it was, meant that consequently, if their navigators were to be believed, the journey would take them no less than a week and may be even more.

They were nearing evening on the fifth day when Orieus called a halt for the evening and set scouts and watches before bidding the children amuse themselves however they liked – there would be no training today. So, sore and aching from their trek and despite the fact that the girls in particular had spent much of their time on horseback, the Pevensie children fell in a most undignified way onto the soft grass and lay there unspeaking for almost five minutes.

"I say, what's that?" Said Peter, sitting up and gazing into the horizon. Susan pulled herself up to sit while the younger two angled their faces so that they could see but otherwise remained unmoving. Susan frowned in thought.

"It looks...like a-a sort of...castle?" She glanced at Peter but he was standing now to get a better look. "Do you think that may be it? Cair Paravel?"

Peter narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. "Yes, I-I suppose it could be."

"But it's so far away! It's going to take us months to reach that!" Edmund's voice was raised in a petulant whine. He and Lucy had been getting increasingly impatient and ill-tempered throughout the day and their exhaustion was so great that their bad moods were beginning to come through.

"Where is it? I can't even see it!" Lucy grumbled sulkily, her eyes half closed with tiredness as she too squinted into the dusky horizon. Edmund rolled himself closer to her and pointed a wavering finger at the silhouette which was indeed a castle. "Oh." Was all the response Lucy could muster when she did locate it.

"Majesties." Orieus' deep voice startled them out of their musings. Susan jumped up to curtsy politely to the huge centaur and Peter inclined his head awkwardly. Susan was acutely aware that her younger brother and sister had made no such efforts. She grimaced apologetically at Orieus who also inclined his head, seeming not to have noticed her discomfort.

"Is there something wrong, General?" Peter drew himself up to his...average...height and puffed his chest out importantly, making Edmund and Lucy giggle quietly. Even Susan ducked her head to hide her smile.

"There is not Sir Peter. We have had word from Aslan. He bids you well and will meet us at Cair Paravel but is engaged in other parts tonight. Our soldiers are seeking out the last of the Witch's followers and will see justice is done. And all is quiet around us tonight. You should all rest." The last was a statement and not a suggestion.

Peter's heart fell when he heard that Aslan would not be returning that night, nor by the sounds of it the next. He didn't mind, after all it was he and his siblings who were supposed to rule now but he wished he had Aslan there. Not only did he feel much safer in his presence, but he had often been in need of His guidance this week. But as Orieus had said, Aslan was need elsewhere and who were they to question him. He would be there for the coronation, and that was enough. He supposed. He knew his siblings also felt similar to him, though Lucy perhaps missed him more than the rest, and Edmund missed him for different reasons.

He listened vaguely to Susan and Orieus exchanging stilted enquiries, Susan asking many uninformed and useless questions about their military and such and Orieus in turn asked polite questions about Susan's opinion of Narnia and her pastimes. Peter doubted that either were particularly interested in the other's reply. "Orieus?" He broke in suddenly. Susan shot him a mortified glare for interrupting but said nothing.

"Sire?"

"That castle, over there," He pointed into the almost dark skyline at the black shadow of the turreted building they had seen earlier. "Do you know where and what it is?"

Orieus smiled warmly - a rare thing Susan thought – and when he spoke the smile was evident in his voice. "Sire, it is Cair Paravel. There sit the four thrones in which you and your royal siblings shall soon sit."

Susan and Peter both let out awed sighs and dazedly bid Orieus goodnight, giving their promises that they and their younger siblings would soon be asleep. They turned to speak to said siblings and Peter let out a short laugh. Edmund and Lucy were both sound asleep, Edmund lying on one side with Lucy curled in to his stomach with one ear against his chest. Apparently their foul moods did not extend to each other.

Sighing, and feeling happy despite himself, Peter whispered "I'll go and fetch the blankets shall I?" Susan nodded and Peter soon returned carrying four frankly, enormous blankets made especially for them. Together they spread two of them over their little brother and sister and lay down either side of them, Susan laying one arm around Edmund.

"Do you think we'll ever get to the Cair?" Peter asked laughing quietly.

Susan grinned. "I hope so. Imagine what Mum would say if she knew how long it's been since we had baths!" Peter laughed more as he heard Susan giggle in the darkness next to him.

"Two days, Orieus said." He turned towards his three siblings, and sighed contentedly. "Goodnight Susan."

Susan smiled sleepily and yawned "Goodnight Peter."

Review? They're non-fattening and hopefully they might cure my writer's block ;)