Author's Note: Ceridwen's POV. I have two followers and two reviews now which made me happy, but I'd still like some more….. Never mind I'm enjoying writing this fanfiction!

Peter: 20 years old

Ceri (dwen): 18 years old

Lucy: 16 years old

Disclaimer: None of the characters, locations or names which you recognise belong to me! All honours and the greatest respect to CS Lewis.

Chapter 4

I had a feeling he would come looking for me and I was right. He found me in Lucy's rooms a few hours later, gathering up the few personal items that I had acquired during my stay in the Tisroc's Palace.
"You're leaving" it was not a question.
I nodded, not wanting to look him in the eye, for fear of breaking down again.
"It's your choice of course" he said simply; "but I do have one question"
"What is it?"
"What exactly are you going to do when you leave?"
"I haven't thought that far ahead!" I responded, suddenly feeling incredibly foolish.
"Well good luck with that! If you need anything; money, clothes, food, just ask me or Lucy and we'll provide it for you!"
He was angry with me I realised! And rightly so! They had done everything for me and I had thrown it back in their faces and tried to run away without even saying thank you.
"I'm sorry" I whispered
"Saying sorry doesn't make what you're doing right!" he snapped
I looked down at my feet, I felt like a child being scolded for being naughty.
"You know!" he barked suddenly; "I came here to tell you that I've just sent a letter to Edmund, so that he can issue a warrant of arrest for those bastard dwarves that killed your parents!"
My head snapped up and I stared at him in shock. My legs moved of their own accord and without realising it, I had flung my arms around his neck and kissed him on the cheek, as the tears streamed down my face.

oOo

All thoughts of revenge vanished from my mind over the next few days. The great birthday ball of the Tisroc was in two days and I watched longingly as all the highborn Lords and Ladies arrived in their fine litters and carriages wearing the finest silks.
Even Lucy was all aflutter with the preparations and dragged me along to her final dress fitting. I watched in awe as she pranced in front of me in her emerald green gown.
"You look lovely Lucy!" I admired
"Doesn't she just!" Peter added from his spot at the back of the dressing room.
I turned to look at him and he smiled at me dipping his head slightly in acknowledgement.
Turning back to Lucy, I could feel him staring at me and I felt a slight blush creep onto my cheeks.
"It's such a pity you aren't also to the ball Ceridwen!" grumbled Lucy; "it would be much more fun if you were there!"
"But if I were there I would distract you from your time with Prince Rabdesh!" I teased and grinned widely as I heard Peter laugh loudly with my comment.
Lucy on the other hand turned bright red which made us laugh even more.
"You're speaking nonsense!" she snapped
"Oh I assure you she isn't!" offered Peter and took a seat next to me, his hand ghosting over my arm as he sat down.
"Prince Rabdesh is a charming man, but that is all!" she protested, stamping her foot on the ground.
It was at times like this that I realised how young Lucy really was. She was only a girl of sixteen and yet she carried a great weight on her shoulders which had matured her into a woman long before her time. Despite this though, she was still awkward when it came to matters of the heart.
"Let us not tease her Your Grace!" I said
Peter huffed in exasperation for the hundredth time at my use of his title and I smiled to myself, finding this behaviour really quite charming.
"Do you not wish you could come to the ball?" he asked.
"I should love to!" I said; "but a royal ball is no place for a girl such as me!"
He didn't respond, but his face took on an expression of deep thought. Rising suddenly from his place by my side, he bowed to both me and Lucy.
"Excuse me ladies" he said; "I have an urgent matter to attend to!"
Lucy and I exchanged a bewildered look as he took his leave from the dressing room, but soon forgot him and concentrated on the task at hand.
A few hours later, Lucy and I emerged from the dressing room, talking and laughing excitedly.
"I've been invited to luncheon with some of the Highborn Ladies of Calormen and Archenland that have come for the Tisroc's ball, Ceridwen" she said apologetically; "I hope you don't mind me abandoning you?"
"Don't worry about me!" I assured; "Go and have fun!"
She gave me a quick kiss on the cheek and hurried off in the opposite direction with a trail of handmaidens following in her wake.
I looked around the town square that I was standing in and made my way over to a flower stand. There they were selling some odd- looking, yet strangely beautiful pale orange flowers.
"Could I have a bunch of those please?" I asked pointing to the orange blooms.
"Of course pretty lady!" responded the owner of the stall.
I handed him the money and he smiled at me, giving me a yellow rose for free.
"A beautiful flower, for a beautiful woman" he said and I smiled before starting my long climb up to the Palace.
I arrived at the spot of my sister's funeral pyre, with my hair damp with sweat from the afternoon heat and my face and clothes dusty from the passing horses and carts that had kicked up the dirt on the roads.
Up here it was cooler, with the breeze cooling my face and drying the sweat. I made my way over to a water pump not far off and washed my face and hands. Feeling refreshed, I sat in front of what was left of the pyre and placed my bunch of flowers on the mound of burnt wood and ashes.
"Hello Tara" I said softly; "I've come to keep you company."
I sat there for a long time. The sun began to set and I remained, marvelling at the sight before me.
"I've been looking for you!"
I turned to see Peter, walking up to me.
"I should've realised sooner that you would be up here!"
"I was admiring the sunset" I offered feebly, my heart beating rapidly as he sat down next to me on the dirty ground.
"It really is a beautiful sight" he confirmed, though he was not looking at the sun.
We sat for a few moments in silence, before curiosity got the better of me.
"Where did you rush off to in such a hurry today?" I asked
"I had something important I had to talk about with Prince Rabdesh!" he said, his eyes twinkling with humour.
"About Lucy?" I urged
"No!" he responded laughing; "You know what they say about curiosity and the cat!"
I blushed at his remark and turned away so he wouldn't see it.
"Don't!"
"Don't what?" I asked confused
"Don't turn away!" it was his turn to blush this time; "I like it when you blush, it's um- it's pretty!"
I looked at him, stunned into silence. That's when he took my face into his hands and kissed me softly on the lips. I recoiled, shocked at his actions and he looked at me with panicked eyes. I had no idea why I had reacted this way, had I not dreamed of those lips for quite a while now? Peter had been in my thoughts for quite a while now and yet something held me back, I felt almost unworthy of him.
"I'm sorry!" he stammered; "I don't know what came over me!"
"I think I better go back to my rooms" I said; "Lucy will be looking for me!"
He nodded his consent and helped me up, before escorting me back into the Palace. We arrived outside my door and stood staring at each other. As I turned to go in, he grabbed my hand and forced me to look at him.
"I truly am sorry about before!" he mumbled
"Don't worry about it" I said quickly; "Goodbye!"
"Oh and Ceridwen" he said; "You're invited to the ball tomorrow. I meant to tell you, but um- well things got in the way!"
"But I have nothing to wear!" I said in horror.
"I think you'll find that has been dealt with!" he said, bowing before taking his leave.
I went into the rooms, bid Lucy a hurried goodnight and went into my makeshift bedchamber. There hanging from my wardrobe was a silvery blue gown, fit for royalty.
"Oh Peter!" I gasped; "How can I ever thank you for this?"