In the morning Ester woke to the smell of eggs and bacon. Ester quickly changed from her night gown into her school uniform. She tied her hair into a french braid that landed on the middle of her back. She used a ribbon to tie a bow on the bottom of the braid. Ester looked into the mirror and stared at herself. She knew she wasn't ugly, but she honestly just wanted to know what Peter found just so beautiful. Ester broke away from her own gaze and returned to the corner of her room that held her bed. Ester flopped her blankets into placed lazily and left the room, grabbing her hat as she passed it on her dresser. Ester trotted down the stairs quickly making her way into the kitchen.

Dolores stood at the table pushing some eggs from a pan onto a plate with a spatula. The morning went by very, very quickly for Ester. It consisted of her mom telling her to be safe and have a good school year. Then before either of the two knew it, it was time for Ester to be off to the train station. A knock on the door startled Ester as she was pulling on her shoes. Ester yelled 'just a second' as she tied the laces of her shoes. She then stood up, dusted off her skirt – front and back, and then walked to the door. She opened the door and saw Peter standing there with a grand smile. That smile practically mirrored the one he was wearing on their wedding day, it was a smile he reserved only for her.

The train station was packed when they arrived. They were also quite early. Susan told them she was going to look for a magazine to read during the trip. Ester told her to get her one too, whatever was fine, and she would repay Susan as soon as she got back to the station. Susan nodded and took off. Ester stood beside Peter tightly clutching his hand. Ester was just looking at the wall when she felt the grip on her hand tighten. Ester looked at his face in confusion. Peter's jaw was clenching and unclenching and although she didn't know why, she definitely didn't like what it was leading to. Peter pulled Ester a little closer so she grabbed his bicep. Although it didn't completely calm him down, she could feel him relax slightly.

That's when Ester noticed a couple of bigger guys were looking directly at them. Peter was getting possessive of Ester, and she knew it. Whether or not they were married, she was his. Since Peter couldn't tell them that he got angry, and frustrated. He just wanted them to look away. It wasn't asking much. The other guys began to walk towards the young couple making Peter's entire body tense even more. No amount of Ester shushing him, or gently rubbing his bicep would make him relax now. It was times like this where he forgets he's not High King Peter here. He's just Peter. He pulled Ester behind him and glared at the boys. They walked right passed but the last one hit his shoulder against Peter's.

"Whoa, mate, don't you think you should apologize?" one of the bullies that hadn't hit Peter asked. Peter looked at the guy who hit him when the bully spoke up again. "No, I mean you," the guy said pointing at Peter.

Then Peter lost control, and it wasn't the first time. Peter let go of Ester to lunge at one of them. Peter punched him directly in the jaw and kicked the other guy in the leg. But Peter couldn't take them all on. Peter was grabbed from behind. One guy held him while the others hit him. Ester was screaming trying to get them to stop but her voice was lost in the growing crowd of people cheering. She made a move to break the fight up but a friend of the bullies held her back.

Ester heard Ed's familiar voice in the crowd and tried to pinpoint his location by scanning the crowd. She saw him pushing through. When he broke through, Edmund began to help Peter get the bullies to shove off. Ester felt a few tears run down her cheeks.

"Get your hands off of her," Susan said, swatting the boy away from Ester. She quickly took hold of Susan's hand.

"What happened?"

"He just went mental," Ester said, tearing up at the sight of Peter and Edmund getting hurt. She hated the unnecessary fighting. Luckily, some soldiers nearby appeared and had the fight broken up in a matter of seconds.

"Act your age!" one of the soldiers shouted, while shaking his head. Ester wasn't the only one disappointed in those boys.

Ester could finally move around without having to elbow her way through people. She walked over to where she had left her trunk. Ester grabbed her trunk from its spot beside Peter's and pulled it over to an unoccupied bench. She plopped herself down and crossed her arms. She loved Peter dearly, but she was fed up with his temper. And he knew it too. She was joined by Peter who sat down at the other end of the bench. When Ester didn't even look at him he slide down so their thighs were touching. Peter put his arm around knowing exactly why she was acting cold. He whispered in her ear that he was sorry, and that he loved her. Although she believed him she was still mad, and she had the right to be. Picking fights at the train station is not the Peter she knew: it was the Peter that Mrs. Pevensie was worried about.

"You're welcome," Edmund said, setting his luggage down beside the little bench. He sat down beside Peter.

"I had it sorted," Peter said, shrugging and turning his attention back to Ester. She continued to ignore him.

"What was it this time?" Susan asked, joining them on the bench along with Lucy.

"He bumped me," Peter said. "And he was staring at Ester like she was a piece of meat."

"So you hit him?"

With a sigh Peter answered, "No. After he bumped me, he tried to make me to apologize. That's when I hit him."

"Why can't you just walk away?" Susan asked, exasperated. Ester didn't look at him but she sure did tune in more, she wanted to know that as well.

"I shouldn't have to! Don't you ever get tired of being treated like a kid?" Peter asked, putting his hand on Ester's thigh. She pushed it off.

"Uh, we are kids," Edmund said.

"Well I wasn't always." Peter sighed again. "It's been a year, how long does he expect us to wait?"

"I think it's time to accept the fact that we live here. It's no use pretending any different," Susan said, rolling her eyes and looking up. She quickly ducked down. "Pretend you're talking to me."

"We are talking to you," Edmund said, scrunching his eyebrows together.

"Ow!" Lucy exclaimed, jumping from her seat.

"Be quiet, Lucy." Susan whispered harshly.

"Something pinched me." Lucy said, pointing at the bench.

"Hey, stop pulling!" Peter said, standing up. Ester gave him a look of confusion.

"I'm not touching you!" Ester said crossing her arms until she herself was pinched.

"Ed!" Ester shouted, standing up and holding her bottom.

"I didn't do it!" Edmund said, standing between Peter and Ester. Peter glared at his brother anyway, just the idea of anyone touching Ester's butt made him upset.

"What was that?" Susan asked.

The train began to breeze passed the group of five way faster than a regular train would have. Especially since it was supposed to top at the station. Why wasn't it stopping? Ester could feel her lungs getting tight and the freshness of the air began to change around her. It began to smell like, salt water and the beach. Ester was suddenly very confused but delighted as it smelled better then the train station.

"It feels like magic," Lucy said, smiling.

"Quick, everybody hold hands!" Susan directed and Ester quickly latched on to Edmund's hand. Peter looked confused but held his hand out to Edmund.

"I'm not holding your hand!" Edmund exclaimed looking horrified. Peter rolled his eyes but snatched Edmund's hand anyway.

That's when everything began to fall apart. Literally. The whole train station was crumbling. Blocks falling from the wall, tiles from the floor vanishing into thin air as if they never existed. Ester moved closer to Edmund. They wouldn't get hit with anything, right? That's when everything felt different. The thickness of the air, the direction that the light was coming from, and Ester could swear the salt water smell got stronger. Ester then began to smile. She knew why it felt like magic, it was magic. Before Ester could blink everything was gone, and they were somewhere else. Their luggage, train, and the train station had all been sucked away. Ester didn't know where they were, but it sure did look like a cave.

They all set off walking towards the light. Ester was a little light headed so she held onto Edmund for support. Peter, for obvious reasons, didn't like that and pulled Edmund away. But Peter was no fool, he knew jealousy would only get him in more trouble with Ester right now. So he disguised it as pure concern for his girlfriend. He didn't even know she was feeling dizzy until after he'd already pulled Ed away. Peter wrapped his arm around her as they walked onto a beautiful beach. Ester's dizzy spell went away as she shook off Peter to look around. Her anger just faded away at the sight of the shimmering water.

Ester took one look at her two closest friends before all three made a made dash to the water. Ester was stripping herself of her shoes, and hat, and that bloody tie she wanted to cut up. When her feet hit the water she was down her her skirt, and her blouse. Ester first reaction was to splash Peter. She did as he ran into the water behind her. She watched him get closer and then she splashed. He laughed but turned his back to her quickly trying to avoid being splashed in the face. Ester ran toward him and jumped on his back securing her legs around his waist. He instinctively grabbed her thighs and laughed at the childishness being brought out by the water.

"Where do you suppose we are?" Edmund asked. Ester could feel the vibrations from Peter's laughter.

"Well, where do you think?" Peter asked sarcastically.

"Well, I don't remember any ruins in Narnia," Edmund said, pointing out the ruins he's spotted.

"Let's go check them out then." Susan suggested. Everyone grew curious at the same time. They'd explored nearly every inch of Narnia, Ester refused to believe they'd miss ruins, and a beach this beautiful.

Ester stayed on Peter's back as the walked towards the unfamiliar ruins. Ester and Peter spoke quietly about how sorry Peter was for losing his temper. He told her how he never wanted to disappoint her and how much she meant to him. Ester kissed his cheek and forgave him. She hopped off his back when the needed to go up hill, as to not strain her boyfriend. His ego would prevent him from politely asking her to get off. When her feet were back on the ground she began walking alongside Peter up to the ruins. Ester jumped slightly when she heard a twig break from one of the trees. Peter chuckled at her.

"Are you scared? Would you like to hold my hand?" Peter teased holding out his hand.

"No," Ester said taking a few more steps. But when another twig snapped she grabbed his hand. "I don't want to hear a word," Ester said sternly, Peter did nothing but smile. She was so cute to him.

Another twig broke and it sounded like it was getting closer. Ester pretended it didn't bother her but she yelped when Lucy suddenly appeared. Peter burst into a fit of giggles while Lucy seemed to have not noticed.

"I found an apple tree," Lucy said carrying the apple along.

Ester refused to make eye contact with Peter as they made it to the ruins. She knew that he would coo at her and promise to always protect her. She may not have looked at his, but she could feel his eyes on her. Peter looked around the ruins without moving. Ester released his hand and walked over to a column. She ran her fingers over the crumbling rock only to have dust and dirt come off onto her fingers. She looked over her shoulder to see Lucy who was walking around eating her apple.

"I wonder who lived here," Lucy said staring out at the water.

"I think we did," Susan said. Ester looked at her confused but took notice to the gold chess knight she was holding.

"Hey, that's mine, from my chess set," Edmund said, pointing at the little knight.

"Which chess set?" Peter asked.

"Well, I didn't exactly have a solid gold chess set in Finchley, did I?" Edmund scoffed.

"It can't be.." Lucy said, jogging to a certain spot in the ruins.

"Lucy!" Peter shouted following. Everyone followed after them.

"Don't you see?" Lucy asked facing Peter.

What?" Peter asked.

"Imagine walls, and columns there, and a glass roof." Lucy said moving all her siblings in front of a destroyed ... throne?

This was Cair Paravel.

"Cair Paravel," Peter said in realization.

Ester had a new outlook on the ruins. They now made her upset, instead of curious. Ester crossed her arms as she watched the looks of devastation cross all the Pevensie's faces. Their home, their kingdom was destroyed. Ester felt emotional herself. She had lived her for years, she'd been married right where they were standing. Ester looked to Peter and the look in his eye made her believe he was thinking the same thing. Ester looked around again, she'd wished nonstop that they'd return. Now that they had, nothing felt the same. Everything was wrong.

"Catapults..." Edmund said, resting his hand on a boulder.

"What?" Peter asked, tearing his gaze away from his girlfriend. The whole thing was ludacris.

"This didn't just happen. Cair Paravel was attacked," Edmund said. Now Ester was really confused.

The two boys ran to the wall that hid the door to their personal treasury. Lucy and Ester linked arms as they walked over to join the boys. Peter had begun to tear a strip of fabric from the bottom of his shirt, so he could wrap it around a stick to create a make shift torch. Peter looked thoughtful for a second while eyeing Edmund's messenger bag.

"I don't suppose you have any matches in there, do you?" Peter asked.

"No," Edmund fished around in his bag. "But would this help?" Edmund asked pulling out an electric silver torch.

"You might've mentioned that a bit sooner!" Peter said with a joking smile.

Edmund walked into the room first. Everyone filed in behind him. Lucy dropped Esters arms and stayed at the top of the stairs while Ester climbed down. Ester stood beside Peter as looked around the room sadly. Nothing was taken, not much was broken – intentionally. It was all just, old and cracked. Years and years of neglect causing the once beautiful statues to fall apart, and the walls to cover with dirt and dust, leaving not even a speck of the room left clean. The whole place looked like no one had been inside there in a hundred years: maybe more.

"I can't believe it. It's all still here," Peter whispered.

"Are you okay?" Ester whispered.

"I dunno yet," Peter answered.

"I was so tall," Lucy said pulling a dress out of her chest. Ester smiled.

"Well," Susan started. "You were older then."

"As opposed to hundreds of years later... when you're younger," Edmund said and Lucy chuckled. Ester looked longingly at the old items in the chests. They remained fairly clean – the chest keeping out all of the dust.

Ester began to cough as dust filled her lungs. She looked away from Lucy to see Peter blowing dust off of an old, gold plate. Ester peeked at it and saw the face of the great lion she'd missed dearly. Ester watched him drop the plate by his feet and walk over to his chest opening it slowly. Ester heard Susan mentioning her horn being on her saddle but her focus was on Peter. He picked up his sword and drew it looking at the inscription he'd read so many times before.

"When Aslan bears his teeth, winter meets its death."

"And when he shakes his mane, we shall have spring again," Ester finished, putting her hand over Peter's gently. Their eyes met and they held onto each others gaze.

"Everyone we knew, Mr. Tumnus, and the Beavers. They're all gone," Lucy said with a very sad smile.

"I think it's time we found out what's going on," Peter said with determination. Once a king, always a king.

The group decided to put on the clothes they had left here, their school uniforms becoming a nuisance. Ester was relieved to wear her favourite dress again. She hadn't worn the deep blue dress in so long, she'd missed it. She ran her hand down her torso remembering the first night she'd worn it when she was twenty-four. It fit better then, but, what could she do? Ester brought her hand to behind her back as she fumbled with the strings at the back of the dress. Something was wrong about them, but since they were behind her back she couldn't see the problem.

"May I?" Peter asked walking to the little hiding spot Ester had been using to change.

"Sure, love. Thank you," Ester said.

Peter made quick work of the strings and when he was done they felt right. She'd made him tie up enough dresses in his time, he could now be considered a bit of an expert. Peter rested his hands on her hips. When she looked down to hide her blush she could see his long fingers gripping her body. She felt one hand slide up her back and move her braid from falling down her back to resting over one shoulder. Ester sighed as Peter's lips made contact with the exposed skin of her neck. Peter chuckled against her warm flesh before pulling away. He reached up and trapped her chin between his thumb and pointer finger. He gently made her look at him. He leaned forward and gave her familiar lips a sweet kiss. Ester smiled as Peter rested his forehead against hers.

"I love you, Ester."

"I love you more, Peter."