Disclaimer: I do not own the Chronicles of Narnia. C. S. Lewis does

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She dreamed of blood. Of honey. And a land frozen in ice.

And in the middle of the storm that raged around her. In the midst of the penetrating despair that engulfed her, she saw a golden light.

It was dim at first but with every passing second it grew stronger.

Like the sun rising over a land.

Like spring blooming in winter.

Like peace after war.

The warmth fell on her alabaster pale arms that were stiff with cold. The light illuminated through the fog that was around her and raced through her and for a moment, just one moment, she was surrounded by a halo of gold.

And then it was gone.

It dissolved completely and her exposed arms were left trembling, her body shrouded in shadows and utter darkness.

She was alone.

There was nobody there.

Even Hope had abandoned her. The spirit of Elpis that had sworn never to leave a child of man.

There was no light at the end of the tunnel for her.

No ray of light. No feeling of hope.

Everything was gone. Everyone. All.

Who said life was beautiful?

Who said life was good to those who deserved it?

Wasn't she deserving of it?

Why did she had to suffer? To despair? To grieve? To lose everything she held dear?

Deep down in her heart she knew the answer. It was clear to her, as clear as the water that sprang from the hot springs of Narnia.

It was because she was strong enough to face it. Strong enough to bear it. Strong enough to destroy it.

Because she was a warrior of Aslan.

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Peter laughed at something the lord of Stormhold, Hugh, had just said even though he had not heard it properly.

'And so I said: Who do you think you are, my lord? Threatening someone like me?' Hugh roared with mirth at his own sense of humor. He was a rowdy man, round as a ball with a surface area larger than the crumbling chair he sat on. His skin was a healthy pink and the folds of his chin draped down to his chest.

'How completely foolish of him.' Peter replied automatically. Is eyes followed his wife's slender figure as she twirled around with Edmund who whispered something in her ear. He heard her laugh and shoot back a reply.

Pain shot through him. A pain he didn't recognize. A pain he didn't like.

He couldn't understand her. She was a mystery to him still shrouded in suspense. A lock that he couldn't find the key to. And she drove him crazy at times.

'For Aslan's sake Peter!' Hugh of Stormhold demanded. 'Are you even listening to me?'

'I'm sorry.' Peter said truthfully and averted his gaze. 'What were you saying?'

Hugh looked exasperated and standing there with his huge arms of his hips he made a funny picture.

'This wife of yours, is she kin to Dane of Liriope?'

'Sister.' Peter replied, raising his eyebrows. 'Why?'

'Dane of Liriope had many enemies. It is possible that they are now seeking to take revenge from his sister.'

'From his sister? She is innocent.'

'Not everyone is as noble and honorable as you, my lord king.' Hugh smirked slightly.

'Are you sneering at me?'

'It depends. Are you in a forgiving mood?'

Peter laughed shortly. His eyes were on Hugh's face when he saw Hugh turn white. Frowning, Peter whirled around and swore softly.

Alexander was holding Isabela with a death grip, his arms around her waist and was whispering something in her ear.

Peter thrust his nectar goblet into Hugh's hastily held out paw and stalked across the room to reclaim his wife. He forced himself between Alexander and Isabela and said icily.

'I believe this honor is mine alone.'

'Not for long.' Alexander whispered. 'Not for long, my lord.'

Peter snarled at him, his eyes burning. He would have leapt at Alexander had not Isabela put a hand on his shoulder.

'Don't.' She murmured to him, her voice faint. 'Don't make a scene.'
Peter threw a glare at her and was about to retort when he saw her tremble on her position and waver slightly. Her face was green and she swayed alarmingly until Peter, catching her by the arm, propelled her out into the balcony ignoring Edmund's soft curses, Susan's concerned enquiries and Lucy's dizzy worries.

'I feel sick.' Isabela said, as she sat down by the balcony, her expression miserable. 'I really do feel sick.'

When Peter did not answer she looked up and sighed wearily.

'Peter. Let it go. Please.'

'No.'

'For Aslan's sake Peter!' Isabela said angrily. 'Stop acting like a child!'

'Do you like Alexander?' he asked abruptly. Isabela stared at him in bewilderment. For a few second there was a complete and utter silence.

'What do you mean?'

'You heard me, Isabela. Now answer me.'

'I…Peter…what is wrong with you?' She nearly shouted at him.

'So you do like him?' Peter's eyes bore into hers with a coldness she had never seen before.

'I don't like him at all.'

'Then what were you doing with him right now? You don't seem too unhappy with it. After all you don't want me harming Alexander, do you?'

Isabela stared at him, her mouth slightly ajar and her eyes wide.

'I don't want you harming someone who has a potential to harm Narnia.' She said quietly. 'He is a guest here. What would the people say if they heard that the High King of Narnia killed his own guest?'

'They would know the truth. That the said guest did not honor the High King's wife.'

'Why are you so angry over it? You never showed any affection to me. Not once have you betrayed something more than the love a brother might show to a sister! You don't even treat me as your wife!' Isabela hissed at him. 'Why should you be concerned over his relationship with me? What with the way you treat me, if I run off with a servant it will be fully justified!'

He had not expected that. Isabela could see. For a moment she saw hurt and pain flash in his eyes and the next moment they were as emotionless as ever.

'You are more than welcome to do that.' He replied icily. 'I don't mind the least.'

Turning around he sauntered back into the ballroom. Isabela saw him whisper something to Susan who nodded back. Never once did he look at her. Never once did he look back.

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Susan hurried down to her room. Her slippers slithered over the marble flooring as she stepped down gracefully. Left and right, she heard greetings sent to her. Smiling warmly she replied back graciously doing her best to remember all the names.

'Greetings, O' the most beautiful woman in all the lands.' Susan knew who spoke even before she turned to look at him.

'Greeting back to you, O' mighty Thunder-Fist.' She teased lightly, messing with Corin's hair who grinned pompously at her. 'What are you doing here, Corin?'

'Oh, Father sent me to give a letter to Peter. He said it was of utmost importance and had to be delivered by me. He would not even let Cor go.'

Susan raised her eyebrows. It must be a reply from King Lune for Peter.

'Do you have it?'

'I gave it to Mr. Tumnus. He said he would give it to Peter immediately.' Corin's eyes suddenly lit up. 'Is that a boxer glove?'

Before Susan could answer, he ran off leaving her standing in the middle of the room. Shaking her head she continued to her rooms.

The hallway was dimly lit. Someone had probably turned off the lamps. Susan stared at the floor trying to see through the hazy darkness. Her concentration was on what was ahead of her when she heard a low voice from somewhere to her left.

'You do not even care about Peter.' It spat out angrily. Susan frowned. That voice sounded too familiar.

'You don't even know me. How can you say so clearly that I don't care for my husband?'

Her eyes opened wide. That was Isabela. But what could Isabela be doing here? And who was she talking to?

'It is most apparent, you know.'

'Shut up. Why should you even care about my relationship with Peter?'

'Oh but I do.' The man sighed slightly. 'Didn't I tell you that you are the most stunning woman I have ever met.'

'No. I seem to recall myself calling you dozens of bad names some of them very, very ugly.'

'I don't mind, Lady Isabela.'

'Lord Alexander, if you will excuse me I have to meet some guests.'

Susan gasped softly. Alexander? Isabela was meeting with Alexander in a dark hallway? But why?

She backed away, retracing her steps. She should tell Peter.

No… No... She couldn't. It would destroy all of them. Peter might take a wrong view. I can't. I won't… Oh dear Aslan help me…

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'I cannot believe you did that, Alexander.' Heidi crossed her arms over her ribs, a frown on her face. 'You should have been more subtle. The High King will suspect you.'

'But my love, we had d to take some step. The High King doesn't suspect me,' Alexander grinned devilishly. 'He suspects his wife. The rift is already between them. I have only widened it.'

It was midnight and they were out in the windy darkness in the gardens.

'Isabela is not so stupid, Alexander.' Heidi sighed. 'She is too strong and proud to break.'

Alexander leaned back against the pole.

'Are you jealous, Heidi?'

'Why would I be jealous?' She asked defensively. 'I'm only being reasonable and logical.'

'My heart belongs to you alone.' He said quietly. 'I'm only following your lord father's words.'

'Alexander…. Please.'

'We'll soon have control over Narnia. And then you and I can be together…. Narnia shall be ours.'

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No time to waste. So much work to do. And so dear readers I end on the very same note as always, review!

L. Potter