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

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Peter leaned against the balcony that arched incredibly low over the Eastern Sea. His sea blue eyes were blood shot and heavily tinged with purple bruises. Against them his pale skin stood out prominently.

He had not slept comfortably for the last several weeks. Neither had most of the occupants in Cair Paravel.

How could it have gotten so wrong? Just a month before he had Isabela had been cordial, almost friendly and he had become hopeful of the future. But now….

Now….

He sighed slightly. It seemed like lifetime's ago that Isabela and he had fought so viciously on the occasion of that ball. And in the time since then neither he nor Isabela had tried to patch up the difference rather their relationship had deteriorated even more.

To such an extent that he now slept in a room on the completely opposite side of the castle. They did their best to avoid each other. Isabela did not even come to the breakfast and dinner when he was there.

He remembered how two days ago when the Calormen dignitaries had visited Narnia Isabela hadn't greeted them along with him. It had been humiliating. But Peter had been more hurt than embarrassed. And when he had knocked on her door she had not answered.

Sometimes he could feel Isabela's eyes on his back, bewildered and angry but when he turned they would be remote, almost haughty and heavily shadowed by her eyelashes.

He cursed himself. And he cursed her. But most of all he cursed Aslan. How could he have brought this on Peter? How could Aslan, the one he loved, the one he adored and admired and trusted, have ruined his and Isabela's lives?

Susan had been quiet since that night too. He wondered briefly why. She did not know of what had happened. But when he talked to her he would see indecision flash in her eyes. He would ask her if she wanted to say something and even though he was sure she desperately wanted to say something, she didn't speak.

It was all so confusing.

He heard a light thread of steps behind him and turning around he saw Heidi.

'My lord Peter.' She greeted him, curtsying gently. 'Queen Susan calls you to lunch.'

'Very well.' Peter said trying to keep his tone light. He turned around and walked towards the door. He felt a hand wrap against his wrist and he turned back, his eyebrows rising.

'You shouldn't grieve, King Peter.' Heidi said softly. 'Not for someone who isn't worth you.'

'I'm sorry?' Peter questioned firmly pulling his hand away. 'I don't understand you, my lady.'

'Oh but you do.' Heidi stepped close to him until their noses were nearly touching. Peter shifted away uncomfortably, his face impassive. 'And, my king, I can help you with it.'

You can help me by shifting away a little. Peter thought. He said aloud: 'I believe the Queen Susan will get angry if I do not hurry. Please excuse me.'

He saw Heidi's eyes darken slightly but she smiled coyly and curtsying, she murmured.

'The offer stands, my dear king. Anytime you are willing.'

'That time won't come, Lady Heidi. I'm sorry.' And with that he walked away.

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Isabela settled back on the couch, snuggling amongst the cushions, a book in her hand: The Emperor Over the Seas.

She tried to focus on the words before her but they were just a blurred image. No matter how much she tried to concentrate she couldn't. It seemed as if her head was about to burst. And it didn't help when she heard someone entering the lounge, sitting across from her and she looked up to see a pair of blue orbs looking attentively at her.

Peter.

Oh joy.

'Good evening, Isabela.' He spoke out cordially, his voice light. 'I trust you are well?'

'I am very well, my king.' She replied. Glancing up she questioned: 'And you?'

'I am as I always am.' Peter shrugged. 'Why did you not come and visit the Calormen officials that came to Narnia?'

'I did not feel like it.' She knew how careless she sounded and how un-Queen-like her response had been but in her present state of misery she did not care what she sounded like.

'You did not feel like it?' Peter repeated a surprised expression on his face. 'Were you ill or tired my lady? Or perhaps you had a headache because of which you did not feel like it?'

'You are disturbing me, my king.'

'Much in the same way as you have disturbed me over the past few weeks.' Peter pointed out. 'May I ask what is bothering you?'

'No you may not.'

'Never the less I will ask. What is bothering you Isabela?'

'Right now?' She quirked an eyebrow. 'You.'

That silenced him. He did not speak for a few moments.

Outside, in the darkness of the night, Isabela heard the sound of crickets chirping and toads croaking. Glancing down she began to read the passage written in clear handwriting.

She had barely read a few lines when she felt a shadow loom over her and the next moment the book was snatched from her hands.

'Don't do that!' she snapped angrily reaching for the book but Peter only raised it higher. 'Give me back my book!'

'Get it back yourself, princess.' Peter said teasingly and there was something almost malicious in his mischievous grin. She lunged at him, trying desperately to get the book but his height gave him an unfair edge over her.

'If you wanted to improve your relations with me, Peter, let me inform you that you are completely unsuccessful.' She murmured icily.

'Whoever said I wanted to improve our relations?' He smiled dazzlingly, leaning down. 'And Isabela, let me inform you that I have no shortage of admirers, women ten times as beautiful as you, who would be more than eager to take your place.'

'And let me tell you, my dear king,' Isabela hissed. 'I have no shortage of suitors either.'

'But none of them is a High King, I shall wager?' At her glare, he chuckled. Lightly brushing back the locks that fell in her eyes, he murmured. 'You are such a child Isabela. You easily let your temper get the best of you.'

'As if you are entirely calm and collected, my king.' She shot back sarcastically.

'Why do you hate me so, Isabela?' Peter sighed. 'I have tried again and again to try to change this feeling but every time I have been unsuccessful. How can our marriage work when you don't even speak to me?'

'We never had a marriage, Peter.' Isabela spat. 'Our marriage ended when you claimed that I was having an affair with Alexander.'

'I never said that. I never did.'

'You implied it. And implying is the same as saying.'

'You gave me a reason to imply it Isabela. You yourself spoke in his favor. What was I to believe?'

'Anything!' Peter could have sworn he heard her voice tremble as she rounded at him. 'Anything but that!'

'What would you suspect if you were in my place? Wouldn't you think that I had been cheating on you?' Encouraged by her silence he went on firmly. 'I want us to solve our differences and live together peacefully.'

'The damage is already done, Peter.' Isabela said softly. 'I doubt peace will even come back between us.'

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Peter could have banged his head against the wall.

Everywhere around him papers were spread out. On the desk, on the chair, on the floor. He gave an exasperated sigh and lay back, leaning against the cushion at his back.

'High King Peter?' He heard a hesitant voice say. Looking up Peter's heart sank. It was Heidi.

Not again. He thought, jumping to his feet. 'My lady, is something wrong?'

'I didn't feel like sleeping, my king. And I saw the lights here so I came. May I help you with some of the work?'

'No thank you. I'm already finished.'

Heidi looked pointedly at the stacks of paper and smiled charmingly at him.

'My lord father always says that too. I used to help him in the state work.'

Her father? Peter thought realizing that he didn't know who her father was or where she was from for that matter. A stranger then…..

'My lady?' He asked. 'If you do not mind, where are you from?'

Heidi looked at him oddly. 'I am from many places, my king. And at the same time I am from nowhere.'

'Everybody is from somewhere, my lady.' Peter said gently. 'If not your homeland then a place where you belong.'

'Where are you from, Your Majesty?' Heidi asked stepping closer to him. Peter edged back uncomfortably.

'I am from a number of places like you my lady. One of them is of course Narnia.'

'And the other?'

'You ask for my secret but you will not tell me yours.'

'There is no secret to tell but one, Peter.' She leaned closer to him. 'Tell me do you love Isabela?'

'Do you love your soul, my lady?'

'I…'

'Then you have my answer.'

For a moment a terrible expression raced across Heidi's face, savage and angry and half wild. 'But she doesn't love you!' She hissed. 'Why do you love her?'

'How can you speak for someone, my lady?' He asked mildly.

'Because she treats you with contempt and scorn! Whereas I-' She stopped, her face white in fury. 'I love you, Peter! I am the one you should be with! Not her!'

'Isabela means too much to me, my lady. Even if I mean nothing to her.' He pushed away from her hand that reached up to his face. 'If you will excuse me-'

Heidi stepped in his path and said in a chocked voice.

'I love you too much, Peter. And I will not let you destroy your life for that worthless pile for garbage!'

'You will not insult Isabela that way, my lady.' Peter said, his own voice deadly quiet. He made to walk around her but she clutched his hand tightly, forcing him to turn back. Before he could wrench his hand away she had leaned closer and her lips met his.

Peter's eyes widened slightly but as he pushed her away he heard a slight gasp behind him. Heidi let him go and turning around he saw Isabela, her face a mask of hurt and bewilderment. He saw her emerald eyes blink rapidly and stare at him. He felt his heart clench.

'Isabela.' He lunged towards her, reaching for her. 'Isabela. You do not understand.'

'I understand enough, Peter.' She said quietly. She backed away and rushed out of the door. Peter called after her. Wrenching his hand from Heidi's grip he sprinted after his wife catching up to her beside the corner.

'Isabela, please. You must understand.'

He saw her hand fly at him and the next instant he felt his cheek burning with pain. She had slapped him.

Isabela stared at him and Peter would not forget the expression in her eyes even when he was in his grave.

Underneath the childish confusion he saw sorrow and agonizing pain. He saw anger. He saw grief. But most of all he saw hurt. Raw pain. Something he would never forget.

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The climax is here! Let me know what all of you think! Reviews please! You guys simply HAVE to tell me what you thought about this chapter!

L. Potter