When the Youngest Goes to War ch 2
"You aren't seriously going to let her go?" Susan demanded, shocked, staring at her elder brother.
"I don't see how it can be helped." Peter replied quietly, trying to avoid the inevitable argument. He looked at the floor of the splendid throne room in Cair Paravel; it was currently empty, but for himself and the eldest of his sisters.
"Peter, she is a child!" She exclaimed. "How can you let her anywhere near a battle? Especially if it is going to be as bad as you think it will?" That made him look at her.
"I don't like it either, but we need her Susan. I would never have asked it of her, but she came to me."
"And you couldn't tell her no, not even for her own good, is that it?" Susan questioned scathingly, pacing angrily across the dais.
"She brought Edmund with her." Peter responded, voice flat and expressionless, bringing Susan's pacing to a halt.
"How did she manage that? He's usually even more protective of Lucy than you are."
"He knew she was right." Peter replied. "And she promised Ed she would stay close to him during the battle."
"Did she?" Susan asked, surprised; perhaps Lucy was beginning to understand the dangers of battle.
"She's no fool, Susan. Lucy knows what the risks are. She also knows what we risk if she doesn't go."
Susan walked off the dais to one of the many windows, gazing out at the sea. Peter stood from his throne and went to his queen, resting his hands on her shoulders. She looked up at him over her shoulder.
"Lucy knows you will be angry with her for his. She would feel better for your blessing."
Susan exhaled a quiet sigh, placing one of her own hands over her brother's and gazing out the window once more. "How can I Peter? I don't want this to happen."
"Do you understand why?"
"Of course. I even know that you're right—Lucy will very likely be needed. But I hate it."
"So do I. So does Edmund. Lucy doesn't particularly like it either, Su. You don't have to like it. Your approval of her reasons, if not the fact that she'll be putting her life in danger, will give her what she needs most right now; assurance that we will all still love her when she returns."
Susan, who had watched Peter's face while he spoke, turned into him, resting her head against his shoulder. He wrapped an arm around her.
"I'm sorry I yelled at you, Peter. I know you hate this as much as I do. You've always tried so hard to keep Lucy and me away from the nastier things; to protect us. It's just that she is still so young."
"She will always seem too young to us, Su, if only because she is the youngest. But she is years older than Edmund was at Berunda."
"I know she is. It still seems wrong." She replied, voice heavy.
"I know it does."