"Susan?"

She bolted awake and tried to sit up in the high-black leather chair. It was then that she realized she had fallen asleep reading. "What… is it, Peter?"

"You didn't come to breakfast, so I got worried," her older brother said and it was then Susan remembered what she had been reading.

"Edmund, how is he doing?"

"He's fine," Peter reassured her, picking up the book that had fallen from her lap to the floor. "He's still resting and I sent his breakfast to his room. The last time I checked on him, he seemed a bit warm, but hopefully, he will feel better tomorrow. On the other hand, are you all right?"

"I'm fine, just-" Susan winced as pain shot through her neck as she moved to stand. "Slept wrong. Ugh, anyway. Now that you and I have a moment, what are we going to say about Edmund's past? Let alone his injury?"

Peter gave her a confused stare, "What do you mean?"

"I-" she glanced at the doors of the library to see if they were closed before continuing. "We're not just playing Kings and Knights, Peter. This is a real kingdom and we can't let anyone know what our brother did. It would look terrible and who knows what would happen to our creditably as-"

"Susan, you worry too much. We were crowned by Aslan," Peter laughed off her worries, which did nothing but anger her. "We are the rightful Kings and Queens of Narnia and nothing els-"

"Peter, please! Be serious. Half the kingdom would rebel if they knew what Edmund did. I mean, did you see the faces of everyone at Beruna when the Witch came to demand his blood?"

Susan watched Peter's expression change and he glanced away from her. "You're right."

"And the only reason none of them have said anything about it so far is because we won that battle. But it only takes one of them being discontent with our rule to say something."

"Well, if someone does," Peter's voice was cheery once again. "We deny it ever happened."

"Yes. As rulers would," Susan agreed, thankful she didn't have to punch him in the gut for saying something stupid. "Either that or secretly kill everyone who was there at the time."

"Susan!"

"Fine, we just come up with a believable story," that was all she had to do. If only she could write. "Peter, get Lucy in here."

She was the more creative one, after all.

"Not right now," Peter shook his head. "She's eating breakfast with Mr. Tumnus."

"Then, you and I must come up with something before we go to-" There was a knock on the library door and the two shared a panicked glance.

"High King Peter?" A voice asked, clearly a guard sent to fetch him for the day's audience. "You are needed in the throne room as soon as-"

"I am coming!" Peter yelled back and once he was sure the guard had left, he turned to Susan. "All right. The four of us came to Narnia and when we were at Mr. And Mrs. Beavers' house, we were attacked by wolves and Edmund was kidnapped. Simple."

"Simple," Susan agreed with a curt nod. "But one problem."

"Lucy," the two of them said in unison.

"I'll tell her she's not needed in audience today," Peter announced. "Because she's Looking after Edmund who is in bed due to his heroic injury from Beruna causing him pain."

"Perfect," Susan loved it when she and her older brother put their heads together. "And me?"

"You're going to be late, having looked after your brother in the night."

"That works. I will be in the throne room as soon as possible."

"Good." With that, Peter gave her a brief hug and rushed off to his kingly duties.

Once he was gone, Susan quickly made her way to her room and got changed into a new dress. She would have made it to the throne room sooner if she hadn't run into Lucy who demanded to be a part of the day's audience. "But you need to go look after Edmund, all right?"

"I don't want to!" she whined, making Susan sigh.

"Why not?"

"He's always mean to me- and he's demanding when he's sick!"

"Well, you're in luck," Susan could almost see the Lion's disapproving glance as she said the following to Lucy: "Aslan set him right. Edmund should be nice to you, now. If not, tell him that you'll tell Aslan he's been misbehaving."

This brought a wide-almost evil grin to Lucy's face and Susan sent her on her way.

When the Gentle Queen finally made it to the throne room, Peter was in the middle of a yelling match with an older dwarf dressed in black armor. What the two were arguing about, she didn't know, but Susan wished that her oldest brother knew when to fold.

"There is no way we're paying you a pension for your service to Narnia!" Peter continued, standing over the dwarf who was scowling up at him. "You were in the White Witch's army! We-"

"But she was the Queen of Narnia!"

"Yeah!" Said a second voice that Susan couldn't see, but was clearly standing behind the first dwarf. "And we enlisted to help our country! We didn't know she was evil!"

"Doesn't an eternal winter tell you pretty quickly that she was, in fact, evil?"

"What do you think we were gonna do? Defect and get turned into garden gnomes?"

"I had a family to support!" the second one added. "It wasn't easy finding food when there was nothin' growing!"

"So, for all intents and purposes," the first dwarf continued, "she was the ruler of Narnia and as such, owes us a pension for our military service. But she's dead now- thank you for that- so we've come to collect from the new ruler and High King of Narnia."

"And like I said," Peter began, in a slow and overly-patient voice. "No. I am not-"

"Peter," Susan cut in, knowing this wasn't going to end well. "Loyalty to Narnia should be rewarded."

He turned to give her another one of his long stares, mouthing only the words, 'what are you doing?'

"And these dwarves," Susan gestured to the two subjects, "are correct. The Witch was the ruler of Narnia and we must uphold the promise that she most likely would have not."

"Thank you, kind Queen," the first dwarf said, turning to bow to her as Peter was lost for words.

"Yes, thank you very much," said the second who was younger, bowing as well. "My family thanks you."

"Of course," Susan was happy to help. "Anything else we Kings and Queens can do for you?"

"A warm meal would be nice," the younger dwarf said, "the Old Queen's rations were always cold."

"Will do. Please have someone set up a small table in the courtyard and fetch them a warm lunch."

The two thanked her again and went skipping off to their promised meal. When they were gone and the ruler of Narnia was between audiences, the High King demanded to know what she was doing.

"Just the right thing, Brother," Susan replied, wishing she could explain.

"But we don't have anything either," he whispered to her from where he sat on his throne. "The treasury is-"

"How much?" Susan needed to know.

"I am not sure. The conversion to pounds is shaky at best."

"Well, do we have any goods-"

"Not that I know," Peter was about to say something more, but Mr. Tumnus came back into the room and this time, he was running.

"Your highnesses," he gasped, " The King of Archenland is here-"

"Bring him in," Susan had been wondering when they would meet people from the neighboring countries. The throne room door was soon opened wide and a tall blond mustached man dressed in a green robe and sash waltzed inside. He bowed low and introduced himself "Dear King Peter, High King of Narnia, Queen Susan the Gentle, I am King Lune of Archenland. It is a pleasure to meet you. I have traveled across the mountains since I heard of your victory against the White Witch. I come with gifts of appreciation and a hope for further discussing diplomatic cooperation between our countries."

"I am pleased by your visit," Susan told the other king, bowing in return. "I look forward to discussing diplomatic matters as well. From what I have learned, Archenland and Narnia have strong ties to one another I wish to nurse. However, please forgive the unkempt nature of Cair Paravel, we arrived mere days ago and have not had time to prepare for guests."

"Of course," King Lune kissed her hand and Susan sat back down on her throne. "And High King, I hear you are a fearsome man with a sword. I wish to challenge you to a friendly duel, if you do not mind."

"Not at all," Peter seemed far too happy for Susan's liking. She didn't need both of her brothers hurt and bedridden. "And I have heard much about your skill as well. I hope we shall find time during your visit. Now, I am truly sorry to cut our meeting short, but there is much left to do. I will have your quarters ready by nightfall- in the meantime, please make yourself home in the Cair."

They all exchanged bows again and King Lune was escorted from the throne room by Mr. Tummus who was asked to be the king's guide to the castle. When the two were gone, Susan glared at Peter.

"What were you thinking?!" she demanded to know when the faun, Garon left to bring in the next set of Narnians. "I won't have you dueling King Lune! I forbid-"

"It'll be all right," Peter promised and the rest of the day continued on. Smoothly, no. But when it came to an end, Susan demanded to know what in the world Peter was. "I can't have you and Edmund hurt-"

"You're the one who gave those dwarves a pension!" Peter pointed out angrily. "I told them no, over and over. Then, you waltz in there and tell them 'yes, and please, have lunch on me."

"Because I had to!" Susan wished he would see what she did. She glanced at the doors of the throne room and after a moment, grabbed Peter by the arm. She dragged him out of the room and to the nearest storage closet in the hallway behind the throne room. "Who knows what they know! They were part of the Witch's army! They could have stories about Edmund. Don't you see? We can't-"

"So, you're saying we need to pay off the Witch's army? Are you crazy Susan?"

"No, I am not! I just trying to do what's best."

"And I'm trying not to scream as we spend what little we have to make it look like we're a functional kingdom! And King Lune was the one who asked to duel. It would look bad if I refused!"

"It doesn't matter, Peter. I forbid it!"

"And you're over here worrying about money! I can't-"

"Then," Susan cut him off, "tell me exactly how much we have."

"Very, very little," Peter admitted. "I went through the financial records today after lunch and Susan, we haven't had any agricultural exports in sixty years! It might be longer, but I don't understand the calendar system yet. But still, we have made very, very little since the Witch took over. From the records, it's clear to me she didn't care about money or-"

"Well, how have we made the 'little money' you mention?" Susan asked next. "What have we been exporting?"

"Ice. Ice and statues."

Now it was the Gentle Queen's turn to stare at her brother in horror. "What?"

"I-I don't know. But that's all I can find. Both the ice and the statues were exported under some company called, 'Charn Statue, Co.'"

"Peter!" Susan almost yelled at him. "you're telling me there are more Narnians just sitting in other people's gardens?!"

"Damn that Witch!"

"We have to get them back!" Susan insisted next and the conversation turned again to Narnia's lack of money. "So, what are we going to do? We can barely eat lunch without going broke. How are we going to buy back the lost Narnians?"

"I don't know, Susan." Peter admitted. "But I will think about it. In the meantime, you think about it, too. We'll figure it out."

"I hope so." With this, Susan left to go check in on her younger brother. As she figured, Edmund was actually behaving and listening to Lucy read him a book. Even though as Susan walked through the door, Lucy complained, "are you even having any fun? This is boring!"

"Keep reading, Lu. I'm the one laid up in bed."

"Fine," the youngest grumbled and continued. "And then, in the next year, the king of the Telemaries sought to achieve victory against- Susan!"

Lucy jumped up and ran to give her a hug. "I've been reading to him this whole time and it's so boring!"

"Is not!" Edmund protested. "It's history and if you don-"

"Calm down," Susan didn't want them to fight- she had enough battles to win. "Now, Lucy. Why don't you go play a bit before supper and I will continue reading. How about that?"

"Sounds good," Edmund eyed her with caution, but agreed. Lucy, on the other hand, ran out of the room the moment Susan released her from their hug. When she was gone, Susan turned to her younger brother.

"How are you doing?"

"I don't like your tone of voice," Edmund muttered, fixing his blankets. "you're not going to prod me again, are you?"

"How are you feeling?"

"You're not going to hurt me?"

"I won't, but-"

"Out." Edmund pointed at the door and Susan had to laugh. "Come on! I'm a king! And-"

"And I'm a queen who is older than you." Susan sat down on his bedside again and checked him over. He seemed a bit more pale than earlier and the fever Peter mentioned earlier had become far worse. She put a smile on her face to hide her concern, but Edmund saw right through her actions.

"What's wrong?"

She wished she was better at hiding her feelings, but Susan realized she never stood a chance in the first place. Edmund was far too good at reading people- hence why, until recently, he was very good at making everyone angry.

"You're a little warm," she told him, "That's all."

He nodded a bit, clearly a bit more out of it than he must have realized.

"Just rest for a bit," Susan instructed, moving to properly tuck him in for the night. "I will be back to check on you."

"Okay," her youngest brother said, "but where are you going?"

"To talk to the healers. I will be back. In the meantime, try to sleep, all right?" Susan hoped he would do as she asked. He didn't need to worry like she was. It would only make everything worse. "See you again in a few minutes."

She dimmed his room a bit, blowing out some of the candles that were scattered around, and then left. The moment she closed the door of Edmund's room, she ran through the halls of the Cair to find who she was looking for. In the last two days, she hadn't had time to get a full tour per-say.

But she knew someone who did.

A/N: I love this chapter. The scene with the dwarves made me laugh so hard when I first wrote it. They do have a point though, they did serve in the Narnian Army. But anyway, I hope you enjoyed. Please comment and await the next chapter. (In truth, the previous chapter, this one, and the next used to be JUST chapter 2. But I broke it up, because it was SO LONG.) Anyway, thanks for reading.