Wanted ? Peter Pevensie [2]

Chapter II - Back From Gone

"I am not used to the nightlife of the Queen, one more dance and I'm afraid I will pass out of exhaustion," I admit, dramatically.

"Fine, I will let you sleep." She agreed, "But I will see you in the morning for breakfast to hear all about your travels."

"Until then, Lu." I smiled. She let me go, the party had begun to disperse at this point, the night teasing us with the hope of sleep.

I looked for Edmund, finding him still taking to Allie off to the side of the dance floor. My eye next found Peter who stood to talk to Claudia of Archenland and an older man who I assumed was her father. I thankfully kept my powers in check this time, going up the stairs I had used to enter the ball.

To claim myself tired would be an understatement. The moment I got off into my room floor I threw all ladylike courtesies out the window. If I struggled with the clasps on my heels for a second longer I might have just cut them off. The idea of sleeping in a bed, a real bed for the first time in over two years excites me beyond belief. I heard footsteps outside my door and smiled as I fiddled with the earrings that seemed to be weighing down my head.

"Ed, when you have to tell your kids how their mother quite literally fell into your arms. Make sure you mention that their Auntie is your best friend ever." I commented, hearing him wallow in the doorway trying to think of a way to thank me.

"Auntie, huh?" A completely different voice spoke up.

"Peter!" I jumped, "I thought you were Edmund."

"Were you expecting him? I mean, you two seem close." Peter mentioned, playing with a ring on his index finger.

"It was a wild two years, we met so many new people, young, old, book smart, battle smart. It was nice to have Ben and Edmund as a constant. We fought for each other. That loyalty and trust isn't something that happens overnight." I said a bit more negative points than I intended. I told a breathe, noticing Peter sucked in the air as well. I came to my senses, changing the mood, "Believe it or not, I think Ben really needed a friend other than me."

I walked to my balcony, absorbing the views and personally needing to get out of the trapped feeling I left inside.

He stepped forward, joining me on the balcony and making the trapped feeling comes back, "Miles of Narnia land could be spread out in front of me but I could always spot a break in the clouds and I knew exactly where the group was." Peter told me.

"Clear skies helped them sleep at night," I told him, thinking of the soldiers. Something told me he was avoiding something.

"With all due respect," I started genuinely, "Peter, why are you here?"

"I wanted to apologize for everything I said the night before you left. I never should have said that to you. It was terrible and untrue." Peter admits.

"It's alright. It's long in the past, Peter, we were two different people back then." I tell him, holding a grudge is a waste of energy and there are far bigger things to worry about now. All is forgiven, that doesn't mean I'll forget. "Cair Paravel has certainly prospered since the last time I was here. No doubt thanks to you and the queens."

He smiled gratefully, "I hear your travels were equally as successful. Ed mentioned to me you found all of the children of Loxley."

A smile came to my face as I thought of the kids, "More or less, I had the pleasure of meeting all of them with the exception of one, a boy, Theo. Though we know he had an extremely closed adoption in Beruna. Every trail back to him was a dead end. Just knowing they all found a home is amazing." I smiled just thinking about them going up in a better place than where they started.

"That really is amazing, Ash," Peter said, wholeheartedly. Not even realizing the nickname that fell from his lips.

My mouth opened to speak but the commotion at the door stopped me

"Ashton!" Ed yells, busting in the room, "You are so lucky I... Peter? I'm sorry, did I interrupt anything? I can leave?"

"No, I was just on my way out." Peter answers politely, "It was good seeing you again, sleep well."

Likewise." I replied kindly as Peter took his exit.

"What was that about?" Ed instantly starts questioning me as soon as Peter walked out.

I brush it off, walking to my vanity to take out my earrings, "Don't worry about it."

"Oh come on." Ed begs, "He just spent the night with hundreds of women practically begging him to court her and at the end of the night he ends up in your bedroom."

"Oh Tash, don't say it like that." I cringed at the idea of anyone else repeating it like that, only starting the chambermaid's favorite new rumor.

"It's the truth." He states.

"We are not children anymore. He just apologized, like a mature adult. Don't twist the truth into some bad rumor." I told him, making him groan with disappointment as he plopped down on my bed with exhaustion.

"Don't fall asleep on my bed, because I will push you onto the floor," I comment, dead serious though. I have barely seen a bed in the past two years, I intend on sinking into my sheets for the next few hours in complete peace.

"Wait!" His head shot up as I was about to push him off, "You can not use your powers to push people into unwanted situations." I sighed, knowing what this was about. "Allie could have gotten hurt if I didn't catch her."

"But you did. No harm, no foul." I defend myself, not regretting a single bit. "I trusted you could manage that much on your own since I have to do everything else for you."

"You do not." He fights back.

"Do too."

"Do not."

╣╠