When Peter regained consciousness he found himself in a boat far out at sea. The sky was dark - the sun already tired out from what felt like a long day and stars peppered the sky instead as a source of light. The moon was hiding her face, nowhere to be seen and he focused on his other senses as he let his eyes adjust to the night sky. Someone was sitting on the other side of the boat humming a lullaby softly.
The boats gentle rocking as she pulled the oars smoothly through the water. His memories were a blur. He thought it had still been midday when he had closed his eyes for a minute on the boat. When he had felt their boat hit land and yet it seemed to him that he was waking up from a long dream. The kind that just disappears to the corner of your mind when you wake so that no matter how hard you stretch you cannot seem to reach it.
He tried drawing his mind back into himself more, pouring his senses into his body and surroundings. He felt the pristine feeling of a new cotton shirt resting against his upper torso. Plain cotton pants that aside from the belt, fitted loosely. Then he noticed that his back was lacking the excruciating pain he had felt when he was initially in the boat. He could feel each vertebra stacked in it's place in his spine and he nearly shot up in shock.
Instead he shifted a bit in his place, trying to figure out if he could move well or not. The faint singing stopped abruptly and Peter turned to the source, eyes finally adjusting to the dimmed lighting, feeling as if his eyes had not been open for months.
"Peter" a soft voice whispered in the still night. The water lapping the boat's sides was the only answer as the voice called out softly again, "Peter?"
He wished he could listen to the sound again and again. He wondered if he had ever loved his name before as he did now that she was calling it. That sweet voice he had believed he would never hear again. How he hadn't cared what would happen to him when he felt himself being crushed because the last thing he saw before darkness had surrounded him was her body lying safe a few meters away.
"Peter" the voice called out once more and this time he resigned himself to answer, "Yes, yes Katie I'm okay"
His voice came out hoarse and cracked from lack of water, but to her it rang loudly in her head. She had told herself she wouldn't cry, promised herself in fact. She had already cried too much and this was supposed to be a happy moment for her. However there is a reason why people smile even though they feel alone, the same reason why Katherine was crying even though she felt she had never been so relieved and happy before. Sometimes your heart feels so many things at once your body cannot possibly comprehend them all. This is why even after all she had said she found hot tears beginning to stream down her cheeks. {yes slight reference to Your Name here ;)}
Still she stayed on her side of the boat, sobbing silently, not fully believing the miracle in front of her. Not wanting to throw herself onto him and cause his newly healed body to experience pain. Until two sturdy arms wrapped themselves around her, they radiated warmth in the cold night and they grew the warmth she felt inside too. That tingly fuzzy feeling everyone understands without further explanation, she felt her light up inside as he pressed his face between her breasts and held her.
She couldn't tell in that moment which one between the two of them was more childish. She rested the oars carefully in the boat and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, pulling him into her as one hand reached up to curl into his hair.
"I was so worried" she choked out, trying to finally stop her tears. "It was so scary, you- I thought you were going to die"
Peter held her firmly as she allowed her self to calm down, breathing in the fresh salty air in shaky breaths. Until they got deeper, more controlled and finally she could breathe normally again. Peter, who sat on the hull of the boat whilst Katherine was on the bench, looked up at her when she had regained her breath.
"Me too, but I'm glad I made it home to you."
Looking up at her now he could see why the moon had hid her face. For who could shine brighter than the lady before him. Her brunette hair braided in a plait he could see she had done herself. Wisps escaping to frame her face in wavy locks. She was also wearing a white shirt tucked into a pair of high waisted pants. But the radiant smile she gave him as he sank deeper into her eyes was enough to make any phase of the moon jealous of her glow.
She gently laid her forehead onto his as they stayed silent, just taking in each other's presence as the world faded out around them. Just between the two of them they had nothing else around them, focusing on what was right in front of their eyes. They were untouchable, such as one might see the celestial bodies in the sky. Wrapped up in their own world just between the two of them.
Like the Sun and the Moon.
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They did not make it all the way to the docks, instead pulling into the cove just by the palace's exterior. Katherine, too tired to get them both all the way around to the docks, yet unwilling to let Peter try to row in fear he may not be fully healed yet.
The cove, a familiar place to the two, was quiet when their boat hit the soft white sands. The two climbed out the boat, a bit shakily from being at sea for so long and they collapsed onto the sand looking up at the stars. The day in Akómi felt like a weight sinking onto Katherine's stomach as she stared at the sky.
"So where did we go?" Peter asked.
"To one of my friends... but I don't think I will meet them again, not in this lifetime" she answered.
Peter stared at her a little longer before looking back up to the stars, he had a feeling this would be one secret Katherine would probably never tell anyone, including him, but somehow it did not seem to bother him quite as much as he believed it would.
Suddenly Katherine sat upright, and got to her feet, she leaned over to extend a hand to Peter who gratefully took it as he himself stood up. The two kept holding hands even when they walked up the dunes towards the path that led to the castle.
Katherine let herself turn back for a moment to stare at the beach where Peter had proposed to her. Then turning to look up at Peter who had also been staring at the spot, gave him a broad smile as they continued their walk back up to the castle.
Upon arriving they were surprised to find that Susan, Edmund, Tumnus and Corin had returned. Except Corin had a doppelganger! Katherine could not tell which party was more shocked.
Firstly Katherine heard that messengers from her troops had arrived the day before however Lucy had already left the palace with the remaining army to fight with Calormen.
Everyone who had been worried about Peter's condition had been quickly reassured by his health and upon asking of how he had been saved Katherine briefly told her friends she visited a healer she had met with Aslan. However, she had only had one more visit with the healer allowed and by now the healer was already long gone with Aslan's help.
Then she heard about the tales in Calormen and they all listened to the story of Cor - who happened to be Corin's older twin.
"Now there's two of you!" she said as she squished Corin's cheeks between her hands. He pouted but all could tell he was not truly mad or upset. Rather he was glad to see Katherine had returned safely.
"Next time though, you shall come with me as well." Corin insisted and Katherine hugged him tightly as she agreed.
Festivities broke out throughout the castle at the return of all their royals and the health of their High King. But Peter and Katherine were far away from all the festivities.
In the comfort of their own bed the two were able to finally rest. The events of the past days and sleepless nights catching up to Katherine whilst the sleeping potion given to Peter to prevent him from waking whilst they were healing him still taking effect on Peter.
Together, the two slept into the night, reunited once more. As they slept on how can one not see their inner childishness appear with the smoothing of lines, relaxing of face muscles, completely blissfully asleep.
Perhaps even a part of them was still a child. The inner curiosity, high emotions, rash decisions, insecurities all children have. However no matter their age their souls were entwined in a way that surpassed the boundaries of time and age. Their love was both new and old, with the new shine of a new pair of shoes and the comfort of a favorite pair. So in love it cannot be explained through words alone.
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Mid-morning rays flooded the room, grazing the faces of the sleeping couple. Katherine's nose scrunched slightly as the sun gently woke her from her sleep.
As her eyes fluttered open they met with a beautiful blue as Peter leaned up to kiss her forehead gently.
"Good morning husband" she began sleepily, still trying to wake up.
"Good morning wife" Peter replied, his morning voice resonating in his chest and sending tingles up Katherine's spine as he pulled her into his firm chest.
The two eventually got up and changed, ready for a new day before joining the others for breakfast who seemed to have gotten up equally late. Except for Tumnus who had gotten up early with Corin and Cor to escort them home.
It had been a while since they had enjoyed a family brunch together as a whole family and Katherine laughed merrily with Susan and Lucy, truly feeling unburdened and happy.
Edmund and Peter were helping themselves to second helpings of scones and jam. Even with all the guests they had had around the table it had never felt so full.
It reminded Katherine of the time they had all been sitting at camp during the Battle of Beruna when they had all eaten their meal together. She felt the same joy from those moments, as though they had never grown out of those childish antics.
They were very close to finishing their meal when suddenly a servant burst into the room quickly.
"Pardon me Your Majesties, but a scout from the Lantern Waste has returned with haste." the servant addressed them.
Edmund, who was also the Duke of the Lantern Waste, stood up immediately and queried, "Is there border troubles? I thought all conflicts had been resolved"
"It is not that sire" the scout who had returned answered as he came through the door.
"Actually, there has been sightings of the White Stag in the area. I have come back to report so that you may decide whether to have a royal hunt."
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When Tumnus had returned later that afternoon he had told them of the White Stag's fable - that those who caught the great creature would be granted a wish and all five of them were eager to participate in the hunt.
Edmund, who felt because the Stag was within his duchy was most likely to be caught by him, tried to suggest that the girls stay home - girls including Peter.
This joke was flat out rejected and Katherine pointed out that Susan - the best archer out of the five of them - would stand the best chance at catching the stag.
Peter also mentioned it might be due to the bow and arrows she had received from Father Christmas and this spurred the agreement.
The next morning they would all set off to Lantern Waste each only with a normal set of bow and a quiver of arrows. Susan however would bring her horn just incase the group would be separated.
Then they each took their own satchels to pack with what they might need so that they would be ready for the next morning. When Katherine returned to her shared room with Peter she returned alone, he had gone to personally see that the stable had been alerted and the horses were being prepared.
She began to take out her attire for the hunt, choosing a grey blue dress in replace of her usual armor as it was supposed to be a fun event. She added her dark purple cape to the clothing and she looked further in the closet for anything she might need to pack and stopped upon feeling a familiar fabric. Tucked in the back of the closet was the coat Peter had lent her during their earlier years. Although back then it had been too big for her, now it would fit her snugly, perhaps even a little tightly. Nevertheless something compelled her to stuff it into her satchel before heading to the kitchen to find some snacks she could smuggle in for the trip.
No one could have known that night they slept comfortably in their chambers, with hopes of a fruitful adventure that the next day would hold, would be the last night they ever spent in Cair Paravel