#a conversation between the Doctor and Aslan would be DEEP

[theriu]

Like, this man has repeatedly been to WWII England, that’s easy enough. Imagine him or one of his companions finding the green and gold rings. Imagine they end up in the glade between worlds. Imagine they then end up in Narnia. And suddenly the Doctor is not only in another dimension (canonically a rare near-impossible thing to do) but also magic is real and technology is nearly nonexistent.

I imagine he would be fascinated and probably a bit confused and maybe assume this place works like the usual medieval earth time periods he's been to. His companion(s) would probably be much more startled (he’s probably seen alien versions of most of these mythological creatures), but they’d assume the Doctor knows what to do, right up until they run into something the Doctor has NO idea how to deal with.

On that note, CAN YOU IMAGINE HIM MEETING ASLAN

Was just thinking about how C.S. Lewis encouraged fans to write their own Narnia stories, but also how the span of time on Earth where Narnia existed is only maybe 50 years wide, and that got me wondering what fandoms would canonically fit in that time frame?

And then I imagined what series of events would lead to Doctor Who ending up in Narnia, and now I keep breaking out in giggles.

[thepremedthatwrites]

Isolated (pt. 3)

summary:  You had married Peter as an arrangement.  There was no love involved.  At least that’s what you thought but things can change.  While you may have been unsure of your feelings for the High King, you were certain of one thing: your loneliness.

part 1 | part 2

The golden rays of the summer sun warmed me as I sat on the bench with Susan.  I watched with a smile as Peter played with Ollie a few feet away in the garden.  He picked up the boy, spinning him around and causing Ollie to giggle uncontrollably.  “Oh (y/n), I can’t believe there’s going to be a second child running through the halls of Cair Paravel soon!”  A few months had passed since Susan, Lucy, and I had spent the afternoon in the meadows.  After that day, it wasn’t hard for me to befriend Edmund with the help of chess, books, and sword-fighting.  

“I just can’t wait to be able to see my feet again,” I joked, placing a hand on my stomach.  I jumped as a pair of hands were placed on top of mine.  I looked behind me to Peter and Ollie had snuck up behind me.  Ollie had a goofy grin on his face, the teddy bear Lucy had made him in his hands.  

“What are you two talking about?” Peter questioned.  

“Just talking about Audrey,” I replied, hoping my blush wasn’t too obvious.  Peter scrunched his face at this.

“Audrey?  Isn’t that a bit formal?  I was thinking of Lily.” 

“Lily?  You want to name our baby after a flower?”  

“Well yes, flowers are beautiful are they not?  Just like you.”  He dipped down, pressing his lips to my neck.  I was sure my cheeks were now a very obvious pink.  

“Sucking up to me won’t…” I stopped mid-sentence as my eyes caught Maria who was walking through the garden.  That all too familiar feeling of guilt pulled at my heart again.  

“What’s wrong?” Peter asked, lifting his head from my neck.  He followed my gaze and his lips formed a thin line.  “Don’t let her get to you,” he said softly.  Susan frowned as Ollie had already wandered off, seemingly more interested in the nearby flowers than our conversation.

“If you want, I could talk to her,” Susan said. 

“No,” I said, taking a deep breath.  “I should be the one who talks to her.  She deserves at least that.”

“(Y/n), you don’t still blame yourself do you?”  I stayed quiet causing Peter to let out a sigh.  He moved to sit next to me, taking my hands into his.  “I can only speak for myself but I for one am extremely grateful for this marriage.  It was a blessing in disguise and I was able to discover a relationship that I could have never imagined.  What Maria and I had was nice while it lasted but both of us knew it wouldn’t last.  My relationship with her was not one of love but of lust.  What we have,” he paused, squeezing my hands, “What we have is real.  I love you (y/n).  I love you with all I am.”  

The last of Peter’s words seemed to linger in the air.  We had never expressed our love for each other in words.  Hearing it come from Peter’s mouth caused my heart to swell.  I wiped the tears from my eyes, looking up at Peter.  I almost drowned in the love Peter held in his eyes.  I couldn’t handle the intensity of his gaze, causing me to turn to Ollie who was walking from flower to flower.  His (h/c) locks curled at their ends, framing his soft face.  His glimmering blue eyes shone as he laughed at a butterfly that fluttered past him. 

“Susan,” I said softly, still watching my son.  “Would you accompany me when I converse with Maria?”

I could feel my heart race as Susan and I neared Maria’s bed chambers.  “(Y/n), are you sure you want to do this now?  Wouldn’t it be smarter if we waited until after you gave birth?”  There was a part of me that wanted to agree with her and turn around while I still could.  But I couldn’t wait anymore.  Maria and I had to settle this now.

“I’m sure,” I said as we stopped in front of Maria’s door.  I softly knocked on the mahogany.  I looked at Susan who gave me a reassuring smile before the door opened, revealing Maria, her older brother standing further into the room.  She stood in silence and I forgot how to speak for a moment before Susan lightly nudged me.

“Maria,” I said, my voice much louder than I had anticipated.  “I wanted to talk.”  Maria looked back at her brother who only nodded at her.  She said nothing, only removing her body from the door frame, allowing Susan and me entrance.  All four of us stood in awkward silence for a moment before I was able to gather the courage to speak.  “I want to apologize,” I said, wringing my hands as I stood underneath the glare of Maria’s dark eyes.  “I know that you loved Peter and I took that away.  But it was never my intention, the marriage had only been contrived for political gain.  I didn’t even have a say in it.”  

“I don’t need your pity,” Maria said.  While she may have meant to speak those words with venom, her voice was instead soft.  I could see tears starting to form in her eyes.  

“And I am not here to give you it,” I said.  I shifted my weight on my feet, glancing at Susan who nodded at me to continue.  I took a step closer to Maria.  “I know what it’s like to feel that the world is against you.  Trust me.  But holding onto that fear and anger isn’t going to help.”  I watched as a tear fell down Maria’s cheek.  She quickly wiped it away.

“You don’t understand.  I gave Peter everything.”

“You can’t live in the past, Maria,” Susan said, speaking before I could.  “Both you and Peter had decided to end the relationship.  It was not just my brother’s decision.”

“Perhaps it is time to let go of your anger,” Caspian spoke up.  Maria glared at her brother as if he had betrayed her.

“I’m not angry!” Maria protested.

“No, you’re not,” I said, cutting off both Caspian and Susan from saying anything.  “You’re hurt.”  Maria’s eyes locked with mine and for a moment, I saw the girl who’s heart had been broken.  The girl who had to watch the man she loved marry someone else.  It wasn’t anger that sat in her heart.  It was pain.  

“I’m sorry,” Maria whispered.  “I’m so sorry.”  I stepped so I was close enough to wipe the tears from Maria’s face.

“You don’t need to apologize for your justified emotions,” I said softly.  Before I could say anything, my mind was filled with pain.  I gasped, grabbing my stomach.  The pain had intensified as I staggered towards Maria’s vanity to steady myself.

“(Y/n)!” Susan exclaimed, rushing to me.  

“Aslan’s mane!  I think she’s going into labor,” Maria breathed, rushing to my other side.  Susan and Maria led me to Maria’s bed.  

“Caspian, get Peter,” Susan said, grabbing my hand.  I could see Susan’s calculating eyes look between Maria and me.  We needed the doctor but Maria had no knowledge of where my doctor was.  “I’ll get the doctor.  Maria, stay with (y/n).”  Maria nodded, her eyes wide with fear.  

Susan rushed out the door, leaving me with Maria.  “I didn’t plan for our first real conversation to be while I was giving birth,” I said, trying to smile.  My smile turned into a wince as a wave of pain washed over me.

“We may have been able to prevent that if I didn’t let my stubbornness get in the way,” Maria replied, giving a small smile.

“Or if I gathered the courage to speak to you earlier,” I added.  I gasped as my body was possessed by pain.  Maria took my hand, worry sketched on her face.  I turned to her, trying to hide the pain.  I didn’t remember giving birth being this painful.  “I guess we’re both to blame.”  Maria’s door burst open to reveal Peter and Caspian.  Peter rushed to my other side, grabbing my other hand.

“Are you okay?” he asked, his eyes wide as he scanned my body.

“Yeah, just casually giving birth,” I replied, trying to smile.  Instead, I let out a small yelp as I felt the next contraction, this one more intense than the previous ones.  

“Where’s the doctor?” Peter asked, his voice louder than before.  As if on cue, Susan and the doctor burst into the room.  The next few hours were a muddled mess of pain and shouting as the doctor guided me.  My face was covered in sweat, my face contorted with pain as both Peter and Maria held my hands.  With one final push, I felt the pain start to subside, the faint cry of a baby able to be heard.  

I slowly opened my eyes to see the doctor at my side, a small infant in their hands.  “It’s a girl, Your Majesty.”  I smiled as I took the infant into my arms.  I could feel Peter sit on the bed next to me. 

“She has your eyes,” he said softly.  I couldn’t help but smile wider.  When Ollie had been born, we had barely even talked and he had been there only for formalities.  Now, as I watched him coo at the baby, I knew that his love for both me and the child in my arms was limitless.  He turned to me a wide grin on his face.  Peter leaned in, kissing me gently on the cheek.  

“Do you guys have a name?” Susan asked.  Both Peter and I paused, looking at each other, we had never settled on a name.  

“We could do Lily,” I said.

“No, no.  I do think Audrey is a great name,” Peter replied.

“May I make a suggestion” Maria cut in.  Both Peter and I turned to her, slightly shocked at her addition to the conversation.

“Of course,” I said.

“How about Grace?”  I looked at Peter to see a matching smile on his face.

“I love it,” I said, Peter nodding in agreement.  

I spent a few weeks recovering from giving birth.  Maria visited me every day.  It turned out we had much in common and enjoyed speaking of different castle gossip.  I walked down the castle hall, happy to be able to get fresh air again.  The sound of footsteps fast approaching caused me to turn to see Maria.  “(Y/n)!” she exclaimed, slightly jogging the rest of the way to me.  A large smile was on her face.  “It is extremely important that you go to the garden right now.” 

“Is there a problem?” I asked, suddenly worried that Ollie had gotten injured there.

“No,” she replied, the smile on her face growing.

“What do you have planned?” I questioned as we made our way to the garden.

“Absolutely nothing.”  As we entered the garden, I saw Lucy and Edmund playing with Ollie while Susan was holding Grace in her arms and conversed with Caspian.  Peter was standing near a tree, seemingly studying the bark on its trunk.  I turned to ask Maria what I was needed for only to see she had disappeared to join Susan and Caspian.  Peter turned to see me, a small smile growing on his face.

I made my way to him, smiling back.  “So, were you all holding a party without me?” I joked as Peter pulled me in for a kiss.  I smiled into it, enjoying the luxury of kissing my husband - something I had never imagined would happen when we had first married.

“We would never,” Peter replied as we pulled apart.  I couldn’t help but notice the nervous fidgeting Peter was doing.

“Is everything alright?”

“Of course,” he started, taking a deep breath, “I just have something I must ask you.”

“Peter, what do you…” I trailed off as I watched Peter pulling out a small box from his pocket.  

“(Y/n),” Peter started.  The others had fallen quiet and I could feel their eyes on us.  “When we first met, I could have never imagined the love that I would feel for you.  As our relationship grew, my realization of my feelings for you became more evident.”  I watched in shock as he knelt to his knees, opening the box to reveal a golden ring, a small diamond attached to it.  “Our first marriage was one of royal duties.  Would you do me the honor of marrying me again?  This time, not for power but for love.”

I barely noticed the tears streaming down my face as I smiled down at the man that I had learned to love.  “Yes,” I said.  Peter smiled, taking my hand and putting the ring on it.  He got up, pulling me in for a kiss.  This kiss was filled with passion as if pressing our lips hard enough would transfer the love we held for each other to the other person.  I could barely hear the claps and cheers from the others over my own heartbeat.

I had arrived at the castle seeing it as a prison sentence.  But now, I viewed the castle as my home.  I was surrounded by those who cared about me and in turn, I cared about them.  I was no longer isolated.  Instead, I was loved.

[readbookywooks]

THE HIGH KING IN COMMAND

"Now," said Peter, as they finished their meal, "Aslan and the girls (that's Queen Susan and Queen Lucy, Caspian) are somewhere close. We don't know when he will act. In his time, no doubt, not ours. In the meantime he would like us to do what we can on our own. You say, Caspian, we are not strong enough to meet Miraz in pitched battle?" "I'm afraid not, High King," said Caspian. He was liking Peter very much, but was rather tongue-tied. It was much stranger for him to meet the great Kings out of the old stories than it was for them to meet him. "Very well, then," said Peter, "I'll send him a challenge to single combat." No one had thought of this before. "Please," said Caspian, "could it not be me? I want to avenge my father." "You're wounded," said Peter. "And anyway, wouldn't he just laugh at a challenge from you? I mean, we have seen that you are a king and a warrior but he thinks of you as a kid." "But, Sire," said the Badger, who sat very close to Peter and never took his eyes off him. "Will he accept a . challenge even from you? He knows he has the stronger . army." "Very likely he won't," said Peter, "but there's always the chance. And even if he doesn't, we shall spend the best part of the day sending heralds to and fro and all that. By then Aslan may have done something. And at least I can inspect the army and strengthen the position. I will send the challenge. In fact I will write it at once. Have you pen and ink, Master Doctor?" "A scholar is never without them, your Majesty," answered Doctor Cornelius. "Very well, I will dictate," said Peter. And while the Doctor spread out a parchment and opened his ink-horn and sharpened his pen, Peter leant back with half-closed eyes and recalled to his mind the language in which he had written such things long ago in Narnia's golden age. "Right," he said at last. "And now, if you are ready, Doctor?" Doctor Cornelius dipped his pen and waited. Peter dictated as follows: "Peter, by the gift of Aslan, by election, by prescription, and by conquest, High King over all Kings in Narnia, Emperor of the Lone Islands and Lord of Cair Paravel, Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Lion, to Miraz, Son of Caspian the Eighth, sometime Lord Protector of Narnia and now styling himself King of Narnia, Greeting. Have you got that?" "Narnia, comma, greeting," muttered the Doctor. "Yes, Sire." "Then begin a new paragraph," said Peter. "For to prevent the effusion of blood, and for the avoiding all other inconveniences likely to grow from the wars now levied in our realm of Narnia, it is our pleasure to adventure our royal person on behalf of our trusty and well-beloved Caspian in clean wager of battle to prove upon your Lordship's body that the said Caspian is lawful King under us in Narnia both by our gift and by the laws of the Telmarines, and your Lordship twice guilty of treachery both in withholding the dominion of Narnia from the said Caspian and in the most abhominable, - don't forget to spell it with an H, Doctor - bloody, and unnatural murder of your kindly lord and brother King Caspian Ninth of that name. Wherefore we most heartily provoke, challenge, and defy your Lordship to the said combat and monomachy, and have sent these letters by the hand of our well beloved and royal brother Edmund, sometime King under us in Narnia, Duke of Lantern Waste and Count of the Western March, Knight of the Noble Order of the Table, to whom we have given full power of determining with your Lordship all the conditions of the said battle. Given at our lodging in Aslan's How this XII day of the month Greenroof in the first year of Caspian Tenth of Narnia. "That ought to do," said Peter, drawing a deep breath. "And now we must send two others with King Edmund. I think the Giant ought to be one." "He's - he's not very clever, you know," said Caspian. "Of course not," said Peter. "But any giant looks impressive if only he will keep quiet. And it will cheer him up. But who for the other?" "Upon my word," said Trumpkin, "if you want someone who can kill with looks, Reepicheep would be the best." "He would indeed, from all I hear," said Peter with a laugh. "If only he wasn't so small. They wouldn't even see him till he was close!" "Send Glenstorm, Sire," said Trufflehunter. "No one ever laughed at a Centaur." An hour later two great lords in the army of Miraz, the Lord Glozelle and the Lord Sopespian, strolling along their lines and picking their teeth after breakfast, looked up and saw coming down to them from the wood the Centaur and Giant Wimbleweather, whom they had seen before in battle, and between them a figure they could not recognize. Nor indeed would the other boys at Edmund's school have recognized him if they could have seen him at that moment. For Aslan had breathed on him at their meeting and a kind of greatness hung about him. "What's to do?" said the Lord Glozelle. "An attack?" "A parley, rather," said Sopespian. "See, they carry green branches. They are coming to surrender most likely." "He that is walking between the Centaur and the Giant has no look of surrender in his face," said Glozelle. "Who can he be? It is not the boy Caspian." "No indeed," said Sopespian. "This is a fell warrior, I warrant you, wherever the rebels have got him from. He is (in your Lordship's private ear) a kinglier man than ever Miraz was. And what mail he wears! None of our smiths can make the like." "I'll wager my dappled Pomely he brings a challenge, not a surrender," said Glozelle. "How then?" said Sopespian. "We hold the enemy in our fist here. Miraz would never be so hair-brained as to throw away his advantage on a combat." "He might be brought to it," said Glozelle in a much lower voice. "Softly," said Sopespian. "Step a little aside here out of earshot of those sentries. Now. Have I taken your Lordship's meaning aright?" "If the King undertook wager of battle," whispered Glozelle, "why, either he would kill or be killed." "So," said Sopespian, nodding his head. "And if he killed we should have won this war." "Certainly. And if not?" "Why, if not, we should be as able to win it without the King's grace as with him. For I need not tell your Lordship that Miraz is no very great captain. And after that, we should be both victorious and kingless." "And it is your meaning, my Lord, that you and I could hold this land quite as conveniently without a King as with one?" Glozelle's face grew ugly. "Not forgetting," said he, "that it was we who first put him on the throne. And in all the years that he has enjoyed it, what fruits have come our way? What gratitude has he shown us?" "Say no more," answered Sopespian. "But look - herd comes one to fetch us to the King's tent." When they reached Miraz's tent they saw Edmund and his two companions seated outside it and being entertained with cakes and wine, having already delivered the challenge, and withdrawn while the King was considering it. When they saw them thus at close quarters the two Telmarine lords thought all three of them very alarming. Inside, they found Miraz, unarmed and finishing his breakfast. His face was flushed and there was a scowl on his brow. "There!" he growled, flinging the parchment across the table to them. "See what a pack of nursery tales our jackanapes of a nephew has sent us." "By your leave, Sire," said Glozelle. "If the young warrior whom we have just seen outside is the King Edmund mentioned in the writing, then I would not call him a nursery tale but a very dangerous knight." "King Edmund, pah!" said Miraz. "Does your Lordship believe those old wives' fables about Peter and Edmund and the rest?" "I believe my eyes, your Majesty," said Glozelle. "Well, this is to no purpose," said Miraz, "but as touching the challenge, I suppose there is only one opinion between us?" "I suppose so, indeed, Sire," said Glozelle. "And what is that?" asked the King. "Most infallibly to refuse it," said Glozelle. "For though I have never been called a coward, I must plainly say that to meet that young man in battle is more than my heart would serve me for. And if (as is likely) his brother, the High King, is more dangerous than he why, on your life, my Lord King, have nothing to do with him." "Plague on you!" cried Miraz. "It was not that sort of council I wanted. Do you think I am asking you if I should be afraid to meet this Peter (if there is such a man)? Do you think I fear him? I wanted your counsel on the policy of the matter; whether we, having the advantage, should hazard it on a wager of battle." "To which I can only answer, your Majesty," said Glozelle, "that for all reasons the challenge should be refused. There is death in the strange knight's face." "There you are again!" said Miraz, now thoroughly angry. "Are you trying, to make it appear that I am as great a coward as your Lordship?" "Your Majesty may say your pleasure," said Glozelle sulkily. "You talk like an old woman, Glozelle," said the King. "What say you, my Lord Sopespian?" "Do not touch it, Sire," was the reply. "And what your Majesty says of the policy of the thing comes in very happily. It gives your Majesty excellent grounds for a refusal without any cause for questioning your Majesty's honour or courage." "Great Heaven!" exclaimed Miraz, jumping to his feet. "Are you also bewitched today? Do you think I am looking for grounds to refuse it? You might as well call me coward to my face." The conversation was going exactly as the two lords wished, so they said nothing. "I see what it is," said Miraz, after staring at them as if his eyes would start out of his head, "you are as lilylivered as hares yourselves and have the effrontery to imagine my heart after the likeness of yours! Grounds for a refusal, indeed! Excuses for not fighting! Are you soldiers? Are you Telmarines? Are you men? And if I dog refuse it (as ail good reasons of captaincy and martial policy urge me to do) you will think, and teach others tan think, I was afraid. Is it not so?" "No man of your Majesty's age," said Glozelle, "would be called coward by any wise soldier for refusing the combat with a great warrior in the flower of his youth." "So I'm to be a dotard with one foot in the grave, as well as a dastard," roared Miraz. "I'll tell you what it is, my Lords. With your womanish counsels (ever shying from the true point, which is one of policy) you have done the very opposite of your intent. I had meant to refuse it. But I'll accept it. Do you hear, accept it! I'll not be shamed because some witchcraft or treason has frozen both your bloods." "We beseech your Majesty - " said Glozelle, but Miraz had flung out of the tent and they could hear him bawling out his acceptance to Edmund. The two lords looked at one another and chuckled quietly. "I knew he'd do it if he were properly chafed," said Glozelle. "But I'll not forget he called me coward. It shall be paid for." There was a great stirring at Aslan's How when the news came back and was communicated to the various creatures. Edmund, with one of Miraz's captains, had already marked out the place for the combat, and ropes and stakes had been put round it. Two Telmarines were to stand at two of the corners, and one in the middle of one side, as marshals of the lists. Three marshals for the other two corners and the other side were to be furnished by the High King. Peter was just explaining to Caspian that he could not be one, because his right to the throne was what they were fighting about, when suddenly a thick, sleepy voice said, "Your Majesty, please." Peter turned and there stood the eldest of the Bulgy Bears. "If you please, your Majesty," he said, "I'm a bear, I am." "To be sure, so you are, and a good bear too, I don't doubt," said Peter. "Yes," said the Bear. "But it was always a right of the, bears to supply one marshal of the lists." "Don't let him," whispered Trumpkin to Peter. "He's a good creature, but he'll shame us all. He'll go to sleep and he will suck his paws. In front of the enemy too." "I can't help that," said Peter. "Because he's quite right. The Bears had that privilege. I can't imagine how it has been remembered all these years, when so many other things have been forgotten." "Please, your Majesty," said the Bear. "It is your right," said Peter. "And you shall be one of the marshals. But you must remember not to suck your paws." "Of course not," said the Bear in a very shocked voice. "Why, you're doing it this minute!" bellowed Trumpkin. The Bear whipped his paw out of his mouth and pretended he hadn't heard. "Sire!" came a shrill voice from near the ground. "Ah - Reepicheep!" said Peter after looking up and down and round as people usually did when addressed by the Mouse. "Sire," said Reepicheep. "My life is ever at your command, but my honour is my own. Sire, I have among my people the only trumpeter in your Majesty's army. I had thought, perhaps, we might have been sent with the challenge. Sire, my people are grieved. Perhaps if it were your pleasure that I should be a marshal of the lists, it would content them." A noise not unlike thunder broke out from somewhere overhead at this point, as Giant Wimbleweather burst into one of those not very intelligent laughs to which the nicer sorts of Giant are so liable. He checked himself at once and looked as grave as a turnip by the time Reepicheep discovered where the noise came from. "I am afraid it would not do," said Peter very gravely. "Some humans are afraid of mice - " "I had observed it, Sire," said Reepicheep. "And it would not be quite fair to Miraz," Peter continued, "to have in sight anything that might abate the edge of his courage." "Your Majesty is the mirror of honour," said the Mouse with one of his admirable bows. "And on this matter we have but a single mind... I thought I heard someone laughing just now. If anyone present wishes to make me the subject of his wit, I am very much at his service - with my sword - whenever he has leisure." An awful silence followed this remark, which was broken by Peter saying, "Giant Wimbleweather and the Bear and the Centaur Glenstorm shall be our marshals. The combat will be at two hours after noon. Dinner at noon precisely." "I say," said Edmund as they walked away, "I suppose it is all right. I mean, I suppose you can beat him?" "That's what I'm fighting him to find out," said Peter.

[thepremedthatwrites]

Unexpected

request: Hi lovely could I request a Peter pevensie x reader? Maybe the reader finds out she’s pregnant and she’s super nervous because they were hoping to have kids a bit later? So she’s scared to tell Peter. Can you set this in Narnia?

Pregnant.  The word seemed to simmer in the air, bouncing around my head as I sat in shock.  “Are you sure?” I questioned, glad that I was sitting in my chair as I wasn’t sure whether my legs would work.

“Yes, Your Majesty,” the doctor replied.  “Should I inform the High King?”

“No,” I said as soon as the words had left his mouth.  My voice was much stronger than I had anticipated.  “Please.  I would like to tell him myself,” I added, my voice much softer than before.  The doctor nodded as I got up.  

“I would like for you to meet with a midwife soon.  Perhaps next week?”

“Alright.”  My legs felt like jelly as I started to make my way towards the door.  “Thank you.”

“My pleasure, Your Majesty.”  The cool air of the courtyard felt nice as I took a deep breath trying to calm myself.  I started to make my way back towards the castle before slowing down, my mind reminding me of the small human that was growing inside of me.  I winced at the thought, wondering what Peter might think.  We had been married for a few months now.  And we had been sleeping together for an even longer time but we had always been careful.  “I guess not careful enough,” I muttered as I opened the door to the building.  

“My goodness!” I turned to see Susan walking towards me, a faun by her side who seemed to have been writing down whatever Susan had been saying.  “(Y/n), you look as pale as snow!”  She rushed towards me, holding onto my arm and guiding me towards one of the benches that lined the hall.  “Are you alright?”  I opened my mouth, expecting words to come out.  Instead, a horrendous sob escaped followed by an unstoppable river of tears.  My face fell into my hands as my shoulder shook violently, all my emotions spilling out in front of Susan.

Susan sat silently, one of her hands soothingly rubbing my back.  She didn’t pry, instead letting me let out all that I had been holding back.  After a few moments, the thunderous sobs had turned to a few whimpers.  My face left my hands as I slowly turned to Susan who had already pulled out a handkerchief.  “Do you want to talk about it?” she questioned as she delicately wiped away my tears.  The faun that had been accompanying her had already left, most likely understanding that this conversation was for only Susan and I.

“If I tell you, you cannot tell Peter,” I said between sniffles.  Susan studied me for a moment, her eyes filled with concern.

“Alright.  I promise.”

“Okay good.”  I took a deep breath.  “I’m pregnant.”  Susan fixed her posture at this, pursing her lips in thought.

“How long have you known?”

“I just found out.”

“Is it Peter’s?”  

“Susan!” I exclaimed, hardly able to hear what she was saying.  “Of course it’s his!  You don’t think so little of me, do you?”

“Of course not,” Susan started, speaking quickly.  “It’s just that I don’t understand why you are so upset at this news.  I thought you and Peter wanted kids.”

“We do,” I sighed, studying my hands.  “It’s just we were hoping to wait a bit longer before trying.”  

“This isn’t something you can hide from Peter,” Susan said softly, placing a hand on my shoulder.  I turned to meet her gaze, swallowing thickly.

“I know,” I whispered.  “I just need some time.”

A week went by since I had found out.  It was starting to get harder to hide my pregnancy as Peter was starting to worry about my morning sickness.  I had told him it was nothing and probably just some bad food.  While he may have bought my excuse the first few times, I could tell he was starting to doubt me.  The sun shone down on me as I sat in the garden, admiring one of the many marigolds.  I had just finished my visit with the midwife who had informed me the baby was growing well.  

The sound of footsteps caused me to turn my head to see Aslan approaching me.  “Aslan,” I said, curtseying at the lion’s presence.

“The garden is quite beautiful during the spring isn’t it,” Aslan stated as he joined my side.  I nodded in agreement.  The lion turned to face me, his knowing eyes meeting mine.  “How far along are you?” 

“Two months,” I whispered, afraid unwanted ears might hear me.  

“You’ll start showing soon,” Aslan said, making his way down the path.  I followed.  “When are you going to tell him?”

“I do not know,” I replied, wringing my hands.  The lion paused to look at me again before continuing to walk, the wind blowing on his mane.  

“You’re afraid.”  

“Of course I am.  What if he becomes angry with me?”

“Do not insult your husband like that.”

“Aslan!  (Y/n)!”  My attention turned from the lion to my husband who was making his way towards us, a smile on his face.

“It’s good to see you again Peter,” Aslan said as Peter bowed to him.  He then moved towards me, instinctively wrapping an arm around my waist.  

“Is there a reason for your visit?” Peter questioned.

“Just to celebrate,” the lion replied before starting to turn towards the castle.

“Leaving so soon?” Peter asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Do not worry, I shall see both of you sooner than you think,” Aslan said, nodding slightly at me before disappearing around the corner.  

“I do not understand that lion sometimes,” Peter said, shaking his head.  

“I don’t think you’re supposed to,” I replied, smiling at my husband as the sun cast him in an almost godly glow.  I felt my smile start to fall as my mind played back my conversation with Aslan.  “Peter.  There’s something I need to tell you.”  Peter’s playful expression was quick to turn serious as he noticed my new tone.

“Of course, love,” he said, leading us to one of the stone benches that had the greenery of the garden wrapped around its legs.  “Is everything alright?”  He held my hands in his as I focused on controlling my breathing, my heartbeat quickening with each second that passed.

“I just want you to know that I love you with everything that I am,” I started, my vision already becoming blurry from the tears that had started to form.  “And I don’t want what I tell you to change our relationship.  Please, promise me that you won’t leave me, no matter what I tell you.”

“Of course,” Peter said, his eyes wide as they studied my face.  “You’re scaring me (y/n).”

“I’m sorry Peter,” I said, taking a deep breath.  “It’s just that,” I started to suddenly become extremely aware of my breathing.  “I’m pregnant.”  I flinched as the words left my mouth, expecting Peter to lash out.

“(Y/n),” Peter whispered.  His soft voice caused my body to relax as he leaned into me.  He moved his hand to my face, his finger lifting my chin so that I was looking at his face.  There was a slight smile on his face.  “Don’t cry.”  He wiped the tears from my face, placing a soft kiss on my tear stained cheek.  “This is something to celebrate.”

“You’re not angry?”

“Why would I be angry?”  His eyebrows furrowed as he held my face in his hands.

“It’s just I know you wanted to wait to have kids,” I replied, unable to look into his eyes any longer as I turned my face towards the grass of the garden.  Peter’s hands turned my face back towards him, his eyes filled with love and adoration.

“I don’t care about that (y/n),” he said.  “That might have been the original plan but things change.  That doesn’t matter.  What matters is that I want to have a family with you.  I want to spend the rest of my life with you where we get to watch our children grow together.”  Tears started to fall down my face for the second time that day but this time they were joined with a smile.

“I love you so much Peter.”

“I love you too (y/n).”  He pulled me into an embrace.  I closed my eyes as I buried my face into his neck, feeling at home in the arms of my husband.