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𝕭𝐎𝐎𝐊 𝐈: 𝖂𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝖂𝐀𝐑

𝕮𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝕰𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭: beside the dying fire

WHEN ASHARA RETURNED FROM SECURING THE area, a fire was softly crackling in the middle of the small clearing. After they'd climbed down from their hiding place, Mrs. Beaver had taken care of Terzis' wounds and Ashara had taken it upon herself to make sure the wolf pack was really gone. She'd followed their trail north until she was assured they hadn't turned back around. Then she'd made a wide circle around the town to make sure there were no surprises waiting for them in the darkness. Only when she was absolutely sure they were safe for now, did she return to the campsite.

She took a seat next to Peter and pulled her sleeves back to warm her hands to the golden flames of the fire. A small sigh of relief left her lips as the warmth engulfed her, slowly defrosting her finger tips. She had arrived just in time to hear Terzis explain what happened in the small village.

"They were helping Tumnus," he explained. "The Witch got here before I did." He winced in pain when Mrs. Beaver finished one of her stitches.

"Are you all right?" Lucy questioned.

"Well I wish I could say their bark was worse than their bite," Terzis chuckled before groaning in pain once again.

"Oh stop squirming," Mrs. Beaver berated him. "You're worse than Beaver on bath day."

"Worst day of the year," Mr. Beaver mumbled, causing the two Pevensie sisters to smile softly, managing to break the tension of their eventful day for a moment.

"Thank you for your kindness," Terzis started to say as he slowly got back on his feet. "But I'm afraid that's all the cure I have time for."

"You're leaving?" Lucy asked, seeming rather shocked that someone with his wounds would be willing to travel.

Terzis bowed before her. "It has been a pleasure, my Queen, and an honor. But time is short and Aslan himself has asked me to gather more troops."

A gasp of delight came from Mrs. Beaver while Mr. Beaver leaned forward in curiosity. "You've seen Aslan?" He questioned with wide eyes.

"What's he like?" Mrs. Beaver asked.

Terzis chuckled softly. "Like-like everything we've ever heard." His voice was filled with awe and his eyes glistened the light of the fire with hope. Then he turned his gaze to the Pevensies. "You'll be glad, having him by your side in your battle against the Witch."

"But we're not planning on fighting any Witch," Susan spoke up quickly and her words stung more than Ashara felt like admitting.

"B-but," Terzis stammered, turning his gaze to Peter. "Surely, King Peter, the prophecy!"

Peter could hardly bring himself to look at the fox, conflict painted on his features.

"We can't go to war without you," Mr. Beaver said, looking at their future King.

Peter shared a glance with his sister, before flicking a stone in the flames. "We just want our brother back," he finally said, like that settled the matter.

For a moment, Terzis hung his head but then nodded, as if shoving the matter aside. "Well, I hope our paths cross again one day, your majesties." Then he bowed deeply before standing back up and disappearing into the darkness of the woods surrounding them.

Ashara watched him leave until his shadows were swallowed by the darkness. Then her gaze settled on their small travelling company. "It might be best to try and get some sleep," she said. "We have a long road ahead of us tomorrow."

She watched as the two sisters tried to get comfortable on the blanket Mrs. Beaver had managed to pack before they left but then her attention was taken by Mr. Beaver, gesturing for her to come closer. She got to her feet and walked over to him, noticing the worried look on his furry face.

"What is it?" She asked softly once she reached him, kneeling down so she could look him right in the eye.

"You sure the coast is all clear?" He questioned, nervously shifting his weight.

She gave him a reassuring smile. "I'm sure, Mr. Beaver, their tracks lead north. Terzis' plan worked."

He nodded, though he still appeared to be nervous, like that wasn't all he wanted to say after all. She frowned at him, silently encouraging him to say whatever was on his mind. She watched as he took a shaky breath before finally opening his mouth. "What if the Kings and Queens really do not want to fight? What are we going to do then?"

For a moment she couldn't find the words to reply, because the very same doubts had been on her mind. She hadn't found a way to deal with them yet, though. She knew no one would be able to force them to take the crown. It was their choice to make and where she once had believed so wholeheartedly in the prophecy, she now started to doubt the words.

Still she placed an encouraging hand on Mr. Beaver's shoulder. "Whether they will take the thrones or not, Aslan has arrived to help us. We will fight the Witch, and we will win this time."

For a moment Mr. Beaver held her gaze, still seeming to doubt. But then he nodded, determined, taking her words to heart. "You're right."

She smiled softly, before getting back to her feet. The two of them walked back to the fire. Instead of sitting down though, Ashara walked over towards one of the little houses and climbed onto the roof. With her back against the chimney she settled above their little campsite, the height giving her a view over their surroundings. She watched as Mr. and Mrs. Beaver held each other closely against the cold, while Susan held Lucy close, huddling inside their furs. The only one who didn't seem to try and get any sleep, was Peter. He was still seated in the same spot by the fire, his blue eyes focused on the flames.

Ashara turned her gaze away, not wanting him to feel like she was watching him. Instead she let her gaze wander through the forest. The soft glow from the fire didn't do much to drive away the dark but she kept her eyes focused on the trees anyway, knowing she'd regret it if she didn't. She probably wouldn't be able to sleep anyway. Today had given her many things to think about and she wasn't sure how to deal with most of them.

Her fingers caressed the words in the hilt of her sword, hoping they would give her some sense of comfort. Her father would've known what to do, what to say. He always managed to find the right words to make anyone change their mind. She didn't. All she had was the will to fight for this country and a sword to guide her. But the Kings and Queens needed someone soft and wise. She felt like neither of those things. She was hardened by the winter, skin like ice and a will of steel. But beneath the cold there was still a fire burning in her heart and she only head to reach out to it and the ice on her skin would melt to make way for soft golden marks. She was as unforgiving as the ice and as powerful as the fire and neither was required on the journey to guide the Kings and Queens to their crowns...

Footsteps behind her made her look up. Peter Pevensie had made his way across the clearing and joined her on the roof, a shiver went through him when the flames could no longer warm him, but he didn't seem to mind.

"When I said 'get some sleep', I meant you as well," Ashara said, a playful smile on her lips.

A small smile tugged at Peter's lips, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. He seemed tired and yet unable to find rest. "The ground isn't exactly comfortable," he said, though something told her that wasn't all he'd wanted to say.

She scoffed. "You get used to it."

"How?" Peter asked and, no matter how much he tried to hide it, his voice trembled.

And when she turned her gaze to him, she realised he wasn't talking about sleeping in the snow anymore. She clenched her fist around the hilt of her sword. But her father was gone and all she could do was lean on her own knowledge of guiding a future king.

She inhaled deeply before finally saying: "I know we haven't known each other that long, but I do believe that after being chased by wolves and nearly being mauled to death, we can consider each other to be friends."

A grin appeared on his features, making his blue eyes sparkle. "I think so."

She felt herself mirroring his smile as she continued: "So, as your friend, let me tell you that at first it's gonna be really cold but eventually you'll learn to endure it."

He studied her closely. "Did you? Learn to endure it?"

She looked away from him, suddenly unable to bear him watching her as she tried to contain her ghosts before they'd come out to haunt her. "I like to think so," she started, softly. "But sometimes I remember that it wasn't just me and I feel-" She clutched her sword tighter and cleared her throat. "When the White Witch first came to Narnia she, ehm, she killed my parents." She forced herself to look at Peter as she continued. "I know what it feels like to have your family taken away by her. The difference is that you can still save your brother." Her voice was barely audible when she added: "You don't ever have to endure what I did. I will make sure of it."

"I'm sorry," Peter whispered, genuine empathy for her pain written all over his features. "Our father went away to war too," he spoke after a moment of silence and Ashara raised her eyebrows at him in curiosity. "Mom made me promise to look after them." His gaze drifted to his sleeping sisters besides the dying fire. "How can I rule an entire kingdom when I can't even do that?"

"What happened to Edmund isn't your fault," Ashara whispered. "And besides, you're crossing an entire country to get him back, aren't you? Isn't that looking after him as well?"

"Maybe," he said, not seeming convinced. He turned his eyes away from his sisters and back to her, a sudden idea seeming to strike him. "Why can't you be Queen?"

"W-what?" She stuttered, biting her tongue to keep from laughing.

"You know how to fight, you care about the Narnians and you've lived here all your life. I'm-" He cut himself off, took a deep breath and then added softly: "I'm a stranger."

As she watched him seated beside her, his eyes filled with the weight of the prophecy, she suddenly understood. He was a stranger, thrown into a land he knew nothing about and asked to rule it and all those who lived within the borders. Even if he wanted to, where would he even begin? So maybe she was fit for this task after all. Because if there was one thing she was good at, it was defending her country. And if she could do it with a sword, she would make sure she could do it with words as well.

"There is a reason the prophecy says Sons of Adam and Daughters of Eve," she started, while searching for the right words to tell him all she wanted. "I could never rule Narnia."

Peter frowned. "So you're saying because I'm ordinary I should?"

She couldn't help the soft laugh falling from her lips at his words. "It's your destiny to be King, and you think yourself to be ordinary?"

He casted his eyes down, though a small smile had appeared on his face. "Perhaps you're right."

She pulled her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them, as her mind searched for words to explain it to him. "I told you the Golden Watchers watched over the magic that formed the rules of this world, right?"

Peter nodded, watching her closely as she continued.

"It's called the Deep Magic and it connects this world to all others surrounding it. Narnia is filled with it. It was born because of it. If someone with access to that power were to rule this country, terrible things could happen." She gestured around to the never melting snow. "Look around. The White Witch cursed this country into an eternal winter. She uses her magic to destroy. If I were to rule, who's to say I wouldn't do the same? I might try to do good, but through me, my magic could cause serious damage."

She took a deep breath and turned her gaze to Peter, who was still studying her closely. "It's only those who understand and respect the rules of magic but could never turn to it that are fit to rule. That is the way Aslan intended it when he created Narnia. It is because you are ordinary that you are best fit to rule."

A small frown had appeared on his face but the initial tiredness seemed to have disappeared, as though her words had given him the rest he needed. Rest because he was finally reassured that maybe he did belong here.

"But then," he started slowly. "We are not the first humans to enter Narnia?"

She shook her head. "No, you are not." She smiled at him. "I suppose if you did ever choose to rule, it would be beneficial to know about the Kings and Queens who came before you."

"I suppose so," Peter muttered, though the prospect of hearing about the great Kings and Queens of the Old Dynasty didn't seem to bring him much comfort.

Ashara bit her lip and then felt a mischievous grin spread on her face. "Well, they aren't all that different from you and your siblings, you know? The last King, Florian, loved to take time out of his daily tasks to spend time with his little brother. They played the most hilarious pranks. Honestly no one was safe from those two."

Peter scoffed. "You're making that up."

"Are you accusing me of lying to my future king?" She grinned at him.

He raised his chin in mock arrogance. "I should have you beheaded."

For a moment they held each other's gaze before bursting out laughing, but then quickly shutting their mouths again and throwing worried glances at their sleeping companions. When it seemed like none of them had woken up, they dared to talk again.

"Just know, I will never force you to wear a crown you do not want," Ashara told him and felt surprised when she realised she meant it. She didn't want to pressure the Pevensie siblings into a role they wouldn't be happy in. If all they really wanted was to find their brother and head home, she would respect their decision.

He smiled at her, genuinely thankful for her words. "I will consider it."

She nodded, satisfied, because in the end that was all she could really ask for.

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A new chapter has arrived!

I was really looking forward to writing this because it's the first conversation that's just between Peter and Ashara. I really hope Peter didn't feel too out of character, I'm still practising with writing him and getting his "voice" to feel right, so to speak. Honestly Ashara and Peter are so cute and I just cannot wait for them to get together! But no, patience, lol.

Also I wanted to thank you guys for the amazing amount of love this story has received! I really enjoy every comment so very much and I'm so thankful for every single one of you! You are amazing readers!

xx Nelly