-

The festival is almost over. Peter can't wait for the Cair to be empty of guests.

He misses nights when he and his siblings could gather in one of their bedrooms, with no guests to entertain, and have a nice night. He misses talking to his siblings in general. Susan and Ed have been so busy with the festival, and Lucy — always the social butterfly — has been hanging out with the guests as much as she can.

Peter feels useless, because he can't connect with people the way his siblings can. He's just not good at it. He's got a short fuse, and he's too plagued by responsibility to let loose and have fun.

He sits on the beach, staring out over the horizon. Aslan's country is out there somewhere. Peter wonders just how far one would have to sail to get there, and if, when he arrived, Aslan would even let him in.

"Peter! May I sit here, or would you like to be alone?" Luna's voice startles him out of his morose thought, and it's probably for the best.

He turns, and Luna is a lot closer than he thought she was. She's squatting down just behind him, looking out to the sea instead of meeting his gaze.

Theres some makeup around her eyes, kohl perhaps. It highlights her eyes, shining in their copper shade. Peter wonders what she sees when she looks into his eyes, and if she even thinks about him in that sort of way.

"I'd like the company," he admits. When she sits, her shoulder brushes against his, and warmth settles into Peter's chest. He feels more grounded when she's around.

"When my father would talk about the sea," she starts, "he would only mention the calm. I didn't even know waves were so rough until I saw them in person."

Luna laughs to herself. She stretches out her legs and digs her toes into the sand. "Maybe it's stupid, but I think he was trying to protect me. The sea was always an escape in my mind. He must've known I would've been afraid if I knew how unpredictable it was."

It's a solemn confession. Paired with everything else Peter knows and has guessed about her life, it does sound like her father was trying to protect her. "Are you disappointed, then? Now that you've seen it?"

Luna finally looks at him. She cocks her head to the side and smiles at him. It's the sweetest sight Peter has ever seen, and he can't think of anyone who has ever made him feel this way.

"No," she says. "I love it. Of course as a little girl, it would've been scary. But now..." she spreads her arms out, gesturing to the large expanse of water. "It feels like an old friend."

"Would you like to go swimming with me?" The words escape Peter's mouth before he can stop them. It's quite inappropriate to ask a lady for a swim, especially him being a king. But Luna doesn't use his title, and he feels like they're friends in spite of it.

Luna grins, all teeth, eyes wide with the thrill of the unknown. "Last one in has to sit beside Gloria at dinner!"

And then she's off, and Peter is racing behind, reaching out for the ribbon on her dress.

She runs into the foam, laughing when the waves splash up her skirts. "I'm going until I can't reach the bottom!"

Peter laughs. "Be careful!"

Luna falls back into the water, limbs flailing in pure excitement. Peter isn't sure she could even feel saltwater up her nose. She wouldn't even care.

And Peter realizes he's standing knee-deep in the sea, falling in love with her.

-

"Tell me if I'm crazy," Susan says, cutting into her dinner. "But I think I should ask Luna to become one of my ladies in waiting."

Lucy's silverware clangs against the plate as she practically slams it down. "Yes! Imagine how lovely! We could move her room closer to ours and have tea parties!"

Edmund sips his wine and laughs. "I like Luna. She taught me how to play chess."

"You're still bad at it," Lucy teases, poking him in the shoulder.

"You've been quiet, Peter," Susan points out. "Is it a bad idea?"

"No," Peter says immediately. "But she's still beneath her mother. We'd have to ask Lady Ophelia, and that would mean—"

"We might have to offer to keep Gloria, too." Susan says, stoic-faced. "I hate politics."

"Yes, but she's one of the most respected nobles in Narnia. We can't exactly banish her," Peter mumbles.

"Wish we could," Lucy says. "They're both so rude to Luna. Do you ever wonder how she'd act if she knew they weren't around?"

Peter thinks about the shore, and the way Luna threw herself into the sea without a care in the world. She wasn't afraid, then. She was free. Peter considers what it'd be like if she could live at Cair with them. If they could keep the sisters separate, Luna would be able to live her life.

There's only one way to distract Gloria from Luna, and that's offering to marry her. "What if I take up their offer?"

Susan jerks her head towards him. "What? In marriage? Are you crazy?"

Yes. "It's just... If I kept Gloria distracted with wedding stuff, Luna would be able to live her own life. Maybe they'll stop caring so much and she can actually do what she wants."

His siblings stare at him, and Peter begins to feel hot under his collar when Lucy finally speaks.

"Aslan's mane. You're in love with her."

Peter barks out a laugh. "Gloria? She couldn't possibly be less my type!"

Lucy blinks at him. "You're an idiot."

Susan glares at Lucy. "Alright, that's enough. Peter, are you sure?"

No. Peter kind of wants to slip beneath the floorboards and become one with the dust. "I mean, it would just be a courtship for now. If it works, and they loosen up, then maybe it can be an engagement."

"We could keep them on opposite sides of the Cair," Edmund suggests. "But Peter, this is your life. Wouldn't you rather just let them go? They can go back to their manor and everything will be fine."

Peter opens his mouth, but nothing comes out. It feels wrong to say that he isn't sure he can be away from Luna for that long. There's so much he wants to learn about her, so much he wants to listen to her say. He feels dumb for even thinking about it, but at least if he married her sister, she'd be around. He could make sure she was treated fairly, and given a proper life, even if it wouldn't be with him.

And honestly, Peter isn't sure he could ever offer someone as free-spirited as Luna a good life. Gloria is simple. She wants the noble life and the rules that come with it. Peter thinks it would be almost cruel to expect that of Luna. "I– I just think Luna deserves a fair chance."

"I'll ask them to dinner tomorrow night," Susan says, and her cherry lips are turned up in silent support. "You're very selfless, Peter."

Peter can't really think of anything more selfish than marrying someone's sister just to keep them around, but he digresses. He can feel his throat close up at the thought of no longer getting to visit Luna. He'd have to give up any thought of learning about her, if he wanted her to be left alone.

It's certainly not fair. "I'm going to tuck in early," he says, keeping his voice steady.

"Peter..." Lucy bites her lip. She looks as if she's about to cry. "We want you to be happy."

Me too, Peter thinks, but he only kisses her head. "I'm alright."

-

the plot thickens. oh how i love unneeded drama.

i love these four so much :(( and peter deserves the world.

pls vote or comment what you liked/what you'd like to see!!