I AM JUST GOING TO REMIND EVERYONE THIS BOOK IS RATED MATURE SO... 

I didn't need to ask what time it was to know it was late. Very late. The room was drowning in daylight and I could hear there were people outside the bed-chamber. That's the downside of all this: there is always someone waiting. Someone to greet, a hand to shake, an individual to charm, a dull conversation to have or an occasion to look good for. My day is rarely my own ever since I became Queen. I try to cram it all together, the boring parts that is, so that I can have some time of my own either in the afternoon or in the morning, depending on the circumstances, but unless it is in the schedule, I can't just do whatever I feel like. Not anymore. It was different while I was pregnant, I had the ultimate excuse. No one says no to a pregnant woman, much less a pregnant Queen. But now I am back in the game, one hundred per cent, which is why I find it odd they allowed me to sleep in. I must have missed all my morning appointments, why didn't anyone wake me up?

There's a little bell beside the bed, we use it to call the servants and with one ring of it Jane walks through one of the doors and curtsies.

"What time is it, Jane?" I ask her.

"Noon," she informs me.

"I'll be damned," I mutter. "Can you draw me a bath please?" I ask as I look for my slippers.

"Right away, Your Majesty,"

I start to head out to the sitting room but she stops me. "Lady Danielle is outside. Lord Stryder says she's your new lady-in-waiting?" She sounds doubtful. Of course she does, she is aware of the dislike I have for the redheaded girl.

Oh, fuc- "Yes. Yes, Lord Stryder is right," I was hoping he might forget, but nothing ever escapes him.

"She is right outside," Jane repeats.

Of course she is.

Well, I'm not letting Danielle see me like this. "I shall speak with Lord Stryer over breakfast. In here," I declare.

She doesn't need to be told twice. Jane nods, curtsies, and leaves through the main door to do as I have asked.

The lack of privacy in this life is appalling. Anyone with the right title can just waltz into the sitting room without an invitation. That is why there is a separate corridor leading to the bath room and dressing area. And why we have meeting rooms and separate studies in our chambers, it tends to get crowded.

The door opens again and breakfast is carried in by Lily and Amelea. They are followed by Henry who carries a load on documents that no doubt require my signature.

"Why didn't you wake me up Stryder?!" I demand, but he knows I am only joking.

"And risk getting on your bad side for the next few hours?" He asks me with a quirked brow. "I think not, I remember what happened last time,"

"I apologized, don't be such a wuss,"

My distaste for mornings is widely known. That is why it falls upon Peter to wake me up. He knows I do not mean whatever I say during the first half-hour of the day. But sometimes even he knows it's best to let me sleep and so he will leave the curtains opened, that way I can blame the sun and not him for waking me up. It will either be him in the mornings or in extreme cases, Eurybe. She is not afraid to be rude if necessary in order to get me where I am supposed to be. That's why I like her. She does not care that I am the Queen, she'll put me in my place if I need to. She reminds me of my mother. Only mother never used foul language or poured water on my face so I'd awake. No, she was a classy lady who used her quick wit to let me know who was in charge. I miss her. But now that I think about it that's probably what happened. Peter probably had enough arguing last night and didn't want to push his luck so he must have told everyone to leave me alone. He shouldn't have to. Now I feel bad that he thought I'd be a madwoman in the morning. I will apologize to him again when I see him.

"So, what did I miss Henry?"

He sits down in front of me and starts to give me the briefing. "Seeing as you were otherwise indisposed, I attended the meeting with Prince Darren. As far as trade and taxes everything is going well, but afterwards came the meeting with King Edmund and the Galmians,"

"Right, Ed wanted me to go. Did you attend that as well?"

"No, King Peter said he wanted to attend that meeting in your place," Henry says. Oh, that's nice, he took time off his busy day to cover for me. Where is he? I want to hug him. "You just need to sign these," He slides the documents across the table and hands me the pen and ink.

Signing with the complete title is a nuisance but it's a must.

"Next, there was a meeting with the dryads, this one was important," Henry says.

"What happened?" I ask concerned. The dryads rarely complain.

"Many good trees are being chopped down indiscriminately in Beruna, killing their dryads in the process. Their wood is being used to build homes or feed the fires during this harsh fall, and they want to know what your majesties will do regarding that,"

Oh, that is awful indeed. We can't have Narnians killing Narnians. Even if they were not aware of it. "We will put an end to it, that's what we'll do. You should call upon the lawmakers and have them draft something immediately. I will discuss it over lunch with the Kings and Queens, but I am sure they will agree,"

"I will do that right away," Henry nods, taking the documents I have just signed.

"Anything else?"

"Just another complain from the north regarding the situation with the giants, but I've heard that's being taken care of,"

"Yes, King Peter is sending troops," I inform him.

"Lovely. There are also reports of Narnians congregating in the western mountains, the ones that border Datram. All former followers of the Witch,"

"Oh,"

"Our intelligence says they are making a move to the South. If they reach The Gate we might have some troubles,"

"What do King Edmund and Queen Susan say?" After all, the West and the South are their dominions. They must have been updated already and made a decision.

"They agree on taking action,"

"Perfect, then so do I. Anything else?"

"Yes, one more thing. The Archenlander dance instructor Queen Lucy requested has arrived and the Queens would like for you to accompany them this afternoon for dance lessons,"

"That sounds fun. So what do I have left on the agenda?"

Meetings, meetings, meetings, shaking a few hands, giving grain to those in need..., at least I don't have to deal with Danielle. No, I left Roselynn and Phoebe in charge of showing her how things work. Although I suppose I should get used to her, as annoying as she will be.

The day is a dull one and I do not get to see Peter until dinner, which is a shame because I want to make sure we're alright following last night's argument. And also because I wanted to dance with him. I thought he'd be there for the lesson, but instead, I got to dance with Edmund who was dragged against his will by Susan and spent the entirety of the lesson complaining to me or enjoying a little too much stepping on my foot. That is until Susan threatened to have him take private lessons, then he paid attention. I don't know why he complains so much, he is quite good at dancing and the cheeky bastard he knows it.

At dinner, we discuss the dryads issue and everyone agrees on setting some laws for the chopping of trees. Peter arrives a bit late and seems otherwise preoccupied with the Northern Giants so he consents to our agreement. It is a dinner spent on matters of state and talking about what everyone did during the day so I don't get much of a chance to speak to Peter. Not properly.

It is not until we reach the bed chamber and close the doors that we finally have time to talk.

"I didn't get to see you today," I say as I sit on the bed.

"It was a busy day," he replies tiredly and starts to take off the layers of clothes that keep him warm to put on the ones to sleep in. This fall is a particularly cold one.

"It was," I agree and stand up to do the same. "I wanted to apologize and thank you,"

"What did I do?" he asks and stops, as if he's the one who has done something wrong.

"You didn't do anything wrong," I replied laughing. "But you don't need to let me sleep in and take upon yourself my meetings. You can wake me up and I'll do it,"

"But you dislike waking up early," he says confused.

"I dislike many things. But that doesn't mean I won't do them. And besides, it is my responsibility. You have enough to take care of,"

"Alright, next time I'll wake you up," he agrees.

"I missed you today. Did you miss me?" I spent all day thinking about him.

"Honestly I was so busy time that flew by and I didn't get much of a chance to miss you except for lunch,"

I laugh very loudly at his response. "You are brilliant, I actually appreciate that,"

"You do?" he asks confused. He probably expected me to get upset.

"Yes. I'd rather you be brutally honest with me than lie for the sake of my feelings," I hate it when people do that. Like when you put on a new dress and ask if it looks good only to have people tell you what you want to hear. If I didn't want an honest answer, I wouldn't ask!

"Well, alright," he says and we go back to change our clothes.

"So you missed me, eh?" he asks confidently with that smirk he only looks at me with once I have changed.

"All day," I admit. Two years ago I would have been embarrassed to say so, but not anymore.

"Now I'm all yours. What do you want to do?" He asks with that husky voice that drives me mad. I know what he wants to do, but I have something else in mind first.

"Oh, can we dance? I spent the afternoon dancing with your brother and he kept accidentally stepping on my toes and being an awful partner,"

It surprises him that I don't agree instantly to his implicit idea as I usually do, but nevertheless, he agrees. "Not what I had in mind, but sure,"

"So what did you have in mind?" I ask after we finish the dance.

"Like you need to ask,"

He leans down and I stand on my toes to reach his lips as I feel his hands slide around my waist and then below until he lifts me. Next thing I know I am on top, our clothes are somewhere on the floor, his hands are on my behind and his back on the bed. That is until a familiar voice has us stop half-way through.

"Hey, Pete, when are we- WHOA!" I turn around it's Edmund. Standing there, wide-eyed and completely flabbergasted. Thank Aslan it wasn't Lucy!

I am the first to react, but instead of shouting at him to leave I opt to mess him so badly, he will never walk in without thinking about knocking it twice.

"Get in or get out," I say to Edmund as I turn around to face him looking as unfased by his presence as I can.

"BUGGER OFF!" Peter shouts at his brother half a second later as he sits up to try and cover me.

Ed mutters a sorry and escapes as fast as his legs allow him to.

"Get in or get out?" Peter questions me once his brother has gone.

"Wasn't his face priceless?"

He chuckles understanding what I was going for. "Pale as a ghost. I think you've scarred him for life though,"

"Good. That ought to knock some sense into him. He just might knock next time,"