I sit by the cradle, staring at the twins. The most gorgeous baby boys I have ever seen, although I may be biased. Just looking at them sleep instantly calms me down and fills my heart with love. And Aslan knows I need some love in my heart right now.

I have spent the entire morning being shadowed by Lady Danielle. Having her listen to my conversations and thoughts and witnessing to everything I do and say, I just find it insufferable. A complete invasion of my privacy. I haven't had much of it lately and having her be the latest intrusion to my personal life is not something I welcome with open arms.

If she were dull, I'd just ignore her. If she were chatty, I might just talk to her. And if she were blatantly rude, I just might be able to give her a piece of my mind. But no, she is unpretentiously supercilious, disdainfully polite, and elegantly discourteous. What am I supposed to do about that?!

She will curtsey, yes, but only in the simplest manner and she will always do a grander reverence for any of my fellow monarchs. She will smile when greeted by me, but it is always a fake smile.

She will exchange pleasantries with me but there is always a hint of disdain well masked by carefully chosen words. And she is always listening.

Today I asked her to fetch me a certain dress only to be met with an 'are you sure your majesty?' that had me questioning my taste in clothes. I asked her to fetch me a pastry while Jane brushed my hair only to receive an 'if that is what your majesty wants', clearly a comment on my unhealthy choice. And when I couldn't listen to her yabbering any longer and asked her to serve me a drink, I was met with a 'would you not rather have some tea, your majesty? It is rather early for a drink'. No, Danielle, I would not prefer some earl grey tea or an apple or the green dress you like better. I want my red dress, my pastry and my whiskey, thank you very much. And nor do I wish you advice on how to wear my hair, which earings go better with my crown or which shoes I should be wearing for lunch. Ugh, I swear, she is insufferable. I can't believe I let Edmund get me stuck with her.

At least Roselynn was enjoying herself. She looked like she was having the best time of her life as I struggled to bite my tongue back with that last one.

"Just ignore her. She is as pleased with this arrangement as you are," Phoebe said once Danielle left to fetch my cousin. "All she wants is to get a response from you,"

"I know, but she just has a way to get under my skin," I reply calmly as I pet one of the tigers and stare at baby Peter. "Wait, how do you know she isn't pleased with being here?" I thought Danielle would rejoice in the opportunity to annoy me.

"Because she told me," Phoebe says simply. "She is only here because her father insisted,"

"Since when are you two such close confidants?" I ask. Are they... friends?

"We aren't. I was just asking about herself," Phoebe explains. "You know she is her preferred topic of conversation,"

At that, I have to laugh. "Yes, she does love talking about herself, doesn't she?"

"Can we change the subject?" Roselynn asks, impatiently tapping her feet on the cold marble floor and fidgeting with her fingers.

"Gladly," I'd rather not gove the redhead more attention than necessary. "What is on your mind Roselynn?"

"Lord Peridan," she replies, earning a composed laugh from me and Phoebe which she chooses to ignore. "I just do not understand what is going through his mind,"

"Why? What has happened now?" Phoebe asks.

"Nothing!" she exclaims loudly and I give her a pointed stare after glancing at the sleeping princes. I don't want them to wake up, I barely got them to sleep. "Sorry, nothing," she says again only this time in a whisper. "I just do not understand what sort of relationship he wants to have,"

"Ah, so you're having a Thea-crisis," I reply.

Thea and Edmund used to be sort of together, I suppose, but then he'd forget about her for a week only to invite her to some dull political dinner for which he needed a date. Or he'd be having a good time with her and then leave for a trip of some sort and not tell her about it. These sort of things Ed did just threw her off. 

But then I spoke to him. He doesn't want anything serious, and, honestly, why would he? he is only sixteen. Thea, however, does not like uncertainty, she wants to know what to do with her life. Should she wait for him or should she move on and look for someone who wants something serious now? She is, after all, a year older than Edmund and a woman. Life is not easy for a woman. But then again she does fancy him and Edmund enjoys spending time with her. 

"Exactly," Roselynn says. "Does he want something more, or does he just want to have a reliable girl to parade on his arm?"

"Have you asked him?" I ask.

"Of course not! Oh, sorry, sorry," she apologizes to me and to my sons. "Of course not," she replies in a hushed tone. "I do not want to seem clingy or needy or desperate. That just might drive him away,"

"Hmm, it is a delicate situation," I agree.

"Yes, you do not want to scare him off," Phoebe adds.

"Exactly. What if I spook him away with all my questions. Uh, men should come with a sign of what they want. That would make things so much easier," Roselynn says.

"Tell me about it," Phoebe says. "I thought Henry would never ask me to marry him,""Yes, your situation was very odd indeed," Roselynn agrees. "But you pretty much had it all sorted since you arrived at court," she points out.

"Rose is right Phoebs. Henry fell head over heels for you the second he saw you. It was love at first sight, truly," I tell her.

"You really think so?" she asks getting blushed.

"I know so. Do not tell him I said so, otherwise he will never tell me anything again, but Lord Stryder fell in love with you the second he laid eyes on you," I say.

"You see, that is romantic! Why can't I have that?" Roselynn says. "Is it really too much to ask?" 

"I think it might be. Love like that is hard to come by," I tell her.

"Oh, look who's talking, Imira. You met King Peter in the battlefield and you two married shortly after," Roselynn says.

"That is hardly how I remember it," I protest.

"Wasn't it love at first sight?" she asks.

"No, it wasn't. I mean, I won't deny it, I did think he was handsome, of course. And we did kiss not too short after we met, but nothing else happened for a long while. I had other things to worry about," Other people to get over. "Nothing happened until a while after I came to live here,"

"Oh, but still, it is a lovely story. You met, you fell in love, and less than two years later you got married,"

"Yes, it was a bit rushed. Sometimes I wonder if we should not have waited," I admit. What if he gets bored with me?

"Really? Why would you want to wait?" Roselynn asks.

"To get to know each other a little better. Sometimes I feel like I am dumping all my problems on him and he has to fix them. Lately, I just feel like I have a lot of personal growth to do. I mean, I did spend five years turned into a statue, I lost my parents during that time. I am not entirely sure I have processed that completely. And then there are little things like Danielle coming along that make me realize I might still be too immature. I don't want my relationship with Peter to turn one-sided where I am the needy one and he is the responsible, mature, reasonable one. I want to be more helpful,"

"I'd say just by admitting that you are already on the right track," Phoebe says. 

Before I can reply the doors open and in walk Lady Danielle and cousin Darren.

"Prince Darren is here," Danielle announces, as if I didn't have eyes, and exchanges a silly smile with Darren. I mentally gag. I really, really, REALLY hope she is just the latest girl he wants to parade on his arm.

Roselynn and Phoebe rise, curtsy and leave me with my cousin. They have common sense. Danielle, apparently, does not and she stays glued to the floor. Oh, splendid, now she wants to be a part of this conversation too.

"Thank you, Lady Danielle, that will be all for now," I offer her a diplomatic smile and she, in turn, offers me the simplest most insignificant curtsy along with a nod and leaves only after stealing a glance of my clueless cousin who is too busy making funny faces at my sons to try and get them to laugh that he does not notice the exchange. 

"So, what do you want to talk about, cousin?" Darren asks as he relaxes on my chair.

"This Sunday. Do you have plans?" I inquire.

"Nothing particularly interesting. Why?" he asks suspiciously.

"How would you feel," I pause for dramatic purposes, "about hunting a lion?"

His brows rise in surprise. "Excited and slightly terrified, but in a good way," he says with his trademark troublemaker smile.

Yes! "So are you in?"

"Of course I am!" he replies in a jovial mood. "This Sunday, eh? What do you say we make this more interesting?" he asks with the glimmer of mischief in his eyes.

"Interesting how?" I ask.

"How about we make this a competition?"

"A competition? I don't know..." I was looking forward to a relaxed hunt, not a frenzy.

"Come on, it'll be fun! We'll team up to hunt the lion, spend some time bonding, perhaps race a bit, and the team that kills it wins," Of course this sounds fun to him, Darren loves competitions and sports.

"And the fact that you and Edmund have a bit of a competition of yourselves going on has nothing to do with this?" I ask suspiciously. But of course, it has everything to do with this idea. Darren is losing and he needs a win.

"It might play a small part," He says quietly. "But come on! It'll be fun,"

"Oh, alright, alright. We shall make it a competition," I give in. "But you better be on my team and we better win," 

"I wouldn't have it any other way," he replies with his classic smile. 

I am glad to say Ed was no longer acting strange when I saw him again. During breakfast, he barely looked at me, as if Peter might punch him for seeing too much. The thought amuses me, probably because it reminds me of his face last night (which was priceless). Poor Ed, I had to tell Peter to talk to him after breakfast. I suppose he must have done so because, by lunch, Ed was back to being his cheery sarcastic self. It is agreed throughout our meal that Susan, Edmund and I will be going West this Monday to deal with the turmoil. Hopefully, we'll be back before Christmas.

"Are you sure about this?" Peter whispers to me as we move to the drawing-room. "You don't have to go,"

"I know I don't have to go, but you and I both know it is the right thing to do. And besides, going will make me look good," I reply.

That's an important lesson my father taught me. It is not just about playing the part, it's about being seen whilst you play it. You can either pay for the construction of homes or the distribution of food for the poor while you sit comfortably at your castle, or you can actually go down there and engage with the people. After all, the people are the reason us monarchs are who we are. Without support, we can be easily disposed of. Peter is very aware of this and he is excellent at playing the game. He knows he can either send his troops to do as he commands or he can lead them himself. Same outcome, a different portrait of himself. That is why he always goes, he needs to prove he is worthy of his title. Both to the people and to himself. We all must. Every day of our lives. It is quite exhausting, if I am being honest, keeping up the appearances. But without the support of the masses, our very existence becomes endangered. No one knows this better than the Calormen. That is why the Tirsoc always fights in a battle, he knows otherwise his generals will receive all the glory and his position will be at risk. That is also why as Kings and Queens we have to be so poncy yet relatable at the same time, appearances must be kept all the time at all costs. A King must look like a King and a Queen must look like a Queen. But it is more than that. It is not just about acting, it's about living a certain way. In order to be a royal, one must act like a royal, breathe like a royal, talk, think, eat, sit, walk, ride like a royal. This is a job you never get a break from. Anyone with the right strength and intelligence can become a ruler, but not anyone can become a King or Queen. Not in the right way at least. This is a lifestyle and a mindset. That is why arranged marriages have been so popular in royalty and so rare amongst the commonfolk, the good of the kingdom comes first and your personal life comes second. And right now going west is the right thing to do for the Kingdom. And hey, if I can get a kick out of the fighting I'd say that's one of the perks.

"In any case, I have been itching to get back into the real world. There are only so many dull conversations I can endure before I get the urge to stab something," 

He laughs and nods in agreement. 

"Yay, they're here!" Lucy exclaims as she spots the nursemaids with the twins and runs to pick up a prince. "Don't you just love how babies smell?" she asks turning to us as she takes a whiff.

"Like a wet diaper?" Edmund says and I snort and everyone laughs.

"No, you silly lettuce. They've got that new person smell, it's so adorable," Lucy says and she gives one of the boys a kiss on the cheek.

"Did you just call me a silly lettuce?" Edmund asks, but Lucy ignores him and goes on and on about how adorable they are.

"Well, they smell better than you," Peter says, picking up the other baby.

"Hey, I smell like a man," Edmund complains.

"Yes, a filthy one," Susan says and we all laugh.

"Well did you expect me to smell like roses after training?" Ed asks.

"You could have at least changed your clothes for lunch," Susan says.

"Yes, and it wouldn't have killed you to take a bath," I add.

"Well, I was far too busy making arrangements for Monday's venture. And besides, I will be going for a ride in a short while. Why bother changing?" He adds.

"Oooh, can I come?" Lucy asks overtly excited.

"Oooh, me too?" I ask. I'd like some Danielle-free time. I just have one more meeting to get done and then I am free. For a little while at least. 

"Uhm, I was looking forward to catching up with Philip," Ed says, scractching the back of his head. Philip the horse is Ed's best friend. I'd say Lord Peridan is a close second.

"Oh," Lucy says bummed. 

"You and I can go for a ride, Lu," I offer. I haven't had much chance to spend some time with her.

"That'd be nice," Lucy says smiling again.

"Actually, you and I have a meeting to get to," Peter tells me.

"Really?" I don't remember Henry saying anything about any meeting with Peter. I think I'd remember such a thing.

"Yes, really. We need to meet with the Master of Coin," Peter adds. "Susan is comming too," 

"Oh, that meeting. I did not know you would be attending that," I say. "I'm sorry Lu, I can't go riding with you today, but might I interest you in a financial meeting?"

Lucy laughs. "Sounds appealing,"

"More like appalling," Edmund adds with a snicker.

"but I'm afraid I'll have to decline," she says with a smile.

I don't blame her. If I were her age I would much rather go for a ride than for a meeting. But I am looking forward to this one. Discussing money is always interesting. 

"We have more dance lessons to attend to, remember, Lu?" Susan reminds her. 

"That's right! You were doing so well yesterday," I add. 

"I was, wasn't I?" she beams up proudly. "Oh, but you're all coming, aren't you?" 

We all nod and say yes, all except for Ed. 

"Oh, come on, Ed. Please?" Lucy pleads to her brother. 

"Oh, I don't know, Lu, yesterday wasn't so bad, but if Pete's coming then I that means I don't have a partner to dance with. I felt ridiculous enough yesterday, I am not about to dance by myself," he complains. 

"How about I invite Darren, you two bring partners, and you make it a competition?" I offer. I know Darren will want to bring Danielle, but the idea of Darren and Edmund trying to best each other at dancing is simply too appealing. 

"That I like!" he says pointing to me. "But who should I bring? I know he'll be taking Danielle. Hmm, I better go find me a dance partner," he says and nearly rushes out of the room. "See you all in a bit," 

Susan laughs. "Well now I know how to make him do all the things he does not want to do, I'll just turn everything into a competition with Darren," 

"He'll be eating all his brussel sprouts in no time," Lucy adds and we all laugh. 

I do sympathize with Ed on that, Brussel sprouts are the spawn of the White Witch. 

After half an hour of chatter and baby adoration Peter, Susan and I head for out meeting with the Master of Coin and the other advisors. However, I deviate from my path once I spot Amelea crying in the garden stairs. Did something happen to her, Nick or one of her sisters?

"Pete," I say reaching for his shoulder using the hand I am not holding baby Peter with. "I'll be right with you," I tell him nudging my head towards where Amelea is.

"Oh, alright," he says once he sees who I am pointing at.

I hand Peter (that is baby Peter) to Susan, for Peter is carrying Edward, and I go outside to meet the crying girl.

"Amelea, are you alright?" I ask her.

"Your Majesty," she turns startled, tears streaming down her cheeks, and starts to stand up. "I am so sorry, I did not see you here, I'll go now,"

"Oh, don't be silly" I tell her and sit down next to her. "Why are you crying if I may ask?"

"My father, he's... he... he has died," she says and sobs a little more.

Ah, her gambling, alcoholic father. He's a touchy subject. Nick told me about him.

"May I ask what happened?"

"He owed some money to the wrong people and... they got to him," she explains, clutching a letter with her hand and wiping away some tears.

"Do you need to go back to Datram?" I ask her.

"I-" but before she can say a faun interrupts.

"Your Majesty, your presence is requested by the King," he says.

"I'll be right there," I tell the faun.

I stand up and brush the dirt off my dress. "I must go, but if you or any of your siblings need to go, just inform Lord Stryder,"

"Thank you, Your Majesty," she says, standing up as well.

"I am sorry for your loss," I offer her a brief smile before I return to my tasks.  

We need more coin to fund out western expedition, yes, I suspected that, but taxes aren't collected until the beginning of winter.

"If I may suggest so, Your Majesties," the Master of Coin, a prominent red dwarf by the name of Noierno, interrupts, "might we not use some of that famous Datramite fortune the High Queen possesses?"

Everyone turns to face me and I wish I could turn invisible.

"This hardly seems the time to discuss such matters," Peter intervenes.

"Quite the contrary, I'd say this is the perfect place to discuss such a matter," Susan says.

Oh, Peter turns to his sister and gives her an irritated look.

"Will you give us a moment, my Lords?" Peter says to all the dwarves and fauns. They reluctantly agree and leave just the three of us in the room.

"Are you serious, Susan?" Peter turns to his sister.

"It was a fair question and I just don't see what is so wrong with discussing it right now," Susan says keeping her composture.

"That fortune is not yours or the Coin Master's to dispose of. That gold is Imira's. Did it ever cross your mind that she might want to inherit that to our sons?" Peter asks her a bit bitterly.

"Did it ever occur to you that we might need it?" Susan asks and just like that, they start bickering.

Now here's the thing, after we got married Peter and I agreed that my fortune would not get mixed with Narnia's treasure. What's in the treasury belongs to Narnia. Not to us, to Narnia. But that gold belongs to me. Our lives already belong to the kingdom, we figured at least our gold could belong to us.

"... we'd pay her back as soon as possible. We wouldn't be taking it away from her, it's just that we need that money now. Taxes will come in in a month, we'll pay you two back later," Susan argues.

"That is not your call to make," Peter replies. "That is the sort of thing Imira and I discuss alone,"

"It's not a good idea," I say and both Pevensies turn to look at me.

"Come on Imira, we'll pay you back," Susan says now irritated.

"No, not the loan, I'd happily grant the treasury that gold, but doing it now... it's not a good idea," I say.

"What do you mean?" Peter asks.

"Think about it, that's what they want, isn't it?" I say coming to a realization.

"They?" Susan asks.

"They. The enemy. They're not stupid, they are doing this for a reason. They could have attacked at any time of the year yet they chose to attack now. Why?"

"Because it's nearly winter," Susan says.

"Or, because it's nearly winter!" I say standing up.

"That's what I just said," Susan complains.

"No, but it's not about the season, or about the witch. If it were they could have attacked last winter when Peter and I were gone,"

"They did attack last winter," Susan points out.

"It's not the same. That was just a small party of enemies, this is a larger fight they're planning. And they attacked while we were trying to leave Narnia when they could have waited and attacked when we were gone. But they didn't. I think they were spying on us and planning for the best time to attack. Every winter we collect taxes for the new year. Taxes from Narnia and Datram. And to get that coin, guards must transport it across The Gate and in through all of Narnia," I say, pointing the route on the map embroidered on the largest tapestry hanging in the room. "They're not stupid, they're wicked smart. Just think about it, if I were them and trying to retake the kingdom I'd cut off supplies," I explain.

"They come from the West and so we expect them to be on the West. We are planning to move our forces there to meet them in battle, but they're expecting us to do just that. If I were them I'd divert our forces to the northwestern frontier while I attacked the scheduled transport of Datramite taxes, cutting us off from a great source of income. Maybe even attack some other taxing posts, probably burn some grain. That would cause chaos. Our military would be underfunded and underfed and their forces would enjoy our funds. I think they are going to target the Datramite taxing party. And if we get my gold sent here-"

"We'd only be funding their cause," Peter finishes catching up with my idea.

"Exactly,"

"That is a wild theory and a big if," Susan points out.

"But think about it Sue, it makes perfect sense. They know where the gold will be and they know we need it," I tell her.

"Yes, but we are not sure. We cannot base our plans on a supposition," Susan argues. "Maybe their attack has nothing to do with the taxes,"

"Maybe, but you have to admit it's likely to be this way," I argue back.

"If they do plan to attack the cargo, which I am now thinking they might, we need to prepare for that. If we engage with them in the west, they'll simply take it south. And if we engage them in the south they'll take it west, and from there, there is no getting it back," Peter says.

"If they do attack the taxing party and they do it with success, we will not be able to raise any more funds to support our war efforts. We wouldn't risk another go at the same route, if we wanted to take it across Archenland they'd be waiting for us south, and moving such a large sum through the sea would be extremely dangerous what with all the pirates, not to mention the weather," I say.

"I am calling in an urgent meeting. We have some matters to discuss," Peter says and goes out the door. 

"So you think they're going to target the tax party?" Edmund says.

"Exactly,"

"Blimey! Why didn't we think of this before?" Edmund says, realizing what a big thing he has missed.

"Because we weren't thinking about the gold, we were too busy thinking about the Witch," I say.

He just nods. "So what are we going to do?"

"Whatever we are to do, we should keep in mind this is just a theory, not a fact," Susan repeats.

"Indeed it is, sister," Peter says. "but it is a theory we should keep in mind. That's why I think we should do with it what is done with all theories,"

"Which is?" Edmund asks.

"We are going to test it," Peter says.