"Can I go with you?" Lucy turns to Peter with big pleading eyes.

We all look at one another. Lucy loves going wherever Peter ventures and ofter wonders off.

"Please? You won't even notice I'm there," she insists as our stares turn to Peter who in turn turns to stare back at me. Oh, so it's my call, eh?

"But of course you should come, Lu," I look back at her with a smile. "We'll have lots of fun,"

She immediately beams up. "We will. Oh, thank you, I am going to go pack right away!"

She pushes her chair back and leaves, however, the distinguishable sound of her chatter echoes through the hall long after she's gone.

"Who has she run into now?" Edmund mutters with a little smile before going back to his breakfast.

"I was thinking, maybe we can stop by The Seven Isles," I suggest to Peter. I like visiting islands, there is something inherently fun about being in such a small piece of land, surrounded by water and being able to cross an entire land by foot in a single day.

"Oh, the Seven Isles are so beautiful. I wish I could go with you," Susan comments. Susan, it never occured to me to ask if she'd like to come. How unthoughtful of me.

"Imira, the Seven Isles are a fortnight away," Peter reminds me.

"Maybe we can extend the trip," I suggest. "It's been a while since we paid the Isles a visit,"

"Next time, perhaps," he says, placing his hand on top of mine. "We should keep this a short trip,"

"You could always visit Galma," Edmund suggests and Peter turns to look at him. "It is only one day's journey away,"

"Hmm. Do you want to go to Galma?" he turns to me, but before I can answer, Susan comes up with a better idea.

"Or, you could visit Terebinthia. It is merely a five days journey and rather lovely this time of the year,"

"Oh, could we? I would very much like to visit Terebinthia. And I am sure Lucy would too," Terebinthia is lovely suring summer.

"The idea was to travel north," he reminds me.

"Surely the idea can be revisited," I try to persuade him otherwise. "Let's visit Terebinthia. Lucy would love it. It could be a surprise! Surprises make everything much more fun,"

"You really want to visit Terebinthia, don't you?"

Not particularly, but now that Susan has suggested it, it sounds like a brilliant idea and I am intent on making it happen. "You know you want to go,"

"Oh, alright. But just a quick visit," Peter agrees. "No more than two days,"

"That should be more than enough," I reply. "Susan, you should come too," I turn to her.

"I would love to, but I simply can't," he gives me a small smile. "Someone has to attend the knighting ceremony and make sure Ed here doesn't forget what to say,"

"That happened once!" Edmund points to her with his butter knife.

"Don't point that thing at me," Susan reprimands his table manners. "And to answer your question, yes, I must,"

"One of your finest moments, Ed," Peter adds, earning a scowl.

"It was my first time knighting someone, I got nervous,"

Peter is about to retort, no doubt with some teasing comment, but Lucy's unmistakable happy cheers are heard. They are unintelligible, but it is clear to us all that something exciting is going on.

We all look at each other and, in some sort of silent agreement, we push our chairs back and get up to find out what all the fuzz is about.

The closer we get to the opened doors, the more distinguishable her voice becomes. She is... congratulating someone?

and just as we are about to cross the doors, we run into her. Only she is not alone. Behind her in front of the stained-glass window, stand Darren and Lady Danielle.

"Have you heard the news?" Lucy looks at us excitedly.

No, no, no, no, no...

"We're getting married!" Danielle announces, smiling smugly at me.

No!

Susan stayed behind with Lucy to ask all sorts of questions to Darren and Danielle, but Peter, Edmund and I excused ourselves rather quickly. It made no sense. None.

"I thought he said-" Peter whispered leaning into my ear as we retreated.

"I thought so too!" I reply, trying to keep my reaction to a minimum, but it is a daunting task. The thought of her smug smile as she delivered the news does not help.

"Didn't he say..." Edmund pokes his head from between us and we make way for him.

"Yes, we thought so too," Peter says. "That was-"

"Odd," Edmund finished.

"Odd? More like bizarre," I correct him. "Last night he said he was breaking up with her. Whatever happened to 'she's clingy'?"

"Precisely. I thought he now fancied that princess," Edmund says.

"Exactly! What the bloody hell is going on?"

"Maybe he's in love," Peter shrugs, trying to make sense of something.

"Oh, please, you heard him last night. He was going to break up with her,"

"He must have had a change of heart," Peter suggests.

"No, it doesn't make sense," Edmund surprises me. "You two weren't with us last week, but he didn't mention Lady Danielle. Not once. And all of a sudden he announces he's marrying her after laughing at and denying the idea last night? Something doesn't add up,"

Yes, thank you! "So I'm not mad, you see it too," I turn to him.

"Yes. Something's off," he nods in agreement.

"Indeed," Why would he change his mind and ask her to marry her? Last night the idea amused him. He didn't even take it seriously. And then he said he fancied that western Princess. How did he go from that to wishing to marry Danielle?! For the lion's mane, he said he'd break up with her! How did he go from a break up to a marriage in less than twelve hours?!! "I don't know what it is, I can't put my finger on it, but something is most certainly off,"

"Whatever it is, you are going to have to either figure it out or get over it because the ship leaves at noon," Peter reminds me.

Fuck. The ship. I had completely forgotten about it!

"But... I can't just leave. Not after that," I say, pointing to where we came from.

"And just what are you planning to do about that," he says, pointing with his thumb to our backs.

"Well, I don't know, how about stopping them,"

"And just how do ou propose to do that?" Peter asks. "She isn't my favourite person either, but it's his call. Whether we agree with it or not, I don't think there is much we can do about it,"

I can't accept that. I will never accept that. "There is always something to do,"

Dresses or trousers? Dresses or trousers? Well, it is summer, so, "That one," I point to a sleeveless blue dress Amelea has laid down on the bed.

"Any weaponry?" she asks, picking up the dress while baby Peter babbles something unintelligible in my arms.

"Just my sword," I reply, adjusting my hold the twin. When did they get so heavy? "And a bow," Probably around the time they started walking. "And a few knives,"

She nods amused.

"You know what, just throw in the usual. There isn't enough time to be picky,"

"Your Majesty," Amy walks in. I turn towards her. "Lady Thea and Lady Danielle have arrived,"

"Perfect," lets get this plan going, "Let them in," I nod.

Peter starts pulling my earring and I take it off so he doesn't rip it out. It's surprising how much strength a toddler can possess. "Just don't swallow it, alright?"

"Okay," he agrees starts playing with it.

The two ladies curtsy upon their arrival and stand waiting. Danielle with a polite fake smile and Thea thoroughly amused by being in on the joke.

"Lady Danielle, my apologies," I start and she looks at me with much confusion. "I did not realize my cousin had already asked for your hand last I saw you,"

"He hadn't" she replies and I wait for her to elaborate. "But I thought your majesty deserved to know before everyone else,"

Mhm, sure you did. I catch Thea rolling her eyes at Danielle's comment and hold back a smile.

"How thoughtful of you. I certainly did not realize my cousin had such intentions when I saw him last night," Now this seems to take her by surprise, so just to piss her off I stop paying her attention and focus on the child I'm holding. The child who is doing just the opposite of what I said: he is trying to eat my earring. "He voiced.." gods, his grasp is strong," different plans to me and the kings,"

"He probably wanted to keep it a surprise," she replies smugly.

"And what a surprise it was," I reply and manage to snatch the earring away, but of course, he starts to complain.

"I have an assignment for you," I say looking up to them and motion for Jane and Herelea to approach as I try to calm him down. "I need you to deliver this chest," I say looking at the heavy ornate wooden chest the two girls are carrying in, "to Lady Roselynn,"

"In Glasswater Creek," she says with her polite fake smile, but I recognize her tone. She is not pleased. Well, good. I am not pleased either.

"That's correct," I say and watch her go nervous as one of the tigers enters the room, brushing her dress with his tail.

Here's a little something that came to us as a surprise: the tigers turned out to be talking beasts. Alcibe found out around a year later. When she told me, I thought she was joking, or going mad, but it turned out to be true. And what a good fortune because they make for the best guards/babysitters.

"My Queen," the tiger bows his head. This one's Azzoz, I know because of the thick diamond-encrusted gold choker he wears.

Danielle grows very nervous around either of them, my twins, however, adore them. The instant he sees him, baby Peter stops complaining and reaches down for the tiger, so I place him down.

"You are to deliver this to Lady Roselynn personally," I announce.

She doesn't take the news very well, but she's good at hiding it. "I was under the impression that once engaged, we were to be dismissed from your service. As Lady Stryder was," Danielle says. Well, not yet! She does not dismiss herself, I dismiss her. And, as much as I would rather be done with her and not have to suffer her company any longer, right now I want her in my service. It is the only way I can think of to keep her away from Darren as much as possible.

"Whatever gave you that impression?" I ask her, pretending to be amused (not that it's that hard).

"Lady Stryder," she starts to argue her case but I cut her off very calmly.

"Lady Stryder had a son to look after, an estate to manage, and a wedding to plan," I remind her. And, unlike you, I like her.

"I too have a wedding to plan," she argues.

"But no son or estate," I point out. "Whatever the reason was behind my decision regarding Lady Stryder, it does not concern you. What does concern you are the contents of this chest. They are highly valuable and extremely sensitive. They must not fall into the wrong hands," She stops arguing and just stares at me. Although glaring might be a more appropriate word. "Now, I am entrusting this delicate task to you and Lady Thea," this also takes her by surprise.

"Me and Lady Thea?" she asks, turning to her left to look at my friend, who just looks back at her.

"Yes, you and Lady Thea. Was I that not clear?" I ask starting to get annoyed at all her interruptions. She really can't just do as she is told, can she? She'd make for a terrible soldier and a great politician.

"Surely Lady Thea can handle this sensitive task by herself," Danielle said, heavy with sarcasm.

Now she's saying what ought to be done? Funny, I don't remember asking for her opinion? "Oh, I'm sorry, are you the Queen?" I ask, eyebrows raised.

"I-"

"You are not. You are my Lady. And as my Lady, you will do as I command," I state calmly, receiving only silence and a stare. I continue, "Right now I command you to go with Lady Thea to Glasswater Creek to hand-deliver this valuable chest and its contents to the Lady Roselynn and then bring back whatever she puts back in it. Is that clear enough?"

Oh, she is fuming, I can see it in her eyes, but what is she going to say? Everyone's staring at her. The maids, me, Thea (who looks like he's having the time of her life, hardly able to contain her amusement) and the tiger who is growling at her. The only one not paying her any attention is baby Peter, who is too busy trying to grab hold of Azzoz's tail. He couldn't be less bothered.

"Yes, your majesty," she agrees and curtsies.

"Good," I reply and study her for a second. "Now, I suggest you get going. The sooner you leave, the sooner you shall be back,"

She curtsies again with Thea and then they turn to leave, the later giving me a thumbs up along with a grin that I can't help but chuckle at.

"Now I understand why you do not like her," Lucy says, emerging from the lateral door, which leads to the dressing room, holding Edward.

"You heard all that?" I ask, taking a seat at the foot of the bed.

"Every word," she offers me a small smile. "She really is impertinent,"

"I told you,"

"I'm sorry, I thought you were exaggerating,"

"It's alright," I say and stand up again. "Did you find the dress you were looking for?"

"I did. Uh, I was wondering if I could also borrow your white blouse?" she says, fidgeting with her fingers.

I do not know which blouse she is referring to, but she can have it. "Of course, Lu. Whatever you want,"

Saying goodbye is hard, even if just for a few days. I don't tend to leave the twins very often. I considered briefly taking them with us, but a ship is hardly a place for a child, let alone two.

"They'll be alright," Susan reassures me.

"Thank you, Sue,"

"Imira," Peter places a hand on my shoulder.

Yes, yes, we have to leave, I know.

I give them one last look, thank Susan again, give Edmund a knowing nod and turn towards the ship.

Terebinthia, here we go.