[Published Feb/22/2020]

January 1003

It had been over three months since the wedding and Peter and Imira were ready to leave Ardenton. They had spent the most amazing two months after James apologized to Imira (again). Attending parties hosted in their honour, going on hunts, trekking in the woods, celebrating Christmas and the New Year, and having all the fun Cair Paravel's lack of privacy stopped them from having. They were free to do whatever whenever and wherever, and they were intent on making the most of it. 

Logically, Susan did not want to be around them. Not that she did not enjoy being in their company, she simply did not want to be in the same residence as them while they were all in love and over each other. So, she asked King James if she could stay in Datram instead.

Seeing James had no quarrel with Susan he all but encouraged her to stay in the capital as for long as she pleased. He liked Susan. Perhaps a little too much for Hayley's taste. But then again, she was insecure about James' feelings towards her so maybe she misread the situation. Sure, their little adventure overseas had brought them closer and made them realize that after spending so many years together they had begun to develop feelings for each other. But still, Hayley could not forget how James cheated on her, repeatedly mind you, when they first got married.

Hayley however, did not voice her concerns regarding this and so clueless James had no reason not to invite Susan and organizing all sorts of activities to keep both her and his wife entertained. He figured as long as he and Hayley had something interesting to do together she'd still like him. His intentions were good, but he just didn't take into account inviting Susan to go with them might make Hayley feel jealous and insecure all over again.

Luckily for Hayley, Susan decided to return to Narnia a couple of weeks after she and James had returned to Datram. She didn't want to leave Lucy and Edmund along for the holidays. 

"All set?" Peter asked as he helped Imira get on her horse. She didn't need the help, but any excuse to have him looking after her was good.

"Let's go home," Imira nodded looking down at Peter with a foolishly loving smile. She hadn't been able to stop smiling for the last two months. She was sure she looked like a lovesick idiot, but she didn't care anymore. She finally had everything she had ever wanted. Damn the world, she was happy. 

"Lets," Peter said. He got on his horse, offered Imira another smile, for he too couldn't stop smiling, and the party started their journey back to Cair Paravel.

They managed to make it to The Gate that very same day, just in time for dinner.

As they arrived at the headquarters, which was where they'd be spending the night, Imira spotted William Heron up on the wall and couldn't stop herself from staring, a frown settling upon her brow. It all just seemed so unfair to her, the would-be-king shovelling horse-shit. Alright, he was not shovelling horse-shit, he was manning the gate, but she was sure he did do that at some point. It was just wrong. He was as much a member of the royal family as Dean, it hardly seemed fair to her that while one was living in a grand castle surrounded by all sorts of luxury the other had to pull an all-nighter and bear the cold night with nothing but an old cloak to keep him warm while doing peasant's work. Not that there was anything wrong with working as a peasant. Imira and James had done their civic duty too and done the soldier thing, but it had been merely a phase for them. For William, this was life.

"Peter?" Imira called for his attention after they had dismounted. Almost everyone had parted ways after the Lord Commander had welcomed them, an event Imira did not pay attention too for she was too busy thinking about the unfairness that was William's life. She had only smiled and nodded.

"Yes?" he turned a bit tiredly to face her.

"Are we having dinner now?" she inquired.

"Are you hungry?" Peter asked her in turn.

"I am," Imira replied, helping Scyleia get her things off her saddle.

"Then we are having dinner," Peter declared.

"Can we invite someone to join us?" Imira asked a bit nervously looking up at William who was busy telling some of the younger guards what to do. She knew it was risky, but she couldn't have a peaceful dinner knowing he was right outside.

Peter followed her gaze. "Ahh, I see," he said in understanding. "Do you think it's a good idea? You know how James gets about you-know-who," he said looking up at William briefly.

"I know, but it hardly seems fair we should be enjoying ourselves while he's not. And besides, he did help us on our way in," Imira argued persuasively.

While travelling to Datram they had encountered some trouble along the way and found themselves in need of some assistance. Assistance the soldiers of The Gate were quick to provide. Amongst those leading the charge had been William.

"With that logic, we should be inviting every soldier that helped rescue you to dine with us," Peter refuted.

Imira wanted to argue how she hadn't been in need of rescuing but decided against it. "Come on, please," she whined.

"Oh, alright. But if he becomes upset at you you can't let it last long," Peter warned her.

"I won't," Imira promised kissing Peter on the cheek. The probabilities of word reaching James of this were high. The nosy prick always knew everything. But Imira didn't care, she just wanted to do something nice for her estranged cousin.

"Alcibe," she called for the blonde shieldmaiden who was flirting with her friend, Nick. "Or better yet, Nick. Both of you,"

The knight turned to look at the Queen as if he had been caught stealing, wide-eyed and a bit panicky.

She motioned for them to get close.

"Your Majesty?" Nick asked. He had been hoping he might get some time alone with Alcibe for during the past months he had been busy. He had gone with his oldest sister Amelea, Imira's ladies maid, to visit their father back at Shamrock. 

"Up there, on the wall, there's a guard," Imira said, looking at her cousin. "His name's William Heron. King Peter and I would like to have dinner with him," Alcibe and Nick looked at each other in confusion. "Make sure he knows and don't accept no for an answer. Alright, that's it," Imira said dismissing the pair. "And feel free to do whatever you like with your evening," she said giving them a funny look.

The two of them went to do as Imira asked while she went to talk to Eurybe and Peter.

"... just north of it. King Edmund requests Your Majesties go and investigate these claims," Eurybe said to Peter while he read a letter.

"I see," Peter nodded, folding the letter and placing it on the inside of his jacket. He looked troubled, the weight of the world slowly crawling back to his shoulders with every step they took towards Narnia. Being King was no easy task.

"What is it?" Imira asked him.

"Just some trouble in the North. Seeing we're here, Edmund can't do anything about it right now, even though he wants to, and asks us to go in his place and investigate these claims. It's just a dispute over land. But then he'd like for us to go North to the labour mines to see who will be set free," Peter said.

"Ah," Imira did not want to go to the labour mines. "But can't we first go to Cair Paravel? It's just... been a long trip," Imira said, trying to come up with an excuse.

"We've only been travelling for one day, love. Come on, it'll be fun," Peter said. "I know you love an adventure," he said persuasively.

Imira looked conflicted at him. She had some news she wanted to share, but she wanted to share them in Cair Paravel, not in the middle of the cold muddy Gate.

Eurybe took that as her cue to leave and went to look for her sister, but Peter stopped her.

"Eurybe, could you write a reply to King Edmund. Inform him we'll be handling this business he writes about,"

Eurybe nodded, bowed, and left to do as she was asked. She wasn't much for chitchat. 

Peter started heading to the dining hall, but stopped once he noticed Imira wasn't following. "What's the matter?"

"I'm just conflicted," Imira replied, trying to bury the thought. But it was hard. She had done it before and the consequences had been the worst. But this time it would be different. This time she would tell Peter. But she didn't want to do it there, she had a plan. She was going to wait until they reached the fords of Beruna, right in the spot they first met. 

"Can you be conflicted in the dining hall?" Peter asked. "I'm starving," he said, not bothering to wait for her. 

"I doubt that," Imira mumbled under her breath, a terrible habit she had almost gotten rid of. Her mother always chastised her for mumbling. "A princess does not mumble, Imira. If you have something to say, speak up, dear," She missed her mother. Now more than ever. "Oh, how I miss you mum," she whispered looking up at the stars. With a big sigh and a heavy heart, Imira went after Peter. More precisely, after the food.

They were expecting them in the Gate, so the food was of a nice variety. A small banquet just for the two of them.

"Do you want wine?" Peter asked her as he poured himself a drink.

"Just some water," Imira replied, taking a seat in the bench on the other side of the table. She hadn't had a drink for over two months, she simply could not afford to risk it. She would take every precaution she could. "Thank you," 

"Should we wait for your guest?" Peter asked, hesitant to start.

"No," Imira said, reaching for a potato with her fork, "I'm hungry,"

"Alright then,"

Not even five minutes later did William Heron walk in through looking completely out of place.

When Nick and Eurybe went to fetch him he thought he must have done something wrong. Why else would the King and Queen of Narnia ask to see him? It didn't help Nick and Alcibe didn't tell him why the Narnian monarchs were looking for him. They simply told him his presence was required. It was all Nick's plan. He thought it'd be fun to mess with William. 

"It's just a bit of fun," the knight told Alcibe who all too willingly went along with it. They escorted William to the dining hall and ordered him to go in, waiting by the door for him to do so and trying their best to look intimidating. It was easy for Nick, he had recently cut his hair very short which gave him a tougher look, something Eurybe was liking on him, and had a short-sleeved chainmail which accentuated his strength. Alcibe tried her best to look tough, which meant staring seriously in concentration at William trying not to laugh.

"Their Majesties are waiting for you," Nick told him.

William hesitated to enter. "Well, go on, don't make them wait," Nick urged him, hiding all the amusement he was feeling.

William looked at the door as if he might meet his death if he crossed the threshold. He opened it carefully and stepped inside to meet his fate.

Nick and Alcibe watched as the nervous soldier went in and once he closed the door left laughing quietly to themselves.

"Did you see his face? Pale as a ghost," Nick said as they walked off.

"Don't be such a prick, that could have been you," Alcibe said, nudging him in the side, yet unable to help the laughter.

"I know, I know," Nick said. "I wouldn't be where I am if the Queen hadn't chosen me. Maybe he'll get lucky,"

"You know, if Eurybe and I hadn't gone easy on Her Majesty that day, she might not have chosen you to train with," Alcibe said. "So if you think about it, you're here thanks to me,"

"Hmm. Then I guess I owe you one," Nick said. This was it, it was his chance to make a move. "Hey, how do you feel about going into town for some dinner?" he asked nervously, cracking his knuckles as he did so. 

Alcibe smiled shyly at him, "I could eat,"

"William Heron, come on in," King Peter said encouragingly.

"Your Majesties," he bowed respectfully.

"Are you hungry, William?" Queen Imira asked him with a smile.

William stared at the food. All the food just for the two of them?!

Imira didn't bother waiting for him to reply. "Take a seat," she ordered.

Will took a few hesitant steps, wondering just what the hell was going on. Had he somehow stepped into an alternate dimension, or had the Queen just asked him to join them for dinner? He wondered where he should sit. On the King's side or the Queen's? He opted for the King's side, he felt it would be weird and might not agree with Peter if he chose to sit next to Imira.

"You asked to see me, Your Majesties?" he asked looking expectantly at them.

"Didn't Sir Threston and Alcibe tell you?" Queen Imira asked.

Will shook his head.

"That jolly git," Queen  Imira said, shaking her head with an amused smile. "Allow me to explain. We would like for you to join us for dinner," she explained

"Why?" he asked bluntly.

King Peter turned to look at Imira expectantly, trying his best not to laugh.

"Why not," Queen Imira replied, offering him a smile.

Imira crept out of the bed once she was certain Peter had fallen asleep. It was a cold night, as one would expect during winter, and from what she could see from the window, light snow had begun to fall. She slid on her boots, a cosy dress, her fur-lined coat, and opened the door slowly. The hinges squeaked a bit and she immediately turned to make sure Peter was still asleep. He was and so she walked out and closed the door quietly behind her.

She walked down the stairs and encountered no one. It was late at night and she didn't expect to find anyone awake, but surprisingly a small group of kingsmen, shieldmaidens and Gate guards had gathered around a bonfire in the courtyard.

She spotted Orithia amongst them, chatting with some soldiers and shieldmaidens. Approaching quietly without anyone noticing until she had reached the group, she went to see her shieldmaiden. "Enjoying the night?" Imira said, catching her attention.

"Your Majesty, yes. Had I known you were awake I would have invited you to join us," Orithia said.

"Oh, I don't want to ruin your fun. I'm just looking for Eurybe. Have you seen her?" Imira asked. 

"I have your majesty. But that was a while back. She was headed to her quarters. I suspect she'll be asleep by now. Third door to the left," Orithia pointed at the barracks.

"Thank you Orithia," Imira said placing a hand on the girl's shoulder. "Enjoy your evening," She went to the barracks as Orithia instructed to and opened the door quietly. She expected to find Alcibe and Eurybe sleeping. What she did not expect was to find Alcibe and Nick kissing in the bed.

She made eye contact with Alcibe. Immediately she pushed Nick off her looking extremely embarrassed. He started to ask what was wrong, but he followed Alcibe's gaze and understood immediately.

He looked even more embarrassed than Alcibe and as red as a tomato.

"About bloody time," Imira said with a smug smile.

"I am so sorry, your majesty. What can I help you with?" Alcibe said.

"Right," Imira said. For a second there she nearly forgot why she was there for. "I'm looking for Eurybe,"

"Oh, she's on the wall, " Alcibe said straightening her clothes as she stood up.

"Lovely. Well, I'll leave you both to it then, " Imira said.

"Oh, no, we're not-" they started to protest, but Imira closed the door before they could protest. 

Eurybe was on the wall, as her sister said she was, just looking at the dark sky. The boards creaked under the Queen's weight alerting her she was not alone.

"Your majesty," Eurybe said, still looking at the stars.

"How do you do that?" Imira asked. "You always know it's me without looking,"

Eurybe smiled, "I've known you for quite a while, I can recognize your steps,"

"You're full of surprises," Imira said, leaning on the railing beside her. "Now I've got one for you. But you can't tell anyone. Not even the King," she said seriously.

"Have I ever disappointed you?" Eurybe asked.

"Not once," Imira said. "Here's the thing, Eurybe. As you are aware, tomorrow we will be going on quite the venture North. And like everything we do, it will be dangerous," she paused, thinking about the last time she went north. "I cannot afford dangerous right now. Not for a few more months at least,"

Eurybe looked at her worriedly. "Your majesty?"

"I think you know where I am going with this, but I'm gonna say it anyway," Imira took a deep breath of that cool January air to calm her nerves before finally saying it. "I am pregnant with the King's child and I need your help,"