High Queen Layla, It Has a Nice Ring to It

Peter awoke next to Layla in his bed, her beautiful bare body pressed against his. At first he was confused, was he dreaming?

Then the previous day came back to him.

As his head swam with thoughts of the previous day’s events, Peter stood and pulled his clothes on. Before leaving the room he pressed one light kiss on Layla’s head. Whether it was in paper or not, she would always be his Queen.

Peter didn’t know where he was going; his feet just sort of led him around until he found himself stopped in the Stone Table Room. He sat down before the stone table, staring at the picture of Aslan.

Aslan had helped Peter when he didn’t know how anything worked, back when he first became King, and Peter figured maybe being near him now would help him sort out his thoughts.

Soon enough he was joined by Lucy, who sat down beside him.

“You’re lucky, you know.” He told her still gazing upon the carving on the wall. She turned to him.

“What do you mean?” She questioned with an eyebrow raised. Peter looked down, the sadness evident in his eyes.

~*~

Layla had felt Peter’s soft lips press upon her head, and smiled before rolling around to look at him, only to find he wasn’t there anymore. With a frown she got up and pulled her dress on before following him out the door and, upon hearing footsteps, down the hallways. She eventually caught up to him in the Stone Table Room, and smiled sadly at him as he gazed upon the great lion on the wall.

Lucy placed a hand on her arm and gave her a small smile before entering the room and approaching her brother. Layla watched as Lucy sat and Peter struck up a conversation with her. She could hear the sadness in his voice, the confusion, and she could almost see smoke coming out of his head, whether from him actually thinking too hard and her abilities or just from knowing him, she didn't know.

“You’re lucky, you know.”

“What do you mean?”

“To have seen him.” Layla knew what he was talking about. He missed Aslan. He had told her the previous day that Aslan had been an advisor of sorts during his rule, she had been as well, but there had been some things that he felt were more of an Aslan thing. She saw past it though, she knew he saw Aslan as more of a father, and she knew how it felt to have a family member missing. “I wish he’d just given me some sort of proof.” She could hear the words he wasn’t saying, ‘-something to let me know he’s out there.’ It was then that Edmund approached, smiling at Layla as he passed her, but not letting it reach his eyes.

Something was wrong.

“Maybe we’re the ones who need to prove ourselves to him.” Lucy replied with a sad smile as Edmund approached the pair.

“Pete.” Edmund said to get his brothers attention. Layla had followed him in, wondering what was going on. “You’d better come quickly.” He told him with a look on his face that had Layla scared to death.

~*~

They found themselves on the ledge outside the howe watching as an army marched onto the field. Layla held onto Peter’s arm, Carissa standing with Caspian and Yvainne when they arrived. The look between Peter and Caspian told Layla that this was what they had been waiting for since they had gotten back. Under her breath, subconsciously, Layla began to mutter a protection spell. Peter heard her and looked at her in wonder. It wasn’t the right time, and he knew that, but he still was in awe at how powerful his love was; he could feel the spell taking effect.

And so could Yvainne apparently, who grabbed her sisters hand to get her attention, before shaking her head no, silently telling her that it wasn’t going to do anything. Layla looked at her confused, not realizing what she had been doing, but Yvainne just chuckled slightly dropping Layla’s hand since she had accomplished what she had been trying to do.

When Miraz rode forward in gold armor, Layla began again, unknowingly beginning an attack spell. This time it was Peter, who pulled her into him in a protective and possessive hug, who stopped her. His eyes connecting with the golden plated figure, as if saying he was ready for anything, but his emotions consisting of fear, anxiety, and determination.

~*~

“Cakes and kettledrums. That’s you next big plan?” Trumpkin asked Peter from his position clear across from the King. “Sending a little girl into the darkest parts of the forest? Alone!” he shouted pointing at Lucy.

“It’s our only chance.” Peter countered, Layla at his side, her fingers itching to shoot a spell at something. Peter could sense her uneasiness and shifted so he stood closer to her, causing Layla to smile at him, even though it didn’t help her magic calm down.

“And she won’t be alone.” Susan said. Layla looked up at her, raising an eyebrow at her closest friend, her only friend when she really thought about it.

“No she won’t.” Yvainne piped up from next to Edmund, dropping his hand and crossing to the two Pevensie girls. Yvainne connected eyes with her sister for a moment, and Layla couldn’t help but look between her sister and Peter a few times, the on-going battle in her head raging for a mere moment before she too spoke up.

“If threes a crowd, what’s four?” she asked with a smile going to stand beside her sisters.

Trumpkin stared at the four of them before directing his next question to the youngest. “Haven’t enough of us died already?” He asked sadly.

‘Don’t get too emotional, Trumpkin. Your care is starting to show.’ Layla thought with a small chuckle at him.

“Nikabrik was my friend too. But he lost hope.” Trufflehunter stated trying to reason with Trumpkin, and supporting the Pevensies/Wynter’s decision. “Queen Lucy hasn’t. And neither have I.” he told the dwarf. Layla smiled at him and felt her heart swell when Reepicheep pulled his small sword.

“For Aslan.” He said holding his sword over his heart.

“For Aslan!” A bear agreed stepping forward. Layla felt like crying for a few reasons, one being that she could feel the emotions of everyone around her, the family-like quality they all shared by being here together. She could tell Peter was feeling the pressure of battle once again, but he was holding everything in, and as he turned back to the four girls, giving a slight nod towards Lucy, she caught his eye and sent him the gentlest of smiles. He smiled back at her then, a sincere smile that reached his eyes and everything, but only for a mere second.

“Then I’m going with you.” Trumpkin demanded, but Lucy shook her head.

“No. We need you here.” She told him with a soft smile, placing her hand on his shoulder.

“We have to hold them off until Lucy, Susan, Yvainne, and Layla get back.” Peter agreed. Trumpkin looked distraught, like he wanted to continue arguing, but he backed off. He wouldn’t win this argument no matter how much he tried.

“If I may…” Caspian spoke up. Beside him, as always, were Carissa, and Doctor Cornelius. Carissa gave him an encouraging smile, as he turned to them for support, and Doctor Cornelius gave just the slightest nod. Caspian turned back to the others and, hesitantly, he stood. “Miraz may be a tyrant and a murderer…” He said approaching Peter, “…but as king, he is subject to the traditions and expectations of his people.” He told them with a slight smile. “There is one in particular that may buy us some time.” He told Peter, who then turned to glance at Layla, who looked intrigued.

“Okay, what is it?”

~*~

“Are you sure it’s safe for us, Edmund?” Yvainne asked as they exited the howe, a giant and a centaur following closely behind the two.

Edmund stopped in his tracks and turned towards the girl he loved. “I will never let anything happen to you. As long as you’re with me, you are safe.” He told her with a smile on his face, gently placing a hand to her cheek. “Alright?” He asked her, looking directly into her eyes. Yvainne nodded with a shy smile, and before he pulled away from this moment to continue on their way to Miraz’s camp, Edmund pressed his lips gently to hers giving her one solid, yet gentle, kiss.

Then taking her hand in his they continued to the camp.

~*~

“You don’t have to go, Layla, Susan can take care of Yvainne and Lucy.” Peter argued, trying to convince Layla to stay behind from the trek to find Aslan, but Layla just shook her head at him.

“Peter, you need to calm down. You’re just making your anxiety worse.” Layla said holding her hand out to the man who was nervously pacing across the room. He stopped and looked at it for a moment, just freezing in his spot, before he took it into his own pulling her close to him, and holding on for dear life. For the first time since they left Narnia before, the dams finally broke and tears leaked from his eyes, as Layla sat him down, cradling his head into her chest. He just pulled her closer as she stood stroking his hair.

“I just got you back, I can’t lose you again.” He murmur’s looking up at her. She smiles at him, a tear of her own escaping her eye as she wipes his tears away.

“Is that what you’re worried about?” Layla asks with a chuckle. Bending down she kisses him lightly on the nose. “What makes you think that you’re going to lose me? I’m a fighter, remember?” She tells him with that motherly smile of hers that he hadn’t seen since they left Narnia the first time. He buries his head back into her chest as she resumes stroking his hair.

“I need you.” He whispered then, so softly that Layla wasn’t sure if she was imagining it or not. After a minute she figured she was being foolish and shook it off.

~*~

“‘I, Peter, by the gift of Aslan, by election and by conquest, High King of Narnia, Lord of Cair Paravel and Emperor of the Lone Islands, in order to prevent the abominable effusion of blood, do hereby challenge the usurper Miraz to single combat upon the field of battle. The fight shall be to the death. The reward shall be total surrender.’” Edmund read. When he finished he began to roll up the scroll, which Yvainne couldn’t help but find comical. Why, she wasn’t certain, but she let out a small chuckle. Miraz’s eyes flashed to the girl as he small giggle was heard, as did the entire courts. Yvainne unconsciously moved closer to Edmund from where she had been standing, as a safety precaution.

“Tell me, Prince Edmund…” Miraz began.

“King.” Edmund interjected. Miraz raised an eyebrow.

“Pardon me?”

“It’s ‘King Edmund,’ actually.” Edmund stated finishing his rolling. “Just ‘King,’ though. Peter’s the high king.” Edmund continued as though he wasn’t in an enemy’s camp. “I know, it’s confusing.” Yvainne let out another giggle, earning her a glare from Miraz this time. Quickly she hid behind Edmund, grasping his arm since his hands were full, one holding the scroll the other holding his sword.

Miraz seemed at a loss for words then, and when he finally found them he spoke as if he were lost. “Why would we risk such a proposal when our armies could wipe you out by nightfall?” Miraz asked. Yvainne cleared her throat as she stepped out from behind Edmund.

“Haven’t you already underestimated our numbers?” She pointed out logically. “I mean, only a week ago Narnians were extinct.” She was being the intelligent know-it-all that she had been in class for years, though normally she would’ve been quiet in a situation as such, she couldn’t help the courage that surged through her as she heard him undermining their power.

Layla was rubbing off on her.

“And so you will be again.” Miraz replied causing her to shrink back again, all signs of courage gone from her. But Edmund had a new-found courage, from where he wasn’t certain, but he couldn’t help but think it was because he had Yvainne next to him.

“Then you should have little to fear.” He told the ‘King’ who had claimed his title unfairly. Miraz laughed at him.

“This is not a question of bravery.” He told Edmund.

“So you’re bravely refusing to fight a swordsman half your age?” Yvainne questioned sarcasm dripping from her voice. Edmund looked at her in surprise. Perhaps she had been hanging around her sister too much. Miraz looked at the little girl in shock before quickly recollecting himself, his stare piercing through her, and as Edmund wrapped his arm around her waist, having turned to look at Miraz once more, Yvainne felt a new wave of bravery flow through her. She stared right back as if she was challenging him herself. Slowly Miraz leaned forward.

“I didn’t say I refused.” He sneered.

“You have our support, Your Majesty, whatever your decision.” A random man says from Miraz’s court.

“Sire, our military advantage alone provides the perfect excuse to avoid what might otherwise be…” another man tries to point out but is interrupted by Miraz.

“I’m not avoiding anything!” Miraz exclaims leaping out of his seat. Edmund and Yvainne exchange knowing looks.

“I was merely pointing out that my lord is well within his rights to refuse.” The second man says.

“His majesty would never refuse.” A third man comments. “He relishes the chance to show the people the courage of their new king.”

Yvainne smirks at the now defeated King, and Edmund gives the smallest of smiles. Miraz on the other hand turns back to the two a frown etched deep onto his face. “You.” He starts pointing his sword at the pair of lovers standing before him. “You should hope your brother’s sword is sharper than his pen.” He snarls. Edmunds smile widens, knowing they won this battle.

And with a feeling of joy at their tiny victory, Edmund and Yvainne strolled back to the howe, hand in hand.