I'm in Love With The King

Part Six

"First we should address the council and see what they think. Then we can address the people. I think it will work. We just need to stress that narnia is not splitting up, just spreading out the royalty," I say.

We all agree on this and this afternoon we will hold a council meeting and present the idea to them. They all leave except for Peter and I. We sit on the sofa together, watching the flames of the fire. I nuzzle into Peter and bring my feet up on the couch, laying into him. Peter wraps me in his arms and holds me tightly. I turn over and face him, then lay my head down on his chest.

Rain starts to pound hard on the window pane across the room. Lightning flashes and thunder booms. The fire crackles, comforting me. Peter rubs my back and breathes, making my head go up and down with his chest. Comforting me more than a fire ever could. We lay on the couch together and allow sleep to find us, together.

"Josephine, Peter, wake up!" Lucy shakes us awake.

"What?" I moan into Peter's chest.

"The council is ready to meet!" she tells us, still slightly shaking.

I slowly get up and walk towards the door, Peter and Lucy follow. We go into the Council Room , the lords that Caspian has appointed are all sitting in their own places. Peter sits in one of the empty chairs that Caspian had assigned to him, I sit in the chair next to him. Caspian strides in a minute later, ready to give his new proposition to the council.

"Lords of the Council, I would like to present to you a proposition that has recently come about," he begins.

The lords look on intently.

"The Kings and Queens of Old, and our beloved Josephine," Caspian gestures to us, "have aided me in coming up with a new plan for Narnia."

Several of the councilors mutter a bit at this but lean forward and listen intently.

"We have decided, unanimously for once, to split Narnia into two." -A ripple of murmurs fled through the room and several counselors stare at Caspian like he'd gone insane - "East and West. I, as King of Narnia dubbed by Aslan himself, am going to run the West, with your help as councilors, obviously-" Caspian nods respectfully at them - "And Peter and Josephine are going to run the East. Edmund and Lucy are going to be moderators, peacekeepers, in other words, and Susan.....might come with with or go with them. It is up to her."

The room is silent for a moment. Only the sound of my heart is heard.

One of the lord's stands up. My hands clench. I hope he does not insult Caspian's proposition.

"This is one of the best ideas," he proclaims.

Caspian smiles and nods to the lord. "Thank you Lord ," Caspian walks around the room. "Anyone else agree?"

Every other lord in the room nods or shakes their head in agreement with Caspian and the other lord.

Peter looks at me and smiles only a little. The meeting is adjourned and we all walk out into the hallway. Peter takes my hand as we all go out to eat lunch. We eat and go out to the building site if the future Cair Paravel. The beginnings of the great castle are laid out on the ground and the walls have just begun to be rebuilt.

"This is really exciting!" I say to Peter, looking around at the slow and careful building site.

"I hope this gets done quickly. I want us to move in soon," Peter tells me.

I look deeply at him. His eyes watch the people working, not seeing me observe him. The wind tousles his hair about and covers his eyes. I reach up and brush his hair away. He looks at me and smiles.