Zoya sat in the Duchess's chamber, in front of the fire, wrapped in a blanket, with a cup of hot tea in her quaking hands.

"My little, Zoya," the Duchess began sweetly sitting beside her on the overstuffed couch, rubbing her shoulders gently. "My little star-child, I am glad to have you back. You should get some sleep. You've has a very trying day, and our ship leaves for Galma in the morning."

"I had no intention of returning to Galma this morning," Zoya explained, staring blankly into the crackling fire. "Peter asked me to marry him."

"Surely you would not still have him after everything he put you through," Lady Oilell replied, wrapping one arm around the weary girl. Zoya shrugged.

"He loves me," she replied.

"That's what all men say," the duchess replied. "But in the end they give you nothing but trouble. You must come home."

"But I can see it in his eyes," Zoya insisted.

"He's just like all other men, I grantee," the duchess went on. "They're not worth half the pain they'll cause. They'll all use you and leave you heartbroken in the end—even a prince...or a king."

"I couldn't stop loving him, just the same," Zoya admitted weakly.

"Yes, my dear, but could you live with him?" The gentlewoman asked. "After all you told him you were innocent, and he didn't believe you."

"Hello Peter," Lucy offered cheerfully, sitting down beside her brother on the veranda. "Where is Zoya this morning? I looked in her chamber, but she wasn't there." Peter sighed heavily, looking out towards the coast.

"She's chosen to sail home to Galma," he offered.

"But you said that she had accepted your proposal," Lucy offered, seeming somewhat disappointed.

"She did," Peter said sadly. "But a lot has changed since then, she decided she could not have me, and she left with the court of Galma this morning. She didn't even say good-bye...I hope you're not too disappointed." Lucy sighed and shrugged.

"No...not really," she answered comfortingly.

"Why don't you run inside and get some breakfast," Peter suggested. "I'll be right in." Lucy got up and skipped off, although her spirits were slightly dampened.

Peter stood, moving to walk down to the beach. He walked down to the water, leaving footprints in the wet sand. He thought he heard the sound of someone approaching, and spun around to be faced by a great lion.

"Aslan," Peter began. "It's good to see you. I think I need your advice now more than ever."

"Zoya has chosen to return to Galma," Aslan replied knowingly, standing besides the young king. "And you still love her."

"I do," Peter responded, gazing out across the calm waters that would carry his love away from his land.

"But you let her go," the great lion continued. "Why?"

"I lost her," Peter answered looking down upon the lion's golden head and soulful eyes. "She told me that she loved me and I doubted her."

"Hearts do heal with time and sincerity," Aslan reminded him sagely.

"But it is too late now," Peter replied. Aslan seemed to smile a knowing lion-smile.

"It is never too late for love."

Zoya stood at stern of the ship, gazing out across the busy dock as the ship prepared to leave port.

"What are you waiting for?" Adele had snuck up on her. Zoya shrugged.

"I don't know," she said. "I just can't help but wish that any moment now Peter will come running down that dock and he'll whisk me off my feet and kiss me and tell me that he loves me and he'll never leave me again."

"If he doesn't come," Adele assured her. "It'll be alright. You're a whole person. A good dancer...a better friend—queen or not." Zoya could not help but appease her friend with a laugh and a loving smile.

"Thank you, Adele," Zoya replied as the sails were raised and the anchor was heaved up.

Peter arrived at the docks with his siblings, and a few close advisors. They dismounted their horses along dock and started down the long pier. To his dismay the ship had already set sail and was halfway across the harbor.

He raked a hand through his hair desperately.

"It's too late," he declared looking back at Susan, Edmund, and Lucy. "I came too late. She's gone. She's...gone."

"Oh, Peter," Susan began, moving to place one arm over him, letting him nestle his head on her shoulder. "I'm so sorry..."

Zoya had not left her lookout post at the back of the boat; the dock was still in sight. That was when she saw it: their faces were barely discernable, but it was a crowd of people clad in royal red and gold.

"Adele," she shouted gleefully.

"What? Zoya what's wrong, what is it?" She asked.

"He came!" Zoya answered. "He came...he loves me."

"Oh, Zoya," Adele began sympathetically. "We've already left port." Zoya gauged the distance between the ship and the dock.

"I love you, Adele," she declared, kissing her dear friend on the cheek. "Always remember that."

Peter had straightened up, and started to walk away. He was determined to make plans to follow her to Galma as soon as a ship was made ready. That was when he heard the splash and amidst all the commotion on the pier and from the ship that was sailing away he could only form one coherent thought:

Zoya was in the water.

His body was moving of its own accord as he raced down the dock, stripping off excess clothes as he went, leaping into the water. She was halfway back to the pier by the time he was within reach.

"Zoya!" He called out desperately.

"Peter!" She screamed back as she swam towards him. "I'm alright!"

"Come on," he encouraged, offering her a hand.

"I'm alright," she answered, starting past him.

They reached the dock, and Peter pushed Zoya in front of him, helping Edmund and a few other men to pull her up, before several others offered him a helping hand.

And for a moment they laid, sprawled out on the dock together, limbs tangled, panting under the watchful gaze of many members of the court of Cair Paravel.

"You jumped in the ocean," Peter announced, gazing deeply into the eyes of the woman he loved. She beamed back at him before replying:

"And you jumped in after me."

THE END