Disclaimer: Narnia is not mine, I'm just borrowing it and the related characters from CS Lewis, Disney, and Walden Media.
Mostly Movieverse
Summary: I wanted to explore how Peter went from the "my way" mentality he had before the night raid to allowing Lucy and Susan to ride off into the woods while he tried to distract the Telmarine army. How did he make up with his siblings? It seemed a little too drastic of a change to be left out of sight.
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Magnificence
"Son of Adam, why do you doubt?"
Peter looked up with wide eyes, face streaked with tears, and his eyes fell on the carving before him. He felt a sense of other when the voice spoke, and he knew in his heart who called to him.
"I failed you Aslan. You and Ed and the girls and all of Narnia."
"Why have you done this?"
"I was prideful and foolish, My Lord. I do not deserve to be a king of Narnia."
A deep rumble sounded in the chamber and Peter began to tremble; Aslan had never growled at him before. "Son of Adam, I told you once, the day I made you High King of Narnia, that you would always bear that title."
"Yes My Lord."
"Did you believe on that day you were worthy to be a King of Narnia?"
"No Aslan. I knew it was by your will that I was crowned."
"As on that day, I know your heart better than you. If you will only remember that your strength as a king comes from love, and not ability, you will find your true self again." Peter gathered himself and stood, only to step forward and kneel in front of the carved image of the Great Lion, the True King of Narnia.
"Thank you, Aslan. With your guidance, I pray I will not fail you again."
"Remember High King, Sir Peter Wolf's Bane, you embody the Magnificence of Narnia, but only when you are supported by the Just, comforted by the Gentle, and guided by the Valiant."
Peter bowed his head in submission. Only when the sense of other faded did he stand, moving to sit against the stone table and gaze at the likeness of his master and comforter. He knew his encounter had been real, but he longed to see the warm brown eyes, to fall to his knees again before his king and touch the massive, velveteen paws.
He was still gazing at the likeness of Aslan, feeling both gratitude and longing, when Lucy found him. He couldn't help feeling a little jealous of his sister. It was Lucy's devotion and faith in Aslan that had allowed her to see him, but still…
"You're lucky, you know. To have seen him. I just wish He would give me some sign, some sort of proof."
"Maybe we're the ones who need to prove ourselves to Him." Lucy replied gently, and Peter felt her words touch his heart. In his memory an echo sounded; only when you are supported by the Just, comforted by the Gentle, and guided by the Valiant.
He nodded.
***
Peter went to Edmund in the chamber where they slept, where he knew his younger brother would be seeking solitude.
"Will you forgive me, Ed? I've been so stupid." Edmund watched him, and Peter knew it wasn't enough. "I don't just mean since we've been back, either. I've been useless for the last year, and you never gave up on me. I know now that I can't do this alone. I've found my faith in Aslan again, Ed, but I need you, too."
"I forgive you." Edmund said quietly, but he still wouldn't meet his brother's eyes. Peter went to one knee before the younger king. Edmund was shocked, and moved to pull him back to his feet, but Peter grabbed his hands and held them.
"Edmund, I appreciate your obedience, but I need your support. If I must beg on bended knee I will; Please, King Edmund, Lord of the Western Wood, be my councilor and my strong right arm once more. Help me be the man I used to be, for Narnia—though I know I don't deserve your loyalty."
Edmund went to his knees as well. "You are my brother and my King. You need never beg, only ask me. I am still yours to command, Peter, and I will give you any help I can, with all my loyalty and my love. But Pete, you are the man Narnia needs you to be—you just lost yourself for a while."
Peter stood, pulling Edmund along with him and wrapped his younger brother in a strong embrace. When he pulled back, he left his hands on Edmund's shoulders.
"We need to talk to Caspian, and soon," Peter said, and Ed nodded, "but first I need to find Susan." Peter saw the understanding in his brother's eyes.
"I'll bring Caspian to the Chamber of the Stone Table in an hour." Edmund offered, and Peter nodded his agreement. With a final squeeze of his hands on Ed's shoulders, Peter left the room.
***
Susan took longer to find; she was deep in the How, speaking with Glenstorm's wife and daughters. Peter hung back, not wishing to intrude, until;
"Peter," Susan said, stopping the flow of her conversation, "what are you doing, lurking in the shadows?" When he stepped out into the torchlight, the centaurs bowed. Peter surprised them by bowing from the waist in return.
"My Queen, I did not wish to interrupt."
Susan's surprise showed on her face. It was the first time Peter had addressed her as his queen in six months.
"My King may summon me at any time." She replied, uncertain what to expect, and still rather angry with him.
"I would much rather My Lady's affection than her duty," he replied, and she had to smile.
"My Lord is given both," Susan responded. She saw the centaurs, who had been beginning to shift nervously, relax and smile. "If you noble ladies would excuse me, My King requires me," Susan said to the centaurs she had been speaking with.
"Of course Queen Susan, and thank you." The Centaur woman replied, face grave, but eyes bright. Her daughters openly wore grins on their faces. All bowed when Susan rose from her seat, and she dropped a slight curtsy before taking Peter's offered arm.
They walked slowly through the How until they reached the chamber where Susan and Lucy slept. When it proved empty, Peter guided Susan to a seat on her bed. Rather than sit next to her, however, he knelt in front of her.
"Peter, what" she began, but stopped when she met his pained gaze.
"Su, I am so sorry. I should have listened to you at Miraz's castle, when you told me to call the raid off. And I shouldn't have left you to clean up the mess while I went off to sulk. Please forgive me, Susan," he asked, and she was astonished to see tears in his eyes. She hasn't been sure, but now she knew that he was still the king he had been of old. Peter never wept for the fallen soldiers, save when it was just the two of them. She reached out to touch his face, wiping away the tears as they began to fall from his eyes.
"Oh Peter, of course I forgive you."
"Will you…will you be my comfort, as you were before? I understand now, Su, that I don't have the strength to do this… not without your presence."
Rather than trying to speak through her emotion-tightened throat, Susan pulled her brother and king to her, and they cried together, hugging each other in a grip that was almost painful. When their tears calmed, Susan looked into Peter's eyes and recognized the High King of Narnia beginning to emerge.
"Peter, what happened to you?" She asked, quiet awe in her voice and a bemused smile touching her lips.
A watery smile met her question.
"I remembered who I'm supposed to be fighting for."
***
Peter and Susan entered the council chamber of the How where, as agreed upon, Edmund had brought Caspian. Lucy was there also, to Peter's relief. Peter withdrew his arm from his Gentle Queen, finding her the most comfortable seat the room offered—though it was not much. Lucy once again sat on the great Stone Table; only she was pure enough in faith to feel comfortable resting there.
Peter's courage wavered, but he owed Lucy an apology. And because he had publically disregarded her opinion before the disastrous raid on Miraz's castle, he knew the apology should be just as public. He had the support of his brother, and his eldest sister allowed him to draw strength from the comfort she brought him. The only thing left was to ask his valiant sister to help guide his hand, for she was closest to Aslan. Lucy had always been the most likely to discern His whisper among the shouting.
He approached her seat hesitantly, and Lucy followed his movement with her gaze, her attention focused on him.
"Lucy," he started, but paused. He had continued to address her as though she was a child since their return to Narnia, though here she was no more a child than he. "Valiant Queen, I made a grievous mistake when last this council met. I must beg your forgiveness for disregarding your insights. I allowed pride to blind me, and did not see the wisdom of your words. Of all of us, you have always been the most faithful to Aslan. Will you guide me through this darkness? I have only glimpsed His light, while you see by the fire of His love. I must still be shown the way."
The smile on her face was not that of a nine year old girl-child from Finchley, but that of the youngest queen of Narnia. Peter felt joy stir in his soul, though he could not yet have named it, when she smiled at him.
"By the Lion's Grace, the High King of Narnia had returned."
And with that, she slid from the table and went to Peter, stopping two feet from him to curtsy, her head bowed. It lasted only moments before Peter extended his hand to her. When she stood straight and placed her hand in his, Peter felt his heart swell, and he brought it to his lips. Hope awoke in him, and Peter's heart soared; love filled his eyes as he looked around at each of his siblings. Now, he knew, Narnia had a chance. By the Grace of Aslan, they had a chance.
***
The Second Battle of Beruna was ended. Peter stood before the Great Lion, trying to find the words to express his regret.
"I am sorry Aslan. Please forgive my foolish pride," Peter said quietly, gazing imploringly into the deep brown eyes.
"Son of Adam, we have already spoken of this. You did as I reminded you that you must. You found the strength you needed through your faith and in the people who love you. Remember your mistake, and do not stray again. Your siblings love you, and they will gladly easy your way, if only you will let them."
"Yes Aslan."
"Good. Now bring me Prince Caspian. There are things the three of us must discuss."