PETER POV:

For the first few days of our rule, we all periodically stood on the balcony, watching the beach, wondering when Ruth would return. But slowly, our stops grew shorter and more infrequent as the reality settled in: Ruth Byrne would not be seen again in Narnia for a long time.

We had the company of each other, as well as the Beavers and Tumnus, but it never quite felt the same without Ruth. The door to her room, which she only slept one night in, was closed indefinitely.

Our days at the castle were spent learning about Narnia's history. Unfortunately, there were no written records, but the Beavers and Tumnus did a good job of explaining the history of Narnia and the surrounding lands. Our first challenge as rulers came about a week after the coronation.

"Peter!" Edmund whispered loudly, shaking me urgently. "Peter, Peter, wake up!"

I sat up immediately, aroused by the panic in his voice. He was as white as a sheet. "What is it?"

"Someone's moving around... listen..."

I heard the sound of heavy footfalls on the story above us... too heavy to be the Beavers or Tumnus.

"Go in the girls' room. Wake them up. Hide under the bed and arm yourselves." I shoved Edmund to his feet and dug my sword out of the chest at the foot of my bed. I handed him my shield. "Go, Edmund. Be safe."

His eyes were wide with terror, but he managed to nod. I watched as he scurried down the hallway and into the girls' room. When I heard the door close and the lock be slid across, I turned toward the stairwell and ascended it slowly. Despite the confident air I had put on in the bedroom, it was only a facade. I was terrified. The responsibility I now faced... keeping my family alive... weighed upon my shoulders and turned my knees to jelly. Each step I took wobbled on the stairs. I felt as if I were going to fall. And yet, I pressed on. For Narnia. For Aslan. And for my family.

I saw no creature lurking in the hallway. I crept around, looking for a foot print or paw print or tuft of fur or strand of hair. I found nothing. No trace of anything or anyone.

I stopped suddenly. More footsteps. But these were softer. A glow came from behind me, casting eerie shadows around the golden hall. I lifted my sword, and whirled around defensively when the creature was right behind me. Tumnus gasped and nearly dropped the lantern.

"Oh, thank the heavens, it's only you..." he sighed. "What are you doing up?"

"I heard something," I explained in a whisper, lowering my sword.

"Me too. It must have been you though, so..." He turned to leave, clearly relieved.

I shook my head. "No, Tumnus, wait. I've not been up here more than a couple of minutes."

"Oh."

The word had barely left his mouth when I heard a bang downstairs, followed by a scream. Lucy!

I ran down the stairs five at a time and charged down the hallway. When I reached the door, no one was there. I opened the door slowly.

"It's me..." I said gently. "Is everyone safe?"

Lucy ran up to me, clinging tightly to my waist and sobbing into my nightshirt. I stroked her hair slowly, sharing a long look with Edmund and Susan. Tumnus came then, breathing heavily.

"Whoever that was, he's gone," he puffed.

"How do you know th-" Glass shattered in the room. Susan screamed, Edmund grabbed her by the neck and ducked with her back under the bed, and Lucy began to wail louder as I shielded her with my body and clutched her tightly. Several seconds of tense silence later, I opened my eyes and lifted my head. I pried Lucy off of me and passed her to Tumnus, who picked her up and allowed her to nuzzle into his neck. I slowly walked into the room, prepared to duck if necessary. A rock the size of my head lay in the middle of the room, covered in writing.

"Tumnus, where did your lantern go?" I asked, my entire body trembling as I picked up the rock.

Still holding the whimpering Lucy, he held it over the rock.

I read aloud, "This is only a warning. We have infiltrated your castle. We know where you sleep. And we are not happy with you. Leave Narnia, or we will make sure you do ourselves. Long live the Queen." My heart was beating so quickly I feared I would collapse on the spot. I set the rock down exactly where it landed, and staggered backwards until I could sit down on the bed. I cradled my aching head in my hands. My family's lives had been in danger before. Several times by now, between the war and Narnia. I was finally ready to let go of that responsibility for a while and just be their big brother again.

I wanted to protect them, of course, and I would never let anything happen to them. But I had realized that more often than not, protecting them took prevalence over loving them and having fun with them. I hope thought Narnia would allow me to smother them with affection and attention like a good big brother should. Alas, they were in more danger than ever, and it was my job to look after them.

I lifted my head from my hands. "This is what we're going to do," I said slowly. "Whoever it was only knows about this room. Starting tomorrow night, we will all sleep in the same room, away from windows and with the door locked. For tonight... tonight I'll sleep with Lucy in my bed and Susan and Ed can share his."

Everyone nodded, relieved.

"I will tell the Beavers the plan in the morning," Tumnus said. I stood up, helped Susan and Edmund out from under the bed, and gently took Lucy into my arms.

"Thank you," I said, rubbing my little sister's back. "We will figure this out. We will be alright. All of us." I mentally added an unspoken "I hope."

I did not sleep another wink that night. Every squeak of the wooden bed frame was surely the squeak of an intruder. Every whistle of the wind was the whistle of a rock or an arrow or a dart. I kept my arm protectively around Lucy as she slept, shielding her from the unseen danger lurking in the night. When morning finally came, I gently climbed out of bed, tucking the sheets securely around Lucy. I kissed her forehead tenderly and changed from pajamas to more kingly attire without a sound.

Downstairs, I was greeted by Tumnus and the Beavers, whose faces were all riddled with extreme concern.

"You look like you haven't slept a wink, dear!" Mrs. Beaver exclaimed. "Sit, sit, I will bring you some tea. What a dreadful night you all have had!"

I collapsed into a chair obediently, staring off into the twinkling water. When a steaming cup of tea was placed in front of me, I accepted it with sleepy thanks and sipped it, though it offered little comfort to my tormented mind.

"Tumnus has informed us of your plan, Peter, and we believe it to be a good one," Mr. Beaver said. I nodded.

"What else do you suppose should be done?" Tumnus asked.

My weary brain scrambled for answers. "I... um... I suppose we could contact Archenland."

"Archenland? We have not heard word from them for years! They completely abandoned us when the Witch came to power! They... they left us to freeze!"

"Then they should be glad to hear that the winter has been broken and the Witch slain."

"But... what if they are not? What if we create another enemy?"

I rubbed my temples. "You are right... but I believe it is worth a try. I shall propose this to my siblings when they wake up. We are ruling together, after all."

"I will think more about this. I feel awfully apprehensive."

"As do I," I admitted, "but I am shaken enough by the events of last night to take a chance."

Tumnus nodded. "I understand."

Mr. Beaver spoke up then. "Whatever you feel will keep you safe is what we will agree to, Peter. Unless, of course, you attempt to revive the White Witch!"

I offered a half-hearted grin. "No need to worry about that." I paused, tears suddenly filling my eyes. "She's already endangered my family once. I will never let anything or anyone come so close to destroying us again."