Wow thanks for the reviews everyone! Hopefully I will be able to keep putting up chapters until I have all that

I've finished. We're almost done with the first 'section'. About the reviews, it really does me no good when you

just put "update asap". That's not a review, that's a demand. As a writer it helps when I get constructive

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The next few weeks brought the end of summer with them. They were wonderful weeks, and Katriana thought that life had never been better. King Peter paid a lot of special attention to her, and insisted that she drop the formalities between them. This she had a difficult time doing, especially since Alia teased her mercilessly about it. Whenever Alia would mention Peter, Katriana would blush furiously and demand that they change the subject. But Alia knew better. There was something astir between the two.

Susan did not understand why Peter would want to spend so much time with one of the servants, but she was busy with other smaller parties and answering many letters from her suitors. Edmund and Katriana had a special bond between them that they rarely spoke of, but everyone knew it was there. Lucy was delighted that Peter had finally found what she called, 'the right girl'. He would insist that they were only good friends, but Lucy knew better too.

One day when everything was calm and there were no events planned, the Pevensies sat outside enjoying the last summer days. Lucy's chair was next to Peter's, and she was holding his hand. Everything seemed at peace, but inside Peter's heart was much turmoil. Susan was talking about holding another feast, but he heard little of what she said. Ed was pretending to listen, though he really wasn't, and Lucy was helping Susan plan for the party. When the conversation seemed to have ended, Peter decided that now was the time for him to say something.

"I'm going to ask Katriana to marry me." He said it very quietly and calmly, as if he was talking about the weather. Edmund looked at him, not quite sure if he had heard Peter correctly. Lucy's face broke out into a large smile and she squeezed Peter's hand. Susan, however, made an objection.

"Peter, you can't be serious! You must be joking!" she said incredulously, looking at him as if he'd just said that the sun was green.

"I'm completely serious," replied Peter, who closed his eyes and leaned back in the chair he was sitting in. It had felt good to get that off of his chest.

"But she's just a servant girl! She is below your station! You are the high king, you cannot marry her!" Susan said adamantly.

"Watch him," said Ed with a smile as he got up. He walked over and shook Peter's hand. "Congratulations, old chap. 'Bout time you popped the question to her. I was beginning to think you never would!" Edmund smiled and so did Peter. Peter was glad that his brother understood. He had expected that Susan would be upset by his decision, but he really didn't care. She could go stick her head in the sea for all he minded. Edmund went inside the castle.

Lucy leaned on Peter's arm. "Well, I think it is exciting. I mean, you'll be the first of us to get married! She's so lovely, Peter. I am glad you chose her to be your wife," she said dreamily. "May I help plan the wedding? When will it be?"

"Wait just a minute, now!" said Peter as he made Lucy sit up. "I have to ask her yet, so don't go making plans till she's given her answer! And don't go ruining the surprise, either, you hear?"

Lucy pouted a little, but she agreed in the end. Peter got up then and went in the castle as well. That left Susan and Lucy alone. Lucy seemed very pleased with the sudden announcement Peter had made, but Susan was still not very happy about it.

"Is he really serious, Lu?"

"Oh, yes, quite! Haven't you noticed the way he looks at her? And he's been spending a great deal of time with her as well. Yes, I think he's quite serious. And I'm glad. And you should be too." And that was the end of the discussion.

Katriana was polishing some silver when Peter entered the room. It was a special room kept for all of the fine china and other expensive things that the Pevensies didn't keep out. She saw him come in from the mirror that was on the other side of the room. She met his gaze, but then dropped hers quickly.

"Not going to be throwing those knives, are you?" teased Peter. He hadn't let her live down the excellent throw she had made with the man's knife a few weeks prior. She smiled in spite of herself.

"Of course not! I told that I'd given up knife throwing," she answered back. She still was not completely comfortable joking with King Peter. She felt her position as servant more than he realized. Katriana wondered what he was here for.

Peter walked up next to her. Her head was bent down, concentrated on her work, so she didn't notice him finger the bottom of her long chestnut hair. He studied her face in the mirror. He wished that she was more relaxed around him. He wished that she was not a servant in his home. He regretted the fact that she was every day that went by.

"Would you do me the honor of going for a walk with me after supper?" he asked her quietly. She looked up at him, only slightly surprised. He had never asked her to do anything alone with him. She toyed with this for a few moments; then gave her answer.

"Yes, I will." Katriana wondered why he wanted to. She was still in denial of the obvious reason for all the attention he was giving her.

Peter smiled. "I look forward to it." And with that he left her, alone as she was before to try to sort out her feelings.

Alia had insisted that Katriana put on something nice to wear to go for her walk with Peter, but Katriana didn't want to make it look like she was trying to get attention, so she respectfully turned down the earrings and necklace Alia offered her. Katriana also refused to have her hair curled, which especially irritated Alia. But, like always, Katriana was stubborn. Alia spent the afternoon making up all sorts of reasons for why Peter would want to see her alone. Katriana tried to ignore her, but she couldn't help but wonder herself.

Finally, supper came. Katriana hardly ate anything. Mrs. Beaver chided her about this, but Katriana had no appetite that night. After the meal Alia helped her get dressed in the pink dress that Queen Lucy had given her, and brush out her hair. Katriana then made Alia leave. Not long afterwards, she heard a knock on her door. Her heart jumped, but she told herself that it was probably nothing. She answered it, and Peter was there. She felt his eyes on her, looking her over. He smiled, and she felt better.

They walked out to some of the gardens, making small conversation on the way. Katriana felt herself relax slightly. She had been right; it wasn't about anything in particular. Maybe he was going to ask her to sing at the next banquet.

But when they came to the rose garden, and they sat down on a bench, she could tell that something much more serious was on Peter's mind. He reached over and took her hands and covered them with his. He looked her in the eyes, and she found that she couldn't look away.

"You're probably wondering why I asked you to come here with me." She didn't say anything, but just waited for him to continue. "I cannot deny that I have admired you for a long time." His voice was thick with emotion, and it startled her. He leaned towards her a little, and her heart rate doubled. "You are… very special. I…" he faltered a little and licked his lips. "I wanted to make my intentions clear. I care about you very deeply. You… you mean the world to me."

Katriana could feel her lungs tightening up as he talked. Her breathing became faster and her feelings started to well up inside of her. Peter was very close to her now. She could feel his warm breath on her cheek, and it made her shiver slightly in the cooling night. But still she could not take her eyes away from his.

"I would be honored… and thrilled… if you would be… my wife," he said quite choppily. She could tell that he was trying to still be the distinguished man that his castle knew him to be. Katriana stared at him very hard for a long time. She wondered if she had heard him right. Peter began to look a little worried.

"I… I don't know what to say," she managed to whisper. Peter smiled and leaned closer.

"Say yes," he murmured right before he kissed her. It was warm and exciting and much more than she'd ever imagined. She did not resist him at all. His hand came up and caressed her cheek as he continued to kiss her. It was not very long, but it left her completely breathless. His forehead touched hers as they sat there, soaking in the very presence of each other.

"Yes," she whispered. Peter backed up a bit and tilted her head up a little. He was more animated than she'd ever seen him before. He sat there, just smiling, for a moment or two. Then he kissed her again.

They sat there for a long while, just talking and enjoying being with one another. Peter ran his hand through her hair, which she had left down. She was very glad that she had done so.

"Don't ever cut your hair."

"I won't," she promised. She figured that would be an easy enough promise to keep.

The sun went down, and the air started to really get cold. Much to his disappointment, Peter realized that he had to let her go back inside. They walked back very slowly, and Katriana let him hold her hand.

As they reached the hallway that led to her room, Peter stopped her. "There's been something I've been meaning to ask you," he said. She waited for him to go on. "May I… may I call you Katie?" he asked shyly, and for a moment he looked like a little boy. Katriana smiled at this.

"You may," she answered, and the smile on his face was priceless.

When they reached her room, Peter found all sorts of things that he kept thinking of that prevented her from closing the door. Finally, she laughed and told him that he had to go. His crestfallen face had no affect on her, however, so he gave that up.

"I do have to tell you, though, before I go, that I will simply die if we don't get married soon," he whispered to her. "I can hardly stand not being with you for a moment."

"Don't worry, I don't like waiting very much either," she whispered back. He smiled mischievously.

"Good, then you'll be ready to do it tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow! I think not! Think of what your sisters would say!" she protested quietly.

"That's true, Lucy would never let me forget it," he agreed. He paused to look at her before he leaned towards her and whispered goodnight. Then he kissed her deeply and left. Katriana shut her door quietly and leaned against it. She let out a long sigh and smiled.