High Queen Layla, It Has A Nice Ring To It...

Chapter 6: Questions, Creatures, and Clicking

"Well, then you will probably be wanting yours back." Caspian said handing the sword over to Peter. Peter tightlipped, put the sword back in its sheath. He almost began to walk away then before turning around. "One more thing. We have two friends with us. Dame Layla Wynter"—I waved with a tightlipped smile—"and Lady Yvainne Wynter."

"Hang on. Did you say Wynter?" Caspian asked turning to the two girls. Layla and Yvainne nodded, which in turn caused Caspian to smile widely. "Come. I believe we have something that belongs to you two."

Layla knew what was coming, but at that moment, all she could think about was how Peter was making her feel.

And how much she wished he wouldn't make her feel that way.

~*~

Layla had been quiet for the entire walk so far and it was beginning to unnerve her friends. Susan kept glancing over at Layla with a worried expression, Yvainne kept asking if she was alright, and the badger and everyone else kept asking if she needed a break. The truth was she did need a break, but not from walking.

At one point she broke off from the group of girls and fell back, hoping to get some time to just think to herself about her feelings and how she had seemed to somehow start falling for Peter.

"He's always liked you."

Layla jumped, surprised by the person since she had not been paying attention. Turning her head she was met with Edmund.

"Oh really? I was unaware that he was serious about liking me, just like he liked Lisa, and Stephanie, and—"

"Layla, you know he wasn't serious about them. He only went out with them to try and get over you. I'll tell you right now, that if you went up there and tried snogging him, he wouldn't object, until he realized that you were snogging him while he was trying to plan a war..." Edmund trailed off with a laugh probably imagining his brothers face if Layla would actually do that.

"He knows damn well that if he would just make the first move... Lord, I've even said that before. Yes I'm an independent girl but that doesn't mean I don't want some chivalry in my life, I'd prefer to be asked out rather than have to ask a guy." Layla seethed. She had said that last year when she had told Susan about Will, another boy in Peter's grade whom she had developed feelings for, and Peter had been eavesdropping on them. He had admitted it when Layla had decided to just suck it up and tell him how she felt only to find out that he believed rumors some idiot was spreading about how she thought she was a vampire. She had never found out who had spread the ridiculous rumor, though she had intended to find out.

"You both are just too stubborn for your own good." Edmund muttered.

"Damn straight. It's what makes the world go 'round dear Eddie!" Layla said cheerily.

Edmund shook his head, "Just go talk to him." Then he found his way back to Yvainne and threaded his fingers through hers. Layla'd have to ask about that later. Now she sped up so she could go talk to Peter.

"So? What are they like?" She heard the badger ask.

"Malcontents, complainers, stubborn as mules in the morning." The dwarf replied. Layla was about to object when the other dwarf, the one from the dream with the badger and Caspian, spoke up again.

"Oh. So you like them, then."

"Well enough." Was his reply, and Layla couldn't help but smile at that.

By the time Layla made it up to Peter and Caspian they had reached a clearing that held a ruin looking thing. They approached the ruin and centaurs lined up at the sides, unsheathing swords and holding them out as the Queens and Kings approached. Layla had planned on staying behind them with her sister, but was pulled into the line between Peter and Lucy, while Yvainne was pulled between Susan and Edmund. They both were pulled along with the Pevensies, Layla's hand in Peter's though she wasn't sure why, and Yvainnes in Edmunds as they made their way into the place. Caspian fell behind, which made Layla feel even more out of place.

She was no Queen.

But, she couldn't help but smile at the young centaur who's sword angle had to be corrected.

~*~

It wasn't a ruin, it was a Howe, a fort built around a ruin, or so Layla was told. Inside, creatures were forging swords, and other weapons. Layla, Yvainne and the other girls walked further into the fort while the boys stayed behind and talked with Caspian. What Susan and Lucy found on the walls a bit further surprised them. Susan backed away from the group, calling out.

"Peter. You may want to see this." She said calmly. Within a few seconds the boys were joining the girls again.

Peter and Edmund examined the carvings on the walls when they joined.

"It's us." Susan breathed as Layla moved forward, there was something on the wall that looked almost like— Layla reached up and gently wiped her fingers along it, dust began falling off of it and Layla gasped in shock.

Yvainne quickly joined her sister as did Peter and the others when they saw what she had uncovered.

"How?" Yvainne whimpered.

"I've never been to Narnia before. But then, how come—This doesn't make any sense!" Layla exclaimed backing away from the wall.

Because quite clearly, the picture on the wall was Layla and Peter, being married on the beach...

Then it all clicked.