Butterfly Kisses
Disclaimer: I do not own the Chronicles of Narnia, or any of the characters from Narnia, those are the wonderful C.S Lewis's. I do however own Felicia, her family, her maid, and other small characters that will appear throughout the story
Chapter one
I was the embodiment of beauty, passion, and adoration. I was a princess to be revered throughout the ages, alone in my demeanor and poise. My father was a king to be remembered; just, strong, and giving. My mother was seen as a role model for young girls everywhere; a lady, kind, giving and astoundingly intelligent. My brother was sought after by many young girls, but the numbers no nearer to my suitors than that of a pig's alikeness to a horse. He was tall, dark, and handsome. He fought in tournaments all over the lands, and he had never lost one so far. It was the family that one would expect I would come from.
Looking myself over in the mirror was a fond pastime of mine, one I would partake in many times a day. As I am telling you this, I happen to be doing it. My dark, chocolate brown curls fall perfectly to my lower shoulder blades, and my cobalt blue eyes are seen as a rarity, and my figure a perfect hourglass. Butterfly clips and flowers dot my hair, pulling it away from my perfectly shaped face. I was often called the butterfly princess because of the clips I wore, and many of my necklaces had charms shaped as butterflies. I found it extremely corny. I, Felicia Langley, was the princess everyone wished to have in their kingdom.
"Miss Felicia." My large oak door swung open to reveal my favorite maid Yvette, and she curtsied before stepping in further and closing the door behind her.
"Yvette!" I smiled and turned to her, away from the mirror. I wasn't revered for just my beauty, I was considered kind and innocent, caring and un-judgmental. "What, may I ask, are you doing away from your chores?"
"Missus Elizabeth sent me to fetch you to the dining hall, miss." She smiled at my teasing tone, and came to stand by me.
"Why, what for?" I asked. It wasn't time for dining of any sort, and I wasn't notified of any guests.
"They didn't tell me, miss, they just said to fetch you quickly." I weighed the outlooks carefully, deciding that it wasn't best to keep mother and father waiting.
"Very well." I sighed, gathering my pink gown around me and following her out of my room and down the familiar white marble walls. I could remember quite clearly how I used to traverse and play in these halls with my brother and my familiar friends, ones I hadn't seen in many years. Yvette had lived here almost as long as I had, and we were born only days apart from each other. Her mother had been one of the finest maids we had ever had here. We passed down two flights of stairs and paused momentarily at the large oak dining hall doors that were propped open. Inside I could see my mother and father along with my brother, Damien. My brother and I had always been extremely close and alike in personalities, and we were considered the highest loved prince and princess and all of the land, which made me happy. All Damien thought of, however, was sword fighting and lancing or anything competitive.
"Felicia!" My mother smiled at me as I entered. She had gotten more and more beautiful as time went on, and her face had become softer and kinder.
"Hello mother, father, Damien." I curtsied to them all before taking my seat across from Damien whilst my mother and father sat in their thrones at the head of the large oak dining table. Yvette came to stand by me politely, curtsying to each of my family members.
"Well, now that you're both here, I may continue." My father, Reginald, rumbled in his deep, authorotive voice. He was a tall, stocky man with a large beard, although he was balding on his head. Like my mother, he was considered handsome by many of the middle aged women of our kingdom.
"Now, we called you both here to discuss our next trip." I shot a glance at Damien who looked just as unsure as I knew I did. "I assume you've all heard of Narnia?"
"Yes, father, isn't that where the Pevensie four now reside?" I asked, remembering the tale of how the Pevensies had saved our land twice over.
"Yes, indeed Felicia." My mother smiled at me, happy that I had retained most of the knowledge that my governess had taught me.
"Is that where we're going?" My brother inquired, sitting straighter. He had always looked forward to fighting one of the Pevensie brothers, Peter or Edmund, or at the very least Caspian X, the newly crowned king.
"Yes, well more specifically, Cair Paravel." My father answered, and continued before either of us had a chance to ask questions. "As you probably know, assuming that your governess has taught you our history, it has just recently been rebuilt, and we have received invitation to attend a ball and tournament there." My brother sat straighter, eyes alight with glee.
"When do we leave?" I asked. It was always fun to see my brother win, and I was excited to go to the ball.
"Well, it takes about two days to reach Narnia from here, so let's say tomorrow, early in the morning." I clasped Yvette's hand in excitement, and she squeezed it lightly.
"And, of course, Yvette s coming to." My mother assured, and I felt Yvette shiver with enthusiasm. "Before we let you go pack, are you satisfied with the dress that you were given as a gift?" My mother asked, noting the pink gown I was wearing.
"Very much so." I nodded, hoping that she would finally tell me who sent it.
"Good, because it was sent from King Caspian himself." I scowled almost immediately.
"Mother, I thought we understood each other on the fact that I do not agree with having suitors try to charm me with fancy gifts. I wish you had sent it back."
"Felicia, darling." My mother said, folding her hands calmly in her lap. "It was a gift he sent especially for you in hopes that you would wear it on your first day in his castle. Word is that he has taken quite a shining to your reputation."
"Yes, but I don't take a shining to his reputation." I replied bluntly, and my brother snorted. My mother sent him a stern look and he lowered his head, but I could still see the smile on his face.
"Why in the name of Aslan not?" My mother asked, exasperated. "He is supposed to be a wonderful king; handsome, fair, kind, loyal." My mother continued until I cut her off.
"He is also rumored to be arrogant and headstrong." I said. "And there is always some truth in rumors, mother, you taught me that." My mother sighed angrily, giving up. I had always been the more stubborn out of my brother and I, although he was older than me by almost two years.
"Felicia, honey, you're almost seventeen and you've had suitors almost all of you adolescent life." My dad persisted where my mother had left off. "It is about time you allowed yourself to be courted."
"Anyone but him." I crossed my arms and looked away from my parents angrily. I had heard worse thing about Caspian- that he was a womanizer, that his uncle had been a merciless ruler among them.
"There's always Peter and Edmund, if I may be so bold your highnesses." Yvette put in, and I glanced at her. I had heard great things about the two prophetic kings, and Edmund was supposed to be around my age by now. Peter the Magnificent and Edmund the Just were what they were regarded as, and as far as I had heard their titles suited them.
"I suppose… Although we were hoping that Damien would strike it up with Queen Susan, she is supposed to be quite the beauty." And, of course, there were the two queens; Susan the Gentle and Lucy the Valiant, which were equally adored by their peers. They were possibly the only group of siblings that were as highly adored as my brother and I.
"Very well, may we go now?" My brother asked, and I stood at the same time he did.
"Alright, remember we will set off a half an hour after sunrise." I groaned inwardly but hurried off with Yvette towards my room where I commenced packing hastily. Before I did this, however, I hastily pulled off the dress and slipped another on, glaring at the heap of fabric. It was a beautiful antique baby pink that was trimmed with elegant lace and had a large white belt-like bow around the middle.
"I hate you." I spat before turning away.
Two Days Later
I now sat in my personal carriage with Yvette, listening to the six men who were carrying it speak quietly. I was, yet again, tortured into wearing that ruddy beautiful dress by my mother, who said it would be 'rude' to not wear it.
"We are getting close." Yvette noted, sticking her head out of the black satin curtains that separated us from the wind and the other members of our group. "I can see the white pillars; even from here it looks beautiful." She said it so reverently that it caused me to roll my eyes while I spritzed on some of my perfume before resumed doing my hair in the looking glass on my lap. When Yvette didn't turn her attention away from the sight outside, I spritzed her lightly. She squealed in surprise before turning back to me with a playful smile.
"My apologies miss, but it is quite extravagant. You will not be disappointed to have come all this way." She said, taking the perfume from me lightly and setting it in rectangular redwood case that held five bottles of the same perfume, and locked it with a silver key before she gave the key to me again.
"Yes, well I should hope so." This journey had been so tiresome; twice I had had to get out and walk next to my brother because General Gaspar feared of assassins, and my large carriage was too easy of a target." I dropped the small key down the front of my bosom for safe keeping, sure that it would stay because of my tight corset. Yvette moved behind me and began fixing my hair.
"You do look extravagant in this dress." She murmured to me, and I sighed.
"I hate it." When she made a questioning noise, I continued. "I have no reason not to wear it, it feels like silk on my body, it fits perfectly, and it is nearly indestructible." Yvette laughed lightly and I sighed again. The carriage jerked to a slow halt, and I could hear someone conversing with the guards that carried my carriage. Finally, my brother's head popped through one of the side flaps.
"Felicia, mother says that you best be ready soon because we are entering the gates, and when the carriage stops again you are expected to get out and greet the Kings and Queens of Narnia."
"Very well, Damien." I sighed, and with a short nod to Yvette, he disappeared again. "This is the worst!" I huffed, crossing my arms childishly.
"Oh, come now miss, the ball is sure to be fun, and you know how much you like to watch his Highness Damien fight." Again, she reasoned the heck out of my complaint.
"Yvette, you are truly my best friend, but must you always find something good about my life?"
"Well, miss; I just think it a shame for you not to enjoy a beauty as great as yours." She complimented before scooting away. She was to leave first, and then escort me out of my tent. I could picture it now; Telmarines and Narnian's from all kingdoms gazing at me as I exited my carriage, and my stomach flipped in excitement. I clasped the butterfly-shaped emerald that hung around my neck in order to calm myself, but it did no good. Felicia Langley had been shaken.
"I now pronounce the high royalty of Langley, King Reginald Langley the Great, Queen Elizabeth the Beautiful, Prince Damien the Noble, and Princess Felicia the Fair!" Now, who had told him to say that? I was Princess Felicia the godlike, but somehow fair had a better ring to it. Forgetting this mild setback, I stepped out and in front of one of the largest group of people I had ever seen. They all cheered, and I blinked slightly in surprise.
"Felicia." My brother murmured, and I looked down from the side of my carriage to see his extended hand to help my down. I took it and gracefully stepped down onto the earth, gathering my skirts around me. General Gaspar and my father were already greeting five very extravagantly dressed people on top of a raised marble platform that had matching marble steps leading up to it. Yvette trailed behind my mother and I while Damien strode up to the group, bowing deeply and then shaking each of their hands. When he came to the eldest looking girl, he smiled shyly and kissed her hand before quickly moving on to a younger looking girl. When we came within hearing distance, my father was talking of how he had a statue of him in the main garden made out of the same marble as this some time ago.
"I do hope you are not boasting too much, father." I interjected sweetly. "I would not wish for them to get the wrong idea of us." As I spoke, I felt their eyes burning into me
The eldest girl murmured something to the younger girl beside her, looking on with large blue eyes. I observed her quietly, assuming that she must be Susan the Gentle. She was indeed beautiful, with soft, long dark slightly curly hair and large blue eyes. I was happy to note that hers were not quite as striking as mine, although jealousy rushed through me as I looked at her perfectly plump lips.
"I must excuse myself," I curtsied. "For interrupting your conversation."
"Never, your highness." A man dressed in a slightly less regal outfit put in, and I assumed he was the general.
"That is quite gracious of you, sir." The man smiled and blushed before looking away. I never quite understood the reason why men found me so amazingly attractive, or why they continued their pursuits whilst I turned suitor after suitor away.
"King Reginald, I am High King Peter the Magnificent." A boy with dirty blond hair and a handsome face who looked to be the eldest of the five, around twenty-two, stepped forward with a bow to my father. "It is an honor to meet you sir." He extended a firm hand to my father who shook it, observing the boys blue eyes.
"As you, your highness." He said slowly, and Peter nodded. I sniffed quietly, getting the air of conceitedness from him. High King Peter the Magnificent seemed quite full of himself to me. The way he stood, the way he talked, the way he just 'let it slip' that he was considered magnificent made me want to scowl at him. "This is my wife Queen Elizabeth, my eldest child Damien, and my daughter Felicia." My mother stepped up and curtsied while he kissed her hand lightly, and my brother bowed again. When it was my turn I stepped up and curtsied. While he took my hand to kiss it, I couldn't resist saying something.
"It is an honor to meet you, High King Peter the Magnificent." People, who don't know me, and obviously this King, have no idea when I'm mocking them. Damien, however, shot me a cross look.
"May I say that you look beautiful?" He put in, and I resisted the urge to roll my eyes, so instead I smiled graciously.
"You may, your highness, it is an honor to hear that." I pulled my hand away from his lightly and moved down the line to an equally handsome man, although he didn't look to be related to the others. Realization dawned on me as I curtsied, slyly observing him. He had strong, manly features coupled with dark hair and dark eyes, and he was dazzlingly handsome the more I looked at him. When he spoke, I could hear an odd accent in his voice.
"It is a pleasure to finally meet you, Princess Felicia." He smiled as I stood up from the curtsy and he took my hand, kissing it.
"As with you, King Caspian." I replied, clenching my teeth afterward. I was now the only one still greeting the kings and queens, and I could feel my mother's apprehensive gaze on me.
"I am glad to see that the dress pleases you. It fits wonderfully." He remarked politely, dropping my hand. Wow, I'd never had a man (let alone a king) try to seduce me so quickly. I could feel my gaze grow hard, and had to force myself to relax.
"It is very nice, thank you." I replied quickly before moving to the eldest girl I had looked at earlier. She was even prettier as I drew nearer, something that wounded my pride greatly. She dropped into a low curtsy which I returned.
"Your reputation precedes you, Princess Felicia." She remarked with a smile that looked strained.
"As does yours, Queen Susan. I have heard great things about you." She blinked at the flattery, and smiled at me genuinely this time. I moved down the line, eager to get away from Caspian's gaze. The second to last person was a young girl who only looked to be around fourteen or fifteen with light brown hair and blue eyes. I dropped into a curtsy as she observed my stature quietly.
"It is a pleasure, Queen Lucy." She smiled widely at me before embracing me tightly, a move that surprised me and caused Damien to give a subconscious lurch towards me, a defense move that he had become accustomed to.
"Lucy!" Peter said in an exasperated tone, but I just laughed lightly and hugged her back quickly.
"May I ask you a question, Princess Felicia?" She asked in a very innocent voice as she removed herself from me.
"Of course, your highness."
"How do you pull your hair back like that with so few clips?" She cocked her head to the side quizzically as I laughed, subconsciously reaching up to pat it.
"That's my little secret." I smiled kindly at her. "But I'll show you sometime."
"Promise?" She asked excitedly.
"Promise." I replied before moving to the last person. I knew him to be King Edmund because he was the only one I hadn't met. Unlike his siblings, he had dark hair and dark eyes, though he was equally attractive. He separated himself from the line by almost two feet, and had regarded my conversations with his fellow royalties with a low smirk. He bowed slightly before reaching up to kiss my hand. As he did so, he spoke in a quiet voice.
"It is nice to see, Princess Felicia, that you affections do not lie with my brother or Caspian, as the majority of the kingdom's do." I smiled slightly at him, highly aware that no one else could hear our conversation.
"And it is nice to see that you do not pursue my affections as… reverently as many other's do." I smiled mischievously at him, knowing that it caused Peter and Caspian to exchange a suspicious glance.
"Let's just say that I realize you probably do not wish to have one's affections forced upon them, noting all the suitors and such." I laughed lightly.
"We will have to do something about all this knowledge you have of me." I answered. It was nice to have friendly banter with someone whose main goal wasn't to court me, or so it seemed.
"Or perhaps we won't?" He replied, continuing the conversation in a very low, sultry voice as he smiled jokingly at me.
"Perhaps." I replied seductively, giving him a smile that I knew would make most men faint. He just smiled again and kissed my hand for the second time.
"I'll take you up on that." He said, loudly enough for his male companions to hear. I knew his game, and how he wished to make his brothers jealous. It was a game I knew I would enjoy playing.
"I should hope so, your highness, it would be very…" I weighed my choices for words carefully. "Interesting, considering your demeanor." I was now speaking of the game he was insisting on playing against his brothers, and he knew it.
"As with you." I nodded again before turning away and going down another pair of marble steps where my chestnut horse was waiting impatiently for me, and my mother was watching me with prying eyes.
"Felicia-" I knew she intended to interrogate me for details, so I shrugged her off.
"Not now, mother." I replied as I swung into side saddle position on my horse Bessie. "It was nice to meet you all." I called as we began to trot away.
"You promised!" Lucy said playfully.
"And it is one I intend to fully keep!" I called back with a pleasant smile. Once we were halfway up the winding road towards Cair Paravel, which was indeed as amazing as Yvette had noted, my brothers horse came to trot next to mine. His was smiling slightly, but the rest of his face remained tranquil as he gazed at the white castle in front of us.
"It is beautiful." He said quietly, and I looked it over again. As far as I could see, it was made entirely out of white marble, looked to be three floors high, had large oak doors that served as the main entrance, and was surrounded by trees and a beautiful landscape. Somewhere I could identify the smell of the sea, but I knew not what direction it came from.
"It is, much greater than I had thought." I replied, smiling as we passed a group of peasants that fell into low bows. My brother nodded to them with a friendly 'hello'.
"What do you make of them?" He asked, noting the five royals we had just met.
"You already know." I replied. My brother knew me too well at times, and it was a very eerie feeling.
"I'll never understand why someone with such a pretty face can have such an obviously ugly attitude." He said scornfully, shooting me a look.
"Nobody's perfect, dear." Was my cool reply as we continued at a slower pace on our horses, and he sighed.
"There's no changing someone as ornery as you." I rolled my eyes and glanced away, back at my mother and father who had stopped and were now waiting for the group of people riding up the winding path towards us.
"Oh, Aslan." I groaned as I halted my horse as well.
"It's alright, there's nothing you can't handle." He smirked at me with a playful, innocent kiss on the cheek. This did not go unnoticed by Peter, who led the group, and he scrutinized us through narrowed eyes.
"Hello, again." Lucy said, trotting her horse to idle next to Peter. Caspian also trotted his horse forward, smiling at me with an innocent look in his eyes. Right. "Thank you for waiting."
"No trouble at all." Was my mother's polite answer as we began ascending again. Bessie was young and strong, so she had no trouble with the long path. I soon, however, grew weary and yawned.
"Tired already, milady?" The heavily accented voice surprised me and I blinked before turning my gaze to Caspian who sat relaxed on his own jet black steed.
"Only slightly, your highness. It was a long trip to Narnia." I replied coolly, turning my gaze on the road ahead. I could hear him shift in his saddle.
"Ah, I see. Perhaps, then, you would like to be shown directly to your room to lie down for a while when we reach the castle?" I resisted the urge to glare at him, clenching my hands into fists.
"I would like that very much, thank you. Peace and quiet alone would be very welcomed after the journey." I put extra strength behind the 'alone' in the statement; although I was quite sure that he didn't understand.
"Very well, then." It was quiet after that as I observed the other royals in our group. I saw the eldest, Peter, conversing with my father a few yards ahead of us, no doubt explaining how extravagant everything was, and how he'd built it singlehandedly. I smiled slightly, and vainly, at my own joke before continuing to observe. Lucy trailed lazily in the space between Peter's horse and my own, which I was glad for, her figure relaxed. I turned inconspicuously, as if observing the scenery, in the opposite direction of Caspian so as to see if I could catch a glimpse of the final two Pevensies. I finally caught them out of the corner of my eye, riding next to each other. Susan looked cross, yet still elegant, and Edmund looks like he was having fun irritating her. She said something, which I resumed a question, for he shrugged, and she talked faster, her face growing red in anger. With a giggle, I turned back to the road.
"Something amuses you, Princess?" My face fell back into its thoughtful position to disguise the scowl that would be evident to my brother.
"Oh, nothing, I was just musing about the tournament." I lied smoothly.
"Oh, yes, that reminds me, I must go speak to Peter of the preparations. Forgive me, milady." And with that I rode of briskly. I rolled my eyes, immediately relaxing.
"Tsk, tsk." My brother announced, breaking his silent stature he had maintained next to me as we had ridden so far. "You really shouldn't be so vain, sister."
"Vain?" I scoffed playfully. My brother and I both clearly understood that I was vain, conceited, scornful, judgmental, spiteful, and everything else that fell under such a category. Although, no one outside of us two and Yvette clearly understood that. "I had assumed you would have mentioned spiteful."
"I was getting there." I turned my gaze to him, eyebrow raised.
"Really, now, dear brother, must we truly get so riled over such a small technicality?" He glared hardly at me in response, and I turned bitterly towards the road. "Pig-headed, arrogant, lustful…" I muttered in the direction of Caspian's dark haired head.
"Felicia, you are not one to talk." My brother quipped critically, and I glared at him.
"What brings you to take such a liking to them?" I snapped. "Perhaps it is the gentle queen?" I sneered, although I felt no dislike towards Susan.
"I am getting tired of you childish antics, Felicia!" He said, turning red in the face. "We are guests in these people's homes, and you will be respectful!" He ordered. I turned away again with a huff, knowing father would hear of it if I told him no.
The rest of the ride was quiet between us as I observed the conversation between my father and the two other kings before me. When we finally trotted into the courtyard of Cair Paravel, I was in awe of it. I had to tilt my head to view the entire size of the castle. The courtyard was large and circular, lined with colorful flowers and ornately decorated with many nations flags, most of which I recognized from past studies or trips.
"Miss Felicia, it is time to dismount." Yvette murmured to my, tugging my hand lightly. I looked down and smiled breathlessly at her.
"I do believe that this will be a very enjoyable trip, Yvette." She returned my excited smile as I turned to dismount, smile feeling permanently placed on my lips.
Okay, ya, I know, that was a horrible ending to the chapter, sorry.
I know this isn't the best so far, but I tried really hard to write it fluently!!!
I know Felicia acts a little Mary Sue, which I tried to fix through the chapter by manipulating her personality, and it'll get better, I promise!
Reviews would be amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ily!
Kat
