Chapter 1: The Horror of Arranged Marriages
Edmund was angry. No, he was beyond angry at this point. He didn't care how childish he was acting; Peter had told him he was being forced into an arranged marriage! Huffing, Edmund ran away from Peter, who was calling his name in an effort to get him to stop running. Finally, Peter caught up with him, grabbing his arm to stop him from escaping.
"Ed," Peter wheezed, "Just stop."
"Why?" he retorted. "So you can go on and on about how this alliance is for the good of Narnia? No? Then, you are here to extol the virtues of this maiden?"
"Ed, you know it's not like that." Peter sighed.
"Then why? And why did you spring it on me during the Council meeting? Could it not have waited until after?"
"Because, we really need this alliance. The kingdom of Olympia is a powerful one, and marrying Queen Ariadne is the best way to forge an alliance. If it makes you feel any better, the Council were the ones who came up with this. They voted on it, and everyone was in agreement."
"Even Oreius?"
"Even Oreius."
"I still don't like this," Edmund grumbled as he walked back to the Council room. Peter just chuckled and jogged towards Edmund.
"Ah, nice of you to join us once more, King Edmund. It is good to see that your temper has cooled down." Smirked Oreius. Edmund simply rolled his eyes and sat back down on the right hand side of Peter. "So, back to business, gentlemen, ladies, your Majesties. These are the kingdoms that make up Olympia…"
Edmund was dozing off, when he heard High King Perseus's name. Edmund sat up, wide-awake, as he was forming a plan. Since he was being forced into a marriage with an unknown girl to strengthen the bonds between Narnia and Olympia, why shouldn't Susan get married to High King Perseus? After all, it would take care of nasty Rabadash, and Susan had always gossiped with her ladies about High King Perseus. This was going to be great! If only he could find that bloody parchment and quill…
Twang. An arrow imbedded itself in the bulls eye of a target as the girl shooting the bow muttered and cursed under her breath. The girl, Ariadne, was very unhappy with her brother. She imagined her brother's picture at the center of the target, and let the arrow fly, watching with grim satisfaction as it split the other arrow in two.
"You know," said her brother, "I never understood how you became such a great archer."
Her mouth twisted into a grimace as she replied, "Flattery will get you no where, brother dear. I'm still angry at you."
High King Perseus, or as he preferred to be called, Percy, simply pouted at her in response. "Come on, Ari Bear. Don't you want to know all about your new beau?"
Ariadne took one look at Percy's puppy dog eyes and knew she was a goner. "Fine, fine. Let's get this torture over with."
"Great!" Percy cheered. "We have High King Peter the Magnificent, Queen Susan the Gentle…" As he was talking about Queen Susan, his voice took on a dreamy quality. Ariadne's face lit up and she grinned wickedly. Oh, Queen Susan, huh? Well, since they were supposed to be forming an alliance with Narnia, perhaps they could strengthen it with the marriage of Queen Susan and her brother. Now, all she had to do was write to one of the Kings of Narnia... Where was that blasted parchment and quill?