Note: Alcyonie of Lansar and her fellow Szarenites are from an independent story I previously wrote, who had been kept off the page too long and needed to stretch their collective legs. Also, four is my lucky number, so I wanted to have four girls (Susan, Lucy, Aravis and Alcyonie)
Aedalia expected her first glimpse of the High King to be perfect. She would sweep into the hall, head held high, and proceed towards the dais, where the High King and Queen Susan would be sitting, with their siblings at the sides of the table. Her curtsy would be perfect, and as she rose from it, she would catch and hold the king's gaze for a second. He would be so enthralled by her beauty that he would come down from the dais himself to take her up to her seat. Then, he would imperiously command the Queen Susan to relinquish the seat beside him. Placing her in Susan's empty chair, he would have her served only the best. It would be wonderful. What Aedalia most certainly did not expect to happen was for her to be so busy with keeping her head held high that she forgot to look where she was going. As a result, she tripped headlong over the page-mouse who was about to announce her, so that several of the lesser courtiers thought for quite some time that she was "Her majesty Queen AedaAAAAAAAAAAAA mmph mmph mmph". Aedalia struggled to right herself in her mire of skirts. Finally, she succeeded, and continued on her way to the dais. The poor page-mouse ran up in front of her and announced to those seated at the dais,
"Her Majesty Queen Aedalia Elianore Jurisa Fenella of Kantorell ab Semar come on a visit of goodwill and comradeship between the realms."
Aedalia came out off her curtsy. Her efforts to hold the king's gaze were impeded by the fact that he and the brown-haired young man (King Edmund?) on his left were deep in conversation with a blond boy of about 17 or 18 to Edmund's left, and a slightly older young man with curly light-brown hair next to him. The table was semicircular, allowing for this type of conversation. As she had thought, The High King ( Her Peter, as she now thought of him), who was exactly how he had been described and more, was sitting at the head of the table with a woman whom Aedalia noted with distaste was absolutely stunning, her thick black hair tied up, allowing only a few tresses to curl down onto the neckline of her deep red dress (Queen Susan?), and to her left was a girl of about 17 or 18, with pretty blonde hair tied in a small bun, and lively blue eyes (Queen Lucy?). But weren't there two extra pairs of men and women seated at the dais? Aedalia remembered that the diplomatic envoys from Archenland and Szaren were visiting. Her eyes swept the table while the serving-badger hurriedly set a place for her. The men were pretty unremarkable (nothing, compared to her King), but the women worried her. Surely, surely they were not hoping to cement an alliance with Narnia by marrying the High King! (It had never occurred to her that someone could resist him, or, much worse, prefer his brother). Aedalia looked hard at the two other women. One, seated next to Queen Lucy, and about the same age, had dark chestnut skin and thick dark hair. Her gray gown put her skin and hair at advantage. Aedalia had to admit, she was quite lovely. Next to her sat a woman of about Susan's age, and with similar thick hair. She to, had a complexion like thick cream, though slightly darker that the Queen's. Despite these similarities, you would never think of Queen Susan and this lady of being similar in looks. While Susan was gentle, this lady had he appearance of one who would try diplomatic talk, and be good at it, from her calculating stare, but failing that would have it out with you in a duel. She was pretty, though, with delicate features, a Grecian nose and eyes that were considered blue, but cut through you like knives. Aedalia noted her dress of forest green, with trim of gold and black.
She must be one of the Szarenites. Those are their colors. Just then, the serving-badger spoke to her.
"If it would please your Majesty to seat herself, we can begin the meal."
Aedalia sat in the seat provided, next to the woman with knife-eyes. Queen Lucy turned to her.
"Hallo. You are her majesty Queen Aedalia, I suppose? Sorry about the page-mouse. They are quite small and hard to see, aren't they?"
" Why, yes I suppose so." Aedalia though the Queen quite young, though she was actually only 17 to her 19. " Tell me, pray, who are the diplomats from Archenland?"
"That would be Cor and I, Lady." Said the dark-skinned girl in gray. "Princess Aravis of Archenland, and Crown Prince Cor of Archenland." She said, indicating the blond boy . "Pleased to meet you."
"The pleasure is mine, I'm sure. And the diplomats from Szaren?"
"Alcyonie, Countess of Lansar and High Advisor to her Majesty Julianine of Szaren. And that is Isa, sorry, Lord Isadron of Sharmen, Ambassador to Narnia." The girl with knife-eyes indicated the curly-haired young man across from her. The servants came out with the food. King Peter, who had just finished his conversation with the other men, finally took some notice of Aedalia.
"I trust your journey was pleasant, Lady?"
"Oh, yes, exceeding so." He was so formal! Thought Aedalia. But no matter. She would get him to loosen up soon. "The countryside is so lovely in Narnia."
"Yes, it is nice, isn't it. Tomorrow I intend to go on a hunt." He was going to ask her to come! How romantic! "Just my Royal Brother, and the lords from Archenland and Szaren. It shall be nice." NO! You're supposed to take ME! Mentally, Aedalia has a tantrum. And he isn't even paying attention to me! He's talking with Prince Cor about the game in Narnia. AAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHH!!!!!
"We were going to have a morning of practice, if you care to join us." The Queen Susan finally spoke to her. "You know, riding, shooting, things of that type." Aedalia brightened considerably. She was a good archer. She had heard the Queen was good, as well. We shall see which of us is better, Lady. And when I win, and outride them all, word will travel to Peter, and he will be so impressed he'll marry me straight away!
"I would be delighted to join you."
"Excellent. We shall be in the practice yard at seven o'clock."
Aedalia had finished her venison and potatoes. She decided to skip dessert, so that Peter will be impressed by her health.
"If I may be excused, then. I must go unpack."
"By all means. Junosen will show you to your room."
Aedalia was led away by a large gray panther. The ladies watched her go.
"What a horrible girl." Said Susan.
"Did you see her face when she tripped over that page? Priceless." Said Queen Lucy.
"Why did you invite her to the practice, Susan?" Aravis asked. Queen Susan snorted. "Entertainment, of course." Alcyonie started laughing.
"As if she can shoot!"
"We shall see, Alcy. We shall see."
And indeed we shall! The next installment should come soon. Thanks for reading, and REVIEW! Oh, also, a note on pronunciation. Alcyonie= Al CY onie, not Alcy-ONIE, and the Queen of Szaren's name is pronounced Yulinanine. I used the Slavic pronunciation.