A/N: HEY PEEPS.
gosh, it's been soooo long! I am truly disgusted with myself for not posting for such a long period of time and just leaving you lovelies like that. I'm sorry :(
*hands cookies to everyone with a sheepish grin*
Anyway, here's the next chap.
Oh, and by the way, I posted up the trailer for Chasing Moonlight!
Pleaseee check it out (it's on my profile page, and those who subscribe to me on Youtube, it's on my channel) and tell me what you think of it :D
And now without further ado, chapter 4!
Chapter 4: Discussions, and what's in a necklace?
Susan's POV
It's been a week since Serena's arrival at the castle, along with the announcement of her arranged marriage to Peter.
Saying things were awkward would be an understatement.
Serena stayed in a guest bedroom down the hall from our rooms, the same room Ella stayed in when she first came to Narnia.
We rarely see Serena; she's always locked in her room. The only time we do see her is during meals.
All of us still tried our best to warm up to her and try to make her feel part of the family.
Peter on the other hand…
He doesn't even look at Serena, let alone talk to her.
It was like she was the plague to him; he was trying his best to stay away from her rather than try to get to know his fiancée.
"You can't go on like this Peter. She's your future wife." I chided him softly as we sat in the council room, waiting for the arrival of the delegates of Calormene.
"I know that, Susan." He grumbled while picking at his nails- a nasty habit he's had since childhood whenever he was frustrated.
"Well you sure don't act like it! You're marrying her in three weeks Peter. Three weeks! And you don't know a single thing about her."
"It's not like it's entirely my fault! She doesn't even leave her room! Besides, none of you know anything about her either. None of you talk to her." He defended, furrowing his brows.
"Yes, but we're not the ones who will be marrying her."
I noticed how he would clench his jaw every time I mentioned the words "marry" or "wife".
I sighed and placed my hand over his, partly to stop him from picking his nails, but also as a gesture of comfort and support.
"I know this is hard for you Pete. All of us know. It must be horrible to be told you have to marry a complete stranger in such a short period of time. But it is Aslan's will, and from past experiences I'm sure you know by now that Aslan is never wrong."
He swallowed and looked up at me, and the look in his eyes nearly made me gasp.
Fear.
There were only a few times in my entire life that I had ever seen fear in his eyes.
It was something I hated to see, my big brother scared…
"I don't love her Susan." He whispered so softly I could barely make it out.
I bit my lip and clutched his hand with both of mine, looking down at our hands and sighing.
I felt so horrible for Pete.
No one should ever have to marry someone they don't love, let alone a stranger.
"You're going to have to learn to then."
With a grunt of frustration, he ripped his hand away from mine and ran it through his hair.
"That's the thing! Everyone just expects me to keep quiet and go through with this marriage because Aslan said so. And I agree as King I have an obligation to him and Narnia. It is only for that reason that I agreed. But don't expect me to know fall in love with her just because I have to. I don't love her, neither do I want to or ever will. And nothing is going to change that!"
Before I could reply, there was a knock on the door.
"Pete, Su, they have arrived." Lorenzo announced.
"Send them in." Peter spoke as he stood up.
I stood up as well, and caught his wrist, pulling him in closer.
"This discussion is not over." I whispered into his ear as the delegates strolled into the room.
He looked down at me and in his eyes was no longer fear, but just stone-cold hardiness.
"Yes it is."
Caspian's POV
"So where are Susan, Peter and Lorenzo?" Lucy asked, pouring herself a glass of wine.
"They have some meeting with Calormene delegates." Ella replied as she fed Talina her mash.
"Cas, weren't you supposed to sit in on that meeting?" Edmund asked me.
"Nah, my presence is not necessary. The treaty discussed only requires Pete and Susan. Besides, I hate that Lord Percival and his stupid long stories. I would rather not sit in and have to hear about how his wife took three hours to find a proper dress for their anniversary dinner, and how she went about finding it."
As we all laughed, the doors to the Dining Hall opened and Serena walked in. A silence fell over as she approached the table. Things were still pretty awkward whenever she was around.
"Hi there Serena." Lucy greeted with a natural smile.
"Hello." She replied softly and smiled at all of us as she took a seat besides Ella.
Awkward silence.
It was not like we hated Serena. But we didn't really warm up to her as well. After all, not only was she was just a stranger, but she never left her room to try to socialise with us besides instances like now, during dinner.
"That's a beautiful dress Talina is wearing." She remarked suddenly, beaming at little Tali who was struggling to keep her mash in her mouth as Ella had to keep wiping it off her chin.
"Thanks, I made it for her myself." Ella replied politely.
And awkward silence again.
"Oh no, I left her feeding bottle in our room!" Ella suddenly whined.
"I'll get it." Edmund said and began to get up but Ella beat him to it.
"It's okay I'll get it." Ella said as she handed Talina over to Edmund.
"I-If you don't mind…"
We all turned to Serena who had suddenly spoken.
"I could hold her for you. You haven't finished eating King Edmund."
"Well, neither have you." Ed blatantly pointed out, glancing at her plate.
"Please, I would love to hold her." Serena softly and almost sheepishly spoke, looking up at Ella.
"O-Of course, here." Ella slowly handed Talina to Serena, though hesitantly and unwillingly before sweeping out of the Dining Hall.
Serena held Talina close to her and smiled down at the little princess, cooing a soft "Hi there".
"You seem pretty good with children." Lucy remarked after a while of watching Serena gently rock Talina on her lap.
"Yes, well, experience." She replied shortly but politely.
That was a strange answer.
I looked at Edmund and Lucy and they seemed quite confused as well.
Experience?
Like, her own child? A sibling? Was she a caretaker?
"I love children." Serena said as she softly smiled at Talina, a certain twinkle in her violet eyes.
"Well, Talina certainly is loveable." I replied, chuckling as Tali hiccupped and then giggled.
"Yes, she really is a little angel." Serena looked up at Edmund, "You're a lucky dad to have her."
"Definitely. And…I think this little angel has a certain fascination to your necklace." Edmund spoke as he glanced at Serena's neck.
All of us looked to Tali to find her holding Serena's star-pendant necklace to her mouth, nibbling it slightly.
"No!" Serena shouted, snatching the pendant from Talina and clutching it in her hand.
That was rather shocking to say the least.
Serena looked really angry and upset.
It was just a necklace… yet she looked as if Talina had just killed her family.
Talina's lower lip quivered and within 2 seconds, she started crying.
Edmund quickly got up and took Tali from Serena, gently repeating "shhhh" in a soothing manner.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." Serena looked horrified and guilty as she watched Talina wail.
Edmund looked pretty upset, after all Serena had just shouted at his daughter and made her cry.
Serena stood up shakily, continuously muttering how sorry she was before she just bolted out of the Dining Hall, still clutching onto her pendant.
That was definitely strange.
Ella returned shortly after, and luckily Talina had calmed down by then. Edmund decided it was best to not tell her of the episode that had just occurred; it would just make things worse. We just told Ella how Serena didn't feel well and hence had to leave.
But for the rest of that meal, I could not forget how Serena had snapped at Tali.
She was always so soft and polite, demure and gentle. This was the first time we had ever seen her express any sort of negative emotion like anger or even guilt after she realised what she had done.
I also couldn't get her star-shaped silver pendant out of my mind either.
After all, what was in a necklace?
A/N: Any guesses as to what's up with Serena's star-pendant necklace? Haha, just something for you guys to ponder over ;)
And I promise dudes/dudettes, I'm definitely going to upload chapters more frequently (cross my heart and hope to die!)
So, as per usual I shall not end off with a request...
REVIEW! :D
