Disclaimer: I don't own anything or anyone Narnian. I'm just borrowing them. I do own Aedalia, her servants, and all Szarenites in the story.
Hello, All. Sorry I've been so long about writing this chapter. I had to finish some rather tedious literary analysis before this semester starts, and therefore had little time to write. But I finally thought of a way to end this story, so it should be done before the week is out. I must also apologize for any typos where there seems to be a D missing from a word, something happened to the d-key and it only works sometimes now. But I digress. Here's the next installment!
Aedalia woke up in her room in Cair Paravel. At first she thought that the ride had just been a particularly realistic nightmare. But her bruises proved her wrong. She tried to get up, and sank back down onto the pillows with a groan. She must be delirious. She could hear King Peter talking to her. Something about "I hope she wakes up soon, because it's really bad for politics if she dies here." With a start, she realized that Peter and Edmund were in the room!
"Excellent." She thought. "The perfect opportunity to talk to him and win him with my wits. He shall fall in love immediately!" Then again, perhaps she was delirious. She groaned delicately.
"Ah. I see you have woken at last, Lady." Said Peter, coming over to her.
"Yes. Pray tell," She looked at him through her lashes, something that made all her other suitors go wild, "What time is it?" The King seemed unperturbed by her advances.
"Near three in the afternoon, Lady. You took a nasty fall of your horse and were unconscious for close to eight hours."
"Where are the other ladies?" She would pay back that horrible Queen Susan for suggesting they ride and that barbarian Lady Alcyonie for proposing the race. Not to mention that Alcyonie and Aravis might be trying to steal Her Peter!
"Queens Susan and Lucy are visiting the people of Beruna to discuss flood management, Princess Aravis is with her husband Cor somewhere, and I believe Countess Alcyonie is in the library." Husband Cor? Well that got rid of one competitor, anyway. And Alcyonie was a Countess? That made her an even better match for Peter, though she hated to think it.
"I should like to go to the library and see the Countess." She made a pathetic effort to get up, which forced King Peter, through rules of chivalry, to help her up. "Why, thank you." She simpered. "I simply couldn't get up myself." With amazing speed for one who can't even get out of bed properly, she glided from the room. Peter stared after her, an expression of mingled horror and amusement on his face.
Aedalia hurried down the hall, wincing every time her foot slipped on something. These bruises were horrible! She would get them all back for this, starting with Alcyonie. She reached the library, and slipped inside. It was large, and smelled of knowledge. Several tables were placed in front of the maze of bookshelves, where people might sit with their books. At one of these sat Alcyonie of Lansar, bent over a map of this part of the world. She was discussing something with someone Aedalia recognized as Lord Isadron, the Szarenite ambassador to Narnia. Aedalia thought she was being quite silent, but Alcyonie looked up instantly when she came in.
"Ah, Queen Aedalia. All recovered from your fall, I trust?"
"Yes, thank you."
"I don't believe you've met my fiancée, Lord Isadron of Sharmen?"
"Charmed." Said the Lord in looking her up and down with distaste in his eyes that Aedalia, fortunately, didn't notice. She was too busy being happy that Alcyonie wasn't going to try to steal Her Peter from her. Just then, Susan, Lucy and Aravis came in. Lord Isadron excused himself, leaving Aedalia alone with the four ladies.
"Hello, Aedalia. Are you recovered from your fall?" inquired Lucy.
"Yes, thank you. I am quite well." Said Aedalia coldly. Little brat.
"We were just here to find Alcyonie and inquire about your health." Susan said. "We were planning on discussing tonight's dinner." Aedalia brightened. She had forgotten about the dinner! Yet another opportunity to conquer Peter! "Unless, of course, you are too unwell to join us…" Added Susan.
"No, I assure you, I am quite well."
"Then you would surely be up for a little archery and sparring before dinner?"
Aedalia hesitated. If she said no, she could not attend the dinner. And besides, she was superb archer. She would show them all up.
"Of course, I would be most honored."
"Wonderful. Join us there in fifteen minutes." Aedalia left.
"That was cruel, Su. You know no one can beat you in archery!" Lucy said.
"Well, perhaps she had a magic bow too!" Joked Aravis. "But what about sparring? Can any of you fight?"
"I'm alright. Nothing special. I had to do some in the revolution." Said Alcyonie.
"Looks like you're the only one that can, Alcy. You'll have to take her."
"What are the odds that she knows how too, anyway? Look at her! I don't think she'd ridden astride before today!" Said Aravis scornfully.
"You know, it's sort of disgusting, the way she throws herself at Peter. You'd think a Queen would have more pride." Said Lucy. "Although, come to think of it, I don't think more pride is exactly what she needs."
"Too true, Queen Lucy. Too true."
A/N: So this is the end of another chapter in the saga of Aedalia! Stay tuned, and remember that reviews get the story written faster!
