Hello to my faithful readers! I am so sorry that it's taken me so long to update! School started, and I've been busy. I promise that I'll start updating every week or so once I get back into the routine again.
As always, I own nothing except for Annalia, Countess Amelia, Queen Isabella, and this story.
Enjoy!
The King and The Duchess
Chapter 7
"Thank you so much for your very kind hospitality, your majesties. It was an honor to come and visit you," smiled the countess.
The day had finally come; Amelia was leaving for Galma. The four Pevensies were standing on the dock along with Annalia, who was trying very hard not to let on how thrilled she was that her cousin was leaving.
"The honor was ours, milady. I hope that the voyage back to Galma isn't too rough," replied Susan.
Edmund leaned over to Lucy, whispering, "If we stop talking to her, do you think she'll leave sooner?"
Lucy swatted him. "Be quiet!" she whispered.
The countess, meanwhile, was talking to Annalia.
"Do take care of yourself, and keep safe." She hugged Annalia, hissing, "When you get back to Galma, we're going to have a very serious talk about what you've done. You aren't getting off that easily! Understood?"
Annalia pulled away, muttering, "The joys of having you as my cousin."
"Well then, good bye," called the countess, as she boarded the ship.
She waved at them from the stern of the ship, until Narnia was out of sight.
"Finally! Freedom!" yelled Edmund, jumping up and down like an overly excited three year old.
"She's gone!" exclaimed Annalia, hugging Peter, who was heaving a heavy sigh of relief.
"Yahoo!" chorused Susan and Lucy, as they danced along the dock. Annalia joined them.
Edmund noticed that Peter was the only one not jumping around, and asked him, "Pete, aren't you even the tiniest bit excited?"
"Of course I am!"
"Then act it! Don't just stand there like a bump on a log!"
Peter shrugged, "Okay."
He then ran over to Annalia, picked her up, and twirled her around, yelling, "She's gone! She's finally gone!"
Edmund walked over to Lucy, and whispered, "I hope he drops her!"
Lucy's jaw dropped wide open, as she exclaimed, "Why would you say that? That's awful!"
"But if he drops her, she'll realize what a buffoon he is!"
"Eddy, you really are one of a kind!"
"I know."
Then, Edmund grabbed Lucy's hand, pulling her to the end of the dock with him. On the way, he grabbed Susan's hand too.
"Ed..." started Lucy, "What are you..."
At that moment, Edmund jumped off of the dock and into the cold water, pulling his sisters with him.
"AH!" the girls shrieked, while Edmund laughed.
"You lunatic! What possessed you to do that? And furthermore, Edmund Alexander Pevensie, WHY DID YOU HAVE TO DRAG US ALONG?" yelled Susan.
"I'm too happy to mind you telling at me, Susan! Call me Edmund Alexander Pevensie all you want, because I'M FREE! YAHOO!"
Lucy and Susan smiled at each other, and then started splashing Edmund.
"Hey! Cut it out!" he exclaimed.
Annalia looked over at them, and laughed. "She's finally gone," she smiled.
Sighing, Annalia stared out the window of the carriage. "I thought that you said Archenland was your sister country. Aren't sister countries supposed to be close together?"
"We are very close to Archenland! Just be patient. We never said that we were ten minutes away from King Lune's castle!" explained Susan. "Lucy, stop fidgeting!"
"But you didn't say that it was this long! We've been traveling for four hours already!" Annalia exclaimed.
"No, it's actually been about an hour and a half."
"Fine! It just feels like we've been in here forever! I'm kind of claustrophobic, and this carriage isn't helping!"
"It's not too much farther," said Lucy.
"That's a relief," smiled Annalia.
"It's only a few more hours."
"Such a help you are," muttered Edmund, slumping in the corner next to Annalia.
"At least I'm not sulking in a corner!"
"I'm not sulking. I'm freezing!"
"It's September, Edmund!"
"So?"
"It's too hot for you to be cold. You're sulking!"
"One minute you're each other's best friends, the next you're enemies," exclaimed Susan. "If you two start arguing again, you're both walking the rest of the way! Kapeesh?"
"Kapeesh. What does that even mean?" asked Edmund.
"It means listen to your big sister, or the council finds out the real reason why the duke of Telmar left so early."
"But that was funny!"
"Not to the rest of us!"
"But..."
"That's enough!" sighed Annalia. "I'm getting out! I'll ride on horseback with Peter!"
She was about to ask to driver to stop, when Susan said, "Please don't leave! Ed will be quiet!"
"I hate you," Edmund mumbled, looking at Susan.
Three hours and several arguments later, Annalia gladly emerged from the carriage.
As Peter took her hand to help her down, Annalia said, "I swear of we had been in there for one more minute, I would have murdered Susan and Edmund!"
"There are plenty of days when I feel like doing the same thing," he chuckled.
As Susan jumped out of the carriage, she "accidentally" pushed Annalia into Peter. Smirking at the looks on their faces, she scurried towards the entrance to the castle, where King Lune and Queen Isabella, and Corin were standing. Peter took Annalia's hand. Annalia blushed when he did, and followed him to meet King Lune and his family.
Edmund climbed out, with Lucy following. As they began to walk, a young servant girl caught Edmund's eye. He kept his eyes on her, continuing to walk, until he found himself walking straight into a tree.
"OW! Who put this tree here?" he yelled.
"Um...Aslan?" replied Lucy. "Actually, it might have been you. Remember the time when you planted a tree?"
"Yeah, yeah," he said, turning to look at the girl again.
"Eddy, stop acting like a boy!"
Edmund looked at his sister as if she had six heads. "Last time I checked, I am a boy."
"Oh, that's right. Funny, I just always think of you as my big brother! Hey, what about Annalia?"
"What about her?"
"Three minutes ago you were plotting to overthrow Peter and send him into exile so that you could have Annalia! What's going on?"
"Lucy..."
"Edmund, I don't want to fall in love! It seems like it's far more trouble than it's worth!"
Laughing, Edmund replied, "I'll be sure to tell Susan to remind you of that in a few years!"
Did you like it? The next few chapters will be more about Peter and Annalia, I promise! Please review!
Thanks for reading, and God bless,
R12Fizzy
