A Tale of a Lion, a Witch, and a Wardrobe

Disclaimer: I own nothing besides the cousins!

Chapter 9: A New Queen

4 years later…

I walked through the halls of Cair Paravel, grinning. It was November of our fourth year here, and life was pretty good. Of course, there were a few Calormenes, Telmarines, Fell Beasts, and the like who tried to upset that, but for the most part, things were going well. Peter and I were 17, Susan was 16, Edmund was 14, and Lucy and the girls were 12. The Pevensies were like siblings to us, (and Rose confided in me that Pete and Ed were much better brothers than Art; I didn't like that.) but slowly Peter was turning into something more. That was what I was dreading. "Hannah! Hannah!"

I sighed. Speaking of… "Hello, Your Highness."

Peter fell into step beside me, frowning. "I thought we had talked about that a long time ago. I don't want you, or anybody, to call me by my titles when we're here without any diplomats, okay?"

"Of course, Peter." I agreed, mostly because he was the king and I was just a knight. Sure, I might be a good fighter, but I don't brag, to good guys, anyway. "Why are you avoiding me all of a sudden?" he asked.

"Whatever do you mean?" I replied.

"You know good and well what I mean, and I would like an answer." We had reached his study, and he opened the door for me. "Well, Peter, it's because… well…"

"Well what?"

"Well, I'm a girl, and you're a boy, and-"

He smirked. "Try telling me something I don't know."

I glared at him. "And adolescent girls start getting feelings for boys. And I'm a knight, and you're a king, and-" I sighed. "You wouldn't understand."

"I think I do, because I feel the same way about you. You're in love with me. And what does the fact that you're a knight and I'm a king have to do with it?"

"You do? But it would look improper, a knight and a king courting."

"Yes, I do. And why would it look improper? I thought I made the rules around here."

"Oh, I know most Narnians wouldn't have a problem with it, but some might think I had just protected you and your family to win your favor and get your hand. They'd think me no better than the silly princesses both of us despise that come to court you. And what about the other countries around here? I assume Archenland would also have no problem with it, but what about Calormen and Telmar? They, too, would think me silly and stupid and vain and that I had married you for your throne. I can't risk things like that. I'm sorry, but that's the way it has to be." With that I turned and fled out of the room. He would be safe in the study. But then I heard Peter running up behind me. "Hannah, come back in here." I reluctantly complied. "I don't care about any of that! I care about you. Please say you'll let me court you."

"Oh, all right, but only because you're the king and are telling me to."

"Not because you love me?"

"Yes, that too." I giggled. He leaned in to kiss me, but I stopped him. "I made my parents a promise that I would never kiss a boy besides my family until I married."

"Okay, if you promise you'll court me."

"I promise."

6 months later…

"Hannah, we've been courting for several months, and I would like to ask you a very important question."

"Of course, Pete. What is it?"

"Well, you know our 18th birthdays are coming up."

I giggled. "I still think it's amazing that we were born on consecutive days."

"I know. Anyway, I would like to ask you…" He got off the bench we were sitting on in the garden and got down on one knee, pulling something out of his pocket. "Hannah Grace Shepherd, would you do me the honor of marrying me?"

"Oh, Peter." It seemed like that was all I could say, until I saw the ring he was holding. It had a diamond and an emerald set in it. The emerald was our shared birthstone. "Yes, oh, yes!"

He smiled, slipping the ring on my left ring finger. "Good." He lifted my hand to his lips. The next night was the ball to celebrate his birthday, a day before the actual day so that his siblings could have him all to themselves that day. He had decided to announce that night that we would be wed. I was nervous, but was going to obey. He went in front of the crowd near the end of the ball and said, "Narnians! May I have your attention please?" All the noise in the room died down. "Thank you. First of all, I would like to thank my sister Susan for all the work she has done to make this ball go smoothly. And second, I would like to announce that I have done as Aslan told me to several years ago. He instructed me to find someone to fill one of these thrones. I promised I would, but it wasn't until a few months ago that I finally did it. You see, for the past 6 months, I have been courting. Last night, I asked her to marry me. She said yes. Ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased to introduce to you my future bride, Dame Hannah!" I walked up and joined him. He wrapped his arm around me as the various Narnians cheered. I smiled. Things were definitely going well. Peter and I were married 3 days later. The day after that was my coronation, and I was as jumpy as a leapfrog. Aslan was there. The four walked out first, their crowns on their heads, and I followed soon after. They sat on their thrones, with me going to stand in front of the empty one beside Peter's. Aslan said, "Five years ago, I gave to Narnia her 4 kings and queens, leaving 3 thrones empty. Now the time has come to fill one of them." He then turned to face me and declared, "To the blue northwestern rivers, I give you Queen Hannah the Brave." Faith set the crown she held onto my head. Then the whole crowd started cheering, "Long live King Peter! Long live Queen Hannah! Long live Queen Susan! Long live King Edmund! And long live Queen Lucy!" I grinned as I sat down. This might be fun. Of course, I knew that I was still a knight who was to protect the 4, and I would still do so until my last breath. Of this I was certain.

Author's Note: Is it just me, or does it seem like Hannah is turning into a Mary Sue? She's not supposed to be, but I might have accidentally made her into one. What do you think?