Hello all my wonderful readers!
Here, it is, the chapter everyone has been waiting for (I hope!). I hope you like it.

A quick thank you to all those who have reviewed.

Disclaimer: Nope, Narnia and its characters are not mine.

"I didn't marry you because you were perfect.
I didn't even marry you because I loved you.
I married you because you gave me a promise.
That promise made up for your faults.
And the promise I gave you made up for mine.
Two imperfect people got married and it was the promise that made the marriage..."
- Thornton Wilder

.

'FATE OR DESTINY?'

THE HIGH KING'S WEDDING

.

Peter stared at his reflection in the mirror. He was wearing a black woolen shirt with mandarin collar, and a black coat with gold thread embroidery on its lapels. He was wearing black leather trousers and knee-length black boots. He looked ready for the wedding that would be taking place in an hour or so. But that was it. He just looked ready. In reality, he was no where near 'ready' when it came to marriage.

He sighed and sat on the edge of his bed, trying to calm himself by taking deep breaths.

In. Out. In. Out. In. Out.

Again and again the High King had tried to tell himself that it was only a wedding, no big deal at all, but he gave up when he realized that his mind was not buying the lies. Of course it was a big deal! It was his marriage, after all. The biggest, most important day of his entire life… and this scared him.

High King Peter was no coward, but he knew what marriage meant. He knew what would be expected of him. He also knew he would devote himself to it and try his best to make this marriage work... eventually. He just hoped he had enough strength for it. The idea of such a pure and holy bond scared him, as it should scare anyone who decided to bind himself in it.

He shook his head. There was no time for such thoughts now.

In. Out. In. Out. In. Out.

A knock on the door startled him out of his meditation. A moment later, Lucy stepped in, dressed in a emerald dress that fell to her feet and her hair tied in an intricate knot of braids. She smiled and sat down next to him.

"You look beautiful, Lu," Peter murmured.

"And you look very handsome, Peter," Lucy replied excitedly. "I can't believe that the big day is finally here!"

Peter sighed and closed his eyes for a moment.

He felt Lucy hold his hand and squeeze it lightly. "Are you alright?"

"I would be lying if I said 'yes'," he replied.

Lucy smiled in understanding and leaned towards him so she could whisper in his ear, "Nervous?"

"Is it that obvious?" Peter asked as he stood up and walked to stand before the mirror.

"Yes. It is."

"Something is wrong."

"Why do you say that?" the Valiant Queen frowned.

"I don't feel right," he trailed off, shaking his head a little, "I don't know. I feel as if my stomach has been tied into many knots."

Lucy laughed. "It's just wedding jitters. Nothing is wrong."

Peter stared at her through the mirror for a second before asking, "Is everything in order?"

"Yes." she answered instantly.

He paused. "What if – what if I forget how to say 'I do'?"

"You won't," Lucy replied. She looked amused.

"What if Isabel says 'I don't' and runs away?" He asked.

"Well then you should be happy. You never wanted to marry her, right?"

"That's not the point!" Peter whirled around so that he was facing the young queen, "I will become a joke if she runs away on the wedding. I am the High King of Narnia, for Aslan's sake!"

Lucy rolled her eyes. "Isabel won't run away. Everything will be fine, trust me."

Peter nodded slowly, His hands clenched tightly at his sides and his lips pressed tightly into a line. "This is not right, Lucy, this marriage is not right." Peter said quietly, "I don't love her and she doesn't love me." When Lucy didn't say anything, he continued, "How can a prophecy choose our soulmates? This marriage has chances of failing badly."

"Just like it has chances of succeeding," Lucy pointed out.

"Exactly, but they are just chances, you see. Anything can happen, for better or for worse, no one knows."

"That is true for every marriage, don't you think?" Lucy asked. "Besides, Aslan knows. You should trust him."

"I do, Lucy, but –"

"–then there is nothing to worry about, is it?" Lucy interrupted. She moved to kiss him on the cheek. "Do not worry, dear brother. All will be well."

[][][][][][][]

"What's taking them so long?" Edmund muttered, "Lucy said she's gone to check on Peter, as if he is a little child. And Susan is still getting ready!"

"Well, Susan was seeing to the preparations," Caspian defended the Gentle Queen. "She finished that not an hour ago."

"Yes, Caspian, an hour. Do you have any idea how long an hour is?"

Caspian shrugged. "Well, she is a woman at the end of the day."

"Women!" Edmund growled, "They're nothing but trouble. We men are better off without them."

Caspian shook his head. He knew better than to disagree with the Just king at the moment. Edmund was, after all, doing one of the things he hated: welcoming the guests. Not that he was an unwelcoming person, no. Quite the contrary, Edmund loved guests. He just didn't like the part about standing at the entrance, and welcoming each of them as they arrived. He preferred socializing on his own terms, which often involved a handful of jokes, a glass of wine and a platter of food.

"Women are going to be the reason behind the deaths of all men," Edmund was muttering under his breath, "And the destruction of all humanity, and the end of the world."

Caspian raised his eyebrows. End of the world? This was going too far. Chuckling quietly to himself, he backed away from the angry young king slowly. Just as he turned around, he glimpsed the Valiant Queen at the end of the hallway. He hurried towards her. "Lucy," he said, "Edmund is throwing a tantrum. Where were you?"

"I was with Peter," Lucy replied, "He is so nervous! It only makes me wonder how nervous Isabel will be. I was just going to check up on her."

"I'll go see her," Caspian offered. "You can handle Edmund. He scares me!"

Caspian hurried towards Isabel's chambers. As he turned round a corner he bumped into someone… a second later he realized it was the woman he was in love with. Shit. He was in love. It was an exhilarating feeling, and a terrifying one.

"Someone is in hurry!" Susan commented with a smile. She wore a red velvet gown that hugged her figure till her waist and then flowed in a voluminous skirt down to her feet. She frowned when he did not respond. "Is something the matter, Caspian?"

"You."

"I beg your pardon?"

He could only stare at her. "How is a man to speak when you look so stunning, Susan?"

Susan blushed deeply. "Are you trying to flirt with me, King Caspian?" She joked.

"Maybe I am," His tone matched hers. He was not entirely joking, but she didn't need to know that. Not yet, any way. "I hope you do not mind."

"I never took you for the kind of man who would try to woo me."

"Well, you do look beautiful." Caspian shrugged. "I couldn't resist."

"Thank you," Susan smiled, her cheeks still pink. "You look quite good too. The ladies will be pleased today."

He ran a hand through his hair, not sure what to say. He was not really interested in pleasing other ladies. She was the one he wanted to make happy. "I... I must go see Isabel," he said. "I will see you at the wedding."

"Definitely."

He watched her walk away, and a soft sigh escaped his lips. He was hopeless.

[][][][][][][]

Isabel groaned, her arm twisting around her stomach. She was sure that there were at least a few million butterflies in there. She was going to be sick at the wedding. She was sure that she would throw up on someone during the ceremony and embarrass herself completely. Or she was going to pass out. What if she fell dead there? Her mind had been drawing a long list of all the bad things that could happen, and it was driving her insane.

She heard a knock and the door opened a little as Caspian poked his head in. "May I come in?" he asked.

"Of course," Isabel replied and stood up.

Caspian entered the room. He stared at Isabel, from head to toe, examining her, his dark eyes becoming wide with every passing second. "My lady," Caspian said, his voice a mixture of awe and admiration, "You look utterly gorgeous."

Isabel blushed. "Thank you," She said. Even her voice was anxious.

He must have caught on that, for he asked, "Are you nervous?"

"Yes," Isabel replied instantly. "I am." She paused. "This marriage will be a huge mistake, won't it?"

He frowned. "Why do you say that?"

"We do not love each other."

"Love," Caspian said slowly, "is not something that happens all of a sudden. It takes time and it requires understanding. It will happen when you realize that how special that person truly is. It will happen when you will start noticing little things about them, and they will matter to you. It will happen when you will need no words to converse with them. Give it some time, you and Peter will learn to love each other."

"You speak like someone who has experienced love," Isabel commented.

Caspian decided to ignore that. "So this is what worries you, that you will not fall in love with him?" he asked.

"Yes and no," Isabel sighed. "I just don't know how this marriage will work."

"You might be surprised at how it will," Caspian said and upon seeing Isabel's uncertain face, decided to use a different approach, "Look, all the preparations have been done. The guests are arriving. Everyone is ready. You look beautiful. Everything is perfect, so I suggest that you enjoy the event." He went to stand before her. "If it makes you feel better, I will tell you a secret."

"What?" Isabel asked, curious.

"Lucy told me that Peter is so nervous that he is jumping around like a kangaroo!"

Isabel laughed. "You made that up." The idea of the High King 'jumping like a kangaroo' seemed like an exaggeration to her.

"Alright maybe I did," Caspian admitted sheepishly, "But Lucy told me that Peter really is nervous. You're not the only one having cold feet. Believe me."

Isabel nodded slightly.

"I know how you feel, Isabel. I know what it is like, not having a family. I know how it feels to be alone," Caspian spoke after a minute. "I'm sorry that I am reminding you of your bad memories, but I want you to see that you are gaining a wonderful family tonight. And I want you to be thankful. This wedding will give you a lot, if not all, that you lost."

"The Pevensies are your family." She murmured.

"They are. And it is truly wonderful to be a part of this family. You will see, I promise."

Isabel smiled slightly. "Thank you, my king."

"My friends call me Caspian," he smiled, holding out his hand, "Edmund calls me many other things too, but I'd rather not mention them."

[][][][][][][]

Any minute now. Any minute.

Peter was pacing back and forth outside the Great Hall where the wedding was going to take place. Any minute now, and he would have to go in and he will be wedded to Isabel. His heart was beating frantically in his chest, and he thought that it would explode any second. It took all his will power to keep himself from jumping out of the window nearby and running away. He could run faster than the horses at the minute, he was sure of that.

His two best men were leaning against a wall nearby, following his movements with their eyes. "I bet the floor will wear away due to his walking," Edmund said to Caspian.

"I'm not taking that bet," Caspian snorted, "You'll probably win."

"I'm beginning to get dizzy seeing him pace like that." He muttered and straightened up. "Peter, stop. It's a wedding, not a war."

Peter grunted, but stopped pacing. "A war sounds rather welcoming at the moment."

It was a minute or two later when they were informed that everyone was ready for them. Peter took a deep breath to calm his nerves and faced the huge oak doors. Behind him, Caspian and Edmund took their places. He heard the music beginning to play inside as the doors opened slowly. He composed his face into a neutral expression and stepped forward.

The hall was decorated beautifully. Golden drapes hung from the ceiling, beaded chains hung along the walls, and hundreds of candles glimmered all over the Hall. Bouquets of fresh flowers decorated the entire place, tied together with fancy laces and tulles. Hundreds of guests stood in neat rows, facing Aslan, who stood at the altar at the far end of the hall. Centaurs, fauns, mice, dwarves, humans and other talking beasts, all of them were staring at the High King as he took his position before the Great Lion. Caspian and Edmund took their place behind to the groom's right.

All was silent for a minute or two, and then the orchestra played a new tune, more softer than the last one. A hush fell over the crowd as all eyes turned to the doors to catch a glimpse of the bride. Realizing that he should probably do the same, Peter turned, and his breath caught in his throat.

Isabel looked breathtakingly beautiful; there was no other way to describe it. He had always considered his sister, Susan, to be the most attractive woman in all of Narnia. But today, he was surprised to realise that he no longer believed that. Isabel had surpassed Susan in beauty.

The white wedding gown was made of the finest lace in Narnia, with a train that was at least two feet long, trailing after Isabel as she walked down the aisle. Her hair hung loose on her back, and she wore no jewelry. In her hands was a rather simple bouquet of carnations. She came to a stop beside Peter. Behind her, Susan and Lucy – who were unnoticed by Peter till now – took their places to her left.

Aslan started to speak then, and Peter forced his eyes away from the bride standing next to him.

"We are gathered here today to witness the coming together of High-King Peter Pevensie and Lady Isabel Hunter," the Great Lion said and then looked at the couple standing before him, "The two of you were born to be together and from this day on, you shall be together forevermore. Let your devotion be the foundation of this marriage and let your love be its pillars. Stand fast in the hope and confidence you have in yourselves and in one another. Have an unwavering faith in your shared destiny, and your union will be a strong one."

Aslan looked at the High King, "Peter Pevensie, do take Isabel Hunter to be your wife?"

Here goes... "I do," Peter replied, and was relieved when his voice did not sound weak.

"Do you take Isabel with all her faults and her strengths and offer yourself to her with your faults and strengths, in the only true way – completely and forever?"

He paused for a second. "I do."

"Do you, Peter Pevensie, in the presence of all these witnesses, pledge to love Isabel Hunter throughout the years? Do you pledge to give her the happiness and status she deserves? Do you pledge to support her through all times, both good and bad? Do you pledge to respect her as your wife, promise to be a good husband to her?"

Peter took a deep breath before saying, "I do."

Aslan then turned to Isabel and asked, "Isabel Hunter, do take Peter Pevensie to be your husband?"

"I do," she said softly.

"Do you take Peter with all his faults and his strengths and offer yourself to him with your faults and strengths, in the only true way – completely and forever?"

"I-I do."

"Do you, Isabel Hunter, in the presence of all these witnesses pledge to love Peter Pevensie throughout the years? Do you pledge to give him the happiness and status he deserves? Do you pledge to support him through all times, both good and bad? Do you pledge to respect him as your husband, promise to be a good wife to him?"

Isabel paused for a moment, then said, "I do."

"Bring forth the wedding rings."

Edmund walked forward and handed each of them a ring before going back to his place.

Peter looked at the ring in his hand. It was a simple band made of white gold, laden with diamonds. He turned to face Isabel and she did the same. "Isabel Hunter," Peter said as he slid the ring on her finger, "I give you this ring as a symbol of my promises to you."

"Peter Pevensie," Isabel said, placing the ring on his finger, "I give you this ring as a symbol of my promises to you."

Peter stared at the ring placed on his finger. It was also made of white gold, but it had no diamonds on it, and it was a bit wider than Isabel's ring. It felt awfully heavy to Peter, as if it was laden with the weight of all the oaths he had sworn a few moments ago.

"May this day shine eternally in your lives. May it add brilliance to every achievement and cast a divine light over any misfortune. May you give vitality to each other in all undertakings and may all that is virtuous, beautiful and honest, remain with you always," Aslan blessed them, "By the power invested in me, I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss."

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