A/N: Hey guys. Here's a speedy upload for you wonderful readers.

THANKS MADDIE TESS FOR BEING A GREAT BETA-READER!

Chapter 10: Personal Business and An Announcement

Lorenzo's POV

"The blue."

"Good choice."

"No the red."

"Also good."

"Wait, no the blue."

"The blue it is then."

"But I also like the red."

"JUST CHOOSE ONE!"

I winced at the harshness in Ella's voice. She was practically fuming as she held up two silk-suits.

"Lorenzo, the Ball is tomorrow night. Choose a suit or, so help me, you will go in a puffy-pink dress and I will make sure there is glitter."

"Ok ok. The blue one." I quickly answered, knowing Ella was serious about the pink dress.

"Confirmed?"

"Yes."

She nodded in satisfaction and kept the blue suit on the bed before putting the red suit back in the box.

"If that's all, I would like to go back to bed." I sighed, rubbing my eyes for the hundredth time.

Did she have to do this at 3 am in the morning?

"No you idiot. We still have shoes." Ella grinned as she took out a pair of shiny black leather shows from the huge box.

"What! No, I want to go back to bed. We'll continue this tomorrow morning."

I tried to push Ella out of my room but she was quite strong and she shoved me off and returned to the big box on the bed.

"No. We have to do this now. Don't you get it? I can't help you in the day when everyone is awake. Weren't you the one who asked me to keep your little secret a secret?"

My mind was truly frenzied as I processed her words.

"What does this have to do with my secret?"

Ella smirked and a glimmer of mischievousness flashed in her eyes. She held up the pair of leather shoes in one hand and placed her other hand on her hip.

"These are no ordinary shoes. They're dancing shoes."

My eyes nearly popped out of my sockets at the word dancing.

"What? No. No way. Not happening. No." I firmly said, shaking my head as I attempted to push Ella out of the room.

"Come on Lorenzo. It's the perfect opportunity for you and Camilla to get closer. Just imagine you and her dancing to a slow romantic song." Ella murmured, looking off into the distance with a dreamy face.

"Really? All I see is me lying flat on my butt and everyone laughing at me. That is not a very pretty picture. Ella you know I am a complete buffoon when it comes to dancing." I whined.

"I know. Which is why I'm here to teach you." She crossed her arms over her chest.

"You're telling me you're going to teach me how to dance at 3 am in the morning so that I can dance at the Ball tomorrow night with the girl I'm in love with?" I exclaimed in shock.

"You're welcome."

"You. Are. Mental."

I pushed her towards the door but she whipped around and glared at me.

"Look. I am sacrificing my precious sleep so that you can have your happily ever after with Camilla. I want to see you two together because I know you two are perfect for each other. At least I'm willing to put in some effort. Unlike you, you lazy git. So man-up and let me help you!"

I stared at Ella before me as she shook in rage. Her fists were clenched so tight her knuckles were white and her eyes could have burnt a hole through me.

How did poor Ed ever survive with her?

"Okay." I gulped and responded softly.

"Good."

Suddenly all sign of rage disappeared and she beamed at me excitedly.

She really freaks me out…

Ella grabbed my hand and pulled me back into the middle of my bedroom.

"Ok. When you have your dance with Camilla, place your hands here." She ordered as she placed my hands on her waist and kept her own on my shoulders.

"Now, when she moves forward, you move backwards, like this." She stepped forward and I meant to step back but for some strange reason my foot stepped forward onto Ella's.

"OW! I said back you dolt!" She exclaimed as she hit me lightly on my shoulder.

"Sorry. I have poor coordination."

"Oh don't give me that excuse. I've seen you battle three soldiers with one sword and win. Come on. Try again."

It seemed like hours when we were finally done. My legs were aching and my whole body was sore. Not from the dancing, but from every time Ella hit me when I made a wrong move.

I called it abuse, she called it tough love.

It was nearly dawn and finally Ella approved of my dancing.

"You are ready, grasshopper."

"Grasshopper?" I crinkled my brows in confusion.

"Sorry. 21st Century saying back in my world. Nevermind. What matters is that I have made a fine dancer of you." She winked before grabbing her cloak and running out of the room.

Finally. Now I can sleep.

I turned to my window which let some sunlight pour in.

For five minutes at least.

Edmund's POV

I yawned as I rolled over and groggily opened my eyes. I placed my arm over Ella to hug her but there was a problem…

She wasn't there.

I sat up and squinted in confusion.

Where was Ella?

Suddenly, the door opened and a cloaked figure quietly crept into the room before turning around to close the door silently. I got off the bed and grabbed my sword swiftly from the bedside table before unsheathing it. As the figure turned to face me, I pointed my sword at it.

"Aaaah! Edmund put that down!"

I immediately withdrew my sword as Ella stood there, holding her hand over her heart.

"Why were you trying to kill me?" She exclaimed, taking off her cloak and placing it on the bed.

"Why were you sneaking into our bedroom? Where were you?" I questioned as Camilla's words about her and that man in the library entered my head.

"I just had some business to attend to. Personal business." She curtly replied, not looking directly at me.

I could make out dark circles under her eyes and her hair was a bit messy.

"Personal business? What could be so personal you can't tell me?" I shouted as I walked up to her.

"I don't have to tell you everything you know." She snapped, glaring up at me.

"That doesn't mean you can keep secrets from me. I'm your husband!" I retorted.

Ella simply stood there fuming at me before shaking her head slightly and storming into the bathroom.

I let out a sigh of frustration and plopped onto the bed, rubbing a hand over my face. Thousand questions crossed my mind.

Where was Ella all night?

Why was she acting so secretive?

What personal business?

Something was definitely going on with Ella and I needed to find out what.

Susan's POV

I beamed as I looked around the throne room. Red and Silver streamers hung everywhere, two of Lucy's favorite colors. Everyone was enjoying themselves and Lucy was literally having a ball.

She looked beautiful in her deep maroon gown with her hair loose in soft curls. Sometimes I forgot how much Lucy had grown. She was still the baby of the family to all of us. And another birthday meant she was just getting older and more mature.

As I watched her chat merrily with Reepicheep, I noticed Ella and Lorenzo talking quietly with one another. Ella looked angry and Lorenzo looked nervous. Suddenly, Ella pushed Lorenzo forward, causing him to glare at her. He walked off into a crowd and Ella watched him closely. I saw Lorenzo walk up to Camilla and hold out his hand while he murmured smiled slightly and placed her hand in his. They walked over to the dance-floor and I smiled at how they shyly danced with each other. Ella was smiling too when Edmund bumped into her. They looked at each other for a moment before Ella turned back to watch Lorenzo and Edmund walked away to his group of friends.

Strange.

Edmund and Ella were always together.

They must have had a huge fight.

And who knew Lorenzo had a thing for Camilla?

As I thought about all of this, I heard the sound of glass being tapped.

"Friends. Please can I have your attention. I have something to say."

I turned to find Craig standing on the platform of the thrones with a glass of wine in his hands and a spoon in the other. Everyone turned to him and the entire Great Hall fell silent as all eyes were on him.

What is he doing?

"Right. Well, many of you may not know me but I am Craig of Galma, a current resident in the castle and a friend to the Royal Family. I have been staying here for some time and made close relations with the Pevensies, a certain one in particular."

At this point, he looked directly at me and I could feel a deep blush forming in my cheeks.

"Susan, would you please come up here?"

Everyone turned to me as I looked at Craig in surprise. He smiled warmly at me as he motioned for me to go to him. Usually, I was never nervous in big crowds, but this time my palms became sweaty as I made my way to the front and stood beside Craig.

"Susan, you have been the kindest to me here and I have truly, never met a more wonderful woman that you. I know we haven't known each other for very long and we never really courted. But you have really captured my heart and I am madly in love with you, which is why I stand here before you and the whole of Narnia with one question: Susan, will you marry me?"

As Craig knelt on one knee and pulled out a huge diamond ring with sapphire stones at the side, it felt like my heart crashed out of my chest and the whole world froze. All I could see was his magnificent green eyes and dashing smile as he looked hopefully at me. I knew I always liked Craig but today confirmed it as I immersed myself into those gorgeous eyes.

The butterflies in my stomach whenever I see him.

How my heart speeds up when he smiles at me.

The shivers I get when he touches me.

I was in love with Craig.

"Yes."

The whole room burst into applause as Craig swooped me up into his arms and crashed his lips to mine. I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him back with the same amount of passion. This was my first kiss and it was to my betrothed. I couldn't believe I was actually engaged but I knew deep down in my heart, Craig was the one for me and I loved him with every fibre of my being.

Caspian's POV

No.

No. No. No. No.

NO!

This can't be happening.

Craig actually asked Susan to marry him…

AND SHE SAID YES!

It felt like my whole world came crashing down as I watched them kiss each other on the platform. Beside me Peter leant over and whispered into my ear.

"Craig came to me yesterday and asked for my permission. Normally I wouldn't approve but Craig really is a good match for Susan. So of course I said yes." He exclaimed as he continued clapping.

Damn you, Peter!

"I think I need some fresh air." I murmured before pushing my way through the crowd towards the balcony.

Inside, the Great Hall was still in great pomp for the double celebration; Lucy's birthday and Craig and Susan's engagement.

STUPID CRAIG.

I really felt like digging a hole and disappearing forever.

What hurt more was how ecstatic Susan looked when he asked her. She really loved him and I would give anything to be in his shoes.

Suddenly, I felt a hand on my shoulder and turned to find Ella looking at me sympathetically.

"Are you alright?" She murmured.

"What do you think?" I scowled and leant against the stone barrier as I looked up at the stars.

"Caspian, I know things may seem hopeless now, but still you have to have faith…"

"What's the point? He proposed to her Ella! They're engaged! They're going to get married!" I yelled, not caring if anyone heard me.

"Caspian, please, just calm…"

"NO!"

I shoved Ella out of my way and stomped back into the Great Hall. I grabbed two bottles of wine and dashed to my room, where I locked myself in and embarked on drowning myself in the pain, sorrow and alcohol.

Susan and Craig were getting married.

That was the bitter truth.

But I could only blame myself.

I was too late.

A/N: PLEASE DON'T KILL ME!

This all had to happen. Trust me, the juicy parts of the story are still yet to come so please keep reading.

AND REVIEW! Reviews allow me to develop the story better so I really really appreciate them.

REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW!