Chapter 13

A few days after Edmund's accident, everyone was back to doing what they usually do. Lucy could be found in the library, Edmund, in the stable, getting the horses ready to go for a ride to visit villages around Cair Paravel; Susan, in her room, writing to a possible suitor in Archenland, and Peter and Clare in the courtyard, relaxing until Peter and Ed had to go.

"Peter," Clare spoke as she sat on the edge of the fountain, watching the fish, "what happened to Aslan? Where'd he go?"

Peter opened his eyes from the light nap he was taking. "I'm not sure; he will be back soon, though. I know it."

Clare nodded and turned back to the fountain. "Peter?" She asked again, this time more curiously. "Don't you think that it's Edmund's time to start courting? I mean, he is almost seventeen. Susan would have been starting in a few months, but she might have found someone already. If Lucy hasn't started before she's seventeen, then we will have to present her to the other countries as well as Narnia, but right now, Edmund is our main priority."

Peter looked at Clare. "Maybe. I'm not sure how well he will take to that; he's kind of shy about that sort of thing."

"Yes, but once he gets to know someone, he can be very open. Besides, he wasn't shy around me."

Peter shrugged and closed his eyes again. Clare sighed and turned back to the fountain. About a half an hour later, Edmund walked in and announced that he and Peter had to leave. Susan had come down from her room after she had finished her letter and joined them outside.

"I don't see why we can't go; we've gone every other time." She complained to her brothers.

"I've told you, Su, you can't today; it's strictly men's business." Ed told her as he tightened a strap on his saddle.

"Men's business my a-"

"Susan!" Peter scolded, "No need for such language! I promise, you all can come on the next trip, but today, it's essential that just Ed and I go."

Susan rolled her eyes as Clare walked up to Peter to say goodbye.

"How long will you be gone?"

"A few hours, at the most, wouldn't you say, Ed?" Peter turned to him.

The latter had been looking at a cloud in the sky when Peter spoke to him. "Hmm? Oh, yes, a few hours."

Peter pursed his lips, and turned back to Clare. "We won't be back until after dinner, so you can eat without us."

"Where will you eat?" Susan asked.

"We have some bread and fruit in our saddle bags; we will be fine." Ed told her.

"We must be off. I don't want it to be too dark when we return." Peter said as he looked at the sky.

The four waved to each other as the boys rode off, and the girls went in to the library to find Lucy.

PARAGRAPH

"Ed, Clare and I were talking earlier today, and we think that it's time that you start looking for a girlfriend." Peter told his brother as they rode.

"Why? Its not like I need one." Ed looked at him with furrowed brows.

"It's traditional for a king of Narnia to have a wife, Ed."

"Well maybe I don't want to be king then. I'm happy by myself. Besides, it's not like I'm alone; I have Susan, Lucy, you, and Clare. And anyway, if you don't even have a wife yet, why do I have to?"

Peter ignored the question. "Just promise me that if you ever come across someone that you may fancy, to give her a chance."

"I promise."

They continued riding until they got to a village. It had many different creatures, like dwarves, fauns, centaurs, and animals.

The boys stopped at a dwarf's workshop, because Peter needed to ask a favor.

"Good afternoon, Rufskine, how are you?" Peter asked him.

"I'm fine, your majesties, and how might you be?"

"Just fine, thank you. I had a favor to ask of you: would you be able to make me a ring?"

"Of course, your majesty; how would you like it to look?"

"Oh, I'll sketch you a picture." Peter took a piece of parchment and a quill, "I would like the band to be silver, with diamonds from halfway up the sides to the middle, then, I want an aquamarine in the middle, with diamonds around that. Like this." Peter showed him the finished sketch.

"It's beautiful, your majesty; who is it for?"

"It's for Clare. I'm going to ask her to marry me." Peter looked at Edmund who had a grin on his face, and Peter grinned back.

"You didn't tell me about this! Did you just expect to hide it from me forever? I'm your brother!"

"I wanted it to be a surprise, and it looks like I succeeded."

The three of them finished making preparations for the ring to be made, and the two kings were on their way. Peter had told Rufskine he would need the ring to be at Cair Paravel by next Tuesday, his nineteenth birthday. He planned to propose to Clare at the party, in the gardens, because that was her favorite place in all of Cair Paravel.

"So Peter, how many children are you going to have?" Ed smirked on his horse.

"Ed, I don't even know of she'll accept and your thinking about kids? I think you'll be more anxious than she and I will."

"Oh Peter, don't be silly; of course she'll accept. Why wouldn't she? And I'm sure she'll be asking the same sort of questions as soon as you propose."

Peter smiled lightly as they continued riding back to Cair Paravel. They both were exhausted when they returned, and saw Lucy waiting in the courtyard for them.

"I could hear the horses' hooves from a while away; how fast were you riding? Anyway, what did you do? How was your visit-"

"Calm down Lu, you're talking too fast; one question at a time please." Ed told his little sister.

Lucy blushed slightly and led them in to the main room where the other two girls were sitting.

"Ah, hello boys, how was your excursion?" Clare asked. "I hope you accomplished whatever it was that you needed to do."

Edmund looked at Peter knowingly, but Peter tried to hide it so no one would get suspicious.

"Yes, it was very successful." The former replied

Susan never misses anything, and she saw the look that her two brothers shared, and pulled Ed aside.

"What did you two do in the village? Peter is acting strange. Is there a secret somewhere in all of this?"

Ed looked around to make sure no one else was listening. "Yes. Peter wanted to go to the village to have something made at one of the dwarves' shops; a ring. He wanted an engagement ring made for Clare." He stopped when he saw Susan's eyes widen with excitement and her face start to glow. "Now Susan, remember, this is Peter's affair, not yours, so stay out of it. He plans to propose the night of his birthday celebration."

"I'm overjoyed! I need to excuse myself so that Peter doesn't ask me why I'm so riant."

Ed nodded and Susan walked out of the room. The former sat down beside Clare, Peter, and Lucy and talked about their trip, and random things afterwards.