HEre's chp. 2! Sorry for the delay but i was busy. School and all that... Anyway, i hope you forgave me for the previous, horrible chapter. I expect this one's better. Maybe you have already realized that this story turns into a PeterxOC story as well, right? In this chp. Sofia and Peter come a little closer! Hope you enjoy it! Love, Kate! :D

Chapter 21

"Hey, this one's perfect!"

"Not for me!"

"Oh, come on, Sof! Try it on!"

"I said no! Which part of the word you don't understand? The 'N' or the 'O'?"

"Why not?"

"Because it's…too much for me!"

"What are you talking about? This is the simplest one I found!"

"Still, I need something more simple!"

Lucy sighed in defeat and threw the dress on Sofia's bed.

"You know you would have looked very pretty in it. Peter would be drooling…"

Sofia looked at her warningly.

"Ouch!" Lucy rubbed her side where her friend had just pinched her.

"Hey, girls what are you up to? I thought I heard you fighting.." Susan entered hurriedly the room, concerned.

"Sofia refused to wear that dress I bought her in the coronation." Lucy crossed her arms and sat stubbornly on the bed.

Susan lifted the dress in the air towards the sunlight to get a better look at it.

"Oh, my god, this is beautiful!" she exclaimed.

Indeed it was beautiful. It was Susan's favourite color: blood-red combined with golden ribbons. It was indeed simple but very lovely. She held it up on her and ran to the mirror. She twirled around still holding it one her chest and smiled delighted.

"It is lovely! Why don't you wear it?"

"Because red is not my color. And besides it looks amazingly good on you. You keep it!"

"Are you sure?" she wanted badly to have the dress but she wanted to make sure Sofia didn't mind.

"Are you joking? You're in love with the dress!" she insisted.

Susan squealed excited, kissed both of the girls and ran off to her chambers to start preparing herself for the coronation.

Back in Lucy's chambers, Caspian walked out of her wardrobe with a content smile on his face.

"I told you it would work!" Caspian grinned proudly at the young Queen.

"I never doubted you!"

"But I'm still amazed! How did you managed to think *and* put in action such a plan?" Sofia asked intrigued.

"It was pretty easy. When we came back to the Telmarine castle, two days ago, I immediately ran off and found an old nurse of mine who happened to be a great tailor. I begged her to make a dress with Susan's favourite colors and she had it ready in the next day. And today I knew she would return to her room to read her book –as usual-. So I made sure to come here five minutes earlier than her today and tell you to start fighting about the dress. She would hear the argument and get in to check if everything's alright. And then you'd show her the dress and…volaa!" Caspian explained simply to the girls.

He had arrived a little later than he had estimated so he had no time to explain his plan to the girls before.

"It's voila, Caspian!" Lucy corrected him cheerfully.

"Yeah, yeah.. now I must be going. In a few hours, I'll be crowned King and I'm still wearing the clothes I put on when I go to the practicing fields." He bowed to the girls and left.

"He is such a chivalrous young man! He's the perfect match for Susan!"Sofia said kindly.

"He is, isn't he? I'm so glad my sister found someone like him…"

"And what he did is soooo romantic…!" Sofia threw herself on the bed, thinking of her knight in shining armor.

"Thinking about Pete, are we?" Lucy climbed on the bed next to her and looked at her with a wicked grin on her face.

"You are one little devil!" the girl pretended to be annoyed and before Lucy could respond she started tickling and pinching her, making the Valiant Queen laugh uncontrollably.

A few hours later, everyone was prepared for the big event. Most of the Narnians and Telmarines had willingly volunteered in the castle's decoration. Flowers and red and gold ribbons could be seen everywhere. The ball room and the throne room were carpeted with blood-red velvet carpets. The Kings and Queens were all getting dressed up. All? Well, actually the two narnian Kings had a little problem..

"No!"

"Come on, Cas! You know we're right!" Edmund got quite annoyed by Caspian's behavior.

"But what if I'm not good enough? What if they don't like me or trust me or-?" he paced up and down the room.

"By the Lion's Mane, Caspian! The people already like you and you have already proven what a capable leader you can be!" Peter threw his arms in the air exasperated.

"He's right! Are you even questioning Aslan?" the younger King tried to reason with him.

"No, well, I … you know.. Oh, whatever. After all, this is my father's dream." He shrugged his shoulders.

"Your dream too, Cas."

The prince smiled at Peter thankfully. "Yes, Peter. My dream too."

"Alright, now if we leave you alone, you won't run off, will ya?" Edmund eyed him cautiously.

"No, I would never run away!" he stated sort of insulted.

"We know. We'll be waiting for you in the throne room. Be there in ten minutes time, okay? "

The prince nodded and sat on his bed when they left. He buried his face in his hands and sighed. He was confused. He had no idea what to do. He wanted so badly to ran away. He could not think of a reason that could hold him here. Well, he could think of one..

"Stop pulling me, Lu. You'll cut my dress!" he heard Susan's laughter from the other side of the door. He got up from the bed quickly and placed his ear on the door.

"Sorry, Su, but we'll be late for the coronation!" the little girl kept dragging her by the arm and from what Caspian could listen from the other side of the door, his Queen was resisting quite successfully.

"No, we won't. After all, I bet that Caspian isn't even ready." She remarked.

"You're probably right.. He must be freaking out! Do you remember how you reacted five minutes before we met Aslan?"

"How could I forget? It was the most traumatic experience of my entire life! And I swear if it wasn't for Edmund, maybe right now I would be in Archenland or even Calormene, serving customers in a tavern!"

"I remember when I saw you, jumping out of your window. I swear I thought you wanted to kill yourself!" Lucy giggled as the memories flooded her.

"It wasn't funny!" Susan smacked softly her sister on the shoulder.

"Yes, it was! Especially when I saw you trying to sit on the saddle but falling flat on the ground!"

"Stop it! My butt is still hurting!" she complained joking.

"Sorry!"

"Never mind. However, I did learn my lesson. I realized how stupid I was for feeling like that and for wanting to run away from it. Now I know I made the right choice and I wouldn't give it away for the world. Having all these people love me, knowing that I can give them a happy life and sharing all these beautiful things with my loved ones make me feel so.. so.. Well, I just can't seem to find the right word to describe it!" she laughed at herself and took her sister by the hand.

"Now let's get to that throne room. There are people waiting!" she joked and her sister rolled her eyes.

"Finally!"

Caspian heard the two giggling girls leaving. He walked out of the room and supported his back on the door. This girl was so amazing. She managed to help him without even knowing it! He laughed a little at this thought and made his way to the throne room as well.

"His Highness, Prince Caspian the X!"

Everyone stood up from the chairs they were previously sitting in and bowed at him as he passed them by. Next to the left of his throne were Edmund and Lucy, both wearing their crowns. Edmund held in his hands a small velvet pillow with the Telmarine crown on it. The Just King looked at his friend and winked at him playfully and Caspian returned his wink with a small grin of his. Lucy looked older in her delicate dress and with a little make up on. In her small hands she had a bouquet of jasmines. The Telmarine prince could almost smell them from across the room.
To the right, were Peter and Susan. Peter looked more magnificent than ever. He even had Rhindon on his belt, a symbol of power and royalty. Susan was of course what captured his attention. With the dress he bought for her, she looked more stunning than ever. She, just like her sister, had a bouquet of pink and white orchids. The two elder siblings also wore their crowns.

The four monarchs smiled approvingly to him and the Valiant Queen motioned him to sit in the throne.

"Prince Caspian, we have just been informed that there is a special guest to your coronation."

"Who may that guest be?" he asked her kindly.

Then the doors of the huge room opened and through a blinding light Aslan's figure came into view. Everyone in the room bowed as he slowly made his way to the Kings and Queens. The four siblings and Caspian knelt when He finally reached them. The future King couldn't feel but honored to have the Great Lion in his coronation.

"Rise Kings and Queens of Narnia."

"How wonderful you'll crown Caspian King, Aslan!" Lucy exclaimed excited.

"It is my honor, Your Majesty." Caspian bowed again.

"Thank you. Now I think we've kept the people waiting long enough!" the Lion joked and everyone took their previous positions.

"It has been quite a long time since Telmar's last capable King ruled, Caspian the Third, a good-hearted, brave king who could define right from wrong. Since his death many greedy tyrants have taken over the throne, almost leading this country to its destruction. Now after all these years, a King worth as his ancestor, Caspian the Third, is willing to take the throne and lead this country to its previous glory." The Lion spoke to the people standing before him. He then turned to Caspian.

"Caspian the Tenth, kneel." The boy immediately did as he was ordered. His heart was beating faster than ever. Even though Susan's words took all his fears away, he still had some doubts about him as a King. He took a deep breath focusing on Aslan's words.

"With your hand at your heart, do you swear to protect this country and its people even if it costs you your life? Do you swear to live up to your people's expectations?"

"I do." He said simply looking right into the Lion's eyes.

Once Caspian completed his oath, Peter took the Telmarine crown in his hands and placed it gently on Caspian's head.

"Rise, Caspian the Tenth, King of Telmar." The Lion's majestic voice filled the room and making Caspian forget his fears. The boy stood up, letting the crowd cheer. He then headed to his throne and sat, smiling proudly, showing to everyone the true King he was.

"Wow! They're amazing!" Lucy was looking at the fireworks above the Telmarine castle enchanted."I did not know they had fireworks in Narnia as well!|

"We're actually in Telmar, sweetie." Sofia corrected her, not taking her eyes off the amazing sight as well.

"You two look like two little children who have never seen something like it before" Peter's amused voice came.

"Well, I *am* a child!" Lucy corrected him.

"Yes, and for your information I've *not* seen anything like it before." Sofia stated.

The two girls' statements made Peter blush for almost being told-off by two girls but fortunately for him the two girls had their backs still on him. He approached the girls and supported his weight on his hands on the ceilings of the balcony as well, admiring the sight.

"So what do you think?" Sofia asked him, turning her attention to him.

"Beautiful." He looked her in the eyes and she wasn't sure if they were talking about the same thing.

"I think I'll go and have and drink!" Lucy excused herself.

"Yes, you do that." Peter said still in the girls eyes."Wait. Drink! Hold on young lady-!"He made his way to his young sister but a hand stopped him causing him to stop his foot in midair.

"Let the girl have some fun. After all, I'm sure she did not mean the kind of drink you're imagining." Sofia reasoned.

"I guess you're right. So tell me, are you content with the turn of events?" he asked her as his tense muscles relaxed.

"Very! I never thought I would be the Kings and Queens of Narnia and Telmar closest friend! You're so good.." she responded gently, gaining his full attention. "All of you, I mean, you're..good…"

"Thank you for your kind words, Sofi. You don't mind me calling you 'Sofi', do you?"

"No, of course not! But I have one question." Peter looked at her interested, eager to answer her every question.

"Whatever happened to 'Lady' Natia?" she pronounced the name mockingly, as if it was an insult. She could see that at the mention of her former mistress the High King's soft features turned his face cold and hard.

"She was sent back to the place where she grew up. We promised her not to harm her or her mother unless they both returned to Natia's old house. Of course, Prunaprismia's son followed them as well." He replied avoiding to meet her in the eyes. He didn't want her to see his emotions to their previous trusted friend.

"Oh, good." The girl simply answered before an awkward silence filled the air.

"You look lovely tonight." He tried to compliment her but felt like an imbecile at her confused face.

"I mean you always look lovely! Tonight you just look lovelier." He hurried to rephrase his thoughts and earned an amused smile and he could make out a blush on her cheeks' tanned skin.

He felt quite satisfied with himself. He had learned from his sister, Susan, that when a girl blushes at compliments it's always a good sign.

"Thanks. You look good yourself."

"The others had told me that as well, but I didn't believe them. However, I have to admit that hearing it from your lips it sounded more true than ever." He half-joked but looked in her eyes intently and now the girl giggled not being able to hide her blush even though her hard efforts.

******

"Oh, god! Another lovesick couple added in our collection." Edmund rolled his eyes as he and Susan caught glimpse of the High King and Sofia on the balcony. Susan smacked his head.

"Hey! What was that for?"

"Firstly, for implying something about Caspian and I. Secondly, for your remark against Peter and Sofia. Aren't you just happy that Peter finally is in love with a worthy girl?"

The three younger siblings have seen their brother flirting from time to time with girls but none of them was of their liking. They usually were snobbish, 'touch-me-not' type of girls. It was a pleasure to finally see him with a girl like Sofia.

"Yes, I am! I'm happy for both of you! Caspian and Sofia are two amazing persons and I really like them. I just like teasing you guys! You know, old habits and all that.." he explained causing Susan to giggle.

"Really how come you're not with your pretty boy?" he asked receiving again a deathly glare.

"He's busy." She muttered frowning.

Edmund looked behind her shoulder and saw Caspian being greeted by every single unmarried girl in Telmar.

"That's why!" he muttered enlightened."Well, why don't you go and show those girls who's Caspian courting?"

"What?" she looked at him perplexed. "You really think I should do it?"

"I'm the one who suggested it, am I not?"he rolled his eyes.

"Maybe you're right. Yes! I'll go right away!" she said determined and spun her heels hastily.

She walked hurriedly but graciously as a Queen should walk, towards her love's direction. She tried to move past the girls that had now surrounded him but one of them stopped her abruptly, looking at her infuriated.

"Where do you think you're going, little girl?" she eyed her disapprovingly.

"As you can see, I wish to speak to King Caspian. "She replied calmly.

"You actually think he'll fancy you? Please! You're just a little girl!" she laughed at the young Queen, saying the last part loudly.

She looked to be around Caspian's age. 'That's what makes her feel so superior but the one who'll laugh best is the one who'll laugh last.' She thought realizing that this young woman had not recognized her as the Queen of Narnia.

"What is going on here?" they heard a male, accented voice from behind them.

"Your Majesty, I'm sorry if we disturbed you by the loud volume of our words." The woman bowed to Caspian.

"It is not the loudness of your words that had bothered me but the words you spoke, my Lady." He looked not just annoyed but slightly angry too.

"I'm afraid I do not understand what you mean, Majesty."

"The 'little girl' to whom you've been referring to, is Queen Susan the Gentle, the Archer Queen of Narnia." He spoke as calmly as he could but Susan knew that whenever Caspian talked in this manner he was surely holding back his anger.

The young woman gasped and looked to Susan again, shock written all over her face.

"Oh dear god. I feel so ashamed my Queen. How come I did not recognize you? Can you ever forgive me?" she lowered her head ashamed.

"I can forgive your ignorance. But I certainly cannot forgive the way you must be treating girls of lower rank than me." She replied gently but coldly.

"Your Majesties-."

"Do not apologize, my Lady. Enjoy the rest of your night here." Caspian cut her off and the girl immediately got the message of her being unwanted.

"But before you go there is something I wish to announce to all of you." He said his voice echoing across the hall.

"I have already asked permission from High King Peter for his sister's hand so with her permission as well, I wish to officially court her." He announced looking expectantly at Susan
extending his hand towards her.

"So what do you say my Queen?"

Susan was caught off guard. At first she was at loss of words making Caspian more nervous than before. She stared at his open palm wide-eyed. After a few moments of thinking she recovered.

Her rosy lips formed the sweetest smile the young King had ever seen, making his pulse increase.

"Well, since you have asked so kindly…" he voice trailed off playfully.

She grabbed his hand and threw herself in his arms, hugging him tightly. Caspian did not expect her to be so expressive before the whole kingdom but he was more than happy with her reaction. He caught her by the waist and twirled her in the air before kissing her passionately, losing himself in all these feelings of love and passion that were filling his mind and heart. Everyone in the room gasped in surprise and then let out a delighted 'awww'. Well, everyone apart from all these girls who expected to be the future Queen of Telmar's handsome young King.

"Your Majesties, why don't you dance?" Trufflehunter, the good-hearted badger suggested and all the narnians cheered in agreement before shouting "Dance, Dance!" clapping rhythmically their hands.

Tho two royalties looked each other happily and headed to the dancefloor, surrounded by all the people in the castle.

From behind the curtains, Peter and Sofia were still looking to the sky that was now filled by gleaming stars. They hadn't left the balcony since Lucy gave them the opportunity to spend some time together and most importantly alone.

"I'm so happy about my sister. I always thought that no one is good enough for her but obviously Caspian proved me wrong!"

"He's a fine young man, isn't he?" Peter looked at Sofia in agreement but the girl could spot a hint of jealousy in his eyes. Could it be…?

"Of course you and your brother are great as well. I like you very much.." Peter thought she would add that she liked him and his brother equally but she only looked at him smiling lightly.

"Thank you, Sofia. I like you too."

"You do? You know before revealing Natia's true identity, I thought that you and her had a mutual, uh…, liking." She tried to keep her voice normal.

"What? No! I mean, alright, I was intrigued by her for a little while but when I met you I found that she was not what I expected or thought she would be." He confessed.

"When you met me? Why?"

"Because every day I realized how mysterious you are and that I actually like it. And I still feel I want to find out more about you…" the High King had never felt more awkward in his entire life. For a moment he feared that maybe she did not feel the way he felt. But when she suddenly started closing the distance between them those fears slowly faded away.

"Well, then… find out.." she replied simply and he felt that she was almost inviting him to kiss her. And that was exactly what he was about to do when…

"Peter! Sof! Come and see! Su and Caspian are going to dance!" Edmund appeared at the door of the balcony. The couple immediately distanced themselves from one another, trying to act casually.

"And that is what a train is." Peter said and mentally smacked himself 'That's the best you can come up with?'

"Oh, hi Ed! What happened?" he turned his attention to his brother, avoiding Sofia's puzzled look.

"I said Cas and Su are about to dance! If they haven't started already.." he added listening to the music.

The three of them made their way among the crowd finally being able to see the dancing couple. Susan was as usually radiant and she had a smile that never left her face. Caspian was looking at her with more love and passion than Peter had ever seen. The three felt somewhat embarrassed for looking at the young couple, feeling as if they were intruding a private moment of theirs.

Caspian was the one who chose the song they would be dancing to. It was a fast but passionate dance that reminded Susan of tango. He had his hands on her waist, lower than it was appropriate for an unmarried couple. There was body contact everywhere as their bodies were colliding whenever the beat was growing faster. Some were looking at them in awe and some they were ashamed. But none of the two cared. All that they could see at the moment was each other. He twirled her around the room graciously and to end the dance he dipped her down, their faces only inches apart from each others. Susan led her hand through his tangled hair to his cheek and even though it was one simple move everyone could see the desire behind it.

As they stood up they both panted heavily. Everyone cheered and clapped their hands but they were still looking in each other's eyes, holding hands. They were lost in their own world. Lucy was the one to take them back to reality.

"Oh, Susan that was breathtaking!" she chirped excitedly and hugged her sister by the waist. The Gentle Queen was unprepared but she recovered quickly and caressed her sister's soft hair.

"Thanks, Lu. Glad you liked it!" She shrugged her shoulders incomprehensibly to Caspian who grinned at the two sisters.

As the previous ball, the Pevensie siblings attended to, this one ended the same way. Three Kings were drunk and two Queens and a Lady were taking them to their room. Then the three girls gathered in Susan's bedroom. Even though it was almost the crack of the dawn they couldn't sleep.

"So tell us, Sof! You like him, don't you?"Susan urged the girl who nodded shyly causing the two sisters to scream excited and jump on the bed in a very un-ladylike manner.

"I knew it!"

"Me too!"

"We both knew it!"

"Yeees, we did!"

They fell on the bed on their backs laughing like possessed, tears streaming down their faces.

"And I thought that the boys were the drunk ones!" Sofia teased them and lied beside them.

"Well, I admit it, I'm drunk!" Susan raised her hand.

"You are?" Lucy looked at her puzzled.

"Yes! I'm drunk from his love and passion and happiness and-ohh so many other things!" she exclaimed, hugging her pillow, thinking of her prince- uh, sorry, king.

The three girls laughed and talked like that for a few minutes before starting yawning uncontrollably and finally falling asleep. They drifted off in Susan's bed, Susan hugging a pillow and resting her head on top of Sofia's head, Lucy sleeping on that pillow and Sofia on Susan's shoulder.

"They are cute aren't they?" Caspian was startled by Peter's voice. He had come to wake Susan up but when he opened the door he saw the three girls sleeping on each other. He had stayed there watching them for a while. They were indeed the cutest sight his eyes had seen.

"Yes they are."

"How long have you been standing here?"

"A while. Please tell me I'm not the only one who wants to hit his head on the wall expecting the headache to go away!" he suddenly changed the subject.

"No you're not."

"Good. I was thinking of talking to the people about the union of our countries today but it seems quite impossible… I'll postpone it for tomorrow afternoon."

"Yes, please do that!" Edmund appeared at the door of his chambers.

"Good morning, Ed. You look awful!" Caspian stated.

"So are you!"

"I know."

"Where is that badger when you need him?" Edmund grabbed his head with both arms."I feel like hitting my head on the wall!"

The two elder monarchs looked at each other and grinned.

"Come, Ed. This way." Caspian gestured to his friend leading him to Trufflehunter's kitchen.

So what did you think? I sort of like this chapter. I hope the next one will be up before Wednesday! Comments please?