Entering the stables, Lucy was enveloped with scents of hay and the grainy feed for the horses. Leading Caspian in with a pull upon their intertwined hands, she walked across the cobblestone floor that was covered here and there by strands of hay. Looking up at the roof, the Valiant Queen delighted in seeing that Caspian had put stained glass windows in when he had the stables rebuilt. Small dots of rainbow colours shimmered all around them and onto the horses. Lucy's new mare, Sylvia, was pure white normally but she looked pink, blue, purple and green.
"Like the Horse of A Different Colour from the Wizard of Oz," said Lucy, remembering the movie that had come out a decade before in England. She had watched it with her mother when she had been quite small and before all the war happened. Caspian saw his fiancée's face drop slightly and put his right arm around her shoulder while his left hand came up to cup her chin.
"Are you alright?" he asked her, looking into her eyes.
"Just thinking of my mum," answered Lucy, giving him a sad smile. She reached up and kissed his lips quickly. "I'll be okay."
"Do you wish to leave?" asked Caspian, not wanting to cause her more sadness.
"No!" Lucy said with a laugh, genuine and happy. "I want to show you something instead of riding today."
"Oh?" said Caspian, intrigued. He dropped his hand from her chin and stepped back, looking amused. "Show me whatever it is then."
To his surprise, Lucy darted away from him and over to the ladder that led all the way up to the hay loft. Hiking her long skirt up to her knees with one hand, she used the other to hold onto the ladder and began to climb.
"What are you doing?" asked Caspian with a laugh.
"I am going to play in some hay!" answered the Queen. She reached the top, a full 50 feet higher than she had been before. "Hold this!" she then called and something was thrown over the edge of the loft. Caspian rushed to catch it before it hit the ground and realized when he got it that it was her silver crown.
"You don't want it?" he asked her, looking down at the silver glory.
"I'm making myself a new one… come see!"
Sighing, Caspian put the crown onto his arm like a bracelet and began to climb the ladder. When he reached the top, Lucy was nowhere in sight but he could see her dagger on the floor from where she had used it to cut the twine that bound some hay bales together.
"Where are you, milady?" called the King.
"Hold on," answered Lucy from somewhere on his left. Caspian turned and still didn't see her. "I'm putting the finishing touches onto my crown," continued Lucy, her voice drifting to him from over the nearest hay bale. Before Caspian could react, the Queen jumped up and blew hay at him. Strands fluttered around him to the floor like confetti and stuck in his hair. Wiping some of the strands away from his eyes, a chuckling Caspian spotted Lucy standing not five feet from him with a straw crown on her head.
"It suits you," he said as she gave him an impish smile.
"I know. I used to make them all the time back in the Golden Age," said Lucy. "Here," she reached behind the hay bale and produced another crown that was bigger. Walking up to him, she placed it on his head.
"And now it suits you, my King," she said, sweeping him a curtsy.
"Come here," she heard Caspian sigh and within seconds, he had lifted her up and pulled her into his arms.
-Two Weeks Later-
The light purple silk ballroom gown fit Lucy beautifully. Corseted so that the top of the dress was very fitted, she was the picture of elegance. At the waist line were diamonds, faceted individually and all by hand. The skirt of her dress drew away from her body at the hipline and swept along the floor lightly, almost as if she were floating. In the mirror, Lucy quickly checked her reflection.
Adding a dash of pink to her cheeks by pinching and using an ointment on her lips that made them soft, she pronounced herself perfect except for the final touches. One, her silver crown that nestled itself on the top of her head that she had retrieved from Caspian that day in the stables. It set her long, chestnut hair to absolute perfection. The second was her engagement ring, still the simple golden band. She slipped it onto her left ring finger and admired herself once more in the mirror. Extremely happy, Lucy thought about what was happening at Cair Paravel that evening. Tonight was to be the ball to celebrate her's and Caspian's engagment. Every nobleman and royal were expected to be attending at Cair and every commoner was given the day off.
Noting the natural blush coming into her cheeks thinking about all the strangers she would meet tonight, Lucy left her bedchambers and locked the door behind her, tucking her key in a hidden pocket sewn inside her right sleeve.
She then walked down the hallway, admiring with new eyes the sconces that adorned the stone walls of the castle she loved. The flames were flickering cheerily, reminding her of fire faeries. Giggling a little at her own imagination, Lucy reached the end of the hallway and descended the stairs that led to the back entrance of Cair Paravel's Grand Ballroom.
She was met at the entrance to the ballroom by Edmund, who was waiting to be announced. From where she stood, she could see through the open bay doors that Caspian was standing in the middle of the ballroom floor, looking very bored. Women were flocking around him like bees around honey and he didn't bat an eyelash except to look at the clock.
Edmund turned and noticed her. He too had been staring out at the crowds of noblemen and women. Candlelight from the sconces flickered off his own silver crown and danced upon his silver tunic and red silk cape. His black boots shone like new coals as did his hair. He could almost be handsome, she thought inwardly, joking."My darling sister," he said, bowing low. "Dearest brother," said Lucy, pompously. Edmund chuckled and as they both straightened, he took her white silk-gloved hand and kissed it."You look radiant," Edmund complimented, letting her hand fall."And you are dashing," Lucy returned, reaching forward to smooth out a wrinkle on Edmund's tunic."Announcing their Royal Majesties..." boomed a voice from inside. Knowing that this was their cue, Edmund took Lucy's left hand and placed it on top of his right. He then came to stand on her left.
Lucy watched as every face in the ballroom turned to look at her and Edmund. But it was Caspian's face that she was interested in the most. He had an idiotic smile on his face and he looked as if he would run to her right that minute and take her into his arms. She fought to control her emotions because she knew that if she got too excited, she could start to hyperventilate and that was not good in a corset.
"High King Edmund, the Just and High Queen Lucy, the Valiant!" the announcer called again. As Edmund and Lucy both took deep breaths and stepped down the small flight of stares into the ballroom, Edmund looked over at his sister. Her face was aglow with excitement and her natural blush was back. The crowd parted as they walked up to Caspian in the center of the ballroom, saying "Your Majesties" and curtsying or bowing.
Lucy and Edmund made curt nods and grateful smiles. When they reached Caspian, Edmund hugged his future brother-in-law and put Lucy's hand in Caspian's, like he would at the royal wedding."You look breathtaking," said Caspian to Lucy once Edmund had taken his leave and everyone had resumed their previous wore a navy-blue tunic with black trim. His black trousers and tucked into brown boots. He wore no cape but still had his golden crown upon his head. His eyes were sparkling, whether from candlelight or happiness Lucy couldn't tell."Thank you," she whispered, curtsying to the floor. Suddenly, everyone's eyes were on them. As Caspian let her rise once more, he cued up the music. A waltz. He then gave Lucy a mischievous look."Would you like to dance, milady?" he asked."Why yes, milord," answered she and he swept her into the first position. As the music picked up, Lucy felt as if she was flying. Caspian was a very good dancer, it seemed effortless and her feet didn't seem to touch the ground. In fact, the only thing she could feel that was keeping her grounded was the pressure of his left hand on the small of her back.
When the dance ended, Lucy's ladies-in-waiting stood nearby. The Valiant Queen took her leave, sweeping another low curtsy before she walked over to them."You are so lucky!" once of her ladies named Lydia exclaimed. She was only a maiden of 12 and so her excitement was very natural and very entertaining."I guess I am," Lucy said shyly. "But you will find love too. I'm sure of it.""Maybe," answered Lydia, slightly glum. "But your Majesty... may I ask one thing?""Sure," responded Lucy, all smiles. "Is-" Lydia began."-is he a good kisser?" asked another lady named Chantale, who was 13. By now, all five of Lucy's ladies were leaning in waiting to hear the answer."Yes," Lucy whispered quickly after looking around. "But do not tell a soul!" Her ladies-in-waiting squealed and clapped their hands. Lucy rolled her eye but smiled. What else was in the nature of girls other than to fan over handsome boys?
Around 8 o'clock, it was time for Caspian to make the announcement about the engagement. Most of the noblemen and women attending had no idea why they were there other than that it was another party. Caspian sat in Peter's old throne, Lucy in Susan's and Edmund in his upon the dais. There was thrilled whispers crowd as Caspian tapped the side of his wine goblet. When he had the attention of everyone present, Caspian spoke."I thank you, my lords and ladies for coming here tonight. On this night, I wish to tell you something special. Some very important news for us as royals and for the country itself..."A pin, if dropped, would have been heard as everyone waited with baited breath, holding onto every word.
"Her Majesty and I are to be married," Caspian finished. There was a moment of silence and then the lords and ladies burst into roars of congratulations.
Caspian took Lucy's right hand in his and they rose together. Edmund got up a few moments after and all three of them swept back onto the dance floor to amuse the night away.