Disclaimer: I only own Hailey and Max, no one else… sorry!

Chapter 25: Rabadash in Narnia

Hailey looked at the Prince with cold eyes. Max next to her looked much to same.

Prince Rabadash was curious, pleasant and kind. Yet Hailey hated every bone in his body. She was sure she was not the only one.

Not that it was a surprise that another suitor for Queen Susan had come. However this Prince Rabadash was just too polite.

And Queen Susan was falling for it.

Over the course of a week, Rabadash had proven that his and Susan's marriage would be a benefit to the two countries. Hailey agreed. If Susan married Rabadash Narnia and Calormen would be conjoined. This would end the dispute that had been going on between the two countries for century (as Hailey assured Peter it had) would be over.

Though this was in her mind Hailey still had a very very bad feeling about this marriage, Edmund and Peter agreed. However they told Queen Susan that it was her decision. If she truly loved the Prince then let the wedding begin.

Susan was taken by the way Rabadash wooed her. During the feast and tournaments (King Peter threw the Prince) Rabadash was courteous and polite, making friendly conversation with The Kings and Queens. However once Peter had dragged Susan away to discuss this, Hailey had been left to make sure that Rabadash was seen too. Prince Corin at her side, he had stayed throughout Rabadash visit and did not like the Calormen any more that Hailey did.

Then he changed. Though he had treated Lucy (now sixteen going on seventeen) with the highest respect, he had non for Hailey. Hailey discovered this the moment she asked him to please take a seat.

"No thank you." Rabadash said his voice cold.

Hailey, a tad surprised, tried again. "But I need to make sure you are seen to, and after the tournament you must be very tired. High King Peter wanted me to make sure-"

"The High King surly does not believe a little girl can see to the needs of a Prince." Rabadash geared at the girl.

Hailey took a step back out of shock. The courtiers stood up glaring at the Prince. No one liked when Narnian's youngest (or was it oldest?) hero was insulted. Prince Corin looked ready to knock out the Prince for insulting his friend. Luckily Max grabbed the Prince by his leg before he could do anything rash.

Peridan (one of Peter's most trusted advisers) took a step forward and addressed Rabadash. "Sire, in your land in may be custom to insult a Lady of the court by here in Narnia it is not. Please refrain."

Hailey smiled at Peridan before turning back to the Prince. "If you do marry our beloved Queen, you will have to get used to little girls seeing to your needs…"

That incident was what was making Hailey's eyes look like black holes as the Prince invited Queen Susan (and only Susan) to come back and visit his land.

Peter was the first to speak "You would invite a Queen to your land? Without inviting a convoy to assist her?"

"She may bring one, but it is unneeded…" The Prince began, Edmund interrupted.

"On the contrary, my dear Prince, it in very necessary. If Queen Susan accompany would thou Calormen then I will go with her."

Hailey saw Susan shoot him a grateful glance. It was obvious to Hailey that both Peter and Edmund did not like the idea of anyone of there subjects (especially there sister) going to Calormen.

"Very well then, when should I expect you?" Rabadash asked his cold eyes locked onto Susan's lighter ones.

"Your highness I have not given you your answer yet. Please, let us wait until tomorrow, at dawn I will tell you my response."

Hailey could have sworn, for a second Rabadash looked murderous, but it was quickly replaced with a gracious smile. "Naturally my lady."

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"Susan you are not serious about marrying this Rabadash are you?" Hailey asked seated on Susan's bed with a frown on her face as Susan prepared for bed.

"Why should I not be?" Susan answered pining back her hair.

"He is icky." Hailey said making a disgusted face.

Susan laughed. "Hailey darling, though at your age it may seem icky, I am grown and I know what I am doing."

Hailey bristled at the word 'age' but did not mention that she would never be Susan's age. "Susan, I have been in Narnia much longer than you and I know these Calormen they are sneaky. I fear that if you go to Calormen you will never return."

Susan turned a frown on her face. "Do you fell that strongly about this? Lucy said the same think little over an hour ago"

"Yes Susan I do, I don't want to see you get hurt, and I am sure your royal brothers and sister do not either!"

"Hailey, I think it would be a good thing if I went to Calormen. This Prince Rabadash might be a bit rough around the edges…" Hailey wanted to shake Susan for her impertinence. "But he is kind and polite, plus our marriage would bond our two lands together."

"I do not believe bonding those to land together is what Aslan would want." Hailey muttered but Susan did not hear.

"Anyway, I will go to Calormen with Edmund and we will see what this Rabadash is like."

"Can't I come? I have never been to Calormen, plus maybe you are right. Maybe Rabadash is better then I think." Haley lied. It is true I have never been to Calormen, but I don't believe a world the simpering Rabadash says.

"You will have to ask Peter if you can go." Susan said yawning. "But I would like it if you came… I do like your advice. Max's to…"

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Hailey walked through the corridors to the Peter's study slowly. When she finally reached the large oak door she heard voices inside.

"Well you can't blame her; the prince was very… chivalrous." Even through the door Hailey could here the sarcasm in the younger Kings voice.

"Yes but I do wish she would not go with him to Calormen… I fear she will." Peter sounded tired.

"As do I, but you must admit the marriage would join the lands together. But I will love her less if she does…"

"I as well dear brother…"

There was a moment of silence. Then Lucy's voice floated through the door. "Susan is so gentle hearted she does not see the glint in his eyes. Can't you forbid her from marrying him?"

"I could dear sister. But I fear that will only make her want to disobey me." Hailey silently agreed.

"Hopefully this will be over soon." Said a voice Hailey thought sounded like Mr. Tumnus. "But if the Queen does go to Calormen I will escort her."

"Oh but-" Lucy began only to be interrupted by Peter.

"Very well, she will need all the help she can get. Maybe we can get Hailey to talk some sense into her…"

"I tried," Hailey voice floated through the door. "She was having none of it."

The door opened revealing a disgruntled Edmund. "I do wish you would not do that."

Hailey smiled turning to the High King and asked her question.

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Hailey frowned looked at the escort Susan and Edmund where taking with them. It consisted of her, Max, Mr. Tumnus, two dwarfs, Swallowpad the raven, 15 of Edmunds best solders, and five handmaidens. Oh and Prince Corin would be coming, why? Hailey had no idea but he was coming. As far as Hailey was concerned this was a pathetic escort. Edmund agreed but Susan said it was perfect.

Tomorrow morning they would be loading onto there ship, the Splendor Hyaline, and setting out for Tashbaan. Not something Hailey particularly wanted to do.

But what choice did she really have? There was no way she was letting Susan get married to that lousy excuse for a human. In any case Hailey had been given many instructions by Peter and Lucy that she was not to allow Susan to marry the Calormen Prince no matter how nice be became.

Hailey was sure this would not be a problem. People usually acted more themselves at there homeland.

Beside her Max was thinking along the same lines as he looked at the magnificent ship.

"We could always not go…" Max's voice interrupted Hailey's thoughts.

"You know we can't" Hailey said with a sigh. Besides do you really trust Edmund to make sure Susan doesn't fall for him? Edmund would slash off his head if Susan looked at him sweetly and that would result in a rather awkward meeting."

"I know, but you know this is the first time we will even leave Narnia… if you don't count Archenland…"

Hailey knew this only to well, it was the main reason she didn't want to go with the dark haired rulers.

"Well Max we need a change of scenery…" Hailey said, Max gave her an indignant look.

Hailey sighed, lately she had been thinking a lot about Polly and Digory. When Corin had asked her about England she had told him the story, remember all the events that had taken place before she could tell stories. Ever since the telling of the story she had not been able to stop thinking about them, but mostly Digory. Hailey had asked Lucy about the professor back 'Spar Om' and had concluded it was the same man. She had not told the Pevensies. They would discover it on their own.

"Hailey!" A voice broke through her thoughts.

"What!" Hailey jumped turned to a smiling Edmund and Corin.

"You here gone there for a moment." the King was smiling. Edmund and Hailey had always been the close that was the only reason Hailey didn't smack him for interrupting her thoughts. He claimed it was because they had been closet in age when they had first meant. Hailey always said it was because she had tried to save them when they had first met. Whatever the reason they where best friends. Only to be competed with Phillip the horse that had long since claimed Edmund as his own.

"Oh sorry, is there something you wanted?" Hailey said Turing her attention back to the ship.

"Actually yes… I was wondering if you could take his highness for the afternoon. You see I have to…." Hailey didn't let him finish.

"Fine drop the little terror on me and Max!" They could all tell Hailey was joking; she loved spending time with the little prince.

"Hey!" Corin said pretending to be insulted.

"Alright Ed, me and Corin will go make sure that Fauns had properly packed my clothes. Won't that be fun Corin!" Hailey said with an evil smile.

"Oh no not cloths! Please King Edmund can't I stay with you!" But it was too late Hailey was already dragging the younger boy away.

Edmund smiled, it was odd that he an Hailey had at one point been about the same age. And now she was dragging away a boy who twelve year younger than himself, but only two years younger than Hailey.

Edmund turned with a sigh; he had a ship to load.

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Sorry about the spelling and grammar, but my spell check hates me...