Author's note: So sorry about the long wait, but this is such a special chapter I had to make sure it was perfect. I've been planning this for a long time, but I wanted to make you wait for it. Sorry, I couldn't resist. It appears I waited too long, though, because I had soooo many people request it, or anticipate its arrival.
I feel that it is the perfect time for this chapter, and the excitement will only grow in the next chapters, I promise.
I can't predict when I will update, but I can promise that the more reviews I get, the sooner the next chapter will come. Considering how much I love this chapter, I need 12 reviews to publish the next chapter.
Thanks to all of you that reviewed! This AN is already to long for me to list the names, but that doesn't make me any less grateful for your support.
I found this song last week, and I think that it is the perfect Rayna/Peter theme song. Usually I hate the Beatles, but I have to admit this is a good one.
Enjoy!
HecatetheDarkWitch
There are places I'll remember But of all these friends and lovers Though I know I'll never lose affection
All my life though some have changed
Some forever not for better
Some have gone and some remain
All these places had their moments
With lovers and friends I still can recall
Some are dead and some are living
In my life I've loved them all
There is no one compares with you
And these memories lose their meaning
When I think of love as something new
Though I know I'll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I'll often stop and think about them
In my life I love you more
For people and things that went before
I know I'll often stop and think about them
In my life I love you more
In my life I love you more
In my life – the Beatles
Chapter 5: A Secret Engagement
March 25, 1014 – Cair Paravel
"This is nice," I sighed, leaning against Storm's side as he curled up beside me.
Spring was just starting to show itself in the weather. This was the first opportunity Storm and I had had to go out in the nice weather and we would probably not have another for a long while.
The air wasn't warm, but fresh, with a cool breeze ruffling Storm's feathers. The sun was out, though, and the grass was green. Flowers were just starting to bloom and the trees had small, new leaves on their branches. We stood on a wide plateau, a place Storm had found a few years ago while on a hunting trip. Of course, he had insisted on showing it to me and now we came here often, which is to say when the weather was nice and I didn't have any pressing matters to attend to at the Cair.
I should have been with Susan and Edmund, planning the last of the details for our upcoming trip to Tashbaan in just two days, or with Peter who would be leaving to battle the giants in the North tomorrow, but I had escaped to spend tie with Storm, who would not be coming with us.
From the place where Storm and I rested, I could see a good part of Narnia. Cair Paravel was nothing but a tiny, shining dot in the distance, close to the sea. No matter how many times I flew with Storm, I could never truly get used to how much distance he could cover in only a short amount of time.
"I wish you would stay," Storm commented. "We both know the Calormenes aren't trustworthy and who knows what they'll do if Susan refuses to marry the prince. I highly doubt they'll take it well."
Storm had moved his long neck so that he could look at me, "You've been saying that for a while. That's exactly why I'm going. Susan's too trusting and we both know it. Edmund's more suspicious, but he still believes we should trust them. Of course, Peridan and most of the others agree with me, but I'm not letting them anywhere near Calormen without me."
"I can see there's no convincing you," Storm admitted.
"No, there's not," I agreed. "Speaking of Susan, we should head back before she notices I'm gone. I swear Rabadash has put her even more on edge than she usually is on other trips."
"Maybe Edmund was right: she should have been called Susan the Raging Dragon," We both laughed.
I stood, brushing grass off my dress, and swung myself onto the dragon's back. He stretched his gigantic wings out and we were in the air.
It didn't take long for us to reach Cair Paravel. When we arrived, I immediately rushed off to find Susan, who was snapping at Edmund for a rude comment on her Calormene suitor. Once she noticed me, she turned her attention away from Edmund long enough to give out an exasperated,
"Where were you?'
"Out," I didn't bother elaborating and went off to pack for the trip.
I didn't get very far, however. The weather was too nice for spending time inside. I wasn't even tempted to go upstairs and read, something which hardly ever happened. Sighing, I leaned out of the open window of my room, enjoying the fresh air. Far below, Peter was sparring with Peridan, a general who would be accompanying us to Tashbaan.
I watched as their swords flashed in the air. Peridan and Peter were both great warriors and their skill was obvious in the way they moved. The two blades were invisible, just silver flashes in the air, clashing louder. The two warriors were laughing as they fought. With a quick movement of his sword, Peridan knocked Peter flat on his back, then slashed down with his sword. Peter rolled out of the way and was back on his feet in a second. His strikes redoubled and he got Peridan on the defense in a few seconds. With a complicated twist of his sword, Peter disarmed Peridan, his sword going to Peridan's throat.
The two opponents laughed and separated, going for the buckets of water kept ready for any who needed them at the edge of the sparring circle. It was hot out, so the men grabbed a bucket each and tilted their heads back, pouring it down their Over their heads, into their mouths and down their shirts.
Looking up, Peter caught a glimpse of me, leaning out of my window. He set down the bucket and smiled up at me, gesturing for me to come down.
I smiled and swung my legs over the windowsill, sitting on the edge of the wall. I kept my hand to the wall to steady myself, then jumped down, the air whistling around me as I plummeted to the ground. I let the air carry me, slowing my fall so that I landed gently on the ground.
"I don't think that will ever stop to frighten me," Peter commenting.
I laughed, "You should be used to it after 14 years of me jumping to my death every other day."
"Perhaps I should be," he admitted. "Would you walk with me? I need to talk with you."
"Of course I will."
We walked side by side for a while, enjoying the spring air. Our hands were entwined, but other than that, we did not touch, merely content to stroll together.
"You look beautiful," Peter complimented me.
I looked down at myself. The dress I wore wasn't anything special, though it was one of my favorites. The bodice was simple, white fabric with a scoop neckline. It had no adornments. There were two sets of straps holding the dress up. One, which looked like a strand of flowers, ran over each of my shoulders and another, also made of fabric flowers, was off the shoulder. A piece of white, veil-like fabric wrapped around my arm, trailing down from the off-shoulder straps. The same white flowers adorned the waist of my dress. The skirt was a piece of light, draped fabric which trailed to the floor (pic on profile).
I wore the same silver sandals that I had worn 14 years previously and my hair was styled the same way as always, though I now wore a circlet which showed off my status as Enchantress of the Court of Cair Paravel. It was made of white gold which wrapped around my head in an intricate pattern of swirls. In the center, resting on the middle of my forehead was an opaque, whitish round stone: a moonstone. Two pieces of metal trailed down from the bottom of the stone, wrapping around each other (pic on profile). Other than that, the only jewelry I wore was my pendant.
A small dagger, made of crystal (pic on profile) and given to me as a gift on the day I had been given the title of Enchantress in replacement for my old, silver one, was tucked into the straps of my sandal, but I no longer carried my sword everywhere.
"Thank you. I'd say the same to you but you're…" I searched for the right word.
"Sweaty and drenched?" Peter suggested.
"Exactly." We both laughed lightly.
Peter led me into a glade of trees, where a stone bench rested under a large oak. This was our favorite part of the garden. The trees provided shade and privacy and it was a good place to rest and talk. It was impossible to count how much time Peter and I had spent here, so I was not surprised that it was here Peter had brought me. We sat together for a while, kissing in the shade of the trees, not talking, but reveling in the silence.
"I've been meaning to talk with you for a few days, but Su's been keeping you away from me," Peter began after we broke apart.
I laughed, "Take that up with her, not me. I don't think you'll come out in one piece though."
"I don't doubt it."
"Now, what was it that you wanted to tell me?" I prompted him.
Peter took a deep breath, as if he was nervous, and then got straight to the point, "I love you, Rayna. I've loved you since the moment I met you." He took both my hands in his and looked directly in my eyes, "And I want you to marry me." He finished.
His eyes were sincere and I found myself unable to look away as I answered, "I've met many people in my life, but you are the one I will remember most. Nothing could make me happier than to be your wife."
I looked down as I felt Peter drop my right hand. He took my left hand and slipped something onto my ring finger. I raised my hand so that I could study the ring better. The ring was a simple band of white gold. I light blue stone, I guessed it was aquamarine, was set in the metal, framed by two Celtic knots (pic on profile). It was truly the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.
"I love it, Peter," I whispered against his lips, kissing him.
He smiled, "I hoped you might."
"So, when are we going to announce this to the other king and queens of Narnia?" I wondered.
"That's the interesting part. I was hoping we could keep this secret for a while."
"How long of a while are we talking about?" I asked.
His smile grew even wider, "Until the engagement ceremony, of course."
"Perfect!" I caught on to his plan. "We can have it after we return to Cair Paravel."
"That's right."
I fingered the engagement ring on my hand, "I suppose that means I can't wear this yet."
"Or we can hope they don't notice," the High King suggested.
"We can," I agreed, "But I think it's a better idea to do this."
I let darkness cloak the ring, hiding it from view but still leaving its cool touch on my hand. Peter took my hand again, as if to check if it was really still there. It was still on my finger, though, a hidden promise of our love to each other.