Disclaimer: I'll make this one easy, I do not own anything!

Chapter 7

An Alliance, A Proposal

Lily, Susan, and Lucy were sitting in the meadow having a picnic. It was a beautiful day in Narnia and summer was approaching. The picnic basket was filled with sandwiches and sweets that were prepared by the cook at Cair Paravel.

" The ball is in a few days, I am very excited." Susan smiled.

" A ball?" Lily asked, "For what?"

" For Aslan's arrival of course." Lucy said.

" Really?" Lily said.

" And we get to wear lovely dresses and there is music and dancing," Susan said.

" Hello." Edmund said as him and Peter sat down on the blanket the girls had laid out.

" We did not invite you!" Lucy said.

" Well, we're hungry," Ed said as he began eating a sandwich from the basket. Peter began eating a bit of Lily's pastry. Lily smiled and smacked Peter playfully on the shoulder. The other three noticed the flirtation between them; Susan and Lucy couldn't help but to smile, and Edmund only rolled his eyes.

"So Peter are you going to have an escort to the ball?" Susan asked trying to get Peter to go with Lily.

" I do not believe so actually," Peter said as he stood up, "I'm just going to enjoy myself and have a good time."

" It should be nice after all the hecticness that has been going on," Lily thought out loud.

" Tell me about it. A night to forget our thoughts on the heiress," Ed said.

" Well, I'm going for a horse ride, would anyone like to come with me?" Peter offered politely. Susan shoved Lily on the back cuing for her to speak up, but Lily just looked back at her with a dumbfounded look on her face.

" Lily would," Lucy smiled.

" Let's go," Peter said as Lily rose up. He realized how well she fit into Narnia. How well she fit in with him and his siblings.

" All right," Lily said as she followed Peter.

Lily and Peter were riding two horses in the meadow. Peter payed very good attention of his surroundings to be sure he would not lose Lily this time.

" Ah! I love the fresh air!" Lily smiled as she let go of the horse's reigns and spread her arms out.

" Lily, you're going to fall off!" Peter shouted.

" I am not," She laughed, "Peter, let's race!"

" What?" Peter asked.

" Come on, it'll be fun," Lily smiled, "The first one to the tree wins," She said as she pointed a delicate, graceful finger in the direction of an oak tree.

" Fine," Peter laughed, "One, two-"

" THREE!" She shouted before Peter could finish and kicked the horse and put him into a full force gallop.

" Lil! Wait!" He shouted trying to catch up with her. Lily had reached the oak tree already and hopped off of her horse and sat down under the tree.

" That was unfair," Peter smiled as he got off of his horse too.

" Life is unfair, Peter Pevensie!" Lily said comically. Lily leaned up against the tree as Peter sat next to her. They didn't say anything for a few moments, they just soaked in the beautiful day.

" It's so beautiful here," Lily breathed, "Everything is so peaceful when you're not being kidnaped by a witch."

" You know, Lily, we do not have much more time," Peter said quietly.

" All right, we can head back now," Lily said as she began to get back up, but Peter pulled her down next to him.

" No, I mean, the witch soon enough she will strike again, and she will not just disappear again. The witch will not disappear this time because she has finally gotten stronger. That's what she's been doing all these weeks, growing stronger, so she can attack. And very soon, a war could be started. That is why Aslan is coming," Peter explained carefully.

A warm feeling came of Lily when Peter said Aslan, and a smile came to her face. When Peter mentioned Aslan happy memories of being back home with Peter flooded her mind.

" So, he can stop her? Stop a war from happening," Lily said.

" Not exactly, but Aslan can help." Peter said.

" I understand now," Lily nodded, "Now, can we talk about something much less serious!"

" Sounds perfect," Peter sighed relived. Peter thought that Lily always seemed to know what to say or what to do. She understood him in a way that even his siblings did not.

" King Peter," A messenger faun ran up to them, "a young man from the land of Mercia is here and he wishes a word with you."

Peter looked at Lily, regretfully he knew he had to ruin the moment.

" Duty calls, would you wish to accompany me?" Peter asked her.

" I suppose so, it might be fun to see you doing your job." Lily teased as her and Peter rode back to Cair Paravel.

Peter entered the throne room with Lily at his heels. The footsteps of a pacing young man echoed the room. The man was probably a year older than Peter. He had curly dark brown chestnut hair and he was dressed like a warrior and great king, a crown of gold sat upon his head, he wore some of the finest clothes and had a breast plate with the picture of a snake on it, and a sword in it's scabbard that looked only fit for a king.

" Prince Mark of Mercia," The faun said. Mark bowed and Peter did the same. The land sounded familiar to Peter, but the only thing he could remember hearing about the land was that they did not associate with any one else, so the reason the prince was he would be most important. Susan, Edmund, and Lucy rushed in and stood next to Peter. Mark greeted them all putting a wide smile on his face. Once he had introduced himself to all the Kings and Queens Lily caught his eye. He took in her beauty and noticed how graceful and poised she looked standing there.

" And you must be the great Lily. The people of my kingdom have been talking about you since the day you arrived. Very special girl they told me. And now I see for myself." The Prince said as he took Lily's hand and kissed it softly. Lily was in a way entranced by his charm and wondered why he was really here. Peter grew mad as he watched Mark. He wanted to send him away and tell him to never come back. Peter no longer wanted to hear what he had to say, he just wanted to sock him in the face. Peter kept denying the thought that he could be jealous.

" Believe me, I am not all that great," Lily smiled, "But, I should be leaving. I'll let you do whatever duty's you need to...do," Lily said walking out the door stumbling over her words. She knew that Mark may have had rotten intentions of coming here, but she did not want to be judgmental.

" I am here on behalf of my father, the King, to make an alliance. We have heard word of a threat to your throne and would hate to see such great leaders leave, so we would like to help. Unite our armies, prepare for war." Mark said.

" That is a very generous offer, but what would you like in return?" Susan asked suspiciously. She saw something beyond those charming beady brown eyes.

" Ah, a hand in marriage, to Lily Penny," Mark said with a smile growing on his face.

Author's Note: Well, a little bit of a shocker at the end there! Please don't be mad at me for putting Mark and the proposal and such in the story, but if your story was just about Peter and Lily falling in love and living happily ever after the whole time, it would be very boring and would resemble a Hilary Duff movie, which I would not want, soooo... I thought I would throw in some drama! Please review! Oh, and by the way, I'm leaving for vacation on Sunday, and I won't be back for a week so I'll try and update aday or so before I leave!Thanks!