Chapter 8

(Secrets and Threats)

" A marriage!" Lily shouted outraged as she sprung up from her bed when Susan and Lucy broke the news to her. Peter and Ed thought it would be best if the girls told Lily. Lily began pacing the room furiously as her auburn curls bounced up and down, "To him! I don't even know him! I am only a teenager! I'm not ready to get married! I, ugh, I would have to spend the rest of my life with him! I do not even know his favorite food–I don't know anything about him!"

" We know, Lily, but it is completely up to you," Susan said gently.

" And what about Peter?" Lucy asked to herself quietly.

Peter! Things were going so well with him. She knew she was falling for him, very hard.

" Peter." Lily sighed, "But, this would benefit Narnia. And it would be the noble thing to do."

" Well, if you would like to know my opinion as a queen it would be to indeed accept, but as a girl, I would say no," Susan told Lily truthfully.

" Yes, but it could save your reign on the throne." Lily said sadly.

" But, you do not know that for sure." Lucy pleaded. Lucy's mind was set on Peter and Lily falling in love.

" This-this whole thing is madness!" Lily sighed as she collapsed onto the bed.

" Well, you have a while to decide," Susan said, "We'll leave you to think this over. See you at dinner tonight."

" Thank you," Lily breathed deeply, " But, I don't think I will be attending dinner tonight."

Susan and Lucy left the room and met Peter and Edmund outside. All the life and color had been flushed out of Peter's face. A sick feeling was within him now, he wanted Mark to leave, but he knew that was not the noble thing to do. He just kept telling himself everything would be better when Aslan came.

" So? What did she say?" Ed asked eagerly.

" She's very upset. I don't think we'll be seeing to much of her anymore, she needs to think things out, this is a big decision." Susan said.

" Peter, maybe you should go and talk to her!" Lucy said hopefully.

" I don't know, Lu," Peter shook his head.

" She's right, Peter. Lily and you connect on a whole different level," Edmund agreed.

" All right," Peter nodded as he slowly cracked open the door. He saw Lily lying there looking miserable. He slowly walked in and sat on the edge of the bed. Peter looked down at Lily, who knew he was there but didn't say a word. Her curly hair was spread out across the bed, like ripples of the ocean, the green dress she wore complimented all of her perfectly shaped features, and her twinkling blue eyes looked watery.

" Lily?" Peter whispered softly. Lily slowly got up she looked at Peter, who had to turn away because of the pain. Peter couldn't imagine Lily being with anyone else.

" What should I do, Peter?" Lily asked sadly, wishing he would look at her. Peter swallowed hard, what he wanted to say was that she should forget Mark and fall in love with him, Peter.

" I-I don't know," He said.

" Come on, you always have the answers!" She cried, her support system was failing, " If I do not accept the marriage, we have less chances of defeating Fiona and if I do, I live a loveless life. But, Peter, you are so good at being King, you love it, I could not take that away from you."

" Yes, but if you did marry him, you'd be taking yourself away from me, and that would be far worse." Peter said. When Peter said that her heart dropped to her stomach and the tears somersaulted down her cheeks. The was a loud knock on the door and Lily told them to enter. Mark walked in and Peter grew sick inside.

" Hello, Lily. Peter, do you mind if I speak with her alone?" Mark said politely.

When Peter walked outside the door he saw all of his siblings with their ears pressed against the door. When Peter closed the door, he pressed his own ear to the door.

" It's no use, we couldn't hear a word," Edmund sighed.

Mark sat where Peter was just sitting. Lily didn't like when Mark was that close. She inched away from him.

" Have you made a decision yet?" Mark asked as he touched Lily's hand.

" Well, you see about that proposal, I'm afraid I can not accept," Lily shook her head as she put her hand on her lap freeing it from Mark's cold touch, "I'm afraid that my heart belongs to someone else."

" Well, I think I have something that will change your mind." He said. Mark's voice and the look on his face changed, both were now cold and icy. Mark drew a dagger from the belt around his waist, "You see, I know where the High King of Narnia sleeps, now if you shall decline my proposal someone very close to you, the High King, may breathe his last breath."

Lily grew angry, a disgust grew in her throat and her stomach churned and she felt as if she was going to be sick or as if she was going to slap Mark.

" You wouldn't," Lily whispered as tears grew in her eyes. How could he kill Peter, Peter did nothing wrong! She realized that Mark saw something between her and Peter.

" Maybe not, but I wouldn't take my chances!" Mark hissed as he stabbed the dagger into the bed. He pulled it back out and put it in his belt again, "Now how about reconsidering that proposal?" Mark asked.

Tears poured down Lily's face and she wanted to disappear. Ceasing to exist would be much better than the pain she was experiencing now. Lily squeezed her eyes tight and nodded sadly.

" Good, see you at the ball then," Mark smiled satisfied as he kissed Lily on the cheek. He walked out of the room and saw the children.

" Well, shall we sign on that alliance?" Mark asked.

" What!" Edmund demanded.

" Lily has accepted," Mark smiled. A look of horror came over all of the children's faces, "Well, then, perhaps signing it in the morning."

" You mean, Lily agreed?" Lucy asked disgusted.

" Yes," Mark smiled mischievously, "See you at dinner."

Once Mark was out of ear shot the Pevensie's began talking.

" She seemed like she was going to decline it before I left." Peter said shaking his head. Something did not add up to him, Peter just thought maybe he was outraged with jealously.

" Something does not add up," Susan said, "We've known Lily all of our lives, she would not consume in something if it would cause her to be unhappy."

" That's true," Edmund chuckled, "She never ate her asparagus at dinner."

" Let me go and talk to her." Peter said as he ran into her room. Lily sat there with a blank look on her face, staring at the wall. Her red cheeks had tear streaks on them, her eyes were puffy and swollen.

" You're marrying him!" Peter demanded. Lily shut her eyes tight and nodded, "Why?" Peter breathed.

" Because–it would benefit Narnia," Lily whispered. Her voice was different, it sounded like a child's. Lily's voice became high pitched, innocent, and vulnerable.

" Lily, agreeing to that marriage would be the worst decision in your life, you would be miserable, it's not like you to agree to something like that, Lil." Peter said, "Did he threaten you?"

" No, Peter, this—this is my own decision." Lily said. She hated lying to Peter.

" Lily, I can tell, you look in so much pain, just tell me what he said. We can stop the treaty, it's not to late, we did not sign anything." Peter pleaded.

" Peter, if you do not mind, I would like to be alone now." She sniffled.

" Lily, please!" Peter begged.

" Peter, just go," She cried. It tore Peter apart to see Lily this upset. But, he obeyed her and left the room.

The four Pevensie's were at dinner. They had extravagant food, because of Mark's arrival, but the King's and Queen's of Narnia would rather have him eat in the stables. The dinner was lonely without Lily, her laughter did not fill the room, neither did any of the other Pevensies. Mark had just walked in the room with a happy skip to him, he was very cocky. Peter and Edmund stared daggers at him and Lucy and Susan were to sick to look at him and stared at their food instead.

" I am going to go for a ride, if you do not mind," Mark smiled.

" Sure." Peter grumbled.

Mark strolled out of Cair Paravel with a cocky smile on his face.

Mark went to the stables and had a servant saddle up a horse. But, he did not head off for a nice quiet ride, instead Mark rode deep into the forest until he saw frost on the ground. When he got off of his horse a girl in a white dress emerged from behind a tree.

" Hello, Mark." She smiled.

" Hello, Fiona." Mark said.

" So, did she accept?" Fiona asked quickly.

" Yes, but not willingly, I had to threaten her." He said frustrated.

" What! Mark, I told you many times before! You must woo her!" She snarled.

" My apologizes, Fiona. But, she was not going to accept, she is to much in love with the High King. But, I told her that if she declines I would kill King Peter." Mark said with a smile splitting his face.

" Well, I suppose that shall work, and do you remember the last part of our little plan?" Fiona asked.

" Yes. Once I have married Lily, we shall succeed in killing her and then we attack Cair Paravel and take the throne for ourselves." Mark smiled.

" Ah, very good, Mark." Fiona nodded, "Well, you should get back now, you won't want them suspecting anything, that Susan is very smart. Until our next meeting." Mark then bowed and left.

So, I hope you guys like this chapter! A bit exciting I think! So, please review and tell me your thoughts or constructive crit.!