Susan's birthday party didn't start well for Lucy. She heard that in addition to Lasalene, Ramon was forbidden to attend the celebration, although only as a guard.
" I don't understand what your problem is," she burst into Peter's room as soon as she found out. "I don't understand why neither Lasalene nor Ramon can come. What are you afraid of? That we wouldn't dance at all?"
Peter listened calmly to her remorse, then sat down on the bed.
" Lucy, dear. My biggest role in this kingdom is to protect my siblings. Ambassadors and governors from the surrounding kingdoms will come, whose offers to marry with you I have rejected several times. You don't want them to see you there, exchanging disgustingly loving glances with Ramon! "
Lucy frowned at her brother's sudden change of tone.
" How ...?"
" Don't think I'm blind. Lucy, I won't let you hang out with Ramon. You will either limit it or I will have to expel him from the royal guards and the army. "
Lucy knew that this was the end of their debate.
" When did you become such a bitter man, Peter?"
" Lucy, you're my little sis-"
" I'm not your little sister! Not anymore, Peter! My childhood ended in the moment you first sent me to fight in the back lines and there will never be anything like before! "
Angry, not only at him, but also at herself for almost telling him, she went to her room. A lot of preparations await her.
Unfortunately, she had to look her best — whether Ramon would be there or not.
The thought pushed red into her face. In recent days, they had become closer and closer, though they hadn't spent so much time together. But when they had the opportunity, they talked a lot, they didn't notice the time around them. He crept up to her again last night.
She shuddered. From the memory of that pleasure.
But she immediately shook her head to drive it away. He has other plans today.
Her hair was in high hairstyle, her blood-red dress revealed her shoulders, and her rich skirt fell to the ground. It was the work of perhaps the best tailors and embroiderers in the kingdom.
" Highness, I don't understand," Lasalene began as she made final adjustments to her appearance.
" What for?"
" Why is it always red?"
Lucy laughed.
" Because it looks like blood."
Lasalene looked horrified at the reflection of the queen in the mirror. Lucy laughed heartily.
" A lot of people and beings associate me with killings and wars. I'm a bit of a sadist, I like to remind them of my cruelty, "she grimaced and Lasalene laughed.
" Yes. You may be like that on the battlefield, but here you are the dearest and most beautiful queen, "the maid denied.
" But please don't tell me things like that, because I'll be too proud," she blinked at her in reflection. "My sister is the most beautiful and kindest. I'm just a failed copy of her."
" I don't think so. You always have a much nicer dress than your sister. The whole kingdom is always talking about you. "
" You're right, and I'm angry, because then Susan was jealous of me."
" Maybe it's because many beings see you most often as an ordinary woman. In pants and a shirt with a sword on his belt. And when you have to have a dress, it's just simple. But then, just once in a while, you will wear such a gem and allow your beauty to stand out. "
" You are lovely Lasalene. I hope you enjoy your free evening with Ramon tonight, "Lucy said sadly. Lasalene's shoulders shrugged.
" I hope so."
Lucy turned and grabbed the girl by the shoulders in front of her.
" If it was up to me, at least I'd like you there to see my beloved brother happier."
" Is he sad?"
" He's angry."
" Oh," she sighed. "At first it looked like your brother wouldn't have a problem with that. But now ... we probably shouldn't have started."
" Lasalene!" Lucy shouted. "My brother has never been happier than when he was with you. Don't say things like that. And if you know how to keep it a secret from now on, you can be together."
" What about you, Your Majesty?"
" I don't think I'm destined to be happy," she smiled sadly.
" You, Your Majesty, deserve only the best Aslan can give you," she smiled warmly at the Queen. "But now, Queen, only one last thing, and they are waiting for you downstairs."
Lasalene ran to the balcony door and in a moment carried a silver laurel crown from her pedestal. She laid it on her head.
" Your Majesty," she bowed to her. Lucy bowed to her head as he bowed to other kings and queens. She showed Lasalene great respect.
Lucy couldn't say she felt the most comfortable. She had to smile, dance a lot, get drinks and look good.
She often glanced at Edmund to see if she looked the same. But to her great surprise, she always found him either dancing or debating lively with other kings, or trying to laugh. Either he knows how to pretend better or he can untie himself.
She was angry that so many kings and governors were taking her to dance. She often caught Susan sitting at the table while she danced.
This would have fatal consequences, she thought. She saw how depressed Susan was then, but as soon as she caught Lucy's eye, she frowned at her. Fortunately, Peter saved her then. He always approached her, bowed to her with a kind smile and took her to the dance. He was very nice to her. Lucy would even say she's gentle.
She counted down the minutes to the approaching midnight, when is official end of the celebration and the eventual departure of the guests is scheduled.
"Your Majesty," a well-known voice heard behind him.
" Prince Kor," she exclaimed, feeling something like joy for the first time in the evening. "Welcome, I hope you're having fun!"
" Come on, Lucy, maybe we can take the seriousness out and have fun like old acquaintances, can't we?" He laughed. He looked so much like his twin, she almost felt like talking to Korin. Except fact, didn't have desire to stab him.
" You're right, I'm sorry, Kor. It's just the number of people I have to treat politely all night. How are you?"
" It simply came to our notice then. I'm preparing to reign. I'm pretty scared of it. I can't imagine having to run the whole kingdom alone, "he sighed.
" But please, Aravis will definitely help you," she blinked at him, and Kor frowned. Lucy immediately understood what it was.
" Kor! You haven't told her yet! "She whispered. Kor shook his head." But she's here with you! Everyone takes you as a couple and you haven't told her yet? "
" I don't have the courage, Lucy," he frowned.
" I trust you, but you love her!" She looked at the dark-skinned princess. A beautiful, tender warrior. She was wearing a light blue dress. She was talking to Susan. She whispered to her ear, Aravis blushed and glanced at them for a moment, but when she noticed that Lucy was looking at them, she immediately looked away and her dark skin reddened even more, Susan obviously noticed and also looked at Lucy's direction.
When she noticed Kor standing next to Lucy, she smiled warmly at her younger sister and blinked at her conspiratorially. Evidently, for a moment, she dropped the reluctance to see her younger sister. Lucy smiled as well and nodded. Despite the disagreements she had waved with her sister in recent years, they still understood each other without words.
" Kor, why don't you tell her?" She turned to him. So far he had been playing with a glass of wine, standing with his head down like a sad dog being rebuked.
" What if she rejects me?"
" Come on, Kor! You crossed the desert, stood up to Aslan himself, saved Archerland from destruction, and faced many wars, and can't stand up to a woman? "
" Lucy, you have no idea what love can do to a man," he muttered. Lucy began to laugh. Kor looked at her in surprise.
" But I know, dear Kor, it's worse than the plague. But we have to face it. "
They stared at each other for a moment.
" Go, invite her to the dance."
" What if it doesn't work?"
" She'll go," she smiled. Kor nodded after a moment and took a breath.
" Good. I'm going, "he set down his goblet and walked over to Aravis. Susan caught a glimpse of Kor approaching and said something to Aravis. Then she headed for Lucy. They met halfway down. Kor bowed respectfully to the queen and continued toward the girl.
" How much do you give them?" Susan asked as she approached Lucy.
" By midnight," she smiled, watching as young princess accepted the dance invitation from the Prince of Archerland. Both queens watched the couple.
" You're beautiful today, Lucy," her sister praised her.
" Thank you, Susan. But you even more. It's yours tonight, "she blinked at her. Then she took a glass of wine." I'll walk away, dear sister, your company is coming. "
Susan smiled kindly at her and watched her younger sister move away. She felt someone standing behind her. She knew it was her older brother. She felt wanted by all the men, but only by Peter was she satisfied and safe. She didn't even have to look to know it was really him.
" She's beautiful today," he said. "She's not small anymore. She's a woman."
" A beautiful and brave woman."
" Why do you hate her?"
"She have him. She have someone who loves her."
" I know, Su. I know. But I will never allow any of us to be in a relationship with the servants. It would be a shame for the whole kingdom. "
Luckily for Lucy, when twelve o'clock left, most of the guests left. Only faithful friends of kings and queens remained. King Luna, Kor and Aravis, who finally said to each other how they felt about each other, the Fauns, the forest fairies, a few talking animals and a few warriors who were invited to the feast.
Lucy was already dying of exhaustion, so she apologized and wished others a pleasant night to her room.
Without Lasalene, it was very difficult for her to get out of the dress, but in the end she managed it and hung the dress over the sofa so that it wouldn't shrink too much. She drank water before lying down. She felt that her overeated stomach needed something other than wine.
With a heavy sigh, she lay down on the bed and closed her eyes in relief. Very quickly, she stopped thinking that the buckles were holding her to the head, holding her haircut all evening. The only thing you put out of your head was her crown.
She was sitting in a familiar place - under a tree on Felimath. Not under the one they had to cut, but under another. Completely ordinary. If she went to Felimath now, she would find him where she was in her dream.
She often dreams of this place, it was nothing special for her.
She just sat there, enjoying the sound of the sea and the sun warming her skin.
Nothing strange a dream became special the moment she heard voices coming from a distance. She frowned . She recognized those voices. Deep and peaceful- Aslan´s and beloved gentle- Ramon´s.
She immediately jumped to her feet, looking for a place to come from. Slowly, they both walked toward her from the shore.
" Aslan!" She exclaimed as they came closer. She was happy. Aslan smiled and walked over to her. But instead of greeting, he rubbed his head gently against Lucy's stomach. Then he stood on her forehead and said as if not even to her:
" Greetings, the future Queen Narnia," he whispered. Lucy didn't understand for a moment, but then laughed.
" Aslan, but I am already the queen of Narnia," she put her hand in his mane. Aslan looked at her kindly.
" But I did not greet you, my dear Lucy. I greeted the future queen of my Narnia, who will come from your womb. "
" what?" she frowned. Suddenly it was difficult to breathe. She needed a little rest. She started around waving hands in an attempt to capture self-branches, trunk, Aslan, anything directly. She felt, as it supported foreign hand- Ramon's.
" As a child as you have heard. You've conceived, "Lion smiled.
" No, no, no, Aslan, it can't be ..."
She remembered those nights with Ramon, that she had n't bled in a long time , even though she had. She looked at Ramon shakily. He was out, too, but she knew he'd found out before she did.
" ... true. Aslan but what about my siblings? What about the kingdom? Peter won't let that happen! "
" I know, dear, Peter is having a difficult time, he is not capable of love. He must not know. Or if you want, tell someone, but think very well about whom. It's not safe for you to stay in Narnia. You will soon receive a letter from the Lonely Islands. Either way, they need you there. You have to go back there. "
" And I will accompany you," Ramon said quietly . "You will be safe there. She will."
" You too, Ramon. My children, take care of yourself. Lucy, you should n't get involved in any more battles unless you want to lose her, " Aslan told her, and everything went dark.
Lucy sat up sharply, breathing hard. She put his hand on her stomach at the thought of a dream.
" When did it happen?"
And while Lucy wondered if it was really Aslan or just a figment of her imagination, down below the castle, Ramon tried to get dressed and get to Lucy as quickly as possible.