"W-What?" Melanie spluttered, stumbling as she moved towards him. "I mean, congratulations?"
"Thanks," Peter said quietly. "I guess she and I'll be, erm, getting married."
"As long as you're happy," Melanie lied, hugging him.
Peter had to admit to himself that it was nice having her hug him again. He returned her embrace and noticed that her crimson locks smelled faintly of strawberries.
"Well, er, carry on," he said finally, unwinding his arms from Melanie's slim figure.
He retreated from the tower, footsteps echoing on the stone steps.
"I think we need a new plan," Rynal remarked.
TCONTCONTCONTCONTCONTCONTCONTCONTCONTCONTTCONTCONTCON
Aleutia returned to Cair Paravel a week later.
"Peter, darling!" she cried, flinging her arms around him upon her arrival. "I've been so lonesome the few weeks we were apart. But I feel much better now," she cooed.
"I missed you too," Peter lied.
Melanie could have strangled her right then. But she couldn't do that to Peter, no matter how much she hated Aleutia. For some reason, he had fallen in love with the Archenland princess instead of her.
'He's royal, she's royal, it makes sense for them to be together,' Melanie thought miserably.
There was always a chance Aleutia would die in childbirth, after all.
TCONTCONTCONTCONTCONTCONTCONTCONTCONTCONTCONTCONTCON
Following her usual routine of ascending to her stone tower to watch the sunset, Melanie half-heartedly dragged herself up, stair by stair.
"-I don't understand why you're doing this, Aleutia," came Peter's voice, sounding as though he might be on the verge of tears.
"Because, darling, you've fallen for that…peasant…and I can't allow that," Aleutia explained. Melanie could just see Aleutia's simpering expression in her mind's eye.
"It's none of your business, Princess, who holds my heart," Peter spat.
"And Father just thinks we're absolutely adorable, Peter," Aleutia continued in a false sickly sweet voice. "But do you know how heartbroken he'd be if the High King of Narnia rejected his lover and their baby? Especially since the lover part of the equation is his only little girl?"
"But it's not my baby," Peter protested.
'I knew it," Melanie thought. 'I knew he'd never…be…with that snake.'
"Haven't you figured it out yet? There is no baby," Aleutia said.
Melanie quietly crept up a few more stairs. She could now see Peter's shocked expression.
"Then I'm not marrying you," he said flatly. "Of course, I shouldn't have to in the first place."
"No one knows that excepting the two of us, darling," Aleutia explained. "When I am crowned High Queen of Narnia, there's no way you'll be able to divorce me. None at all, Peter darling. A few weeks after our marriage, I'll simply explain I've lost the baby. No one will even know that "our" child didn't even exist."
Melanie fought herself not to gasp. 'How can she force him to marry her? He doesn't even love her.'
"You horrible little witch," Peter muttered. "You can't force me to love you."
"Oh but I can," she cooed. "Now, now, darling, I'm not all that bad. With time you'll adore me."
She turned, and Melanie practically flew down the tower steps.
Melanie just managed to get away from the Archenland princess. She ran all the way back to her room and collapsed on her bed, tears streaming down her cheeks. 'How can she do this to him?'
TCONTCONTCONTCONTCONTCONTCONTCONTCONTCONTCONTCONTCON
Aleutia spent exactly three weeks planning her and Peter's wedding. Melanie watched from the sidelines, wanting to kill the princess and comfort Peter.
When Aleutia reluctantly gave Melanie her invitation, Melanie refused.
"I have…er plans with Rynal," she lied.
Peter, however, saw right through this.
"Mel? Can I come in?" he called gently, knocking at her door.
"Your castle," she mumbled.
"Look, I know you don't have plans with Rynal. And don't ask me how I know. I just do," Peter said firmly.
"I just don't want to go," Melanie muttered.
"What kind of wedding would it be if my best friend wasn't there?" Peter questioned, forcing a fake smile.
"I don't like her."
He made himself look hurt. "Why?"
"I heard you talking with her a few weeks ago. I didn't mean to eavesdrop, but it just happened. I know it's not your baby."
"I thought I saw you on the tower steps. I'm sorry about lying, Mel." He smiled half-heartedly.
"It's alright. It's not your fault."
"I'll find a way out of it, Mel, I promise."
TCONTCONTCONTCONTCONTCONTCONTCONTCONTCONTCONTCONTCON
"Peter!" Melanie shouted.
It was he and Aleutia's wedding day, and Melanie still refused to go.
The king turned to his friend and held his arms open to her. She threw herself into them gratefully.
"Your cape is crooked," she mumbled, pulling back. She lovingly adjusted the way his blue cape fell across his shoulders.
"Thanks," he murmured, gazing into her eyes.
His perfect face moved closer…they were two inches apart…one…
Melanie couldn't take it any longer. She closed the gap between them, kissing him with everything she had.
"I love you Peter," she whispered, and set into a run, going as fast as she could.
Dun dun dun…
Love,
Queenie