Where the Sidewalk Ends
Disclaimer: I don't own anything except Kristen, my very own, customize as you wish character.
Chapter Twenty One: Reflection
((Wow my second update this week! Someone's on a roll, eh? HUMUNGO THANKS to all the reviewers. Seriously, if I could bake you an internet cupcake, I would, but my internet oven is on the fritz so p. Thanks again, and here's the next installment of Where the Sidewalk Ends))
Ps-I put in two reflections into this chapter. I know that I skipped over a lot of their relationship and as you read this, it'll probably cross your mind the fact that they claim to love each other, but they spend almost no time together.
"So you know what you're going to say?" Logan asked her as they walked the steps up to Cair Paravel and into the hall. The music was jostling and people were dancing gleefully, even Peter looked like he was having a good time.
She turned to him and nodded, taking in a breath. She was about go out on a huge limb and take a risk, and her mind was filling with a billion What Ifs. She shook her head as if to get rid of them and nodded, hugging her new found friend.
"I know exactly what I'm going to say Logan. Thanks so much" she said earnestly, as she hugged him and kissed his cheek. Like a noblemen, he bowed to her and smiled before leaving her to do her thing. Her eyes searched the dance floor and eventually, she found Isabel and Peter who were dancing slowly. She made her way over to them.
"May I cut in?" She asked politely, but coldly to Isabel. Throwing her a hateful glance, the blonde bombshell let out a rather loud sigh and let Peter go, walking off, letting Kristen take her place.
Kristen smiled softly at Peter, who was looking at her in a way that made her heart soar. He never stopped amazing her; He had a way to communicate everything he wanted to say, just with his eyes. And right now, they were saying 'Never, ever leave me'.
He took her hand and waist and held her close as they danced slowly.
"Look I know you don't want to cause trouble with Aslan and I know that you're High King...but it doesn't mean that I have to stand here and watch someone ruin you're life" she mumbled to him, not wanting anyone around them to hear. She felt him pull her ever so closer to him and she heard him sigh.
"There's nothing I can do. There's nothing we can do to stop this" he said into her ear, his whispers not able to cover up his heartless tone.
She shook her head no. And looked up at him, determined to find a way to stop it all from happening.
"No. For once in my life Peter, I've finally found someone who I fit with. I've finally found a world where people accept me for who I am. And I'm not giving it up any time soon. I'm not ready to give you up yet" she said, her voice thinning and breaking at the end of the sentence.
As he absorbed her words, he looked down at met her eyes. They were cold and lonely, and he wanted to tell her everything he'd ever wanted to tell anyone. He wanted to tell her that he loved her more then life its self and that no matter what, he always would.
"Kristen...don't ever think that just because I'm doing this, I don't love you. I love you with all my heart...I always will" he said as the song ended. He let her go and bowed, and she curtsied back. But instead of letting him kiss her hand, she dragged him off the dance floor and over to Aslan, who was chatting with Mr. Tumnus about the state of the Narnian Army.
"I'm sorry to interrupt Aslan, but could we get a counsel in private?" She asked when the pair had finished talking. Mr. Tumnus bowed to Aslan and then bowed to the two royals before heading off to the dance floor to find Lucy. Aslan nodded and lead them into the library, where Kristen shut the door and waited for someone to start speaking.
"What is that you wanted to discuss, Queen Kristen?" Aslan asked as he sat infront of both Kristen and Peter. They looked at each other, and then she started talking.
"Aslan...I don't want this to sound offensive. You know that we all honour and love you deeply. But...how can he marry her? How can he marry her when he loves me?" She said stirringly, her eyes looking from Peter back to Aslan.
She waited for his reaction with baited breath.
"And what do you say about this situation, King Peter?" Aslan asked, addressing the silent King. Unsure, he looked at Kristen, then to Aslan, and then back to Kristen.
"I'm not in the position to argue with any decision you make Aslan. If you say I am to wed Isabel, then I will marry her. But I will never learn to love her. I will never love anyone as much as I love Kristen, and I can promise you that. And if I do wed Isabel, I fear that my whole family will abandon me" Peter said as he kept his eyes on Kristen. She smiled at him and grasped his hand tightly, and then they both looked at Aslan expectantly.
-------(Kristen's Reflection)-----------
She had always been the one who stood out. She'd never conformed like the other girls. She'd never bought certain clothes or cut her hair a certain way because it was in. She was more of a free spirit; a dork, a nerd, a book worm in the eyes of others. She had always had dreams, and its why she did so well in school. She valued her education, while most of the other girls at her private school viewed the 8 hours they spent learning information as a drag.
And then finally one day, she came across a world where she didn't have to conform to fit in; she fit in anyways. She had loved Narnia from the second she came into it, and Peter was a major reason. She'd bonded with his family and soon, Susan, Lucy, Edmund and Peter had become her own. She'd given Edmund advice when needed. She was Susan's helping hand when it came to dealing with issues. She was Lucy's play date when she needed an extra person for her Tea Parties. And she had been there for Peter, when all the rest of his family had abandoned him.
And then finally, she got the guy she always dreamed of. Although it took a while, Peter had finally fallen for her, and they spent two glorious weeks ((a/n-Yes, it was a two week duration)) together, getting to know the most inner secrets of themselves. He'd make her feel as if she were the only person in the room, even if they were in a crowded banquet hall. He'd kiss her softly on the lips each night, and she'd have the sweetest dreams about him. When he held her, it was as if there was a protective boundary around them that no one could break. She fit with him like pieces in a puzzle, and it was hard to believe that their relationship, their unrequited love, was hanging in the balance.
-------(Peter's Reflection)-------
He'd always had an alter ego. He'd be Peter Pevensie, older brother to his siblings, in private. But when duty called, he became King Peter, the Magnificent. He led a double life, and one day, some how, they blended into each other and diplomacy took over family, and Peter Pevensie soon became a distant memory.
But when Kristen came into his life, he found that person scratching, kicking, punching its way back. She brought out the best in him, and once he got over his shallowness, he realized how amazing she truly was. He strived to be as generous, as kind, as amazing as she was. He thrived when he was around her, and when he touched her he never wanted to let go.
It had taken him way to long to learn to love her. Being with her was so much easier then it had ever been with Isabel. She wasn't demanding, or selfish, or conceited. She was simple, and happy with anything that came her way. And as much as he wanted to love her, he was still King Peter. He still had a duty to Aslan. And if Aslan said marry Isabel, it's what he'd have to do.
He honoured and loved Aslan. And what he asked of him, he'd more then willingly do. But the situation was becoming increasingly evident to him; before he even turned 19 he would marry someone who would ruin his family. It was clear that if he went through with the marriage without complaint, his whole family would hate and disown him. And frankly, he'd rather give up his crown then loose his family or Kristen.
–(End reflections)--
Aslan surveyed the two infront of him. It hurt him deeply, seeing them suffer so much. But he had to do this. He had to know that Peter had the will and courage of a true King.
"I'm sorry, but there is nothing I can do now. The marriage must go through" Aslan said finally, as he turned and left the room, not wanting to see their expressions.
Aslan never made his intentions known, simply because they were never needed to be. But ne had learned slowly to love and care for the Pevensies and Kristen, as if they were his own. And it pained him to see them so depressed and sad. But what needed to be done, would be done. If Peter had the courage and strength to become the High King of Narnia, he'd have to it to Aslan. And the pathetic attempt back in the library he'd just gone through was not the reaction he was wanting.
((Author's Note- I'm so mean, aren't I? I bet some of you thought it was going to be that easy, but its not. I wouldn't be a very good writer if it was. Will it be a happy ending for Peter and Kristen? Or are they destined to live lives of fakeness for all of eternity? Stay tuned))