I decided the best changes to be made were to just rewrite the story and keep the plot the same!
Chapter One: The Worst Timing in the World
My name is Lorelei Dawson and I've lived in Narnia for most of my 15 years. I am proud to say that the Pevensie's or as you may know them, the High King Peter and King Edmund, Queen Susan and Queen Lucy, are my closest and dearest friends. Currently, I am a helper of sorts to Queen Lucy. Don't misinterpret that; the Pevensie's would allow me to stay at their great palace, Cair Paravel, even if I didn't work. But I don't mind my work. It's honestly an excuse to keep busy, and stay with Lucy most of my time.
Lucy is my best friend. True, she may be 4 years younger, and Susan closer to my own age, but sometimes those things work in funny ways. Lucy is somehow more mature for her age, but at the same time retaining her youthful innocent. In my completely biased opinion, Lucy is the best queen Narnia could ask for. Not that Susan is not incredible, but somehow, Lucy is an ideal monarch. I don't know. It's just the way my mind works.
I met the Pevensie's about a year and a half of Narnian time ago, during Aslan's return. I remember it so clearly it could have only just happened. I was standing quite a ways back, barely able to see Edmund and Peter. (Susan and Lucy were nowhere to be found). At that point, I was my only defender...and I wasn't very good at it. More important creatures, or those who thought they were, pushed forward, shouting things at Peter and Edmund, who looked overwhelmed.
"Where are Susan and Lucy?"
"Will you fight the witch herself?"
"Will you lead us into battle?"
All of a sudden, I was fed up. White Witch this, Susan Lucy that...you know, that was all anyone ever talked about. What I wanted to know about was the battle strategy. I plowed through the crowd, shoving people and other various creatures out of the way, until I was face to face with Peter.
"...Oh."
I'm short. I'll be the first one to admit it. It's obvious, so why try to hide it. Some short people have so much nerve/confidence, that they seem taller than a person of greater height. I, unfortunately, am not one of those people.
I was never fully aware how tall Peter was, until that moment. So when I say face to face, I really mean 'the top of my head barely up to his chin.' (I hadn't hit my growth spurt then, okay?) I had, in a moment of insanity, fully intended to go up to him and ask him what the plan was, and what he intended to do. Suddenly, his imposing height made me feel about an inch tall.
"Hello?" Peter looked a bit confused. I couldn't blame him. I was confused.
"Erm...hi," I said, slowly turning red.
There was a very long, awkward pause. The other creatures had chosen this inopportune moment to shut up. What is it about that? When I wanted them to shut up, they blabbered on. And now...well, I'd never wanted anyone to start talking as much.
"Okay. Bye!" I turned on my heels and fled, wondering if I had only imagined Peter yelling, "Wait!" as I ran.
As it turned out I wasn't delusional as well as short and embarrassment-prone. Peter really wanted me to wait. God knows why. I guess curiosity. Don't they say something like, "Curiosity killed the cat?"
Yes, well. I wonder if you see where I'm going with this.
No, Peter didn't die. Nor is he planning to either, I would imagine. I mean, it was probably due to his yelling for me to wait that he cared when Lucy saved my life. So, in our version, the cat is Peter, and killed is really another way of saying "caused Lorelei to be stuck with." I'm not really curiosity. But that would have been cool.
Oh yes. The Lucy saving my life thing.
I'm not, by nature, obedient. Another inconvenient part of my genetic makeup is what I call "surefire determination." Most say "headstrong." So when I was forbidden from fighting, due to the sordid reason that I am female, I wasn't going down without trying.
"I have to fight! Come ON. What will I do? Just sit her, wallowing, and fanning myself pretending to feel faint?"
The centaur looked at me, disgusted.
"Stay."
"But-"
"Don't argue."
So I didn't. Argue, I mean. But I did sneak into the battle. Which is not the best idea for a New York City girl (or a Londoner, depending on how you want to look at my story. London home, New York private school.)
Surprisingly, I had not handled a sword before. The closest was attempting to pull a plastic thing out of a lump of plastic when they're obviously glued together, and that's for the Medieval Day at school and only to humor my Medievalist parents, who are embarrassingly involved. I mean, they fly over for every single event.
Anyways, the battle.
Not my smartest move. I was sort of on an adrenaline rush, and I fainted soon after falling off my horse, so my details are not exactly reliable. I remember little things, but most things are a blur. I killed an ogre. Who would've thought! If my medievalist parents could see me now...
All in all, it was okay, though I couldn't see doing this for a career.
What? That's what knights do. And, to make me regret my entire decision, I got stabbed through my shoulder. Lovely teatime discussion, eh?
Well, this is the part that makes Lucy look like a very efficient healer, and me look like an idiot.
Nothing new.
I was laying on the grass for hours. Serious bleeding, and I tried to stem the flow. I even took of my first shirt (Two layers, don't worry), and pressed it to my shoulder as hard as I could. I actually began to slip in and out of consciousness (one weird experience). That is...until I realized that someone was kneeling beside me. I knew it was Edmund or Peter, because a very scratchy voice kept asking "your majesty!" to leave.
Turns out it was my lucky day after all. Yes, it was Peter. Yes, my life is a series of cataclysms.
I think I fainted upon that realization. I know that Peter gave me some of Lucy's magical healing potion. I also know that Lucy decided it was her duty to care for me, and nurse me back to full health. For some reason, she came to like me, and we're best friends now. I think I mentioned.
And anyways. That's how I came to be invited to the Pevensie's winter masquerade ball.
It was also how I got caught up in the worst drama of my life.
Two years have passed since then, and, unlike Susan and Lucy, I have not gracefully transitioned into one the Narnian populations look up to. At least my language is now family friendly.
Living in New York has its downfalls, what can I say?
Susan is gorgeous, Lucy is the most social and clever 12 year old any mother could dream of having. Seriously, though. Edmund is kind of annoying sometimes. But, in that brotherly sense, where you kind of like his being annoying, because it makes you feel that he's comfortable enough with you to be this irritating. And Peter was just majestic, chivalrous Peter. That is, until that one winter masquerade ball.
I don't like masquerades. They always end up in some sort of turmoil, because you mistake someone for something...or you just simply forget yourself. Or you hear that the man you love is engaged to be married to a complete stranger...
Yeah, that's what I said.
I met Lucy in her room. She was wearing a silver gown, with a red trim. Her hair now fell past her waist, and for the first time I was starting to see the lady she was going to be.
We talked excitedly about our hopes for the evening, as I did Lucy's hair. I pulled her brunette hair into a bun and let some curls hang down. Then Lucy took my auburn hair and put various potions and combs to hold it in place. I gaped at myself in the mirror, I was not used to looking so formal. Actually, I wasn't used to looking feminine at all.
I went ahead into the hall, because Lucy had to make an entrance later on. I took a seat next to Tumnus the fawn, right as a centaur with curly black hair blew into a horn to call for everyone's attention. Everyone looked towards the back of the hall, because that's where grand entrances were to be made. It actually reminded me of my aunt's wedding...but whatever.
"Queen Lucy the Valiant."
She entered, and she looked beautiful, thanks to my talented hairstyling. I smirked as I sensed many men shifting in their seats.
"King Edmund the Just."
He smiled at me, and I smiled back. He looked handsome, and that made me feel proud. You know, how you're proud when you realize you have a good-looking brother. I happen to know of quite a few girls madly in love with Ed.
"Queen Susan the Gentle."
I smirked again, knowing the eye of every man in the hall was upon her. She walked to the front of the hall, and silence fell, but not a tense silence. Just an excited silence.
But then...
Something changed.
"High King Peter the Magnificent."
That's when it happened. Peter walked in looking, for lack of a better word, magnificent. He caught my eye and grinned. I blushed and looked down. A few moments later, I dared myself to look up. He wasn't looking at me anymore, but (I couldn't help myself) I was looking at him.
His hair fell perfectly over his eyes...which were startlingly blue...deep fathomless blue.
'Peter's as good as a brother! That's why you feel like this!' I blatantly lied to myself.
But you don't get lost in your brothers gorgeous blue eyes. And you don't notice his hair. You also don't notice the way he smiles...and wish that he was smiling that way at you.
Well you might, but that would be, you know, weird.
"Before the festivities begin," Peter was talking! No. Just...Peter spoke. "I have an important announcement. I would like all of you to be the first to know of my engagement to Lady Andalee of Archenland."
Did I not have the greatest timing in the world?
I felt as if someone had punched me in the stomach. I got up and ignoring Tumnus asking me what was wrong, I fought against the tide of people rushing towards Peter to congratulate him. I couldn't help notice that Peter, however much he was smiling, did not look enthused. Well, compared to other things. He looked happier when he found out Edmund had a little crush on one of the kitchen maids. And that wasn't even benefiting him!
I finally reached a terrace—I wasn't sure which one. I was too disoriented. I took deep breaths as I sat down on a bend. For a moment I felt totally peaceful, bathed in the light of the moon, but then I heard footsteps behind me. I jumped, and turned. Edmund was standing there.
"Hey," I said.
"I noticed you left," Edmund said, as he sat down beside me.
"Yeah," I really didn't want to talk about this.
"I also noticed you left when he made the announcement."
"Yeah. What's it to you?"
"Lei," Edmund said, nudging me slightly. "I care about you. It's a lot to me."
I paused, kind of dazed. Not that I was desperately concerned how much I meant to Edmund, but...Edmund's not really a sentimentalist. "Thanks, Edmund. That really means a lot to me."
"But am I right?"
"About what?" I asked, pretending to be nonplussed.
"About you. Liking Peter," somehow Edmund seemed to have a hard time saying the words.
"It's okay Ed. I won't change," I said, concerned at the sadness so evident in his eyes.
"I know," he said sadly.
There was a long, awkward pause. Suddenly, Edmund look at me, and spoke.
"So you like Peter?"
"It's none of your business."
"Oh yes it is. Lucy thinks so too."
"Does she?" I said, basically to get him to keep talking, while using minimum brain power
"Susan doesn't think so. She only says you were shocked."
"Does she?"
"Oh Lorelei. Come here."
He engulfed me in a friendly hug. I was fighting a desperate battle against my tears
"Ed." I bawled into his shoulder (the tears had won). "I do like him, and now-he's getting-married."
"Shhh." He whispered. We broke apart, and sat down beside each other on the stone bench.
"What if I told you Peter's not happy? What if I told you there was something you could do?"
