A/N : Am not even gonna apologise for not updating, honestly am sure you guys are tired of of my lousy excuses, by now, I can only hope in the long run this story makes up for it! :)

I originally had planned the whole Spring Ball as one chapter but there are just too many elements so I decided to split it up into two chapters! And I'd love to know your opinions because this chapter was hard to come by and my hand really hurts, bad..

Forgive me for rambling, I tend to do this a lot anyways.. on with it!

Chapter 08; the wrong match

Aline walked over to the enormous wardrobe in the corner of her huge room. She stopped in her tracks halfway, not for the first time. Then contemplating her decision, the girl decided to continue, stopping only when her fingers were over the handle.

She took in a deep breath, and sighed. Don't be stupid, Aline, she chided herself, You're not going to change anything thats inside by walking to and from the wardrobe. Just choose something and get the hell over with it.

She turned the handle to face the horror that awaited on the other side. Her fingers ran past the various gowns that hung slipping past them without much enthusiasm. A certain mauve colour caught her eyes. Aline reached out for it.

It was quite plain considering the other monstrosities the Pevensie sisters had so graciously given her. But yet, the embroidery work on the skirt felt a bit too over done. Aline sighed again, at this rate she was not going to choose anything, and worse, Susan would make her choose, and that was something Aline wasn't looking forward to. Besides the royal sisters had already warned her against lame excuses for skipping out.

Maybe she could just break her leg? Aline mused at the thought, though she had the suspicion that the Queens would actually drag her to the ball anyways, in a cast or no.

The girl ran her fingers through her tangled hair miserably. Maybe she could just go with her regular trousers and the tunic on. Give the guests a scare.

Aline smiled at the thought. She'd love to see the expression on Susan's face if she did in fact turn up to the Ball clad in a men's attire.

She looked around the wardrobe once again hoping she could find something that she'd missed the last couple of times around.

And then... she found it! A smile crept it's way up her lips.

Aline carefully pulled the gown from where it had been, right at the back of the wardrobe, overshadowed by the numerous other objects of grandeur, a simple piece of elegance.

She spread forth the lump of black mess in her hands to reveal a full length, black gown, with a low cut neckline, though not so low for as to be deemed inappropriate. Adorned with tiny black pearls which were inconspicuous enough to go unnoticed but yet gave a shiny sheen to the black fabric.

Now, Aline was no great lover of dressing up, but the instant she laid her eyes on it, she knew that was what she'd been looking for.

Aline tried it on, the silk fabric flowing easily over her skin as it tumbled down her body. It seemed much more comfortable than it looked on the outside. And dispelling the myths, she found that she could actually breathe without labour.

Spying her reflection on the mirror she turned her gaze towards it. A girl stared back at her, the black silk gown she had on gently caressing her slender upper figure to reveal a cinched up waist. Her bodice revealed a bit too much cleavage than she'd have preffered, but for now it didn't matter for it was well under the terms of what was appropriate. From waist down, ran long lengths of netted material over the black fabric reaching upto her ankles, not so flared as what she'd seen in those medieval movies but yet not clinging to her body like their modern counterparts people used to wear in her time. It seemed the perfect compromise between the past and the present. Exactly what she'd needed.

"Aline?" she heard her name being called from the other side of the door.

"Come in, Lucy." the girl called.

The younger girl who then entered stared at her, her mouth agape. "Aline.. why..you look so, beautiful."

Aline had to roll her eyes, "Cut it out, Lucy, or you'll make me change my mind."

The Valient Queen smirked, ignoring her comment, "Just wait until Susan sees you in this! This just suits you so perfectly! Oh my.. You're going to have everyone's eye on you and I bet you'll be the most sought after girl at the dance!"

Seeing the horrified expression on her friends face the Queen turned away laughing, "Though trust me, stick close enough to my brothers and no man would even dare give you a second glance." she said the last part with a certain bitterness creeping into her usually honeyed voice that Aline couldn't help but feel sorry for Lucy Pevensie.

Being the last of the four siblings, Lucy was the darling of the family and highly sheltered mainly by her older brothers, who saw her as just the baby sister she was to them years ago and not as the grown up teen who could think and act by herself. Aline could only imagine the pressures the girl was under. What with having the burden to run a country on her tender shoulders? No wonder Lucy seemed to be so mature but yet had an air or childishness in her at the same time.

With another smile that wiped away any traces of the previous bitterness, Lucy exclaimed, "Come on, Aline we gotta go! Oh Aslan! It's almost time!"

He hated balls. No hate was too small a word to describe his intense distaste for the events his sisters so dearly loved. Detest. Now, that comes a bit closer.

King Edmund, stood in a somewhat obscure part of the Main Hall. He could hear the lively Narnian melody drift in, but felt no inclination to join in the festivities. Instead his eyes passed over the crowd in an assesive glance, though careful not to linger on anyone in particular for too long.

Edmund was obviously not blind. Though he seldom showed it, he was indeed aware of every head turned his way whenever he passed the simpering ladies at court, or the not-so-discreet whispers and the blushes and giggles beneath covered hands. Infact if truth be said, at times he rather did enjoy the attention discreetly, though chose to look right through them. But unfortunately not everyone got the hint.

Many a time he was known to reduce ladies to tears, rejecting their advances and not too subtle at that, unlike his High King brother. And Edmund did not regret it. He knew they wouldn't care a dime if he were half the size of a dwarf, had squint eyes and all the grace of a hag as long as the silver circlet remained intact on his head.

"More wine, my King?" he heard as a dryad drifted by holding in her hands a tray on which were silver goblets brimming to the neck with the trademark red sparkle of Narnian wine.

"Sure," the King replied helping himself to it, inwardly smirking at what Susan would have to say, if she knew about his alcohol consumption. He was nineteen not nine, for Aslan's sake!

"King Edmund," he heard a reprimanding voice call from behind. Edmund turned, knowing full well whom it did belong to. "I don't think the High Queen would quite approve of your alcohol consumption tonight, my King."

"Well, then the High Queen has no reason to know of my.. alcohol consumption tonight." the King decided, but the Leopard just continued to stare at him in a disapproving manner. "Lighten up, Lora. It's not like I get to drink like this everyday." Other than his siblings, Lora alone could dare disapprove with him on anything. Or at least without cowering on their knees.

The leopard was more than just the King's Sworn Shield. She was a friend, and perhaps the only genuine friend he'd ever known. She'd known him since he was the mere little boy he was when he was crowned, seen him grow into the just and regal ruler he is now, and been with him through everything in between.

She knew of the nightmares that kept him awake as a kid and the insecurites that he'd never speak about. She used to be the one who'd be there to comfort him after he woke up frightened, alone and sweating, a helpless boy with a burden on his shoulder he was too young to bear. Yet he'd lived through it all, and now stood before her regal, proud and just. A King in every way.

Lora had never known and would never know the joy of being a parent, but if there was one thing, the love and pride she felt towards Edmund Pevensie was no less than any she would have spared her own child, if she had one. Though she was sure the Just King would hate this comparison, he was indeed like a cub to her.

Lora smiled to herself before answering, "That I agree my liege, but it is indeed my duty to ensure no harm befalls you nor," the leopard paused and Edmund waited for her to continue, "that any would come to anyone else." Lora finished with a pointed look.

Edmund knew of exactly what she was referring to, when drunken Lord Rynlf dared challenge the Sword of Narnia for a duel. And of course, the King had only readily obliged. The outcome however turned out just as expected. The King held his sword against the Lord's neck within just minutes into the duel.

Needless to say though, the affair did not sit well with the other guests and his royal siblings, and made a gaping hole of Lord Rynlf's ego.

Edmund allowed himself a smie, "I can assure you, it wouldn't come to that Lora." he said to which the leopard gave him a funny look.

"Well then, I do hope you know what you want, my King."

Edmund looked towards her for clarification of her words that seemed to hold a double meaning, but she offered him none instead turned away taking her leave, disappearing into the crowded hall. Though Edmund knew, she was somewhere out there looking out for him as she always did. As her duty bound her to.

Edmund felt his gaze wonder back to the dance hall, searching for some familiarity in the sea of unfamiliar faces. Not that he did not know anyone, In fact he'd met everyone at the ball durong one point or another, it was just that he did not care to get to know them to become familiar enough nor did he wish to.

In a distance he could see Lucy dancing with Corin, a big smile on her face apparently enjoying herself, while a distance away stood Peter, glaring over the shoulders of the lady in his arms. Edmund followed his gaze, wondering who it was that dared risk the wrath of tbe High King though not quite surprised to find it rest on the man dancing with the Gentle Queen.

Somethings would never change, the King thought taking a deep swing from the goblet.

Edmund felt himself scan the Hall for something-or perhaps was it somebody?- though he knew not what it was that his eyes sought after.

His eyes settled on Lady Clarissa of Archenland. Some deemed the Lady the fairest in all of Archenland and in the blood red gown, that clung onto her slender frame showing off highly feminine curves and her long blonde hair gracefully tumbling down her waist in its usual wavy curls, Edmund supposed she did indeed look beautiful, but when she turned around, the young King found himself to be rather disappointed.

It was her eyes. Lady Carissa's eyes were a soothing shade of blue. The colour of the sky on a calm summers day. But it wasn't the calm blue he was in need of, but rather the wild, unruly green. The vibrant green of Spring's first meadow grass. The green that made him want to grab her into his arms and tilt her head upwards just so he could bask in the emerald shade of her eyes.

Green as the pools of Eletia, the bards have sung and though he'd never know to whom was it attributed to and he'd never been to Eletia, if it did infact exist. Edmund could almost imagine what the bard must've been thinking even as he sang it.

Even as he looked on, Lady Clarissa's beauty seemed to fade away as another face begun to replace hers in his mind. Her perfect blonde hair seemed less appealing by the minute, instead preferring the brunette of someone else he knew. And the blood red dress of hers darkened into a shade so dark that it seemed black. Edmund took yet another swing of wine, draining the glass. Aslan, the way that girl made him feel.

As the haze settled in, his mind began to stray towards the one topic he'd avoided since the prior night. Her. Aline.

He couldn't help it as last night made an unwelcome comeback before his eyes. The sparks that ignited under his skin as her fingers slid over it. The pressure of her delicate fingers pressed on his chest. The way she bit her lip in concentration as she dressed his cut. How close her face had been to his, so close that they dominated his whole vision. And her eyes. Damn those eyes, that shone like emerals embedded into her pale, flawless face. And what was it that shone in them? Was it want?

Edmund shook his head. Whatever would she want from him? Everything he's ever been to her since they'd met was a moron.

"If you fancy a girl," a voice quipped from his side, "the least you could do is ask her for a dance, Ed." turning, he found out it was Lucy. His heart skipped a beat. There was no way his little sister could be aware of his highly inappropriate thoughts.

But unfortunately that did not seem to be the case, infact quite far from it. With a start Edmund realized that all the time he was lost in his thoughts about Aline, he'd been inadvertly still staring at Lady Clarissa. Now when he looked at her, Lady Clarissa flashed him a flirtatious smile and Lucy smirked beside him, "Especially since she seems to like you too."

Before he could say anything, his sister drifted off in the direction of the Archen lady.

Edmund could only imagine what it was that his sister thought, or what it was that she planned to do.

Damn this, the King thought frustrated. Why, oh why did everything have to go exactly the way he wanted it not to go?

Oh Aline, what have you got me into?

A/N : Mwahaha. Yes, I can be evil. And am sure we all know of how highly effective Lucy's match making skills could get huh? Poor, poor Edmund.. Well, now anyways it's clear that they're both (Aline and Ed, I mean) definitely attracted to each other, but how long until they confront their feelings?!

Anyways, about this Chapter, the Spring Ball is far, far away from over. And I've got something super special (and romantic) cooked up in the next two chapters. And I just cant wait to pen them down! So updates could be expected soon so please REVIEW!

How many of you ready for a dark, dark Edmund?!