Hello guys! Fresh chapter! I'm quite proud of myself for having finished this relatively shortly after the last one! Although I cheated a bit because some of it was left from last chapter, but nonetheless, I'm happy!
This chapter has a very special treat which was also my fav scene to write, so I hope you guys like it :)
Without further ado, enjoy!
Chapter 9: Let's Dance All Our Troubles Away
The room became quiet as the grand doors opened to reveal the Narnian royals. All eyes fell on them as some continued to whisper, this time about the hosts, any previous topic now forgotten. It was uncomfortable to be the centre of attention, Caspian thought, sneaking some glances at the Pevensies and his sister, who seemed to be as uneasy as he was. Taking a deep breath and accepting this was one of the occupational hazards of being royalty, he called everyone's attention.
"It is with great honour that I welcome each and every one of you to this castle, to Narnia. It gladdens my heart to see all of you here, gracing us with your company and the pleasure of sharing our happiness at this festivity; for that, I sincerely thank you" Caspian spoke, sweeping the crowd of guests with a thankful glance. "Indeed, it is with great joy that we celebrate the definitive return of Their Highnesses, the Kings and Queens of Old, to Narnia after 1300 years of absence. Welcome back, to this, your rightful home" he announced, addressing the Pevensies with a polite nod. His dark eyes stayed with Susan, holding her gaze for an instant, but she soon looked away and Caspian was left rather displeased, his current feelings covered by the mask of formality.
"I also have the immense happiness to announce the return of Princess Tairin to this court and her engagement to Lord Zephyr of Archenland" he said, smiling lovingly at Tairin, who nodded courtly, returning his smile. "Now, without further ado, I have the pleasure and honour to introduce you to Aslan, who has gifted us with his presence today, to our joy and privilege" Caspian added regally, silence taking over the room as they all turned and bowed towards the imposing wooden doors as they opened, revealing the Great Lion and eliciting the most various exclamations from the guests. Many monarchs and their families curtsied in the most elegant and deep reverences to Aslan, whispering their admiration and respect as he passed, Aslan smiling benevolently at all of them.
"Thank you, High King Caspian, for your words. Let's all enjoy this evening of well-deserved celebration, for balance has been restored to Narnia and her children have returned home" Aslan spoke, sweeping the Pevensies with his golden gaze full of love, his grave voice echoing in the silent ballroom.
After the greetings and small talk with the foreign monarchs were over, Peter searched the room after the oldest Maharabian Princess with the intention of dancing a couple of songs with her and, with luck, secure her company for the rest of the evening. He was interrupted several times in his search as lords, dukes and fellow kings approached him most kindly, generous in their praises and hopes for a close and long-lasting friendship. He was humbled by their sincere words and returned them in kind, indulging in pleasant conversation with them. It was a funny feeling, to make so many new acquaintances, people he had only just met, but who recognised him as if they had known him for years. Furthermore, he was taken aback by the genuine kindness shown to him and his siblings, by the almost childish excitement with which many approached them. He had missed this. Not the recognition or the praise, but the freedom of being himself, of having his voice heard independent of his age.
Hours later, he finally found Nabeela talking to a few ladies of her acquaintance, and he smiled, curtsying at them all as he approached.
"Would you grant me the grace of a dance, Your Highness?" he asked gallantly, his ocean blue eyes darker with a hint of flirtation, gazing deep into hers.
"Who am I to deny anything to the Magnificent King of Old" she replied, sending a chill down his spine at the smugness of her glance, which also laced her voice. Nodding politely at the ladies again, he offered her his arm and guided her across the room, causing several noblewomen to huff at the Princess' luck and mutter their dissatisfaction.
She was as skilled in ballroom dancing as she was in Maharabian dances, he noticed, her movements graceful, elegant and swift as he conducted her around. She was astoundingly beautiful, exquisitely dressed in a jewelled set of Maharabian clothes, a fact he gathered mostly through his peripheral vision, for he could not tear his eyes from her enticing gaze. A very pleasant sensation spilled in his blood every time their eyes met, a feeling which grew in intensity whenever she would be close, and which left him aching to be even closer. He was taken by the sudden need to run his fingers along her shiny locks, to test the smoothness of her skin. His right hand was holding her waist as they twirled, burning at the contact with her bare skin; her short coat allowed a narrow glimpse of her midriff, tempting him with the idea of running his hand down her sides, to press his fingers onto her flesh. He was no stranger to these sensations, he pondered, knowing very well how physical attraction felt from his experience in the Golden Age. She was very beautiful, and with a small smirk to himself, he noticed she appeared to like the attention she was getting from him. She had been openly flirting with him over the past few days, something he welcomed more than gladly and reciprocated whenever he had the chance. Certainly, he had kept his advances chivalrous and proper even if slightly bold, hoping to imply with his actions that he was not at all unaffected by her.
The song changed swiftly in the background, acquiring a more Telmarine tune, and he used the opportunity to press her just a tad closer to him. The Princess' dark, seductive gaze met his, surprise shining in her orbs for a fraction of a second before reverting to their usual exotic allure. A strong wave of lust bolted down his spine, forcing him to take a deep breath to steady himself and keep his less than innocent thoughts at bay; he was a King, scandal needed to be avoided at all cost. He closed his eyes for a moment, letting his other senses grasp the sensations she was stirring in him. Her perfume tickled his nose, strong and driving, yet subtle and unobtrusive, clouding his mind partially like some good wine would. One swift glance at her lips had his throat going dry, and he ached to be able to taste them, to test their softness and feel their warmth. His blue orbs flashed up to her, meeting her impish look, alluring and definitely bewitching.
He smirked. Two could play this game... and he was definitely up to it.
Tairin smiled as Caspian called for a toast so as to mark the official beginning of the celebrations. Her brother's innate eloquence and informal charm succeeded in loosening the mood in the room and allowed people to forget about tight etiquette, conversations turning more enjoyable once everyone became more relaxed. As soon as everyone had toasted – some more than once – she found herself within hearing range of a group of noblewomen, most of them past their forties, excitedly discussing her upcoming marriage. Many among the group were ladies of the Court whom she was good friends with, and who were jovially debating on the preparations and details of the ceremony, sighing at the romantic notes of her love story and generously praising Zephyr for his perfectly chivalrous manners and good looks.
"Princess Tairin could not have made a more blessed match, Lord Zephyr is absolutely dreamy!" one of them – the wife of Lord Tumar, Lady Keva – sighed contently.
"I have to disagree, Lady Tumar, background is most important in a groom, and he has none! He may be a Duke, but I hear he was picked up from the streets, who knows who his parents are! Princess Tairin comes from a most noble linage, she cannot marry someone with such hazy ancestry, not to mention total lack of noble blood" Lady Zamira – a tall, extremely skinny woman with slightly bulging eyes – countered, her face permanently contorted into the expression of someone who had just tasted something very bitter.
"Lady Zamira, you are insulting in your uninformed judgement. Lord Zephyr is a good man, just look at him: his posture says everything about his impeccable manners and upbringing, a true gentleman from anywhere you look!" Lady Anaia lectured, causing Tairin's heart to beam with sympathy for Lord Killian's wife.
"I would hate to think that your ill comment about my fiancé is fuelled by my refusal to your son's proposal only last week, Lady Zamira. It would be a shame to think that a Lady of the Court such as yourself may profess such unkindness and contempt like a common gossipmonger" Tairin replied, revealing herself to the group, her voice even and calm but dangerously cold in warning.
"Your Highness, I believe Lady Zamira only meant that you could have chosen any of the Telmarine noblemen instead of an Archen; young, handsome lords we have plenty" another Lady hurried to say, doing her best to make her smile appear genuine.
"Your sons and kin, you mean. I am sorry to disappoint you, Your Ladyships, but I do not take a fancy in men who care more about themselves than the women they are supposedly courting, and who are more interested in the gains of marriage than love" Tairin responded, firm and strong, her tone allowing no retorts. "Now, please excuse me, my fiancé needs me" she added, sparing a smile to her friends in the group before regally walking away in Zephyr's direction.
Once the formalities had ended and he had made sure that he had done his fair share of hosting duties, Edmund grabbed a bottle of his favourite wine and took to a quiet and partially secluded part of the ballroom, a spot he had noticed during one of his many wanderings around the castle. This is how he enjoyed balls the most, with good wine and no company. He observed the crowd inattentively, remarking on certain individuals he was familiar with or who had caught his attention. He spotted Lucy amongst a group of young girls, chatting excitedly as per usual, and he smiled; his little squirt was the one enjoying this ball the most. He then felt a slight movement at his side and he turned around instinctively, grabbing the person's arm and successfully stopping them from getting closer. Myrina gasped loudly at the King's unexpected reaction while Edmund was just as taken aback by her presence.
"Oh, it's you, I'm sorry, I- it-umm- soldier instinct, I guess" he replied, letting go of her wrist immediately, looking aside in embarrassment. She smiled weakly at him and rubbed her arm, his hold a bit too firm.
"Did I hurt you? I am really sorry, let me see" he asked, guilt shining brightly in his eyes as he examined the fair skin of her forearm, having pulled the sleeve of her dress slightly up.
"It's alright, I am not as fragile as I look" she joked, trying to lighten the mood and managing partially, a small smile crawling up Edmund's lips but not quite reaching his frown. "I got the impression that you needed some company" she added casually so as to change the subject but also to explain her reason to approach him. "Are you hiding from someone?" she asked then, seeing she got no reply to her earlier statement.
"Everyone" he answered shortly, taking another sip of wine. His tone was bored and slightly harsh, and Myrina's smile dropped slightly.
"No, no, I didn't mean you, I meant everyone else. I am, well, I- I didn't really want to be here. I like balls, I just don't like having to talk about the same old conversations for the sake of diplomacy, or having to tell the same stories of the Golden Age over and over again. I'm not quite in the mood for that" he told her with a tired sigh, taking another sip from his glass. "But it doesn't mean the party has to be ruined for you because of me, you can go have fun" he said then, his eyes telling her he meant his words well and kindly, despite his gruff tone.
"Well, to be honest, I was hoping to get a bit of peace and quiet; I tend to get dizzy and disoriented when there is a lot of people around me, especially in a place I don't know well" she explained, causing him to chuckle lightly.
"You are definitely one of the most interesting people I've met" he commented, still chuckling.
"I will take that as a compliment, My King, despite the obvious hint of mockery in your statement" she replied with a smile.
"I wouldn't want you to take it any other way" he said nonchalantly, topping up her glass of wine.
Myrina was indeed an interesting girl, he thought, nodding to something she was commenting on. He wondered, yet again, what caused him to be so comfortable with her, so at ease to open up and converse, having never been much of a chatterbox himself. She was simple and not demanding and they could talk about anything, be it important or not, just for the sake of entertainment. She did not expect anything from him, no tales of the past, no long speeches about his and Peter's numerous deeds, although she did seem to have a genuine interest the Golden Age from a daily life perspective. That had to be it: the fact that she seemed to be more interested in him as a person than in him as a King; it was refreshing, and he thanked her for it. Returning to the present moment, he recognised the tune fluttering in the air and smiled, it being a Narnian song he and his siblings used to dance frequently in Cair, a staple of Narnian balls in the Golden Age.
"Come, we have to dance this song" he told, not quite gallantly, putting his glass aside and taking Myrina's hand, leading her towards the other dancing couples.
"King Edmund, I- wait! I do not know how to dance this, or anything for that matter!" she exclaimed behind him, mortified as he pulled her towards the dancing crowd. Once he found a good spot on the dance floor, he gently pressed his hand to the small of her back, while his free hand held hers gently in a perfect dancing posture. Although there was nothing improper in their arrangement, Myrina blushed, both in embarrassment at having to dance in public and at the closeness of the Narnian King.
"This is the least I can do for you after you kept me company" he stated simply, starting to twirl them around to the notes. "And I've already told you to call me Edmund" he told, a mock-lecture tone in his voice.
This was a merry and light-spirited tune, meant to be danced without much thought about the steps, yet she was tense in his arms, hissing guiltily every time she missed a step or pulled him out of rhythm.
"Would you please relax, enjoy the dance and let me guide you?" he whispered to her ear during one of the twirls. Her breath hitched in her throat at the close contact, which resulted in her blushing a few shades darker.
"Much better" he told her, both his hands dropping to her waist to perform the light lift that was part of the dance.
"How did you ever convince me of doing this!" she whispered furiously as he placed her back on the floor.
"Part of my charm, I guess" he replied roguishly, and she was unable to keep her stern look as she felt her lips curling upwards.
"You're so full of yourself" she whispered, both laughing as the dance continued.
The one dance then became two and three, and in the end Edmund and Myrina danced several sets, fooling around and having a good time while earning praises from the guests for their lovely performance.
"Alright, I think we are done, we are attracting too much attention" Edmund whispered, sighing and rolling his eyes.
"Finally! I thought you would have me dance the night away!" she joked, and Edmund chuckled as he bowed at her, as customary.
"It has been a pleasure and a great entertainment to dance with you, Myr" he told, the flash of surprise in her expression not passing his notice. "Did I say something wrong?" he asked, a bit confused.
"No, not at all, is just- well, you called me Myr" she said barely above a whisper, blushing brightly and pulling her hair behind her ear.
"Oh, right, I didn't even notice. Lucy and Tairin must have rubbed it on me, does it bother you?" he questioned.
"No, of course not, on the contrary, I like it; all my friends call me like that" she hurried to say, smiling nervously.
"Well, we are friends, are we not?" he enquired, returning her smile and offering her his arm.
"Yes, we are" she agreed, letting him take her through the crowd.
Caspian smiled as he saw all four Pevensies approaching him, Edmund and Peter questioning him with their looks – Peter's more of a glare, which told Caspian he had been interrupted from something involving a certain Maharabian Princess.
"Your Majesties, there is someone I very much want to introduce you to" he said, turning to the man to his side. "It is with great pleasure to acquaint you with His Royal Highness, Rashid, Tisroc of Calormen and his family. His Majesty is a great friend of mine, of Narnia" he introduced, addressing the Tisroc with a fond smile.
The Tisroc was a tall and imposing man, with a slightly protruding belly and greyish hair and beard, the latter not managing to hide the beaming smile curling his lips, his dark eyes glinting joyfully. His whole person exuded a jolly personality, totally different from the towering, powerful and fear-inspiring pathos of Rabadash's father.
"Blessings, Sons of Adam and Daughters of Eve! Generations of Calormenes have been delighted with the tales of your prowess. I am humbled and honoured to make your acquaintance" he greeted warmly, stepping closer to them.
"The honour is all ours, Your Grace, may you live forever" Peter greeted, bowing courtly before shaking the Calormene's hand.
"Ah, Your Grace remembers the ancient Calormene address; I must confess I had only read about it in old history books since such tradition was abolished over four hundred years ago. Nevertheless, I am humbled by your blessings of immortality and cannot but reciprocate them onto you and your family" Rashid explained elaborately, bowing elegantly.
One by one, the members of the Calormene family introduced themselves, starting by the Tisroc's wife, Faeri. Caspian had previously praised the Queen on her sharp and cultured mind, noting that her beauty was only matched by her intelligence. The Faithful King had been right, Queen Faeri was a most beautiful woman; unlike most Calormenes, her eyes were of a watery green and hints of blue, and their beauty was further underlined by the contrast of her golden skin and dark tresses.
Next was the Tisroc's second son, a tall young man with handsome looks and a winsome smile who had already drawn many a sigh from the female guests.
"I am delighted to make your acquaintance, Your Majesties. I am Prince Taabish, at your service and command" the young Prince spoke, bowing elegantly.
"Thank you little brother, I will take it from here, after all, I am the firstborn" a graver voice interrupted Prince Taabish, the Crown Prince approaching them with an assertive stride. He was taller and bulkier than his brother, owning a penetrating earthy dark gaze that appeared to be alight with sparks of mysterious origin. Edmund exchanged a knowing look with Caspian. Although the Prince had masked his irritation at his brother with a hint of humour, his true feelings had not escaped the Kings' notice.
"I am Prince Tarik, at your disposal, Your Majesties" he greeted with a respectful nod. To the casual onlooker, the Prince appeared courteous and well versed in the etiquette of royalty, but there was something unpleasant in the ring of his voice, something off that all four siblings noticed.
Caspian's whole body tensed as Tarik made his intervention, his dark chocolate eyes following the man around as he shook hands with both Peter and Edmund. The Narnian Kings were diplomatic in their greeting yet perceptibly wary, as Peter apparently shared Edmund's suspicion of Calormenes. Blood burned in his veins as Tarik greeted Susan, containing himself not to draw his sword to the man's throat as he threw an appreciative glance at her.
"I had read about your beauty, Queen Susan, but never did I imagine truth would surpass the tales" he complimented, Susan smiling politely at him as he kissed her hand. He held Susan's hand an instant longer than customary as he spoke to her, causing Caspian's already fuming mood to boil in anger. Peter noticed this reaction, but chose to remain silent, waiting for a more propitious moment to discuss the matter with the Telmarine.
Prince Karim and Princess Naheed followed Tarik in their greetings, their formal yet sincere words leaving the Pevensie siblings with a very positive first impression of the Calormene royals, despite their earlier guardedness towards them. The Tisroc soon started a pleasant conversation, charming in his efforts to include all of them in it. His gentle personality flowered into each comment, enchanting the Kings and Queens with his stories and anecdotes, and succeeded in snatching smiles and laughs from them with incredible eloquence and humour. Lucy, however, seemed quite detached from the conversation, abnormally quiet and replying shortly whenever she was addressed. This change in her usual behaviour had Caspian curious and worried.
"Lucy, are you feeling unwell?" he asked discretely, glancing worriedly at her.
"Oh, sorry, I just spaced out" she answered, blinking several times and focusing her eyes on him.
"And may I enquire on the origins of this distraction?" Caspian asked again, not buying the little Queen's explanation. Lucy looked at him for a moment, obviously uncomfortable.
"Come on, let's get something to drink" Caspian told her, excusing them from the group and leading her to the refreshments table.
"Alright, you can tell me now" he told her once he had made sure no one paid attention to them, squatting so he could be more or less at her eye level.
"I- well, I know they are your friends, and they seem all really nice. I mean, the Tisroc is adorable and I like him very much, is just that- well, his son, the eldest, I don't know why, but there is something intimidating and scary about him" Lucy explained, her thin, dark cooper brows knitting together.
"I am, as always, amazed at your ability to read people, little Queen. The Tisroc is one of the most charming people I know, and so are his wife and children, but Tarik, he is different; from all the Calormene family, he is the only I don't get along with" he told her, throwing a glance at the Prince, who was now staring at some lady out of the corner of his eye.
"I don't know, he makes me uncomfortable and even if I just met him I can't help being afraid of him. Even when he smiles there is a spark in his eye that doesn't inspire any good" Lucy noted, staring down at her glass. Caspian sighed and smiled at her, reaching to hold one of her hands.
"Don't worry, Lucy, he won't do anything to you or any of us. I'll be keeping an eye on him. Nevertheless, and if anything happens, you tell me or Ed or any of our Archen friends, whoever you meet first, alright?" Caspian reassured her, squeezing her hand lightly.
"I will, thank you Caspian" the Valiant Queen replied, smiling brightly once again and rounding his neck with her arms, kissing his cheek as she pulled away.
"You are more than welcome, Your Highness" he joked, standing up again and offering her his arm with a flourish, eliciting a giggle from Lucy.
Caspian was intercepted by Scorpio as he and Lucy returned to the others, Caspian telling the little Queen to go ahead while he spoke to their Archen friend.
"What is it, Scorpio?" Caspian asked, noticing the serious – although not devoid of its ever-present impishness – look of the Prince.
"Tarik, of course. He's been looking around the room trying to spot Tai. I've spent quite some time keeping her and Zephyr as far as physically possible; Zephyr may be calm and civilized, but Tarik certainly isn't. I'm dreading a fistfight, or worse" Scorpio spoke, looking sideways at the Calormene representation, his blue eyes fixed on the oldest Prince.
"Believe me, I have enough reasons not to want him around either" Caspian said through gritted teeth, for the Calormene Prince was again staring at Susan as she spoke to his mother.
"At least he didn't bring his friend along" Scorpio said, smirking lightly as Caspian looked at him questioningly.
"Oh, don't tell me you don't know. Over the past few years, whenever Tarik attends a ball or party, he always brings a woman along, rather stunning I must say, whom he claims is his personal secretary, but we all know she is his private concubine" Scorpio told crudely, looking quite disgusted.
"Bastard" Caspian hissed, his eyes narrowing in a death glare, Scorpio nodding lightly.
"I agree. I only ask the Gods for the wisdom not to put my fist through his face before the end of the evening" Scorpio sighed and chuckled, patting Caspian on the shoulder and marching away. Caspian, however, remained quite livid; he was not going to let that beast near Susan, not today and not ever.
Edmund had been pleasantly talking to Taabish when Karim joined them with a young girl by his arm. There was something about the Calormene Lady that stunned Edmund as soon as he laid eyes on her, and he was unable to move or to stop staring at her. Her jet black hair and tanned skin made it clear she was Calormene, but her eyes – green with hints of grey and honey – were definitely what caught his attention the most. There was something beating in his blood, even if his heart seemed to have stopped the moment he saw her. Time stopped for an instant, causing the sensation of a void in his stomach and a knot in his throat, his breath not able to squeeze through it. Curiously, the sensation felt quite familiar and sort of déjà-vu. Hazily, he searched his memory for a clue, realisation downing on him like a bucket of water an instant later. He had already experienced this, the same intensity of the confusing reaction although a bit muffled by time, yet still identifiable. He had been sixteen by then, when he had first experienced this, like now, not quite knowing what was happening. Yet, with sick certainty, he now knew this was his hormones, messy little things, making an entrance, again. Oh no...
He had come to accept the fact that it would happen sooner or later, although he had hoped to have at least a few more years of peaceful existence before girls became an issue; seriously, no one should have to go through adolescence twice! Why did she have to ignite this in him? With a sigh, he resigned himself to it, knowing there was nothing he could do to change the inevitable, and hoped that this second go at dealing with mindless infatuation would be better than the last. He stole a glance at her and felt blood hum in his ears. Supressing a groan, he took a deep breath through his constricted throat and begged Aslan to save him from the embarrassment of making a fool of himself. At least he had already experienced the other effects of adolescence already; it would be much worse if his voice broke now on top of everything.
"This is Lady Casarah, Your Majesties, daughter of my sister, Lady Parveen, who could not come, unfortunately, but sends her best regards and her promise of a visit in the future" Faeri explained, smiling kindly at her niece, a hand flattening her long hair in motherly fashion. The girl curtsied elegantly and he almost tumbled forwards as he bowed to her, causing her to smile and stifle a laugh.
"I- it's-" he tried, his voice not working with him, forcing him to cough awkwardly. "Verypleasedtomeetyou" he blurted, holding the urge to slap his face with his palm. Caspian cleared his throat in an effort to cover a snort at his friend's predicament, a fact that was duly noted by the Just King, who grew even more mortified. Caspian was totally enjoying his misery.
"I am Just Edmund, The King, I mean, King Edmund, The Just" he said then and Caspian was unable to contain his laughter any longer. Edmund shot him a deathly glare, blushing violently.
"Would you grace me with the next dance, My Lady?" he then asked, cursing at himself as his voice wavered a bit.
"I would be delighted, Your Highness" she answered, her voice proving to be as soft and agreeable as he had imagined.
By The Mane, he was being lovey-dovey.
Ed courtly offered his arm to the Maharabian Lady and led her towards the dancefloor, where other couples could be seen twirling to the music. Having witnessed the exchange, Peter lifted his eyebrows with a mix of surprise and disbelief.
"Adolescence just kicked in, it seems" he commented, eliciting a chuckle from Susan, who was closest to him and had heard his remark.
"Earlier than last time, though I don't know if that's a good thing" she told, smiling at her little brother dancing with expertise, most likely showing off his abilities.
"True. I think it's good, gives him more time to gain experience, but I just don't know if I should be happy or sorry for him, I mean, he is bound to make a fool out of himself eventually" Peter murmured, taking a sip from his wine and glancing at his sister. "You don't want to know" he added immediately, catching Susan's enquiring look.
"Oh, I'm so sorry" Ed murmured, having just stepped on the rim of her dress for the fifth time, his mind overflowing with self-aimed insults for letting her distract him, though he was quite unable to prevent it from happening.
"So," he breathed, clearing his throat awkwardly. "I remember Tashbaan was a very beautiful city, has it changed much?" he asked, not finding a better topic as much as he tried.
"Oh, I do not believe it has changed much over the centuries, although I suppose it has become larger. The garden in the royal palace, however, has several new trees and flower bushes which I think were not yet planted at the time of Your Grace's last visit to Calormen" she explained, a pleasant chat originating from it and changing swiftly, entwining with other subjects.
"I must confess I had never danced a Narnian song before" Casarah told him a moment later, earning a smile from him.
"You did very well for a beginner, My Lady, I could have sworn you have danced this song forever" he complimented, gently placing a wine glass in her hand.
"You flatter me, King Edmund, I merely followed your excellent guidance. However, I am sure I would stumble on my own feet if I dared to dance one of the faun dances, I've heard they can be quite lively" she told him, blushing lightly and taking a sip of her drink to cover some of it.
"They are certainly lively, but quite easy to dance. I could teach you later if you allow me" he offered gallantly, delighted at how her blush deepened, finding it absolutely adorable.
"I would like that very much, though you should know I am a terrible apprentice" she told, her smile tinged with a hint of embarrassment, his heart skipping a beat by this sole fact.
"You may call me Edmund, Lady Casarah, I would appreciate it greatly. As per our dancing lessons and judging by your dancing skills, I dare say you'll be an excellent student" he told her, eliciting a giggle on her.
"You flatter me greatly, Kin- Edmund, I am not half as good as you make me look" she told him, shyly looking aside. She then opened her mouth as if to speak again but changed her mind an instant later. Edmund looked curiously at her and she blushed, managing a small flustered smile.
"Is there anything the matter?" Edmund asked amiably.
"Oh, I- I was only wondering- Well, I thought- I mean- it seems- I feel it is only fair that you call me by name" the foreign Lady finally blurted, the last part of her statement whispered so low that Edmund had to lean closer in order to listen, barely managing to understand what was said. Casarah was looking positively flustered, her deep blush noticeable even despite her tan. Edmund smiled warmly.
"You got yourself a deal, My- Casarah" Edmund replied, quickly correcting himself. With pleasant surprise, he had to admit he enjoyed the way her name felt on his lips, and he came to the conclusion that he would find no trouble in getting used to it.
Always prone to self-analysis, Edmund pondered on his current situation. So far, this mindless hormone-induced infatuation was not that bad. On the contrary, he was rather enjoying it, although his past experience taught him not to be too confident; it was a given fact that he would end up making a fool of himself sooner or later. On a not so surprising note, he realised his prejudice towards Calormenes had started to fade and continued to abate with each of her smiles.
Myrina leaned against the pillar behind her and sighed as she watched the dancing couple. She had not known the Just King for long, but to see him so at ease with someone he just met felt odd and out of character, even to her. He seemed so besotted with Lady Casarah already, smiling frequently, both engaged in conversation ever since the beginning of the dance. She sighed again, for what seemed the umpteenth time in the shortest while, noticing the small murmurs they were eliciting on the crowd. He looked happy and enjoying the party at last, should she not be glad for him? She could not understand why the sight of him with Lady Casarah troubled her so much. It was silly, he was in no way forced to spend the evening exclusively with her, especially since he was one of the hosts and was required to attend to the guests and dance with the many women present. Lady Casarah was very pretty, she thought, no wonder he seemed so captivated, while she, on the other hand... oh, what was she thinking! Since when did she care about Edmund noticing her on a more than friendly basis? Worse still, when did she start thinking about him on romantic terms?! She did not even fancy him! This was ridiculous, they were friends, nothing more, and that was enough for her.
"Are you well, Myrina?" a deep voice asked behind her, startling her and eliciting a loud gasp from her.
"Ah, Gemini! By Aslan, some good fright you've given me!" she exclaimed, taking a deep breath.
"I'm sorry, you know I would never do you wrong. You appear to be troubled, though, is there anything the matter?" the Archen Prince asked her with a sweet, caring smile, his blue eyes tinted with affectionate concern.
"Oh, no, not at all. I think it's the effect of boredom and too much wine combined" she replied, smiling kindly. The Prince was not entirely convinced by her explanation, for his cousin had the tendency to hide her feelings to spare others from worrying for her.
"Well then, let's dance, shall we?" he suggested, offering her his hand in a chivalrous brotherly way. Myrina hesitated, her greenish blue eyes flashing towards the dancing couples before she smiled broadly and looked at him again.
"You know I am a terrible dancer, Gemini, I'd rather stay here and talk, if you don't mind" she asked with hopeful eyes. He nodded and indulged her, having discretely traced her look to its recipient. King Edmund was still dancing with the young Calormene Lady, apparently very entertained and enjoying her company.
"As you wish. It's been a while since we talked, I've missed it" he told her kindly, signalling two empty chairs they could use.
He had seen the painful expression of her eyes as she looked at King Edmund, her eyes matt with the disappointment of finding what she had not expected. He chose not to say anything not to constrain her even more, after all, it seemed that she was not yet aware of her feelings for the Just King, he dared guess. All he hoped was for her not to end heartbroken when she did.
Peter scanned the room looking for Nabeela. He had been forced to leave her when he was called to meet the Calormene royal family and she had since disappeared in the crowd. She appeared to take some twisted pleasure in taunting him with her disappearances, teasing him and making him yearn for her company, and boy, was she succeeding. He could hear Susan's voice in his head telling him to be less obvious in his favouring of the Princess, and with a sheepish smile he admitted it to be true. Yet, he could not help it; to him, Princess Nabeela was the most interesting person in the room that night. He admired her intelligence and wit, which had transpired during their conversations, but what she enjoyed the most was the thrill of the flirting battle they had been waging for a few days now, he thought with a smirk, blue eyes still looking for the Maharabian beauty.
As he scanned the room, he spotted Tai and Zephyr holding each other and having the most sickening sweet smiles on their faces, causing him to roll his eyes. Everyone praised Zephyr, being so handsome and noble, such a gentleman and so well-mannered… Honestly, he behaved as any decent man should, there was nothing exceptional about it. In all honesty, he found the Lord's dumb smile and conciliatory attitude irritating; the man was not capable of giving an opinion, always trying to mediate in favour of both parties. One thing he had to admit though, the Archen Lord really knew how to handle politics and was quite gifted in the art of avoiding compromising questions and nasty diplomats with grace; that he could give him, for it was something not everyone could do. But then again, it was not an unachievable attribute, he himself was particularly skilled in the art of diplomatic artifices.
In a way he pitied the man, having to stand such an opinionated woman, it had to be a pain. They shared another kiss and he gagged into his goblet, keeping himself from groaning at them. Really, they deserved each other. Aslan help him and make them get married soon and live far, far away from him!
His mood brightened a short moment later, when he finally found the person he was looking for. He smirked and walked towards her, grabbing a wine bottle from a nearby table and filling his glass, his eyes tracing each of her movements.
"I could have sworn you were avoiding me, Princess" he spoke in a low voice, his blue eyes narrowed slightly in a flirty look. She smiled, her lips pursing temptingly, making him ache with need to kiss them. Her innocent smile failed to be so, becoming more of a teasing, sensual smirk. Her beech-wood coloured eyes were shimmering friskily, forcing Peter to take a breath to steady himself and think of all the people who would witness the scandal should he kiss her right then, as fervently as he wished to. She got closer to him, so close her perfume was clouding his senses, his muscles tensing at her closeness.
"I would never do that, My King, I'm sure you know it" she whispered, her face inches from his ear and cheek, convincing him that she wanted to drive him insane with want on purpose. She then smirked again and kissed the corner of his mouth before walking back into the crowd. The contact lasted only a few seconds, long enough to sear his skin and ignite a flame on his blood. If she thought she could leave him in such state and escape without retaliation, she had made a terrible mistake.
He went after her, following her discreetly at a distance, knowing fully well that she was aware of his presence. He walked around the ballroom, stopping here and there to nod and smile to a few guests, but always keeping an eye on her. He smirked, the thrill of this little game of hers coursing through his veins. He had caught her, he noticed smugly. The Princess looked at him over her shoulder, sighing as she found herself trapped at a corner, in the farthest side of the room where little people were gathered. Out of the corner of his eye, Peter noticed a curtain hanging from the ceiling, partially hiding the angle where the two stone walls met. How convenient…
"It seems my unfamiliarity with the palace has led me into a trap" she told him, dropping her shoulders in defeat.
"Indeed" he answered lowly, roused by her coyness; she had led him there purposefully, it was written in the mischief in her eyes. His goblet, he had abandoned somewhere during the chase, his hands free as he approached her. She teased him by stepping back every time he stepped forward, that is, until she was pressed against the wall, something that seemed not to bother her in the slightest.
"Well, in that case, it is most convenient that I have a brave king to set me free from such trap, wouldn't you agree, My King?" she spoke seductively, almost whispering, breaking his resistance completely. In two strides, he shortened the distance between them, his hands yanking at the curtain for it to wrap around them. He pressed his hands to the wall, successfully trapping her between him and the cold stone, bending his head so their lips were inches apart.
"It's Peter, just Peter" he breathed, brazenly capturing her lips. One of his arms wrapped around her waist and he deepened the kiss, pinning her against the wall and making sure she would not escape again.
This was his well-deserved revenge.
Susan hummed contently as she bit into a strawberry truffle. She had managed to secure a small moment of solitude and used it to indulge into some sweets, only now realising how hungry she was. Instinctively, her eyes found Caspian, as had been the case most of the evening. The Telmarine King was a skilful host; he was a gifted diplomat and very generous with his attentions to guests, as witnessed by his sincere laughs and greetings to a number of nobles. A flutter took over her stomach as she noticed how handsome he was: his dark purple attire suited him perfectly, simple yet denoting his royal birth, vibrant blue thread embroidering the fabric richly. The elegant velvet of his clothes brought up the combination of colours even more without taking any attention away from the King himself. She remembered he had worn a cape for the welcoming toast, and with a chuckle she noticed it lying somewhere else in the room, abandoned on a chair by the King, who had been complaining about it. She blushed, crystal eyes not able to tear themselves away from him, from his radiant smile and glinting chocolate eyes; his dark skin and features were underlined even more by the rich shade of purple, plum joining the long list of colours that favoured him. Sigh, he looked good in anything really. With a smile, she noticed his new crown glinting on top of his messy hair, gold sparkling under the multitude of candles. It suited him very well, adding more to his natural charm.
She needed to get a grip on herself. She needed to dig up the courage she knew she had and finally talk to him, face him and let herself be taken by his love. She felt quite silly at stealing glances at him, at feeling her heart drum wildly in her chest with every look she threw at him, and at the breaths that were stolen from her with each of those looks. He was handsome, caring, kind, noble, charming, chivalrous, and much, much more, everything she could ever wish. Then why could she not let him love her and allow herself to love him back?! A pang of guilt stung her heart. She had been avoiding him all night, quickly busying herself every time she would see him coming closer, stealing glances at him and turning her gaze away from his when he would look at her, only to return to him as soon as he no longer was; it was definitely not right.
The Gentle Queen frowned, her lips pursed in irritation. A small group of women – most of them young – was gathered around the Faithful King, showering him with their attention, excessive attention in her opinion. Some were grooming his sleeves every now and then as they talked; others smiled flirtatiously at him, hands either on him or trying to attract his attention to their assets. All this was garnished with coquettish smiles, flirtatious looks and blinks of the eye. Her blood boiled as one of them – a Telmarine Lady she had seen once or twice in town – winked at him, holding his hand and apparently trying to convince him to dance with her. These women looked so desperate, lured not only by his good looks but by his status; it made her simmer in anger at how daft they were to ignore what made him truly exceptional. He looked up to her, their eyes crossing for a fragment of a moment before she looked away, picking up another appetiser from the table as her excuse. She took an angry bite of the poor miniature cream roll, having confirmed that the woman had managed to convince Caspian to dance with her, despite his efforts in declining her invitation politely. She could see the mortification on his face; he clearly did not want to be there, or rather, be there with his current companion, who immediately grabbed him in her clutches as soon as he placed a gentle hand on her waist. His eyes found hers again, this time interrupted by a twirl required by the dance. In that small moment, she could see he wanted to be dancing with her, to be holding her in his arms. Why could she not grant him his wish and relieve her soul and heart by doing so?
A few hours later, Susan had once again found a moment to catch a breath, her eyes drawn to the handsome King immediately. Akshamala was now dancing with him and they appeared to be taking about some funny anecdote, for both of them laughed a moment later. Susan's heart warmed at how tender he was, how perfectly courteous and elegant his movements were, and she wished, with an aching beat to her heart, that she could be the one in his arms. He then danced with Tairin, an impish look and smile brightening his dashing features as he practically stole his sister from Zephyr, and she was certain he had told him something cheeky, for the Archen Lord chucked and smiled, following the siblings with his eyes. He loved his sister so very much, that much was clear to anyone who witnessed the two of them together. And now he was making a fool of them both as he twirled her unnecessarily, inventing some steps to the dance and lightly tripping Tairin here and there, earning glares and light smacks on the chest from her, certainly some light threats as well.
The Gentle Queen could not contain an endeared laugh as Lucy soon trotted into the dance floor, making her way through the dancing couples, stopping Tairin and Caspian in the middle of their dance. The little Queen looked at the High King with big eyes, almost pleading him to dance with her, and even though the distance, she could see how he melted completely. Caspian shared a look with his sister, who laughed at how easily Lucy had convinced him. The siblings curtsied to each other in mock formality and Caspian escorted Tairin back to Zephyr, before favouring the little Queen as his dancing partner. Susan laughed again, for Lucy was not yet tall enough to reach Caspian's shoulders and was forced to hug his waist, creating a funny image to be seen. Caspian exaggerated almost every move, dropping Lucy backwards several times – always making sure he held her securely by the waist – even if the dance was far from requiring such flamboyant steps, eliciting the most amused giggles from the Valiant Queen. He was extremely sweet, endearing her heart even more with his attentions to Lucy. It was well known that the Faithful King was completely besotted with his surrogate little sister, who in turn very much adored him as another older brother. He then lifted her up in an elegant jump, placing her on top of his boots, leading her into a loud fit of squeals and giggles, his face twisted into a mock serious expression. Finally, the young Queen thanked him for the dance, smiling brightly, eyes still holding the spark of laughter.
The sweet moment was then ruined by another court lady trying her luck at charming the King, and Susan pursed her lips, a bitter feeling spilling in her chest. The King looked at her once more, the third time in this short while, his eyes practically begging for her. Yet, as she had done for the past few weeks, she avoided his look, taking a deep breath to distract herself from the cold sensation spreading in her heart. A light tap on her shoulder caused her to look around, finding Edmund looking at her with a strange spark in his eye.
"Hi, Ed" she told with a smile, thankful he was not some noble wishing to strike a conversation.
"Hi, Su, are you enjoying the party?" he asked, looking over the delicious appetisers, taking his time before choosing a chocolate cornet.
"I am, yes, everyone is so pleasant" she replied, taking a tiny raspberry pastry and biting into it, humming contently at how tasty it was.
"Good, so why were you glaring at Caspian?" he asked, looking at her enquiringly, in that particular way of his that always left her feeling as if he had seen through her; she had never been able to hide anything from her brother, no matter how hard she tried.
"This has to end, Su. We all know what is going on between you two, and we have all witnessed Caspian's crestfallen looks and quiet irritation every time you avoid him. Now you are glaring at him whenever he dances or talks to a girl, yet ignore his looks to you" Edmund pointed out. "You can't have it both ways; you can't be jealous and avoid him at the same time, Su" Edmund told her gravely, his tone not lecturing but concerned, throwing a look at his best friend and then at her. She knew he was right, and there was no point in denying it, this situation had grown utterly out of proportion and out of her control, if it ever was. Ed patted her arm comfortingly, sensing her pain. His eyes met hers and silently conveyed to her that he understood and she did not need to say anything. They had always had this special understanding flowing between them, where no words were needed, a fact she was very grateful for in moments like this.
"So, you seemed to be having a good time with Lady Casarah, why are you not with her?" Susan asked him a moment later, causing him to choke lightly on the last bite of his pastry and cough discretely as he blushed.
"I came to get us some drinks and a small bite, but then I saw you and took the opportunity to check up on you" he replied, his blush darkening a couple of hues, a small smirk gracing his lips.
"What a charming host you've turned out to be, Ed, who could have imagined" she teased him, giggling as his half-hearted glare. "Alright, go, don't make her wait. Just don't follow any of the recommendations Peter sure gave you about girls" she warned, causing Edmund to snort.
"Do I ever do anything Peter says?" he replied, eliciting a genuine laugh from her.
Ah, young love.
Letting her eyes wander around once again, she came upon the sight of her dear older brother, her stomach twisting lightly at his current arrangement. The spectacle was definitely not suited for the public eye, especially involving a King; at least he had had the decency to choose a partially secluded location. She shook her head at Peter's antics and shrugged, he was old enough to measure the consequences of his acts and young enough to have some fun; she only hoped he knew what he was doing. Still, her heart told her there was something wrong with the Princess, and until she knew what it was, she could only pray for Peter not to do something he may regret later.
Once again, he stole a glance at her, forgetting about the conversation going on around him. She was breath-taking, delicate and extremely beautiful. Her candidness and bright smile caused his heart to skip a beat, his breath stolen away as it did every time he looked at her. Honouring the traditional Narnian royal colours, she had chosen a deep red dress for the night, simple and very complimenting, the velvet hugging her figure perfectly, underlining her features and adding more to her natural beauty. The dress, however simple, added to her inherent elegance; she did not need opulent jewels or impressive brocades, for her posture and demeanour sufficed to imply her queenly status. Indeed, the golden crown entwined in her dark locks was more of a symbolic jewel, the only she wore apart from a delicate pair of gold and ruby earrings.
He observed her as she spoke to some foreign ladies, sincere in her kind smiles and tactful comments. Not only was she a skilled host and diplomat, her gentleness and welcoming personality had a way of charming everyone she met. All night he had heard nothing but praises to the Gentle Queen, many a guest commenting on how captivated they were by her. It was no surprise, it was impossible not to love her.
The ladies left her alone a moment later, and their gazes crossed for a split moment, before she looked away, before she once again avoided him as she had been doing the entire evening. He sighed, feeling the bitter taste of irritation trickle down his throat and causing his stomach to churn. He was growing desperate at her hesitation, a sour feeling hammering in his chest every time she avoided him, echoing dully with every heartbeat. All night she had been stealing glances at him, and he had caught some of them, hoping to hold her gaze and for her to finally talk to him. Yet, time after time she looked away as if she could not stand to look at him any longer; she seemed scared, ashamed of something. Every look she avoided, every question she dodged, every word she did not speak, it all felt like a stab in his heart. She had not spoken properly to him in weeks; it was killing him, her ignoring of him was causing his insides to die in despair.
It was time to do something about it.
He made his way through the guests, stopping here and there to greet someone or reply to a kind comment, having at some point passed the orchestra to congratulate them, all while keeping his eyes on her. She was talking to Akshamala and Lady Anaia, sharing some laughs at the Rani's tale, which he deemed had to be highly amusing.
"Your Majesties, My Lady, it pleases me to see that you are all enjoying the evening. I can only hope not to interrupt your fun" he greeted them, smiling sincerely at the women, noticing Susan had drawn a deep breath and tensed at his closeness. "I am terribly sorry, but I was wondering if I could steal Queen Susan for a dance, if she accepts, of course" he added, looking at Susan and offering her his hand.
"Ah, you should go, my dear, you have barely touched the dancefloor! I hear the High King is a very skilled dancer, and rumour has it that so are you; I am sure we shall be entertained by such a proficient couple" Akshamala commented, incapable of any malice through her comments, but causing Susan to feel like fainting.
"As High King and Queen we are expected to share at least one dance together, do honour me with this being the one" he asked again, his love for her pouring out in his chocolate gaze, causing her to tremble. He had gotten her into a tight spot; she had no other choice to accept, for she could not refuse him, a King, in front of everyone. Furthermore, Akshamala's well-meant comment had attracted some attention and a light buzz of excitement could be heard from the people around them. She sighed and looked at him almost sternly, knowing he had done it on purpose. With practiced composure, she slid her hand into his, allowing him to lead her to the dance area and dreading what would happen next.
His hands were warm as he gently held her in position, shivers spilling down her spine, contradicting the burning sensation on her lower back, where his hand resided. She did not feel ready to face him, to be so close to him, and she was afraid of the reactions that his closeness could cause. Her eyes were fixed on his shoulder, not trusting her knees to keep carrying her weight if she looked into his eyes; her heart was already threatening to escape from her chest just by having him so close, and she knew it would be worse if she looked at him. Music started with a soft tune, light and calm, but as much as she tried, she could not pay attention to the song. He was keeping himself at a polite distance from her, holding her courteously and elegantly, just as etiquette demanded, his hold respectful and discrete. It was a Telmarine tune, definitely, she noticed, doing her best to think of anything but her partner, but his scent – that subtle mix of lemon and mint – was distracting her, blurring her thoughts. The pace of the tune increased and she tried her best not to trip, coping quite well with the unknown, foreign steps, despite her lack of mental clarity.
It was overwhelming. The dance, the way he held her, his warmth, everything was making her head spin; it added to the tightening in her chest, constricting her throat and making each breath harder than the last. Fear was screaming inside her, telling her to run away, to stop this madness; while her logic, and still sane, side struggled to find a reason for such ghastly fear. She was scared, scared of the grandness of his love, of the intensity of his passion. She feared she would not be able to cope with it, to return it with as much fervour; she did not feel she deserved to be loved as unconditionally as he loved her, as it was written in his eyes. This had been the reason, the explanation as to why she could not face him for weeks. She was afraid to disappoint him and she would not be able to bear the guilt for breaking his heart, for it would mean breaking hers as well.
He had pressed her closer during her painful pondering, chests practically brushing against each other, but she barely had time to register this, for she soon felt his breath on her ear, a sharp intake of air echoing in her lips.
"Why are you avoiding me?" he spoke, a statement more than a question. The frustration in his voice did not pass unnoticed despite his whisper. Another turn, and he pulled away from her, holding her hand and walking some steps alongside her, both switching partners for a split moment before he took her hand again, an arm wrapping around her waist, pressing her closer to him once more. She could not think, thoughts frozen by something she was too shocked to even try to guess, barely registering being back in his arms. Her skin burned under her dress, the room becoming too warm all of a sudden. She knew she had to get away, put some distance between them, yet she could not, for his grip around her waist was strong, pulling her towards him.
And she made the terrible mistake of looking at him.
His eyes were the darkest she had ever seen them, flamed with love, passion, attraction, every emotion that this dance had flooded her with. She was left breathless, numb, all the while contradictive, for something hot and cold coursed through her blood; her muscles screamed for movement, yet she remained frozen. What was he doing to her!
"Why do you torture me like this" he whispered on her ear once again. She felt a gasp escape through her lips, chest heaving with a shaky breath. He was so close. She could feel his breath on her shoulder along with his warmth, his chest shifting as he breathed. The soft tune was now a murmur muffled by the strong humming in her ears, heart pummelling against her ribcage in a motion that could not be healthy, the flutter in her stomach becoming unbearable. The song ended and she found herself curtsying without even realising, her body acting on its own, and she blinked, trying to recover some whisper of composure, even if she felt like consciousness was about to leave her.
"Come, let's go get some fresh air" he again whispered to her ear, not quite helping her current situation, rather worsening it. He held her strongly yet gently, supporting her slightly, a gesture she was grateful for, not quite trusting her legs to carry on bearing her weight. Yes, fresh air would be very good indeed.
Peter looked up at the retreating King and Queen, frowning lightly as both disappeared into one of the balconies. Susan looked unwell, pale and looking as if about to faint. His instinct as her older brother was to go after her and make sure she was alright, but as soon as he had thought of following her and Caspian, a kiss on his neck emptied his head of all thought for an instant.
"You are not planning on leaving me, are you? I could escape again, you know" Nabeela's voice spoke, quietly, seductively, hot breath caressing his ear. His chest tightened with a wave of hot desire, her smirk teasing him, lips temptingly asking for his attention. But Susan...
Caspian was with her, and as much as he disliked the idea of leaving him alone with his sister, he knew the Telmarine King would take good care of her; he was too noble to try anything on her while she was ill.
"Who said anything about leaving?" he replied, smirking mischievously before kissing Nabeela hungrily, letting himself be mind-blown by her.
He would check on them later, preferably after he had washed his face and cooled off a bit.
Caspian waited for her to recover and steady herself. He forced himself to be patient even if his insides were consumed by the need of speaking to her, of using this unique opportunity to sort the mass of feelings that had been crushing his chest for weeks.
Her breathing had steadied and she seemed to be feeling better now; colour had returned to her cheeks, he noticed, throwing a side glance at her. She took a deep breath and stood up from the bench they were sitting on, walking towards the stone banister without a single word to him and staring into the black pit surrounding the castle. He did not move, noticing her tension, one he knew was caused by him, one that made his heart feel as if acid was poured over it. He could not take it anymore.
"Why are you doing this to me" he whispered hoarsely, a scream contained by the respect and love he felt for her. Anger and frustration seeped from his tone, harsh and desperate. "Why have you been avoiding me?! What did I do!" he asked again, his voice echoing in the empty balcony, rising several octaves. He had stood up, reaching her side in two strides. His hand tugged hers lightly, turning her towards him. She looked up at him, sorrow, pain and agony glistening in her teary eyes, squeezing his heart painfully. Yet at the same time, it brought him some relief, for she had finally held his gaze, even if the feelings mirrored in them were not the ones he had been expecting.
"Susan, what's wrong?" he asked quietly, his anger subduing, replaced by self-reproach for causing her tears. She caressed her cheek and brushed her tears away. She sobbed, taking large gulps of air as she looked at him, her expression hardening a moment later. She pushed his hands away and sighed, looking at the darkness below their feet for an instant before returning to his eyes.
"I didn't do it on purpose, things just happened, chores kept coming, the party, the guests, all the things that needed to be ready, I couldn't- I- it was not on purpose" she told him, making an effort to sound decided. As the words left her mouth, her expression became cold and emotionless, eyes matt and dim. Her words stung him like fire, pushing all air out of his lungs. The aching in his heart was unbearable, ripping through his soul with agonising brutality.
"Don't make this worse, Susan, don't lie to me, I beg you" he said, almost whimpering, yet distinctly angered at the situation, at his ignorance of whatever caused it. Susan exhaled a shaky sigh, having seen the miserable state he was in and knowing she had only made it worse. She still did not understand why she had lied, why she had once again chosen to run away.
"What have I done wrong, please tell me. I need to know, I need to set things right, to apologise if that's the case" he spoke again, trembling, hands gripping her arms strongly. Even now, she could see he made sure not to hurt her. His eyes searched for hers, head bent slightly and forcing her to look at him, to see his suffering, the agony she had inflicted on him.
"You did nothing! Nothing at all!" she cried, bursting with all the contained emotions it was pointless to continue holding, her scream painful and anguished, relieving in its own twisted way. "The problem is me! I am the one who has done everything wrong! I've been conscious of all the pain I've been causing to you all this time, and I have done nothing about it! I chose to hide like a child, to run away! It is me who has to apologise, it's me who has to ask for your forgiveness!" she sobbed, crumbling completely, heart and soul shattered, guilt poisoning her entirely with its bitterness.
He looked at her with so much love, with so much concern, and it pained her even more, for she felt totally undeserving of his affection, of his caring, of his kindness. He reached to grab her hands, but she stepped back, unable to accept his touch right now. He sighed and straightened himself, his jaws clenched with what she knew was disappointment.
"What is this curse that has taken away the strong Queen I know you are? What is this spectre that has so you afraid?" he asked then, hands itching to bring her close and comfort her, but waiting for her to let him, wanting her to open her heart to him.
"I- I am ashamed, I feel stupid for being impulsive and- I shouldn't have kissed you. I got lost in the confusion and the emotions of the moment and I acted without even considering how you felt. I made a fool of us both in front of all those people; it was not right" she voiced shakily, sniffing loudly. She choked lightly on the new batch of tears that was escaping from her eyes, drops of crystal pouring richly down her cheeks. Caspian was growing more and more irritated, irked by the power fear had on her at that moment, keeping love from her heart and turning her into a feeble shadow of the brave Queen he knew, of the amazing woman she was; how could she believe that kiss had been wrong, when in fact it had been nothing but right and true.
"I don't want to break your heart and end heartbroken along the way, by my own inability to love you back the way you deserve" she whispered, shoulders shaking with a desolate sob, her hands covering her face immediately; she did not to be seen in such disarray, not by him. "I would not be able to live with myself- knowing I have disappointed you, knowing I have hurt you" she added, a sob interrupting her mid-sentence.
He could not stand it any longer, to see her sinking deeper and deeper into the black hole of misery and fear; he could not stand by her, doing nothing. Closing the distance between them, he grabbed her shoulders, turning her on her heels so she faced him. And then, he kissed her, with all the love and passion he could muster. He claimed her lips hungrily, trying to convey everything he was feeling through that fiery kiss, hoping to reach her heart and soul and awaken the love he knew was beating inside her.
She was caught by surprise, his kiss leaving her petrified and utterly shocked. And yet, despite being unable to move or think, she felt something stirring inside her, her whole body feeling as if lightning had struck her an instant later. Her lips were burning with his kiss, just as her skin was, his touch seeping through her muscles and sending spark across her entire body. Her insides sprung back to life and for a moment she believed her heart would stop; she was flooded with so many different and powerful emotions, causing her heart to beat frantically, her blood feeling as if it was alight with flames.
And she kissed him back.
She did not have the strength to battle against this mighty feeling, against his fervent love, so strong and intense that her knees were weak. His arms wrapped around her waist firmly, keeping her close and deepening the kiss, which she welcomed eagerly, his embrace warm and safe; she did not want him to ever let go.
"Susan" he breathed as they pulled away, air becoming a need they had to oblige to. "You shouldn't be ashamed of that kiss, my love, for it came from your heart, just as this one came from mine. How could a kiss prodded by true love be so wrong, if I have wanted to kiss you for so long, to hold you close and never let you go?" he murmured, looking deeply into her eyes. "I love you, Susan, with all my heart that is now yours and has been for a while, and it's me who should be ashamed for not having the courage to tell you before" he added, taking a breath. "I will love you forever and always, until the stars fall from the sky, until the sun no longer shines, until the mountains crumble to the sea, until eternity, My Queen, for I'm yours, willingly and unreservedly" he spoke, his confession so ardent and spirited, warming her up completely even despite the chill of the evening.
She blushed, nonplussed by his words. Finally, she smiled, brightly, sincerely, for the first time ever since that day under the door in the tree, her heart light again, fluttering with a newly rediscovered emotion: love.
"I love you too, Caspian, more than anything and above everything, for the rest of time" she spoke, sudden shyness taking over her confession. She looked at him and let his deep gaze see through her, knowing words would never be enough to tell him exactly how much she loved him.
"I wouldn't have it any other way, my love, nor will I ever let you go" he replied, bending again to press a kiss to her lips, rounding her possessively with his arms, purring contentedly as she returned the kiss, allowing him to deepen it.
They pulled away from their romantic kiss breathless, grinning widely and feeling foolish and giddy with love. A weight had been lifted off them and they were now light and free to be in each other's arms and enjoy the love they had for one another; fear no longer cast a shadow on their happiness.
"Oh, and one thing, before I forget: you would never, never disappoint me, My Queen, even if you tried, for nothing I could ever wish or expect would be as perfect as you are" he told her tenderly, kissing her forehead and pulling her into his embrace, his strong arms wrapping around her once more, fitting her perfectly, as if made to hug her and only her.
"I almost wish I had let Lucy come and find you" said a deep, slightly nasal voice. The royal couple turned to address the Just King, finding him leaning on the doorframe with a smirk.
"You are always so kind, Ed" Susan replied with a sigh.
"Always" Ed told with a cheeky wink. "Now, before you two continue smooching and grossing me out, I have to warn you, Caspian; you may be my best friend and surrogate brother, but hurt my sister and you'll be sorry, are we clear? Oh, and keep your hands to yourself" the Just King added, his serious and threatening tone contradicted by the spark of humour glinting in his eyes; jokes aside, he was genuinely happy for them.
"Loud and clear, brother. Now go and take care of your love life, yes? Oh, and keep your hands to yourself" Caspian replied with a satisfied smirk, a perfect match for Ed's.
"Shut up" the King hissed, all tease forgotten, and even in the dim moonlight they could notice a bright blush on his cheeks as he huffed and went back inside.
"Shouldn't we get inside? Someone might get worried and start looking for us" Susan whispered. In truth she did not quite need to keep her voice down, just for him to listen, but the moment was just too pleasant to be broken.
"Yes, we should, but first.." he told, smiling winsomely, the rest of his sentence forgotten as he once again kissed her, sending a wavering thrill down her body. It was different each time, as if it were their first kiss over and over again.
"I think they can wait a bit more" he whispered into her lips, capturing them back immediately, causing her to chuckle.
The room full of guests was completely forgotten. Right there, right then, it was only the two of them.
AN: First and foremost, I do not own any of the lyrics for "Baby I'm Yours" (Arctic Monkeys version) which some of you may have recognised in Caspian's love confession. I also want to thank you all for your amazing reviews! It gladdens me to no end to know that you love the story and the original characters! Keep them coming! I told you guys, reviews help me write faster! XD
Of course, the highlight of this chapter was the Suspian fluff, which I loved writing and I hope you enjoyed reading! Please let me know what you think and/or which were your favourite bits :)
Additionally, someone asked me about the pronunciation of some of the characters' names, so here you go:
Tairin: TAI-reen. (the first syllable is pronounced like the 'thai' in Thailand)
Zephyr: ZE-feer
Gemini: GE-mee-nee
Gaetan: Ga-ee-TAN
Myrina: Mee-REE-nah
Caelic: KAY-leek
Ameril: Ah-meh-REEL
Taril: TAH-reel
Rainidan: RAY-nee-dan
Radhanath: RAH-dah-nath
Akshamala: Ak-shah-MAH-lah
Nabeela: Na-BEE-lah
Faeri: FAY-ree
Tarik: TAH-reek
Taabish: TAH-beesh
Casarah: Ka-SAH-rah
If you have any other questions about this, just tell me :)
Cheers!