A/N: Hey! Super long chapter equals super long reviews! And guess what? This is a super long chapter ;)

Disclaimer: I don't own Narnia; you should've figured that out already…

-Chapter 3-

Peter and Analiese locked gazes. Analiese's green eyes showed something that shocked Peter. They showed that she knew.

And so, after the respectful applause and cheering ended, and everyone in the room came to congratulate the Lady and their King, he pulled her aside. Analiese stumbled along after him, her feet getting caught on her dress a few times. When they got into the empty hallway that was their destination, Peter spun around to face her.

"You knew about this?" he asked. Analiese nodded a small nod, frightened of the High King's expression. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I did not think that my uncle was going to go through with it, therefore, I saw no reason, my King," she replied.

"Do you have any idea how idiotic I must have looked in there? I didn't even know about my own marriage! And now we're engaged and there isn't anything I can do about it!" Peter exclaimed.

The Narnian Lady allowed some silence to come between them for a few moments, hoping it would calm the angry king. Then she spoke. "You could always call it off, my King."

"Call it off?" he scoffed. "Call if off? Do you have any idea how bad that would make me look? Excuse me for my horrible attitude, milady, but I really don't think calling off our engagement would help things."

"So what you're saying is," the blonde-haired girl said, "you're only marrying me because it would damage your reputation if you didn't?" There was a pause while Peter thought this through, and his face immediately changed from one of anger to one of guilt as he realized what he had said. "My apologies, High King, but I don't think I want to be in a loveless marriage."

"Where are you going?" Peter asked as she walked back to the ballroom.

"I will convince your advisor to cancel the wedding," she replied.

He watched her go and couldn't believe what he had done. Why did he insult her like that? He had enjoyed her presence so much while they danced. So much, in fact, that they had danced at least four times that night, and the ball was nowhere close to being finished.

As Analiese was just about to open the door and leave, he shouted, "Wait!" She stopped and turned around, walking back to Peter.

"Yes?" she asked.

Peter stopped. He didn't know what he had been wanting to say. All he knew is that he didn't want her to get away. When he didn't answer, she left.

00000000

"You look ravishing tonight, Queen Susan," Caspian commented, taking her hand and leading her to the dance floor.

"Why, thank you, Caspian. I must say, you look very handsome yourself this evening," Susan replied, blushing. Susan had had a crush on Caspian for going on three years now, and he had never known it. It had all started when they first met in the woods so long ago...

"No, stop!" the voice of a young girl shouted as she emerged from behind a bush. The girl was quite pretty; she had medium brown hair with a reddish tint to it, light blue eyes, freckles sprinkled over her cheeks with a light blush on top of them.

The blonde man fighting Caspian looked at the young girl, who actually slightly resembles him, and then back at Caspian. He suddenly got a strange look on his face, and squinted at the Telmarine. "Prince Caspian…?"

"Yes? And who are you?" Caspian asked.

"Peter!" another girl, slightly older than the other and a few years older than Avaline, crashes through the trees with a loaded bow in hand, along with a boy that looked like he was only a few years of age older than Avaline. They both look alike, and slightly resemble the other boy and girl. These two both have pale skin and dark hair, whereas the other pair has peach-ish skin and strawberry blonde. The boy has brown eyes, and the girl has green. They both had freckles sprinkled over their cheeks, although the boy had quite a bit less than the girl. All in all, they were both very attractive.

The blonde boy from earlier that Avaline had seen looked toward them, then back at Caspian. "High King Peter. I believe you called."

"Well, yes… but I expected that you'd be a bit older," Caspian remarked smoothly.

"If you'd like, we can leave and come back in a few years," the blonde boy, whose name was Peter, said.

"No! No, that's all right. You're just… you're just not exactly what I expected." Here he glanced over at the dark-haired queen, who he supposed to the Gentle Queen of Narnia, Queen Susan.

"Neither are you," the dark-haired king, King Edmund the Just, replied, shooting Caspian a glance that told him 'take your eyes off of my sister.'

"A common enemy unites even the oldest of foes," Trufflehunter said, stepping forward.

"We have anxiously awaited your return, my liege. Our hearts and swords are at your service," Reepicheep pipes up, taking off his hat and bowing to King Peter.

"Awww, he's so cute!" the younger girl cooed.

"Who said that?!" the mouse said, twirling his sword around and finally finding the source of the voice.

The girl blushed slightly and looked down. "Sorry."

"Your Majesty, with the greatest respect, I do believe 'courageous,' 'courteous,' or 'chivalrous' might more befit a knight of Narnia."

Caspian chuckled at Reepicheep's battle of bravery before he looked back at King Peter. "And now, your Majesty, could you please tell your dwarf to-"

"Trumpkin!" Trufflehunter scolded, dropping the dagger from his paw and marching over to Avaline. And all the while she was thinking, 'Doesn't he know my name by now?' But then she realized that he wasn't talking to her, but the person that is still holding her hostage. "Why are you holding the Princess against her will?"

"The Princess?" Trumpkin, the man behind Avaline, asked.

"Yes, her name is Princess Avaline, and she is the cousin of the Prince over there. Now may I ask you to please release her and her bonds?"

Avaline didn't hear an answer, but in a few moments she was untied and Trumpkin, a dwarf about an inch taller than Nikabrik with a white beard and tired features, apologizes gruffly, grinning slightly when no one else was looking at getting to see his friend again. She nodded her head, a silent gesture telling him that his apology has been accepted and a greeting that says 'welcome back' and moved over to her cousin.

"May I inquire who this is?" King Peter asks, looking Avaline over.

Caspian nudged her to answer, and she looked up at the High King before introducing herself. "I'm Princess Avaline."

"Ah, your sister," the King says, speaking to Caspian.

"No, my cousin, actually. She is the daughter of my uncle, King Miraz," Caspian replies.

"I see. Well, we will have more time to make introductions later on. But for now, we need to discuss numbers and battle. At least I know that some of you can handle a blade."

"Yes, indeed," Reepicheep replies, "And I have recently put it to good use, securing weapons for your army, sire."

"Good. Because we're going to need every sword we can get," the dark-haired boy adds.

"Then I suppose you'll be needing yours back," Caspian says, taking the King's sword out of the tree behind him and handing it back.

Ever since that day, Susan had known he was the one. No one knew how Caspian felt for her, though. He danced with other girls all the time. As a matter of fact, this was only their first dance that evening, and he had already danced with at least ten other girls before Susan. She knew he probably didn't like her the way she liked him, but she simply couldn't help but hope sometimes.

Caspian began to dance after placing a hand on her hip and she positioned hers on his shoulder. It was a slower song, a love song, and all around were couples gazing into each other's eyes as they danced. Caspian spotted Avaline and Edmund dancing next to them and chuckled quietly to himself. Just two years ago, you never would have seen this from them.

The Dissentient King turned his attention back to Susan, though, allowing his cousin and her new boyfriend to have their romantic moment without him watching. A few minutes passed as Caspian twirled Susan under the bright lights of the crystal chandeliers above them. He saw the Gentle Queen become slightly distracted, however, as Edmund and Avaline came in front of them and into her view.

Susan watched jealously as her brother spun Avaline in a circle, dipped her, and then pulled her flush against him. They stayed in this position for a while, swaying gently to the music. Susan saw something cross over her younger brother's face as he and Avaline gazed into each other's eyes, and then, if it was even possibly given their current position, he pulled her even tighter against him and their lips met.

The beautiful queen, known all around Narnia and the surrounding lands as the most gorgeous woman alive, was suddenly jealous. Now, you have to understand, Susan didn't get jealous very often. She was always quite content with her looks, personality, and lifestyle. But as Edmund kissed Avaline so gently, so passionately, and so filled with love, she became so insanely jealous that she had to look away, fearing she would scream if she didn't.

You may be wondering why Susan was jealous. Well, I'll tell you. Susan, having such a large crush on Caspian, had always daydreamed of dancing with him at a ball and having something romantic happen between them. And dancing with him now and having him see her as only a friend, and then seeing her own brother love someone so intensely... she was insanely envious.

00000000

"King Peter," someone called from behind the closed door.

Peter groaned and rolled over off his bed. He tossed the pillow that was covering his ears to the other side of his large king-sized bed. Stumbling on his way, he finally reached the brown, polished wooden door of his bedroom. The messy-haired king opened the door just a crack.

"Yes?" he asked the servant on the other side lazily.

The servant, a female faun, replied, "There is someone here to see you this morning, my King."

Peter's forehead crinkled as he cleared his foggy brain and racked his mind for who would request his presence this early in the morning. When he came up with no one, he said, "Do you know who it is, faun?"

"No, sire."

He sighed. Closing his eyes and knitting his eyebrows together, he began to massage his forehead. When he felt as if he could think straight, Peter reopened his eyes and looked back to the faun, still standing at the doorway attentively. "Could you tell him I will be there in a moment?"

"Yes, High King. But... I believe it is a she," the faun said.

"A she?" Peter raised a dark blonde eyebrow.

"Yes. Queen Susan requested I tell you to dress nicely," said the faun. She seemed kind, but Peter could hardly bear the impatience running through him. He was very close to demanding she find out who was there and would wake him so early, but decided to simply nod in thanks and close the door before he could do anything rash.

As soon as the door was closed and Peter was alone, he went into the bathroom. He splashed cold water on his face, pinched his arm, everything he could think of to wake himself up, but to no avail. 'Oh well,' he thought, 'Now the person will get to see what a monster I am in the mornings.'

So, after dressing in a red tunic with puffy sleeves (all his tunics had puffy, long sleeves until the cuffs around the wrist) and brown trousers and boots, combing through his blonde hair with his fingers quickly, and putting on his crown, he headed out.

The High King made his way down the various corridors of the palace quickly, anxious to see what woman was visiting him that morning. If he was lucky, maybe Lady Chelsea was there. But when Peter reached the gigantic foyer opening off the entrance to the palace, he saw this was not the case.

Before him, chatting with Susan, Edmund, Avaline, and Lucy was the girl he least expected to see. Lady Analiese. When his family heard his approaching footsteps, they turned to greet their brother. "Good morning, Peter," Edmund and Avaline said at the same time. They exchanged glances and laughed. Edmund wrapped his arm around his girlfriend's waist, pulled her against him, and kissed the side of her head while she smiled.

"Good morning!" Peter heard his little sister say happily. He turned and saw Lucy coming toward him. He opened his arms and Lucy walked into them, wrapping her own arms around his waist.

"How are you this morning, Lu?"

"I'm doing great!" she exclaimed. "Susan and I came downstairs this morning and the guards told us we had a guest. We checked to see who it was and got to meet Lady Analiese!"

"That's great," Peter replied with false enthusiasm as he glanced to their visitor. She wasn't paying any attention to him, however; she was talking with Avaline and Edmund. He watched as Avaline slapped Edmund's arm at something he said to Analiese, while the latter herself laughed in true humor. She wasn't having to fake happiness around his family. A pang of regret over what he'd said to the girl last night sent him away from Lucy and over to her and his two family members.

"Good morning, Lady Analiese," Peter said, coming up to stand next to Avaline and in front of Analiese. Then he turned. "Avaline, Edmund." Looking back to Analiese, "I trust you have been comfortable spending time with my family."

Analiese looked back at the High King, a smile still lingering on her lips. "Yes, your Majesty. They have been very hospitable thus far and very friendly."

"Good, good," Peter murmured before asking the question invading his mind. "Milady, if you do not mind me asking, what brings you here today?"

She looked to Avaline and so did Peter, wondering what his brother's girlfriend had to say. "Your personal advisor, Biff the dwarf, requested her presence this morning. He thought it would be nice for you to get to know each other," Avaline explained.

"Curse you, Biff," Peter muttered under his breath.

"What was that, Pete?" Edmund asked, smirking.

"Nothing!" the blonde king exclaimed.

"Well, if that's settled," Susan said, arriving next to them with Biff, "I do believe you both should be heading out after breakfast."

Peter looked at his sister in confusion. "Heading out?" he asked.

"Yes, Avaline didn't tell you? You and Analiese are going out for a walk in the gardens today to get to know each other." Susan paused and Lucy appeared behind her, joining in the conversation.

"Oh, doesn't it sound like such fun, Peter?" Lucy said excitedly.

"Yes, Lucy. It sounds like such fun." But deep down inside, Peter didn't think it sounded like much fun at all.

00000000

All four Pevensies, Caspian and Avaline, and Analiese were all seated around the breakfast table. Susan had ordered Peter to offer Analiese the empty seat next to him, and he had reluctantly obeyed. So now they were sitting and eating, everyone having their own conversations while Peter and Analiese were forced to make small talk.

"Do you like any fruits?" Peter asked her, passing the fruit basket to his right where the blonde-haired girl was seated.

"Yes, your Majesty," Analiese replied, taking the basket.

"What kinds?"

"Oh, all kinds, your Highness." She paused while placing a few grapes on her plate. "I like apples and oranges. And I like grapes, but only the violet ones. I don't particularly like the green." Analiese seemed deep in thought for a moment. "Oh, and peaches! How I love peaches! Do you like any fruits, High King?"

"Yes, but very few. I like apples, and I like oranges. That's it, though."

"Oh, King Peter, there has to be more than that."

"There really isn't. I tried a peach when I was little and thought it revolting."

"But they are so sweet. And since men like sweet things, I supposed you would like peaches."

"I do like sweet things, but peaches are too sweet."

"Here," Analiese said, reaching inside the fruit basket. She pulled out a peach and grabbed her knife, carefully cutting the fruit into six slices. "Skin or no skin?" she asked.

"No skin," Peter replied.

So Analiese carefully peeled off the skin on one slice and picked it up. "How long has it been since you tried one?"

"A while." That wasn't specific enough. "I don't know... seventeen years, maybe?"

"My goodness!" Analiese said. "It's no wonder you don't think you like them! You Majesty, not many boys at the age of five do like peaches, but they begin to like them later in life. Which is why you, now at the age of twenty-one, should try one again." And with that, Analiese handed him the skinned slice.

Peter pushed it away. His nose crinkled in disgust. "I do not want to eat that."

"Well then I guess I'll just have to feed it to you," she replied. She took the peach back from him and stabbed it onto a fork. Slowly, she moved the fork toward his mouth. "You might want to open that," she said, laughing as she looked pointedly at his mouth. He reluctantly opened, and Analiese popped the fruit in before he could object.

Peter stared at her with wide eyes, surprised that she had actually just spoon-fed him a fruit that he hated.

"Chew," Analiese ordered, and Peter slowly began to chew the juicy, sweet peach. A smile slowly spread across his face as he swallowed. "Did you like it, your Majesty?" Peter nodded enthusiastically, got his own fork, and took the other five slices off her plate and loaded them onto his own. Meanwhile, Analiese was laughing at her king's craziness.

Around them, the others at the table began laughing also. Lucy was laughing hysterically at her oldest brother, Susan chuckled to herself, Caspian laughed loudly, Avaline giggled and started laughing harder when Edmund poked her side (as he always did when she was laughing) while chuckling himself both at his brother and his girlfriend.

Analiese watched as the High King stuffed two slices at a time in his mouth and hurriedly chewed them until there was no more left. "See?" she said. "That wasn't so bad, was it, your Highness?"

In response, Peter shook his head. He knew from then on that he and the Narnian Lady next to him would nearly always get along.

00000000

Lady Analiese and King Peter were walking hand-in-hand in the gardens. They had been engaged for nearly two weeks now, but they had made no progress other than developing a good, healthy friendship. It was an overly-healthy friendship, really. Analiese and Peter knew each other well enough now to be considered best friends. That was definitely an accomplishment, Peter couldn't deny.

He also couldn't deny that after two weeks, two incredible weeks, he had already begun to notice her. It was hard not to fall in love with the way her green eyes complimented her blonde hair, the way her smile reached her eyes and made them sparkle, the way her laugh never failed to make him smile. Peter realized he was slowly but surely falling for Analiese Welch.

The High King and the Lady had slowly come to a stop. They walked hand in hand, swinging their connected arms ever so slightly as they moved. Analiese was examining the pretty light pink and baby blue calla lilies blooming around them when she noticed Peter staring at her. She looked back up at him they locked eyes, his blue ones drowning her green ones in a sea of intense blue. Analiese couldn't look away; she realized people were serious when they said 'locked eyes.'

'Now or never,' Peter thought. The blonde-haired king gently released her hand from his and moved his now-free one to her face. He cupped it to her cheek and looked deeper into her eyes, if at all possible. 'Slowly lean in, yes, that's the way to do it,' he told himself.

Peter leaned in until their faces were mere inches apart, never breaking their gaze. He saw her eyes widen as she realized his intentions, but didn't give her time to object before his lips met hers.

It was a soft kiss. Peter couldn't help but enjoy the feel of her soft lips against his. And he was enjoying that she was kissing back. With that in mind, he deepened the kiss, moving his free hand, which was hanging by his side, to her waist. He slid the hand that was still cupping her cheek down the side of her body until it met the one that was already wrapped around her. Both hands worked together to pull her closer to him.

Analiese was lost in her own personal bliss. When she felt Peter's arms around her, she nearly exploded with joy. And in that moment, she subconsciously snaked her arms around his neck and pressed him closer to her, lost in the moment. She hadn't realized what she was missing the past two weeks during the time she spent every day with Peter. It seemed to her now that he was holding back!

They separated for air, breathing heavily. Their faces were still close; the space could be closed quickly if they wanted. Both people were still in their own personal dream worlds over what had happened.

It seemed like forever and a day had passed before Peter murmured, "I think we'd better go inside, my Lady."

"Yes, you Majesty," Analiese agreed.

"Peter."

"Pardon?" Analiese asked.

"Call me Peter. We're to be married soon, and after today..." the High King trailed off and both of them blushed.

"Okay, Peter," Analiese said, smiling as she said his name.

He smiled back at her. "I enjoyed today, Analiese."

And then they went their separate ways.

A/N: This was pretty good, right? I mean like, they kissed! For the first time! I hated to rush into this, but I can't draw out details and I figured that trying to draw out them building a friendship would be awfully boring, so… here ya go! I thought I would do you a favor so you wouldn't have to suffer through my crappy details! REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW!