A/N: Writing this chapter cracked me up… I love Edmund! He's so funny! (Hint, hint!) This chapter may or may not make you laugh, but it made me laugh while I wrote it, so hopefully you all have the same sense of humor as me. If not, then I guess you're out of luck. Haha! Enjoy!
Disclaimer: Haven't we already established this? I don't own Narnia! Never have, never will… I know, it's sad.
-Chapter 4-
Over the next couple of weeks, the Pevensies and Turners were busy planning the wedding. Analiese came over frequently, at least once a day, to see how things were coming along and to help. Everything seemed to be going great until day three of wedding planning.
Analiese had just come over and was standing beside Caspian in Susan's bedroom. Meanwhile, the latter was working out a guest list... or so they thought. It was when Susan ordered a servant to gather everyone to her bedroom that they realized it was not a guest list, but a chore list.
The other three Pevensies and Avaline made their way into the room, fifteen-year-old Lucy leading the way, Peter following close behind, and Edmund and Avaline trailed a couple of feet back, Avaline laughing as Edmund playfully kissed her face. Susan motioned for the four to sit, and they sat in various places around the room, getting settled before turning their attention to her.
"Now, as you all have noticed, I have been very busy lately along with Analiese. What with the wedding plans to attend to and whatnot, I haven't had much time to do any chores around the palace. So-"
"Oh no!" Edmund groaned dramatically. "Su, isn't that what we have servants for?"
Avaline giggled, and Edmund kissed her cheek.
"Yes, Ed. If you'd have let me finish, you would have figured out that that wasn't what I was implying," Susan said irritably.
"I'm guessing it's that time of the month," Edmund muttered in Avaline's ear, causing her to slap his arm playfully.
"I heard that!" Susan exclaimed angrily, her face growing red as she realized Caspian may have heard also.
"Well isn't it?" the Just King asked innocently.
"That's none of your bloody business, Edmund!"
The nineteen-year-old could hardly stifle a laugh. "That's yes," he told his girlfriend, who bit her lip to keep from laughing. This didn't go unnoticed by Edmund. "Don't bite your lip."
"Why not?" she asked.
"It makes it harder for me to kiss, of course!" Edmund said as if it were the most obvious explanation in the world. She giggled, blushing as the dark-haired king leaned in. Fortunately for the other four monarchs in the room, Caspian managed to jump from the right side of the couch where he was standing and jump between the two lovebirds before they could touch.
"That's enough of that!" Caspian exclaimed. "Let's allow Queen Susan to finish her statement." The Telmarine looked back to Susan expectantly.
She cleared her throat before continuing. "As I was saying, I've made a list of things for the servants to do since we won't be able to do them. I've already given the head housekeeper the list and made sure everyone knew what to do. Now-"
Susan was again cut off by Edmund. "If you already handed the list in, what is that list in your hand?" he asked, eyeing the sheet of paper she was holding suspiciously.
"Edmund, if you gave me the time to talk, maybe I could explain it to you," his older sister replied, biting her tongue to keep from saying things she would regret later. When she had counted to ten in her head to calm herself, she spoke again. "Anyway, this list," here she looked pointedly at Edmund, "is a list of things we all need to do. Now, I'm going to read each of the tasks that we all need to do."
Susan made sure everyone's attention was still focused on her before she began. "Caspian, your tasks are to set up the heavy furniture and decorate the walls and ceilings where us girls can't reach. I will notify you if anything changes. Avaline," Susan turned to the brown-haired girl. "Your job is to order all of the party necessities. I have already taken care of the invitation style and envelope, but have done nothing else. I expect you to do these things once Peter and Analiese have made decisions." Avaline nodded obediently. "Lucy-"
"Ugh!" Susan heard someone groan from the other side of the room. She looked over to see her younger brother, head thrown back and hands on either side of his head. "Are you ever going to get to me?"
The dark-haired woman glared at her brother. This was his third interruptance, and everyone in Narnia knew Queen Susan hated being interrupted. "Yes, Edmund, your name will be coming up soon. Let's be patient."
And so she moved her attention back to her sister. "Lucy, you will be in charge of baking the cake and ordering the food for the bridal shower, bachelor's party, wedding, and reception. This is a lot to handle. Do you think you can do it?" Lucy nodded enthusiastically.
"Okay," Susan continued. She looked down at her list to see who was next, and sighed as she reluctantly directed her gaze to Edmund. "Edmund," she said. He looked up excitedly, a goofy smile on his face. Susan thought the king looked ridiculous, but she wasn't about to say anything. "Your job is to make sure the bridal shower and bachelor's party are fabulous. I need you to ask Analiese and Peter what they want, then order it. It doesn't matter how much you think you'll dislike it, or how ridiculous it sounds, I-"
"Wait a second, now, Su," Edmund interceded yet again. "How ridiculous are we talkin' here? I'm not sure I can handle carrying boxes of feathers and beads of pearls around the palace. I mean, talk about preposterous! If it was my party, I'd definitely-"
"Edmund Pevensie!" Susan exploded in anger. Her brother was about to drive her mad with his endless talking and interruptions. She turned to Avaline. "How much sugar did he have this morning?"
Avaline rolled her eyes. "Enough to make him cross paths with you, apparently."
"Is it not slightly embarrassing to anyone else that we have to watch our brother's sugar for fear he'll turn out like this?" Lucy asked, glancing at her brother, who was sitting calmly on the maroon couch with Avaline sitting on the cushion to his left.
"I've always thought that," Caspian agreed, chuckling.
The three of them got into a discussion about this while Susan cooled her temper, Edmund sat silently thinking about how he loved pretending to be crazy, and Peter stood thinking about the girl next to him. What was she thinking right now? Did she care that her future family could get this crazy? Or did she realize that it was just the stress of the wedding weighing everyone down and stressing them out?
And so the Pevensies, Turners, and Analiese sat in Susan's bedroom for another hour, Susan wondering if she'd ever get this planning done.
00000000
"Queen Avaline?" a voice asked from the other side of the door. 'Who could this be?' the Telmarine queen thought to herself. She sat up from the bed and headed to the red-brown, smooth, polished wood of her bedroom door.
"Yes?" she said, opening the door just a crack to see who it was. She was surprised to find Lady Analiese standing outside of it.
"I-I hope I wasn't disturbing anything," the blonde-haired girl replied uneasily. "I just was wondering if you had time to talk to me about something."
"Oh, of course," Avaline responded calmly, though she was slightly perplexed at why Peter's betrothed wanted to speak to her, of all people. The Telmarine opened the door to her bedroom the rest of the way and gestured for the Narnian Lady to enter.
Analiese hesitantly stepped into the large bedroom. There was a fire roaring in the fireplace, and the green couch before it had a book laying covers-up on the arm, its page marked. There was no light lit other than the fire, but it flickered enough brightness around the room to accentuate the green curtains over the window and the green bedspread draped over the bed. It was quite obvious to Analiese that Queen Avaline liked green.
"I see you like the color green, my Queen," she commented politely.
Avaline closed the door behind them and gestured for Analiese to sit on the couch. She fixed a cup of hot chocolate for the girl quickly from the packet of cocoa mix and warm milk she had just happened to have stored on her bedside table. It had been intended for herself, but the queen figured she could always go get more for herself later. When she returned, she handed the mug to Analiese, who took it from her hands graciously, and sat on the hearth.
"Yes, I do quite like the color green," Avaline replied. She added absentmindedly, "It reminds me of Edmund."
"My Queen, he is always in the palace with you. Why would you need a reminder?" Analiese asked.
"If you have forgotten, Lady Analiese, King Edmund and his siblings have only just returned from Narnia. During the past two years I have been without him, therefore I wanted to hold on to every part of him I could."
"If you don't mind me asking, why does green remind you of the Just King?"
Avaline pondered this for a moment. "I'm not very sure. I vaguely remember Queen Lucy and I picking this shade due to some important memory that had to do with King Edmund." The Telmarine massaged her temples. "I probably should remember this," she murmured.
Analiese chuckled at her queen before Avaline exclaimed, "I remember now! This was the color of the dress I wore the day King Edmund kissed me for the first time! Oh, how could I forget such a wonderful evening?"
"Was it at all romantic, my Queen?"
"Oh, yes. Maybe not very romantic in time nor place, but romantic to me nonetheless. And isn't that all that counts in the end?" Avaline said, glancing up at Analiese for confirmation of her last statement.
The blonde-haired Lady nodded. They sat in silence for a few minutes, Analiese sipping her hot drink quietly and Avaline staring into the fire absentmindedly. Suddenly, the latter seemed to remember something. "Lady Analiese," she said, "surely you did not come just for a visit?"
"No," Analiese admitted. "I was actually wondering something."
"Go on," Avaline encouraged.
"Well, I was going to ask... does the High King ever speak of me?"
The chocolate-haired queen stared back at her subject. "Yes," she answered slowly. "He does. Why do you ask?"
"I don't know. It's just that we're getting married in the spring, and winter is already nearing. We only have a season or two left until the wedding, and I am worried King Peter does not appreciate me."
"Oh, Lady Analiese," Avaline began, "Of course King Peter appreciates you. You are to be his wife, after all, and he should be forever grateful to you that he should no longer have to live in solitude." She chuckled. "Have the long walks in the mornings and afternoons been successful in your getting to know each other?"
"Yes, my Queen. As a matter of fact, something quite exciting occurred just a week ago." Avaline raised an eyebrow curiously. "The High King kissed me in the gardens."
"Oh, how wonderful! But there's one thing I don't understand. He kissed you, yet you worry he has little or no appreciation?"
"Well, the arranged marriage was quite a surprise to him and I wasn't sure if that changed any thoughts or feelings toward me."
"Of course not! But back to the kiss. Was it a long one?"
"Oh, yes. Quite long," Analiese replied. "I remember feeling so happy when he requested I call him Peter." She blushed at the memory and looked down at her knees.
"There's nothing to be embarrassed about, Lady Analiese. And speaking of names, may I ask you call me Avaline? I do get tired of people calling me 'Queen Avaline,' or, 'My Queen,' or, 'Your Majesty.' It was truly flattering at first, but now it's flat out annoying!"
Analiese laughed. "Yes, my- I mean, Avaline. But in return, you must call me Analiese." The girl looked to the clock above the fireplace on the mantel. "Oh my, it's getting late. I'd best be heading home."
"Okay, Analiese. Do be careful, though, I hear the first snow of winter is coming through soon," Avaline warned.
"I will. I'll see you tomorrow?" Analiese asked, heading to the door.
Avaline opened it for her and said with a smile, "Certainly." And then Analiese was gone.
00000000
The blonde-haired girl was standing in the foyer of the palace when she suddenly remembered she had forgotten something. Oh dear, she thought, I left my cloak in Peter's room. I wonder if he's still up so I can get it.
You may be wondering why Analiese's cloak was in Peter's room. No, they were not alone there; Susan was with them. They were picking a theme for the engagement party two days later. She had taken it off when she entered and simply forgotten it when she left. No harm was done.
So Analiese walked along the long, maze-like corridors of Cair Paravel until she reached Peter's bedroom. The closer she got to him, the more self-conscious she became. Analiese thought she looked fine when she was with Peter and his family that morning, but now that she would be with Peter alone, she was beginning to downgrade herself. 'Stop that,' she scolded herself. 'You look fine.'
Analiese's blonde hair hung straight back, the hair on the sides of her face pinned back to stay out of the way. She was wearing a lavender and baby blue dress. The baby blue under dress showed through the lavender overdress in several different places. At the front of the dress, the U-neck dipped to show some of the blue. At the end of the lavender half-sleeves, blue puffed out until her mid-forearm. There was a slit down the middle of the dress' skirt that showed the blue fabric. The fabric of both was chiffon, Analiese's favorite material. She wore matching lavender flats.
She finally stopped worrying about her appearance long enough to think straight. It was only nine o'clock; surely he wouldn't already be asleep. The nineteen-year-old knocked on his bedroom door.
The response came quicker than she had suspected. The door swung open to reveal Peter, still dressed in his black tunic and trousers from earlier. "Analiese," Peter said in surprise, "What brings you here?"
"I-I forgot my cloak earlier," she explained.
The door opened a bit wider and Peter invited her in. "Why are you back here so late? Did Susan keep you working for this long?"
"No," Analiese replied, sitting on the arm of the High King's armchair. "I was talking to Avaline."
"Oh?" Peter raised an eyebrow.
"Yes. She was... just telling me about how excited she was for the wedding," Analiese lied. It wasn't necessary for Peter to know what they were really talking about.
"I'll tell you what," Peter said, "the whole thing is wearing me out."
"Tell me about it," Analiese rolled her eyes. "I didn't even know there was such a career as an invitation designer!"
"Neither did I," the High King laughed. They were silent for a moment, and then Peter broke it. "Analiese, I'm going to ask you something, and I want you to be completely honest about it."
"Okay," she nodded.
"Are you in love with someone?"
The question took her aback and nearly sent her choking on her own breath. Peter raised both eyebrows, waiting for an answer.
"I-I-"
"It's fine if you are, I just wanted to know."
This, too, took Analiese by surprise. "You'd be fine with it?" she asked disbelievingly.
Peter nodded. "I mean, I know that this whole marriage thing took us both by surprise, and I would understand if your heart already belonged to someone else."
"No," Analiese choked out. "No one but you."
The words were out of her mouth before she could stop them, and her eyes widened as the realization of what she had just said hit her. It wasn't true, she wasn't in love with Peter. Her heart didn't belong to him. She certainly didn't love him. She liked him at the very least, but love? That was starting out a bit strong.
"I-I'm so sorry, Peter. I didn't mean-" But at that moment none of her words mattered anymore as his lips crashed down on hers. It wasn't like their first kiss in the gardens a week ago. This was different. It was harder, it was more... Analiese couldn't think of the words to describe it. All she could think was one thing.
What have I done?
A/N: Suspenseful, huh? Yep, that's just how I roll. As Skandar Keynes has said, "Yeah, 'cause I'm cool like that." No, like seriously, he said that in one of his Prince Caspian interviews. I about died, because I say that all the time! Now I walk around like, "Yeah, 'cause me and Skandar Keynes are awesome like that." Haha, he's awesome! Sorry you had to read that… anyways, REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW!