-Chapter 8-

A/N: Okay, I don't know about you all, but after watching the Catching Fire teaser trailer, I want to pass out. I have to see the movie! I hate to say it, folks, but my Narnia obsession is dying and my Hunger Games obsession is returning... again. For, like, the hundred-millionth time. But no worries, I will always love you all and my story. I would never abandon y'all! So I'll continue this story until it ends, and then I'll start on the next in the series! But I still can't wait until Catching Fire...

Disclaimer: I don't own Narnia.

Breakfast was awkward, to say the least. After Caspian and Edmund apologized for their behavior earlier in the morning, everyone became silent and ate their food. The usual friendly chatter was not present, and Peter and Analiese's jokes and flirting did not occur. Even Edmund and Avaline were silent. Nobody dared to speak, and they had no idea why.

"So, what are we doing today, Susan?" Lucy asked in an attempt to begin a conversation.

"Um," Susan said, looking up from her plate in surprise. "Well, we can pick out wedding attire today, if you are all up to it," Susan suggested. She looked around for the others' consent.

Avaline and Caspian nodded. Lucy smiled and said, "Oh, yes please!" in an attempt, once again, to lighten the mood. Analiese gave her friend a weak smile. Edmund glanced up from his plate, looked at his sister, and was about to look away when he met Avaline's gaze. He saw the hurt in her eyes and knew that his apology wasn't going to get him out of this one. He looked back down at his plate again, guilty. Peter didn't even bother to look up, though.

"Oh, get some enthusiasm in you, people! We have to plan a wedding here. That's supposed to be one of the happiest moments of a person's life. I think a little personality in the planning process would be nice," Susan said. Edmund rolled his eyes. He hated his sister's lectures.

When no one said anything, they began eating again. In a few minutes, though, Susan got back into action. "Okay, so since we're planning attire today, we are all going to ride down to the clothier's shop where we usually buy clothing. Does that sound okay?"

No answer.

Susan sighed. Another failure to get the conversation flowing. "Analiese, you will be riding with Lucy, Avaline, and I to a clothing shop in town where we often buy things. If there are not any dresses we like for the wedding there, we can pick from a catalog I have in my bedroom. Peter, you will be staying here with Caspian and Edmund and searching for your attire from a catalog. Is everyone clear?"

Edmund, Avaline, Caspian, and Lucy nodded their heads, but the High King and his soon-to-be wife kept their gazes low.

The Gentle Queen gave an exasperated huff and stood. She marched over to Peter's chair, which was on the other side of the table, and gave him a hard slap on the back of his head. Then, she went over to Analiese, took hold of her chin, and flicked her forehead. Both of Susan's victims winced in pain and rubbed the place of pain.

"Both of you need to get a grip!" Susan exclaimed. Peter and Analiese looked at her fearfully. "Look, I don't know what happened out there when you both came to breakfast ten minutes late, which, by the way, we were not very happy about, but you two had better figure it out. I will not have this family suffering because of Peter's stubbornness and Analiese's..." Susan paused. There really wasn't anything bad about her brother's fiancée. "Well, you know what I mean." She glared angrily at the couple. "Figure it out!"

And then she left the room, marching out the double doors and slamming them behind her.

00000000

"Well, that was a complete failure," Avaline commented.

The four girls were on their horses, riding back from a long four hours of unsuccessful dress shopping. They had been in the queens' usual clothing shop for three hours straight, and spent another hour in another shop, one they had never visited before.

"Tell me about it," Susan said. "But at least now, we can look in my catalogs and find an even better dress to order!"

"Oh, yay!" Lucy exclaimed excitedly.

"Are you both going to get your bridesmaid dresses from the catalogs, too, Susan?" Analiese asked.

"Of course," Susan replied.

"Wait," Avaline said, pulling her horse's reins to slow its pace. She patted her horse's neck and it began matching the rest of the girls' pace. "Bridesmaid dresses?"

"You already picked your bridesmaids?" Lucy asked.

Analiese nodded. "I, uh, picked them last night."

"Well, who are they?"

"Well, I picked you and Susan-"

"Oh my goodness, oh my goodness!" the Valiant Queen exclaimed. She swung her leg around the back of her horse as if to get off, then quickly loaded back on as she realized her horse was still moving. When she was safely settled back on the saddle, she said, "Oh, Analiese, if I weren't sitting on a moving animal right now, I'd hug you!"

Analiese laughed at her young friend.

"Who is your maid of honor? Is it Avaline?"

"No," Analiese replied to Lucy. She looked at Avaline, then said to Lucy, "I want Avaline to be my queen of honor."

Avaline's face immediately shot up into a smile. "Are you being serious?"

Analiese nodded and smiled back.

"I'm so excited! I can just picture me, holding your crown on a red velvet pillow, placing it atop your head. I'd be wearing a long gown, the color of-" Avaline paused. "Have you decided your color theme yet?"

"Why, me and my busy mind!" Susan said, slapping the palm of her hand to her forehead. "I completely forgot to help her decide upon the color theme. The boys won't know what colors to order their clothes in!"

"Well, then I guess it's a good thing you're here," a male voice said, and Susan turned her head to see Caspian standing at the gates to the palace. In all of Susan's worry, she hadn't even realized that they had arrived back at home already.

Susan saw Caspian's perfect face and her own immediately held a smile. "Caspian," she said, pulling her horse's reins until they came to a stop.

"Susan," he said, a twinkle in his eye and a smile adjourning his handsome face. The Dissentient King held out a hand to her, and she took it graciously, hopping down from her horse. Keeping his gaze locked with hers, he kissed her hand respectfully, then let go.

"How did you know we were back?" she asked.

"Oh, I have my ways," Caspian smirked at the Gentle Queen and began walking off toward the palace. He left her with absolutely nothing to do except sigh as she watched him walk away, caught in her own personal daydream.

There was no doubt about it now. Susan had fallen, and fallen deep into a world that only two people could possibly fit in. Yes, the Gentle Queen was unconditionally, inexplicably, adoringly in love with him.

A/N: So we have found out that it's not just a crush. Susan is in love with Caspian! But what will she do now that she has realized it... or will she go into denial? Will she admit her feelings to her beloved or keep them to herself for the rest of eternity? Find out in the coming chapters of... "Mostly the Magnificent!"

Haha, I felt like a game show announcer just then. Anyways, then there's Peter and Analiese. *shakes head sadly* Oh dear, what are we going to do with them? I guess you'll just have to read on to find out!

Oh, and on second thought, I think I'll always be obsessed with Narnia, so scratch that comment at the beginning author's note. And I'm sorry for the short chapter… I wanted to leave the suspense after Susan falls in love with Caspian.

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