-Chapter 16-
The Christmas ball was spectacular! There were streamers of red hanging from the ceiling, the huge ceiling-to-floor windows were adorned by thin and flow-y white curtains, and there were tables in the corner of the rooms set up with green table cloths covering them. The white marble floor was sprinkled with red and white confetti.
On the refreshment tables were Christmas cookies, cakes, doughnuts, candies, and more. For the dinner, they would be having fried shrimp with marinara sauce, macaroni and cheese, a baked honey butter roll, and creamed corn. All in all, the party was great.
The seven monarchs entered the Great Hall, which was always decked out as a ballroom during parties, as the trumpets blew, each escorted by another.
Analiese gracefully made her way down the marble staircase, her arm hooked with her husband's. She was wearing a strapless, dark green gown with gold stitching in a T-shaped form starting at the top of the gown and ending at the bottom hem. Underneath, she wore long, white, puffy-sleeves and her golden tiara atop her blonde curls. Peter, however, wore a red tunic with brown trousers and one thin, gold stripe on either side of the pants leg. His gold boots and crown truly made him look like a High King.
Avaline, in a tight, long-sleeved gown of a deep scarlet color with silver designs stitched into the top, sleeves, and hem of the skirt, held Edmund's silver-clad arm tightly as they descended the stairs.
Susan's silvery-white dress with red stitching looked nice next to Caspian's dark brown tunic.
And last but not least, Lucy was looking stunning with her strawberry-blonde hair hanging straight down her back, her crown holding back the excess pieces. Her bright red dress with the gold stitching was gorgeous against her fair skin. She was escorted with her arm in Duke Camden's.
The trumpets blew. The head trumpeter announced the names of the kings, queens, and duke, but left the highest pair of them all until last. "And finally, High King Peter and his wife, High Queen Analiese." The latter smiled affectionately at the creatures and people staring admiringly at their queen as she made her way to the dance floor.
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The dinner went by quickly, and was over and done with before Analiese knew it. The time for dancing came even quicker, though.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to give the High King and his High Queen the first dance this evening," Caspian announced, standing on the trumpeter's platform as he usually did when he had an announcement to make. "I think it is appropriate, given their titles, to go before us all."
And so Peter got up and moved to stand before Analiese, silently holding his hand out to her. The High Queen couldn't help but remember the night they met. He had asked her to dance in the same exact fashion as he was now.
Analiese took her husband's hand eagerly and allowed him to lead her to the dance floor. When the reached it, Peter placed a hand on her waist and one in her own, and she placed her free hand on the back of his neck.
"So, how long do you think the party is going to last?" Analiese asked, making small talk. She was lost in her husband's eyes, drowning in their ocean of blue, as they swayed back and forth to the slow-paced music.
"A long time," he replied. "I'm already exhausted, and it's barely started!"
Analiese laughed at her husband, reaching her hand up to ruffle his blonde hair.
"Hey!" he complained, moving to swat her hand away. "You're messing it up!"
"You can be such a girl sometimes!" the High Queen replied. She laughed harder when Peter ruffled her own hair.
"How do you like it now?" he asked teasingly.
"I think that's not fair!"
"Why not? You did it first!"
"It's different!" said Analiese as she lifted her gold crown off her head and combed through her hair with her fingers. The High King raised an eyebrow. "I'm a girl; it took nearly an hour just to decide how to do my hair, let alone how long it actually took to style it!"
"Whatever." Peter waved their connected hands in the air as if he didn't have a care in the world.
The happy couple danced under the bright, shining Christmas lights that were set up over the dance floor. The lights made the dance floor look dimmer, giving it a more romantic glow to it.
"Enough silly talk, though," Peter said. He looked like he was about to bring up a new topic, but suddenly grinned as he looked her over. "You look beautiful."
"Thanks," Analiese said, looking down at her feet as her cheeks turned pink. Even now, when they were married, it embarrassed her to have Peter call her pretty.
Peter chuckled and brushed their connected hands across her cheek. His wife blushed a little more, and turned full-blown tomato red when he leaned into her ear and whispered, "Meet me outside the bedroom at midnight. Understood?"
Analiese nodded, and noticed the smirk on Peter's face. The queen blushed a deep, dark red as she realized the hidden meaning behind his words, making him laugh.
"You are so cute when you're embarrassed," he said, kissing her forehead. "Now, I think I'd better go get some cookies before Edmund takes them all." And with that, he kissed her hand and left, leaving Analiese with the sudden realization that the song was over.
Now she needed to figure out what she would do for the agonizingly long hour and a half until midnight.
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Analiese found her husband standing in the middle of the corridor outside their bedroom, waiting for her with his arms crossed over his chest.
"Finally," he said when he spotted her, "I thought you'd never get here!"
The High King quickly closed the distance between them and crashed his lips to hers, his arms moving around her waist. He pulled her tighter, tighter, as tight as he could, against him until Analiese was sure she would have bruises from her body being pressed against his.
Her hands went between them and clutched his red tunic. His lips moved against hers and hers against his. Peter began moving her toward their bedroom door, and suddenly Analiese found her back pressed against it.
Removing one of her hands from his shirt, she slowly inched it toward the door. She searched around blindly for the doorknob and, when she found it, turned it. Her back leaning against the door opened it for them and the two monarchs came stumbling into their bedroom.
They separated for air for a few seconds before Peter again kissed her, only this time his lips were rougher against Analiese's. His hands went up to hold either side of her face and she found herself pressed against yet another wall.
And as the two became bonded together in eternal commitment that went far deeper than even their vows could take them, Analiese realized that truly loved Peter. She was glad her Uncle had arranged a marriage for them. She was glad Aslan had made this opportunity for them. Peter and Analiese were meant for each other.
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-back at the ball-
"Ava!" Edmund called, waving a hand so his girlfriend could spot him through the crowd of Narnians.
"Edmund!" Avaline called back, excusing herself as she slid past the guests. "Hey," she greeted when she reached him. "What's up?"
"Nothing really," Edmund replied. He raised himself onto his toes and peeked over the heads of the people in the room around him. When he didn't find what he wanted, his eyebrows furrowed, and he stood back on his feet. "You haven't seen Peter and Analiese around, have you?"
"No," Avaline said. "Why?"
"I can't find them anywhere."
"Last time I saw either of them, Peter was walking toward his bedroom. Analiese left a few minutes afterward, headed in the same direction," Avaline told Edmund.
"Oh!" Edmund exclaimed, understanding flooding his features. "I bet I know what they're up to," he said mischievously.
"Ed..." Avaline said in a warning tone.
"There's only one way to find out." He winked at his pretty girlfriend while she looked at him, disgusted.
"Ed, that's sick!" she whined.
"Hey, they're doing it, not me."
"Yeah, but you're the one that wants to see it!"
"No, I just want to know if that's what they're doing. I never said I wanted to watch. Eww!"
Avaline sighed in relief. "We would have some serious issues if you did want to see, I'm just putting that out there."
"You don't have very much to worry about, then," Edmund said, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her against him. He kissed her forehead, and she closed her eyes, leaning her head on his shoulder. The dark-haired king pressed his lips to the top of her head. "I love you," he murmured against her hair.
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"Susan," Caspian called, approaching the queen from behind. She turned to see him walking over to her and her face broke out into a grin.
"Caspian, where have you been?" she asked, walking over to meet him.
The Dissentient King looked confused. "I've been dancing with the other Narnians and Analiese and your sister. Why?"
"Because!" she exclaimed. "I've been wandering around trying to find one of you to dance with for forever, it seems! Peter left with Analiese a few hours ago, Edmund's too busy with Avaline to dance with me, Tumnus and Camden are dancing with Lucy, and you were nowhere to be found!"
"I'm sorry, Susan," Caspian apologized. "I did not know you were in such great need for a partner."
"Well, I was," Susan replied, turning so her back was to him. She crossed her pale arms over her chest and put on a play-pout.
Caspian moved to stand before her again. "Susan, are you mad at me?" She snorted and turned around so her back was to him once again. "Susan?"
She couldn't hold it in any longer. The Gentle Queen burst into melancholy laughter, her voice ringing like bells. Caspian could hardly stand the urge to shake her shoulders and demand to know what was wrong with her.
"Susan, what in the world is the matter with you?" he asked impatiently.
Susan just barely managed to say between laughs, "You-your... your face-!" And she began laughing again, harder this time.
"I can't believe you! You got me thinking you really were mad at me!" Caspian exclaimed unhappily, glaring at her.
"I'm sorry, I just couldn't help it!"
"Sure, sure," he waved a hand in the air, and when her hysterics died down, he took her hand and led her away. The farther away they got from the dance floor, the more curious Susan got.
"Caspian, where are we going?" she asked.
"To the balcony," the black-haired king replied, pulling her along after him until they reached their destination.
He pulled back the dark blue curtains that separated the balcony from the sight of the public. Leading Susan inside, he shut back the curtain and turned to face her, only to find she had her back to him. Susan's elbows were locked straight, her hands resting on the railing of the balcony, as she looked out into the night sky.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?" Caspian asked, coming to stand beside her.
She turned to meet his gaze, which was now turned to focus on her once again. "Yes," she said.
Caspian felt the chilly winter air bite at his cheeks. Susan felt the same and shivered as a small breeze came to her. Her dark hair blew gently as her heart in the wind, blowing her scent to him. Caspian inhaled it, savoring the delicious smell for as long as possible.
"Caspian," the Gentle Queen said. The Telmarine king turned to look at her. "Why did you bring me out here?"
"I don't know," he replied, moving slowly until he stood next to Susan. He mimicked her stance and looked out at the night sky. He was silent for a few moments. "I like coming out here at night. It reminds me of home."
"How so?" Susan asked.
"I remember always coming out to look at the stars in the evenings with my father, back when he was alive. He always told me that whenever I am missing him, to look up at the stars. He told me that someone would always be up there watching me, whether it be my mother, him, or even Aslan himself."
"That's a sweet story," Susan commented. "I always like to look at the beach in the nights when I am feeling alone," she said, moving her eyes to the sandy beach beneath the starry sky. "It's so beautiful at night. I love how the moon reflects off the water."
"Yes, it is beautiful," Caspian remarked. He almost, for a reason unknown to him, caught himself telling her that she was more beautiful than either. Caspian could only thank Aslan that he didn't.
They stood there like this in silence for what seemed like an eternity before Susan said, "We'd better get back out there. People have probably begun wondering where we are, as well as where Peter and Analiese are." She took Caspian's hand in her own and looked him in the eyes. She felt like drowning in them. "Come on," she whispered, and he obliged, letting her pull him along behind her.
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When Analiese awoke, she smiled. 'Peter must have opened the curtains to let in the sunlight this morning,' she thought as she rose. Or tried to, I should say.
As Analiese moved, she was attacked by such immense physical pain in her body that she immediately fell back on the pillows. Beside her, she heard someone moan. Analiese turned her head in the direction of the noise and saw Peter beside her, his muscled chest bare and uncovered by the sheets. Then, a warm breeze blew in through the open doors of the balcony. Analiese felt drafts in places she knew she shouldn't and looked down to see something shocking.
Peter woke suddenly and rolled over to face her. When he found himself looking into the eyes of the girl he loved, he smiled.
"Good morning, beautiful," he murmured, reaching up to tuck a strand of blonde hair behind her ear.
Analiese couldn't help but smile back, despite her embarrassment at the situation she was in. "Hi," she said shyly.
They were silent for a moment. Peter rolled over so he was lying on his back again, staring up at the ceiling. "What time is it, do you think?" he asked suddenly.
"Um..." Analiese muttered, looking around. She cursed herself inwardly when she remembered giving the clock that usually stood on the dresser in their bedroom to the mechanic to be worked on. It was three minutes late, which always got Peter and herself off track, and since neither of them knew how to reset it, she'd paid to have it fixed in the next few days. Sighing, she glanced out the window and saw that the sun was directly overhead. "I'm not sure, but I'm guessing we missed breakfast."
At this, Peter exclaimed, "Uh oh!" He leaned over the side of the bed, retrieved his clothes, pulled them on quickly, and hopped out of bed.
When he saw Analiese still laying in bed, propped up on one elbow, watching him confusedly, he said, "What are you doing just sitting there? Get up!"
"Why?" she asked.
Peter turned away from the mirror and looked at her. "Edmund," was all he said, and all the explanation Analiese needed.
She was just about to hop out from under the covers and get ready when she remembered her humiliating state. "Err, Peter, could you, uh..." she trailed off, unsure of how to word her question.
Her husband turned around, saw what she was so unnerved about, and nodded in understanding. "You want me to leave?" he asked.
"You don't have to leave; turning around will be fine," Analiese replied, waiting until the High King was in the corner of the room facing the wall to get out of bed. She made her way over to the dresser, picked up her undergarments, then headed to the wardrobe. The High Queen selected a light blue, long-sleeved dress with a white second layer underneath and slid it over her head.
The blonde-haired woman walked over to her husband and tapped him on the shoulder. This was all the incentive the High King needed to leave the room before more suspicions arose in his brother. And so the couple, who had just had a quite pleasant evening, left the room to awkwardly join their suspicious family.