The Engagement

Saedra could have been knocked over by a feather after Lune's declaration. She stared at the King, hoping desperately that it was a part of a sick joke, but Lune only looked at her with an immensely satisfied grin on his face. And why shouldn't he be happy? He thought he had arranged the biggest marriage of the century, perhaps of the millennium.

When Lune did not offer her any consolation, she looked over at Peter. He was staring at her seriously; the look was not resigned or unhappy, but neither was it joyful. He looked like he was anxious to hear Saedra's answer, his hands clasped behind his back.

"Thou art speechless with joy, I see!" Lune said happily. "Have I not made you the ultimate match? Did I not tell you that you would be betrothed by the end of the year?"

"Yes—indeed," Saedra managed to say, still staring at Peter with wide eyes. A moment later she broke away from his gaze and looked at the King. "I admit that I'm shocked. The High King is the last person whom I thought would agree to marry me."

Lune's eyebrows shot up, obviously confused. He still had no idea of the rift between Saedra and Peter. "And why not? Thou art a respected, handsome woman of noble birth and he a man of common sense. Not to mention that thou have been friends these past years."

"That may be so, my King, but I'd always been under the impression that if the High King ever married, it would be because he was in love." Saedra looked at Peter pointedly as she said these things.

Peter opened his mouth slightly as if he was going to reply to her unspoken question, but Lune did not notice and exclaimed, "My dear Duchess, the High King is wise enough to know that love before matrimony is a rare thing. I have no doubt that he will learn to love thee (and what man wouldn't?) and thou will love him in return (for what woman wouldn't?). Come, let us sit before the fire and discuss the details."

Saedra followed him, and they sat themselves in the couches around the fire. As soon as she was settled, she said to Peter, hoping to give him another chance to explain his offer to marry her, "Your Majesty, I am surprised that you have consented to this match."

"I can see that, my Lady, but I assure you that when Lune presented me with the idea I was keen on it."

Saedra was certain he was being diplomatic for Lune's sake and pressed, "And what do your siblings think of the idea?"

"They rejoiced even more than I did," he said. "Susan and Lucy were thrilled by the idea of having another sister and Edmund thought it a good notion."

"He did?" Saedra said, surprised. Then she stopped herself mid-thought.

Why are you surprised, Sae? she asked herself. There's no reason why Edmund wouldn't like the match. But she did know in that moment that she would much rather marry Edmund than Peter. She had a deep respect for the younger brother. She could always be herself around him, and they could talk about anything…Yes, she definitely would rather marry Edmund than Peter.

"I see you share my surprise," Peter said. "Yes, I was more astonished than you are that Edmund approved, but he said that we would be very happy together and would make a fine match."

"King Edmund always had a lot of sense," Lune agreed. "He was also offered the option to marry thee, but it was agreed on all sides that High King Peter would be the better one. Ahoshta Tarkaan will be less offended if he is turned down for the High King of Narnia."

Saedra looked into the fire and wondered why she hadn't considered the idea that Lune would be so ambitious as to ask Peter to marry her. She had thought he would find some Archenlander duke or lord that would be kind-but dull-and marry him…but never the last person she would want to marry! But it was her fault, because she hadn't wanted to tell Lune about her fight with Peter.

She put her hand up to her forehead, suddenly wanting to be alone to think.

"My Lady, is thee unwell?" Lune asked, sitting up.

"I'm just tired, oh King. The journey today must have taken more out of me than I thought." She stood up, and the men stood up with her. "I hope you don't mind if I go lay down."

"Of course not! We can discuss the details tomorrow," Lune said, the thought not even entering his head that she might reject the marriage offer. "May I walk thee to thy room?"

"No, thank you, your Majesty," Saedra said then curtsied. "Excuse me."

She rushed out of the office as fast as possible without being rude. She found out from a servant which guest room she was assigned to, and made her way through the castle to it. The whole way she was careful to avoid anyone that might want to talk to her, especially Lucy, because she needed to be alone to think.

Why in the world would Peter agree to marry me, especially when he not only doesn't love me but dislikes me? He went out of his way to be an ass! she thought as she went through the halls.

She remembered that he had once declared to her that he would never marry unless he was in love. He could have been lying. The more she thought about it, the more she decided that Peter had been lying. Or if he did mean it then, the advantage of securing such a close alliance with Archenland would surely chase away his inhibitions. He's a King first and foremost.

When she got to the guest room, she saw that the servants had brought up her bags and her cloak. Talia's things weren't there because Aravis had invited her to share her room during their stay.

I probably won't see much of Talia for a while, Saedra thought as she stretched out on the bed. Snow was falling gently outside and the warm fire in the hearth would have made her very sleepy, but Peter's offer kept her mind racing despite her exhaustedness.

She eventually fell asleep, but not before she had made up her mind what she was going to do...

The next morning, Saedra had a servant bring a note to Peter that requested a meeting with him at his earliest convenience. She then had brunch in her room, wanting to be available whenever Peter came to talk to her, and also still not wanting to see Lucy before the matter was settled. Her chat with Peter would clear up the matter, and then she could face Lucy without worrying about how to avoid the topic of matrimony with her brother.

She had expected Peter to come right away, but he didn't. She ended up spending the whole afternoon in her room waiting for him. By the time dinner came around, she was fuming, certain that his tardiness was to put her in her place and show who was really in control.

She went down to the dining hall as everyone was being seated. The hall was decorated for Christmas in red and green colors, and was very cheery with all of the candles.

When Lune saw Saedra coming over, he said, "Thou art just in time! I have reserved a seat for thee next to the High King."

Peter was seated on Lune's left and Lucy on his right, and the open seat was to the left of Peter. Down the table sat Talia with the Princes and Aravis, the whole group chatting loudly. She had spotted Lord Reine as she entered, but he seemed to be making a point to avoid Saedra-which did not bother her in the least.

Lucy jumped out of her chair and exclaimed, "Saedra! Where have you been hiding? I have been hoping to see you all day! We've so much to talk about!"

Saedra didn't get a chance to reply, because Lune took her arm. She shot Lucy a helpless look as he whisked her right away and helped her into the seat next to Peter.

Once she had put her napkin in her lap, she said sweetly to Peter, "Did you receive my note, your Majesty?"

"I did, my Lady," was all Peter said.

Anger boiled up in Saedra. It was obvious that he was slighting her.

How dare he still treat me like this! I know very well that this match is as advantageous for him as it is for me!

She ignored him for the rest of the meal, but he didn't seem to take any notice of it and talked to Lune the whole time. He didn't acknowledge her presence again until the end of dinner when she was standing up to leave.

He said, "Excuse me, oh King" to Lune, then stood up and followed her as she made her way through the emptying tables. "My Lady, I believe you wish to speak to me."

She abruptly stopped. "I did, your Majesty," she said through clenched teeth, "but I think that that conversation is no longer necessary. Please tell King Lune that I appreciate his efforts to secure me an alternate husband but that I am unable to accept." She turned to keep walking, but Peter kept up with her.

"I think it would be wise to reconsider, my Lady. Surely the Grand Vizier would not make you happy."

She stopped again, and this time they were in an entranceway to the hall. "Who said anything about me marrying him? I've been thinking over dinner, and I've decided that I don't need to marry anyone. To hell with politics, let King Lune deal with it."

Peter looked at her warningly and said in a low voice. "Watch yourself, Saedra. For your own sake, don't be stubborn."

"I am not the stubborn one here, Peter," she snapped, using his informal name the way he had used hers. "Since when do you care so much about my well-being? I was prepared to accept your offer today, but your rudeness has changed my mind!"

Peter's eyes flashed. "You're upset that I didn't come to you the instant that I received your message, I see. Well, your Ladyship, it may distress you some to hear this, but you are not the only thing going on in my life right now. I promised my afternoon to someone else and didn't think it prudent to break that promise. Did it not enter your mind that I might have had other engagements that I had to see to?"

Saedra knew he had a point, but asked with a disbelieving look on her face, "Such as what?"

"Forgive me," Peter said, then paused as someone walked out the door between them before continuing, "but you haven't the right to inquire about my dealings. If you were my wife—"

"If I was your wife, you would treat me with more indifference than you do now! My purpose would have been accomplished and I would be of no further use to you other than to punch out Narnian heirs."

Peter looked around, suddenly aware that while people weren't looking in their direction, it was a real possibility that they could be overheard. "Follow me," he said, gripping her arm.

She didn't bother to fight and allowed him to lead her down the hall into the library. He shut the door behind him and looked around to see if anyone was in there. No one was, and he looked back at Saedra.

"You've always taken great delight in judging me," he said. "But I beg you to cease this pointless vendetta you have against me."

"You flatter yourself," she spat back. "I call things as I see them, and I've never claimed to be always right—but with you I'm sure I am. You despise me as much as I despise you, so this marriage would never work."

"Under what conditions would you accept my hand?"

"I don't know if any conditions could induce me to marry you now!"

"You said that you were willing to accept me earlier. You must have terms that you wanted to lay out—I know you well enough for that! Name them."

"Fine," Saedra said, though she knew Peter would resist them. "First is that Talia approves of you and that you would be a father to her." Peter had never met Talia before but surely had heard about her from his siblings.

He nodded. "Of course! That is more than fair…As long as you don't poison her against me."

She rolled her eyes but continued. "Second is that I keep my title of Duchess and be free to come and go between Cair Paravel and Harden whenever I please."

Peter didn't reply for a while. "Which would mean that you would be in Harden most of the year."

"Naturally," she said smugly.

Peter no longer looked so willing to hear more. "Any other conditions?"

"Yes," she said, taking a deep breath before dealing him his final blow. "I want it to be understood between us that this marriage is utterly and completely a political match. We will keep separate sleeping chambers and there will be no expectation whatsoever that I will produce an heir." She knew that this condition was terribly bold and that she truthfully had no right to even request it.

He cannot accept this condition, she thought. He will want his heir.

He looked at her angrily. "You presume much to even think that I'd accept such a condition!"

"Do I?" she said with more bravery than she felt. "I know how you want this marriage more than I do. I know that you see this as a way to avoid conflict with Calormen."

He didn't deny it, just asked in an annoyed tone, "And how do you figure that, oh Wise One?"

"If I were to refuse Ahoshta flat out, they'd be offended. Who knows what the Calormenes would do? They might even attack Anvard again. And if they did, they would know better this time and come in greater numbers. They would take us over easily, and would be in the doorway of Narnia."

"You assume a great deal, my Lady," Peter said. "But I won't deny that I've considered that myself. But do you not also see that by refusing me, your province will certainly be taken over as well?"

"Yes," Saedra smiled. "But that won't happen."

"Pray, why not?"

"Because you will accept my conditions and marry me." She had the great urge to smirk at the look that crossed Peter's face.

She had caught him. If he refused, for all he knew the situation with Calormen that Saedra described might come true, and the only way to get her to marry him would be to accept her conditions.

"You, Duchess, are as sly as a serpent," he said, shaking his head, "and I don't say that to compliment you. I see I have no choice in the matter. I accept your conditions, but I must add one condition of my own."

"And that is?" She raised her eyebrows.

"That no one knows about the last condition, that people think that we are happy and in love. It would set a bad example for my subjects if I were to enter a miserable marriage."

"I completely agree with you. I wouldn't want it any other way," Saedra nodded. "Especially for Talia's sake. We must be good parents to her, and by doing so she must never know of the animosity between us."

The conversation died out there as both of them just looked at each other and absorbed the changes that were about to take place in their lives.

Peter released the silence by looking at the floor awkwardly, clearing his throat and scratching his chin, and then holding out his hand for her to shake. "Things needn't always be hostile, my Lady."

Saedra shook his hand. "I hope not, your Majesty. Shall we plan the details of our engagement tomorrow?"

"Yes, and I had better go tell King Lune that his scheming succeeded," Peter said, then his face broke out into a wry smile. "Lucy will also be thrilled to hear the news, you know."

"I'm sure she shall," Saedra half-smiled back. "I was just thinking of going to find her."

"Well, good night, my Lady," he bowed.

She curtsied, "Good night, your Majesty." It was strange thinking that the tall man standing before her would be her husband.

In name only, she reminded herself.

Saedra and Lucy did find each other that night, and they stayed up into the wee hours of the morning talking in Lucy's guest room. Lucy was beyond thrilled that Saedra would be her sister-in-law, saying that she had always hoped that Saedra would marry one of her brothers. Lucy was also relieved that Peter and Saedra had sorted out the fight that she and Tumnus had overheard at Rabadash's going-away party.

Though Saedra didn't see Lune until the next day at breakfast, he was also beside himself with happiness. He would always throw in hints about how well Saedra and Peter will like each other once they are married and such, and the High King and the Duchess could only smile and laugh along with him. A special party was planned that night to celebrate.

Amidst all of the hubbub, Saedra pulled Talia aside to talk to her before the party began. "Talia, I haven't gotten a chance to talk to you since the news was announced, and I'm curious what you think about it. I am sorry that I didn't consult you earlier, but if you don't like King Peter we can call it off—"

"Oh, no! I do like him, really!" Talia assured her. "He talked to me a great deal during breakfast today when you were still in bed, and I think he's what I always hoped for in a father!"

"I hope you don't think he is a replacement for your biological father back in Tashbaan," Saedra said carefully. "You don't need to feel obligated to call him 'father' if you don't want to."

"Oh, but I do!" the girl replied happily. "I already asked him if I could start calling him Father when you two get married as soon as I found out the news!"

"You did?" Saedra said, surprised. Talia is not usually so open with adults! She must see something in Peter that she trusts.

"I hope you don't mind…I thought you'd be happy," Talia said, her face falling.

"Oh, I am happy! Most happy. I'm just surprised. I didn't think you would accept him so fast."

"Well, he took us ice-skating on the lake yesterday and he was so obliging! Aravis and Cor and Corin loved him too."

"Yesterday...afternoon?"

"Yes, but even longer. We had so much fun that we stayed out all the way until dinnertime!"

Saedra paled. She had been furious at Peter for slighting her the day before-but he had really been skating with Talia and the children! She cringed inwardly as she remembered how she had yelled at him for not hearing her conditions right away, and the whole time he had been getting to know Talia.

"That's—that's wonderful!" she managed to smile. "I am glad that you like him. He really is a great man." She wasn't lying when she said that; she didn't like how he treated her personally, but there was no doubt that he was a great King and honorable man.

"Oh, I cannot wait until you are married!" Talia smiled, leaning over to hug Saedra. "We will be such a happy family."

One can only hope, Saedra thought.