Author's Note: Well, here's chapter sixteen. I got bored with the beginning of it, which will probably bore you. The thing is, I know how I'm going to write the beginning and the end, but I'm clueless as to what goes on in the middle. Anyway, Aceline is misjudged in this one, hence the title 'The Misjudged Diplomat'.

Quote from Chapter: "It is truly a blessing that she wasn't made Queen like Their Majesties Susan and Lucy."

Chapter Sixteen: The Misjudged Diplomat

"Peter, the embassy is here," Aceline called over her shoulder. She was staring at a ship that bore a red and green flag with the letter 'A' on it. It was officially three weeks since the coronation and Narnia was receiving its first foreign visitors. The High King appeared, dressed regally in a dark green tunic, a white shirt and tan breeches. He looked at the red-clad figure before him.

"Ready to meet our visitors?" he asked her. The Princess shook her head, her crown in danger of falling off.

"How I am supposed to act in front of these people?" she asked, frowning. Peter regarded her for a while. His siblings arrived when he answered her.

"If you're not up to it, you don't have to go." She grinned at him and impulsively kissed his cheek. She skipped off merrily, her hair bouncing from side to side, failing to notice the stunned expression on Peter's face as his hand to his cheek.

She couldn't believe her luck! She prefered to go to the beach than be stuck in a stuffy room with sober and grave lords. Aceline heard the trumpets sound from a long way off. The herald's voice was muffled. She put these thoughts out of her mind as she let the sea air refresh her face. Her eyes fluttered closed just as someone said, "Your Majesty?" She whirled around to see a pretty Dryad staring at her.

"Yes?"

"Your presence has been requested in the meeting room," she said, bowing.

"Where is the meeting room?"

"I'll lead the way." The Princess's lucky bubble seemed to burst as she followed the nymph. She passed countless rooms until she stood in front of forbidden-looking door. She knocked tentatively, encouraged by the Dryad.

"Come in," said a voice. Aceline went inside, biting her lip as she stared at the numerous lords. The oldest seemed to be around forty while the two youngest appeared around fifteen or sixteen. In fact, it was these two that caught her attention. They were twins with brown hair and green eyes. Both of them were staring at her curiously.

"Aceline, you can take a seat," Peter said, gesturing towards a seat next to Lucy. She nodded, embarrassed. She could feel the lords's eyes on her as she sat down.

"As I was saying, Your Majesties," said the oldest lord, "An alliance between Archenland and Narnia would benefit both countries." Then the lord quickly listed the reasons. The Princess was soon bored. Lucy seemed to share this feeling. They tried very hard not to glance at each other, for they knew they would just roll their eyes. And that would be rude.

"Lord Daemyn," Susan said, sounding older than she looked. "We currently have a situation going on in Narnia, with the Witch's followers still living in hiding. Could Archenland be able to help us?"

"I'm quite sure we could be able to help. But I will have to confirm with King Lune first," Lord Daemyn said, looking apologetic. The Gentle Queen nodded, looking satisfied.

"Well, I think we should continue this meeting tomorrow," Edmund said, looking over at the High King for approval. Peter nodded and stood up. Everyone in the room followed suit and filed out of the room.

"That was boring," Lucy said, first thing out of the room.

"You're lucky you missed most of it, Ace," Edmund said, stifling a yawn.

"It couldn't have been that bad," she said.

"Speak for yourself," the Just King mumbled. She gave him a small smile.

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The meeting the following day (which I shall not descibe, for it would put you to sleep) was more or less like the one before it. Aceline soon found herself hating politics and the boredom that came with it. If the others agreed, they didn't show it, but looked interested in the meetings. The Princess, however, was usually seen with a hand under her chin or playing with the folds of her dress. Putting all this together, it was quite fair that the lords thought her a spoiled brat.

Her dislike, soon to be ahborrence, only increased as the meetings continued on for a week. She was standing on a balcony, pleased with breeze that refreshed her hot cheeks after being stuck in the cramped room. Lord Daemyn and another lord, the Lord Phillip, walked past the balcony, not even looking to see if anyone was around.

"She's quite spoiled," Lord Phillip said. Aceline quickly hid, though there was no need to, for the lords didn't seem to care if anyone heard them.

"Very. I blame the parents," Lord Daemyn replied, shaking his head.

"It is truly a blessing that she wasn't made Queen like Their Majesties Susan and Lucy," Lord Phillip said. The Princess covered her mouth as she realized that they were talking about her.

"I have a feeling she wouldn't enjoy it. If she's like this as Princess, imagine her as Queen." There was a short pause when both lords thought about this.

"At least that will never happen," Lord Daemyn said. There was an unnatural relief to his tone that made the eavesdropper feel horrible. The sounds of their steps soon faded away. But by then, the Princess had sunk down to the ground, her back to the wall and her arms wrapped around her legs. Her pale face was crumpled and unshed sobs shook her shoulders. She couldn't believe how she was thought of by the Archelandian lords.

"But it's your fault really," she said quietly to herself. "Why did you have to go and act bored during the meetings? Why can't you be like the others?"

She buried her face in her knees as no one, not even herself, could answer those questions.

Who knows what could happen later on, if she hadn't become friends with the two twin lords, Daemyn's own sons, Dar and Darrin.

Okay, I know I left you on a bit of a cliffy there, but this was like the prologue of the next chapter. I don't know Dar and Darrin's ages but I've decided to make them fifteen. I'm sorry if that goes against the book.

Anyway, review people.