There is one more chapter after this and then an epilogue. I really hope you enjoy.
Chapter 5
We had a brief wedding the week after. Very low-key, not many people were invited. We then had a ball to announce the baby the week after. When I told people back in England, they started at me and whispered things behind my back. Here, they toasted to the health of the baby. But, that was three months ago.
"Honey. Caspian! Wake up. The Ningardians are coming today. And your sister."
"Five more minutes."
"Nope! Your pregnant wife needs you to get some oranges and crackers."
"I thought you were craving that maple syrup chicken." He says, sitting up groggily.
"I think that morning sickness intends to make a reappearance." I say, before bolting to the bathroom as fast as a six month pregnant woman can be. In a flash, Caspian is right behind me tying my hair back with a ribbon.
"Hold on." He runs out the door. In a few minutes, I stop vomiting and Capri comes in.
"Hi Mamma. Papa said that you weren't feeling well and told me to bring you this."She says handing me a glass of water, "And to sit with you until he gets back."
"Thanks, Baby Girl."
"Here you go." Caspian walks in, handing me some cut up oranges and crispy bread.
"Thanks, dear." I say, as I wash out my mouth. I kiss the top of Capri's head and tell her to bring whatever she is going to wear and ask her maid to help her bring it.
"Yes Mamma." She replies, skipping out of the room.
"How do you do that?" Caspian asks, as I sort through my wardrobe, looking for my dress.
"Do what?" I reply, absentmindedly.
"Make her do whatever you want her to."
"I raised her like I would have had she been born in Narnia. She knew not to talk back to me and she respected me for it. It was helpful in stores. I would walk by the candies and Capri would ask for some and when I would tell her no, she wouldn't bring it back up. Sometimes there would be another mother, of the proper age, and she would tell her children no, and they would beg her, while I walked out of the aisle with my perfectly well-behaved child. Occasionally, she would whisper mean names under her breath, or the nicer ones would compliment me on my skill or ask me how I do it."
"That must have felt pretty good, then."
"Yep." I say, pulling out the dress I have been looking for. I place it on my bed and look for the right underskirt so that it looks just right.
"Dear, I love you, but can you please get dressed in another room?"
"Fine." He replies, grabbing the clothes I pick out. Five minutes later, Lucy comes in carrying a dress, followed by Capri, skipping in with Ellie following, carrying her dress. We all quickly put on our underskirts and dresses.
Lucy is in a dress with cap sleeves and a V-neck . The color is a deep purple with silver undertones. On her feet are small heels, only about two inches. I can tell that she would much rather be wearing her usual wild deer skin moccasins, that were given to both of us by Trufflehunter, after Caspian mentioned our discomfort with our shoes. I pull her hair into a half up, half down style. Her crown is perched delicately upon her head. As delicate and sweet as she looks, she still looks like the brave young woman that she is, able to sprint into battle with a sword, even though Peter would never let her do that!
My dress has sleeves to my elbows and a higher neckline. It is red with gold undertones. My hair is done up in a simple and slightly messy bun, because of the haste in which I did my my feet, I have ballet like flats. My crown finishes the look and I look decently regal.
Capri's dress has a more rounded neckline . It is a pale pink and there are diamonds embroidered. They match her tiara perfectly. Her hair is braided sideways back from her face and her bangs are the perfect end to the look. On her feet, are basically boots, but slightly more feminine.
"You all look wonderful." Caspian compliments as we walk down the stairs into the courtyard.
"You don't look too bad yourself." I reply.
Caspian is wearing a red tunic and brown trousers. His boots are a polished black.
Peter is wearing his favorite dark green tunic and black boots are a tan color.
Ed is wearing a dark orange tunic with really dark brown pants and the same color boots as Caspian.
"Why thank you, sister, for the compliment." Ed replies, rather sarcastically.
"Shut up, brother." I say, mocking his tone.
"They shall be here soon. Shall I go check?" Peter asks, mocking the both of us.
"Sure Pete, that would be a big help." I say, slipping out of my queenly attitude, showing Caspian for a split second how utterly exhausted and stressed out I am.
"Sweetheart, calm down. It's just my sister. She is lovely and will most likely be romping in the mud with our daughter before lunch." I smile at this.
"There Mamma. I like it better when you smile." Capri says, walking up to me.
"Come here, Baby Girl." I reply, reaching out for a hug. To my surprise, she walks up to my bump and says,
"Hey you in there. You are tiring out Mamma and I get to meet our Aunt today, so Mamma needs her rest."
"Oh!" I exclaim.
"Did I do something wrong, Mamma?" She asks with teary eyes. I kneel down to be on her level, not caring if my dress gets dirty.
"No darling. Your baby brother or sister tried to talk back to you."
"How?"
"He or she just kicked me."
"You always said that it is bad to kick people."
"Yes, but that is they're only way of communicating."
"Oh!"
"Do you want to feel?"
"Oh-okay." She says, shakily. I place her hand on my stomach. The kicks focus at her hand. She smiles, stands up, and runs to Caspian, screaming,
"Papa! Papa! The baby kicked Mamma. But Mamma says that that is okay. I got to feel it Papa." She says super fast. Before you can count to three, he is right beside me.
"Is it really kicking?" He asks excitedly. I place his hand on my stomach as the baby kicks again. He captures my lips in a loving kiss.
"They're here…" Peter says, walking back, looking at us. "What did I miss?"
"First kick." Ed replies.
"Well, the Ningardian Royal Court is right behind me." He says, rather loudly, obviously directed at us. Caspian stands and helps me stand.
"Thanks dear." I respond. The baby won't stop kicking. I groan at it delivers a hard kick to my ribs.
"What is wrong? Is there something wrong?" Caspian asks, flustered.
"Nope." Ed replies, popping the 'p'. "If this one is anything like their sister was, I'd say, that was the result of a swift kick to the ribs, right?"
"Spot on." I reply as it goes for round two.
"If I am correct again, the only thing that helps is rubbing the middle of your back, right?"
"How in the name of Aslan do you remember all that?"
"I figured it would come in handy someday. Caspian, would you like me to show you what to do?" Caspian merely nods.
Needless to say, the Ningardian royalty were surprised. They were met by Ed and Caspian preoccupied with rubbing my back, Lucy trying to keep Capri from running in front of the carriage, and Peter trying to smile calmly even though he was not calm at all.
"Your Majesties." Peter says, bowing slightly.
"Thank you, your Majesty, for your invitation to visit." The King of Ningar turns to Lucy. "Hello Queen Lucy. Who is this lovely little girl?"
"This is my niece, Princess Capri. She is the daughter of my sister, Queen Susan and her husband, King Caspian."
"Pleased to meet you, Princess Capri."
"Pleased to meet you as well." Capri replies politely, just like I taught her, as Caspian's sister climbs out of the carriage.
"Hello brother." She says waving.
"Hello my dear sister. Give me a moment." Caspian wraps his arm around my waist and we walk over.
"Hello Millicent." Caspian says.
"Hello Caspian. Now I am going to assume that this is your wife." She adds "And this must be my niece."
"Are you my aunt?" Capri asks.
"Yes, I am. You can call me Auntie Millie if you'd like."
"Okay!" She says excitedly. "This is my Mamma and you of course know my Papa. This," She adds, pointing to my stomach. "Is my baby sister. Uncle Eddy and Uncle Peter insist that it is a brother, but me and Auntie Lucy agree that it is a sister." I laugh a little at that. Ever since she found out, she has insisted that it is a girl. She even has a name picked out, but it is a secret.
"Wow, congratulations. How far along?" She asks.
"Six months." Caspian replies.
"Millicent-" I start.
"Call me Millie. It is so much shorter."
"Alright Millie, would you like to see your rooms?"
"Sure."
"If you want, Auntie Millie, I can give you the grand tour?" Capri offers.
"Sure, sweetie." She replies, taking her hand. "Where to?"
"I don't know. Papa, do you know?" All of a sudden, the baby kicks me right in the rib again and I gasp.
"Another kick?" Caspian asks, concerned.
"Mm-hm." I manage.
"Capri, go ask Ellie where Auntie Millie's rooms are, okay?"
"Okay, Papa. Come on Auntie Millie." She exclaims, grabbing her hand. They both run for the castle entrance. Caspian starts to rub my back.
"That better?"
"Much. Thank you."
"Not a problem." He replies, as he wraps his arms around my waist.
"Caspian?" I ask, as he holds me close.
"Hm?"
"What do you think it will be?"
"The baby?" I nod. "I think that I am with Ed and Peter. It will probably be a boy."
"Really? I think that it is going to be a girl. Mothers intuition, I guess."
"I guess." He replies. We fall back into comfortable silence.
"Caspian?" I ask again.
"Yes Susan?" He replies.
"I'm kind of tired."
"Come on, let's get the two of you up to bed." He says, picking me up easily. "Three more months." He whispers in my ear. I smile.
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