High King Peter got up from his bed and walked over to the balcony like he does every morning. He took in the land that was around him, making sure to look up to the sky as his last visual tour before walking back into his room. It's been one year since they defeated the White Witch Jadis and took back Narnia for themselves. The week-long ceremony was going to take its final day today and Peter was actually quite happy about that. Not that he loved the celebration in his honor but he wouldn't mind having the castle to himself and his siblings once more.

He made his way down the stairs, nodding to passersby who seemed starstruck by him just like the very first time he became High King. Peter chose not to indulge in it as he just wanted to eat and hear what his siblings had in plan for today, he knew Edmund really wanted to go horseback riding so he thought he would surprise his brother with a trip. Whether or not Lucy and Susan would want to go, it was entirely up to them to decide. He had overheard Mrs. Beaver say that Susan was going to help in the kitchen on the last day to help honor the workers.

Peter could hear his siblings talking amongst one another even though he was still ways down the hall from them. He smiled to himself as he could sense the excited chatter between them as he also heard the Beavers, Mr. Tumnus, and Oreius speaking. He wondered to himself if he missed that they were to be invited to breakfast but chose to brush it off.

He walked in just as everyone stopped talking and he made his way over to his chair but not before kissing Lucy on the top of her head. He said his greetings to the visitors before sitting down to see a berry yogurt parfait was in front of him this morning, a request he made to the chef last night.

Peter picked up his spoon but stopped and looked up to see everyone was still staring at him.

"What's the matter?" Peter asked.

Edmund turned to Susan, "Oh, please let me tell him"

"No!" Susan said firmly.

"It is such a wonderful surprise, Peter," Lucy beamed.

Peter leaned back in his chair and took in everyone's face before asking, "What is?"

"You are to be betrothed," Mr. Beaver announced.

Peter's heart stopped, "What?"

"Oh, come on, I was supposed to say it" Edmund pouted, "I would have at least put more thought into it then that"

Mrs. Beaver ignored Edmund as she said, "Don't worry, Susan as well, but we are hoping to delay her marriage at least a year or two after yours"

Peter looked around the table once again to see if anyone was going to start cracking up and laughing as of this point, but no one did. Edmund had a familiar smirk on his face as he enjoyed Peter's uncomfortable silence as Susan was just as composed as ever even though she just heard that she was to be betrothed as well. Lucy was the one who was just about two breaths away from jumping up and screaming at the top of her lungs. Peter looked at his goblet and took a big drink out of it as he wished it was wine. He wondered how this was coming up without his knowledge.

"Why are we getting betrothed exactly?" Peter asked slowly before turning to Lucy, "Was this your idea?"

"To show unity to the people" Lucy answered, "The Narnians have been speaking about what will happen when we pass and who would be our successors. It would give peace of mind if there were… little princes and princesses running about"

"Little pri-" Peter blinked, "We have not even been here five years and everyone is already thinking of us dead?!"

"Told you he would freak out" Edmund chuckled.

Oreius took a step forward as he said, "It is not to think ill of you, High King, but the people are only worried that someone like the White Witch would appear again. You have seen the panic that had happened when the first snowflake fell to the ground, the Narnians thought that she had returned and forgot of the way of nature"

"Besides, it is not just you who is getting involved" Susan spoke up, "It is me as well, I agreed happily with what they had to say"

Peter looked to Susan as she seemed almost happy with the news. He wondered if he should remind her that most of these creatures were just that, creatures! It struck him how calmly Susan seemed about this sudden betrothalment that he even wondered if they told her first and not him. Peter sighed as he looked down to his breakfast, all of a sudden not hungry for a meal he was looking forward to.

"What say you, High King Peter?" Mr. Tumnus said nervously.

"So only Susan and I are meant to have matches" Peter said, "Not Edmund and Lucy"

"Not until they are of age" Mrs. Beaver said cheerfully.

"Wait, what?" Edmund turned to her, "I am going to be betrothed as well? I thought it was only going to be the High King and Queen"

"You seriously did not think of that when they told us about Susan and Peter's betrothal?" Lucy asked in a teasing way.

Edmund opened his mouth to possibly say something clever but was too stunned to speak about the news of himself having to have an arranged marriage as well. Normally, Peter would've laughed at his innocence but now wasn't the time for such nonsense as Susan would have put it. His heart was beating out of his own chest as he didn't know what to say to this.

"Has- Is there someone chosen already?" Peter asked, slowly.

"Not yet, your Highness" Mr. Tumnus said.

"Good" Peter nodded, "That's good then"

Peter deeply inhaled, "I will agree to marry a Narnian but on one condition; I choose who it will be. I am not ready to marry some stranger and continue to be a stranger until the end of our days. I want to marry someone that I will have a connection with, is that understood?"

"Yes, High King Peter" Orieus, the Beavers, and Mr. Tumnus said in unison.

"Ah, Peter, you want to marry for love?" Lucy sighed, "How sweet of you"

"It's pretty pathetic if you think about it," Edmund said.

"Forging an alliance is more important than love" Susan pointed out, "But I guess that will have to be made out of my own marriage"

Peter looked to her in the elderly brother way as he responded, "I guess it will"

Since the business matter seemed to be over, the others bowed and left the room to finally let Peter eat his breakfast. It's just that after being surprised about this sudden arranged marriage, he seemed to have lost his appetite.

"Oh, honestly Peter, eat something" Susan scolded, "It is only marriage"

Peter looked up to her in shock, "Only marriage?"

"Something is wrong with you" Lucy looked to her sister, "I, for one, can't wait to see the maidens come flocking in. Are you going to have one of those beauty pageants to determine your bride? Oh, please do one! Maybe we should be introduced to them first and we will give you our recommendations to be your bride"

"If that were the case, Lucy, everyone would pass during your stage" Peter patted her hand, "And then no one would pass Edmund or Susan's"

"Hey!"

"Excuse me!"

"Well, would they?" Peter asked them, "Honestly, I think a ball and some time spent with these maidens would be more than enough. Let's just hope Mrs. Beaver didn't send an invitation off to every single woman in the land"

Peter laughed to himself but then suddenly stopped to think about it and realized, that is exactly what she would do.

Lucy quickly got up from her seat, "I'll stop her"

Peter nodded as his sister ran out of the room, despite being in a dress as he sighed, "So, how long has anyone known this?"

"Just this morning," Susan answered.

"About a month ago" Edmund smiled.

Peter and Susan looked to their brother before he shrugged and chuckled, "I'm only kidding"