Narnia – Dissuading Susan's Suitor – Part 2

By Allyson

When it came to dancing, Susan despaired with her brothers. The eldest couldn't dance a step despite enthusiasm and countless long hours practising, while the youngest had the natural ability but stubbornly refused to put one foot onto a dance floor. From her vantage point on the raised dais, she shook her head in exasperation. Peter was currently apologizing on the dance floor to Mrs Beaver for trampling on her feet, while Edmund tried to hide in the shadows of the buffet table in an effort to avoid being asked to dance.

Something had to be done. Making her way over to where Lucy stood talking and laughing with some fellow Narnians, Susan interrupted with a polite smile and apology and beckoned Lucy over to her.

Pointing out the mini-crisis on the dance floor, Susan asked, "Lucy, can you-?"

Laughing in fond amusement at her older brother, Lucy reassured Susan, "I'll go and rescue Mrs Beaver," before disappearing into the crowd.

Seeing Prince Arteavious making his way towards her, Susan hastily made her way towards Edmund.

Before she could say anything, Edmund said, "Please don't lecture me for not dancing, Su. Not tonight."

"What's the matter?" she asked in concern.

Edmund fiddled neck of his top, grumbling, "My collar's too tight, I feel like I'm being strangled and it's too hot in here." He tried to change the topic around, by asking, "Why aren't you dancing?"

Susan gave him a look. "My dance partner is currently sulking by the sandwich trays."

"Me?" spluttered her brother, wide-eyed.

Susan smiled patiently.

"But, I-"

Edmund suddenly saw Prince Arteavious smarming his way towards his sister and the desperate anxious look in Susan's eye. Setting down his glass, Edmund offered his hand to Susan for a dance. Squeezing his hand in thanks, they swept out onto the dance floor just as the Prince reached the buffet table.

"Now what?" questioned Edmund. "You can't dance with me all night."

"I know," sighed Susan, chewing her lip in thought.

"And if I'm not allowed to slip out of the celebrations than neither are you," he added.

"Yes, I know, Edmund," replied Susan, trying not to sound irritated. "I really thought that prank we played on Prince Arteavious would have worked."

"Maybe if you danced as badly as Peter, he would lose interest," teased Edmund, trying to lighten her deteriorating mood.

Both siblings looked over to where Lucy was dragging her brother away from Mrs Beaver and leaving her in the care of Mr Beaver, while Peter profusely called out sincere apologies.

Susan flickered a small smile. "No-one can be as bad as Peter," she replied. "We need to try something else."

Edmund's eyes widened in panic. "No, no Su, please," he protested. "I'm still recovering from the training practice when Peter got his own back on me."

He still had an aching bruise on his back where Peter had 'accidentally' knocked him off his feet during sword practice.

"I don't want to find another frog in my bed either," agreed Susan, deep in thought. "But this time we'll make sure Peter's not around."

"He wasn't supposed to be around the last time either," pointed out her brother, ignoring her annoyed glare.

Dancing further away from the buffet table, Edmund noticed Prince Arteavious glaring at him.

"Maybe you should just ask Peter for his help this time," Edmund suggested.

Susan almost tripped over the hem of her gown. "Peter?" she repeated. "He'd never approve-"

"Approve what?" A familiar voice interrupted next to them causing both siblings to trip over each another, knocking foreheads together.

Turning, they found Peter looking at them, smirking in amusement, while Lucy struggled to contain her giggles.

"Don't sneak up on people, Peter," growled Edmund, rubbing his forehead.

Peter narrowed his eyes at the pair, noticing how they had both yet to look at him properly. "What are you two up to?"

"Nothing," came the chorused response, despite Edmund trying to nudge Susan forwards towards their eldest brother.

"Don't make me dance with you," Peter liltingly threatened, causing Lucy to laugh out loud and Edmund to look horrified at the thought.

Susan sighed in defeat. Making sure no-one was listening to their conversation, she confessed, "I need your help." She then outlined her problems in dissuading Prince Arteavious' interest in her. By the time she had finished, she knew it had been a mistake as Peter's expression had set into an icy calm and his eyes glittered indignantly.

"Where is Prince Arteavious?" asked Peter, scanning the room and spotting his target.

Edmund grabbed Peter's arm to stop him from storming over to the Prince.

"Pete, what are you doing?"

Peter gave an almost predatory smile. "I'm just going to say hello," he replied, innocently. "Have a little chat."

"Oh no you're not," protested Susan, grabbing his other arm to stop him. "Not in a hall full of guests watching you. I don't want to publicly humiliate the Prince, nor do I want him hurt."

"I wasn't going to hurt him," protested Peter, looking wounded at the accusation. Easily shaking out his sibling's hold, he reassured Susan, "Don't worry, Su. I'll handle this. Everything will be fine."

He slipped into the crowd before Susan or Edmund could stop him. Lucy and Edmund watched him go in curiosity, while Susan held her head in her hands.

"Oh, Aslan, I can't look," she groaned in apprehension. "Tell me when it's over."

"It's alright, Su," soothed Lucy, patting her arm in comfort. "Peter's just talking to Prince Arteavious and they're smiling."

Edmund snorted. "More gritted teeth than smiling," he muttered to himself, but not quietly enough.

"What?" demanded Susan, hands dropping away. "Why? What's Peter doing?"

Lucy was trying to stand on her tiptoes to see through the crowd. "Why's the Prince looking like that? Bother, I can't see. Ed, can you?"

"Uh-huh," nodded Edmund, his voice sounded resigned while his eyes were practically grinning. "Though I don't think you want to know."

"Why?" Lucy frowned.

When her brother didn't respond, Susan impatiently pulled on his shoulder. "Ed!"

"You're not going to like it," he warned. Susan gestured for him to hurry up. "Looks like Peter's just given him the Big Brother speech with the Prince's arm twisted behind his back to make sure he listens." At Susan's alarmed expression, he hastily added, "Don't worry, none of the guests seem to have noticed. Except Orieus, who is now escorting the Prince away."

Susan didn't know whether to be angry or relieved. Edmund looked at Susan with laughter in his eyes.

"Congratulations, Su. I think Pete's dissuaded another of your suitors for you," he told her. "Feel free to enjoy yourself."

Peter had made his way back to them. At the look Susan gave him, he shrugged his shoulders and gave her a sheepish smile.

"Problem solved," he told her. "Dance?"

Susan laughed and hugged him.

"Thank you, Peter," she responded, allowing him to pull her onto the dance floor.

Prince Arteavious was finally gone, and for that, Susan was quite happy to suffer bruised feet for the rest of the night.

The End.