Yay part two of the wedding! Whew is my brain tired! so here you have it, wedding part two. Focuses a lot more on the Telmarine royal family, especially Mariella ;) i worked very very hard on it and I hope you all like it ! Please R&R i really appreciate it and it makes my day. Literally. i really love hearing your guys' thought on what i have posted!
Mariella stood watching from beside her sisters as King Caspian twirled around his new wife, his eyes filled with love and affection and joy. Queen Susan rolled her eyes playfully and threw her head back and laughed as he pulled her back into his chest, his eyes dancing and laughing. The song slowed down just a bit and Queen Susan sighed happily and rested her head against his shoulder while he stroked her hair and whispered sweetly in her ear, his arm snaking around her waist and pulling her scandalously close to him. Mariella smiled softly at the newly wed couple. They were so...in love. She could see it in their eyes, their sweet touches and by the way they looked at each other. King Caspian-his eyes! Oh they just lit up when she walked in a room and she was amazed at the intensity and love she saw in his eyes while he danced with her. He just looked at her like she was the the only thing in the world. But it was a fierce sort of love she saw in his eyes; like she was his lifeline and without her he would die. She pitied the man to triffle with Caspian's wife.
And Queen Susan! Oh she was so tender,loving,sweet and gentle to him! Mariella could almost feel the tenderness from across the room whenever she stroked his hair or wrapped her hands around his neck. They were so sweet together. So very very much in love. She had never even met them but yet she still couldn't help but tear up at their wedding.
"Do you see that? The way he watches her? The way he touches her? He is very much in love with her." Kasim whispered quickly to Tristan, disgust written in his eyes. Mariella looked at Malicia and they rolled their eyes. He spoke of the new couple's love as if it was a crime! Tristan nodded curtly, his eyes fixed on Susan.
"She is very beautiful. I would very much like to bring her home to Telmar with us," he said suggestively to his father and Mariella's jaw dropped.
"For goodness sakes Tristan! She's thirteen hundred years older than you and she just got married! I may be mistaken but I do not think King Caspian is going to allow you to steal his wife away to Telmar!'' Malicia said in an awe struck voice and her father shot her a dirty look.
"Hold your tongue! Show some respect for your superiors. Someday your husband's family is going to tire of you smart mouth and that will be the end of you!" he snapped at Malicia and she recoiled slightly. Mariella put a protective arm around her oldest sister's shoulder, kissed the top of her head and shot Tristan a withering look. He paid no attention to her and again fixed his black eyes on the bride. She was so very pretty...
"If ever we need to cause our dear traitor Caspian X pain all we need do is threaten his wife," Kasim said thoughtfully to Tristan and all four sisters gasped.
"Father! they just married now leave them be! They did nothing to us so why can't you just leave them alone? Would it kill you to let someone be happy for once?" Mariella said reproachfully and immediately regretted it. His face flamed and he advanced on her so quickly she couldn't even move.
She had only seen her father so angry a handful of times and this was one of those times. He grabbed her arm and pulled her towards him until his gnarled, hard face was inches from her sweet beautiful one."I have told you once and I will not be saying it again. If you cannot hold your tongue there will be consequences. If there were not so many people around here you would be an excellent example. We will speak about this later. I want you out of my sight. Now." he said through his gritted teeth, his eyes black coals. Arabelle whimpered slightly in the back of her throat and Arianna clutched Malicia's skirts reflexively. The little princess thought she saw a flash of concern and maybe even guilt on Tristan's snub face but in a blink it was gone.
Mariella's large brown eyes dulled a bit and lost some of their caring sparkle. She dipped her head curtly. "I am sorry Father. I meant no disrespect towards you." she lied quietly through her teeth. Kasim's eyes softened just the slightest bit. "Go. Now. We will discuss your lack of respect later. In private" he said in a slightly less hostile voice. She glanced hopefully at her sisters and turned on her heel, walking calmly away from her family and onto the dance floor.
Peter was enamored. Infatuated. Captivated. He simply could not take his eyes off her, this Telmarine princess. He as well as Susan and Caspian had been quite surprised when they received a letter from Telmar stating that King Kasim would be attending the wedding, if it was alright with the bride and groom, along with his four daughters and son. Narnia hadn't heard anything important from Telmar since Caspian the Conqueror and they were all thoroughly shocked and a little apprehensive to meet the royal family of Telmar. According to the Professor, King Kasim had visited Miraz a very long time ago, before the death of Caspian's mother.
But now, as she wondered around the ballroom, looking quite shy and unsure of herself, Peter could not keep his eyes off of the eldest princess. She was so very very beautiful, with her dark, black wavy hair tumbling down past her ribcage in beautiful long, loose curls, perfectly tan skin, ruby red lips and dark, long eyelashes fringing her eyes. Oh and her eyes...! So very very beautiful. Her eyes, her big brown, beautiful innocent eyes, sparkling with warmth and...something else.
Her orange strapless dress fit her just right, hugging her curvy torso all the way down and flaring out slightly in frothy orange waves of silk that swirled around her legs when she walked. Red embroidery dotted the bodice and full skirts, seeming to leap off the fabric. Besides his sisters of course, Peter thought she was the most beautiful woman at this wedding, hands down. Something about her just RADIATED kindnesss.
He sincerely hoped he hadn't scared her off and that she hadn't noticed him staring continually at her. He simply couldn't help it. And it wasn't just her beauty that drew him to her. It was mostly the look in her eyes. The warmth and tenderness and intelligence he saw in her eyes are what held his attention most. And as she weaved her way through the dancing couples, smiling apologetically and asking them to beg her pardon, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of anger at the looks of the lords she was catching the attention of. The High King sighed dreamily. She was so thoughtful and considerate. And he didn't even know her name! It was something beautiful he was sure...
"Are you having fun my love?" Caspian whispered sweetly in her ear, twirling her out onto the dance floor and smoothly pulling her back into him, perhaps a tad too close to be appropriate for the amount of people present. She kissed him softly as a response and then laughed at the expression on his face. "Only the best day of my life!" she said, her voice bubbling with sincere pleasure.
He smiled cheekily at her. "And it will only get better as the night goes on," he whispered hotly in her ear and she shivered. Her husband spun her around and once more and they kissed just as the song ended. Everyone in the immediate vicinity burst into wild applause and the two monarchs smiled at each other and blushed. They hadn't sat out on dance tonight. Caspian refused to dance with anyone besides Lucy and his wife while the only men who dared cut in to dance with the Gentle Queen were her brothers (as they did it mostly to annoy Caspian). Caspian had already danced thrice with Lucy as Peter insisted on dancing twice with his lovely oldest sister and Edmund had to all but beat him with a stick to get him to let go of her so he could dance with her.
Caspian growled playfully in the back of his throat and Susan cocked her head. "Hurry, I think that lord is going to ask you to dance. Let's go get something to drink. Quickly darling, I know it's hard to run in heels but you don't realize what is at stake! He is quite good-looking," he said urgently, grabbing her elbow gently and beginning to tug her towards the drink table. She threw her head back once again and laughed so hard Caspian seriously feared she was going to choke to death. Several people turned to stare and smiled delightedly seeing their queens happiness and assumed it had something to do with her husband. Nearly a minute later and Susan was still laughing hysterically and Caspian was beginning to seriously worry about her.
"Love, breathe. It's alright. It would be horribly tragic if you suffocated from laughter on our wedding day. Really sweetheart it was not that funny," he said, patting her on the back to install the breath back in her body. She finally looked up at him, her eyes sparkling and her cheeks red.
"Oh darling, it wasn't that, it was the spectacular look on the lords face when he heard you," she said and then broke into another fit of uncontrollable giggles. He blushed horribly and then his face paled slightly. "Oh, well. oh..." he said sheepishly and Susan hugged him. "I love you," she said casually, still laughing and he hugged her back, kissing the tip of her nose like a little boy. "Did I ever told you how stunningly, radiantly, dazzlingly, incredibly beautiful you are. Every woman here is green with envy," he said and she blushed.
"I believe you have my dear husband. More than once." she replied playfully.
Caspian stopped walking abruptly and quite suddenly threw his arms around Susan and lifted her in the air, twirling her around. Susan was utterly surprised and laughed wholeheartedly, hitting Caspian on the shoulder haphazardly. He buried his face in her stomach as he marvelled at the feeling of his arms around her slim waist. Every muscle in his body burned with happiness. He was here, at his wedding to the woman that was so beyond anything he ever dreamd of that it physically hurt to think about it. They had been through so much heartache and pain together and here they were, twirling and laughing and dancing at their wedding.
She laughed and laughed until Caspian finally put her down only to sweep his arms around her and pull in her in for a kiss deeper than any he had ever shared with her. He let out a soft moan in the back of his throat and Susan gently placed a hand on his chest and pulled away, ducking her head in embarrassment before the thirty or so guests that had all been watching their little moment. Caspian, however, only had eyes for her and seemed not to care.
He twined his fingers through hers and they began walking towards the drinks but just before he could pour her some whine, a cold hard clipped voice reached his ears and he bristled reflexively.
"Ah Your Majesty, it has been so long!'' King Kasim of Telmar said with fake amicability. Caspian turned around slowly, painting a smile onto his face. ''King Kasim. I am so glad you could make it to our wedding. I have yet to meet your daughters and son but I am looking forward to it greatly." he said through his teeth. Something about this man irked him horribly...
"Yes, last time I saw you you could scarcely whipe the drool off your chin," he said, the smile falling off his face and replacing with a grimace. Caspian bristled and his fists balled but he felt Susan's gentle touch on his arm and he relaxed instantly. Kasim turned to Susan and grabbed her hand roughly and pressed his cold lips to the back of it, making Susan flinch and Caspian put an arm around her shoulder. He thought he saw her eyes flicker with fear but in a moment they were smiling again.
"I congratulate you from the bottom of my heart my fair lady. The stories do not do you justice, you are much lovelier in person," he said in a syrupy voice and Susan thanked him and dipped her head.
Kasim straightened himself and a cruel glint shown in his eyes. "I was very sorry to hear about your uncle's assassination. He was a great friend of mine," he said, dangling the subject of Miraz right in front of the younger man's face. Caspian tensed and took and aggressive step towards him but Susan discreetly grabbed his belt loop and pulled him back a bit, rubbing his arm reassuringly.
Caspian's vision went black at the edges and he felt and overwhelming wave of rage wash over him. His eyes flashed like fire and his whole body was trembling with rage. "He killed my father. He was nothing but a liar and a murderer and I hold him in disrespect second only to those who kill children," he spat through his clenched teeth.
(The royal family of Narnia had been thoroughly disgusted and appalled and horrified when the news of a new bill allowing children of traitors to be murdered in Telmar reached their ears.)
Kasim's long, hard, strangely pale face remained calm and serene and in fact he chuckled at the silly young king, making him even angrier. Once again he reached for Susan hand and sandwiched it between his two long, knobby ones. He could see the irritation flicker in Caspian's eyes and pressed his cold lips to her hand once again, leaving his lips there a moment too long. His face twisted in to a grin as he watched Caspian squirm and wriggle with what he assumed to be jealousy but what something else entirely...
"My dear lovely lady, I do not believe you have met my son yet, am I correct?" he said in a sickeningly fake voice and Susan shook her head politely.
"I am afraid I have not had the opportunity to meet any of your children. Or your wife, I am most anxious to meet her. She sounds lovely from the tales I have heard." she said sincerely, politely pulling her hand out of his. She could feel Caspian trembling with rage beside her.
"Indeed. My wife died eleven years ago, giving birth to my youngest daughter," he said his nose crinkling with what could only be described as anger and disdain.
Susan automatically patted his shoulder "Oh I am so sorry!please pardon me, I-I did not know. Oh I am sorry, really I am, how awful, you're poor children!" she said sympathetically and Kasim's face scrunched up in disgust.
"I thank you for your sympathy, quite an awful thing it was. Imagine, four daughters and only one son! 'Tis a crime truly, to have to marry off four daughters whilst only one worthy heir survives! My poor son, surrounded only by the company of silly females." he said bitterly shaking his head and both Narnian monarch's eyes widened in disbelief.
"I was referring to the death of their mother! It must have been quite hard for them!" Susan said through her clenched teeth. This man...horrible! Had he no heart at all?
"Oh, why yes, I suppose that was a trifle emotional for them." He said the word daughter like most say a curse word.
Susan bit the inside of her cheek to keep from screaming at the womanizing idiot.
"Anyway, my son, Prince Tristan, is quite looking forward to meeting you my dear. You see, in his tender years he hath never seen a woman whose hair was not jet black and whose skin was not browned by the sun. He, like every man in this room, has heard many tales of your great beauty and is quite interested and...curious, if you will'' he said with a cunning, suggestive smile and Susan's stomach flipped a bit.
"He declares it would be the greatest pleasure of his life to dance with such a great beauty as yourself. He is around your age if I am correct, 17?" he said with a toothy smirk and Susan nodded dumbly.
"Excellent, now if you would excuse us I would like to speak with your husband about country matters. Allies, borders, military trades, nothing that would interest you I am sure," he said, his scarred, sharp gnarled face twisting into a fake smile, (which looked nearly identical to a normal person's grimace). Both monarch's bristled and Caspian growled in the back of his throat. Susan raised an eyebrow.
"Yes, because I only ruled this country smoothly for fifteen years with my siblings. Obviously country matters do not interest me at all!" she said frigidly, bowing icily to Kasim and then walking briskly away to find the princesses of Telmar. She very much wanted to meet them but had no desire whatsoever of meeting Prince Tristan. She thought she spotted the eldest princess, Mariella she believed it was, and just started to walk towards her when her brother stood up from the table quite gracelessly and started walking towards her with a nervous smile, fidgeting with his clothes. She grinned to herself as he bowed clumsily at her feet and offered her his hand. She laughed and Peter smiled, leading her out onto the dance floor just as a waltz started up. Oh Peter...
"So um, Princess...?"
"Mariella."
"Mariella," Peter repeated slowly, mulling over the beautiful sounds in his mouth.
"That just may be the most beauiful name I have ever heard," he whispered, enchanted by the beautiful sound in his mouth.
The beautiful Princess smiled and ducked her head in a blush. "Well I don't know about that," she mumbled and Peter laghed, twirling her out across the dance floor and then pulled her back in smoothly, enjoying immensely the way her dress fluttered about her and swished across her legs most attractively.
"You know, I have always wanted to go to Narnia and now that I have, I don't think I ever want to leave!" she said brightly and Peter smiled at her and chuckled.
"Oh and why is that? What about Telmar?" he said, clearly amused and Mariella grimaced.
"Ugh, Telmar. Don't get me wrong, I am somewhat...attached to Telmar; it is where I grew up, where my mother grew up, where my friends are but its just-argh!" she said frustrated, throwing her hands up exasperatedly and Peter raised an eyebrow at her unladylike grunt of anger. Her eyes filled with passion and purpose and soon she was rambling and speaking with her hands and shaking her head so vehemently Peter almost had to stop dancing.
"It's just that-argh I can't even explain it! It's like everyone is out to get everyone all the time and everyone is at eachothers throats all the time! And every one is so full of treachery and insincerity they can't even see clearly! It's like, like no one can trust anyone ever and everyone is always pretending to be something they're not and trying to worm their way into the government. Oh and the laws! Totally barbariac! Ridiculous!" she lowered her voice slightly and leaned towards Peter until her lips were a few inches from his ear, making Peter absolutely crazy. How he wanted to kiss her...
''There is a law there that the children of thiefs and those convicted of treason are subject to murder," she whispered in his ear, tears in her eyes. Peter shook his head disbelievingly. "Thats-Thats- thats -awful. You cannot punish a child for a crime a parent commited." he said. How barbaric!
Mariella nodded fervently. "I know! I have tried everything to get my father to repeal that horrible law but he will not budge," she said with a lost look in her eyes. Peter furrowed his brow.
"Your father does not listen to your imput on the subject? You are the eldest princess, surely you have a say in something?"
She snorted, "You don't know my father." she said sadly and Peter reached out and stroked her cheek without thinking. Her skin was so soft and so looked up, surprised but then a sweet, lovely smile crept across her face. Peter blushed furiously as jerked his hand back, mortified by his own boldness. "um, sorry," he said uncomfortably and Mariella blushed and looked down.
"Uh, its quite alright.' she mumbled awkwardly right as the song ended. Peter bowed and kissed the back of her hand, staring in her eyes the whole time, his lips lingering perhaps a moment longer than necessary. She was so amazing...
"Where is your family staying the night?" he asked curiously and Mariella's heart gave a little flutter. He was so amazing...so sweet and considerate and handome and sweet and sweet and considerate...and sweet.
"Um, well I am not exactly sure...my father is not one for thinking things through exactly," she said sheepishly and Peter's eyes lit up. "
"Oh! Well then by all means stay here! We have plently of rooms for you sisters and brother and your father! Please, it would be a great honor for you to stay in our home, I insist," he said brightly. Mariella smiled radiantly at him.
"Why that is very kind of you! I shall speak to my father immediately! Are you sure you have enough room? I assure you I would be most content to sleep on a couch in one of my sisters rooms if need be." she said courteously. Peter's face looked very glum all the sudden.
"No, I will not have that. You can take Susan's bedroom, after all she will not be sleeping in there from now on..." he groaned and Mariella blushed very deeply and Peter clapped a hand to his mouth, horrified.
"I beg your pardon that was very inappropriate I-" she cut him off and put a finger over his lips. His heart almost stopped. She was touching his lips.
"I will speak to my father about it. That is a very kind offer. Now if you will excuse me, my sister needs me," she said with a giggle, gesturing to a young girl no more than fifteen who looked like she was trying to gather up the courage to ask Edmund to dance. Acting on impulse, she leaned in and kissed Peter's cheek and then reared her head back almost immediately, her face bright red. Peter felt like he might faint. "Well, bye!'' she said like an idiot and scurried off, mortified.
Peter stood in the middle of the dance floor, grinning like a fool, his cheek burning from where her soft lips had brushed across his cheek. She was amazing...
"It is a horrible turn of fate that we had yet to meet until your wedding day. Otherwise I am sure this wedding would have turned out quite differently. Perhaps with a different groom, if I may be so bold," Tristan said arrogantly with a grin as he tightened his grip on her waist.
Susan raised an eyebrow and moved his hand up to the small of her back. "I think you have already excersiced your right to be bold my Prince," she said, struggling to be diplomatic and firm but also polite as not to anger King Kasim. He laughed
"Forgive me my lovely queen.I have never seen someone so beautiful in my life. I am not normally so charming. Wait, yes actually, I am." he said arrogantly and then laughed, shaking his hair and shooting her a smile she assumed was supposed to make her swoon but made her want to vomit instead. She had never met anyone so cocky in her life and THAT was saying something.
"Are you always so...sure of yourself?" she said as politely as she could manage. She really couldn't stand this man. He was so full of himself and cocky and arrogant and proud and...creepy!
He totally ignored her and was staring quite blatantly at the scar on her collarbone disappearing into the sweetheart top of her dress. "There is such a shortage of perfect breasts in this world, it is a shame someone should have the nerve to damage yours," he said smoothly, tracing his fingers along the dark scar on her collarbone and trailing of right before the bare hint of cleavage peeking out from her dress. Susan eyes widened and her jaw dropped. She grabbed his hand in a vice like gripp and stepped away from him, disgusted and angry.
"How dare you! I do not know how it is in Telmar but here it is neither tolerated, nor..appropriate for a young man to flirt so openly with a woman on her wedding day!" she almost said hotly, stalking hurriedly away from the arrogant prince, fuming and seething. That vulgar little pig! Thank goodness Caspian hadn't heard his comment or they would be at war by tomarrow...
"Hello love, did you enjoy your dance?" Caspian said softly embracing Susan and rubbing soft circles on her back. Susan hugged him back, sighing happily into his shirt and looked up into his gorgeous brown eyes and grimaced. "Ugh, I do not care for Prince Tristan at all dear. He is so...arrogant" she said, making a face like a little girl who doesn't want to eat her vegetables.
Caspian laughed and leaned in to kiss her when a very drunk Peter walked up and threw an arm around both of them.
"Hey guys how's the party! Lots of pretty girls her huh...'specially those Telmarine daughters eh?" he slurred, his head lolling onto Susan's shoulder. "You look so pretty tonight sissy...white's a good color on you, veeeeeery pretty," he said drunkenly and Susan giggled, ruffling his golden hair.
"Thank you Pete, you look very pretty too," she said and Peter blushed and batted at her earing like a cat. "Well I don't know about that but thanks sissy," he said slurred and Caspian clapped him on the back with a laugh. Drunk Peter was much less uptight than sober Peter.
"Dang it, hurry up Lucy we're missing drunk Peter! You can eat later this is drunk Peter we are talking about Lu!" Edmund called over his shoulder, running up to his sister and her new husband, panting.
"Whew, I have been looking all over for him!" he looked at Susan and Caspian with a cheeky grin and Susan cringed internally. Here came the wedding night jokes...
"Wow, its Mid-night already and you two are still hanging out here instead of in Caspian's room! I'm surprised! Trumpkin and I had a bet that you two would turn in as soon as you said I do. I thought for sure you two would be skulking up to Caspian's room as soon as Peter wasn't looking. He's been downing red whine and brandy all night, trying to forget about it,'' he said with a wicked grin. Susan blushed.
"Oh, and by the way Caspian, I'll have you know I want a nephew first. I would have absolutely nothing in common with a little niece; I could barely figure out how to play with Lucy. So, if you have a daughter with my sister first, I will be forced to have you removed from our family," he said as seriously as he could manage but the expression on Caspian's face was priceless. Susan's bare shoulders were red and Caspian had started choking. It's bit early to thinking about that wasn't it?
Peter's head shot off of Susan's shoulder.
"No way in hell is there going to be any of THAT until there is a ring on that finger!" Peter slurred quite drunkenly, picking up Susan's hand and his eyes bugged out of his head when he spotted the ring on her finger. He was so drunk he had completely forgotten that he was actually at his sisters wedding.
"Um Peter. She's already married." Edmund said with a smirk, amusement at his brother's pain and his sister's embarassment shining in his dark brown eyes.
Peter looked at his sister and his face crumbled. "Oh my sweet sister! Why, why are you doing this to me sissy! My sister all grown up and moving into a different bedroom!" he wailed quite loudly as he was quite tipsy. He grabbed the whine right out of Edmund's hand and drank deeply from the cup, leaving a red whine mustache on his lip. "I don't deserve to be consious right now..." he slurred and with that he passed out and slid to the floor quite gracelessly, falling under one of the tables.
Caspian and Edmund were cracking up with hysterical laughter, pointing and jeering mockingly at the 'middle brother'. Susan smacked Caspian's shoulder.
"You're horrible,'' she said through her smile, bending down and helping her brother to his feet. "Edmund I think he has had quite enough now go take him upstairs to bed. He will be complaining enough from his horrible hangover and I don't need him complaining about sleeping on the floor."" she passed Peter off to Edmund who kissed her cheek to her surprise. "Considering you two will probably be sneeking off to your new bedroom any moment, I'll say my goodbyes now. Goodbye!"
"Are you tired yet?"Caspian whispered in Susan's ear at around twelve thirty when all the guests were clearing out. "No but I do want to retire," she said with a smile and Caspian grinned at her cheekily. "We simply cannot annouce it, we would never make it out alive there would so much commotion. Come on, out this way," he said, grabbing her hand and leading her out a small servants door she didn't even know was there, perhaps because of the strategically placed plant in front of it. Her heart was pounding in her chest as they finally came to the large oak door leading to Caspian's chambers. He stopped and turned to her, cupping the side of her face and resting his forehead against hers, staring tenderly into her eyes.
"We do not have to my love. I know what happened to you is still very very fresh in your mind and I wouldn't dream of pushing you into anything before you were ready," he whispered, his concern for her touching her heart. She stretched out on her tip toes and slammed her lips into his, pouring out every ounce of love and passion in her body into it.
"I love you.''
"I love you."