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Disclaimer: I don't own the song. It belongs to Jon McLaughlin.
Chapter 8
"Hey, Lu! I need to talk to you!"
Lucy looked up from her book as Edmund walked in through the door, and she gave him a wary look, noticing the smirk on his face and the mischievous glint in his eye. Sitting up in her chair, she motioned for him to sit beside her. "Why do you look like you're planning something?" she asked suspiciously.
The grin on his face grew as he sat down and he replied, "Because I am."
Lucy groaned, and gave her brother a pleading look. "Edmund! Please don't say you're going to try and pull another stunt this year. Remember last year's ball, when you put bubbles in the fountain?"
Edmund chuckled fondly at the memory but immediately settled down when his sister gave him a stern look. "I'm not putting bubbles in the fountain, or trying to pull any pranks." 'Not this year, at least,' he silently added.
"Then what are you planning?" asked Lucy, not quite believing her brother's words.
"Well...let's say, I know something you don't know," he said, teasingly.
Lucy sighed and shook her head. Not this game. "Edmund, just tell me whatever it is you're planning and let me continue on with my book."
The older boy snorted and answered. "You won't want to read that book when I'm done telling you what I have to say."
"Really?" asked Lucy, rolling her eyes. "All right then, get on with it. Tell me."
Glancing around the room to make sure no one was around, Edmund grinned and said, "Peter was adopted." He snickered, thinking of the many reactions his sister could have to such shocking news, but her response was not what he had expected.
"That's it? That's all you wanted to tell me?" she asked, sounding slightly annoyed.
"What do you mean that's it? Do I need to repeat myself? Peter was adopted! It's big news, Lucy!"
The young queen shook her head and laughed. "Oh, I'm sorry to disappoint you, Ed, but…I already knew."
"What?"
"Yeah, and so does Susan."
"But…but…you mean, I'm the last one to know!?" He let out an offended huff, and gave his sister an indignant look. "Well okay then, I still know something that you don't know."
"Well?" said Lucy, expectantly.
This time, the grin on his face threatened to split his face in two; it was that wide. "Peter is in love with Susan!"
Lucy squealed in delight as she grabbed a hold of Edmund's hands. "Are you serious, Edmund? Is what you say really true?"
The king gave his sister a confused look, bewildered by her excited outburst. "Yes, Peter told me only a few minutes ago. Why are you so happy?"
She clapped her hands over her mouth, trying to silence the joyful cry that threatened to rip its way out from her mouth. She burst into a fit of giggles, hands still clamped tightly over her lips. Finally, unable to keep it all in, she threw her head back in mirth, laughing and crying all at once. "Oh, Aslan! This…this is just too much!" she exclaimed.
Edmund stared at his sister, looking at her like she had grown an extra head. "You've gone nuts," he muttered. "Absolutely psycho."
"No, no, Edmund!" shouted Lucy, calming down some. "You don't understand!"
"Well, obviously!" he retorted, clearly confused by her odd behavior.
"Oh, this is such wonderful news! Thank you for telling me!" she said, kissing his cheek.
Edmund crinkled his nose in disgust and wiped his cheek where she had kissed him. "You're welcome…but care to tell me why you're acting like raving lunatic?"
Lucy let out another laugh and replied, "Because Susan is in love with Peter!"
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"C'mon Peter, the ball is about to start," said Susan, taking his arm and leading him to the ball room. At the room's entrance, they stopped and stood side by side, their arms interlocked as they waited to be introduced. In front of them stood Edmund and Lucy, identical grins on both their faces.
The younger two gave their older siblings thumbs up before turning around, snickering as they did so. Susan leaned over and whispered in Peter's ear, "I think they did something."
Peter shivered as he felt her hot breathe against his ear, and nodded dumbly in return. "Y-yeah…we should keep an eye on them tonight," he answered.
Loud trumpets were heard, and from inside the room, they could hear Orion begin their introductions. First went Edmund and Lucy, who were greeted with much applause, and then Susan and Peter, who smiled and waved as they greeted the guests. Nobles and royalty from the surrounding nations had been invited, and the room was filled with women dressed in fancy gowns and men in their finest tunics.
"Oh, look! Food!" said Peter as they finished their greetings, immediately detaching himself from Susan and briskly walking away. He wanted to stay as far away from Susan as physically possible tonight, unsure of whether he'd be able to control himself or not.
Susan sadly watched him go and could not help but feel a bit rejected at his hasty retreat. She let out a sigh; she had done everything in her power to show him how she felt, but his reactions were so strange that she didn't know what to think. Sometimes, it seemed like he felt the same, other times, not so much. A young prince from some far off nation (she did not bother to listen to details, her mind still fixated on Peter) approached her and asked to dance with her and she kindly accepted, hoping that it would take her mind off of the High King.
From one of the many tables set out, Peter clenched his fists in anger as he saw Susan walk onto the dance floor, escorted by some prince or noble. He didn't care who it was; all that mattered was that she was dancing with a man…a man that was not him. He stood up, prepared to walk over there and beat the living daylights out of the man, but his conscious got in the way and he sat back down.
"Having fun, Peter?" asked Edmund, taking the seat next to him.
"I'm having the time of my life," Peter answered sarcastically, stabbing his fork into a piece of meat and shoving it angrily into his mouth.
"I can see that," replied his brother, calmly cutting his steak into bite sized pieces. "Pass the salt, please."
Grabbing the salt, Peter slammed it in front of his brother before returning to his food, trying his hardest not to watch Susan and her dance partner. "Don't laugh," he said, as he heard Edmund snicker.
"I'm sorry," the younger king replied, taking a sip from his goblet. "I just think it's funny that less than an hour has gone by since the ball started, and you're already a jealous mess."
"Jealous? Jealous of who?" asked Peter harshly, his hand tightening around his wine glass as he watched Susan laugh at something the man said.
"Whoever Susan is dancing with," Edmund answered, taking a bite of his meat. "Mmm…Freesia and the kitchen staff really outdid themselves this time. Have you tried the roast beef? Here, have some."
Peter knocked away Edmund's fork, which held out a piece of meat for him to try. It went sailing through the air, landing on some poor faun, who picked it up and stared at it in confusion, no doubt wondering if it was raining roast beef.
"I don't want roast beef," stated an annoyed Peter.
"That was a waste of food!" cried Edmund, returning to his plate. "You shouldn't waste, Peter!"
"Oh, don't patronize me!"
"Calm down, Peter!" said Lucy, placing a gentle hand on her brother's shoulder as she took the seat on the other side of him. "You're scaring some of the guests. Now, tell me, what's wrong."
"Nothing is wrong," he said through clenched teeth.
"Oh, and I suppose that poor steak just decided to stab itself a million times by itself," she replied, and Peter looked down at his food, which was now covered in tiny holes from his fork. "If it's about Susan, Peter—"
"Why do you assume that it's about Susan?"
"Well, you're in love with her, so its only natural if—"
"You told her!" growled Peter, turning to Edmund, his face red with anger. "Are you dumb, or did you deliberately go against my wishes and tell her?" He threw down his fork and buried his head in between his hands, letting out a loud, frustrated cry.
Edmund opened his mouth to reply, but closed it a second later, not sure quite how to speak with his brother. He didn't think he'd be this angry. "Well…I might have," he said, looking away shyly.
Peter suddenly stood up, his fists clenched tightly at his sides. "Did you just tell Lucy? Who else did you tell? Did you tell Susan too!?" he asked, angrily.
"Tell me what?"
Peter whirled around, eyes wide in shock as he came face to face with object of his heart's torment and desire. "Susan!" he cried in surprise. "For the love of Aslan, where you all keep coming from? First Edmund, then Lucy, and now you? I thought you were dancing!"
"I was, but I noticed all the commotion and came over to see what was wrong," she answered. "Now, what did Edmund tell me?"
"He told you nothing! Right, Edmund?" Peter replied, glaring at the younger king.
"Right," he said, avoiding all eye contact.
"Good. I'm going for a walk, goodbye." And he stiffly walked off, leaving Edmund and Lucy feeling rather guilty, and Susan with a deep sense of confusion. He quickly disappeared into the crowd, and Susan turned to her younger brother and sister in annoyance.
"What have you done?" she asked, looking straight at Edmund.
"Why do you immediately assume that it's my fault?" he pouted, crossing his arms defensively.
"Because it usually is! Now tell me, what happened? What did you do to make Peter so angry?"
"I didn't do anything! You're the reason why he's so irritated!" Edmund shouted, though he immediately regretted saying it. "I mean, I might've egged him on, and said some things I wasn't supposed…"
"Wait, just a minute! What do you mean I'm the reason why he's angry?" asked Susan.
"Nothing, nothing at all! Just a slip of the tongue!" But Susan did not look so convinced by his words as she placed her hands on her hips, tapping her foot impatiently as she glared down at him.
"Well?" she asked, expectantly.
Edmund suddenly stood up and peered into the crowd. "Oh, I think I see someone calling me!"
"I don't see any—"
"Right over there!" he said pointing at some random place in the mass of people. Waving at the non existent person, he quickly excused himself and ran off, disappearing from view in seconds.
Susan sighed and turned to her younger sister, who had been quiet since her arrival. "Lucy, are you going to tell me what's going on or am I going to have to force the information out of you?"
The younger queen gulped nervously, scanning the room for an escape route. Deciding to take a leaf from Edmund's book, she said, "Oh, look! It's Mr. Tumnus! I'm going to say hello!" She too excused herself from the table and left before Susan could stop her.
Fighting her way through the swarm of party-goers, Lucy soon found her brother hiding behind a stone pillar. "I think we should get on with the plan before things get any worse," she said, and Edmund nodded his agreement. "I'll inform the musicians and you get Peter back in the room."
"Why do I have to get Peter?" whined Edmund. "He hates me right now! Can't I talk to the band and you find Peter?"
"Just do it!" she insisted.
"Fine, but if I die its all your fault!" With that said, he marched off to find his brother.
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Peter stood alone in the courtyard, in the same exact spot he and Susan had accidentally kissed. The music blared loudly from inside the castle, and he could hear the guests happily chat away, without a care in the world. He sighed heavily, fingers on his lips as he remembered the kiss; short but sweet.
"There you are, Peter!"
The High King did not turn around, but held up a hand, to let Edmund know that he had heard him. He sighed once more, shoving his hands into his pockets as he looked up, staring at the moon and stars. "Y'know, I envy them," he said quietly.
"What? Envy who?" asked his brother, standing but a few feet behind them.
"The guests, the nobles, the moon, the stars, everybody and everything. I envy even you."
"Me? Why do you envy me?"
"Because you're not in love with your sister, Ed!"
"Its okay, Peter—" began Edmund, but he was instantly cut off.
"No, it's not okay, Edmund!" cried Peter, kicking the ground. "I don't want to love her! I don't! I'm absolutely disgusted with myself; you don't even know how…how dirty I feel when I wake up, because the first thing that pops into my mind is Susan! I don't want to feel this way, but I just can't help it! She's beautiful, Edmund; in mind, body, and soul!"
He paused, running a shaky hand through his golden locks. "She makes me want to be a better person! I think of her and I strive to be all that I can be, just so that I can be even the tiniest bit worthy of her! But I know that I never will be, that she will never feel the same way, and…and it hurts! Edmund, it hurts so badly! Right here!" He held his hand over his heart, the cloth of his tunic clenched tightly in his grasp. "It hurts, right here!"
Edmund watched as his brother fell to his knees, quietly sobbing over a love he thought could never be. His heart went out to Peter, sympathizing with him and his situation, and the only thing that kept him from blurting out Susan's secret was the fact that it was not his secret to tell. He could not—would not—deny Susan the right to confess her love for Peter.
That of course, did not mean he could not try and force the confession out of her. And with that thought in mind, he urged his brother to return to the party. Standing beside him, he gently held his arm and pulled him to his feet. "C'mon, Peter, let's get inside. All hope is not yet lost."
Peter gave his brother a miserable look but got up nonetheless, drying his face with the sleeve of his tunic. "Sorry about that," he muttered, apologetically.
"It's okay," replied Edmund, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Now c'mon, what kind of party is it without its host?" He smiled as Peter let out a low chuckle and together, they made their way back into the castle.
Upon entering, Edmund immediately spotted Lucy by the band and nodded at her. She nodded in return, and quickly spoke to the conductor, who looked off to the side and motioned to a group of assistants. A minute or two later, a man came on stage and Orion quickly called everyone's attention.
"Excuse me! We'll now be having the King and Queen's waltz, between High King Peter and Queen Susan. Please, make room for them! Your Highnesses, if you'll come to the center of the dance floor, we may begin."
Peter looked down at Edmund, who sheepishly grinned back. "Y-you planned this!"
"Guilty as charged," said Lucy, as she came up beside them.
"Lucy! You too? But why?"
"You obviously weren't going to do anything about it," said Edmund, grinning. "Now, go. Susan is waiting for you."
Peter looked towards the dance floor, where Susan was, indeed, waiting for him. She smiled shyly at him, and he gulped nervously. Butterflies formed in his stomach, and he looked to his younger siblings, seeking guidance. The motioned for him to go, and he took a few tentative steps forward. In the background, the band started to play, and the vocalist began his song.
You're in my arms
And all the world is calm
The music playing on for only two
So close together
And when I'm with you
So close to feeling alive
As he approached, she held her hand out for him, which he took, marveling at how perfectly her small, delicate hand fit flawlessly in his larger one, the smooth feeling of her flesh contrasting greatly with the rough, calloused flesh of his own, hardened by years of fighting. Placing one hand on her waist, she put her other hand on his shoulder, both now positioned properly. With a nod to each other, they both began to dance.
As life goes by
Romantic dreams must die
So I bid mine goodbye and never knew
So close was waiting, waiting here with you
And now forever I know
All that I wanted to hold you
So close
"Edmund and Lucy must've planned this," whispered Susan, as she and Peter waltzed around the dance floor.
"Yeah, they did," he answered, never taking his eyes off of her.
"Why, though?"
"I…I don't know," he lied. "Forget it; there's nothing we can do about it now. Just…dance with me."
Susan nodded, smiling as he twirled her in his arms, loving the feeling of being so close to him. Soon, other couples joined in the dance, and they were no longer the only ones on the dance floor, though they were still at the very center of it. But in their hearts, it was just them two, dancing together, both wishing for something more, but too afraid to admit it.
So close to reaching that famous happy end
Almost believing this was not pretend
Now you're beside me and look how far we've come
So far we are so close
Peter closed his eyes, and inhaled deeply, drinking this moment in, hoping that it would last forever. Susan had similar thoughts, not wanting their dance to end, to forever be in his arms as they danced as one to the sound of music.
From the side lines, Edmund and Lucy watched the two dance, smiles plastered on their faces. Deciding that he was tired of watching, Edmund bowed to Lucy and held out his hand for her. "May I have this dance?" he asked.
Lucy giggled and took the offered hand. "You may," she said, as he led them to the dance floor.
"Of course, this doesn't mean I'm in love with you," he said, as they too danced. "You and I, we're strictly brother and sister. Got it?"
"I wouldn't have it any other way," she replied, kissing his cheek.
How could I face the faceless days
If I should lose you now?
We're so close
To reaching that famous happy end
Almost believing this was not pretend
Let's go on dreaming for we know we are
"Susan?" asked Peter, as she rested her head upon his shoulder.
"Yes?"
"I…I have something I want to say," he said, hesitantly.
So close
Susan lifted her head from his shoulder and looked him straight in the eyes. "Yes, what is it?" she asked.
He opened his mouth to speak, but no words would come out.
So close
"Peter? What is it?" she asked again.
He tried to tell her how he felt, but words would not come. As he stared into her eyes, he felt himself compelled to lean down, to once again feel those lips against his own. But just as he was about to kiss her, a stray thought ran through his mind. 'She's your sister!' his mind screamed. Sighing, he closed his eyes and shook his head.
"It's nothing," he said. Kissing her forehead, he bowed and left the room.
And still so far