Chapter 2: Anticipation
We had woken up early that morning and Princess Aria was absent from breakfast. "Is Princess Aria not having breakfast this morning?" I questioned him and he shook his head. "No, she prefers to get in a little quite time before the tournament starts. The opening can be quite stressful" King Lune commented and the twin Princes quickly nodded their heads in agreement. "What is so stressful about it?" I questioned him, "oh you'll see" he smiled as we made our way down to the tournament arena. "Queen Susan you may stand with the other archers" King Lune gestured to a group of girls and even some males were out there as well as they all talked admittedly.
"Oh yes, thank you King Lune" She smiled before quickly giving all of us a hug and making her way over to them. After we all sat down a loud gong sounded as the crowd fell silent taking their seats. Two figures made their way to the middle of the arena facing us. Princess Aria stood on the right while an older male stood on the left. He bowed while she curtsied and King Lune gestured with his hand to continue. The turned their backs towards each other and took twenty five steps each. Princess Aria kept her back facing the male while he turned to face her. He strung an arrow before turning towards a younger boy that stood next to him. With a torch he lit the tip of the arrow and it became engulfed in flame.
My eyes widened as the man took aim. Straight for Princess Aria's back. Her left hand held her bow tightly while her right hand was open and tensed, her weight on the balls of her feet as her ears strained to listen. The crowd took a deep breath, me included, as the man shot his arrow. It flew to her back as I moved to the edge of my chair. In a split second she had turned, caught the arrow, restrung it and shot it back over the head of the opposite male. It flew straight through a large ring as it caught on fire.
She smiled in satisfaction as she watched the large ring burn. The male archer approached her and congratulated her. "Who is that man?" I questioned King Lune, "her archery teacher. He's been teacher since she was four" King Lune answered. "And how long has she been able to do that?" Edmund questioned, "for the past four years. It took her a little bit to get the hang of it, but once she did she's been excellent at it ever since" King Lune beamed, pride domination his face and posture.
Soon the targets were set up and five archers at a time took their shots. It continued into the afternoon, before it was narrowed down to Susan, Princess Aria and Lord Angler's son. With another three targets it was just Susan and Princess Aria and they were not slowing down. The targets were already on the other side of the stadium and I was very thankful that I was not an archer.
The two girls seemed to be enjoying it as well, enjoying hearing the crowd rout for their own. It got to the point that it was decided that one shot would determine the winner. Susan as the underdog got to go first, it was announced that she nailed the target. She smiled over at us and we cheered loudly for her. Princess Aria strung her arrow and took aim at the same target. In a deep breath she let the arrow go as it soared across the field. The men checked the target and loudly announced that Princess Aria had split Susan's arrow right down the middle thus ensuring her win as the Archland crowd went crazy.
I smiled at seeing Princess Aria hug Queen Susan tightly as they congratulated each other as they made their way off the field, letting the children have their own turn with the arrows and targets. There wasn't a tournament for them, but the teachers did enjoy letting them have a go at it. Even Cor and Corin were participating. They had even talked Lucy into joining them. Susan and Princess Aria made their way over to us. King Lune stood up and hugged his daughter tightly kissing her cheeks in congratulations. "Oh father, it wasn't that impressive! Besides Queen Susan here is absolutely amazing with a bow! I wouldn't be surprised if she won next year!" Princess Aria complimented. "Oh Princess I doubt that, though you must tell me how you learned to turn around like that to catch the arrow and reshoot it!" Susan smiled at her. She simply smiled, "I'd love to your majesty!" She smiled, happily.
"Princess" Prince Rabadash stepped forwards kissing the top of Princess Aria's hand. "Congratulations your majesty may I have the honor of the first dance tonight in celebration?" He questioned her, she looked like a startled deer. "She would love to Prince Rabadash but she's already promised the first dance to High King Peter here" King Lune commented. Prince Rabadash looked over at him questioningly while Princess Aria looked completely relieved at her father's words before she looked at me. "Isn't that right High King?" King Lune questioned me, I nodded my head quickly. "Yes of course King Lune. I've been looking quite forward to it" I smiled winking at her. That same red tint colored her cheeks before she got herself under control.
"Well how…convient." Prince Rabadash commented before moving to Susan but Edmund quickly stepped in as they went to help Lucy. "Peter!" "Aria!" Corin and Lucy shouted over to us. We looked and they waved us over excitedly. We both excused ourselves and headed towards her. I offered her my arm and she happily took it. "I'm sorry about my father High King Peter, he's quite defensive around Prince Rabadash" Princess Aria apologized. I smiled at her. "It's quite all right Princess, I'm looking forward to tonight's dance especially if you're as good at dancing as you are with archery" I complimented her. She smiled back. "I assure you I am one of the best dancers here." She winked, "yes you have to be with all the male suitors around" Cor snickered. Princess Aria gave him a dark look.
"Oh exactly how many suitors?" I questioned Prince Cor. "See all those guys over there King Peter?" Corin questioned gesturing to a rather large group of lord sons. I nodded, "them" Cor chuckled. "Boys!" Princess Aria scolded. "Well that is one impressive fan club you have they're Princess" I chuckled. She rolled her eyes. "Please I'd happily give all of them up" she muttered. "Then why don't you?" I questioned her, "do you have a fan club High King? I'm sure you do" she questioned and I nodded. "Have you tried to get rid of them yet?" She questioned and I shook my head. I was rather enjoying the attention.
"Try it and let me know how that goes for you" she chuckled before correcting Lucy's stance as she took aim at her target. My arm suddenly feeling cold as she let it go to help Lucy. "Well then why don't you pick a suitor then?" I challenged her, that would surely get rid of her fan club. She laughed, "me chose? Oh High King my father will make that choice for me, besides I can't really find myself to care as long as he doesn't chose Prince Rabadash!" She laughed, "but after what you said last night about how a proper man should act how can you not care who your suitor will be?" I questioned her.
She sighed before her dark brown eyes met mine. "It's the duty of being a Princess. Marrying and living in a foreign land to ensure peace between countries. A fate every Princess can't escape." She said softly. "And you would endure that? A loveless marriage just because your father told you too?" I questioned her. She laughed shaking her head. "No, not because my father told me too" she answered. "Because I love my country. I love my little brothers and if it ensures our countries survival and peace throughout our land then it's the least I can do High King." She concluded before going back to helping Lucy.
I couldn't help but grin at her answer. She would make a fine queen to whatever country had the opportunity to have her. Either way, I couldn't wait to spend some more alone time with her during our dance tonight. She was quite different from the fan club ladies that I had dealt with. Yes she was a Princess, but a Princess that wasn't afraid to speak her mind and loved her country openly and would clearly sacrifice anything to protect that country and her younger brothers. A woman definitely worth getting to know better.