Chapter 3: Steady Feet
I had happily pulled on my soft blue hues dress on, adjusting my crown I made my way to the ballroom. Father smiled at spotting me, stepping forwards he kissed my cheek softly. "A certain High King has been looking for you" Father informed me. I raised an eyebrow. "And why do I have the feeling that you've planned this father?" I questioned him. He just smiled at me. "Is it wrong that a father wishes to see his daughter happy?" He questioned, "And what makes you think this High King makes me happy?" I questioned him. "The way your face lit up at my mentioning of him" he replied.
I frowned, "I don't know what you're talking about father" I told him. "So then you don't care that the High King in question is heading this way?" He questioned me. My eyes widened as I turned around just as High King Peter made it to me. He bowed as I curtsied. "You're quite beautiful tonight Princess Aria, not that you're always pretty I mean…" King Peter stuttered. I smiled at him, "well thank you High King Peter, you're rather pretty yourself tonight" I smiled at him. His cheeks flushed pink slightly, "well I'll leave you two to your awkward hellos" Father smiled before leaving.
High King Peter chuckled as he turned back to me. "Now if I remember correctly we were supposed to do something tonight…?" He questioned, I chuckled. "I know I have the same feeling but I just can't seem to remember what it is" I played along. He held out his hand, "well I guess we'll just have to dance until we figure it out. Though I warn you my memory has been off tonight, it might take a while to remember." He winked. "Oh we both must be suffering from the same memory problem then!" I agreed taking his offered hand and he quickly led me onto the dance floor.
Laughing as we spun around the dance floor, he easily held my waist as he lifted me into the air for the lifts as we spun. "Now a man that actually enjoys dancing, can that even be true?" I questioned him playfully. He chuckled, "just slightly, besides I heard all the men talking, I knew if I didn't dance with you early I wouldn't be able to all night!" He chuckled, "oh High King I could easily say the same thing for you!" I told him as we danced through a second song.
"Oh so you've been wanting to dance with me as well?" He questioned raising a playful eyebrow, "I wouldn't have agreed to dance with you if I didn't" I told him as my palm rested against his as we stepped around each other before switching hands. "For someone that has recently been crowned you seem to be doing quite well with the dancing" I commented, the Ice Witch's reign only ended four or five years ago. Still a relative short time. "Yes Susan made sure to prepare all of us for these dances. Though I must say I enjoyed these practices more than Edmund" High King Peter smiled. "Oh well he seems more tighter bound" I chuckled looking over. Susan was forcing him to dance with her, while Lucy danced with Corin.
We had just entered our third song when the King asked about the twins. "They think very highly of you" he commented, "they have to King Peter" I chuckled. He shook his head, "I doubt that. I've noticed that your father doesn't seem to have a Queen for his throne?" He questioned and I shook my head. "No, she passed some time ago" I told him awkwardly glancing around the room as he spun me. Prince Rabadash was brooding in the corner as he glared towards us. His glare made me shiver.
"So what's going on between you and the Prince?" The King questioned, his voice having an edge to it. I sighed, "our mother's were friends so naturally we grew up around each other but a couple years ago things changed between us and he hasn't been able to accept that." I told him. "You mean he wants to have you on his throne and you said no?" He clarified. I chuckled. "You could say that" I told him as we fell into a comfortable silence for quite a few more songs.
It got the point that I had to stop. My feet were hurting me far too much. The High King happily led me to a empty chair to rest. "Oh are you all right Princess Aria? Did Peter keep stepping on your feet?" Queen Susan teased her brother. I smiled, "No Queen Susan, I'm fine. Just soar from the continuous dancing" I told her and she heartedly agreed sitting with me while the King disappeared for some drinks. "Well it didn't look like you were complaining" Queen Susan smiled winking at me. I smiled back at her. "King Peter is quite an enjoyable dance partner. I understand why he has such a large fan club" I told her. She nodded her head. "Yes it seems like he enjoys the attention as well. I wish I could say the same thing for Edmund" Queen Susan smiled looking over towards her second brother.
He had quite a lot of admires around him and he did not look pleased in the slightest. I smiled before a frown was tugging on my face at the thought of the High King enjoying the attention of other women. I couldn't blame him. He had every right to enjoy the attention at being the High King of Narnia. "Though if it's not to presumptuous of me, I haven't seen Peter enjoying himself so much before by just dancing with you. I wouldn't be surprised if he talked with King Lune sometime soon about making arrangements for you to visit Cair Paravel." Susan smiled at me. I smiled at her, "that would be so wonderful! Since your coronation my brother's and I have been reading so much about Narnia! It sounds so beautiful!" I gushed. Susan nodded her head quite a lot. "Yes it is! Narnia is quite beautiful!" Susan agreed.
"Oh speaking of Narnia are we?" High King Peter questioned handing both of us a glass. We both nodded excitedly. "Yes, I was just mentioning how great it would be if Princess Aria and the Princes visited Cair Paravel for the summer" Queen Susan smiled. "Oh that would be wonderful! Cair Paravel is right there on the sea as well so it makes for a great view" King Peter nodded as he sat down next to me as well. "I'm sure father would agree to it. He's always been very partial to Narnia" I said softly only for Prince Rabadash to start making his way towards me. High King Peter must have noticed it too because seconds later Edmund was pulling Susan onto the dance floor as the High King turned towards me.
"By any chance has your feet rested?" He questioned, "yes they have your majesty…" I didn't finish before I was suddenly pulled into his grip again as he quickly spun me into the middle of the dance floor and out of reach. "You know your majesty if I didn't know better some sort of plan has been made here and is being excellently orchestrated" I told him. He smiled down at me, he did have a rather charming grin when he wanted to be dashing.
"I wouldn't know anything about that Princess, though I must agree with Susan, it would be great pleasure to have you in Cair Paravel. And the young Princes must come as well, Lucy seems to be getting quite attached to them." Peter smiled, looking over Lucy was currently dancing with both young Princes as they laughed loudly with each other. Nearby couples smiling fondly at the young royalty. "Yes it would be shame to split them up" I agreed.
"Now tomorrow will be the women's division sword fighting?" High King questioned and I nodded. "Yes your majesty, we have divided it by the sexes well because it's fiercery competition that way." I smiled, "what for the men?" He questioned confused and I shook my head. "No for the women" I told him and he looked even more confused and I smiled. "As you will see tomorrow we're not known for playing fair when it comes to winning" I told him and he chuckled. "Is that a fact?" He questioned me and I nodded. "And you've always won that as well?" He questioned again, "of course. Father wouldn't have it any other way." I told him. "But why would he teach is daughter, no offense, to fight to the death?" He questioned curious, I smiled. "Because he has the hope that one day it won't be necessary to teach our children the same." I told him. "Well I'm sure that it won't be necessary to teach your children these skills" he assured me spinning me around again. I smiled turning my head slightly, my temple resting against his shoulder. He smiled tightening the arm he had resting around my waist.
"I would very much enjoy it if you came to Cair Paravel Princess Aria" he whispered in my ear. I looked up at him. "Oh but a High King shouldn't be saying things like that" I told him. He chuckled, "maybe not" he agreed and my expression fell. "But that's not going to stop me from saying it." His unique accent filled my ear. I couldn't help but grin at him as the party started winding down. High King Peter escorted me to my room, Corin and Cor walking with us, since they're rooms were next to mine. They waited by their doors watching the High King and I. He leaned forwards kissing the top of my hand softly. His lips lingering on the top of my hand, while the tip of his forefinger ran over my palm once before a piece of paper was placed in it.
"Sleep well Princess, you have a big day ahead of you tomorrow" he smiled straightening up. "Goodnight High King" I whispered blushing softly as I opened my door and slipped inside clutching the piece of paper tightly. Once inside my room, Maria had already set up a bowl of hot water for me to clean up with a single candle lit next to my bed. I quickly stood next to it.
'Meet me tomorrow night in the gardens. ~Peter'