Chapter 5: Whispers
That night as promised at the end of the ball I excused myself from Susan for some fresh air, my blue sash tied around my waist as I walked to the wild flowers where I would meet Peter. We had spent the whole night staring at each other from opposite sides of the room. "Oh why don't you just go talk to him already?" Susan questioned, "because Susan he's supposed to come to me first! Wait talk to who?" I questioned her, she gave me a knowing look and I couldn't help but chuckle. I had been caught.
"Princess Aria, may I have this dance?" Prince Rabadash questioned suddenly appearing out of nowhere as he offered his hand to me. I gave Susan a pleading look but I just couldn't get out of this. "Of course Prince" I groaned letting him take my hand as he spun me onto the dance floor. As I turned I caught sight of Peter and gave him a pleading look. His eyes were glaring at Prince Rabadash but he had a smirk crossing his face at the look on my face.
"You were quite beautiful today as always Aria" Rabadash told me. "Thank you" I told him not participating in the conversation. "Come on Aria, we used to talk for hours and now you won't say more than two words to me!" Rabadash complained, I sighed not saying anything. "I miss you" He said softly. I looked up at him and his brown eyes were begging for my forgiveness. "Rabadash….things are different between us now. We're not the children that we used to be and to be quite honest we have different goals in life!" I told him. "What like marrying that High King over there? What life can he give you that I can't? I'm crown prince you know! I can give you just as good of a life as he can!" Rabadash justified. "This has nothing to do with High King Peter!" I told him. "It has everything to do with him!" Rabadash told me. I gave him a look. "That's not true and you know it!" I hissed at him.
"Is it? You two have been making googly eyes at each other ever since you met the other day!" Rabadash accused. "That's none of your business Rabadash!" I told him, "it is my business when he looks at my woman and I will be sure to take care of him tomorrow!" Rabadash informed me. I gave him a look. "Don't you dare Rabadash!" I growled, I knew from experience that Rabadash could be downright deadly with a sword when he wanted to be. I didn't love High King Peter, but I did care about his well being and I did not want him getting hurt, especially by Rabadash. He would make sure that it counted. "Then let me wear your sash tomorrow and all will be forgiven and I'll leave your precious High King alone!" Rabadash reasoned, I glared at him. "You and I both know that's a lie an you will never wear my mother's sash!" I growled before pulling away from him and quickly leaving the room. I needed to get out of the crowded area before I hit him. Reaching the gardens I made my way towards the wild flowers. They were so beautiful in the spring.
Looking there were already some couples out here as well, strolling through the gardens. It didn't take long before High King Peter showed up as well. Wordlessly he offered me his arm and I took it as he led me through the gardens. We stayed relatively close to the other couples so we wouldn't need an escort for supervision purposes thus allowing us to have our own secret conversations much like the other couples.
"Now I must say that was some display of talent you showed today" he commented. I smiled, "well your majesty you've seen my talents and I must say, I am quite looking forward to watching your talents tomorrow." I told him, "speaking of that. I know how you feel about men representing their women in tournaments but…" King Peter started, "King Peter are you asking me for a favor?" I questioned him, his cheeks flushed as a grin crossed his face. "Well unless you don't want to give one, I'd completely understand. I simply thought that your disdain for such a display was because of Prince Rabadash and that it wouldn't apply to me." He went on a five minute explanation running from one excuse to another. I smiled reaching down and untying the sash from my waist and started tying it around his arm.
"But Princess are you sure? This sash was your mother's wasn't it?" Peter questioned, I smiled at him tying it into a firm knot so it wouldn't come off. "Your majesty every festival for as long as I could remember my mother wore this sash for the first two days, for the second it was always found on my father arm. He never received a fatal injury during those two days, I pray it does the same for you." I told him, I knew that Rabadash, if partnered with the High King, would fatally would him if he had the chance.
I knew it was silly thinking that a sash could protect him, but if it protected father then it could protect him too. He smiled down at me. "But you know this will not please some people" he commented, "and I have a feeling it will please my father greatly" I chuckled, he chuckled himself as he wrapped my arm back around his own strong one as we continued our walk. I couldn't help but notice that the sash fit perfectly on his arm, the tail of it ending just around his wrist. "Oh Susan spoke to your father about plans for this summer and it's been decided that the three of you will be staying in Cair Paravel for the summer emerging yourselves in Narnian history." King Peter smiled, I couldn't help but grin back at him in anticipation. "Oh I can't wait! It seems like such a beautiful place, please tell me all about it!" I beseeched him. He couldn't help but grin and quickly start dishing on the details of Narnia and his fight with the Ice Queen.
"It must have been wonderful to meet Aslan" I told him and he quickly nodded as a rather pleasant expression crossed his face. "Yes, it was a unforgettable experience." He agreed, "though I must say it wasn't as pleasant as seeing you dance with Prince Rabadash." He winked down at me sarcastically. I groaned feeling the bile build up in my throat. "What did he say that bothered you so?" He questioned me, his tone becoming more serious. I sighed shaking my head. "It was nothing King Peter, though please be careful if you end up in the ring with him. He will not be honorable in a fight, especially when he sees this on your arm" I told him running my fingers over the sash. "I will be careful Princess I promise, if it troubles you so I do not have to wear this sash. It already means so much to me that you'd even consider letting me wear it." He said softly pausing as he faced me.
I smiled up at him, "I don't care what he thinks King Peter. Besides it looks good on you" I told him, "well in that case" he winked before spinning me in a circle before pulling me close as fireflies lit the up the darkened sky around us. We could just barely hear the music playing from the ball room. He held one of my hands tightly, while his other arm was wrapped securely around my waist, I rested my free hand against his chest next to my forehead. His heartbeat resounding in my ear as I felt the warmth of his chest through his dark blue and gold shirt as he hummed in my ear the tempo of the music. Though I noticed his rhythm was slightly off but I couldn't bring myself to care. Looking up none of the other couples were giving us any looks thankfully. They were too wrapped up in each other to pay any mind to us.
"Will you actually be at breakfast tomorrow?" King Peter questioned me and I nodded, "I will, will you?" I questioned him and he nodded. "Of course, Susan get's very upset if we don't have a good breakfast" he confessed. I couldn't help but giggle, that was such a Susan thing to do too. "Yes she is rather motherly" I whispered and he nodded his head in agreement as we danced through the gardens. When the end of the song finally sounded we separated, as we walked back towards the castle King Peter reached down and plucked a bright yellow flower from the nearest bush and offered it to me. I couldn't help but take it, giggling softly as I smelled it. He smiled at my reaction.
"Everything seems to be more beautiful in Archland" Peter said softly. I hid my grin in the flower as I pretended to sniff it again. "Well your majesty it is simply one's perspective" I informed him. He grinned down at me, "I don't think so Princess, even the moon hides from your beauty tonight in shame" he commented, the blush in my cheeks suddenly felt so much hotter. "Always a flatterer your majesty" I winked at him, completely giddy inside at his weak in the knee compliments. He winked again at me as we reached my door too soon for my liking. He kissed my hand softly, letting his lips linger and I couldn't help but wonder what it would feel like to actually kiss him. His blue eyes watched mine as he straightened, "goodnight Princess" he whispered. "Goodnight your majesty" I whispered back clumsily opening my door and slipping inside. Closing the door I rested against it, letting my head fall back against the door, a content sigh escaped my upturned lips as I reflected on the feeling of having the High King of Narnia's arm wrapped tightly around me as he held me against his warm muscled chest.
Now this was a wonderful night.