Chapter 8: Battle scars
I sat on the edge of my seat, the matches were getting rougher as the tournament continued on till Edmund and Prince Rabadash ended up in the ring together. Susan and I were clenching each other's hands as the match started. I was thankful to see that Edmund had quite a lot of skill, but that comfort was quickly disappearing when Edmund started losing ground. "Come on Ed!" Lucy cheered for him Edmund quickly spun around the tip of his sword sliding straight down Prince Rabadash's back as Edmund got behind him. Prince Rabadash's face scrunched up in pain before he spun around attacking Edmund harder.
Us three girls quickly stood to our feet, leaning against the barrier out of anticipation. "Edmund!" We screamed as Prince Rabadash's sword went straight across Edmund's thigh before Edmund fell to the ground as Prince Rabadash went to finish him off only for Father to call the duel with Prince Rabadash's sword right over Edmund's heart. He froze at the order before straightened up. He didn't bother trying to help Edmund up as medics raced towards him. Us three girls charged the arena and slid to the ground next to him.
"Come on Ed, open up" Lucy ordered him. "No Lucy, it's not life threatening" Edmund argued, "Damn it Edmund open your mouth right now!" I screamed at him surprising him. Lucy gather herself first and quickly poured a drop into his opened mouth. "Wow didn't know you cared so much" Edmund chuckled sitting up, "watch it Peter it looks like she's not just interested in you" Edmund winked at me. I blushed scarlet and smacked his shoulder before I could stop myself. "You wish King Edmund!" I stood up brushing out my skirts trying to collect myself. Looking up Peter was laughing, shaking his head. Susan pulled Edmund up to his feet. Brushing my hair back I looked up to see Peter laughing. I quickly turned around and left as quickly as I good.
God that was embarrassing! I just yelled at a King! A King! "Edmund how could you embarrass her like that! She's practically scarlet!" Susan's harsh voice growled before chasing after me. "Hey you all right?" Susan questioned me as she entwined our arms and I nodded. "As good as I can be for completely embarrassing myself in front of your brothers, and the healers! I'm completely mortified over here and he laughed! Peter laughed at me!" I told her completely embarrassed.
She laughed, "It wasn't that bad! Besides he wasn't laughing at you! He was laughing at Edmund! And you have to admit that situation was pretty funny!" Susan tried to cheer me up. I gave her a look, "he was to laughing at me!" I complained, she shook her head. "Really Aria, it's just fine!" She assured me and I rolled my eyes as we went to my room to pick out dresses for tonight.
"Really Aria, there's no reason to freak out! Peter will be just as charming tonight as he always is" Susan assured me and I rolled my eyes. "Yeah I'm sure" I told her pulling out a beautiful red and gold dress. "Oh wear that one! It'll be beautiful on you!" Susan gushed, I smiled at her, "you sure?" I questioned holding it up to me as I twirled around. She laughed nodding her head.
It wasn't long till Maria came in either to help the both of us get ready and to do our hair. I was surprised that she even did Susan's hair as well. But Maria was the mothering type, she'd mother a baby python if she thought it needed her. The two of us slowly walked into the great hall. Well more like Susan was dragging me as I dug my heels into the ground. "Susan I don't want to go in there!" I growled pushing my hand against the wall trying to keep from sliding against the ground as she pulled me closer to the door.
"Yes you can!" Susan growled, "Susan! NO!" I growled only for the both of us to suddenly fly through the door and go sliding into our chairs. Father and the boys jumped as they looked at us only for us to burst into laughter from our spots on the floor. "Are you all right?" Lucy questioned, from her seat between the twins. We nodded pulling ourselves up and brushing our dresses off. "Fine" I told her as I gave Susan a death glare as we took our seats. "Embarrassing yourself again Aria?" Father questioned only for Peter to snicker next to him. I gave Peter a glare before turning to father.
"I don't know what you mean father" I told him before turning back to Susan, God I was mortified! Susan laughed at my expression. "Just ignore him, you're only adding fuel to the fire" she whispered back to me as we ate. I groaned, "then what am I supposed to do?" I questioned her, "see that knight staring at you?" She questioned me, I glanced over and nodded. "Yes" I told her, "as soon as the ball starts he's going to ask you to dance. Say yes." She told me. "But what about Peter?" I questioned her, she smiled at me. "Trust me, I'll take care of it. You want to be with Peter right?" She questioned me and I nodded. "Then trust me" she winked playfully.
Peter's POV
Once the ball officially started I made my way over to the girls only for a Knight to come out of nowhere and ask Aria for a dance. Her eyes flickered over his shoulder resting on mine, that rosy tint covered her cheeks before she looked back at the Knight. I smiled knowing she was going to tell him no so she could dance with me but I froze at seeing her put her hand in his as the two made their way to the dance floor.
"That sucks" Edmund commented suddenly appearing next to me. "Well what do you expect?" Susan questioned, "That she dance with only me" I told her obviously, "that is why she gave me this to wear" I pointed out indicating the sash that I had on my shoulder. "Yes Peter but you have to remember that girls are sensitive, especially when someone laughs at them" Susan practically growled the last part as she glared at the both of us. "But I didn't mean to hurt her feelings! It was funny!" I tried to defend myself. "Yes it was funny, but she didn't take to kindly to someone she might care about laughing at her so openly, twice I might add." Susan scolded.
I groaned rubbing my face. "How do I fix it?" I questioned her, "I suggest sweeping her off her feet and the next time Edmund plays a joke on her like that, take her side instead of just laughing" Susan informed me, great. I really screwed this one up. "How am I supposed to sweep her off her feet when she's dancing with a knight?" I questioned her, she snickered. "You are High King Peter, remember that." She snickered before pulling me on the dance floor after her.
Aria's POV
I spun around the dance floor with the knight till Peter and Susan accidently bumped into us. "Oh sorry about that, Peter can be such a klutz some times, oh Peter I think I hurt my ankle would you mind taking me to a healer?" Susan questioned the knight batting her eyes at him. The knight looked back at me, "what kind of Knight would you be if you didn't help the damsel in distress?" Peter suddenly butted in. The Knight looked so helpless at what to do. "Go ahead it's fine" I told him. The Knight nodded before helping Susan to a chair. Peter turned to me with a cheeky grin and I gave him a look. "Nicely staged" I told him clapping my hands. He chuckled, "Well Susan is quite the actress and I have quite a lot to apologize for" he smiled offering me his hand. I took it immediately. I had already found I couldn't stay mad at him.
His smile widened as he spun me before pulling me in close as a slow song came on. "I am sorry if I hurt your feelings earlier" he whispered in my ear. I gripped his arm, hiding my face in his shoulder, my fingers subconsciously playing with the sash. I didn't say anything, I didn't know quite what to say. "Uh….um…I don't know exactly what to say" I told him. "Well you could say that you forgive me?" He suggested, I giggled, "Peter I was never mad at you, I was mad at myself for even embarrassing myself like that." I confessed letting my temple rest against his shoulder as I watched the crowd. His chuckle filled my ear. "Well it was an entertaining situation, your startled Edmund with your sudden order. Though I must say it touched him that you were that worried about him, since you're not around each other that often." Peter explained, "Well he's your brother, both you and Susan would have been devastated if he was severely injured because of his pride." I explained looking up at him. "And you are that concerned about me?" He questioned me and I nodded, "I thought I had made that obvious" I told him.
"Well I do like to hear you say it from time to time" he confessed, I shook my head at his behavior. He could be such a boy sometimes. "Well Peter you're not the only one" I told him with a wink. He chuckled his arm around my waist was tightening around me. "Did I mention how beautiful you look in that dress?" He questioned and I shook my head. "Well you're outshining every woman in this room as they stare at you with envy and let's not forget that adorable blush either." He whispered only making my cheeks redden at his words.
"Really?" I questioned him and he nodded. "Very much so, I've never seen anything as beautiful as you when you blush. Or how happy and free you looked riding yesterday. It would send the world's most talented poet dumbstruck by your beauty." He doted on me, I couldn't fight the grin that quickly spread or the way I felt an electric shock when he grazed his fingers against my cheek. "Is that a fact?" I questioned him and he nodded, "most definitely." He agreed before kissing my fingers again softly.
"You know you're starting to get people staring at us" I told him. He smiled and kissed my fingers again softly. "Well in that case" he smiled kissing them again. My grin widened all over again as he put my hand on his chest resting against is heart as we continued to dance. Well Peter might screw things up every now and then but he sure knows how to make amends.