Chapter 15: Impossible Days
I was to exhausted to function. I barely touched my food and it didn't go unnoticed. "Are you feeling all right?" Susan questioned putting her hand to my forehead. "Yes, I just didn't sleep well" I told her. "Was the bed not comfortable enough?" She questioned and I shook my head. "I just had to much on my mind" I told her and Peter raised an eyebrow at that. I smiled at him softly before going back to my food. "Well then would you like to take a nap? There's not to much going on today" Susan said. I shook my head standing. "No I think I'll just read in the library…." I started only for Susan to cut me off.
"Oh will you help with the ball planning for tomorrow night then? After all the spring festivals was so beautiful it'd be wonderful if you helped!" Susan smiled also standing up. I sighed, I couldn't get out of this. "Sure Susan, oh I needed to send this letter off to Archland…" I started but Peter cut me off this time as he let out a whistle. It startled me causing me to jump and nearly fall only for a large dark brown falcon to soar in. "Princess this is Sanly, he'll be delivering you're letters for you. It's much faster than horseback. Sanly any letters she has will be delivered" Peter smiled taking the letter and tying it onto the falcon's leg before with a sweep of his large wings he was gone. He was so beautiful and strangely familiar. "Thank you High King" I smiled at him curtsying slightly before leaving with Susan.
"It's not that surprising that Peter is letting you use his personal message hawk" Susan said softly. I looked at her sharply. "What?" I questioned her and she nodded. "Sanly has been his personal messenger since our coronation." Susan explained. Now I knew where I had seen Sanly from. He had delivered messages to father before! "That's why he's so familiar" I muttered as we went to Susan's study.
Lucy soon joined us while Edmund kept the twins busy. Lucy was busy playing with my hair trying out different hair styles for the gala while Susan was matching different fabrics with the dryads. "Really dark blue and gold would look so beautiful on you Aria! It's really bring the honey out in your eyes" Susan smiled, "so it's just a coincidence that royal blue and gold are Peter's colors?" I questioned her and she smiled at me. "It just might be a coincidence he'll be wearing the same colors" Lucy smiled, "that's a pretty bold statement don't you think?" I questioned her. She smiled at me. "That's the plan. Prince Rabadash and his cousin Princess Arland will be coming. We need to make a statement" Susan smiled and I nodded. "Then why doesn't Peter just wear the sash again?" I questioned her, "Oh he will. He keeps it on him at all times anyway" Susan rolled her eyes. I looked over at her. "Really?" I questioned her and she nodded, "he wraps it around his waist underneath his shirt." Susan told me. I raised an eyebrow. I'd have to ask him about that later. "I didn't know that" I said softly.
"Ever since you gave it to him he's always worn it. Once we got back to Narnia though he moved it from his arm to under his shirt so it wouldn't get damaged or dirty" Lucy told me. I smiled at that playing with some jewelry. Peter was taking care of it. It made me feel good knowing that he was taking good care of my mother's sash. "He really cares for you Aria" Lucy smiled squeezing my shoulder. I smiled at her. "I know, I care for him a lot too" I said softly and I felt Lucy squeezing me in a hug from behind and Susan reached over and squeezed my arm. I couldn't help but grin. I never had sisters before and after mother died I only had Maria. And she was such a close friend and I missed her so much but it was very comforting to know I had friends here too.
"So should we expect a courting announcement?" Lucy questioned, "I thought the two of you would know more about that then me" I smiled at them sending the both of them into giggles. It felt as if the anticipation increased every single day. I knew Peter cared for me. I hoped he wanted to court me, but it seemed like every day went by without a letter from father agreeing to the courtship offer. He would go through father right? It was the right thing to do? But would Peter just suddenly burst and ask me himself?
"Oh I didn't mean to upset you!" Lucy looked quite upset and I couldn't help but smile. "You didn't Lucy, it's just that I know he cares for me but I've been waiting on a letter from Father with that sort of news but it seems like every day that goes by it's just ripping me apart! I mean so many people think there's going to be a courtship between us and it's starting to get expected and I'm worried that he's going to rush into it to please the people and I don't want it to be for that reason" I said softly. Now that this was finally coming out I couldn't stop it. "I don't know what to think, it's just all a jumbled mess and it just seems to go away whenever he's around and it just doesn't matter anymore. We could be in a crowded room and I would see only him" I smiled, completely forgetting what I was saying.
Susan squeezed my arm and I looked up at her. "Oh I'm sorry I didn't mean to talk so much" I apologized, "No it's actually good to hear that you love our brother" Susan smiled. "I didn't say that I love him Susan" I reminded her, "you didn't have to" she smiled back at me. "But so soon?" I questioned and Lucy finished with the braid she was working on. "It's love at first sight. We all saw it and Edmund's been teasing Peter non-stop about it ever since." Lucy smiled at me. "Should I tell him?" I questioned them and they both smiled at each other before nodded. "And what if he doesn't say it back?" I questioned them. "Then at least you told him and you don't have to spend the rest of your life thinking what if?" Susan reasoned, I sighed.
She had a point.
I hated it when she had a point.
Peter's POV
"Pretty serious to be letting her us Sanly" Edmund smiled, I glared at him from the breakfast table. Cor and Corin looked over at me. "It's faster communication with her father" I replied back. I was not going to have this conversation in front of the twins. I glanced up at Mr. Tumnus and he immediately stepped forwards and offered to take the twins out to the gardens and other parts of Cair Paravel leaving Edmund and I to talk in private as dryads cleaned off the table.
"You know it's more then just communicating with her father" Edmund pointed out. I gave him a look. She needed to be able to talk to her father at a moment's notice. She needed that and I wasn't going to tell Edmund that. So I chose not to respond. That of course didn't fool Edmund. "Just tell her you love her! Tomorrow night is the gala, pull her away to over look the ocean and tell her!" Edmund encouraged. I leaned back in my chair. That would be a perfect setting for it.
"And don't even start with that self doubt stuff! You know she's going to say she loves you back! I'm sure she's talking to the girls right now about it" Edmund said. I looked up at him. "You think so?" I questioned him and he nodded and I smiled. "Well let's find out!" I smiled getting up from my chair quickly and sprinting up to Susan's study. Edmund was with me. "And how do you plan on opening that door without them noticing?" Edmund questioned and I pressed my ear to the side of the door. I could hear them talking but I couldn't tell about what. "You're majesties?" Exander questioned, I looked at him. "Exander can you hear what they're saying?" I questioned him, he looked towards the door and nodded.
"What are they talking about?" I questioned him, he shifted on his feet. "It wouldn't be appropriate if I told you your majesty" Exander said quickly. I furrowed my eyebrows and Edmund and I exchanged looks. "Exander" I started only for the door to open. Susan was standing there with her snow white cat standing next to her. She snitched. "Boys, can I help you with something or are you having fun listening in?" She questioned, I smiled, "Uh well….we were just wondering…." I started not sure of what to say. "If you ladies wanted to eat lunch in here?" Edmund quickly filled in. She raised an eyebrow at Edmund. "Yeah I'm sure that's what you were going to ask and yes we will." She turned to go back in the study but paused. "And Peter?" She questioned and I looked over at her. "Don't try ease dropping again. I'll know if you do" She smiled before closing the door.
"What did they say Exander?" I questioned him as we walked down the hallway. "They were talking about you your majesty and that is all I will say in fear that Queen Susan might stuff me if I say anymore" He said before clapping his trap shut. I glared at him. This wasn't fair! What had she said? "Well you're just going to have to wait till tomorrow night. After you tell her you love her she's going to tell you anything" Edmund clapped me on the back reassuringly before he headed out towards Mr. Tumnus and the twins.
I sighed, my hand rubbing my side. I could feel the sash rub against my skin and it brought me some comfort. I felt like I was sitting on that unicorn. Overlooking the large grassy plane that stood between me and the white witch. The same fear gripped me but it was so much more intense. I'd gladly take on the witch again instead of this. It was so much more terrifying having to tell Aria that I love her. Clenching my teeth I headed towards my own study. I'd just keep myself busy. It'd be fine.