Chapter 19: Deals and Empty Promises
I don't know how I managed it but I had fallen asleep during the horse ride. The sudden halt of the horse jostled me awake. I groaned at the bright Carlormene light hurt my eyes. Carlormene was so ugly. All dirt and sand. The castle wasn't even that pretty either. The man came to a stop and got off the horse and dragged me down with him. I was then pulled into the grand hall that I remembered as a child. Rabadash stood up from his chair at seeing me. His eyes radiated happiness before they flashed to furious. He stepped forwards taking me from the man's arms. His fingers held my chin turning it this way and that as his other hand untied the robe. I groaned and rubbed my cheeks.
"Who hit you?" Rabadash demanded, "Your wonderful friends that's who. Nice job Rabadash, really. Kidnapping me in the middle of the night." I snarled at him. His eyes hardened, "Gabriella, take Aria to her room, clean her up and get her some food" he handed me off to Gabriella and she wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me out of the room. I looked over my shoulder just in time to see Rabadash burry his sword in that vile man's stomach. I turned to look away. I expected to be put in my old room but instead I was put in an even larger room. The bed was twice as big as my old one. "Prince Rabadash had this room specially done for you, had everyone in a real bad knot till it was just perfect Princess" she told me. I gave her a cold look as she untied my hands.
I grabbed the closest pointed object I could and held it to her neck. "Get me out of here or I swear you'll regret it" I snarled. Her eyes widened, she didn't know what to do. "That's not going to help you Aria, you can't get out of Carlormene now" Rabadash's voice filled in behind me. I spun around. "I can beat you in a fair fight Rabadash and you know it" I snarled, "not much of an incentive to fight fair then is it?" He questioned with an evil smirk. "What are you planning?" I snarled at him. "Well let's just say it's not a coincidence that you're father has been getting sicker and sicker since you've left Archland" he growled.
"You've been poisoning my father?" I screamed, "well let's just say that if you even try to escape you'll never see your father alive again" Rabadash snarled. I glared at him, "I hate you!" I snarled, "but you'll love me soon" he winked before leaving the room and closing the door. I glared at him. "Princess" Gabriella said softly, I turned to look at her. "Please you need a bath otherwise you're going to get sick" she gestured to the mirror. I looked and could barely recognize myself. I was covered in mud and thanks to it, my hair had dried in it so it was going whichever direction, my lip was busted and swollen and my dress was ripped and I looked completely horrible.
"Maybe just a bath then" I said softly. Gabriella smiled and led me into the bathroom where hot water was already being filled into the tub. Needless to say it had to be refilled multiple times to get all the muddy water out. Finally I just sat in the warm water as Gabriella ran her fingers through my hair. "I know you're upset Princess but please do try to enjoy this. Consider it a holiday?" She tried to reason. I looked at her over my shoulder. "You're kept prisoner here aren't you Gabriella?" I questioned her, she sighed but nodded. "And do you see it as a long holiday?" I questioned her. "I do what I have to for my family Princess" she said softly. I looked away from her, I put my chin on my knees.
Would I have to do the same? Spend the rest of my life here in Carlormene in exchange for my father and my brother's safety? For the safety of my country? Could I even do that? I knew the answer to that question before I thought it through. I would do anything for my country. I stood out of the tub and Gabriella wrapped a towel around me before patting my hair dry. I got dressed and looked out the window. There wasn't anything to see. If I closed my eyes I could pretend that I was looking out of my window at Narnia. But the sun was to warm. I turned away from the window and explored the large book shelves that were in my room only for Gabriella to return with food.
I only picked at it. "Am I even allowed out of this room?" I questioned her, "once you agree to try not to escape" Rabadash told me. I glared at him. "It's not like you can really get out of this castle but still" he said. I glared at him. "And if I don't?" I questioned him, "then I send word to my inside source and you're father is dead before the sun sets" he smiled. I glared at him. "And if I agree you'll leave my father and my country alone?" I questioned him. "Promise" he smiled, "I mean really promise Rabadash not one of your fake promises" I growled. He smiled and stepped forwards. "I really promise that I won't harm your father, brothers, or country if you stay here with me. And as a sign of my faith" he winked before pulling my blue sash out of his pocket and handing it to me. I grabbed it instantly. "Where did you get this?" I demanded from him.
"From the floor actually, when you ran off High King Peter had taken it off and let it fall to the floor. When he and Arland left I grabbed it and made sure to take special care of it till I could get it to you again" He said softly. I glared at him. "You're lying" I snarled, "Am I? After watching him kiss my cousin so fervently how can you say for certainty that I'm lying?" He questioned. I glared at him. I couldn't.
I still loved Peter, and I always would love Peter. But the memory of him kissing Arland was to real and it hurt. "Just leave me alone" I whispered turning away from him as I clutched the sash. A tear running down my cheek. "I'm sorry for you're broken heart Princess" he said softly kissing a lock of my hair. I didn't say anything. I wasn't going to give him the pleasure. As soon as the door closed Gabriella squeezed my arm reassuringly and tried to get me to eat.
Peter's POV
I quickly dismounted Maul, Cor and Corin were at the door waiting for us. "King Peter! Queen Susan! Thank you for coming!" Cor and Corin both skipped formalities and went straight to hugging Susan. "Sh, it's okay. Aria will be just fine!" Susan reassured them patting their heads. "What happened?" I questioned them as we went inside. "She wouldn't tell us what was going on. Just that something was going on with Father, and she wouldn't slow down! Most of the caravan was lost behind us, and we couldn't keep up with Demetrius! He was running so fast! We tried to keep up!" "We really did!" Cor and Corin kept interrupting each other as they told the story.
"Then we heard her screaming and Ronan shouted at us to stay back, well as soon as he was gone we followed him" Corin said with a mischevious smile. I couldn't help but grin at him. "Anyway, Aria was gone, and some Carlormene soldiers were ganging up on Ronan. Well the knights got involved and it turned into one big blood bath!" Cor groaned, he looked sick just as remembering it.
"Anyway, Aria was gone. Demetrius was tied up he was biting at the rope. We tried to help him but as soon as he chewed through the rope he took off!" Corin said tossing his hands up in the air. "Your majesties" Ronan's tired voice reached our ears. We looked up and my eyes widened. He was wearing his usual pants and shirt, but his shirt was much looser and I could make out all the bandages that were wrapped around him. He now wore an eye patch as well. "Ronan" I greeted him offering my hand. "I really can't accept that your majesty" he said softly. "And why not?" I questioned him, "because the Princess was still kidnapped and I let that bastard get away with her" he growled. I forcibly took his hand and shook it.
He furrowed his eyebrows at me before his hand gripped mine in a steady shake before we let go. Maria was also there under her husband's arm. Helping support him. She looked worse for wear. It was clear that she had been up for several days and the swelling of her middle didn't go unnoticed. "Maria a pleasure as always. I was wondering if I could talk to the both of you alone?" I questioned them. I gave Susan a look and she nodded and took the twins away.
"What is it High King?" Ronan questioned, "It's about King Lune" I told them as I looked at Maria trying to convey to her that I knew he was sick. She sighed before leading us to a private library. "So she's told you then has she?" She questioned me and I nodded. "I have to know, did you send her a letter asking her to come back to Archland because of her father's illness?" I questioned her, she sighed but nodded. "Yes I did your majesty. Princess Aria left very clear instructions about her father." She explained, so it was just a chance of luck then that Prince Rabadash had caught Aria then.
"So he is dying then?" I questioned her, she sighed but nodded. "Yes, the doctors don't know when but yes he is dying your majesty." Maria said softly. Ronan hugged her tightly to his side. I put my hands on my hips, "is it possible for me to see him?" I questioned her, she nodded. "He's actually been asking for you" she said before leading me into King Lune's own study. He sat in his chair looking over something at his desk.
He looked up at seeing us enter. "Ah, High King Peter" he greeted. He didn't stand and he looked much older then I last remembered him. "King Lune, well I trust?" I questioned him as Maria and Ronan left, closing the doors behind us. "As well as can be expected of someone my age" he chuckled. Well at least he was in good spirits. "I wanted to apologize for Princess Aria being captured I feel it is my fault." I apologized, he sat back in his chair studying me. "And why do you feel that it is you're fault?" He questioned, I straightened my back, making sure to keep my chin high. Might as well give him a good target for when he hit me. "Because I love her and I waited to long before asking your permission to court her." I told him honestly.