Chapter 20: Explanations
He stood up without a word and walked towards the door. He was slower in his walking, more deliberate and careful in his steps. "Follow me High King" he said opening the door as he stepped out. I followed him. Was he going to take me to a more private room and kill me there. He opened up a door and finally stepped inside. I walked in after him closing the door behind me only to pause.
The room was huge and books lined the walls. Plush coaches and tables were spread throughout the room. "It was her mother's personal library" he said softly. "I come in here sometimes to think. Usually about Aria, I always knew she'd start a war with Carlormene" he chuckled, I raised an eyebrow he seemed amused at his daughters actions. "I'm afraid I don't understand" I told him, he smiled. "It's not really that surprising Peter" he said, the situation suddenly becoming much more relaxing, less formal.
"I knew that one day you'd be asking for Aria's hand" he said as he looked at the different paintings drawing my attention to them as well. He was currently looking at a painting of Aria when she was ten, she sat on a plush rug, she wore a white dress with a large pink bow around the middle. Her hair delicately pinned back and out of her face, Cor and Corin only looked to be two or three as they played on the carpet with toys. King Lune moved to look at another painting. I froze at seeing it. A full grown Aria was staring back at me. But it wasn't Aria. I breathed a sigh of relief only to stare in awe at her mother.
She had the same dark hair and eyes, fair skin and kind smile. She had a five year old Aria on her lap. Her arms around her as they worked on a needlepoint on their laps together. Their dark hair mixing together. "She's quite a woman" I said softly, I looked over at him as he stared at me. I furrowed my eyebrows at his expression. It was if he didn't see his grown up daughter, but instead saw the young girl she used to be. "She gets it from her mother. She turns into her more and more every day. She was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. She was actually from Carlormene" he smiled softly. I looked at him shocked. "She was Prince Rabadash's mother's second cousin, which is why Aria and Rabadash had always been so close. Their mothers were very close" King Lune explained, "Even if they were third cousins Rabadash still would have married her?" I questioned him. He sighed. "Rabadash's mother was kind hearted and a soft soul. It was her husband who had killed her. Seeing what a brute he was. Either way her son is just like his father. A beast he is. He had his eyes set on Aria and nothing was going to change that." King Lune said before moving to a chair and sat down.
He sighed as he did so. "Why are you telling me all this King Lune?" I questioned him, he looked over at me. I was in anticipation. I was waiting for him to tell me no or yes any minute now. "Because I want my daughter to be well looked after. War is imminent, and I just want what any father wants. I want my kids to be well looked after if you know what I mean" he said his light blue eyes watching mine very closely. I knew what he meant. "I'll take care of her, she'll want for nothing I assure you" I told him trying to sound as convincing as possible.
He probably didn't know about Aria's and mine's fight. But he needed to know that I would take care of his daughter. Aria was right. He'd be passing soon. He looked so fragile. So weak. "Ronan informs me you and her were fighting when she left" he commented judging my reaction. "Yes sir, I did something I shouldn't have to protect her, she saw and got upset. I feel it was partially the reason of why she left Cair Paravel so abrubtly and helped cause her capture and for that I'm sorry." I apologized, "and even with her furious with you, you still ask for her hand?" He questioned. "She might be mad with me King Lune, but I still love her and I believe that she loves me too." I told him.
"Has she told you that she loves you?" He questioned, "no. But she didn't have to." I told him. He chuckled nodding his head. "That it was." He smiled, "King Lune, if you know how Rabadash would react the way he did to Aria then why did you insist on the relationship between her and I?" I had to know. He had played a big part in adverting Aria's attention from Rabadash onto me.
He smiled, "I might be old King Peter, but I'm not a fool. I saw the way you looked at her and the way she returned those looks. You'd be a much better fit for her then Rabadash would. But I fear it's to late for that." He sighed, "if I can bring her back here will you give us your blessing?" I questioned him. "You're speaking of war King of Narnia" King Lune said softly, "I'll do what I have too to protect the one I love" I told him seriously. "Even if it means risking you're country? Your own family?" King Lune questioned, "Living without her isn't living at all" I told him. He smiled softly. "Then bring her back" He said relaxing back into the couch. I stood up and headed for the door. "And King Peter" he called, I turned to look at him. "No matter which way this goes, you'll still have my blessing" he smiled before laying his head back on the back of the coach settling in for a nap.
I smiled and closed the door. "Peter there you are!" Susan smiled at seeing me. She furrowed her eyebrows. "What's with the smile?" She questioned me, "Send word to Narnia" I told her as we walked down the hallway. I turned to look at her as a grin crossed my face.
"We're bringing her home."
Aria's POV
I had been given free reign of the upper floors of the castle thankfully. I needed room to stretch my legs. I leaned against the terrace overlooking the stables. My thighs burned for a good horse ride. It had been three weeks and I hadn't ridden a horse once. I needed out of this castle. "Princess there you are!" Gabriella panted as she finally caught up with me. I smiled, since I hadn't seen Rabadash I decided to give Gabriella hell instead. I had been sneaking out from under her nose for the past three weeks and was rather enjoying it.
"Can I help you with something Gabriella?" I questioned her, "nothing Princess Aria" she smiled back at me. I furrowed my eyebrows and looked further down. Near the front of the castle a rather large group of soldiers were gathering. "What's with the troops?" I questioned her, "nothing Princess" she said quickly. I turned quickly. "What's going on Gabriella?" I snarled stepping towards her. She backed up only to back up straight into a wall. "The High King of Narnia and Crown Prince of Archland have declared war on Carlormene Princess. Their messenger is actually downstairs…" but she didn't finish that sentence. I took off running down the hall full blast. I ran down into the throne room only to come to a skidding halt since I ran straight into Prince Rabadash's chest. "Say one word and you're father dies tonight" He growled, his hand clenching my upper arm as he dragged me into the throne room. I stood while he sat in a chair.
Would it be Edmund? Surely Peter wouldn't deliver his own letters? Would Edmund bring word of Peter? Why should I even care if he brought word from Peter? My brain demanded only for my heart to ache. I missed Peter terribly. My heart skipped a beat as the door opened. Mr. Tumnus stepped in and I felt a pang of disappointment. His eyes found mine immediately and he smiled as he stepped in with a large roll of parchment. He stepped into the room with a smile, and opened the parchment.
"On behalf of the High King of Narnia and Crown Prince of Archland hereby declare war on Carlormene on the grounds of kidnapping the Princess of Archland against her will and is holding her prisoner. Unless Princess Aria of Archland is returned to her home in Archland two days official war will be declared. Signed Peter the Magnificent High King of Narnia and Prince Cor Crown Prince of Archland" Mr. Tumnus read off. I chocked on a giggle at the Magnificent part.
A smile twitched across Mr. Tumnus face. "Is that it?" He questioned Mr. Tumnus. "Yes Prince Rabadash, that is it" He said. "Then you're dismissed" he said standing up. "Actually Prince I'd like to pay my respects to Princess Aria" he said. I lifted my head at that. Prince Rabadash looked at me. "You're not to say one word" he snarled as Mr. Tumnus stepped forwards. His hands gently took both of mine as he kissed the top of them. I felt a piece of paper pressed into them and a smile twitched at the corner of my lips as the tears built up. Peter had written me a private letter.
"Well wishes Princess" Mr. Tumnus smiled before leaving the hall. I clenched my hands laying them against the front of my dress. I lowered my head and tried not to cry. I left the throne room and quickly headed to my own room. I closed the door before Gabriella could sneak in. Locking the door I quickly opened the letter.
My Dearest Aria,
I love you,
Peter
I put my hand over my mouth as the tears sprang up. My head fall back thumping lightly against the door. He finally said it…..well wrote it. But still. He'd finally admitted that loves me. But at what cost? Did it really take all this just for him to say he loves me? And what of Princess Arland? Was he just saying this in hopes that he didn't know about what I saw? Was he still playing me as it were? Did he really think I was such a fool? I stepped forwards and held the parchment over a candle. A breaths away from the flame. But I couldn't lower it. No matter how much I tried. My fingers clasped to the note till they were white and threatened to bleed. "This is so stupid, just burn it" I growled but my fingers acted of their own accord and refused to move.
"Damn it" I snarled and folded the piece of paper and hid it within the bodice of my dress pressed tightly against my heart. "It doesn't mean anything" I muttered trying to convince myself. Too bad I didn't sound that convinced.