Chapter 23: Empty Chairs at Empty Tables

I sat in the study, my heels on the edge of the couch and my fingers interlaced as I stared at a random spot on the wall. We'd start the funeral march soon. A soft knock on the door sounded before it opened. Cor stood there. He was fidgeting with his tunic. "We're ready Aria" he said softly. I nodded standing up, I brushed our the wrinkles in my black dress before laying my arm across his shoulders as we left father's study.

Everyone had gathered in the entrance hall. The city, our countries citizens lined the street that led from the castle to the gravesite. I didn't pay attention to who was around me. But simply mounted Demetrius. Cor mounted his own stallion and took the lead, Corin on my right as the Narnian royalty rode their own horses behind us. My father lay on a gold tablet, a glass dome over his form. His casket rested on a engraved carriage, the top half of the carriage was missing so father could be exposed for the people to see him. Two large Archland mustangs stood still. As if in mourning themselves.

Before we even moved the closest people bent forwards laying white lilies on the ground. Cor cleared his throat and the casket started moving. We slowly moved down the street. Only few hoof beats for a couple minutes as the procession continued. The street wound its way through the magnificent city, overlooking the mountains, the rivers, open grassy plains. The best views of the city. One last time.

I kept my chin level as the citizens paid there respects. White lilies covered the ground as the carriage made it's way over it. The city was silent, except for a few loud cries and the occasional creaking of wood. As we reached the burial site the carriage stopped, I sat on top of Demetrius as six men unloaded the casket and stepped inside the large mound of Earth. They returned and the six of them closed the large gold door and sealed it shut. Paintings of father's past battles inscribed across the door.

Cor nudged his horse forwards and laid his own white lily on top of the mound of Earth. Cor had slight trouble reaching it since he still had some growing to do. Corin followed behind him, laying his own lily next to it. I nudged Demetrius forwards and laid it on top of the soft grass. "Goodbye Father" I whispered feeling a single tear run down my cheek. I lifted my head high as the three of us led the way back to the castle. People left the streets after we passed. Reaching back the castle I got off Demetrius, lifting my skirts so I wouldn't trip I went inside. As customary we were having a private dinner. Cor refused to sit in father's chair and as I sat next to it, I felt the sting of the pain.

Susan sat next to me and she squeezed my hand. I looked up at her and forced a smile, but it probably looked more like a grimace. Once dinner was done I excused myself. "Aria" Peter called running after me. I stopped and turned to look at him. "Please talk to me" he said softly. I took a deep breath. "Talk about what Peter?" I questioned him, "whatever you want to talk about. I miss you" he said softly, his finger gently taking my own. His thumb rubbing along my open palm.

"Like about you kissing Princess Arland?" I questioned him, meeting his eyes. He looked like a deer in the headlights. "Aria that's not what it looked like" he said softly. "So you're tongue down her throat was really retrieving the peanut she was choking on?" I questioned him. I watched him shuffle on his feet. "Look Peter, let's just not do this all right. You're leaving to go back to Narnia and I'm staying here. You don't owe me an explanation" I told him pulling my hand away from him and leaving.

Peter's POV

I watched her leave and I felt my heart break. I didn't know what to say. What was I supposed to do? I just watched her back disappear through the archway. "I'll talk to her" Susan said softly squeezing my elbow before taking off after Aria. Edmund sighed from suddenly next to me. "That went badly" he muttered, "yeah" I sighed. "Peter" Cor said softly. I turned to look at him.

He was standing straighter, the playful banter gone from his face. "Father told me about the agreement he made with you about my sister" he said stiffly. "In all fairness I didn't know that he'd be passing so quickly Cor he sort of brought up my feelings for Aria and kept saying how he wanted his daughter to be well taken care of and that he was purposely steering Aria towards me and away from Rabadash…" I quickly started explain till Cor raised a hand up.

"I already know all this. I'll break the news to Aria" he said before continuing on his way. "So how much of a fit do you think she's going to throw when she finds out?" Edmund questioned me with a snicker and I punched him in the gut. "Ow Pete! Gesh it was just a joke!" Edmund grumbled rubbing his stomach. "Come on, let's get some sword fighting in" I growled my hand already twitching towards my sword as we moved to the sword practice grounds.

Aria's POV

I strung my bow and took aim and let it fly. I glared at seeing it didn't even hit the target. It stuck up from the ground with all the other arrows I had fired. "You have to concentrate Aria" Susan smiled encouragingly at me. "There's not much of a point, I just don't have my mind set for it" I grumbled. "Well it's to be expected" Susan smiled at me. I bit my lip, should I ask Susan about this.

"Susan I know that you're Peter's sister and you're always going to defend him but I really need a girl to talk to about this without you seeing this as his sister" I questioned her, she set her bow down, holding the tip of it while the other tip rested into the ground. "It's okay Aria, I'm just you're friend here" she smiled at me. I smiled back thankfully.

"I thought Peter loved me, and I was going to tell Peter that I loved him that night at the gala" I said softly. "But when I went to go find him he was kissing Princess Arland, and not the kind of kiss and peck, it was obvious that something was going on between them." I said softly looking at the ground. "I know, Peter actually told us after he found out you went missing" she said softly. I looked up at her shocked. "I'm not here to defend his actions Aria so please don't get defensive with me. But you don't know about everything that happened that night. I know my brother loves you and he was going to tell you that night too. I'm not asking you to forgive him Aria, but you do need to talk to him about what happened that night." She said softly.

I didn't want to talk to him.

Childish I know, but I couldn't stop it.

"Hey, I didn't mean to upset you" Susan said softly. "It's fine Susan, it's just. If I tell him that I love him now I'll end up going back to Narnia with him and yes that would be great. It really would but I can't leave Cor to rule this country by himself" I sighed, "you don't have a choice" Cor's voice piped up. I looked up at him. "Can you give us a minute Queen Susan?" Cor questioned her, his eyes brightening when he looked at her.

I smiled at that. "Sure" Susan squeezed my arm again before leaving with her bow and arrows. I looked up at Cor. "Someone's feeling more comfortable under that crown now" I smiled at him. He smiled back, "I was serious when I said that you don't have a choice Aria, Father told me before he passed that he and Peter talked. When Rabadash took you, Peter came to Archland immediately and father said that Peter asked for your hand" Cor told me seriously.

I tensed. Did Father say yes? More importantly even if father said yes would I have to honor that agreement now that father was gone?

"What did he say?" I questioned, my voice faint. Cor took my hand and pulled me into a hug. "He said yes Aria" Cor said softly. I closed my eyes hugging Cor closely. Tears running down my face. "I can't leave you now Cor, not now" I said softly. My hand buried into his curly blonde locks. "I'll be fine Aria, I've already asked Ronan to be my advisor. Things will work out" he said softly.

I lowered my head.

Last spring I would have given anything to hear Father's permission, but now I wish he hadn't. "Aria, you have to do this for Father. Please?" He questioned me. I bit my lip and nodded looking away from him. "I love you big sister" Cor whispered, I turned to look at him and smiled. "I love you too Cor. You're going to make a great king you know that?" I questioned him. He chuckled, "Thanks. I think Corin's taking it harder than I am thought" he chuckled and I nodded. "I think it's finally hitting him what it costs at being a minute late" I told him wrapping my arm around his shoulders as we went back inside.

As tradition Archland mourned for a week before the coronation for Cor was done. To be honest I don't really remember it. But I remember the dancing that night. As expected Peter quickly made his way to me to ask for my hand. I gave Cor a look and he gave me a firm glare in return. I sighed and took Peter's hand and followed him onto the dance floor. He spun me before pulling me closely.

Peter didn't know really what to say. "Aria, I need to talk to you" Peter said softly. I looked at him. "What so you can tell me that you asked Father for my hand?" I questioned him. He raised an eyebrow. "I already know that Father agreed, so when you and you're siblings leave to go back to Narnia, I'll be going with you but do not confuse compliance with my father's last wish for eagerness" I told him coldly before breaking his grip on the dance. "Good night High King" I curtsied before turning around and leaving.