Chapter 24: Careless
"What about this dress?" Susan questioned, I didn't even look at the fabric. She sighed frustrated. She had been at this for the past four hours. "Aria don't you care about what you wear today? It's a very important event!" Susan stressed, "I know how important it is Susan and I promise I'll be flawless" I told her adjusting a loose curl as the dryad behind me braided in a few flowers to my dark locks. "That's not what I'm worried about Aria" Susan muttered tossing the dress onto the bed before turning one of her other choices.
"It's two months away Susan, quite stressing" I told her, "I'll quite stressing when you're back on speaking terms with the groom!" Susan hissed pulling a dress off a hanger a little more roughly then was necessary. "Oh if I were that lucky" I muttered to Lucy sending her into a fit of giggles. "I heard that!" Susan snapped before she threw the dress over my head and pulled t down before tightening the ribbons down the back of the dress. With the dress finished the three of us left the room. There was a gala tonight celebrating the courtship and uniting of two nations.
Needless to say I didn't want to go, but I'd get to see Cor and Corin. They had arrived earlier in the day but Susan kept us so busy with getting ready I didn't have the time to greet them. As we turned the corner the boys were standing outside the door with Edmund and Peter. They both turned to me with large grins on their faces and I couldn't help but grin back at them. Corin still had his easy going boyish grin on his face while Cor adopted a more serious stance.
Corin was the first to hug me tightly and I couldn't help but squeeze him back. "Did you get shorter sister?" He questioned playfully, it was true, the boys had grown another foot. They were hitting their growth spurts quickly. I smacked his chest playfully as he pulled me close to him before letting me go so Cor could hug me. "You can smile Cor it won't kill you" I chuckled wrapping my arms around him resting my face into his shoulder. He chuckled hugging me back tightly. "I could say the same for you, you act as if you were walking to the gallows" he teased, "Now that's another long walk that she'll be doing two months from now" Edmund responded back only to receive a dark glare from Peter.
Cor and Corin exchanged looks as I glared back at Edmund for saying that. "Your highnesses" Mr. Tumnus said stepping forwards, "as customary, High King Peter and Princess Aria will start the gala with a dance" he said. I sighed before stepping forward taking Peter's offered arm as everyone else fell in line behind us as we entered the gala. We started the dancing as everyone watched. Neither one of us letting any sign of our fight break through the surface. "You look beautiful tonight" Peter said softly. "Thank you," I let my eyes roll over his tall muscled frame. He wore dark blue with gold lining and looked perfect. "You don't look so bad yourself" I told him a smile pulling at the corners of my lips as I quickly looked away. "Is that a genuine smile I see? Oh be careful before someone else does" Peter teased chuckling. No doubt desperately hoping I'd giggle for him like I used to.
I wanted to.
I did.
But I just couldn't.
Peter pulled me in a little tighter after that as he held me, other Narnian's and Archland alike joined in on the dancing. "Walk with me" Peter whispered in my ear. I turned to answer him when Cor caught my attention. "May I have this dance?" He questioned, Peter sighed. "Later?" He questioned me kissing the top of my hand. "Anything High King" I told him curtsying. He nodded before leaving in the crowd. Cor took my hand spinning me around before pulling me in close to him.
"I see you haven't taken my advice with Peter" Cor muttered, "What am I supposed to do just forget everything?" I questioned him, "No but you are expected to forgive him. You already have Aria and you know it so quite punishing yourself and him over it." Cor told me. I glared at him. "Who knew that a crown came with intelligence?" I muttered making him chuckle as he spun me around. "What am I even supposed to say to him?" I questioned him, "At this point anything you say to him would be welcomed" Cor replied with a roll of his eyes. "Cor!" I whined, "What? It's true and you know it! You could tell him to jump off a cliff and he'd do it in heartbeat if he thought it would make you smile again" he said, "now that's an idea" I muttered only to get a pop on my back from Cor's hand.
"I was just kidding!" I informed him only for him to raise an eyebrow at me. I narrowed my eyes, Father used to do that. "Look Cor you're too young to understand so why don't you just stay out of it?" I demanded breaking our frame before grabbed my skirts and leaving the dancing floor. Going to the terrace I sighed dropping my skirts. I didn't even notice the ocean in front of me. Nor Peter stepping up behind me.
"Everything all right Princess?" He questioned, I looked over my shoulder at him. "Stalking now are we?" I questioned him, he smiled at the comment. Cor was right, Peter didn't care if it was an insult or a compliment. He just wanted me to talk to him. Peter took that as a invitation as he moved closer standing next to me on the terrace. "Did Cor say something to upset you?" He questioned, the possessive tones filling his voice. I smiled at the thought of Peter trying to defend me against Cor.
"You could say that" I said softly, he furrowed his eyebrows at my comment before he offered me his arm. "A walk Princess?" He questioned, "and miss the Gala? Susan would have our heads" I told him. "It's never stopped us before" he snickered. He had a point. I glanced back into the Gala and both Edmund and Cor were standing there. Off to the side doing a poor job of spying. The two were setting us up. "All right" I told him taking his arm. I wanted to get away from those two before they did something else.