An: So obviously you are here because of two: 1) Out of curiosity or 2) You liked the prologue and decided to keep on reading.
No matter which reason it is I want to thank you for reading. Am sorry to say but the next update might take some time
One last thing I want to thank RavingNarniacAnarane for being the first to review. You have no idea how much your review meant to me.
Chapter 1
(3 days later)
Mom has been buried yesterday and we where all tired and sad. Helen and Grace had made up, Charlotte was in control and only cried once since mom's death, Arthur was taking it better than I thought he would, and me. Well I was okay and moving on with my life also.
In fact we where all doing better, we were smiling and telling jokes. Things where going back to normal but that still didn't take away that empty space that we all feel in are hearts. It was as if a piece of all of us was ripped out and there was nothing to fill it with.
I was sitting at on of the seat surrounding the table reading a book when Grace ran in threw the door.
"Have you guys heard?" She asked us once she was inside we all looked at her.
"Heard what?" Arthur signed to her; she looked at our confused faces and shook her head.
"The Kings are coming to town." She told us. I rolled my eyes and returned to my book.
No offense to the kings but there were more important things in the world, plus I knew that they wouldn't pass threw here. Simply because nobody passes threw here, so why would they?
"That's sounds like a Christmas song." I heard Charlotte tell Grace, I smiled.
"Since when are you such a fan of the Kings?" Helen asked. I nodded clearly remembering that night three days ago when she insult King Edmund to death basically. Calling him a traitor and all because he had a crush.
"I agree on that when did you become a fan? You basically murder King Edmund and his whole family calling them traitors." I told Grace.
"Well excuse me for changing my mind!"She said to me fixing her hair in front of a mirror.
"In just three day's?" Charlotte asked her raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah well you know me, am very bipolar." She told us going to her room.
"Or crazy." Arthur said under his breath, I giggled.
Two minute's later Grace came out in a gold and red elegant dress. My mouth dropped and I looked at Arthur his eyebrows where raised so high they looked as if they where pulled up.
"Wow." Charlotte said.
"Umm do we even own that?" Helen asked Grace pointing at the dress. Grace looked down at the dress and acted as if it was the first time she saw it.
"Oh this old thing." Grace said going back to the mirror and fixing her hair again.
"Yeah that old thing that I used at the coronation." Charlotte said.
Oh yes I thought remembering that day Charlotte being the oldest out of all of us was dressed the most elegant that day. Mostly because we where hoping King Peter would fall in love with her but he didn't. Instead he fell in love with a woman named Beatrice.
I went back to my book. Still thinking about King Peter and his wedding…
"Grace please don't tell me you're hoping King Edmund will see you in that and ask for your hand in marriage!" I asked her putting my book down. Grace's mouth fell open and looked at me.
"How dare you even think that?" She said, I rolled my eyes. Grace is a terrible liar and actress.
"So that's what this is about" Charlotte said rolling her eyes amused.
"Of course King Edmund is 19 which is way over the age to marry. SO there going all over Narnia looking for his bride to be. Then once he pick's the girls he wants' as options they have a huge ball which is where he'll pick his wife." Helen explained to Arthur who was confused, he nodded and frowned.
"It seems unfair to treat women as if they we're prize's." Arthur commented, I was shocked that he would say this. I mean it was coming from the mouth of an eight year old but Arthur was the most intelligent out of all of us.
"Poor guy, his wife will only love him because he's a King." Charlotte commented eating an apple completely ignoring Arthur's comment.
"Well it's a good enough reason." Grace said sitting down at one of the table's chairs.
"Wow you're self-centered. You would seriously marry a man just because his a King?" I asked Grace she nodded.
"Well he won't marry you in that thing. It's tacky and old." Helen told her.
"Plus we live in the most deserted part of town; we're the only one's that live here. They won't pass threw here." Charlotte added.
"And lastly your 22 and he's 19. Are you crazy?" Arthur asked her. She rolled her eyes and looked at her hair some more in the mirror.
I shook my head and picked my book up.
"Umm Emma you might want to stop reading?" Helen said. I looked up at her as if she was crazy I had done all my chores.
"Why?" I asked her confused; I heard Arthur gasp and got up from his seat.
"It's the Kings…" He said going to the window, my eyes widen they actually came.
I heard a knock on the door, my eyes grew even bigger. I stood up from my chair , we all looked at each other.
"See this is what happens when you don't listen to me." Grace said smiling widely. Helen put her finger on her lips and put an ear on the door. Her mouth opened and she shot up with her eyes wide.
"It's them!" she whispered pointing at the door. We all looked at the door some more, until we heard another knock.
"Well we can't just leave them there!" Grace said fixing her hair some more.
"Why not?" Arthur asked looking at all of us. Maybe he isn't the smartest out of all of us…
"Because there the Kings of Narnia!" Charlotte told him as if it should be obvious.
"Oh that's such a big deal." Arthur said raising his hands up and waving them around. I shook my head and held back a smile.
"Actually Arthur it is a big deal." I told him putting his arms down.
"Well then open the door." Arthur told Charlotte. Charlotte nodded and slowly went towards the door to open it.
"No!" Grace said.
"BAH! WHAT NOW FOR ASLAN'S SAKE GRACE!" Helen asked extremely loud, I heard chuckle's from outside the door. Well this is entertaining my family getting all worked up for the Kings, the men that are responsible for our father's death.
"Great we're now the family of clowns..." Charlotte said putting her ear against the door.
"Charlotte putting your ear to the door won't make any difference they already heard Helen." I heard Arthur say. Helen frowned and blushed; Grace just stuck her tongue out at her.
Charlotte straighten up and went to open the door again.
"Wait!" Grace said, we all looked at her. "Is my hair good?" she asked us.
"No go fix it and leave us alone." Arthur said and got up and opened the door, Grace gave a little scream.
But it was too late Arthur had already opened the door to the two kings. One was blonde and it was obvious he was the older one because he had a mustache but the other one was a brunette like me. He had these captivating brown eyes that seemed friendly. Both of them where in there Narnia battle uniform and yes they don't look bad.
None of us did anything until Arthur said "Sorry but we have no bride for you here."
"Oh!"I heard the blonde on say while the brunette on chuckled.
I looked around at my sister's they where all frozen to there spot's. I quickly got up and went to the door. Back when the White Queen was in charge if you disrespected her your head would be cut off at the town square, am not sure if it's the same with the Kings and Queens but I don't want my head to be cut off.
"Well young man we still like to come in if you don't mind" The blonde on told Arthur but I could tell he was talking to fast for Arthur to understand. I went up to Arthur and put a hand on his shoulder gently. He looked up at me confused, I just signed to him.
"You shouldn't have done that it's rude." He shrugged and signed back.
"Saying the truth." I smiled I looked back at the kings, they looked confuse.
"Sorry. This is Arthur his deaf, you where talking to fast for him." I told the blonde one avoiding the brunette's eyes.
"Oh sorry." He told Arthur.
"It's okay it happens all the time." Arthur said forcing a smile. Charlotte who apparently had woken up from her trance came to the door.
"Sorry for Arthur his in a bit of a bad mood are mother just died." Charlotte explained saying the last word silently.
"We're sorry Miss and it's okay about the boy we where young once to." The blonde one said and continued "May we come in?"
"Yes please." Charlotte said letting them in.
"I'm Charlotte by the way." She said.
"I'm Peter and this is my brother Edmund." Peter explained pointing at the brunette one.
They entered the hut and I stood a bit to the left of King Edmund taking my book with me. By a bit to the left I mean I was at the far corner where I couldn't touch him. He's intimating and quiet those two don't mix well.
"Well umm this is Grace, Helen, and well you've meet Emma." She said stopping at me, oh god couldn't she had called me first they all turned to me.
"Hi." I said quietly looking up at them, then turned a page of my book.
"Well we're awfully sorry about your mother; would it be a problem if I ask you her name?" Peter asked, I looked up from my book.
Peter is obviously the one in charge out of the two Kings; it makes sense since he is the High King. Edmund's role is a right hand man, the one that if Peter is out of line or needs help he steps in.
"Margret Smith." Charlotte said obviously confused at why they would want to know her name.
Peter nodded his head and asked "Was your father Edward Smith?"
My mouth dropped open, what does he have magical power's. I saw the others also react shocked but Helen was the only one that spoke.
"How did you know?" she asked looking at both of the Kings.
"I remember him from are fight with the White Queen, he was a brave man." Edmund spoke up. His voice was deep but not too deep, I guess it was at the middle.
"Obviously." Arthur said sitting down at the table for this he received glares from Helen, Grace, and Charlotte.
"Please take a seat." Charlotte told the Kings still glaring at Arthur.
Peter and Edmund just sat down ignoring all the glares and comment from Arthur, maybe there use to it? When I went to sit down I notice that the only sit left was between Arthur and Edmund, oh joy this well be interesting me trying to keep Arthur from taking out Edmund eyes with his own fingers. I rolled my eyes and sat down slowly and signed to Arthur.
"Please just behave for 6 minute's." He smiled and signed back.
"No promises." I looked back at my sister who we're reading our conversation and glared at Arthur some more.
"Well um." Edmund said interrupting us, we all looked at him. He nodded at Peter who smiled and cleared his throat.
"Are any of you in between the age's of 16 threw 19?" Peter asked, well he get's down to business right away doesn't he?
My sister's nodded and looked at me, no need for words; Peter looked at me nodding.
"How old are you umm…" Peter asked.
"Emma and am 18." I answered quietly.
Peter just nodded while Edmund looked me over, well I feel uncomfortable. I glanced at my sister's they we're all fighting to keep a straight face, Arthur on the other hand was obviously enjoying my discomfort and was smiling as if he was the happiest man on earth.
"Well Emma." Edmund spoke up.
I turned to him and felt myself blush when I meet his eyes. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Helen smile and look at Charlotte. I didn't even bother to try and take a sneak peek at Grace I knew she was full of fury and jealousy. Trust me Grace I would love to switch places just to get out of this uncomfortable situation.
"Would you like to go on a walk?" Edmund asked me ignoring the smirks and frowns from all around the table. What can I do say no? His a king for goodness sake you say no to him and your disrespecting all of Narnia!
I nodded and he smiled in relief. His smiling in relief really? Well did he expect me to say no?
He stood up from his seat and helped me out of seat. Just to let you know I would have slapped his hand away if it wasn't for Charlotte's glares. They were basically telling me, you ruin this and I will cut your head off. He opened the door which I expected, put still I smiled just to shake my family of my back. While he was closing the door I saw Peter, he had his mouth opened.
Outside we just walked on the rode that led to town; it was actually a very long rode. The town was 10 miles away and even when you get to those ten miles you've only reached the outskirts of town. It was silent for most of the beginning of the walk but I liked it the silence wasn't awkward it was comfortable. The day was also calming the weather was warm and there was a breeze, flowers where blooming and birds singing. It was a perfect day.
"I wanted to go on a walk with you because you were kind of silent in there." Edmund told me after a while, I looked at him. He was watching the flowers; the sun was hitting his eyes which made them look bright and warmer than normal.
"Well I wasn't sure how to follow Arthur's little introduction." I joked, I heard him laughed. It made me smile finally someone thought I was funny.
"He reminds me a lot of myself." He said quietly.
"I hope that's a good thing." I commented trying to block out the thoughts of him being a traitor to Narnia.
"Most of it is." He told me looking away from the flowers. There was something in his eyes; I couldn't tell what it was. The silence came back after that, we walked some more and we're getting closer to town because I could hear some of the towns noise.
"Let's not go into town." Edmund said and stopped walking. I raised an eyebrow but did as he asked and we started walking back. Because the truth is I didn't want to go into town either. Edmund must have notice my curiosity because he explained.
"Without Peter people glare at me and make snarky comments. It's not that I can't deal with it, it's just I choice not to."
"Oh well that's mean." I said, Edmund nodded.
"People can be cruel." He commented looking back to the flowers.
"Well it's not right." I said under my breath.
Of course it's not right, every where Edmund went people treated him like garbage. It didn't matter if he was a king nobody respected him; all because of a mistake he made 8 years ago. Nobody should go threw that.
"Why do you say that?" he asked me it didn't sound like he was mad just taken by surprise.
"Well nobody should be treated that way no matter what they've done in the past. " I answered truthfully. I glanced at him, he smiled at me and somehow even though I tried holding it back: I smiled back.
"You're the first person other than my family to tell me that." He told me, I blushed. Yeah I said it I blushed like a complete idiot to be exact, the color of the roses was nothing compared to my face.
"Yeah well my mother was treated like that." I explained to him, he raised an eyebrow and slowed his pace.
"Why?" he asked me.
"When my dad died she didn't remarried, she just took care of us. Also she didn't throw Arthur away just because he had a disability. People started making up false story's that Arthur wasn't my dad's son. "I paused to check to see if Edmund was still listening, he was and his face showed that he was shocked.
"They made her an outcast, the women with five kids but without a husband." I finished looking away from him.
"Wow that's terrible." He told me looking at me, I nodded. "Do they ever treat you like that?" Edmund asked.
"I wouldn't know; she never let any of us into town. She went alone and avoided it as much as possible which is why we have a little crop field at the back of our house." I explained to him.
"So what are you guy's going to do now that she isn't here?" he asked I notice that we had stopped walking. I shrugged and looked away at the road. I hadn't thought about that, we we're already running short on food.
"Face the town I guess." I admitted.
Edmund gave me a small smile. "Am sure you'll be strong enough to not let them get to you."
He didn't even know me and he a encouraging me to go to town and face them; because I was strong?
We where getting closer to the house and I could hear the faint sounds of my sister's voice's arguing over who should make tea. I rolled my eyes, after this visit we won't even be allowed to be ten miles within the castle.
"Your family's different." Edmund commented, I laughed.
"Well we're defiantly…" I searched for the right word. "Special."
Edmund looked at me amused and stopped walking. "In a good way, you mean."
"Oh yeah of course." I lied he must have known I was lying because he started laughing. I laughed a little to maybe the royal family wasn't that bad.
After we stopped laughing we continued walking until we were almost at the door. I turned to Edmund to give him an awkward goodbye, but I found him in deep thought. I raised an eyebrow and looked around when I looked back he was looking at me.
"You know me and my family don't often do this but…" I heard the hut go silent well we have an audience now. "Emma would you and your family like to spend a couple of weeks at the castle, I mean until it's time for the ball."
I was sure I wasn't breathing. I knew that this isn't how Kings asked for marriage so it wasn't that. But if it wasn't marriage than what is it?
"If you don't mind me asking. Why do you want us to go to the castle?" I asked him. He shrugged and smiled.
"Because you're all so different and down to earth. Plus I've notice you're the quiet one and I would like to get to know you just a little bit better." He explained, I nodded.
I opened my mouth to say yes, but then I remember Arthur's comment earlier today: "It seems unfair to treat women as if they we're prizes. ". Do I really want to be treated like a prize?
Of course I don't, nobody would like to be treated like that. I opened my mouth to politely tell him no when the door opened.
"YES!" Grace and Helen shouted. Edmund chuckled and smiled at me, I just shook my head. Of course leave it my sister's to answer for me.
"I told you not to do it!" I heard Charlotte shout at them, they both looked back at her and smiled.
"Wow what a family I have. They take a sarcastic comment as a command." Arthur comment to Peter who smiled and looked at Edmund.
They looked at each other for a minute and then smiled bigger than before.