Disclaimer: Narnia and the Narnians are not mine. Lady Ariella is. Lion Chapel comes from Electrum's stories (go read them if you haven't…and Almyra's too…).
"You've seen Aslan!" Queen Lucy's delighted exclamation was everything that Lady Ariella had hoped. The whole of the Great Hall fell silent and everyone leaned forward in anticipation. "When? Where? What did He say?"
Lady Ariella paused to daintily chew her bite before answering. She quite enjoyed having everyone's attention centered on her. This was how things should be…Only the High King should be at her side and not this stranger prince.
"It was late this afternoon," Lady Ariella said when she thought the proper amount of time had passed. "I was just about to begin preparing for supper when my maids all fainted. I turned around and saw the Lion himself walking in my room. I haven't the faintest idea of how he got there."
"One rarely does," Queen Lucy said. "Tell us, what did He say?"
"Not much really. He mentioned some things about Narnia's sovereigns but nothing particularly interesting. I was just going to ask him about you when he disappeared."
"Oh." Queen Lucy sighed and sat back in her chair. "I do wish He would stay longer when He comes. It has been so long since we've seen Him."
"I'm sorry, your majesty. Is there anything I can do to help?" Lady Ariella asked sympathetically.
Queen Lucy shook her head. "No. He's not a tame Lion. He goes where He wills, when He wills. Thank you, though, for telling us of His visit. It is good to know that He keeps Narnia in His thoughts."
Slowly the noise volume grew in the Hall as people resumed their conversations and the servants began their usual bustle. Lady Ariella smiled to herself. The first part of her plan had succeeded admirably. When the four sovereigns rose to leave, she followed them to the doors.
"High King?" she said smoothly. The words tasted sweet on her tongue.
All four stopped. "Yes, Lady?" High King Peter answered. "Is there any way We can be of service to you?"
"Yes there is, Your Majesty. There was one matter of which Aslan spoke to me that I did not wish to discuss in public. Would you grant me a private interview?"
"With the Four or Ourself alone?"
"With you, Sire. My words are for your ears alone."
Lady Ariella waited hopefully. If he wanted to bring his siblings along it would make her plan far more difficult. Happily for her, the High King looked briefly to his siblings before they nodded and continued on through the doorway; he bowed and offered her his arm.
"If you will allow Us, Lady, We will escort you to a private room where none shall disturb us."
Lady Ariella smiled rested her hand lightly on the High King's arm. "Thank you, Sire."
As High King Peter led her down the hallway, Lady Ariella kept glancing sideways at him. He was wearing an elegant, gold embroidered tunic of rich green (the perfect shade to complement her own dress, she noticed) and his golden crown rested lightly on his forehead. She sighed softly. What bliss it would be to claim him for her own! Seconds after this thought, Lady Ariella gave a very undignified squeal and almost toppled over. Lost in her thoughts she had not noticed the stairway in front of them and had stubbed her pointed shoes on the bottom step. (She also found that keeping up with the High King was much more difficult than she had expected. His long strides were obviously considerably shortened but high-heeled shoes were not meant for quick walking.)
After the flight of stairs and another hallway, the High King led her into a gorgeous room. The richly carved walls were covered in tapestries so perfectly woven that they looked like paintings and golden light spilled through the towering window. Two ornate candlesticks stood on either side of a long rug leading to a small dais.
"Oh my," she said without thinking. "What is this place?"
"It is called 'Lion Chapel.' It is a place where we Four often come for reflection, peace, and prayer. None will come here without Our leave. Now, what is it that you wished to speak to Us of?"
For a split second Lady Ariella hesitated. If the Lion she had seen frequented this place then might he come when he heard what she was about to say? Nonsense. A lion was a lion and no matter how great this one was, surely he could not hear through stone walls.
"It concerns matters of the heart, Lord King. Your heart and mine."
"Lady?"
"Do not call me that! Call me Ariella, as I know you must desire. And let me call you Peter, dearest High King."
"Lady, We do not understand your meaning."
"Surely you must! For you must know that I traveled hither with no other intention but that of becoming your queen."
"It has been suggested to Us that such was your intention. However, Lady, you must know by now that can never be. You have, We believe, been gifted with a copy of the Codex Consors, written by our Royal Brother nearly seven years ago. It speaks clearly on the matter of the number the Kings and Queens of Narnia."
Lady Ariella brushed aside the High King's words as if they were dust. "Yes I know. I have read that decree. And it was about that very thing that Aslan spoke to me and I now wish to speak to you. You should know that at the end the Codex Consors" (Lady Ariella fought hard to keep an expression of disgust from slipping across her face as she said the hated name) "it includes the line 'except by the express wish of Aslan himself' or something of the like. The Lion spoke to me of that provision and has given me to tell you that you can revoke the Consors and make me your queen. Do you not see? The last obstacle has been removed!"
Lady Ariella tilted her head slightly and smiled in her most charming manner (the one which had caused many ladies to turn green with envy and many men to beg for her hand in marriage). Upon entering the Chapel, she had been careful to settle herself in a patch of light that set off her hair and her dress to their best advantage and now she used every ounce of her charm and beauty to woo the High King.
Several minutes of silence passed before King Peter spoke and when he did, it was not the words that Lady Ariella had been expecting.
"There remains yet another obstacle, Lady. One that you perhaps have not considered."
Hurriedly, Lady Ariella reviewed every obstacle that she could think of and not one of them remained. "High King, I know not of what you speak," she said, thoroughly confused.
"What if one of the parties involved in this match you speak of did not wish for you to become queen? And what if Our Royal Siblings did not wish to revoke the Consors?"
"Oh but you are the High King," she laughed. "You can overrule them. What use is there of being the High King if you cannot have your way once in a while?"
The High King's voice was strangely stern when he spoke again. "You have not answered Our first question: What if one of the parties involved in this match you speak of did not wish for you to become queen?"
"Oh but I do want to be queen," Lady Ariella tittered. "And you want me as your queen. So there can be no more obstacles. See? You even wear the green and gold as do I." Lady Ariella smiled coyly and stepped forward to slide one hand into King Peter's, batting her eyelashes at him as she did. "We were meant to be together, dearest. Surely you must see that."
The High King pulled his hand away from Lady Ariella's. "You are mistaken, Lady. We do not, and never have, wished to make you Our queen. Nor do We wish to revoke the Codex Consors. Four is the number chosen by Aslan to rule and four shall the number remain."
A/N—There you go. The "Lady" is brought face-to-face with the facts at last. How will she react? That remains to be seen. :-) Thanks to all who review. Enjoy!
Chapter next: On the Dashing of Dreams