Chapter two

General P.O.V

The royal family woke to the sound of bustling servants getting ready for the banquet and ball this afternoon and evening.

The guest in their separate wing of Cair Paravel were also waking up and slowly making their way to the dining room for breakfast.

Tyrone's P.O.V

"Hunter wake up it is time for breakfast" I said shaking my older brother, trying to get him to wake up.

"Get off me please Ty. I had a long night." Hunter mumbled while he made his way to the bathroom to have a bath.

"I noticed. Where were you last night?" I asked as I stood in front of him before he could get to the bathroom.

"I went to get a snack…"He replied trailing off with a distracted look in his eyes.

"What else happen when you went for your 'snack'?" I asked know that there is more to the story

"I saw Lucy and my has she grown. She is a young woman…. Well of course you would have noticed that yesterday but not me….no I cannot recognize her even two hours after I saw her again" He said as he turned around and went into the bathroom and started his bath.

I left our conversation at that. Thinking about what he said, Lucy, little Lucy, my best friend a young women? I had not thought of that when I saw her yesterday. I just saw my friend not really noticing the change in her appearance but of course she is, the reason we are here is for her coming of age ball….. I wonder who she will court, or if she will start courting right away. Knowing her brothers and Caspian you probably have to fight a duel to begin courting her. I wonder, would she court me, I have been in love with her since I first set eyes on her last year. When she came in surrounded by guards of different species. Hunter and I had snuck down to the foyer to watch our new guest arrive. When she entered our castle she was ushered away to our parents apparently to explain her sudden appearance on our doorstep. Later that same evening our parents introduced us and the butterflies in my stomach when her name comes up have been there ever since.

I am like an older brother to her she would never consider courting me….would she?

I contemplated these thoughts as I got dressed and ready for breakfast, knowing today would be a full day.

Lucy's P.O.V

Three hours before the beginning of my birthday feast I was sitting at my vanity trying to decide how I should wear my hair.

I wonder if the boys have gotten any courtship proposals…

"Lucy! Pay attention! Do you like your hair this way." Asked my ladies maid Lady Genivere.

"Well… maybe. I do not know, what do you think Genivere?" I replied while looking at my hair, that was in a cascading waterfall braid around the crown of my head

"Lucy! There you are. Genivere let me do her hair you go get her gown ready. You excited Lu you look a little nervous. I am sure the boys will have to fend off many eligible bachelors." Susan entered the room bustling around as she always does when she is exciteed.

As she came up to me she took over the task of dealing with my hair. She tried multiple ways but finally after about 15 minutes she decided on a beautiful up do. My hair was pinned in curls at the base of my head with my crown on top.

"Oh Su my hair looks beautiful. How did you do that so quickly?" I asked her in amazement of how beautiful my hair looked.

"Lu do you not remember that is how I wore my hair at my coming of age ball. I had to do my hair in ten minutes because we were running so late. I thought it would be nice to share something on your special day." Susan replied looking at me in the mirror.

She was right, it was nice to share something today. My big sister turned around and looked at the dress that we had chosen for today.

"You know that dress looks like you. I think we picked the right one didn't we?" She asked me, turning around again to look me in the eye.

"Yes we definitely did pick the right dress." I said turning around to admire my dress.

It hung there on the door of my wardrobe. The blue ball gown sparkled in the sunlight. The full gown looked incredible; the sleeveless top had sparkles all around it looked gorgeous on me. At least that is what I thought. Every time I looked at it I thought of the day Su and I picked it. That was my favourite day since we came back to Narnia other than when Aslan was here. We spent so much time together, me trying on more dresses than I could count. I remember Su rating each one out of ten. The one we ended up picking was the only nine and a half out the whole bunch I tried on. But Susan kept saying there was something missing, she gave up trying to tell what it was and we decided on the blue ball gown

"Your majesties you need to put your dresses on we have only a half of an hour before the feast begins." Genivere announced entering the room with Susan dress, obviously assuming she was getting ready in my room. She was definitely right I was not letting Susan leave my side or else I might start to freak out. Suddenly the butterflies in my stomach woke up.

I walked toward my dress and took it off the hanger. Thirty minutes and I will officially be able to court again. It cannot get here soon enough… for me at least.

"Lu before you head out I have a present for you." Susan said as she pulled out a shimmering gold belt. "I finally realized what was missing from your dress. Narnian gold. This belt is made from the same fabric as the lion on Peter's armour. Do you like it?" She asked

"Oh Su I love it! Your right this is exactly what my dress needed" I replied while caressing the beautiful gold belt

"Could you tie it on me Su?" I asked while handing the belt back to her.

"Of course I will Lucy"

Peter's P.O.V

I had been standing outside Lucy's door for ten minutes now. What was taking the girls so long? The feast starts in five minutes.

Wait the door is opening and…..Susan walks out.

"Susan is Lu almost ready we only have five minutes before her big entrance."I asked her as she walked out of the room in a pretty green ball gown. I do not have words to describe how pretty my younger sister looked in her dress.

"Hi Pete, you look nice too. Thank you for your complement on my dress I agree it is rather beautiful." She replied teasingly."Lucy is almost done do not worry she is just doing final touches on her makeup. She sent me out here to calm you down. You are more nervous than she is."

As she finished her sentence Lucy's door opened again and out walked a beautiful young woman in a blue ball gown with rhine stones covering the bodice and a thin gold belt around her waist separating the rhine stones from the rest of the blue skirt. As Lucy walked out she met my eyes and gave a little twirl to show off her gown. I could see in her eyes the want of my approval and pride in the dress she chose.

"Lucy…. You look gorgeous….. Are we ready to head down Caspian and Ed are waiting at the foot of the stairs to help me ward off… I mean escort you to the feast." I said while taking her arm and leading her to the stairs.

As we reached the bottom of the stairs we met Caspian and Edmund. Who could not take their eyes off Lucy.

"Wow...Lu...you look amazing. You look so…. grown up." Edmund said to Lucy in a dumbfounded way that I had never heard from him before.

"Lucy you look… Well there are no words to describe how wonderful you look" Caspian added seeming to have gained most of his composure while Ed had complimented Lu.

With Caspian, Edmund and Susan in tow we were off to the dinning room. The closer we got to the dining room the tighter a grip Lucy put on my arm. I could feel her heart quicken with nerves and excitement as we stopped behind the closed doors. I turned to her and said

"This is it. After today you will be able to court someone. As long as Ed and I approve of course. And you know Caspian doesn't have him mysteriously shipped off….By accident of course."Everyone chuckled at my poor excuse for a joke. "I couldn't be more proud of the gorgeous, intelligent and strong young lady you have become. I am sure you will have a wonderful time tonight and try not to worry about all the young men Ed, Caspian and I will be fending off all night. I really love you Lucy. Happy Birthday!" I finished my pep talk as the guards opened the doors and announced us, the royal family of Narnia.

Hunter's P.O.V

Wow!