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Chapter Eight-Come What May

"Carina, are you sure I put this on right?" Lucy asked. "I look a bit…"

"Amazing?" Carina suggested, her eyes widening when the eighteen-year-old Narnian Queen stepped out from behind a curtain. "Wow, Lucy, and I thought I was going to be the center of attention…"

"Please, I don't look anywhere near as good as you. Where is everyone else?"

"They're still getting changed. You're the only one ready."

"Somehow that doesn't surprise me," Lucy sighed, shaking her head. "I'll be back in a few minutes." She left the room where Carina and all the brides maids were getting ready, and entered the room where Drinian and the groomsmen would be.

"Coming!" Peter opened the door, and his mouth dropped open in shock. "Who are you, and what have you done with my sister?" Lucy just rolled her eyes.

"Let me in before more people see me in this dress. I look ridiculous." Peter laughed and opened the door.

"Lu! What are you doing here?" Edmund asked. He, Drinian and the other groomsmen were all lounging on the sofas and talking.

"Well women take far too long to get ready, so I thought I'd come and talk to all of you."

"Let me guess, you took all of about ten minutes," Rhince grinned, and Lucy nodded.

"Less. I slept with my hair up so I wouldn't have to worry about doing anything to it this morning."

"Well you look stunning," Damien said, and the other men all nodded and murmured their agreement.

"Ok, whatever you say," she said, turning a bit red. "So-" she turned to Drinian.

"How is she? Is she nervous? She's not having second thoughts is she?" Lucy laughed.

"She's great, she's a bit twitchy, and she couldn't be happier so no." He breathed out a sigh of relief, and Lucy rubbed his back.

"Breathe, Drinian, breathe."

"So do you know who we're walking with yet?" Caspian asked, his eyes still not leaving Lucy. He hadn't been able to look away since she entered the room.

"Oh yes, I have the list with me." She took off the heeled shoe she was wearing and a small piece of paper fell out.

"You keep things in your shoe?"

"Well where else am I supposed to put anything in this bloody dress?"

"Good point. So…who-"

"Right. Drinian, you're already standing at the altar, obviously. Rhince, since you're his best man you're going first with Carina's maid of honor, her sister, Rebecca. She's the only one with black hair so you'll know who." He nodded, and Lucy turned to Caspian. "You're next, and you're walking with her cousin Elizabeth."

"You're kidding," he said, gaping at her.

"What's wrong with Elizabeth? She's nice enough."

"That's the Duke's daughter. I cant' believe this! Oh no…" He groaned, trying to ignore the laughter issuing from his friends.

"Well look on the bright side…atleast you'll know who to walk with." Caspian just glared at her, and Lucy looked at Glenstorm.

"Ok, you're next and you're with…oh, you're with me!" She smiled at him, and the centaur bowed.

"It's an honor, my Lady." Lucy didn't bother reprimanding him for the formality; she had learned this to be the centaur's nature.

"Ok Peter, you're after us and you're walking with Shaina."

"Excellent."

"Edmund, you're last, and you're with Is…" She stopped, and stared at the page.

"I'm with…" Lucy grimaced, and bit her lip.

"You're with Carina's other sister…Isabelle." Edmund turned white at the name. The silence in the room was unbearable, even though Rhince, Drinian, Damien and Glenstorm had no idea what was going on.

"Do you want me to ask her if I can switch with her?" Lucy asked him quietly, and he shook his head.

"No, it's only the name…I'll be fine."

Lucy looked over at Peter, who gave her a look that clearly said 'just leave him be.'

"When do you think they'll be ready?" Drinian asked, wiggling a bit.

"Soon enough, I'd imagine."

"Do you think I should go down to the chapel now?"

"Drinian dear, the ceremony doesn't start for atleast half an hour."

"I know, I'm just…"

"Freaking out a little?" Rhince suggested. "Calm down mate, there's nothing to be worried about."

"She's been gushing about how wonderful you are ever since I met her," Lucy told him. "Carina won't get cold feet." They continued to talk until there was another knock on the door and Shaina entered.

"I just thought I'd let you know that everyone is ready, so Drinian, you may want to get inside the chapel so you don't see Carina."

"Why can't I see her?"

"It's bad luck!" Shaina and Lucy said together. Drinian sighed and strode off toward the chapel, and was shortly followed by the groomsmen, bridesmaids and the bride herself.

When the wedding party was gathered in front of the castle doors, they could hear music issuing from inside. Lucy knew it must be the fauns; no one was as gifted as they were. The doors opened, and the procession began. Only Caspian and Edmund looked awkward as they walked. Caspian because Elizabeth was staring at him with a love sick expression on her face the entire time, and Edmund because he was deathly white and was shaking a little, for the woman he was walking with not only shared the same name as his deceased lover, but she looked almost exactly like her as well.

"Friends," Trumpkin began. "We are gathered here today to join the Lord Drinian and the Lady Carina in holy matrimony…" Lucy looked over at the two. Carina was shining with delight, and Drinian was fidgeting in excitement. She couldn't be happier for the two of them, but then she also felt a pang of jealousy. Not because she loved Drinian, but because she wanted the same happiness they were sharing…something that she couldn't have because of the dark haired beauty in the back of the congregation. "…To love and to hold, to-" Lucy tuned the dwarf out again and looked at Caspian. He had been looking at her the entire time as well, and he smiled at her.

It was that smile that made Lucy realize just how much she liked Caspian. It was that smile that made her realize she didn't even just like him anymore…she knew she was in love with him. That smile was what made her heart hurt…that smile was what made her feel complete. That smile gave her the sense of knowing who she was meant to be with.

She felt a few tears fall slowly down her cheeks, and she quickly wiped them away. She needed him…she needed him to live, to breathe, to be happy. She had never been more miserable than when they weren't speaking. And they couldn't be together until the Princess left. Could they ever be together? Would a relationship between the two of them cause tension between Narnia and Calormen? Would a marriage cause war with the far off country?

But then did Caspian even want marriage…did he even feel the same way about her? Lucy knew he had feelings for her, he had said so himself over and over again. But did he share the same sense of completion she felt when she was with him? Did he believe her to be his soul mate, or was she just a woman who he happened to like at the time?

"I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride." Lucy watched as Drinian wrapped his arms around Carina's waist and kissed her passionately.

It took all she had to keep from bursting into tears at this. What if Caspian didn't love her as much as she loved him? What if Araminta was right, and Lucy ended up alone forever? She wanted someone to love, someone to kiss…she wanted children, she always had. But how could she if she never married?

Lucy looked over at Caspian again as they processed back down the aisle. This time he was looking at Elizabeth, as she tried to engage him in conversation.

"My Lady, are you alright? You look un-well." Lucy looked over at the centaur on her right and said,

"I'm fine Glenstorm, thankyou for asking." 'I'm fine…' she repeated in her head. 'That's what Edmund always says, and I know he isn't.' She looked back at him. Isabelle was talking to him now, even though he was still much paler than usual. He caught Lucy's gaze and mouthed 'help me.' She snorted and shook her head.

"Congratulations!" Lucy cried, hugging the newly weds once the reception had started. Drinian laughed and swung her around, a habit he had that had started when Peter, Lucy and Edmund had returned to Narnia when Lucy was 14. "I told you she wouldn't get cold feet."

"You thought I'd get cold feet?" Carina asked, looking at her new husband, raising an eyebrow. Drinian looked down at the floor and said,

"I was worried…"

"Please, Drinian. How could I? I love you too much!" She kissed him, and Lucy walked off to the side to let the other guests congratulate the newly weds as well. She felt a strong pair of arms wrap around her from behind, and she smiled.

"Hi Peter."

"You looked awfully upset during the ceremony…is everything alright?"

"Yes. You know me, I get all emotional at the slightest thing." Peter laughed and led her over to the dance floor.

"May I have this dance, Milady?" He asked, and bowed.

"Why of course, kind Sir." She placed one hand on his shoulder while the other held her brother's hand. They began to sweep across the floor, Peter tending to step on Lucy's toes frequently. "Peter, I'm not the floor!"

"Sorry, you know I've never been the best at dancing…" Lucy laughed and said,

"I know…High King Peter the Magnificent, highly esteemed warrior and a fierce enemy, can't manage to coordinate his feet." Peter stuck his tongue out at her. "Very mature."

"You aren't so great yourself, Lu," he retorted.

"I only trip while I dance, I don't stomp on people's feet." Peter laughed at this, and Lucy continued. "Besides, if I took off these Aslan forsaken shoes, I'm sure I'd be much better."

"That is true, you've never been able to manage high heeled shoes."

"It isn't easy!"

"Shaina manages perfectly well."

"That's because she always wears them. I'd like to see you walk in these things."

"I'd really rather not… see, I like being a man."

"So do I, and yet I have to wear them!" Peter laughed again and the dance ended. Shaina pulled Peter back onto the dance floor, so Lucy used the time to sit on the floor against the wall and take off the strappy heels she had been forced to wear.

"Somehow I figured you'd end up doing that." Edmund helped her up and she grinned at him. They walked onto the dance floor, and Edmund began to twirl her around.

"How are you holding up?"

"I'm okay…she may share the same name, and she may look like her, but they are nothing alike. This lady isn't stubborn or hot headed…this lady is giggly and rather dull." Lucy laughed and said,

"So she's taken a liking to you?"

"She told me she thinks I'm cute." He glared at nothing in particular. "I'm not cute."

"Aww, yes you are!" Lucy said in a voice normally used for babies and household pets in England. She tousled his hair, and this time he glared at her. "Sorry. Is there anyone here that's caught your eye?" He shook his head.

"Of course not. Lu, I told you when she…when she died," here he gulped and breathed out a little bit, "that I would never love another woman."

"But Ed, you can't know that!" Lucy said in exasperation. "For all you know, what happened to Isabelle was meant to happen because she wasn't the right one for you." Edmund looked at her and finally snapped.

"Of course she was, Lu. And she's gone. This conversation is over." He stormed off ignoring Lucy's calls of "Ed!"

"Let him go." She turned to look at Damien, and he continued to dance with her in Edmund's place. "Would you care to explain what all that was about?"

"Not particularly…I'll tell you some other time."

"I suppose that will do. However, I have some information that might boost his self esteem a bit."

"Oh?"

"I've danced with about five ladies from Galma, and four of them were asking questions about him." Lucy laughed, and shook her head.

"The poor girls don't stand a chance."

"Somehow I knew you'd say that." He dipped her, and asked, "So how excited are you about Araminta leaving in a few days?"

"I couldn't be happier."

"Because you hate her, or because you want to be with Caspian still?"

"Of course I want to be with Caspian…Damien, I realized today that he is the only man I think I could ever love." Damien stiffened, and his expression grew a little colder when she said this.

"I see," he said shortly, and Lucy looked at him oddly.

"What's the matter?"

"Nothing, just a stomach ache."

"Ok…" she looked at him skeptically, but before she could ask anymore questions Drinian cut in.

"Hello darling," he grinned, and Lucy laughed as she spun.

"Shouldn't you be dancing with your wife?"

"Nay, she's dancing with her brother." There was a pause and Lucy was dipped again, and Drinian said, "I talked to Caspian."

"Er…ok? What about?"

"What do you think?"

"Oh."

"He thinks you don't like him anymore."

"What? How in Aslan's name could he think that?"

"I don't know, but he does."

"Drinian, I'm in love with him! Even if he doesn't feel the same way about me, which I highly doubt he could, I think I always will be in love with him…how could he begin to think that I don't-I need to talk to him."

"Of course," Drinian let go of her, and Lucy marched over to where Caspian was conversing with Araminta.

"We need to talk," she said sharply, and pulled him out of the ballroom and into the hall.

"What's up, Lu? Oh, and thankyou, by the way. It takes all I have to keep from slapping her everytime she comes near me." They both thought they heard a small gasp from behind one of the pillars, but decided it must have been nothing. The hall was empty as everyone was celebrating inside. "So what's up?"

"Er…" Lucy knew she needed to talk to him, but she couldn't even begin to think of the right words to say. "Drinian said…he said you think I don't have feelings for you anymore?" Caspian blushed a little and said,

"Am I right?"

"Of course not!

"Then why are you always acting so distant?"

"Well I can't exactly throw myself on top of you with Araminta here, now can I?" Lucy said sarcastically, and Caspian sighed in frustration.

"I'm sick of this tension between us! Araminta will be gone by tomorrow, we received the letter from Calormen three days ago. But she shouldn't keep us from talking or anything like that! I think you're using Araminta as an excuse from letting me know just exactly how you feel about me, because you're afraid." Lucy opened her mouth to retort, but Caspian continued. "Lucy, you know how I feel about you, and even a war with Calormen couldn't possibly make me feel differently. Why can't you admit how you feel? I'm constantly trying to decide if you like me, if you're over me…you never act the way you feel anymore! It's so unlike you, and I don't know what's gotten into you. Maybe I'm right, maybe you don't have feelings for me anymore."

"I don't have feelings for you? Honestly, Caspian! How could you even think that! I have endured months of Araminta, I have acted as well behaved as possible toward her, knowing that eventually I would be able to be with you. And you're accusing me of being indifferent? I think you're the one who's afraid." She glared at him, but then she realized what she said…she was afraid. She knew that. She had admitted it to herself during the ceremony, and here she was accusing Caspian…

"I am afraid! I'm afraid you don't love me!" They both stopped talking, until Lucy spoke again.

"I do, though," she said calmly, and began to spill all she had been thinking. "Maybe the reason I'm acting so 'distant', as you put it, is because I don't know if you feel as strongly about me as I do about you. I know I'm in love with you, my heart practically aches whenever I see you…and I have this sense of knowing you're meant for me. But how am I supposed to show that when Araminta is here, and you don't seem like you feel nearly the same way I do? How do I know you don't just like me at the moment and you'll move on in the next few months?"

"Because I won't, Lu! I've known that ever since you came back to Narnia. Those six months without you were miserable, and lonely, and I felt incomplete…and then you came back! My happiness was instantly renewed, and it was then I realized what I had been missing. Lu, I have loved you since you were 14…and I don't think that will ever, ever change." He stopped, breathing heavily. "I love you," he finally said, and then paused, letting the words sink into him. "I love you…Oh Aslan, Lucy, I love you!" He put his hands on either side of her face, and kissed her.

Though she was taken aback at first, she finally wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back. 'There is no way I will ever love anyone else this much,' she thought to herself, and she pushed him up against the wall, running her hands through his dark hair. Just as Caspian was mussing up Lucy's strawberry blonde locks, someone emerged from behind a pillar.

"You WHORE!" they shouted, and lunged at Lucy.

Hope you all enjoyed...next chapter should be up soon, but updates after that might be a little slower what with school starting and stuff