I think this might jerk a few tears! I had so much fun writing this, I hope you all like it! Please review, I would like to hear what your thoughts are, and criticisms or what you think might happen next! Thank you for reading! :)x
It was nearly seven when Susan had finished helping me put on my practice tunic. It was white, with protective leather over the top. She and Peter walked with me down to the training grounds. There we were met by Edmund, Lucy, King Lune and Queen Lilian.
"What's going on?" asked Edmund, looking over his shoulder as he watched Isobella put on her armor.
"We're duelling," I told him calmly as I eyed her off.
"Yes we can see that but why?" Queen Lilian asked putting her hand on my shoulder.
"Well, I think she wants what's mine," I said motioning to Peter who had gone to talk to Oreius.
"Well in that case, no mercy," the Queen joked and returned to her husband.
"Mercy isn't in my vocabulary when it comes to fighting," I muttered under my breath.
Isobella started walking towards me and I met her half way. I could feel my face begin to redden with madness and contort into a raging expression.
"I hope you're as good as everybody says you are," she said drawling.
"I hope you don't think you can keep up," I shot back.
"Want to know what the winner gets?" she asked, a devilish grin spread across her face.
"Do I ever."
"The winner takes the King. No buts or ifs," she said.
"How can you possibly make him feel something towards you? He's not an object," I told her getting annoyed at the way she treated and talk about Peter.
"For a Telmarine, everything is an object," she paused whilst she looked at me up and down. "Get your armor on, I don't like to be kept waiting." And with that, that dark haired girl walked off.
I stalked off to the armor room, to get ready and retrieve my swords. I opened my cupboard pulled them out, laying them down neatly so I could access them.
"You won't need the chainmail," said Peter walking into the room.
"I know, I just took everything out," I said facing away from him. I brought my hands up to my eyes to shield the tears that could potentially start to fall.
Peter noticed though and hugged me from behind. "Hey, what's wrong? It's just another duel, you do this all the time," he said comforting.
"Pete, it's not just any duel. Were duelling for something and I don't want to lose it," I told him; one tear managing to escape the threshold.
"What are you duelling for?" he asked me.
"The only thing she or anyone else can't have. It's you Pete. The winner gets you, no ifs or buts." I told him. He quickly tightened his embrace on me.
"Well that's not going to happen, you're going to win. And anyway, I don't have to oblige if she wins," he told me stroking my hair.
"Well if I'm going to win, my armor needs to be properly secured. And you know better than anyone that I can't do that myself," I told him.
"Sit down then," he huffed, but smiled as he picked up my braces to strap on. "You're going to have to learn how to do this by yourself; I'm not always going to be able too."
"I like to consider it a good luck charm," I told him as he finished strapping on my right brace.
"Even Lucy can do this," he joked.
"Fine, leave me alone then," I told him.
"You know I can't do that, I made a promise to never leave you." At that, I kissed him in thanks. He never failed to make me feel better.
I was standing on the edge of the ring that had been marked out on the stone floor. Oreius, Peter and Edmund stood behind me.
"Remember to use one sword when blocking, it's easier to make an attack afterward," said Oreius.
"Remember to keep your swords up, and improvise, play of her moves," said Pete.
"You'll be fine, good luck," said Edmund. I rolled my eyes, trust him to be laid back.
"The rules," Isobella called out in her Spanish accent.
Oreius stepped forward. "There will be no foul play; biting, slapping, pulling of hair. Kicking may be allowed but once. The first to be disarmed shall lose." And with that, Oreius blew the horn and we began.
We began circling each other, her eyes narrowing on me. There was wooing and 'go Alexea!''s being called out from my supporters.
"Make your move," Isobella called out.
"Already have, that's how I got what you haven't," I said slyly. That comment made her face contort with madness and she lunged at me, I blocked her blade and swung back with my two, the curved edge just missing her leather clad body. She looked down, flustered.
This time I made the first attack, I blow to the bottom of the abdomen another to the side of the head that she just managed to dodge. She swung her sword wildly at my head; I ducked it and attacked thrice my blades crossing at her neck. Not yet disarmed, she reached her sword up and bought it down across my forearm. I began to feel my flesh split and blood trickle down. I pulled back my swords and attacked again, her previous action fuelling my fire of hatred for her even more. I stuck once forward, it was dodged easily and she swung at me, I ducked under it again and then kicked her blade, making it fall to the ground. I was now standing and bought one sword to the back of her head, and one sword to her abdomen.
I heard cheers from the other side of the ring.
"This is only the beginning," she spat.
"This is the first and last time a duel between us will happen. When will you understand, what's not yours, is not yours for a reason?" I hissed at her. I withdrew my swords and was embraced by Susan and Lucy. "Ow," I said when Lu had squeezed my arm where it had been cut.
"I'll take you to the healer," said Pete who stood behind me.
We walked away from the scene outside and into the castle; his hand tightly holding on to mine.
"I think she gets the message now," he chuckled.
"Well you never know, her daddy might try and persuade you," I laughed. He raised an eyebrow.
"Lord Caspian has never succeeded in that," he told me.
"That doesn't stop him from trying too." A grin broke out on his face as he ushered me into the healer.
"It was lovely to see you again, Prince Rabadash," said a blushing Susan as we saw off our guests the next day.
"Yes, it was a delight to see both of you as well," he replied kissing both our hands.
"Goodbye," I waved to him as he walked off. I then left Susan with Lucy and joined Peter.
"Maybe we can finish that picnic," he said as I stopped by his side.
"Too cold," I said pointing to the clouds.
"Chess?" he asked me, knowing I could never turn down a chance to beat him.
"You're on." Just as I finished that King Lune, Queen Lilian and Corin stopped in front of us to say our goodbyes.
"Princess, write to me soon! I love receiving your letter's darling," she said hugging me tightly.
"Yes of course! I love receiving yours too, they're better than talking to Pete," I joked. The Queen joined in as Peter made a scandalised face.
"King, I hope you had a wonderful birthday, we look forward to seeing you come to Archenland for's Corin's," King Lune said to Pete.
"Of course, I'd never miss a birthday of one of the future knight's of Narnia," he said tousling the boy's hair.
"Have a safe journey," I said as they got into their carriage and rode away.
"Are you really going to knight him?" I asked Peter surprised.
"Yes of course. When he's old enough though," he responded. I looped my arm through his, happy to see him thinking of these things.
"King Peter, Princess Alexea, thank you for your hospitality," said Lord Caspian walking over to us, his wife and daughter in tow.
"It was our pleasure. Thank you for helping us celebrate," Peter said shaking the Lord's hand.
"Thank you for an eventful weekend," I replied, smiling at the victory I held over Isobella. She nodded, her face bitter. Lady Gabriella waved as they too got into their carriage and left. Suddenly it was just the five of us and Oreius standing in the courtyard.
"What now?" Peter asked us.
"We have a game of chess," I reminded him.
"Oh yes, shall we?"
"Your majesties, have you forgotten the Council Meeting?" Oreius said walking forward. We all groaned. They were horrendous.
It was down to the last matter when I started to feel my eyes drift close. I surrendered to them only to be rudely awakened by Peter nudging me.
"What?" I whispered to him.
"Lord Peridan has a request from the Telmarines," he whispered back. At that I shot awake.
"Before they left this morning, Lord Caspian gave me a letter. It's contents are quite saddening and pose a great problem," he said.
"May we hear it then?" Susan asked slightly frustrated.
"Of course. Lord Caspian wishes to make an alliance..." he was cut off by Edmund.
"That's not bad then," he said.
"My King, there is more. The alliance is not by contract, but by marriage." My hand clenched Peter's as he looked at me concerned. "Lord Caspian wishes that his daughter Isobella makes a match with the High King."
My heart dropped, tears filled my eyes as gasps were heard around the room. Lord Peridan looked at the two of us.
"But Lord Peridan, the King is courting the Princess," Sir Macwood, a faun, announced.
"They are well aware of that; they have also proposed the Princess makes a match with their son who was unable to attend this weekend due to his duties. Lady Isobella will live in Narnia, Princess Alexea will live in Telmar." More gasps filled the room and Lucy grabbed my hand.
"What if we refuse?" Peter asked standing up suddenly.
"One may choose to refuse, but if you both do the Telmarine's will declare war." Peter sat down as quickly as he stood up. I was suddenly made aware that all the council men were staring at us.
"You have until tomorrow to decide," He said saddened, "I'm sorry, it is out of my hands." The meeting was adjourned and we all exited the room. Everyone returned to their rooms but me and Pete. We found ourselves entering the library and starting a game of chess.
"Maybe Lord Caspian can persuade you after all," I said as I moved my pawn to spaces forward.
"You don't think I'm going to agree to it do you?" he asked moving his horse.
"And I am?" I told him. "Must I remind you only one of us can decline?".
"I know! But we both will decline and we'll just have to fight them," he said taking one of my pawns.
"Peter we can't!" I told him, taking his castle.
"Why not? We have the best army around here."
"It's not about the army Pete. It's about our people. They won't be able to endure another war, nor another unfair ruler. I work with these people every day, helping them rebuild their lives. I will not put them through that again," I said moving my horse out.
"I don't want to either. But what about us?" he asked me, his eyes going the grey they did when he was sad.
"There is no way out, either way one of us or both of us lose. I decline, I have to watch you marry Isobella. You decline, you have to watch me marry her brother. We both decline, we'll be happy but the most selfish rulers," I told him.
"The Narnian's will understand, I'm sure they will. You see them when we arrive together at the parades," he said smiling trying to get me to change my mind.
"Pete, we've got to do this," I told him. "I don't want to trust me," I said wiping away a tear. "I told you I'd never leave your side and now I have too."
He took hold of my right hand and held it in his kissing it. "Neither do I, but you're right, our people come first."
"There is no way to get out of this, no way where no one gets hurt. They've got us in check mate Pete," I told him. It was at this point I started to sob, I couldn't breathe, my throat hurt, my vision was blurry.
Peter then took me onto his lap, and as I cried into his shirt, he cried into my hair. We both knew this was the last time we'd ever be alone. The last time we'd ever be this close. The last time we'd ever feel one another's touch. I clutched to the memories we'd made and hoped they'd be enough to help me through whatever else was to come.