We get to see a drunken side to Alexea in this one! And the all dreaded meeting and ball! I would love to know what you guys think about this chapter so keep reviewing! Thank you guys for reading as well! I appreciate it so much! :)x

Breakfast a few days later; the five of us were slightly excited for our trip to Telmar as we'd never been before. We were eating fast as we could run and we were talking a hundred miles per minute, forgetting the reason we were going there.

"I doubt it will be more beautiful than Narnia, they haven't got the sea view," said Lucy shovelling her scrambled eggs into her mouth.

"They're said to have great view from the mountains," quipped Edmund.

"They have the western sea Lu," said Susan.

"Hardly as beautiful as the eastern," I said smiling.

"You're right, although their castle is said to rival the Cair," Pete joined in.

"I doubt it," I said playfully.

Things around here had settled after a couple of days, it was back to normal except for the late night and early mornings visits. There was no dancing in the pavilion or walks to breakfast, but we were friends to some extent and I guess that'd be enough for now.

"Your majesties, we're ready to ride," said Oreius as he strode in. The three youngest Pevensie's got up with excitement and walked down the hallway to the carriages and horses.

I stayed still in my seat, things were definitely going to change once we arrived in Telmar and I wasn't sure if I was ready for it. "A minute please," I asked Oreius, he obliged and left. It was only then I still noticed Peter sitting as well.

"A little scared?" I asked him, finishing off my watermelon slice.

"Nervous. I have no idea what Isobella might do to me," he said laughing away his emotions. "You?".

"Yes, extremely. I only hope he and Isobella aren't identical in personalities," I told him laughing away my emotions too.

"Eighteen months ago everything looked as if it'd be you and me," he said looking at me, his eyes wide in bewilderment.

"Eighteen months ago, it was," I replied. He smiled and I smile back, a moment like this would be hard to come by from now on. According to the rules, you were not allowed to be alone in the same room as a man who isn't your fiancé or family member.

"We better go, we have a long trip," he told me holding out his arm for me to take.

"You're right; we need as much rest as we can for the night's festivities. Who knows what will happen," I joked.

"Maybe we can have a dance together?" he asked as we approached the carriages.

"Maybe," I told him as I let go of his arm and walked to my carriage. He smiled and wondered off to his horse.

Halfway through the journey Lucy fell asleep, her head on my lap as she curled up. She was snoring softly as Susan knitted and I tried to read a book. The road was quite bumpy under the wheels of our carriage, I wish I could ride the horses like the boys but according to Mrs. Beaver I shouldn't look dusty when being greeted by my future family.

"How much longer do you think it'll be?" asked Susan putting down her knitting and staring out the window.

"We'll probably arrive in the afternoon if we're on schedule," I told her as I slid my book mark into my book.

"I hate long trips, especially this one," she said looking at me sympathetically.

"Su, I'll still come and visit," I told her. We'd grown so close over the past year and a bit, I could tell what she was thinking/saying without her even doing it.

"It won't be the same, you know that. Who am I going to tell things too and ask advice?" she whined.

I laughed, "When have you ever asked me for advice? Besides you have Lu," I told her.

"Well I would've if I needed advice! I can't tell Lu the stuff I tell you," she exclaimed softly.

"I know, but we'll write, and you'll visit. Even though, I'm not going to be with you 24/7, you're still my sister," I told her.

"I know! Anyway on to more exciting things, looking forward to meeting Caspian Jacob?" she asked rolling her eyes at his horrendous name.

"A little bit, but it doesn't mean I want to marry him," I joked.

"Hopefully he's better than that sister of his," she quipped.

"Yes, I feel sorry for your brother," I replied laughing.

For the rest of the tripped we gossiped, laughed and acted as sisters did.

As we were on the outskirts of Telmar, the boys joined us in the carriage. They were covered in dust and had to get cleaned up before the initial arrival. Although it was awfully squished, we enjoyed rides like this together. Lucy, by this time had woken up and now occupied my window seat at Peter said on my other side.

"Look, look, there it is!" she screamed frantically pointing to a dark coloured castle that was nearly hidden by the orange leaves of a forest. It was certainly no Cair Paravel, but it looked wonderfully beautiful.

"Wow," I said.

"I can see why they'd compare it to the Cair," Peter said softly.

"Well I wonder if their parties will rival ours," said Su. We turned to her laughing, trust Su's mind to be the one already on the parties.

"I'm sure they won't," assured Edmund through his laughs.

The carriage stopped out the front of a staircase that led to a courtyard where all the Telmar Lords and Ladies had gathered to greet us.

"Now or never," muttered Peter. We piled out of the carriage and ascended the stairs. Once we reached the top there was only a few faces who I recongised.

"Who are all these people?" I said turning to Edmund. He had the most knowledge when it came to people we should know but didn't.

"Many are Telmar Lord's and their families, we'll be introduced to them," he replied.

Just then, Lord Caspian approached us, he hands in the air as he welcomed us. "Kings, Queens and Princess' of Narnia, welcome to the Castle Oakwood."

"Pleasure to be here," said Peter shaking the man's hand.

"My wife Lady Gabriella," he said as the woman walked to us.

"Wonderful to see you again," I said as we kissed cheeks.

"My daughter Isobella," he said smirking as she walked over to Peter.

"Wonderful circumstances to see you all again," she exclaimed as Peter took her hand and kissed it. I winced in pain at the sight and I felt Lucy's grip on my hand tighten. I opened my eyes only to find Isobella giving me a victorious glare. I looked away from her as I tried to hold back tears.

"And, my son Caspian Jacob," he said bringing the boy towards me. He had tan skin, dark hair and green eyes like his sister, although he was somewhat more gorgeous.

"It's a pleasure Princess," he said as he took my hand and kissed it.

"The pleasure's all mine," I said giving him a small smile.

I sat in Lady Gabriella's sitting room with the others as we had afternoon tea.

"I trust your journey was pleasant?" asked Lady Gabriella as one of her servants poured us tea.

"Very, although we wish it'd been shorter," Susan said taking a sip.

"More time to get ready for tonight," I joked. Susan and Lucy laughed, Lady Gabriella just smiled and Isobella, once again, had a sour look on her face.

"Do you know what will be happening tonight?" asked Isobella.

"No, I'm afraid not," I responded, trying my best not to go over and claw her eyes out.

"We'll be announcing to the guests and the Telmar kingdom of the alliance made by the two marriages. I trust you've announced the news to Narnia?" she asked.

"No, not as yet," Susan responded for me.

"Well I hope it'll be done before the wedding," Lady Gabriella replied sourly.

"Of course, Lord Peridan said we have four months until the weddings. Time will be found in between now and then," I told her harshly.

A shocked expression crossed her face, Isobella only smirked. I raised an eyebrow in question. "No my dear, your wedding is next Friday. Peter and Isobella's wedding is in four months."

"But today's Tuesday, that means it's only i-."

"In eleven days," Isobella finished for me. Her face was now contorted in smugness. I resisted the urge to hit her. I could feel the sobs stuck in my throat.

"Ladies," said a voice as the doors were pushed open. I turned to see who it was.

"Lilian," I sighed and ran over to the women, hugging her. She hugged me back and I began to let the tears come out.

"Darling," she said wiping the tears away from my eyes as we sat in her room.

"It's been awful," I told her still sobbing.

"I can only imagine," she replied.

"The wedding is in eleven days," I told her.

"I know, that's why I came. Lady Gabriella and I have been writing, she mentioned to ball and the alliance. I received the invite and came straight away. She said you might need a mother figure, as it'll be hard to marry someone you do not know," Lilian relayed.

"She said that?" I asked surprised.

"I know, it's very surprising, but she understands as she was in the same position once."

"You'd never know," I told her sniffing.

"You seemed to be fine until I came though," she said stroking my hair.

"Seeing you after getting the news that I'd leave behind my old life in eleven days, kind of made me very emotional," I told her.

"I understand, but everything will work out, it has too," she sighed as she pulled me into a hug.

There was a knock at my door; it startled me from my peaceful state of mind as I tried to finish the book.

"Come in," I said as I placed the book down.

"Princess," said Caspian Jacob as he walked in and bowed.

"You don't have to bow Caspian Jacob," I told him and smiled.

"You don't have to call me Caspian Jacob," he said laughing.

"Then what?" I asked.

"Friends call me Jake," he explained.

"Jake it is, and don't call me Princess, Alexea's fine," I told him. From his friendly demeanour, I could tell he was the absolute opposite of his sister.

"Well Alexea, shall I escort you down to the ball in our honour?" he asked.

"Sure."

We walked arm in arm towards the ball room. By the time we got there the music was already filling the room as did the smell of food.

"Have we missed the start of dinner?" I asked him.

"No, we Telmarines do things differently. There is no set dinner time, you can eat or dance whenever you want!" he exclaimed over the music. "We'll have a dance later," he finished as he let go of my arm and walked over to a group of boys.

I looked around; most of the room was filled with women, many of them looking at me with severe glances. I suddenly felt self conscious, until I saw Isobella walk towards me.

"Fantastic ball isn't it?" she said drawling.

"Very," I replied.

"They envy your dress," she said, looking across to where I was staring.

"It was a gift," I told her looking for Susan. I spotted her getting twirled around the dance floor.

"A beautiful one at that."

"Why are you being uncharacteristically nice?" I asked her glaring.

"I've got what I want, no need to be nasty," she said looping her arm through mine to walk around the room.

"You still haven't won," I laughed.

"Won what?" she asked waving to another girl.

"Peter's love," I told her.

She laughed at me, "Oh darling, this was never about love, simply the title."

I pulled my arm away from here, ready to strike. I was going through living hell so she could have a title! The nerve of this girl was beyond me.

"Lex," Peter said as he saw my anger. He walked over and pushed the two of us apart.

"Oh Peter," Isobella drawled as she rested her hand on his chest as he stood next to her. "Shouldn't we dance?".

I rolled my eyes in disbelief.

"Of course Is," he replied. I gawked at the two and they strode off to the dance floor. I couldn't believe what was happening. I started to get hot, the sleeves on this dress gave no room for air the cool my skin. My breathing became limited and before I knew it my eyes began to roll back. Now, instead of seeing the muted colours of Telmar, all I saw was black.

"Alexea," said a Spanish voice as I awoke. I rubbed my forehead and sat up, finding myself outside on a balcony. "Are you okay?" asked Jake.

"A little better," I told him as I accepted the glass of water he held out towards me.

"What happened? He asked as he sat down on the seat beside me. The air was starting to cool and from the balcony we could see the sun finally set.

"I was talking to your sister," I said taking another sip of my water.

He nodded his head, "She can be quite poisoness," he responded.

"Tell me about it. My whole life has suddenly been infiltrated by it," I told him.

"You're not the only one," he told me.

"What has she done to you?" I asked him, intrigued by the answer.

"She dragged me into this charade."

"Of course," I said nodding my head.

"It's not that I'm not honoured by being able to marry you. Trust me, I am, it's just that I love someone else."

"Join the club," I told him. "What's her name?".

"Eva. We'd be friends since we were little. I was about to propose, then my sister started to scheme," he told me.

"We're both miserable," I laughed.

He thought for a second, "You're right, we are! You cannot be with Peter, and I cannot be with Eva. At least we've got someone to be miserable with!" he laughed as well.

I stopped laughing as did Jake. "I have a feeling that as long as we're friends, this whole arrangement might be manageable."

"I agree. Between us, let's call it 'just friends'?" he asked.

"Just friends," I said taking the hand he stuck out to shake.

"Alright, let's go dance, they'll be wondering where we are."

We walked back into the ball room arm in arm. We had made it in just in time for the announcement of our engagements. Many of the Telmar's were overjoyed. The only saddened faces were the ones of the Pevensies', Jake, myself and a girl who sat in the corner.

"It was a wonderful party," I said as Jake walked me back to my room.

"Yes. I do hope you like your ring," he said. The ring I had received was white gold; it held a circular red ruby with one diamond on either side. Even though it wasn't from the person I would've hoped an engagement ring to be from, it was awfully pretty.

"I adore it," I told him.

"Picked it myself," he laughed.

"It was very well picked," I told him laughing a little too much, once again thanks to the amount of wine consumption.

"Lex?". I identified the speaker by the use of my nickname.

"Peter?" I half screeched in a ridiculous voice. Jake started laughing even harder.

"Be quiet Lex, you'll wake everyone up," Peter whispered. "Come on, I'll take you to bed."

"I'm doing that," Jake said seriously.

"It's okay, my rooms next to hers," he replied cheerily.

Jake's face broke out into a smile, "What if my terrible sister see's you?" he asked cheekily. I had to try and stop the giggles from escaping me.

"I already walked her to her room," he said smiling at the drunken boy.

"Well King, I am not one who has or ever will deny you two your happiness together," Jake said in a matter-of-fact voice.

Peter laughed at the boy. "Thank you Caspian Jacob."

"I'm Jake to my friends!" he yelled as he made his way to his room. "Goodnight Alexea."

"Goodnight my Lord," I said giggling. "Let's go Petey," I exclaimed.

"Someone had a little too much fun tonight," he responded as we walked down the dark hallways.

"I had to drown my sorrows. Seeing you twirl the devil around made me feel horrible," I said frowning as I leaned on him a little unstable.

"Not to this extent."

"Oh hush, I'm trying to make the best out of a bad situation," I told him as we entered my room.

"By drinking excessive amounts of wine?" he asked sarcastically, whilst taking off my shoes as I fell into a seat.

"You don't get to tell me what to do!" I yelled at him. "You're not my fiancé," I said holding up my left hand and showing him my ring. He stepped back, wounded by my low blow.

"Well where is your fiancé now?" he asked pulling back to covers of my bed.

"He was doing this until you interrupted!"

"Lex, stop! You're making things worse," he yelled at me as I hopped into my bed.

I knelt of my knees facing him. "I'm making things worse? Well where were you when your fiancé admitted this whole scheme was for a title? Or when I fainted, huh? And where was the dance you'd asked for?" I told him, pointing at him drunkenly.

"I'm the one who took you outside, I'm the one who got you water. They insisted I not be there when you woke, so you and Caspian Jacob could 'bond', do you really think I'd leave you in that state?" he asked.

I glared at him, an unnecessary rage burning within me, "Well in eleven days you will be leaving me! I'm getting married." This comment hit Peter like a slap in the face.

"Go to bed, Lex. You'll regret not sleeping tomorrow morning," he said pushing me down into the bed.

"Stop telling me what to do!" I yelled at him again.

"Yeah, I know. I'm not your fiancé," he said tucking me in.

I laughed at him wickedly, "I'm starting to be glad you're not my fiancé, you're starting to become bitter."

"I'm bitter because I can't be your fiancé. I'm sure you don't mean that anyway," he said staring at me as I curled towards my pillow.

"How do you I don't mean it?" I asked him sarcastically.

"You wouldn't say that if you weren't drunk. But if you do mean it, prove it," he said kneeling beside my bed so we were face to face.

"I hate you." It took those three little words to crush Peter that night. I closed my eyes, not really knowing the amount of damage I just caused. He kissed my cheek and said good night. I swear I felt a tear hit my face. When he'd exited the room, I touched my cheek and sure enough, I felt salty water that was Peter's tear.