Black and Blue
AllzStar
The Telmarine villagers applauded and cheered as we trotted down the lane, throwing flowers and rice and other confetti-like things. I couldn't stop smiling. My cheeks hurt from it. But I didn't care. This was turning out to be one of the best days of my life here and Narnia; behind being Knighted and all the scenes of love between Peter and me, of course.
Caspian rode in the lead, looking very handsome in a clean tunic. His long, dark hair was combed and shiny, but not as shiny as the crown on his head. Peter and Susan were behind him. Susan looked beautiful in a red and yellow gown, her dark, wavy hair tumbling down her back. Lucy and Edmund followed them. Lucy looked like a little lady in her pink down, and when I had seen Edmund all done up in his rich brown tunic I had melted a little.
I took up the rear, and even though the focus was on the five in front of me, I was still having the time of my life.
We had saved Narnia.
My job was done.
*
We were at the Feast of the King, the celebration following the Coronation of Prince Caspian. I was sitting in between Peter and a Telmarine girl who I had yet to make acquaintance with.
I hadn't been able to eat a thing all evening. Peter kept shooting me sympathetic looks, but I didn't want to talk about it. It was too upsetting.
During the Coronation, I had had to leave the hall to rush to the bathroom, holding Susan's book over my rear to hide the hideous red stain.
My period had come.
There was no baby.
Part of me was glad; I was only fifteen after all, and far too young to have a child. But part of me was also greatly upset by this. It would have been Peter's baby, after all. There could have been a life inside of me, a life that we created.
So now I sat at the table, dressed in a plain black skirt and ivory shirt, miserable and a little heartbroken.
Peter tried to be sympathetic, and I fully appreciated his efforts. But when I had informed him of the news, he had not been able to hide his relief. I tried to understand his side. He, too, was too young to be a parent, and even though I was willing to give up my teen years by having his baby, he was not as willing to do so. I think that the idea of being a father so early frightened him.
The feast was finished and the dishes cleared away. Mine had not been touched.
The dancing began, but I just didn't have the heart. I couldn't have a good time.
Susan sat with me for the first little bit, but she soon got up to dance with Caspian. Peter had disappeared somewhere, I didn't know where. Edmund stayed with me; he actually turned down at least four invitations to dance from very pretty Telmarine girls who had been eyeing him all night.
"You should dance with one of them," I encouraged him, nodding towards the impatient wallflowers.
He shook his head. "I'd much rather sit here doing nothing with you." He turned his head to smile at me.
I tried to smile back, but couldn't. Instead, my eyes filled with tears.
Edmund rubbed my forearm. "It'll be okay, Jaxx," he mumbled. "You'll see."
I nodded, still not believing him.
Peter suddenly appeared out of nowhere. He took my hand and pulled me onto the dance floor without asking, and began gliding along with me in his arms.
At first I resisted. "Let go," I begged him. "I really can't dance."
Peter smiled cockily and lifted me so that my toes were on his. Now both of us were waltzing, and I finally allowed myself to smile. My tears disappeared and I felt lighter somehow.
I remembered about a year ago before the Pevensies' coronation the four of them had been given dance lessons. Susan and Lucy were naturals at it—even Edmund picked up the footing quite quick—but Peter had taken a bit longer to master the steps. Now, however, he was a perfect dancer: I was the one tripping over my own feet.
The pleasant song ended and we drew apart, applauding the live band of fawns and centaurs. Peter looked over at me fondly. "Are you feeling better now?" he asked thoughtfully.
"Yes," I replied. "Thank you."
He smiled in response.
The next song began and someone tapped me on the shoulder. Turning, I was surprised to see Edmund standing there, his cheeks rapidly turning a wonderful shade of pink.
"May I have this dance?" he whispered.
I giggled and took his arm. "You certainly may." I paused and looked at Peter. "If that's okay with my sir, that is."
Peter nodded once and strolled away to sit with Lucy and Susan and Caspian, who had finally taken a break from dancing for the first time that evening.
"Lovely party, isn't it?" I asked Edmund as he took my waist and we began a slower, much less complicated two step.
He nodded, shifty-eyed. I frowned slightly. "Ed? What's the matter?"
"Nothing," he murmured. He wouldn't look me in the eye.
"Don't lie," I said. "Out with it."
"I'm fine, Jaxx," he insisted, finally meeting my eye and smiling warmly. "Really. I'm just a bit tired."
I nodded. "Me as well. I'm exhausted." I yawned to prove my point.
We danced in silence for a moment, then, "Do you think we'll stay here?" Edmund asked.
"I hope so." I shrugged. "I think that's Aslan's call, though."
"Not Peter's?"
"I doubt Peter knows if we're staying," I replied. "But if he does have a say in it…even I don't know what he would decide."
The song ended quite suddenly. I let go of Edmund and wandered over to the table to sit with Peter and the others. Susan and Peter were deep in conversation, and when I was settled I realized that they were arguing.
"It's mad, Peter," Susan was whispering fiercely. "We can't stay, you and I both know it."
"But they can," Peter hissed back.
"But you won't leave her, will you, Peter? It will ruin your life Peter! You'll never truly grow up!" Susan lowered her voice so that I had to strain to hear her. "There's a whole other world out there, Peter. A real world. And like it or not, you belong there."
"You know as well as I do that I belong here." Peter's jaw was set as he tried to control his anger.
Susan huffed and spat, "Who are you, Peter Pan? When are you going to grow up?"
I cleared my throat, having heard enough of the ridiculous conversation. Peter and Susan looked up, and the expressions on their faces clearly told me that they hadn't known I was listening.
"With all due respect, Queen Susan, I think whether or not High King Peter remains in Narnia is his decision, not yours," I said, using the necessary formalities that were mandatory at the feast table.
Susan glared at me. "Lady Jaxx," she hissed. "I'm talking about what's good for the four of us. Lucy, Edmund and I can't return to the real world without Peter, can we?"
"Four of us?" Peter demanded, bewildered. "What do you mean, four of us? Jaxx is just as much a part of our family—"
"You're sixteen years old, Peter!" Susan cried, gripping his wrist. "When are you going to realize that both of you are too young to get married, too young to be in love, and far too young to give up your real lives to remain in some fairytale kingdom on your own!" And with that, Susan shot up from her seat and stormed out of the hall.
*
I breathed in the night air, grateful for its freshness. My head was still spinning from the argument earlier. I leaned against the balcony railing, sighing over and over again.
It was very late, but I didn't feel tired. It was to that point where I was so exhausted I didn't even feel it anymore.
Hands, gentle and warm, caressed the small of my back, and a shadow passed over me. I smiled a closed-lipped smile and turned to face him. Peter looked more regal than ever tonight, in his handsome indigo tunic and his sandy locks combed neatly. His blue eyes twinkled in even the dim light of the patio lanterns as I asked the most obvious question. "What will happen now?"
"You mean are we staying here?" The corners of his mouth twitched upwards. "I've no idea. I know that Susan wants to stay—"
"Are you sure?" I asked sarcastically, shooting him a playful smile.
He smiled back, and then continued. "But I don't know if staying is the best thing for us. We've already grown up here. I think maybe it's time to move on."
"I belong here," I said simply, stubbornly crossing my arms. "I don't want to go back there. There's nothing for me there."
"Your family? Your parents; your brother; your grand-father?" Peter raised an eyebrow.
"I don't need them," I said, waving the thought of my less-than-friendly family away. "All I need is you."
"Even if I choose to return?"
"You belong here, too, Peter. We all do."
"That doesn't mean we should stay here." Peter leaned against the railing, looking out at the river and the mountains.
"You've been spending too much time with Aslan," I joked, joining him.
Peter grinned. "Actually, I have." When I looked at him questioningly, he said, "Susan and I have been talking with him quite a bit. Where Susan is prepared to say good-bye, I am not sure that I am as well."
I sighed.
Peter continued. "But Aslan thinks that our time here is up."
"Peter, no—!" I protested.
He placed a finger to my lips. "Not yours. Mine and Susan's."
I felt the colour leave my face. "What?"
"There is no question that without Narnia you couldn't exist as yourself," Peter explained. "Aslan agrees with me; no matter what happens to Susan and me, you must remain here in Narnia."
"I am not staying here if you aren't," I said firmly.
"I know," said Peter, taking my hand over the railing. "That's why I'm staying here, too."
I gasped, my mouth open in a wide smile. "Peter—! But how?"
He shushed me again, and then took my into his arms, embracing me warmly and closely. He reached for something in his pocket, and came back with a fist.
I was too overjoyed to question this action. "How are you going to stay here? Why? How?" I kept asking why and how over and over, hardly able to believe it.
Peter gripped my waist and pulled me closer still. He opened his hand. "Because I want you to marry me," he whispered. "Here."
Nestled in his palm was a beautiful band of gold, a perfect little diamond cut neatly into place; the endless circle of an engagement ring.
THE END!
Just kidding.
Well technically it is. There's still a bit of an epilogue, but it'll be a short one.
I hope you liked it people!
Stay tuned for the sequel: THE PROPHESY!
Coming as soon as I can find the time.
REVIEWS PLEASE!!
AllzStar
