Author's note: I do not own Narnia! I know the jealousy pitch seems so cliche, but I have a specific reason, which will somewhat help build on Christina's character in later chapters, so bear with me! Let me know what you do/don't like :)

"Hurry up, Susan, we have to get Christina ready!" Lucy urged the girl, who sat at the vanity spraying some type of perfume on herself. "oh, Lucy, settle down, she will be ravishing, don't worry," Susan replied, calmly standing up and signaling for me to take her place in front of the vanity.

And then, all too soon for my liking, they attacked me.

Lucy began twisting my hair in different ways up pulling it in every direction while Susan was attempting to put what looked like a crude, Narnian version of eyeliner on me. I was subjected to this torture for at least another half an hour. Finally, when it was over, they allowed me to step behind the changing screen to put on my dress; Susan tied it for me.

And then Ari came in and announced that it was time to go.

I lifted up the hem of my dress and walked down the hall with the queens and followed them all the way to the grand staircase, where Peter and Edmund already were. My heart sped up and I blushed as we approached them, looking down.

I stopped right beside Lucy and Susan, not making eye contact with either of the kings, scared that they would laugh at me.

I heard nothing.

After a long silence I looked up to see both of them gaping at me.

"What?" I snapped.

Peter was the first to recover. He closed his mouth, blinked, stepped forward, and gave me a tight hug. "You look….amazing," he stated after he had let go. Next it was Edmund's turn. He squeezed me tightly and pecked my cheek really quickly.

"You look beautiful," He told me; squeezing my hands tightly after he had taken a step back.

I flashed him a tiny, shy smile, and hooked my arm with his. We were about to proceed down the stairs when Susan grabbed Edmund's hand and stopped him. "Caspian said that he wants to introduce us personally, so we have to wait until he's presented to the court," she told us.

"He wants to introduce the Kings and Queens of old. So I can go now and avoid everyone's attention," I added hopefully.

Susan grinned, like she expected me to say this.

"Caspian also said that he wants you to stay with us. He's got a surprise for you."

My eyes widened and I'm pretty sure my heart stopped beating. A surprise? So I have to be introduced to all these….lords and ladies? And I have to descend the staircase all….graceful-like? Knowing my luck, I would be the one to step on the train of my dress and fall down the stairs and break my neck. In front of all those important people.

I gulped.

"Um….no. That's not happening," I responded.

Trying to use the element of surprise I ripped my arm away from Edmund's, gathered my skirts, and attempted fleeing the scene.

It didn't work.

Peter stood in front of me, hands on hips, smirking.

And Edmund stood behind me, just full out laughing.

Edmund wrapped his arms around my waist and rested his chin on my shoulder.

Soon enough Caspian came and greeted us. Caspian hugged both Lucy and Susan, telling both of them they looked beautiful (which, of course, they did) and shook both Edmund's and Peter's hands, laughing about some guy business with them for a second.

Then he turned to me.

He looked gorgeous, as usual. Tall, dark, and handsome, he was dressed in some very elegant clothes, and a crown was upon his head, along with all the other royals. When he looked at me he didn't say anything. Just stared. For a second I thought that there was a stain or a rip on my dress, but quickly reconsidered when he stepped forward.

He took my hand in his and placed a soft, gentle kiss on the back of it.

"Christina, you look…beyond words," he muttered, looking up at me.

"I hope you mean that in a good way," I laughed, trying desperately not to blush and not succeeding. "Yes, definitely in a good way," he replied, no hints of mocking or joking in his tone or his face. He was dead serious. Just then Edmund came over and looped his arm around my waist, saying, "Yes, yes she does."

Caspian's face contorted into a half smile, half grimace and I was worried that he was in pain. But before I could voice my worries a "page," as they called them in Narnia, announced Caspian's name and the King gracefully descended the stairs. Soon after that the Pevensies were announced.

"Good luck," Edmund whispered, winking at me as he walked down the stairs beside Lucy, Peter and Susan following side by side as well.

And now I was alone.

I paced at the top of the stairs for what seemed like seconds before I heard Caspian's loud, alluring voice call attention to all the nobles.

"Lords and Ladies, it is now my proud honor to introduce the newest lady of the Telmarine court, Miss Christina Montgomery of Cair Paravel."

My heart stopped. Me? A Lady? As in…..a noble? No. Impossible.

I took a step forward and looked down the staircase to see everyone smiling up at me, applauding. My heart sped up and a blush rose on my cheeks as I grabbed my train in my left hand, put my right hand securely on the banister and slowly began my descent down the stairs.

I felt like Cinderella going to the ball.

Finally, I reached the bottom of the stairs. Edmund met me there, placed a sweet kiss on my cheek. I blushed an even darker shade of red and smiled. Then I looked up and met eyes with Caspian.

"Caspian, your majesty, thank you. I never thought I could ever be a lady, or a noble, or whatever you people call it."

He chuckled, "Please, Christina, after everything you've done for Narnia, this is the least I can do."

I smiled and quickly rushed forward, hugging him quickly, then pulling away and returning to Edmund's side, wrapping my arm around his, looking down and blushing furiously. Bad Christina, you don't hug kings. Bad!

You idiot. You have your arm around one right now.

…..shut up.

"Well, come on then, Chris, let's dance!" Edmund cheered, pulling me to the center of the dance floor where there were already a dozen or so couples dancing.

"What dance is this?" I whispered hastily.

"It's the waltz, calm down. You're fine." He responded, flashing me a brilliant, toothy grin.

Edmund led me the entire time, and I only stepped on his foot once. When the dance was over we stepped away from one another and bowed. After that Edmund was whisked away by a thin, tall, gorgeous Telmarine girl who looked like she could be a super model if she wanted.

I found myself a chair and sat down, smiling and watching the Narnians enjoy the festivities. Susan was dancing with a handsome, pale gentleman that looked to be just a year or two older than her. Peter and Lucy were dancing on the corner of the dance floor, both giggling jubilantly.

Caspian was dancing with a blonde girl with blue eyes and flawless skin. She was average height, pretty thin, and her hair was curled to perfection. She looked like a porcelain doll. She smiled and talked with him, and he smiled and talked back, but I had the feeling that he wouldn't ask for a second dance.

"Christina! What are you doing, sitting down?" Lucy and peter had finished their dance.

"Not much of a dancer, "I replied, shrugging.

Peter glanced over his shoulder, his eyes widened a bit, then he grabbed my hand and quickly pulled me to the dance floor. Lucy just laughed and skipped off to somewhere. I was too surprised to even realize that Peter and I were dancing.

"Well, if you wanted to dance, you could've just asked…" I trailed off sarcastically.

"Sorry, desperate times call for desperate measures," Peter replied, spinning me around.

"What desperate times?" I wondered.

"The ladies. Any lady, really, telmarine or narnian. They're always hoping that they'll be able to 'woo a king' and end up a queen. Vice versa with the gentlemen. I just thank Aslan men haven't begun to go after Lucy yet," he sighed, dipping me back only slightly.

"So, they're basically after you for your money and your status?"

He nodded.

I pulled him closer and rested my head on his shoulder as he led me. "I'm sorry, Peter. Everyone should have their own chance at love; money and status and whatever else those women are after shouldn't get in the way of it."

He put his hand on the back of my head and tightened his grip on my waist, hugging me.

"Thanks, Chris," he muttered as the dance ended.

"Oh, Pete, you're not trying to keep Christina all to yourself, are you?" Edmund's teasing voice piped up from behind me. I giggled as he took my hand, spun me around, and smoothly began dancing with me, winking at his brother, he beamed in return.

"So, have you spoken to Caspian since before the ball?"

I shook my head, looking around the room, trying to find him. He was dancing with a girl who looked no older than 16. She kept trying to get closer and closer to him and he continued to hold her at an arm's distance away. The discomfort was obvious on his face.

"Poor guy….looks like he's having the time of his life," I muttered, looking back at Edmund.

He chuckled and pulled me closer. "So, it turns out that I'm a better actor than I thought I was," he stated, grinning smugly. "and what exactly makes you say that?" I questioned, quirking my eyebrows at him.

"Three different ladies, all older and married, have asked me about you," he said.

"Who? What does that mean?" I wondered, loosening my grip on his hand.

"See, in Narnia, there really is no such thing as dating. So, when a man begins to show interest in a woman," he winked at me and dipped me back, laughing as I squealed, "it basically means he's out for her hand in marriage. Or a good shag…" he trailed off.

"So do all those women think you're trying to get in my pants?" I questioned, somewhat irritated. "No!" he replied immediately, "They think I want to marry you. Which, honestly, I find quite amusing. They keep asking questions about our 'history' and my 'plans' for proposing."

At this I laughed. The idea of Edmund, getting down on one knee in front of me was hilarious. It was almost like your brother confessing his undying affection for you. Nothing but a joke shared between two people close to one another.

I was laughing so hard that Edmund and I had stopped dancing. He chuckled too. Taking my hand, he led me off the dance floor and to a table, where we both sat and laughed for a minute or two before we finally settled down.

"I love you, Edmund Pevensie." I stated, half joking, half serious.

"I love you too, Christina Montgomery."

"Oh, I'm sorry, I'm interrupting something, aren't I?"

I whipped my head around and found Caspian hovering awkwardly behind me, looking at Edmund with some un-nameable emotion. Edmund looked back at Caspian and smiled joyfully.

"No, no, not at all. Please, go ahead," he answered.

"I was just coming over here to see if Lady Christina wished to dance, but you two seem to be in quite good spirits, I would hate to break the moment up," he rushed, beginning to turn away.

"No!" I called, blurting it out before I could stop myself.

My eyes widened and I looked to Edmund to help me as Caspian turned back toward us and waited for someone to say something. "You're not breaking up the moment, Caspian, of course Chris would like to dance with you!" Edmund told him, his smile becoming just a bit smaller.

"But-"

"Yes, come on, Caspian, let's dance. I don't want to keep Ed from enjoying the telmarine women!" I teased, winking at Edmund as I stood up and reached for Caspian's hand.

Caspian let out a somewhat awkward laugh and took my hand. Edmund stood up as well and leaned in to give me another peck on the cheek, whispering, just loud enough for Caspian to hear, although he acted like it was meant just for me, "You know the only woman I enjoy is you."

Then he clapped Caspian on the back and began walking away, calling "Have fun!" over his shoulder.

Silently, he led me to the dance floor, where another waltz was playing, thankfully.

After about a minute of silent dancing I looked up and smiled at Caspian. He flashed me a breath taking smile in return, then looked away. He appeared to want to say something, but didn't know how to phrase it. He kept opening his mouth and closing it.

"Caspian, is something wrong?"

He stared straight into my eyes and shook his head, letting out a flustered laugh.

"So, you and King Edmund are getting married?" he wondered. My breath hitched. How would I respond to that? Tell him the whole thing? 'Nah, we were just acting like we were in love to make you jealous because really I'M in love with you'? Absolutely not.

"Where did you hear that?"

"All the married women are gossiping about it. The eligible bachelorettes of the kingdom are all in low spirits. One of their Kings is interested in a Lady," he really seemed to have trouble saying it. What was wrong with him?

"I had no idea news could spread that quickly around here," I muttered.

"So it's true then?"

"Umm…." I hesitated, what story could I make up now? "It hasn't been officially declared or anything of the sort. But Edmund has made his intentions clear." I told him.

Technically, it wasn't a lie. Edmund and I most definitely did not say anything or make any plans for getting married, seeing as how it wouldn't happen. But Edmund did make his intentions clear; he intended to make Caspian jealous.

"You two are very lucky. So, if you don't mind me asking, what are you two waiting for? Why not get married?" I tried not to laugh. "We're still just kids, Caspian. I'm barely 18, Edmund's only 16. We couldn't possibly get married now!"

"Age shouldn't matter," he stated boldly.

"It doesn't," I snapped. Why was he pushing the marriage issue so much? Did he want me married off so I could quit irritating him? Something of the sort.

"Then why don't you two get married. Here! In Telmar!"

"If you want a wedding so bad why don't you go marry Susan? Lord knows she'll take you quite gladly!" I practically yelled.

He was taken aback. The dance ended, but we both continued to stand there, holding one another, staring. I refused to blink or look away. I was not going to lose this. I would stay strong. He would look away.

After a few moments he realized what he was doing and let go of my waist.

Keeping a firm grip on my hand, he pulled me off the dance floor, out of the ball, and onto some balcony. I crossed my arms over my chest and just stared at him. He ran a hand through his hair and paced back and forth a second before stopping and staring at me.

"What do you mean?" he demanded flatly.

"What?"

"What do you mean Susan would 'take me quite gladly'?"

His eyes seared into mine. I had to look away. "The way she looks at you. It's like…" I tried to think of an example to use, to show him just how much Susan liked him, "It's like how Edmund looks at me."

"And how is that exactly?"

"Like you're the only person in the world."

Looking up at him, I saw he was staring at me intensely, hanging onto my every word. "She looks at you like you're Aslan himself. She loves you, Caspian." It hurt to say, but Susan really did love him. And He loved her.

"Christina?"

I don't think I'd ever been as relieved to hear Edmund's voice as I was right then.