Thanks for the reviews. Hope you enjoy the next chapter!

Chapter 2

The High King didn't sleep well that night. Tossing and turning for hours in his hot bed until he finally gave up. It was mid-summer and so the cool sea breeze at night was wonderful. With that in mind, he decided to go for a walk in an attempt to clear his mind.

He padded barefoot through the corridors of the castle's royal wing and emerged out onto a balcony that looked over the sea. The moon was bright and illuminated the castle and cliffs below.

Staring out he cursed himself for the dreams that had plagued his fitful sleep.

He was a grown man now, and as such he was susceptible to a grown man's urges. He had had dreams of faceless, nameless women for years. But in his dreams this night, the women had changed, morphed into one person he could never have; who he never should have. Susan.

He swore viciously into the night.

'Sire?' a voice questioned from behind him and the King whipping round, instinctively grasping at his waist only to find no sword at his hip. It was still sitting propped up next to his bed.

'Forgive me, your Majesty' the deep voice of General Oreius apologised as he stepped from the shadows, 'it was not my intention to startle you'

'No apology necessary' Peter smiled, returning to his place looking out at the night.

'Are you well?' the Centaur questioned, stepping up to stand alongside his King

'Just couldn't sleep' allowed Peter, running his hands through his hair in frustration. There was no way he could admit the real source of his troubles.

But Oreius, who had known the young King for over a decade now both on and off the battlefield, knew an evasion when he saw it.

'Permission to speak freely?'

'You always have permission to speak free' was the immediate reply; Peter had considered Oreius his friend for a long time now.

'You look like a lovesick colt that has been refused by his mate'

Peter choked on the air in his lungs, looking over at Oreius in shock. Peter couldn't even speak for a good couple of minutes.

'If you were one of my men Sire I would suggest you are at the age to take a mate' Oreius suggested with a wry smile.

'But Human women are a bit thin on the ground in Narnia' Peter finished for him.

'There are a number of human women invited to the Ball, are there not?' Oreius pressed with a smirk.

Peter looked up to the face of General as he spoke, torn between embarrassment and interest. He had forgotten about that. They had been planning for the arrival Kings of Calomen and Archenland for weeks. But what he had forgotten was that the families of the King's had also been invited; wives, sons and now most especially, the daughters.

Yes, he decided to himself. At the ball, which seeing the sun beginning to rise over the horizon, was tonight, he would introduce himself and dance with some of the visiting princess'. Anything to rid himself the memory of…No, he wouldn't even think of it.

'What do you say to some early morning training?' Peter asked after a moment more of silence, eager for distraction

Nodding in agreement the King and his General made their way down to the training field, stopping for Peter's sword and change of clothes on the way, not returning to the castle until the mid-day meal.

XoX

'Susan!' Called Lucy, as she ran to catch up with her sister, 'the dressmaker with our ball gowns has arrived'

Susan smiled at the prospect, allowing herself to be dragged by the hand up to their chambers. Lucy was just as excitable at twenty as she had been at nine when they were coroneted.

'Where were you going?' Lucy asked as they walked.

'I was trying to find Peter' Susan admitted, she hadn't seen him since he had run away from her the afternoon previously.

She had only in recent hours come to the realisation as to why he had been so embarrassed. She herself still blushed at the memory. With no other humans in the Narnia court they forgot sometimes what was and what wasn't considered appropriate behaviour, they had had no-one to model their actions on.

From the way he had avoided her since then, she was certain he was as embarrassed as she was.

'Come on!' Lucy grinned, urging her faster.

Lucy had insisted that Susan be fitted for a new dress along with herself for the ball. She had argued that they represented the kingdom so they had to look their best for the visiting dignitaries.

Pulling her into main living suite of their wing, they found that the dressmaker and her assistants had already begun laying out their creations.

'Your Majesties' they greeted respectfully, bowing as the sister's entered the room.

Lucy had immediately run to her own dress, the faun's crowding round to enjoy her exclaims of delight. Susan could only stare at her own dress in shock. She had chosen the material and design herself, but she hadn't imagined it would look so 'grown up' when it was made up.

Each Queen was ushered behind a respective screen and helped into their dresses.

Susan emerged before Lucy and was shown to the waiting mirror to survey the dress.

Her mouth dropped open at her reflection. The dress was deep emerald green in a heavy ambrose (the Narnia equivalent to satin). Floor length with a fitted bodice, pulling her in at the waist and flaring at her hips and bust. For the first time she felt her 23 years. This was the reflection of a woman.

'My Queen, you look beautiful' uttered Griania the Faun dressmaker, as the others gathered round her cooing like doves.

'Oh Susan!' Lucy exclaimed, a flash of something crossing her face and for a moment Susan thought she looked green

'You look wonderful' Lucy enthused, causing Susan to blush a little. She was relieved when the admiration turned to Lucy, Susan had never been comfortable with a lot of attention.

Lucy looked beautiful as well in a floor length dark blue gown. It was a velvety material that hung in a somewhat medieval style, reflecting her innocent personality perfectly.

Susan continued staring at her reflection as the faun's fussed over her hem and the fastenings down her back. There would be human men at the ball tonight – well human by Narnian standards. She had always imagined that she would be married and at least have a child on the way at 23. Maybe it was time she fell in love.

She had never been in love.

She hadn't been immune to the handsome creatures that roamed their kingdom; the male Faun's, Centaurs and Satyrs. She had blushed many a time when one had kissed her hand in respect. Even their friend Mr Tumnus had caused her to flutter once or twice, but she had never fallen in love with one of them.

Unconsciously her hands smoothed down the soft material covering her stomach. She felt grown up in this dress, she felt like a woman. She would enjoy herself tonight, she decided. She would dance, drink the sweet wine and maybe kiss a man.

She would like to be kissed, she thought quietly to herself.

She was ushered back to the screen and helped out of her dress, so Griania could make final alterations.

While Lucy and Susan's dresses were finished another of their attendants began arranging their hair.

The whole process of getting their Queen's ready for the night's festivities took a couple of hours. The sun was beginning to fall in the sky when they were finally ready.

'Let us go down' Lucy begged, bouncing on the balls of her feet. They had left Lucy's hair long, only the front tied back in a pretty plait that led around her head like a crown. She looked lovely, the epitome of beautiful innocence.

Susan's hair had been put up though. It was wrapped in an intricate plait that spiralled on her head, leaving only a few strands free, which fell delicately around her face. A small amount of make-up had been applied around her eyes, darkening them and her naturally full lips had been plumped further with a small amount of rouge.

Susan was quite unaware of the sensual picture she painted and with her younger sister they descended from their chambers to the ball that awaited them.

XoX

Please review!

If anyone is interested, type in 'spiral French plait' to Google and you'll see what I was imagining Susan's hair was like.