Peviously in 'The King and The Statue'
"So … I think that now would probably be a good time to tell me."
Edmund turned towards Aria.
"Tell you what?" he asked innocently.
"I think it's time you admitted to me that you are King."
Authors Note: I needed a couple of quite specific characters for this chapter and as they have already been superbly written by Rthstewart, I have borrowed them from one of her excellent stories 'By Royal Decree' with her kind permission. It was in her stories as well that I first came across the concept of Royal Guards and although I have changed the names and characters, the concept is hers.
Disclaimer: I own nothing of Narnia, not a thing, not even a Dufflepud!
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Edmund for once was lost for words as Aria continued to regard him with an amused glint in her green eyes. His gaze darted away from Aria as, as per usual he found it difficult to think when trapped in her gaze.
As they approached the castle, he noticed several figures emerging from the front door into the courtyard. Two of the figures, he was certain were his sisters, the other two however … Edmund let out a low moan of despair, he had thought that they would be gone by the time that he was back. In fact, that was the main reason he had volunteered to lead the patrol of the Western Woods in the first place.
"Cooo eeee … King Edmund!"
"Oh Aslan" Edmund muttered fervently.
Aria regarded him with amusement.
"I'll take that as the only confirmation I'm going to get for now, but I think we need to discuss what else you may have chosen not to tell me at another time … Oh and Edmund."
The young King turned to Aria questioningly even as what appeared to be two bundles of silk and jewels approached rapidly, quickly outdistancing the two more soberly dressed figures with them.
"Don't ever make the mistake of thinking I'm stupid."
Edmund opened his mouth to reply and immediately started coughing as he was almost smothered by a wave of overly sweet perfume, followed quickly by a warm, sweet-smelling embrace.
"Princess Peony" he gasped politely.
"Oh King Edmund" gasped the perfumed bundle, blatantly ignoring Aria who stood beside the young King.
"We have been desolate without you. Have we not Begoina?" she asked turning to the equally lavishly dressed figure behind her.
"Oh, undoubtedly sister" Begonia replied fluttering her eyelashes at the King, who exchanged a bemused glance with Aria. "You have been too cruel in leaving us for so long King Edmund.
Looking around for help Edmund noticed that General Orieus and the soldiers that had accompanied him, were discretely and quietly moving away to the castle after exchanging goodbyes with Aria. His sisters were approaching with scarcely concealed grins of amusement on their faces. They knew how much the procession of spoiled pampered Princesses who flocked to Cair Paravel in search of a husband irked him but looked of no mind to help him out of this situation.
Desperately Edmund turned towards Aria, who the two Princesses seemed intent on ignoring. She was regarding him with a small, amused smile.
"Aria" he said, drawing her forward. "May I introduce you to Princesses Peony and Begonia. Your Highnesses may I present Lady Aria."
As one the two Princesses looked Aria up and down, taking in her unbrushed, slightly wild hair and her dirty and dented armour.
"Delighted I'm sure" murmured Princess Peony.
"Your Highness" Aria replied with a slight dip of her head.
"Lady Aria is it?" asked Princess Begonia with a curl of her lip. "Charmed."
Aria was saved responding by the arrival of Susan and Lucy.
Lucy at once rushed up to Aria, much to the evident annoyance of the Princesses.
"You must be Aria!" she said drawing the surprised girl into a hug.
"Edmund's messengers told us all about you. You poor thing, to have been stone all these years and now to awake to be surrounded by strangers."
"Lucy" Susan admonished her younger sister. "Perhaps Aria would prefer not to discuss this out in the open."
Susan nodded discretely to the two Princesses who were viewing Aria with renewed interest. Meanwhile Aria regarded Edmund with a raised eyebrow. Lucy nodded back.
"Princess Peony, Princess Begonia" she said, linking her arms with the two ladies.
"Perhaps we should go and inform my brother the High King that King Edmund has returned."
"Oh of course, your Majesty!" Princess Peony thrilled. "I have not seen the dear High King all morning. We must go find him at once."
And in a cloud of silk and perfume they were gone.
"Messengers?"
Edmund shifted uncomfortably.
"Yes … well … I thought it best to send word ahead so that suitable accommodations could be found for you."
Aria looked from Edmund to Susan. She knew that the message had been sent, not just to ensure that accommodations were prepared, but also to inform the Royals that a person, one whom Edmund did not entirely trust was on her way to Cair Paravel. Rather that make everyone uncomfortable by saying this Aria merely nodded.
"Thank you, King Edmund."
Edmund winced at the use of his title. It felt uncomfortably similar to his mother's use of his full name when her was in trouble.
Susan broke the tension.
"Shall we" she said indicating the entrance hall.
"Welcome to Cair Paravel Lady Aria."
As they entered the castle Aria swallowed a lump in her throat. It seemed like only weeks ago that she had left Cair Paravel for the last time. And yet here she was, over one hundred years later. Cair Paravel looked much the same as the castle she remembered and yet there were differences. Subtle and yet, for her profound, reminding her that she no longer belonged here, that she no longer knew what place, what role she would have to play in this new Narnia.
Rubbing her suddenly moist eyes, Aria noticed that Edmund was watching her, a curious yet concerned expression on his face.
"Are you well Aria" he asked. "You look upset."
Aria was saved from replying by the arrival of the Castle's butler. The normally composed faun appeared uncharacteristically ruffled.
"What is it Rynelf" asked Susan as she noticed the hovering figure. "Are Lady Aria's rooms in the guest quarters ready?"
At this point Rynelf looked if anything more ruffled.
"Ah, yes Queen Susan, I mean no … I mean … well … not exactly."
Susan and the others looked questioningly at the flustered fawn.
"Well, which is it Master Rynelf, are the rooms ready or are they not?"
"I have rooms ready for Lady Aria Queen Susan." Rynelf explained hesitantly.
"But they are not in the guest quarters. Perhaps it would be best if Your Majesties followed me and I shall explain as we walk."
With bemused glances, Edmund, Susan and Aria followed in the wake of the flustered faun.
"I was on my way to the guest quarters to select a suitable suite for Lady Aria" Rynelf explained over his shoulder as he led the way up the stairs.
"However, as I was turning towards the Guest Wing a large black cat ran across the landing."
Rynelf paused and indicated a stairway leading in the opposite direction to the guest quarters, one that led to the old wing of the castle, one that had rarely been used since the Pevensies had taken residence of Cair Paravel some ten years before.
"The cat ran up here" Rynelf explained leading them up a corridor at the top of the stairs.
"And into this room."
Opening a door Rynelf indicated to the Royals to precede him through the door. Entering Susan and Edmund found themselves in a lavishly decorated room. The walls were a pale delicate green with furnishings of white and cream. A fire roared in the large ornate fireplace.
"You did all this?" asked Susan. "It is beautiful, but how, how did you complete all this so soon. I thought this wing was practically in ruins. And why, why here and not the guest quarters?"
"You mistake me My Queen" Rynelf interjected.
"It was not me who prepared this room." He paused looking as if he hardly believed it himself.
"The room was like this when I followed the cat … I do not know who did it!"
Susan and Edmund stood in stunned silence. Turning to see what Aria thought of the rooms, Edmund saw that she had not moved from the doorway. The tears which he had thought he detected earlier were now plain to see flowing from her eyes.
"Aria?" Edmund moved towards her.
"What is it … what has upset you?"
Aria had been gazing around the room as if in a dream, but she now focused on the King before her.
"I am not upset" she explained through her tears. "I am happy, more than happy. I had been feeling out of place, or should I say out of time. So much has changed and yet this … this is just the same as it was when I left."
Aria smiled, the first real smile that Edmund had seem from her and it nearly took his breath away.
"This room … it was mine when I lived here."