Breaking fast, the most important part of the day,
Lucy sat alongside Susan at the far end and Peter at the opposite spacious dining hall with their platters set in assortments of courses and a seat missing an occupant. The Just was nowhere to be seen and Lucy grew impatient to the lack of explanation she's receiving from her siblings. as if they didn't even care where he was nor it mattered. Susan was far too busy staring at Peter like she's about to attack him.
"Where is Edmund?" She asked, with a frown on her face as she looks down at her untouched servings of buttered eggs and bread.
"I don't know Lu, probably scouting the grounds" Peter declared in defeat. as he proceeds to cut his slices of meat,
"but he hasn't had his breakfast yet" She persisted, earning a quick glance from Susan.
"Look Lu, Edmund is of age, he can take care of himself" Peter assured, "He's probably had it on his way there. you need no worry about him"
Peter knew that, but Lucy couldn't help but worry. The Just king had been spending so much time outside the palace scouting even when there's no particular threat posing in Cair Paravel. She really hasn't conversed with Edmund for the longest time even prior to when things were going astray diplomatically.
These days she spends far so much time doing nothing with Susan, and would only get the chance to bask in Edmund's presence when they are dining. She doesn't even ride with Peter anymore either.
When she asks if they could go out riding for a good sport, He would tell her that he has a meeting with a nobleman of the court, as far as Susan goes she too had lost the energy to engage in riding. Life had truly become sedentary.
—
Out of the corner of the dining hall appeared the Dark-haired boy. Lucy stared her heart starting to beat fast, well she did wish to see him, now that he is here she doesn't even know how to react. With her heart restricting her other emotions from properly manifesting she watched him enter the hall artfully, his sword on his sheath and his tunic slightly crooked and finally Peter took notice and addressed his brother,
"Ah Edmund, I trust the scouting has been well?"
The dark haired boy walked near the table, too near for the fair haired girl as she felt his warmth passing her briefly as he took a seat facing the High King,
"I came here to tell all of you-" the dark haired boy started, his voice filled with uncertainty and rather tired. "I do not wish to bear anymore bad news but, there's been an illustration posted all over the palace's grounds"
Peter looked grimly at his Brother and interjected "and what of this poster"
"No one knows who wrote it" Edmund distracted,
"What does it say?" Peter persisted rather agitated.
"The monarchs at fault" Edmund noted, "and a mockery of the four monarchs in a suit of a pig"
"They pillaged the port and stole grains near the border of Archenland" He said. "The palace is not safe either, one of the guardsmen had been attacked" he grimly said
She knew that there is a political unrest outside of Cair Paravel but she did not know that such threat had infiltrated close almost as inside the palace
Peter stayed seated, his nose flaring as he hits the table hard with his fist, making Susan and Lucy jump.
"Peter!" The gentle queen yelled as she stood up her chair. Her gentleness completely leaving her body.
"It's those calormens I know it!" Peter shot heavily, his anger getting the best of him. "send a word to Rabadash tell him that the Kings and Queens of Narnia will persist, we are not deserting Archenland" (Rabadash is the crowned prince of Calormen, he is very eager to conquer Archenland the neighboring country of Narnia)
"I forbid leaving the palace, even the gardens without escorts" Peter declared. Specifically looking at Susan with worry clouding his rationale.
"We are capable of protecting ourselves with or without escorts" Susan retorted.
"And Edmund will order his sentries to patrol at the main hall" Peter ignored, making Susan even more furious.
Edmund and Lucy keeping silent watching the scene unfold
Susan stood up in outrage and walked out, Peter groaned and decided to follow her anyway. The Just and The Valiant sat as they watch Their brother follow their sister.
There was an awful silence, tension and worry definitely present in her mind, the fear of her siblings safety...
Lucy amidst not knowing what to feel anymore due to state of things, became aware once more that it's just her and Edmund alone.
an opportunity for her to converse in the most untimely chances. She could not for the sake of the Lady Izildrom to bring forth the problem that Susan suggested to her, that she speak to the Just king about the matter. Maybe not this particular moment as things are escalating in a national threat.
Mere minutes passed sitting in silence, shifting her skirts uncomfortably under the table, her
Feet fidgeting carelessly
She tried so hard to start a conversation, she couldn't even bring to ask him about his day preceding what had just happened. She didn't know whether to just stay silent and wait for Peter and Susan or to wait for the dark haired boy to finally finish his platter and leave.
Instead she avoids all sorts of eye contact
as she search for the word to speak to him. She was afraid that she was boring him to death with the lack of conversing going on. But not one single topic just seem to enter her mind
She looked at him once more
He was looking over a little book of some sort, small enough to fit his satchel, perhaps she could ask what it was but for what is worth she just couldn't speak.
She looked straight unto him, took the chalice and drunk a good portion of water all resulting in failure trying to clear the lump stuck on her throat.
Too early and too soon, a faun came seemingly an interloper to the fair haired girl, announcing himself uninvited in the hall
"Your majesties," he bowed both at The King and Queen, "Queen Lucy you are required in the sunroom by The High King's command" the faun motioned an escort for the Queen
Lucy suddenly felt frustration, robbed of her time alone with the dark haired boy and better yet have not spoken to him for the longest of time, it was now or never.
"Edmund will escort me" she blurted, her heart racing by her quick decision and her face turning beet red.
The dark haired boy looked surprise for a brief moment not very long that the fair haired girl would notice, instead had the tiniest smirk at the corner of his mouth.
He stood up extending his arm for the young girl to hold. Her face downcast but noticeably red.
"Thank you" she said in a faint voice, taking a hold of his arm as they walked out into the hall.
The halls were ornamented with rich patterns, the windows letting in fresh air and a good portion of sunlight and his hair glistening chocolate brown, she couldn't help but notice the closeness she held just by holding unto his arm.
"Are you Ill?" He broke the silence sounding almost like a stranger, gazing at the younger girl
"N-no I'm fine!" She lied, avoiding eye contact at all cost. He did not address her endearingly. Not even through her family nickname Lu, or when the dark haired boy use to call her Lulu when they teased each other. It made her feel horrible, as if they were slowly drifting apart.
"Have you been well" she asked as they continued to walk,
"Fine and you?" he replied distantly, making her heart constrict even more Gripping his arm tighter
She can't let this happen, Peter and Susan already had drifted apart from the look of things, she no longer see them conversing as brothers and sisters instead like a Father quarreling with his wife.
With a leap of courage she says "we don't talk anymore Ed, We used to have fun when we were children's" she gripped even tighter.
The dark haired boy noticed the tension and a glint of strangeness plagued his eyes.
"Do you suggest we play hide and seek-" "sis" he teased, trying to lighten the air,
She looked confused by the change of his attitude "well I didn't say that" she pouted, feeling a little relieved that he's finally speaking to her even though it was a little odd how he spoke to her.
"Do you think Susan and Peter would finally talk to each other" she asked him casually
"They're doing more than talking when they left, I'm sure they will come to terms when Peter's fire is put down by Susan's gentleness" he remarked and Lucy giggled.
"Except Susan is also a raging fire" she added, and he smiled
"Well you would not want to fuel Peter's fire" he said, halting to a stop at a great corridor that waited before them.
So this is it, afterall she was the only one that Peter summoned, and Edmund was probably needed down at the grounds.
She felt sad as he let go of her hold motioning to open the door for her. She walked in and stood still till she looked back taking in the sight of him since it'll probably a long time till she gets another chance
"Thanks Ed. I missed you truly" she said with her heart melancholy, only with the purest intention of a sister's love for her brother. At least thats what she understood it was.
He did not say anything back as if he did not hear it. "I'll see you soon" he said yet with the most stoic voice befitting of the Just.
Her heart ached, it's that distant tone in his voice again and she felt it she didn't know why or what it is but it was there like a wall of some sort.
She closed the door and heard his footstep disappear.
Now she must look for Peter and Susan in this rather large sunroom.
Then there they were by one of the magnificent arches adorned with rich floras native to the Narnian soil.
The high king and queen along with the Lady Izildrom.