"Su! Wake up" the faired haired girl spouted, running along and yanking open all the curtains on the Gentle queen's bed chamber, drowning the room with rays of sunshine making her seem like she had just lassoed the sun all the way up into the older girl's chamber .
Susan groaned rubbing her eyes ridding herself of her slumber. While she shook her prodding the raven haired girl to get up
"Why so early Luce," she asked followed by a yawn
"This will be the last day I'd be considered a child, we have to make the most of the day" she announced happily.
"The ball will be tonight, and I want to spend the day a child, we shall both go riding and make flower necklaces!" She excitedly said as she plopped down to the bed next to the ebony-haired girl.
Susan giggled and sat up "Oh Lu, your card this evening will be as full as mine when I had my coming of age"
"Well, they didn't last more than five minutes because they were all scared of Peter. they knew if they stood by you, Pete would've beheaded them right from where they stood" Lucy recalled as she laughed at the thought. earning a smile from the older girl.
Now, of course, Susan's coming of age was of great splendour. how could it not be, her beauty radiated the whole country and the demand to publicly finally present the High Queen of marriageable age was a grandeur promenade. The whole palace was lit with lanterns that were almost like the brilliance of the sun.
The whole halls were filled with exquisite ornaments of red, green and gold and of course, her card. her very card was filled with noblemen that wanted to dance and woo her.
Whilst the Magnificent and The Just King's
either stood by the corners or sat by their throne making all the ladies of court hysterically disappointed as they only danced occasionally.
Many of them coming in all sort of shape and sizes both from Archenland to Calormen, even famed beauties tried ever so hard to catch the attention of the two kings, but neither of the kings had any interest for dancing or small talk.
Susan as far as Lucy could remember had her first dance with Peter. It was perfect, The two of them looked like they came from a painting a fairy tale one, with her beauty and wits and with his magnificence and quality
It was like witnessing a fairy tale scene often described in books. the raven haired girl looked so happy looking at him with so much adoration and reverence.
But now these past few months of strain had shackled their relationship, much like the faired haired girl she too, does not spend time with her brother Edmund as she used to,
Lucy sighed, only she hopes that this year finally, her coming of age, Edmund will fill up her card and to only dance with her all evening until the soles of their feet develop callouses.
She wanted no one else, not even Peter for that matter but him.
To grace him the honour of her first dance as she enters ladyhood. She would be as happy if Peter also danced with her, but for the past few years they've spent at Narnian court it has always been Peter.
She wanted the dark-haired boy, much like how Peter took Susan's hand leading her to dance in a pavilion of faeries.
One would suspect that Edmund is her favourite brother, even she believes so but that statement it in self isn't just as accurate as it sounds.
Susan walked over to her chest and propped it open and grabbed a box wrapped in paper,
"Oh Lucy, Happy Birthday," she said, "Go on and open it" she cajoled, helping her undo the intricate ribbons she wrapped around the box.
Lucy gasped,
It was a pair of gloves, hand woven and heavily embroided with hummingbirds and flowers of all sorts, there were daffodils, peonies and hydrangeas engraved in the silky fabric.
"It's beautiful! Su, Thank you so much, I love it" she expressed, sighing deeply with so much adoration for the piece of art she had just given her.
"It reminds me of spring" Lucy said, as she caressed the fine work of embroidery on the gloves.
"Lucy you are Spring, that is what I think you embody" Susan said, a very daring compliment to the faired haired girl
"If I am spring then Peter is Summer, he shine as bright as the sun bringing hope, warmth and protection" she blurted, ideas forming in her mind, Susan looked sad for a brief moment
"Warm I think he is a raging fire these days" Susan sarcastically noted. Looking a bit distant as she speaked her mind. Lucy pondered on,
"Su you would be Autumn, as the sun subdues the day becomes more tranquil and gentler bringing comfort to those that have been weary by the sun's vigorous energy."
She included, as Susan intently listened smiling to the little metaphors the younger girl had come up with.
"And Ed, He is Winter" - Lucy paused, searching for the right word to relate the dark haired boy.
"Ed and winter, winter is very cold" Susan questioned
"..aloof and reserved he embodies it. while winter may be cold he soothes the tiredness it let us to let go of our inhibitions and free ourselves of worries, maybe even to bundle up and drink hot chocolate by a comforting flame" she chuckled, "and let's not forget... a box of Turkish delight"
Susan smiles, she stood up to get ready while Lucy goes on,
"Winter isn't necessarily just cold-" the faired haired girl said, as her eyes linger on thinking about the dark haired boy.
"Oh Lucy, are you done with your metaphors, you haven't even changed yet" she replied, and stepped out of the divider with her riding gown.
"Oh!" The valiant expressed, "I came here to get you up and I'm not even ready" she joked.
"Well go on and change then" Susan said,The young girl ran out as she left for a few minutes preparing quickly to be suited in her riding gown.
—
After a bit the two queens met up secretly out in the hall when a couple of squires persisted They need be escorted to go out to the stables even without the permission of the High King the Magnificent of course.
It was this day that Susan decided that they defy and rebel against his orders of staying between the distance of the gardens and going far beyond to the woods that surrounded Cair Paravel. It is after all Lucy's coming of age.
And so they rode on, the squires stationed closely as the queens rode packed with the finest mane of the land, they rode on and on into the vast beautiful fields of dandelions. The sun in full blast as it dances with the soaring wind carrying tiny little petals from the golden dandelions.
After a good hour of riding, they slowed down and found a glade and propped on down to set down a respite.
"Things will get better won't they Susan?" The younger girl asked looking at the raven haired girl by her side
"What do you mean?" She asked confused
"I mean... Peter and Ed" she said looking at the golden dandelion by the distance from where they rode on.
"I don't know Lu, I truly hope things will get better" she said looking rather down casted.
"I miss Edmund" Lucy admitted, "He seems so different"
"He's always been different" Susan remarked
"I mean that he does not speak to me as he used to when we were children" the younger girl explained,
"Everyone changes Lu, maybe you expect him to be the childish Edmund you know?"
"I don't.. I don't know, I don't want him to be, it's just that he rarely even speaks to me at all about anything" she hesitated
"As if I don't even know him" the younger girl said in defeat.
Susan looked at the younger girl with concern and held out her hands in a firm hold.
"Lucy, I'm sure it's just because of other things happening beyond our borders. Trust me, maybe tonight he will even dance with you, as Peter danced with me during my Coming of Age. You will have the most fun" the older girl encouraged trying to cheer up the younger girl.
"I hope so Su" she forced a smile.
They sat for a bit and went to gather many assortments of flowers, seeing them piece by piece to make necklaces and tiaras. As the sun sets higher the squires requested for them to return back into the palace.
"This is it, it is nearly mid noon we should go back and prepare for tonight" the raven haired girl said, as she helped mounted her horse.
Lucy did just the same, stored the rest of their belonging on the saddle and rode on back with Susan.
much of their spare had been spent riding from the woods back to the palace that it seemed like night approached by noon
For the night, will be a long one and exciting one, the night she has long awaited to come of age.