"Ahh" she huffed, "Susan this is too tight" she whimpered holding on to a nearby armoire as her older sister tighten her stays (earlier form of corset, I'm not sure how far it goes back but I'm far too lazy to research my fashion accuracy, let's just assume that narnian fashion is as close to Italian Renaissance blended with early medieval influence *I got this sense from the Prince Caspian movie*)
"Hang on Lu, you really need to put this on" Susan persisted, tightening the piece of garment even harder, making the younger girl wince uncomfortably.
"Says who?" She agonized
"The fashionable ladies at court" she replied as she tightens the final strap and straightened out the bodice. "And besides, it accentuates your figure"
At the corner stood Lady Izildrom, she held the sleeves for the gown that needed be put, she sneered at the two girls while they did not look her way.
Finally when Susan put together the stays she asked for the sleeves and put it In herself for she despised the Lady Izildrom so immensely that she'd rather help her sister alone to fit the gown. The Lady Izildrom took notice into her indifference towards her
Lady Izildrom passed the sleeves brashly, making Susan raise an eyebrow
"Forgive me my lady" Lady Izildrom apologized, her face quickly turning sour when Susan turned back the other way. Trying to put the rest of the piece in the gown, finally as Lucy wore the gloves that her sister gave her she turned to look at the raven haired girl
"Lucy you are so beautiful" Susan exclaimed
The valiant queen smiled at the girl in turn "Not as Beautiful as you" she replied to her.
"Luce I will see you in a bit, I'll get my ladies to help me with my gown and I shall see you in the main hall."
"Okay I'll see you in a bit" the faired haired girl said.
When Susan left, Lady Izildrom remained quiet and composed she walked around and began to examine the wardrobe that belonged to the Valiant Queen.
There was one jewelry box that piqued her interest, she opened it and Lucy took notice
The faired haired girl walked over to the wardrobe and peeked over at the jewels the lady Izildrom was perusing
"Peter gave me those when he went to Archenland" She said
"They're very pretty" the lady Izildrom complimented
Lucy looked at the girl and smiled, the lady Izildrom was looking very intently on the emerald jewels on the encasement and the fair haired girl thought maybe she'd like to wear them. And so perhaps she'd allow her
"Perhaps you should wear it for tonight's ball" she proposed she grabbed the necklace and helped the older girl put it on.
"You are most kind your grace" the lady Izildrom thanked.
Finally when the Lady Izildrom helped put on ornaments around her flowing fair haired it was time they set out at the hall for her big entrance.
At the hall there were a set of stairs into a dais, and then finally into the spacious halls she saw the lurid lion banners displayed at the magnificent hallway, garlands draped of varying golden colors were in full view. The chandeliers hanging in the center with its crystal shining and reflecting all over the gold detailed into the tapestries.
Exquisite fashion of the noble men didn't go unnoticed either the most expensive fabrics worn by nobilities, in rich color violet and velvet the emblem of royalty and revered creatures intermingling and conversing within their social groups.
At last she was at the top of the steps, a faun graciously bowed before her.
"The Valiant, Queen Lucy" the faun announced and all heads turned to stare at her, as she walks across the hallway
"The Valiant, Queen Lucy" the faun announced and all heads turned to stare at her, as she walks across the hallway.
Her bright green blue gown embellished with gold was so becoming, her bodice accentuating her developing curves. The brown locks of her hair framing her round shaped face
She was not the conventional beauty like Susan, but beautiful to her own way, pleasant and something new to the eye. Susan was more of a mature kind but she embodied innocence and youth.
Everyone, even The Gentle Queen's suitor turned their heads to stare at the Valiant Queen giving her a split second of their attention only to her. She smiled at them In turn, but she did not care, no matter how handsome these young men were, they did not interest her.
She was only looking for a pair of brown, she really wished that the dark haired boy was seeing her pass the crowd wherever he is.
To be by her side as they converse just about anything. She misses him as always, it's a drill a daily thing she often thinks about, and she's pretty sure Susan is so tired of hearing about the dark haired boy so very often and complaining how he does not speak to her.
"My little sister, Happy Birthday" the golden haired king approached breaking her trance, taking her hands into his arms helping her sit on her throne.
"Thanks Peter" she replied informally. Smiling at him she looked at her oldest brother with such admiration. He was wearing golden red robes that were accentuated with square sleeves, he was very handsome and from the distance she could see the Lady Izildrom eyeing her eldest brother. And of course many other maidens that has taken interest in the magnificent king.
"Where is Susan?" The young girl asked, looking at the king
"I think she is with Edmund near the gardens" he replied bored. Looking at the creatures that were approaching them.
"I see" she said disappointed, looking at the creatures that has come to pay their respects.
After a bit of speaking to some of their subjects
Many of the ladies began to make their way into the marbled floor, and then men came young and old and then a boom of lively music came.
Lucy laughed, amused to the fauns that skipped faultily as they spin round with their maidens.
"Peter lets go in and join the dance" she cajoled, shaking his arms urging him to stand up and hop on in.
"Alright Lucy" he smiled, hesitated a bit and then he gave in.
They went on in to join the nobles and the creatures alike, dancing, spinning and lots of laughter.
Then the music began to slow down, maidens and young men formed their own partners. Switching every now and then.
Every young ladies were of course jealous, as the High King himself danced with his dearest little sister, they too wanted a chance to have him in their cards. It was a good while of dancing till a lady nearly stepped it on her shoes and pushed her aside to dance with Peter when Lucy saw it was the Lady Izildrom that took her place
"May I cut in," she imposed, rather giving the fair haired queen no choice of the matter.
Peter look somewhat perturbed but did not try to cause a commotion and carried on, he gave Lucy an apologetic look till he was carried away to the movement of the dance.
She was rather upset having pained of being abandoned and rudely pushed aside by her lady in waiting. she tries to look around awkwardly who to dance with next, no one seems to notice, some young lords and ladies were too engulfed in each other's company they did not notice what was happening, as the song was still in full session.
In the distance she looks for refuge and then she spotted a raven haired girl wearing a dark blue gown decorated with gold and red roses, then the head turned and revealed the Gentle Queen, she saw her but did not see the young king present as her escort, she gestured for her to come, but for some reason she gave her a curiously reassuring look and would not approach her otherwise.
The young girl was upset, why was her sister not coming to her rescue, Peter had abounded her already and while she was looking rather awkward with no partner whatsoever, it is unheard and embarassing for a young girl coming of age to be alone in the dance floor.
She was ready to storm out and disappear into the corners of the hall,
Except when she turned around she was grabbed by a pair of arms, she did not yet see who it belonged to for she was too shocked that someone was so rude to invade her space.
She was about to give them a mouthful when she looked up to the taller figure and saw a pair of brown locks and a piercing feeling as she gazed into his eyes.
His eyes of brown boring into her grey ones. It belonged to none other than the Just King, Edmund, and He was dancing with her. She felt the warmth emanating from his hands that were placed at the small of her back.
She couldn't look at him straight, and found herself staring down at the floor. Her cheeks becoming excessively warm as she leans in to his broad chest to avoid his gaze.
Then he stepped back letting go of her once more leaving the girl wanting for more and instead he followed the sequence of the dance
Not expecting for him to return as her dance partner she once more turned about to leave when a hand grab her own
"Leaving too soon?" He said in his raspy voice.
"N-no I-I" she stammered, having a quick glance at his face.
"I thought you.. were leaving" she said in an almost whisper
"Why would I do that? The dance isn't finished" his brass dark voice piercing unto her ears.
A few moments had passed, the song was dragging on and the beat of the slow percussion was unmatched to her own heart beat.
She knew she did not want it to end, but somehow it has to come to a stop or she might just die of a heart attack.
The song progressed even more to a sweet melody, she looked around trying really hard not to look at the boy before her.
Everyone around them had gotten even closer to their partners, it is only her that is restraining to get even more close to the dark haired boy (to note that there isn't much of a closeness in person in historical dances, said closeness were only put to practice around the time when the romance period begun or said classical dance, but for the sake of Narnia I permit it)
He then stepped closer, pulling gently At the small of her back placing his hands down to her lower waist.
He was really dancing with her, she wanted this and she knew it. Why must she react this way. In reality she begged the universe for time to stop.
She took a gulp, her heartbeat racing with imaginary horses following the intervals of a very fast metronome.
She felt a little sweat drop from the back of her neck as he leaned in even closer, grazing his lips ever so gently near her tiny ears, and his warmth escaping his mouth.
She could smell the fragrance permeating from his chest. The smell of Sandalwoods and hints of musks mixing in together intoxicating the younger girl.
"Why are you so tense" he whispered, his hands becoming warmer than ever as he held her still.
And then she felt it, forgetting all her other physiological senses because of the dark haired boy she felt a sharp pain that plagued her chest. It was swift but her vision started to blur until it blacked out voices fading and a pair of strong arms holding her safely.
The valiant queen had swooned