Worthy Of Love | Edmund Pevensie

nine

ACT TWO; SCENE NINE —
US AND THE DEVIL

THE WEEK HAD gone by far faster than Dolores and the Pevensie's had expected it to; despite them actually hoping that the days would go by quickly to get the meeting with Queen Magdalene over and done with. And now it was finally here. Only now, in the present they weren't so sure that they should've wished it came as quick as it did, and instead scolded themselves for not preparing each other with what may actually go down today. Trouble.

Dolores could do nothing but panic, it's all she'd been doing for the entirety of the day. She knew once entering said meeting she had to come across as collective and show her Queen like qualities, yet now, a few moments before she was set to enter the room with Magdalene and Susan, all that washed over her were nerves, nothing but pure nerves. For what else was she supposed to do in such a situation? Dance around the room feeling delighted to throw her life away for a man? Smile her way through a meeting she wishes to take no part in? She could only wish it were that simple, but quite frankly you'll find it was not.

She began pacing back and forth in her bed chamber awaiting the arrival of Magdalene, Susan was sat on the end of her bed watching the girl frantically attempt to pull herself together — which you'll find was clearly unsuccessful.

"Calm down, Dolores." Susan commanded, her tone was soft yet her eyes were set firm. "Get your act together, you can't act like this in the meeting, it'll only make you seem weak."

"Calm down?" Dolores repeated, snapping her head around to look at the eldest Pevensie girl with fury. "You want me to calm down? How can I calm down when the rest of my life will now be determined on how well this conversation with the Queen will go?!"

Susan sighed, rubbing the bridge of her nose with her pointer finger and thumb. "I understand that, Dolores. Yet if you plan to show no weakness you need to steady your emotions." She explained, arising from the bed to stand by her friend, her arm wrapping around Dolores' shoulders reassuringly. "Please, for the sake of yourself do not go into that meeting in the state you're currently in. It will only make the situation worse. Is there anything I can do or put in place to prevent you from cracking completely? I need you in there, Dolores, more than anyone. And I think it's safe to say you need yourself, we're doing this to help you specifically. We just want you to be safe."

Dolores relaxed against Susan's touch, the tenseness of her body now being replaced with something more calm and soothing. "I know, I know!" She repeated, groaning as she pushed her face into her hands. "I need to be brave, I can be brave, I know I can be and I will be. I just need a few minutes before entering. How long do we have?"

"Um, well . . . about that." Susan began, scratching the side of her head as she gave a silly excuse of a smile to her friend. "I overheard one of the Narnian's saying that Queen Magdalene has already arrived and is waiting for us in the main dining area. I managed to get us some time, which is the time we're occupying ourselves with right now, however, I don't think it would be too good of a first impression to keep her waiting. Whether we take a liking to the woman or not it doesn't matter, for now I'd say it's a safer option to stay in her good books."

Dolores crossed her arms together in an annoyed manner whilst groaning once again. "Perfect! Fucking perfect!" She exclaimed, sarcastically of course. "Well I suppose you're right on that one, we best get going or I'll be doomed and forced to marry a man I've only met once at a ball two years ago!"