Beyond My Control Book #6

Chapter 6 Trouble

"You girls ready, yet!" I heard a frustrated Lucy call.
"Yes," I said, putting on my gloves.
"I was ready a while back," Susan muttered.
When I stepped out of my room, My younger sisters were waiting.
"You look beautiful, Key," Lucy commented, "And so do you, Susan."
"As do you two," I answered, sighing, "Can't wait until this is over."
"Make sure you are with civilized company," Susan told me.
"What's wrong with not...." I questioned
"Philip is here again and don't go near him, last time you talked about hunting. You were boasting about how you killed the Bartiger," Susan said annoyed.
"What's wrong with Philip?" I inquired, crossing my arms. "And I enjoy hunting."
"He's King Lune's servant! There's plenty of things wrong with that!" Susan was horrified. "And hunting is for men, Key."
"So." I retorted.
"Verity, you're a queen, not a..."
"I won't if that's what you wish," I answered miserably
"Susan, you shouldn't be worried about that," Ruth groaned, "So what if Verity talks to some servant boy about hunting."
"It's improper behaviour for a queen," Susan replied, "And don't just dance with Anwir, Tumnus, or our brothers."
I rolled my eyes.
"I don't know why you have to be so hard on Verity," Lucy protested.
"I know why," I muttered; she badly wanted Armand and me together, which was never going to happen.
"Are you girls coming?'Asked Edmund as our brothers came.
"Where is Andrew?" I asked.
"You know he has a suitor," Peter answered silly."He wanted to escort her to the ball."
"As usual," Edmund replied.
"We're here," Andrew said, as he and Belle came down the hallway.
"It took long enough," I stated.
"Shall we?" Peter asked.
"Of course," I answered coldly, grabbing Peter's arm. He pulled my arm through the crock of his elbow. Susan took his other arm. And Lucy and Ruth both took Edmund's.
We walked down to the ballroom. A chorus of applause rang out.
"Ladies and Gentlemen," a man announced, "I am proud to announce, High King Peter the Magnificient, King Andrew the Strong, Queen Susan the Gentle, King Edmund the Just, Queen Verity the Faithful, Queen Ruth the Patient, and Queen Lucy the Valiant."
Everyone bowed and clapped their hands. I tried to give every day my biggest smile.
And then the dancing began. The baroque, which I liked the best.
I stood and watched the others dance until Armand came up to me.
"Would you care to dance, your majesty," he bowed.
"I suppose," I nodded. He took my hand and we walked to the middle of the room.
"I'm sorry about upsetting your brother," he apologized.
"It's alright; Peter can be a bit overprotective at times," I replied; I caught sight of Adelaide standing with her mother, a stab of jealousy on her face.
"I can be that way sometimes with my sister; you should come to visit my place, my sister would be honoured to meet a queen of Narnia, and she loves your book. I find it quite exciting myself." He said.
"Thank you, Prince Armand, but I must say you are very blunt and rash," I returned.
"Well, I have to or else how would I get a beautiful queen like you to come and visit," he answered; our eyes met.
I blushed, "I will try, Armand, but there is a guarantee."
"Well, it would be a pleasure to have you at our home," he smiled down at me.
After our break, Irvin came up to me, "Queen Verity, may I have a chance to dance?"
"Yes," I nodded.
'So, I heard your friend Prince Armand is coming with us on the voyage," he told me, cooly; I could tell he was jealous.
"Oh," I replied, "Well, we just met. We aren't friends, well, not close friends, at least."
Irvin nodded in understanding.
That night, Peter came into my room. I was brushing my hair.
"How was the ball?" I asked, "You were watching me like a hawk and I'll explain." I set down my brush and turned to face him," Susan wanted me to dance with 'civilized men'"
He sighed as he sat down on my bed, "How did you guess."
"I just did, brothers they are easy to understand," I replied.
The door opened and Susan strolled in, followed by Edmund. He gave me that look, which meant, 'Don't look at me.'
"Verity isn't this exciting," Susan exclaimed, "Prince Armand has invited you to spend a few months at his place after the voyage."
Peter got to his feet, "Verity will not be visiting that prince, not if I have any say in it. She'll be going back to Tashbaan anyways."
"She will not be going back to Tashbaan. We agreed to only one year. Now what she needs is a husband," Susan returned."And she wants to see more of Archenland not just Tashbaan."
Peter wrapped an arm around me, "Verity is needed in Tashbaan to do some work for me and finish her education."
"Why is it so important that she finish her education? We didn't have to?" Susan asked exasperated.
"Maybe you should let Verity have a say in this," Edmund said, trying to quell the argument.
They both looked over at me, "Well, I think I'd like to visit Anvard, which I'm sure I'll have other chances since I'm a queen, but my education is important too," I said nervously.
"So you're valuing a chance to visit a Prince's home other than your education," Peter scoffed, "I can't believe that one handsome young man would turn your head like that, Key."
"No, that's not what I meant," I sighed, I grabbed my cloak.
"Where are you going?" Edmund asked.
"A place to think!" I yelled, stepping out of my room and slamming the door shut.
I went outside of Cair Paravel and walked down to the beach. Why couldn't they just let me make my own decisions? I'm a queen, after all, and I'm 17.
I watched as the waves rolled towards the shore. I stared over at the Splendour Hylene. Another problem met me. Lord Alaric and Tarkaan Birsha's planned attack. I couldn't stop it or tell anyone or death. This place could be flooded with spies.
"A beautiful evening for a stroll, don't you think?" I heard someone say.
I looked behind me, Irvin walked up to me,
"Yes," I nodded casually, "But I'm not out for a stroll, I'm out to sort my thoughts."
"What's the matter?" He asked.
"My sister Susan and brother Peter. It seems they're in control of my life not me," we began walking away from the beach.
"So what are you going to do?" He inquired.
"Well, I have other plans. Ruling with my siblings, which I should be doing and becoming a writer, but I haven't told them. You see, I already am a writer, and both of them won't approve," I explained.
"Why wouldn't they?' He asked confused.
"They would both think I was wasting time. Peter wants me to do some work in Tashbaan for our nation and to get a good education; as for Susan, she picked out a handsome young prince to marry," I answered drily.
"Well, you should tell them the truth," he replied.
"I doubt they'd listen," I laughed, "They're both stubborn."
"And so are you," he smiled at me.
"How did you know!" I asked surprised.
"I'm a good judge of character," he laughed, "You know I ran into the same situation with my father. But it's a long story."
"Oh, please tell me. I love long stories, besides," I sighed, "It might help me with my predicament."
"Alright, anything for you, your majesty," he grinned.