After the End (Narnia)

Chapter VIII - A Planner's Plans

Edmund woke up the next morning with a terrific idea brewing in his mind. Ever since he was younger, the black-haired boy had always dreamt of having a proper ball. A night full of dancing, food, dressing up - perhaps a masquerade! - had always enchanted Edmund. He had never expressed his interest in such an event - Peter had always regarded parties of any kind as silly and feminine - but now seemed to be the perfect chance for Edmund to speak his mind. He was an adult and a King, now. He deserved to run something of his own. And Caspian would be the perfect person to ask for help.

Caspian was polishing swords in the armoury when Edmund found him. The repetitive sound of the cloth gliding over the metal had always been calming to Caspian, and he often found himself polishing the swords during his free time. Edmund smiled as he approached. "Caspian, my friend. I have an idea," Edmund started, eager to put his plan into action. Caspian was uneasy at Edmund's casual tone of voice. "The fact that you preface the idea by calling me 'friend' makes me a little wary," Caspian laughed.

"Well it's nothing bad, I'll assure you. Although it has been a source of embarrassment for some time," Edmund explained with a kinder, less mischievous smile.

"Go on," Caspian's eyes returned to the repetitive task of polishing.

"Well, I want to throw a party of some kind. But not a Narnian party. None of this cavorting around the woods you know? Something proper, and fun, like a masquerade ball. I've always wanted to organise one, and Susan's always wanted to attend something similar. It would be the perfect way to welcome Susan back officially, and have some fun," Edmund explained, out of breath at the end of what was practically a paragraph in a sentence.

"Not the most masculine of aspirations, Ed, but it is a good idea. A great one in fact. Sounds like some of the parties we used to host in the castle," Caspian replied, taking another sword off of the wall.

"The castle?" Edmund was surprised. "I don't remember anything of the sort happening in Narnia. And I lived during the Golden Age. It was called the Golden Age for a reason you know."

Caspian laughed at how much Edmund had sounded like Eustace. It was easy to forget the two were related, but it was moments like these where it was clear they both had Pevensie blood. His face sagged as he tried to explain the blunder to Edmund. "I mean the castle I lived in as a boy. The Telmarine castle, you know," his eyes were distant as he relived it all.

"It was a type of dance called a Ernteton Party, held at this time of the year. The idea was to ward away the winter with dancing and merriment. It was always a great cause for celebration and an excuse to meet up. The food was always divine - I still remember those hot chocolates well - and the dancing was the best bit by far. My father always danced with me. He taught me to dance, in fact. He would spend the whole night telling me stories about Telmar and Narnia. They were some of the best nights of my life. They were cancelled after my father died."

"I wish I could have seen them," Edmund replied softly. "I want to make my ball something like what yours was. I want it to be memorable for years to come."

"Well then, Ed, we have some work to do. Us Telmarines had a strong reputation for partying, and I'm going to do everything in my power to help you make this the party of the century!" Caspian had a strange light in his eyes now, beaming at the idea of a different sort of party.

Edmund beamed back at Caspian. He was more than ready to get moving on the party plans. "So, first of all, we'll need to organise music..."

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Susan, Lucy, and Jill sat in one of the castle's many bedchambers, relishing in a much-needed pamper session. The current activity seemed to be experimental hairstyles, and Jill giggled as two thin pigtails were tied above her head in a bow. "This doesn't seem like the most attractive of hairstyles," she teased, pulling a silly face at the mirror.

"Oh, but Jill my dear, it really is," Lucy teased back, pulling her hair into a similar style.

"Yes, very very fashionable. The height of trends in London," Susan joined in on the joke, also putting her hair into the ridiculous style.

Edmund walked in on his sisters and friend chasing each other around the room making ridiculous noises. "I'm going to get you, Jill Pole!" Susan cried, waving the ends of her hair in a threatening manner.

"No you won't!" screeched Jill, jumping over several decorative ottomans in an attempt to hinder Susan's pursuit.

"What on earth is going on here?!" Edmund had been joined at the doorway by a smirking Eustace.

"It seems to be a battle of sorts," Eustace joked, pointing out the clear 'strategies' being undertaken by each of the girls. Soon all of the room's occupants were clutching their stomachs laughing.

Caspian entered the room with a chuckle and a sigh. "I can't believe it took you all so long to get here, only to do nothing at all," he smiled at the laughing Narnians. "What darling Edmund was supposed to tell you was that we're having a ball on Friday, and that you're all cordially invited." Edmund and Eustace both looked up guiltily.

Eustace scratched the back of his head. "Yes, that was what we were supposed to tell you. I guess we got a bit carried away."

"Don't worry, Eustace. We're definitely attending," Jill said with a cheeky hair flick. "Us girls love dressing up. We'll be there!"

"We sure will. Now, get out, you! You're interrupting girl's night!" Susan ordered. The three boys quickly evacuated the room, closing the door behind them with matching grins on their jolly faces.

[Author's Notes]

Hey Readers!

This chapter is the first of today's triple upload, as I have been without internet for the past two weeks on beach holidays, then on camp. I'm really sorry for the lack of uploads, but you'll be pleased to know that the holidays left me refreshed and ready to edit.

Hope your holiday season went well, and your school holidays (if you have them!). 

Sincerely,

The Author