king's temptation | narnia

chapter 2: grow up

Ever since the Pevensies and Kate had been crowned the Kings and Queens of Narnia, there was almost a sort of golden glow over the kingdom. 

High King Peter the Magnificent, Queen Susan the Gentle, King Edmund the Just, Queen Lucy the Valient, and Queen Kate the Victorious had ruled Narnia for nine years so far, and everything was going beautifully.

Peter completed his kingly duties with ease, Susan was a wonderful diplomat (often finding herself in odd situations because of it), and Edmund was the courageous commander of Aslan's Army at just age eighteen.

Kate and Lucy were sixteen, turning seventeen, and had no luck finding what they wanted to do to help Narnia. They spent their days running around the castle grounds, splashing amongst the dryads and naiads they were friends with, and sneaking into the kitchen to swipe sweets whenever they could.

Over the years, Kate and Lucy had grown into beautiful maidens and garnered quite a bit of male attention. Even with so many potential suitors, Kate and Lucy were never interested in anything other than enjoying their youth. They spent all their time together, laughing improperly and stepping on Susan's toes.

Susan had done what she could by bringing them up to be "respectable ladies of Narnian court", but she had failed miserably. She had tried to talk to Peter about forcing them into her lessons, but he had never agreed because although he didn't like to talk about it, he liked his sister's liveliness. It gave him positive distractions from his work as High King, which at times could be extremely stressful.

Susan, Peter, and Edmund were all gathered in the sitting room, drinking tea and chatting about royal things. Their conversation was interrupted however when a faun walked in with a large parcel.

"Your Majesty," he bowed. "There's a parcel for you from Calormen," Susan reached out for it with a smile, but the faun pulled it back. "This is such a large and heavy package, Your Highness. Perhaps I should place it down." He sheepishly smiled.

"No, no, that's quite alright. I can manage it myself, thank you." Susan said to the faun who handed her the package with a low bow. The faun walked out of the room.

"What is it, Susan?" Edmund asked. "Is it..." Edmund didn't finish because Kate and Lucy bounded into the sitting room. Their hair was a mess around their sweaty faces, dirt on their hands, and mud splatted across their obviously damp dresses and shoes.

Susan let out a loud gasp. "Just look at you two! Your hem is six inches deep in mud, your hair a mess, you're downright filthy." Susan had an outright disgusted look on her face and instantly distanced herself from the two girls.

The girls just looked at each other and giggled, their chests heaving as they did so.

"I suppose you've been running around the cool springs with your naiad and dryad friends, have you?" she gave them a displeased look. "How many times have I told you to pick up your skirt and take off your shoes when you play in the springs?"

"Oh, lay off them, Su. They're just little girls." Peter said with a bright glimmer in his eyes.

"Oh no, they're not, Peter. I don't know how you don't see it. These girls are going to have to grow up in the same way I had to many years ago," she said, almost bitterly. "You two need to start acting like respectable ladies of Narnian court. You're queens of Narnia for goodness sake." Susan basically spat at the girls.

Kate and Lucy looked at each other and giggled.

"But I-" started Kate.

Susan looked about ready to pull her hair out while Peter and Edmund sat back and watched the drama.

"No buts! Especially you, Katelyn! Your seventeenth birthday is in five days! And you know who has been planning the ball? Me!" Susan told Kate.

"Yeah, but that's only because I didn't really ca-" Kate started.

"Yes, yes, you didn't care. That's why I went to the trouble of caring myself. Anyway, I expect you to mind me throughout this process if you want to attract suitors at the ball." Susan said calmly.

Even though Kate didn't notice, Edmund had lifted his head at the mention of suitors and kept his eyes trained on Kate's annoyed manner throughout the whole conversation. Out of the corner of his eye, Peter saw Ed's interest in the topic and wondered why he was staring so hard.

Kate had opened her mouth to speak, but Susan gave her a nasty look which made her close it.

"Now, I did buy some gifts for the two of you from Calormen. I want you to be-" much to her displeasure, Susan was cut off by Lucy.

"Oh, is it a new bow, or perhaps a fashionable quiver?" Lucy asked excitedly.

"Please do not interrupt me. And no, it is not a new bow or quiver," she paused as she unwrapped the parcel and pulled out some light green fabric. "It is, however, a new ballgown, new dancing shoes, and a brand new corset for both of you!" Susan pulled the dress out of the box and held it up so Kate could see, but not too close that she might get her filth on it.

Lucy's face lit up. "Oh, Kate! It's such a gorgeous color green. You'll look amazing in it!" Kate hugged Lucy but looked unenthusiastic about the idea of a new ballgown.

"Um, Susan? What's a corset?" Lucy asked. Susan blushed a bit and looked in the direction of the boys who pretended like they weren't listening. Susan learned down, her long black hair falling over her shoulder like a curtain, whispering what a corset was into Lucy's ear. She let out an audible gasp.

"How am I supposed to breathe while wearing that?" Lucy shouted.

"You'll wear it, and you'll manage," Susan said. "I'll be assisting you in getting ready for the ball, but make sure to practice dancing with a partner. None of those tree dances in the ballroom. You're much too old for that now." Susan smiled.

"Oh! I almost forgot. Prince Rabadash of Calromen will be arriving in our port tomorrow!" she looked directly at Kate. "Please greet him when he arrives at the castle." Susan walked out of the sitting room, leaving Lucy and Kate giggling at the idea of Susan's suitor coming to stay with them at Cair Paravel.

Peter spoke, and they suddenly remembered that they were standing in front of the two Kings of Narnia, completely covered in mud.

"Darling sister, please get washed up and meet us for dinner in the dining room," Peter said, never acknowledging me.

I know Peter and Edmund well enough to know that they don't consider me to be family. It's not a big problem for me, as I don't really care what they think of me at this point. I'm a queen of Narnia and I'm worthy.

I give one last glance at Edmund and see that he's already staring at me with a strange smile on his face like he's waiting on me to say something to him. I give a polite nod like I always do and walk out of the room with Lucy.

There's always been something about Edmund that made me uneasy. I don't really know what it is. Maybe it's the way he walks, or talks, or can command an entire army at such a young age. Or maybe it's his dark hair, dark eyes, and serious expressions that stresses me out. I don't know, but something about him has led me to stay away from him for the last nine years.

The problem is, I don't think I can stay away anymore. Especially if that glint of light in his dark eyes keeps catching mine.

Word Count: 1328

Finished on: November 2, 2020

Published on: November 5, 2020