Narnia - Dissuading Susan's Suitor part 3

By Allyson

Edmund was bored.

Lucy had gone riding with Phillip to visit the Beavers, Peter was in a meeting with Orieus, and his nose wrinkled at the very idea of attending the tea party that Susan had arranged. Not even the promise of his favourite cake could make him take up that offer. Instead he found himself wandering about the gardens of the Cair. The weather was pleasant and a gentle breeze left the smell of sea salt as it ruffled his hair. Everything was calm and quiet and Edmund's shoulders relaxed into a contented state.

He was nearing the rose-beds planted under his sister's bedroom balconies when he almost tripped over his older sister, who was crouched behind a low hedge. Unable to resist he stealthily crept up behind her and used both hands to gently jab her ribs. She gave a muffled squark, covering her mouth in shock, and span around to look up at him, eyes startled wide.

"Su, what are you doing?" he asked, bemused. "I thought you were having tea?"

Susan hurriedly shushed him and puled him down under cover. She whispered, "I was, but one of my messengers informed me of an unwelcome intruder. Look."

Edmund's eyes narrowed and he covertly looked up to where she was pointing. He was both aghast and amused at what he saw. Prince Arteavious was scaling up the stones of the Cair towards the balcony that was attached to Susan's sitting room.

"What on earth is he doing?"

Susan was suddenly aware that her brother had stood up and was about to leave her side. She grabbed hold of his arm pulling him to a halt.

"What are you doing?" she hissed in alarm.

Her brother gently shook off her grip and gave her a reassuring look. "To stop him before he falls and hurts himself."

Ignoring his sister's protests, Edmund made his way over to the errant Prince, who was struggling to find a stable foothold, and cleared his throat loudly. He hid a sliver of satisfaction behind a poker face as he heard the Prince give an undignified yelp and scrabble not to fall. Behind him, he heard Susan gasp in anxiety before scolding his name.

"Good sir," called out Edmund, curteously. "Is there a reason why the front door was not accessible to you? Did you lose your way?"

The Prince glanced down at him briefly before ignoring him and continuing to find new handholds. Edmund's dislike for the Prince racked up a notch and he decided on a more direct approach.

"Prince Arteavious climb down now or I will summon the guards to drag you down."

There was a pause before the Prince reluctantly climbed back down the wall, scuffing his knees in the process. He took his time to brush the dust from his hands and trousers before turning an imperialistic look towards Edmund. The Prince's pretense of having done nothing wrong struggled to keep in place as Edmund stared back at him. Edmund let him squirm for a few moments, watching as the older man tried to think of a credible reason for scaling the palace walls.

Tilting his head quizzically to the side, Edmund finally asked, "Have you no pride in yourself?"

With a dismissive sniff, the Prince stated in a matter-of-fact tone, "It's a romantic gesture."

Edmund couldn't help his un-regal snort of derision. "It's ridiculous."

The other man's attempt at poise fractured a little but didn't deter him. "I am here to win the heart of the Gentle Queen. And i am not leaving until I have done so."

Edmund nodded, his expression serious, as he crossed his arms to restrain himself from slapping the leer off the Prince's face. "I understand that you wish to be a suitor," Edmund responded. "And have in fact made numerous advances to my sister with less than encouraging success. A lesser gentleman would have given up by now. You have been humiliated with shredded trousers from slingshot pellets-"

The Prince's eyes narrowed. "How do you know about that?"

Edmund waved the question dismissively away. "Heresay. The High King himself has had you removed from the Cair, so effectively, you are now in the danger of trespassing. Queen Susan has graciously declined your hand-"

"Graciously?" was the spluttered interruption.

Edmund continued to speak over him. "Why continue with this desperate attempt to marry my sister? What is your agenda?"

"Agenda! I will not be spoken to with so little respect!"

"Then leave," smiled Edmund, his eyes calm yet deadly.

The Prince seemed to understand the unspoken threat in Edmund's tone and his complexion became a shad paler.

In an attempt to gather the tatters of his dignity, Prince Arteavious drew himself up to his full height and settled his cape straight across his shoulders.

"On careful consideration, I have decided to withdraw my intention to court Queen Susan," he sneered, a smug smirk tugging at his thin lips. "I see now that the low connections of her family name would not be an advantageous match." Edmund could feel his fists curling in restrained anger at the slight towards his sister. "You may tell her-"

The Prince's head snapped to the side with a resounding slap. Blood trickled from his lip where he had inadvertently bit it. Looking back in shock, the Prince's eyes widened even further as he came face to face with Queen Susan herself. Her face was white with anger and she shook with indignation.

"How dare you!" she exclaimed. "Leave, now." Over her shoulder she shouted, "Guards, escort this . . . person from the Cair's grounds." As two passing guards hurried over to do as requested, Susan added, "Don't ever return here again."

She turned her back on the retreating Prince, ignoring his indignant complaints. Now that the adrenaline was wearing off she came to realize how much her palm hurt. The cool touch of her younger brother's hand on hers helped to sooth the pain. The reminder of her brother's presence caused her to feel mortified at her actions. She defiantly looked up to defend her actions but was caught off guard at his quiet smirk.

"Well done, Su," he congratulated her, approvingly. "I don't think you'll have to worry about Prince Arteavious bothering you again."

Susan smiled in relief. "That felt good," she confided to him.

"Let's not tell Peter about this, hm?" Edmund suggested, as he threaded his sister's arm through his own and began to walk her back to the Cair. "Otherwise the title of 'Gentle' may be called into question."

"Too late," their older brother's voice called out, startling them both.

Looking up, they found Peter looking down at them from the balcony above with an amused frown.

"This is becoming a habit," Peter commented.

"How much did you see?" asked Edmund, curiously.

Peter grinned. "Enough to know that Su can look after herself. Though she's got some explaining to do to her guests. One of them has fainted from all the excitement."

Susan's embarrassment swiftly turned to concern as she made Edmund quicken his pace. "Oh, dear. Come on, Ed."

Edmund sighed in defeat. It looked like he was destined to join the tea party after all.

The End