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T E NÂ Y E A R SÂ L A T E R
"Come on, Nerissa. Are you really going to make your King beg?" Peter trailed behind Nerissa as she hurried down the hallways of Cair Paravel.
A lot has changed since the Kings and Queen had assumed their rightful roles. Lifelong friendships had been built and Narnia has been thriving beyond belief under their rule, but one would say that Narnia had shaped them just as much.
King Peter for one exuded so much confidence that Nerissa was convinced he might one day spontaneously combust from it. Gone was the uncertain boy that he was the first time she had met him, this man was far from it (and awfully bold as well).
"I think I've made my feelings for you clear as day."
Nerissa stopped in her tracks, whirling around to face him so quickly that she had nearly run into his broad chest. "And I think I've made it perfectly clear that I think this is a terrible idea. I work for you, your Majesty. I hardly think that's professional."
"Nonsense, Nerissa. I've never thought of you as an employee."
She quirks a brow at Peter's response, "Oh? What are we, then?"
"Friends. Close friends, even. Or a couple if you'd just give me a chance."
Nerissa rolled her eyes as she continued down the path, "Do you ever give up?"
"You should know the answer to that question by now, Darling. You're the one who trained me this way. And just so we're both on the same level of understanding, I don't intend to any time soon." Peter replies, flashing her one of his dashing smiles that has her heart doing flip-flops.
Reaching out to catch her wrist, the King pulls her to him, "Warrior duties aside, Nerissa. Give me one good reason why you shouldn't go out with me."
Nerissa took a minute to think about it- really think about it and came up with nothing. It wasn't about the attraction she had to her King. She was attracted to him, insanely so, and those feelings had only deepened over the years of serving by his side. Still, there was something holding her back. Maybe it was just her own insecurities.
"You can't think of anything, can you?" Peter's voice pulls her out of her thoughts.
"We've been through this, Peter. I'm not having this conversation with you again."
He frowns and moves to block her way before she could take off again, "Why won't you agree to go out with me? What are you so afraid of?"
Nerissa crosses her arms over her chest, staring up at her king defiantly, "I'm not afraid."-that might have been a lie. This just held too much uncertainty for her liking. She was afraid and she had no doubts that Peter could see it in her eyes.
"Great! Go out with me, then."
"No."
Peter rakes a hand through his hair with a sigh, "Look, we're both adults here. I like you. Really, really like you as I've said a million times before and I'd like to think that I know you well enough to say that the feeling's mutual. So, why not?"
Nerissa's breath hitches as he reaches over to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear, "Just one date, Nerissa. That's all I'm asking. If you still haven't changed your mind after, I'll stop all the shenanigans. I promise, but not before you at least give me a chance."
Nerissa worries at her lip, her mind was racing, and so was her heart. She wanted to say yes. So, what was stopping her?
Peter takes another step closer to her, so close that they were practically nose-to-nose with each other, "Say yes." When she doesn't reply, his lips pulling into a sheepish grin as he adds, "Please?"
Her eyes search his and in it, she found nothing more than heartfelt sincerity.
"I'll think about it."
Peter throws his head back in a groan, "You're going to be the death of me, you know that?"
His theatrics earned him a chuckle from the girl he was crazy about, a sound he never got tired of hearing.
"Try not to drop dead just yet. Narnia still needs you, your Majesty." She teases, patting his chest playfully.
He catches her wrist before she has the chance to retract her hand, planting a slow and deliberate kiss to her palm, his eyes never leaving hers even for a fleeting moment. "I'll be awaiting your answer. Eagerly, if I may add." Leaning in, he whispers in her ear before he takes his leave, "Don't break my heart."
Peter shoots her a wink as he backs away, walking back where they came from.
Pressing her palms to her cheeks, Nerissa desperately tried to calm the blush that had tinted her cheeks a bright red before her meeting with Oreius.
When she stepped into the hall where Oreius has requested to see her, she was still blushing furiously.
Oreius's stoic facade immediately cracks away when he sees her face, replaced by a huge grin.
"Had another talk with the King, I take it? Still hasn't given up, has he?"
Nerissa shoots him a glare, the last person she had expected to support the King's ridiculous whims and fancies was Oreius.
"He's as stubborn as a mule," Nerissa grumbles.
"Just like someone else I know." Oreius laughs before he continued, "It's been almost a decade, Milady. You're going to have to cave some time."
Nerissa groans, "Not you too, Oreius. You're beginning to sound like Lucy. Besides, who says I'll cave?"
"You want to." The centaur shrugs, "Would it really be that bad to go out with him? It's clear you both have feelings for each other."
Nerissa could feel her blush creeping up again, "Is it that obvious?"
"It is." Oreius confirms without missing a beat, "I'm sure everyone in this castle could tell. With all due respect, Milady. I think you're over-thinking this."
Nerissa lets out a sigh as leans back against the pillar behind her before straightening up again, "You know what, Oreius? You're right." She retraces her steps back to the entrance of the hall before she pauses, "Hold on, what was it you wanted to discuss again?"
Oreius shakes his head with a hearty laugh, "It's not that important, I think it can wait, Milady." He says before nodding at the door, "Go ahead."
Shooting him a grin, Nerissa starts to make her way down the hallways once again. This time, with the King's office set in sight.
The sound of Nerissa's footsteps echoed through the hallways, but she could hardly even hear it over the pounding of her heart in her ears.
The looming set of doors seemed even taller than they really were as she approached them and without even knocking like she normally would, she threw the heavy-set doors open before she could have any second thoughts.
Just as she had expected, the King was behind his desk with his head buried in a bunch of papers.
Clearly startled by her sudden entry, Peter's eyes shot up to meet hers.
"Is everything okay, Nerissa?" He questions, frowning in worry.
"Everything's fine. I-I just..." Nerissa trailed off, her gaze darting away from the King's intense blue eyes that made it hard for her to concentrate.
Peter's brow quirked up in amusement as he raised from his seat, moving around his desk to stand in front of her.
"You know, I don't think I've ever seen you nervous before. I must say, it's quite cute." He teases, earning him a glare.
"Well, you're not helping, your Majesty."
"Are you saying I distract you?"
"You know what? I change my mind. I'll leave you to get back to your work, Sir."
"Okay, okay!" Nerissa bites back a laugh at Peter's panicked voice as he reached up to pull her back. "I'll behave." Peter raises his hands in surrender, "Please continue. Whatever you were about to say sounded like it was important."
Nerissa took a deep breath, steeling her nerves before she says: "Yes."
"Yes?" Peter raises a brow at her.
"Yes, I'll go out with you."
She watched as Peter's lips stretched into a slow and brilliant smile.
"Are you being serious right now?"
Nerissa lets out a sigh, "Don't make me change my mind, Peter."
Peter chuckles, practically radiating with joy as he plants a kiss on Nerissa's forehead.
"You've just made me the happiest man in all of Narnia."
Taking her hand, he begins to drag Nerissa back down the hallway, where she had just come from.
Nerissa quickens her steps to catch up with him in confusion, "Wait, where are we going?"
"On our date," Peter replies so matter-of-factly, that for a moment she thought she had heard him wrong.
"Right now?"
"Right now." Peter flashes a boyish grin at her from over his shoulder, "Oreius! Just the man I wanted to see."
He says as he steps into the hall we're Nerissa was supposed to have a meeting with Oreius.
"How may I be of service, sire?" The centaur replies, smiling brightly at the two's interlinked fingers.
"Clear my schedule for the day, please. I have important matters to attend to."
The centaur's smile falls and his brows furrow in confusion, "But sire, you have a meeting with the Queen of-"
"I don't care. Cancel it."
"Peter!" Nerissa scolds, "You can't just cancel it."
"I can, actually. I am the King, after all."
"The date can wait till tomorrow, your Majesty."
"And give you twenty-four hours to change your mind? I don't think so."
Nerissa rolls her eyes at her King- something she's been doing a lot of lately, "I was only joking when I said that, Peter."
"Well, I wasn't willing to take any chances."
"We'll go tomorrow, first thing in the morning. You have my word."
Just like that, Peter's mega-watt smile was back in its place again.
"Fine." He replies, much to Oreius's relief, "Tomorrow, then! I'll be looking forward to it, my dear." He says planting a kiss against Nerissa's knuckles, "I'll be in my office if anybody needs me." He adds before disappearing down the hallway.
Oreius breaks into laughter as soon as the King was gone, "Ah, young love."