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The annual ball was in session. Nerissa stood on the sidelines, watching as big puffy dresses swayed across the dance floor.
Several months had passed, but it felt like it was just yesterday when she and Peter went on their first date. Their blossoming relationship had been kept under wraps since then as much of a pain it is to do so, but it's done mostly for professional purposes. However, as much as Nerissa doesn't want to admit it, a part of her had wanted it to be kept a secret, for the sake of Peter's reputation. After all, a King and a warrior have no business being together.
She watched as Peter twirled a beautiful young lady across the dance floor. As King, it was his duty to entertain some of their guests and of course, that included having to dance with some of them.
Soon, the music dies down and he parts with the girl with a polite bow. As if feeling Nerissa's eyes on him, his eyes snap towards her. It still amazes her how he could so effortlessly pick her out in a crowd.
Peter's face immediately brightens up, his lips curling up into a wide grin as he starts to make his way to her.
The crowd parts like the Red Sea for their King and as soon as he reaches her, he pulls her into his arms, pressing her close to him.
"Hey, you. I haven't seen you all day." Peter beams down at her, "I've missed you."
Nerissa attempts to wiggle out of his grasp, but it only makes him tighten his grip around her.
"What's wrong?" He frowns.
"Peter, people are looking." She mutters, suddenly incredibly aware of that there are at least a hundred pairs of eyes on them now.
"So?" He says, nuzzling into her neck, "Let them look."
Heat blooms across Nerissa's cheek as Peter brushes his lips against her thumping pulse in a fleeting kiss.
"Peter!"
The King finally stops, pulling back to look at his significant other in confusion.
Nerissa lets out a huff, grabbing onto Peter's hand and tugging him out of the ballroom and into the quiet hallway. She certainly didn't want an audience while they had this discussion.
"What is it?" The still completely clueless Peter questions asked Nerissa as she crosses her arms in front of her chest.
"Peter, do you really think it's appropriate for us to act so intimately in a room full of potential allies?"
Peter's frown only deepens at Nerissa's question, "Oh, so now it's inappropriate to kiss my girl in my own castle?"
"In front of hundreds of guests, yes." Nerissa replies, "I'm supposed to be guarding Narnia, not dating the King! Especially since said King is rightfully supposed to be dating Princess not some-"
"I don't want a Princess." Peter cuts her off mid-rant, his dead serious gaze burning into hers, "I'm perfectly happy with you. I don't need a Princess, I have you."
This is was a conversation they've had multiple times, but never in depth- thanks to Peter constantly shrugging it off with answers like these. As sweet as the words were, they still didn't help solve the bigger issue. Perhaps, it wasn't that big of an issue at all, but it still required a good chat about it. After all, 'communication is key', as they all say.
Taking a deep breath, determined to go through with this conversations this time. Aslan only knows it needed to happen. "What would the Narnians think about this?"
"Well, how is my personal life any of their concern? I'm not even concerned."
"Maybe you should be." The words come tumbling out of her mouth before she could stop them, "I'm not royalty, Peter."
"Then let's make you royalty. Marry me." Peter says, taking Nerissa's hand, "I'm serious, marry me."
"Peter, we've only been together for months."
"Does it really matter? I've been in love with you for years, anyway."
The statement fell from Peter's lips so casually as if he was merely discussing the weather makes Nerissa pause for a moment, her heart racing from the declaration of love that her brain hasn't even had the chance to process yet.
"I love you." Peter says again, brushing a stray strand of hair from her forehead, "I love you so much it hurts. I couldn't care less what people think, Nerissa, as long as I have you."
"Peter, you don't understand. You're a King. I'm not worthy-"
Warm lips crash into Nerissa's before she could finish her sentence. Peter's lips moved against hers as she buried her fingers in his hair, pulling him closer to her, drinking him in and well on her way to getting drunk on the taste of him.
Peter's words warmed her heart, but they were nothing compared to this kiss. It was one like nothing they've ever shared before. It was as if Nerissa could feel his emotions that he had poured into this kiss that they shared, emotions meant for her, and only her. No one else.
"I never want to hear you say something like that again." Peter mutters against her lips, "Because, Darling, you're worthy of the world." Peter tenderly holds her face in his hands, forcing her to meet his eyes. His gaze so intense as it held hers as if he had bared his soul for her to see. "Just so we're clear, I'm going to say this again- I don't want anyone else, Nerissa. Just you. It'll always be you. I don't know what the future holds, but all I know is that I'll always pick you. No matter what."
Tears burned at the back of Nerissa's eyes. Blinking fast and willing the tears not to fall, she cursed as those traitorous tears fell anyway- a flash of the vulnerable side of her that only Peter got to see.
"Please don't cry, Darling." Peter chuckled, kissing away the tears that stained her cheeks.
"You can't just say things like that and expect me not to cry." Nerissa joked between sobs, burying her face against Peter's chest as he held her in his arms.
Peter's laugh rumbled through his chest as he leans down to kiss the crown of her head, "I can't believe we just had our first couple's spat, made up and on top of that, I managed to make you- the great Warrior of Narnia- cry, all in one day. Get Oreius to add that to my list of accomplishments, please."
Nerissa smacks him in the chest before wiping her tears away with the back of her hands. "I hate you."
"Sure. Keep telling yourself that, my Darling."
Nerissa couldn't stop the grin that broke free even if she tried. Raising up on her toes, she presses a kiss to Peter's lips before muttering, "I love you, too."
"Oh, I know," Peter smirks down at her.
Rolling her eyes, Nerissa tears herself away from Peter's embrace and making her way back to the ballroom. "You're insufferable."
"Wait!" Peter quickly catches up to her, falling into step beside her as he interlaces their fingers, "You haven't answered my question."
"What question?"
"Will you marry me?"
Nerissa stops short of the set of doors that separated them from the ballroom. Narrowing her eyes at Peter in thought. "I'll think about it."
Peter throws his arms up in exasperation, "And I'm the insufferable one?"
Slipping his arms around Nerissa's waist, the King tucks her against his side, right where she was meant to be as he leads her into the ballroom, ignoring the prying eyes that followed them and leaning down to plant a reassuring kiss on Nerissa's cheek when he feels her stiffen against him.
"Don't worry, Darling. They love you." He pauses before adding with a cheeky grin, "But not as much as I do, of course."