Part 4-

Cor was pacing back and forth. He didn't understand why he was getting himself so worked up. He was just going to talk to his parents. It's no big deal right? It's not like he's in trouble…However, they're the ones who called for him. So like every child in the world who gets called by their parents, Cor was thinking over the times he thought would get him in trouble. He was too busy fretting to notice the servant.

The servant cleared his throat, catching his attention. "His majesty calls for you, Prince."

"Ah, thank you."

Cor took a deep breath and walked into the royal hall. There was the round table that got him scolded by Aravis. Don't sit on the royal advising board! She said. He felt himself smile at the memory. His father, King Lune, was sitting next to the queen.

"Welcome, son!" Lune called out as they saw him approach.

Cor made a respectful bow. "Father, mother," he said. "Is there any particular reason you called me for?" He looked up to see warm smiles on their faces. "There's not any trouble, is there?"

King Lune laughed. "I hope not. Unless, you've been quarreling with Corin again."

Cor shrugged. "Not in a while…I think."

The Queen gave him a reassuring smile. "We're not here to patronize you, son."

"That'd be Aravis' job," Cor muttered.

"Yes," Queen nodded her head. "We do want to ask you about that matter as well."

Cor frowned. "What do you mean-"

"Are you happy, here?"

Cor was taken aback by the question. "Wait, what do you mean by that?"

"Well," the Queen said. "You've been here for a while and I guess we never bothered to ask you about your adjustment to the royal life."

"I mean, it's hard," Cor admitted. "But I have a family here." Sometimes, it was tough. Cor admitted that he still has a long way to go in order for him to become a king. But he found Archenland was a place where he felt he belonged. This was his home. They were his family. Besides, there was…

"I'm glad," King Lune said with a smile. "Do you happen to know what day it is next week?"

Cor tilted his head in confusion. "No," he admitted, hoping that this wasn't a quiz. He thought he memorized all the important dates by now. "I don't know."

"It's your anniversary, Cor. It's already been five year since you escaped Calormen."

Oh, has it been five years already? Granted, he knew, but he never felt it that way. Time was a funny concept. Always slow to come, but always fast to pass by. He was surprised he was a prince for five years. It certainly didn't feel that way.

"I didn't know."

"Yes," King Lune said. "And to celebrate it, we're going to throw a royal party. And yes, you'll have to find a date," he added as he saw the look on Cor's face.

Cor groaned. Those never went well for him. "Father," he tried to protest. "Surely, there are better ways to celebrate-"

"Don't be so discouraged," the Queen insisted. "Think of it as you will…a holiday…for you."

Cor sighed. "If that's your wish."

"Besides," King Lune added. "It'd be a great date for you and Aravis."

Cor choked on his own spit. "Father," he protested. "Aravis and I aren't-"

"But you love her, don't you?"

"Father…I-"

"Don't you?"

He felt the words stuck in his throat. Aravis? Throughout the years they've been together, there were too many memories of yelling, screaming, and arguing. She was bossy. She was prideful. She was stubborn. She was as Aravis as she could get.

"Yes…I do."

"Then it is your duty as a Prince-nay, as a man to be honest with her about it."

"You can't mean this, can you?"

"Cor," the Queen gently said. "We both know how you two feel for each other. You both deserve to be happy,"

Cor looked around, anything to avoid their eyes. It's bad enough to be teased by Corin about this matter. And to have your parents in on it. Well, it wasn't a good feeling for Cor. "Yes, mother. I will."

King Lune nodded. "Good," he said with reassurance. "You can go now. Make sure to prepare for the dance."

Cor sighed. There was clearly no easy way out of this. "Of course, father."

After the talk with his parents, he grudgingly walked back in the main hall of the palace. He was thinking about going to the sword room to blow off some steam until he heard a voice call for him. He knew all too well about the voice. He gave her a smile and walked towards her.

"I heard there's a party for you later this week."

Cor shrugged. News around the castle gets around fast. "I guess so."

She gave a small smile. "Isn't that a bit narcissistic on you?"

"Hey," Cor said defensively. "It wasn't my idea." As Aravis shook her head, he added," Besides, you can always a throw a party in my name. I kind of deserve it."

Aravis just rolled her eyes in response. "Sure, thing. Prince."

"What? Mad that there isn't a party for you?"

"I know my worth. Thank you very much."

"A little too much, don't you think?"

Aravis shook her head in annoyance, but Cor could see that she was smiling. Perhaps, it was moments like this that made Cor's heart churn. He felt his gut sink deeper and deeper. His mind was screaming at him to ask her for a dance. He was getting more and nervous as he felt the pressure to ask.

Aravis frowned. "Hey, are you okay? You don't look to well."

Cor took a deep breath. "I was just thinking," he hesitated. Perhaps he was being overly hopeful, but he felt that Aravis was looking at him expectantly. No turning back on this. "If…you were willing to help me prepare for the dance." Well, technically true. Cor still couldn't waltz, dance, or court to save his life. "I'm kind of in trouble at the moment."

She seemed a tad bit disappointed. "Why?" she asked, sounding a bit hurt. "So that you can use your skills to woo some girls at the party?"

Cor winced at her accusation. He should have known it was going to sound like that. "That's not what I meant."

"Then what is?

"I just…" Words were stuck in his throat. He couldn't just say Hey! I love you. Like a lot. And I was too scared to tell you throughout the years. I mean, he could. But that's not how Cor works.

"I see," Aravis said when Cor remained unable to speak. "You'll have to find someone else then," she said curtly.

Before she could turn around and walk off, Cor grabbed her hand out of instinct. They both blushed on the contact. "Wait, I didn't mean it that way."

"Then what did you mean?" she asked, staring at the sight of their hand touching.

"I…Please." He can't tell her, at least, not yet. He could feel the slender, warm fingers that he was holding onto. He didn't want to let go. "Please, help me." He stared at her in the eyes, hoping to convey some message that he wants to spend time with her before the party.

"Fine," she said, looking away. "I'll help you."

Cor released a breath of relief, but Aravis took it the wrong way. "Oh, don't get too comfortable. I'm still not helping you find a girl."

That's because she was his girl. "I never said I wanted to in the first place."

"Whatever."

The next few days have been tough. Cor was still having a tough time getting the proper footwork. And unfortunately, Aravis wasn't going easy on him.

"No!," Aravis chided. "You're doing your steps wrong again. It's a 1-2-2 step with your left feet."

Cor sighed in frustration. "I'm doing my best here."

"I know. But that still doesn't change the fact that you're not getting this right."

They've been arguing about it for a while now. Maybe it was because Cor was about to confess to her at the party, formulating his thoughts and emotions, that made him think about their relationship in a new light. "What am I supposed to do?" he asked.

Aravis shook her head. "Like I said, pivot your left foot and-"

"No," Cor said. He wasn't referring to the dance. "What am I supposed to do?"

Aravis frowned. "I don't understand what you mean."

Cor approached closer to Aravis, until their bodies were practically touching. "What am I suppose to do, Aravis?" He sounded weary and tired. Maybe from all the arguing they had the past few days. Maybe from the dance. Maybe from the stress that the party was tomorrow. Maybe it was all three. "What am I supposed to do that'll make you happy?"

Aravis was stunned. However she quickly found herself getting angrier at what he said. "You can't just say that! As if I'm unhappy with the way that you're acting!"

Cor sighed. "Then tell me, when will we stop arguing?"

Aravis glared. "You're not the one being honest with me! Why don't you ask yourself that question?"

"I-"

"Forget it," she said. "I'll see you tomorrow at the party."

"Aravis, I-"

"Good bye."

A part of Cor was angry at her for avoiding the conversation. A part of him was angry at himself for not being honest enough to her. A part of him just wanted everything to be over. "This party better be worth it," he muttered to himself as he head to wash himself off the sweat. He headed for bed, praying to Aslan that everything was going to turn out fine.

The party itself was impressive. Grand banquet with wonderful music. When it was time for the dance, Cor couldn't stop his heart from beating relentlessly against his chest. He looked around, hoping to find the person he felt the need to talk to.

"Aravis," he called out. "Where are you?"

"Right behind you."

To say that Cor was stunned was an understatement. Aravis' red dress went beautifully well with her tanned, brown skin. It suited her fairly well. Cor tried to sound smooth like his brother, but he felt like he couldn't speak. He was too scared too.

"Come on, Prince," Aravis said, taking his hand. "I think we need to practice before you make yourself look stupid in front of everyone."

"Gladly," he said with a smile.

Their bodies were close and Cor could see her hazel eyes shine from the jewelries around them.

"I've been thinking," Cor started to say as they swayed through the music.

"That's never good."

"I'm sorry," Cor continued.

"Yeah," Aravis said. "I'm sorry too."

"It's not bad," Cor said, struggling to find the proper words. "I don't mind it."

"What?" Aravis made a wry smile. "The arguing? The yelling? The insulting?"

"I mean, no- I mean, yeah. I mean…I don't mind. Because it's with you. And nothing seems really bad when it's with you."

Aravis scrunched her eyebrows. "What are you suggesting, right now?"

"I just…" Cor took a deep breath. " I just wanted to say all along, that I love you. I love you despite all the times we argue and fight over the most useless stuff ever. I love you."

They stood silent for a while. It was quite deafening, despite the orchestral music in the background.

"ARE YOU KIDDING ME?"

"Wait, wh-"

"Don't give me this crap, Cor!"

Cor frowned. He saw the redness in Aravis' face as tears were threatened to fall. "What do you me-"

"It's not right. Do you know how many times I fretted over something stupid like this? You go off being stupid. You flirt with nearly every princess there is. And then you kissed me-"

"Wait, seriously? When did th-"

She buried her face against his chest, softly punching his shoulders in protest. "Do you have any idea what you're making me feel?"

He lifted his arms to embrace her. He should have done this a long time ago. "I know now."

Aravis tilted her head up to meet his eyes. "If you're expecting me to stop yelling at you, you're wrong."

He softly laughed. "Of course, I wouldn't have expected anything else."

"Are you okay being with me? Even if we're going to argue the entire time?"

He leaned down so that their lips matched. She tasted like cinnamon and he felt his brain explode. It was a feeling that he didn't want to lose. She was someone who he didn't want to lose.

After they took some time to catch some breath, she was blushing heavily and he was sure that he wasn't any better. He gave her a grin. "I think it's more convenient that way."

Yes. Perhaps in the end, everything was eventually for the sake of convenience.

And that's it! I really enjoyed writing this and honestly, when I read the last paragraph of "The Horse and His Boy" a few years ago about Cor and Aravis... I just had to. It was too good of a line to ignore it. Anyways, thanks for reading!