**********

Everything was going perfectly. The castle was in order, being decorated 24/7. That was all thanks to Susan. If it wasn't for her (and her trusty clipboard), the Christmas party would be a sure disaster. Lucy was helping her sister with the organisation and decorations.
"Lucy, would you be a dear for me and pick some flowers for the tables?" Susan asked her sister.
"Of course, Su," said Lucy, being the gem she was.

So Lucy found herself in the garden, walking through rows of neatly trimmed shrubs and bushes. When she finally reached the section she was looking for - the flower section - she met with Peter's wife, R1.
"Oh! Hello, R1. I'm not surprised to see you here," Lucy chirped.
R1 always spent her time in the gardens, taking care of all the plants.
"Are you tending to the flowers today?" Lucy asked.
"Yes, but I'm almost done. What brings you here?" R1 said.
"I'm supposed to pick flowers for the tables vases," Lucy explained.
"Oh. May I join you ? It's not like I have much else to do anyway."
"He's done it again, hasn't he?" Lucy said.
You see, R1 would often vent to Lucy about her problems with Peter. It's not that she had many problems. It was just that Peter didn't have much time for R1, given his busy schedule as High King. And Lucy would always give the best advice.

R1 simply nodded.
"Oh, R1... What happened this time?" Lucy asked, sitting down with her sister-in-law, starting to pluck some fresh roses.
"Well, he'd finally taken me on a picnic (like he'd promised nine months ago). And we were really enjoying ourselves, until Edmund needed him on a business issue."
"And you just let him go?" Lucy asked.
"Well, I had to. He said it was really urgent. So I just finished the food all by myself," R1 explained.

The girls continued talking and picking flowers. But they didn't notice the pair of eyes that was watching them. From his chamber in the castle, Peter smiled at the sight of his wife making bouquets. In his mind, nothing could be more graceful. His thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door.

"Come in," Peter called.
When he turned to see Caspian, the two greeted each other.
"I haven't seen you all day. Have you been with R3?" Peter said.
"No. Actually, I want to talk to you about her," Caspian said, fidgeting with his fingers.
"Go on." Peter nodded.
"I think I'm ready," Caspian hinted.
"Ready for what? Use your words," Peter said.
"To propose. I want to ask R3 to marry me."
"Oh, congratulations, Caspian! This is really wonderful news." Peter thumped his friend on the back.
"Well, I need some advice," a flustered Caspian said, after thanking Peter.
"Oh, Caspian. I would love to help you. I really would. But R1 and I had an arranged marriage. We simply fell in love after. It was fate." Peter smiled.
Caspian's face dropped.
"But you can ask Edmund. He's had experience," Peter said.
"Oh, yes! I keep forgetting that he and R2 are finally engaged. Right. Well, I'd better go to him right now. Thank you, Peter," said Caspian in a rush.
"No problem, old chap!" Peter said, as Caspian left.
Peter returned to the window, but R1 was no longer in the garden. And neither was Lucy.

Meanwhile, Caspian ran down the corridor to Edmund and R2's chamber. He knocked on the wooden door sharply. The door opened to reveal the face of R2.
"Oh. Hello, R2," Caspian greeted.
"Good morning, Caspian," R2 said.
"Is Edmund there?" Caspian asked.
"No, he's going to visit the town. But I'm here if help is needed," R2 said.
"Ok, I guess I can ask you," Caspian said, as R2 opened the door fully for him to enter.
"Ask me what? And also, why are you in such a rush?" R2 asked, noticing his panting and sweating form.
"Well, I want to propose to R3 tonight at the Christmas Eve Ball. But I need some advice. I was wondering if-" Caspian started.
"-if maybe I could help you?" R2 said, chuckling.
Caspian just nodded. R2 offered him a chair, before sitting down on her bed.
"Well, of course you can't do it the exact same way Edmund did. It's got to be different for every couple. It's got to be special. You've got to make it special for her," R2 explained.
"I see. But just so I have the right idea, could you tell me how Edmund did it?" Caspian said.

Suddenly, a voice from behind them said, "I recreated the day we met."
Caspian turned around and R2 looked straight at the door. And there was Edmund, soaking wet, the water dripping from his hair and making soundless plops on the carpeted floor.
"What happened to you?" R2 asked, half in shock and half in amusement.
"Children. Children happened to me," Edmund said, before realising how wrong it sounded.
The room erupted into laughter. When it finally stopped, Edmund explained how the children from the town had played a simple prank on him.

**********

"R3. R3! What's wrong?" Susan asked, chasing after R3.
R3 turned around, eyes brimmed with tears, some of them already streaming down her face.
"It's Caspian. He's off with R2 again," R3 stated, choking on her tears.
"What do you mean?" Susan asked, catching up with R3.
"He's been spending so much time with her lately. Too much time," R3 said sadly.
"When did this start?" Susan questioned her friend.
"A few months ago. He went riding into the forest with her," R3 explained.
Susan thought for a while. Then she remembered.
"They were planning for Ed's birthday, remember? Edmund's birthday. R2 would never cheat on Ed," Susan said smartly.
"I guess not." R3 shrugged.
"Just like Caspian would never cheat on you," Susan reassured.
R3 smiled, thinking of Caspian. No, he really never would cheat on her. He loved her way too much. And she loved him the same.

**********

"So you'll talk to Peter about it?" Lucy asked hopefully.
"Of course I will, Lu. Why, there he is right now!" R2 said, before making her way over to Peter.
"Hey Pete. Can I speak with you for a moment?" she said.
"Sure, R2. What's this about?" Peter asked.
"R1, actually," R2 said, watching Peter's expression brighten.
"Well, she's been talking to Lucy about some things. Er... She feels that you don't spend enough time with her, being her husband," R2 explained.
Now, if you think you've seen a sad person before, you might want to think again. Because when R2 saw Peter's face, she herself felt like crying.

"I- I've never noticed. Sh- She always seems so happy. She's never said anything." Peter's voice cracked.
"Oh, Pete. Please don't cry. That will make me cry. Plus, it's not a good image for the High King of Narnia," she said, making Peter chuckle, "I'll help you out with R1, Peter. I promise."
"Thanks, R2. I don't know what I'd do without you," Peter said, hugging his sister-in-law-to-be.
Of course this embrace was an innocent, friendly one. But it didn't seem that way to the jealous eyes of Edmund.

Perhaps this Christmas wasn't going to be so perfect after all.