𝐋𝐎𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 : the great hall, cair paravel 𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐎𝐃 : during the feast 𝐓𝐀𝐆𝐆𝐈𝐍𝐆 : @kingmund / edmund
𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐆𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐓 𝐇𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐇𝐀𝐃 become stifling and astoria realized quickly that she had come to narnia ill prepared. it was so warm for spring, at least in comparison to anvard’s mountainous castle with its chilly winds; astoria’s wish to have some narnian dresses made would become a necessity over a mere desire soon enough. she found her cheeks flushed and her patience wearing thin as the night continued on, and ultimately, all the chatter and music and dancing became overwhelming. it had culminated in the phantom smashing of some glasses being held by a servant on a tray mere meters away from her, and astoria picked up her skirts perhaps faster than she needed to and sprinted for the nearest balcony in sight.
with her hand wrapping around one of the doorknobs of the double balcony doors, astoria swung it shut and stood with her back to the balcony as she tried to catch her breath. doing so in a corset wasn’t an easy feat, even if the cool air did hit her like a wave of sea water, and she knew she needed to get that magic which dwelled deep within her bones under control fast. her eyes clenched shut as she inhaled and exhaled, and only once she felt comfortable again did she turn around... only to find that she wasn’t alone.
astoria's hand flew to her chest as her heart skipped a beat inside her chest. “ aslan’s mane! ” she exclaimed, genuine surprise in her very tone. it was dark out here—with only the torches on either side of the large balcony to illuminate their faces—so she couldn’t quite see who it was. heavens above, what if it had been different; what if her powers had truly been out of control and he’d seen something? his very presence here irritated her despite the fact that he had done no wrong; astoria simply didn’t like to be caught unaware. she thought it made her look rather foolish. with her vexation clear in her tone, astoria demands, “ do you always lurk silently in the shadows? ”