Hello!
This story is AU, where Edmund and Lucy stay on after VoDT but Eustace leaves.
Celia Longburn is the daughter of a successful US diplomat, and is studying to be one herself. She's grown up learning to be tactful and diplomatic, much like Edmund. When Celia's plane crashes and she ends up in Narnia, she meets her match in Edmund Pevensie. Negotiations are made, treaties are written and sparks fly. Edmund and Celia are the very best of diplomats, letting nothing deter them from their masks of calmness - that is, nothing except each other. Celia's father may have diplomatic immunity in 32 countries, but it seems that what Celia needs is diplomatic immunity of the heart.
This is my first time writing a fanfic, so constructive criticism and reviews are very much appreciated. You can critique my story as much as you like as long as it's helpful, so if you want to say "OMG UR STORY SUX I HATE U" please save it. I love the CoN fandom and Edmund is my favorite character, he's so perfectly imperfect it's amazing. Anyway, on to the story, hope you like it!
Disclaimer: I own Chronicles of Narnia. And math is easy. Pigs can fly.
Celia Longburn stepped onto flight AJA 738, dragging her suitcase behind her. Finding her seat and unceremoniously dumping the suitcase below it, she buckled in and sighed, preparing herself for a boring flight to Kabul, Afghanistan. Having a dad who had diplomatic immunity in 32 countries meant that he travelled a lot, and if she wanted to see him at all she did to. Besides, her new internship at the UN with the Human Settlements Programme also needed her to be at the UN Summit in Kabul. She hoped she' d be able to spend more time with dad than the ten minutes they'd had together last time they'd met.
The twenty-one year old put her phone on airplane mode, then idly stared out the window as the crew began the usual safety demo, which she'd already watched a hundred times.
Maybe watching it a hundred and first time would've helped. But probably not.
"Good evening Ladies and gentlemen, we are experiencing a high amount of turbulence, we request you to keep your seatbelts on…"
She'd been in high turbulence before, it was nothing.
"We will have to make an emergency stopover in Paris, your flight will be delayed due to dangerous flying conditions…"
Celia clutched the armrest beside her. She felt sick. The pilot wasn't kidding when he said turbulence. This was a freaking rollercoaster. She 'd never been on a flight as bad as this, she thought, as she winced when lightning flashed in the sky as thunder growled ominously. She usually enjoyed storms, but she was changing her mind now that she was in the center of one.
The plane shook violently and she tossed to the window side, her face smashed up against it.
She couldn't believe her eyes.
It was probably just her mind playing tricks on her. Or a mirage sort of thing.
She could've sworn she saw a lion form from the flash of lightening and clouds in the sky. A lion's silhouette had formed before her very eyes, looking majestic and proud, with a sort of grace and dignity she didn't think an animal could possess. Then, when she blinked, it was gone.
Wow. She really was going bonkers.
The plane shuddered and rolled to a side with so much force her suitcase slid out from under the seat, moving in front of her. She managed to trap it with her feet. She could hear terrified wails, sounds of babies crying and air-hostesses speaking in hushed tones from her position in the back of the plane. She looked around for the closest emergency exit. An oxygen mask slid down from its compartment above. The passengers were requested to pull out the life jackets stored in their armrests.
She did the required things, then squeezed her eyes shut and prayed she wouldn't die.
Slowly, her consciousness slipped away…
-x-x-x-
King Edmund the Just was chasing his little sister round the throne room.
It was a most undignified thing for a man, a king, of twenty-one years to do.
Queen Lucy the Valiant, now a young lady, nineteen years of age, ran round the room shrieking, her blonde-brown hair flowing behind her.
And all this time King Caspian X was sitting on his throne and eating an apple.
"You can't run from me forever, Lu! I'm gonna catch you and you'll have hell to pay!"
"Edmund no, I'm sorry, I'm sorry! Don't – oh, Ed, don't tickle me!"
But Edmund Pevensie had caught his sister round the waist and she was now sprawled over the floor, Ed tickling her mercilessly with a lazy smile on his face.
"That's what you get for pouring water all over me this morning!"
"You wouldn't wake up!"
"You could've let me sleep!"
"You were already ten minutes late for court!"
"I…ugh. "
"Alright, children, you've had your fun," Caspian conceded with twinkling eyes. "Let's do some grown-up stuff now."
Ed whacked him playfully on the arm while Lucy rolled her eyes at him. "Such a useless grown-up you are! The Queen is being attacked by a savage beast ("Excuse me?" Edmund said indignantly) and what do you do? Sit there and eat an apple!"
Ed smiled and laid back on the floor contentedly, staring up at the ceiling. He wondered how things would've been if Aslan hadn't let them stay on after their adventures on the Dawn Treader. It was a pity that Eustace got sent back, although he was sure that Aslan had plans for him in Narnia again. More than that though, he was disappointed that Susan and Peter were left behind in England. Caspian was a brother to him but sometimes he missed Peter's boldness and arrogance and Sue's logic and her gentle smile.
Oh well, at least he and Lucy were together. Aslan's ways were mysterious but they were the best for all.
"Hope I'm not bothering you, your Majesties…" Edmund shot up and tried looking as kingly as possible from his position on the floor. Drinian's lips curled into a smile. He was a great adviser as well as friend of theirs now and had realized that though they were great and dignified rulers, his Kings and Queen really were children at heart.
"Not at all, Drinian, what is it?" Caspian took another bite of his apple.
"A daughter of Eve has been found unconscious in the Western Wood, as the wolves have reported. The wolves considered bringing her back here, but I, however…"
"No, we should go meet her ourselves," Lucy said, glancing at Edmund, and she knew he was thinking of the same instance as she – Eustace's reaction to Reepicheep. Humans from his world were less than used to talking animals.
"I agree," Edmund said and got up. Caspian too rose. Lucy bounced up excitedly.
"Another human in Narnia! Lead the way!"
After riding for a while, the trio came across Sitara, a she-wolf with a snowy coat and Edmund's consort.
"How much farther?" he asked, getting off his horse.
"Not much, Sire. The girl is just around this bend…"
"People! Thank God!"
A warm, white-and-navy blur came rushing into Edmund with such force that he was almost knocked back. He realized then that this blur was a person, who duly turned around. Caspian was in front of her, Still on his horse and looking wary, while Lucy had dismounted as well and was coming round to meet the girl.
"Please don't hurt me! I'm an American citizen and the daughter of a member of the American Foreign Service, who probably has diplomatic immunity in your country. I just want to talk, that's all."
"Ah, American! That's nice," Lucy said conversationally and the girl jumped. Edmund looked at her then. She was from their world, that much was certain. She was dressed in a suit (he did not know that women had come to wear those) that was navy and white, and held a suitcase with wheels on it. She had a short, curly bob of light brown hair and was now regarding them with cool blue eyes. Her face gave an expression of forced calmness, and her posture was subservient, acknowledging that she did not have the upper hand. She had the body language and demeanor, Edmund realized, of a diplomat.
Judging by what she'd said, she possibly was one.
"You're British." She stated in shock. "I'm sorry, but what part of the world am I in? This looks like one of those small islands off Britain, maybe somewhere around Gibraltar? But I'm very familiar with that territory, so I'm not sure…" she trailed off expectantly.
"We don't know how to explain this to you, I think it would be best if you came with us to-"
"Why, you're in Narnia!"
Edmund was mentally berating Lucy.
"Narnia?" the girl said politely, but in confusion. "Sorry but I don't know where that is. It would be great if you could contact my consulate. I can't seem to get a signal."
She held up a fascinating looking device in her palm.
"It's…complicated." Caspian jutted in, and the girl started, looking at him like she just realized he was there. "Allow us to introduce ourselves. I am King Caspian, and this King Edmund, while that is Queen Lucy. We are the rulers of Narnia."
"We think this would be best explained if you would come to our home with us, Cair Paravel. It's there that things can be explained best." Edmund said, smoothly. The girl now looked at him, giving him an inquisitive nod.
The girl appraised all of them, her face a mask. Oh, she was good. Edmund could make that much out. Given her current situation, the fact that she was still thinking and not letting them see what she felt made her rather resourceful.
"And what's your name?" Lucy enquired kindly, giving her a friendly smile.
"I'm Celia. Celia Longburn." Celia Longburn answered. How do we travel?
"Your Majesties, are you ready to go?"
Edmund couldn't help but grin as Celia Longburn jumped metres high as Sitara came strolling in.
"Oh my God, that was a wolf, and it spoke, it was a wolf. A WOLF. And it spoke! Are any of you ventriloquists? It's not funny, stop smiling like that!"
Edmund still couldn't keep the grin off his face. It seemed like Ms. Calm-and-Composed had a hole in her barrier after all. That was a relief. He was scared she would give him a run for his money.
"Many animals can talk here in Narnia," Lucy said, with a giggle. "It is because of the Deep Magic. "
"Deep magic? More like mutation and genetics." Edmund heard the girl mutter softly, and raised an eyebrow in thought. Explaining Narnia would not be easy.
"Are we travelling by horseback?" Celia asked.
"Yes"
"Um…what should I do with my suitcase?"
After making arrangements for Celia's suitcase, that was somehow riding on the back of a disgruntled Sitara, it was decided that she would ride with Lucy.
It was surprising that she knew how to ride. The Pevensies certainly hadn't when the had arrived in Narnia the first time. When asked, Ms. Longburn simply stated that she had learnt horse-riding near her home in America.
Edmund was rather suspicious of her. Caspian was intrigued and Lucy, simply happy to find another human in Narnia.
As they rode on in silence, all Edmund could think was Well, this will certainly be interesting.