Someone Else's Heart

Chapter 3

Rosalyn awoke earlier than per usual the next morning, eager to start the day as physically far away from her seamstress, as well as her sharp needles, as possible. When she inquired about the younger king's whereabouts and was informed he was practicing his sparring in the barracks Rosa found her perfect sanctuary from the nightmare that was her wedding. She also discovered the perfect opportunity to ensure the young king finally came through on his promise.

The clinking of metal on metal could be heard from the training barracks at Cair Paraval. Edmund was oblivious to his elder brother's jarring commentary as he was completely focused on the movement of his opponent's blade. Orius was strong, but Edmund's movements were swift. Still the match had been going on for some time now and sweat trickled down into the king's eyes as he continued to launch his attacks.

"How long has this been going on?" A soft soprano voice broke through Edmund's concentration. For a second he lost focus as his mind processed that it must be Rose, then his determination to win returned twofold.

In the end it was a draw. Although Edmund would have preferred to win while Rose was watching, at least he hadn't lost completely. Both Orius and Edmund had their blades trained on the others jugular panting heavily from the excursion of the fight. Peter clapped heartily, happy that it was finally over, almost drowning out Rose's soft polite applause.

After shaking hands with his sparring partner Ed turned to where Rose and his brother were standing. Her hair was plaited down her back, and she was clad in trousers and an off white blouse that looked to be an old one of either Peter's or his. Not a woman at court would be caught dead in such a getup, let alone in front of the kings of Narnia. But that was Rose for you, unconcerned with what the norm was. In truth Edmund rather liked the way she looked at the moment: natural, like herself.

Setting his sword on a rack made to hold the practice weaponry he approached the young Marchioness with a slight swagger in his step.

"Rose, is that one of my shirts?" The playful smile on his lips ruined the disapproving tone he had been going for.

"It was. I doubt it would fit anymore." Her response made him wonder if her words were meant as a complement of his improved strength or an insult about his weight. "Now, are you going to teach me how to fight or not?"

So that's why she was paying the barracks a visit in her current attire. Wiping the sweat from his brow with his sleeve Edmund nodded his head. "Whatever the lady wishes."

Peter left wordlessly as Edmund went to retrieve two practice swords. Orius followed the High King, both smiling to themselves at the younger king's poorly suppressed enthusiasm at getting to do two of his favorite activities: sword fighting and spending time with Rosalyn. It was no secret to anyone who studied Edmund while he was in Rosalyn's presence that he had taken a special liking to her over the years, even if Edmund hadn't quite admitted it to himself yet. He was quite taken with her so much so that he practically ignored any of the other girls at court.

"What's this?" Rose asked as Edmund handed her a wooden play-version of a sword.

"A training sword," Edmund answered, raising his own wooden weapon. He knew Rose wasn't very well practiced in sword fighting at all and he did not want to risk her hurting herself or him.

"You were training with a real one earlier, why can't we use those?" The look of determination on her face made Edmund sigh in impatience. She always had been stubborn and a bit prideful when it came to comparing her abilities to others. Deciding to appease her for a moment he went to retrieve the sword he had just used against Orius.

As soon as it was in her hand the blade clunked to the floor as Rose was unable to support its weight. Edmund couldn't hold in his laughter as he watched her attempt to raise the sword. There was a crease of determination across her forehead and a vein was beginning to pulse in her right arm.

"Alright you're point is well taken, no need to rub it in." She huffed, giving up and allowing Edmund to take it from her and return it to its original place.

For the next hour or so Edmund instructed Rose on the proper way to hold a blade and to move with the attacker. He had to correct her stance and grip only once or twice, a fact that showed she was a quick learner. Even when the footwork became a little trickier than simply leading with your right foot forward and backward she didn't hesitate much. Edmund, however, kept losing focus and he had to keep reminding himself to concentrate on the actual fight rather than on Rose's face, which was filled with so much determination it made him smile.

Rosalyn didn't notice Edmund's smile. She was too busy attempting to remember everything he had taught her already. From her grip, that she kept correcting as she tried to remember where Edmund's calloused hands had shifted her own to on the handle, to the bend in her elbow that was supposed to be just so for the best extension and force. The footing she had no trouble with at all. It was simply like a dance, leading with the right and moving with your partner so that your legs were always opposite to one another: filling the void the other left. There was a lot of concentration required in sparring, much more than with archery and Rose was beginning to commend Edmund for being so very well practiced in the art. For it was an art in its own sense.

The two young royals had been dueling for quite some time and Edmund's strength was definitely beginning to win out over Rosa's plain determination. Watching her wooden sword fly out of her hand Rosa met Edmund's eyes for the first time since they had started. She had to blow some of her blonde hair that had escaped from her braid out of her eyes before she could actually see him clearly and as expected he had a satisfied smile on his face.

"Not bad. I'll make an expert swordswoman out of you yet." He meant the words honestly as far as Rosalyn could tell and she gladly accepted the compliment.

They walked in silence back up to the castle. Rosa was too busy trying to steady her breathing after the excursion she had put on her lungs while Edmund was too busy sneaking glances at his companion. She had a light sheen of sweat over her face and was dressed in old men's clothes with her hair unkempt and still he couldn't help but to see her as anything less than flawless. As much as Edmund hated that she was to be wedded against her will, he had to admit he was surprised no offers had been made for her hand earlier.

Having been thoroughly distracted neither Rosa nor Edmund had realized just how long they had spent fighting until they walked into lunch rather late. Rosalyn immediately noticed the scathing look her cousin gave her at her appearance and wanted to slap herself for not thinking to bathe beforehand. Her cousin would most certainly not approve of her earlier activities, and she didn't want any more trouble from him than was necessary.

"Rosalyn what on earth were you doing? You look like a stable hand." Robert commented once Rosa was taking her seat.

"I was learning how to handle a sword." She answered softly.

"Honestly Rosalyn, I don't think Lord Roderick would care to have a bride who can duel. It's much too manly of a sport." Edmund clenched his fists around the armrests of his chair at the young Barren's comment. He always found a way to belittle his cousin and it was starting to annoy Ed.

"I find that handling a sword is a very useful achievement and any woman who practices and studies to accomplish such a task is indeed a fearsome and impressive one at that." Robert seemed shocked at Edmund's outburst, while Rosa sent him a warm smile of gratitude.

"Yes well, after lunch I want you cleaned up Rosalyn and then I expect you to meet me in the sitting room to tend to some wedding details." Rosa didn't feel much like eating after those orders. Pushing her food around her plate she mostly listened to the chatter around the table unaware that her cousin was observing her, as well as Edmund, very carefully.

"Rose wait, let me walk you to your room." Edmund called out, following the marchioness after she left the dining table.

Stopping at the foot of the stairs she waited for Ed to catch up before the continued on together. They walked leisurely, taking their time to get back to Rosa's wing. Rosa, for obvious reasons of prolonging the better half of her day, and Edmund for prolonging his time spent with his fair friend.

"Don't listen to your cousin." Ed spoke up once they had reached Rose's quarters. "About the sword fighting. You should just do what makes you happy, what you want."

Rosa thanked him softly, taking his hand in her small one and grasping it gently for a moment before disappearing to wash up. Scented bubble baths of strawberry and lilac filled her senses as she dipped down further into the warm water. Her thoughts wandered to Edmund as she played with her hair: his kind, reassuring words as well as his expertise with working a blade. He had grown both in maturity and physique since she last saw him. He no longer looked or acted like a boy, but a man. And a handsome one at that, it was a wonder he wasn't the one planning a wedding.

"Hey Luce," Rosa asked as she watched her friend as well as Susan being fitted for bridesmaid dresses. "Has anyone at court caught Edmund's eye yet? You know since I've been away. I feel like I've missed so much."

Lucy met Susan's eyes in the dressing mirror, sharing a knowing look, before she answered. "Not that I know of. Edmund is never very social at large gatherings and most of the female's attention seems to fall on Peter."

Nodding absently Rosalyn hastily pointed to a random bouquet arrangement in a line of choices presented to her while she wondered why more of the courtier's daughters weren't interested in Edmund. True he was a little stand-offish at such events as balls and dinners, but he was strong, handsome, witty and funny once he opened up not to mention he was a king of Narnia. She supposed that Peter being High King might seem more impressive to some, but in all honesty Peter was far from perfect.

"How was your lesson with Edmund this morning?" Susan asked as she fiddled with the lilac material draped around her. She was trying hard not to let the marchioness see her teasing smile.

"It was exhilarating and instructive. I never knew how much concentration and work it took to properly handle a sword." Susan could only imagine how much more concentration it took for her brother to handle a sword when Rosa was in the room.

Of course, Rosalyn was probably oblivious to it all, as she had been for the past several years. Susan wasn't even sure if her younger brother even noticed his own feelings towards the girl. He wasn't the most intuitive when it came to feelings and such. Even so Rosa's unexpected engagement and the wedding plans had to be taking its toll on him.


A/N It's short, but I wanted to get another chapter up. Sorry its been so long. Once again I will blame school! Let me know what you think!

Rach

xoxo