Edmund stifled a laugh before answering, "It's just—you can't stay here in your Narnian clothes all the time—"
"—So we'll be going out to buy you some new ones!" even Peter found this idea fun, to see Caspian in clothes like theirs.
While the Pevensies and Caspian were tidying the picnic area, all giddy over this new idea, Lucy saw something.
"Look! The Professor's here!"
Indeed, the wise, bearded Professor Kirke had entered the backyard so quietly the children barely notice him.
They all stood up at his sound.
"Well, well, well, what have we got here?" greeted the Profressor, looking over in Caspian's direction, "And who, may I ask, is this gentlemen, Susan?"
Susan blushed, and unconsiously released her hand from Caspian's, "Um, he's er…"
"—a visitor from Narnia, sir," Edmund said, the Professor nodding, "I see. Really?" his eyes widened.
Caspian answered, "I'm Caspian the Tenth, King of Narnia, sir, please to meet you, Professor…Kirke?"
"The one you children helped restore to the throne?" Even more surprised, the Professor's eyebrows went up.
"The one and only, sir," confirmed Peter, smiling, "And he came here through your wardrobe."
"Mine?" the Professor glanced at Caspian, then at Peter, "Well, I do suppose the apple tree still has its powers, after all."
"Then, King of Narnia," the Profressor bowed a little, Lucy giggling, "I, Digory Kirke, the—
"Lord Digory?" Caspian blurted out in amazement, "The one who were there at the creation of Narnia and helped planted the Tree?"
"Also involved in the Lamp post incident," 'Digory' grinned, "But that's another story for another day. For now, welcome to England, where I hope you enjoy your stay."
A knock on the backyard door interrupted the pleasant 'trip down the memory lane' conversation.
"Oh," said the Professor, "That's my cue. See you later, children."
In the marketplace, the group had divided up; Edmund ('Bother!' he'd told himself, eager to share something with Peter.) was stuck with Lucy, the 'old ones,' consisting of Caspian, Susan, and Peter, had gone in search of Caspian's 'perfect outfits,' in the words of Susan.
"Hey, Peter, does this look nice on him?" Susan asked in a shop, while browsing through the various arrays of clothing for boys.
"Well, uh," Peter stared at the expectant looks on his sister and (her. Ah-hem.) Caspian's faces, "The way you say it, every outfit looks great on him, Su."
Susan hit him playfully on the shoulder, "Stop it with the sarcasm," then turned to the shopkeeper, "We'll take two."
Peter winked at Caspian, who looked genuinely, nothing but, confused. "Trust me, someday you'll understand the female race. For shopping."
Caspian chuckled, "They can't help it, but I do love Susan the way she is," making Peter smiled all the more, 'He—and Su—have really gotten it bad.'
Here, crammed with thousands of things, any you could imagine, you could meet all kinds of people, but what annoyed Edmund most was the amount.
Pushing and walking along the shops, he did not see what was so 'fun' about shopping.
When suddenly Lucy pointed, saying, "Oh, Ed! That girl's dress is so pretty, see?"
Edmund's eyes followed the direction of Lucy's pointing finger and saw a brunette his age, fifteen, tall, not very thin, with striking eyes—soulful brown, a mirror of his own.
"Edmund!" called Lucy, but Edmund, oblivious to all senses, felt his surroundings melted away, leaving only him…and the girl of his dreams. "Edmund?"
"Edmund!" Lucy had to nudge him out of his daydream.
Edmund shook his head, dazed, "Er..erm…sorry, Lucy, but what?"
What had interrupted my pleasant encounter with that—sigh—Lady?
Lucy smiled, "I shouldn't have," she joked, "Now you'd be like—"
"What," Edmund blurted out in that scornful way of his that he'd perfected over the years, scornful even when something's up, scornful even when he's in love, "I did nothing!"
"Yes, you so did," Lucy teased, Edmund beginning to feel more uncomfortable every minute, "You're, what do they call it?, in love."
"Am not!" he answered childishly, and Lucy marveled at the rare sight of him blushing, "You never know if it's just love—or—or—infatuation."
"Fine, if you say so," Lucy nodded, giggling at her brother's 'sudden grown-up word usage,' "Then I'm not telling you I know her sister."
As if she'd known this, Lucy walked a few steps ahead, waiting, then, before a matter of seconds, Edmund had unconsiously grabbed her shoulders, "Wait!" The urgency in his voice almost made her laugh out again. "I—" he sighed, "I—like her."
"Thought you're not," Lucy cheerfully used air quotes at her brother, " 'in love' with her."
Edmund blushed. ('Wow,' thought Lucy, 'Who could have believed a single girl did this to Edmund?')
Aslan, that wasn't me, honestly. Like some romantic Princes in Susan's novels falling in love at first sight with a Lady—pooh!—that's never him.
It's always Susan, who's 'at least officially in love', not him.
And it's not love, either, just some feelings he never known stirring in his body.
Why, he's never spoken to that girl!
That second Edmund was busy wrestling with his thoughts, Caspian emerged from a shop nearby in his new clothes, practically beaming, "Hey, Lucy, Edmund," he called, Susan and Peter following close behind, "How do I look?"
And, worst of all, Peter, noticing his younger brother's flushed face, asked in his mock serious voice, "Ed?"
Edmund looked up, guilt-stricken, as if he'd been caught snooping about somewhere.
"Oh, I don't believe this!" Peter laughed, "My little brother…we've got ourselves another Susan!"
A/N: Ooh, li' Edmund!
Just in case you're wondering, Lucy did not plan for this to happen. She just liked the girl's dress. (Hee, hee).
More Caspian/ Susan next chapter, promise ;)
Love and appreciation of all your hits, reviews, reads,
Your ever humble fanfic writer :)