Disclaimer: I do not own Narnia!
A/N: NO FLAMES! Not accepted.
Chapter 7
Summer One Year Later
The wedding had been pushed forward to the summer. Flowers were everywhere and the sun had tinged Edmund's hair with a touch of gold. Aslan had promised to try and get Edmund's siblings back for it and Edmund hoped that all three would return. But he knew that time had passed and maybe they had given up hoping to come back. Caspian was now greying and looking older than ever. But he was still a proud and stern King. He often consulted Edmund but the Jut King always said that Caspian had ruled longer than he had, so Caspian should know how to handle things.
"I only ruled for 15 years, Caspian. You have been on the throne for what? 40? 45 years now? This is your kingdom and it will be Rilian's after that." Yardley always stiffened when his brother's name was mentioned but Elanor's face would light up knowing that Edmund believed her brother to be alive, Caspian would nod and smile. Keeping his thoughts on Rilian to himself. It had been nine years now. So why should he believe his son was alive?
Edmund woke one morning to the sound of whispering in his chambers.
"Quiet Lu! You'll wake him up!" A male voice sounding much older than Edmund remembered hissed.
"You be quiet Peter!" A girl's voice again slightly older than Edmund remembered.
"Oh both of you be quiet!" That voice he knew. Elanor. He yawned as he opened his eyes.
"Oh good morning Sleeping Beauty. Look who turned up – in my room might I add – this morning." Edmund blinked in surprise when Elanor spoke, usually she wasn't allowed in his room. At least Caspian told her she wasn't. But Elanor wasn't one for rules. But sitting at the foot of his bed, in Traditional Narnian clothes with their crowns perched on their heads, were Peter and Lucy. Both smiled at him and Edmund threw himself into their arms.
"Where's Su?" He asked as he pulled back, Peter's face darkened and Lucy looked like she was about to cry.
"Susan is no longer a friend of Narnia." Peter said, "more interested in Boys now."
"'Nylons, lipstick and invitations' is how she puts it. She says Narnia is a game we used to play to pass the time during the war." Lucy pouted heavily.
"So she's not coming anymore at all?" Edmund asked.
Peter shook his head slowly, "No. But we're here."
"And really who else would I want at my wedding to the Just King of Old then his two best friends?" True as it was, Peter and Edmund were friends as well as brothers and Edmund had been Lucy's protector when they were in Cambridge with Eustace. They had hated it but then – Eustace was a pretty good dragon. Edmund then frowned at glanced at Elanor, she caught on and smiled.
"I'll be right back. I'll see if I can rouse him." She said, Lucy giggled.
"Do you remember the Dufflepuds?" Edmund nodded, "The pig." Edmund immediately laughed. The Dufflepuds had called Eustace 'the pig'. It took Elanor ten minutes but eventually she returned with a dressed Eustace. In Narnian clothes of course, his hair ruffled and unkempt but he too had come to Narnia for Edmund's 'wedding'.
"I always saw a church and all these other people, but I guess a castle with fauns, Minotaurs and centaurs is about as good as it gets right?" Eustace said with a smile. The same smile he had shared with his cousins since returning from Narnia, after their voyage on the Dawn Treader.
"Pretty much. My big sister's not here, but I get Lucy, Peter and the best Dragon in Narnia." The Pevensie's laughed along with Eustace and Elanor – it seemed almost too good to be true. Luckily for Edmund it wasn't.
The Day of the Wedding
Lucy was charged with helping the Princess. Peter and Eustace helped Edmund get ready. Eustace wouldn't have done this before Narnia but they were all changed after it. Lucy helped Elanor wash and dressed her in a long flowing soft gold gown. Usually it would be white but the soft gold hue matched her hair and it went nicely with her softly tanned skin. Her blue eyes sparkled as Lucy sat her down and did her hair for her. Pulling it up into an elaborate style and then proceeded to stick small flower in it. Tiny blue flowers to match her eyes. She watched the transformation but still couldn't believe it. Elanor smiled at her reflection and then turned to Lucy.
"Majesty, thank-you so much for helping me prepare for this. All I have to do now is wait for my father." Elanor said, Lucy smiled and nodded. A knock at the door made Elanor take a deep steadying breath and Lucy pulled the door open. Caspian smiled as he stepped in to study the bride.
"You look simply radiant Ellie. Edmund is very lucky."
"I am the lucky one, Father. I get to live the rest of my days with the love of my life. With the man I have been in love with since I heard of his redemption at the Battle of Beruna. The first time." Elanor said at Lucy's frown. But, yes, Edmund redemption at the Battle against the White Witch. He had done so and almost lost his life for it. If Lucy had not gotten her healing cordial from Father Christmas he would have died. Caspian smiled at his daughter and kissed her cheek softly.
"He is as lucky as you are. Now come. We must hurry. He is waiting." Caspian took Elanor's arm and Lucy led them down to the hall. She had to enter first and the Bride was to stay out of sight of the hall members until it was time. When Lucy went in, Elanor started to breath shallowly and quickly.
"Ellie, look at me. Edmund loves you, we all love you. And trust me if Rilian was here he would be giving you to Edmund. He wouldn't let me do it." Caspian smiled, Elanor gave her father a smile and she tried to take deeper breaths and eventually she calmed down. Then the doors of the hall opened and Caspian led his daughter down between the rows of animals and people towards where Aslan stood, Peter, Eustace and Lucy all had places in the very front row of the guests, Yardley and Cade also. Caspian was told to join their hands. They would be given to each other wholeheartedly.
"It is by the power gifted to me by the deep magic that I now present to the court King Edmund the Just and Queen Elanor!" The congregation cheered and hollered. Edmund and Elanor shared a look; this was now the people they shared with Caspian. They looked out over the crowd. Lucy was crying; Peter and Eustace looked like they were fighting tears back with beaming smiles. Cade looked like he was about to burst with happiness, Yardley had tears in his eyes and Caspian was like Lucy, but he made no sound. He was silent. Elanor smiled but there was one person missing from this picture. She knew he would have been there had he not been missing. But sometimes things couldn't be helped. Elanor knew that one day she'd see her brother again and as long as she kept that faith it wouldn't kill her. At least she hoped it wouldn't.
Cair Paravel now complete and furnished had the happy couple in it within the week. Edmund said that if Lucy, Peter and Eustace wished they could stay with them. Peter and Lucy jumped at the chance. It was Cair Paravel after all. Eustace asked where he would stay and Edmund explained that they had refurnished Susan's old room and he could use that if he wanted to. As Edmund's old Chambers would be where Peter would be, Lucy had her own and Edmund and Elanor would be using Peter's old chambers. It was a larger set of rooms, with large double doors with the symbol of a lion in it and a large wardrobe and just off it was a bathroom or at least a bathing room. A large bath set in the floor filled with warmed water that was changed every day. It felt like home and Elanor couldn't have been happier, but who knew that in the next 12 month she would exceptionally happy. She just had to wait.
