Seven:

"Edmund," Peter says tiredly, "we need to talk."

"About what?"

"Princess May."

"Oh?"

"Her father has sent a...letter..."

"Yes..."

"He wants you to marry his daughter." Edmund's mouth drops open, and all he can imagine is him and May holding twenty children who all have May's face. And Edmund rubbing May's feet. And Edmund doing everything. He shuddered at the thought before shaking his head.

"Peter, you can't possible make me go through with this, can you?" The older Pevensie drops down into his chair and looks old and worn-out again. He shakes his head and refuses to look Edmund in the eyes.

"I'm not sure. I mean, I can't possibly decline. You know her fathers temper is like burning embers!" And this is when we're sure Edmund lost it. He started laughing so hard, and Peter looks up at his brother alarmed. "Ed, whats happening? Do I need to get help?" Edmund's clutching his stomach from the violent shakes his laughs are causing.

"I-I don't know! It's just you used a weird metaphor!" Peter shakes his head sadly.

"See, your not even ready for marriage. I think thats how we can decline..." Peter's now writing notes down, and Edmund's laughter has now subsided, and now is face wears a look of realization.

"Why would she want to marry me?" Peters eyes wander from the piece of paper laying in front of him to his younger brother.

"Search me," He mumbles, and that almost hurts Edmund, because for some reason Edmund expects his brother to list of things that would make Princess May want to marry him. But Peter doesn't, and Edmund feels a slight pang. They're both hurting, and Lucy knows. She's listening from the office door. Leaning against it, and worrying for both them and everyone else.

Edmund stands up suddenly. "Peter, I'm going to make sure she changes her mind.." He tells his brother, and Peter doesn't look up and shakes his head.

"I'm trying to believe that, Ed, but I know it won't work. We could send you away. Far away, but she'll probably find you. And we could murder her, but we'd have such a mess on our hands. Ed, what can we do? They won't like this at all.." Peter goes on muttering some more things that just put Edmund down even more, and Edmund turns to leave. Hearing the footsteps, Lucy scurries to the other side of the hallway, and sits down trying her hardest to look casual. She smiles at Edmund, but he shakes his head and walks away. She stands up angry, and storms into Peters office.

"Must you make this hard for the both of you?" She asks and Peter looks up at Lucy confused.

"Excuse me, Lucy? I'm not sure you even know whats happening.." He mumbles. She shoots him this knowing look and he puts his pen down. "Alright, maybe you do. How?"

"Not only are the doors leading to your office thin, but Jane knows things." Peter rolls his eyes as Lucy walks out in a fast pace. Peter is wondering why she seems so angry.

--

"She wants to marry me.." Edmund says bitterly as hes pacing back and forth in the library. Jane is sitting in one of the many chairs in the room watching, patiently, with her hands folded neatly on her lap.

"I know," She says bluntly. This causes Edmund to stop and look at her.

"You do?"

"Remember that day Princess May and Queen Susan were talking in the garden?"

"Oh..thats what that conversation lead to..right?" Jane shrugs but then gets up.

"Edmund, look. I understand your frustrated, but did you even giver her a chance?"

"No. Never. She is just so.."

"Aggravating?"

"Yes, thats what I was thinking." Jane takes his hand and squeezes it.

"Thats not all, though?"

"No, theres this..other girl.."

"I see.."

"And I can't quite grasp how I feel for her.."

"Really..?"

"Yes.." Jane smiles.

"Well, I hope you do eventually!" And then she left Edmund alone in the Library, and he wanted to shout at her. To tell her to come back, and to tell her he wasn't done talking.


A/N: Okay, so maybe we're getting somewhere now..