Disclaimer: I hope you know that the original cast of the Chronicles of Narnia belong to C S Lewis


Chapter 7

I woke up and felt warm and comfy, and although I could feel the sunlight on my face, and I knew it was probably late morning at least, I didn't want to get out of bed. Too much effort needed. I'd stay here in bed, with the warm covers drawing me closer-

The covers were moving?

I opened my eyes and saw grey. When I looked to see what was grey in my blue bed, I saw it was Edmund, and remembered early this morning. But how on earth had both of us wound up in each other's arms, in the middle of a giant king size bed, when we had gone to sleep on opposite sides of the bed? This was ridiculous. We were facing each other on the bed, Edmund having an arm around my waist, and me having an arm around his also. Our legs I felt were tangled under the bed covers, and I hated to admit it, but I was blushing.

Thank god Edmund wasn't awake yet.

"Soph?"

... Why?

I looked up slightly and saw Edmund blinking his eyes in confusion, looking around my room. No wonder; he falls asleep in a corridor, and winds up on a bed in a room. His hair was even messier than usual, some strands of hair plastered to the side of his face, and his eyes only half-open. He looked sort of adorable, though I'd never admit to it. Should I take pity on the boy, or let him reach his own conclusions first? I didn't have time for either, because Edmund suddenly shot up, but in his haste he ended up rolling and falling off the bed with a loud thump.

I crawled to the edge of the bed and peered over at Edmund on the floor, before bursting out laughing. How the hell had he flown that far? We had been in the middle of the bed!

"What- where- I'm so sorry, I didn't know- but I-"

I was still laughing at him when I felt the bed dip as he climbed back onto the bed, grumbling under his breath. He pushed me over and dropped his head back onto the pillows and closed his eyes.

I moved my face closer to his, so I was facing him when I laid my head on my own pillow, "Are you going back to sleep?"

"Yes."

"But you just woke up."

"And then I fell off the bed and was laughed at. I think I prefer being asleep."

I chuckled at him, turning so I was lying on my bed. I looked up at the ceiling and thought of my decision with Edmund, which was still fairly undecided, but last night had pushed me a little... I felt strangely comfortable in Edmund's company, all the time. Even now after last night's 'incident'. Even waking up all tangled up with him, I actually sort of missed that closeness.

"So..." I heard Edmund mumble half into the pillow, "What happened?"

I turned onto my left side and faced him, "What?"

"Last night, or this morning. All I can remember is waiting for you outside your room, and then I wake up here. What happened?"

I think I'll keep quiet about him sleep-talking, "I dragged you into the room when I saw you asleep outside, you aren't the lightest of people, so I brought you to my room since mine was closer."

"Oh." There was a short silent pause.

"So what were you waiting for me for?" I asked, pretending to be oblivious. I saw him shuffle a little, and grow a little pink on his cheeks as he trained his eyes on the pillow he was resting on.

"Well, I wanted to properly explain what you saw this morning; you left before I could explain to you."

"And what did I see last night?"

"Erm, well, Elena and I were talking last night at the Ball, I'm not sure if you noticed or not, and she had a few drinks too many. She couldn't handle it very well, so when we went to my room she passed out. I, well, I didn't think it appropriate to carry her like that through the castle to her room, so I let her stay until she woke up." Edmund glanced up at me before looking back to the pillow, "Well, when she woke up and we left the room, you happened to be there too."

So I was right. "Why did you feel inclined to tell me all this? You didn't need to."

"Well, I didn't want you to get the wrong impression of me, and..." he looked back up at me, keeping his eyes locked on mine now. I ignored the fluttering feeling inside me and listened to what he was saying, "I wanted to apologise about my behaviour last night. I... don't know what came over me."

Smiling at him, I nodded, "It's fine."

"No it isn't. I was awful to you, and you are one of the dearest people to me." I was? "I want to make it up to you. Let me think of something."

He lay there staring at the pillow in complete concentration, for me, and I knew then that my decision was no decision at all. There was no going back now; I was on my way to the deep end. Only Edmund could help me now. I brushed a lock of Edmund's dark hair from his eyes, before Edmund took my hand in his, still thinking. It felt so natural just lying here with Edmund.

Then the doors to my room were flung open, "Alright Sophia, I think you've had quite enough sleep-" and then I saw Lucy's eyes widen in surprise, before that mischievous grin spread across her face again. "Oh, erm, I'll come back later then."

No! She was going to assume things, I need to distract her. "Hey Lucy, is Susan up yet?"

Her eyebrows rose slightly, "No, why?"

"Why don't you go check on her?"

Understanding flickered on her face, before she nodded her head and hurriedly closed the doors again as she left. That distraction would only be temporary. I looked back to Edmund, hearing him groan, "She won't drop this you know? Lucy has it in her head that there's something between us, or at least will be."

"She said something like that to me too," but I'm actually hoping something will happen.

He lay on his back again, closing his eyes. Soon enough I heard slow steady breathing coming from Edmund, then again he had stayed up the whole night waiting for that blonde girl to wake up. I just stayed lying next to him on the bed, pondering what to do about this whole situation, when his arm was flung around my waist, and I found myself being pulled towards him again. He pulled me against him, and rested his head on my shoulder.

"Erm, Edmund-"

"I know," he mumbled into my shoulder, "You're comfy though and I'm still tired. Stay."

"Alright then."

So I stayed there, Edmund sleeping on my shoulder, as I thought about the good and bad points of my current situation. But mostly I thought about the boy on my shoulder, and how confusing he was to me, sending me mixed signals, angry one minute then sweet the next. And then there were his sisters, and the country to consider. If I did pursue a relationship with Edmund, would the country approve? They may think an international arrangement would be more appropriate, to strengthen allegiances and everything. Oh this was all so complicated, at least to me...

"Mmpf... Soph..."

But until Edmund was actually awake there was nothing I could really do. Except have some fun with his sleep-talking.

"So Edmund..."


When Edmund woke up it was just in time for dinner. Even then he was still drowsy, so I had to lead him downstairs to the dining hall after he had changed into a clean set of clothes. When we entered we saw all the other Narnian royals, along with any guests who had stayed the night. Including that blond girl, Elena. As Edmund and I sat down by the others to eat, she sidled up next to him and batted her long eyelashes. She was pretty though, with her rings of curling blond hair surrounding an oval face, on which she had perfectly pink lips, and perfectly blue eyes, and a perfectly shaped nose, all perfectly 'light' compared to my 'dark' appearance, perfect, perfect, perfect, so I guess men would find her attractive... did Edmund think so?

I bet he did... he had spent practically the whole evening with her, and the night, even if it was just to wait until she woke up.

I sat moving my food around on my plate; I wasn't very hungry now even though I had yet to eat today. Lucy nudged me with her elbow on my left, flashing me a smile, but I just went back to moving food about. This was so interesting.

"So Your Majesty, I wanted to thank you for taking care of me last night." Elena giggled, twirling a curled lock of her blonde hair like the light-weight I knew she was.

"It's fine Miss Elena," Edmund replied, I noticed more interested in the food he was shovelling into his mouth, "There wasn't much to it."

"But I'm in your debt, You Majesty. Perhaps I can care for you one night," oh yeah, I caught that innuendo, you just watch it missy, "In return for the care you gave me."

"That's fine, we have adequate staff here in the palace, and if it comes to the worst then Lucy has her cordial." I wanted to hug Edmund with his brilliant dismissal, but knew it would be out of character for me around him, and I didn't want to reveal that I had been eaves-dropping.

"Then a dinner perhaps? It is the least I could do." She said while she brushed her hand 'subtly' along Edmund's arm.

I would ignore them. I didn't want to hear anymore, to see anymore. I'd watch Caspian and Susan instead, sat conveniently across the long table from me – Lucy had informed me on their announcing of their new courtship to the delight of the Council – except that they were watching me. Susan, the Gentle queen, was glaring at Elena, while Caspian sat watching Elena and Edmund with a more calculating look, I wonder what they're thinking about. My eyes did however zone in onto their joined hands. Susan's pale and delicate hand rested in Caspian's tan hand as his thumb stroked the back of her hand softly. It was quite sweet. I wonder what it would be like to-

"... That's it!" Edmund cried, scaring the hell out of me. We all – the Narnian monarchs – turned to look at Edmund, who had an excited look on his face. He grabbed my shoulders to face him more, a grin still plastered to his face. "I'll take you out to dinner! Or something like that. What do you say? Is that a good apology?"

"But Edmund, I already said it was okay-"

"Please?" Edmund said with the cutest face I had seen on him other than when he was sleeping. "I want to make it up to you."

"I- well- but- alright." I was pathetic.

"Brilliant!" he said, standing up from the table taking his plate with him, "I'll go sort everything out. I'll tell you all the details when I have them Soph, see you all later then." He said with a small wave, as he walked out of the dining hall, eating as he went.

I felt a tugging on my arm, and turned to face the grinning face of Lucy, "Do you know what this means?"

"What are you talking about?"

Susan leant across the table, "Edmund asked you out on a date."

My eyes widened and I'm sure that my face felt hotter than normal, "But he just wanted to say sorry-"

"Yes." Caspian added, a small scowl on his face, "He is not taking her on a date-"

A whack on his arm from Susan silenced him, "Leave them be you hypocrite. What do you think was running through Edmund's head when he heard about us?"

Caspian was silent, but still looked put out. Ah, another side to having a brother. "But really I don't think he meant it like that-"

"He's using whatever he's apologising for as an excuse!" Lucy said, "A fall-back for him if it doesn't go well, or if you don't like the evening. Honestly, you're older than me, shouldn't you be the one telling me all this?"

"Well I don't really have this type of experience-"

Susan squealed, "So this is your first date then? This is so exciting!"

"I told you I don't think this is a date."

"Well after your 'dinner' together, you come tell Lucy and I all about it, and we'll tell you if it's a date or not. That's even if you are still in any doubt."

I gave a sigh, I was outnumbered on this matter, I thought Susan was on my side, "Fine."

The girls squealed at each other, already discussing what kind of things the Just king might be planning for me. Caspian and I looked at each other and rolled our eyes before he grinned at me. How do I get them to go onto a different subject? Hmm...

"So Lucy," I interrupted her mid-rave, "Who was that boy you danced with last night? I thought you spent the whole dance with him..."

"You met a boy?" Susan squealed while Lucy started shifting uncomfortably in her seat, after sending me a glare of course. Ah revenge is sweet.