Chapter 7:

Edmund glared across the dance floor as Lina finally strode in with Lord Herend, smiling sweetly to the Lords and Ladies as they passed.

'Oh no. Now she's actually enjoying that idiot's company!' As soon as he thought it he was brought back to reality by Demetria,

"Eddy! I want to dance. Stop staring at that tramp." She whined in a nasally voice. Edmund had had enough of her.

"Oh, would you shut up!" He snapped, exasperated.

"Excuse me?!" Demetria exclaimed, not knowing if she should be surprised or insulted.

"I think you heard me perfectly well! I don't recall stuttering." Edmund said slowly.

"You just need some time to cool off! It must be this big crowd. It isn't good for you, Eddy. Let's get a drink." whimpered Demetria, completely oblivious to what Edmund was saying.

"Yes... a drink" Edmund replied monotonously. "That'll do me good." He allowed himself to be dragged away by Demetria.


'Twirl jump, spin, left, and turn right.' Natalie's thoughts were interrupted by Caspian's chuckling. She looked up at him, and he promptly spun her around and twirled her once again until she was facing him.

"What's so funny?" She asked afraid she had done something wrong.

"You're thinking too much." he said chuckling once more.

"How so?" Natalie asked genuinely confused.

"It's not some big complicated dance that you have to memorize. Nat, this is a party. Have some fun with it." he said smiling. Natalie blushed. Caspian was about to say something, when Peter, who was grinning wildly, interrupted him. Caspian looked a bit startled at first but slowly he smile suddenly turned to a grin as Peter broke out into a large smile. He looked at Natalie and quickly said,

"Uh, wait you here." He stopped and shook his head as Natalie looked confused. "Uhm, wait for you me." He shook his head again. "Just wait here." He pleaded. Natalie looked confused, but nodded.

"Smooth Casp, very smooth." Peter whispered as Caspian swiftly elbowed him in the stomach. The boys took off to the front of the ballroom. Picking up a goblet from a nearby waiter, Peter clinked the glass with the hilt of his dagger and guests started to pay attention.

"Ah hello!" he greeted cheerfully. His guests smiled back at him. "I hope you all are enjoying the ball." He was greeted by murmurs of affirmation and some cheers. He continued, "As most of you know we have recently had three lovely women staying here at Cair Paravel. Guests of Aslan himself." Everyone slowly started nodding or murmuring causing him to continue; "These three marvelous ladies have made their way into my family by showing their pure hearts and ability to beat Caspian in an archery contest." laughs were heard from across the hall. Causing Peter to carry on, "There is one special out of the three however, who has captured my heart in the past four months", Peter stated strolling up to Hannah, who was blushing like made, something she realized she had done so much more with Peter around. Peter smirked eyeing her blush. His smirk grew as he continued, "And tonight I would like to ask her, if she would be mine and give me the honor of courting her." More murmurs. Hannah found herself speechless, unable to do anything but stare at Peter.

Peter's eyes started to glisten as he saw her speechless and whispered "Hannah I-", but was cut off by her lips meeting his. Wild cheering erupted in the ballroom. After what seemed like eternity had passed, they finally pulled apart, resting their foreheads against one another. Peter grinned dipping his head down and whispered only loud enough for Hannah to hear, "I'm assuming that's a yes?"

"Oi, you." Lina said in a hard voice, skipping over to the new couple, poking Peter on the chest. "You keep sucking her face off like that, and you won't have a face to suck with! Got it!?" She cast Peter a very serious look that made him begin to stutter, "B-b-but sh-sh-she." he babbled. Lina and Hannah laughed.

"If this is Pete now, who gave that very lovely speech all but two minutes ago?" asked Hannah grinning at her courtier. Peter rolled his eyes at the two girls, then shushed them, seeing Caspian step up into Peter's prior place at the front of the ballroom.

"Well seeing as Peter just exploited my failure at archery, I believe I should be hiding from you all." he stated, his voice shaking. He gained some laughter from the audience. He continued. "I've never been good at speaking in public, and I'm not really good with feelings and emotions as such. But there is a lovely young lady who is also new in Narnia that has stolen my heart." He stared straight at Natalie. "Natalie, I know, I haven't asked you this in private. And I know I'm putting you on the spot, but what else can I do?" Natalie's face was kept in shock, her mouth a perfect round "O". Caspian carried on, "Will you allow me..." he gulped, "to court you?" All the guests turned to Natalie, who was standing with her lips quivering. Caspian, thinking he did something wrong, raced towards her.

"What's wrong, Natalie?" he asked. "What have I done wrong?" Natalie shook her head and beamed.

"Nothing. Absolutely nothing." she replied snaking her arms around his neck allowing him to peck her on the forehead. The two pulled away but still kept their arms around one another. But then Caspian cradled her face with his hands. His gaze moved from her eyes to her lips, as they both slowly began to lean towards her. "Aww's" were audible from all across the room.

"Oi Caspy boy! That warning goes for you too, your majesty!" Lina yelled from across the room, causing the couple to blush and pull away from each other. The five friends laughed as the happy couple approached. Caspian placed his arm around Natalie, who was currently smiling and giggling.

"Where's Lord Herend, Lina?" inquired Peter smiling, but as soon as he said this Lina paled noticeably.

"He probably just went to get us some drinks. I-I'll go find him." she replied, beginning to walk away. Caspian grabbed her arm to stop her, and she let out a hiss. Caspian immediately let go, and Lina rushed away. Natalie was about to go after her, but Caspian stopped her.

"I'll take care of it, love." he said, giving her a quick peak on the cheek, then following right behind Lina. He weaved around guests and waiters, and caught a glimpse of Lina just outside the ballroom with Lord Herend; however they didn't look like they were having a pleasant conversation. Lord Herend was gritting his teeth, and he had an iron grip on Lina's upper arm. Lina looked frightened as anything; she was trembling and shielding her face from Lord Herend, who began to shake her violently, yelling something that was drowned out by the music. He raised his hand, about to slap her across the face when Caspian interrupted.

"Is there a problem here?" He said walking out into the hall, his face contorted in rage. Herend lower his hand and let go of Lina.

"M-my King!" Herend didn't stutter long, and soon his voice was normal. "Congratulations on your courtship to Lady Natalie." Though Herend's voice was calm, Caspian hid no rage.

"Lina, come here." Lina immediately pulled away from Herend's grasp and stumbled towards Caspian. He noticed her cradling her right arm, and pulled it in front of his view. Purple, blotchy bruises covered the upper half of her arm. Caspian gritted his teeth as to not rip Herend's head off right then and there.

"You will leave tonight." Caspian said evenly. "And you will not return." Lord Herend nodded curtly, staring at the floor, then departed, his cloak billowing out behind him.

"Th-thanks Casp." Lina said shakily. Caspian simply nodded, wrapping his arm around Lina's shoulders to support her shaking frame. He plastered a smile on his face, trying to hide the tears forming in his eyes as he looked at her weakened figure. Before they took more then a few steps towards the ballroom, Lina collapsed to the ground.


DUN DUN DUN! THE END!


LOL JK JK- I'M NOT THAT CRUEL


"Edmund, are you listening to me? EDMUND?!" Demetria screeched waving a hand in front of his face. Edmund looked back at her completely dazed, and then seeming to realize who wanted his attention, chugged the rest of his drink. He put the glass down on the table, having to take his time to make sure he didn't miss it, answered trying to hide his sarcasm,"Yes dear?" She took an annoyed sigh,

"Well if you would actually stop drinking, you would have heard me telling you about how," she took a step towards him and started to play with his tunic, "About how you need to stay away from Lina, Natalie, and Hannah. Especially Lina! I will not have you hanging out with that... with that maid! People will start to talk soon. She'll ruin our reputation, and we wouldn't want that, right? You being the king and me being the future queen, so from now on you need to stay. Away. From. Her! Okay sweetie?" Edmund looked at her with disgust and swatted her hand away. He took a stumbling step towards her, their faces mere inches apart. She could feel his drunken hot breath on her face. He raised a finger at her and yelled,

"Now listen here sweetie, if you ever called Lina a maid again, I am going to r-".

"Help, someone, please! Help Me!" Caspian shouted. Edmund wobbled around to see Caspian holding Lina's fainted figure. His heart immediately dropped, and he started to walk over to her when Demetria grabbed his arm,

"Don't you dare leave me to go help that slut. She is worthless, and as your bride to be I suggest you do what I say and-"

'HOW DARE SHE', Edmund thought angrily.

"You know what?" He yelled cutting her off. "You are the most horrible person I have ever met, and the fact that you would even say such a thing when Lina could dead is the most selfish, conceited, bitchy thing I have ever heard in my life. I am done with us. I am done with you. Now you better leave now, or I will order the guards to see you out. Goodbye, Demetria. I hope to never see you again." He walked off towards Lina and Caspian, leaving Demetria gawking at his words.

Edmund stumbled over to the two of them, and when he got a closer look at Lina's bruises, he could feel his stomach twist. Not thinking for a moment, he turned to Caspian,

"I'll...hiccup...take her to her...hiccup...room." He said swaying. Caspian raised his eyebrows uneasily.

"Are you sure, Ed?" he asked the young king. "You look a bit... out of sorts." Edmund shook his head impertinently.

'Need her happy.' He thought to himself.

"I've... hiccup... nothing better to do, seeing as I just ended...hiccup... my courtship, not but... hiccup hiccup... twenty seconds ago." he stated. Caspian opened his mouth to apologize, but Edmund cut him off. "So worth the look on her face…" he said dazedly. Caspian nodded.

"Well, just, don't drop her." he said, as Edmund picked her up, bridal style, and stumblingly carried her to her quarters, feeling the stares from everyone in the ballroom as he left. When he got to her room, he attempted to lay her carefully down on the bed, but in his drunken haze he ended up throwing her. Lina's eyes snapped open, and then she closed then again, squeezing them tight as she could, and slowly tried to sit up. She looked around in a daze and turned to see Edmund standing next to her. She raised an eyebrow and asked in a hoarse weak voice, "What happened? And what are you doing here?" She moved and hissed, as she felt throbbing in her upper arms.

"How did that...hic... happen?" Edmund asked, pointing at her bruised arms. She looked down at her bruises, and groaned. They had gotten worse, much worse. The bruises had turned from a light blue to completely black and purple; she looked back at Edmund, noticing a red tint to the Just King's eyes.

"Ed? Are you drunk?" She asked incredulously. Edmund waved his hand in dismissal.

"Nonsense only had six glasses of champagne. Or was it rum?" he pondered aloud, before falling over. Lina immediately jumped out of bed and caught him before he made contact with the hard floor. Knowing she didn't have the strength to drag him back to his room, she vaulted him onto her soft bed. He simply grunted, and began to snore. Lina rolled her eyes an asked aloud.

"Edmund, what am I going to do with you?" She laughed at him and a smile grew on her face,

"Well..." Edmund muttered incoherently. Lina turned, shocked, not realizing that he had been awake the entire time. Edmund continued, "I just ended it with Demetria. I think I need a little cheering up." He slurred obviously still under the influence.

"Edmund Pevensie!" Lina shouted, surprised yet appalled. "If all your here for is for some 'cheering up', then you might as well leave now!" She snapped "And don't let the door hit you on the way out!" She shook her head at him, not believing what he had said. He burst out laughing at her, and she slowly turned her head to look at him, giving him a confused look. He sat straight and shook his head still laughing, then finally spoke,

"Lina. It was just a joke! I was only messing with you. I carried you here when I found out you had fainted...I was worried about you and wanted to make sure you were okay." Lina looked down, trying to hide her obvious blush. Still trying to hide it she said mockingly,

"Wow Ed, for a king I suspected more from you. Joking around with a subject like that. I'm ashamed." He rolled his eyes and said,

"I know, I so ashamed, especially since I said that to a cripple." She grabbed a pillow from the bed and threw it at his face,

"Hey, I'm not a cripple! You're the one who can barely stand up."

"I can't argue with that," He laughed "So will you tell what happened to you and how you got those," he very gently grazed a finger across her arm "bruises?" She blushed, feeling a tingle run down her arm, but then she remembered what had happened earlier that night, and what Lord Herend had done to her. The light in her eyes turned from happiness to hatred. Edmund's eyebrow's furrowed with concern,

"Lina? Are you alright?" She looked away not wanting to meet his eyes, forcing a fake smile on her face.

"Yes, I'm fine, no need to worry..."

"Then why don't you tell me what happened?" He inquired taking her hand in his, "and don't tell me nothing because you have the bruises to prove it." She sighed in defeat, and finally met his gaze, allowing him to see the tears forming in her eyes. He grazed his thumb across her hand, trying to comfort her; she smiled at him and said with her shaking voice,

"Let's just say my mums not the only one who's hurt me." She said not making eye contact. As soon as the words left Lina's mouth Edmund's face went red with rage.

"What the hell did he do to you?" He said his voice wavering as he attempted to calm himself down.

"I said something he did not like and he g-grabbed my arm," Lina started gesturing to her bruises. "But Caspian, luckily, got to me before he did any real damage." Edmund's eyes turned black with hatred and he tried to calmly speak through gritted teeth,

"I'm going to kill that bastard." He began to yell "If he ever shows his face here again, he will regret it. That little-."

"Edmund, look I'm fine, see? And you don't need to worry because Caspian already got rid of him. "Edmund shook his head and then placed both hands on her cheeks,

"Lina, you have to promise me to be careful." he stated, completely sober. "Because if Caspian hadn't shown up, who knows what would have happened or what he'd have… I don't think I could live with myself if something happened to you... And I swear, from now on, I won't let anyone hurt you ever again." She smiled at him and then whispered,

"You should get some sleep you must be tired." He nodded, turned, and stumbled away. Before he reached the door, Lina whispered,

"Thanks Ed, for everything. "

"Anytime," he said walking, as Lina slowly drifted to sleep.


Lina slowly opened her eyes, and groaned at the pain that tingled all over her body. She sighed and squeezed her eyes tightly together hoping the pain would magically go away.

"LINA!" shouted Natalie and Hannah, as the two attacked her with hugs. Lina smiled and said,

"Hey guys, it's great to see you too, but can you do me a favor? GET OFF ME! Before I get anymore bruises!" The two quickly let go, and Lina rolled her shoulders a few times, trying to regain feeling in them. Natalie had heard the weakness in her voice and could see the pain remaining in her eyes that she was trying to hide. Natalie put a halfhearted smile on her face and said, "Caspian told us what happened... I can't believe someone could be so cruel to you, you of all people. Lina, I am so sorry."

Lina looked away and gritted her teeth. "It's fine." She grumbled.

"No it's not fine!" blurted Hannah. "That guy manhandled you, almost slapped you, And all you have to say is 'it's fine'? Lina, that guy is such a bastard and if he thinks he can show his face here again, I will personally -".

"Hannah, I'm fine. Really." Lina interrupted. "The stuff that happened with Lord Herend is over now, and we all just need to forget about it. Yes, I would like to give him a nice kick to the groin, but all we can do is just be glad that he's gone." Lina said, trying to calm her worried friends down.

"Spoken like a true diplomat!" exclaimed a certain Magnificent King, as he strutted into the room, pecking Hannah on the cheek and wrapping his arms around her waist.

"I especially enjoyed the part about the 'nice kick to the groin'." laughed Caspian, also pecking his love on the cheek. Lina groaned and flopped back onto her bed.

"I swear if you guys are going to do that every time I'm around, I will vomit." She said with a roll of her eyes. The four others chuckled.

"Well...we just wanted to tell you that you'll be leaving in four days' time for about five months." Peter remarked, catching the girls' attention.

"What?" Natalie and Hannah said unwinding themselves from their suitors arms.

"And where, might I ask, are we going?" asked Natalie. Caspian and Peter began to shift uncomfortably.

Lina's eyes widened. "What's going on?" she asked Caspian bit the inside of his lip. Susan barged into the room.

"Oh, just tell her already!" she cried. The boys continued to fidget. Susan rolled her eyes, huffed, and turned to Lina.

"There's only one person going to Calormeren. You-" Susan sputtered out, causing angry outbursts from Hannah and Natalie.

"What are you talking about? Why are you sending her away?" shouted Natalie furiously.

"And more importantly, why aren't we going together!?" Hannah screamed. Growing tired of the screeching, Peter quickly covered Hannah's mouth with his large calloused hand, causing Hannah to look up at him in disdain. Lina scoffed.

"Okay first off that's just rude. Secondly, why on earth would I be going alone to a place I've never been to, never seen, and have barely heard of?" Lina said indignantly.

"Coolm youf plesh muff youfr hamnd vwhum my mouf." Hannah said in a garbled manner, causing Peter to smile and shake his head. Edmund walked through the door and laughed at Hannah's annoyed expression as Peter kept his hand pressed firmly to her mouth.

"So have you told her?" Edmund asked glancing around, and letting his eyes linger on Lina, who was still lying in her bed.

"Yes they have, thank you very much." Lina huffed. Edmund smiled sadly, and glanced at Peter, who suddenly burst out.

"DID YOU JUST LICK ME!?" He asked, pulling his hand quickly away from Hannah's mouth. Hannah smiled sweetly and stared up at him with innocent eyes. Peter returned the smile, and in the next second, was found chasing Hannah out of the room and into the garden. Feeling the uneasiness, Natalie and Caspian began to stutter.

"We..."

"Uh..."

"Forgot..."

"The fauns…"

"Haven't..."

"We have to go." They said together, and dashed out of the room. Lina and Edmund chuckled.

"Typical Hannah and Peter to go running off into the sunset like some love struck pea bodies, and not to mention Natalie and Caspian seem like the perfect awkward couple." Edmund boomed sarcastically. He smiled hearing Lina giggle.

"So are you going to find some interesting excuse to leave me alone too?" Lina asked, grinning and turning to Edmund.

"No, I wouldn't do that to you." He said sincerely. "Calormeren is a beautiful place. The only thing to worry about is getting tan, but that won't be too much of a problem for you." He said pointing to Lina's brown skin. "There are beaches, and the market, and the street performers, and the castle you're staying at is amazing an-"

"Ed, whatever you have to say about Calormeren to make me amazingly happy about going, isn't going to change the fact that I'm leaving to... Wait, why am I leaving?" Lina asked, Edmund sighed.

"Certain people in the castle believe that you need some, ah, etiquette lessons?" Edmund shrugged as he said this. Lina looked outraged.

"Okay, I know I'm not the most proper of ladies." Edmund snorted at her words, as she threw him a glare. "BUT, what kind of etiquette training takes FIVE MONTHS!?" She asked, raising her voice. Edmund's face contorted in anger.

"FIVE MONTHS!?"

"Yes five months! I thought you knew? You certainly knew more than me not thirty seconds ago."

"I thought I did too." He said darkly, storming out of the room.


Hannah was currently sitting up in a tree hiding, and trying to hold in her laughter as Peter searched the grounds, looking behind every tree and bush attempting to find her.

"Hannah, come out come out wherever you are." Peter said trying to sound as innocent as possible. "I know you're out here, love." He said, but seeing as she was nowhere in plain sight, he moved onto a different part of the woods assuming she was not there.

Sighing in relief Hannah swung her leg over the branch she was sitting on and began to descend down the tree. But on the last few rows of branches, her foot slipped off of the bark, leaving her dangling ten feet off the ground.

"Peter?!" Hannah shrieked, struggling to regain her footwork only to have herself slip and fall further down the tree. "Peter!" She screamed once again trying to claw her way back into the tree. But once again she began to slip, and slowly started to lose her grip on the branch. She only had one hand left on the branch and one by one each finger slowly slipped off the branch. Hannah screamed, bracing herself for the impact of the ground, but instead of feeling pain, she realized she felt none at all. She opened her eyes, which she had not realized that she had clenched shut when she fell, and saw Aslan standing in front of her.

"Aslan." She breathed as she finally stood up, and bowed to the great lion.

"Rise child." He said chuckling. Hannah straightened her back, and stared.

"When... how... why are you here?" She stuttered, causing Aslan to once again chuckle.

"I'm afraid, child, that I am not the bearer of good news." he said gravely

"Please tell me it's not like the last "news" you told me and Natalie." Hannah said cringing inwardly at the memory.

"No, however take great caution, and warn young Delina as well, Lord Herend and Lady Demetria are not yet done wreaking havoc."

"What do you-" Hannah started but was soon interrupted by her very worried courtier.

"Hannah?! Hannah?!" Peter yelled, panicked.

Hannah was very worried, turning around she asked "Asl-" but the great cat had gone, disappeared. And before she could think anything more of it Peter tore through the trees and almost tackled her.

"What happened? Are you okay? I heard you yell." Peter asked frantically, searching her eyes for any signs of harm.

"Yeah, yeah I'm fine. Um, just fell from the low branch. But I'm fine. But right now I need to find Lina."


HELLO ALL, WHEW TWO CHAPTERS IN ONE DAY! HOPE IT MAKES UP FOR THE UPDATE WAIT! REVIEW PLEASE!