Once Upon Another Time
Elednor awoke slowly, her cheek pillowed by hard muscle under stiff cambric, warm arms holding her tightly but not uncomfortably. She shifted and stretched, murmuring incoherently as she turned her head to see the grey dawn, and the majestic ship slowly coming closer.
Underneath her, Edmund was already awake and watching the Silver Fox glide closer, but making no move to sit up and disturb the peaceful bubble that had settled around them. Soon enough, they would have to go back to the camp, pack everything away for the last time and board the Silver Fox for the last leg of the journey back to Narnia, and resume their mantles of King and Princess, but for now, in that moment he was content just to be Edmund and Elednor.
Eventually, Elednor stirred and looked up at him, blonde hair delightfully mussed and streaming around her face like a golden veil, eyes still sleepy and pale cheeks flushed.
"We need to get back," she breathed reluctantly, gently pushing against his chest. With a sigh, he let her up sit up, frowning when she refused to look at him. "We need to get the people ready to leave, and-"
A mild panic filling his chest, Edmund caught her chin, forcing her to look at him, grey eyes to brown. Her shield was back up, her face unreadable. "Don't try to ignore this, Elednor," he growled warningly. She was his, and he wasn't going to let her go.
Elednor met his eyes steadily, before looking away and trying to stand. "There's nothing to ignore, Your Majesty," she replied coolly, but before she could get on her feet Edmund yanked her back to him, and kissed her.
She cursed him in her mind exactly a moment before she succumbed to the passionate embrace, commanding all of her senses in a way his gentle tutelage had not the night before. She let him take her mouth before hungrily exploring his; drawing a groan from his lips which sent shivers down her spine. Despite her resolution she had made as they lay on the beach in the night, she found herself pulled onto his lap, hands sunk in his hair, Edmund breaking from her kiss. Forcing in air past the steel bands developing around her lungs, skin on fire from how tightly Edmund had hauled her against him, she lost her breath entirely once more when the young king's mouth merely ghosted down her jaw to her neck, laying a trail of smouldering caresses down the sensitive skin. She hadn't even known her neck could be that sensitive, or that it would be that pleasurable. Edmund's lips brushed her ear and she shivered uncontrollably as he held her tightly.
"We can't ignore this, Elednor," he whispered in her ear. She pushed against his chest but he refused to let her go, easily holding her in place on his lap.
"We have to. I'm a princess of a lost land; I have no dowry, nothing to offer you. You're the king of a great land, your family would never allow us to be," she explained, as Edmund stared at her, before chuckling. Annoyed, she slapped his chest pointedly, wondering why he was laughing at her perfectly logical, if painful, reason.
"Elednor, you have it utterly wrong. My brother and sisters won't care that you aren't wealthy or powerful. We all promised we would not wed without love, and to be honest, Susan and Lucy would tell me I've got exactly what I deserve," he told her earnestly, refusing to let her eyes go, pleading with her to see the truth. Peter, Susan and Lucy would not care that Elednor was not rich, or powerful.
"Have you forgotten something else, my lord?" Elednor reminded him pointedly, gesturing to her eyes. Edmund sighed, and shook his head ruefully.
"That is not going to scare me off, Elednor. I cannot let you go, cannot imagine my life without you in it anymore, even if all you do is exasperate me for the rest of eternity," he replied, and she glared at him even as his words warmed her heart. Sighing, he ducked his head and pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Just think on it."
His arms loosened, and Elednor stood, leading the way back to the camp where everyone was already up and preparing to leave. Before he left her side, she caught his hand and squeezed it tightly. "I will think on it, Edmund."
Edmund didn't know if he wanted to sigh wearily or smile with pleasure as he glimpsed a deep auburn head among the crowd awaiting them aboard the Silver Fox.
"Sister," he murmured, opening his arms wide as Lucy darted forward into his arms and clasped him close. Elednor watched the interaction between sister and brother, the young beauty, not much older than herself, clad in a flowing gown of burgundy and gold, a crown of silver leaves gracing her auburn waves.
"What trouble you get yourself into without us, brother dear," Lucy joked wryly before pulling back, her eyes going to Elednor, open and curious. Her eyes were the same warm shade of brown as her brother's. As she straightened and came towards Elednor, hands outstretched, she noticed a dagger at her waist, the gold pommel shaped in the form of a lion's head and a flask of some red fluid. "And you must be Elednor. Our royal brother's words do you little justice."
Before she could curtsey, the young Queen pulled her into a tight embrace, kissing her cheek.
"Princess Elednor, may I present Queen Lucy the Valiant of Narnia, Lady of the Glistening Eastern Sea and my dearest sister," Edmund grinned almost mischievously, as Lucy released Elednor and turned to glare at him.
"How you've managed to put up with him, I know not. I marvel at your forbearance, Princess Elednor," Lucy retorted with a roll of the eyes.
"Please, call me Elednor," her companion insisted. "My homeland no longer exists and so I can claim to be a princess no more."
Lucy frowned sadly, pressing her hand in comfort. "Daria may be no more, but you can no more stop being a princess than you can stop being Elednor. It is you, a part of you, kingdom or no," she told the younger woman gently but firmly, glancing to Edmund who inclined his head. Her brilliant smile returned, as she steered Elednor towards the captain's quarters at the stern of the ship, already talking animatedly about gowns and rooms, and all manner of practical things as Edmund turned with a rueful grin to direct the final loading of the Darians' possessions, as they settled in.
Elednor was to share a cabin with Lucy; a fact that the young Queen took great pains to reassure her was perfectly acceptable.
The Queen's cabin was a beautiful room, small but not poky or cramped; the sunlight streaming in through the clear glass of the windows, images of the Great Lion embossed everywhere. Elednor stowed her pack in one of the chests bolted to the floor, as Lucy gaily chatted about all the joys awaiting her in Narnia, before telling her about how well the Darians had settled in.
"Oh, and I have a message to you from Aisla. She said you had better have good news for her or she'll box your ears until you see sense," Lucy suddenly remembered, as Elednor snorted. She glanced curiously at the princess but didn't ask more. She had suspicions of her own. "You must wash and ready yourself for dinner. We will all dine together tonight, and you can tell me of your adventures," she continued to chatter; leaving Elednor almost exhausted just listening to her. She had never known anyone with such energy!
"You are too kind, Queen Lucy," she murmured, turning and sitting down on the bed, as Lucy straightened and wagged her finger at her.
"Nay, call me Lucy. We are equals here, Elednor," the queen murmured. "You will find us terribly informal. Now come here and hold this dress up to you. Edmund told us you were close to my size, and I…think he was right."
Elednor turned, and gasped at the gown Lucy held up. It was the colour of a pearl, shot through with gold, the long over sleeves reaching to the hem of the skirts.
"That is far too lovely for me, Qu-Lucy. I could not-" she began to protest, but Lucy hushed her.
"The gown is not as lovely as you. Now, once the water arrives, I'll wash your hair and we can trim these ends. They are a little wild," Lucy brushed her protests aside, as she smiled easily at her new friend. Oddly warmed by the confident Queen's attentions, Elednor smiled tentatively back.
Edmund sat back in his chair in the Captain's Map Room, sipping wine from a silver goblet. He was clean once more, clad in clothes unsaturated by dust and the grit of the deserts, and the ache in his muscles from riding for days was beginning to dissipate. Beside him sat Tregarth and Orieus, talking quietly about the voyage passed and the voyage to come.
The Faun stood at the door opened it to reveal his sister clothed in blue and silver, matching the crown of leaves upon her head. She smiled wickedly at him, as he frowned in confusion then went to her seat. Edmund sat up abruptly, every muscle in his body going rigid as his eyes took in the vision before him.
Elednor was wearing a gown of pearlescent radiance, her golden waves of hair trailing around her shoulders. He noticed they had been cut, and were less wild than they had been, her skin gleaming like a pearl. The dress hugged her shoulders and waist tightly, the under sleeves of gold exposed by the fall of the pearl-coloured over sleeves. The skirts fell from her hips, swishing gently behind her, accentuating her grace. Lucy had placed a gold band encrusted with pearls in her hair, shining in the candlelight.
She was beautiful.
She looked like the princess she was, as he rose courteously to seat her beside him. Their fingers lingered and their eyes met.
Lucy watched from her seat as Tregarth poured her wine, and smiled. It was as obvious as day that Elednor and her brother were in love.
Dinner was a merry affair. Elednor did not speak much but watched the teasing banter between Edmund and Lucy, laughing at several embarrassing stories Lucy had to tell.
"And then he missed the horse!" Lucy burst out laughing as Edmund shot her a highly aggravated look. Elednor couldn't help but giggle.
"Yes, I missed the horse. I was only twelve years old, Lu!" he exclaimed wearily, shaking his head as Lucy just sent him a disbelieving look, and Elednor's smile grew. Outside the sky was already pitch black as they sailed into the open sea, away from Calormen and heading back to Narnia. It had been a long day, and midnight was fast approaching.
Elednor stood with a tired smile. "I need some rest, I think. I will see you in the morning," she murmured, inclining her head to the company. Orieus, Tregarth and Edmund bowed courteously while Lucy smiled warmly over her goblet of wine. Her smile only grew as Elednor left and Edmund quickly slipped out the door after her.
"Elednor wait!"
At the familiar voice, she stopped and turned around, just as Edmund closed the gap between them. He looked concerned. "Are you well?" he asked.
"Yes, just a little sleepy. I'm not used to such fine food and wine, it's making me yearn for my bed," she confessed with a smile. Edmund's concern vanished and he inclined his head.
"Then I will delay you no longer. Goodnight, my princess," he bowed once more, catching her hand and kissing her fingers gallantly. Haughtily, Elednor inclined her head in a regal curtsey, before Edmund just smirked and pulled her into his arms. Their lips met, and she moaned against his lips as his fingers trailed down her neck before clutching her waist. Already breathless, she pulled back, stroking her fingers through Edmund's dark hair once more before leaving him to go to her cabin.