A/N : I have a funny feeling, you're all gonna like this chapter Anyways, read and let me know, maybe?

Chapter 11

The castle was a bustle, everyone occupied in his or her work, assigned to themselves by the High Queen herself. Even the Royals themselves, not an exception. Flowers and various other decor from all over the country and beyond, brought in for the special eve.

As much as she hated it that she had to, or rather was compelled to, attend the event, Aline couldn't but help feel excited as she helped the fauns arrange the roses that now covered the entry arch, transforming the barren, cold stones into a flurry of life. Dryads floated by spreading the breath of life with their every step as she saw the vines twisting themselves around the stones finding grip, and the flowers visibly brightened asif brought back to life.

Indeed, how could she not feel excited when an ecstastic began to play a lively tune on that enchanted reed-pipe of his, that made the castle folk stop what they were doing and join in a livening sing along, which quickly turned into a competition within the fauns, as to who played the best, or rather as Aline suspected, who woo-ed the most dryads.

She couldn't help but smile to herself as she spied Eilea, a dryad who'd caught the attention of Raegnor, a faun she'd gotten to know, smile flirtatiously at the faun before disappearing in a spoof of green flowers just as he neared her.

"Aline!" she heard a half whine which she instantly recognised as Corin. "I can't hear you, Corin" she called back with a smirk.

"Yeah sure, you answered because you couldn't hear me." the young Prince shot back.

"Or maybe I'm ignoring you,"

He anxiously waved away her reply, "listen Aline, I'd give you anything, and I mean anything." he stressed the word. "A whole room filled with the best delicacies in all of Narnia and Archenland? Or if that isn't enough, a..a whole closet filled with the best dresses you've ever seen. Hell! I'd give you a whole palace made of gold!" the boy looked dead serious that it was all she could do to maintain a straight face. "All I ask of you, just don't pen down that invitation to King Lune."

The older girl pretended to take it into consideration finally deciding it wasn't enough. "I don't think you could buy me so cheap, Corin." she said with a small shake of head, barely concealing the smile that played on her lips, but Corin didn't seem to notice, already his thoughts moving on to how he could convince her not to invite his father to the Narnian ball.

"I know!" the Prince said finally, a contagious smile splaying his lips, "I'd make you a Queen! I mean, come on Aline, what more could you ask for than to be the Queen?!"

"And how do you propose you do that, young sir?"

A grin splayed his face, "Why, by marrying you."

"Not to interrupt your daydream, but don't you think, I'm a tad bit too older for you Corin?"

"Who cares? As long as Papa does not come to Narnia!"

"Who is marrying whom?" Aline almost jumped, at the voice that came from behind, her cheeks turning a shade of rouge as she recognised the person whom it belonged.

"Nothing," she chorused just as Corin blabbed, "Well, Aline just agreed to not send the invitation to Papa, if only I married her."

"No! I most certainly did not." the girl in question protested, her cheeks flaming red, that the Just King could not help but feel amused. "Oh, yes you did too! " the Prince stated obstinately as she frowned pointedly at him, her arms crossed across her chest. "Anyways what do you think you were you doing, eavesdropping on our conversation?"

"So," he said with an infuriating smirk that she wanted no more than to smack off his face, "it is indeed true then."

Aline groaned with frustration. "For the last time, no its not! And you," she glared at the Archen Prince, staring back at her innocently through his mischief, "be assured that the invitation to King Lune would be the first to leave the castle." She turned away from the two monarchs, cutting her way through the masses.

It was late into the night when Aline sat by the light of the oil lamp, her head buried in a heap of gold and scarlet invitations adorned with the golden silhouette of a lion. Aslan.

She stared a moment at the piece of work that seemed to stare back at her, feeling a warm feeling spread down the back of her neck down her spine. Of course, she'd never met the majestic lion, the patron of Narnia, but she sure had heard countless tales that proclaimed his majesty. She herself at many times, had questioned the credibility of those, like any person with a sane mind would.

But right at that moment, sitting amidst the luminesent glow of the lamp, that cast her slender figure in a dim incandescent glow, it's warmth wrapping around her form like a comfortable cocoon. With the silvery strands of moonlight that filtered through her translucent curtains, curled around her bathing the room behind in an ethereal glow. With the gentle whisper of the tree leaves dancing to the rhythm of the night. When the threads of the fabric that bound reality and fantasy apart wore dangerously frail. It was at times like this, when magic seemed to infilter the very air she breathed, that Aline almost, almost wholeheartedly could believe everything that had transpired since that fateful day.

She shook her head to clear the haze that set in, focusing back her attention to the task she was assigned to. After a while of scribbling out strange names and titles that she'd given up trying to give voice to the empty words, she realised that she'd come to the very end of the list.

Aline paused a while, contemplating whether she should get the rest of the list from Lucy. Finally deciding it better if she finished the whole thing today itself when she felt in the mood to, rather than put it away for tomorrow.

It wasn't until she made her way half-way down the corridor did she feel the chill seep through the robe she'd donned over her relatively thin nightgown. She ignored it.

Aline didn't have to knock, for Lucy's door was wide open asif ready to welcome anyone who wanted to step in. The Valient Queen noticed her just before she entered, skipping over to her friend, "Oh Aline! I'm just soo excited for the ball!" the girl exclaimed.

Unfortunately, the same could not be told for Aline. Even back on Earth, she was more the girl who kept to herself, than the stereotypes that enjoyed all the glamours. But for the sake of the girl in front of her, she put on a big smile that passed off for genuine for Lucy seemed almost fooled.

After small conversation about how the arrangements were proceeding, and Lucy practically tearing apart her whole room searching for the list that she'd somehow misplaced, Lucy shrieked, "Aslan! Damn me! How could I have forgotten? Aline, I'm so sorry to cause you such inconvenience, but I just remembered giving Ed the list to check if he wanted to add more! So sorry, but do you think you could collect it from him?"

After apologising for more times than Aline cared to count and after ensuring her it was alright, she found herself faced by the oak doors that barred the way to Edmund's room. She had half a mind to turn away. There was something about him that set off the alarm bells in her head. Something about him that made her feel unsafe, unprotected under his hawk like gaze. Yet, she felt her heart beat fall into a steadily increasing rhythm. This was what she hated. It was this way that she felt each time he was around. The feeling of vulnerability. But yet-

She stopped that train of thought before it could go any further, knowing if she didn't she'd probably change her mind.

Aline opened it cautiously as she peered into his room for the first time. She stared around for a few moments at the golden-brown and maroon coloured wallpaper garnishing the walls. Aline felt surprised beholding the interior. For some reason she'd always imagined it to be of a somewhat darker shade, perhaps black? Brown? Grey? But never, did she expect it to be so.. vibrant.

Though unfortunately for Aline, that wasn't the only unexpected she had to encounter.

"Never heard of a thing called 'knocking'? she heard him comment in a condescending voice. Aline felt her jaw drop open.

"In case you haven't," he continued in that cheeky voice that annoyed her to hell, "it's this thing people do before intruding someone's-"

"Is that blood?" she blurted.

He rolled his eyes, "No, of course not Aline. Its just that I spilled ketchup all over myself. You know, for fun."

"Damn you, Edmund. That is blood." And indeed, the front of the green tunic he had on was stained a deep red that only held two possibilities. Either he actually had spilled ketchup on himself, or the less appealing, that he was bleeding. And judging from the tear in the fabric of his tunic, it was more likely the latter.

Aline felt her head go light as she struttered, "I..I'll get Susan, or.. or someone, or gosh! That looks pretty bad, Ed. Probably needs some stitching."

He shrugged indifferently, but she couldn't miss the wince that marred his features for a moment. "Its alright. It's nothing much."

"Are you even human?!" she demanded. "Wait here, I'll get Susan."

She felt a hand close around hers, yanking her back so that she was staring him, eye-to-eye. "I said, its alright. No need to alarm anyone, unnecessarily."

Aline lowered her gaze, "Well, then at least let me have a look at it." She bit her lip almost immediately regretting the words as they left her lips. Had she gone crazy?

He looked back at her with something like amusement flickering in his eyes.

She winced as she uncovered the fabric. It was deep. "Ed, this is-" He interrupted before she could complete, "Tell me this is bad, once again and I'll have you thrown in the dungeons." He wasn't serious though.

Aline raised an eyebrow, "I'd really love to see you try."

"Trust me," he said in a low voice that got her heartbeat spike up to an erratic pace. "It wouldn't be a pretty affair." She swallowed. Suddenly, she wanted to be far, far away from Edmund Pevensie, but for all she wished she could not as much as tear away her gaze from those deep brown eyes, that stared back at her, with an hawk-like intensity. She was aware of what little the distance between them were. They were close, closer than what she'd have preferred, their noses so close that if either of them were to move a little- no, she did not want to think of that.

Aline drew back, too quickly than what he'd have preferred sliding her hand away from where it was resting. His bare chest, which covered by nothing but the bandages she'd just put on.

"There," she said her voice breaking, "It's done."

She rose up, but once again felt his arm go around hers as sparks flew up her hyped up nerve endings.

"Here it is," he whispered for no reason. "What you came here for." she looked up at him with confusion. Though she'd instantly regretted it. She could see his gaze sweep her face through those thick black lashes, holding her attention captive. They were a shade of brown that reminded her of chocolate, a warm, welcome colour. But somehow, it was not so on him. Somehow he managed to make it look cold, dark and intimidating. Almost like a warning to stay away. If only she'd heed it.

His tousled hair hung low on his eyes. The sharp features of his face so clear and distinct, that she felt the instinct to trace them, to run her hands along the lines of his face. Wanted to see whether those lips felt just as soft as they seemed.

Aline averted her eyes, embarrassment colouring her cheeks at her own inappropriate thoughts. She stepped away from him, seeming to come to her senses.

He held towards her a sheaf of sheets, "the list," he reminded. Aline mentally slapped herself, "Yeah, right. The list." she managed taking the bundle of papers, anxious to walk away.

"Aline?" she froze in her steps at the sound of his voice. "What?" she asked, her voice coming out a bit harsher than she'd intended to.

"Nothing," he said, a smirk on his face, "Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Ed."

What the hell have I gotten myself into?

A/N : So I've been noticing something on here lately. It is that, I just see the number views and follows spiking up, but not as much reviews. I mean, come on people! Reviews are the only thing that keeps us, authors nurtured and in the mood to write more, and it is the only way that we can know whether you actually like the story or not. Anyways, am not forcing anyone to review, but merely suggesting that it'd be more helpful if we get useful feedback that encourages to keep on writing. So, please don't be ghost readers and please let me know what you think!

Adios to all you lovely people!

-NarnianFairy signingoff.