Just a little note the first part of this chapter with Eliza and Edmund is the day after peter returns with Emma. While the last part is after the last chapter where Emma's fever broke. I really love the end of this chapter and I have been falling more for Eliza and Edmund. I really can't wait to see where they go along with peter and Emma. As always please let me know what you think.

Chapter 11

Eliza

It was the end of my day I was finally off work it had been a busy day today. King Peter road in with Lady Emma she had fallen sick while they were caught in a storm. I wanted to go see her but I had to pick Bran up from the old women that kept him while I worked. I also promised Edmund I would come and see him today. I was walking the halls with Bran in my arms when I ran into Edmund. He came straight up to me a huge smile on his face. I didn't know how I felt about him taking a sudden interest in me. But my heart couldn't stop speeding up every time I saw him smile at me like that. Before I could even stop him he came up to me wrapped his arms around Bran and I in a hug. I tried not to stiffen at his touch but I couldn't help it my body reacted before my mind could tell it to stop. Edmund pulled back with a frown on his face, "I'm never going to hurt you but I understand. I will keep the hugs to myself for a while."

"I'm sorry it's just…" Edmund interrupted me. "Don't be sorry it's not your fault." He held his hand out to me, "may I have your hand as we walk."

"What about other people." I tried to look around to see who could possibly see us.

"I don't want their hand just yours." That tempting smile of his was back in place.

"That's not… "Edmund nodded at me before starting "I know what you meant, I don't care what they think or say. I just want your hand while we walk." He held his hand out to me I shifted bran on my hip and took his hand. "Your hand is all I ask for."

"I heard Lady Emma came in today sick with King Peter how is she." I let Edmund lead me down the hall I didn't know where we were going.

"She's resting the healer says she has an infection of her lungs. It's going to be a while until she is well again."

"Do you think she will be well enough to see me tomorrow." She had been so kind to me as well I wanted to see if she was ok.

"We're not sure just taking it one day at a time. Peter won't leave her side for anything at all even to sleep." It didn't surprise me when I met them I could tell they cared deeply for each other.

"I'll have to check on them tomorrow while I'm working see if they need anything." I couldn't explain it but I liked Emma before her attack and now it makes us closer surviving it and living on. I just wish I had someone to care for me after I was attacked like she has in King Peter. At times I think that's what Edmund is trying to be but then I don't know if I can let him.

"I know they would both like that." Edmund stopped at the kings and queens sitting room I had been in here many times cleaning up. But never to do anything but work it was odd walking into it now with Bran and Edmund. "Have a seat and don't worry Pete is with Emma, Susan, and Lucy are off with some friends in town.

"Ok." I nodded and tried to not think there gone so they won't interrupt you. He's a king the just king he I'm safe. If anyone is not going to hurt me its Edmund. I kept saying this to myself as I took a seat next to him and set Bran down on the floor to play.

"Oh I have something for Bran I found it in a shop when I was getting some things in town yesterday." Edmund pulled out a wooden centaur that was carved out of a dark wood. He handed it to me. "I don't know if he can play with it yet but I thought of him when I saw it." I took it from his hand and looked at it the centaur was detailed down to the face hair and hooves.

"Thank you I'm sure he will love it he has very few toys." I handed it back to Edmund, "you give it to him that way he knows it's from you." He took it from my hand and leaned down to Bran who was using the coffee table to stand.

"Bran look," Edmund handed the centaur to him and showed Bran how it stood up on its own on the table. Bran smiled held it up to me to see and yelled mama then put it in his mouth. We both laughed as Bran sucked and chewed on the toy. Bran looked back over to me," mama", and then he pointed to Edmund this was his way of asking who he was. "That's Edmund sweetheart." His response was" Edda."

"No Bran Edmund." I tried to get him to say something closer to Edmund.

"Edda. Edda edda." He was smiling bouncing up and down holding the centaur up in the air.

"I think I will forever be Edda to Bran." Edmund was looking over at me a small smile on his face and a hit of red. "Peter told me Lucy had a hard time saying Edmund too so Edda is fine for now." Edmund bent down to the floor and picked Bran up and set him down on his lap. "Do you like the centaur Bran?" Bran just bounced up and down; "I will take that as a yes. I hope I don't make you upset but I asked the man to make Bran a few other toys as well." I took a deep breath and let it out I wasn't sure how I felt about it but I knew he had good intentions.

"As long as you promise me something?" I looked down at my hands that I kept in my lap twisting my hands together. Edmund reached over and took my hand in his I didn't cringe this time I was becoming used to it. "Just name it." I looked up at Edmund his eyes said it all he meant it and that he would try to keep to it. "I'm worried that you're doing all of this because of pity. Because of what happened to me because I was attacked and you weren't there to save me as King Peter was there to save Lady Emma. I don't want you to spend time with me if the only reason is because you feel like you have to because of what happened to me." I couldn't look at him any more I was scared he would say yes and I had misinterpreted his intentions. So I looked down at our hands. Edmunds hand covered mine that I hardly saw my small palm under his. I could tell they were strong hands, he had a scare that ran over his knuckles the while line looked like a cut from battle.

"Like I said before there is not pity in anything I'm doing for you. I feel horrible that we didn't see him for what he was sooner. We knew he wasn't the must trustworthy person and yet we let him stay here. And because of it he hurt you and your now working here. You had Bran and your family shunned you because of it." He let of my hand and I felt his finger under my chin lifting it up I was caucuses but I looked up and met his eyes. "I feel like I should make sure your taken care of because of my actions not his." I felt his thumb run over the bone of my chin, "what can I do to make you trust me." He let his hand fall back to mine.

"I don't know I lost all my trust in people that night especially men. Truthfully just sitting here is more than I'm used to. Letting you hold Bran I don't usually let anyone hold him for too long. Just small steps I can't let things go all at once I'm sorry I just cant." Usually at this point all I want to do is hide go someone where no one would bother me but right then I didn't let myself I had to let myself trust someone why not the Just King.

"Don't be sorry about anything you never have to tell me that." Edmund squeezed my hand as I watched Bran chew on his toy. Even though Edmund looked nothing like Him I could see how if someone didn't know Bran wasn't Edmunds they might mistake him for Brans father. They both shared the same dark hair and eyes. I couldn't help but think that if I could get over my fear of men that Edmund would make a wonderful father. But I don't know if I could or even if I could let Edmund put himself in that position. I was a lowly maid that was raped and has an illagamente child to take care of. And Edmund he's a king he doesn't deserve a women like me he deserves someone much better than I am. Someone pure clean and a women who is beautiful and full of grace that could be by his side as he rules Narnia. Even with knowing all this I couldn't take my hand from Edmund. For the first time in months I feel safe, safe enough to let go just a little. We sat together while Bran played for a few hours before Edmund had to go when a letter came for him. It was then that Edmund walked me back to my room with an sleeping Bran on Edmunds shoulder. Bran had fallen asleep in his lap and he had insisted on carrying him. It was so cute watching Edmund carry Bran with one arm while he held my hand with the other. When he left me at my room I watched him as he hurried back down the hall.

Edmund

I left Eliza at her door with sleeping Bran I clutched the letter in my hand as I quickly went back upstairs to go talk to Peter. An outpost of solders has been seeing an increase of activity of the white witch's followers. It seemed like they were trying to regroup and were raiding the outpost. Just the thought of the witch made me walk faster feeling the stone bite into my feet as I walked as fast I could though the cold halls to see Peter. Peter was as he had been since he got back was in Emma's room. I quietly opened the door to Emma's room as she always Peter was sitting by her side. "Pete, I need to talk to you."

"Not now Ed later." He didn't even look up from Emma's face or let of her hand.

"I can't leave Pete," I walked over to Emma's bed and stopped behind him putting my hand on his shoulder, "I got a letter it's getting worse Pete." I handed the letter to him as eyes rushed over the paper taking in the words as fast as he could. After a few minutes he handed it back to me, "what do you want to do."

"We should ride out but I would rather not do that right now." I understood I didn't want to leave while Emma was this sick as well. I couldn't even image how much worse it would be for Peter right now. To take him away while she was so sick would just put him in more danger. Every minute of every day we were out there he would be more worried about Emma than himself. "Send him some troops as reinforcements if things do not resolve soon the two of us will have to ride out." Still peter didn't look at me.

"What of Emma?" I looked at her, she was pale her hair laying over her pillow Peter had her hand in his.

"I can't leave her not like this," his voice was horse. I knew he was on the verge of tears over her.

"We'll wait as long as we can I'll go write the letter to the outpost. How is she?" I knew the answer but I needed to keep Pete talking he was concentrating on horrible things too much.

"About the same as yesterday when we got here. Her fever spikes and goes down. Sometimes it's so hard for her to breath that I'm worried that shell stop breathing. All she wants to do is sleep it's everything I have just to wake her and get her to drink that tea and eat. I'm going to ask her if I can court her when she's over this."

"About time I know she won't say no to you." I had hoped that this would get Pete though the tough time of Emma's sickness. "I'll leave you to alone while I write the letter. Try to get some sleep Pete." I left then alone as I left to go to the office and write the letter to the outpost. Sitting down I tried to pull my thoughts away from two women that had wormed their way into our lives. Emma who is starting to become a part of our lives in a month. Peter loves her even if he won't admit it. And Eliza I was confused as to what it was about with her. I couldn't get her out of my mind. As I laid in bed last night I couldn't get her out of my head. Her eyes face the way she holds bran to her. I knew she didn't want me to pity her and I didn't I admired her for her strength she had to keep Bran and do what she had to do. To keep going when everything looked so bleak. I wanted to take care of her like Peter was with Emma. I guess now I know what drove Peter to this need of protectiveness towards Emma. Because now if anyone harmed Eliza I would be the first to set them straight.

I knew if we had to ride off north Peter and I would have four girls worried about us. Not only would I have my sisters in mind but Eliza and Emma. I knew for a fact that neither one of them would forget if I was hurt. I just hoped that the rebels gave up and see that there is no point we are not going anywhere.

Emma

I had woken up from sleeping the fever off to find Peter there right next to me. I knew he was there throughout the fever taking care of me. I felt his hands and heard the sound of his voice. I even heard the pain in it when he spoke to Aslan. Now that I could think back on what I do remember I couldn't deny that Peter had feelings for me. I knew this before from Edmund but I knew now I couldn't keep mine to myself. After all this how could I deny my feelings for him anymore? How could I deny them he held my hand tried to break my fever with tea and cool cloths, he helped me drink and eat. And as I watched him sleep in the chair next to my bed I couldn't help but decide that right then and there I wouldn't hold back anymore.

I couldn't help but watch him as he slept his hands in his lap free of the bruises his head laid back eyes closed. His golden blonde hair falling in his eyes, eyes so blue the opposite of mine were mine were gray his was as clear as topaz gems. His cheeks and chin held stubble from the past few days and rumpled cloths were all that he wore lately. Even with all the small differences I saw Peter the king and Peter the man he had let himself go lately. I was going to have a word with him about that. There was no need to let his work and himself go just because I'm in bed sick.

It didn't take too much to wear me out now the bath took all the energy I had. Only after I had bathed and ate did Peter let himself rest. Even now just laying here took something out of me I dosed on and off for the past few hours. The only thing I knew was when I feel asleep the sun streamed into the windows and now it was setting. We had both slept the afternoon away. I reached out to Peter laying my hand on his knee. In his sleep he reached to my hand and squeezed it. I squeezed back and his eyes flew open to look down at me a smile spreading across his face. The smile I was being to love seeing on his face and one I wanted to see every day. "Hey we both need to wake up we have been asleep for hours." My voice was still horse and hardly more than a whisper.

"Really," he looked over to the windows seeing the setting sun. "I guess you're right." Peter kissed my hand then leaned over to kiss my cheek before sitting on the bed next to me. "I'm so happy your slightly better." I reached up to his cheek rubbing the prickly stubble, "never seen you like this before."

Peter grabbed my hand and to my complete surprise he turned and kissed my palm. We both blushed but all he did was hold on to my hand. "I usually don't let it happen I have just been preoccupied. Are you hungry?"

"A little bit." I didn't know why but something changed between us. I didn't know if it was us both realizing how much we care for each other or the scare of me being so sick but it changed us both made us bolder more forward about our feelings.

"I'm starving I'll get us some dinner." Peter leaned down again and kissed my cheek again. When he pulled back and looked down at me he stopped "I'm sorry it's a habit I developed while you were really sick. If you want me to stop just say so." I couldn't do anything but shake my head at him, "you really don't mind."

"No," for some reason I could hardly speak the look on Peters face made me speechless. It was like he was drinking me in taking in my face running the back of fingers over my check back and forth. He leaned in and I thought this was it he was finally going to kiss me and I wasn't going to do anything to stop him sick or not. But at the very last second he changed his mind and placed another kiss just right to the side of the counter of my mouth. His lips lingered there and when I thought he was going to move over the little bit to really kiss me he pulled away. "I'll um I'll be back soon." Peter stood up and left me to lay there alone. I couldn't help but think over what almost happened and how much I wanted it to happen. I laid back and couldn't wait for this illness to be over I already was over being in bed. It wasn't long before Peter returned with a tray heavy with food. Susan, Lucy, and Edmund were right behind him with a tray in their hands.

Lucy was the first to climb up on to my bed with her tray. "We didn't want you to get to tired coming to dinner so tonight we brought dinner to you. We've missed you at meals and Peter too." Edmund and Susan settled down next to Lucy kicking there shoes off and settling down to eat in bed with me.

Peter slid into the bed with be helping me sit up and again putting his arm around me. I saw that the try he had held both mine and his dinner. Again he helped me eat and drink and I couldn't help but lean on him some more than before. The five of us sat and talked well the four of them talked more than I did. When they left Peter and I alone again I felt a little awkward. We were still in my bed Peters arm around me he slid his free arm around my waist enclosing me in him and his sent, metal and leather. I leaned into Peter letting his presence sooth me. I felt Peters breath in my ear and I knew he was holding me close to him not only for me but him. "I wanted to ask you something."

"What is it?" His breath was falling onto my cheek and neck I became more aware of him than ever before.

"I wanted to ask you when you were better but since that's going to be awhile I can't wait. Usually you ask parents or brothers but since you have no one here I'll ask you." I leaned back to look up at Peter he was staring down at me, he licked his lips and took a deep breath before he went on. These past few days have made me realize my feelings for you," I could feel my heart pick up as his did under my shoulder, "I tried to deny them but I was scared so scared. That Aslan would take you away or you wouldn't feel the same way. But you getting sick it made me realize I can't keep it to myself anymore. I want to court you if you'll have me." Oh Aslan please don't take me away from him. "Yes."

"Yes, you will." I nodded and Peter squeezed me tight. "I was so worried you would say no."

"How could I say no to you." I leaned my cheek against Peters.

"We don't know why you're here I thought you wouldn't want to say yes incase Aslan sends you home." It was true I didn't want to but just like Peter I couldn't tell him no.

"I think I rather have you for a short time than not at all." I knew if I left now it would hurt both of us. That we were going into dangerous waters but we were going into them together.