Hadassa was startled, and stopped moving in the dance steps. He had not reprimanded her for her words; he wanted her to continue? She looked at him, but could not tell if he was baiting her to make a mistake or if he had suddenly found an ounce of respect for her instead of blind hate. Baiting or not, she wanted to answer the question he put to her before she lost her bravery.

"You are a snake and a thief in the shadow; a sick man who cares not for anyone; can you really love anything?" She couldn't believe for a moment that she had taunted him in such a fashion; from where did she get her right? Heart pounding, breath slightly uneven, she waited for his retaliation.

~|:O:|~

Her words startled him; was this how the world perceived him outside of those who knew him? Or were these merely the words of a girl that had been verbally abused and insulted? Had the setting been different, he knew he might have struck her. Instead, he pulled her from the dance floor and down a corridor. This argument he did not need anyone to overhear.

Once in the room, he released her hand from his and slammed the door behind them. Turning, he regarded her coldly. "Do you truly think me nothing more than a monster secluded in his castle, biding his time to strike?" he asked, finally breaking the silence.

~|:O:|~

Hadassa had been startled when he'd jerked her from the ballroom. She had wanted to scream, but an overwhelming urge to bury her fear and face the thing that had frightened her without good reason since she'd arrived, overcame her uncertainty. She nearly ran to keep stride with him; unwilling he should practically drag her down the hall.

When he'd slammed the door, she had not thought of how to escape, but of what to say to him. She caught her breath, steadying herself as he turned around, breathing heavily himself. She stared back as he spoke.

"Do you truly think me nothing more than a monster secluded in his castle, biding his time to strike?"

"I don't think you a monster, I think you a twisted man so overcome by shadow that you cannot escape it! I have heard you are at times glad and content with life, but that you also fall into despair and bitterness, lashing out at anyone near enough to you that you can hurt! I have heard whispers from gossips in my court that you cry out in the dead of night for the Witch, Jadis, in your sleep; perhaps you miss her company, since like revels in like?" she answered harshly. If he would give no quarter and show no mercy, she would do the same.

"How dare you." His tone was quiet and not loud as it had been. "You do not know me; you should not speak of things you do not know, little girl," he snarled, though he trembled slightly at her words. Did some part of him indeed long for the Witch?

"I am no more a 'little girl' than you are a small boy! Simply because I am young does not mean I am ignorant of you and your cunning and hate," she retorted quickly.

"You know nothing of reality; nothing of pain. You do not know what is in my soul," he answered sharply, taking a few steps closer, though there was still quite a bit of room between them.

"And yet some have said that a man's soul is betrayed by his actions toward others. If you had a heart, if you knew how to love, don't you think you would have shown a little before now?" She asked, regarding him with a cool manner she never knew she possessed.

The King's eyes widened slightly. But quickly a mysterious smile colored his face. "You think to fell me by my own words?" he asked curiously. Hadassa stared. He had written those words? Her father's favorite book had been written by King Edmund?

~|:O:|~

Edmund was growing bored with this. His anger was spent, and he wanted to be alone. He was tired of this girl that thought she could fight him with her wit and intelligence. She would never match him; however, she could silence him. He didn't forget that. He enjoyed, however, watching her bite back a retort when he told her she had recited his words. Perfectly, as it were, but he wasn't going to tell her that.

"Lady Hadassa, I believe we have forgotten whom we are addressing. You that I am a king, and I, that you are the daughter of a knight. I was asked to dance with you, not argue personalities. Forgive me for allowing my emotions to carry me away." He moved toward a wall, leaving her space to walk to the door. "Go, please. Forgive my attitude." He motioned to the door yet again.

~|:O:|~

Hadassa stared. He was giving up? He wanted her to leave, after all that had gone on. After all he had said; he wanted her to walk away as if it had not happened? She frowned, wondering why he was backing up to the wall, until she noticed the faint outline of a door in it. Hardly noticeable, but in this light, she could see it barely. "No, I must know why you hate me!" She walked forward a few steps.

He straightened, backing up into he could reach out and touch the wall behind him if he wished it. "I am the King of Narnia; I order you to leave, wretch!" His voice took on an imperious tone, and she retreated from his verbal blow.

Tears pricked her eyes at his insult. She blinked thick dark lashes several times before focusing on him again. She had one thing more to say to him if she never said another word, she would say these. "Here in this land they call you the "Just King." I say it is not a fitting title. You are a dark king, a black king, a… a traitor. 'Just' does not fit you, and I do not think it ever shall!" Her voice rose at the end, and she moved to leave the room.

She cried out half in surprise and half in fear when his hand roughly grabbed her arm, forcing her to turn and face him. "I tried to be courteous to you after all that had been said between us; I was willing to apologize for my behavior because you are a guest and I should not have spoken out of turn, but now I should just strike you across that willful mouth of yours and rescind all my apologies! You do not know me, do not call me a traitor!" he whispered sharply.

"The title so close to the truth offends you? One might think you would be honored I discovered your true colors in a matter of days!" she answered, her voice trembling slightly.

"How d –!" He broke off shouting, but she flinched, quickly turning her face for the blow she expected. Efrain had slapped her a time or two for speaking out of turn, she was not unfamiliar with such actions. "How dare you; don't look away from me after what you've said, meet my eyes!" His voice was not as full of unbridled wrath as before, now more annoyance.

~|:O:|~

He disliked her sudden submission when he knew she could argue with him as an equal. Playing that card after the words she had spoken only increased his anger. He put his fingers under her chin and sharply forced her to look at him. Whatever he had been going to say he found he couldn't. The sensation of the day before, times ten, assailed him, and he found he wanted to stand closer to her. When he tried to, however, she backed away, but came up against the door. Something in the back of his mind told him he should not be trying to pursue this, but he banished the thought.

"Hadassa," he whispered her name, half conscious that he was doing so, as he looked down at her.

~|:O:|~

When he'd walked closer, she had moved back, hoping that the door would swing into the hall and not the opposite. As if the object had conspired against her, she couldn't open it, so instead she found herself looking up at the king, reminded of how much taller he was and that she would not be able to move away before he caught her again.

"Hadassa…" She froze when he uttered her name. Something had changed; he didn't look angry, he looked… longing? Her breathing increased slightly when she met his eyes, wondering what exactly he was doing. His fingers brushed against her skin; she was acutely aware of the sensation that trembled down her spine. Something in her wanted to lean into his touch, but she was more aware of the fact that she was in this position with a king of Narnia. That he had just ridiculed her and argued with her.

He was focusing on the sense of attraction she also felt and not true emotions. He was not one for emotions; he was not a man capable of love, she told herself. Passion, perhaps; Efrain had mentioned and been certain to note Edmund's passion for what he believed in in the court and in battle. But not love. Never could the Just King love in the way Hadassa and every maid like her wanted a man's love.

Before he did something he would regret and that would shame her were they caught, she reached up and put her hand firmly on his chest, pushing him back. This was inappropriate; surely he of all men knew that? Her eyes met his again. Brown eyes filled with surprise and sudden realization looked back.

"Sire, surely you must be aware –"

"Yes… yes…" he whispered the word, his voice slightly ragged, stepping back from her. Uncertainty still filled his eyes, and the look he cast her was carelessly unguarded and filled with longing; so much so that she had a feeling he could not control or was even aware of it. "You… must go, please," he requested. Edmund knew that were she to remain another moment he would do something regretful.

Hadassa glanced at the king uncertainly, before turning and opening the door in a nervous rush.

~|:O:|~

Edmund stared at the door for several seconds before visibly trembling. What had he nearly done? Giving in to the feelings that lit in him when she was too close like that was foolishness! He was acting more a fool than a Telmarine ambassador. Had the girl not been so much clearer minded, he was certain his actions would have caused political damage. But now he faced the realization that he was most certainly attracted to the daughter of the man he'd hated and killed. Whatever would he do now?

A/N:

Oh boy! In the words of Miraz "now we get to it!" Interesting stuff, interesting stuff! I can't wait to get feedback from all you wonderful readers! :)

Fiordineve, here's something to get you excited and then frustrated because it was a missed-kiss. Sorry, but I kinda love watching this work, besides, can't have romance happen too fast!

Welcome to the Guest Reviewer (unless you're the previous one) and 'a reader' I am continuing, are you pleased?

Ya'll surely know the drill by now, even still: R&R! Happy reading and happy Hols, everyone!

WH