Poor Arrianna! I made her sound like a Mary Sue in the last chapter. Don't worry, Noel Ardnek, Arrianna's character is one having both strengths and flaws. Her flaws are pivotal to the plot.

Thank you, thank you, thank you to all my reviewers for sticking with this story. And don't worry, I have a whole lot of plot twists involved, after all, lots of characters to wreack havoc with. Heehee.

And I do hope this scene was believable. I tried to make their interactions as realistic as possible. If you have any sugestions please review and I will make the changes accordingly.

I used the poem My Soul Is Dark by Lord Byron. Both Arrianna and Edmund have faults but like the poem says, they have their strengths, determination, fire and zeal too.

DISCLAIMER: I own Narnia, and the world, the Universe and everything else too. Unfortunately, no one else believes that.

CHAPTER 13: MY SOUL IS DARK

My soul is dark - Oh! quickly string
The harp I yet can brook to hear;
And let thy gentle fingers fling
Its melting murmurs o'er mine ear.
If in this heart a hope be dear,
That sound shall charm it forth again:
If in these eyes there lurk a tear,
'Twill flow, and cease to burn my brain.

For a minute there, I almost believed my own speech. But then again, I was always extremely good with words. Ha! But I think I convinced all the Royals properly enough. I hoped it would be enough. I couldn't wait to return to Narnia.

As soon as I would return to Narnia, I would accept Lord Griffith's proposal. The poor dear loved me, and had always been head over heels for me. He would make a doting husband. Father would be a little bit disappointed, but Griffith was high enough in station to please him. Mother would obviously sigh over how very handsome he was. As fo me, I just wanted someone who loved me enough not to get into my way.

I sighed. I hoped the Monarch's would hurry up and start loving their own country. I mean, Englnd was not as great as Narnia (obviously) but it wasn't that bad. And they had all kinds of magic stuff. "Raideos", "Cameras"," Teleephones," "Trains," and all other types of queer things.

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUV

That afternoon, while Queen Susan was sleeping(she was very tired), Queen Lucy had gone to return that horrid book( My worthless Love or something like that) and King Peter and King Edmund had gone out to play Football, a game which they play in England. It was a very queer game, and I would prefer hunting or archery any day.

"Lady Arrianna, a word." King Edmund said, entering the kitchen where I was contemplating about Griffith.

Apparently, he had not gone to play. Just my luck!

"Yes?" I said, coldly.

"I have to applaud you. That was a card well played. That little speech of yours dispelled all of Peter's doubts and made Lucy love you even more. You even won Susan over to your side. But, Lady Arrianna," Kind Edmund said, while he leaned really close to me. so close, in fact that I could see the flecks of lighter brown in his eyes and the dust of freckles on his his pale skin. And like a fool, I blushed. King Edmund smirked," You see, the game you are playing, I have played it a thousand times I have never lost. With my jurisdiction, you have to be good actor. And I have had enough experience to know when one is acting and when one is sincere. You didn't, for a minute believe yourself, did you?"

I closed my eyes. I tried to compose myself. Then I looked up at his hardened eyes.

"You may believe what you like, Edmund," I said, purposely leaving out the title in my ire. Why couldn't I ever fool him?

"You are just like the rest. Peter was so wrong. You are just like them, power-hungry, money grabbing, shallow…. "

I couldn't take it anymore.

I raised my hand to slap him.

He caught my wrist, his eyes never leaving mine. He smiled at me, and it was a mocking, mocking smile..which dared me to counter him. I could feel my composure slipping. And I felt tears picking my eyes. I didn't care.

"What," I said," gives you the right to be so judgemental? Do you think I havent noticed? You judge people and analyse them without knowing them properly enough. You throw comments without caring about feelings. So I'll explain to you once. Therefore listen properly. I do not want to marry your brother. I have no feelings other than those purely platonic for is handsome, yes, and he had swept me off my feet. But I know better now. He is a man used to making his own decisions. And that is not something I want in my husband, someone who will overshadow me. As for Queen Lucy, she is one of the few people I care about. If you try to damage our friendship, I promise you, the consequences will not be good. This is not a threat, it is a warning. I don't care about your judgements, people have always judged me. But Queen Lucy is one of the few people who know me. I have no wish of influencing her decisions, or whatever it is you are thinking."

King Edmund had listened to my tirade, unimpressed, a calculating look in his eyes. His hand still held my wrist, unfortunately, otherwise I would have twisted his ear as I had done many a times to my younger nephews when they had become too rowdy for their own good.

" I abhor women like you," King Edmund said simply. His voice was calm, but his words hurt." Women who get by on their looks, who have no substance, who prefer to live like parasites…on their fathers and husbands. And the sad part is that they have potential."

The last part struck me dumb and I shut up.

"They are clever, they can do so much if they put their minds to it. Instead they waste their time trying to catch themselves a husband high up in the hierarchy." He said.

I had had enough. This boy… he judged people like he had a right to do so! Well, technically he did…his title said that..but I wouldn't hve someone judging me in this way. He was more or less my age and he dared..dared to pass comments on my character!

I narrowed my eyes.

" Brilliant! The feeling's mutual then. I hate, absolutely hate traitors like you."I said.

And I know I had hit exactly where I had intended. It was low of me, but he was questioning my character. If this comment caused me to be kicked out of Aslan's Country, I had no regrets. But never let it be said Lady Arrianna Elisabeth Marlene Rutherdale backed down from a battle.

"Men like you have no morals. You plot, and calculate and go where your interest lies." I said with relish."You…"

"I wouldn't complete that sentence if I were you." King Edmund said, dangerously.

"And who will stop me? You! Don't make me laugh…go play with your wooden sword, Little King!" I said, snorting. I truly believed I ws so much more matured than him.

As soon as I said the words,"Little King" King Edmund changed. I had never any cause to fear a man before. Usually I felt irritated with my father, with King Peter it was awe, as for the men who accosted me in the street..then too I felt disgust for them. Never fear.

But King Edmund was menacing, dark and dangerous. I could feel the anger and fury roll off him in almost tangible waves. And I feared him then.

And I decided to strategically retreat then, but as I headed towards the door, I found myself pushed against the kitchen wall. He had gripped both my wrists, not tight enough to hurt me, but strong enough to push me against the wall.i lifted my head up and looked into his darkened eyes defiantly.

"Never," He whiuspered, menacingly" ever call me that."

"I can if I want to. You had no qualms questioning my character." I whispered back furiously.

"What did you say I was? Without morals, is that correct?" he asked.

Going against my common sense I nodded.

"Then it wouldn't matter if I did something out of character, you have labelled me anyway." He chuckled humourlessly and I actually feared for my life.

"Wait. What are you..Oomph." I was cut off by King Edmund crashing lips down on mine.

And for the first time in my life, my mind blanked.