I originally intended for the chapter to be much longer with the whole scene from the ball and a few other (un)pleasant surprises incorporated into it as well, but I realized I haven't been a very regular updater so I thought I should give you all a quick treat. Enjoy the fluff :)

Liana bit her lip to avoid laughing hysterically as Edmund walked past her, swearing under his breath. He had a mass of deep red material in his hands that was supposed to be a table-cloth for one of the tables in the hall, but the seamstresses had run short of material and so there were several tables with no covering. As Liana watched, he handed his burden to two fauns, who proceeded to expertly lay it out. However, as soon as they were done, Edmund shook his head and swiped it off the table. He turned around and saw Liana looking at him. Giving her a death-glare, he made his way towards her.

"I deserve a medal for this," he muttered grumpily as he came to stand next to her. Liana looked up from the flowers she was arranging and offered him a small smile. He was obviously incredibly annoyed, she decided, because he didn't return it.

"Susan told me they ran out of cloth," discreetly, Liana grasped his hand and gave it a comforting squeeze. His expression cleared slightly. "I didn't realize she'd give you the task of finding a table it fits on. I'm sorry."

Edmund shook his head. "Don't be. I have nothing to do today and I wanted to see you," he shrugged and indicated the table-cloth in his arms. "This is the price I pay."

"Its hardly a price," Liana rolled her eyes and moved on to another vase. "I've been pricking my fingers on rose stems all day, you don't see me complaining, do you?" she held up her hands and wiggled her fingers. There were angry pink marks all over her palms.

Edmund grabbed her hand and looked at the marks critically before moving it out of his face. "You volunteered to help," he pointed out. "I only followed you here."

"I didn't ask you to follow me, King Edmund, you came because you wanted to," Liana could feel herself become irritated. She had been up all night debating the pros and cons of showing her face the next day and she had finally decided that the worst that could happen would be that Edmund would completely ignore her and she would have to forget that the previous night had ever existed. So, she had gone down to breakfast, choosing to leave her hair loose so that she could hide behind it in moments of extreme embarrassment. She had been surprised to see him standing near the door to the hall instead of inside. As soon as he had spotted her, he had smiled, inclined his head slightly and followed the crowd back through the doors. Liana had convinced herself that he had been signaling to someone else and had decided to sit as far away as she could. Unfortunately, the only available seat was to his right. She had expected a lukewarm reception, at best. Instead, Edmund had showered her with particular attention and every time she had looked at him he had been smiling at her. However, as soon as the decorating had begun his mood had gotten darker and now Liana seriously considered asking him to leave her alone.

Edmund was silent, and Liana took advantage of that to sweep away from him, her head held high. Inside, she was conflicted; he was upset and she wanted to know why, but her dignity wouldn't let her. She was halfway down the table when she finally stopped and looked down. There was one large vase a few meters to her left. She would arrange it, make her excuses and return to the Houses. She ran a hand through her hair and reached for the sash at her waist, intending to tighten the knot, but before she could, Edmund's hand had closed around her wrist.

"I'm sorry," Liana turned to face him in surprise. He looked chagrined. "I'm being unfair to you, Liana. I just…" he trailed off, but her face wasn't discouraging so he continued, hesitantly. "I'm afraid I didn't sleep well last night, but I shouldn't take out my bad temper on you."

"You shouldn't," agreed Liana. She could feel him stiffen, as if preparing for more reproofs. "But as it happens, I had a bad night as well, so it would be hypocritical of me to hold you accountable for your actions if they're being influenced by a lack of sleep."

His eyes crinkled as he smiled. "You had a rough night?"

"I couldn't sleep," she confessed. "I was…" she shrugged, not completing her sentence.

"Thinking?" asked Edmund knowingly. Liana looked away. He sighed and brought her hand to his lips, gently pressing a kiss to her knuckles. "Can I speak with you?"

"Of course."

"In private."

"Oh," she blinked. Of course he would want to talk to her. "Well, I suppose I'm mostly finished."

"Excellent. I'll meet you by the stables," he kissed her hand again, gave her an unidentifiable look, and walked off in the opposite direction. Liana blinked rapidly to return to her senses and picked up the vase she had been about to arrange, all thoughts of the beauty of the flowers gone. The look in Edmund's eyes when he left her now danced in her mind, and she toyed with one outrageous idea after the next, finally deciding that she was being ridiculous. The light was playing tricks on her.

She ran into Susan as she made her way down the length of the table. "You'll want to put those flowers somewhere appropriate before you go," smiled her friend. Liana blushed and nodded, not quite meeting her gaze; she rarely kept secrets from Susan, yet she couldn't bring herself to talk to her about what had transpired between her and Edmund the previous night. What would she tell her? She hadn't even talked to him about what had transpired; it made no sense to jinx something that hadn't even happened yet. Liana forced the thought from her mind.

"Do you need me anywhere else?" she asked, chewing her lower lip.

Susan shook her head. "I've wasted enough of your day. We're having lunch in Peter's solar at the usual hour. It'll just be the four of us and you, because the ball starts not soon after," she sighed. "Are you sure you won't reconsider attending?"

Liana smiled and shook her head. "I won't reconsider. I'll see you at lunch," she bobbed a quick curtsey and gratefully ran for the exit. Behind her, Susan looked bemused. She was about to turn away but before she could, Edmund almost ran past her. He was conspicuously empty-handed.

"Ed?" he brother stopped, but Susan detected a hint of annoyance in the way he stood. She frowned. "Do you need to be somewhere?"

"No," he answered too fast. Susan's eyes narrowed. Edmund looked away. "I have paper-work to do, Susan."

"What in the name of Aslan can you have to work on now?"

"Finances. Unless you would prefer to do it yourself?"

"No, of course not, but what-" he was out of the door before she had even finished her sentence.

"What's going on?" Lucy appeared at her sister's side. The red material that had previously been in Edmund's hands was now folded neatly under her arm. "Everyone is in such a hurry to leave."

"I suppose so," Susan's eyes were narrowed with suspicion as she continued staring at the door from whence both her friend and brother had hurried out within seconds of each other. "Lucy, is your pale blue dress still in your wardrobe? The one with the silver sash?"

Lucy tapped her chin thoughtfully in remembrance. "Yes. I can't think of any reason why it should be gone. But its too long; you said I had to wait until it could be altered."

"You weren't particularly fond of it, were you?"

"It's a lovely dress but the color is too mild," Lucy shrugged. "You know pale blue makes me look uncommonly tan. Would you like to borrow it?"

"Not I, but I daresay I know someone who would."

!

"The easiest way to overcome your fatigue is to go riding?" Liana raised her eyebrows and leaned against the wall of the stable. "Really, Edmund?"

"I know it doesn't sound lovely, but it's the easiest way to get out of the palace without people wondering where we're going. Unless you want to take a walk in the grounds with me?" Edmund raised his eyebrows, clearly challenging her.

Liana huffed. "I don't mind riding, but I'm in white and I'm always in white. Everyone will know who I am whether we walk or ride."

Something seemed to dawn on him at her words and he grinned roguishly. "Are you afraid?"

"Excuse me?"

"Are you afraid of being alone with me?"

"I'm alone with you right now."

"Philip can hear every word we say," Edmund pointed out. The grin never left his face. "You're afraid of being completely alone with me, aren't you?"

"Of course I'm not."

"Prove it," he held out his hand. Liana gave him an annoyed look before taking it. He lifted her up into the saddle easily and then followed. Automatically, Liana gripped his waist and buried her face into his shoulder. Edmund chuckled and touched her clasped hands. "You're adorable."

Liana muttered something unintelligible, but Edmund wisely didn't ask her to repeat herself. His quiet murmur to Philip to gallop fast wasn't unheeded; they were out of the palace walls in five minutes. Edmund headed for the beach. Though it could easily be seen from the chambers of the royal family, there was a thicket of trees where he knew he could speak to Liana without alarming her fear of detection.

He slowed Philip down and steered him towards the trees, then let him take his own course. He felt Liana's face come up from where she had ducked it behind his back and grinned when she rested her chin on his shoulder.

"That was fast," her voice was a quiet murmur. Edmund gently pried her fingers loose from their death grip around him and intertwined them with his own. Philip stopped near the trees and bent down to pick at the grass near the edge, effectively ending their journey. Edmund got back onto the ground and helped Liana down, gripping her waist tightly. As soon as her feet touched the ground, he realized he didn't want to let her go. He was surprised by how easy it was for him to be affectionate with her; every move he made was automatic, even reflexive. He didn't have to think about it or gauge her reaction. He just knew.

She looked up at him, smiling a little at the intense look in his eyes. "What has got you so thoughtful?"

Edmund came out of his reverie and grinned down at her. "You," he answered simply.

"Me?"

"Yes. You."

"Dare I ask why?"

"I can't answer that," he said honestly. "I find myself thinking about you quite a bit, actually."

"That doesn't seem very appropriate."

Edmund snorted. "Neither is this," he indicated the way Liana was pressed against his chest.

Liana rolled her eyes, but her lips twitched. "Only you could compliment and insult in the same sentence."

"I apologize; I wasn't insulting you."

"I know," she smiled and then did something completely unexpected. Edmund was content just to hold her and drink in her words, but he would be lying if he said he hadn't wanted to kiss her since the first time he had done it the previous night. He didn't know if Liana could read his mind, and he didn't care. She gently pressed her lips against his, and he gladly took over from there. She tasted like strawberries; he faintly remembered there being some for breakfast. She pulled back quickly, though, and Edmund could sense that she was embarrassed. "Sorry," her voice was quiet. "I shouldn't have-" biting her lip, she untangled herself from his embrace and headed towards the trees.

Edmund sighed and followed, catching up with her easily. He grabbed her hand, intending to stop her, but also because he could admit to himself that he simply needed an excuse to touch her. She didn't meet his eyes. "Edmund, I don't know-"

"I'm glad you did that," he interrupted her before she could go any further. Her cheeks turned pink. He pressed a kiss to the hand he was holding. "Liana, I intend to kiss you quite a few times before we return to the palace, so I suggest you get used to it."

A smile tugged at her lips. "I don't think I'll ever get used to it."

"We have plenty of time for you to adjust."

She raised her eyes to meet his. "Do we, King Edmund?"

"Yes," his words had the seal of a promise in them. She noticed, and Edmund saw the recognition in her eyes. But he also saw doubt.

"King Edmund, I am not sure you understand."

"What is there to understand?"

"Two people do not just hide behind trees and share kisses," Liana shook her head. "Especially not when one of them is a king."

"I don't see what that has anything to do with it."

"You are a king and whomever you marry will be queen."

"Yes," he drew her closer to his body and traced her features with the tips of his fingers. Her eyes closed. "But that does not mean she has to be a queen before I marry her."

"She should be."

"She's not going to be."

There was silence. Liana's eyes opened, wide with disbelief. Edmund couldn't bring himself to regret his words; they had been the truth. But he saw that they were ill-timed. Though Liana didn't move from his arms, her eyes immediately went to the ground, breaking eye contact. He felt like kicking himself until she finally looked up.

"You need to work on your timing," there was a hint of amusement in her tone, but her smile was forced. Edmund understood the signal; she didn't want to continue this conversation, at least not now. She was giving him an opportunity to dispense with the current topic so that they could move on. He didn't want to; he wanted her to know how much she meant to him, how much she had grown to mean to him in an unbelievably short amount of time. Nevertheless, the signal was understood.

"I've been told that," he brushed a lock of hair out of her eyes and smiled down at her. He could see she was relieved.

In answer to his statement, Liana rested her hands on his shoulders and kissed him again. This time, she was more confident. One of her hands tangled into his hair, fusing their mouths together. She couldn't say the words back; not yet. But he had to know that she felt them, and that she would say them soon. Edmund understood. His free hand cupped her face, running his thumb over her smooth cheeks. She let out a little sigh of contentment as he moved his lips to her jawline, allowing him to press gentle kisses there until she regained her breath.

"Stop," her voice was a barely-there whisper. He didn't respond right away; his lips skimmed her neck, her cheeks, her nose, before finally drawing away a millimetre away from her lips. It annoyed her, but she had been the one who had asked him to stop in the first place. She tried to keep that in mind when she saw that his usually messy hair was even worse now thanks to her fingers. It suited him. "Sorry about that," she murmured, reaching up to comb through it with her fingers.

Edmund shrugged off her hand and ran a hand through his hair idly. "I can handle untidy hair, Liana. What's on your mind?"

Liana rolled her eyes. "We came here to talk," she pointed out.

Edmund snorted. "We talked in the hall. You know why we came here."

"You brought me here!"

"And I'm sure you know the reason why," he grinned wickedly and leaned in for another kiss. Liana painstakingly pushed him away and then laughed.

"You're ridiculous," she told him.

"I've never been called that by you, have I?"

"No," she shook her head smilingly. "Do tell me, King Edmund. If we did not come here to talk, why are we here?"

"I could tell you, but I would much prefer to show you."