Disclaimer: I hope you know that the original cast of the Chronicles of Narnia belong to C S Lewis

AN: hello all, been a while hasn't it? Well, I've been missing Sophia and Edmund recently, and decided to do a couple of extra chapters, Specials, of their lives between the end of the story and the Epilogue. I don't know how long they'll be, or how many I'll write, but I hope you enjoy it! ;P

Special 1: Proposal

Something was up today. I knew something was up, even if everyone seemed to deny my suspicion.

First, I had woken up alone in bed. Since the first night Edmund had stayed over in my room two years ago from the White Witch nightmares, I had never woken up alone without a good reason. Usually this was because Edmund had some kingly duty to attend to, or was on a trip away for a few days. But Edmund was still home, here in Cair Paravel. So something was up.

Secondly, Edmund seemed unusually jittery today. When I had found him this morning, on his way down to breakfast – why hadn't he waited for me? – he wouldn't look me in the eye. I pushed that aside and wrapped my arms around his waist in a hug and reached up for my morning kiss that I had been missing, but Edmund turned his face and I only met his cheek. He smiled half-heartedly at me as he removed my arms from around him, and instead held my hand as he led me down to breakfast. It stung a little, and I felt a bit rejected by him, but he was still holding my hand. I was so confused. This wasn't the first time either.

Over the past few days, whenever I snuck up on him to surprise him with a hug or a kiss, like we had taken to doing to each other, Edmund seemed unusually annoyed by me surprising him. More often than not, I was kissing his cheek rather than his lips, and Edmund seemed not to want hugs anymore. He was never the most affectionate of the boys, but he had never denied showing his affection for me. I couldn't understand it...

Nonetheless, other than the slight awkwardness and confusion between me and Edmund, breakfast went about as normal. Caspian and Peter were serious at the head of the table, discussing the country's affairs. Despite their serious air, Caspian was continuously checking on Susan beside him, who was occupied with rubbing her pregnant belly with a wistful smile on her face. They had been married quite soon after he had proposed to her, and soon after that they found out that Susan was pregnant, and had seemed almost sickeningly blissful ever since. The country was eagerly awaiting their first royal heir. Peter had one hand entwined with his wife's, Kaitlin, beside him, his thumb brushing over the back of her small hand while she chatted to Lucy across the table from her. Today Lucy had invited Christian to join us for breakfast too. It wasn't unusual, they had been seeing each other for a while now quite seriously, and Christian was a regular at Cair Paravel.

I glanced at Edmund, who was talking to Lucy too, and inside my head I couldn't help the comparisons.

Over the past week at least, Edmund seemed to have been pulling away from me. And it felt almost painfully obvious around the three other happy couples.

Had Edmund had enough of me?

I mean, I was now eighteen, Edmund nineteen. We'd been together for two years now, and settled into a fairly familiar routine. Perhaps he was bored, or scared of this rut we had dug ourselves. Oh my god! What if he didn't love me anymore?

Even thinking about it hurt me, and I needed to get away for a moment to breathe. I stood from the table, breakfast forgotten, and excused myself. A warm hand on my wrist stopped me, and I looked down straight into Edmund's brown eyes for a second, before he averted his eyes. "Where are you going?"

"I just... need to get some air."

"Are you alright?" Susan asked.

"I'm fine, honestly." I said, before pulling myself free from Edmund and quickly making my way outside.

Once out in the fresh air, I took a deep breath and felt slightly calmer already. Looking around at the stunning scenery, it wasn't hard to feel a little lighter simply looking around. A sound of clashing metal attracted me, and following it I soon came upon Aspennal and several other centaurs sparring. They stopped when they spotted me, and I was quick to stop them bowing to me. Instead, I decided to join them, and soon was taking out my frustration and confusion in swordplay.

After a few hours of this, Aspennal stopped me, looking down at me with concern on his face. "My Lady, is something bothering you?"

"No," I said, sitting down on the grass to clean the sword I was using. Dawn was being repaired after a little skirmish I had had last week. "I'm fine."

"So you say, but I know that look on your face My Lady. What troubles you?"

"... Nothing, honestly Aspennal, it's probably nothing."

"Very well, I will leave you to your thoughts. I have a lesson to give now. Good day My Lady."

"Seeya Aspennal."

I watched him leave, and left soon myself back inside. I had been given no tasks to fill this morning by anyone, so was left to wander. Usually Edmund was free when I was, or willing to leave his work for a little while, but I was hesitant to disturb him. I didn't want to annoy him any more than he might already have been. I found myself wandering into the library I rarely ever went to, and dropping in on a conversation I suspected I wasn't supposed to be privy to.

"You have to tell her soon, she's already growing suspicious." Was that Susan?

"I know, but I don't want to upset her. Why do you think she left early this morning?" I recognised Edmund's voice, and suspected the 'she' they were speaking of to be me.

"Just tell her you need to talk, that you've finally found the woman of your dreams, your soul mate, and whatever else you've said," my eyes widened at Lucy's words. 'Finally found'? Had Edmund found someone else? The idea tore through me terribly. "Tell her you want to spend the rest of your life with her, that you'll love her forever, and anything else you can think of. Just remember to be tactful! You have no sense of timing or any understanding of the female mind."

This was it. Edmund was going to break up with me. My heart was already breaking at the thought.

I heard someone sigh, before Edmund spoke again, "Can you imagine the look on her face when I tell her? I can't wait to see it."

I fled from the library to the sound of their laughter, rushing past a startled looking Christian to the solace of my room. It was really Edmund and my room, since Edmund only really used his room to house his books, or when we were having a particularly bad argument. Inside I was in turmoil. I was still the strong woman I had always felt I had been, but I wanted, needed, Edmund in my life now. Was that weakness? Maybe, but I loved him. I don't know what I'd do if we weren't together any longer. Where would I go? I couldn't really stay here, it would be too weird and awkward. Plus, I was no longer a monarch of Narnia, so I would have no real reason to stay in Cair Paravel. I don't know where I'd go though, this was my home.

"Sophia?" Edmund's voice drifted through the door I had my back pressed against, making me freeze, "Sophia, are you alright? Aspennal said you were acting strangely, and Christian said he saw you running to your room. Are you alright?"

"Go away!" I shouted back at him through the door.

"Sophia? Sophia, let me in. What happened?"

I leant back more heavily against the door, cursing the fact I had never got a lock on that door. "Just leave me alone Edmund."

"Sophia, open the door."

"No!" I cried, quickly dashing towards the bathroom, which had a door with a lock. I made it to the bathroom before Edmund had fully opened the bedroom door, and I had closed and locked myself in the bathroom. "Go away Edmund."

"Love, tell me what's wrong." Edmund said through the door, and the handle rattled from his attempts of opening it. I felt tears steadily pouring from my eyes now, from the volatile mixture of anger and sadness I was feeling. I kept imagining all the ways Edmund was going to break up with me, and each grew steadily worse and worse. "Are you crying?"

"No, now get away from the door Edmund."

Instead of listening to me, Edmund's efforts of getting through the door increased. I heard him trying to break down the door, unsuccessfully. "Love, please open the door. Tell me what's wrong."

Finally, my anger won over the sadness, and I unlocked and opened the door to see a worried looking Edmund. "Go ahead, get it over with already. I know you want to see my face when you tell me, so go on already."

His mouth opened and closed several times before he spoke, "W-What are you talking about?"

"I heard you in the library Edmund, so stop acting so oblivious."

Now he looked shocked, "You heard me in the library?"

"Yes, so go ahead. Tell me about this 'woman of your dreams', this 'soul mate' of yours. Tell me how much you love her, how you want to spend the rest of your life loving her..." I blinked back more tears as I looked up again to Edmund, "I thought we were happy. Weren't we happy? How could you do this to me?"

"How could I- what- but- what are you talking about?"

"Don't act coy with me Edmund. Just, say what you have to say and be done with it!" I said, before turning my head away from him and closing my eyes.

There was silence for quite a while, before Edmund finally spoke. "Sophia Lloyd..."

"Yes?"

"Will you marry me?"

My eyes snapped open, and I turned to Edmund with such surprise. "W-What? But, I thought, what, but the library! Who were you talking about?"

"You, of course" he said, stepping towards me with a serious look on his face. "I love you Sophia, and I want to be your husband, and you my wife. I want to have a family with you. I want to grow old with you." I fell to my knees from the shock, Edmund did love me. "Sophia!"

"S-So you didn't fall out of love with me? You didn't find someone else?"

Edmund dropped to his knees in front of me and gently cupped my face in his hands, turning my face up to look at him. "Of course not! How could I when I already have you? I do have you, right?"

"Yes, b-but you've been acting so strange lately." I said, "I mean, you turn away from my kisses, you always seemed fidgety, you don't even let me hug you anymore!"

"That was just so I didn't tip you off about me proposing. It was a pretty stupid idea at the time, but Peter suggested that I distance myself a little so I don't accidently blab about me proposing. Dear Aslan, I've been so nervous about spoiling the surprise for you, I never imagined you'd think I stopped loving you. And I didn't want you to hug me because..." Edmund pulled back, reaching into one of his pockets before pulling out a small black box, which he opened to reveal a beautiful sapphire ring. "I didn't want you accidently finding this on me."

I stared, open mouthed at the stunning ring in front of me, "It's so beautiful Edmund."

"It's yours, if you accept. I know how you like to think things over, so I don't want to pressure you or anything."

I turned my eyes up to Edmund, and stared deeply into his brown eyes and saw nothing but sincerity. Still, I was only eighteen. Still young. Did I want to marry someone already? My answer came immediately.

Leaping forward, I knocked Edmund over onto his back to his surprise. I met Edmund's lips with mine and kissed him deeply, my arms wrapped tightly around him from where I lay on top of him, trying to convey every ounce of love I felt for him in that moment. He eagerly returned my kiss, his arms wrapping tightly around me, and one hand reaching up and burying itself in my hair. When we eventually pulled apart, we were both gasping for breath, but with stupid smiles on our faces. Edmund blinked a couple of times before speaking, "So... is that a yes?"

"Yes!" I said, practically giddy as I watched him slip the ring on my ring finger. Edmund grinned at my hand, kissing the ring where it lay, before pulling me down for another kiss. This time slower and deeper. I pulled back, ignoring Edmund's pout as I grinned down at him, "You're going to be my husband."

He chuckled, "You just realised?"

"We're going to be married."

Edmund nodded.

A devilish smirk crossed my face, and I leant down to whisper into his ear, "We're going to do things only married couples do."

I smiled when I felt Edmund suddenly go still under me, the grip he had on my hips tightening momentarily, before he released a groan. "Love you can't do that to me." I jumped off of him with a laugh, standing up and offering a hand to help him up. He was grinning down at me, seemingly unable to stop, before his hand reached up and brushed away the tears that had been left on my face. "No more crying unless it's of happiness, alright?"

I nodded my head, "Can I hug you again?"

"Come here," Edmund said, pulling me into a tight hug. I felt him drop a kiss on top of my head, and as I stood wrapped tightly in his arms, I knew that I had made the right choice. There wasn't anyone else in the world I'd want to spend the rest of my life with.

"Oh, and Edmund?"

"Yeah?"

"You're my soul mate too."