"You seem uncommonly happy today," commented Susan as Liana walked away from a smiling Lias. "I don't think I've ever seen the two of you have a civil conversation."

Liana laughed and popped another grape into her mouth. Susan gave her an amused look. She giggled again. "I'm not uncommonly happy," she swallowed and reached for a glass of mead that one of the fauns was serving. "I'm just in a good mood."

"I haven't seen you this happy in a long time," said Susan pointedly. "Are you going to tell me what's happened or not?"

"Nothing has happened," Liana rolled her eyes and gave her friend her unfinished glass of mead. "Here, have something to drink and go dance with the new future king consort!"

"Who?" asked Susan, smiling despite herself.

"Does it matter?" Liana laughed and allowed herself to be swung away by a circle of fauns just beginning to dance. Dreyna had been giving her a potion for over a week now, and already Liana could feel its effects on her body and mind. She was happier, more at ease, and every night she knew she slept more and more, once even waking up before Edmund, a rare occurrence. So, she laughed with the fauns and allowed Mr. Tumnus to quickly twirl her out of the circle so she could rush to a giggling Lucy's side. The young queen's eyes shone when she saw Liana, and she promptly gave her a hug.

"You look lovely, it makes me so happy to see you smile again," said Lucy. "And evidently, my brother is enjoying himself too," Lucy smirked knowingly and discreetly nodded behind Liana.

Liana turned around in surprise. Edmund had not been in the room when she had awoken, and when she had ventured down to breakfast alone, Susan had informed her that he had gone with Peter in the early morning after rumors of the White Stag had reached some of the stable-hands. The girls were annoyed at being left behind, Susan especially since she informed Liana that they probably would not be back for the evening's entertainment, where she would be left to entertain Calormen's nobles alone. Yet here King Edmund was, his hair deliciously tousled and a glass of mead in his hand as he pretended to converse with a nobleman. In reality, he was staring at Liana, a small smile on his lips. Liana blushed and curtseyed, tucking her hair behind her ears and backing out of the clearing. She felt her skirts rustle and looked down, rolling her eyes at what she saw.

"Really, Lyra? The Just King is that way," she almost sulked when the cheetah lazily flicked at an insect with her tail and followed her into the trees.

"His orders are to remain with you, and you are more danger-prone than he is," as she spoke, Liana tripped over a tree root and scowled at the Dryad's giggle. Lyra sighed. "I rest my case. Return to the clearing, Liana. The trees are hardly safe."

"She'll be fine," Edmund's voice sounded from behind them and he ducked into the trees, smiling at Liana. "I will walk her back to the castle."

"I will join you there," Lyra bowed and Liana almost blushed at the smugness that laced the cheetah's tone. Edmund reached for her hand and she allowed him to take it, leaning her head on his shoulder.

"You're all smothering me," she complained as he tugged her out of the forest. "I want to dance."

"I don't think that's wise," Edmund chuckled and wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her closer. "I think you may have had too much to drink."

Liana raised her eyebrows. "I handle my drink quite better than some people, King Edmund," she poked his side sulkily. "I was having fun."

"I know," Edmund pressed a kiss to the top of your head. "I was having fun watching you. You're quite a good dancer," he teasingly poked her side in subtle revenge.

Liana smiled, a little dreamily. "I was a noble too, once. Of course I dance well. I can even sing."

"You can?"

"Mmhmm," Liana rested her head against his arm, allowing him to support some of her weight. She doubted that she was drunk, but the mead had given her a pleasant buzz. She was keen to take advantage of Edmund's willingness to hold her close: the forest was empty and they were alone, a rare occurrence these days. "I had a tutor and everything. I was never a very good artist, I'm afraid. My mother was excellent, my father always hoped I would inherit her talent."

"I never knew that," she could hear the frown in his voice. "And I've never heard you sing."

Liana giggled. "I sing every morning while getting ready. You're always asleep."

Edmund bristled at that. "I would have woken up."

"I'm very quiet," she assured him. "What does it matter anyway?"

Edmund shrugged. "I like knowing things about you."

"You know me very well."

"Yes, but I haven't known you for a long time. You had a whole life before you met me."

"And that bothers you?"

"Slightly."

Liana smiled. "You have but to ask, Edmund. I rather enjoy talking about myself."

Edmund chuckled. "You were saying something about your singing?"

"Yes, but there is not much to say. I was never trained as a performer, of course, but I was better at singing than anything else."

"You're an amazing dancer."

"No, dear Edmund, I just dance better than you," she teased.

Edmund growled playfully and tugged her to a stop, backing her against a tree. The smile on his face was wicked, but Liana doubted he would have tried anything if she hadn't thrown herself at him. She didn't have time to be embarrassed, since his warm hands were grasping at her waist, comfortably holding her in place as he kissed her back just as eagerly. Liana felt his teeth gently tug on her lower lip, which made her smile. She settled her arms around his neck, running her fingers through his silky strands. She knew his hair would be even messier once she was done, and that made her want to squeal like a little girl.

"I'm beginning to suspect your motives for volunteering to walk me back," she managed to gasp as Edmund pulled away, barely a millimeter. He ignored her and pressed a hungry kiss to her jaw, his calloused fingers pulling at the neck of her gown as he continued to pepper kisses lower, stopping at her collar-bone. He was breathing heavily and when he finally looked up at her, Liana's heart flipped. His next words caused her knees to shake.

"I never planned for us to make it back," he attacked her mouth again, this time using his free hand to trace her hip-bone through her dress. His fingers grasped the back of her thigh, pulling her leg up to hook around his hip so he could press against her fully. His other hand was tangled in her hair, his thumb rubbing small circles into her scalp. Liana's pulse was racing, and she was sure he could tell. "Calm down," he murmured against her lips. His touch became softer and he loosened his hold on her leg, allowing her to stand on her own. "I'm not completely out of control, Liana," he smiled, a little lazily, and gently kissed her neck. "You don't have to worry when you're with me."

"I wasn't worried," Liana sighed as Edmund nuzzled her neck lovingly. "You haven't kissed me like that in a while."

"I was worried how you would react."

Liana snorted. "The only thing you should be worried about is getting caught."

"We won't get caught," Edmund smiled cheekily and kissed her again. "I'm much too clever for that."

Liana blinked, slightly dazed. "Right."

Edmund chuckled. "You're adorable. I suppose this is what happens when two people share a bed for weeks and refuse to take advantage of it?"

Liana's lips twitched despite herself, and she half-heartedly smacked Edmund's chest. "Don't be crass."

"Never," he kissed her again. Liana gave him a look. He grinned and bumped their noses together. "Forgive me. You're irresistible."

"Charmer."

"You deserve one."

"Stop it, Edmund."

"No," he kissed her forehead. "I very rarely get a chance to openly show my affection for you these days, Liana. Indulge me."

Liana rolled her eyes, but smiled. "If I must."

Edmund chuckled and pulled away, to Liana's surprise. However, he merely sat down at the base of the tree, patting the spot next to him. Liana sat down obligingly, yelping in surprise as Edmund wrapped an arm around her and tugged her until her head was comfortably situated under his chin. He entwined their fingers and sighed peacefully. "This is nice."

"Yes," Liana kissed the hand that held her own. "I'm glad to see you more relaxed today. You've been so worried for so many weeks."

"I feel better now that I've seen you happy," he admitted. "After we found out about the poison I didn't think you'd recover so soon."

"I'm not a damsel in distress, Edmund, even though recent events have led everyone to believe I am," Liana rolled her eyes.

"You are perfecting capable of looking after yourself," agreed Edmund. He took a deep breath. "Which is why I wanted to ask you if you would like to learn how to fight with a sword."

Liana's eyebrows shot up and she turned in Edmund's arms to look at him disbelievingly. "What?"

Edmund shrugged. "I know you hate having guards around you, and I know you're very skilled with a dagger. Even though you won't be carrying a sword around with you all the time, I want you to be prepared in case you have no other weapon. Also, it's an excellent form of training to increase your stamina. If you would like, I could teach you myself, and you can go back to the Houses as soon as Dreyna clears you of the poison," Liana continued to stare at him incredulously. Edmund shrugged, a little uncomfortably. "Of course, if you prefer not to-"

"Quiet," interrupted Liana. She blinked and touched his face. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice full of feeling. For him to understand her desire to protect herself was something she had never expected. Edmund smiled, his shoulders relaxing as Liana closed the distance between them and gave him a quick kiss. She planned to make it quick, at least, but it was some moments before Edmund would let her pull away. His eyes twinkled mischievously as she glared and scooted away from him. "You really are impossible," she scolded.

"Sorry," he didn't sound apologetic at all. "And I didn't realize you'd take to my idea so well."

Liana smiled. "It was very kind of you to consider that I would like an extra opportunity to learn how to defend myself. I took archery lessons with your sister, but I always preferred a close range target, which is why I always keep my dagger with me. It belonged to my father."

"Did he teach you how to wield it?" Edmund beckoned her closer and Liana willingly settled back into his arms.

She smiled as she felt his lips touch her hair. "No, he didn't believe I needed to learn how to fight. When I worked as an apprentice in Archenland, self-defense became a necessity, and I had a very good weapon. I don't know any techniques, I'm just quick and I'm not afraid to hurt people."

Edmund hummed in acknowledgement and played with her hair absently. "I wish I had known you when you were younger."

Liana shook her head. "You wouldn't have liked me at all."

"But you would have liked me," Edmund tickled her side, causing her to shriek with laughter and try to pull out of his embrace. "I'm sure my first impression back then would have been much better than it was originally."

"I doubt it," Liana snorted. "I don't come from a family that takes kindly to authority. The greatest surprise of my life was when my brother told me he wanted to be a soldier. The very idea of Rinas taking orders from anyone makes me laugh even to this day."

"Orius says he is an excellent fighter."

"That's about all he's excellent at, I'm afraid. He was always the typical first born son, spoilt within an inch of his life."

"Don't let Peter hear you say that, he might think it's a reflection on him."

Liana giggled. "King Peter is nothing like my brother," she assured him. "Rinas is a rebel. He always has been."

"So are you," pointed out Edmund. "You don't trust authority."

"Be that as it may, I am not my brother," Liana settled back against his chest comfortably. "I have tact, a trait Rinas lacks because he was never taught the diplomatic survival skills that I learned from being on my own. My late parents never wanted a daughter, and my father couldn't wait to marry me off," she felt Edmund stiffen slightly, and sighed, realizing he would not take kindly to mentions of her mistreatment at the hands of different people. "I had a grandmother, though," Liana smiled, remembering the comforting presence of the stern-faced woman with a persistent twinkle in her eye. "She was my mother's aunt, but she had raised her from a young age, and she raised me when my mother died. She was strict and she agreed with my father that marriage was a necessity, but she also said that no girl should grow up without memories to remember when she was old. She was the closest thing I had to a mother, but she died from the same fever my father developed before he passed away."

"I'm sorry," Edmund squeezed her shoulder. "Things have never been easy for you, have they?"

Liana doubted Edmund knew how right he was at that point, but she couldn't say anything. She had made her decision: if he was going to leave her, she would make sure she would have enough good memories to help her survive the rest of her life alone. "They haven't, but they seem better now," she kissed his cheek. "We should return to the castle."

"You're right," Edmund groaned and allowed her to stand up first, quickly following suit. "Lyra always seems terribly amused every time I want to be alone with you, if she could tease me I'm sure I'd never hear the end of it."

Liana laughed. "I know the feeling."

"That's what I get for making my friends my guards." Edmund grumbled all the way back to his chambers. Liana merely giggled and allowed him to tow her along.