CHAPTER 37

The Northern Lands.

Arianna.

The main hall of Arianna's castle shimmered with the light of thousands of torches which gave light to the celebrations beneath the high-vaulted roof.

Edmund felt his eyes drawn to Arianna, who sat at the head of the table, a few seats down from himself. She looked every bit the formidable Ice Queen, beautiful and deadly in equal measures. He could understand why those under her rule followed her with such fervour; she looked every part the woman who would lead them all to victory. Once more she wore a white gown, hemmed with the softest white fur he'd laid eyes upon; her emerald eyes glowing in her small face, her chocolate hair tumbling over her bare shoulders.

She was picking at the large platter of fruit before her, the fruit split into large chunks and wedges, the sweet slices of fruit bled their nectar onto white plates and caused her golden-brown fingertips and luscious lips to become stained with the sugary blood. Feeling his gaze, her dark eyes flitted up, her fingers curling around the goblet of wine. She lifted it to her lips, tilting her head back she downed the glass, the alcohol travelling through her lovely throat.

How he wished he could taste that wine on her lips as he had before.

And her eyes told him she wanted the same as her pink tongue darted out to wet her lips.

Easy conversation flowed around them, humorous stories of those who had passed. Before the impending battle, it was what they needed.

The tinkling of cutlery on a goblet rang throughout the hall and attention was drawn to Myriel Holly, who stood gracefully from her position next to Arianna dressed in a stunning gown of deep crimson.

Silence fell as the dryad queen addressed them.

"My friend-allies," she spoke loudly and clearly. "Our comrade-friend-sisters have not fallen in vain! Their death-ends doth give us strength to fight, for thine enemies shalt now face the steel of thine blades with fear in their hearts, knowing that they hath hurt thee! They shalt pay for the lives they hath taken!"

A drunken roar met her words as they downed the contents of their goblets once more. Edmund felt his vision blurring as the bitter alcohol flowed down his throat, the wine taking hold. But he saw Arianna stand beside their ally, her gaze hard as she raised her silver goblet. There was a slight sway, but her eyes were clear as they swept the hall. "Drink, friends, drink to those who cannot drink for themselves!" A cheer. "They shall taste our fury as they look upon us, knowing their death falls upon them."

She drunk from her goblet, the red red wine dripping down the column of her neck. He felt his cheeks warming, the touch of her flesh imprinted in the whorls of his fingertips. Her grin was wild when she lifted her goblet once more. "Corradyn is mine!" her voice was a roar.

"Arianna! Arianna!" the chanting began as the wine flowed once more, the beating of the drum matching the voices of minotaur, dwarf, fae and dryad.

Determination blazed in her eyes.

Edmund.

"What is Lucy doing?" Susan's concerned voice drew his attention and looking upon his older sister he saw the fire in her eyes ablaze once more. But he followed her gaze to where Lucy sat with Faelar, her cheeks flushed, frowning.

"It is unnecessary," Faelar's cool voice drifted to them above the beginnings of a song, the happy tune wrapping over them. "To drown one's sorrows with the bitter taste of alcohol is a pointless tradition. We northmen commemorate life while the life is lived so we do not mourn death."

Lucy was holding the goblet in slightly trembling hands, her cornflower blue eyes snapping. She had consumed far too much wine. "You are as unfeeling as Arianna pretends to be," her tone shocked Edmund, for he had thought she had fancied the northern man. Unbridled rage stormed within her eyes. "You did not even mourn for Jenari, your brother."

Edmund watched as Lucy stood, her pale limbs shaking beneath her ocean blue gown. Faelar's stormy eyes followed the young queen as he lifted the goblet to his lips. But Lucy did not see as he drunk the contents in one tilt of his head. Nor did she see as Arianna eased herself into the vacated seat, speaking in a low voice to Faelar, who was looking at her in surprise.

His fuming sister wedged herself between himself and Susan, her colour high, a few locks trailing around her face. Her slightly unfocused eyes told Edmund of her state.

"The gall of that man!" Lucy said, throwing her arms up in the air in frustration, even as her cheeks flushed scarlet. Susan merely laughed, teasing her lightly.

Edmund berated himself then, for his morbid thoughts.

"Do you think I would get in trouble if I drew my daggers now?" Arianna's voice was a low growl as she sat opposite them, somehow finding room on the already full seat.

Who would dare to scold her?

He was tempted to reach across the table and take her hand in his, but he knew instinctively that she would not let him. She would show no weakness.

"Why are looking at me in such a way, dear Edmund?" Her voice, dripping with sarcasm, did not suit the common tongue as the foreign words slurred together.

"Mayhap he thinks you're beautiful," Susan teased, nudging her brother lightly.

To his chagrin, his cheeks flared.

He almost wished she would go back to her 'Arianna of Charn is evil' thoughts. He almost preferred that over the teasing.

"I won't be after the attack on Corradyn, you should enjoy it while you can," she sounded sombre for an instant, her eyes darkening. For once, he could not have told what she was thinking if he tried.

Her head snapped up suddenly and she was out of her seat before he had time to ask what the matter was.

Faelar.

Faelar relished the cool air upon his heated cheeks as he stumbled through the corridor, attempting to no avail to locate his chambers. His footsteps carried less grace than usual as he felt along the walls, unable to see clearly. It was well past midnight, his head was pounding to the beat of the drums he could still hear from the hall.

Lost as he was in his thoughts, he did not see the body that was propped against the wall until he had tripped over the legs that were stretched out in front of the lithe body. Looking down, he was startled to see Lucy clamouring to her feet.

"My lord, I have been waiting for you." Her cheeks were flushed from the alcohol and her hair had been freed of its restraining knot, tumbling passed her shoulders and to her waist in thick auburn curls. Her tone was formal, if a bit slurred. "I apologise for offending you earlier, I am sorry."

"All is well," he said, albeit a bit stiffly, inhaling deeply noting that his breathing had become a little uneven.

Lucy shook her head adamantly. "I had no right to question how you choose to mourn." She gave him a sad little smile, so unlike her normal carefree, sweet smile. His heart constricted in his chest.

"Arianna told me you were thinking of Asura," he broke off his attempt to comfort the lovely queen as unbidden tears welled in her eyes at her friend's name. Her friend who may never see the sun again. He touched her chin lightly, causing her to look up at him.

She gave a choked laugh, wiping her cheeks forcefully, trying to rid herself of the sparkling droplets. As her breath washed over his face he saw that new tears had formed in her eyes and were running down her face. He followed one with his sapphire eyes, across the curve of her soft creamy cheek, down to her dainty chin where it collected into a small droplet. He watched in fascination as the droplet fell down, and landed on the back of his hand. A bolt like lightning made its way from the base of his spine all the way up to his neck: heat flooded his face, his lips trembled slightly. "I'm sorry," she whispered softly. "Every time I think I've no tears left, they come again."

Placing his other hand at the side of her face, and wiping the tears away with his thumb he told her quietly, "That's quite alright."

"I-" he began, at a loss of what to say. She was staring at him in complete shock. "Forgive me, Your Majesty. I don't know what-"

Her lips, soft and warm, effectively stopped him from speaking as they met his. He felt her small smile against his lips.

Finally…the thought reached him from her mind.

Arianna.

The world spun around her as she lay on her furs, looking at the tapestries that had featured in so many of her dreams. And her nightmares.

There was a gentle knock at her door, and she sat upright.

And she knew it was him. She knew it was him before the door opened and she looked into the inky darkness of his eyes.

Her pulse pounded in her ears and fluttered beneath his fingers as he traced the side of her face with her fingers. His other hand took hers; his thumb tracing patterns across her knuckles.

"You disappeared." His eyes sought hers.

"You knew where I would be."

The air was warm between them, crackling.

They'd not had a moment together since Corradyn's dungeon. There were forces always pulling them apart.

He tucked one of her errant curls behind her ear, the gesture so sweet she might have cried.

"Edmund," her voice was barely a whisper. "Stay with me. Stay with me tonight."

There was no hesitation.

Edmund closed the distance between them in a moment, grabbing a handful of silk at her hip as he brought her closer. She managed but a sharp intake of breath before his mouth was on her and her eyelids fluttered closed as warmth flooded through.

She felt nothing but him.

His warmth against her, his scent, the way his lips claimed hers – determined, seeking, giving.

His low groan sent jolts of heat to her core.

"Ari…" He whispered against her lips, his voice trembling. She felt as if every inch of her was on fire, there was no space between them as he pushed her back into her bed, into the furs, her dress falling to the ground.

He did not ask her what Aslan spoke to her about.

And as she drifted off to sleep, entangled in Edmund's embrace, she remembered His words.

You have done well, my child. You know what you need to do.