Edmund's eyes widened momentarily before he got a hold on his feelings.

"Thank you" he said solemnly, "You won't regret it"

"Yes well it's the least I could do I suppose, after your hospitality" Lydia smoothed her dress down and made to head back to Celer.

Edmund grabbed her hand, "We both know that's not why you're staying." When Lydia didn't say anything, he squeezed it but let go. "Even if you don't want to admit it."

Lydia tried to smile but her face fell, "Well if anything I need to prove to your siblings that I'm not trying to sabotage them."

At Edmund's nod of encouragement she went on, "I failed to have a positive conversation with Aslan and they didn't take it very well."

She watched Edmund leap gracefully onto his mount with a flair that he alone out of the Pevensies seemed to have, despite all four being excellent riders."

He looked down at her, smiling. "I doubt anyone has the ability to make Aslan do anything."

Lydia frowned. She knew Edmund cared very much about Aslan so for him to be the most relaxed about it was very strange. She chose to stay quiet, however and they rode for a while in companionable silence.

She kept casting sidelong glances at Edmund, burning with questions. Edmund was the only person she could guarantee to put a smile on her face and yet he had stormed off earlier.

Part of her was desperate to talk about the other night, his words of affection (?) ringing in her ears, but every time she went to speak, her mouth suddenly went as dry as sandpaper.

"Of course, if you're staying we ought to find you something to do." Edmund said after a while as Cair Pavarel began to come into sight.

"Oh, and what did you have in mind?"

"Well," Edmund hesitated, "You could come with me to Archenland, see if we can gather any intelligence on Calorman movements."

Lydia attempted a smile, "Well I might as well be all in now" she replied "Although

I didn't realise that was something you were considering; Peter was talking about waiting at lunch."

They had reached a stream and Edmund held back to let Lydia guide her horse over first.

"It's my idea" he called to her when she reached the other side, "I'm going to suggest it to the others when I get back. I could do with your support" he added.

Lydia couldn't resist looking over her shoulder and grinning at him, "You've got it"

It turned out Lydia's support was unnecessary as Peter, who was prowling round Cair Pavarel like a caged lion was fully supportive of the idea.

The only problem was who to send.

"It should be me and Lydia" Edmund insisted as they all sat down to dinner, "I'm the most experienced in diplomatic matters and me and Lydia will work well together."

Lydia felt herself grow hot at that last comment and purposefully ignored Lucy who was trying to catch her eye.

"Well I think me and Glendan should go" Susan interjected hotly, "We would also work well together and Glendan has a lot of friends in high places."

Lydia couldn't help but notice that Glendan didn't seem thrilled at this idea and when it became clear that Peter and Lucy were seriously considering this plan he took Susan's hand and surveyed the table.

"Actually I was thinking me and Susan should be returning to Redhaven now." He said calmly but flinched when Susan quickly withdrew her hand from his.

Everyone looked at him dumbfounded but Susan most of all.

"What do you mean, leave?" she asked, "We cant leave now!"

Glendan wore a pained expression and it was clear that he realised he'd made a mistake at once.

"Look, Susan" he turned away from the table, his only focus was his wife, "Narnia is at war. It's only a matter of time before there has to be a fight. I don't want to see you get hurt."

Susan's gaze softened slightly but she still ignored his outstretched hand, "But still, we can't leave." She said, "I'm needed here."

"But I'm clearly not." Glendan ran a weather-beaten hand through his hair, "I could do so much more in Redhaven than here. Love, I really think it's better if I leave for a little while."

He looked at Susan begging here for an answer but she merely kissed his cheek and turned back to her siblings. Lydia shot her a sympathetic look and she smiled weakly.

Glendan gave one more desperate look at his wife before standing up and offering a deep bow to the Pevensies, swiftly leaving the room.

"I can't believe he wants to leave me at a time like this" Susan whispered the minute he'd left the room, her eyes brimming with tears.

Lucy patted her on the shoulder reassuringly, "Maybe it's for the best Su," she said, "He doesn't want to see you get hurt, he doesn't understand what it's like"

Susan nodded, "He doesn't have the sense of duty that we do." She said fiercly and Lydia was shocked by the sheer determination that burnt brightly in the eyes of the most graceful sibling.

She half rose out her seat, "I'll go and check if he's alright," she said gesturing to the open door and when none of the Pevensies acknowledged her, each lost in their own little world, she scurried away to go find the other man.

She did not have to look far. Glendan was sat in a small alcove, staring into space. He wore a sad expression, his blond fringe falling over his face to hide his eyes and Lydia felt a tug on her heartstrings at that.

"I thought you could do with some company" she said hoisting herself up to join him. Glendan nodded and then looked away again and Lydia fished around for something encouraging to say, she was not used to this much more sombre version of him.

"No ones upset with you, you know" she said at last, "You were only trying to protect Susan, she knows that."

"They don't understand though do they?" Glendan replied glumly, "This is the Golden Age of Narnia and they're responsible for it. They see it as their duty to serve until they die." He paused, "I wasn't even sure Susan would agree to marry me, she's that dedicated to Narnia."

Lydia laughed sheepishly "Ah I might have helped there, you know, given her a bit of encouragement. Convinced her love is more important than duty."

Glendan looked up at that, "Then why don't you follow your own advice?"

"What do you mean?"

He shifted uncomfortably on seeing her confusion, "Well the only reason you don't feel as though you belong here is because you're so busy trying to get home and forget all about us" He shrugged, "It's like you don't want to be happy, either that or you're afraid of change."

Lydia crossed her arms sullenly. Glendan's words had had a ring of truth in them, a truth shed been trying to ignore for a long time.

"I don't know how I feel" she muttered, "Everything's so different here, what with the huge time jump and the war and everything. I promise you I am trying." She said pleading with Glendan to believe her.

He laughed and patted her on the arm, "It's not me you have to convince" he said pointing to the door to the hall the Pevensies were in where voices were getting louder and louder.

"- Peter, just try and be reasonable, I want to go with her, it'll be a quick in and out job"

Edmund's voice raised above the others as the four siblings burst through the door.

Peter had the weary expression that didn't match his young age. "Fine, just please try and stay safe." He said staring pointedly at his younger brother who caught Lydia's eye and winked.

Lydia's eyes widened and her fingers immediately went to tug at the lace in her dress stopping only when she heard Glendan sniggering next to her.

She opened her mouth to retort angrily when Edmund walked over to where they were sitting,

"Well that trip to Archenland is fully in motion. The two of us will set off this evening, reach Archenland under the cover of darkness, have a look round and then report back" he said beaming and Lydia fought hard not to smile back at his enthusiasm.

"Sounds like a good plan" she replied and then cast a sideways look over at Glendan who was watching the exchange with a raised eyebrow.

I'll show him trying she thought fiercly, I'll prove to them all, even Aslan that I do care. And when this is all over, they won't be able to say I haven't tried.

#

They met by the stables that night. Lydia had agonised over what to wear, her small supply of dresses just didn't seem suitable and shed had to go ask Susan to borrow one in a dark midnight blue velvet in order to attempt some form of camouflage. She also debated about carrying a weapon, the attack on her and Silorn still haunted her but would she know what to do with a sword if someone did attack? Would Edmund just laugh at her?

She mentioned this to him but he just laughed, "Hopefully we won't get near enough for anyone to attack us. And it's not like I can't handle a weapon." He pointed out, grinning cockily.

Lydia couldn't help but grin back; she'd noticed Edmund was acting a lot more confident around her now he knew she was staying in Narnia. She'd decided she was comfortable with this state of friendship, it made things easier.

The two of them led their horses out and fastened their packs on with a belt. They were travelling light, they were only hoping to be gone two nights. Lydia would not admit it to Edmund but she was looking forward to seeing Narnia's neighbour even if it was only for a brief visit.

"Wouldn't Archenland tell you if they were hosting a Calormen army?" Lydia asked after they'd been riding a while, voicing something that had been running through her mind now.

"Well this is the problem," Edmund replied, "We're worried that Rabadash has convinced them to stay quiet."

Lydia nodded sincerely, she needed to try and gain a better understanding of all this if she was going to be any use.

"Don't know how you handle all this diplomacy Ed" she said then gave a sharp intake of breath when she realised what she'd call him.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have…only your siblings call you that" she stammered and then looked over to Edmund to gauge his reaction. Thankfully he didn't seem offended.

"Its fine, it's only a nickname, you can use it if you want." His eyes had lit up in amusement.

"I'm sorry" she repeated, "It was just a slip of the tongue"

"If you say so"

They rode on.

Lydia was fuming over this misdemeanour on her part. She couldn't get close to Edmund anymore. She'd drawn a line in the sand by refusing to acknowledge the kiss and Edmund had done the same. It would just be too complicated, to have a relationship with someone she didn't even remember. Even if that someone's face lit up when they smiled…..and had gorgeous hair…

"Lydia are you even listening to me?"

She cursed herself internally and looked over at Edmund who had taken one hand of the reins to reach into his pack.

"I was saying we should get some rest. It'll be getting light soon."

Lydia nodded and following Edmund's lead, she slid off Celer and tied her up next to Edmund's mount.

Edmund was striding round the clearing they'd chosen. "We won't need a fire" he said eventually, "It's too risky and it should be warm enough anyway."

Lydia sat down and pulled out some bread and cheese that they'd brought with them. She handed some to Edmund who muttered a word of thanks and then they ate.

Much easier to sit in silence than let things get complicated, Lydia thought to herself.

"So what exactly are we looking for tomorrow?" she asked and Edmund's eyes widened for a moment before he leant forward to answer.

"Well we're expecting to see troops definitely" he replied, "but we need to know whether their entire army is in one place so we know whether to split our forces"

"From what you've told me about Rabadash, he seems like the sort of man who would want to win a battle on pure strength rather than foreplanning and strategy" Lydia said musingly, "He would want to throw all his strength at once to try and intimidate you"

Edmund gave her one of his crooked grins, "I hadn't thought of that" he replied then gave a small laugh "We'll make a strategist of you yet" He got up to go give the horses some water and Lydia watched him for a moment before flopped back onto the grass

"Ugh please don't, I'm confused enough about what to do in the future as it is" she grumbled closing her eyes

"The answer seems obvious to me" Edmund muttered his back still turned.

Lydia pretended she hadn't heard and kept her eyes firmly shut.

#

They crossed the border with Archenland undetected. Lydia was exhausted after nearly two nights of hard riding but was determined not to let it show. She still hadn't decided if she was angry at Edmund's consistent inability to understand her situation and had spent most of the day determinedly avoiding the subject.

Thankfully he himself had been preoccupied with their mission and had taken to muttering figures to himself, it was slightly endearing to see him have to concentrate so hard.

They'd just come out of the cover of the trees when Edmund stopped muttering and pulled up his horse, "Stop" he said sharply, "From now on, we go on foot"

They dismounted and began the long climb in front of them. It seemed as if Archenland was more mountainous than Narnia and she could see the rise of mountains in the distance. Right in front of them, however, was a large hill and judging by the way Edmund kept touching his sword as if to check it was still, Lydia suspected that the Calormens could well be on the other side.

As they got closer Edmund's pace sped up in eagerness and Lydia was soon panting, trying to keep up with him. She emerged at the top, clutching a stitch in her side to find Edmund laid on his stomach in the grass,

"Edmund what are you, oh!"

Immediately she dropped to the ground to join him as there, camped halfway up the other side of the valley no more than half a mile away were groups of little white tents with orange flags. In the dusk of sunset they almost looked like stars against the gloom of the hill.

"That's them isn't it" she hissed and Edmund nodded at her without looking at her. His body was rigid, like a coiled spring and she could see him furiously scanning back and forth attempting to estimate Calormen numbers.

She set herself to check their surroundings, making sure no one had spotted them. She heard Philip whinny through the darkness and whipped her head round, assuming the worst.

There was no one.

She turned back round, smiling with relief and was about to tell Edmund how paranoid shed been when out the corner of her eye she saw two orange dots heading towards them. She leant forward to get a better look her heart hammering. The dots were clearly torches belonging, she assumed to two soldiers. They were now at the bottom of the hill they were sat on, moving too slow to be doing more than a brisk walk; they hadn't seen Edmund or Lydia…yet.

"Yep this is definitely their full force, I've counted-" he was cut off by Lydia elbowing him hard in the ribs.

"Soldiers to my left" she whispered before he could speak again. Edmund leant over her to get a better look and she could see him trembling in anticipation. His hand immediately went to his sword.

"I could take them" he said more to himself than to Lydia but she put a hand on his arm.

"Ed, we need to go" she said silently pleading with him to put the sword away.

Edmund looked at her wildly for a moment then visibly deflated, "Yes you're right, they can't know we were here"

Lydia stood up with her back hunched over and Edmund gave one last fleeting look at the tents before following her. They jogged back down to their horses, Lydia reached them first and tossed Edmund the reins to Philip before mounting Celer.

"Get us out of here" she whispered to her and the horse nodded and set off at a fast gallop, Philip just behind them with Edmund.

They rode through the trees, putting as much distance between them and the Calormens as possible until they were well over the border and into Narnia again.

Lydia noticed that Edmund had slowed Philip down to a trot and she motioned to Celer to do the same.

"Are you alright?" she peered over anxiously, "You got a bit carried away back there"

"Yes sorry about that, it's been a while" Edmund still seemed out of breath, his cheeks were flushed but his eyes sparkled with excitement.

He let out a breathless laugh and shook his head, "I can't believe we got away with that"

Lydia sniffed disapprovingly but it didn't reach her eyes, it had felt good to get away with spying on the 'enemy' right under their noses, it gave her some sort of power. For the first time in Narnia she'd been in control.

"Let's rest here for a bit." She said and Edmund murmured an agreement before dismounting. She wandered around the trees, looking for some firewood but by the time she'd selected some good sized logs, Edmund had already got a fire going.

"That was quick" she said sitting herself down next to him, his face illuminated by the fire, she noticed the blush on his cheeks rose up to his ears.

"I've had a lot of practice; this isn't the first time I've done something like this"

No Lydia thought, you're too much of a thrill seeker, you can't sit on a throne all day like Peter.

She didn't say any of this however and instead replied, "Well I wouldn't mind doing it again. I've got to admit, I'd rather do this than sit in Cair Pavarel waiting for something to happen.

Edmund moved to put another log on the fire, his arm brushing against her by accident, making Lydia jump "I knew you would, its why I asked Peter to let you come with me" he said with an air of casualness, daring her to be angry at him when they both knew he'd done the right thing.

She punched him lightly in the arm, "I don't need you to try and map my life out"

"I know I just want you to be happy"

He suddenly turned away from the crackling fire to look at her

"Lydia…I…"

Edmund's hand reached up to cup her cheek and Lydia felt her heart leap into her throat. She could smell something sugary, like sweets and when he leant in to press his lips to hers, she could taste peppermint on his lips.

It had barely been a minute but she pulled away from him.

"I, I can't"

Edmund swallowed then visibly forced himself to scoot back and give her space. She waited for him to say something but for once the dark haired boy stayed silent.

She took a deep breath, "You deserve better," she said slowly, "someone who you know will be here to stay"

Edmund stared at her, his eyes not moving off hers, "I'll respect whatever you decide" he said quietly, "but you could try, try and see if this works out. Because I really think it could Lydia. I think there could be a really good us."

Lydia slowly shifted herself away from him. Part of wanted to fling herself onto him and kiss him again, just to make all her worries go away. But she didn't know if she trusted that part of herself enough, the sense of comfort and ease that she'd felt earlier that evening, she needed that again.

And she wasn't sure if Edmund would complicate that.

"I need time to think" she said eventually and Edmund gave a small sigh but nodded.

"Good. Well we should get some rest" she said quickly before turning away and laying down on the grass.

It was a couple of minutes before she heard Edmund do the same