A/N2: This is a double update of the same chapter, because someone just pointed out that this chapter was in code and really hard to read. I didn't really notice until that, and am really sorry for that! Hope this version is easier on your eyes.

A/N : Early Update Alert! Yay.

I was listening to The Call by Regina Spektor and featured in the Prince Caspian sound track while writing this and I think it fits in somewhat well with the first part so do give it a listen!

Thank you so much for the reviews, Ed's Queen of Narnia, FantasyLover27, Reader and Love. Fiction 2020, it really means so much to have such interactive readers! Means a lot!

Chapter 23; walks down memory lanes

"Goodnight Aline. I wanted to wish you a good night."

Despite herself, Aline couldn't help but feel her heart deflate at his words almost as if she was expecting him say something different. Drastically different from what he just did.

But then before she could process it she found herself alone again. He had left, his last words only an echo in her head as the door closed shut behind him leaving her there standing all alone in the too-large room before she could say or do anything. What was his obsession with good nights? And why did it make her heart flutter the way it did?

Making her way over to her bed, Aline changed into a simpler night gown. She found herself reminiscing of that night.. about how his shirt felt so comfortable to sleep in.. Aline ignored it as she pulled the covers up to her chin making herself comfortable as she tried falling asleep, for surely after this exhausting day both mentally and physically her body deserved some rest.

Yet despite what she thought, when she closed her eyes her brain seemed to have very different ideas. She twitched restlessly in her bed, as much as she want to relax and just sleep all that came to her instead was certain distinct flashes of memories that she'd rather let remain buried deep down in some dark abscess of her mind. In fact, Aline had forced herself not to think too much on some things- meaning him, to the point she had almost unknowingly repressed all of it.

But now it was all coming back like water flowing out through a small crack in the dam, slowly at first- It wasn't just about what happened a fortnight ago but this was something that began weeks before that. She could clearly recall as clear as day the first time she'd properly interacted with Narnia's Just King after their not so appealing first encounter. Aline frowned.

She had never been someone who'd cared much for boys or feelings but something about him just called to her. She'd never felt that way around or about anyone before. She'd dismissed it as merely a crush before making a point to not overthink it.

When she first found herself in Narnia, she had woken up to some twisted version of a fairy tale and he had even in the very beginning taken on the role of a charmingly crude, dark and mysterious Prince Charming rescuing her from strange fictitious creatures before whisking her back to his Castle. Only that they never got to their happily ever after, no in fact he had introduced her to his other three siblings who'd apparently ruled the Kingdom with him. No wonder she had been attracted to him, right from the start. Not when he looked like that, he was her exact 'type'. Except that before this she'd never even had to think of what her type was before. She blushed as her thoughts quickly took on quite a physical turn.

He was appealing, she would never deny that and many a time she had to catch herself drifting off, especially as she watched him train. Only for him to catch her with a sideways grin on his lips that for all the world seemed like he knew what exactly was going on in her most private thoughts and she'd hurriedly look back down distracting herself with something, anything really to avoid his gaze..

But never did Aline think this would take such a turn nor that she would ever be awake lying in bed thinking about him so late at night. She could recall as clear as day the events that had led them up to this point and as much as the girl tried to resist the more clearer and harsher in intensity they got. Like the tiny hole in the dam kept expanding and expanding due to pressure and now her whole dam crumbled as the waters returned back to their natural course unhindered.

It was the day she stumbled into his room, the Ball invitations in her hand. The stench of blood and her nimble fingers doing quick work with the bandages only to look up at him staring at her an unrecognizable look on his face. It was too dark and nor had he any candles lit for her to notice what exact shade of brown his eyes were or if she was blushing as much as she knew she did but what she would not forget is the way he looked at her through hooded eyes and his lips parted ever so softly not even a gasp escaping them even as she dabbed his wound clean with alcohol which ought to have stung for sure. Instead she only felt his unmoving gaze on her the entire time as if he was looking at her for the first time. And for all she knew, he probably was.

"Goodnight Aline."

And then she remembered the Ball. It came back to her in bits and pieces. His laugh, the way they bickered back and forth, his fingers intertwining perfectly with hers, the music that drifted in and his arms at her waist as they swayed in the wind.. of course that was only until all hell broke loose and her whole life turned upside down, well not that it already wasn't but who knew there was much much further more downhill left to fall? Aline struggled against her silk sheets, this almost felt like someone force played a reel of all the things she had buried deep down hoping they would go away, in her own head and she could do nothing else but be a spectator to her own memories.

Her body shuddered. This was exactly what she was avoiding. These memories weren't.. fun. Make it stop! she screamed internally. But no, it only continued she could see in clear detail his face devoid of any emotion. She could recall every single thing that she'd seen down to the smallest detail she wondered how it was possible. Every cut, and slash and taunt.. I don't want to see any of this anymore! She remembered the fear that gripped her heart at that. Fear that he would hurt her. Not that any of their past interactions made her none the wiser to his conflicting actions towards her.

And yet despite it all, now that they were on barely speaking terms, a huge part of her rather missed their playfully flirtatious banter and despite everything he said or did that feeling in her chest only seemed to grow with each of their interactions. But that seemed almost a lifetime ago, Aline sighed. If she had known it would get to this point.. she would've forced herself to stay away from him. To stay indifferent to him. But the damage was done and she couldn't help but wonder, was this more than just a crush?

And then they were in the meadow, that day he that she had uncharacteristically burst out, but then he was trying her. It only reminded her of exactly who he was. He still was the man in the dungeon, no matter what part of him he showed her or whatever it was he made her feel, that was still him. He was cold, dark, manipulative.. as he had very well demonstrated that day. But then he had apologised didn't he? the small part of her brain that was completely infatuated by him spoke up, yes only for him to lie to her about everything all over again.

Just great, now she's having monologues with herself? This man was definitely making her lose it.

Then came the night of their first kiss. What was she thinking?! the rational part of her brain yelled at her. He was drunk, for sure. She should've known better. She should never have tempted him, she could picture how she'd looked like dressed in his shirt that fell to her mid thighs and her top two buttons came undone. In fact, she should've been the one to stop him had he done anything yet she could see it clearly. Him staring at her his eyes suggestive and she could resist it no more. It was her hands that went around his neck first, that pulled him closer to her. He might have leaned in first but she was the one who crashed their lips together. She should've known better, at least after that. Not like he had given her much else for a choice but she had shared a bed with Edmund fucking Pevensie. Wasn't all the rumors that ran through Court enough to deter her from him?

Aline gasped. This needed to stop, her thoughts needed to stop. She couldn't take any of this no more.

What do you want me to learn? That he is bad for me? No, that he is the worst for me? I know! she screamed mentally as tears rolled down her eyes as the girl writhed in her sheets holding her head in her hands as if that would somehow stop this onslaught of uncalled for memories.

'How much did you have to drink?' she had questioned him

'Not enough to make me forget about you apparently.' came his reply back.

Did that mean he was thinking about her, just as much as she was about him? That's what it had to mean. He was..

'This isn't a game for any of us to win or lose. And even if it is I most definitely am not winning.'

The ringing in her head seemed to grow louder and louder and she could do nothing but only press her hands to her head even harder. This wasn't like those times she'd felt right before she sleep walked, that was a different kind of dull numbness that seemed to steal her brain but instead this was alive, sharp, like she was walking on glass, which ironically was exactly what she felt like everytime she was around Edmund Pevensie.

Somewhere amidst all of that noise, rage and pain, a single thought lifted itself up from the dark depths of her brain, slowly but steadily making it's way up. She cared for him. A lot. Enough to set aside her own pride and see him through his nightmares. Enough to make her only want him more for each day that passed without seeing him. Enough that she wished he would come just annoy her for his own amusement or whatever drove him to it, as long as he wasn't straight up ignoring her. She cared for him.

And then, almost as if on cue to her realisation, it seemed to come to an abrupt stop along with a loud bang of seemingly something shatter. The ringing in her head subsided and as she came to her senses, the first thing to notice however was sharp pain rushing up her left arm.

Aline turned to her side, startled by the blood that poured out only to see a ceramic shard lie on her bed. It was the vase on her bed side that seemed to have exploded. But how? her mind riled, there was no way she could've reached up to it and knocked it down even with all the tossing and turning around.

Something peculiar was going on, even stranger than her feelings for a certain someone she wasn't supposed to spare nothing but hate for. Or her weird sleep walks lately.

And yet like it was some cruel twisted joke of fate, the only person Aline felt like she could talk about this to, was him.

It was too late. Ever since he'd left her chambers Edmund found himself back in his own, staring out the balcony towards his country that stretched out far and wide before him. Candle lights twinkled out through open windows at some places into the outskirts of the Cair but it was far few in between the shapes cloaked entirely in darkness. He thought about how much it looked like how he felt on the inside. A heart filled with darkness except a few embers of dying coal in the fireplace. And he hoped and prayed to Aslan those few bright sparks could last him till salvation, before the darkness in him swallowed him whole. Though Edmund vowed, never again. He would fall on his own sword before he let that happen. Never again would he let his darker impulses take hold of him again. He hoped and prayed to Aslan.

He didn't know how long he had been standing there his mind void of anything just looking out into nothing. At first, he had definitely over thought but now a sense of calm filled him as he pondered his decision again. This was what's best for the both of them and if anything, seeing her tonight had sealed it. Edmund clenched his fist over the balcony railing.

As much as he wanted to be the one there for her, holding her hand, making her laugh he knew the truth. It was nothing but a wild fantasy for someone like him to find love. Nonetheless with someone so pure and true as her.

If it wasn't for his duty that would require him to first and foremost put his country and service to Aslan above all, then it was him himself. Everyday felt like a constant battle. Sometimes Edmund Pevensie felt like a frail nineteen year old who had been thrust into the most important- well close to most at least he thought remembering his brother's position- title in the country. And he did handle it, as just as he could fair and right in every way but that was King Edmund, the Just. Edmund Pevensie was just a boy yet plagued with nightmares and mistakes of his younger years. He remembered its cost. No matter what he became in life he would always remember, Aslan gave his life for me. A traitor.

The last thing he would want is to let the price of his mistakes befall another. Especially the very few he actually cared for. The nightmare he had at the cottage- which she helped you out of, his mind supplied annoyingly- kept playing in his head like a loop he wanted out of but he saw no way out of it. He had no idea what it meant and if it did mean anything he did he want to find out, never. Well, maybe he couldn't control his dreams at night but what he could do was make the right choices that influence reality.

He'd hurt her enough times already. She deserved a shot at happiness, even if it came at sacrificing the one shot he seemed to have at gaining happiness. Because, despite the young King seemingly pragmatic and logical, always the voice of reason, he had forever yearned for the one who would change his life. He had always been someone who had believed in the magic of love. Someone who gave reason to his banal existence. Alas, over the years no maiden had ever succeeded at arousing the kind of feelings as much as he had hoped for and so did he not find any reason to give his heart to anyone else. But that was until he set eyes on her.

Edmund had found her to be ethereally beautiful, a nymph he thought at first until he realised she was bleeding red blood. As if with a start, it hit him. He didn't know who this girl was or how she'd ended up in his Meadow half bled to death but he wasn't going to let her die on him. And then he had all but forgotten about her as more than just a lingering shadow in his memory until she walked in on him that night.. returning the favor. That was when he knew this girl was different. She was trouble.

Yet as much as it had pained him seeing the one girl he had ever developed feelings for in his nineteen years of life with someone else, it was something he needed to see. She deserved to be happy, he repeated again almost as if he was reassuring himself that he was doing the right thing. Even if it was with Peter.. of all people. She deserved everything he could never give her.

This trip to Ettinsmoor couldn't come at a better time. He would have time to clear his head up and moreover the space would definitely help. Maybe when he came back.. perhaps if she still.. no Edmund didn't even dare let him thoughts wander down that path. His mind was made.

Looking out to the distance he could almost see the first crack of dawn break out into the horizon. How long had he been standing here for? Edmund wondered as he went over today's busy schedule in his head. He had a long day ahead of him. If it went by plan they would make it to Ettinsmoor before dark on the morrow."

Edmund." He heard the unmistakable voice of the High King call out from his door post.

"Enter, brother." Edmund all but sighed. He couldn't deny the sudden jealousy he felt at his brother, a feeling he wasn't new to but this time, it felt different. It felt- Before his thoughts could proceed any further, he stopped himself.

"You're leaving so early?" his brother's worried voice broke him out of his reverie.

"If things are as urgent as Lord Pittertwat made them seem, I need to."

"About that, Edmund I think we have a bit to discuss of it first."

Edmund turned to face his brother. This wasn't like him at all? Peter hated not knowing things, a trait all the Pevensie siblings seem to have inherited. "What is it?"

Peter sighed. "My sources say it wasn't humans dabbling in magic as we'd suspected."

Edmund paused seeming deep in thought as his brother continued, "the dryad's weren't killed or chased away abandoning their life source.. they were kidnapped, and the scene seems to have the telltale handiwork signs of the Giants."

"But none of it was reported by any of the guard posts?"

"It's no secret the villagers of Ettinsmead were well known supporters for Jadis's rule and still worship that bitch," Edmund chuckled at him brother's use of the swear, "I believe they think this a sign. Or the beginning of some prophecy, I don't know yet but I think it's safe to assume they had a part to play in covering it up from our men up North."

Edmund's brows creased further. Could they ever catch a break? "So do you think, the Giants are dabbling in Magic with probably the help of the villagers?"

"No, I don't think so," Peter trailed off uncertainly, "however.."

"All the more reason I've to go check on the situation." Edmund cut him off.

"No, Edmund listen to me. Least give my source some time to find out what exactly is going on." only for an eye roll from the Just King as Peter sighed. "I just can't let you walk in blind into something. You seem to forget your place at times, you're a King and Narnia cannot afford to lose you! Nor can your family." The last part was uttered almost too quietly but Peter knew his brother heard, and for a moment he thought he saw his eye's soften at it but then-

"All the more reason why I need to see this through. Things are stirring Pete and it's clear Deep Magic is at play we need to know what's going on. If anything the villagers of Ettinsmead need to know we are taking shit seriously. We don't need a rebellion on our hands." Edmund stated resolutely.

"Which is exactly why I've sent over a scouting team to access the situation and report back. And until then and when I hear back from my source, you're staying put. We haven't heard word from the Ettinsmoor outpost in a week we need to find out what happened and once we have any idea as to what we're dealing with, you're free to further investigate."

"But-"

"That's an order Edmund Pevensie."

Whereas anyone else in his stead would've quaked in fear over the High King's command, his younger brother merely crossed his arms against his chest staring at him defiantly, but just as the younger King opened his mouth to object a flurry of black wings and claws landed on the bird stand right beside him.

"Your Majesties!" Raven cawed, "I come bearing news. A company has been spotted by the Wildemeads outposts. They come bearing Calormene flags alongside the Crown Prince's crest and seem to be a delegation of twenty and four men with steads and half a dozen on foot carrying a carriage and though they seem to be approaching in peace, I left poste haste to inform your Majesties."

"Well," Edmund smirked at his brother, "that was fast. Rabadash's wasting no time indeed."

Peter groaned as he dismissed Raven.

"Seems we've a long day tomorrow brother. And my decision still stands, I don't want to have to worry about your safety on top of this."

"Fine! But only because the Calormene delegation arrives at day light the day after and we're going to need all of our wits around. But once word comes back from you informant or the team you sent, I am leaving."

"Fair enough." the High King could do naught but agree.

A/N: I hope y'all know that with this much introspection going on, its gonna get good real soon XD

Let's see how much could change in a day!

A/N2 : A bit bogged down with exams until the 27th :( but do look forward for the next update this Tuesday! And as always, don't forget to R R!