Chapter 39; A Hasty Proposal

Thunder boomed across the night sky just as a streak of lightning illuminiated it, revealing to any that bothered keep watch two figures rushing passed the Castle grounds. Their hands held tight together as they moved with haste. Rain poured around them but they couldn't seem to care any less, in fact the girl stopped moving coming to a halt as the boy turned around taking notice of it.

"What is it?" he questioned.

"Nothing," she blushed just as another streak of lightening flashed at them. "I just remembered the last time we were stranded in the rain."

The Just King smiled.

"I remember," he turned towards her. Aline put her arm on his chest only for him to move it away as he scooped her up instead.

"What- what are you doing?" Aline questioned with a laugh as his arms went around her once more.

"If remembering it pleases you as much, I do not mind recreating that particular- moment in our lives."

She shook her head in laughter as he watched her in amusement.

"Put your arms around my neck," he commanded his gaze on hers and water ran down the strand of hair running free while he repeated his words once more.

"I think my hands like it right where they are right now." she replied her words the same as they was once before, a smirk on her face this time around. Edmund only stared at her, one eyebrow raised cockily. "No wait," she relented, "Maybe.. if you ask nicely."

"My lady, would you do me the honor of resting your arms around my neck?"

She laughed, the sound of it ringing passed the torrential pour of the rain.

"Since you asked so nicely, kind sir.."

By the time they made it to the Cair, it was obvious dinner time. Soon coming to the horrid realisation- they were late. Not that Edmund cared much for the Gentle Queen's insistence of being on time and dinners being a family affair, but for some reason Aline seemed to care about being in his sister's good books. And showing up either late or drenched to their bones did not seem the way to go.

"Let's go to mine." he said at her panic, "I mean, it would be quicker. You can change into some of my old clothes and-"

"Edmund! Aline!" a voice called before she could reply, "The Dining Room. Now!" It was Lucy.

They exchanged looks once more as they hurriedly followed Lucy through.

"Everyone outside!" boomed High King Peter's command just as they got there at the servants who'd otherwise be serving them hurried through the doors just as the three walked in.

"What's going on Peter?" Edmund questioned looking at the guests now seated at the dinner table.

"You two are.. wet." the High King dead panned instead eyeing their dripping clothes.

Edmund rolled his eyes as Susan almost choked on her goblet of wine. Even Lucy could barely hide the smile at the innuendo just as Samuel glared at Edmund. However, the guests sat unphased. She felt the cold gaze of the centaur that sat by the High King bore into her and she stared right back at him her eyebrows creased not backing down.

"Please Peter we're about to have dinner." Susan came to their rescue. "And Aline-" she turned towards her, "Meet Sir Alasios and his son Baleos. They come bearing news from.. the Brotherhood."

Before Susan barely finished, Sir Alasios was on his feet- or hooves if one were to be more accurate. He easily towered tall over the tallest human and she noticed slash marks and scars all over the horse half of his body. His rather muscular arms folded in front of him and as she realised he was making his way over to them, Edmund stepped in front of her almost too protectively interrupting his line of sight that had been fixed on her.

"Your Majesty," Alasios must've sensed his animosity, especially when the King's hand not so subtly rested on the sword by his side. "It's been a long time since our paths last crossed."

"It has. What brings you to the Cair, Sir Alasios? I presume it be something important if you've not even deigned us the notice of a Raven to your arrival."

"It is indeed," he spoke his gaze once again resting on the Lady now behind the King. "It is her," he almost muttered under his breath but the pin drop silence that fell on the whole room made it so that it was heard by most all.

"It is who?" the High King spoke up again.

Alasios turned to address the rest of the seated Monarchs, "I am sure you've all heard of the Prophecy. The one for the New Age."

"Yes, we're aware of it." Peter replied.

His lips pursued.

"What about it Alasios?"

"Once you'd sent word to Oureboros requesting knowledge of any prophecy we set to work reading through the oldest of our scripts."

"And did you find anything of significance?"

"The Prophecy was incomplete. Baleos-" he turned to the kid who'd sat thus far quietly by his fathers side.

The centaur kid stood up straight and now rising to his full height yet taller than an adult human, Baleos began to recite-

"From the bowels of darkness shall a fire be awoken;

Reborn under the Blood Sky's guise;

Armed with the might of good men forsaken;

The seed of the firsts shall arise;

United by sword, stone and time.

Take the path of the East Sun's ray

Ride through the darkness' prime

What once was shall again betray

Let fire consume the untouched by ice

For Aslan's champion to make the choice.

To keep star light or to destroy."

Painful silence echoed throughout the room.

"The Blood Sky-" Susan muttered under her breath.

"Precisely," Alasios agreed, "Today as we'd all witnessed the sign that painted our Narnian sky red.."

"A sign for what?" the Gentle Queen questioned, barely concealing the fear that permeated her trembling voice.

"If I may, my lady." Alasios ignored everything else as his arm stretched towards Aline in a gesture encouraging her to take it.

And she did as his hand went to her chin forcing her to look up at him. Whilst his gaze fell down lower. Down to her neck, and the necklace that hung on it.

For what seemed to be the first time in a long, long time of his adult life, Alasios was at a loss for words.

"This must be impossible." he marveled curiosity glinting in his knowledgeable eyes. "You look just like her."

"Like who? Whom do I look like?"

"Like your mother."

Aline all but laughed at this, "I look nothing like my mother. Besides how would you even know my mother?"

"I did not. Not personally at least. But we centaurs remember things, passed down to us to keep safe when the rest of the worlds long forgotten them and moved on. It was the great grandfather of my grand father. He'd served your Mother's personal guard. Narnia's last hope she was, they'd say."

"This can't be right," Aline shook her head, "I was born to the most unremarkable woman in all of Los Angeles and I've lead a pretty painfully boring life until I found myself in Narnia. You're mistaking me for someone else. Anyways- I- I should go." she stepped back as she refused to meet the gaze of anyone in the room. "This seems like it should be a private meeting," But Alasios grabbed her arm instead as a gasp left her lips at that.

"You truly know not of it?" realisation crawled across the centaur's face. "Girl, you are no ordinary human. You are the offspring of King Han and Queen Swanwhite. In fact- you are Princess Aline Grace Cassandra Frank of the House of Narnia. The last surviving heir of the First Royals. The Legacy of King Frank, Aslan's first."u

"This cannot be possible," Aline could only insist though it seem to fall on deaf ears when it came to the centaur who vehemently shook his head.

"The necklace around your neck. It used to belong to your Mother. It was a wedding gift from your father-"

"My father.." Aline felt her head spin around at the onslaught of information as she closed her eyes tight. And at that, the old centaur couldn't help but feel a pang in his heart for the girl. He could see her world turned upside down, everything she'd known as truth decimate right in front of her and he being the bearer of the news.

"When the Forsaken were finally banished through the Portal and King Han himself lost with it, it seems it was no coincidence, nor was he alone in it. He took you with him. And as always, your parents had their reasons."

"What reason could one possibly have to abandon their child? To another world! Besides, I've read the legends if they were my parents it would be mentioned somewhere, somehow. They couldn't! Swanwhite was a half-star!"

"When you were born, it was under a Blood Sky a hundred and fifty suns passed from today. The miracle Narnia had needed. But your parents knew better. The night you were born was the night the Prophecy was birthed, by my great great grandfather himself who read the stars that night. They spoke of how important you were. special and somehow they'd known it wasn't your time yet. Nor was the state of the country at that time safe for you. The Darkness they were battling was nothing in comparison of the Dark Days of the White Witch to come. So they devised a plan to save you, and the Kingdom. But both your mother and your father loved you very much, Aline. There was not a day passed where the Queen did not miss her husband and her child. And as a boon for her sacrifice Aslan granted the Mirror Pond. Where she'd sit and gaze for one whole day at your life in the other world."

"If there is even a bit of truth to any of this.. then pray tell why come with this information now? Why not when I first came to Narnia?"

"We never were sure of things. Not until today as you'd seen the sign that painted our Narnian sky red.. confirming our doubts."

Aline paused. Her thoughts were running at a hundred miles an hour. How could any of this be true? If in fact she was some descendent of a Narnian Royalty how did this all tie in to the life she had? If the woman she'd thought was her mother for so long wasn't her mother, what did that make Samuel? How dos Sam share the same affinity she has to magick albeit to a lesser form since that would mean they were never related to begin with? Why is he here in Narnia? So many questions, Aline felt a sense of vertigo hit as her head spun, "You're lying and have no idea what you're talking about. In fact sitting right there is my brother. Sam, tell them! We had a whole life together before any of this."

"Actually sis-" Samuel started, his brows crinkled and his lips pursued as if he was in deep thought, "truth be told, I can barely remember- nothing..."

"What do you mean?"

"I do not remember your birth. I do not remember your first birthday. Heck, I don't even remember Mother being pregnant with you. I've- always wanted a little sister I should- would've remembered everything-"

"Now's not the time for your games Samuel, please don't."

"No, Aline I am telling the truth. What I do remember is.. you suddenly in my life with Dad. You were everywhere, suddenly, overwhelming. Heck if I were lying we don't even have any photographs of all this not any before you were three the least. And definitely not any before that of even Mother and Dad.. Oh. Shit. Why did I never question any of this before?"

"Stop Samuel there was no photographs because mother was a sorry addict who probably sold it all for some quick fix! All of it can't be a lie!"

Sam only stared at her with nothing to say.

"Aline," she heard Edmund's voice call her but even as she took a couple steps back from where she stood she felt her head go light as the world came crashing down on her once again. The last thing the girl felt before drifting into unconsciousness was the feel of a strong pair of arms go around her body.

—-

Her eyes fluttered open as she heard Lucy's voice say, "Shh- she's awake!" Aline sat up groggily, as she noticed all the Pevensies in her room in various states of disarray- Peter and Susan sat on opposite sides of the divan whilst Lucy sat by her side on her bed and an impatient Edmund pace the length of her room only stopping abruptly at Lucy's call as he made her way to her. They all seemed to be in the middle of some argument.

"Samuel wanted to see you," Susan started, "but Edmund thought it was best to not have him here when you wake up."

"Thank you," Aline mouthed to her lover, who smiled back at her in response.

"Al, how are you feeling?" he questioned taking her hand in his.

"I'm feeling... okay," she sighed. She wasn't though, and he knew it. But instead of prod her on further Edmund simply squeezed her hand in his.

"Do you all believe him? The centaur?" she asked.

Peter shrugged, "The things he says does seem to tie up with recent events."

He had to mean Edmund's recent Calormene trip and it hit her suddenly. "The rebels," Aline murmurred.

"Correct." Peter acknowledged with his head in his hands. For once to see the High King, Magnificent sitting hunched on a divan with his unruly hair and tired eyes, he seemed human Aline thought. He was just a boy, she had to remind herself. They all were. If they were back on Earth they'd just be in high school or college. The burden of a nation on them at such a young age seemed unfair. "If the prophecy is indeed true, and I do believe it is they do have probable cause for a revolution."

"No they don't." she uttered convinced. "Not without me."

"You don't understand Aline. You are the true heir of the Narnian Throne, by blood. You don't have to necessarily agree with them, the knowledge of your very existence would be enough to spark war."

"But you're Aslan's Chosen! Surely that means much more than blood."

Peter only sighed in response.

Edmund spoke on this for the first time. "Aline, do you want to be Queen of Narnia?"

Aline stared at his her mouth agape. Did he even know her after all?

"Because," the Just King continued, "it is your birthright after all, and we've all agreed on this, that it is yours if you want it. We'd step down for you."

"Is this a joke? NO! Edmund no that is the last thing I'd want. There is no one who'd do a better job at ruling a Kingdom than the Four of you, together. Whatever you need me to do for it, I will."

Susan shook her head almost reluctantly, "Well, there is one way that would save us all."

"Susan, don't," Edmund snapped at his sister out of nowhere.

"What is it Susan?" Aline pressed on.

The Gentle Queen's gaze flickered in between her brother who was glaring at her his head shaking and lips pursued in a firm no, to Aline staring at her intently.

"She deserves to hear of it the least, Ed."

"Oh my god, just tell me!"

"You two," the Gentle Queen began gingerly, "could get married."

Pin drop silence engulfed the room at that. Aline shifted uneasily feeling everyone's gaze on her. It was Lucy who broke the uncomfortable silence, "I guess, it should work.. technically."

Edmund's hand which she'd almost forgot was in hers gave her a squeeze, "Aline you don't have to do this. We will figure out some other way to deal with this, I promise-"

"I'll do it." she interrupted him.

He stared at her blank for a moment, "I mean," Aline clarified, "if this is what would prevent a wide scale rebellion, I'll do it."

For some reason that did not seem to be the answer the Just King was looking for. He looked away from her for a moment before he unentangled his hand away from hers, much to her disappointment.

"None of us need to be making any hasty decisions now." his monotonous voice cut through the tension in the room and Aline felt her heart sink further if it could at his nonchalance, "we can reconvene on this tomorrow."

"You're right," the High King spoke up, "I am tired and we should let Aline rest." And so the Pevensies bid her good bye. Except for a certain Dark King that is. His hesitation to look her in the eyes did not go missed as his siblings filed out of her room.

"I'll leave you to sleep then," Edmund murmured after what seemed like an eternity as he took one last look at her form under the covers before rising to leave.

"Edmund," she called as he stopped in his tracks.

"Yes Aline?" he replied unturning.

"Do you not want to marry me?"

The question took him by surprise. Edmund turned, running his fingers through his messy hair. "It isn't that Aline," he made his way back to where she laid. The Just King sighed. "Answer me this and promise me the truth alone."

"Alright."

"If I were to get on my knees and ask you to marry me right here, right now, and none of this had a part to play in it, would you still say yes?"

"I.." Aline faltered.

"You promised the truth. So please do not ease me with a lie."

"I'd say no-" Aline deadpanned cringing at the look of hurt that slipped past the stone cold mask he'd gotten so used to wearing at her words. "Not now at least. But.. when I do picture a future for myself I do not see one in which I am happy unless you're there by my side. I've never given a thought towards marriage before, I'd always assumed I've a long time to go for it but for some reason this just feels right. If you want to do this too..."

"I do want this, Al." he spoke, a tad bit softer, sweeter than what she'd expected. Saying the words she least expected. "But I also need you to know, you can change your mind anytime and no one would hold it against you, alright?"

"What you said today, in the meadows," she couldn't stop herself from asking, "I need to know, did you mean it?"

"I do. do mean it."

His gaze holding hers felt like it penetrated deep within her soul like he wanted to look right into her heart. And this time, for once, she did not shy away from him. Instead Aline did what she swore she'd never do. She let him in, right there, all her insecurities, her fear of losing him, her confusion over everything, she laid it bare for him to see. And he did- only to pull her closer into an embrace his arms holding her close as hers wound around his back. She wanted to cry, scream even but the tears simply never came so she simply let Edmund hold her as his fingers ran through her hair and he whispered words of assurance- she wasn't sure whether they were for him or for her.

"It'll all be alright."

"We'll be fine,"

"Everything will be alright."

"Stay." she finally mustered up the energy to speak, "Here with me tonight, please. I do not want to be alone."

"Anything you want, my love."

A/N : Inaccuracies in consistency with previous chapters especially to do with the prophecy will be corrected within the week.

IMPORTANT A/N: As for what happens next, let me tell you, it might be a liiiiitle bit (I'm lying, it's a lot actually) M-rated. So I will not be including them in this book as I'd have to change the rating and since makes it hard to discover M-rated fics and also because I'm not exactly sure if that level of explicit-ness is what my reader want, I'll be putting it up in a separate book that would consist of such M rated chapters and scenes from both this "A Place in this World" and "Once Upon a Star" and yes folks, there's a lot more to come! *wink*

With that said, please don't forget to review if you've enjoyed this so far, I'd love to hear the progression on Edaline's relationship after so long, or was it a bit too hasty, do you even think the two would make it down the isle? Let me know what you think!

Until the next time,

Love, NF