Just got back from my college's Date Auction where I spent no money but got a date anyway :D two of my friends bought a group of 3 guys and they were like you can have the third one! So…I don't know this guy from Adam but this should be interesting ;)

Now, enough of my day, on with the story!

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NATANI'S POV

I had been keeping a very careful eye on my husband these last few weeks because I've noticed he'd been kind…off lately. Winter had set in yet again and, truth be told, he always got a little bit quieter when the snow began to fall but I didn't think the weather was responsible for it this time and it wasn't just him being silent, he seemed…weary.

It had started when he got back from a scout ride along the Northern border. He had come back stiff and sore from the distance he and his troops had gone in the saddle. He had walked in with his shoulders stopped and his back bent and he had soaked in the tub for hours.

Then there was the time he pulled his right shoulder really badly when sparring with one of the Satyrs. He had literally torn a muscle and I don't think I ever saw him in such pain before! I rubbed and squeezed that shoulder for days.

And he'd been falling asleep a lot earlier than he use to. Either he slept heavily or he didn't sleep at all and wandered the halls in a blank-eyed, walking dead kind of way. This had only begun last week when the snow started and that's what I attributed the odd behavior too, but now I could see it wasn't that. It was a kind of sadness I hadn't seen in him before.

So it happened one night I sat up waiting for him to come to bed from his wanderings and wasn't kept waiting too long before I saw the flicker of candle light as he plodded through the library door. His eyes widened when he saw me sitting on the chair next to the fireplace I motioned for him to come over and sit with me and he set the candle down with a sigh. Not an annoyed sigh, but a tired one.

I scooted over to make a space for him and I immediately threw my arms around his neck when he sat next to me. I kissed him on his temple and ran my fingers along his collarbone as I waited for him to speak. I had learned he would speak when he wanted to and not before. Finally he grabbed my hand that was teasing the salt and pepper colored curls of hair on the back of his neck and he turned to look at me with big, sad brown eyes. I couldn't help it, when I saw them and the hopelessness deep inside them, I pulled his entire torso into my arms in a hug that I prayed would convey just how much I wanted him not to feel this way.

"Natani," he whispered softly in my ear, "What's the point?"

I pulled back and gave him a confused look.

"Why…whatever do you mean, Edmund?" I asked, surprised.

"Haven't you noticed lately how…fragile we're becoming?" he asked grimly. "Tani, riding the borders never bothered me in the slightest before, and I've rarely torn a muscle during a simple sparring match…and I've never felt so tired."

I looked at him with pity showing in my eyes and I was sure I saw a glimmer of a tear in his. I threaded my fingers through his hair and pulled his face to mine in a gently, yet insistent kiss.

"Oh, Ed," I muttered into his lips, "We both knew we couldn't be young forever, right? Well…this is just little proofs."

"But I…I don't want to feel this way," he said, his brown eyes dim. "I feel like I couldn't protect you or Narnia if I had to anymore like I use to. I get worn out much quicker than I ever did and even my mind isn't as clear. Sometimes I'll be doing something really simple and completely forget how to do it."

"Ed, I've been like that my whole life," I tried to insert a little humor. It didn't work and Edmund just looked at me, un-amused, and sighed.

"Thanks for that attempt, Tani," he mumbled, looking into the flame of the fireplace.

I sent up a quick prayer to Aslan for an opening to say just the thing Edmund needed to hear.

"I'm not the man I once was." And then I knew what to do.

"Ed," I replied seriously, getting on my knees to lean my elbows and chin on his legs. I gazed up at him with sincere eyes. "It's true…you aren't the man you once were."

"Didn't I just make that clear?" Edmund asked tiredly.

"Listen to me," I persisted, "You aren't the man you once were. Physically NOR emotionally…nor spiritually."

He looked at me for an explanation.

"Edmund," I continued softly, "You may not feel like your old self but isn't that what you wanted? Look, you may not be as spry and strong as you once were but you've also matured in your spirit to be a great man who does his best to follow Aslan's will. You're not the impetuous and brash young man you were."

A slight smiled graced the corner of his mouth and I smiled back.

"But in the areas that matter," I felt it necessary to point this out, "Such as your sense of humour, your selflessness, your devotion to both me and Narnia, your loyalty, your wisdom…you're exactly the same man I fell in love with so many years ago and you always will be!"

We both fell silent for a good long time, the crackling fire reflected in our eyes as we waited for the other to speak first. Finally he smiled down at me and ruffled my hair.

"Tani, what did I ever do to deserve you?" he asked.

"You didn't," I replied, "Aslan had it planned from the beginning of time! Who else would have put the two of us together, honestly? I tried to kill you, remember?"

The look on his face told me he was running his mind over our past together. I wondered if he thought about it as often as I did. Our own story fascinated me and I loved that it was my story to tell.

"You're right, Tani," he said, standing and raising me up from my knees. "How about we get some sleep? I've got a lot to do tomorrow and so do you."

I nodded and started to walk but then I was pulled back into him and I looked at him in shock before he kissed me gently, yet passionately. Those old familiar butterflies fluttered in my stomach and I grinned at the feeling after what we had just discussed. No, some things never changed. And nor should they.

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Ok, I'm struggling to keep my eyes open so I'm calling it a night.

I hope I wake up to reviews :D