Warning: This chapter is a little more mature than the ones before. It's not enough to change the rating, I think; it's very mild. However, I thought I would leave this little warning for those of you who may want it. To avoid the maturity, simply bypass the flashback, ie. the italicized part or the Golden Age part. If you do read it all, just keep in mind that Edmund and Aaralynn are husband and wife both in the present and in the flashback.

Enjoy!

One Fine Day

Chapter 5

Confidant

The Golden Age

"No, you're swinging too low, and don't forget the follow through. Now, try it again. Just like I showed you," I said as I raised my sword for the counter action.

"Edmund," Aaralynn groaned. "I'm trying to do it like you showed me, but I think there is something wrong with this sword. Can we try again later? We've been doing this all morning."

"All morning? It's hardly been an hour," I corrected her.

"Really? Well it feels like it's been all morning. I'm so sore." She tilted her head to the side exposing the soft, sweet skin of her neck, while she brought her right hand up to rub her left shoulder tenderly. I did not fail to miss the coy smile she tried to conceal. I knew she was trying to distract me, but still, I could feel my heart pulse a little faster.

"You're probably just sore from yesterday. If you work through it, you'll build endurance."

"Hmm, well I think it means you didn't rub the kinks out well enough last night." Her smile increased. I relaxed my stance and held my wooden sword more casually.

"You didn't seem to be complaining much last night. In fact, the sounds I heard you making seemed to be rather the opposite of complaining." She stopped rubbing her neck and smiled at me freely; I smiled back.

"I'll do better tonight," I said.

"Do you promise?"

"I promise. Now, pick up your sword and try it again."

I lifted my own sword once more and took up my previous stance. As I stood waiting for her to attack, I could see her eyes scanning over my body and she pulled her bottom lip in between her teeth. I was well aware that my fighting seemed to elicit a strong arousal in her, but I wasn't about to trust her training with anyone else. And besides, I can't say I didn't enjoy how our training sessions often ended.

We carried on for a little while longer. I have to admit, when she wasn't trying to get out of practice, Aaralynn was earnestly putting in her hardest effort. I could ask for nothing more. But sometimes, even with her hardest effort, she still had great difficulty in performing simple moves.

"Ugh!" Aaralynn cried out in frustration as she failed yet again at the move I was trying to show her. She flung her wooden practice sword to the ground. "I'm sorry, Edmund. I just can't do it."

I picked up her sword and set it next to mine against the wall. "Yes, you can, Aaralynn." I said gently as I placed my hands on her arms. "It just may take some more practice. It's a difficult move."

"No it's not!" She shoved out of my arms. "I saw you training Heulyn the other day and you covered this move with him. He got it in no time."

She was right of course. It was a rather simple move.

"I just think it's me," she said. "I'm a singer, not a fighter. I wasn't meant to fight like you. Why is it so important to you that I know how to fight anyway?"

"Because I need to know…I need to know that if something were to happen to me, if for some reason I couldn't be with you and you or whatever children we may have were in danger, I need to know that you would be alright. Though I never intend for you to be in such a position, I need to know that you could defend yourself. I love you, Aaralynn, and the thought of anything happening to you is…it's unbearable."

Aaralynn wrapped her arms around me and held me close for a while. She didn't say anything. She didn't tell me I was foolish or not to worry. She simply held me, and it felt…nice. Then, when she pulled back, she tenderly kissed my jaw just below the ear.

"I love you too, Edmund. And I don't even want to think about a time when you might not be there. I promise, from now on, I will try harder, but maybe…maybe it's not just me. Maybe part of the problem is that you're here with your sword. You know how I like to watch you fight, and sometimes it's hard to stay focused."

"I'm aware of that, and I thought of asking someone else to train you, but I just cannot bring myself to allow you to train with anyone but the best." I finished with what Lucy would call my signature smirk.

"Oh ho-ho! So you're the best now, is that it?"

"I am in indeed. Do you deny it?"

She didn't answer my question. Instead, she smiled seductively and began to let her hands slowly travel down my chest. "Well then, oh Master Swordsman, do you have any further lessons for your eager pupil?" she whispered.

"I have many lessons for you, and I will never tire of teaching them." With my hands low on her hips, I pulled her body flush against mine.

Suddenly, one of her delicate hands brushed over that most tender of spots. Our bodies were pressed together so closely no one would have been able to see her bold action, but if they had it would appear to have been an innocent accident. I knew otherwise. In seconds I was beside myself with desire. It was all I could do to whisper out, "Bedroom."

Aaralynn pulled her bottom lip between her teeth again. "Only if you can get us there quickly."

"Oh, love, there won't be anything quick about it."

Present Day Narnia

"Edmund," Lucy said, gently stirring me from my thoughts.

I had to check myself before responding. Flashbacks like that one were a common occurrence over the last three years. Usually, though, I only remembered innocent moments. The more intimate memories, however, were becoming increasingly more common.

"Yes, Lucy?" I said at last.

"I was just wondering how you were doing."

"How do you think?"

Lucy was silent for a moment. I was thankful for that, but I knew it wouldn't last. "I know Aaralynn wasn't much of a fighter before, but Caspian says she's been practicing a lot. Reep and Glenstorm have been among her principal trainers, but she's made an effort to seek help from a variety of Narnians and learning a variety of styles."

"That may be, but it's only been three years. It takes longer than that to master the sword."

"It's been five and half years for them."

I couldn't help it. I flinched at Lucy's words. I knew she meant them in a positive manner, indicating that Aaralynn had more time to practice, but the thought that Aaralynn had to wait nearly twice as long as I did, that she had to suffer the loneliness and memories nearly twice as long as I had, hurt.

"And besides," Lucy continued. "I think we both know Aaralynn's problem wasn't for lack of practice." Lucy flashed me a knowing look, and suddenly I realized that she was well aware of how our sessions ended. I momentarily wondered how many knew.

We were both silent for a while. I was trying not to think about my training sessions with Aaralynn and what followed them. Meanwhile, I'm sure Lucy was trying to tread lightly around a difficult subject. Eventually she gave up and just came out with it.

"Caspian has the letters with him. He brought them so he could try to decipher them a little more. I suggested he let you look at them. I mean, no one knows Aaralynn better than you."

"I'm not sure how much help I could be, Lucy. The whole idea of Aaralynn putting herself in danger and writing codded letters doesn't really sound like the Aaralynn I knew."

"Well I can't argue with you on that one," she said. "It sounds more like something you would do."

I wanted to protest, but I couldn't. I knew Lucy was right; I would do something like that. I also knew, that I should at least try to look at the letters. I sighed. "Alright, fine. I'll take a look at them."

Lucy looped her arm through mine with a large Lucy-esque smile. "Good, because I may have already promised Caspian you would."

Of course she had.

With her arm still through mine, Lucy led me back to the cabin we had been in earlier. The letters lay in waiting on the table. I wasn't any sort of company any one wanted to be around at the moment so, once Lucy saw that I had made myself comfortable in the chair that Caspian had previously occupied, she left.

I couldn't even begin to say how much time I spent alone reading over the letters. It was hours easily. At one point a Faun soundlessly brought me a tray of food. I barely ate it though; I had no appetite to eat.

I read each letter carefully and multiple times. Caspian, or more likely Lucy, left some ink and blank parchment for me to make notes on, and I did just that. When I ran out of parchment I circled and underlined words in the letters and wrote quick notes on the sides. There were times while I was reading when I could hardly believe it was the same Aaralynn I married that was writing. Many of the details she described or the events she eluded to hardly sounded like things she would do. These moments, though, were quickly followed by a brief anecdote in which I could hear her laughter and see her eyes light up with mirth, and I knew beyond doubt that it was my Aaralynn.

There was an authoritative, yet somehow timid, knock on the door.

"You may enter," I called out without looking up. I was reading over Aaralynn's final letter again.

The knocker moved into the room without speaking a word. I was still sensible enough to detect the soft thud of a boot, so I knew it wasn't a native Narnian. Neither was it Lucy, because I'd noticed earlier that she was barefoot.

"Whoa," the knocker said. I knew the voice well, but I still looked up for confirmation. It was Caspian.

I looked back down at my work. "My analyses are often over scrutinized."

Caspian was strangely quiet as he began to slowly turn about the room. Even I could feel the growing awkward tension.

"Did you come in here for something, Caspian?" I didn't mean for that to sound as harsh as it did, but before I could correct it, Caspian replied.

"No, not really, but I was…" He paused and took a deep breath as though he were preparing for a vicious attack. "I was wondering if you might like to come back to those in the morning and retire for the night. I am sure it has been a long day for you as well."

Retire for the night? Was it really that time already? I looked out the open window to see a black sky lit by thousands of stars. Huh.

"Pardon?" Caspian questioned. Apparently I'd gasped aloud.

"Nothing." I shook my head. "I just…I didn't realize it was that dark already."

"Time slips easily when we are engrossed in our work. Aaralynn nags me all the time about becoming so consumed."

I closed my eyes as the familiar memories came back. "She often did the same to me."

One look at Caspian confirmed it; I wasn't the only one who noticed our difference in tense.

There was another bout of silence that was quickly becoming awkward, and Caspian rushed to fill it. "I am sorry to have bothered you; it was your sister's idea that I come to see you, though I don't know why she insisted so strongly. I will leave. I am sure you remember where the cabin is; if not any member of the night crew will be glad to show you the way." He bowed his head slightly and then quickly made for the door.

"Caspian, wait!" I called before he made it to the door. I knew why Lucy had sent him. I had not spent the entire time in the cabin merely reading over and taking notes on Aaralynn's letters. I had put some time into reflecting on my earlier actions.

"My sister has known me many years," I began. "I am…glad…you came to see me. Please." I motioned for him to take a seat.

As Caspian made his way over, trying not to appear too eager, I gingerly set the letters and my notes of them aside. I knew what I needed to do, but I was somewhat lost on how to do it. Caspian wasn't a subject bound to follow my judgment. He was a king, more so, he was a friend. I had to bear that in mind.

I took a deep breath and began. "I cannot hold you responsible for Aaralynn's presence on the Lone Islands. My sister tells me it has been five years for you, and thus Aaralynn is once more of an age and mind in which she can make her own choices. Her choices may not have always been the best ones, but as her husband I must respect them. It was unjust of me to hold you accountable for her decisions."

I paused for a moment. I knew I needed to say more, I needed to actually say the words "I'm sorry", but my concern for Aaralynn's safety was still too dominant.

"Say no more, Edmund," Caspian said breaking through my thoughts. "Given the circumstance, I will see this for what it is meant to be, and I accept the apology."

"Thank you, Caspian. That means a great deal to me. And I trust there will come a day when I have strength enough to say what needs to be said."

"And I will accept your words as sincerely then as I do now."

I leaned back in my chair and ran my hands through my hair with a sigh. A small weight had been lifted off my shoulders. Though I was still weighed down, I could breathe at least a little easier.

"I feel like I should apologize as well. I had wished to have this all sorted by the time you arrived."

I raised my eyes and looked at Caspian curiously. "By the time I arrived? You knew I'd be joining you on the voyage?"

"No, no, I knew no such thing. Aaralynn has been convinced of your return from the moment you left, and she has done her best to convince everyone else of it as well. I knew it was only a matter of time."

"I do not doubt it. When she sets her mind to something, there is little that can sway it." Memory upon memory suddenly began to bombard me and I could feel that guttural pain I often suffered begin to rise within. I bit down and tried hard to push the memories and pain aside.

"I know it may not be my place," Caspian began softly, "but we were once friends. You may confide in me whatever you wish. I will keep your council."

Peter had often been my confidant since our last return, but over the past year the distance between us had begun to grow. He had become immersed in his studies, and I felt it unfair to continue to bog him down with my pining. Then Lucy and I were sent to our cousin's. I couldn't confide in her because she didn't quite understand; Lucy had never been in love before. Peter, at least, knew a little something of it. I didn't know if Caspian knew anything of love, but maybe it wouldn't matter. Maybe all I needed was for someone to hear.

And so I spoke. I told him everything that had passed through my mind since hearing the news of Aaralynn's disappearance. I told him, vaguely, of the memories and feelings that had emerged. And I told him my doubts and fears, and he simply listened.