A/N: revised this a bit...feedback please.

Elaina and Edmund were standing in the throne room, talking about the festival and how well everything was going. The people were happy; there was music and food galore, everything was working out just as planned. Suddenly, a commotion erupted in the outside corridor that made them both turn their heads.

"Please I need to see my sister!" Was that Killian?

"Sir I can't let you in there without one of the Kings' or one of the Queens' permission." The guard argued, trying to keep the restless prince from entering the room.

"Elaina!" Killian called at the sight of his older sister.

"Its Killian, Edmund, my younger brother." Elaina asked, almost sounding exasperated.

"What is he doing here?" Edmund inquired; at the very sight of this man, he did not like him.

"I honestly do not know. Edmund please."

"Guard! Let him in." he ordered.

"Yes sire."

"Elaina." Killian straightened his black tunic and glared at the guard.

"Killian! What are you doing here in Narnia?" she asked, forcing a smile.

"Well there's a problem at home. Father wants you back as soon as you can make it."

"But Killian I'm here for Narnia's festival." She gestured in the direction of the market square.

"Father needs you Elaina it's not a matter of where you are or what you're doing. He needs you." His eyes were shifty and his change of tone gave her a terrible feeling of foreboding. Something was not right.

"Killian you mentioned a problem at home, what sort of problem?" she tried to keep anxiety out of her voice.

"Well Elle, it's kind of complicated..." he looked around the room, eying Edmund with obvious distrust.

"Killian, I'm not a baby."

"King Edmund. King Peter and Queen Susan request you're presence immediately." The guard said to Edmund.

"Of course, I'll be right back." he walked briskly through a polished oak door with one last glance over his shoulder at the newcomer.

"All right, he's gone. Killian, tell me what's wrong."

"Elle, like I said you wouldn't understand..."

"Killian! I am not 4 years old! In fact, I'm older than you. Tell me what's wrong at home! Why does Dad need me home so quickly?" Elaina demanded, stomping her foot in frustration.

"Dad's dead." He said bluntly.

"What?" All color drained from her face. For a moment she felt as if she would faint. She swallowed the lump that had risen in her throat and took in a deep breath to steady herself. "How did he die?"

"He suddenly became ill; we could find nothing to help him."

"But...but he can't be dead. He just can't be."

"Dad is dead, he died Elaina. I'm to become king and under law you have to do anything I tell you to do. You have to be there for my coronation. I'm sorry, Elle." He had a strange expression on his face, one she was unable to interpret.

"Wait, I'm older than you. The throne is my right! I don't trust you to rule Killian."

"He appointed me, Elle. Of all people you should respect his last wishes."

"You...you've just been waiting for dad to keel over so you can have the throne! I know how your mind works, Killian." She tapped her head. "I bet you were counting the moments it took for him to croak. I'll bet—"

"ENOUGH!" he unexpectedly thundered. She stood like a queen, but felt like a rag doll. Killian composed himself and took on his usual snake-like serenity. "There is nothing we can do about him now. Either way you must come home. If not for my coronation, for Dad's funeral. But you have to come home, forget Edmund, he's not for you."

"Oh and you know who is, do you Killian? I don't care what the law says I'm staying here!"

"Elaina, as your King I order you to come back!" he spoke through gritted teeth.

"You're not King yet Killian and as your sister I'm telling you, I'm NOT coming back!" she glared him down, yet he retained his equanimity. He leaned into her ear, so as not to be heard, and whispered a threat so terrible, her eyes widened in horror and coldness filled her being. Despite their similar appearances, their black hair and grey eyes, he was a monster and she now reduced to a damsel in distress. She looked at him and a shiver went down her spine.

"You're despicable," she breathed with disgust and contempt.

"This is simply the way it must be," he gave her an almost psychotic grin. "You have until tomorrow's midnight to make your decision. Farewell, sister." He dipped his head slightly and walked out under the lasting stare from the guard who tried to keep him away. She wrapped her arms around herself and held back the unspeakable emotions crowding her mind. Stop hiding. There was Edmund's voice in her head again. But she had to hide. She had to, if they were to survive.

Elaina heaved a sigh of distress as she sat on a small boulder at the edge of the shore. The moon was high above the waters and shone on Cair Paravel like a lazing spotlight. She wore a night gown and a silken robe; after her incident with Edmund she decided that sleeping in clothes would be more sensible. She took in a deep breath. She gazed across the ocean, as if saying goodbye to this beautiful sight before her. She had locked away her emotions and simply took on reason. Elaina knew that Killian was capable of doing what he said if she did not leave tomorrow morning. She wrapped the robe tighter around her against the chill of the night. How was she going to tell Edmund?

"Have you made your decision?" Killian uttered in her ear, coming out of nowhere. Yet, she did not jump. She had been expecting him. He was an hour late.

"Where have you been?" she asked, not answering him nor turning.

"I was...delayed. Business you see. I have recently had a meeting with the Tisroc of Telmar and we have made a splendid arrangement. But I cannot tell you what that arrangement is unless you decide to leave Narnia and come back with me." She continued staring for a few more moments, knowing that she was on the brink of despair. She thought about his threats again.

"I'll leave."

Peter and Callida walked slowly to a carriage which had come to pick her up after the festival had ended. They stopped in front of it and he ran his hands down her bare arms and kissed her softly. He pulled back and looked at her. There was something different about her. Something about her eyes. Something had to be wrong.

"Something is bothering you. What is it?"

"I know not if I should say. I do not wish to make trouble."

"Tell me, I will not say anything to anyone else." He took her hand.

"Well, I'm not certain," she sighed. "But I have heard some disturbing news about Elaina."

"Oh, no, don't tell me he's gotten her pregnant."

"No, it isn't that. You might prefer that to what I have been told." He looked at her, now perplexed with what news she had.

Edmund sat in the throne room, unable to sleep. For some odd reason, something was keeping him awake. A feeling; he did not know what. He sat with his legs draped over the chair's arm and drew circles in the velvet cushion. His mind wandered off to thoughts of Elaina, as it did more and more often. He did not feel like a giddy school girl, fawning over the most beautiful creature he had ever seen. It was something deeper. He knew it. He felt it in his bones, and his heart. Then it dawned on him. But before he could make his realization official, Elaina came slowly into the room, dressed in a dark navy cloak. Her face was emotionless. She stopped a few feet within the doorway. She tried to say something, but closed it again when she was unable to find the words.

"Elaina, what's wrong?" he got up and moved to her.

"Stop," was all she could manage for the moment. He stopped and looked at her inquisitively. He searched her for something to tell him what was wrong. But there was that shield again, stronger than ever.

"What?"

"I... I'm leaving Narnia and...I—I can never come back. You will never see me again and I will never see you again. Goodbye." She turned and walked swiftly for the door. Edmund stood, frozen to the spot, in shock.

"She's engaged." Peter had come out of nowhere. Edmund looked at him wide-eyed. He tore out after her, out of the palace into the morning hours. No stars shone and darkness still covered the land, but he could make out her figure walking briskly down the gravel pathway.

"Elaina," he called after her. She did not turn. "Elaina!" He grabbed her hand as he caught up to her. This time she stopped and looked at him square in the eyes. He could see her fighting every emotion. It was an all out battle between mind and heart. The tears brimmed her eyes but refused to drop onto her cheeks, for fear of unleashing the desperation she felt inside. He caught both her hands.

"Is it true? Are you...engaged?"

"Yes." She answered frankly.

"Why! Why didn't you say anything? Why did you... How could...Why?"

"You don't understand—"

"I would if you would explain it to me." She broke from his grip and began walking again. "Please, don't do this! Don't marry him, marry me!"

She stopped and turned around, her eyes wide with hope and desolation at the same time. He came closer to her and she stayed put. He could feel the tears in his own eyes now. He took her in his arms, grazed her cheek with shaking fingertips and whispered, "Please, Elaina, I love you. So much. Don't go. I'll protect you; I'll do whatever I have to."

"There's more to it than just that." She wanted to explain it to him, she wanted to shout at the top of her lungs that she would rather be a mutt on the streets than leave him. But she could not.

"It's just that…I love you." The quiver in his voice, the look in his eyes, the expression on his face all rang true of the statement.

"You see, that's the problem," she shook her head then looked up at him. "Because I love you too." He couldn't hold himself back. He pulled her to him and kissed her like he never had before. It was a kiss of hopelessness, love, and desperation. They held to each other for dear life, as if this embrace was their only anchor to some form of hope. Finally, Elaina broke from him again and started running in the opposite direction.

He cried as he dropped to his knees; as he watched her disappear into the blackness that had swallowed his everything. This blackness, that brought his world crumbling around him.