Edmund awoke with a start. He was covered in a cold sweat. He looked behind him quickly; making sure no one was there. Rain splattered the window loudly, lightning illuminated the room, and thunder cracked with an earth shattering boom!. Then another sound caught his attention. The night guard was arguing with someone from outside, by the sound of it. He hopped out of bed and walked down stairs.
"What is it, Kamden?" he asked the guard, who had now shut the door and was ignoring the insistent pounding.
"Nothing, sire. Just a woman."
"Excuse me? 'Just a woman'? She's going to catch pneumonia if you leave her out there! Open the door."
"But, sire, it's three in the morning."
"I don't care if its three minutes until the apocalypse, now open it!"
"Yes, sire." He opened it enough for the woman to slip through but shut it almost before she was completely inside. She was drenched and shivering in a black cloak that hid half of her face. She shot a disgusted look at the guard who had refused her entry.
"Can I help you, Miss?" Edmund asked. She pulled back the hood and Edmund's breath caught in his throat. It was impossible.
"Elaina?" he managed to croak out after a minute or so. All he could do was gape. They stared at eachother. Then, she smiled. A rush of emotion filled him. He full out ran to her and picked her up off the ground, holding onto her as if she could slip away any moment. For a moment, the world had melted away, and it was only this, only now. She was trembling. So was he. She was crying. So was he. He set her down, still holding her close to him. He leaned down and kissed her softly, then passionately.
About that time, Peter, Susan, Lucy, and Mathias all came down wondering what the commotion was. Each of them gasped, utterly surprised to see her there. Still, the two of them took no notice.
"How…?" Edmund asked, pulling away from her.
"I had to," she answered. She looked over at the four others standing at the foot of the stairs. "Hello, everyone. I've missed you all very much, more than you can imagine. Mathias, what are you doing here?" she looked at him, puzzled.
"I might ask you the same question, Mum." They both had some explaining to do.
"Mum?" said Lucy, her eyebrows raised. She looked at Matthias. "He has your eyes. And…" she took a lingering look at Matthias. Her jaw dropped. Elaina grabbed Mathias' hand and Edmund's and pulled them into a near-by conference room. She shut the door quietly behind them.
"Mathias, how did you find out about this? Us, I mean." She indicated Edmund, who was still shocked to see her.
"Rumors," he replied vaguely. "And I read your letters."
"That was you?" she looked at him, then Edmund. She chewed on her bottom lip for a moment. "Mathias, I need to speak to Edmund for a moment." He looked at the two of them, nodded his head, and left, shutting the door behind him.
"You're here," Edmund said through his smile. "You're really here." Again, he wrapped her up in his arms and held her tightly. He took a deep breath in, inhaling the scent of her hair. It still smelled like flowers.
"I'm really here," she looked at him with a wide smile. She lost herself in his eyes for just a moment then pulled herself, reluctantly, back to reality. "I just don't know how I'm going to stay."
"What do you mean?"
"No one knows that I've left. The Tisroc...well..." she trailed off.
"What? The Tisroc what? He's not hurting you again is he?" his face began to turn white with anger and he clenched his fists.
"No, no. Well, he has twelve wives, one for each month. The palace is vast and I really see him only in March, thank the gods. I can't be sure how long I will be able to stay without anyone realizing that I'm gone."
"You have to stay," he said almost pleading, like a child. "You just have to and that's the way it is."
"I wish I could," she replied sincerely.
"You will," he said, ideas springing forth in his mind like a fountain. "You will have as much protection as you need here and—"
"And Matthias," she added.
"Of course, of course, him too. I'll treat him as my own son, Elaina, anything to keep you here—"
"Edmund—"
"I know, it'll be strange at first but—"
"Edmund—"
"If he does want to go back to Telmar I will see to it that he is escorted safely out and—"
"Edmund shut up and listen to me!" Elaina snapped, then composed herself. "Sit down."
"I'm perfectly fine standing."
"You won't be in a moment," they stared at eachother. Suddenly, it dawned on him. His jaw dropped slightly and his eyes widened. He sat down, stood up, sat down, then stood up and paced. Finally he sat down again.
"I can't...are you...you're sure?" he asked, gaping at her.
"Just look at him, Edmund," she said softly, kneeling in front of him. "It's obvious."
"You're absolutely positive?"
"Well..." she shrugged and smiled.
"I can't believe it. I just can't believe it. How did that happen?"
"Need I really explain that to you?" she asked sardonically.
"I know how it happened I just don't know how it happened," he stopped and looked at her. "I have a son," he said then repeated it again to make the realization concrete. "I have a son." Elaina elevated herself on her knees and took his face in her hands. Smiling, she replied,
"We have a son."
A/N: ok so there it is. if you didnt like it, deal with it. if you did like it then tell me. if you leave a pissy comment i will chew you out. so just be nice.