DISCLAIMER:**The character names of The Chronicles of Narnia are owned by Douglas Gresham. The original content, ideas and intellectual property of this story are owned by NeverTickleASleepingDraco, 2011. Please do not copy, reproduce, or translate without express written permission.

"Edmund!"

I turned around as Peter's came walking toward me with a letter in my hand. "You've got a letter." He handed the piece of parchment to me.

Dear Edmund,
Hello! How've you been? I haven't seen you in ages!

The letter talked about a few more things and then the last line read,

Well, anyway, I've decided to come for a visit next week! I can't wait to see all of you!

Love, Alyanah

"Alyanah's coming? That's fantastic!" I exclaimed, shoving the paper in Pete's face. "Read it!"

His blue eyes scanned quickly over the page as his face came alight with excitement. "I can't believe it! We haven't seen her in ages!"

"I'm going to go tell Lia!" I ran off in my excitement to find her.

I found her in the library practicing her Braille. I loved teaching her Braille. I get so excited thinking about it! She'll be able to do things other blind people can't do. She'll be able to read great stories! Only problem is, we've got to translate a bunch of books - letter by letter. Fun times. It would be worth it in the end, though!

I snuck up behind her, quietly as I could, and leaned over her shoulder. "'Long live Queen Lucy!' the crowd cheered as their four new monarchs took their places in Cair Paravel. A bit complicated, eh beginner?" She jumped nearly a foot in the air, clutching where her heart was.

"Goodness, Edmund! Quit doing that!" She folded the paper that I had translated for her, and stuck it in her boot.

"Oh, come on! It's not that bad!" I teased, twirling a piece of her hair between my fingers. Her soft, dark, curly hair - Stop it! I can't have these feelings for her. She won't want to marry someone Narnian! She'll want to marry someone from her home country.

"It is if you're blind! Now give me my hair back!" She stood up and smacked right into my chest. I clutched her upper arms to keep her from falling and held her there a few seconds longer than necessary, wondering what it would be like to hold her in my arms forever and to kiss her lips, cheek, hair, neck, hand, anywhere!

I stepped away from her. "Lia, I have news!" I didn't wait for her to respond. "My best friend is coming to visit! We haven't seen each other in ages!" I nearly jumped up and down with excitement.

"That's great Edmund!" Her tone was excited for me, but underneath that I could sense a bit of sadness.

I gave her a hug. "Don't worry, Lia. You'll always have a place in my heart."

It was bigger than she thought.

LIA'S POV:

I returned to my room thinking about the news.

I really was happy for Edmund, that he got to see his best friend after years, but I was scared he would just ignore me. I mean, we'd only known each other about two months, but he'd said he had a place in his heart for me. He did have every right to ignore me.

I twisted the ring he gave me round and round my finger as I entered my room. I heard a shuffling on my bed and a small giggle. "Elena?" I called.

"Yes?" She sounded completely...giddy.

"Are you alright?"

I walked over to the bed and sat down on the large comforter. "I'm more than alright! Peter kissed me!" She giggled furiously.

"He did? That's fantastic, Lena! But, um, why are you in my room?" I scratched behind my ear.

"Well, I wanted you to be the first to know, so I waited for you!"

I sighed and shook my head. I grinned. "So...how'd it happen?"

"Well, he asked me for a walk in the gardens. Then, he sat me down by the fountain and told me he fancied me and just kissed me!" She squealed with happiness. I could only grin. I was definitely ecstatic for her and Peter, but something was bugging me. Was it because she could freely express her feelings, but I couldn't since Jonathon was watching my every move? Probably. "What's wrong, love?"

I sighed. Only Elena could sense something was bothering me. "It's Edmund."

"What did he do? Did he hurt you? Will I have to hurt him?"

"No! No, Elena. Quite the opposite really. I've actually got quite a fancy for him." I bit my lip and felt blood rise to my cheeks.

I felt the bed dip closer to me. I had a feeling that Elena was on her knees in excitement in front of me. "Ooh, is Wittle Wia in wove?"

I felt for her shoulder and shoved her. "It's not so far as love! But I definitely fancy him. He's teaching me Braille you know."

"He's teaching you what?"

"Oops, sorry. Braille. It's a reading system for blind people where he's from. It's basically just a bunch of raised dots." I pulled the paper out of my boot, unfolded it, and handed it to her.

"This makes positively no sense, whatsoever."

"Well, naturally. You haven't learned," I stated in a "duh" voice. Once again, my thoughts strayed from Braille, to Edmund, and finally to the news he told me earlier. I sighed.

"Lia? What's the matter?"

"It's Edmund. He told me his best friend is coming to visit next week." There were a few moments of silence until she replied.

"Are you afraid he's going to leave you out? Like a…what's it called? Oh yes, a third wheel?"

"No, he's got every right to. He's known me for two months and his best friend…well, they're best friends. I'm just some baggage he took pity on."

"Aslan's mane! Please tell me you don't actuallybelieve that! Edmund has given you a ring anda necklace – one of which he made himself! He truly cares about you and is not going to let you get married to thatvile monster of a person! I swear, Edmund's in love with you!"

"Woah. No, there is no chance. I've known him all of two months. You cannot fall in love with someone in two months."

"You did!"

"I did not! I only fancyhim!"

She snorted. "Like there's a difference."

I folded my arms across my chest stubbornly. "There is too! Like, when you fancy someone – oh, why am I even arguing about this? I do not love Edmund! Now get out, I need to write to Cor!" I said the last part jokingly, letting her know I wasn't cross with her.

"Alright," she said with a giggle.

"Oh, go have fun with Peter!" I heard the door close with a loud snort and stood up from my trunk – only to remember that I couldn'twrite to him. I had gotten so caught up in knowing I could read now that I forgot I couldn't write! Well, I could, but Cor wouldn't know what the little dots meant. I sighed and decided to look for Edmund – but then I realized I was writing to Cor becauseof Edmund, so that wouldn't exactly work. And then it hit me! I opened my door and asked the first person I heard walking – thankfully it was just a maid. "Er, excuse me, miss? Could you possibly go get Queen Lucy for me? I still don't really know my way around the castle," I asked sheepishly.

"Of course, miss." I heard the clopping of hooves going further and further away and I realized I had just spoken to a faun! I leaned against the stone wall and waited for Lucy. She must've been quite a ways off because before she had gotten here, I heard heavy footfalls come toward me. It wasn't like Edmund's light footfalls – these were ones I'd heard too many times.

"Jonathon, please leave me alone," I sighed, exasperated.

"Well, why should I?" he whispered in my ear. "I'm here to keep you…protected."

I shoved him away from me and nearly shouted in his face. "You're not here to keep me protected, you're here to keep me from falling in love so you can have me all to yourself! Why do you want me, of all of the girls in Archenland? There are girls out there who can actually seeand won't bother even fighting you! They'll see you as a gorgeous man who is – well, gorgeous! They won't see the selfish, arrogant pig I see you as!"

I heard him advancing on me and I backed away before we bumped into each other. He slapped both hands on the wall behind my head and growled at me through gritted teeth. "Listen. You and I are going to get married whether you like it or not and I won't let that stupid king get in my way. You willbe mine." He nipped – more like bit – at my neck and I yelped. I was genuinely scared of him. I was terrified that he could do things to me and I couldn't even bloody well see to stop him! He continued ravishing my neck and tears slipped down my face. I hated him! I hated the bastard!

"What is going on here?" an angry voice yelled. I turned my head toward the sound, and heard the familiar clicking of Edmund's boots. Jonathon was yanked away from me and I heard a thump against the wall on the other side of the corridor. "Don't you dare touch her!" Edmund yelled. His voice was so…so scary, I guess. I'd never heard him this angry. Hell, I didn't even know he could getthat mad! It scared me. I stepped closer to Edmund warily, and I heard Jonathon struggling to breathe. He was choking him?

"Edmund! Stop! You're going to kill him!" I felt a rush of wind as Edmund spun around to face me. Jonathon fell with a thump to the ground and I heard him gasping for air. I, even, was breathing heavily. Edmund took me by the wrist and pulled me into my room. He closed the door and I leaned against it, positively terrified. Edmund was beyond furious, evidently murderous, and I couldn't do a thing. "Edmund. C-calm down." I felt a rush of wind a few inches to the right of my right ear and a loud splintering noise. I took a shaky breath and turned to feel by my head. I felt a jagged hole the size of Edmund's fist. He had punched through the door? Right beside my blindhead? What was the matter with him? "You're scaring me, Edmund, please stop!" Tears flowed down my cheeks as I practically cowered from him.

My terrified and shaking voice had apparently brought him out of his rant. "Aslan's mane." He took many deep breaths. "Lia…Lia you have to believe me, I swear I didn't mean to. I – I was angry and I wasn't thinking. I swear I'd never do anything to hurt you." Apparently, I had marks on my body. Most likely on my neck, of course and – "Lia, your wrist!" My wrist? "Did – did I do that?"

"I don't know! I can't see it!" My voice finally came back – and it came back angry. "You arethe one who grabbed me and pulled me in here!" He picked up my wrist. Little pinpricks of electricity shot up my arm as he examined my hand.

"Yeah. Yeah, I did do it. Lia, please, I'm so sorry!"

"Please, just leave before you make it any worse." I yanked my hand back and cradled it against my chest. Something else must've happened to it because I could barely flex it. I tried and I mouthed "Ow, ow, ow," before practically bursting into tears.

It was all too much for one day. Finding out I'm going to be a third wheel for the next two weeks, discovering my feelings for Edmund, getting sexually assaulted by Jonathon, Edmund almost killingJonathon because of the sexual assault, and then the physical pain Edmund caused me. My hand hurt more even thinking about it! I don't even think he had held on to me that hard! I didn't think it did. Hell, it doesn't even matter right now. All that matters right now is my hand.

I found my way to my bed and sat down carefully, hiccupping every now and then between tears. I heard feet shuffling outside my door and gasps of surprise. "Edmund, what did you do!" I heard Peter's voice yell furiously. I guess Edmund was still outside my door. I heard him sigh and start explaining. Rounds of gasps went through the group. Small footsteps approached my door.

"Lia? Are you alright?" Lucy sounded genuinely worried. I tried to hide my face with my hair and wiped the tears from my face. I didn't necessarily want to look like a mess in front of a Queen of Narnia! "Hey, hey. It's okay to cry. Really. We're friends." She handed me something soft and I realized it was a handkerchief. I wiped my eyes with it and tried to hand it back to her. She sat down beside me, put an arm around my shoulders, and handed it back to me. "You keep it."

"Are you sure?" I sniffed.

"Of course! I have so many others it's mad!" I laughed a little and wiped my eyes some more. "I apologize for my brother's actions. He doesn't normally get thatmad. He must really love you."

"Oh please. You've all known me only for two months, how could he possibly have fallen in love with me?" I said, for the second time that day.

"Well, actually, he's technically known you for four years."

"What?"

"You see, when we went to Archenland when Cor was first found, Edmund was wandering the castle and I guess he saw you. I think he said you seemed to just be staring off into space. He wasn't even sure if you were real or not! The next day, he went wandering again, and he saw you again by that figure-eight type fountain. I remember he was so excited! He wanted to meet you and to know so bad, that it sounded like he was already in love with you! He hasn't forgotten you, all these years." He did sound rather eager to talk to me when we met – officially.

"Oh. Well…I mean – he couldn't possibly have…but…," I trailed off, not possibly thinking of any excuse as to why he didn'tlove me. I put my head in my hand and winced, having forgotten the throbbing pain in my hand (How one does that, I'm still not sure).

"Oh! Your hand! Here, open your mouth." I did, and a warm liquid funneled down my throat. I realized what it was.

I tried coughing it back up. "Lucy! Don't waste your cordial on me! More or less my hand! It'll be fine in a few days! You need to save that!"

"No, no! It's okay! It magically refills!" she said, giggling a little. My hand felt loads better. I wonder if…

"Er, Lucy? Do you think it could…?" I trailed off.

I could hear the sadness in her voice. "I'm sorry. I don't think it does that."

"Well, you could give it a go," I said in vain.

She giggled a little a hugged me. "I'm so sorry, Lia."

I had avoided leaving my room for the next week. I wasn't ready to face Edmund or Jonathon. I always felt so safe and secure about Edmund and he'd shattered that last week. I'd come to understand why he did it and that he didn't even mean to do it, so I wasn't mad at him. I was just afraid to face him because I thought he would act like I was some porcelain doll around him now – and I absolutely detested that.

I was scared to face Jonathon because I thought he would blame this whole ordeal on me and…well, do worse than Edmund had done. Elena had forced me out of the castle at least once a day, but every time either of them would walk by (I guessed) we would walk away from that direction.

I was dreaming peacefully one morning when suddenly a tender hand was placed on my shoulder, trying to wake me. "Go 'way," I murmured.

"Lia, come on. You have to wake up. Our guest will be here soon." I sat up once I heard the voice.

"Edmund!"

"H – hey, Lia." He was nervous.

"Edmund!" I said again. This time, however, I jumped up and hugged him tightly around the neck. I wrapped my legs around his waist, hugging him tighter than ever. Evidently, he wasn't going to treat me like some porcelain doll because he hugged me tighter – possibly. "I missed you so much!"

"Well then why didn't you come see me? Why stay in your room the whole week?" He asked in a teasing tone.

"Because I was afraid you would treat me differently," I mumbled into his neck-slash-hair.

"What?"

"I said you need a haircut!"

"You did not and you know it!" He set me down on the bed and sat beside me. I leaned my head on his shoulder.

"Fine. I said, I thought you would treat me differently," I replied stiffly, still ashamed to admit to such things. I took my head off his shoulder and turned my head away. I was being silly! Why would've I thought such a thing! I'm an idiot.

He took my chin and put it between his fingers, gently forcing me to look up at him. "I would never treat you differently because of something I did. Honestly, it should be the other way around," he chuckled. "Now go on, get dressed. She'll be here in a minute." He said it so fast I only caught, "be here in a minute."

"Er, who?"

"My best friend! Remember?"

It felt as if an ice cold hand had punched me in the stomach. "Oh. Right. Well, I guess I'll see you in a bit. Now, shoo!" He left the room and I picked a random dress from my closet and put it on. Thankfully, it was a button up, not a lace up dress. I ran a quick brush through my hair and pulled on my signature boots, not even knowing if they matched or not. I opened my repaired door and nearly bumped into Edmund. "Oh, you waited!"

"Of course. I wasn't going to let you go down there by yourself!" He looped my arm through his and we made our way down to the Entrance Hall.

"I thought you two would never make it!" Susan exclaimed. I mentally rolled my eyes and outwardly smiled.

"Well, we did," Edmund sarcastically said.

"Edmund!" a sweet voice called. What man has that high of a voice?

It was then that I realized –

"Alyanah!"

Edmund's best friend was a girl.

Love it? Hate it? Let me know!

Hannah. x