AN: Lucy and Edmund's sections have been reversed in this chapter for reasons which will become obvious as the chapter progresses.

Chapter Six: Love and Marriage

Peter

"Look at her crawl about," Ethnee sighed contentedly, watching her daughter scoot around their quarters, "isn't she just perfect?"

Peter took his wife's hand affectionately. "She really is," he said. He smiled at Ethnee. The young woman really had become much better at being a mother over the last couple of months. She showed much interest in Catherine who was now a rosy baby of ten months and who looked more and more like her mother every day. Well, at least she looked like Ethnee had looked before the birth. Over the last year or so Ethnee had become much thinner and paler. Sometimes, when Peter actually stopped to look at his wife, he felt a great pain. Ethnee was a ghost of her former self and had lost much of her beauty.

The young mother scooped Catherine up and held the child in her arms. "How was your day?" she asked Peter absently, wiping drool from the baby's chin.

"Good," he said, which was how he always answered this question. "Well," he admitted, "there is a bit of trouble with the Giants on our northern border. We've been encouraging the new humans to settle in that area because there aren't as many native creatures living there as in the rest of Narnia. It seems that the Giants have been threatening them – what's wrong, dear?" he asked, seeing that Ethnee had gone very pale.

"You're going to leave me," she said in a very faint whisper.

"What?"

"You're going to go to war with them and leave me here all alone and probably get killed!"

"What – Ethnee, it hasn't come to that yet! It hasn't come to anything like war –" Peter cursed himself for thinking that he could tell Ethnee about something like this. "It's nothing you should worry about, just a King's concerns."

Ethnee was now crying. "You're lying! You always lie to me as though I were a child," Ethnee looked very like a child at that moment. Much too young to be the mother of the baby that she was holding against her chest. "You – you must promise me that you won't go. Promise me that you'll never leave me!"

Peter gave a long sigh and looked away from her. "You know that I can't promise that, dear. I'm High King, and even if I weren't, do you honestly think that any man can promise a woman that he will never go off to war? But I'm not going now." Peter privately resolved not to go check on things in that area himself as he had previously planned. He would have to send someone else – perhaps Edmund. But no, it was too dangerous. It would have to be one of his older, more trusted lords who understood the risk.

"You hate me!" Ethnee cried with unusual passion, her breathing coming in deep gasps. "You want to leave me all alone – and with a baby too!"

Peter sighed. "You become panicked too easily Ethnee!" his voice had become impatient. "Think of what you're saying! Do you think that I would want to leave you, that I would want to die?" Catherine began wailing at Peter's loud tone of voice.

"You put Narnia first and me second! Admit it, you do!" Ethnee screamed.

"Ethnee . . ." Peter said, his voice softening, as she turned away from him. "Ethnee, please don't say things like that to me. I'm responsible for the fate of a large number of people. That always has to come first. It doesn't mean that I want it to be that way."

Ethnee began sobbing in earnest.

Susan

Susan was having tea with Lucy out on the pavilion when it happened. The most romantic moment of Susan's life, that is.

She was sipping her tea and talking pleasantly when Lucy spotted a single knight riding up from the forest road, towards Cair. "Who could that be?" Lucy asked, for the knight was dressed in fine armor of the sort that was normally reserved for parades and processions and was riding a fine white stallion.

"I don't know . . ." Susan said, pondering, for there was something very familiar about the knight. Suddenly, it hit her. "It's Torim," she exclaimed. "I wonder what he's doing."

"I think he's trying to be your knight in shining armor," Lucy said evenly, her expression quite inscrutable.

"But how did he know we would be here?" Susan laughed, realizing that Lucy was right.

"That's a good question," Lucy said.

Susan stood up and walked to the end of the pavilion. "What are you doing, you ridiculous man?" she called out, for he was now close enough to hear her voice. Despite her words, Susan's tone was teasing and fond.

Torim didn't answer, but drew closer and dismounted from his horse. Susan came down to meet him and as soon as she was near, he fell to one knee. "Oh, Susan, Queen of my heart!" he cried very loudly. "You are my one true love, the light that shines through the darkness onto my wretched soul," Susan almost laughed. She had heard this type of speech many times before and would have been irritated with it if she had thought that Torim said it totally seriously. But as usual with Torim, his tone was more than half mocking – not towards Susan but to the ridiculousness of the situation. "Without your love, I will surely die!" Torim went on. "Please say that you will marry me."

"Oh!" Susan gasped, for his face had gone very serious at this last statement. Of course, she should have known this was what he was going on about. She had lost count of the number of marriage proposals she had received, but this was the first one that she had ever even paused to consider. Susan had always told herself that it was unwise and detrimental to her position to consider marriage proposals. Torim's proposal came as a particular shock to her because they had spoken of marriage many times before and he had always assured her that he had no more wish for it than she did.

Susan looked into Torim's eyes. Despite his light and mocking tone, she fancied that she could see real longing and vulnerability there. In that moment, Susan knew that she was going to say yes. She knew that she had never felt for anyone the way she felt for Torim. She doubted that she ever would. Was it love? Perhaps.

When Torim heard her reply, he leapt up joyously and embraced her. Then he embraced Lucy, calling her "sister". At first Lucy, seemed a little flustered by this but she smiled at Susan cheerfully, and congratulated her.

Lucy

"I have heard that your sister is to be married soon," Ikram said as the two of them paced the length of the courtyard. Ikram had only recently returned to Narnia

"Ah, yes," Lucy replied. "To King Torim, of course. He's always been the only one able to truly capture Su's interest."

"You do not like him, am I correct?"

Lucy sighed at Ikram's perceptiveness. "It's horrible of me, isn't it? In a way, he's perfect for Su. You know, she secretly likes the idea of romance – but she's so practical that she doesn't want to admit it. Torim is the only one seems to realize this. But I just – I don't feel as though I can trust him."

"Brother-in-laws can be a blessing or a curse," Ikram stated enigmatically.

"Oh? And how would you know that, sir?" Lucy laughed.

"Two of my sisters are married – and one is betrothed. The husband of one of my sisters is my dearest friend, ready to lay down his life for me. The husband of the other is my enemy whom I suspect of trying to poison me. But you do not wish to hear about this?"

"No, no," Lucy objected. "It's … well, it's interesting."

Ikram laughed at this and Lucy, realizing how silly this sounded, laughed along with him.

"Still, though," Ikram said softly, turning away from her and running his finger along one of the more delicate flowers that was growing along the courtyard, "spring is a good time to be thinking of marriage."

This made Lucy feel rather uncomfortable and she didn't answer him.

Ikram went on. "Lucy, all I could think about while I was away was you. I couldn't wait to come back to you."

Lucy was feeling more and more awkward. Despite the fact that they were courting, Ikram wasn't usually given to grand speeches like this – at least not about her. She had a feeling that she knew what was coming next. Lucy cursed herself for not seeing it – the most obvious thing in the world – earlier. Of course, the purpose of courtship was marriage, but Lucy had never thought of Ikram's persistent attentions as leading anywhere. It was nice to have a man pay attention to her, but Lucy knew, deep down inside, that she was not in love with him.

"Ikram," Lucy said, before he could ask the question. "I – I'm sorry, but I can't marry you."

Ikram frowned. "You are considered young, among the Narnians, to be married, I know," he said. "But I would be willing to wait until you reach a more appropriate age."

"It – it's not that," Lucy faltered. "I don't – I can't love you."

Ikram turned rather pale and Lucy felt quite wretched. "Then you are not as I thought," he whispered. "You knew, all along, how you felt, but allowed me to continue my suit. I did not think that you were that sort of lady, Queen Lucy."

"I'm not," Lucy said miserably, for she knew that he had every right to think this. It must have appeared that way to him. "I'm not that sort of person at all. I didn't mean to play with your feelings – I just didn't think. I am such a child."

"Come now," Ikram said, his voice softening, "I dare say that I have sprung all this on you suddenly. Shall we go on as before and perhaps I shall ask the question of you again in time?"

Lucy almost said yes. It would have been so easy to say yes and spare his feelings. But she couldn't knowingly lie to him. "Ikram," she breathed, "I'm sorry, but I meant it when I said I wasn't in love with you. I would have told you earlier if I had realized it myself."

Ikram's face darkened.

"Oh, can you honestly say that you loved me!" Lucy exclaimed. "Did you not seek a political match, first and foremost?"

"I don't know what you mean," Ikram replied, evasively. "In my land, we do not politely speak of being in love with a woman unless we are married to her. I think that I could have loved you as my wife, Lucy." This was said softly. "I will admite that my father was hoping to secure a political match with Narnia – we can always use allies to help us against Calormen. He hoped that I would court Queen Susan, but I knew (and no offense meant to your sister), but I knew, upon meeting her, that she and I would not get along."

"So you settled on me instead," Lucy said, feeling a bit repulsed.

"Do not all royal marriages have a political component?" he asked. "It does not make my feelings for you insincere."

"I'm afraid we have rather different ideas about marriage," Lucy told him gently.

"Yes, I know," he gave a half-hearted laugh. "You Narnians romanticize it. You make it into something for the story-tellers. But I think that we would be happy together."

"Perhaps we would," Lucy acknowledged with a sigh. "You are a dear friend to me and I think we understand each other. But I can't marry someone whom I am not in love with."

"I know why," Ikram said, with a bit of bitterness. "It is because you love another."

"Another?" Lucy asked, distractedly.

"Yes, but never mind," Ikram said, seeming to restrain himself from speaking further. He kissed her hand gently. "I wish you much happiness, Queen Lucy." Lucy sighed as she looked at his handsome face. She had certainly made a mess of things. Why had she ever wanted a suitor?

Edmund

Edmund was pacing in the garden, paying little attention to the beautiful scenery that surrounded him. He was worried. Very worried. Seeing a lot of different women just wasn't good enough for his brother. Peter kept pushing Edmund to get married.

Edmund heard a soft noise behind him and turned to see a young man – in fact, it was Lucy's beau, Ikram and he was looking particularly dejected at the moment. "Good evening," Edmund said, politely, "how are you, sir?"

Ikram gave a bitter little laugh. "Not well. I'm afraid that your sister has thoroughly rejected me." He turned away from Edmund and touched one of the dew colored flowers, gently. Edmund wished that he could go away and leave Ikram to his thoughts, but now he was stuck and had to say something appropriately comforting.

"You know how girls can be," he said, tracing his foot in the dirt and feeling very immature. "They're so fickle."

Ikram looked up at him and smiled. Edmund hadn't meant anything in particular by the comment. He didn't think that Lucy was especially fickle. He had only wished to comfort the young man. When Ikram looked at him, however, he felt an excited sensation beginning in the pit of his stomach.

"Yes, they are that," Ikram lowered his eyes. It was an innocent enough comment, but Edmund somehow knew that it meant more than it seemed to. There was an indefinable something about the way Ikram carried himself, his gestures, looks, and words that Edmund probably wouldn't have recognized before his friendship with Cade but which were now nearly unmistakable. All the same, Edmund wanted to make sure he was correct. He moved toward Ikram slowly. He could hear the young Prince's shallow breathing mimicking his own.

"You'll be leaving soon, won't you?" he asked softly as he approached.

"Tomorrow," Ikram said, eyes on the ground.

Edmund came to stand beside him, their faces very near. "And perhaps His Highness would like to have some fun before he leaves?" he whispered, touching Ikram's dark hair, gently. Edmund didn't allow his voice to falter despite his nervousness. He had never done anything like this before.

Ikram's head was bowed, his hands crossed in front of his body in an almost servile posture. "I would like that," he replied, his voice as soft as Edmund's.

Edmund smiled, a wave of relief washing over him. Then he thought of something. "You are certain that your courtship of my sister is over?" he asked.

"Quite certain," he bit his lip. "Lucy doesn't care for me, anyway."

"I see."

--- -- ---

The next night found Edmund in the garden again, but this time he was seated on the ground, curled up into a human ball. He was crying hot, angry, boyish tears of which he was very ashamed. Edmund didn't cry often; he hadn't even cried when he thought that the White Witch was going to kill him. The tears that he shed when he was alone in his room, after he had found out about the sacrifice Aslan had made for him were different; he wasn't at all ashamed of those tears.

It wasn't Ikram that he was upset about. Ikram was sweet and very handsome but Edmund had known that it was only a one night romance. He was crying because he thought he could see his future. He would marry some girl – most likely not a very nice one – and year after year, he would lie to her. Perhaps he would have an affair with some handsome lord and he would feel terribly guilty or perhaps he would remain faithful to his wife and feel terribly empty inside. Either way, he would be miserable. It seemed ridiculous now that he ever thought he could change. When Peter had caught him up in his bad behavior, he had actually thought that changing would be easy. He might as well try to change his skin color to blue. He wondered what Aslan would think of him. Being good was so hard.

Presently, when his crying had subsided a bit, he heard a gentle voice saying his name and felt someone tapping him on the shoulder. It was Marna.

Marna practically lived at Cair now. She mostly took care of Ethnee – sat with her when she was sick or lonely and sometimes she kept a motherly eye on little Catherine. Edmund found Marna easy to talk to because they were alike in one very crucial way Marna also preferred people of her own gender in her bed. Marna was one of the few people who knew about Edmund and Cade.

"Edmund, King Edmund, are you well?" she was saying, looking at him anxiously.

"I'm fine," Edmund rasped, rising to his feet. His tears had subsided, but he was certain that Marna knew he had been crying.

"Here, sit down," she said, tugging on his arm and moving him toward a bench. She offered him a handkerchief which made Edmund feel even more ridiculous. "What is wrong?"

"Oh, I have to get married – and I – and I don't think I can stand it!" he spit the last bit out fiercely and he proceeded to tell her all about Ikram and the current emotional dilemma which faced him.

When Edmund was finished with his tirade, Marna was silent. She looked off to the distance, thinking longer and harder than Edmund thought necessary. Finally in a low voice she said, "Marry me."

Edmund glared at her in amazement. "Please don't make jokes with me now," he said, a bit irritably.

"I wasn't joking, Edmund," she said softly. "No, listen," she said, stalling his reaction, "you need to marry to please your brother and your kingdom and for respectability's sake. Well, I need to marry because I'm sick of people calling me an old maid and because – because I don't want to live in my father's house forever. And…" here she paused for a long moment. "And because I wish to be a mother. I'm good with children. If you'll excuse the expression, we seem to be meant for each other."

Edmund starred at her, incredulous. It did seem to be a remarkably good solution and Edmund could already feel hope and relief washing over him. "You want to have children?" he asked finally. "That would mean that we would have to –"

"Well, yes," she admitted, blushing, "but I can assure you that I have no designs on you. It would only be to produce children. Besides, don't you want to be a father? You're wonderful with Catherine and people expect you to produce heirs."

"Well, yes, someday. But I don't think that my brother likes you very much."

"Good, I don't like him much either," Marna replied, winking. She then grew more serious. "Edmund, he can't have any serious complaint to offer against me. I have a good reputation and he can't say anything against my family – he is married to my sister!"

Edmund looked at Marna really closely for the first time. Marna had wild, red curls, freckles, and a trim, athletic body. She may have been what some would call pretty, but she certainly was no great beauty and her face was already beginning to show signs of age. Edmund thought that she must be at least ten years his senior. She always wore old, frumpy dresses. He smiled as he realized that none of this mattered in the least.

"I think that your idea is a good one, Marna," Edmund told her. "And I accept your proposal." She grinned and they shook hands over it.