Another shortie...I got my muse back though! -jumps for joy- I didn't have it at the beginning though, and it's kinda easy to tell, but I got it nearing the end...I could have made it longer, considering I have it laid out a bit better again, but I figured I just needed to update and let people know that I've picked up my work again! Yay! Well, this is a fluffy chapter, but, anyways, here you go.

Edmund looked at Lila. Lila looked at Edmund. They both shifted uneasily. Edmund opened his mouth, as though to say something, and then shut it again.

It was so stupid, he found himself thinking, that this silly little charade, what ever it was--fluff--love--misunderstanding--was still bouncing back and forth. They always ended up alone together, and then...well. It was only a matter of time until someone found out in some awkward sort of way.

"'Morning," he finally said, determined to say words if just to break the uneasy silence. He didn't care if he started speaking gibberish at this point. He would prefer not to, but it was an open option.

"'Morning."

Well...Two syllable words were a start, right?

They started walking down the hall. It was silent, the absence of words casting a heavy air around them both. Edmund felt heat rushing to his cheeks, for a reason even he was deprived of, as he tried to regain his head. He needed to sort some sort of thing out with this girl before he did something stupid and unreasonable.

Stupid. Unreasonable. Two wonderful traits to possess at a time like this.

He stopped. She stopped. He glanced at her. She glanced at him.

She was as much of sheep, it seemed, as the suitorettes, following their devoted and mirroring every action they made. It was a surprise he did not consider the fact.

"We need to talk," he said. We? Was it really a 'we'? Scary thought. "Er...at least you need to." She flashed her eyes blankly; she was silent. Irritation welled up inside the young king, melting away some of his uneasiness. "Look; I'm confused. Do you like me, or do you hate me?" He narrowed his eyes in annoyance. "You're the one who corners me, and then after you...you're done, you go out of your way to avoid me."

She seemed taken aback a moment, glaring at him. "I do not hate you...and I don't corner you! Pure coincidence we run into each other in the middle of the night? Right... And if I remember correctly, it was you who found me."

"It was you who kissed me," he hissed angrily, his heart skipping at the mere word. "Both times, if I remember correctly."

"Then you don't," she snapped. "It was you who kissed me at the fountain."

"It was not!"

"Was too."

"Was not."

"Was too."

"Was not!"

She shook her head, a dry laugh escaping her. "You are a stubborn prat, Edmund Pevensie."

A smirk tugged faintly at his lips. "Thank you."

She waved it aside, a scowl disgracing her features. "You kissed me in the Wood as well."

A roll of the eyes and a smooth of his tunic. "I...er...didn't want to...I mean, I didn't intend to...That was your fault!"

She took a step towards him, forcing him back. "You make it sound as though I'm an enemy."

"Perhaps you are!"

"I am not!" she shot back quickly, trying to keep from paling. Panting, she retreated back a step and sniffed. "I, at least, dear King, am not accusing another for their emotions."

"Accusation? I only wish to know why you act the way you--oh." He stopped, words drained from him, staring at her. She was the one blushing now, fiddling with the golden threads of her belt, but managing to keep her gaze lifted to his. Oh, dammit; at least she could master her embarrassment. "Oh," he repeated blankly, chewing on the inside of his cheek for loss of words. She gave him a queer look, tilting her head slightly and shifting her ever-moving hair so that it cascaded over one shoulder.

He shook his head slightly, trying fervently to regain some sort of speech and to refrain from saying 'oh' for a third time in a row, despite the fact that it was the only word coming to mind. It was becoming an equally embarrassing moment for both of them, and the silence wasn't helping. "I, er, mean...o...kay," he managed. "Okay. Er...Now was that so hard?"

This was absurd.

She snorted at the seemingly accusing question, shaking her head slightly. "Nice."

"I told you; I don't get many suitorettes." He grinned.

"Perhaps I'm out of my mind."

"I fear for you."

"Or..." She laced her hand in his, smiling slightly; "...Perhaps I'm the only girl who isn't."

His cheeks flushed crimson, trying to think of something suitable to say. "Er...Well, I'm glad there's one girl who is intelligent enough to figure that out--" He was cut off by a shove from the scowling girl, playful as it was. He laughed; well, perhaps not the most suitable use of words.

"Well. Is that all you needed to know?"

He blinked at her. 'Is that all'? Such a big deal over a few little words, it seemed. Was it this awkward for everyone when such a similar ordeal came up? "Er…I guess so." 'Er'…was that his new favorite word? He'd have to work to break that bad habit, or else he feared he'd appear like a total idiot in front of the Courts. Something he'd prefer not to do, especially when everyone viewed him as wise, it seemed.

Hm…wise? What is this 'wiiiseee' they speak of?

"Okay, then." She gently withdrew her hand from his. "Queens Susan and Lucy invited me to their morning ride last night, so I best be off if I'm to catch them before they are off."

He rolled his eyes, shaking his head. "Oh, so kind of Lucy to leave without you," he muttered. Oh, his sister was in for it when she got back…leaving them both here on purpose like that…No wonder she seemed so chipper. Wonderful.

She laughed lightly. "Oh, I'm sure she had matters to attend to."

'Oh, great; off to go tell Susan.' "I suppose so." He ran a hand through his hair lightly, meeting the tangled mess it was and knocking his crown askew in the process. "That leaves me to go tell my brother that I'm courting you—" He was cut off abruptly again at her laugh as she leapt at him, throwing her arms around his neck. Great Aslan. She was like an older Lucy.

He grinned, returning the embrace, relieved. It was different…but it felt right, at least. Maybe this was why Susan enjoyed courting men so much. Except Edmund highly doubted any of her short relationships were this informal and, frankly, hilarious.

She drew away after a moment, giggling and positively tickled it seemed, but managing to force out a few words. "I had better go if I'm to make it." He nodded, still repressing laughter it felt like, watching her as she fled and disappeared from sight.

He snorted faintly, wondering exactly what he had gotten himself into…

Oh.

Wincing slightly, he managed to remember his last words to her. 'That leaves me to go tell my brother that I'm courting you…'

Shoot.

He had the vague feeling that his brother would be far from pleased for him.