Someone Else's Heart

Chapter 4

Rosa continued to sneak out in the mornings to practice sword fighting with Edmund, she just made sure to keep better track of the time so she could sneak back inside and clean up before her cousin saw her. Little did she know that her cousin was well aware of her every movement, having paid off some of the servants to report her whereabouts and actions to him. And he wasn't very pleased with what he was hearing.

The young Marchioness was growing quite fond of spending her time with the youngest king. They had taken to conversing by the fire in the library in the evenings after dining when both had time to spend freely. Most of Edmund's day was spent with Peter in the study either going over political and economic transcripts for Narnia or conducting more research on Rosalyn's husband to be. Rosa's day was spent on wedding details or running from them. Neither task was very successful thanks to the interruption of the other.

"Since when has your favorite color changed to yellow? It's always been purple." Edmund demanded in a state of confusion. He distinctly remembered giving her a pair of amethyst earrings for her birthday one year simply because he knew Rose was partial to purple.

"Since everything in the wedding is purple: the flowers, the bridesmaid dresses, even the candles." She released a forlorn sigh. That mixed with her words had Edmund's heart constricting.

"Do you want to talk about it?" There was nothing more Edmund did not feel like doing than discussing Rose's wedding, but if she needed to, he would listen.

"No, I spend most of my day forced to do that." She smiled warmly at him.

Instead they ended up playing a game of chess. None of Edmund's siblings really cared for the pastime so it was nice to play with an opponent who was truly interested in the game. Susan sat on the couch across from her brother and Rosa with a book in hand. Albeit she was spending more time glancing over the edge of the novel and watching the two play chess, both accompanying the game with idle chatter.

Edmund was losing and Susan hadn't ever seen that happen before. It went against Edmund's nature to let anyone win. Therefore she concluded he was either distracted by Rosa or Rosa was somehow much better at the game. She was more willing to believe the first simply because she knew just how well practiced her brother was in the game.

"Rosalyn, there you are." Robert called out interrupting the little gathering in the library. "I have a letter here for you from your fiancée." The young Baron sent Edmund a glance at the last word.

Rosalyn took the letter from her cousin's outstretched hand reluctantly and retreated to the far corner of the room away from the prying eyes of her friends. Safely tucked in one of the reading nooks beside the cool windowpane that overlooked the Western Woods she slid her finger along the seal, tearing it open.

My Rosalyn,

It gives me great pleasure in knowing you have accepted my hand. Your father spoke highly of your beauty and I cannot wait until I can glance upon your face for myself. Therefore it is with great pleasure to announce that in about a month's time, after some negotiations are finished in my country, I will be granted leave in order to spend some time with my bride to be. I look forward to seeing you and presenting our engagement publically at court in time for the New Year.

Yours truly,

Roderick

Rosalyn shivered at the idea of having to meet him. As expected he could talk only of her beauty and not any of her accomplishments or her brains. And the way he had addressed her as his suggesting ownership. Her frustration and anger won out over her despair and she exploded from the curtains where she had taken to pulling around her earlier for privacy, much to the surprise of the other royals inhabiting the room.

"He is such a complete and utterly pretentious man." She fumed about waving the letter here and there as she flailed her arms in illustration of her frustration.

Edmund couldn't help a small smile of amusement flit over his face. Rose was always ten times more beautiful when she was angry or annoyed. It brought a fire to her eyes. Lucy on the other hand had a slight frown on her face as she rose, trying to grab the letter from her frantic friend.

"Addressing me as his as if he owns me; I am not a bloody horse! And did he even think about asking me if I want him to come? No, he just decided he would. No matter if it would inconvenience anyone. And for the record I most certainly did not accept his proposal as he so deluded himself into thinking. This is not my idea." She thrust her bejeweled finger out at the end of her tirade for emphasis.

The whole room stood quite for a minute as they absorbed everything the marchioness had said. Lucy was finally able to grab the offending letter and her eyes were racing over the tight script of Rosalyn's future husband. "He's coming for New Years." She exclaimed, about as thrilled as Rosa at the news.

"Yeah, who invited him?" Edmund grumbled, glowering at the offensive paper his sister held.

"He doesn't need an invitation. He is the fiancé of one of your guests. He has every right to come see her if he wants." Robert sniveled.

Edmund adjusted his glare to the pompous baron, but quickly his attention was drawn to Rose whose fists were clutched tightly so that her knuckles were turning white.

"Doesn't what I want count for anything?" She questioned her cousin in the same loud, irritated voice before sweeping past him and out of the room. She needed to get away from the letter, her cousin, she just needed to get away.

"Now you've done it," Ed sighed as he left to chase after the distraught blonde.

Edmund found her pacing outside in the frozen orchard and mumbling to herself. Some of her hair had come undone from her orderly bun and fell in her face but she hardly seemed to notice. He didn't want to interrupt her, enjoying the opportunity to watch her with no one around to notice and without her knowing, but she really looked as if she needed to release some stress. Rushing forward he pulled her to a stop, much to her surprise.

"Come with me," he murmured, lacing his fingers with hers and pulling her along with him.

Rosa followed him blindly, not caring really where he was taking them, only noticing how warm his hand was in hers. So when they ended up in the middle of the training barracks she was a little startled. Turning to Edmund she found him offering her a sword.

"I find sword fighting an excellent way to let out pent up anger." Smiling Rosa took the blade from him and slipped off her shoes as she prepared for the duel.

With every clash of their swords Edmund could feel Rose's anger. It might just be enough to overpower him, which was really saying something. She was ranting about her situation and her cousin and her fiancé. A word that made Edmund tense every time she said it, even if it was only in a condescending manner; her reminders of Lord Roderick were enough to have him hold up against her blade's attack.

By the time they were finished Edmund could not help but notice how Rose's dress was torn and dirty and most of her hair was falling around her face. She was breathing heavy and he avoided any lingering glances on her heaving bosom by focusing on her blue eyes. They seemed much lighter after the exercise. Before he realized what was happening he heard her weapon clanging against the floor as she flung herself into his arms: hugging him.

"Thank you," She murmured as he slowly wrapped his arms around her waist in a returning hug. "I really needed that."

Edmund was enjoying the moment immensely, holding Rose close in his arms. Hearing and feeling her breathing. That was until they were interrupted. It seemed they could never be left alone for too long.

"I thought I'd find you here Ed," Peter's voice called out startling the two and resulting in Rosalyn pulling away. "Your cousin's looking for you," he added the last to Rosa who made an annoyed face.

As if on cue Rosa heard Robert's voice calling out her name, sounding angry. Not particularly wanting to deal with him right then she looked around until she noticed the stables outside.

"Who wants to go for a ride?" She questioned the two kings standing before her while edging towards the stables.

Moments later Peter and Edmund were galloping after the gray steed their blonde friend had chosen. Eventually they slowed to a leisurely walk, the Kings several feet behind the lady. Close enough to keep an eye out for her and ensure her safety but far enough away that they could talk in private.

"This is bad Pete." Edmund commented in an undertone. "She really does not care for him or the idea of marrying him."

"By the sound of it she's not the only one," the High King muttered in amusement, smiling at his younger brother. When was he going to realize the reasons behind his aversion to Rosa marrying? No matter whom it was Edmund wouldn't be happy.

"Of course it makes me unhappy to see her forced into this. It makes us all unhappy." He still wasn't picking up on the insinuations his brother was making. "I cannot believe her parents agreed to this."

"That's just it Ed. I don't think they had much of a choice." Peter's mood grew serious as he recalled the reason he had originally searched out his brother. "One of our generals from the troop stationed on the edge of the Western Wood brought news from Calormen. It seems if they did not accept the proposal a threat of invasion was made."

Ed's eyes bugged out a little at the new information given him.

"What I can't figure out is why Rosalyn." Peter thought aloud, turning to look at the girl in question.

"Why not Rose." Edmunds words were barely more than a whisper but Peter still heard him. Without looking at his brother Ed urged his horse to move faster until he caught up with Rose.

Rosalyn couldn't help but smile as Edmund's steed pulled up beside her though she didn't take her eyes off of the snowy landscape around her. She had completely forgotten the letter and her earlier anger and she owed it completely to the tall, dark man beside her. Edmund was a good distraction.

"Robert hates the snow and winter in general." She commented absently after they had ridden on some in silence. "It is one of the many ways we differ from one another."

"I personally love the cold. There's hot chocolate, tea, warm fires, snowball fights. Not to mention it was during winter that we met you." Rosa smiled at the memory.

"As I recall you weren't exactly thrilled to make my acquaintance then." Edmund caught her eyeing the sword that hung by his side and couldn't help but laugh at the recollection. Even without any training in a blade Rose had attempted to go against him. She had a fire within her even from that young of age.

"Well that was before I found out you weren't on the side of the White Witch." Rosalyn pulled a face at the name. "The war was freshly ended. It was the first winter to naturally come about since her demise."

Rosalyn knew all of this as well as understood it. She would have done the same. It was simply entertaining to poke fun at Edmund whenever she could. It was their routine. Edmund knew the routine well and was not personally offended by any of Rose's words.

"We've been war free for a long while now." Rosalyn murmured, mostly to herself. "It almost seems as if it's long overdue."

At her words Edmund couldn't help but be drawn back to his and Peter's discussion just moments before. He didn't like thinking that a battle might ensue. Although the fighting itself could be exhilarating he had come to enjoy the peace its absence brought. It gave him time to concentrate on other aspects of life. Sneaking a glance at his companion at that thought Edmund found her once more studying the snow covered landscape, seemingly in deep thought.

"Don't worry. We're doing everything in our power to make sure peace remains widespread." He reassured her, trying to drag her thoughts away from the negative. He didn't like to see her worried or upset.

"Worrying about things you cannot change is useless. That's what my grandmother always said." Rosalyn smiled in response to Edmunds comment. "Something that is harder to put in action than it is to speak aloud."

"Things that seem hard to do often seem to be worth the effort. I believe she said that as well." At the growing smile on Rose's face Edmund felt his insides swell a little. They were back on happier, less rocky ground now.

Rosalyn was grateful for Edmund and his presence in her life right then. He knew her better than almost anyone, had experienced her good and bad years. Edmund was there when her grandmother passed away. Rosa felt truly blessed to have people such as Edmund and his siblings, who knew her so well, in her life.

"How do you always manage to make me smile?" She wondered aloud, her eyes connecting with Edmund's.

"Oh, you know I just ooze charm and wittiness." His response caused her to chuckle aloud and he quickly joined her because her laughter was so contagious.

"That must be it." Peter heard Rosalyn mutter back before the pair rode on in silence before him, practically oblivious to his presence altogether.

Eventually the High King slipped away, back to Cair Paraval in order to give his brother and Rosalyn some real time alone. Perhaps if they were given enough of it together they'd finally come to their senses and realize that they liked each other. Perhaps even loved. Peter didn't know much about love but he knew that his brother really cared for Rosa. And Peter had a hunch that Rosa cared just as much in return.

Not that any of that would solve the whole political dilemma that had quite literally just dropped into his lap. It would however make Edmund happy. With Rosa around he smiled more rather than being the grumpy childlike king he often was during her absence. He'd be easier to deal with and maybe they would get more work done rather than fight over what to do as usual.

A/N Sorry its been SOOOO long. I was without internet connection for a big chunk of the summer. But I'm back! Let me know what you think? Please and thank you!

Rach

xoxo