Sooo, I may have had a little too much fun writing this particular lovely. Enjoy, splendid peeps!

"Come on, Ed! Just admit it!"

"For the last time-"

"You like her."

"Well, I don't hate her."

"You love her."

"Fine! If you must know, your royal pain, I love her, adore her."

Peter threw back his head and roared with laughter. "I knew it!"

"In fact I'd marry her."

"Oh, really, Ed. That's taking things a bit far, don't you think?"

"I'm just trying to shut you up."

The blond flung his arm around his brother's shoulders. "But she'd do it, if she could, you know."

"She would, wouldn't she. Best not let her hear, then."

"But she's so cute, always following you around."

Edmund glanced over his shoulder as if to make sure the subject of their conversation wasn't there at that very moment. Peter chuckled at his brother's move. "Never fear. I'll protect you from her advances."

"That's just the problem, isn't it. She doesn't make advances, just sort of hovers there in a very moonstruck fashion. It's absolutely unnerving." He shuddered, eliciting another laugh from Peter as well as earning himself a headlock. Peter, being a fair bit bigger, easily managed to drag him down the hall.

"Hey! Let go, you great oaf!"

"Really, Edmund. Name calling? What would your dear love think?"

A growl was Peter's only warning before he quite suddenly found himself on his back, staring up at his little brother in something close akin to shock. "However did you manage that?"

"Shan't tell you." Edmund removed his knee from Peter's chest and let him stand, even helping dust him off. "Can we drop this ridiculous subject now?"

"Very well." They continued in silence for a few moments, though the amusement rolling off Peter was almost palpable.

Edmund pulled up short, just before the throne room. "Do you think she'll ever get over it?"

"You know how hummingbirds are. They're quite romantic, but very flighty. Give Adelaide a week. She'll never remember she loved you at all."

Edmund nodded, breathing a sigh of relief. "I suppose that's true."

"Chin up, brother. Here come our royal sisters."

"There you boys are! We were starting to worry." Lucy laughed, running forward to give them each a hug.

A bright spot of green flew around her head once before coming to hover just off Edmund's shoulder. "Good morn, your majesty," came the soft chirp of the lovestruck hummingbird.

Edmund sighed, rolling his eyes ever so slightly in his brother's direction as Peter stifled a chuckle. "And good morn to you, Adelaide." The hummingbird would have blushed if she could, but instead drew her wings together in embarrassment and almost fell from the air.

Miri, standing beside Lucy, quickly stepped up and let the near swooning bird alight on her finger, saying "Come now, Adelaide, take a breath and back to the queen we must go." The tiny bird shook her ruffled feathers back into place and zipped away to hide in Lucy's golden curls.

The young queens and the various ladies-in-waiting stifled their giggles at the poor hummingbird's antics and continued their procession into the throne room.

Edmund caught Miri's hand before she turned away. "Thanks for saving me," he whispered. Her eyes were positively dancing with suppressed laughter as she looked up at him and he suddenly decided he wanted to see that look on her face forever, even if it meant being followed by hummingbirds the entire time.

"Anything to help a damsel in distress," she whispered back.

"Oh, really!" He scowled furiously and let go of her hand, though her smile only grew. Who had told her those stupid stories anyway? He was sure she took way too much pleasure from them. Edmund made to fall in behind as she turned to follow his sisters, but was stopped by Peter's hand on his shoulder.

"What?" Edmund asked, looking up into his elder brother's serious blue eyes.

"That one would love you too," Peter said softly.

"Who? Miri?"

"Aye, brother. Don't leave her guessing too long, or you may well lose what good will you have now with her." Then he released him, and walked through the huge doors.

But Edmund stood there a moment longer, his mouth hanging in shock. "Miri?!"