Edmund looked around the ballroom in awe as he was waiting for his sisters and lover. Ashlana must have called in a favor with Coriakin, because the ceiling was black as the night sky, with stars hanging a few feet above everyones heads.

"Your Majesty," Shorely had noticed the young king all alone. "I see Ashlana has left you,"

Edmund laughed. It was bitter, though, unfriendly. He was having the same reaction Ashlana did when she met Shorely the first time.

"No, she's in our room, changing."

"How kind of his Majesty to allow a flea infested feline into his quaters." Shorely sneered.

"Kind indeed." Edmund spotted Susan on the arm of Caspian, who was here for the ball. Caspian looked over at him and grinned, having spotted the despised Princess, who was getting far too close for anybody's liking. "Love does strange things, I suppose."

"How can you possibly love a whore such as her?" Shorely huffed and placed her hands on Edmund's chest.

"The same way your daddy can love you," Came a new voice. Well, actually, it was two voices as one, but still...

Edmund looked up and saw a set of incredibly blonde twins. Elven twins, he noted the pointed ears and tall, skinny build. The male had his arm securely around Ashlana, who's red hair stood out against his pale skin. Edmund felt no jealousy though, because the male was leaning mor towards his female counterpart. Trumpkin the Dwarf was settled easily between Ashlana and Lucy.

Edmund's eyes landed on Ashlana's face, before traveling down to look at the dress she was in. It was a black, strapless dress that made her look like a fairy. Her eyelids were painted gold, and her amber jewlery almost matched her eyes. She looked too beautiful for words.

Shorely glared at Ashlana's entourage and wraped her arms around Edmund's torso. Edmund was almost too transfixed with Ashlana to notice. He took a step foreward, prying Shorely off of himself, and reaching for Ashlana. When he got to her, the male twin slipped his arms away and giggled quietly with his sister.

Edmund took Ashlana's face and gave her a searing kiss to the lips, making her flush the same color as her hair. She moaned quietly, just for him to hear, and he pulled away.

"Who are your friends?" He breathed against her lips.

"Ariadne and Adien De la Fontay. Archenland's new prince and princess." Edmund turned and the boys bowed to each other, and Edmund placed a kiss to Ariadne's knuckles once she'd finished a curtsie to him. The music started, and Edmund smiled as Ashlana dragged Lucy away to dance.

"Oh, good, she's gone,"

"Go away, Brat," Trumpkin snarled at the girl, making her huff an walk away.

"Hey, Ed," Peter walked over.

"Hello Pete," Edmund nodded at his brother. Ariadne cleared her throat, and shoved her brother away. She gave Peter a deep curtsie.

"You majesty, the High King." Adien caught Edmund's eye and jerked his head at the dance floor. One look at Peter's smitten face made him grin and nod. They slowly made their way to Lucy and Ashlana.

"Your Majesty," Adien bowed to Lucy. "Fancy a dance?" Lucy grinned at took the offered hand.

"Lovely."

Ashlana was quickly swept into Edmund's arms, swaying slowly to the music.

"Hi," she giggled.

"Hey," he kissed her nose. "I love you,"

"Not that I don't love you back, but what brought this on?"

"Do I need a reason? Because I can name a few." He dropped his forhead to hers.

"Oh," She smiled. "And what would that be?"

"The time I was away from you I fell in love with you. I was in ruins, I couldn't take it. I didn't know how much time was passing in Narnia, and thank Aslan it was only three years, because if you died and I was safe at home I would have ended up killing myself. I was trying to join my worlds military because I was so desperate. I thought maybe I'd see you again if I'd died."

Ashlana had begun leaving the ball room with him, looking worriedly at him.

"Edmund...Why are you saying this?"

"I just need you to know how much I love you, how I need you and want you with me forever." He caressed the collar. "I wouldn't have survived, Ash. Not with out you. You, and your inability to not help. You can't hate a single person, not even Shorely. You put up with her rudeness and yet you still allow her enterence into the Cair. You make friends with most everybody you meet. And I love you so much for that." His eyes began shining with unshed tears. "And on the Islands, I couldn't even try to fight my way out, because I thought they'd kill you, and I couldn't deal with that. And when I saw him on top of you-"

They were at their room now, Ashlana sitting on the bed, Edmund kneeling in front of her, looking up into her eyes as his voice began to choke up.

"I almost killed him!" he closed his eyes tight and saw the image. "I would have done, should have, but I didn't want you to see me do that because I thought someone with a heart like yours wouldn't be able to love me after that."

"Edmund, I'll always love you," She put her hand on his face and pulled gently until they were both laying on the bed, with him hugging her tightly as he breathed hevilly, blocking sobs he wouldn't let out. He had no idea why he was saying all this. He just felt like it was something Aslan needed him to do.

"Would you love me if I'd killed a man right in front of you?" He felt her shift, so she could look at him.

"Always." She pulled him into a gentle kiss. He couldn't help it, he sobbed quietly and pulled back, hiding his pain again.

"I dreamed about you. The mist took control for a while." He took a deep breath. "And took that Witches form. And she killed you. Right in front of me, made me help even," He grabbed her face and forced their eyes to meet. "I liked it."

Those three words froze her heart for a second, before coming into a split second decision. She pulled away, and turned her back on him. He sobbed harder, thinking he'd just ruined the chance at love he had. She simply walked to the vanity and grabbed one of his many daggers, the rest already scattered about the room.

This only made him think that she was going to kill him for it. He'd gladly accept it.

She sat across from him again, and placed the dagger in his hand. He looked confused at the weapon in his palm. She grabbed his wrist, and placed the tip of the dagger to her heart.

"Do it." She mumbled, her voice filled with love and trust. "I'll allow it."

"W-what?" Edmund attempted to pull away, but her hand kept him there.

"Please do it. You liked it in the dream, why not now?"

"NO!"

"Well, why not?" She leaned foreward, allowing blood to appear. "If you liked it-"

"It was a dream!" Edmund was close to pleading.

"And this is reality. What is different?"

"I'M NOT BEING CONTROLLED!" Ashlana let him go and smiled at him.

"Exactly." She took his face in her hands again. "Edmund, it was a dream, you didn't like it, you hated it, but the mist was controlling you. You won't ever hurt me."

"H-how can you be so sure?" Edmund threw the dagger far away.

"Because I trust you. And I love you. To the point of death."

He stared at her. There was only love and pure truth in her eyes. He smiled at her and captured her lips in a kiss.

"You're right, Love," He whispered. He watched her grin and dress for bed, having decided not to go back to the ball.

"Good night, Edmund," She settled into his side, curling her arm across his firm chest.

"'Night," And they fell asleep in each others arms, unknowingly drifting into a nightmare.