Hi Everyone- enjoy this longer chapter it might be one of the last for awhile. College starts on Wednesday and its not going to be pleasant. Remember: Read, Review, and Repeats.

This author does not own any of the characters or settings other than Molly Fitzroy.

Chapter 6

With Molly latched on to him, Edmund stumbled backward and closed his door. He managed to make it to his bed, before her weight became a little too much to hold up. As Edmund sat down Molly seemed to set herself on his lap. Ed carefully wrapped his arms around her shoulders and tried to comfort his friend.

"Molly, tell me what's wrong?" he asked softly, "did you have a horrible dream?"

Molly, who had buried her head in Edmund's shoulder shook her head. "What wrong then? You've never done this before," Edmund said quite distraught.

Molly relaxed her armed from around Edmund's torso and moved her wrists into his line of vision. With moonlight shining through the bay windows at the end of Edmund's room, he couldn't make out what she was trying to show him. "Molly, I'm going to light a candle alright?" Edmund whispered into her ear. Molly nodded against Edmund's shoulder and moved over a little on the bed. Edmund got up quickly to find a match to light the candlestick on his desk.

Once he brought the candle to his bedside, Edmund looked at Molly's wrists again. Now in the dim light of the candle, he could see a purplish hand print on Molly's left wrist and rope burns on both. Edmund's eyes flashed with anger. Who dare harm his friend, in his home no less. Edmund stood up his hands clenched at his sides. Molly looked up at her angry friend, but couldn't find the words to help him calm down. Not that she got the chance, before Molly could do or say anything Edmund rushed out of his room. Molly slowly picked herself up off his soft bed and moved to the large wingback chair in what she assumed was Edmund's reading nook.

As she settled in to the chair, Edmund returned with his siblings. Each of the royals looked more exhausted then the last. "Ed, come on, it's the middle of the night," Peter said trying to rub the sleep from his eyes. When the three Pevensies looked around to see Molly sitting in the room, they couldn't help but smirk. Ed looked at his siblings with a look of upmost seriousness in his eyes.

"Molly would you come here please?" Edmund asked. Molly nervously stood up at and walked to Edmund. The three other Pevensies gasped at the marks on Molly's wrists and cheek. Edmund looked at Molly with sad eyes once he realized that he had missed the cut on her cheek earlier.

Peter stepped forward and tried to look Molly in the eyes, "Molly who did this ?" he asked. Molly shied away from him. Peter stood in shock, he had never seen Molly react that way. It puzzled him that one incident had changed Molly so much. Edmund lifted Molly's head so that his eyes met hers. "Molly, help us so we can help you," he said softly. Molly leaned up and whispered into Ed's ear. The three other Pevensies stood on edge waiting for Edmund to pass Molly's words along.

Edmund's hand involuntarily clenched and unclenched at his side as he turned to face his siblings. "Lord Emeth did this," he said through clenched teeth. The other Pevensies looked as if they weren't surprised at the verdict. Edmund made sure that Molly was sitting on his bed and comfortable before nearly stomping out of the room, his siblings hot on his tail.

Lucy ran to walk with Ed. "Edmund, please calm down." She pleaded. "Don't do anything rash." Edmund ignored her and kept walking until he reached Lord Emeth's guest quarter. He stopped and took a deep breath. Peter and Susan walked up beside him. Peter placed a hand of Edmund's shoulder, "let me do this Ed."

Peter banged on the door until it opened to reveal a tired looking Lord Emeth. The four royals pushed their way into his room with so much as a word. "Lord Emeth, we have received word that you tried to abduct and physically harm a member of our Court," Peter said slipping into his kingly voice. Lord Emeth, suddenly more awake than he had been a minute before, looked around his room as if searching for something. "I have no idea to what you are referring, High King Peter. I have been in my room since the gala ended," he said. Edmund looked at him quizzically and allowed his eyes to flit around the room.

On the sofa on the far side of the room Ed could make out a slit in the fabric of the cushion. Ed walked over to the sofa and examined the cut. It wasn't a deep cut. The cut was localized to upholstery, but what made the cut special was the lack of fraying on the sides of the cut. He had never seen a cut so clean in his life, then again he thought. "Lucy, can I borrow your dagger for a minute?" Ed asked looking up from the sofa.

Lucy looked at him strangely before realizing what he was up to, and threw her dagger to him. Edmund gave a nod of thanks and conducted his experiment while Peter continued to grill Emeth about what he was doing after the gala.

Edmund took a breath and cut into the sofa with Lucy's dagger. "Edmund, what are you doing?" Susan yelled form across the room. Ed ignored his older sister and continued his examination of his cut and the cut already in the sofa.

"Lord Emeth, you say that you've been alone in this room since you left the gala," Ed said standing up and returning to his siblings. Lord Emeth looked at the young monarch with a look of distain. "That is correct King Edmund. I came back here right after your majesties left the gala." Edmund looked at the older man seriously, "If that is true, and you were in fact alone. Please explain to us, why there is a slit in the fabric of that sofa."

Lord Emeth's eyes held a look of panic that did not go unnoticed by the Just King. "I must have dropped one of my daggers or caught something and just did not notice at the time," the lord stammered. Edmund held his smirk, but his siblings noticed that ends of his smile tugged themselves upward. "May I see this dagger?" Edmund asked returning to the side of the sofa. Lord Emeth pulled a gleaming silver dagger from his boot and handed it to Edmund.

The Just King leaned over the sofa again and moved to make another slash in the fabric. Once the rip of fabric was heard the other Pevensies ran to see what Edmund was doing. As Edmund stepped back he handed the dagger back to Lord Emeth.

"Sir, what do you see?" Edmund asked the lord. "I see three rips in precious velvet," Emeth responded. Edmund now visibly smirked at this response. "I suggest you take another look," Edmund said. Lord Emeth stooped down to more closely inspect the sofa cushion. "There is nothing different about these cuts, your majesty," he stated with some certainty.

Edmund lifted an eyebrow. "I think I should explain," he started. His siblings and Lord Emeth nodded. "When we first entered the room, there was one cut on this sofa here," Edmund began pointing to the original cut in the fabric. "If any of you look closely, you'll notice that this cut is a perfectly clean, shallow cut. There is no fraying in the velvet, which points to a finely honed blade. So, I borrowed Lucy's Narnia dagger and made a similar cut here," he continued pointing to the second cut. "Up close the first and second cuts are identical. Since Lord Emeth suggested that his dagger could have made the first cut. Using his dagger I made the final cut. In comparing the three, it becomes obvious that the original cut was made by an old Narnian blade." Edmund finished with a smug look on his face.

Lucy spoke up, "but Edmund, the only people with old Narnian blades are…." She trailed off with a small oh. With that Peter and Susan understood what Edmund was saying. Lord Emeth looked furious. "that stupid little whore," he said with anger heavily lacing his tone. Edmund and Peter stepped forward, "do not say that about a Knight of Narnia," Peter cautioned. "What spell does that witch have you under? Why do you dote on her and defend her. She is worthless," Emeth cried, "Can none of you see that all that little bitch wants is a throne?"

With that both Edmund and Peter snapped. "I challenge you to single combat ," the pair said simultaneously. Lord Emeth laughed in the young kings faces, "you both challenge me, over the same thing. What useless kings you are."

Edmund's grip on his sword tightened. "I, King Edmund, Knight of the Order of the Table, challenge you, Lord Emeth, to single combat," Edmund nearly shouted this, and probably would have if Lucy was not standing so close to him. "And the terms of this duel?" Lord Emeth asked smirking. "If I win, you will leave Narnia and never return. If you win, you may stay here as long as you like," Edmund said through gritted teeth.

Lord Emeth shook his head, "If I win, that whore shall become my property and we will leave Narnia without your resistance." Edmund's eyes widened. He had just issued a challenge in which they would be playing for Molly. Was Lord Emeth truly that sick of a man? Edmund reluctantly agreed to the match and the Pevensies left the guest room without another word.

While all of this was going on, Molly was still in Edmund's room afraid to leave its sanctuary. She had however removed her party dress and thrown it in the fire. As much as she loved its red and black color scheme, and the way it fit to her, the dress was a reminder of the insanity she had just been through.

As the fabric burned, Molly looked around the room for other clothes to wear, at least until she returned to her own room. She walked to Ed's wardrobe and peered in. It seemed to overflow with royal tunics, and earth toned trousers. As she searched the wood closet, Molly found a compartment at the back of older clothes she used to see Ed spar in. Almost all of these tunics were lightly colored, and the trousers seemed to just reach her ankles. Statisfied with Ed's old worn clothes, she pulled out a white tunic with a stain on the front. Molly smiled to herself as she remembered the day Edmund has spilled some of his juice at breakfast on the shirt. She threw the shirt on, and loved the feeling of dressing like a normal 21st century girl again. Molly also pulled out a pair of light brown pants before climbing into Ed's bed.

Molly slowly sank into the soft mattress and pulled the fall covers up over her body, relishing in the warmth they brought her. Molly rolled on to her stomach and buried her face in the goose feather pillows. As she inhaled, she realized that pillow smelled like Edmund: sweat, fresh dew, and baking apples. Molly smiled to herself, burrowed into the covers, and willed herself to sleep.

Edmund returned to his room and looked around for Molly. He didn't see her sitting in his chair or on his bed. "She must have gone back to her room," he reasoned with himself as he stripped off his tunic and dropped it on the floor somewhere. Ed walked over to his bed and pulled back the covers.

Poor Ed tried to control himself as he revealed Molly sleeping soundly in his bed. "crap," he said looking over her clothes. Gone was the dress Molly had worn to the gala. It only took him another second to realize the tunic and trousers were his. Ed then watched as Molly subconsciously curled into a ball once the covers had been completely removed. Ed sighed again before climbing into bed. Molly would forgive him in the morning, Ed simply didn't have the heart to move her.

The next morning, Molly woke first. As her eyes opened Molly took in the room around her and quickly realized that she was not in her own room. She tried to sit up, but found herself help in place by something around her torso. Molly nearly screamed, but saw a sleeping head of dark hair and relaxed. It was only Edmund. Molly looked at the sleeping king beside her and couldn't help but smile. Lying next to her was a king, yet in his sleep Edmund looked like a simple boy.

Molly reached her hand out and moved his hair from his face. The sleeping boy seemed to move closer to her as she gently touched his face. "Ed, Eddy, wake up," she cooed in his ear. Edmund shifted in his sleep and lifted his head. "Morning," he said sleepily. Molly looked at him surprised. "You knew I was here," she said only slightly concerned about the gossip that would inevitably follow. "Of course, I came back from challenging Lord Emeth to a duel and you were asleep. I didn't have the heart to move you," he said sitting up and letting go of Molly. Molly looked away as she realized Ed was shirtless. "If you knew I was here, why are you shirtless?" she asked.

Edmund smiled shyly and turned away, "I'd thought I'd be up before you," he said. Molly laughed and hit his chest, before the gravity of what Ed had said earlier hit her.

"You did what!" she yelled in his ear.

Once Molly and Edmund pulled themselves from bed he tried to explain to her what he did. "Molly, Lord Emeth hurt you. The only honorable thing to do was challenge him to a duel," Ed argued. "I understand challenging that son of a bitch, but wagering me. That is out of line," she shouted. Edmund tried to interrupt, but Molly silenced him. "I don't care if you are a king, and I merely a knight, but so help me Edmund Pevensie, if you go through with this, I will kill you." Ed shrank back clearly terrified of his friends rage.

With that, Molly stormed back to her room.

None of the Pevensies saw Molly that day. In fact, the next time anyone in all of Cair Paravel lay eye on the female knight, was minutes before Edmund's match with Lord Emeth. She was dressed in the armor made for her after the Battle of Beruna with her sword at her side. ( The armor had been commissioned at the start of the Pevensie's reign and included a proper mail shirt, leather braced tunic in blood red, and similar trousers in black) Edmund couldn't help but stare as a gust of wind blew Molly's long hair around her, whipping and twirling.

Lord Emeth was already positioned in the ring waiting for his chance to claim the barbarian knight for his own. As she neared the ring Molly pulled her sword out and allowed it to hang as she walked. It was a truly menacing sight for many Narnians who had only seen Molly as a princess in grand dresses at parties.

Finally the sun reached its peak in the sky Edmund moved to take his place in the ring with the Lord. "King Edmund, if you take one more step I will cut off your sword hand," Molly called in a harsh tone. Edmund stopped moving knowing that Molly would do what she threatened. "What is the meaning of this?" Lord Emeth asked angrily, "The duel is between King Edmund and I, not you little girl."

"You are wrong, Lord. As a Knight of Narnia, I have a right to duel those who commit violence against me. King Edmund merely issued the challenge in my stead," Molly said stepping over the ring's demarcation.

"The terms still stand then," Emeth asked readying himself for battle. "The terms stand, and we will fight to surrender" Molly said readying herself as well. Both fighters turned their heads to Peter, he nodded and acknowledged the match and the fight began.

In the blink of an eye Molly had sheathed her sword and stood in a stance none of those watching had ever seen before. Lord Emeth charged with his scimitar in front intending to land a swift blow and end the duel quickly. As he neared Molly she pulled her sword from its sheath again, this time arching it in front of her body, in a right to left slashing motion and sprang forward. She stopped at the edge of the ring and turned on the balls of her feet and watched as Emeth stumbled a few steps. The Narnians watching gasped as Emeth stood up revealing a slash in his baggy shirt.

Emeth's face grew red as he realized this little girl in front of him, playing solider, had landed the first blow. Of course it was a superficial cut, but it wounded his dignity. Emeth charged again. Molly stood on the edge of the arena waiting for the coming strike. Edmund resisted the urge to yell at Molly to get out of the way, he knew what she was doing and prayed to Aslan that it worked.

As Emeth neared Molly, she lifted her sword into place in front of her. A loud clang resounded as the two blades collided. The blades had crossed forming a x between the two fighters. It showed the strength Emeth had over Molly. She pushed back against Emeth's blade and side stepped. When the pressure was released Emeth stumbled forward, allowing Molly to land a successful blow on the lord's side. The Narnians cheered when the tip of Molly's blade had blood on it. First blood had been reached in three strikes.

Emeth turned around and swung wildly at Molly's head. Once she realized what he was doing, she flipped her sword over in her hand. Few on the sidelines notice, but Ed did. The entire duel he had been watching Molly's footwork, strikes, hand position; those things that he looked for when they sparred together every morning. He knew all her tricks, but this seemed odd to him. During the unnoticeable switch in her hand position Molly found herself vunerable. As Emeth swung Molly realized he meant to slice her neck since, it seemed her sword was not protecting it. In deperation Molly raised her blade and allowed her opponents sword to slice into her side.

As the blade sliced through the layers of fabric and leather Molly held in a scream, wanting to make sure Emeth did not get the satisfaction he wanted. She ignored the sensation of blood running down her side and lifted her blade back into its guard position. As Emeth made to strike again, Molly dropped down and ducked under Emeth, turned quickly and brought the blunt end of the blade down on the back of Emeth's neck, effectively knocking the bigger man out.

"I'd say he's surrendered," Molly said after a minute or so of waiting for Lord Emeth to stand. He stayed down. Peter stepped forward and raised his arms in the air, "Molly is the winner!" The Narnians cheered. Molly walked over to the royal family and knelt. Edmund and Lucy walked to Molly with hopes of congratulating her. Edmund hugged her first. Lucy gasped as Edmund stepped back. Edmund's tunic was stained dark.

Edmund looked back at Molly, "Ed, why are there two of you," Molly asked slumping forward into Ed's arms.