Chapter 7
A/N: Hi everyone! Just so ya'll realize, I'm trying to get as many chapters of all my stories out before college starts again. If you're lucky I'll pop out the next chapter before Wednesday. After that, however, the updates will slow considerably. Also, I'll probably be going back through this and doing editing. Other than that, I hope you enjoyed. Remember to read review and repeat
Molly awoke in a cot in the hospital wing of the castle with her head pounding. She tried to sit up only to have a faun push her back down. "You've lost quite a bit of blood, my lady. You need to rest," It said turning around with a spoonful of lord knew what to force down her throat.
"A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down," Molly hummed before forcing the medicine down her throat. With that, the faun left Molly in peace. The quite time allowed her to glance around the room. It was plain and its walls white washed. Lord Emeth lay on a cot on the far end of the wing his limbs secured to the metal poles of the cot to prevent his escape. As Molly's eyes returned to the sight in front of her, she was amazed that the royal family was nowhere to be found.
"Sir, where are the kings and queens?" Molly called to the faun. The faun returned to Molly's bedside rather put out that his work was being interrupted, "The Kings and Queens are prohibited from entering the infirmary until that Calormen is out of here. Its for their own protection." Molly looked downtrodden, "then may I get up at go see them. They should at least know that I'm well." The faun huffed a little, "I suppose so. Though I must say you are still weak. However, we could move you to your chambers if that is what you wish." Molly could hear the annoyance in the faun's voice, but still nodded.
As she sat up, Molly did her best to ignore the pain that shot up her body. Carefully Molly slid off the cot and on to her feet. It hurt to walk but Molly managed until she reached the throne room. Of course Molly was assuming that any of the Pevensies were holding a meeting, but Molly wasn't ready to lay down in a bed again. Even if the bed she would be laying in was hers.
Luckily for Molly the Pevensies were concluding a meeting with what looked to be the Calormen delegation when she entered the room. She smiled as a faun tapped Lucy on the shoulder making her turn around. Lucy's face lit up and she ran across the room to Molly. Lucy enveloped her friend in a hug, "woah Lucy," Molly said smiling as she hugged the girl back. "Sorry Molly, I forgot you're hurt," Lucy said looking up at Molly.
As Lucy released Molly, Molly looked around the room. She caught Ed smiling at her and smiled back. Peter and Susan walked to Molly. "Congrats on your win yesterday," Peter said. Molly bowed until her side strated to throb. "Thank you, King Peter," she said. Susan gave Molly a gentle hug around the shoulders. Molly stood in place waiting for Edmund. He was the last to come over and hug her.
"Its good to see you're okay," Edmund said hugging Molly much in the same Susan had, around the shoulders as to not disturb the healing wound. "We tried to visit you this morning, but that faun told us it wasn't safe." Molly looked up at Edmund, realizing that Ed had grown.
When she first met Edmund nearly eight months ago, he had been shorter than her, coming to only her nose. Now, the same boy was a head taller than she was. "It's alright Ed. I understand." Molly said reaching a hand up to move a lock of hair from Ed's eyes. Molly then began her long journey to her bed room, only to find it devoid of her belongings, and a snickering Edmund behind her.
"After this whole mess with Emeth, Peter thought it was best to have you moved into rooms closer to us," he said offering his arm to her. Edmund led Molly to a set of two rooms literally a short hop from the royal wing. "Peter also thought that you might like your own office to work in, seeing those scraps of paper really made him go nuts," Edmund laughed as Molly limped around the rooms to inspect every inch. "Are all those scraps here," she asked sounding a little upset. Edmund nodded and pointed to an accordion file, like what Ed used to keep track of all the disputes that came before him.
Molly opened the file and inspected it. "They are filed by idea type," Ed called, " and Molly please get some rest." He then left Molly to her own devices. She took one more look around the office portion of her room, it had its own entrance, so she could deal with people privately, and a huge desk that would make her look absolutely tiny. As Molly made her way to bed, an idea struck her. Quickly Molly took the quill and ink on her desk and a half used scrap of parchment writing, History of the Pevensie Monarchs: A View from the Inside .
Once the idea left her head, Molly lay down at let sleep take her.
A girl dressed in mens clothing galloped on the back of her roan stead, Alcatraz. Behind her galloped a young man on his own chestnut stead. "Molly, for god sakes, slow down!" the young man called as he lost sight of the girls navy blue tunic. He could still hear her laugh ringing through the multicolored trees, "Stop being a Debbie Downer Edmund. Besides, don't you want to be home when the Archenland contingent arrives," the girl called through the trees.
Edmund grumbled, and urged Phillip to go faster. In a few moments he was in the open air galloping across the plain that separated Cair Paravel from the forest. He could see Molly in front of him slowing down. As the pair trotted into the town surrounding Cair Paravel Molly chided Edmund on getting old. "Oi woman, I'll have you know that I am not old. I am in my prime," he said puffing his chest out. Molly smirked. How much the two of them had changed in two years. Edmund was sixteen now, and Molly's sixteenth birthday wasn't too far off.
Gone were the awkward children they had been when they fought at Beruna. Edmund had reached a height of nearly 6' 2" and was still growing; his muscles had filled out with help from daily sword practice and his face was more angular or regal depending on the light. Molly had grown as well, though Edmund near towered over her 5'2" frame. Puberty had left her with mild acne, but many claimed that on a good day, she was prettier than Susan.
Sadly, Molly no longer enjoyed daily spars with Edmund, he was simply too big, though the pair did have exhibition matches every few months for the citizens of Narnia. After all they were the First and Second Swords of Narnia, and who was which was a hotly debated topic.
Over the years, the pair enjoyed some luxuries; Edmund still sat with Molly once a month when she experienced the worst day of her "illness." Susan and Molly hadn't the heart to explain to Edmund what really plagued both girls each month. Molly had added another accomplishment to her list, she wrote the first compilation of all Narnian fairy tales. It was her pride and joy. Now, she was working a fictional story of a futuristic dystopian Narnia, using her knowledge of Earth of course. Edmund, also, added another title. He was officially the head of diplomatic relations.
Once the pair arrived at Cair, Molly raced off to change in to "proper attire" as Susan called it before the Archenlanders arrived. When she emerged clean and dressed Edmund was waiting for in. Instead of the navy tunic and brown trousers, a blue and silver dress graced Molly's figure. Ed almost wished she didn't have to wear the dress, after all she looked so much better in his old clothes. Molly smiled up at Edmund, as they had color coordinated accidently for this event. For he too, was wear silver and blue, though his attire was more blue than her so not to clash with his crown.
Ed offered Molly his arm as always and the pair walked to the throne room. Since the incident with Emeth, Narnia had become more aware of the role Molly played in the daily lives of the royal family. They began to accept her, since she was an excellent fighter and kept the country in a financially stable positions (though this came with lots of help from Ed).
As Edmund and Molly entered the throne room, they were greeted by a small fanfare. Molly released Ed's arm and watched as he walked to his throne and sat down. If it had been any other day, Molly would have most likely sat in Edmund's lap, or squeezed in beside him on his throne, but Sue had put a stop to that during diplomatic functions.
The Archenland contingent entered with a longer blast of fanfare not long after Ed and Molly had entered. It was mostly male of course, but it seemed a few men had brought their wives with them. Each stepped forward and introduced themselves to the kings and queens.
Molly stayed off to the side, uninterested, until she heard a familiar name. "I am Lord Caleb of Avalon, the coastal region of Archenland," the young man said bowing. Molly looked hard at the young man's face as he straighten up and returned to his position among the contingent.
After each lord stepped forward for introductions, there was a short session where members of the Narnian court could intermingle with the guests. Molly walked right up to Caleb and tapped him on the shoulder. "Hello Caleb, do you remember me?" she asked politely. Caleb smiled, "how could I forget the best dance partner I've ever had," he asked giving her a large hug. "I could not be the best, I was only learning myself the last time we danced," Molly said shyly allowing a light blush to decorate her cheeks.
It seemed at in the merriment of the arrival, Edmund sat forgotten and miserable. Who was that man Molly was talking too, and why did they seem so friendly with one another? "No matter," he thought and swept out of the room, seemingly unnoticed, in what Molly would call his Snape impersonation. Not that Edmund had any idea who or what "Snape" was.
When Edmund left the throne room, Molly did notice the whoosh of his cape. She knew he was going to his room to sulk. Molly also told herself, that later she would ask Ed what made him leave in such a rush. Edmund sat the rest of the night alone in his room mulling over a velvet box in which shimmering stone set in silver sat.