Chapter 10:

Ed spent the night in Molly's room. He took the large bed, while Molly stayed up working on her manuscripts. She really wanted to give Ed, her finished novel as a Christmas present. It was almost done, all she needed was an ending.

She laughed quietly as an audible groan floated into her office. As Molly continued her editing, Ed wandered into the room and wrapped his arms around her shoulders. "Did you sleep last night," he asked bending down to place a kiss on the junction between her neck and her shoulder. Molly shook her head, "too many ideas." "You really should get some sleep," the said straightening up.

Molly ignored the boy behind continuing to mark the corners of her work. "Ed, have you seen your brothers and sisters yet?" The boy behind her shook his head in the crook of her neck. "Edmund Charles Pevensie, get your ass out of this room and go hug your sisters," Molly yelled at him. Edmund sulked away from his friend leaving the room with a defeated look on his face.

With the slam of the door, Molly rushed into her bedroom to change clothes before rushing into town, her manuscript tucked under her arm.

When Molly returned to the castle, the Pevensies were waiting for her. "Finally came out of your room, I see," Peter said looking rather like a father reprimanding a child. "Yes, it's great to see you too," Molly said nonchalantly. "Oh, Edmunds back, what a lovely surprise," she added. Peter rolled his eyes giving the girl a playful glare. He knew that Edmund had gone to see her the moment he was back. It frustrated Peter to no end that the pair didn't see what everyone else saw.

"Really? I was under the impression that Edmund had already been to see you," Peter said a smirk on his face. Lucy and Susan turned to gape at Peter. "What?" he asked turning his attention to his sisters, " don't you think it's odd that Ed took the time to bathe before coming to see us. Besides, one of the stable boys told me he arrived yesterday afternoon."

Susan looked at Edmund, "Ed, I thought you were more of a gentleman." Her voice held a touch of anger and amusement as well. Ed smirked slyly at Molly before leaving the group, disappearing to some dark corner of Cair Paravel.

"And where have you been," Susan asked returning her attention to Molly. "I've been working on Christmas presents," Molly said walking past the Pevensies back to her room. Molly stayed in her room the remainder of the day cleaning up the ink stains in the carpet. After what seemed like hours Molly gave up on removing a particularly large stain, she turned in. She pasted out before her head even touched the pillow.

The following morning, Molly woke to the rising sun. She pulled herself out of bed, realizing she was up early enough to watch Ed training. Within few minutes Molly was dressed rushing down to the practice fields with she shoes in one hand and a basket of food in the other.

Out on the field were Edmund and Orieus, swords clashing both obviously sweating. Molly came to a halt on the edge of the ring sitting on a bench placed there. She threw her shoes in front of her slipping her feet inside. Munching on a pastry Molly watched the two dance around each other, neither gaining a clear advantage.

The pair separated for a moment, allowing Molly to see what weapons they were using. Naturally Edmund had tried nearly every style of weapon in the armory, and practiced with a number regularly. However, Molly was shocked to see Ed with not a sword in his grasp, but two.

Ed dropped the swords with a loud clang before walking over to Molly stealing a pastry out of her basket. She raised an eyebrow as he reached past her. "Really, Ed?" she asked, "two swords, are you trying to one up Peter or something?" She stopped and grimaced remembering what little Freudian psychology she knew. "Never mind, forget I said anything," she stammered. Ed looked at her quizzically biting into the warm apple turnover.

"What were you thinking?" he asked. Molly looked up at her on/off boyfriend. "The use of two swords implies your trying to do one of two things, one: you're compensating for something or two: you're trying to prove you're more of a man than Peter." Ed snorted and gave Molly a look that said "really?"

Molly averted her eyes from Ed's trying to hide the fact she had just said something so ridiculous aloud. Ed leaned past Molly again to reach the cool towel on the other side of her. As he drew back he whispered in her ear, "if you want, I'll prove to you that I'm not compensating for anything." Molly shuddered as his breath hit her ear.

Orieus called Edmund back to the ring, leaving Molly to spectate. Molly was itching to fight Ed again, it had been almost six months since their last real duel. She didn't even notice that her hand slid down to her waist expecting to find her sword, but the hilt was not there. She reached her hand of and face palmed herself. Without even a glance back at the practice duel, Molly left to retrieve her sword.

She returned with her usual curved blade and her straight sword Peter had given her. Edmund and Orieus were in the middle of another break as she approached. "Hey Ed, practice match?" she called. Ed looked up the path slightly surprised to see her. "I don't think that's a good idea Molly," he said standing up to his full height.

"Is Ed afraid of a little girl?" Molly asked standing in front of him. Ed rolled his eyes walking back to the center of the ring, Orieus eyeing him wearily. Ed was already tired from his bout with Orieus, while Molly was fresh. From a safety standpoint it was a bad mix.

The match lasted nearly half an hour, most of which the pair spend circling the arena. When they did clash, the action was brief, a flurry of moving limbs. It ended when Edmund threw down his swords in exhaustion.

"I surrender," he said sitting down on the bench. Orieus had mysteriously vanished before the match ended leaving the pair completely alone. Molly leaned down and pecked Ed's lips to thank him for the duel.

Without so much as another word, Molly walked back to Cair leaving Ed alone with his thoughts.

A/N: Hi everyone, sorry for such a fluffy chapter, but I needed a break between balls. Next time it's Christmas in Narnia! Remember to Review!