Chapter 15

A/N: Hi! Sorry it keeps taking me so long to update especially since its summer, but I'm working and taking a class, and those don't exactly leave a whole lot of time for other things. Anyway, this chapter and the next few to come are a number of vignettes of Molly and Ed's lives while they're apart. Hope you enjoy, please read and review!

Disclaimer: I own nothing you recognize, and please remember Molly is from the 21st century

One Month After Leaving Cair

"How can you not believe in Aslan? He actually exists. I've kneeled before him and witnessed his coronation of the Kings and Queens along with hundreds of fellow Narnians," Molly nearly yelled as the middle aged Cardinal who had been arguing theology with her for the last half an hour. "That is exactly the problem Fitzroy. Belief implies that we have faith in something we cannot touch, nor see. We feel these forces and praise them," he answered.

Molly resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "Do you not believe in Santa Claus?" Molly asked. "Santa Claus, you mean Father Christmas?" the cardinal asked. "Yes, Father Christmas, you do believe in him," Molly clarified. "Of course we Avalonians believe in Father Christmas, he represents the spirit of charity the Great Sun God wants all of his children practice," the Cardinal answered. "Well, I hate to burst your bubble but Father Christmas is a living breathing man. In fact if I'm not mistaken he visits Anvard every Christmas," Molly said; hoping that his would be the end of her argument with the man. He was insufferable normally, but if conceded the argument it would only make him worse.

The Cardinal looked at her strangly for a minute seemingly contemplating what she had just told him. "I see your point," he finally admitted after a pregnant pause. Molly smiled in triumph as the afternoon post bell rang. "It was a lovely debate your holiness," Molly said before turning and running off, eager to reach the servant with the post before anyone else.

Molly met a young servant boy at the servants entrance to the castle. "Good Afternoon Rupert," she said smiling at the boy. He was younger than her by a few years, but over the last few weeks she had found him to be quite a sweet young man. "Anything for me today?" she asked. Rupert nodded, "yes Miss, a lot actually." He handed the excited girl a stack of six letters. Molly kissed Rupert's cheek before dashing back into the castle and up to her room to read her letters.

Dearest Molly,

We Pevensie people received your letters yesterday afternoon. Lucy and Susan seemed particularly excited to see that you had sent everyone a letter and had not forgotten them. They send their greetings, as they will include themselves in their own letters. Life here at Cair seems dull without you, everywhere one goes its silent, no yelling or screaming or rough housing, just silence. Since you've been gone Susan's 'romance' with Rabadash has taken on a life of its own. More often than not you can find the idiot trailing after Susan life a love sick puppy. Lucy and I are the only ones that find the match completely repulsive. Peter probably would have strangled the idiot by now, but he's had his hands full dealing with the Giants. Sometimes Lucy and I begin to wonder if Peter remembers there are three others to help him rule. But we know Peter don't we Molly. Only a Minator in drag or a hurricane is going to pull Peter out of him ass.

Don't tell anyone this, but I really do miss you. Its not the same staying up all night without someone to raid the kitchens with, or help me with all the paperwork. You know, come to think of it I really miss your help with paperwork, it just seems to go faster with someone there to make is silly. Hey, do you think you could write one of your silly stories and send it to me. I've run out of material here and the servants are only good for so many laughs. Maybe you could write something about those Vogons things you've mentioned. Any creature that loves to do paperwork are bound to be funny.

One Month and a Half After Leaving Cair

Lord Caleb entered the Castle Library looking for a good book. Instead he was surprised to see Molly Fitzroy bent over a desk scribbling something. He frowned taking in her appearance. Today she was wearing her olive green and bronze number that showed out her suntanned skin. She was a beautiful girl by any scale, but her head was filled with too many ideas. Sometimes Caleb wondered what his father had been up to. He didn't want a smart girl, just someone beautiful who would bear his children quietly and not complain.

"Lady Fitzroy," he called trying to get her attention. Molly neither flinched nor moved. Lord Caleb stood there for a few seconds watching her. In that time, she moved only once, lifting her pen from the page as if stopping to think. Caleb sighed before walking closer to Molly's table in the corner of the room. He stood behind her trying to see what she was writing. Caleb assumed she was working on a letter. However, when he glanced the writing, he saw a story about large grey creatures that enjoyed bureaucracy. The title said something about Vogons, whatever they were.

He stood there another moment before touching Molly's shoulder lightly. "Holy crap," Molly yelled whipping her head around to see who was there. "Oh, hi Lord Caleb," she said putting the pen back into the ink pot. "May I ask what you're working on?" Caleb asked. Molly nodded, "its just a story I'm working on. King Edmund asked for this specifically." Caleb nodded reading the first paragraph of the story. The premise was simple enough. A young man and one of these Vogons were sitting in a room going over the man's paperwork. It seemed rather boring in Caleb's opinion, but it just assumed that it was Narnian humor.

"Do you write stories often," he asked curious about this particular interest. "Yes, its my second job at Cair Paravel after Treasurer," she said turning a little red. "You're the Treasurer?" Caleb asked surprised. Molly nodded, "When the Pevensies and I first came to Narnia, the high council didn't think I was fit to help the Kings and Queens rule. So they gave me one of the bigger responsibilities in the kingdom. They seem to think I do a bang up job of it now, because I'm still in charge."

Caleb hid his grimace. A woman who understood how to run a kingdom was dangourous around here, especially with the rumors that the Narnian Kings and Queens ruled by the consent of their subjects. The last thing Caleb needed was his own subjects getting funny ideas about having a say.

"Have you written anything else?" Caleb asked being polite now. "Yes actually. I've published in Narnia. So far its just been little things: an anthology of Narnian fairy tales, a history of Narnia before the white witch, a story about parallel universes. You know this and that." Molly answered picking up the parchment making her way to leave. "Please stay, I didn't mean to disturb your work," Caleb say pulling back to a chair long the far wall. "Its alright. Ed's story is done anyway. All I need to do is mail it," Molly said making her way to the door. "See you at dinner," she called. Caleb sat deep in thought wondering what in his stars had predicted this.

Dear Ed,

Over the last few weeks I've come to understand just how much I miss Narnia. I've been homesick before, I know I have, I can't place it but it's a strange feeling I've felt like this before. Everything here is just so different, from the pastries to customs. The talk around the castle is all about the Spring Festival. It's still three months away, but the planning has already started. I swear these people are worse than Susan, at least she has the decency to wait till a month prior to start planning.

I've included the story you asked for in this letter. Its three sheets of parchment long, so the letter should have looked a little thicker than usual. Sorry its taken me so long to write you back. I keep getting pulled into these "official" state functions. At this rate I think my stay here will eclipse the number of functions I've taken part in since you lot were coronated. Yes, Ed, I'm not exaggerating, its completely one hundred percent true. The only thing they haven't had here in my time is a ball.

Though I've heard rumors that the Spring Festival has a hugely ornate masquerade at the end of the festival. I've already ordered my mask for the affair. Half the talk with the ladies these days is of the fashions for this ball. Don't worry, I've already sent a letter to your dear sister Susan, asking her to have a dress made for me to match the mask I have planned. And don't ask her want it is. I was hoping to keep that bit secret in case you would, oh I don't know, make a surprise appearance on the way to Calormen. At least that way I'd get to see you before you visit the Tisroc and you'd have some happy memories to tide you over till we're both home.

Since I'm a guest here, I've been trying to keep my aggravation of people to a minimum. Usually I'm pretty good at this, but the stupid cardinals that hold power in the church here keep wanting to challenge Narnian beliefs in Aslan. Those days I'm like a fire breathing dragon. I've actually won the argument a few times, but most still don't understand the Lion aspect. They just don't get that Narnia is a land of Talking Animals and if we are reflected in our religions it makes perfect sense. And I guess I should thank you for all that practice arguing about stupid things. That's helped a lot here.

Lets see, the next big holiday is…oh... (here there were drops of ink from where the pen had hovered over the paper) its Lover's Day. They don't call it that here. It's St. Valentine's Day, some saint who was killed by the lord for marrying people who weren't allowed to get married. Hope you have an uneventful Lover's Day, and don't those ladies get to you during the ball. Remember what happened last time…. ;)

You're in my thoughts constantly….

Molly

Ed smiled as his read the letter from his sport sprawled out on a couch in the library. Molly, even from a great distance, could make him smile. The letter had been sealed with a kiss, a prefect bow shaped kiss and smelled like Molly, parchment and fresh flowers. When the letter had arrived Ed had been thrilled. He knew that letters took time, but they didn't stop him from hoping that everyday a letter would arrive from Molly to brighten him day.

Lover's Day had already come and gone by the time this particular letter had reached the halls of Cair Paravel, Molly had predicted in her letter exactly what happened. He had drunk himself into a state up blankness before passing out on his throne, where a number of young ladies had lined up to kiss the King. Lucy had taken the time to sketch a picture of Ed slumped in his throne, crown askew like always his face covered in little red and pink smears.

His thoughts had not lingered for long on his Lover's Day, but went directly to Molly's invitation to Avalon's spring festival. Rabadash had pushed that Susan should visit Calormen in the summer when the country was its most beautiful, but Ed was certain they could push the visit back a handful of months, using Pete's birthday as the excuse. Afterall a girl could not miss her brothers birthday, especially when her brother was the High King of Narnia. A plan was already forming in Edmund's head as he sat up. It was nearly dinner time now. During the winter months the Pevensies took dinner in their small family dining room , as few bothered to visit Narnia in winter.

As he walked to the room the small of pot roast wafting out of the door, a smile graced his face. His plan just might work.