There have been 10,00 hits on my story! OMG! And 122 reviews. Guys, y'all don't know how happy that makes me. Seriously. I could just die from joy right now. I never imagined my story would become this popular so fast! I've never actually considered myself a great writer, but the comments y'all leave make me feel so good about my writing. I love you all so much!
Court1410: I completely agree with you about Ashlynn giving in too easily. So, I wrote this chapter with that in mind. Since I wrote it because of your review, this chapter is dedicated to you! wooo!
Thank you all for the "get wells"! I'm doing much better. Also, I hope all of you had a fantastic Christmas and New Year's celebration!
One more quick note before we start: I am planning on writing an intimate scene between Edmund and Ashlynn in one of the next few chapters. I need to know if that is going to bother any of my readers, and, if it is, I will post it as a one-shot instead of a chapter so I don't offend anyone. I really need to know soon, so let me know how you feel ASAP!
READ AWAY MY LOVELIES!
I laughed gaily with Lucy and Becky as we raced away from the dance floor. We had been at the ball a little over an hour and I still had yet to see Edmund. I was a little disappointed, but Lucy and Becky had been making up for his absence. They had convinced me to accept a dance with a foreign diplomat from Calormen who had nearly begged me multiple times to dance with him. He had been so desperate for me to dance with him that he had followed me around the ballroom like a lost puppy, waiting on me hand and foot. He had ended up being a terrible dancer and had even bumped into a minotaur. They were now in a heated argument. Lucy and Becky had found me staring at them in shock and had quickly led me away from the floor.
"Peter will take care of it." Lucy explained, before we all burst into laughter.
"That is the last time I listen to you two when you encourage me to dance with someone I don't know!" I exclaimed, playfully slapping both of them on the arm.
Bexxi gave me an impish grin. "Well, it's not like King Edmund is here to keep you entertained. He can't expect you to sit around and wait on him."
I blushed and shot Bexxi a glare. I looked over at Lucy and caught her staring at a young man dressed in an Archenlandish soldier dress uniform. I had noticed both of them shooting glances at one another all night, and my curiosity was nearly unmanageable.
"Lucy, why don't you just go talk to the gentlemen you've been staring at all night?" I asked nonchalantly, trying to trick Lucy into answering.
"Because he hasn't asked me yet...Hey! I have not been staring!" Lucy turned quickly on me, glaring and blushing.
Bexxi jumped up in excitement. "Which gentlemen? Where?" I pointed him out and she squealed.
"Lucy! He's a distant cousin of mine! We aren't close, but he's high in ranks of the Archenland army!"
I smiled at Lucy who was blushing deeper now.
"Do you think it would be alright if I danced with him? How angry do you think it would make Peter and Ed?" She questioned quickly, like a child about to do something naughty.
"Who cares?" I practically shouted. "You're eighteen years old. You can dance with a man if you wish, and if they want to get their panties in a twist, I'll make sure I'm there to untwist them and I won't go easy."
Lucy and Bexxi giggled. "What's so funny?"
I turned to see Susan, who looked gorgeous. "Hello Beautiful." I greeted. She rolled her eyes and smiled at me.
"Ashlynn was just threatening to harm Peter and Ed if they get mad at Lucy when she dances with that soldier over there." Bexxi explained. Lucy blushed deeper.
Susan turned and noticed the gentlemen and smiled. "He's handsome, Lucy."
Lucy smiled. "I don't think he'll ask me to dance, though. He hasn't asked anyone to dance all night."
"And you haven't danced with anyone all night." Susan pointed out.
Lucy started to say something else, but I found myself missing it as a plan formed in my mind. I snuck away from the group as they started on another subject of the soldier I eased my way across the dance floor until I found myself standing behind the soldier. He was talking to a few other Archenland soldiers, so I had to muck up the courage to tap him on the shoulder.
He turned around and had to look down to look me in the eyes. I smiled at him and curtsied. His eyes held slight confusion as he bowed his head and reached for my hand to kiss. I held it out for him and waited.
"Milady, to what do I owe the honor of a beautiful lady's attention?"
"You owe the honor to a certain queen who has had her eyes on your hand for all this evening." I replied with a grin. His eyes held even more confusion as they darted to both Susan, Bexxi, and Lucy, who were now watching our exchange in shock. The three quickly averted his gaze when he looked over and he returned his gaze to me.
"A certain queen?" He questioned.
"Yes. One whose eye you have caught. I am not mistaken that you have yet to dance this evening, am I, Sir?"
"You are not." He replied. His fellow soldiers watched me with interest.
"Neither has the youngest queen. You see, the gentlemen of this room are too frightened to ask for her hand to dance, for fear of the two kings reactions. Queen Lucy has expressed her frustration at such a matter and her longing to dance with a partner noble enough to ask her hand. We set our eyes about this ball room to find such a gentlemen and our eyes fell upon you. A brave knight like yourself couldn't possibly deny a youthful queen her desire to dance, could you?"
The soldier averted his eyes back over to Lucy.
"I suppose not, Milady."
I beamed. "Then, I suppose the noble thing to do would to be to ask the youngest queen for a dance, and save her from torturous boredom and longing."
The soldier blushed and looked once again back at Lucy. "You are correct, Milady. I shall do so immediately."
I smiled at him and he returned it before starting towards Lucy. He turned back towards me before continuing.
"Pray give me one gift, Milady."
I watched him with confusion. "Anything, brave knight."
"A name, so that I may thank a good adviser." He asked with a grin. I looked over at his comrades and they were all watching me in amusement.
"Lady Ashlynn, at your service." I curtsied again with a smile. He bowed and turned back to approach Lucy.
I quickly darted away from the floor so I could watch the exchange. The soldier approached Lucy and bowed before her. Lucy's face was beet red and frozen in shock. Bexxi and Susan looked completely amused and amazed at what I had done. A few words were exchanged between Lucy and the soldier before he held out his hand and she accepted. I squealed in delight when she accepted his hand and he led her towards the dance floor. I ran to Bexxi and Susan who started laughing as soon as they saw me.
"Ashlynn! You little devil! You've nearly caused Lucy enough mortification for the rest of her teenage life!" Bexxi exclaimed as she playfully slapped my arm. Susan beamed at me.
"Or enough gratification. I don't think she'll ever be as happy as she is tonight. Embarrassed or not, look at her. She is having fun." Susan explained. We all turned to watch Lucy dance with the soldier. She had the biggest grin on her face and she and the soldier were talking amicably.
"Who is Lucy dancing with?" A deep and clearly irritated voice asked from beside us. The three of us turned to the right and saw Peter and Edmund staring angrily in the direction of Lucy and the soldier. My heart fluttered at the sight of Edmund. He was dressed in a deep red tunic with leather accents. He looked much more put together than he had the day before. He had cleaned up well, and my body reacted immediately to the sight of him. I pulled my gaze away from him when Susan spoke, and immediately found myself on the defensive. They would not ruin this for Lucy.
"Peter, please." Susan sighed with exasperation.
"Who is he?" Edmund asked this time, his brows furrowing in his suspicion.
"Don't you two dare." I threatened, causing both boys to turn and look at me. "I will personally destroy the pair of you if you two so much as think about ruining this for Lucy. She is eighteen years old and if she wants to dance with a boy, then by Aslan's mane she damn right can."
Peter and Edmund's jaws dropped at the seriousness in my voice.
"She is my little sister. I can and will come between her and a man I don't trust." Peter argued angrily.
"Why don't you trust him? Have you met him before?"
"No..." Peter started. I interrupted him before he continued.
"Peter, do you remember the conversation we had earlier this morning?" Peter averted his eyes. "Grow up, and let Lucy do so as well."
"You're suggesting we let Lucy have her run of the men in this room?" Edmund asked indignantly, glaring at me. I returned the glare just as hard.
"I didn't say that, Edmund. They're only dancing! It's not like they're snogging on the dance floor, or anything. Lucy's too smart for that. Why don't you two put a little trust in her?" I nearly shouted. Edmund and Peter seemed a little rattled by my accusing them of not trusting Lucy.
"She's almost an adult. It's time we started letting her act like one." Susan offered gently. Peter and Edmund looked at her and sighed.
"Fine. But don't think I won't keep my eye on that knight." Peter claimed, glaring at the soldier again.
The dance ended and the soldier kissed Lucy's hand in thanks for the dance. Lucy blushed crimson before running to where the four of us stood.
"Peter! Edmund! I haven't seen you all night!" Lucy exclaimed happily as she ran up and hugged her brothers. They seemed to lighten up when they saw the enormous smile on their sisters face, because their shoulders relaxed and grins decorated their faces.
"How about a dance, Lu?" Peter offered. Lucy squealed.
"I just got through dancing, Pete. Did you see? A gentlemen actually asked me to dance!" Lucy jumped up and down in excitement. Peter's face dropped slightly, his irritation over Lucy's dancing partner coming through his joy at seeing his sister happy. I cleared my throat and when he looked at me, I gave him a threatening look. His irritation disappeared and he smiled at his sister.
"Yes, Lu. I saw. What was his name?" I smiled at Peter as he and his sister walked away, Lucy chatting amiably about her handsome dance partner along the way.
"Peter's going to go crazy." Edmund commented as they walked away. Susan started laughing.
"I'm glad he accepted it, but he will never hear the end of Lucy's crushes now." She said with a smile.
"Lucy needs to have the space to grow up. She can't stay a child forever. She's a queen." I explained softly, watching the two as they danced.
I turned my head and caught Edmund staring at me. I blushed and looked away.
"Would you care to dance, Ashlynn?" He asked, bowing before me. I rolled my eyes at him.
"Always with the theatrics. You're going to turn into Peter if you don't watch it." I said sarcastically. Edmund smirked at me and held his position.
"Oh, alright." I gave in and accepted his hand. Edmund beamed at me and led me towards the dance floor.
He pulled me in close and I felt the butterflies in my stomach take flight. I couldn't help but notice that the way he held me in our dance was very intimate. Others seemed to notice as well, because I caught several stares.
I turned my gaze away from my surroundings and onto Edmund, who was staring at me. We stared at each other for a while without talking before I interrupted the silence.
"Hi." I said, and mentally slapped myself for being so lame.
He smiled at me, obviously not affected by my lameness. "Hi."
There was another pause. "You look better. I mean, better than you did yesterday. Not that you looked bad yesterday. You just look tired. Now you looked rested and shaved. Not that I disliked your scruff, but..." Edmund interrupted my embarrassing ramble with a laugh.
"Relax, Ashlynn. I'm glad you think I look handsome tonight. I have to say, you look beautiful tonight, as always." He replied smoothly. I blushed deeply and looked away from his face.
"Thank you." I whispered.
"I'm glad you aren't ill anymore. I nearly died from worry." He whispered.
I gave him a half smile. "Yeah. I think it's strange that the thing I love most in the world nearly killed me." I laughed lightly and he didn't return the smile or laugh.
"The things we love most usually have a way of sneaking up on us when we least expect it." His face was serious, and it unnerved me.
"Are you okay, Edmund?"
"Ashlynn, I don't know what I would have done if I had lost you a second time." He stated.
"You'd have to lose me a first time in order to lose me a second." I joked, feeling uneasy by being called his Ashlynn.
He looked confused at first before nodding. "Yes, yes. Of course. The point is, I couldn't have dealt with it. I couldn't have lived without you."
"You barely know me." I defended softly.
"But I do know you, Ashlynn. I knew you before you came here." He enunciated the "you" as if to indicate that I had been to Narnia before. Up until that point, I had been learning to deal with the fact that everyone thought I was Ashlynn, and I had even started believing it myself. Something in the way Edmund expressed the little word made my calm acceptance snap. How could I possibly have been this Ashlynn chick? I had memories. I remembered my life, and it had never included a Narnia. It had also never included an Edmund.
"You did not know me Edmund because I have never been to Narnia before." I snapped.
"I thought we were past you denying that you are she."
"Why is it that we tend to get into this same argument while dancing?" I asked sardonically.
"Ashlynn, please be reasonable."
"Reasonable? Seriously, Ed? You want me to be reasonable?" I asked. We continued to dance around, glaring at one another.
"Ashlynn, please. I don't want to fight." He sighed in exasperation.
"Then maybe you should stop insulting me, Edmund."
He sighed again and took a hand off my waist to run his fingers through his hair.
"I'm not insulting you."
"You're insulting my intelligence. I'd think I would know if I had been in Narnia before. And I would hope that I would remember being in love, but I don't and I don't know..."
"I love you." He interrupted, catching me off guard and making me lose my breath as it rushed out of my lungs in shock.
"What?" I asked, stunned.
"I love you."
"I...how...you don't even know me. We...you've only...I've only been in Narnia a few months. That's not enough time to fall in love. And, if this is about me being like your Ashlynn, then I think it's for all the wrong reasons." I stuttered, avoiding his eye at all costs.
"It doesn't matter if you are or aren't my Ashlynn. Yes, you look just like her and act just like her. But, there are many reasons beyond your similarities to her that make me love you. Take, for instance, the fact that you put me together after I was almost permanently ripped apart." He started explaining.
"I don't recall doing so..." I muttered, still trying to argue with him. He rolled his eyes at me and quit dancing. He pulled me away from the dance floor and led me towards the balcony where we had fought the previous ball. I couldn't help but smile at the irony of our situation, but allowed him to lead me away. He pulled me into a secluded corner of the balcony, away from prying ears.
"I don't think you did it consciously. You just treated me like a normal human being. You didn't walk around subjects with me as though talking about Ashlynn would make me shatter like glass. And at the same time you were very gentle about the matter in which you would approach me with certain subjects. It isn't only how you treat me, but how you treat others. You're so kind and respectful towards every creature and it's very endearing. Yet, you refuse to allow anyone to disrespect you. Pete told me about the argument you two had this morning and it baffles me how you have the ability to make any person listen to you. It's as though you were once royal." At this I laughed, earning a chuckle from Edmund as well. He stared at me for a few moments and I couldn't help staring back in his dark eyes.
"The reasons why I love you shouldn't matter incessantly so. You should know by now, I would think, that I wouldn't just say that to anyone. I love you, as you are, regardless of whether you are Ashlynn or yourself." He didn't say anything else. I don't actually know if that was the end of his spiel or not, because before he could utter another word, I had attached my mouth to his. He seemed mildly shocked at my actions, as I had never initiated a kiss before, but his shock was soon overcome with his desire to kiss the living daylights out of me, and he proceeded to do so without much delay.
I never actually repeated the significant three words to him that night, but he didn't seem to mind. He was, after all, a little busy. My hesitation to repeat the sentiments didn't stop him from repeating it multiple times as he planted kisses across my face and neck all night. The ball was well over by the time we snuck out from behind the curtain and made our ways to our separate bedrooms.
"I love you." He whispered against my lips before he left me alone at my bedroom door to return to his own bedroom. I'm pretty sure I melted before he turned the corner.
Do any of you just melt when you think of the hunky Edmund? I know I sure do. Anyway, suggestions, questions? HAPPY NEW YEAR!