We're Not Giving Up
The council assembled for an emergency meeting two days later. Ivy and Zia both received invitations, but the latter only accepted in order to keep a close eye on Edmund – he had been declared well enough to leave his chamber for a few hours every day as long as he avoided his study and any strenuous exercise. He sat in his chair with a deliberate scowl on his face but did as he was told. Zia made sure to claim the seat beside him before anyone else could get there. She met Peter's raised eyebrows with a calm glance. Their eyes locked for a few seconds before the High King turned away.
Part of Peter knew he was being somewhat unreasonable but, although he seldom admitted it, he needed Edmund's guidance to keep order in Narnia and Edmund couldn't help him if he was off somewhere constructing false dreams.
The door burst open and in rushed three breathless monarchs, followed closely by a small crowd of servants wearing night caps and slippers.
"What in Aslan's name is going on?" Peter demanded.
"We heard screams," Susan clarified.
Lucy was the first to notice the body. Her hands flew to her mouth to muffle a strangled squeak.
"What happened?" Peter repeated.
"We've found out who was poisoning Edmund," Zia said coolly. "Edmund killed it before it got the chance to finish the job."
Ivy held the vial of purple liquid out towards Peter. "Sorcery was most likely used to increase the potency of the ingredients, sire."
"Can you make an antidote?"
Ivy hesitated, her eyes moving to Lucy. The young Queen nodded.
"Get some sleep first," Peter said, his tone softening. Ivy gave a quick curtsey, taking that as permission to leave the room.
Seeing the excitement was over, the group of servants trudged after Ivy, some stifling yawns. Susan took Lucy by the shoulders and gently steered her back to her own bed. Soon just Zia and Peter remained. Ignoring the sudden awkwardness that had descended, Zia reached for the pillows under Edmund's head. Peter unintentionally mirrored her movements and a split second of uncomfortable eye contact followed. The High King cleared his throat.
"If you have something to say, please, go ahead," Zia said stiffly.
Peter's mouth opened to rebuke her, but he found himself stifling a yawn instead. He shook the fuzziness out of his brain and fixed his most kingly stare directly into Zia's eyes.
"If I have mistreated you over the past few days, I apologise. It seems your love for my brother is stronger than I thought. You've shown tonight that you would be willing to risk your life for him. But I assume you are aware of the… difficulties a courtship with him would bring?" Zia's eyes dropped to the bed. "I will always want the best for Edmund no matter what. When the time comes for Edmund to find a queen, I would not object to you remaining at the castle should you wish to do so. However I would insist that you keep your distance."
Zia nodded, pretended to be fascinated by the bedspread to avoid looking at him.
"I won't hesitate to say that Edmund is lucky to have you by his side for now. But you must understand that your relationship with him cannot go further."
A slight pressure on her hand brought her back to the present. She returned Edmund's small smile and ignored the question in his eyes, turning her gaze to the members of the board and trying to pick up the discussion. A group of Giants had been causing disruption close to the Northern border, and the Marsh Wiggles were beginning to grow more concerned than usual. Oreius the Centaur was just proposing to send a select group of men to settle the dispute when the door opened and in trotted the Faun Zia had met on her first visit to the castle.
"My sincerest apologies for the rude interruption, Your Highnesses." The Faun addressed the floor as he bowed elaborately.
"What's the matter, Ruskin?" Peter asked.
"Another one of the Dryads from Western Wood has requested to speak with you about a matter of great urgency."
"Well, send him in."
The Dryad stepped into the room and Zia was instantly on her feet. "Tigran!"
There was something wrong with Tigran's face; his expression had lost all of its liveliness. The mouth that barely ever paused to take a breath was pulled down at the corners and his eyes were devoid of their usual mischief. Zia found herself shuddering as he glanced up at her.
"You know him?" This was from Edmund. He tried to get up out of his chair but was firmly pushed back down.
"He rescued me from the… dungeon…" The look that came into Edmund's eyes made Zia shut her mouth.
"You have a message for us?" Peter prompted, looking curiously between the two Dryads and his younger brother.
"Sire, last night Western Wood was attacked by the same brutes that kidnapped Zia."
A gasp lodged in Zia's throat. The council members looked uneasily at each other. Susan moved around the table and gently took Tigran by the shoulders. Tigran steadied himself with a deep breath and went on to explain. A raiding party had descended on the areas surrounding the Grove in the middle of the night. They had carried flaming torches, which they used to set fire to homes after they'd all but torn them apart. Maia and the Dryad archers had driven them away, but not before several innocent lives had been lost and half the forest destroyed and burned to ashes.
The hollowness in Tigran's tone turned Zia's heart to ice. The certainty that something even more unspeakable had happened gnawed away at her until Tigran's tale was done and he turned his gaze upon her once more.
"Zia, I'm sorry but… Breejit didn't make it out."
Something heavy caught Zia in the chest and before she knew it she had fallen back into her chair. Edmund's arms were around her and this time nobody did anything to stop him. Her breaths were too loud in her own ears, her heart beat so fast she was sure it would stop. The voices of Peter, Tigran and the others were drowned out by the noise of her own internal distress. Their faces began to blur as hot, fierce tears gathered in her eyes and spilled down her cheeks. She was slightly aware of another voice – a familiar, soothing voice – murmuring senseless comfort next to her ear. Someone else was crouched on the other side of her chair; their hands gripped hers so tightly that the feeling seeped out of them. Drops of moisture splashed onto her neck and shoulder, mingling with her own tears.
She had always assumed she'd get a chance to talk things over with Breejit, apologise for all the times she'd let him down and refused to take his advice. They could have both been spared those days in the dungeon if she'd just done what he'd said in the first place. She had hated parting with him on such bad terms, but a friendship with him was something she'd always assumed she'd have. He couldn't be gone. A hollow feeling grew inside her, threatening to consume her whole being.
Blinking away the tears, her eyes found Edmund's. They were full of sadness, but the sympathetic kind, the kind that said he was sorry for her pain but felt none himself.
"He's not gone, Ed."
Edmund took her face between his hands. "I'm afraid he is, sweetheart. They found the body."
"No," she argued, pushing him away. "He wouldn't just leave me."
"I know it's hard, Zia. First you lost Nina and now Breejit…"
"Stop it!" she yelled. "It's easy for you, you've never lost anyone. You're King and you always get everything you want and you never have to give anything up!"
By now the voices around the table had fallen silent. All conversations in the room had halted so every eye could turn on Zia. Fauns shifted their hooves. She had begun to tremble and her jaw was clenched almost hard enough to break her teeth.
Edmund didn't like the way they were all watching her - like they were waiting for the grand finale of a magic show.
"Pete, we're going after them." The words had the desired effect and all eyes turned to him.
Peter's mouth fell open. "Have you lost your mind?" He spoke in a hushed voice, glancing nervously at the pairs of eyes fixed on his brother.
"Do I need any more reason to want to tear every last one of them to pieces?" Edmund retorted, gesturing behind him at Zia's shivering form.
Peter was speechless. He floundered around in his brain but no words made it to his mouth. His jaw moved up and down uselessly for several seconds before Susan stepped forward.
"Ed, you can't possibly be thinking of going anywhere in your current physical condition," she said sternly. "You're supposed to be in bed right now. You were poisoned just a few days ago or had you forgotten?"
"Some things aren't worth risking for love," Peter added, "Especially your life."
"I'm with Peter and Susan," said Lucy. "It's just too dangerous, Ed."
A murmur of agreement travelled around the table. Tigran looked around at all the sombre, well-groomed faces and felt frustration stirring in his stomach. Edmund's body shielded Zia from his view but Ivy's crumpled face was in plain sight. Part of their home and several of their friends had perished, but the carnage was too distant from High King Peter and his pampered set of advisors for them to do anything about it. They were afraid of precious King Edmund getting hurt, but he Tigran, was in perfect physical shape and could probably handle a sword better than Edmund could, anyway.
"Allow me to make a proposal," he said, once again bringing silence down upon the room. "I shall take Zia and Ivy back to the Grove where we will assemble an army and storm the fortress of these monsters, leaving not one of them alive and therefore solving all our problems."
Edmund raised one eyebrow at him. "You're not going anywhere with an army of just Dryads. They'd be expecting you to take revenge and I'd bet any money they have a dirty scheme lined up to wipe each and every one of you out. They must know by now that to take Narnia they'd have to get through your entire race."
"They couldn't launch an attack on the castle without getting through us first," Tigran agreed. "But this is about the people of Western Wood that lost their homes, families and friends last night. They need reassurance that nothing like that will ever happen again and they need it soon. The longer we wait, the more frightened they'll become and the less faith they'll have in you, Your Majesty."
"I'm afraid Tigran is correct, sire," put in Oreius. "The people will be expecting protection from their Kings and Queens in times of need. We must give them something or I fear they will lose all hope."
Peter rubbed his forehead tiredly. "If we sent an army then Zia would insist on helping, which means Edmund will be ready to follow her. We can't expect him to fight after the events of the past few days."
"Pete, I'm standing right here," Edmund reminded his brother. "And I promise I'm fine. Fit as a fiddle."
Peter's eyes swept over him. "We'll see about that."
"Is that a challenge?" Edmund countered.
"Indeed. Meet me in the arena and we'll see just how fit you're really feeling."
Tigran spoke up. "If I might interrupt, I'll have an army ready by tomorrow, regardless of whether we're invited or not. I won't be denied revenge for what has happened."
Peter nodded. "I can't say that I don't agree. My brother and I would be honoured to fight alongside you."
"I'm going too." Zia was on her feet, her cheeks dry and her hands as steady as rocks. "I can't let Breejit go without avenging him."
"See what I mean?" Peter murmured. Everyone laughed and Edmund wrapped his arm around Zia's waist. "Tigran, have your army ready by tomorrow afternoon and we'll ride out to meet you. Edmund and I will try to think up a strategy tonight and I'll assess his capabilities in the arena." Here he winked at Edmund and the council gave another collective laugh. "Oh, and someone will have to keep an eye on Zia to make sure she doesn't run off and try to face the enemy alone."
Zia was content with rolling her eyes. She didn't need to show Peter up in front of his council. She hugged Tigran goodbye and waited beside Edmund until the conference room had emptied.
"Are you sure you're alright?" Edmund asked, peering at her face between his hands.
"I will be when we've rid Narnia of those beasts forever."
Edmund smiled. "Believe me, we will."
As the sun had began its journey down to meet the horizon, Zia left the castle in search of some fresh air. Perhaps she was feeling nostalgic, for her feet took her past the castle gardens and onwards towards the training ring.
Laughter and the high-pitched sing of metal against metal grew clearer as she approached. The sunlight glinted off the armour of two figures side-stepping each other with their swords raised, each trying to anticipate the other's movement. She stopped a safe distance away and half hid behind a flowering bush to watch the two brothers circling like prowling lions. Despite her waning opinion of Peter she had to admit he looked impressive adorned with shiny metal plates. She followed his movements as he leapt at Edmund, bringing his sword down in a wide arc towards his brother's head. Edmund quickly danced aside, almost losing his footing as Peter's sword changed course and swept towards his legs. Within minutes of observing their fight Zia's heart was pounding. She realised Peter had no intention of going easy on Edmund. She started to question whether Peter wouldn't hurt him if the opportunity arose. The other King seemed not to be as fit as he thought; he certainly appeared to be far less sure of himself than he had been when Zia was his opponent.
"Come on Ed, you're slipping," Peter called as Edmund narrowly avoided getting Peter's sword embedded in his neck.
"I expected you to go easy on me," Edmund retorted breathlessly.
"Don't be ridiculous! Do you think those Minotaurs will go easy on you tomorrow?" Nevertheless, he stepped back and allowed Edmund to catch his breath.
Edmund gritted his teeth and suddenly relaxed all over. He brought his sword up and, with a wicked grin, unleashed a torrent of attacks that were impossible for Zia to follow. She couldn't help grinning to herself when she realised he had been feigning exhaustion the whole time. Edmund's strikes never relented until he had forced Peter right back against the fence and held the point of his sword against the spot directly over Peter's heart.
"Who said I was slipping?" Edmund teased, stepping back and sheathing his sword.
Peter laughed and slung his arm across Edmund's shoulders. "Remind me to never underestimate you."
As they made their way towards her, both of them laughing and with their arms around each other, Zia slipped away.
"I came to check you were still in one piece."
Edmund flung out his arms and twirled on the spot. "Peter can barely land a blow on me."
"I can believe that," Zia replied, smoothing the bunched-up fabric at the waist of his tunic. "I wasn't really worried." Her hands lingered on his waist, a shy question in her eyes. Is this okay?
He carefully slipped his fingers around her wrists, pulling her arms tighter around him. Her hair smelled amazing under his nose and her breaths were warm against his neck. "I suppose there's no point in asking if you were serious about coming with us tomorrow."
"I saved your life," she reminded him. Drawing back from him, she let his eyes wander over the light bruising on her face. He grimaced and pulled her close again. "It could have been a lot worse." Her voice was muffled by his clothing and barely audible, but he couldn't miss the implication behind her words.
Zia drew back again and walked over to the windows. She propped them open to allow a cool, salty breeze to float into the stuffy room. Flames crackled in the grate despite the summery night and the bed was piled up with blankets. Apparently someone wasn't convinced that Edmund's speedy recovery was entirely genuine. Shaking her head, she removed several layers of the bedding and used the water jug on the bedside table to extinguish the fire. Edmund watched her, mesmerised as he often was by her natural poise and grace.
"What are you staring at?" She asked the question without lifting her eyes from the material in her arms as she carried it over to the wardrobe and began to fold it.
Edmund's hand automatically reached for the back of his neck and his fingers tangled in the hair there as he felt his cheeks flush with heat. "N-nothing."
She glanced up at him from beneath her eyelashes, catching him blushing before he could turn away. A strange sensation started in her stomach and spread all the way down her arms and legs into the ends of her fingers and toes. Suddenly she couldn't take her eyes off him as he headed towards the adjoining room. Before she knew what she was doing, she had followed him into the bathroom and was leaning against the doorframe as he poured some water from a kettle into the bathtub.
"I could have you arrested for intruding on my privacy," he said matter-of-factly.
"Seems a little extreme," she responded. She pushed off from the doorway and took the kettle from him. "Here, let me."
Edmund obligingly perched on the edge of the bathtub, no longer bothering to disguise his staring. He enjoyed the way her cheeks gradually changed from a soft peach to a delicate pink. He reached out to trace his fingertip down her arm, tilting his head as a trail of goosebumps followed the path of his touch. Her movements were hasty as she retreated to fetch a towel and she didn't look at him as she arranged it neatly on the floor next to the tub.
"Does it bother you?" he ventured shyly.
"Does what bother me?"
"This." He retraced the pattern on her arm and she shivered. "Why do you react like that?"
"It feels instinctive. I don't know why, no one's ever done that to me before."
"But it's a good feeling?"
"I think so. It tickles a little." He moved towards her again, but she quickly stood up. "Get in the bath before the water gets too cold."
She left the room and quickly closed the door. The heat in her face was creeping into her neck and her heart had suddenly begun to beat heavier and louder than a war drum. A quick check in the mirror revealed hectic pink spots on her cheeks and a too-bright sparkle in her eyes. When Edmund emerged from the bathroom she was leaning halfway out the window in the hope that the air might calm the furious blush, but her efforts were undone when she turned around and saw him gaping at her.
"What were you -? Never mind, probably best not to ask." He grinned lopsidedly and she didn't know whether to hide her face or throw a cushion at his head.
In the end she opted for neither and instead busied herself with turning down his bed whilst he wandered around and rubbed his hair with a towel. He was dressed in only a thin linen nightshirt and trousers; his lithe body silhouetted through the fabric whenever he passed the lit lamp on the desk at the right angle.
"You're not thinking of staying here all night?"
"I – I can go now if you want…" she said, a little taken aback.
"No! No, that's not what I meant…" He ran a hand through his damp hair, leaving it sticking up like a duck's tail at the back. "I just meant if you want to leave you can, don't feel obliged to stay. It's getting late and I daresay we have a long day ahead of us tomorrow."
She started to edge reluctantly towards the door. "Are you sure you don't need anything else?"
"Well… You don't have to go yet…"
She stopped, looking at him hopefully. "Yes?"
Edmund looked around the room and spotted the stack of books on his desk – the ones Ivy had brought for Zia to occupy herself with whilst keeping watch over him. "I can read to you if you like." She nodded and he picked the book at the top of the pile. "Wait," he said as she moved towards the armchair. He gestured timidly in the general direction of the bed. "Come and sit with me?"
"Aren't there rules about that sort of thing?" she asked doubtfully. "If Peter…"
"Peter won't find out," he assured her. "Come over here."
She happily climbed onto the bed and leaned back against the pillows. Edmund tucked her under his arm like a baby bird, opened the book and began to read. Her head rested just under his ear and if she craned her neck a little her nose could almost brush the underside of his chin. A faint line of dark hair shadowed the curve of his jaw. She reached up to run her finger along it and he abruptly stopped reading.
"Sorry," she apologised, withdrawing her hand.
He gave the slightest shake of his head, giving her little time to be confused before softly touching his lips to hers. A niggling something in the back of his mind protested, reminding him that Zia was right, there were rules – rules that frowned very seriously upon this sort of intimacy between a king and his servant. But, he argued, Zia wasn't his servant and he had already trampled the kingdom's expectations into the dirt for the time being.
"The rules be damned," he said aloud before kissing her again.
He felt her relax under his touch and her barely-contained enthusiasm as her lips moved against his. Somewhere in the depths of his foggy brain was the fear that someone would walk in and catch them; some suspicious servant wondering why Zia hadn't yet left the King's chambers or Peter wanting to finalise military plans before tomorrow. All of that was swallowed into oblivion when her hands reached up to tangle in his hair, pulling him closer even as they both gasped for air.
Under Edmund's clouded eyes, Zia was suddenly very aware that her dress had somehow been pushed up to her thighs and barely covered her undergarments. She tried to wriggle it back down but her waist and hips were trapped under Edmund's body. He realised what she wanted and rolled off her, smoothing the fabric back over her knees whilst trying very hard not to let his fingers brush her skin.
"I don't want to make you uncomfortable. Not even a little bit."
She traced the jut of his cheekbone with her thumb and smiled. "You're quite the gentleman."
He shrugged off the compliment. "It's part of my job."
"Do you think we should stop?" she asked tentatively, noticing how very little space there was between their bodies.
He eyed her seriously. "Do you want to stop?"
"I – no, I'm just…"
He twirled a lock of her hair around his finger. "If you're worried about anyone finding out, I have the authority to have even the worst secret covered up."
"I just think we might be rushing things," she admitted. "I mean, we've not known each other for long and we're not officially courting or anything."
He snorted. "I think we can make an exception in that respect. Our whole relationship hasn't exactly complied with social etiquette. But if it makes you feel better we can start officially courting first thing tomorrow."
"Then ride into battle side by side?" She blew hair out of her eyes. "You're right, we are a special case. Besides, I think the whole castle should know we're doing something resembling courting by now, even if we don't make an official announcement."
A light shudder rippled the muscles in his arms. "I personally can't think of anything worse than announcing one's feelings for someone in front of a room full of people."
"Peter doesn't seem to mind," Zia pointed out.
"Peter goes through at least three girls in a year." He looked down. "I'd like to think what we have between us is something more special."
There it was again, the sensation that flooded her entire body and left a pleasant tingling in its wake. She couldn't prevent a grin from spreading right across her face. Edmund tilted his head to the side, looking for all the world like a confused puppy, and the insistent urge to pull him down into another kiss was impossible to resist.