Chapter 17

Edmund splashed his face triumphantly in the fountain that the water nymphs left running, even though the Narnians had left to spread news to the disbelieving Narnians that King Edmund had come to save them.

"Hello King Edmund." Lucy said, smiling prettily at him. He looked up and put his arm around her waist and kissed her soft lips.

"I should have known there was something between you two." Edmund and Lucy turned to see Susan smiling mischievously. She stepped down the steps

"Oh don't look scared!" she told Edmund, whose eyes had gone wide and had stepped back from Lucy. "I'm not angry. Personally, I think its cute!" Susan said and then she giggled. Edmund laughed as Susan forced a serious expression on her face.

"We should tell the others that your King and you have the support of the Eastern Narnians."

"I'm sure I can convince a talking bird, but that would take a long time." Edmund warned. Lucy smiled.

"Don't worry. I'll sort it." she said and a broad grin broke over both of the sisters faces.

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Caspian shook his head as he stepped out of the river, his hair letting out jewelled droplets of water. He smiled as Ladine stepped forward with a cloak.

"Why thank you, my princess." he whispered and kissed the top of her head. She giggled and fixed the cloak around him.

"There." she said and raked his hair back from his handsome forehead. "Much better." Caspian rolled his eyes. He pulled away from her and huddled into the cloak as the warmth of her body was not there to stop the chill of the air cling to his wet chest. He looked at her beautiful dress of purple silk, now with a large wet mark from where he had pressed against her. She wore a belt of silver around her tiny waist, where a little dagger lay and around her head she wore a silver and topaz diadem.

"Look at you! Anyone would think you had grown up in the Archenland court!" he said, examining the beauty before him. Ladine laughed.

"I suppose I must have always thought about Archenland. It's almost like I was always there." she said and Caspian pulled her by the waist under the cloak.

"Come on, my love. Your shivering. I can't have the Archenland princess freezing now, could I? For starters, what would her father say?" he said and Ladine pulled away, mock shocked. Suddenly a soft blue light appeared and Lucy, Susan and Edmund appeared, Lucy glowing softly. Caspian stepped backwards and he turned and saw all the Narnian soldiers, the Archenland army, Narnians from near Cair Paravel and from Cauldron Pool he gasped and Ladine stepped forward to hug her father.

"Don't touch anything!" Susan warned. "Or reality will have to actually think about what is happening and stop the spell. Lucy isn't old enough to have the spell to be especially strong." Caspian frowned.

"Lucy's spell? Oh! Part of her power!" he said. Lucy nodded.

"Yes. I can talk to anyone, and see anything that is happening. But I'm very noticeable and it's quite hard to do. That's why I don't use it very often." Lucy said, lifting her hand as if to stop people asking her why she hadn't used it in the fight against Miraz. Edmund smiled at her.

"I have been crowned King." he announced, a boyish grin lighting up his handsome face. "I have gained the support of the Eastern Narnians" the collection of Narnians to the east of the camp all nodded and bowed "who graciously made my coronation a wonderful event. But I have news. Lucy has seen the Calormen army marching with Peter at the head, before the Tisroc himself. This is bad news for us. It means that the Calormens trust Peter. I must ask all of you to ready your defences, send out scouts to search for the army and to always sleep near a weapon. This is war and Peter means to take the Narnian crown at any cost. I'm sorry." Edmund said, almost apologetic for what the boy he had once called brother was doing.

"We will do as you say." Caspian said, stepping forward into the light. "Your army is ready, your majesty. We will await you command, or do as best we can if the Calormen army starts the fight before you arrive." Edmund smiled childishly at the use of 'your majesty'

"Thank you Caspian." he said, his majestic look returning to his face. He turned to King Lune of Archenland.

"Your majesty, I request you hasten towards Narnia. We will need your help in the times to come."

"Yes, your majesty." the great King said and he bowed to his equal. The king turned to Lucy, "I must ask to be released from this spell." he asked and Lucy nodded, before the she snapped her fingers. Caspian saw Lucy and the other company waver slightly before they appeared as they had done before, minus the Archenland King. Then Lucy bit her lip.

"The spell is fading. I think everything has been said. Remember!" she said, then Caspian and Ladine were left.

"I thought they'd never leave." Ladine said and kissed Caspian on the neck.

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"Lucy?" Lucy turned to see Edmund walking towards her, armour already on.

"You know when I thought I met you, in the woods that day? When I was captured? Was that your magic?"

"yes." Lucy said, straightening the strap that held his quiver of arrows. "I was thinking of you so much that I just did it without realising." Edmund smiled and held her face in his hands.

"I don't think I've told you." he said, looking into her eyes. Lucy felt a little worried.

"What?" she asked.

"That you're the most beautiful girl I've ever seen." and he kissed her.