I was encouraged by a lovely PM to update this story sooner than I intended. Thank you so much, Jayden Kate. I hope you enjoy it!

"Recovery period is at eight weeks, maybe ten if he continues to glare at me in that way. Bandages changed every time the sun sets and a full checkup at the house of healing once every full moon. If in six weeks he does not have the energy to pick up his sword, you will inform me. If he cannot wake up at his usual hour, you will throw a bucket of cold water on him and inform me after having done so. If he so much as breathes wrong, I want to know about it," Liana gave one hard look to the team of hand-picked healers and attendants she had been provided with for Edmund's care. "He is our king, and he will get the care he deserves or so help me Aslan I will have all of you beheaded for manslaughter. Now, prepare the salves for the wound. I will demonstrate today, and today only."

As the healers scrambled to get out of the room in a hurry, Liana heard a deep chuckle from the bed and turned around, one eyebrow raised. Edmund looked as if he was controlling laughter.

"What's so funny?" she asked.

"You are," he answered. He still looked amused. "You would love to drive a sword through me yourself, but you can't stand the thought of my death at someone else's hands, can you?"

Liana blinked. "I do not want you to die, King Edmund."

Edmund snorted. "Could've fooled me."

Liana sighed. "My object is to heal you, not become your best friend."

"More's the pity. I've been trying to be a friend to you for over a year."

Liana rolled her eyes and knotted her sash back around her waist. "We'll have plenty of time to start a friendship, King Edmund, considering half these people will probably run to summon me if you so much as cough."

His eyes twinkled. "I'm sure you'd enjoy any excuse to see me."

Liana ignored his tone and walked to the dresser, beginning to clean up the various vials and powders that littered the polished surface. "I think the pain draught has made you slightly dysfunctional. You should sleep."

"I enjoy watching you work."

"You don't understand a single thing I do."

"Perhaps," Edmund shrugged and Liana threw him a curious look over her shoulder. "I am quite familiar with the various poisons available in Narnia, Liana. If you tried to kill me, I could scream for help."

"No one will help you, King Edmund. I am a respected professional."

"I am a king."

"You are my patient. I can give you whatever draught I want and you would have no choice but to drink it."

"That's an abuse of power."

"Well, you'd know about that better than any of us, wouldn't you?"

Silence followed her comment. Liana knew she had crossed a line; Edmund had done everything but apologize for what had happened at the Spring Gala, but his words on that fateful night had hurt her. She would never admit it, but his dark hair and clear brown eyes had always fascinated her. Even now, they drew her in unexplainably. To see them out of focus and to hear his rich voice saying those words had lessened her respect for him severely. It didn't help that she had let her emotions get the better of her and had thrown mead on him. Of course, it had made her feel better at the time but the memory of it only made her wince.

The quiet extended for many more minutes, until the healers returned to the room. Avoiding eye contact, Liana prepared the salves and, to avoid further embarrassment, had one of the attendants apply them onto Edmund's wound. She kept her gaze trained on his shoulder, refusing to meet his eyes. She knew he was watching her, but she didn't want to see disdain in his stare.

"You'll all do," she said finally, after all the attendants had been tested in some way or the other. Many of them let out sighs of relief, something she did not miss. It almost made her smile. She was young, but she was good enough that she was the sole judge of a group of some of the best from the House of Healing. It made her happy, until she remembered that she had been given this honor only because Edmund had been the one to summon her.

Her mood dampened, and she left his chambers in a hurry without saying a word. Mr. Tumnus followed her.

"Do you think it wise to leave him solely in their care?" he asked anxiously as they descended the main staircase. He stopped speaking to allow a group of nobles to pass them, and Liana gave a quick curtsey. She didn't miss the looks the women gave her, obviously wondering why she was in such a private part of the palace. She ignored them and focused back on Mr. Tumnus's speech. "I understand, of course, you have much to do but Lias is always saying you manage your time exceptionally well and-"

"He will be fine," assured Liana. "You know I wouldn't leave him to anyone's care except my own if I wasn't sure, Tumnus. Besides, I fear we may be getting on each other's nerves. It is no secret that the King and I are not friends."

Tumnus looked at her in surprise. "He always has such lovely things to say about you, Liana. I cannot believe that he has never expressed admiration for you before."

That took her by surprise. "Lovely things?"

"Well, yes. If he isn't discussing your skill with the sick, he talks of your skill with a dagger. And of course, he honestly believes you are one of the most beautiful women he has ever seen."

Liana laughed at that. "You flatter me, Tumnus. King Edmund is surrounded by beautiful women. I can have no extraordinary charms for him."

"But you do," insisted Mr. Tumnus. "It is very understandable for a man like Edmund, Liana. He enjoys conversation; in that aspect, you have no equal."

"Yes, in that aspect only," she smilingly shook her head. "Flattery will not make me change my mind, Tumnus. His care is out of my hands."

"Surely you can make an exception?"

Liana shrugged. "There is no reason for me to coddle him. He is a grown man and well able to manage himself. He'll have someone at his beck and call every hour of the day and I am always available in case something unexpected happens."

"What are the chances of the poison affecting him?"

"Slim. I removed every trace I could find and the cleansing draughts will catch anything I've missed. He should make a full recovery. Really, Tumnus, there's no need for me to hover."

Mr. Tumnus sighed and bowed Liana out of the palace. "I hope you are right, Healer Liana."