I hope this answers a lot of the questions I got in the last few reviews. I tried to make it as detailed as possible without omitting dialogue because at this point in the story I want to avoid long paragraphs of thoughts and descriptions. If you're still confused or if I've missed anything please do let me know so I can incorporate it into the next chapter.

I also want to thank all my reviewers for taking the time to leave such lovely comments. You guys are amazing!

Edmund groaned as the hangings of his bed were pulled away. Unceremoniously, the drapes on his windows were thrown back to admit the morning light and he squeezed his eyes shut. Liana's wake-up calls were normally not so violent; she at least gave him time to let his eyes adjust before she began making any form of noise.

"Good morning, brother," Lucy's chirpy voice had him peering from underneath the covers, surveying the room with blurred vision. His sister stood at the foot of his bed in a yellow dress much too bright for his eyes, a cheerful smile on her face. "Liana asked me to take over for a few hours. Her brother sent a letter saying that the expedition had been cancelled so he was coming home sooner than anticipated. She went down to the village to tell her sister-in-law."

Edmund buried his face back into his pillow and mumbled something incomprehensible. Inside, he was smiling. He had dispatched a letter the same day as the fundraiser, cancelling the expedition. It had been dangerous from the beginning, but he had been determined to send it because of the benefits of scouting land. However, it could wait. He knew Liana would be happy to see her brother again, and perhaps he would do a better job of keeping the suitors away than her trinkets did. The Count was too friendly for Edmund's liking.

"I know what you did, Ed," Lucy's soft voice drifted into his ears. "I don't know why you did it, but it was very kind."

Edmund raised his head from his pillow. "Hand me my robe, please, Lu," he said, smothering a yawn with the back of his hand. Lucy gave him an odd look, but obliged. She dutifully helped her brother sit up, re-dressed his wound and busied herself with tidying his side-table while he dressed. Once he was ready, he gratefully took the vial Lucy handed him and drowned the pain-reliever in one gulp. Just as he was setting down the empty vial, there was a sharp knock at the door and Liana strode in.

Edmund raised his eyebrows. Every time he had seen Liana for the past two weeks, she had been in her healing garb and her severe expression hadn't cracked. Today, her dress was in the same simple style, but it was a pale pink. Her hair was in a loose plait, carelessly thrown over one shoulder. Edmund couldn't remember the last time he had seen her look so… young. She held her sash in her hands and was tying it around her waist by the time he had regained his senses. She bobbed a quick curtsey.

"Good morning," her tone was pleasant, even conversational. "Thank you so much for taking over, Queen Lucy, but you don't need to inconvenience yourself any further. Lias has a few patients in the Houses which could do with your attention."

Lucy nodded and walked out of the room. Liana went to the small table set up near the door and began fiddling with the vials. Edmund stared at her back for a few seconds before shrugging. He walked to his desk slowly and sat down. Mr. Tumnus had delivered a set of documents to his chambers last night when he had been unavailable, and he was anxious to get a start on studying them so he could be involved in the next council meeting.

Before he could undo the tie that bound the parchment, Liana's hand came out of nowhere and plucked it from his grasp. Eyebrows raised, he leaned back in his chair and surveyed her. She was leaning against the desk next to him, close enough that he could smell the scent she always seemed to carry about with her; jasmine with a hint of mint. It was intoxicating.

"You shouldn't read those," he said quietly. "They're-"

"-all about how you're the reason they called off the expedition to Calormen," she finished his sentence for him, her eyes flickering to his. They were bright and alert, but otherwise Edmund could distinguish no emotion. "Odd, isn't it, that my brother is in the same company you just recalled?"

"Very odd," he kept his face blank, matching hers. He had done her a good turn, but he would never tell her. Mostly because he didn't know why he had even bothered.

Liana's eyes narrowed. "Don't play dumb, Edmund. Tell me why you did it."

He changed the subject. "Strange, you have no qualms about using my first name, but you're oddly particular about it in the case of everyone else," Edmund leaned back in his chair and folded his arms across his chest. He raised an eyebrow when he saw her lips twitch. "I was under the impression such formalities were only excluded amongst friends."

"Forgive my impertinence, King Edmund," her tone was icy. "I'll leave you to your own devices," she made to walk away but Edmund grabbed her arm before she could. Liana's eyebrows shot up at the gesture. "Is that wholly appropriate?"

Edmund stood up from his seat, taking a step closer. Liana took a step back. "Well, you're alone in a man's chambers in the middle of the day. Is that wholly appropriate?"

"I am a Healer, King Edmund."

"Even your sash can't save you from the court's animosity, Liana. I'm surprised you don't know that."

"I didn't ask for any of this. The High King has been kind to me-"

"-which brings us back to the question at hand; he is the High King, and I am Edmund."

"I beg your pardon."

"Don't," Edmund's voice became gentle. He wanted to prove a point, but there was no battle this time. "He is kind to you because you considers you to be a friend, Liana. Friends do nice things for each other," he released her arm. "But not all gestures of friendship are as open as Peter's. Shall we leave it at that?"

Liana blinked, then shook her head obstinately. "No, no we cannot. I appreciate the gesture of friendship, I do. It is very kind of you, but it is too much. You cannot alter laws and declarations and risk lives just to…" she trailed off and held a hand against her forehead, sighing in frustration. "Edmund, please, you don't have to do this."

"You saved my life on more than one occasion."

"It is my duty to do so, Edmund, you can't-" a knock on the door interrupted her. Edmund held up a hand, signalling her to be silent, and walked towards the door to open it. Susan was outside.

She was in her simplest dress, a rarity for her. Her smile was pleasant. "I wondered if I might steal Liana until dinner. Surely you don't need any care until then?"

"You can ask her," Edmund opened the door wider for his sister and she smiled when she saw her friend standing near the desk.

"Of course," she curtseyed and hurried out of the room, giving Edmund a confused look as she passed by. He kept his face impassive as he closed the door behind them.

!

"I do hope you're enjoying your stay," Susan's voice was earnest. "I don't want you to feel ill at ease in the least."

Liana smiled and threaded the grass through her cluster of flowers. She finished her wreath and handed it to the waiting fawn, who eagerly ran ahead to hang it up. Susan was working with the dryads and nymphs to decorate the castle for the annual Spring Gala, and Liana had been roped in to helping her. She didn't mind; it was rare she could converse with her friend in private, so she took any opportunity she got.

Liana picked up another bunch of flowers and answered Susan's question, her tone reassuring. "Have no fear for my comfort. I feel spoilt, to be honest. This is much more than I'm used to."

"I'm just so glad Peter revoked that wretched law," said Susan as she carefully arranged the flowers and candles on the table. "I always told him that it was ridiculous to deny all the refugees any sort of benefit in exchange for work. You work twice as hard as any Narnian in the Houses of Healing."

Liana shrugged. "You're very kind, Susan, but it's irrelevant. The law is gone now, and your brother has been very considerate. He told me that they're building a whole community for us not far from the village."

Susan smiled and nodded. "Yes, Edmund just has to approve the finances for it. Thank Aslan, now that he's recalled his expedition we'll have more than enough to manage your affairs quite nicely."

Liana's face darkened. "Susan, I want to talk to you about that."

"I won't hear a word of it," said her friend firmly. "We both know why its being done, and I approve heartily. Whether this is a way for him to gain your friendship or if he's paying the debt he owes you, I refuse to stop it. You need your brother's protection, Liana."

"The High King has already given me chambers far too luxurious in the same wing as you," persisted Liana. "I have no need of protection while I live in Cair Paravel. And once I leave, the community will be just as secure."

Susan shook her head. "I don't talk of such security. You need a man to keep you safe from other men."

"I assure you, I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself."

Susan looked at her sadly. "Are you, really?"

"I don't understand."

"I know you wear those trinkets to keep the Count away," she gestured to the diamond bracelet Liana rarely removed now. "We may keep you safe in our home, Liana, but the Count lives here too. The only thing keeping him away right now is the fact that your day is divided between Edmund and Lucy. As soon as one is out of the way, you know he will be as persistent as ever."

"I can manage."

"Yes, but for how long?"

Liana evaded her question. "I will have to get married eventually."

Susan's face fell. "Please don't speak of it as a chore, Liana."

Liana laughed. "It is as much a chore for me as it is for you. I had enough money two years ago to guarantee myself a comfortable home for the rest of my life, and the beauty of it was that I could live alone. Now, my sister-in-law is expecting her second child. I will have to marry, if only to be comfortable. I find no joy in the prospect."

"You'll find happiness if you wait for it."

"How long can I wait for it?" Liana's smile was bitter. "If I was to find a handsome noble with a decent fortune who had enough affection for me to keep me satisfied, why not take the opportunity?"

"Because you deserve better," said Susan quietly.

Liana shrugged. "Contentment will suffice for me, Susan. I'll learn to call that my happiness."