"You're late," Susan's eyes met Liana's as her friend entered the door. There was a faun currently in the process of expertly pinning her hair up and so she couldn't move. Through the mirror, she quickly examined her friend's choice of clothing and resisted the urge to jump about with glee. Liana had picked the least ostentatious and yet most beautiful dress out of the dozens Susan and Lucy had sent to her rooms.

Liana, unaware of her friend's internal happiness, bit her lip and closed the door behind her. "Am I really late? The ball wasn't due to start for another two hours, the last I heard."

"Yes, but I expected you to tell me you were coming as soon as you saw the dress," the faun finished her work and Susan turned away from the mirror to look at Liana. She gave her friend a brilliant smile. "I'm so glad you picked this one."

"You said you were sending me only one. You sent me half your closet."

"Yes, Lucy was eager and I had a few in mind as well. But I knew you'd pick this," Susan's smile never wavered. "It's a very flattering shade on you, and I love the golden detail. Of course, Peter thought it wasn't something I should wear," she rolled her eyes. "While I do not enjoy having my brother comment on my clothes, I suppose he was right."

Liana immediately began to protest. "Honestly, Susan, if you've never worn it I'll feel quite strange-"

"-but I'm not letting you change now," Susan held up a hand for silence. "You look stunning."

"It's a very beautiful dress," Liana looked down at her outfit and waved a hand helplessly. "I'm surprised it fit so well."

Susan shrugged, her smile almost secretive as she turned back to the mirror. As she smoothed a few wayward strands, she addressed the faun in the room. "You've done a lovely job, Seena, as always. Could you also attend to Healer Liana, please?"

The faun narrowed her eyes and trotted over to Liana, examining her shrewdly. Suddenly, she grinned. "With pleasure, Your Highness. My lady, if you would?" she gestured to an empty chair near the mirror. Liana sat down, almost feeling faint. Susan chattered on about guests, food, decorations etc. and Liana was grateful that she wasn't required to contribute much to the conversation. Seena was excellent at her task; she parted Liana's hair on the side and pinned back her thick locks in less than two minutes. Next, she instructed Liana to tilt her head forwards so that she was looking at her knees and proceeded to do something to the hanging tresses that Liana couldn't see. She didn't protest, however; considering the magnificence that was Susan's hair at every ball, she was content to let the faun work.

When there was a lull in the conversation, Liana ventured forth a question of her own. "Where is Lucy?"

"She went down to the ball-room. She takes barely an hour to get dressed," Susan leaned back against her dressing table. Before her friend could respond, Seena declared that she was done. Liana turned to look at herself in the mirror, but was interrupted by a knock at the door. Seena hurriedly went to answer it and returned with a long wooden box. Liana had seen such boxes in her sister-in-law's house. They usually contained jewelry.

"Who sent this, Seena?" asked Susan.

"I don't know, Your Highness. Lyra carried it here and merely gave it in my hand before going away."

Susan's eyes widened, as did Liana's. Lyra the cheetah was head of Edmund's personal security troop. It was rare that she ventured beyond Edmund's solar and she certainly answered to no one except her master. The implications of Seen's statement made Liana's thoughts swirl. Fortunately, Susan smoothly cut in before the silence could get awkward.

"Ah, yes, of course. I remember I asked Edmund to pick up something," she smiled angelically. "We intended to give it to Liana as a thank you for all that she has done, but now you've ruined the surprise!"

Seena looked horrified and immediately began apologizing. Liana waved away her words with a faint "Oh, its quite alright," but Susan did the wise thing and quickly sent her out to the garden to get roses for her hair. Once they were alone, Liana couldn't bear to meet her eyes.

"Well then," Susan sounded amused. "My brother certainly has a flair for showing affection."

Liana flinched. "Susan, please."

"You're blind if you don't see it."

"I see it clearer than you do."

"I'm sure you do," the suggestive tone wasn't lost on Liana. "Tell me, were you planning on hiding it until he finally proposed?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

Susan rolled her eyes. "Honestly, Liana, none of us are stupid enough to think that he'll leave you alone until he's married you."

Liana avoided her statement. "I don't understand what you mean by hiding."

"You never did tell me what happened after he walked you back to the Houses that night. Did you even reach your destination?"

Liana blushed furiously. "I assure you, he-"

Susan waved a hand dismissively. "Don't be embarrassed. Open the box, lets see what Edmund has decided to send you!"

Liana gulped and cracked open the lid, almost dreading what was inside. When she saw it, her jaw dropped. Susan gasped softly and murmured something about how it was perfect, but Liana couldn't hear her. The box contained a delicate gold chain. Two blue stones were set in it and a third, larger one hung from the center. The work was very fine and most importantly it wasn't as extravagant as any of the other gifts she had gotten. It was simply… pretty.

"Put it on, Liana," said Susan, breaking into her mental admiration for Edmund's taste. "It goes splendidly with your dress and I dare say that was the reason he sent it to you now."

Liana obediently put it on, slightly dazed. Susan held her hair up as she clasped the chain around her neck and when she rearranged her curls Liana saw what Seena had done. The woman staring back at her in Susan's mirror wasn't her. Liana didn't have time to dress up, not since she had come to Narnia. Seena had curled her hair even more than natural so that it didn't distract from the gorgeousness of the dress. Liana appreciated it; she needed to feel beautiful in front of all the women who would be fighting for Edmund's attention.

"You look lovely," Susan sounded delighted. "He's not going to be able to take his eyes off of you."

"He can't seem to do that anyway," said Liana thoughtlessly. There was silence for a moment before Susan burst out laughing. Liana blushed. "That was inappropriate. I'm sorry."

"Please, don't be," giggled Susan. "I would love to know more, but I understand. This is all new and you are not bound to tell me anything. I suppose you would like me to keep this a secret?"

"You don't know enough to keep anything a secret."

"Yes, but you look beautiful and your eyes are smiling," Susan winked. Liana blinked at her friend's uncharacteristic gesture. "I know you well enough to know that there is someone you have to impress."

!

"You're unusually impatient," commented Peter. "Could it be because a certain lady with blue eyes has decided to join us tonight?"

Edmund didn't stop his pacing. "Sod off, Pete."

Peter chuckled at his brother's less than kingly behavior. "Have a drink," he pushed a half-filled glass of spirits towards Edmund. "You look like you need it."

"I don't want to get drunk."

"One drink, Ed."

"The last time you said that to me I ended up making a fool out of myself in front of the very woman I am most anxious to see at this moment."

Peter scoffed. "You have such a low tolerance for alcohol. Its shameful."

"Will you shut up?" snapped Edmund.

Peter sighed. "She's in love with you, Ed. Even I can see it."

"I don't believe you."

"You sent her a necklace."

"Maybe it was too much. She hates things that are too much."

"She won't hate it."

"Since when are you a good judge of women?"

"I'm not. But I know Liana pretty well by now, and she is no ordinary woman," Peter shrugged and stood up from behind his desk. "She can't be, or else she'd never be able to put up with a wreck like you for as long as she has."

Edmund rolled her eyes and joined his brother at the door. "Always nice talking to you, Peter."

"Edmund," Peter stopped him before he could leave the room. He offered his younger brother an encouraging smile. "She doesn't have to say she loves you, you know. You'll be able to tell if she does."

Edmund nodded wordlessly and left his brother's solar. The descent to the ballroom was short, and he met Susan and Lucy near the doors. They were smiling and greeting guests as they entered. He was grateful that they had spared him that duty for the night; he and Peter were to simply enter, open the dances with their sisters and then they were free to mingle.

And find Liana. His eyes scanned the crowds hurriedly but he saw no sign of her. He remembered Susan saying that she would send her a blue dress, but so far none of the women present who wore that color resembled Liana. He had just given up when he heard a voice hiss near her ear, "Honestly, I leave you alone for one evening and you spend it trying to look at other women?"

His face broke into a grin as he turned around. He had conveniently situated himself behind a pillar in a corner and was confident that he couldn't be seen. Perhaps that was why she had ventured forth to speak to him. Of course, as soon as their eyes met all thoughts of talking flew from his mind. He knew she had been a noblewoman before her father's death so it was natural that finery would suit her, but he hadn't realized how much. It looked as though she had been made to be dressed in silks and decked with jewels. Compared to the other ladies in the room, she was not perhaps as dressed up as required, but she made up for it with a smirk that made him want to kiss her senseless.

"You're being unfair," he said, his voice slightly hoarse. His mouth had gone dry. She was wearing the necklace.

She quirked an eyebrow. Edmund came closer; the fact that he towered over her gave him some confidence. Of course, she didn't back down, merely rested a hand on his chest gently to push him away. "We are in public, King Edmund."

"You can't expect me not to kiss you."

"That is exactly what I expect."

"Not even once?"

"Of course not."

"You're cruel."

"You're not," her hand slipped into his and she squeezed it. "You didn't have to send me anything, but it is beautiful."

He raised her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles. His thumb stroked her palm. "Not as beautiful as you."

Liana drew her hand away, resisting the urge to smile. "Charmer."

Edmund rolled his eyes and came closer. This time, she took a step back. He scowled. "I hate balls."

"Why on earth would you say that?"

"I could be alone with you in some corner of the forest or palace at this very moment."

She blushed furiously. "Edmund, stop," her tone was reproving.

"I'm sorry," he took her hand again.

"Stop finding excuses to hold my hand."

His lips twitched. "You're making it very difficult for me to not do something inappropriate."

"And I will continue to do so," she began to back away. "I have to make my entrance now. Will I see you inside?"

"Naturally," he grabbed her hand and, before she could react, pulled her close and gave her a hard kiss on the mouth. She looked like she wanted to argue when he released her, but she didn't. "May I claim all of your dances?"

She snapped out of her daze. "Don't be ridiculous. You can have one."

"Three?"

"Two."

"The first two."

"The first and the last. Try not to make people stare at me."

"You wore that dress and yet you expect no one to look at you?"

"They'll be looking at the dress, not me," she rolled her eyes. "Jealousy doesn't suit you, King Edmund."

"Unfortunately, everything suits you or we'd have some basis for argument," he glowered. Liana smiled, blew him a quick kiss and made her way past the pillar towards the entrance of the hall. The crowd was thinning and Edmund counted to one hundred before he felt it was safe enough for him to make an appearance.

He met Peter at the door. "Shall we?" he asked. Edmund nodded, trying not to sigh as Susan took his arm. Her smile was beautiful as ever as they walked down the stairs, but Edmund wasn't paying attention. He spotted a flutter of blue silk near the dance floor and saw that Liana was standing by the edge, watching them descend. She caught his eye and smiled, inclining her head to one side. Ronas was next to her, and he was already looking at Edmund suspiciously.

Making a quick mental note to tell Ronas of the situation as soon as possible, Edmund took a deep breath as they stepped onto the dance-floor. Susan's smile didn't falter as she placed her hand on his shoulder, but she did hiss through clenched teeth, "For the love of Aslan, Ed, don't ruin this."

He didn't have to ask her what she meant.

If anyone is interested in seeing Liana's dress, the link is on my profile and she's wearing the necklace in it too. I've been dying to make one of my characters use it and this is the perfect opportunity. And, to those who will wonder, yes Liana does slightly resemble 'her' ;)