"Eat some breakfast, Edmund," Lucy's voice was uncharacteristically somber as she put a plate of toast in front of her brother. "She should be back by noon."

"I want more information on that disease, Lucy."

"I have given you all the books that I had," Lucy sighed and sat down opposite him. "You know as well as I do that if it were something that had ever been recorded before, Liana would have identified it immediately. If she did not, that means it is something new."

"And potentially dangerous," Edmund ran a hand through his hair in frustration. "Why didn't she let me go to her?"

"Because if she is right then you would be in more danger than we thought she was in," said Peter quietly. "This disease is unheard of, and I will not have you risking your life and the safety of one of our best healers because you cannot control your emotions."

Edmund opened his mouth to argue but Susan interrupted them both. "Both of you need to shut up," she snapped, her eyes glinting ferociously. "Grow up and go do your duties. Liana is important to all of us, but how do you think she would feel if she arrives at noon, having risked her life for us, and we have done nothing except argue in her absence?" she threw her napkin down onto the table and stormed out of the room. Peter huffed and followed her out, leaving only Lucy and Edmund in the dining room.

"I'm going to go into the court-yard, so that I may see her if she arrives early," said Lucy finally. "Would you like to come, Edmund?"

Edmund shook his head. "I have some matters to attend to, Lucy. If she arrives early, please do let me know."

"I will," Lucy smiled sadly and patted he brother's shoulder as she exited the room.

!

Liana alighted from the carriage unsteadily, smiling slightly at the flustered stable-boy who had run to help her get down. Waving away his apologies, she ran a hand through her hair and breathed in the familiar air of Cair Paravel. She had come to refer to it as home, even though in the back of her mind the fact that the Pevensies would soon leave her never really went away. She couldn't decide if she was in denial or if she had come to accept her fate. Perhaps the key was to simply enjoy each moment she was given. She should try to stop being so proper. After all, why would people care about her once they were gone?

A sudden urge to see Edmund overcame her. It had been almost two weeks, and the ache inside her chest had throbbed until it felt like someone was carving a hole into her heart. She missed him, his laugh, his conversation, even his quick temper. Sighing, she walked into the hall and took a detour through an unused part of the castle, knowing she would reach the private wing faster. Lyra remained hot on her heels, and Liana decided to abstain from propriety and go straight to Edmund's chambers instead of her own, allowing Lyra a rest. When she reached the familiar door and knocked on it twice with a shaking hand, she gave Lyra a small, knowing smile. The cheetah returned it, in her own fashion, and waited until the gruff "Come in" sounded, at which Liana opened the door and Lyra took off for the kitchens.

"Leave it there," Edmund didn't turn around from where he was sitting on his desk, his back to the door. He was furiously scribbling on a piece of parchment. "Tell Peter I'll sign it and return it myself tonight."

Liana shook her head at his aloofness and shut the door quietly behind her. Her steps were silent as she approached him and gently placed a hand on his arm. He flinched, tilting his head to look up at her with suspicion in his eyes which immediately transformed into relief when he saw who it was.

In a trice, he was on his feet and she was in his arms. Liana let out a small laugh, half relief and half amusement. She pressed a quick kiss to his shoulder and pulled back from his embrace, touching the dark circles under his eyes sadly. Edmund caught her hand and pressed his lips to it, an expression of contentment coming over his features. Liana's breath caught in her throat when she realized he probably had not had a moment of rest since she had left on what had practically been a suicide mission in his eyes.

"You haven't been sleeping," she murmured quietly. "Have you?"

"Doesn't matter," he rested his forehead against hers and closed his eyes. "You don't know how happy I am to see you."

"I think I know," Liana smiled and tangled her fingers into his hair. "I'm sorry I didn't let you come and bring me back yourself, but it wasn't safe."

"I wish you hadn't travelled alone."

"I had Lyra with me, and Mr. Tumnus and even Lias."

"But not me."

"No," Liana sighed. "Not you."

Edmund hummed in reply and tugged Liana towards the divan in the corner of the room. She allowed herself to be dragged without complaint. The countless sleepless nights had taken their toll on her, and she had fallen asleep as soon as the carriage had begun moving. She knew she was well-rested now, but the temptation to be close to Edmund was hard to resist. She could sense his surprise when she curled close to him willingly, resting her chin comfortably on his shoulder as he tangled his legs with her own. He raised an eyebrow in surprise at her. "I can see that you missed me."

"Yes," Liana reached up to kiss his cheek. "Quite a bit, actually."

Edmund turned his face so that he was facing her and pressed his lips to the corner of her mouth. "I missed you too, Liana."

"And yet your self-control is remarkable," she teased, trailing her fingers up his arm to run through his hair again.

Edmund's eyes darkened at her words. "You overestimate my self-control," his fingers brushed her hair out of her face and tilted her chin up so his lips just touched her own. "I assure you, it is deplorable."

Liana didn't bother replying, catching his lips in a kiss that surprised even her with the intensity of it. She grasped fistfuls of Edmund's tunic unconsciously, pulling him closer and ignoring the sense of shock she could feel emitting off of him at her actions. She gasped into the kiss when, in one fluid movement, he had flipped her onto her back and pressed the full weight of his body against hers. His lips went lower, past her neck and brushed her shoulder through her dress. This time, when he nudged her dress slightly lower, she didn't stop him. Her fingers tangled into his hair and she sighed again. His lips felt good against her skin, and she was in no mood for it to stop. She had been under an infinite amount on stress, and she wanted nothing more than for Edmund to help her forget all about it.

"Liana," his soft whisper drew her out of her thoughts and she looked up at him curiously. He was hovering above her slightly, his palms flat on either side of her head. As soon as they locked eyes, Edmund reached down to kiss her again, less urgently but with the same intensity. "I love you," he murmured into the kiss.

"I love you more," she whispered back. Tears burned in her eyes when she thought of everything he must have considered when she had told Peter about the disease. "I am so sorry for worrying you."

"It's alright," he said quietly. He rested his forehead against hers and sighed deeply. "You said you'd come back."

Liana smiled a little. "I had to. I don't think I can live without you."

She shouldn't have said it, but it had slipped out and she realized she didn't regret it. To be vulnerable in front of Edmund was not something she could be ashamed of. He merely smiled, laying on his side and pulling her close until she was curled up against his chest, his arms around her waist. "I don't think I want you to," he replied, kissing her forehead and resting his chin on top of her head. "You should rest now. I will wake you in a few hours."

"I should go back to my room."

"No. Stay," his arms tightened around her. "Just for today, Liana, please."

"I'd stay every day if I could," she murmured. Edmund made no sign that he had heard, so Liana merely buried her face into the crook of his neck and sighed deeply, allowing herself to slip into unconsciousness.