Disclaimer: The Chronicles of Narnia belong to C.S. Lewis, not me or am I making any profit with this story. I only own Alexandra and her friends/family or any other character you don't recognize.
It was awkward to say the least.
None of them expected their reunion after so many years to be that uncomfortable. Alexandra expected more bravery on her part, explaining to him everything that had happened, it was the least she could do. And in return, receiving a lot of screams and snarky remarks from him. Instead she was analyzing the pros and cons of telling the truth, and getting to the conclusion that she could not face the hate yet, not if it came from Edmund.
On the other hand, the Just King pictured their reunion as Alexandra running into his arms with tears in her eyes, he had so many times imagined how embracing her again would feel like, how she would smell and her warmth. But he was so focused on that movie like daydream that he had forgotten that one of the reasons why Alex had caught his attention, and later on his heart, was because her personality wasn't like all the others.
His wife wasn't the kind of woman to cry about everything and throw herself into his arms when she had a problem. No, she wasn't cliché. She was a fighter.
It seemed that both of them had lost the words they had rehearsed in their heads so many times. It was as if none of them were worth breaking the silence that had settled inside that tent. Silently wondering if the other would have the guts to talk first.
Alexandra decided to be the first one to break the ice with one of her jokes, but just as she opened her mouth to talk, he did.
"You are not wearing your ring." He said with his stare focused directly on her hands. Alex hid them behind her back, kind of ashamed, as when she looked at left hand, his silver wedding band rested peacefully on his ring finger.
"I'm sorry." She said lowering her stare.
"Why?" He asked.
"Because I'm not wearing the-"
"No, why aren't you wearing it?" He clarified.
"Oh..." She said and after thinking about it for a few minutes, she remembered where she had placed it. "I lent it to someone. I was supposed to get it back that same night but then I got transported here."
"So you lost it." Edmund stated. And Alex was alarmed instantly by his change of voice. He was definitely upset.
"Not quite. I know where it is." She tried to reason with him
"But you don't have it." He said, making the queen frown.
"No, at the moment I do not."
"Perfect." He said taking his off and placing it on the table to his side, making her open her mouth in an 'o' shape.
"That was rude." She said crossing her arms and resting most of her weight on her right leg, suddenly, her feet were killing her.
"No. Don't you dare." He pointed a finger at her, making her even more upset.
"It was." She insisted defiantly.
He wanted to pick a fight? She would give him one.
"No. What was extremely disappointing and inappropriate was the fact that you not only took off your wedding ring, but lent it to a stranger for him or her to do Aslan knows what with it. You dishonored this marriage." He gave his argument, his voice not rising once, but with resentment dripping from his words.
That was a low blow.
Alex wasn't one to hit without a reason, but her hand felt heavy with the desire to slap Edmund as hard as she could.
"You know nothing." She said icily and turned around, ready to leave the tent.
"Where do you think you're going?" He said and without looking Alex knew that he had moved near her.
"Dare to lay a hand on me King Edmund and I will have you thrown across the room." Alexandra threatened, surprising the Just King.
He ran a hand through his hair, thankful that he wasn't wearing his crown at the moment. He didn't want to be a king in that space of time, he wanted to be the man she had married years ago. He wanted to know what had happened. What had changed. And most importantly: Why. He deserved to know! But also, he knew that by treating her roughly he would get absolutely nothing out of her.
"I'm sorry Alex, I just...I was starting to lose faith in seeing you again. It's a surprise I don't know how to handle. A good one." He said in hopes to get her temper to subside. He knew she was as stubborn as him.
"I present you my apologies too King Edmund, as I'm having a hard time handling the situation too. I do not think that either of us is ready to discuss any important issues yet, we are clearly emotionally unstable at the moment. Maybe after we get to the palace and meet up with the other monarchs." She said diplomatically.
Edmund sighed. She was still very upset.
Suddenly, the tent was opened roughly and in came Ninarika and Knight Rossendal.
"Your majesties...You'll want to see this." The human said gravely.
They were both riled up by that first attempt of the conversation they were both, expecting and dreading. But it was time to act as monarchs, not as lovers. So they put aside their differences and walked outside to face whatever the problem was.