"Try that again."
Lydia wiped her sweaty hair from her forehead and groaned, "Meliae I can't take any more today."
The dryad circled round her, "You go to battle in two days" she said slightly breathless, "Let's do it again."
Lydia huffed then picked up her sword. Over the last few days, she'd been training with Meliae every day, determined to improve herself. It was ironic, she noted with grim satisfaction, that the hardest she'd ever worked for in her entire life was something she was so against.
She stood her ground as Meliae brought her sword down against Lydia's shoulder. She moved only to block it and felt her feet dig into the sand. The days when she would have run were long gone.
Still, Meliae was much stronger than her and blow after blow rained down. Lydia knew that Meliae was deliberately reaching high to force Lydia, who was much shorter, to thrust her sword higher and higher until her arm began to burn.
"You have no stamina." Meliae called out and caught Lydia lightly on the wrist as she went to parry the dryad's blow. It was only a graze but Lydia's arm sagged and she bit her lip to avoid crying out.
Meliae reached up and her sword swung against Lydia's head. She ducked and then felt a blow to the stomach, knocking the wind out of her. Her world was tinged with red and she fell to her knees.
"I give up" Lydia panted, "You win."
Meliae frowned and knocked Lydia's blade to the ground, "Those would have been your last words."
Lydia flung herself down on the grass, "I doubt the Calormens will have anyone as good as you". She said casually, "Besides, Edmund's been talking about me staying with Lucy, keep me out the worst bit of fighting."
Meliae looked at her curiously "Are you alright with that?"
Lydia shrugged, "He's probably right, I think we've proved I'm not a professional swordswoman."
Melaie nodded, "As long as you're happy. You do seem happier this morning." She added playfully and Lydia's cheeks grew warm. She fiddled with the hem of her dress
"I may have spent the night in Edmunds room. Just talking, just talking." She said hastily when the dryad let out a sharp gasp.
"No but it was nice, everything's been so up in the air, it's been nice to just sit down and talk. Make the most of the time we have left before tomorrow."
She moved gracefully to sit on the grass but then immediately sprung up again.
"Your Highness." She said curtseying. Lydia turned round and saw Edmund walking over with a pitcher of lemonade.
Lydia's eyes lit up. "You're late, we're just finishing up." She called out and Edmund smiled and set the pitcher down on the ground, muttering something unintelligible when it nearly fell over; Meliae rushing over to take it from him.
"Well" he said straightening up and regaining his composure, "You can fight me then."
Lydia raised an eyebrow "Is that a challenge?"
"Definitely."
The two of them smirked at each other and Lydia barely heard Melaie's muttered excuse to leave, she was completely focused on Edmund; it had been like that all morning.
"I've got to say, I thought you would've made an excuse not to fight me." Edmund said drawing his sword and twirling it.
Lydia ignored his showing off and went to get her own. "I think I'll be fine, you wouldn't incapacitate me just before we all head off to face the Calormens."
She turned back round expecting Edmund to crack a joke but his face was serious.
"I'm not going to allow anyone to hurt you." He said fiercely swinging his sword menacingly.
She tilted her head slightly, "You know I can look after myself right?"
"Yes but you know how much I care about you. I just want you to be happy."
There was a pause and Lydia shifted her sword in her hand uncomfortably.
"Let's fight."
She knew he had the upper hand in strength so she tried catching him unaware and aiming for his mid-section. Edmund laughed and easily blocked it. He slashed his sword against hers, wanting to knock Lydia's sword out of her hand and she had to grab it with both.
Using two hands she brought her sword down with all her might against Edmund's shoulder but he danced out the way smirking.
Lydia gritted her teeth. He wasn't even trying.
She smiled and Edmund hesitated, staring at her. Lydia took the opportunity to dart forward, she grabbed Edmund's collar leaving his sword hanging uselessly by his side and hooked her leg around his.
Too late, he realised what she was doing and began to push her away but Lydia's leg pulled against his and pulled them both to the ground.
The wind was knocked out of her and it took her a split second to realise she was on top of Edmund. There was a moment where they both stared at each other.
"I win." Lydia said, bringing her lips to his. Edmund immediately opened his mouth and she devoured him, not caring who could see them. Their desperation for each other had grown over the last few days and almost without thinking, Lydia began to run her nails down Edmund's chest over his shirt.
He groaned and his hands reached for her hair pulling it out of its ponytail. He pulled away from her and began to litter small kisses up her jaw. Lydia bowed her head and took in the smell of his shampoo letting herself drown in the feeling of Edmund's fingers trailing down her back.
Finally, he stopped to look at her, like he was surprised she could even exist.
"We should practice more often if you're going to do that" he laughed breathlessly.
"Consider it relieving tension before tomorrow." She muttered shrugging Edmund off her when he started to kiss her neck,
"Stop it. We're meeting your sister." She said pulling herself to her feet. Edmund, propped himself up with his elbows and tossed his head back as if he was going to sunbathe.
"Edmund!"
He huffed and let Lydia pull him to his feet. He shoved her playfully.
"You were the one distracting me."
Lydia shoved him back and he made a show of falling into her, wrapping an arm around her shoulder.
They were still giggling as they walked back to the castle. Lydia opened the door to the lunch room to find Peter glaring at her, surrounded by papers.
"Peter" she said, "What can we do for you?"
"Looking for the both of you." He said coolly. "Seeing as Susan and Glendan have wandered off somewhere."
The atmosphere in the room suddenly went very cold and Lydia felt Edmund move to place a hand on her back.
"Well we're here now." He said his voice level and Peter stared at them for a moment, taking in their flushed faces and the rip on Edmunds's shirt before nodding.
"Ed, we've got to go and speak to Oreius. " He said looking away from the couple and beginning to collect up his papers.
Edmund elbowed Lydia and she mock glared at him. "Think we dodged a bullet there" he said in a low voice.
"Peter's your brother and the High King" she sighed.
Edmund frowned, "What's that supposed to mean?" he asked but Lydia just shrugged. "Go on," she said nodding in Peter's direction, "I'm sure I'll find something to do."
Edmund gave her one last concerned glance before rushing off to join Peter. Lydia turned round to pick up her sword. She gave it a few half hearted swings then put it in place next to the other training swords.
It was almost a relief when Lucy burst in. "Lydia! I've been looking for you everywhere! I need your help checking supplies off."
Lydia straightened up, "Well we were supposed to be meeting." She said smiling at Lucy. "Though you'll need to tell me what I'm supposed to be doing." She added as they walked through the hallways.
"Oh its really easy," Lucy said, "Just have to sign all the wagons off, it's a bit pointless but it's got to be done in case anything goes missing."
Outside the castle gates there was a procession of wagons stacked high with grain, fresh produce, medicine, weapons and tents. Lydia could barely hear over the din of the drivers shouting at each other, the traffic jam extending right out beyond view.
She exchanged glances with Lucy, "Where are we supposed to start?"
Lucy craned her neck slightly to see where a row of centaurs were moving through the carts carrying long sheets of paper.
"Looks like the guards have already made a start" she said, "So maybe we can just start from the other end and meet them in the middle?"
She pointed to a cart stacked high with leafy green vegetables. "Why don't you start with that one over there?" When Lydia didn't respond, Lucy patted her gently on the arm, "You'll be fine."
The cart Lucy had chosen for Lydia to start with was manned by a red faced farmer with dungarees; perhaps, in Lydia's mind, the closest person she'd seen who could fit in to the Devonshire countryside where her grandparents were.
She beamed at the man, "Queen Lucy's sent me to check what supplies you've got."
The man sneered at her. "And who are you?"
Lydia kept her gaze level, "A friend of the Pevensies, attempting to do her job, the same as you." She replied coolly.
She could see one of the centaurs watching her closely and straightened her back imagining for a moment she was Susan, tall and elegant.
"Now I'll ask you again sir, can I have a list of everything you're taking to the troops."
The man gave her a long hard stare before grunting. "It's all there, take a look yourself." He gestured to his cart.
A small victory but it'll have to do, Lydia thought to herself as she walked round to peer into his cart. She scratched a few notes on the parchment Lucy had given her then nodded to the man.
"You can go now."
She got another sneer for that but he picked up his reins and the cart rolled away slowly, joining the procession of wagons heading to the garrison. Lydia allowed herself a moments pause then turned round to face the next cart owner; a weedy man who gave her a frightened nod.
"It's just bandages miss, bandages and some herbs" he squeaked but before Lydia could respond she felt a hand on her shoulder.
"You handled that well." a female voice spoke softly into her ear. She turned round to see the grey centaur who had been watching her earlier.
"The man who questioned your authority just now," the centaur continued, "You acted like a queen would."
Lydia could feel herself blushing and she began to protest until Lucy's voice cut through her stammering.
"Lydia? Rynna? Whats going on? You're holding the line up." The young queen marched over to them clutching sheets of parchment.
Rynna swept into a large bow "Sorry my queen, I was offering Lady Lydia some words of advice. You're doing an excellent job." She added, looking at Lydia who smiled, feeling herself beginning to blush again.
"I'll take those for you, Your Majesty." Rynna took the parchment from Lucy before bowing again.
Lucy shook her head as the centaur walked back down the line. "She was very close to Silorn, the centaur who was supposed to take you home." She said softly.
"I remember" Lydia murmured and the two of them shared a sad smile.
"We should get back to work."
Lucy sighed then huffed in sudden annoyance. "For goodness sake, Ed, we're already behind. What now?" she called out in exasperation as her older brother weaved through carts to reach the two girls.
"Peter's driving me crazy with all his over complicated plans and schemes." He said slightly out of breath, his cheeks flushed. "So I've come to see if my favourite sister needs any - " he ducked as Lucy swatted at him.
"We ride to war, tomorrow Edmund! There's not time for this!" Lucy said impatiently. "And here's Peter now to drag you back. Brilliant."
The eldest Pevensie came storming towards them, his crown balancing precariously on his head. Lydia almost shrank back at the fury in his eyes.
"Edmund! What are you doing? What have we just talked about?" he barked.
Lydia expected Edmund to apologise, he had been so focused the last few days so her eyebrows raised when he smirked at his brother.
"Just thought I needed a break." He said shrugging but whilst this show was for Peter's benefit it was Lucy who glared at him,
"What's going on between you two?" she said, folding her arms but Edmund just patted her condescendingly on the head. "Nothing you need to worry about." He said grinning at Lydia who found herself smiling back.
Lucy eyed them suspiciously. "Does this have something to do with Lydia?"
Edmund and Lydia exchanged glances, "I've no idea what you're talking about." Edmund said impishly wrapping an arm around her.
"Meet me later?" he whispered, his mouth close to her ear causing Lucy to look away pointedly.
Lydia leant up and kissed him sweetly, "I'll have to check my schedule." She said, laughing when Edmund huffed.
"Ed.." Peter tapped his foot impatiently but Edmund ignored him kept his arms round Lydia.
"You better go." She whispered giving him a slight shove and he rolled his eyes dramatically.
"You're so bossy." He said tracing his finger lightly across her lip
"You love it though."
"Edmund! That's enough!" Peter strode over and yanked his brother away, his hand practically vibrating with anger.
"Fine" Edmund snapped. "Lets go. I'll see you later." He said turning round to shoot Lydia an apologetic glance.
She nodded quickly and when they'd gone looked over at Lucy, Peter's words from the stable ringing in her ears.
"Will that be a problem do you think?" she asked but Lucy didn't even look up.
"Peter's just stressed, Edmund will talk some sense into him."
"Hmm I hope you're right." Lydia gave one last look towards the castle where the brothers had gone before returning to the nervous looking merchant in front of her.
"Now where were we?"
#
She had to wait till that evening to find out what was wrong with Peter, she'd been kept away from him for the rest of the day. Whether that was an intentional act on Peter's behalf she had yet to find out but either way shed been rushed off her feet with Lucy and had found Edmund in his room long after dark, where he was still working.
"What are you writing?" she said leaning over his shoulder to try and read it.
"Just some letters to be read out to the troops tomorrow, rouse their spirits that sort of thing." He ran a hand through his hair and leant back in his chair, "It's the least I could do."
Lydia wrapped her arms round him and he leant into her touch, "You've done enough."
"I know I just don't want to let anyone down." He said sighing. "You and Peter had a chat the other day didn't you."
Lydia stiffened at that, "In the stable yes."
"I think I got the same conversation today. About how we're a liability together because our scout group was spotted and I have to end it as soon as possible "for Narnia"."
"Well are you going to?"
Edmund looked at her incredulously, "No why would you think that?"
She glared at him. "Well I had to check!" Her eyes lowered, "No one would blame you if you did."
Edmund reached round to put a hand on hers; his hands were much smaller than his brothers and were cold and clammy to touch.
"No one is making a decision like that for me alright? No one." His grip on her suddenly became tight and Lydia nodded.
"Okay then."
"It's unfair anyway" Edmund muttered turning back round. "I noticed Susan and Glendan didn't get the big brother talk."
"Maybe we should get married then." Lydia said jokingly but frowned when Edmund looked up at her, "Ed I'm joking."
"I know." He said standing up and enveloping her in a hug, "I do care about you though. And if things don't go well –" he swallowed, "I just want you to know-"
"Shh everything's going to be fine." Lydia cut him off, rubbing her hands up his shoulders. She had to believe that was true even if Edmund didn't ; the reality of what could happen was too much to bear.
She lay awake long after Edmund fell asleep that night just watching him sleep peacefully, his chest rising and falling; she supposed it was a soldier's instinct to not let an upcoming battle affect sleep. Recently they'd given up trying to pretend they weren't sharing a room and she was glad about it; if this was the final night either of them were going to spend alive, she'd rather be with him.
Not that she could really afford to think like that anymore, she'd given up everything to be with Edmund, the idea of what came next for her if he got injured tomorrow was not something she'd really had the chance to consider.
This was Aslan's last chance to advise her, warn her….but nothing. She stared at the ceiling, trying to picture him, his voice but all she could see was the blood red of Edmund's bedroom.
It was worst night to dream of home.