Everything That Mattered - Chapter 8

[ladylapislazuli]

Title: Everything That Mattered (8/21)
Pairing: Caspian/Edmund
Rating: PG-13

Summary: There was always something there, some feeling that Edmund had always acknowledged. As the feeling escalates, he and Caspian find themselves swept into something that neither of them had ever dared to dream of before.
A/N: Sorry about the random updates. :P My updating day was supposed to be Sunday, but it didn't happen. I need to stick a note on my computer, or something. :P
Notes: Thanks to my awesome beta xxlucyferxx for kicking my arse into gear. :)
( Chapter 1: 'A Fool's Hope' ) ( Chapter 2: 'Stubborn Man' ) ( Chapter 3: 'A Walk In The Park' ) ( Chapter 4: 'Closer' )( Chapter 5: 'High King Peter the Overprotective' ) ( Chapter 6: 'Be Civil, Peter!' )

Chapter 8: ‘Galmian Relations’

The throne room was positively enormous. Not as big as the throne room in Cair Paravel had been, but large and grand enough to give a display of the power that was Narnia. Beautifully decorated windows lined the walls, some with stained glass that made colours dance across the stone foundations. At the end of the room was a dais, a magnificent throne sitting atop it.

Sitting on his throne, sword at his hip and crown glinting on his dark hair, was King Caspian. His expression was serious as he gazed down at Reepicheep, listening intently to the knight.

“Galma has invited your Majesty to take part in a tournament,” the mouse squeaked. “The Duke of Galma has extended the offer.” Though his words were formal, Reepicheep’s beady eyes glinted with amusement.

“What has he to say?” Caspian asked.

“He states that it would be an honour if his Majesty would attend and joust with his knights. The winner will be awarded a prize, though he has not explained what it is. The competition would last until the final man was left standing,” Reepicheep replied.

“Inform the Duke that, as charming as that sounds, I have no desire to joust,” Caspian said curtly.

“Now hold on a minute,” Peter interrupted, standing from his own seat. “This is a sensitive matter, and needs to be treated as one. You can’t just reject his offer like that; you have to go to the tournament and meet with him. It’s high time that Narnia re-established its foreign correspondences. As one of the powerful countries, we must tend to the lesser.”

“But I have no intention of taking part in the tournament,” Caspian said, biting back any sharp remarks that he might have made, much to Edmund’s satisfaction. The Just King sat in his place below the dais and directly beside Peter, showing their authority without undermining Caspian’s position as the new king.

“As king, you have the duty to do things that you may not want to.”

“How is competing a duty?”

“It’s not about the competition, it’s about building a relationship with Galma.”

“We do not need Galma’s assistance.”

“You have to go anyway.”

“Do not tell me what to do!”

“It’s manners. Simple manners. You have to be a gentleman,” Peter said condescendingly.

“It is a few days sail to Galma, and I have no desire to participate in the tournament,” Caspian sniffed. His posture was defensive, and Edmund could feel the rising tension in the room.

“Do you want to offend the Duke?” Peter argued. “He has made a gracious offer, and you ought to accept it.”

“I have no obligations to.”

“Peter’s right, Caspian,” Edmund finally spoke up, heading off any impending violence. “I know it’s tedious, but they’ve extended the hand of friendship. It’s only polite to accept.”

“But-” Caspian stopped, staring at Edmund accusingly. He shifted in his throne, huffing to himself as he though. “Very well,” he snapped reluctantly. He leaned back into his throne, composing himself, then looked back at Reepicheep.

“Send a message to thank them, and say that I accept the invitation. Word it carefully so as not to cause offence, as their Majesties are so afraid of doing so.” Edmund winced slightly at Caspian’s tone. “Then have a ship readied, so that we can leave as soon as possible.”

“Yes, your Majesty,” Reepicheep said, bowing elegantly then scuttling off.

- - - - - - - - - -

Servants of all descriptions were milling around in confusion, running to and fro in utter disarray. The knights of Narnia were in their midst, hurrying around as they all bumped into one another, their complaints being lost in the din. Pounding feet and hooves and hollered orders filled the air as Narnians and Telmarines alike panicked, yammering and screeching and alerting the entire castle to the chaos that was the entrance hall. In the midst of it all was King Caspian, storming his way through the crowd.

“Stand to attention!” he barked at the guards as he passed them. “Get your amour clean, you’re a disgrace! You there, don’t just stand around gawking, get to work! I want everything to be perfect. Get out of my way!”

“Caspian! What are you doing?” Edmund said, gazing around him in shock. It had been two weeks since he had last seen Caspian, but this was not the reunion he had expected.

“Arriving!” Caspian snarled. “Move it!” he snapped at the mass of people before him.

“What’s wrong?” Edmund asked, following swiftly in Caspian’s wake.

“I am never taking your advice again!” Caspian howled.

“What?”

“What’s going on here?” Peter yelled above the noise as he pushed his way towards them.

“Haven’t a clue!” Edmund said.

“Oi, Caspian! What’s going on?”

“The whole thing was a disaster! If I had stayed here, none of this would have happened!” Caspian finally broke out of the crowd and stalked into the throne room, snarling at anyone who dared to get in his way.

“What happened?” Peter asked.

“The Duke’s daughter! I won the tournament, and she pounced on me. The Duke had the whole thing planned!”

“What did she do?” Edmund asked, considerably calmer.

“She kissed me! The vile thing kissed me! As the winner, I had to accept a kiss from a maiden, and she was there with her squinty eyes and mass of freckles, and she took advantage of it! She even made attempts on my innocence! The Duke kept hinting at marriage and refused to listen to me!” Caspian raged.

“The winner always gets a kiss from a maiden,” Peter said with a roll of his eyes. “And of course the Duke wanted you to marry her, you’re the king of Narnia! Get used to it! You’re being ridiculous.”

“King or not, I should not be obliged to do it!”

“Well you are, deal with it.”

“I refuse to do it again!”

“You have to if the occasion arrises.”

“I will not! That is beyond duty!”

“It’s only a kiss, for Aslan’s sake.”

“But an unwelcome one! I was forced into it! And she attempted to get me into bed with her!” Caspian ranted, a look of disgust crossing his face.

“I wonder why she bothered,” Peter snapped back.

“I will not stand for this! I am never going in a tournament again!” Caspian continued, seeming not to hear him.

“Come now, Caspian, surely it’s not so bad,” Edmund said soothingly. He had heard Susan use the tone with Peter many times, and was praying that it would work with Caspian.

“It is so bad!”

“But it’s over now. You’re home, and no jousting competitions are coming up. And you won’t have to see the girl again.”

“Yes I will! They will find a way to get me to Galma, or even come here! She wanted to marry me! And she kissed me!”

“Even if they do come here, you can just decline her advances. Surely the kiss wasn’t so bad, anyway.”

Caspian stared at him, horrified. “So you think that it is all right for me to kiss creepy women? How can you say that?”

“That wasn’t what I meant. I mean to say that as long as it’s just a chaste kiss after a tournament and doesn’t progress, that’s ok. It’s expected that you’ll kiss the maiden after winning. Think of it as just a duty.”

Caspian slowly seemed to deflate, sighing and lowering his head. Edmund took this as a positive sign and moved forward, wrapping his arms around him in an over-due welcoming. Ignoring the fact that Peter was in the room, Caspian kissed Edmund square on the lips, his hands going to his waist. They broke apart when Peter cleared his throat and glared at a pleased looking Caspian. Edmund flushed slightly but rolled his eyes, taking Caspian’s hand and leading him away for a walk in the gardens. They still had plenty to discuss, after all.