Everything That Mattered - Chapter 14
Title: Everything That Mattered (14/21)
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.
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 7: 'Nothing To Do With Engineering' )( Chapter 8: 'Galmian Relations' ) ( Chapter 9: 'A Little Bit More About Engineering' )( Chapter 10: 'Ow' )( Chapter 11: 'Tidings From Ettinsmoor' )( Chapter 12: 'Memories' )( Chapter 13: 'King Edmund the Interior Designer' )
Chapter 14: ‘Taking Control’
Sunlight filtered through the window, hitting the faces of two kings lying tangled together is the royal bedchamber. Dark lashes fluttered open and Edmund was met with the sight of a sleeping Caspian. Joy filled him, making him want to spring from the bed and proclaim his love to the world. But he did not; he could not bring himself to leave Caspian’s arms.
He shifted slightly on the bed and Caspian grumbled something in his sleep, his arms tightening around Edmund as he settled again. Edmund’s pale hand went out to stroke a lock of Caspian’s hair out of his face, brushing his cheekbones as he did so.
Caspian was such a gorgeous man. Dark silky hair that flowed through Edmund’s fingers and eyes that could melt him in an instant. Tall and strong, a true knight and Narnian king, brave and fierce in battle but gentle and kind with his people. He was a hero, and Edmund loved him so very dearly.
Edmund rolled his eyes at himself, exasperated but still amazingly happy. He was behaving so oddly. And he was emotional! His moods had been going haywire, and he was being utterly ridiculous. He was a king, not some lovesick fool! He quickly scratched that thought when he looked over at Caspian. He was very much a lovesick fool.
Caspian stirred, his eyes fluttering open to focus on the smiling Edmund. He yawned, nuzzling his face into Edmund’s bare shoulder. Edmund kissed the top of his head, still grinning.
“Morning, Ed,” Caspian murmured. Edmund’s smile grew wider at the nickname, and he hugged Caspian closer.
“Morning,” was his cheerful reply.
“What time is it?”
“Early. The sun’s still quite low.”
“Mmm…” They lay there for a few minutes, Caspian still half-asleep and Edmund just waiting patiently, unwilling to leave the warm bed. Caspian eventually raised his head, kissing Edmund softly on the lips and sitting up, rubbing sleep from his eyes. Edmund held back a laugh at how cute Caspian looked in that moment.
“We have a council meeting today,” Caspian grumbled, gazing back at Edmund almost longingly.
“Unfortunately yes, we do.”
Both kings rose, Edmund blushing slightly at the cheeky grin on Caspian’s face. Caspian ended up lending Edmund one of his own outfits, as they were unable to retrieve all of Edmund’s clothing. Once dressed, Caspian kissed Edmund again, wrapping his arm around Edmund’s waist as the made their way down to breakfast, ready for the upcoming meeting.
- - - - - - - - -
“I have made my decision,” Caspian said from the dais, seated on his throne. His jaw was set and his eyes bore into the council members, coming to rest on the two kings of old.
“And what is your decision?” Peter said stiffly. He shot a curious glance at the smiling Edmund, to which Edmund just smiled wider and leaned back in his chair, relaxed. He may not agree with Caspian, but he was not the ruling king anymore.
“The alliance with Ettinsmoor is ended. If they wish for new treaties, they can make them themselves.”
“And what will you do if they wage war on us?” Peter snarled, his blue eyes darkening.
“Meet them in battle,” Caspian replied. He leant back in his throne, his face making it clear that his mind was made up.
“You plan to send the armies into battle this soon? They’re still recovering!”
“I do not think that they will wage open war on us. Even if there is hostility, they do not have the numbers to take on take on the whole of Narnia.”
“Is it really so hard just to make a new treaty?”
“They made it clear that we would be working for their allegiance, not the other way around. They would probably make us pay tribute to them,” Caspian said spat, disgusted by the thought. The Telmarines may have beaten down Narnia for some time, but it was finally becoming the powerful land that it had been centuries before. Narnians would proudly fight for their re-established country.
“If you bargain with them, you won’t have to!”
“I have made my decision,” Caspian repeated.
“And I will follow,” Edmund said, inclining his head towards Caspian in a show of respect. He smiled at the grateful look that Caspian gave him.
“Edmund, what?” Peter hissed.
“Caspian’s the king now, Pete,” Edmund said. “And things have changed since we were kings.”
“We’re still kings,” Peter protested.
“Yes, we are, but we’re not the leaders of Narnia any more. Our time is up. We need to make way for the new ruler.”
“But he doesn’t know anything about it!”
“Neither did we. And besides, do you really think Aslan would have made him king if he wasn’t up for the job?”
Peter sighed, staring at Edmund accusingly. When Edmund just raised an eyebrow at him, he turned away, glaring back at Caspian.
“Very well then,” Peter said coldly. Edmund realised that he had struck a nerve by bringing up Aslan’s decision. If Peter continued to argue, he would have been arguing with the great lion, essentially.
As Caspian and Cornelius composed the message, Peter turned to Edmund, angry and confused.
“I meant what I said,” Edmund said.
“But Caspian doesn’t know.”
“He can learn, just as we did. We can advise him, but he makes the final decision.”
“How did he win you over?” Peter asked accusingly.
“He didn’t. I trust him, Peter. He’s a clever chap, and a good king. I think we’re just too old fashioned,” Edmund shrugged, smiling at his brother.
“Why are you so happy today?” Peter asked, scrutinizing his brother. Even with all the arguing, Edmund was still cheerful, whistling a tune softly.
“No reason,” Edmund said with a grin.
“High King Peter,” Cornelius called. “Perhaps your Majesty would peruse our reply?” With a last, piercing look at Edmund, Peter walked to Cornelius, taking the scroll from the scholar.
“Thank you,” Caspian said, startling Edmund slightly. He had not even heard his approach.
“For what?” Edmund retorted, a cheeky grin making its way to his cheeks.
“I’ve sent the doctor to find a messenger,” Peter said, just as Caspian was about to take his hand. The two kings glared at one another, and Caspian reached for Edmund’s hand again, gripping it defiantly. Edmund just sighed quietly to himself.
“Good,” Caspian said. “Walk?” The last part was directed at Edmund, and before he had a chance to reply he was dragged off. He hoped that monosyllabic sentences were not going to become Caspian’s favoured mode of communication.
As they went outside, Edmund looked up, seeing the messenger bird take flight, the scroll in a leather pouch carefully attached to its leg. It nodded respectfully at him as it noticed him looking and flew into the distance. Only time would tell what would become of the message.
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.
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 7: 'Nothing To Do With Engineering' )( Chapter 8: 'Galmian Relations' ) ( Chapter 9: 'A Little Bit More About Engineering' )( Chapter 10: 'Ow' )( Chapter 11: 'Tidings From Ettinsmoor' )( Chapter 12: 'Memories' )( Chapter 13: 'King Edmund the Interior Designer' )
Chapter 14: ‘Taking Control’
Sunlight filtered through the window, hitting the faces of two kings lying tangled together is the royal bedchamber. Dark lashes fluttered open and Edmund was met with the sight of a sleeping Caspian. Joy filled him, making him want to spring from the bed and proclaim his love to the world. But he did not; he could not bring himself to leave Caspian’s arms.
He shifted slightly on the bed and Caspian grumbled something in his sleep, his arms tightening around Edmund as he settled again. Edmund’s pale hand went out to stroke a lock of Caspian’s hair out of his face, brushing his cheekbones as he did so.
Caspian was such a gorgeous man. Dark silky hair that flowed through Edmund’s fingers and eyes that could melt him in an instant. Tall and strong, a true knight and Narnian king, brave and fierce in battle but gentle and kind with his people. He was a hero, and Edmund loved him so very dearly.
Edmund rolled his eyes at himself, exasperated but still amazingly happy. He was behaving so oddly. And he was emotional! His moods had been going haywire, and he was being utterly ridiculous. He was a king, not some lovesick fool! He quickly scratched that thought when he looked over at Caspian. He was very much a lovesick fool.
Caspian stirred, his eyes fluttering open to focus on the smiling Edmund. He yawned, nuzzling his face into Edmund’s bare shoulder. Edmund kissed the top of his head, still grinning.
“Morning, Ed,” Caspian murmured. Edmund’s smile grew wider at the nickname, and he hugged Caspian closer.
“Morning,” was his cheerful reply.
“What time is it?”
“Early. The sun’s still quite low.”
“Mmm…” They lay there for a few minutes, Caspian still half-asleep and Edmund just waiting patiently, unwilling to leave the warm bed. Caspian eventually raised his head, kissing Edmund softly on the lips and sitting up, rubbing sleep from his eyes. Edmund held back a laugh at how cute Caspian looked in that moment.
“We have a council meeting today,” Caspian grumbled, gazing back at Edmund almost longingly.
“Unfortunately yes, we do.”
Both kings rose, Edmund blushing slightly at the cheeky grin on Caspian’s face. Caspian ended up lending Edmund one of his own outfits, as they were unable to retrieve all of Edmund’s clothing. Once dressed, Caspian kissed Edmund again, wrapping his arm around Edmund’s waist as the made their way down to breakfast, ready for the upcoming meeting.
- - - - - - - - -
“I have made my decision,” Caspian said from the dais, seated on his throne. His jaw was set and his eyes bore into the council members, coming to rest on the two kings of old.
“And what is your decision?” Peter said stiffly. He shot a curious glance at the smiling Edmund, to which Edmund just smiled wider and leaned back in his chair, relaxed. He may not agree with Caspian, but he was not the ruling king anymore.
“The alliance with Ettinsmoor is ended. If they wish for new treaties, they can make them themselves.”
“And what will you do if they wage war on us?” Peter snarled, his blue eyes darkening.
“Meet them in battle,” Caspian replied. He leant back in his throne, his face making it clear that his mind was made up.
“You plan to send the armies into battle this soon? They’re still recovering!”
“I do not think that they will wage open war on us. Even if there is hostility, they do not have the numbers to take on take on the whole of Narnia.”
“Is it really so hard just to make a new treaty?”
“They made it clear that we would be working for their allegiance, not the other way around. They would probably make us pay tribute to them,” Caspian said spat, disgusted by the thought. The Telmarines may have beaten down Narnia for some time, but it was finally becoming the powerful land that it had been centuries before. Narnians would proudly fight for their re-established country.
“If you bargain with them, you won’t have to!”
“I have made my decision,” Caspian repeated.
“And I will follow,” Edmund said, inclining his head towards Caspian in a show of respect. He smiled at the grateful look that Caspian gave him.
“Edmund, what?” Peter hissed.
“Caspian’s the king now, Pete,” Edmund said. “And things have changed since we were kings.”
“We’re still kings,” Peter protested.
“Yes, we are, but we’re not the leaders of Narnia any more. Our time is up. We need to make way for the new ruler.”
“But he doesn’t know anything about it!”
“Neither did we. And besides, do you really think Aslan would have made him king if he wasn’t up for the job?”
Peter sighed, staring at Edmund accusingly. When Edmund just raised an eyebrow at him, he turned away, glaring back at Caspian.
“Very well then,” Peter said coldly. Edmund realised that he had struck a nerve by bringing up Aslan’s decision. If Peter continued to argue, he would have been arguing with the great lion, essentially.
As Caspian and Cornelius composed the message, Peter turned to Edmund, angry and confused.
“I meant what I said,” Edmund said.
“But Caspian doesn’t know.”
“He can learn, just as we did. We can advise him, but he makes the final decision.”
“How did he win you over?” Peter asked accusingly.
“He didn’t. I trust him, Peter. He’s a clever chap, and a good king. I think we’re just too old fashioned,” Edmund shrugged, smiling at his brother.
“Why are you so happy today?” Peter asked, scrutinizing his brother. Even with all the arguing, Edmund was still cheerful, whistling a tune softly.
“No reason,” Edmund said with a grin.
“High King Peter,” Cornelius called. “Perhaps your Majesty would peruse our reply?” With a last, piercing look at Edmund, Peter walked to Cornelius, taking the scroll from the scholar.
“Thank you,” Caspian said, startling Edmund slightly. He had not even heard his approach.
“For what?” Edmund retorted, a cheeky grin making its way to his cheeks.
“I’ve sent the doctor to find a messenger,” Peter said, just as Caspian was about to take his hand. The two kings glared at one another, and Caspian reached for Edmund’s hand again, gripping it defiantly. Edmund just sighed quietly to himself.
“Good,” Caspian said. “Walk?” The last part was directed at Edmund, and before he had a chance to reply he was dragged off. He hoped that monosyllabic sentences were not going to become Caspian’s favoured mode of communication.
As they went outside, Edmund looked up, seeing the messenger bird take flight, the scroll in a leather pouch carefully attached to its leg. It nodded respectfully at him as it noticed him looking and flew into the distance. Only time would tell what would become of the message.