Anything (Edmund Pevensie x Reader)
summary : While staying at Cair Paravel, y/n receives a letter from her father. The letter states that she is to be wed to a Prince that she has never met. Is Edmund able to prevent this from happening?
I collapsed. Just utterly collapsed; my knees gave way under my body and my hands slammed to the floor in an attempt to catch myself. Sobs racked through body. My brain could not even process my thoughts as I was just so overwhelmed with the sadness that consumed my mind.
I ran up through the gardens, avoiding eye contact with anyone. I jumped up two stairs at a time – I was desperate to reach my room quickly – and hiked up my dress to increase my speed and decrease my chances of falling in my hurry. Pushing through doors and into rooms and corridors, I whipped my head around anytime I saw someone, not wanting them to see my tear-streaked face.
Just as I swiftly darted around a corner, my body collided with somebody else’s. I glanced up to see Edmund, his face sporting a worried look once he saw my eyes brimming with tears. I pushed past him, not wanting to explain myself.
‘Hey, y/n where are you go-,’ Edmund shouted after me, but I had disappeared around the corner before I could hear him finish his sentence.
After my collision with Ed, I changed course and headed for the stables. I knew that if I were to go to my room, he would either follow me or be there waiting.
I rushed so hastily down the front stairs that I thought my legs would not be able to catch up with me. I leapt to reach the reins of my horse and pull myself onto the saddle, however a pair of arms abruptly stopped me in the act. A gasp flew out of mouth in shock. My mind was in disarray and I was desperate to get away from Cair Paravel and the person who had a steady grip on my arms. Edmund, once again, stood in front of me with a look of worry painted across his features. I felt my heart ache at the sight but with the feeling of my brain processing what felt like a thousand different emotions at once, I did not have the time to consider the strain in my chest any further.
‘Where are you going? What’s happened?’ Edmund said to me.
Without any response, I shrugged off his hands and continued to pull myself onto my horse.
‘Hey, y/n, talk to me. Please, where you are going?’
I did not know what to say to him, I just knew I had to leave in an attempt to order my shaken and confounded state. Without a single word falling from my lips, I pulled on the reins and Edmund quickly vanished from my sight as my horse picked up speed. The tears continued to fall, the wind harshly dragging them behind me.
The words written in the letter just played on a constant loop inside my head.
For the benefit of our family, you are to be married to the Prince of Tashbaan.
How was I supposed to avoid this? How could I, all but a mere Lady, worm my way out of an arrangement made by my father?
This news may displease you, but you need to consider how this would provide an advantage to our family and how you would be gifted with security and comfort for the rest of your life.
The words ‘rest of your life’ knocked the air out my lungs once again. A feeling of unbearable confinement continued to run through me even as I rode far from the castle and past the songs that echoed from the Dancing Lawn.
However, just as the feeling began to spread, a sudden idea caused me to pull harshly on the reins and begin to manoeuvre around the woods and back in the direction of Cair Paravel.
I was quick to arrive back at the gates of the castle, although, upon my return I was swiftly informed of the absence of King Edmund. He had followed me.
This meant that he would also soon be returning back to Cair Paravel, which also meant I had little time to execute my plan.
After I had acknowledged this information, I wasted no time in making my way back to my room - which had been provided to me for to my temporary stay – and piling all my belongings into bags that would easily fit onto a saddle. I had to travel fairly light if I were to move fast.
With this, I flung the bags over my shoulder and made a beeline for the stables. However, to my dismay, just as I had set the saddle with all my bags, Edmund came rushing through the golden gates. I did not even have a moment to pull myself up onto my horse before he was beside me, pleading to know what had happened and stating how worried he was.
‘Edmund, I-, I am so sorry, but I need to leave,’ I said, my voice wavering.
‘Why? Whatever it is, am I sure something can be done to solve it,’ he replied.
‘I do not think that that would be possible. Edmund, please, I need to go.’
‘I cannot let you go. Tell me what has happened.’
I struggled to find a way to avoid telling him the truth. I desperately searched his face in attempt to find anything that would allow me to flee this encounter, but nothing was found but a steeled face blanketed with concern.
‘My father is to marry me to the Prince of Tashbaan, I received a letter earlier this morning stating this,’ I blurted out, a sob breaking free.
Tears began to flow freely down my cheeks as I watched a number of emotions flicker through Edmund’s face. Once he had understood what I said, a look of pure rage replaced the steely one, then a look of disbelief, and then finally, his faced soften at the sight of my exhausted and crestfallen self.
‘Y/n,’ he exclaimed and rushed forward, pulling me into him.
His embrace allowed me to stay upright even as my knees buckled with the sheer force of the desolation of my conscience. He rubbed at my back in a comforting manner and whispered sweet words into my hair.
‘I will sort this out, okay? Come on, I will help you take your bags back to your room,’ Edmund stated.
‘How can this be sorted, Ed?’
‘You do not need to worry about that, just trust me on this.’
At this, I allowed a weak smile to form. I was desperate to recognise the small feeling on hope within me, however, I was scared that it would be in vain if I did.
Once Edmund had walked me back to my room, I permitted him to read the letter that my father had sent. A look of disgust washed over his face in reading it and he again assured me that he would resolve it. By then the tears had dried on my face, and Edmund had sent for Lucy to cheer me up. As soon as Lucy arrived, he was gone.
I did not see him again until dinner that evening. He seemed tired but as soon as he saw me at the dining table, he sent a reassuring smile my direction and although he typically sat across from me - next to Susan - he elected to take his place by me.
The rest of the Pevensie siblings filed into the large hall. On evenings, there tended to be additional guests that were either there for political reasons, business opportunities, or just the occasional faun or dryad, however there were no visitors seated at the table. Well, apart from myself. I was staying at Cair Paravel due to the friendship I shared with the Kings and Queens, and the alliance between my father and them. While my father was away on business in Tashbaan, I was to stay with the Pevensies for two weeks. The letter stating my marriage to the Prince was obviously the product of such alleged ‘business’.
The dinner provided a calming atmosphere that shrunk the fear that was gnawing at me; that was until the conversation shifted to me.
Peter, who sat at the head of the table, coughed and shot Edmund a pointed look.
‘Y/n,’ Edmund spoke.
‘Yes.’ I turned towards him.
‘Peter and I have sent an urgent message to your father requesting his presence at Cair Paravel to talk through and then prevent the state of affairs he has organised against your will.’
I nodded my head, ‘Thank you.’
Peter spoke up, ‘If he is to accept the request, then he will be here tomorrow at noon. You do not have to attend the meeting if you do not want to.’
I glanced around the table, everyone looked at me with sympathetic eyes.
‘I will consider it, thank you again,’ my voice was small, ‘if it is okay, I wish to retire to my room now.’
Without another word, I hurriedly left the table.
Once in my room, I closed the door behind me and sunk against it. Pulling my knees tight against me, I pleaded with myself not to cry. I was more than pleased with what Peter and Edmund had done, and with the extent of their kindness, however I had this feeling that their plan would not work and that I would have to marry the Prince of Tashbaan even if I did not wish to. Furthermore, I felt betrayed by my father. He had gone behind my back and set me up for a life I did not long to have. He was more than happy to marry me off to a man I had never met, and for the benefit of himself and himself only. That was what hurt the most.
Just as the tears began to fall, a knock sounded above me. A voice came through the door. It was Edmund. I moved myself away from the base of the door and allowed him to come in. At the image of me seated on the floor, my face tear-stained, he sat himself next to me on the wooden planks and embraced me. And in this moment, I let myself fall apart. I nestled my face into his chest and just sobbed and sobbed and sobbed; and throughout it all, Edmund did not say a word, he just sat there knowing that his presence was enough.
After the rate of my breathing had returned to its usual state, Edmund placed his arms under my legs and around my torso and lifted me from the ground. Carrying me over to my bed, he laid me down atop the covers and kneeled next to the bed.
‘It will be alright, I promise. Even if this meeting does not convince your father enough then I will figure something else out, okay?’ he said gently.
I looked at him and there was something in his eyes that I could not describe. Even without the words to explain it, it made my heart beat just that little bit faster. A grin spread across my face.
‘Edmund, thank you. Seriously, I-, I do not know how to thank you enough.’
‘Do not thank me,’ he spoke, smiling.
‘You need to sleep Ed, you look exhausted.’
‘Yeah, yeah, I will.’
‘Good, goodnight,’ I said.
‘Goodnight.’
He pushed himself off his knees. Yet just as he turned to leave, I caught hold of his hand. His palm was soft, but slightly cold. He looked down at our hands as I turned his in mine to examine the scars that littered the back of his hand. I ran my thumb over the raised skin in awe. I gazed up at him, his lips slightly parted and a smile dancing on his face. I released his hand.
‘I’ll see you tomorrow,’ he concluded.
My father arrived as requested, and at exactly noon. I decided to not involve myself in the discussion as I did not wish to get upset while in conversation with him. At noon, I watched my father walk with Edmund and Peter to the Great Hall from my bedroom window. And there I sat until I saw my father leave with the two brothers. Father sported what seemed to be a displeased look and then bid farewell to the Kings.
As soon as I saw my father disappear through the gates, I rushed from my spot by my window to find out what had been said in duration of their meeting.
‘Edmund!’ I shouted as soon as I spotted him with Peter by the Great Hall, ‘what happened?’
‘Your father is to send a letter to Tashbaan stating that you are unable to marry the Prince,’ smiled Edmund.
My jaw dropped in disbelief.
‘But,’ said Peter, ‘he wishes for you to return home.’
My eyebrows knitted together in anger. ‘I will do no such thing, how am I to return home after he tried to pretty much sell me to a man I have never met?’
‘If you do not want to go home, then you do not have to. You are welcome to stay here for as long as you please,’ replied Peter.
I sucked in a deep breath, calming myself.
‘Thank you Pete. I will send a letter to my father. And I know not to outstay my welcome, so when I am able I shall find somewhere else to stay.’
Peter nodded in response and then took his leave.
Once Peter was gone, I flung myself into Edmund’s arms. ‘Thank you, thank you, thank you,’ I gushed.
He laughed at my actions. ‘You do not need to thank me, I would do anything for you.’
‘Anything, huh?’ I questioned.
‘Anything,’ he said with a smile.
‘Kiss me.’
For a moment Edmund’s eyes widened at my words but he was quick to recover this as he captured my lips against his own.
Pulling away, I grinned at him.
‘You did say anything.’
‘I suppose I did,’ and at this, he pulled me in by my waist and kissed me again.
