labour

belief

warning: this story contains details of domestic vïolence and emotional trauma, please look after yourself and do not read if any of this may affect you <3

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edmund's

When the Princess of Archenland first arrived in Cair Paravel, I held no interest for her. However, her straight disregard for my existence the past few days had struck me harder than I imagined.

We didn't know each other, and so I had little reason to be offended, yet I still was.
I'd be lying if I said that her request to speak with me that evening didn't excite me slightly. It was a stark contrast to the sometimes boring life under Peter's shadow; an unsolved mystery that I had yet to uncover.

It was undeniably out of pure curiosity, after our encounter and her strange comment about 'killing him', I had many questions for the young Princess.

I had followed all of her instructions closely: sneak out of my bed chamber unseen and meet her in the dining room at precisely midnight, not a minute later.

My expectations were that she wanted to apologise for the wine incident or maybe ask about the meeting from the day prior. However what I was not expecting was her frame in the centre of the room by candlelight, holding a bouquet of purple flowers.

When asked about the bunch, she merely shushed me and threw them onto the table, her distress reverberating through me, imprinting itself in my mind.

"Caroline, what is goin-"
"I believe my husband is trying to take over the King of Archenland."

Now her claim was preposterous. Although as I saw it, not entirely unreasonable behaviour for him.

"I-" She stuttered and stumbled and tried to not let the tears spill.

"I can't-"
"Caroline."

I'm not sure what possessed me to take her calloused hands in my own, but it felt right. Comforting an acquaintance is what I would call it, yet when her eyes locked with mine it seemed to run deeper than that. It ran through my veins, heating them up and burning my fragile skin.

My fingertips traced along the almost healed wounds of her palms, like they were passing on a message with no words needing to be said.

"I need your help."

She'd crafted her escape plan meticulously, and as we sat until the early hours of the morning, I realised that Caroline is more than what she appears on the surface. She is wise, she is strong, she is sarcastic and gentle, she is beautiful outwardly yet so much more than that, so much more than what her husband allows her to be.

If their love died, would that be the worst thing?

Our plan would theoretically go into effect immediately, that would be as long as the alliance is halted.

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"Peter you have to trust me!"

"Don't start, Edmund, I am not going to call off a vital union because of a gut feeling." His voice sounded cold, just as it were before Jadis. I knew my family loved me, but I could never be certain that they trusted me.

"Pete, he is up to something and the only way to stop it is to call it off!"

"What is it exactly that he is 'plotting'?"

I was faced with two options: the first being that I could tell Peter, destroy any trust between myself and Caroline, but have an army on my side. The second option being that I keep my secrecy to Caroline but risk my entire kingdom viewing me as a lunatic.

Although with little evidence, it is likely that I end up the loon either way.

"I can't tell you." I hung my head in shame, I knew that leaving the plan to rely on my brother's trust in me was risky, but the young Edmund inside of me held onto even a fragment of hope.

"You're being ridiculous, Ed, you just hate Alexander for no reason!"

"Forget it."

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