𝑶𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝑼𝒑𝒐𝒏 𝒊𝒏 𝑵𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒂 ⚔ 𝐸𝑑𝑚𝑢𝑛𝑑 𝑃𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑒

Part 2: The Ball

"Don't worry about the ball. You'll be fine. I promise."

It kept repeating on her head until she reached the ballroom filled with people. She wore a fancy dress with more fabric than it should have been, frilly, and itchy but elegant and it suited her.

It was the dress Edmund gave her, together with a note saying: "See you later."

"Don't worry about the ball. You'll be fine. I promise."

I don't think I will, she thought. The ballroom was crammed with people—well, not exactly. Centaurs, fauns, tree nymphs, and many Talking Beasts danced along with a Narnian music she isn't familiar with.

But it isn't the strangest thing. This was: it was a masquerade ball. A bit of challenge to find familiar faces, but by that she only meant one person.

Her eyes roamed around the room and saw Edmund from afar, along with his siblings. He was wearing a black mask embellished with birch leaves to match his crown. She couldn't see much of him (but the mask and crown), the room was almost chaotic if not for the grand appearance itself.

She wedged herself in a corner, listening to the music and unable to fit in. Not until two amiable beavers invited her to come over to the long table to get food. She followed and thanked them for their kindness.

The table was filled with extravagant food and silverware. Turkeys, ice puddings, lobsters and salmon, pomegranates, nuts, peaches and pineapples and boxes of Turkish Delights. It was a marvelous banquet.

Turkish Delights interest her for some reason. The dance ceased and everybody enjoyed the meal on the long table. She went for the Turkish Delights.

It was a joyous feast, everyone was laughing and full of warmth. For a moment, she felt that she truly belong there.

"Y/N," someone said from behind her. She spun around and saw Edmund. She couldn't mistake those beautiful eyes behind the mask.

She curtsied, and thanked him for the dress. He shrugged, telling her that Lucy picked it for her. They had a little conversation like they've known each other for years. She couldn't believe she'll be this close to him.

"Come over there and join us," he offered with an eager smile.

Y/N looked over where he had been sitting a while ago. Now, it wasn't just occupied with the Pevensies but of noble people from the other kingdoms.

The sudden feeling of misfit overwhelmed her. She wanted to refuse but it would be rude. Now that Edmund took her hand as they jostle in the crowd.

It wasn't as pleasant as it seems. She wished being with the Beavers instead or being swallowed in the ground just for this night. Edmund introduced her to a king and a queen with difficult names. They came from a kingdom that was even harder to pronounced. She was too anxious to remember anything.

They conversed about the dull subject of politics which almost made her sleepy. Edmund wasn't indulge into the subject either. He seemed restless and as bored as she was. But he tapered it with nods and smiles.

Edmund excused himself for some 'unrelated matters'. He told Y/N he'll come back as quick as he can and left.

By that time she was having a conversation with Lucy that occupied her a bit and make a good use of her time. However, she still felt a great discomfort, without Edmund around.

She excused herself and followed Edmund's trail (which she surreptitiously memorized).

It was leading her into a tower. She wondered if she was forbidden in there. But she still pursued, obeying her intuition. What could go wrong, anyway?

The steep flight of steps had ended into a platform, there Edmund was leaning across the window gazing up in a starless sky.

It was still snowing hard outside. The trees hardly swayed.

Y/N observed him for a while. He wasn't wearing his mask anymore. She took off hers. It felt awkward to spy on someone but she admired how peaceful he was. She edged closer and stifle a giggle. Edmund was eating Turkish Delights with a box on his hand. It would be funny to surprise him.

"So," she said from behind, making Edmund jump. "My King has been sneaking Turkish Delights out of the ballroom," she said, laughing a little.

Edmund blushed, trying to pushed the Turkish Delights box as far as it can be.

She leaned beside him and gazed up where he had been staring at earlier.

"What are you staring at?" she asked.

The sky was ebony black, just snowing but no stars. It looked more like a void than a sky.

"There used to be a star in there," he murmured.

"What happened?"

"I don't know either," he said and changed the subject. "Bored out of your wits in there, are you?"

She nodded, laughing quietly. A noise was heard from the ballroom.

"Maybe the dancing has started," said Edmund. Then he hesitated to say something. It came out as a whisper. She asked him to repeat it once more.

He repeated, his voice firmer this time, "I said, uh, maybe you want to dance with me. I can introduce you to the others too. That is if you agree with that."

She said yes, feeling glad that he couldn't see her blushing through the dim light.

"Just so you know," she began. "I like Turkish Delights too."

They laughed. But it didn't last long. A noise was heard from the ballroom again—not a mirthful one.

"Edmund..." she whispered.

Edmund held her hand out of impulse. His grip was firm and his hands were cold. He was scared like this thing had happened before.

Y/N moved closer to him, and squeezed his hand. At this spur of a moment, she knew, even they just met hours ago, that the boy beside him was deeper than she thought. But she couldn't fathom her thoughts anymore when the noise became louder and the screaming started.