The Call To The Old - An Edmund Pevensie fanfiction

Chapter thirty-seven

Talia made her way down the vast amount of stairs, on her journey to the dining room. Her long dress glided along the floor behind her. Waves of sadness fell over the girl, as she made her lonely way downstairs. A voice brought her out of her thoughts, "Talia!" it called.

She spun to face the direction of the voice, it was Caspian chasing after her, "Caspian, are you alright?" she questioned, noticing the expression on his face.

He quickly caught up to her, and the pair began to walk together, "I found out about your province."

A serious expression fell over the girl, "Do tell."

"Technically the next in line to the throne would be you." he paused, "however," he took a breath, "in your father's will he wrote that in the event of any premature death, his crown would be passed onto Miraz-"

"What?" Talia exclaimed, "Miraz? What about my brother?"

"Well," Caspian continued, "I suppose since Clidis died before your father, he rearranged the line of succession to avoid you becoming Queen... When Miraz then killed your father technically he became the King of your province, however he never had the chance to be coronated, so for the time being the rule was placed into the hands of the nobles."

"But that means that, technically, you are the ruler of the province now, right? As you have succeeded Miraz." Talia questioned.

"Yes, the nobles have stepped down but it means you are now the only rightful heir to the throne, due to your blood relation."

"Me?"

"Do you want to be a Queen, Talia?" he asked.

"....If the rule goes to me, the nobles will only insist our marriage further." She responded, looking to the floor. She noticed the look of sadness that fell over the boy's face before her, and couldn't help but feel awful- it wasn't his fault that the nobles insisted such a thing. She knew, she had always known that their union would be of the best interest for both of the Kingdoms, and although her heart ached for the companionship of another, she smiled at the boy in front of her, "I suppose marrying my best friend wouldn't be the worst thing."

"You don't have to pretend for me, Talia." Caspian frowned.

After all these years it was time for Talia to be the comforter, she reached up to place her hand on the boy's cheek and her eyes filled with tears, "we have to do what we have to do." she smiled, sadly, pulling him into a hug.

"I shall try my hardest to stop it, don't tell anyone until it is confirmed, I don't want any rumours to further all this."

"It's okay, Caspian. I'm sure we will have the best of times together. Now smile! We have got a dinner party to attend too." She smiled, although on the inside she couldn't help but feel her heart break.

The pair walked into the dining room together, arm in arm. And the gaze of the Pevensie siblings journeyed up to meet them, as the door opened- jealousy ran through Edmund at the sight of two smiling teenagers. Around the table sat each of the siblings, each dressed up beautifully. Talia and Caspian joined them at the table.

"Sorry we're late." Talia apologised to the siblings as she sat down. Edmund scoffed. "Have you something to say, Edmund?" the girl snapped.

"It's just you don't look too sorry." he mumbled.

"What-"

"Everyone calm it!" Susan interjected, sternly, "Can we just have one nice dinner to celebrate the Narnian's victory?"

"Oh, please Susan, we know you're partial to a bit of drama." Edmund continued, earning a harsh look from everyone at the table.

"Edmund, what has gotten into you?" Susan spat back.

Edmund stood, slamming his hands down onto the table, causing everyone to jump, "Surely we have serious business to attend too, to sort out this kingdom- after it's been subject to tyrannical rule for years. But no, here we are sat at this poncy dinner!"

Peter stood up too, "If you don't like it, then leave." he spoke sharply, pointing to the door.

Susan joined in, "This dinner is to celebrate Caspian before his coronation and the ball tomorrow. Is it really that big of a deal that you have to ruin it?" Caspian's eyes grew wide, he didn't like that he was being brought into this argument.

"Shit, you couldn't even wait until we left to be crowned King?" Edmund slurred out; everyone became increasingly aware of the drunken state the boy must have been in.

"You guys have been gone for years Edmund. Caspian has every right to be crowned tomorrow, because for all we know you could disappear into oblivion tonight and not come back for another thousand years! What do you expect, us to spend your next however long, simply worshipping the ground you walk on? Caspian will be crowned tomorrow, while all of you are still here, in order for you all to teach him everything you know before you run away again!" Talia shouted back.

"And how come you get a say in this? Aren't the pair of you related to usurpers anyway? How come we don't get a choice in what sits on that throne after we leave?" yelled Edmund.

Talia scoffed, anger rising within her.

"Talia." Caspian whispered in order to calm the girl down.

Talia's hand lifted, and she used her magic to slam the boy into the wall behind him. Edmund connected to the wall with powerful force, and when he tried to pull away from it, he realised he was trapped. The girl walked around the table to face the boy, who her magic controlled. She tightened her hand into a fist, and Edmund felt as his airways began to constrict. She stepped closer to the boy, and put her lips to his ear, "So as soon as I stop fawning over you, you let your true feelings come to light." she moved her fingers sensually across his jawline, as the boy struggled for air, and whispered, "I'll be glad when you leave." She stepped away from him, and as she did so he fell into a heap on the floor, at her feet, regaining his breath. She kneeled down beside him, grabbing his hair, pulling his face up so that he looked her in the eyes, "Perhaps you are just a boy, after all." she spat, letting go of her grip on him. With that the girl stood up and left the room.