I'm back :D

"You can't be serious, Peter."

"I'm very serious," Peter ran a hand through his hair in frustration. "I love Liana too, Ed, but she killed someone!"

"She had a –"

"It doesn't matter what the reason was!" Peter shook his head, his annoyance with his brother growing by the second. "You think anyone will care what the reason was? She killed him in cold blood and she never said a word about it for years. She is a good person and she has done an immeasurable amount for us, but if Lune wants her to come back and answer for her crimes, I cannot stop him."

"I'll stop him," the edge in Edmund's voice did not go unnoticed.

Orius finally stepped in. "I believe there is a way to appease both Your Majesties," the two brothers looked at him expectantly. The centaur took a deep breath. "This matter requires further investigation. Liana is a strong woman, physically and emotionally, yet I still find it highly unlikely that she was able to stab a man the size of Darien. I had heard of him before she mentioned him. He was young, but strong. Liana could not have killed him simply by chance."

"You're saying she's lying?" demanded Edmund roughly.

"No," Peter was looking at Orius steadily. "I think I know what you're saying, Orius."

"I'm saying that she was unconscious for quite some time and when she woke up there was a weapon in her hand and a dead man in front of her," said Orius quietly. "She assumed that she killed him."

Edmund sank down into his chair. "So someone tried to frame her?"

"Either that or she was simply in the wrong place. Tt would have been easy to allow her to take the blame."

"But is there any way to confirm such suspicions?" asked Edmund.

"Call back Rinas on the next ship," said Peter quietly. "Liana was in shock. He may have seen more than she did."

"Don't tell Lune until we've heard his story," said Edmund. Peter opened his mouth to argue, but Edmund's expression made him hesitate. His brother was passionate, but fair, and Peter had always worried he was letting his feelings for Liana cloud his judgement. Now, however, there was a strange expression in his eyes that Peter could barely remember seeing before.

Orius murmured his excuses and left the room, sensing the tension between the two brothers. As soon as the door closed, Edmund shut his eyes and leaned his head back against the back of his chair. Peter leaned against the desk in front of him, waiting patiently for him to speak.

"I don't want to lose her," his voice was hoarse. "I can't lose her. She's done nothing wrong. We kill people in battle all the time."

"Its not the same," said Peter quietly.

"It was self-defence."

"If she truly believed that she would have told someone."

"She was a child!"

Peter shook his head. "She did not own up to her mistake when she stopped being a child."

Edmund opened his eyes and stared at his brother. "She would have never been able to escape if she had told us what she was running from."

"You support her decision?"

"Yes."

Peter frowned. "Ed, you've known her for two years, and you asked her to marry you. She never told you this. Doesn't that bother you?"

"Of course it does!" the aggression in his tone made Peter blink. In a flash, Edmund was out of his chair and pacing in front of the fire, his eyes wide and restless, his words tumbling out of his mouth. "She did not lie to me, but she hid this from me. It makes me wonder what else she's hidden from me, what else I don't know about her. And then I realize that I really don't know anything about her past, but its not all on her because she knows nothing about mine either! I hid things from her, things I've done because I didn't want her to think less of me. She's done the same," he stopped pacing and ran a hand through his hair, messing it up even more. "How can I hate her when I blame myself for her not being able to tell me everything?"

"You can't blame yourself for her actions before she even knew you," said Peter firmly. "And as for the rest…" he sighed. "Very well. I won't write to Lune until I've spoken to Rinas. The chances of finding something are slim, but I'll take that chance. The minute we've spoken to him, I send the letter. Is that a deal?"

Edmund nodded stiffly. Peter closed the distance between them and clapped him on the shoulder. "Good. Now, you have something to do that I think you will enjoy," Edmund raised a questioning eyebrow. Peter sighed. "Go with Orius. Find out what the Count knows and how. Don't kill him, Ed," he added when he saw his brother's eyes darken. "He deserves hell for what he's done to her, no amount of skeletons in her closet can change that, but I won't let you make that decision. Interrogate him, and then speak to Ronas and find out what his part is in all this. If he didn't know about Liana's past, it means the Count has kept his mouth shut and he's all we need to worry about."

"He announced to half of Narnia that she's a – that she killed someone," said Edmund, his voice cracking in the middle of the sentence. Peter pretended not to notice. "That needs to be dealt with as well."

Peter shrugged. "We'll hold a ball."

Edmund gave him an incredulous look. "Pardon?"

"A ball. A party? Fancy dresses, dancing, music?" Peter rolled his eyes. "Nothing makes people forget unpleasantness like a good night spent drinking. Liana won't be able to attend, of course, but we'll simply say she's in the Houses and get her to make a brief appearance at dinner so everyone is appeased. How does that sound?"

"Awful."

"Excellent, if it sounds awful to you its sure to be fun," Peter clapped his hands together, and Edmund knew their meeting was over. "I'll speak to Susan about it tomorrow. Go down to the dungeons. And, Ed," Peter's voice went from pleasant to wary. "Please, for the love of Aslan, don't go see Liana tonight," Edmund frowned, but Peter shook his head. "I know you spend the night with her more often than not. I won't lecture you on propriety, but listen to me this one time. Give her some space, she knows you love her and you can see her tomorrow. Just minimize the public interactions until we get this under control, alright?"

Edmund sighed in defeat. He left Peter's solar without argument and trudged down to the dungeons. As he passed the doorway that led to the private wing, he hesitated. Peter did not want him to see Liana, but he knew he had to. When she had told him her story in private, he had held her until her tears abated and then insisted, quietly but firmly, that she accompany him to Peter's room so that his brother could hear the full story. He had not spoken a word to her since.

His internal debate was over, however, when the heavy door opened and Mr. Tumnus slipped out, carrying a tray with the remains of what he assumed was his sisters' and Liana's dinner. The faun bowed to him hastily and retreated, leaving the door open. Edmund glanced inside and saw Liana leaning against the wall next to her bedroom. Lyra was at her feet, and they were talking quietly.

Making up his mind, he pushed the door open and entered the hallway. His boots made a noise against the marble floor, and the sudden disturbance caused Liana to look up in surprise, but Lyra remained where she was, obviously having sensed his presence. She slunk away but Edmund caught the disapproving look on her face. He sighed heavily and made his way towards Liana. She was standing with her back to the door of her room, her arms wrapped around her stomach defensively. She bit her lip when she saw him.

"I was sure Peter would tell you not to see me," her voice was hoarse. She had clearly been crying.

Edmund glanced around the hallway carefully. There was no one there besides them and Lyra, and the doors of his sisters' rooms were firmly closed. Deciding to take a chance, he beckoned Liana closer and wrapped his arms around her waist, pressing a soft kiss to her temple. She let out a shuddering breath that made his heart clench. "I am sorry you had to do that," he murmured against her skin.

"Its my fault."

"No, it isn't."

"You cannot save me from this, Edmund," her voice was bitter when he pulled back to see her face. "King Lune isn't going to forgive me for this. It was foolish of me to get so close to you and put you in this mess."

"Nothing is going to happen to you," said Edmund firmly. "I will not let it."

Liana looked like she wanted to argue, but changed her mind at the last minute and rested her head against his shoulder. "I should sleep," she said quietly. "I told Lucy I would be fine on my own tonight. I will see you tomorrow?"

Edmund did not miss the way she phrased it as a question, as if she was afraid he would not want to see her again. It was at that moment he realized he couldn't stay away from her, not this night. Knowing Peter would likely throw a fit, he sighed and kissed her forehead. "I'll see you tonight," he murmured. "Try and sleep."

"You shouldn't be seen with me."

Edmund rested his forehead against hers. "I won't be," he said simply. He squeezed her hand and pulled back, making his way out the door and heading for the dungeons. An inexplicable urge to hit something was suddenly quite strong.