from the tree-line, arriving in hoards and more numbers than the Narnians had expected, Catherine was almost anxious. Almost.

It was when she saw the masked face of her Uncle, that she realized how much she wanted to give the Narnian's back what they deserved, to recover everything the Telmarine Lord had taken from them. And she would.

By the Stone Table, Peter had a map in front of him as he explained his plan, Caspian sitting beside the Professor by the steps with Catherine by his side. She was frowning, focusing intently on what Peter was saying, her face drawn into a deep thought.

'It's our only chance.' Peter sighed, defending his plan as Trumpkin began to panic at the thought that Lucy would be sent out into the forest, alone, in hope of finding Aslan. Susan spoke up, confidentially.

'She won't be alone.' She said with a pointed glare. She had made decision, and she wasn't to back down. Catherine fought back a smile. She could see how Caspian liked her.

Trumpkin sighed and turned to Lucy with a sad expression. He spoke softly, a final plead.

'Haven't enough of us died already?'

Catherine shifted at his words, pursing her lips uncomfortably. Trumpkin had lost his partners, the people he thought were friends. He didn't want to lose anyone else.

'Nikabrik was my friend, too, Trumpkin.' Trufflehunter spoke up. 'But he lost hope. Queen Lucy hasn't, and neither have I.'

Motivated, Reepicheep took out his sword with a flourish and turned to Peter, bowing. 'For Aslan.'

'For Aslan!' The Narnians chanted in follow.

Trumpkin scoffed, turning to Lucy with a determined expression. 'I'm going with you.'

Lucy felt flattered, her heart soaring at his protective nature and valiant sacrifices. She laid a soft hand on his shoulder and smiled at him, gently. Catherine scanned the room, looking over the solemn faces and then her eyes landed on him. Edmund momentarily felt his heart skip a beat, panicking as she realised she had recognised his presence. He paled, considerably and clenched his jaw. He swallowed quickly and turned away, making Catherine blush and hide her smile by tucking her chin deep into her collar-bone - something that didn't go unnoticed by Caspian, who frowned and furrowed his eyebrows.

'No,' Lucy said, making Trumpkin look up at her, disappointed. 'We need you here.'

'We have to hold them off until Lucy and Susan get back.' Peter explains, feeling unsure about how to continue with his plan. Caspian stood forwards, his previous resentment towards the High King seeming to evaporate after his shameful encounter with the White Witch.

'If I may,' he began, sharing uncertain looks. 'Miraz may be a tyrant and a murderer, but as King, he is subject to the traditions and expectations of his people.'

He turned pleadingly to Catherine, who frowned and sighed, turning to Peter. She read her brother's thoughts correctly, their minds seeming to link on one, clear idea.

'There is one in particular that may buy us some time.'

...

the feeling of unease and anxiety as she stood outside the Telmarine Tent alongside Wimbleweather and Glenstorm, who were guarding Edmund as he announced his plan towards the shoe-horsed shaped table of the Lords. Reading from a parchment, he was more than confident that Catherine and Caspian's plan would work, much more confident than Catherine. Even being in a close vicinity as her Uncle was making her nervous.

'I, Peter, by gift of Aslan, by election and by conquest, High King of Narnia, Lord of Cair Paravel and Emperor of the Lone Islands, in order to prevent the abominable effusion of blood, do herby challenge the usurper Miraz to a single combat upon the field of battle.' Edmund read, his eyes flicking up to the Lord. 'The fight shall be to the death, the reward being total surrender.'

Satisfied, he watched Miraz sigh and shift in his seat, Edmund beginning to roll the scroll back up.

'Tell me, Prince Edmund-'

'King.'

Lord Miraz blinked. 'Pardon me?'

Edmund looked up, a smug and calm expression on his face.

'Its King Edmund, actually.' He announced before adding; 'Just King, though. Peter is the High King. I know, it's confusing.'

Catherine, listening from outside the tent closed her eyes in frustration, wishing that Edmund would stop talking. Miraz wasn't going to take him seriously.

Miraz coughed and glanced around the room, awkwardly. He turned back to the boy in front of him, who was patiently waiting for a response.

'Why would we risk such a proposal when our army could wipe you out by nightfall?' He asked.

Edmund looked around, smirking as if Miraz was stupid. He raised an eyebrow and tilted his head, condescendingly. Miraz frowned at the superiority Edmund was placing upon him. Humiliating him.

'Haven't you already underestimated our numbers?' Edmund asked, teasingly. 'I mean, only a week ago, Narnian's were extinct.'

Miraz didn't hesitate to smirk back. 'And so you will be again.'

He sneered, leaning back in his seat. Edmund smirked and shrugged, making the Lord twitch in irritation. He looked around, his eyes glancing over a familiar brunette who stood outside the tent. He began to smirk, amused.

'I want to see her.'

Edmund's expression didn't switch. 'Who?'

'My niece.'

At this, Edmund began to frown, shifting uncomfortably. He flinched slightly, uncertain that he wanted to follow his orders. He knew that seeing her uncle would make Catherine upset and uncomfortable, and he didn't want her to be cursed with a reminder of who she used to be. She was different now. He had no right.

'Excuse me?'

'Princess Catherine.' Miraz replied, instantly. 'I want to see her.'

Edmund's frown darkened and Miraz smirked in triumph. He had him right where he wanted. He was winning.

Flustered, Edmund spun around to face Glozelle, Miraz's second-hand-man, and clenched his jaw, agitated. He reluctantly nodded, once, and Glozelle immediately went outside and retrieved the Princess, who looked confused as to why there was a commotion.

At her appearance, Edmund looked up and licked his bottom lip, trying to distinguish her emotions about seeing her family member again. He saw nothing, a calm look on her face telling him that her appearance made it seem like she had expected this. But Edmund had watched her. He had grown to know her, to know that more often than not, she would appear calm in situations where she felt her head and her heart was going to burst. He could hear her thinking, her beautiful mind ticking away.

Miraz clicked his jaw, his eyes darkening considerably.

'You.'

Catherine replied with ease. 'Me.'

Her Uncle studied her, his calculating gaze scanning her for any weaknesses, only to come away unsuccessful. Catherine wanted to turn and walk away from him, there was nothing for them to say to each other, but for the sake of her pride and dignity, she kissed her teeth loudly instead and gleamed in the agitated expression that adorned his features. A smug smirk graced her lips and she didn't falter over his intimidating glare. To his surprise, she meets his gaze, matching his expression with one of her own. It was a family thing.

Lord Miraz had never taken comfort in his niece. She had become too intelligent and sharp-tongued at an early age, something that reminded him too much of her mother, and too much of rebellion. She would jump into a fire, into trouble without knowing what it truly meant, and saved the consequences for later. More so, she was fiercely loyal, an attribute that he would prefer didn't appear at all. It had always been painstakingly clear that Catherine was stronger than anybody liked to think she was. She was fragile, easily broken between your two fingers with little effort, but the Princess was strong and feisty, and had a tendency to make everyone around her fall to her knees. It was one of the things Miraz resented her for, his blood boiling.

Whenever he tried to bite at her, Catherine would instinctively bite back.

'You look well, my niece.'

'Don't try and charm me, Uncle.' Catherine rolled her ocean-blue eyes. 'I wish I could say the same, but unfortunately I think that age is starting to catch up with you.'

Miraz frowned, upset that he hadn't managed to intimidate her as he believed he should have.

"What happened to you, my dear one?" He said with fake concern. "You used to be so innocent. Now look at you. Dirty, ill-minded. You're running these people into death like a barbarian!"

Catherine's eyes narrowed, dangerously, her voice calm and cold.

"I am not a barbarian."

Miraz grit his teeth and reluctantly tore his gaze away, to where Edmund stood, an unidentifiable expression on his face.

'You expect me to believe that a mere child like yourself can defeat a Telmarine army?' He asked. Catherine snorted.

'You have already proved that age is just a number, Miraz.' She announced, loudly. 'Afterall, you have just been gifted a beautiful boy, and become King in one night. It is quite an improvement for a man of your age.'

Miraz slammed his hand on the desk in anger, but Catherine continued.

'But both of those acts were only made from one intent.' She hummed, looking up as if faking to think of the answer. She looked back, cruelly smiling towards him. 'The things you'd do for power.'

'If I were you, Princess, I'd watch my back.'

Catherine smiled, her calm expression never faltering. Edmund shot her a concerned expression.

'I always made sure to sleep with one-eye open. Just for you.'

Miraz regained his stance, leaning back coolly in his chair. 'I have nothing to lose.'

'Then you should have little to fear.' Edmund said with a smile.

'This is not a question of bravery, young King.' Miraz said, a small laugh escaping his lips as if Edmund had just told him a joke. The King grinned, tauntingly and raised an eyebrow.

'So you're bravely refusing to fight a swordsman half your age?'

Miraz scowled. 'I didn't say I refused.'

'You shall have our support, your Majesty.' One of the Lords spoke up. 'Whatever your decision.'

The Lord next to Miraz, Lord Sopespian, lowered his voice and spoke quietly. 'Sire, our military advantage alone allows the perfect excuse to avoid, what might otherwise be-'

Anger contorted Miraz's features as he suddenly stood from his throne, drawing his sword towards the Lord in a fit of anger. Edmund smirked and glanced at Catherine, triumphantly. She raised an eyebrow. They had already won.

'I am not avoiding anything!'

'I was merely pointing out that my Lord is well within his rights to refuse!' Lord Sopespian said, holding his hands up in defence. Glozelle spoke up with an expectant expression, an eyebrow raised.

'His Majesty would never refuse.' He said with a pointed look to Miraz. 'He relishes the chance to show his people the bravery of their new King.'

Miraz and Edmund turned to face each other, their eyes locking, tauntingly. Miraz began to smirk.

'I do not just want to fight your brother.' He announced. 'I want to fight you.'

Edmund furrowed his eyebrows but let the King continue.

'You will fight one of my men, King Edmund.' Miraz instructed. 'The winner will allow their King to take the first shot. These are my terms.'

Edmund frowned and Catherine whipped her head around to him, unsure of what was going to happen next.

This was an unfortunate turn of events.

To her surprise, Edmund nodded.

'I accept.'

As Catherine glared at her King, he pointedly ignored her, not wanting to face her inevitable wrath after agreeing to put not only Peter's life on the line, but his own. Narnia could not afford to lose both of their Kings.

Miraz grinned, triumphant. 'You should hope your brother's sword is sharper than his pen.'

...

Edmund refused to look at Catherine as she started to yell at him.

'What were you thinking?' She was saying, her soft features angry and passionate. He wasn't bothered, nor was he intimidated. He knew her well enough to know that she wouldn't hurt him, so her anger impacted him as much as a bunny squeaking at him through a hole in the ground. And he did see Catherine as a bunny. 'I cannot just believe you did that!'

'There was no other way, Rin.' Edmund said, simply. 'He wouldn't have taken my offer if he hadn't.'

'And you might have saved your life if you hadn't agreed!'

Edmund stopped walking abruptly, turning to face her. He analysed her features, his jaw clicking into place as his eyes flicked between hers. Catherine had a face reserved only for a Princess, dainty and elegant, and Edmund found that he could easily watch her whenever he wanted. He wanted to gawk at her most of the time, admiring her features and golden heart and constantly question how someone could look so beautiful yet indescribably and intimidatingly fierce at the same time. Catherine possessed a certain type of beauty that begged for others' attention, and she definitely had Edmund's.

She had him wrapped around her finger, even if she was looking stressed and her hair was dishevelled looking, her face covered in small patches of mud and scrapings of grass. He couldn't help but smile down at her.

'Don't worry, Princess. I win them all.' He smiled before lowering his voice as if he was about to tell her a secret, just like he had that day they sat by the riverbank. 'I am the best swordsman in Narnia.'

Catherine blushed, realizing how close they were and attempted to hide her smirk. Edmund grinned at her flustered state and believed that she had never looked cuter. She sent goosebumps riding up his arm, prickling at his skin. For a minute, Edmund wanted to shower her with all the love and money in the world. As the King of Narnia, he could afford these sort of things, and he wanted to give them all to her, in return for a simple, dashing smile that would ignite his heart in a thousand different ways.

With one final, dashing grin, he began to walk forwards again, leaving her standing with a sigh in the field. He looked back at her, squinting past the sun to look at her. She sent him a glare, but chose not to respond. Instead, she straightened her back and held her head a bit higher. Her heart tossing and turning her stomach.

She wasn't sure if it was because of the upcoming war, or Edmund Pevensie himself.

I liked writing this one I can't lie.

I hate Miraz though, what a bastard. Queen Catherine is here to save the day don't worry.

Also in love with the gif at the top. Imagine it's Edmund and Catherine omg