A/N: I suppose this story could be called "slash" inasmuch as it's got homosexual content and has characters that were formerly asexual (Edmund and Peridan, namely) as homosexual. Flame if you like, but I warn you that I sit back and take nothing quietly, so if you flame expect that I will have something to say in reply. However, I am more than happy to explain exactly how this story came about and why Peridan and Edmund should be gay at all-feel free to ask any questions you may have. Anyway, please do give Peridan a chance. I love him, and my best friend rooty-boots loves him...he really is cool people. Incidentally, if you'd like to avoid the slightly graphic stuff and just read the story, I'll put warnings at the beginning of each chapter.

Incidentally, a couple of dedications and shout outs: This story is dedicated to rooty-boots of course, who is a constant source of inspiration for Peridan and all my Narnia scribblings. In fact, I wrote this story for her, and she was nice enough to let me post it provided I kept her in the dark about any Peridan-bashing. Also, I must acknowledge the idea of pairing Edmund with Peridan was taken from youcantseeus' story "The Blurring of Memories" which is extremely touching as well as being an extremely convincing argument that Edmund is gay. I know it changed my mind on the matter because it was just so well done, and anyone who's read my work knows I'm generally of the Caspian and Lucy camp. Alright-enough with the author's notes. On with the story!

It was not until after the evening meal that Peridan went upstairs to get ready. Edmund was not there yet, probably chewing his nails and rewriting, or even writing his vows. So Peridan had a few moments to himself to wander around their room, look at their finery spread out on the bed, their sable-lined cloaks and warm velvet tunics. He grinned to himself. He never heard of a couple getting dressed for their wedding together, but in a way that was the beautiful thing about starting an institution. There were no false traditions to follow for formality's sake.

Before undressing, he wandered over to the window and opened it. The cold winter air rushed in, making him gasp sharply. He rubbed his arms and stared up at the cold winter sky, black now as the tunic laid out for Edmund, black as his eyes. The stars were a million white pinpricks, and the moon shown pale and fair above everything.

Slowly Peridan pulled off his clothes, still daydreaming. The moon was full, just as he had asked. Peridan had been shy of making plans. Yes, Edmund had proposed, but he really wasn't the sort to get too excited over something as soppy as a wedding. Peridan rather got the feeling that Edmund would have rather the proposal been everything, that there would be no fanfare. In all honesty, he was a bit shy of being the first man to marry another man himself. His skin came out in goosebumps, and he wasn't entirely sure it was all from the cold. His mind was really elsewhere, back in Edmund's study one evening earlier in the fall. Edmund had been reviewing a new law he had just codified, while Peridan was making notes and correcting a dictation he had taken earlier. His eyes fell on the stack of petitions of marriage which Edmund granted, and the one on top bore the names of two of the ladies at court. He smiled a little and offered a tentative suggestion. "I think we ought to get married at night, under the moon," he said, doing his best to seem conversational and not sentimental in the least, as if the idea had nothing to do with Edmund's proposal under the full moon while they were aboard the Splendour Hyaline.

He was too cold. He pulled on his shirt, his fine silken hose, the silvery velvet tunic over all. He turned his cuffs back and remembered Edmund's smile at his suggestion with a warm little shiver, and that shiver turned into a glow of happiness. He looked around. This would be his room for the rest of his life. He and Edmund would spend all their days calling this place home, living here together. He would tease Edmund about growing old and getting gray hairs. Of course, he was firmly confident that Edmund would be just as beautiful as an old man as he was as a young one. One of those dignified types, and Peridan would paint his portrait again and again over the years. He would tell Edmund he was beautiful, the handsomest man he had ever known, flattering him for decades, but that wouldn't stop him from having a little fun at his lover's expense.

He sighed with satisfaction and brushed his fingertips over Edmund's clothes, smiling fondly. His lover would be his husband. It seemed an impossible stroke of good luck, and perhaps he would wake from this good dream and it would all be over. But then he thought back on all the years and all he and Edmund had shared and endured, and he knew this could be no dream. He laughed a little through his nose, and spoke though only he was in the room. "Anyone who would think that loving Edmund is a dream would be a madman." He smirked. "I should put that in my vows. See how he likes it." Suddenly, he wished Edmund were there so he could kiss him, and he listened for his lover's quick, light step in the hall. As he listened with one part of his brain, he sank into Edmund's favorite easy chair and started to turn over memories with another, sifting through his life as though he were straining for shells in a fistful of sand.