Saga of My Heart
By Sandra E. Taylor
Disclaimer: I do not own anything, just the made up characters in this story.
A/N: I finally got around to posting a story I've been working on for a long time. I'm pretty new at all this, so feedback is appreciated, and enjoy!
Innocence
I sat down on the edge of the bench near the hedge separating my house from the Pevensie's . My head was buried in a book—Pride and Prejudice—my wavy dark brown hair hanging loosely over my face. I bit one of my fingernails off involuntarily in suspense, turning the page as a wisp of my hair crossed in front of my emerald green eyes. I swished it away, quickly; as my eyes widened. I heard screams from across the yard and crept up the hedge to see Edmund Pevensie chasing his little sister Lucy with a small garter snake. Her childish yelps got louder and louder, and Edmund, sneering and cackling, got closer, reaching the snake out to her.
I couldn't help but giggle under my breath, but that ceased as Susan Pevensie, and her older brother, Peter, ran outside and viewed the scene before their eyes.
"Edmund, you stop it right now!" Susan snapped, as Peter grabbed his shoulders and pulled him back forcefully.
I could hear Lucy's cries as she cowered in a corner of the yard. I climbed over the hedge with some difficulty and went to Lucy, holding her and consoling her tears. I felt Peter's eyes on me as I rocked her back and forth. I turned to him.
"Are you all at it again?" I said, glancing at Edmund.
Peter bit his lip, and Susan peered at his expression.
"I just wanted to have a little fun!" Edmund burst out, wriggling out of Peter's grasp. "Nothing's exciting around here, except the war."
"Stop saying that!" Peter said, and I saw a fire raging in his eyes.
I got up as Susan took Lucy's hand and led her into the house. Walking to Peter, I said gently, "Let him alone."
"And why is it you always come over here whenever you find the chance?" he suddenly snapped at me. I took a step back.
"Maybe it's because I care! But you always pick on your brother whenever you get the chance!" I scowled back, looking deeply into his eyes. The best mistake I ever made. I noticed a different look on his face, but it was too late.
"You're just infatuated with me aren't you?" he said, looking at me intently.
The wind blew my hair over my face as I blushed in embarrassment, looking down. He moved my hair away from my eyes. He leaned closer to me, and putting a strand of hair behind my ear his breath gently ticked my senses. A fraction of an inch away he donned a smug smile.
"I knew it." He whispered.
I dared to look at him, and his lighting blue eyes sparkled mischievously. I must've had a shocked expression on my face when he let out a laugh and tangled his finger through the end of my hair.
A shrill call of Peter's name broke us out of our evident reverie, causing him to break away, as Susan's head peeked outside the rim of the back door. As Peter melted into the interior of his home, I felt my hands tremble, and I grazed my hair where he touched. A chill went down my spine.
Why should I be so concerned about him? And why am I reacting this way? I thought, as I jumped over the hedge again, this time settling myself alongside the fence. I'd known Peter since I was eight years old, had time and…had he gotten to me? Did I have different feelings than I did before?
My thoughts were interrupted as my mum's voice shrieked across the yard, running out with a letter from dad. I ran to her, shutting out my musings of before. In love and war? No, peace.
Sitting in Dad's easy chair in the living room my mom tore open the letter. Her tears were flowing down her delicate face even before she read a single word. I grasped her hand, sitting down onto the arm of the chair, and began to read the letter aloud.
"Dearest Renee and Charlotte,
First and foremost I am well, and I look forward to the end of this war with every breath I breathe. The shattering noises of the bombs aren't able to be compared to the love a warmth of my two favorite women in the world. I am in hope of returning soon, and the portraits of you are kept close to my heart. I'm sure in the several months I've been gone my Charlotte has turned from a young girl to a woman, and I enclose to you a golden locket with a rose engraved in the center from France. It's a late birthday present to you, and I hope the picture you chose will keep you content and blissful in times of darkness and sorrow. I love you both with my life, I shall write again soon.
Your loving husband, and father,
Michael."
Tears of my own trickled down my face as I read the letter again and again, each time pursing the locket deeper and deeper into my heart, and moving my fingers down the gentle handwriting of the letter, and imagining the way my father would sit down in his chair and create masterpieces with his broad, strong hand. A piece of my father's heart was settled into mine, and he would be with me wherever I went.
Later on that day Mrs. Pevensie had called upon us to join them for dinner, and my thoughts went straight back to Peter. Why should I care what he thinks, anyway? I asked myself. Maybe it was only the way he'd looked at me earlier that caught me so much off guard. But I was sure it would pass soon. My mum had accepted thinking it would be a chance for Susan and I to talk, but if she only knew the real reason. Every time I thought of Peter I felt myself smile, and a sinking feeling urged in my stomach. I knew it had to be something else, but his eyes; that look couldn't be one of mischief. I couldn't put my finger on it.
I swore to myself nothing would happen between us the moment my mum rapped on the door, but that determined feeling was replaced by fear when none other than Peter himself opened the door. He sufficed a polite smile to my mum, but changed his expression as his eyes moved to me. I winced inside, questioning if I could keep my promise. Smiling as cordially as I could, I greeted him and entered his home. Lucy, being the cheery and inquisitive child she was, ran to me with open arms and let herself collapse in my embrace.
"Charlotte, you've come!" she smiled brightly, "now Edmund won't pester me all night."
I laughed and assured her, "I'll make sure he doesn't."
Edmund greeted me with a sulky smile and a muffled, "Hullo," trudging up the flight of stairs, and soon we all heard a door slam.
I looked forward to spending my time that evening with Susan, and tried not to let Peter get into my head. After dinner had passed, I decided to take some time in the backyard alone, looking at the pure, serene stars above my head. My thoughts were once again interrupted by the shuffling of feet just outside the back door. Peter's head whipped around to me, as he sat down onto the swinging bench in the shade of the patio.
"Susan wanted me to apologize for snapping at you earlier." He said softly, just barely breaking the silence. "So, I'm sorry." He said, cautiously, yet sincerely.
"Apology accepted," I said, plainly, not looking in his direction.
"Since when are you so…primitive?" he suddenly asked, turning to me.
I felt the bench sway from side to side as my eyes met his. "What?"
"When we were little, you were always so, happy, and cheerful all the time. What happened?"
"I guess that's what the war does to you." I whispered.
He sighed. "Is that really it?"
I shot him a look, and he did the same. We sat there for a while, just looking at each other, with the same expression on our faces. Suddenly his eyes softened. His hand found my hair, and he moved it to the side. Leaning in, his hand grazed my neck as his lips softly met mine. I wasn't sure what was happening at first, but as my eyes closed and I began responding I realize I was kissing Peter. Peter. The headstrong pest that was quick to judge or start a rival. I wanted to stop, knowing I'd broken my promise. But, weren't promises meant to be broken? I decided not to think about it as the kisses intensified. My hand met his shoulder and he pulled me closer to him, and I felt my lips getting hot.
Fully realizing what was truly happening at that moment we both broke away, gasping for air as we did. His eyes didn't spark rebellion, but in a way, a surprise. I composed myself.
"What was that for?" I asked, a bit too harshly.
He didn't answer, but just got up and went back inside. I felt the embers in my heart light a fire. But I wasn't sure what I wanted.
A/N: Please review, I'll update soon! :)