A/N: Here's the second chapter. I do hope you like it.
When Edmund awoke, the first thing that he felt was pain radiating from his head. He put a hand to his head, gingerly touching the lump that wasn't there before. He raised his head a little and took in his surroundings.
He certainly wasn't in the forest anymore. It was a wooden cabin, consisting of one room. There was a fireplace with a rug in front of it close to the bed he was laying in. A window that was facing him revealed the sun sinking below the mountains.
He looked to his right and he saw Peter laying in the bed next to him, still unconscious, his head bandaged. "I remember what happened to you," he whispered to his brother, "but what happened to me?"
"I see that one the kings of Narnia has awakened," said a voice that startled Edmund. He slowly looked up and he saw a young girl crossing the room with a tray that was laden with a teapot and two cups. She looked to be the same age as Susan. She had long flowing auburn red hair that fell past her shoulders. Her skin was as smooth as fine porcelain and her eyes were a deep emerald green.
But it was what she was wearing that stunned he the most-she was wearing men's clothing. She wore a forest green shirt, which overlapped her matching tights. A belt was strapped around her midriff, on top of her shirt. On her feet she wore a pair of dark brown boots that went up to her knees.
This girl was definitely different than all the girls he had encountered in Narnia. Girls he had seen usually wore dresses and spent hours on end to look presentable. Edmund had a feeling that this girl would never do that.
He tried to sit up and instantly his body disagreed. The girl noticed his grimace, and said, "You should really take it easy, you know. Falling off a horse can really leave a person pretty sore." She put down the tray on a nearby table and started pouring the hot liquid into one of the cups. She handed it to the Just King, saying, "Drink this. It'll help with the pain of the lump on your head."
"I fell off my horse?" Edmund repeated, not believing what she just said. "Yep. Saw the whole thing," she replied, walking over to Peter's bed, checking on his wound, "I would have thought that the Kings of Narnia were a little more graceful than what I witnessed a few hours ago."
Edmund opened his mouth in protest, a bit of red coloring his cheeks, but the girl held up a hand to silence him, and continued, "But I know you were attempting to help your brother as quickly as possible. In that moment, nothing else mattered, except you assisting your brother." she gazed down at the High King, and sighed deeply. "He is very lucky to have a brother like you," she said quietly.
As Edmund continued to look at her, he noticed that there was some pain behind her words. But he didn't want to pry and kept these thoughts to himself; sipping the tea he was given. He felt the pain leaving his head almost instantly.
"Who are you?" he asked after many minutes of silence. "My name is Serafina," she answered, "And I think that your brother is waking up."
Edmund looked down at Peter, who opened his eyes and then shut them almost as quickly. "What happened?" he moaned. "Well let's just say that you got into a fight with a tree branch and lost," Serafina, replied before Edmund could open his mouth, "Miserably I might add." She then busied herself with pouring the other cup with the tea.
Peter opened his eyes again, sitting up a little, taking notice of Serafina. He looked up at Edmund who was sitting on the edge of his own bed, and asked, "What's going on?" "You smacked your head on thick branch because you weren't paying attention." Edmund answered with a mixed look of concern and amusement on his face.
"And then your younger brother here knocked himself unconscious by falling off his horse trying to get to you," Serafina interjected, handing Peter his cup of tea, a smirk playing upon her lips. "Hey!" Edmund exclaimed as Peter gave a small chuckle. "I just tell it like it is," Serafina said, throwing up her hands in defense.
"I bandaged your wound and you should be fine by tomorrow," she added looking at Peter who was sitting up a little more to drink the tea. "Thanks…what's your name?" Peter asked, taking a sip of his tea, immediately feeling relief.
"Serafina, and you're welcome," she responded, picking up the tray and setting it by the fireplace. "Oh and you two should probably stay here tonight. Unless you want some more unwanted run-ins with tree branches,' she added, giving them a knowing smile.
Night was already upon them and Edmund noticed that there were no other beds besides the ones he and Peter were occupying. "Where are you going to sleep?" he asked Serafina, who had brought out a pillow and a blanket. "By the fire, of course," she answered dropping the pillow onto the rug and spread the blanket out.
"Are you sure you don't want one of our beds?" Peter questioned her, making a move to get out of the bed, Edmund doing the same. "I am perfectly fine sleeping on the floor," Serafina replied, putting her hands on her hips, "What are friends for right?"
Both Kings lowered themselves back into their beds, each being a bit relieved that she was being so stubborn. "Goodnight," they heard her say and replied the same.
As Serafina lay down and snuggled underneath her blanket, she heard the two brothers whispering to each other. "I'm glad that you're alright Peter," Edmund said, and she could hear the love behind his words. "You too, Edmund, you too," Peter said in a low voice, returning the same feeling.
Then the brothers said their goodnights and drifted off to sleep. Serafina lay awake, though, watching the fire dance before her. With the flames flickering in her eyes, remembering what it was like to have such love for a brother and to be loved by one. When sleep finally overcame her, her mind was filled with memories…memories she would rather forget.
Well? Please, please, please review! It would be much appreciated. =)