A/N: I'm not usually one to fish any comments, but reviews really would be nice. I'd like to know what you think of this little story.

4

"Good morning, Edmund!"

Edmund groaned as an answer to whoever dared to be so cheery so early in the morning. He had had a bad night full of nightmares and he was incredibly tired when he just thought about getting up. He mumbled something unintelligent and buried himself further in his blankets.

"Really, Edmund. They're about to take down the tent", the cheery voice continued. Who owned that voice, Edmund wondered with his sleep filled brains. It sounded a bit familiar. He heard the person shift. "What do you usually do when he doesn't wake up?"

"We try to find the container…"

"…which holds the coldest water…"

"… and throw it onto His Majesty."

Edmund started. Those voices he knew at once as their threat of ice cold water. The not so familiar voice laughed. Edmund raised his head and tried to glower failing quite badly. When he had gotten his eyes open he saw Therren, Shalang and Winter sitting beside his bed. He frowned. How did Winter end up here?

"Come on, up", Winter said and prodded him out of his bed. "We have so much traveling to do today. Surely you don't want to miss it?"

Edmund glared at him again and Winter let another laugh. He had a very nice laugh, Edmund noted distractedly while he stumbled to standing position. Then he fumbled his clothes without actually looking them at any point and started pulling them on. When he was ready after five long minutes he noticed Winter looking him interested.

"What?"

"Oh, nothing. Your morning rituals are just very interesting", Winter smiled mischievously.

Edmund snorted and put his boots on. Then he stood and yawning left the tent looking for breakfast. Winter and the Leopards followed closely behind him. On the breakfast table Edmund collected before him a huge cup of tea and two toasts from a high pile of them. Apparently whoever was on kitchen duty had thought he would eat all of them. Winter sat opposite of him and snagged some toast from the pile and took a bite from the bread. Edmund watched as he munched it looking thoughtful.

"You've never eaten toast before?" he asked Winter who shook his head taking another bite. Edmund pushed the marmalade towards Winter. "It tastes better with that."

Winter nodded, spread some marmalade on the toast and took a bite. His eyes brightened and he smiled. "Oh, yes. Much better."

"Of course it is", Edmund smirked and finished his breakfast. "We do not have another Horse to carry you but I'm sure Phillip won't mind if he carries us both."

Winter looked up from his sixth toast. "There's no need, I'll rather walk."

"You sure?" Edmund asked.

Winter nodded. "I can run a day without a break if need be. I can manage with my feet."

"Alright", Edmund said and they rose from the breakfast table to make ready for leaving again. Edmunds scouting party would travel with the telnorians to the Northern border as Edmund had promised. They would need to pass the marshes and he would probably need to ask a guide from the Marsh-Wiggles as they were the only one who knew the marshes well enough. Edmund was feeling depressed upon thinking about them already. He couldn't take their pessimism. But as he had decided yesterday, he wanted to see the telnorines to the border himself. He could also find out how the Ettins behind the border were doing. It would be alarming if they were moving again.

The party travelled the whole day slowly thanks to the telnorines keeping very few pauses. On one of these pauses Edmund took the time to hail the Griffins living in the area. They blew their horn to signal the Griffins nearby that they needed to speak to them. The telnorines had watched from a safe distance of the actions of this strange King and his strange subjects. Only lieutenant Martinez had stayed closer looking more interested. When the four Griffins landed in front of Edmund and bowed deeply the narnians heard several intakes of breath as the humans saw more of the miracles of this wild land.

"Well met, our good Griffin", Edmund said talking to the eldest of the group. "May we know your name?"

"I'm Coldwing Your Majesty. How can we be of service?" the Griffin answered sounding out of breath.

"We are in a need of information from behind the Northern border. Would you be able to take few of your kin and fly over Ettinsmoor?" Edmund inquired.

"Well, yes Your Majesty", Coldwing answered. "I'm sure I can gather more than a few of my kin to do this task."

"Thank you", Edmund said. "And while you are there if you could also check the coastline of Ettinsmoor. We are sure our companions would like to know if they will counter any problems in their journey."

The Griffins bowed and took off again soaring through the skies towards North. Otherwise nothing interesting happened that day and when the evening came they made camp partly inside a small forest. As the telnorines refused to camp inside the forest it was mostly full of narnians. Lieutenant Martinez and his second lieutenants dared to the forest enough to have dinner with Edmund and his people but even they left quickly after eating. They had explained their fear of woods (even though they didn't refer it as fear) as a superstition that was common in Telmar. The narnians had shrugged and let the men leave while they ate their dinner in more peaceful pace.

Winter was sitting opposite of Edmund again and seemed to encounter new foods for a second time in one day. Or perhaps it was just the way they were made? Maybe nomads cooked their food differently. Which reminded him of something what Winter had said when they had first met and he had meant to ask at some point. Edmund put his spoon down for a while.

"Winter?" Edmund said and Winter raised his gaze. "What did you meant when you said on that first night that immortality is not a blessing for you?"

Winter froze and slowly lowered his spoon. He didn't look as happy as he usually looked. "It is a part of a story we do not like to tell."

"How so?" Edmund asked.

"It tells the tale of an overly proud people and who eventually fell because of it", Winter said with a bitter tone in his voice before it turned sad. "I guess we deserved it."

Edmund watched this new Winter. This one was sad and seemed older than he looked. Now it was very easy to believe in his immortality. Edmund reached hesitantly and touched Winters hand. "Will you tell me?"

He looked at him for awhile until for a moment a tiny part of his mischievousness returned to his eyes. "If you promise to tell me a not nice story as an exchange someday."

Edmund nodded although he feared he already knew what story he would be telling him. Winter gave him a fleeting smile before he became the sad one again. He took a deep breath and started his story. "It was at the dawn of this world when the Wild Waste Lands of the North were populated by a mighty and glorious people. Their kingdom was one of the most magnificent ones of the young world. They had a safe land, no threats anywhere, they were rich and beautiful. But as many with those qualities, they grew proud and selfish. The rulers and nobility of that people wanted to become even greater than the gods. In their blindness most of the people followed their leaders in this task and they ended up angering the Dark One. As a punishment the Dark One forced them to watch as he destroyed the once beautiful and fertile land to become the waste lands they are today. The people he changed into the werewolves, hags and ghosts who stayed and lived there. However there was a part of that people who saw the error of their ways even though late. They cried for the help of the Light One and begged for His forgiveness. The Light One would have forgiven them but as He watched them She saw only their eventual return to their old ways. And so the Light One decided to give them a teaching of His own. Instead changing them to something else as the Dark One had done She let loose a curse among them that made them immortal, unable to stay still and that should they ever fall in love, they would fall so deeply that they would not be able to live fully after the loved ones death. The Light One told the remaining people to live and wander and learn of what they would see and do, and not to fear of falling in love, so that one day they could return to the land of Light where all creatures have come. They were the first nomads that treaded through this world."

Winter became silent as he ended his tale and picked on his food. Edmund watched him worriedly. "It is true?"

Winter nodded but remained quiet. He still looked a bit weary and Edmund had to fight the urge to stand and go to hug him. Then again maybe it wasn't such a bad idea, he didn't think Winter would mind. He made up his mind and rose from his seat. He walked around the table, sat next to Winter and reached his hand around him. Winter looked at him startled before giving a small smile and laying his head on Edmunds shoulder.

"Is- Is the Light One same as Aslan", Edmund asked hesitantly. He wasn't sure what to think if He was, he had never thought about Aslan doing something like that. Winter shrugged.

"Most likely, but I'm not the person to ask such things. The Light One and the Dark One have never had very much influence in my life if you ask me. I wander in forests and mountains, deserts ans seas, If I need to pray, my prayers go usually to the Mother Nature", Winter answered. Edmund nodded.

"So that's why you wander around the world", Edmund said quietly. "You have no choice?"

Winter shook his head. "No. We call it the Call of the Path. If we are staying still too long it will eventually start tugging. At first just a little and then stronger and stronger as the time passes."

"Path? Does it mean it pulls you in a certain direction?" Edmund asked.

"Not usually. It just urges us to move", Winter shifted into a better position. "But sometimes, it's not very often, it gives us a direction. It usually means that something, that will alter our whole lives will happen as a consequence."

Edmund remembered another part of the conversation they had gone through earlier. "You said that the Path directed you into our way. Does it mean something that'll change your life is here amongst us?"

"Most likely", Winter said.

"Do you know what it is?"

"I think so, but I'm not sure yet" Winter said in a soft voice almost whispering. They sat there quietly for awhile only shifting into a better position every now and then. Edmund was dimly aware that Therren and Shalang were retreated discreetly somewhere in the background. Suddenly Winter spoke.

"Why do you flinch every time you or someone else says my name?"

Edmund startled. "I do not flinch."

"Not visibly, but your eyes shift slightly every time you hear the word", Winter explained himself.

"Oh", Edmund said. "I- I'm sorry. It has nothing to do with you. It's just the season brings me some bad memories."

Winter thought about his answer. "It's part of that not nice story you promised to tell me?"

Edmunds eyes widened in surprise. "How did you know?"

Winter chuckled. "A very good hunch."

"Ah", Edmund sat silent for a moment. "Do you mind if I tell the story some other time?"

"No, just remember that you owe me a story", Winter said eyes twinkling back to his normal self again. Edmund smiled relieved and they talked small and trivial things rest of the evening until they went to sleep. Edmund in his tent while Winter disappeared somewhere in the small forest.

…………..

Next day was as uneventful as the previous one. They continued towards the marshes keeping only few breaks. The telnorians were quite amazed that day when seeing many of the narnians living in the area coming forward to greet their King and walking with them for awhile. Many of them also brought them food to ease their suffering from the monotonous travelling food they were carrying with them. Edmund made sure to thank all of them profoundly. Apparently this was not common behavior in Telmar, Edmund noted amused.

"Is this common?" lieutenant Martinez sounded astonished.

"Edmund chuckled. "More or less. They are not as enthusiastic as they could as they do not know us as well as the people in our woods at West. The Northern areas are normally governed by our royal brother High King Peter."

"This is not enthusiastic?" lieutenant asked faintly, they had to be very popular and good rulers to achieve this kind of loyalty from their people. Edmund laughed as an answer and asked Phillip to take him to another one of their dear subjects.

Around midday they passed a small lake where they stopped to fill flasks but continued shortly their travelling. Most of the day Edmund walked or rode beside Winter talking mostly, of all things, plants that grew on the moors at North. Edmund really didn't know much about plants, only the little he had learned from Lucy, but Winter didn't seem to mind.

In the evening they made camp in a little forest again, where there was a small pond. They camped at the edge of the forest so that telnorians would feel more comfortable while Winter went closer to the pond. That evening Winter didn't join for dinner with them and so Edmund had to spend the rest of the evening alone. Which eventually got him thinking about last night and the evening before it. He had seen nightmares again, not the worst ones, thank Aslan, but enough to damper his mood. He didn't like the idea that he'd have to go through the first few weeks in Narnia again, but he had promised and he doubted that Winter had wanted to tell him of the story which painted his people as selfish and cruel. And Lucy had said that talking to people helped. Edmund just rather didn't, and when it was about the Witch, not even to his siblings no matter how dear they were to him. Maybe talking to Winter would really help and Lucy was right. Edmund gathered his courage and went to find Winter. It was better for him to do it now before he'd lose his determination. He walked inside the little forest, Therren and Shalang quietly following him, and went towards the pond. When he reached the shore he scanned the area and noticed a small cliff on the opposite side of the pond where there seemed to be a fire lit. Slowly Edmund started walking towards it. When he had managed to climb up to the cliff Edmund found Winter lying at the edge of the cliff on his stomach holding his bow above the water. Therren and Shalang stayed farther behind. Edmund watched him curiously.

"What are you doing?"

"Fishing", Winter answered calmly and tugged the bow slightly.

"Oh, right", it looked much more obvious now that Edmund knew what he was doing and he felt himself a little foolish. He moved closer to Winter and pointed a spot next to him. "Do you mind if I sit?"

Winter shook his head and Edmund sat down. "I don't remember when it was the last I fished. I think it was before we came here."

Winter looked at him. "Would you like to?"

"What?" Edmund asked confused.

"To fish", Winter clarified amused.

"Oh, well, I guess that would be nice", Edmund admitted and Winter jerked his head to where his rucksack was lying in the ground.

"I have a spare fishing line, with a fishhook in the outer pocket, you can use them."

"Thank you", Edmund said and went to find the objects in question.

"Not a problem. Just… break them and you're gonna get me new ones", Winter chuckled.

Edmund dug the items from Winters rucksack and searched the ground for sturdy stick to use as a fishing rod. It didn't take long to find one and he tied the line tightly to the other end of the stick. Then he took a bait from Winter and let the hook fall into the water. He laid down next to Winter and they laid there waiting for the fishes to notice their baits.

"Did you have a reason to come here?" Winter asked gently.

Edmund blanched a bit having almost forgotten why he had come. "Yes, I did."

The silence stretched between them until Edmund couldn't stand it anymore. "I- You said you wanted to hear a story for the story you told me."

"Yes", Winter confirmed and waited patiently for Edmund to continue.

Edmund gathered his courage again and started. "Lucy, my younger sister, was the first one to come to Narnia. After she returned back to our world, none of us believed her. Until the next night when she visited here again and I followed her. And met her

"What is your name, Son of Adam?"

"Edmund?"

"…After we returned back home again, I didn't back Lucy up, but pretended that we had just been playing. But the next day, we broke something, don't remember what anymore, and ran away from the housekeeper to the wardrobe and that way we all ended up in Narnia."

"Your sister? How many are you?"

"Four."

"…I left them at the Beavers house and went to the Witch…"

"Edmund, you look so cold. Come and sit with me."

"… When the Witches dwarf was taking me away I think I realized the first time that I might have done something pretty stupid."

"How did you do that!?"

"I can make anything you like."

"Can you make me taller?"

"Anything you'd like to eat."

"Turkish Delight?"

"The Witch turned Mr. Tumnus to stone. I saw him when they were taking me to the sleigh. Her wolves found the trail at the river again and her minions brought there also a Fox who had helped my siblings…"

"Edmund? I would very much like to meet rest of your family."

"She tricked me to reveal the rest I knew of their plans."

"Why? They're nothing special."

"She started to gather an army. It was huge. When the narnians came to rescue me, I wasn't sure which ones I was afraid more, the narnians or the Witch."

"… you are exactly the sort of boy I could see one day becoming a prince of Narnia. Maybe even a king."

"Really?"

"Early in the next morning a Dryad came to pass us the news of Aslan's death and we had to go to the battle alone. I wasn't sure we would survive it."

"Do you mean Peter would be king too?"

"No" No, no. But a king needs servants."

"I got wounded in the battle. I broke the Witches wand and she got quite angry."

"Beyond those woods, see those two hills? My house is right between them."

"But against all odds, we won. Aslan and the girls came with all the creatures that had been turned to stone in the Witches castle we beat them. And Aslan took care of the Witch."

"Until then, dear one, I'm going to miss you."

Edmund sat still and silent after he had finished the story watching intently at his rod. Winter had also sat up while listening and was now looking at Edmund. After a while he put his bow down and shifted right next to Edmund. He circled his arms around Edmund and when he looked up to Winter, Winter just smiled.

"My turn."

Edmund smiled and relaxed.

"She kept you there a long time", Winter said.

Edmund shrugged uncertainly. "A week, perhaps two. I couldn't count the days."

Winter held him tighter. "What did she do?" he asked but Edmund stayed quiet. He wasn't sure could he talk about it. In the end he started to go through the days of his imprisonment, first stumbling, but when Winter just listened without pity in his eyes and lightly stroking his back, he managed to talk about it almost clearly. He told about the dreams that still haunted him even of the worst one in which point Winter asked quietly what he thought it was he had forgotten. Edmund didn't know but he thought it was something that he would have been afraid to, perhaps something concerning his siblings, at that point he had been quite changed boy from what he had been.

Edmund sighed. "I wish I would have jumped behind the piles of snow or something and the Wicth had just driven past me."

Winter thought about it for a while. "But if you hadn't met the Witch, would you be the you, you are now?"

"What do you mean?" Edmund asked after a moment of silence.

"The choices we make defines us, isn't that right? If you hadn't met the Witch, maybe you would still be like the old Edmund you so despise (I didn't actually liked him either). Maybe you needed to meet the Witch so that you could become the Just King you are today."

"…I hadn't thought about it that way", Edmund said slowly.

"Everybody makes mistakes, Edmund", Winter said. "The important thing is that you learn from them. Isn't that what makes us humans. And when in Narnia, Talking Animals, fauns, centaurs dryads and terribly lots of creatures", he added to which Edmund chuckled.

Edmund turned his head to look Winter in the eyes and circled his another arm around his shoulders. "Thank you", he said. "I guess Lucy was right, talking does help."

Winter smiled and nodded. "You're welcome."

Edmund couldn't suddenly take his eyes away from Winters face. Or more importantly from his eyes. He had such a beautiful eyes, some would probably be freaked out by them but Edmund liked them. They suited Winter well. Wonder if Winter likes men, he thought and then startled. Where on earth had that come from? Although he couldn't deny that he would like to kiss Winter. His eyes trailed to Winters lips, a bit pale perhaps as was his whole complexion but soft and inviting, before quickly shifting back up chiding himself for thinking like that. Winter was just a friend, right? The fact that their faces were inching towards one another seemed to overrule that assumption. Edmunds stomach was full of butterflies and his breath had quickened. He had never been this tangled up when about to kiss someone. Just as their lips were millimeters apart from each other there was a loud splash and high-pitched chirping of a Nightingale.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty", she chirped and Winter dashed to save his bow, a fish had eaten the bait while Edmund turned towards the Bird partly in a daze still.

"What- what is it?" he managed to ask.

"I have an urgent message to deliver to Your Majesty", the Bird informed. "It is from your sisters, Sire."

Edmund rolled his eyes. Of course it was. "Alright, let me see."

Edmund extended his hand and the Bird dropped a letter in it. Edmund opened it and found the contents to be what he expected from Susan. A large amount of questions from his health to the telnorines presence. Edmund sighed, he knew he'd need to write back to her as quickly as possible.

In the mean while Winter had lifted the fishes both from his bow and Edmunds fishing rod and was gutting the fishes when Edmund turned from the Bird after thanking of the delivery and stucking the letter to his pockets. Winter raised one of the fishes.

"Hungry?"

Edmund stopped for a moment while Winter continued to act as if nothing had happened. Maybe it hadn't? Edmund shook his head. It had happened. But Winter didn't seem to want to acknowledge it. Maybe he should play along and see what would happen. Edmund nodded.

"I could eat a little bit."

Winter nodded and gutted the second fish also. Then he put both of them in a stick and above the fire. Rest of the evening they talked about Edmunds siblings until he had to return to the camp to get some sleep. That night was a first night in a long time when his dreams were troubling about something else than the Witch. But when he woke up in the next morning he couldn't remember what he had dreamed.