I Always Have Loved You

The past days had been tiring. Everyone was always watching over me, afraid that I would take off again, it was like everyone was walking on eggshells around me. I finally had gotten fed up with it, and since we had the day off from our lessons I came into the library and was now looking for a book to read. I was picking between Humans: Real or not, or Narnia: A Great History. I picked Narnia and sat down on one of the numerous leather chairs and I started reading. Just as I started reading the third chapter the oak doors opened and I walked Edmund. He looked surprised to see me sitting there reading.

"Ah I thought I would be alone." He remarked when I looked up at him questioningly.

"Well if you want to, then I will leave." I said haughtily shutting the book and standing up. I was about to pass him when he gently grabbed my arm to stop me from leaving. I raised a confused eyebrow as he quickly released me and looked embarrassed as he said.

"You don't have to leave; I just thought no one would be here, here stay." He said directing me back to the chair I had been occupying moments before.

"Why would you think it would be empty?" I asked as he took a seat in the chair next to me. He only shrugged and replied.

"It's just a lovely day and I thought most anyone would want to be outside enjoying the day, like my siblings they are at the beach." I nodded and asked.

"Then why aren't you there?" I asked wondering; because I had gotten the impression that those four were very close.

"Well I had business to attend to, and besides I am not most like everyone to enjoy this day." I nodded in understanding and responded.

"I know how you feel." He only nodded but said.

"I sincerely doubt that, but thanks for that." I sighed and decided to job the subject.

"So what is this business that you have to attend to, to miss such a beautiful day?" I asked making conversation and he gave a chuckle. After it was gone, I found myself missing it and I wanted to hear it again. It wasn't like most laughs I had heard in my lifetime, it was different. The same went with Edmund's eyes, they were so dark, yet friendly, yet there always seem to be something behind them, like a secret, a secret I wanted to know very badly. I shook myself out of my trance as he droned on about some laws he had to look over.

"You know thirteen years old shouldn't have to make up laws." I remarked and he laughed again making me smile.

"We shouldn't but we do." I had just thought of something and it made me smile.

"I have a brilliant idea." He looked confused but motioned for me to continue.

"Well since you obviously don't want to make up laws and want to go outside why don't we go horseback riding?" I asked hoping he would agree. He thought about it for several seconds and smiled and nodded. I squealed happily as we made our way to the stables. We soon got there and straddled our horses and soon we were racing across fields.

"Want to go to owlwood?" He yelled as he caught up with me. I nodded and we raced northwest to the woods. Soon they came upon us as Edmund got in front of me leading me down paths through the woods. I soon caught up to him so we were side by side. I smiled over at him and he returned it, I then turned to see a fallen tree on the path. Bracing myself I felt Callie jump over it and we landed gracefully, as Edmund landed next to us. We then went at a trot to make sure we wouldn't wear out our horses.

"It's beautiful here." I remarked as I looked around the woods. They weren't as massive as the western woods, but they were beautiful nonetheless.

"Yes it is I like to come here to think." He said as we came up to a small pond.

"Want to rest here for awhile?' he asked and I nodded. I got off Callie and led her over to the water where she started lapping the water up. Edmund did the same to a mare he had ridden, we sat down on two boulders right by the trunk of this huge oak tree. Providing us with shade and a slight breeze was coming through the forest making us comfortable.

"Thanks for asking me to come." He said after several moments of silence.

"Why wouldn't I ask you, you're my friend?" I responded easily. He looked down and said.

"I know and you're my friend also."

"That's good to know." I said interrupting him and he laughed.

"It is nice to talk to you without all of my siblings around, speaking of them they probably know we are gone by now we should head back."

"Already?" I asked whining, we had just got there. He laughed and nodded.

"They are very protective of me, especially since I learned what Aslan had done for me; they probably think I have run away."

"And here I thought that was my specialty." I said sarcastically as he laughed again.

"You should be a jester Lena you would be good at it." Now it was my turn to laugh. The breeze had stopped and I brought a hand to my face fanning myself, Edmund noticed and asked.

"Hot?" I nodded and I saw him smirk.

"Then maybe you should cool down." Before I could say anything he picked me up flung me into the pond. The water was nice and cool and refreshing, but I wouldn't let Ed know that. When I resurfaced he was laughing hard at me.

"I hate you." I pouted as he stopped laughing and came over and offered me his hand. Which I gratefully took, as he tried to pull my up I leaned back and pulled him in. He made a big splash as he belly flopped in. When he surfaced I stopped laughing and said.

"Opps did I do that?" I asked innocently and I smirked when I saw Edmund's reaction.

"You're dead Lena." He said dunking me into the water; we then started a huge water fight. As our horses watched in mild interest as they munched on some stray grass. Soon we got out as our clothes clung to us.

"That was fun." I said as I squeezed my hair to get some water out of it. I rolled up the sleeves of my dress so my arms were bare. Edmund nodded as he rolled up his pants to his knees.

"Ready to head back now?' he asked and I replied.

"If we must." I said dramatically as he laughed. We got back on our horses and rode slowly back to Cair Pavavel. We soon reached it and went to the stables were we left our horses.

"I am starving." I said as my stomach grumbled.

"Want to get some food?" Edmund asked as we headed to the dinning hall. I nodded and we walked in to find it empty. A servant came out and we asked for some food and minutes later she came out with two plates piled high with delicious food.

"If I didn't know better I would think this was a plot to make me fat." I said teasingly as Edmund laughed.

"Ah you found me out." I laughed as I munched on the food. There were fruits on the plate along with some meat and vegetables. The doors opened and in came Peter, Susan, and Lucy.

"There you two are we have been looking for you, where have you been?" Peter asked sitting down next to Edmund, as he was looking at both of us. Edmund and I only shrugged as we continued eating.

"We just went horseback riding for awhile."

"In what woods?" Asked Peter as I playfully rolled my eyes which Edmund caught, he silently laughed as we both said.

"Owlwood." Peter nodded pleased with the answer. As more food came out for those three.

"Why are you two damp?" Lucy asked curiously as she munched on some carrots. Edmund and I laughed as I explained about Edmund throwing me into the pond. At the end of it Susan said.

"Ed I thought you had more manners to our guests." Susan scolded in a motherly tone. I saw Edmund look down upset and I said.

"Susan don't be mad at Edmund, it was actually refreshing to be in the water on such a hot day." I said and Edmund looked up and smiled at me, a smile I had never seen him smile before. I smiled back and found myself getting lost in his coal eyes again, but I quickly looked away.

"How was the beach?' I asked the three as they told me of their adventures. Which wasn't much mind you, they just collected seashells and talked to some local subjects and hung around, all in all it was a fun day.

"Please r and R! I do not own Narnia.)