I'm practically dead for inspiration, so sorry for the mediocrity of this chapter. If you have any ideas, do let me know and please review!

I obviously don't own the Chronicles of Narnia.

Celia practically inhaled her cup of morning coffee.

She was wearing a dress again. She was dying to get into a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. She slept in her pajamas anyway; despite the fine nightgowns that Lucy had generously given her. This was getting harder every day. She missed home. She was actually liking Narnia. But she didn't believe in it. How was that possible? How much longer with this struggle with her mind continue?

Being around Edmund was relieving. For a while she could let go of her own botherations and just focus on him. He was like one of those huge puzzles where you have to start from the corner pieces to fill in the middle. She didn't know why she was so interested in him. She just had a burning feeling that she had to know. She didn't know what or when but it was like every time she saw him her curiosity peaked drastically. Perhaps it was because it had been so long since she'd met someone so similar to her.

"Gotten anywhere on the Darin contract, Ed?" Lucy asked cheerfully.

"Yes, actually," Edmund said. His dark hair was messy, like he'd run his hands through it several times. He glanced at Celia with a small smile. He was trying to say thanks. She nodded politely.

"The Ravens by a brook near Beaversdam are having severe troubles with water." She said worriedly. "There is an acute shortage there. Creatures are fighting for it and I think I shall have to travel there to sort out the disputes. The summer heat is draining the patience out of everyone!"

"Of course." Edmund nodded. "But that is at least a two day ride. You will of course have Awen." The big cat purred before settling down again. "I shall send a guard with you, still. "

"It's really okay, Ed-" Lucy began. "I'll be fine-"

"With a guard" Edmund cut in briefly. "I know you think it's unnecessary but it's for the best, Lu."

He was quite the protective brother, Celia mused, so strong familial bonds and devotion to family could certainly be associated with him. She suspected that they only grew stronger after his mistake with the Witch.

"Alright," Lucy sighed. "I suppose I should leave after breakfast then. Travelling in this heat will take time."

Caspian, who had practically been snoozing in his plate, sat up straight suddenly.

"I'll come."

"What?"

"I need to attend to business at Beaversdam as well. Remember the Archen delegation that I was stuck with? They had the same problem. And since the Archen river connects to the Great River, across Beaversdam, it is likely any shortage that takes place was borne there, if at all in Narnia."

"Makes sense,'' Edmund nodded. "All right then. I shall remain here and take care of business. The traders from Darin need to see my documents soon."

Edmund caught Celia's eye, seeing if she'd caught on. She had, of course. She had a feeling that this was what would happen, somehow. It looked like she'd be alone for a few days – alone with Edmund.

A weird feeling came over her. Her stomach was churning strangely. She identified this as excitement, then immediately pushed it away. She should be worried, not excited! She was stuck in a random country with a random guy whom she barely knew, all alone. If it were any other scenario she would've been scared out of her mind. She should've been here, after all, she could see that Edmund was clever and deadly.

So why wasn't she?

She met his eyes defiantly and he raised an eyebrow almost in a challenge – but then every move of his was a challenge. It was all a game of who could best whom. It was like he was trying to ask if she was up to this. She smiled politely. This seemed to disconcert him a little.

"…Celia, is that okay?"

"Sorry?" she asked in confusion (which she tried masking as best she could)

Lucy giggled. "I asked if this arrangement was okay with you – you know, you having a guard to take you around and show you the way, in case you get lost – "

"A guard? What, you mean like-like a-"

"A Lynx"

In her head, Celia was screaming. A lynx. A freaking LYNX. What the hell does that even look like? Isn't it extinct? A Lynx. A talking animal. An ANIMAL as my GUARD.

"Whoa…that-that would be strange, but fun too, I guess…" Uncertainty crept into her voice and she was alarmed. "I'd be honored to have a guard, though," she added as graciously as she could. Edmund's eyes were boring into her and heat crept up her neck.

"It will be a little scary at first," Lucy said in that bright, soothing voice of hers. "But it gets truly fun, trust me. Would you like to be introduced to her now, before we leave?"

"Sure."

Celia started slightly as a slender, beautiful big cat with a mane of silvery grey fur stepped out from behind her chair. (How could she not have noticed that before?) She looked at Celia with large, honey colored eyes and spoke.

"I am Aria, Lady Celia." She purred. Celia smiled (a little shakily) "Hello."

Aria slunk back into the shadows.

"She's very friendly once you get to know her." Caspian said, sensing Celia's discomfort. It's very comforting to have a guard around – a strong friendship is forged indeed. I cannot imagine being without mine. "

Caspian was intelligent, perceptive too. She stored that fact away for further use. Already her mind was going back to its usual form.

Lucy sipped the last of her tea and stood up.

"I'll go pack a few more things now. Meet me at the stables," she added to Caspian and waved good-bye to the other two, bouncing away.

"That's what she always says." Edmund smirked. "I'll go pack a few things more – she hasn't even started! And then she'll come back and wail about how she didn't pack her toothbrush, her comb, how she forgot something important."

"The Valiant Queen can be quite lazy," Caspian remarked. Celia grinned and drained the last of her coffee. Caspian stood to go and Edmund got up as well. She rose.

"I'll go pick up some clothes and be right back," Caspian nodded and walked out. That left Edmund and Celia alone.

"So, how's your work going?" Celia asked, a little awkwardly. She recalled the last time they were alone together. It had been quite fun, and that was weird for her. Edmund was someone she was constantly scrutinizing. She didn't know if it was okay to have fun with someone who was almost an opponent to her.

"Much better." Brown eyes lit up a little. "I've put in several sub-clauses that I think put forth my point pretty clearly, but I still need to strengthen my wording and look up some effective facts on economic value. "

"Yeah. Facts to exert how much they stand to gain from all this." She agreed. "That's important."

She noticed he leaned forward very slightly, which was universal body language for interest. His head cocked to the left a bit. He opened his mouth to speak but Lucy bounced back in.

"I'm ready to go!" she was holding a satchel. "Where's Cas?"

"He just left too. Said he had to pack as well."

The three of them decided to head to the stables. Lucy found a beautiful brown mare and rubbed her neck affectionately, feeding her a sugar cube she seemed to have produced out of nowhere. Aria strode alongside Celia, who gulped nervously. This was still incredibly weird.

"Going on a journey, my Queen?"

Of course the horse talked.

Looking over at Celia, she whinnied. "Nice to meet you, Lady…?"

"Celia."

"Lady Celia. You come to Narnia from what part of this great world?"

Celia looked at Edmund. She had no idea how to answer this. She barely knew the names of any kingdom here. What to say?

"Actually, Bronwyn, she comes from where we did, when we first entered Narnia. Beyond Lantern Waste."

"Ah." The horse smiled knowingly. "May I wish you the mightiest of adventures in Narnia."

"Thanks." Celia smiled politely.

"Bronwyn has been with us through thick and thin. She is the fiercest and most faithful horse we have ever known!"

Bronwyn nudged Lucy with her nose. "And Queen Lucy is adept at the art of exaggeration."

Edmund laughed. "I'll attest to that," he grinned. "But not in this case, Bronwyn."

"There you are!" Caspian's tall frame came round the corner and so did his grinning face. He too was carrying a satchel.

"Enough food and water in here, Lu. Shall we leave?" To Celia's surprise, they said goodbye to Bronwyn and walked towards another horse.

"Talking horses are ridden only in special circumstances, or into battle." Edmund explained. "Most of the time."

He was remembering something. She'd read about a talking horse he was close to. She wondered where it was now.

"Good bye, Edmund, Celia! See you soon!" They waved to Lucy and Caspian as they set off. "Be safe!" Edmund called after Lucy.

Celia turned to Edmund, her heart thumping a little faster than usual.

It was just the two of them now,