Author's Note: Sorry I haven't updated in a while! I've been grounded, hehe. I also can NOT find this stinkin' movie anywhere on the net...so I'm kinda searching and writing by memory. Best of luck to me...T~T
It took Risika a long time before she would stop crying. After she had finished, she sat in the corner of the How's main room. She sat by herself since the others were busy tending to matters. Risika was no use to them. She could not fight. She could not make weapons. She could not build armor. So Risika sat in the corner with a blank stare upon her face and a heavy weight upon her heart. Then, Edmund came to her.
He held a small bowl of water and a washcloth. Risika didn't look at him or speak to him. He took her hand and placed the washcloth in it.
"Come and clean the blood of your face, Risika."
He spoke softly. Probably because of how fragile she must've seemed at the moment. When he let her hand go, however, it fell lifelessly to the pavement. Edmund sighed. He took the washcloth from her and took her face into his hands. This is when Risika opened her mouth to protest, but she was cut off as he began to roughly rub her face with the coarse washcloth. She pushed his hands away, but he didn't stop.
He didn't stop until the blood, tears, and dirt was clean from her face. Then he sighed and stood. He reached his long arm towards her and extended his hand. Risika stared up at him.
"Go on. Take my hand."
Risika didn't move.
The handsome boy's brows furrowed. Risika trusted him, she knew that herself. Still, she couldn't help but feel as if he didn't trust her. He had many reasons not to. Still, here he was, cleaning her face and asking her to take his hand.
"Why be so kind to me?"
The question hung in the air between them. Edmund didn't answer right away. He seemed to have to think before he answered.
"You threw yourself before my sister. It's the least I can do is offer my kindness to you," he spoke plainly. Risika didn't accept this as a full explanation.
"But why you, 'King Edmund'? Why not your brother or your sisters? You are not the kindest of your family, and yet you are the kindest to me."
Edmund let his hand drop to his side. He slightly narrowed his eyes at the Telmarine girl.
"You ask too many questions."
Risika had to slightly smile at this.
"You never answer them."
"I just did a moment ago."
"Not exactly."
Risika didn't know why she felt the urge to challenge him at every corner, as she was sure he felt as well, but she just did. For a moment, she almost forgot all the death and misery of the world. But of course, such things could not be forgotten. At least, not to Risika.
For what had ruined the moment, was the loud sound of a horn being blown. Edmund had turned to see what the commotion was. Risika's eyes lost their glitter and returned to a pale violet. He turned back to her and extended his hand again. Risika took it this time.
"Find Susan. She will get you changed out of your nightgown. Hurry," he told her urgently. Risika nodded and did as she was told. She hadn't even remembered she had left the castle only wearing her night gown.
Sure enough, Risika found Susan in one of the few bed chambers in the How. The pretty girl stared at her, wondering what she wanted.
"There's an emergency. Edmund said that you'd-"
Risika hadn't even finished speaking when Susan nodded.
"Yes, I know. We must hurry."
Susan quickly went through a chest of clothes. It only took her a moment for find a simple deep blue dress. Risika changed quickly as Susan went to fetch the girl some armor and (chain)mail.
After Risika was dressed both in armor and clothing, she strapped her sword and boots on. Then, Susan helped her tie her hair. Risika was nervous. She'd not been much help in the earlier battle…what makes her think she could do any better now?
"I'm afraid."
Susan stared at the purple-haired girl. She sighed as she finished off Risika's tight braid. Risika stood and stared back at the older girl. Susan cracked a small smile and sighed.
"Me, too."
"Queen Susan! Come quickly!"
Risika and Susan automatically dashed out the door and followed the apprehensive faun to the front of the How. The sight was not so pleasing. Hundreds of thousands soldiers marched towards the How. Risika glanced to Edmund, but he kept his eyes fixed on the sight of the Telmarine Army. The Narnians were outnumbered.