New Chapter up and running. So very sorry that my updates are so far apart but well I am very busy at the moment. Anyway home you enjoy.

Chapter 7 – Intruder, Victim, Traitor

Edmund

Out of all his siblings he was the one who had been given a talking horse and a guard. This guard just happened to be Leuad, the white wolf who had captured them – or found them, depending on your point of view, and brought them to Cair Paravel. Acontia sat to his right on her horse who was quietly trotting along next to his own chatty chestnut stallion.

"... and so, my king, that is how my father out ran a cheetah in a bet. It was quite a feat and I am proud to say that I have inherited his long, muscled legs. However I have inherited my mother's coat because my father..."

"Enough of 'my father', 'my mother', 'my grandfather' nonsense. Be quiet – nobody is listening to your speech. We don't care that your father outrun a cheetah once in his life. Just shut up, will you Firth." Said Leuad who had had quite enough of all Firth's talk.

For once silence was around them. They could hear the bird's singing, the wind blowing and the soft panting of Leuad. How beautiful Narnia was. Edmund was so glad he was back, overjoyed was the word. Acontia, he glimpsed, also seemed to be enjoying the silence. Her head was held high and she sat straight on Waen. She was so secretive. Edmund barely knew a thing about her, so he built up the courage to ask her a question.

"Why can you only speak to me? Why couldn't you speak to the others?" Edmund said in his kingly fashion.

She shrugged her shoulders in reply telling him nothing.

"You know that I have met two stars before. I have met Coriakin and Ramandu – both of whom were very nice people. They were both so eager to help. But you seem to be more reserved – more secretive."

That was the way I was made and I cannot help it. She replied

"How do stars come into being – are you born?"

We are made by the Emperor-over-the-sea. Why are you so inquisitive?

"Well I thought that seems as we are going to be spending much time together – I might as well get to know you." Acontia replied nothing to this only staring bleakly in front of her, so Edmund tried to approach a different topic. "Why did you come to Narnia?"

To try and save it. She said it in a monotone voice – as if she had practiced saying it a thousand times before.

"You have come here very well armed. You carry twin swords, daggers, bow, arrows and quiver and yet the most peculiar thing you carry is a broadsword, a sword that a woman would not use. Whose was it?"

It was my brother's. She said once again in her monotone voice.

"Where is he now?" Edmund said, this topic interesting him.

Edmund waited for a reply. He waited seconds which turned into minutes until five minutes had passed and she had not answered. Edmund was persistent.

"Where is he? What happened to him?"

He died. She said spurring her horse into a gallop and so Edmund had to spur his on to so as to catch up with her.

"Wait, wait." He shouted after her, she pulled her horse to a sudden stop and turned around to look at him. He could see the tell-tale signs of tears forming. "Look, you're supposed to be guiding me to this camp, not run away from me."

Her mouth clenched. Acontia had been expecting some apology, not a scolding. Edmund, in the golden age had been in charge of Narnia's secret intelligence and he had been a specialist in reading people's emotions by their faces. But even without his skill he could see that she was not pleased with him.

"Look, I'm sorry, ok. I didn't know it was a sensitive topic. I'm sorry."

We best be moving on. She said after a while, moving Waen into a steady pace. Edmund drew his horse up to hers, but he was scared of hurting her. Once he had loved to hurt people, he was a bully. He loved to see people suffer but he had changed considerably, he hated people suffering. He couldn't stand it. One great Narnian philosopher had said that Peter was the sword of Narnia, magnificent and strong, showing of his power, and Edmund was the shied, gentler, protector of Narnia, not so magnificent as Peter but necessary none the less. He grimaced at the thought of what had changed him.

She still very much haunted him. In his thoughts, daydreams, nightmares. She would pop up her unwanted head and taunt him. He couldn't even think her name. She had scarred him more than the torture that he had endured in her prison, he had never told his siblings. There was no need. Both physical and mental scars remained, even after over a thousand years. But he was suddenly pulled out of his thoughts, or perhaps intrude would be the best word.

Don't think of her. You were thinking strongly. Like you can hear what I am saying, I can hear what you are thinking.

"Intruder!" He accused

You must have suffered greatly. You did not deserve such suffering. None of the stars thought that at the time.

"And how did you know what was happening to me at the time. Nobody knew, except her, except Aslan."

You forget, Edmund, that I am a star and that the stars are always watching. Night and day we watch. We see through closed doors and curtains, we see through thick walls. We see you when you do not see us. We are always watching.

"How far is it to the village, Leuad." Edmund said turning his attention away from Acontia.

"We should reach it in two hours, your majesty."

"So before nightfall."

"Yes indeed."

"Good, because I could do with some nice hay to lie on." Firth said.

"Congratulations Firth, you have not spoken for such a long time. I had almost thought someone had eaten your tongue." Leuad said sarcastically.

Two hours did indeed pass and they finally arrived at a small town with friendly fires burning. Leuad left them, saying that he was far more comfortable sleeping in the open, and Edmund agreed saying that a wolf striding around town would not be greeted well by the locals. They found an inn, and Firth and Waen were immediately taken into the stables. On the orders of Edmund they were not speak and were to act as dumb horses. The horses agreed to this with much argument as Edmund wanted them to pass unnoticed, and a talking horse might cause some unwanted gossip around town.

Edmund and Acontia stored into the inn and were greeted by a warm blast of air smelling of fresh bread, herbs and above all good ale. Edmund walked straight up to the bar where the innkeeper was happily serving drinks.

"Good sir, we are looking for accommodation this night. Does your inn offer us any?" Edmund asked politly.

"Of course sir, we have just the room for you and your... um..."

"-sister. My sister." Edmund filled for him.

"You have come just in time for tomorrow the great western market begins and we are booked to the brim. Will you be having dinner with us today?"

"Yes we will."

"Please sit down" The burly barman said leading them to a table.

They sat down and were told the menu of today. Edmund had decided what he was going to have but did not know what Acontia was going to have.

Do stars eat? Edmund said in his head hoping somehow that Acontia would hear him and nobody else would. They wanted to pass as ordinary travellers – not a King and a star.

No. But I will eat to avoid suspicion. I will have the same as you, brother. Acontia replied saying the last word mockingly.

Well what was I supposed to say – that you are my wife. Then we would have had to share a bed, or is that what you would have preferred. Edmund said not looking at her, scared that he would suddenly turn all red at such an idea.

No of course not. Acontia replied blushing profusely.

Luckily for both of them, the odd discussion was ended by the innkeeper's daughter carrying two pints of frothing ale to them. Placing them down in front of them she smiled at Edmund and not even looking Acontia's way said

"Good sir, you have just been served Narnia's finest ale." She winked at him flirtatiously. "Why come you here?"

"Well, my sister and I are visiting our uncle who lives but slightly west of here, and upon hearing that your ale and cooking are so fine we decided that we would stop here for the night."

"Oh, if you don't mind be being so bold. May I ask if you are married good sir?" She said moving ever closer to him.

Edmund laughed this off but replied that he was not.

"Why, what a shame. Such a handsome man as you should have all the women doting on him, surely." She said rolling her tongue in what she considered an alluring way. Luckily for Edmund she then left him in peace and went off to serve other customers.

Looks like you've got yourself an admirer. Acontia teased

Oh stop it. I can't help if I'm so handsome. Edmund replied giving her a cocky smile.

Any stranger looking at us now would see you grinning strangely at someone who had uttered not a word. As soon as Edmund realised his position he stopped grinning and returned his unattended mug of ale – which was indeed very good.

Soon their meal was served and the innkeeper's daughter when she served Edmund meal served it in such a way as that her breasts was most visible to him. Even when his meal was served she remained leaning over the table so that her breasts were pretty much in his face. He tried to look away but he had to politely look back at her when she spoke to him.

"I hope you enjoy the food."

"Thank you." Edmund replied, trying to look in any direction but those looming breasts.

"How many nights are you staying here?"

"Only this one."

"Oh, what a shame. Our little town is quite nice. You should get to know it better, and you get to know its women better." She said, whispering the last part so that nobody else could hear.

"Thank you, but we really will have to leave tomorrow." She kept looking at him and it seemed to him that her breasts grew ever closer. "Um, don't you have other customers to attend to?" Edmund said trying to make her go away.

"Of course." She said smiling at him flirtatiously. Acontia smiled at Edmund in amusement as he gave more focus than was needed on his food.

Nice food you've got there. Acontia commented on his very grey mushroom soup.

Well they sold it as mushroom soup but it really is Fungus that grows from dung mixed with a watery base.

Now doesn't that sound yummy!

Indeed.

When they were finished, the innkeepers daughter came to clear away and as Edmund was leaving she whispered into his ear.

"If you grow cold and lonely at night, remember that my bed is always open to you."

"Thank you – but I am very tired and will need no entertainment at night." Edmund said leaving her to clean up.

What did she say to you?

She wanted me to sleep with her.

Why didn't you accept? Most men would, she wasn't bad looking either and imagine the gossip. 'King Edmund slept with a simple innkeeper's daughter'. Wow that would go down well.

Edmund stood there shocked for a moment before he gathered his wits about him I have higher standards. He finally said, trying to shake off this awkward conversation with a joke.

Almost as soon as they were in the room Edmund fell onto his bed and slept and when it was morning Edmund woke up and saw Acontia sitting in an armchair looking out of the window fully dressed and immaculate as ever.

"What time is it?"

Two hours after sunrise.

"Did you sleep well?"

Stars don't need to sleep. We are ever watching.

"Oh." Edmund said giving up on any conversation.

The two of them dressed went down to breakfast ate quickly and were both eager to get on with their journey. The innkeeper bustled over to them asking them whether their stay had been satisfactory.

"Indeed we both enjoyed it very much here, the ale was especially good."

"Well I am pleased. If you want I could give you some more for your journey."

"Yes, please. We could take it to our uncle."

"You are going to visit our uncle? Where does he live?"

"Oh, not far west of here. We plan to take our route through Koshmaar and then go slightly south."

The innkeeper looked at them in shock. "You cannot go through Koshmaar."

"Why ever not?" Edmund asked quizzically.

"Because it's called" Here the innkeeper looked around making sure nobody else was listening. "The field of nightmares."

Dun dun dun. Anyway next chapter will be Edmund as well, cos I found that his story is far more complex. Anyway. Thanks for reading.