**I DO NOT OWN ANY CHARACTERS FROM THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA. THEY BELONG TO C.S. LEWIS.**
I must thank my beta, AnnCann, for everything she has done to help me.
A month. I had spent one month recovering in my room and life sucked! There was nothing to do. Susan continued to bring me books (not to mention dresses. Since I was gaining my weight, back she had to continuously have them altered). Lucy and I would always talk about the latest gossip (though I always joked with her that it wasn't very lady like. I always got an eye roll). Edmund and I were always laughing and telling jokes. He even tried to get me to play chess, but I just couldn't understand the point of it. I told him I would stick with checkers.
Peter and I talked about anything and everything. How we didn't run out of things to say was beyond us. I had been in Narnia for two months (okay, so the first month, I was i really bad condition), and I had yet to leave my room. Just when I considered making a run for it (each time I tried, one of the siblings would be at the door in time, or Chestnut would grab the back of my dress and pull me back), the door opened and Lucy came bouncing in. She plopped on my bed with a smile splashed on her face.
"Someone's in a good mood," I said with a smile looking sheepish.
Lucy beamed at me.
"Guess what?" she asked about ready to burst with excitement.
"What?" I asked gazing longingly at the door.
"Peter is letting you out of your room! He's going to take us to the beach."
It was about time. I tapped my foot impatiently and made a run for it. Lucy started to clap her hands, and I was already halfway to the door. I ran out of the room only to slam against something. I stumbled backwards and rubbed my face.
"Ouch," I groaned, looking at the floor.
"You alright?" the voice asked.
I knew that voice. I looked up to see Peter staring at me trying not to laugh.
"So," I said "you're the solid brick that I ran into."
He couldn't keep it in anymore. He laughed heartily, and I put my hands on my hips and glared at him. He stopped laughing and looked at me playfully.
"Well," he said, with an arched eyebrow. "I see that Lu, has already told you."
I couldn't help but to look at Peter with a teasing grin on my face.
"That she has Your Majesty." I said, pretending to be solemn. I gave a curtsy with a flourish.
Just then Lucy came from my room. "Glad to see that you are excited, but we need to get you something to wear first."
I looked at Lucy with an impatient stare. "That's okay, I am going like this."
"Susan would kill you if you ruined your dress," Peter said with a hint of amusement in his voice. He seemed serious, but I knew he was not. I gave them both an irritated stare, and headed down the hallway.
"Ugh! Fine then, I'll go naked! I don't really care. I want to get out of this castle," I practically yelled.
Peter and Lucy both started to laugh uproariously.
"That won't be necessary," said Lucy sweetly. I wanted to escape and looked down the hallway, and the first promise of freedome. "Come on, Susan already has something made for you."
Lucy grabbed my arm and started to drag me back to my room.
"Why does that not surprise me?" I said, looking very annoyed.
I heard Peter laugh as he walked away. When I entered my room, there was a bathing suit waiting for me on my bed. The determined queens had won this round once again. However, I must admit, the trip to the beach was so much fun; I didn't want the day to come to an end. Freedom from my room, at last. I gave a content sigh. Everyone was ready, and we walked to the beach. As we walked along, I couldn't help but to look in wonder at everything that surrounded me.
What's with all the lion figures?
I looked at the painting on the ceiling and didn't see that we were coming to some stairs. I took one step and lost my balance.
"Oh sh–"
Just when I thought I was going to fall, a pair or strong arms caught a hold of me and lifted me up. I opened my eyes to see that Peter was carrying me.
"Peter," I said blushing fiercely, "You can put me down."
He only laughed and said protectively, "Nala, something tells me that you and stairs are not a good combination. Until I feel that you can safely descend down steps, you are going to have to have an escort with you at all times."
I knew that he was joking about the escort, but at the same time I knew that he cared and was only looking out for me. Still, I couldn't resist and I rolled my eyes.
"Fine, have it your way," I spat.
He looked at me and said gallantly, "I wouldn't have it any other way."
"Kings."
"Pft, teenage girls."
We looked at each other and both started to laugh. Once my feet were planted on the ground, I took off.
"Race you to the water!" I yelled behind me to no one in particular.
I was only a few feet away from the water when someone grabbed me and threw me over their shoulders.
"Ed," I hollered. "Put me down!"
"Not yet," he said mischievously, as he ran towards the water.
"Edmund Pevensie don't you dare!" Edmund laughed as I began to pound on his back.
"Ed I swear, if you-." I was cut off as I was thrown into the water.
I surfaced sputtering the salt water out of my mouth. Edmund was laughing so hard he had tears in his eyes. I looked at the shore to see that the others were laughing as well. I also saw that Chestnut and Runcas had joined them. Edmund was so caught up in laughing that he didn't see me grab for his arm. By the time he realized what was happening, it was too late. I pulled him down and laughed as he surfaced, sputtering the salt water out of his mouth. He glared at me, but I knew that he wasn't mad.
"What?" I asked with an innocent face.
"Paybacks," said Edmund as he rolled his eyes and splashed water at me. I splashed back and soon we were both in a splashing contest. Neither of us saw the other three join in. Soon it was a full on splashing battle with every man for himself. When everyone finally settled down, we went back to the sand and ate the lunch that Susan had prepared for us. I was the first one finished and I laid back on the blanket. I heard Peter sit down beside me. I let the sun warm my face and couldn't help but to feel happy and that somehow that this is where I belonged. I was finally home.
