Disclaimer- I do not own Narnia. =]
We had one week to prepare ourselves for the long journey to Calormen. A boat from the coast of Narnia would take us around to the coast of the city of Tashbaan which, I guess, was the capital city of the very large country. Supposedly, the city was the most gorgeous place in this world but I didn't buy it. If Tashbaan was home to Rabadash than it couldn't be all that beautiful when it's soon to be ruler had such an ugly heart. Ugh, I didn't know what to do about what he told me at the tournament a few days ago. There had to be a right answer but then again when had I ever been one to do what was right? I get everything wrong all of the time. My mother loved to make that perfectly clear every time she got the chance. I would wear the wrong clothes or I would style my hair wrong. And then there was my personal favorite; one time my mother even told me that I was just wrong in general.
"Something about you is completely off, my dear." She said. "I do not think you were the right child meant for me and your father. Of course, I do not blame any of that on you."
Yup, I'm just one big screw up and I'd really love it if this one time I didn't screw everything up. That would be nice. But the question still remains of what I should do. Stepping out onto the balcony outside my room, I thought. Ten minutes of debating with myself later, I was stuck at a crossroads. Right now, what I wanted more than anything was for Rabadash to leave me alone and fall as much in love with Susan as she had with him. And somehow miraculously that would turn him into less of a creep and more into the great guy that my friend deserved. I sighed. I had always been a dreamer.
"Lina!" Lucy shouted from behind me. I turned around to see the small queen rush into my room. She slammed the door behind her and huffed an irritated breath of air. I was baffled by this. Never before had I seen Lucy seem so frustrated, in all honesty I didn't think the good natured girl could act like that.
"Lucy? What is it?"
She walked out to the balcony and folded her arms over her chest. "I'm not allowed to go to Calormen!" She said, outraged.
"Why not?" I questioned.
She flung herself onto the railing and went about explaining. "See, one of us must always be in Narnia at a time in case-Aslan forbid- something were to happen and the people needed instructions and decisions need to be made. Well, I am the one who must stay behind."
I gave her a lopsided, sympathetic smile. "That stinks. I'm sorry, Lucy."
She shrugged before scoffing. "It's not fair."
I went over to sit next to her and put an awkward arm around her small shoulders. "Life has never been fair, Lucy. We just have to deal with it and move on, you know?"
She looked up at me and smiled slightly. "I suppose. Thank you, Lina."
"Any time." I said. With one more small squeeze, I released the girl from my grasp.
"Do you mind if I stay here for a while? I kind of ran away in the middle of a meeting with my brothers and Susan and I am sure they are not too happy with me."
I laughed, knowing the older Pevensies were probably a little disheveled by their young sister. Best to just let them cool down a bit if you ask me.
"Alright." I said. Lucy smiled, letting her angry self fade back into the sweet little girl she was.
"Thank you! You won't even know I'm here." She told me. I didn't really believe her, Lucy's presence was not easy to ignore. We sat on the balcony for a while, seeing as how it was such a lovely Narian day. I was in the middle of reading a book that Susan had recommended so I did that while Lucy sat quietly and looked out over the ocean.
A quiet half hour passed before a pounding sounded at my door. I looked up at it then at Lucy. The girl whispered "I'm not here."
I smiled and saluted to show I understood before going to the door. Opening it, I saw Edmund standing there with his arms crossed. "Is Lucy here?" He asked.
I bit my lower lip. "No. No, I haven't seen her all morning." I said with as straight a face as I possible could. Hopefully, Edmund would not see right through my lie. He narrowed his eyes at me and gave me a skeptical look.
"She is in there, isn't she?"
I shook my head 'no' but he wasn't convinced still. He sighed before opening my door all the way and taking a step inside. His eyes searched across my chamber until they reached Lucy on the balcony. He shook his head and rolled his eyes before his gaze fell down to look at me. "You, Lina, are a terrible liar."
The look he gave me made my hear quicken it's pace and I felt my cheeks go red. "It doesn't stop me from trying, Ed." I continued to chew at my lower lip.
Edmund took a look at my rosy cheek and smiled as if he was proud of himself for making me blush. He walked through my room and to the balcony. He told Lucy that Susan was worried that she was very upset and wished to speak with her. Lucy complained slightly about not wanting to leave but with one stern look from the Just King she was on her merry way. The door clicked shout behind her and Edmund and I were left alone in my quarters.
"That girl needs to grow up." He said with disapproval. I glanced at him before turning around and taking in the amazing view that still seemed to surprise me every time I looked at it.
"She's still a kid, Edmund. She's upset that she is being left out." The younger king came to stand next to me. He grabbed my full attention and I looked at him straight on.
"Lucy wants to be treated like an adult but she want doesn't act like one. Until she does, she will be staying back." He said. I stared at him, taken aback by his words. My forehead wrinkled up and I turned away from him. I heard Edmund sigh next to me. "What did I say this time?" He asked.
I turned away from the view and leaned against the rail. "Nothing. It's just... you sounded exactly like my father when you said that." I told him. He looked back at me.
"Oh." was all he said. I cringed, not wanting to talk about my dead beat parents but feeling like I had to to make a point to Edmund. I decided to explain.
"You see, he would say that about me too. He said I needed to grow up and stop acting like a child. I needed to start taking care of myself because I wasn't a baby anymore. But the truth is from the age of five I was acting like a grown up. He just wasn't around enough to realize that. You see, I raised myself. I had no one to take care of me so I had to be that way." I paused. Edmund gave me a sad smile and placed a comforting hand over mine. I shook my head, seeing that he had misread what I meant by all this.
"No, this isn't a feel sorry for me thing. It's just that... I like the fact that Lucy still has the ability to act like a kid. It's nice that she never had to rush into growing up and become a boring old adult." I explained. Edmund was quiet but he smiled at me.
A moment passed. "I'm sorry you're parents were so horrible." He told me.
I just shrugged. "It happens. There is nothing anyone can do about it."
I met his gaze and his deep brown eyes managed to keep me locked into them. The two of us kept eye contact for a while before Edmund looked away. My eyes shot down out of embarrassment and I began to blush again. Edmund chuckled nervously, making whatever just happened between us more awkward than it already was. I really had no clue what went down just then but I wasn't sure I disliked it either...
"Lina?" I looked up and Edmund still stood a foot away from me. The awkwardness evaporated from him and what was left was Edmund's seriousness. "There is something I would very much like to tell you." He said.
I nodded, not knowing what else to do when someone tells you that. For some reason, I became very anxious and wanted to know what he was going to say. It had to be something important if he was having such a hard time getting the words out. My heart rate increased as I waited. He stuttered a few times to get the words he was trying to say out until it finally came to him. "I think I-"
A knock from my door interrupted Edmund. His eyes widened and he quickly spun away from me and placing his hands on the back top of his head. "Um, just one second, Edmund." I said before walking away from him and toward the door. I opened it to see Peter standing there. I smiled at him. "Hello Peter."
He smiled back at me sweetly. "Hello. I need to speak to you."
Whoa, two in a row. "Oh, well um actually-"
"Hey Pete." Edmund said as he appeared behind me in the door. Peter looked from his brother to me and gave us both a skeptical look.
"Edmund was just here to..." I started say something but I didn't know why he had stayed so long after finding Lucy.
"I was looking for Lucy and I found her in here. After she left me and Lina just got to talking, you know how that is." Edmund said as if he just started gabbing with people all the time, which I am one hundred percent sure he doesn't.
"Oh, I see." Peter said like he was thinking the something completely different... that's not good. Silence followed as the brothers stared at each other. I looked from one to the other but their eyes remained locked.
"So," I said, trying to make them snap out of it. Edmund was the first one to look away. He smiled down at me before looking back at Peter.
"Yes, well I had better be going. See you later, Lina. Peter." He nodded once before exiting my room. I frowned up at Peter as he watched his brother's retreating back. Edmund finally turned the corner and the High King finally looked back at me as if nothing had happened between the male Pevensies.
"Will you walk with me?" He smiled.
I wrinkled my forehead but nodded anyway. "Of course."
He held out his arm and I gladly excepted it. Peter led me around the castle and down toward the beach. The white sands and blue water were sparkling in the light of the setting sun. Somewhere off into the distance I heard the sounds of the mermaids singing there songs. Neither of us spoke until we reached our destination. "I will not be accompanying you, Susan, and Edmund to Calormen."
I stopped walking and turning toward him. "What?"
Peter sighed and grabbed my hands in his own. "There is a problem up north. Giants are acting up and I need to attend to it. I will not be able to go Lina and for that I am sorry."
Whoa, first fauns and centaurs now giants? This place will never seize to amaze me. "Wait," I asked. "are giants... dangerous?"
"Not if they are handled properly." He told me honestly. My face must have paled considerable because the next thing I know I am wrapped tightly in Peter's strong embrace. "It will all be fine, you'll see. In no time we will all be back here together."
I wrapped my arms around his muscular frame. "I guess that is true... when do you leave?" I asked, completely bummed out. Peter sighed and rubbed his hands up and down my arms, letting me loose from his tight hug.
"Tomorrow morning."
My eyes widened. "Wha-" I couldn't even finish the statement out of the suddenness that this had sprang from. The high king frowned at me, showing that he too was not happy about being unable to come with us to Calormen.
"I am sorry, Lina." He looked insanely regretful of having to tell me this and that made guilt take over me. Who was I to get upset that he was going off to negotiate with giants? I was no one. Not his girlfriend nor his family member. Wait, not his girlfriend... was I, was I not? At that moment I realized that I had no clue where I stood with Peter. Sure, we liked each other but did that mean we were dating? Do they even date in Narnia? Once again, I had no clue. And I, being the big chicken I was, couldn't ask him. The question could either tilt in my favor or go the opposite way and make everything between us awkward. I looked up at him and kept quiet on the subject.
"It's okay, Peter. You have to do what you have to do, right?"
He smiled. "Yes, that is the general idea even though I'd much rather be with you in Calormen."
That sweet comment made me laugh like a girl. Feeling stupid once again, I blushed. Peter began to laugh at the color in my cheeks and gently stroked the rosy spot. "I still make you blush."
I chuckled nervously and looked at my feet. "Um... yeah."
Peter took my chin in his hand gently so I was looking up at him. "And I still love that I can do that." His lips came down on mine and we shared a sweet kiss. I might not know exactly what Peter and I were to each other but whatever it was I did not mind it at all.
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We all woke up early the next morning to say farewell to Peter and the other courtiers that would be joining him. Since we were in the presence of the court, Peter and I could only exchange our goodbyes with a bow and an awkward (but improving) curtsy.
"I would kiss you but that would be vastly inappropriate in front of everyone." He explained.
I smiled. "I understand. See you in a month." I told him as positively as I could. I was trying at act like I wasn't completely sad about his leaving but I'm sure I was failing.
"See you in a month." He replied back. With one last hug from Lucy, Peter and the rest of the party rode off into the distance, leaving only the sounds of hoof prints in their stead. It was sad to see them go, seeing Peter go. But I had to be strong, at least about this. Besides, this separation was just temporary, not permanent... I hoped. Be safe, Peter.
Edmund came up next to me and placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. I jumped a little at his touch but welcomed the friendly gesture. "He will be alright."
I gave him a lopsided grin. "I know that."
Edmund sighed and gave a nod. "Guess that leaves us alone." I shot my head up to look at him strangely. Us what? What us? I wrinkled my forehead which seemed to spook King Ed.
"I mean, that leaves me, you, and Susan to make the trip of Calormen. You know, without Peter and Lucy."
I relaxed and took a deep breath. "Right." With one more squeeze to my shoulder, Edmund left me to discuss travel plans with Tumnus. I looked at him as he walked away. He and Peter truly were opposite. Serious, wise Edmund was so different from sweet, kind Peter but both were very handsome only they each had a different type of good looks. Peter had blond hair and blue eyes, completely angelic features where as Edmund had dark hair and eyes that made you think he was the dangerous bad boy, the kind that girls swoon over. They were so different. I almost forgot at times that they were even related let alone brothers, they were just two opposite ends of the spectrum. Edmund began talking to Tumnus and I continued to stare at him. In the middle of one of his sentences Ed's eyes drift to me as if he knew I was watching him and he smiled.
Quickly, I looked away, feeling as if his eyes could sense what I was thinking about him just by looking at me. Gosh, what was wrong with me lately? It must be nerves about the upcoming trip. That had to be it. Thinking of the trip made me realize that I had tons of packing to oversee along with a farewell ball to prepare myself for. I knew it was a cliche but I had so much to do and so little time to do it. Great.
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Our journey to Calormen started six days later. We left this afternoon and I was already feeling uneasy about being on the ship. I wasn't great with water so I just stayed as far away from the ledge as possible. Somehow, sensing that I was freaked, Edmund came over to check on me.
"Are you alright?" He asked, concerned. I nodded fiercely.
"Yeah, just fine except..."
He raised an eyebrow. "Except....?"
I sighed and finally looked away from the edge and toward him. "Except I can't swim so if the ship sinks I am going to drown and I don't like that." I blurted out.
Edmund wrinkled his forehead at me in confusion. "But you love being on the beach by the water back in Narnia."
"Yeah, well I wasn't in the water just by it then." I explained. Edmund stared at me for a few seconds more before bursting out in a loud laugh. Feeling angry at his insensitivity, I smacked him in the arm. "This is so not funny Edmund Pevensie! I'm serious!"
He flinched away from my hit but kept laughing all the same. "I am sorry, Lina but it truly is." He said between laughs. Finally he quieted down. "You will not drown due to the fact that this ship is practically unsinkable. I promise you that."
I scoffed. "Tell that to the people on the Titanic." I muttered under my breath.
He rolled his eyes at me. "Rest easy, Lina. Once we reach Calormen we will have Susan teach you to swim, that way we will not have to deal with these fears on the return journey." He told me.
"Fine." I said, folding my arms over my chest, still a little annoyed at him. The annoyance evaporated about a second later because I was incapable of holding a grudge for more than a minute. "How long will it be until we reach Tashbaan?" I questioned the dark haired king.
"About three days then you shall be able to be at peace on land." He informed.
I looked away from him and out to the sun setting in the horizon. In three days we would be in Rabadash's city and out of the water but I was positive that I would find no peace on that land.
Oooo the plot thickens. Lol. Next up Tashbaan. I hope you enjoyed the chapter! Thanks for reading!
