Hi! :D So here's chapter nine =) Enjooy!

Chapter Nine: Secrets and Packages – Lucy

I was sitting in my chambers reading when I heard a knock on the door, "Come in" I called softly.

It was Catherine.

I smiled at her, "Good evening, Catherine, is there anything that I can do for you?"

Catherine smiled, "Father sent me a letter. He's going to take me to Archenland"

"Archenland?" I asked.

She nodded, "Yes, King Frank will send him there for diplomatic purposes, and he said that he'll take me with him" she grinned.

"That's wonderful" I replied. I understood why Father would want to have Catherine join him, she has been through much already, seeing to everything going on.

Catherine looked at me closely, "Lucy…you look different"

"Different in what way?"

"Your cheeks are rosy, and you've been smiling like that ever since supper" she remarked. "Different in a good way then. So tell me. Which boy have you fallen for?"

I blushed, "What makes you think a boy made me this…." I searched for a word to describe it.

"Blooming" Catherine supplied, "And it's very obvious that it's a boy. Gael also mentioned something"

"Fine" I admitted, "It is a boy"

Catherine laughed, "Who?"

"Edmund, Edmund Martin"

The name didn't have my desired effect on her. First she looked surprised, then she blanched, then she looked worried, which was finally replaced by a look of amusement and concern.

"What?" I asked.

"You mean Edmund Martin, the Count of Western March?" she asked quietly.

I nodded, "Yes, why?"

She stared at me for a good few seconds before saying, "Nothing, Lu. Just…just don't tell Father or Anne that you're seeing him"

Why, though?

"Why?"

She sighed, "You'll know when the time is right. Just remember to not tell Father or Anne or anybody else, even Gael. You deserve somebody who can make you happy, Lucy, really you do"

I smiled, "Thanks Catherine" I was still curious on why I wasn't to tell Anne or Father or anybody but I brushed it off for now, "So when are you going to Archenland?"

Catherine's smile returned, "In a few days, and we're going to stay in Anvard of course"

I sighed dreamily, "How exciting, Catherine! They always say Anvard is as beautiful as Cair Paravel"

"Yes" Catherine agreed, "But Cair Paravel is all the more beautiful, Father said so"

"Indeed, Father lived there before didn't he? And Mother – "I stopped. Mother's passing still hurts us terribly deeply.

Catherine got a funny look on her face, "It's funny you know, that you mentioned…." She trailed off then shook her head, "Never mind"

She stood up, "I have to go, Lu, I'm rather tired, good night"

I nodded, "Good night, Catherine"

She smiled at me faintly then opened the door and left.

I stood up and changed into my nightgown, all the while wondering about Catherine's strange behavior. I wondered if Catherine really knew the identity of Mother's old lover. I suppose Anne does too, and Father obviously knows. The more I thought about Catherine, the more it seemed sure. Why, Catherine can wheedle anything out of anybody with just a look or a few cunning words. But why didn't they tell me?

Another thought struck me as I lay down in my bed. If Catherine doesn't want me to tell Father, Anne or anybody else about Edmund, it means that he has some sort of connection with Mother's lover. Obviously, it can't be his father; he told me he was dead. Siblings are out of the question, he's an only child. But maybe….maybe…Edmund has an uncle. But I'm not sure if he's married or not.

I sighed and rolled over; these thoughts would do be no good now. I fell asleep quite more quickly than I expected.

"Lucy! Lucy! Lucy! Wake up!"

I woke up when I felt my bed shaking. I groaned and opened my eyes. Gael was jumping up and down the bed.

I sat up, rubbing the sleep away from my eyes, "Gael! By the Lion, what are you doing?"

She stopped jumping when she realized I was awake, "Lucy! There's a package downstairs for you. Nothing was written on the package though. Catherine didn't open it"

"What?" I hadn't fully processed what Gael said, as I was still sleepy.

Gael rolled her eyes, "A package for you is downstairs. Catherine and Anne already left to go to the market to shop, but Catherine said that I should let you open the package instead"

I nodded, "Okay. Thanks for telling me, Gael"

My sister grinned and pranced out of my room, looking excited, and "I'll bring it up here" she called back.

I yawned sleepily and stood up, moving to my wardrobe. By the time Gael came back up, I had finished dressing, and was already brushing my hair.

"Here!" Gael chirped, depositing the package on my bed.

"Thank you, Gael" I grinned at her from the mirror as she sat down on my bed, looking thoughtful.

"Who do you think sent it, Lucy?"

I shrugged, "I don't know, Gael" But I had a little inkling on who might have sent it. I stood up and walked over to where the package was, setting it on my lap, Gael leaning in excitedly.

I opened the long package, revealing a single rose, and a silver necklace.

Gael gasped, "Why Lucy! You have an admirer! Who do you think?"

I shook my head, then I noticed a folded piece of paper, "This might clear up some things" I said, turning to look at Gael.

She nodded, "Go on then, open it!"

I didn't need any persuasion, as I quickly unfolded it. The note was in a sort of messy, sort of neat handwriting that I didn't recognize yet:

Lucy,

Would you mind if I meet you this afternoon at four o'clock in the meadow?

EM

EM, Edmund Martin, I realized. I smiled to myself.

"EM? Who's EM?" Gael asked excitedly, as she read the note. She looked at me, "Are you going to the meadow?"

I shrugged, "Maybe" I took the silver necklace from the box to look at.

It was beautiful, really, a sapphire pendant suspended on a silver chain. Simple, but beautiful. I picked up the rose. My smile grew wider.

The door then opened, and Mrs. Beaver bustled in, humming a song.

"Hello, Mrs. Beaver!" Gael greeted her happily.

"Hello dears" Mrs. Beaver smiled at us warmly, and then noticed the package, "Why Miss Lucy Pevensie, who brought you those?"

I remembered Catherine's warning, and I decided to follow it, "I don't know, Mrs. Beaver" I said, "But a note said that I should go to some meadow"

"Well are you going to go dear?"

I shrugged, "I don't know"

Yes, I'm going.

Mrs. Beaver nodded, "Well, that's up to you, dearie. Now off you two go, I have a mind to clean up your chambers, Miss Lucy"

Gael and I nodded. I slipped the necklace into my pocket, and then placed the package on the side table and the rose on the vase. I turned to Gael, grinning, "Come on, let's go to the gardens"

Gael grinned, "Race you!"

We clattered down the staircase, laughing, with Mrs. Beaver shouting for us to be careful. I couldn't wait for this afternoon.

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