Chapter 12: After the Kiss
Jade woke up the next morning wondering if it had all been a dream. Her lips were still tingling, and then she knew it was real. He was real. She touched the necklace around her neck and sighed in happiness. She wondered if Edmund was thinking of her. She pulled her nightgown off and replaced it with her favorite green dress. It had flowy short-sleeves, sparkled in the sun, and went to her feet. Her mother came into her room.
"Good morning, Jade, did you sleep well?"
"Yes, mother, I did. My dreams were quite pleasant."
"That's wonderful, dear. Are you ready to meet Prince Caspian?"
"I am now." Jade followed her outside. They went into the forest and found Caspian.
In the Forest…
Edmund woke up in an oddly wonderful mood. He didn't say a word as he made breakfast for everyone, and his smile caught Susan's eye.
"What's gotten into you?" She asked, suspiciously.
"Nothing, I just had a great time last night." He replied, loftily.
"It was a fantastic party," Lucy said, joining them around the fire.
"Oh, I don't think it was the party Ed enjoyed." Peter smirked, appearing with Trumpkin.
"Shut it!" Edmund said, his face glowing red. He never admitted it, but he liked Jade's kiss more than he did before. He wondered where she was and if she was thinking of him.
Back to Jade
"Good morning, your highness." Jade said, curtsying to him. He bowed in turn.
"You look well, Princess," he smiled at her.
"I thank you, my Prince." She returned his smile before she heard something behind her. She turned around and contained her happiness. Peter was there with Edmund. They looked at her and she barely nodded.
"I am Prince Caspian." Caspian said.
"I am the High King Peter and this is my brother, King Edmund. These are my sisters: Queens Susan and Lucy." Peter introduced them.
"Ah…" Caspian paused to look at Jade. She raised an eyebrow at him. He nodded once before he bowed to the Pevensies. They bowed to him in return. Jade heard a twig snap from the far distance and her shoulder blades suddenly burned in pain. She cried out as she fell to her knees, the pain similar to when the White Witch cut her wings off. The pain dissipated as quickly as it had come.
Jade opened her eyes to find herself high above the treetops. She briefly wondered why before she lifted her arms to either side of her and felt her wings. She gasped and flew to the river. Sure enough, her wings were sparkling in the sunlight.
"This makes no sense, yet it does." She whispered as she landed.
"It is a gift to you, my dear child. You will need them both night and day." Aslan said from behind her. She turned and there he stood, his golden mane flowing in the wind. He gave her a lion's kiss.
"Aslan! I'm glad to see you, but why will I need my wings in the day?"
"I cannot tell you, dearest. You will find out for yourself, I promise." He left without another word. Jade's brow furrowed and then she remembered Caspian. She flew back and gently parted the branches. The sun was heading towards the west.
"Have you lost someone?" Kyle asked, startling her. She let out a cry and fell out of the tree, catching herself before she hit the ground. Frowning, she folded her arms and rose to his level where he hovered laughing.
"I haven't lost anything, unlike some."
"That was some party last night." He smirked at her.
"I know the law, okay?"
"Look, I may be annoying half the time but the other half I'm serious. I won't tell anyone, I promise." He crossed his heart.
"You know what happens if you do."
"Yeah, the human's sent to their world and the Narnian is left in Narnia forever alone. I know; it's horrible."
"It nearly happened to Lacey."
"What about me?" Lacey asked, appearing next to Jade. A loud silence filled the air.
"Uhh… I just remembered, Mum wanted me to help her with the garden. See you later!" Kyle zoomed away, leaving Jade alone with the very suspicious Lacey.
"Good evening, Lace."
"Cut the formalities, Jade, and tell me the truth."
"All right, all right! The truth is that I never told you Zachary was killed."
"What? Why would you keep something that crucial from me? Did you think I wouldn't be able to handle it?"
"Lace, I was trying to protect – "
"Protect me? From what, the truth?"
"From getting hurt!"
"I'm not a little girl anymore, Jade! You should have trusted me!"
"You're right, you're not a little girl anymore. I'm sorry that I keep seeing you as one. I'll stop interfering in your life, if that's what you want."
"I want you out of it!" Lacey glared at her sister. Jade's eyes filled with tears. Lacey grunted and flew off. Jade stayed behind and sank into the treetop, sobbing. She stayed there until the morning sun woke her the following day. She flew down to a large rock beneath the tree and felt a single tear fall from her eye.
"Beautiful Lady, why do you weep?" A small voice said from her feet. Startled, she looked at the creature. It was a Mouse with a red feather stuck in a gold circle upon its head.
"Noble Mouse, I am saddened by family matters."
"It causes me great pain to see one so lovely as yourself to be in such grief, if it's not to bold to say."
"You are very kind, Noble Mouse, might I inquire for your name?" Jade said, letting him sit on her knee.
"My name is Reepicheep, dear Lady, and am I correct in saying you are the beautiful and kind Princess Jade?" He rose from his bow.
"You are, Reepicheep."
"It is an honor to meet you at last, my Lady."
"The honor is mine." She bowed her head to him.
"Your Highness, King Caspian wishes to speak with you immediately!" Trufflehunter said, appearing from the brambles.
"I wish to know you better, Reepicheep, but for now we must say farewell until we meet again."
"I hope it will be soon, my Lady." He bowed to her again before scampering away. Jade followed Trufflehunter to where Caspian was. She curtsied to him and then she noticed the Narnian warriors standing around them.
"I have heard several stories about the Kind One, the brave Princess Jade, and how she sacrificed herself to save King Edmund of Old. I cannot think of a better warrior to add to our army." Caspian declared.
"I thank you, my King, and I accept your most gracious request. I will do all I can and more to protect our people, in the name of Aslan." A roar of approval from the Narnians followed her statement. Caspian bowed to her, and she returned the gesture.