Previously: Nothing else was said between us. Nothing could be said. Why?
Well, Peter's face just happened to be creeping towards mine. His large hands found my waist and his eyes fluttered closed. My heart started a "Who can function faster?" race with my lungs. The butterflies that were in my stomach were now flying more rapidly than they ever had been. If it weren't for the grip that Peter had on my waist, I might have floated away with how wildly they were flying.
Ignoring the butterflies, I allowed my eyelids to flutter closed as well.
-_*(Annabelle's P.O.V.)*_-
Inches...centimeters...milimeters...
"Annabelle, Peter! Are you two ready ye-"
As if lightning had struck us both, Peter and I sprung away from each other. A lake of red fitted my cheeks as I viewed Susan standing in the opening of the tent with an utterly horrified look on her face. The blush that fitted my cheeks couldn't have been warmer. The cool air of the night nearly went to battle with it, honestly.
"You-you two!" Susan said with a goofy grin on her face.
It seems that everyone around me thinks that Peter and I are meant to be. Though, it wouldn't bother me if that were true...
"Well uh, Annabelle I-I'll see you in a minute or so or-" Peter faked a cough. "It's a bit stuffy in here, I best get some fresh air."
Like a rat escaping heat, Peter ran from the tent with his tail hidden between his legs. This couldn't be more mortifying. How could he just run off like that?! The git left me to defend myself against the oncoming attack of questions! The questions that the answers to will be pried from my lips. The utterly embarrasing details that will pour from me like water from a faucet. Every detail will be pulled from me forcefully or not by the pair of sisters. Though there are thankfully not that many thoughts to be spared on the concept. Except for the thoughts you've had ever since you've met him, Annabelle.
That slimy git, oh I'll get him for this!
"Annabelle!" Susan squealed before running over to me. "You two would be so cute together! Oh goodness, you better name your children after me!"
And the never-ending line of questioning begins.
"How long have you two liked each other!?"
"Edmund!" The faint voice of Lucy awoke me from my slumber.
With a deep groan, I twisted and turned until I was face down on my pillow. The whispers of the wind slowly began to lull me back into the sandman's warm embrace. Thankfully so, last night proved to be extremely exhausting. Both physically, and mentally.
Not a minute after Susan appeared, Lucy graced us with her appearance, claiming that she had passed Peter who looked like a tomato with a goofy grin. It had been then that the sisters shared a smirk and proceeded to attack me with questions from left to right. To top it off, I didn't get to sleep after that mentally tiring interoggation. No, I was forced to leave my tent and enter the chilly air as the man in the moon gazed down upon me with a smirk. Fauns, centaurs, lions, tigers, and bears, creatures of all kinds requested a dance with me at least once.
Though, I do remember dancing with one faun, his name Norris, quite a few times. Though, the number was nearly nothing next to the innumerable amount of times that Peter and I frollicked on the dance floor under the twinkling stars and pale moon. Magical it seemed, though most likely, it was.
Being in the land of Aslan, everything had to be magical just as he-
"Edmund!?" The warmth of the bed no longer held me in its arms.
Ignoring the fact that the only thing that I donned was a sheer bed gown, I raced from the tent at an inhuman speed. A little ways off, standing on one of the many gentle green rolling hills was Edmund and Aslan. The young boy was looking toward us, his eyes squinted heavily thanks to the suns magnificent glare.
"Edm-" My sprint was cut short thanks to the masculine arms of the one and only Peter Pevensie.
Ceising my struggles instantly, I only gazed at Edmund. The expression of pure relief and family-like love graced my face as I watched. Even though Peter hadn't removed his arms, I focused only on Edmund. Taking in his physical health. The most obvious, and unsettling, flaw to him at the moment was the large gash that had settled on his bottom lip. The blood had clearly dried up, but the wound didn't look as if it were fully healed. His malnourishment was also obvious. The boy that had left us was of a healthy weight, a good amount of meat on his bones. The boy coming back to us was a pale bag of bones. Honestly, that is the only way to describe him at the moment. A beaten bag of bones.
Deep within my physical body, a fire ignited. Its flames licking higher and higer with each passing beat of my heart. The Witch was a cruel woman. A woman who could mercilessy beat a ten year-old boy. Her reign will come to an end. And I would be there to watch the life drain from her eyes. That, is a promise.
"He...he looks so terrible..." I mumbled sadly, yet in relief.
"He's about to look a lot better, right Annabelle?" Lucy smiled. "You would be the one to get him well fed."
The only response the was roused from me was a chuckle. That girl knew me like the back of her own hand.
After an agonizingly long wait, Aslan and Edmund seemed to end their conversation. Slowly and cautiously, Edmund began to approach us. The very obvious limp that he had caused tears to brim my eyes. If...if only I had been nicer to him. Showed him that someone cared more than his family. Instead of swinging my fist into his face. Perhaps then he may not have felt that there was no one else to turn to other than the Witch.
The young boy approached our miniscule group with his head hund towards the cool Earth in shame. Shame need not be felt, Edmund, it need not be felt.
"What's done is done." Aslan purred as he stood next to Edmund. "There is no need to speak to Edmund about what is past."
With the words of wisdom, Aslan walked away. Leaving the family to reunite.
"Edmund!" Lucy exclaimed before bringing her brother into an embrace.
The tears flowed freely once Edmund wound his arms around his younger sister tightly. The damaged soul grasped the pure one tightly and nestled his head into her neck. It was such a joyous sight, a family reuniting after such a perilous event. Soon enough, Susan joined in on the warm moment. Placing a dainty hand upon his shoulder before snaking her arms around him.
Not without placing a motherly kiss to his forehead, Susan pulled away from her younger brother. Edmund then stood awkwardly in the warm sun. Staring expectantly at Peter and I. Though Peter may feel to 'manly' for a heart-felt hug, that didn't mean that I wasn't.
"Edmund..." I sighed, shaking Peter off me slightly before opening my arms wide. "C'mere."
A smile was shared between us before I engulfed him into a hug. My thoughts were correct, he was very skinny now. It may be a slight exaggeration, but I think I can feel his ribs underneath his shirt! Then, to my utmost surprise, I felt Edmund's arms wrap around me tightly as well.
Edmund...is actually hugging me! Goodness gracious, I thought the boy hated me for a while there.
"We are so glad you're back, Ed." I stated warmly while pulling away. "Are you okay?"
"Just a little tired." He smiled slightly at me.
Though I had opened my mouth to reply, I was actually cut off before I could say anything.
"Get some sleep." Peter ordered softly.
The younger of the Pevensie boys looked slightly hurt and offended. As if he had expected more from his hard-headed brother. To be honest, even I expected more from the soft blonde. He had been so kind and eloquent with words to me, but was it that hard to be the same way to his brother? Either way, Edmund walked away from me with his head down in defeat and shame.
"And Edmund," All heads turned to Peter at that moment. "Just don't wander off."
With that, Edmund continued on. A smile on his face as his hopes had been confirmed. Though it hadn't been in the form of a hug, or anything affectionate, Peter had succesfully shown his true happiness and relief that his little brother had come back.
Now, the only task to complete; food preperation.
Breakfast. Is. Spectacular.
Poached eggs, toast, orange juice, jam, any breakfast dish you can imagine, I served it. Of course I served it, that doesn't mean I prepared it alone. The cutest little woodland pixie aided me. Such a small thing, much tinier than the dwarves, but she could carry her weight. During our meal preperation, Tearietta as she told me her name was, told the heart-breaking and tear-jerking story of how the White Witch had destroyed her entire species, leaving her to be the only pixie left in existence.
The salt in the eggs was provided by the salt in my tears. No, I'm just joking. That would be quite unsanitary, and just plain disgusting.
"Narnia isn't going to run out of toast, Ed." Lucy said, her mouth stuffed with the same food.
Thankfully, Edmund was eating. Eating a lot. Which is a tremendously good thing. If he weren't to eat, he could become very sick, very fast. The poor boy, he's been so long without a proper meal. That fact prompted me to load down his tray with any food I could get my hands on.
"Make sure to pack some for the journey back." My heart shot out of my chest.
Looking over my shoulder, it appeared that Peter hadn't actually left a few minuted ago. Instead, he stood tensely against the rocks that bordered our area, munching on an apple. The sight of the apple brought back many memories. Many, many memories. Both embarrassing and beautiful. Ah, how such a simple object can hold such meaning.
"We're going home?" Susan asked with a heavy amount of suspicion lacing her voice.
After a moments silence, Peter tossed away the apple and rose from the rock.
"You are." He claimed.
A very, very large pulse of defiancy surged through me. Instinctly, my eyes wondered across the great landscape. Taking in ever creature that was preparing for the upcoming war. The soft, almost lulling sound of blades being sharpened, swords clanging together, the thlunks of arrows being released from their bows. There was no way that I can leave these creatures behind. There was no way that I can leave my home in peril. If by chance, the war cannot be won by our side, at least I can watch my world burn with reasurrance.
"I promised Mum that I'd keep you all safe. Though, she hasn't a clue that Annabelle exists, I'm still going to push that promise out to her." Uh, no. "But, that doesn't mean that I can't stay and help." Definitely no.
"They need us Peter." My eyes fluttered close with my words. "All of us. Even if you make the others leave, you have no jurisdiction over me. So, do not try to persuade or command me. I am staying."
Silence.
"I want to stay too." Lucy said forcefully. "Annabelle's right. They need us ALL."
"It's too dangerous, you both know that." Peter began to argue. "You nearly drowned, Edmund was almost killed, and Annabelle nearly turned into wolf chow. Twice."
Wolf chow, huh? Thanks for that one, Peter. But, I'm sure I can take care of myself when the time requires me to do so. Honestly, why did he think that Father Christmas gave me the sword? To fight, that's why. He knew that I wouldn't back down. Father Christmas knew that I wouldn't go down without a fight. That is why he gave me the beautiful, yet deadly, blade.
"That is why we have to stay." Edmund spoke quietly, for what felt like the first time in an eternity. Everyone fell silent as he continued on. "I've seen what the White Witch can do. And I've helped her do it. We can't leave these people behind to suffer for it."
The twittering of the birds, the rare croaks of frogs, and the whistling of the wind became loud in the silence that was shared between us all. Like the caring sister, and friend, she is, Lucy lightly laid her hand on Edmund's comfortingly. Though, he seemed to be angry at me, I playfully nudged Peter's shoulder with my own. What I had thought would have been a glare, was a warm smile given to me by him.
In a way, I don't think Peter wanted us to leave at all. Perhaps, he just wanted to do what he felt was right, despite his lack of interest in doing so.
"Well, I suppose that's it then." Susan announced, rising to her feet.
We all watched as she crossed the small glade that we were resting in.
"Where are you going?" Peter asked, cocking an eyebrow.
Susan only smirked at him once she lifted her bow onto her shoulder. The fire within her eyes was fueled by defiancy and the want to fight. The similiarities between Susan and I could be counted on one hand, but I'm sure that our fire to fight is one of them.
"Well, I'm not sure about you two love-birds," She playfully joked, causing my face to flame red. "But, I'm going to get some practice in."
Ultimately, Lucy and Susan wondered off to the target area, Edmund mentioned finding a sword and left, leaving Peter and I staring down at the breakfast table in a semi-awkward silence. Though the air was warm and pleasant, the gaze Peter had fixed upon me was causing my arms to chill. It was rare that we were actually alone, and most times they were pleasant and caused butterflies in my stomach. But, thanks to Susan's comment that sort-of referred to last night, everything seemed to be awkward.
"Pe-"
"Annabelle, I'm so sorry about last night. I mean you-the dress was ju-" Peter began to ramble.
"Peter, it's fine." I said calmly. Then, I freaked out. "Unless-it-wasn't-okay-for-you-I-mean-that's-fine- if-it-wasn't-you-don't-have-to-like-me!"
Oh my goodness! What did I just say!? Okay, I'm just going to hide in my tent and cry. This is too much, my face hurts. My face is burning. Okay. I can't. This. Is just. Too embarrasing.
"Annabelle!" A soft pair of lips were pressed to my cheek.
I'm dead. Is that my body lying on the ground? Oh goodness, I've left my body. Oh, that's just my hand. Okay, I'm still dead though. Goodness, Annabelle, stop going bonkers! Ugh, I can't help it. This is the first time that I have ever been 'close' to a boy before.
"From the wise words of a girl that I know," Peter wrapped an arm around my shoulder. "Listen well."
If my heart refuses to slow its terrifyingly rapid pace, I may die of a heart attack before I can actually make it onto the battlefield.
"O-okay." Stop trembling, Annabelle!
"Alright, now that you've stopped panicking." How could he tell!? "I'm going to tell you that I do like you, in fact. Very much so."
What a charmer.
"Oh, okay." A simple sentence, but I'm sure the giant grin that was plastered on my face was reassurance enough.
For a good while, we sat. Our hands intertwined, my head on his shoulder, and his spare hand running through my wildly curled hair. It was such a beautiful, innocent, and pleasant moment. Of course, I could describe it with more words, but they are all too jumbled within my mind. Just understand that this moment, with the wind softly blowing against us, I could live it a thousand times over and never get tired of it.
Of course all good moments must come to an end. Either in a good or bad way. Sadly, this one ended semi-badly.
"Annabelle?" Peter whispered as though he was afraid he would ruin this peace.
"Yes, Peter?"
"You can't stay in Narnia during the war."
In an instant, my hand was out of his and my body was a good inch or so away. Together, we went into our own little battle stances, preparing for the arguement that was about to insue. My mouth slowly opened, the word brushing the tip of my tongue delicately, despite how hard they would come out.
"Peter...!"
Way to ruin such a great moment Peter...
_-I'm so, so, so, so, so sorry for the late update! I've been grounded from all electronics for a while. I literally just got them back today, which explains the rush in this chapter. Actually no, my chapters are usually crappy. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this super short chapter. Oh and I love your comments/reviews. Question of the chapter my friends: Whose side are you on? Annabelle's or Peter's? Do you want Annabelle to fight the war, even if it means she will somehow die? Tell me below, your answer could influence the story! Well, that's all, bye my lovelies. I'll see you Friday, hopefully.-_