did anyone else get exam results? i got my exam results! i got ten honours! GASP! i was so so so so (x 1000000) happy! :)
Chapter Fourteen
Amber POV
The meal went on forever, most of the time seemingly taken up by Amber attempting to convince Susan that if she had any more of her 'delicious' vol au vants, she would spoil the rest of her dinner, and that 'simply wouldn't do, no?'. And despite Edmund's mischievous inputs of 'oh, Amber, just one more won't do any harm, right?' she had just about managed to escape the dreaded wrath of the vol au vants. As for Edmund, she'd take care of him later.
Otherwise, Amber found that she was enjoying herself, even getting the chance to talk to Caspian. After they both got over the initial shock of their inexplicable similarities, the shock had turned to curiosity, and they had conversed with each other throughout the evening, questioning the other on their backgrounds, each trying to make sense of the other. She actually enjoyed talking to him, once she could vaguely make sense of his thick accent.
And despite the whole 'vol au vant' incident, Amber was happy to be involved in the nights festivities, as it worked in her effort to take her mind off...previous events.
She had just about forgotten for now about the mental attack, when another servant appeared at the head table, serving the main course. Glancing over the platter, she caught sight of one particular main course.
At the sight of a scaly fish, strewn across the platter, she felt an ice cold chill run down her spine, causing her to shiver. As if floodgates had opened in her head, memories and images flooded through her head. The monster's scaly hand grabbing hold of her, dragging its nails down her arm...
I'll get you too.
Amber shuddered again, her breath catching in her throat as the panic exploded inside her, depriving her of oxygen, causing her breath to come in short gaps, struggling to get through her windpipe. The oxygen in the room seemed to seep out of the room, causing her lungs to tighten, contract, leaving Amber shaking and gasping for breath, the panic consuming her at the memory of the monster hovering over her with that sinister smile, the menacing laugh...
I'll get you too.
Her panicked state didn't go unnoticed. Edmund's head snapped up from his food, and as soon as he saw Amber shaking in her seat, struggling to breathe, her dropped his fork, and secured his arm around her shoulder. He understood instantly, motioning the servant away quickly, tightening her hold around her and pulling her to her feet. Ignoring everyone, he wrapped his arms around her and guided her towards the french doors.
Practically running, they flew out of the french doors onto the balcony. Amber broke free of Edmund, staggering to the banisters and leaning on them. She inhaled deeply, relishing the feel of oxygen in her lungs, relief washing through her.
Edmund stood next to her, putting his arm around her shoulder and guiding her down to a sitting position, crouching beside her. "Put your head between your knees." He instructed, holding her tightly.
She did as she was told, breathing in deeply. His hand rubbed her shoulder soothingly, reassuring her. Amber sighed wearily. Feeling the cool chill of the night air, she shivered, feeling goose bumps form on her arm. "I'm sorry." She whispered sadly, her voice muffled, as her head was still buried between her knees as she struggled to get her breath back.
Edmund rolled his eyes, tightening his arm around her, enveloping her in his warmth. "For what exactly?"
Amber's head lifted, her breathing relatively normal. "You don't have to do all this. It's my problem." She pointed out, taking slow, deep breaths.
Edmund's arm tightened around her yet again, protectively, as he shook his head angrily at her statement. "No way in hell Amber. Do you seriously expect me to stand by and watch you go through this alone?" he snapped. It didn't sound like a question.
Amber didn't say anything, just stared wordlessly at the ground, still breathing deeply. Edmunds hand rubbed her shoulder gently, soothing her.
"You have nothing to be sorry for, Amber. Hang it all, you're the one of the most decent people I've ever met." He whispered fiercely.
Amber felt a stab of guilt at that, forgetting about breathing for a moment. If only he knew...
"I'm sorry. For going all pissed on you there." He said suddenly. "I just don't want to see you upset. You're one of my best...friends." he hesitated before 'friends', as if he was unsure of how they stood, or maybe how he wanted them to stand.
Amber frowned in confusion at that. What was that supposed to mean? Maybe he didn't want to be friends, or he wanted to be more than friends? But maybe she was just imagining things, or over analyzing things, seeing as she was now suddenly aware of her own feelings, after asking him to sleep in with her last night...
"I'm sorry." She said unexpectedly.
Edmund looked at her incredulously, irritated. "What for, now?" he asked, exasperated.
"About last night, you know...I mean, I shouldn't have asked..." she fumbled.
Edmund looked at her with an unreadable expression on her face.
"You know, because you just said we're friends and everything..." she said awkwardly, not able to look up and meet his eyes. "I mean, friends don't do that, right...?" she trailed off unsurely.
Edmund frowned thoughtfully, and placed his hand on Amber's chin, tipping her head up to look her in the eyes carefully. "Do you regret it?" he asked quietly, his eyes boring into hers. His tone was indifferent, but Amber thought she could hear an undercurrent to his casual remark, as his eyes burned intensely into hers.
"No." she answered honestly, feeling her cheeks redden slightly.
Her response caused Edmund's features to soften. She even thought she might have seen a little...relief in his eyes. As he stared at her, Edmund smirked wickedly. "Anyway." He said casually. "It's not like we did anything." He pointed out mischievously, chuckling to himself.
At the thought of Edmund and her 'doing anything', particularly in a bed of all places, Amber felt her face flush red with embarrassment. It wasn't as if she found the idea of her and Edmund in bed together, 'doing something', desirable or anything. At least, she was trying to convince herself that she didn't like the idea of that. Her hammering heart and flushing cheeks were begging to differ. It was one thing to like a guy, and another thing wholly to want him in bed. Not that she did want him in bed. She didn't. That would be ridiculous.
But the idea of it...
Suddenly it was hard to breathe again, but in a good way.
Right, that's enough. Stop. The whole notion of me, and Edmund, in a bed, 'doing anything', is...is...
She had to stop, NOW, before her thoughts ran away with her, even though it seemed like they already had.
"This place is beautiful." She said randomly, desperate to distract herself from the images in her head. Even though, in truth, the balcony was stunning, the decorations setting it off beautifully.
Edmund smiled softly. "Susan will be delighted to hear that. Then again, just as long as Caspian likes it, she'll be happy." He shrugged.
"So how did you come to know Caspian?" Amber asked, the mention of his name bringing back the confusion of their similarities. Her mind was already miles ahead, convinced that it couldn't be simply a coincidence...maybe there was a link? She was eager for any sort of background information on her lookalike. Anything would help.
Edmund made a face, indicating his disinterest. "Long, boring story."
Amber mock pouted, glaring at him. "Fine, be that way." She sniffed, looking pointedly away from him and folding her arms like a five year old.
Edmund threw his head back and laughed at her antics, obviously amused yet again. "Tell you what." He chuckled. "Go to Caspian's library tomorrow. He'll let you in, don't worry. Everything you want to know will be in there." He smiled adorably at her. "Now, do you forgive me? Even though I didn't really do anything in the first place." He pointed out, smiling mischievously.
Amber looked back at him, frowning. The way he was talking...
"Will you not be coming with me?" she asked, frowning suspiciously.
Edmund's smile faded, and he looked at her carefully for a moment, seemingly contemplating. He then dropped her gaze, sighing, and released his arm from around her, standing up, and pulling her up too when she accepted his offered hand. They stood face to face, Edmund looking gravely at Amber, who returned the stare with a worried, apprehensive expression.
"I won't be here tomorrow." He said quietly, his tone grave. When Amber simply stared at him blankly, he dropped his gaze and walked slowly over to the balcony, leaning down on it, looking over the city.
Why is he being so serious? Is something wrong? Where is he going?
"Why?" Amber asked, ignoring the rush of disappointment she felt.
Edmund didn't look at her. "I'm going...hunting." he replied slowly, his hands clutching the banister.
Is that all? That's what has him so serious?
"Can't I come with you?" Amber said eagerly. She had always gone hunting with her mother and a rank of their soldiers back home, for recreational purposes, and she had always enjoyed herself. Also, even though she didn't want admit it, she didn't particularly like she prospect of spending an entire day without Edmund.
This caused Edmund to finally look at her, with a displeased expression upon his face. "No." He said shortly, in a 'don't bother arguing' sort of tone.
Amber frowned, irritated. "Why not?" she persisted, hands on her hips.
Edmund frowned, looked extremely irritated. "You're not coming, Ambs. Just stay at home with Lu and Susan, OK?" he turned back to the banister, leaning on it, ignoring her.
At this, Amber's jaw dropped in shock, which quickly turned to anger. "You're not letting Susan or Lucy go either?" she exclaimed, her voice incredulous. "So it's because I'm a girl, is it? How utterly sexist of you! You know, girls can-"
"It's not about you being a girl, or anything of the sort, you idiot." Edmund snapped angrily, turning back to face her with an infuriated expression, his eyes hard, his brows furrowed together.
Amber frowned in confusion. "Then why?" she asked, baffled.
Edmund sighed, running a hand through his hair, obviously frustrated. "Look, Ambs, next hunting trip, you can come, I promise." He said in a compromising tone, as if hoping she would be content with that and drop the subject.
Not likely.
Amber frowned. "Why not this one, then?" she pushed persistently.
Edmund ran his hand through his unruly hair again, a sure sign of exasperation, opening and closing his mouth, searching for the correct words. "What we're after, Ambs, you...you don't want to come into contact with." He said finally, looking at her beseechingly.
Amber's brow furrowed in thought, still confused. "What are you hunting?" she asked in confusion. What could be that bad?
Edmund stared at her for a moment, contemplating, grinding his teeth irritably.
"Ed?" she probed, her curiosity getting the better if her patience.
He scratched his head awkwardly, looking extremely put out.
"Amber, look, it's nothing...important-"
She shook her head in response, feeling annoyed, which showed on her face. "Why can't you just tell me?" she snapped irritably, becoming rather infuriated by the whole conversation, which seemed to be going in circles.
Edmund looked beyond exasperated, and sighed again, this rime in angry defeat. "We're searching for the Lady of Green Kirtle." He muttered angrily, turning away from her, closing the subject.
Amber frowned, baffled. "Who's that?" she questioned, determined to find out what he was hiding.
Edmund turned to her again, his expression empty, and pointed towards the doors. "Do you want to go back inside now?" he said vaguely, ignoring her question.
"Ed!" she snapped angrily. "What is with you tonight?"
"What is with me?" he said incredulously, his irritation returning quickly. "For crying out loud, why can't you just drop it?"
"Why won't you just tell me?" she replied, exasperated.
"Fine, you asked for it." He snapped, throwing his hands in the air. "We're going to find the Lady of Green Kirtle, the green lady, the serpent, whatever you want to call her." He leaned back on the banister, arms folded, waiting for her reaction, his anger still bubbling.
Amber frowned as her mind processed this. Who was he-
I'll get you too.
Amber froze, feeling her insides go cold, like someone had just poured a bucket of ice-cold water over her. She stared at Edmund wordlessly, struggling for something coherent to say. Last night's events replayed in her mind, no less frightening than the first time.
"No." She whispered, raising a shaking hand to her mouth in shock. Edmund was going to go after the lady, the serpent. Edmund, was going after, the serpent.
Amber shivered as chills ran through her in quick succession of each other. In her mind, the green lady had had a turbulent force about her, and that was just in her head. What she had done to her was merely a mental attack. In person, how powerful would she be? How much damage could she inflict?
How badly would she hurt Edmund?
What if he-if he...
Died?
"No." She repeated, her voice rising. "No. You're not going. You can't go."
Edmund just shook his head passively, not looking at her, looking at the castle behind her instead.
"No!" she repeated again, her voice breaking as it turned pleading. "You can't! I won't let you go!" she said fiercely, a desperate edge to her voice.
Edmund simply shook his head again, looking past her, at nothing in particular. Amber walked quickly forward, grabbing his shoulders, shaking them for his attention, looking him desperately in the eyes.
"Don't go." She pleaded, her voice dropping to a whisper. "It's ridiculous, stupid, and idiotic. What if you get hurt? What if-"
"Amber, as one of the kings of Narnia, it is my duty to protect my people. This creature is potentially dangerous, and needs to be dealt with." He cut across her in a buisness-like tone, removing her white hands from his shoulders.
Amber looked at him incredulously, her eyes wide, filled with disbelief. "You can't be serious." She exclaimed, her breath catching in her throat. The look upon his face answered her question for her. "This is a...an overreaction! It was just...a nightmare" she fumbled for words, knowing they were all lies, that she was just trying to fool herself.
Edmund knew that too, a disbelieving expression finally cracking his passive facade. "Just a nightmare?" he exclaimed incredulously. Practically fuming, he grabbed Amber's bandage arm and yanked up her dress sleeve angrily.
"A nightmare that left this?" he snapped furiously, motioning toward her exposed bandaged arm. He snorted sceptically, dropping her arm and turning back to the banister. "Stop kidding yourself, Amber. That thing attacked you, and it's out there right now, waiting to get you again."
Amber felt hot tears prick at her eyes, desperate tears. She swallowed, blinking rapidly, refusing to let them fall.
"Ed...please." she implored, her voice still not managing to get past a whisper. "Just...don't go. Please." She felt a tear escape down her cheek, and tried to wipe it away angrily.
Edmund turned back to her yet again, exasperated. "Amber-"
"You're just going to get hurt!" she cried, her voice breaking mid-sentence, another damn tear escaping.
Edmund sighed sadly, taking a step toward her, reaching up and slowly wiping away her tear with his thumb. "You're going to get hurt if I don't go." He said quietly. "And I'm not going to let that happen." His tone was firm, determined.
Amber forgot whatever she was going to say, staring up at him in open-mouthed, wide-eyed shock.
"Are you doing this...because of...me?" she said incredulously, horrified.
Edmund frowned. "Why else?" he replied, as if she had just asked the most ridiculous question ever.
"Ed, no. No. No." Another tear, followed by another, ran down her cheek. He couldn't get hurt, not because of her.
How ironic is that...
"You're not going! I think it's clear that she wants me, not you! You're not getting involved." She said, panicked, looking up at him beseechingly.
Edmund suddenly looked livid, grabbing her by the shoulders and shaking her. "Amber, that thing is out there, waiting for you. It's attacked you once, and I'm not going to let it happen again." He tightened his grip on her arm, looking her directly in the eye. "What do you expect me to do? Sit around and watch you get hurt like this? What the hell do you want me to do? Sit back and do nothing to help you?" he looked furious. "No way in hell, Amber. I can't do that."
Peter suddenly appeared through the door, stopping abruptly when he caught sight of them.
"Uh, music's starting soon..." he pointed vaguely toward the door. "Susan was looking for you..." he trailed off awkwardly.
Edmund nodded tightly, not loosening his grip on Amber. Peter nodded back, looking uncomfortable, and quickly left, disappearing back through the french doors into the loud party.
Edmund sighed in frustration, and let go of Amber, walking toward the door. Amber simply stood there, unable to speak, unable to find the words that would change his mind, make im stay. She wished desperately she could do something, anything, to stop him.
"Edmund, please." She begged quietly toward his retreating figure, her voice shaking.
He paused at the door when she spoke, looking back at her with indecision written all over his face. Taking a few hesitant steps back to her, he reached out a hand, taking a gentle hold on her hand again.
"I'm not going to let anyone harm you." He whispered fiercely. Amber looked up at him sadly, tears running down her face. Edmund sighed again, leaning in and pressing his lips to her forehead.
Amber felt the butterflies explode in her stomach again, making her feel dizzy. Edmund sighed, and pulled away from her, looking at her momentarily, before turning and walking away, not looking back this time.
Amber stood there, her lips parted in shock. Her insides felt like a hurricane, all her thoughts and emotions spinning around at an uncontrollable rate. The despair was still there, the despair of Edmund leaving tomorrow in an attempt to protect her. The panic was still there, wreaking havoc.
But it was slightly overshadowed by the feeling of lightness, happiness. The simple act of affection had overwritten everything else, leaving her speechless. After the shock of him turning around and planting one on her forehead, came the giddiness, the happiness. The butterflies were still fluttering around her stomach. Amber knew she shouldn't feel this way, but she couldn't help herself.
She suddenly felt incredibly tired. The past forty-eight hours had just been far too much for her. She had far too much to think about, too much to worry about. Going to bed would solve everything.
She hoped.
did anyone else see the trailor for zac efrons new movie? looks like we'll need tissues. and what about vanessa's hudgens new film, beastly, with alex pettyfer, who, might i add, is rather shexi;)
have you noticed i seem to go on about gorgeous guys quite a bit? LOL...
READ AND REVIEW, PLEASE!