How embarrassing to admit that he was eager to see her. Well he could bet that people in the castle would know already of his caringness toward Annabelle. He had to swallow it wholly and keep his head held high. The castle was big and he had to go quite a walk to get to her chamber. He made it to her door and knocked. He knocked again. He waited for awhile, but no one answered. Perhaps she's not in her chamber, so he walked around aimlessly, looking.

He made it around to find a courtyard. There she was, Annabelle, sitting on a bench, facing two kids of fawns playing with some sticks and stones. A nun sat beside her, calmly talking. They were having a merry time and Annabelle seemed to enjoy herself at the moment. He didn't want to disturb her, so he backed away, but he didn't see some planters so he tripped backward, yelped painfully as he fell on his butt. The kids' laughter stopped and raised questions, asking who that was.

"Your Majesty!" The nun spoke nearby. She had went over to help him up. In embarrassment, Edmund accepted her lured hand.

"Thank you, Sister Alba... Though I didn't intend to spoil your day... I should go..." He stood and bowed his head to her and to the three of them. But before he turned to leave, Annabelle called.

"M-my King..." she said and slowly stood up. Hand supported her weight.

"Great heavens!" Sister Alba commented and rushed to help her up.

Annabelle was supported as she struggled to curtsy.

"Oh... no, please," Edmund went over quickly. "Do not curtsy in your state. I understand you need time to heal. I didn't mean to make a fuss over matters for being here... but... It is good to see that you can walk out of your chamber now, Annabelle."

She smiled. Her smile was different to the confidence of Alise. Perhaps not an exact copy of each other after all. This smile was dainty like a dandelion. She would not challenge him to better herself. She would not have admitted to know how to use a sabre like Alise. He could easily differentiate the two. "I want to voice my gratitude, My King," she spoke shyly. "My father told me you had a wizard to see me and take my mother's curse away. I am deeply in your debt."

Edmund bowed his head curtly. "It is my duty as King to care for my subjects, even if it's only temporary... Once the shadows are gone, perhaps the Almighty Aslan, will bring my siblings and I back to our world again. We will give back King Caspian and his bloodline into full reign once more." That was too formal for his taste, but it felt right to do so for her.

"Until that day comes... I will still be loyal to the Kingdom of Narnia, Your Majesty."

He smiled and bowed once and left for her to rest. He glanced at the kids who were looking curiously and he smiled to them too. Everyday, he would see her walk in the castle. She would even be found on the grounds as well, especially to visit her father at the stable. It's getting harder to ignore her presence when he had to be there, annoyingly, when Peter's around.

"Oh look, Edmund, Annabelle's here," Peter said in a stable. His words as High King was heard in the entire room and people were leering at Edmund in full curiosity. Oh if Peter wasn't High King, Edmund would have smacked his head by now.

Edmund simply smiled at his cheeky brother and said, "Yes, so indeed."

"Talk to her then. Why? Since she's woken up, you've been distancing yourself lately. Are you afraid she might refuse your presence?"

The people nearby laughed, yet Edmund stayed dignified. But oh boy he would get even with Peter once they were alone. He glanced at Annabelle and caught her glancing too, but she shied away, hiding her smile under her fist, acting busy.

Peter held his shoulder and whispered, "Maybe find out about the curse as well... Report back to me."

Edmund glanced at his brother and by the expression, mean it. Of course Peter would like to know as well. Such curse cold not be forgotten so easily and be all jolly all around. So now he found himself walking toward the girl, who was now checking the circular cuts of glass of her father's work. He stood beside her, hands behind his back to be discreet, but he know Annabelle would know his presence beside her.

"Good day, My King..." Annabelle spoke shyly and curtsied. She could curtsy easily now. It was a relief on Edmund's part that he didn't have to worry of her frail body.

"Good day, Annabelle."

So... what now? Edmund didn't know what to do. It would be rude to just ask her about her mother's story. It was not something that she would probably be free to talk about. He busied himself like Annabelle was doing right now, examining glass parts to make the flashlights.

"Your father's glass-making is class worthy."

"Indeed, Every summer he teaches me how to cut them into little pretty shapes... I keep them in a box."

Edmund smiled. "Are you going to be a glass maker one day?"

"Of course, My King. Who would do such a thing better than his own kin?"

He chuckled. "That's great. I'm sure you'll do well."

"Thank you, a praise from My King means dearly to me..." she says and smiled in a blush.

Edmund leered at her.

How pretty she was, he thought. It was a weird feeling that she looked so much like Alise, but at the same she was her own person. Would it be wrong to get to know Annabelle a little better? Would it mean he was interested solely to Annabelle and not reminding himself of Alise in London?

"Annabelle, would you care to have luncheon with me?"

That question just happened. He didn't think twice when he said it. His heart pounded nervously, scared that he discomforted her in any way. Then Annabelle looked back in her sweet smile and accepted his offer. Edmund was so happy, that he could climb the top of Cair Paravel with nothing but his hands and feet!