Thanks for all the reviews! Yeah, I didn't notice I made it like Pirates of the Caribbean, so as a heads up, I may alter it in the future.
Chapter Three
A Different Edmund
Later, when the guests had gone home and Edmund was washed up and in more comfortable clothes, he headed downstairs for a quick drink before he would retire. He passed by Lucy in the hall, on her way to bed, and she prepared herself for the playful punch or kick he'd give her whenever he passed her (except for in ceremonies or at formal parties).
"Edmund," Lucy said in a sing-song voice when she wasn't touched.
"Huh?" he turned around.
"Um…aren't you going to hit me?" Lucy asked. As much as she was annoyed by his teasing, it was a sign of affection from her brother.
"Huh? Oh, yeah," he stepped forward and lightly tapped her shoulder, then briskly walked off.
Assuming the fall had shaken him a bit, Lucy shrugged it off and went to get ready for bed.
Edmund continued down the hall and was going down the stairs and saw Susan conversing with Mr. Tumnus.
"Feeling better, Ed?" Susan asked.
"Yeah, great," Edmund passed them swiftly.
"He seems to be in a rush," Mr. Tumnus laughed when Edmund went into the dining room.
"He's always like that…I think," Susan replied.
Edmund entered the dining room and saw Peter looking at some documents while he ate a little dessert.
"I thought you went to beddy-bye," Peter taunted.
"Quick drink," Edmund replied.
Peter dropped the documents in surprise just as Edmund disappeared into the kitchen. Usually Edmund would snap at Peter at how he wasn't a little kid anymore. Though Edmund had become nicer over the years, he still had a bit of stubbornness in him. Peter wanted to question Edmund the next day.
Edmund went out the kitchen balcony, watching the sea, and hoping to catch a glimpse of Niara. When he saw nothing, he sighed, finished his drink, and wordlessly went back up to sleep.
The cool wind blew on Edmund's face as he stood on the beach looking out to the sea. After a certain wave washed up, Niara emerged from the foam carrying a small silver box.
Without saying a word both plopped down onto the sand and began indulging themselves with the delightful taste of Turkish Delight. Niara's scales never dried out and she stayed on the beach flicking her tail and kissing him when she wasn't eating the candy.
All of a sudden, she became a human, no longer a water nymph, in a loose white dress.
"Now I can be with you forever!" she whispered to him, then kissed him on the cheek. "Oh, Edmund."
"Hmm?" Edmund said dreamily, hoping Niara's caressing would not stop.
"Edmund…" she repeated.
"EDMUND!" Peter shouted.
Edmund's eyes snapped open to see his older brother towering over him.
"Huh?" Edmund said blankly.
"You overslept. It's noon, you goose. What's gotten into you? You're usually always the first awake," Peter muttered.
The sun was high in the sky and straight in Edmund's eyes. He blinked a couple of times, then sat up.
"I did?" he asked, still groggy.
"Yes, you did, now get up!" Peter pulled his brother out of bed and shoved him into the wash room.
Edmund rubbed his eyes, then washed his face. Peter was right; he never overslept! He quickly dressed and made sure he looked like a king, then came out. All three of his other siblings were standing there.
"Something's up with you , Ed," Susan said.
"Yeah," Lucy agreed.
"Nothing's wrong with me!" Edmund protested.
"No, but you are acting differently," Lucy said.
"How so?" Edmund challenged.
"You wouldn't talk to me and Tumnus when you love to," Susan answered.
"You didn't do your usual playful hit," Lucy added.
"And you didn't come at me when I teased you with the word, 'beddy-bye'," Peter finished.
"I was tired from last night. Wouldn't you be tired if you fell off a cliff into the sea and um…had to swim for your life?" Edmund challenged.
"You didn't seem tired going all the way to the kitchen from your bedroom," Peter replied.
"Yes, you could've sent a servant," Susan added.
"I'm alright, okay!" Edmund snapped and stomped away.
"I think he's back to normal now," Lucy said once he was gone.