Thanks to Orbiter I shall now be having Phillip talking like he should in this chapter.

Chapter Nine

The Argument

The three still sat in awe after Aslan had left. It had been so quick. He had come and gone, quickly giving the information they needed to see what was wrong with their brother.

"I love that feeling of Aslan being so near," Lucy giggled.

"I know. Doesn't it make you feel warm inside?" Peter grinned at his sisters.

"Oh, yes," Susan smiled. "I'm feeling sort of sad now that he has left."

"He'll be back. Of course he will," Lucy reassured.

The older two smiled at their optimistic sister. They were glad she believed so strongly in Aslan.

Meanwhile, Edmund was in his room, once again gazing out at the sea. The sun was setting and dinner was soon to be eaten, but he didn't want to eat. He had never experienced this empty feeling before.

Getting up, he knew what he had to do. Should he bring a torch? No, too noticeable. He silently left his room and stiffly walked passed the guards to the stables.

"What is troubling you, sire?" Phillip asked.

"I cannot answer. I must do what I have done yesterday," Edmund ordered servants to saddle Phillip.

"You mean you must tie me up at the tree again?" Phillip said slowly.

"Yes, but at a different one. After all, you had eaten all the grass by the other one," Edmund smirked.

Phillip returned it with a smile of his own. After Phillip was saddled, Edmund mounted up, and pushed Phillip into a gallop along the beach. The sun was setting, putting a soft, rosy glow on everything within its reach. Edmund didn't have time to notice the scenery. He rode Phillip once again to the rocky hill, but steered him off to the side to another tree.

"I am not going to wander, sire," Phillip said again, in protest of being tied.

"It is something I must do," Edmund sighed, and pulled the reins around a thick branch.

Phillip looked at Edmund in the eye.

"Of course you are going to get sugar cubes," Edmund added, and Phillip settled into his position more comfortably.

Edmund climbed over the rocky hill to the inlet. He wasn't sure whether he would go to the cave or sit by the water. He resolved on waiting in the inlet. Edmund hadn't really enjoyed the tiny cave. By now the sun slipped had behind the ocean, the sky becoming darker as the last crimson rays slowly faded away. It would be too late for Niara to come to the inlet now.

Edmund sighed and began throwing rocks in the water. The sky became darker, and from far off he heard Phillip's worried whinny. He climbed up to see what was wrong and saw Phillip prancing nervously in the fading light. There was nothing near Phillip, but he knew the horse was becoming worried because it was getting dark and he was not returning.

Edmund took one last glance at the inlet, knowing that he shouldn't try to be desperate. Just as he was about to walk back to Phillip, the rock to the cave moved.

Niara emerged from the cave's shadows. She looked up.

"Edmund!" she cried. She quickly put the rock back and put her tail in the water. "Where were you yesterday?"

"I'm a king. I don't always have free time," he lied.

"Come, let us talk!" Niara patted the spot next to her.

"There is nothing much to speak of," Edmund looked down.

"Why?"

"I—I don't want to hurt your feelings," Edmund sighed.

"You won't," Niara reassured.

"Niara," Edmund came a little closer but didn't sit next to her. "I'm a bit worried about Jylese."

"Don't be silly. He's just stubborn and competitive," Niara said.

"But…he really seems to care about you," Edmund murmured.

"Nonsense! If he really loved me, he would let me be," Niara said calmly. "Don't tell me that you are frightened. Jylese has never hurt a soul, even if he is mean. He has more than enough sense to know hurting a king would be foolish."

Edmund sighed. "Niara." She looked at him expectantly. "I don't love you. I can't. We can't be like this. Separated because of our kind. And this was too rushed. I'm sorry. Can we still be friends?"

Niara stared back at Edmund. It was that awful look in her eyes that made Edmund want to take it all back.

"Jylese was right. Just because you are a king you think you can get everything you want. I bet you've found another Daughter of Eve and you're just throwing me away, aren't you?" Niara sneered.

"No! For goodness sake's, I can't marry or anything! I'm fourteen!" Edmund replied. "Niara, do try to see this reasonably!"

"Reasonably? Of course!" she snapped sarcastically. "You simply came to tell me you hate me!"

"Stop jumping on me like that!" Edmund shouted. "I tried to tell you the nicest way I could! At least I wasn't trying to hurt your feelings! You're lucky I didn't assume you were just playing a joke on me and you really love Jylese!"

Niara froze. "I don't!" she said haughtily.

"Well, that's a step in the right direction!" Edmund crossed his arms.

"I might go back to him now!" Niara screamed. "You—you bastard! I think it's YOU that's been playing the joke! 'Oh yes, let's see how far we can get with the stupid water nymph!'"

Edmund glared at her. "Well you got one thing right. You are full to the top with stupidity!"

Niara's eyes blazed. "Go to hell!" she yelled, and dove into the waves.

By now the night was pitch black. Supper was to be served soon. Edmund's heart pounded as he blindly found his way over the rocks and back to Phillip. From seeing the expression in his eyes, Phillip knew not to say a word to Edmund, even when Edmund did not give Phillip the sugar cubes when they returned.

Dun dun dun! Scariness! The two sorta-lovebirds have had their first fight! Blah. Please review!