Edmund spoke up after a few minutes, "I saw you slip."

Kathleen scoffed lightly, "If I'm being honest, that wasn't the first time." She paused as she shrugged her shoulders, "And it will most certainly not be the last."

There was another pause between them. Kathleen could see Eustace's grand golden belly rise up and down.

She needed to apologize. She knew she had to but why did it have to be so terrifying? She was in the wrong, but why was it so hard to admit? "I don't think I've ever apologized for your shirt." Not her original plan, but it was what came out. And it was honest.

Edmund turned to her confused, "What do you? What shirt?"

Kathleen cleared her throat and turned to face him, "The shirt." She repeated in embarrassment. When Edmund didn't respond, she tried to jog his memory as her cheeks went bright. "The shirt I ruined?" She could see him trying to recall the memory. "From the night I stayed over for dinner."

That is when it clicked for Edmund, "Oh yes! I remember. I think that was the only time you stayed over for dinner." He smiled at the memory, "You should stay for dinner more often. It was nice to talk during a meal."

Kathleen stared at the boy next to her. She could see him digging in the sand lightly.

She shook her head as she let out a chuckle and turned to the ember-lit fire. After all this time, all she could think about that she ruined an article of his clothing from that night, yet Edmund remembers just talking while eating broth.

"What is it?" He asked while amused.

She smiled as she spoke, "It's just, uh, all this time, I thought you hated me from that night on."

Her smile from her laughter dropped when she turned to see Edmund's face. Shocked was one way to describe it. His eyes were wide and his mouth was slightly gapped.

"You thought I hated you?" His voice was soft. His hand was frozen in the sand.

Kathleen widened as she gulped, "Um, yes. I-" She tightened her grip on her tunic, "I thought you hated because- because I spilled broth all over your shirt." She paused then took a deep breath, "You didn't really talk to me after that so I thought the shirt had some type of important value to you. I thought it belonged to your brother or father. I was embarrassed." She exhaled as she finished speaking in her one breath. She lifted one shoulder, "Though now that I think about it, I never really said anything to you either. I don't think I talked to you much before then either." She felt her cheeks grow warm as she moved her hand to the bottom of her trousers.

Edmund's voice was as soft as before, "I could never hate you, Kathleen."

She didn't have it in herself to look at Edmund. "You could have fooled me." She closed her eyes tight, "Sorry, that came out rude."

Edmund shook his head, "No, I'm sure I deserve it. I've always been more reserved than my siblings. Communication has never been my strong suit."

Kathleen didn't know what to say. They turned away from each other, returning their gaze to the growing fire. Ignoring the awkward feeling in her stomach and the thoughts racing in her head, Kathleen stood up walked to the rocks. She bent down next to one side of the rocks that had been put aside. She placed one rock next to the only one by the fire. As she securely dug the rock in place, Kathleen then turned to the next rock and did the same. As she finished that one, she turned to the staring boy.

"Well, aren't you going to help me?" She offered a small smile that Edmund gave in return.

Edmund collected some rocks before he began to the on the other side of the fire. One by one, the ring around the fire grew. It wasn't until halfway when Edmund spoke up again.

"I'm sorry, Kathleen."

Kathleen stopped adjusting her rock. Without looking up, she spoke with a small amount of hesitation. "No. I should be apologizing to you. I don't think any of us were in our right minds, but that still doesn't mean what we did was right. It's just um..." She didn't know how to continue. She didn't want to excuse her actions on her temptations but she didn't know how to word it either.

"That's not what I meant," Kathleen could slightly hear the struggle in his voice. "I mean I'm sorry about everything. About you having to deal with everything you have since arriving in Narnia. I couldn't protect you and then when you asked to learn how to defend yourself and you were able to so quickly and greatly, yet I still hovered over you. I insulted you without knowing and I almost pushed into water that could have turned you into gold. And that was just today! I haven't been a good friend to you, and I think that was since before you came to Narnia. I'm sorry, Kathleen. I am so sorry."

She couldn't see Edmund clearly with the fire between them, but with the spaces between the flames, she could make out the top of his head. He was as still as the night that was soon becoming above them.

The others hadn't returned, which was nerving to Kathleen, but she had to choose not to think about them. Lucy had said that Edmund wasn't one to talk about his feelings out loud. Him admitting what he just said now must have taken a lot of courage to say. It will take the same amount for Kathleen to say what she always needed to.

Kathleen gulped as she tried to form sentences in her head, "For someone who isn't good at communicating, you just did a great job." They chuckle nervously as Kathleen rapidly tapped her finger against a rock in front of her, "You, uh. You apologize on my account for experiencing Narnia, but I don't feel sorry for coming here, Edmund. I'm happy I got to do everything I have, And it's thanks to you that I had the chance to."

She could see Edmund's glowing face now, "Me?" He asked confused. "Why would you need to thank me for this?"

She could hear the guilt in his voice which made her heartache. Kathleen could understand why he would want to apologize. She had been kidnapped twice, and she had been terrified of not knowing what will happen next in many accounts while traveling in Narnia. Though, when she truly thought about the magical world, those weren't what came to mind.

Kathleen took hold of each side of her sleeve, "I don't think I told you why I was at your home that day we entered Narnia, have it?"

Edmund was quiet for a moment, "You said something about visiting Eustace and bringing your famous apple pie."

Kathleen couldn't help a smile, "Yes, that's what I said, but it wasn't entirely true. Uh, you see, visiting Eustace and bring my pie was an excuse." She paused as her hands held on tightly to the fabric, "It was an excuse to see you."

"Me?" Now Edmund was stunned, "But," he paused as his mind raced, "Why would you want to see me?"

Kathleen had gotten more nervous than usual as she pulled her thoughts together. She hadn't spoken this long to Edmund before and she was remembering why. Kathleen was always so afraid that she might mess up everything if she spoke too much. Her mind was in a rush and her mouth couldn't keep up, so she would stay silent.

But she hasn't been doing that as of late and she certainly couldn't do that today because maybe she wouldn't be able to do that ever again. She had gotten so comfortable with watching from the sidelines that she never had a chance to say what she was thinking. To communicate. Maybe that was a flaw within her too. One that was too hidden beneath the surface to see.

Kathleen took a deep breath, then she spoke what she was holding back, "It was the day we entered Narnia. I had just gotten off from the underground when I made my way to City Hall. I saw your sister there. She was looking for you.

"I had offered to help look for you after I checked the postal service inside. When I was leaving the building, I saw you in line. In line for the Enlistment. I told Lucy that you were in there, but I-," She paused to take another breath, "I didn't want you to know that I spotted you. So I asked her not to tell you that I found you. I thought it would give you another reason to hate me. It's a good thing you never did in the first place, but still, I didn't want you to know. Until now." She let out another nervous laugh. When she didn't hear anything from Edmund, she released her arms and continued to speak, taking in a rock to her right.

"I went home to bake an 'apology pie'. I was going to tell you that it was me that ratted you at. I wanted to tell you in person and I wanted to apologize. I just didn't want you to get caught with your uncle's papers. You would have gotten in so much trouble if you had gotten caught. And it would have been worse if you didn't." She shook her head at the thought, "Little did I know that you already fought in wars. And you didn't just fight in them, you lead them."

There was another pause. Kathleen rolled the new rock in place and the second it snuggled into place, her words came pouring out, "I'm sorry if I got you in trouble back home, Edmund. I didn't know what to do and I panicked. If the Royal Navy didn't catch you with your uncle's papers, you would have been shipped off the next morning, and no telling-"

"My aunt's." Edmund's voice was deadpan. It was loud enough for Kathleen to hear, but it was easy to think it was a mistake.

Kathleen raised her head to see above the fire, "Your aunt's?" she said hesitantly.

"I tried to use my Aunt Alberta's paper," Edmund looked up, meeting Kathleen's eyes from across the fire. "My uncle already served his time so they had his name on file. I had to use a name other than my own and that was overage."

Kathleen could see a ghost of a smile on Edmund's lips, "And you used," she paused, "your aunt's name?"

Edmund shrugged one shoulder, "I told them it was a typographical error. That it was supposed to be Albert 'A' Scrubb."

"And they fell for it?" Kathleen asked without thinking.

"No. They didn't," Edmund said as he let out a single laugh.

There was a smile on Edmund's face that Kathleen found infectious. His eyes brightened up as he did. Kathleen looked down at the rock as she began to feel less uncomfortable than before.

"Edmund, I want to thank you for everything. If it wasn't for you, I would have never entered Narnia in the first place. This world is everything I'd hoped it would be.

"There are creatures that I only read about. I get to ride on a ship where the crewmen are men, dwarves, fauns, and minotaurs. I've had a chance to see beings that I've never dreamed about. I've met a magician who lives in an invisible mansion and has his own island. There is magic everywhere we go. I get to travel with a kind King and with friends who happen to be a King and Queen from over a thousand years ago. Edmund, I'm happy here.

"And I know there are a few things that I wish didn't happen, but not everything can be a fairy tale. There are things that we can't stay away from. Any place or the world will have something to try to take advantage of someone. I wish I can change that, but I know I can't. But, I know I can grow from it."

She finally looked up to see Edmund staring right back at her. Her voice was now steady. He was looking into her eyes and she didn't move away, "You helped bring me here Edmund. I don't think I can thank you enough."

It was silent for a moment. The warm glow from the fire masked the blush on Kathleen's face. As she looked across the fire, all she could do was smile at the boy across from her. He shared one in return. With that, it was as if they reached a silent understanding. No further words needed to be said as they went back to placing the rocks around the fire.

"You two still haven't finished?"

The two teenagers turned around to see Caspian coming from behind a large rock, followed by Rhince. Each had an arm full of wood as they headed to the pile from before. The two didn't say anything as the older gentlemen stacked the pieces of wood on top of each other. It wasn't long before Lucy, Gael, and Reepicheep came back. Before long, the fire had a protective ring around it, and night had fallen. The younger girls had started to get ready to sleep to the night while Kathleen was laying down by Edmund and Caspian, looking up at the stars.

They laid in their company in silence, except for Caspian, who sat. It was calming to all of them, even with everything that happened earlier. It was as if most of the tension-filled island had been cleared away.

"I've never seen these constellations before," Edmund said softly.

"Me neither," Caspian agreed.

Kathleen sighed through her nose, "Neither have I." She turned to the two boys who were looking at her then chuckled. See the boy's smiles relaxed her even more.

Caspian looked back up to the stars. His smile had faded as he spoke in a low voice, being careful not to wake Reepicheep or Eustace. "We're a long way from home." Kathleen nodded as he continued, his voice turning melancholy. "When I was a boy I used to imagine sailing to the end of the world, finding my father there."

Edmund said a few words, but it seemed to mean a lot to Caspain. "Maybe you will."

With all the books that Kathleen had been able to read while sailing on the Dawn Treader one thing that she could not understand was the concept of "the end of the world." In her mind, their world is spherical. There is no "edge," but there was one phrase that kept coming back in her head.

Aslan's Country.

There were very few mentions of it in texts, but it was still there. She was going over her notes mentally when she felt a nudge on her side left side.

"Mhmm?" Kathleen jumped at the touch. Edmund was turned to her while Caspian was biting back a chuckle. She looked back and forth at the boys in confusion.

Edmund propped himself up on his elbows, "Caspian asked you about your life back home."

Kathleen did the same, "Oh!" Her eyes widen slightly. She sat up and cleared her throat. "Uh, what would you like to know?"

Caspian offered a small smiled, "Well, Edmund told me that you work in your family's bakery back in your world."

Kathleen smiled fondly at the memories in the kitchen back home, "Yes. We make all sorts of bread and pastries. I remember this one day when we had a same-day delivery and it was really busy in the shop. Jacob was in the front trying to get everyone's orders just right while mum and dad were in the back, mixing as fast as they can. Goodness, I think I was twelve. I walked right into a sea of people." Kathleen's smile grew as she walked through the memory. "I went to the back to see mum with flour in her hair and dad had it everywhere else." She laughed, "I made that pie and delivered it within three hours." She turned to the two and shrugged one of her shoulders, "I was proud."

"You can dance, duel, and you can bake." Caspian listed out loud. "Is there anything you can't do?"

Kathleen couldn't help but laugh at his sarcastic-sounding question. "Of course! I can name several things."

"'Of course,'" Edmund repeated jokingly. "Name one."

Kathleen blew a raspberry, "Making friends my own age." Edmund gave her a confused look, "Besides you of course." She could see Caspian raised an eyebrow. She sat up with her left leg tucked in as she explained, "Before I entered Narnia, I didn't have many friends. I had the dancers from the studio, but we hardly have a chance to speak to one another other than during rehearsals. I would always leave right after to not give my parents a reason to worry. The only people I talk to frequently are the ones I tutor, but I can't really call them 'friends' because they're more like my students than anything else." She brought her right leg up and leaned her torso against it. "I guess most people my age are just in a different headspace." She shrugged then turned to Edmund, "Maybe that's why I felt different about you."

Edmund sat up and smirked, "Maybe I'm just wise for my age."

Kathleen scoffed and shook her head, "Say's the thousand-year-old King of Old."

That statement caused them all to laugh, resulting in a questionable stare from Lucy, who was still awake a few yards away from them. The three of them quieted down almost immediately.

Kathleen's mind went back to the events of earlier that day. So strange that they were laughing now when hours ago they were at each other's throats. Both literally and figuratively. Her smile left the more Kathleen thought about everything. Since she stepped foot on the island, it was as if every little thing was an insult to her. Except for now. She knew it was because of something that was there on the island, but she also knew that she could not blame it all on the risen volcanic rock that they were all laying on. To flip something on, the switch has to already be there.

Kathleen sighed as the day flooded her.

"What are you thinking about?" Edmund asked.

Kathleen opened her mouth then shut it again. She moved her legs into criss-cross then moved her elbows to her knees. Her mind was running again. "I don't think I, uh," she swallowed air, "I don't think I apologized for my behavior, from earlier." She risked a glance up to the boys who looked confused.

Caspian looked between Edmund and Kathleen before responding, "What do you mean?"

Kathleen's hands went around her waist, "Back at the cave, I snapped at the three of you. And Eustace too before then. This morning, I just shut you all out." She bit her lip before continuing, "Since I've been here, you have all been trying to help me, whether that be on the ship or any of the islands. All you have done was make sure I didn't get hurt, and even though I felt smothered at times, I know you all had good intentions." She paused again, looking down at the sand. With a deep breath, Kathleen turned up to Edmund and Caspian, "I'm sorry for shouting at you, Edmund. For more than one time. And I'm sorry for shutting you out when we reached this island, Caspian. I'm so sorry for both to you"

Kathleen's hands were sweating as silences became between the three of them. The only things that were heard of the crackling fire and the crashing waves.

"You have done nothing of the sort, Kathleen," Caspain stated, "Not to me anyway. If anything, I should be apologizing to you for what happened at the cave. To both of you. I was angry and thinking of only myself. I shouldn't have instigated you, Edmund. I was..." Caspian paused.

"Tempted," Edmund finished. Caspian didn't respond, only nodded. "So was I." Edmund turned back to Kathleen, "I think we all were." He faced her as she pressed her lips together. "I suffocated you since we left the Lone Islands. You have proven yourself more than once that you know how to use a sword. I'm sorry I haven't given you the chance you show it." The Just King turned to Caspian, "We may let our thoughts and desires get in the way of each other, but I swung the sword first inside that cave. I was the one who was tempted by what was inside there first. And you weren't the only one thinking of themselves. I'm sorry."

A moment went by. Kathleen thought of all the times Edmund and Caspian had been so helpful and reassuring to her. She knew she couldn't allow herself to be upset with herself, especially on the island they were on. With that thought, she took a deep breath and placed one hand on Edmund's knee, and gave a small smile, "I guess that's why Aslan named you 'King Edmund the Just,' isn't it."

Edmund gave a sad smile and his face softened as he was reminiscing a thought. Though for a moment, something sparked in his eyes. A realization of some sort.

"I don't remember telling you that Aslan was the one who gave me that title." He turned his face to the sand.

Kathleen quickly retracted her hand, "That's because you didn't tell me. The books did." She could see Edmund putting the pieces together in his head. "I finished the books that Caspian first gave me a week ago. I asked him if there were any more I could read and he did. I've read the one on King Caspian the First's conquest on Narnia as well as the Dark Age, or at least what could be written for it."

Edmund didn't look up, "So, you know everything?" He was hesitant and asked it as if he was scared of the answer, but Kathleen already guessed he knew.

"As much as I could from a book."

They sat together for a moment in silence. Caspian excused himself and he walked to the rocks and soon disappeared in the night. When Edmund spoke again, several minutes had passed.

"Why didn't you say anything," Edmund was soft and it trembled slightly.

Kathleen moved so she was facing directly in front of Edmund. She had her response planned for a while now. "When you first mentioned about one of the books having to do with you and your siblings, I knew which one you were talking about. You said that you had done something that you were not proud of and that you weren't ready to talk about it with me." She put her hands together and played with the ends of her cuffs. "I didn't want to push you into telling me something you weren't ready to talk about. What kind of friend would I be if I put you through that."

Edmund finally looked up to her, "So, you know?"

Kathleen nodded, "I know," she paused and wondered if it would be comforting to Edmund if she put her hand over his, "Aslan gifted you with the title as King Edmund the Just. As well as a long list of others, but I don't he would have done so if he thinks you didn't deserve it."

Edmund closed his eyes for a moment. At first, Kathleen thought that she may have hurt him, but her heart went back to a steady once again as a smile formed on his lips, "You know of my other titles, as well?"

It was Kathleen's turn to close her eyes, "If I'm not mistaken its, 'King Edmund the Just, Duke of the Lantern, Count of the Western Wood and Knight of the Noble Order of the Table.'" When she opened her eyes she could see Edmund covering his mouth with his fist. "Was I that off?" She asked in a laugh.

He shook his head, "No," he moved his fist from his mouth and let out a chuckle of his own, "You're really close. It's actually 'Duke of Lantern Waste, Count of the Western March, and Knight of the rest of it." Edmund trailed off at the end, making Kathleen smile from ear to ear.

"Oh yes. Pardon me." She retorted in a laugh. Soon Edmund joined with her. Their laughs died down when Caspian returned. He wanted to be in on the joke and when Kathleen retold it to the current King, he couldn't help but smile.

"It is a little wordy." Edmund thought out aloud, "Same goes for Peter if I'm honest."

Kathleen shrugged as she raised her left hand and put her thumb and index figure a few centimeters apart. The other two smiled at this. Kathleen propped her right leg up and leaned against it once more, "If I'm being honest, I think that's too much to remember," she paused, "I think I'll just stick with Edmund. The boy I met in Cambridge, who just happened to be a King yet also lives in his Aunt and Uncle's house. I mean, sure he has lived for another fifteen years before, but that just helped him become who he is today. And I happened to like being around that person."

Kathleen felt her body tense up as the words left her mouth. She hasn't been that open with anyone. The feeling in her stomach was gone, yet it felt like she was full of air. It was as if the growing feeling that was against her lungs had been released. She forced herself to take deep long breaths through her nose. This was new.

Anything is possible in Narnia.

When Edmund spoke, his words brought the biggest smile on her face, "I happen to like being around you too."

"And I happened to like being around both of you."Caspian words brought out a laugh in Kathleen.

Kathleen shook her head as turned to the fire, "How did we get into a conversation like this?"

Caspian shrugged, "We started to talk about you. Trying to see what you were bad at."

Her eyes grow slightly as Edmund continued, "You claimed you name several things."

Kathleen unclasped her hands together only to place them on top of each other, "I still can. We can start with Chess."

Edmund whipped his head to her, "Chess?"

Kathleen nodded as she could see Caspian smile, "Yes. I am absolutely rubbish at Chess. I can never remember which way the pieces go. I know the pawn moves one space diagonally to get an enemy piece and a king can move as an 'L' shape but that's it."

"You're thinking of a knight," Edmund corrected, "The knight moves two by one square while a king can only move one square." Kathleen raised an eyebrow at Edmund. "I happen to be quite good at chess"

"I don't remember reading that in any book," Kathleen said in thought.

"Neither do I," Caspian added.

Edmund thought for a second, "Maybe whoever wrote the texts did deem it as important."

Kathleen tilted her head down. Maybe there are some things that a book can't tell you.

"How about this," began Edmund, "when all of this is over, and we find a way to have Eustace human again, I will teach you how to play chess if you can teach me how to dance properly."

Kathleen thought about this. She wondered if he was serious at first, and for the days that she had been with Edmund on this ship of the Dawn Treader, she knew that he was. Edmund was a good person who kept his word, no matter how small it may be. He may have done things that he is not proud of in the past, but that was all in the past. Kathleen seemed that Edmund has learned from his mistakes. He has grown into the kind and loyal person he is now. And that is a person Kathleen can trust. Someone whom she knew anyone would be lucky to be around, even if they didn't know it.

"It's a plan."