Chapter Six ~ Third Time's A Charm
Hashim and Danika didn't stay in Narnia for long after the Wedding. Danika had taken to spending most of her time alone in her room, only coming out for meals. Lucy would often visit her in her solitude but Danika was rarely in the mood for company. At first everyone thought she had fallen ill but Edmund knew better. Danika was still mortified about what had happened at the Wedding. It may have seemed silly to some people, and even though Danika was very comfortable in her own skin and had recently come out of her shell a lot, inside she was still quite shy and insecure and situations like that didn't appeal to her at all.
Eventually, after two weeks of Danika's morose mood, Hashim decided that it was time to call it a day. He visited Danika in her room to tell her to be ready to return to Archenland in two days. Hashim felt extremely guilty when he saw the look of relief on her face, he should have done this weeks ago. Two days later, father and daughter were stood out in the courtyard of Cair Paravel saying goodbye to the Kings and Queens yet again. Lucy, with tears in her eyes, ran forward to hug her friend. Danika smiled for the first time in weeks and reassured the young queen that she would be back next summer.
Edmund stood at the back of the crowd. He didn't know why he couldn't just step forward and apoligise to her. Perhaps he had a gut feeling that it would do no good, whatever there was between them was long gone now. Besides, he couldn't apoligise if he couldn't even look her in the eye. Edmund didn't know why but he was a coward when it came to Danika, and he hated himself for it.
When all the goodbyes were said, Hashim and Danika climbed into their carriage and began their long journey home. Danika watched the beautiful Narnian landscape roll by and she felt sad that her visit had been cut short. However she needed to be home right now and besides, she was comforted by the fact that she would be back next summer.
The months rolled by slowly once Danika returned to Archenland. She returned to her studies and spent most of her time being introduced to the court. Her sixteenth birthday was approaching and after that she would be expected to play a part in the running of the country since she was the princess. She would be asked to carry out the duties that her aging father was no longer able to do, such as travelling to distant countries to be an ambassador and discuss and solve minor political issues.
Danika eventually felt that the way she reacted to the incident at Caspian and Susan's wedding was childish and immature. No matter how embarrassed she was, she should have waved it off and carried on with the celebrations, and then she wouldn't have spent two weeks hiding in her room. She was a princess after all. She also felt bad for Edmund. Looking back on the incident, it was obviously an accident and Edmund did seem very guilty, even though he never properly apologised.
Eventually, Danika's 16th birthday arrived. She was greeted at breakfast by her father and a table laden with letters and presents. Danika spent the morning with her father opening gifts and reading letters full of birthday wishes. Her favourite letter though had been the one written by the Kings and Queens of Narnia, but the letter that surprised her most had been one written in handwriting that she was not familiar with. It was from Edmund. This was the first time he had ever written to her, and she was intrigued to find out what he could possibly want to say to her.
Dear Danika,
I know this will probably shock you since I have never written to you before, but I've been thinking a lot about you and what happened last summer. I just wanted you to know that the incident with the cake was a complete accident. I remember you telling me how scared you get in public situations and I can't imagine how mortified you must have been. I will never be able to apoligise enough.
As for my behaviour last summer, that was not an accident. I was still upset about the fight that we had and the fact that you left without saying goodbye, that hurt me more that I wanted to admit because I enjoyed your company very much the first time you stayed with us. I now realise that I was immature and don't even really remember what we fought about. Anyway, I'm sorry again.
I was hoping that when you come to visit us this summer that we could forget about everything that has happened. I would really like to be your friend again but I will understand if you don't want to. Anyway, happy birthday. I hope you have a wonderful time. I'm looking forward to seeing you next month.
Your Friend
Edmund
Danika was momentarily stunned. She had to read the letter several times over before the words sunk in. Edmund was apologising and he wanted to be her friend again. This was the best birthday present she could have asked for. She wondered if she should write back accepting his apology, but she would be travelling to Narnia in a few weeks so she decided to leave Edmund in suspense until then. She couldn't wait to see her friends again.
Less than three weeks later, Danika and her father were riding in their carriage through the gates of Cair Paravel once more. The Kings and Queens were all waiting outside the castle for them, all expect one. Danika's heart sank. After the lovely letter he sent her, he couldn't even be bothered to greet her and her father. Perhaps one of his siblings had put him up to writing the letter and his words hadn't been sincere at all.
As Danika followed her father out of the carriage she was immediately greeted with a hug by her best Narnian friend, Lucy. Lucy was a year and three months younger than her but she had grown since the last time they met and they were now almost the same height.
"I'm so glad you're back Danika, I have so much to tell you!" exclaimed Lucy.
"I have so much to tell you too" replied Danika. She was then hugged by Peter who had just finished greeting her father. He had also grown over the last year, he no longer looked like the boy she had met a couple of years ago, he was a man now.
"It's good to see you Danika, I'm looking forward to continuing our sparring this summer. I hope you've been practicing" said Peter with a teasing smile.
"Not as much as I would like I'm afraid, but I'm sure you'll bring me back up to standard in no time" Danika retorted. Peter was the monarch that Danika was the least close to but they had still managed to forge a solid friendship mainly based around swordsmanship. Danika had never had the opportunity to spar before coming to Narnia, and Peter was only too willing to teach her.
Danika was just about to enquire after his younger brother, when she was lifted off her feet by the eldest Narnian King. Caspian engulfed her in one of his famous bear hugs which Danika pretended to hate but actually really enjoyed. Caspian was more handsome every time Danika saw him, but she never thought of him in that way, he was like the older brother she never had. Besides he was a married man now, and his beautiful wife was standing right next to him. Susan was also more beautiful and as Danika hugged her, she thought that Susan was positively glowing. Obviously married life agreed with her very well.
Danika once again tried to enquire about Edmund but she was cut short by Peter suggesting that they retire to the castle for lunch. As they made their way through the castle Danika was just about to strike up a conversation with Lucy when she felt a hand around her upper arm pulling her into a room off the corridor. Danika was just about to shout for help when she noticed who had pulled her aside, it was Edmund. She was still slightly offended that he hadn't come to greet her, but her heart began to race now at seeing him again. Edmund was his usual mysterious self, so Danika decided to make the first move.
"Why didn't you come to greet me and my father?" Danika asked with as stern a face as she could muster. Edmund looked sheepish at her question.
"I'm sorry, I didn't want to speak to you in front of everyone else," that was not the response Danika had been expecting. "Did you get my letter?" Edmund enquired. Danika had to stop the smile from spreading across her face; she wanted to keep him in suspense for as long as possible. Edmund obviously took her indifference to mean that his apology was not accepted.
"Danika, I don't know what else to say. I'm sorry for everything that happened between us, none of it really meant anything; it was all just a big misunderstanding. I've done a lot of growing up over the last year and I realise how stupid I was. I hope you can forgive me because I really want to be your friend again. I've –" Edmund was cut short and left speechless when Danika threw her arms around his neck. He had not been expecting that reaction, but he enjoyed it none the less.
Edmund reciprocated by wrapping his arms around her waist. He hadn't failed to notice how lovely she looked. It seemed she grew more beautiful every time he saw her. She also smelled really good. Edmund had never been this close to her before, and he had to admit he like the feel of her body against his probably more than he should.
Danika couldn't help herself. Edmunds outburst about how sorry he was and how much he wanted to be friends again had been all she had wanted to hear. She felt that a hug was the best way to convey how she was feeling, although she hadn't intended it to go on for quite so long. Edmund was much taller than she remembered; she almost had to stand on her toes to get her arms around his neck. His shoulders were broader too and she could feel the muscles of his back under her hands. His voice was deeper as well. She had missed his voice, she missed talking to him, she missed everything about him. And if she remembered correctly, he had missed her too.
"So, you missed me huh?" she teased with a wide smile as she pulled away from the hug. Edmund looked confused for a second then realisation dawned on his face.
"Lucy told you?" a blush spread across Edmunds face, but Danika thought that made him look adorable, she loved the way it intensified the colour of his freckles.
"Yes, she did" Danika confirmed. She was highly amused at Edmunds embarrassment, but since he was now struggling to meet her gaze she decided to put him out of his misery. "And just for the record, I missed you too." Edmund's eyes shot up to meet hers and he looked elated as he smiled at her. Danika began to giggle letting all the negative emotions that had been hanging over their relationship drift away, and it wasn't long before Edmund was laughing too.
Once their laughter eventually subsided, they were just left smiling at each other. They both looked down to realise they were still holding hands. Danika looked back up at Edmund who was gazing at her with a strange look in his eyes. She felt her heart begin to race, this was the first time they had been alone together for a long time. Danika hadn't forgotten what it was like to be close to him, but it was much more intense than she remembered.
Edmund was enjoying being alone with her. He blushed again when he realised that they were holding hands but this only made her smile more for some reason unknown to him. She had the most beautiful smile. Suddenly Edmund was brought back down to earth when he remembered that they were expected for lunch. He let go of her hands, and he could have sworn that he saw a flash of disappointment cross her face.
"We should go to lunch, the others will be wondering where we are." Edmund began to reach for the door.
"That's alright, you'll just have to explain why you kidnapped me." Danika flashed him another smile. Edmund turned to look at her and laughed when he realised she was teasing him again. He didn't mind her teasing him anymore.
However, Edmund did have a problem with the merciless teasing he received from his siblings after arriving at lunch with Danika, looking very happy. Peter was relentless for days afterwards, wanting to know what had happened between them. Edmund simply brushed it off by saying that they were friends again. Danika received similar treatment from Lucy but had avoided giving a straight answer in a similar fashion to Edmund. They were both just happy to be on speaking terms again, as were the rest of the monarchs.
The rest of the summer passed without great event. Danika spent her days as she usually did in Narnia; sparring with Peter and Caspian, visiting the market place with Susan and Lucy, spending time in the castle with her father, or going on adventures with Edmund, or at least they were adventures to her.
Soon the summer was ending and it was time to celebrate Caspian's 20th birthday. 20 is considered a milestone birthday in Narnia so the celebrations were even more rambunctious than usual. Danika spent the evening mainly with Edmund and Lucy, until Lucy was eventually whisked away by her fawn friends leaving Danika alone with Edmund. They stood together in a comfortable silence for a while until Edmund worked up the courage to say something that he had wanted to say all evening.
"I was just thinking," Edmund began, slightly unsure of himself.
"I hope you didn't hurt yourself!" Danika exclaimed in jest. Edmund rolled his eyes in a pretend exasperated fashion which made Danika laugh. "I'm sorry, what was it you were thinking about?"
"I'm not sure I want to tell you anymore!" Edmund folded his arms and looked away from her. This only made Danika laugh even more because she knew he was joking. Edmund eventually relented and laughed with her.
"If you must know, I was thinking that I have still never danced with you at one of these things," Edmund gestured around the room, now unable to meet Danika's eye. Danika stopped laughing at once as she felt a blush spread across her face. She decided to be bold.
"Do you want to dance then?" Danika smirked as Edmund met her eye.
"I thought I was the one asking you to dance!" Edmund was bewildered at how she had turned the situation around on him.
"Well I've had enough of your beating around the bush, so I took matters into my own hands." Danika smiled at him for a moment as he looked at her with a slightly dumbfounded expression. He looked just as shocked as she felt at her newfound boldness. "Come on then!" Danika reached for Edmunds hand and led him into the crowd of dancers.
Their dancing was slightly awkward to begin with, Edmund found that the requirements for dancing such as being close to another person and putting your hands around their waist made him slightly flustered, although he had a feeling that he may not have been quite as flustered if he was dancing with any other girl. Danika also felt slightly intimidated by the closeness but she felt she was hiding it better than Edmund was. Eventually they settled into the rhythm and began to enjoy themselves.
Suddenly Edmund found the tempo of the dance increasing and the crowd began to laugh as they all tried to keep up. Danika and Edmund joined in the laughter as they found themselves nearly tripping over trying to match the pace. Edmund found himself having to pull Danika closer to him to stop her from spinning off into oblivion. Eventually they made it to the end of the dance and when their laughter subsided they realised that their faces were inches from each other. Edmund quickly let her go and gave a nervous laugh which made Danika smile.
Edmund just couldn't understand it. Aside from his siblings, Danika was one of the only people in the world he felt comfortable with; however they would have these moments, such as this one, that proved extremely uncomfortable for Edmund. It didn't make any sense to him. Luckily their awkward situation was cut short by Caspain trying to get everyone's attention.
"My Lords and Ladies, I thank you all for joining me and my family for my birthday celebrations and I have an important announcement to make. For myself and for my Queen," Caspian held his hand out to Susan who accepted and stood to join him, "this day is a double celebration, since we are delighted to announce that Queen Susan is with child!"
The crowd erupted into cheers. Susan was beaming as Caspian gave her a loving kiss, an equally big grin on his face. Danika scanned the crowd for Lucy and they gave each other knowing smiles, they had been expecting this announcement for a while. They hadn't failed to notice the changes in Susan recently such as her eating habbits and her looser gowns. Unfortunately, Peter and Edmund were not as observant and therefore this news was somewhat more of a shock. Edmund simply stood with his mouth hanging open until Danika poked him in the arm to rouse him from his stupor. He looked at her slightly confused then broke out into a huge smile and started to make his way to Susan to join Lucy in giving her a hug. Danika laughed at him and then searched the room for the last Pevensie.
Peter was sat not far from his family, apparently he had just been about to tuck into a chicken leg when Caspian made his announcement since the drumstick had only made it halfway to his mouth. Danika struggled to stifle her giggles at Peter's ashen face, what did he expect? They were married after all. Eventually Lucy made her way over to Peter and reminded him of his manners. Peter seemed to come to his senses then and made his was over to the happy couple. He gave Susan a brotherly hug and Caspian received a rather firm handshake. Danika hadn't failed to notice this and apparently neither had Edmund since their eyes met and they had to immediately look away to stop themselves from laughing. Danika decided to break up the exchange between the two older kings by making her way up to them and offering Caspian and Susan her congratulations.
The next few days consisted of a lot of talk about the baby, and not much else. Danika awoke to the sun streaming in between the curtains of her bedroom. Today was the day before she was due to return home with her father. She felt a sudden wave of sadness at the fact that another summer in her Narnian home was nearly over, but this one had been the best one so far; she was closer than ever to the Kings and Queens of Narnia, whom she now considered family, she had got to spend a lot of quality time with her father, something which they didn't get may opportunities for in Archenland, Susan and Caspian were having a baby who she already couldn't wait to meet next summer, and best of all she and Edmund were proper friends again.
After breakfast that day, Edmund was waiting for Danika by the front door. She spotted him as she was leaving the breakfast hall and hurried over to him with a smile.
"There's something I want to show you," he was wearing his usual mischievous smirk, "Are you ready for another adventure, Princess?" Danika rolled her eyes in pretend exasperation.
"Only you can use the term "Princess" in such a sarcastic manner, Ed." Danika folded her arms trying to keep the grin off her face. Edmund laughed at her mock distain.
"I meant no disrespect, Princess. So are you coming with me or not?" Edmund flashed her his winning smile and she knew she couldn't refuse. She nodded her head in agreement and they headed for the stables.
Half an hour later, they were still travelling through the forest on horseback. Danika was beginning to get irritated.
"How much further do we have to go?" Edmund smiled at her impatience.
"Not much further. Trust me, it's worth it." Danika did trust him, so she decided not to retort.
A few minutes later they emerged into a clearing and what lay before them took Danika's breath away. It was a small, lush meadow covered in beautiful wildflowers that had bumblebees and butterflies dancing around them. The sun streamed down between the treetops and at the far end was a small waterfall coming from the top of a ridge. At the bottom it formed a stream which flowed through the meadow.
Danika turned to look at Edmund with an astonished look still on her face and was slightly embarrassed to find that he had been watching her the whole time.
"Edmund, this is beautiful. How did you find it?" Danika enquired.
"It wasn't long after we came back to Cair. I was out riding one day and I just sort of stumbled across it. I come here when I want to be alone, I've never shown it to anyone else before." A blush spread across Edmunds cheeks and he was unable to meet her gaze again. Danika was also slightly embarrassed but also quite touched.
"Well, I'm honoured that you chose to share it with me." They met each other's gaze and there it was again, another awkward moment. Edmund had learnt that it was easier to just brush past these moments, so he reached into the stream and splashed Danika with the cool water.
Danika wasn't sure whether to be relieved that Edmund had ended the awkward moment or offended that he had splashed her. Either way, he wasn't getting away with it. Danika quickly kicked her shoes off and chased after the laughing Edmund who had already removed his boots and splashed into the stream.
After the ensuing water fight had ended, the two Royals lay out side by side on the soft grass of the meadow letting the late morning sun dry them. Danika didn't know if it was the beautiful setting or the fun they had this morning or the fact that Edmund chose to share something that was special to him with her, but she felt the need to share something with him too.
"Edmund, I have a secret to share with you as well," Edmund turned to look at her with intrigue in his expression, "You're the best friend I've ever had." Danika felt stupid saying it, like a young girl with her childhood playmate. However she managed to hold his gaze and was relieved when he smiled.
"Likewise." Danika nearly laughed at his response, it was typically Edmund, short and to the point. He wasn't very good at expressing his emotions. To be able to elicit any sort of emotional response from him was quite an achievement so Danika was satisfied. They lay side by side in a comfortable silence for a while, however there had been something else playing on Danika's mind.
"Ed? There's something I want to ask you about. You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to, but I feel like it's a loose end that needs tying up between us." Edmund tensed up at her words, he knew exactly what she was talking about. She wanted hear his version of what happened the first time he came to Narnia.
"No, you're right. I do want to talk about it. To be honest I've never really spoken to anyone about it before, not even my siblings. But you have to promise to not interrupt and just let me talk, ok?" Danika nodded her head.
Edmund talked for a long time. Danika watched the sun reach its highest point in the sky and begin its descent before Edmund was finished talking. He told her everything, how he followed Lucy into the wardrobe and met the White Witch, how he left his siblings at the beaver's dam to meet her again at her castle, how he learned that he had accidentally betrayed Mr Tumnus to the Witch, how she held him prisoner whilst she hunted down Peter, Susan and Lucy, how he was rescued by Aslan's army only to be put in danger again when the Witch came to claim him as a traitor, and how Aslan sacrificed himself for him.
There was a moment of silence after Edmund had finished speaking in which he allowed her to process everything that he had told her.
"Sometimes, I wonder what would have happened if it weren't for Aslan. Things could have been so much worse. Not just for me, but for Peter and Susan and Lucy, and for Narnia. What I did...it was unforgiveable." Danika found herself reaching for his hand and gripping it tight.
"Don't ever say that Ed, you have more than proved yourself loyal to your siblings, and to Narnia. They love you, and the people of Narnia love you." Edmund didn't look convinced.
"If Aslan was willing to sacrifice himself for you, then you must be worth something." Edmund looked over at her to see the glimmer of jest in her eyes and he couldn't help but laugh. He felt a lot better for having spoken to her, like a huge burden had been lessened. He enjoyed having a best friend, until he suddenly remembered with a pang of sadness that she would be leaving tomorrow. He decided not to bring it up; he didn't want to spoil the moment.
"Well, I'm sure that listening to my whining must have given you quite an appetite, Princess." Edmund jumped up and jogged over to his horse. He reached into one of the saddle bags where he had packed s small lunch for them both. "We'd better eat and run or they will be wondering where we have got to."
"That's ok, I'll just tell them you kidnapped me again" Danika teased before crunching into an apple. Edmund rolled his eyes at her before settling down next to her once more and tucking into his own lunch. He was definitely going to miss his best friend.