To Narnia and the North

Saedra had been right in her guess that Rabadash would keep Talia near him that night at the Tisroc's party. When she, Susan, Edmund, and Corin entered the party hall (it was a different hall than the last party had been in), the party was already underway and Rabadash was sitting up on the podium with his father. At his feet sat Talia, looking very frightened.

"Ask Rabadash to dance," Saedra mumbled to Susan. "I'll dance with Ed."

"If you're dancing with Ed-" Susan began to ask, but Edmund cut her off.

"Just do it, Su," he muttered. "Sae knows what she's doing." The two women had apprised him of their plans before they went down. At first Edmund had not approved, pointing out that if caught Saedra would be incredible danger, but when he saw that Saedra would take the risk with or without his help-or approval-he agreed to go along with it.

Susan nodded and walked over to where Rabadash was sitting. When he saw her, he quickly stood up and went down the stairs to her. Edmund and Saedra couldn't hear what they were saying, but soon the Prince and the Queen were heading out for the dance floor.

"I'm going to get some food," Corin announced and began to trot off, but Edmund grabbed him by his collar, saying, "If you run off again tonight, young Prince, we won't go looking for you. That's a threat."

"I shan't run off!" Corin said. "I've learned my lesson."

Edmund released him reluctantly, and Corin skipped off.

"Shall we dance, my Lady?" Edmund asked Saedra with a light voice.

"I would love to, good Sir!" she replied, putting her hand in his.

He led her out to the dance floor and after a few minutes he asked, "So what's the plan? I don't see how dancing is going to help your little friend."

"I'm looking for the right moment…All right, here's the plan: you go up to the Tisroc and act friendly, and then comment on how thirsty you are or how good his wine looks. As an afterthought, turn to Talia and tell her to get you a drink. She'll obey without question. Then you keep the Tisroc occupied in conversation for a while so he won't notice if there's any commotion going on. Oh, and when I don't come back, tell anyone who wonders that I wasn't feeling well and retired early."

Edmund chuckled. "Did you just make this whole scheme up now or have you been planning this?"

"I just made it up now," she said distractedly, then stopped dancing and curtsied. They were at the edge of the dance floor rear the refreshment tables. "Thank you for the dance, your Majesty."

Edmund followed her lead and bowed. "It was my pleasure. Do excuse me. I must greet the Tisroc."

He walked over to the Tisroc and started a conversation with him, while Saedra turned her back to the dance floor and pretended to pick out food. She then went over to the wine bowl and poured herself an almost-overflowing cup of wine.

"You'd better watch out or you'll spill that," an amused voice said.

Saedra turned and breathed an inward sigh of relief when she saw that it was Rahai. "Oh, it's you!"

"Have you seen Lasaraleen tonight? I can't find her anywhere, and I'm starting to worry about her," Rahai asked.

"No, I haven't. Did you get word from her at all after I left?"

"Yes, she sent a note saying that something juicy came up and she'll tell us everything later. I wonder what mischief she has gotten herself into this time!"

"I can't begin to imagine," Saedra said, taking her plate in one hand and the cup in the other.

"What're you doing?" Rahai asked. "You're going to spill! Do you need some help?"

"Remember what I was trying to figure out earlier…about the girl?"

Rahai nodded. "You figured it out then?"

"Yup," Saedra grinned, "and this is a part of it." She peeked over her shoulder and saw Talia coming over, looking miserable. "Watch this."

Just as Talia was about to pass them, Saedra stepped in front of her and quickly dumped her cup of wine down the front of her own dress, yelping as if she had been surprised. The nearby partiers all stopped what they were doing and watched.

"My Lady!" Talia exclaimed, mortified. "I'm so sorry!"

"Ugh! This is my favorite dress!" Saedra said in a haughty voice. "Can't you watch where you're going?"

Talia looked confused at Saedra's tone of voice; Saedra had always been kind to her before. "I—I'm very sorry. May I help you clean up?"

"Of course you will!" Saedra snapped. "Come with me. Rahai dearest, we will have to continue our chat later."

Rahai bit her lip, trying not to laugh at her. Saedra grabbed Talia's hand and deliberately put her on the side of her body that was away from the Tisroc and the dance floor, so that if either of them happened to look her way, they wouldn't see Talia as easily.

A minute later, they were out of the party hall and moving through the dark corridors towards a back entrance that she had scoped out earlier. From that door, they could easily get to the Splendor Hyaline with a small chance of being seen.

"Where are we going? Your apartments are this way!" Talia said nervously, pointing down another hallway.

Saedra stopped, looked around, and kneeled down so that she looked less intimidating. "Talia, I want you to know that I spilled on myself on purpose. It was the only way I could think of to get you alone to talk to you."

"About what?" she asked curiously.

"You know what's going to happen with Rabadash, right?"

Talia looked down and nodded. "Zahar went with him last night, and I haven't seen her since."

Saedra looked at her seriously. "Talia, I have a serious question for you that will affect the rest of your life. I need you to listen to me."

Talia nodded again, looking at her with wide eyes.

"If you could leave Tashbaan—right now—would you?"

"Yes," she whispered.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes," she repeated emphatically.

"Once you leave, it will be a long time before you can come back," Saedra warned.

"I want to leave. Are you going to take me with you?"

Saedra nodded and held her finger to her lips, listening. "Someone's coming. Come with me, and be very quiet."

She took Talia's hand again and they ran silently through the rest of the hallways, pausing between intersections to see if anyone was coming. Once they had to duck into a room so that a servant wouldn't see them, but they got out of the palace smoothly.

When they reached the Splendor Hyaline, it was barely visible in the darkness of the night. When they boarded the silent ship, Peridan was there to meet them.

"You're early. Where's the Queen and King?" he asked.

"They are still at the party," Saedra replied, and tilted her head down to little Talia, who was looking around with wide eyes. "I had a little errand to run."

"You stole one of their slaves, my Lady?" Peridan said disbelievingly.

"She came of her own free will as a human being," Saedra sighed. "We'll be in our cabin."

Peridan shook his head with impressed disbelief, but Saedra ignored him and guided Talia ahead of her and into the cabin that she and Susan shared.

She closed the door behind her and said, "I'm sorry there's no light. We don't want anyone to know we're here."

She went over to Susan's trunk and pulled out at petticoat to change into from her stained dress Saedra and Susan had often shared clothes on the journey since they were nearly the same size. Saedra had left her own clothes in Rahai's bedroom and hadn't wanted to raise any suspicion by transporting the trunk to the ship.

"You're sneaking out?" Talia asked in an excited voice.

"Yes," Saedra nodded, slipping into the clean gown. "Susan doesn't want to marry Rabadash, and we think he'd force her to be his wife if we stayed any longer."

Even though it was dark in the cabin, Saedra could see that Talia understood what she had said, despite her age. "I am glad that we are leaving. Queen Susan's too nice to marry Prince Rabadash."

Saedra smiled, sat down on Susan's bed, and said, "I agree." When she noticed that Talia was still standing, she said, "Feel free to sit down."

"Me…sit?"

Saedra laughed. "Talia, you aren't a slave anymore. You're free. You can do whatever you want now, and you can certainly sit down wherever and whenever you want!"

Talia thought about that for a moment then sharply turned and sat down, an expression of glee on her face.

"See, isn't that much better?" Saedra asked.

Talia nodded. "The bed is so soft!"

"These are nothing compared to the ones you'll be sleeping in once we get back to Narnia," Saedra promised the happy child.

"What's Narnia like?"

Saedra went on to tell her in hushed tones all about what Narnia and Archenland were like until they lost track of time in the darkness. A while later, the door opened and Susan came in.

"We're back," she whispered, slipping into the room. "Peridan said you got back safely. Hello, Talia."

Talia stood up and curtsied to the queen. "Hello, Queen Susan."

"How was getting out of the palace?" Saedra asked.

"It was seamless. The sailors are already moving the ship away from the dock, and there was not a soul around that could have seen us. We might as well go to bed, because we can't light the lamp or go on deck." Susan walked over to the trunk and changed into a nightgown while Saedra pulled down the covers on her bunk.

"You can share a bed with me, Talia," Saedra offered. "It's big enough for the two of us."

Talia's face lit up as she climbed in. She had shared cots before with other slaves, but never a comfortable bed like this and never with someone as high-born as Saedra. "Thank you, Ma'am."

"Call me Saedra," the Duchess chuckled, climbing in behind her and pulling the covers up.

Susan soon climbed into her bed, and as they drifted off to sleep, the Splendor Hyaline carried them out of Tashbaan and back up to Narnia and the North.

Saedra would have slept in the next day, but Talia woke her up unintentionally. Growing up as a slave, Talia was accustomed to waking up early to prepare nobles' breakfasts. She had been trying to climb over Saedra to get off of the bed, but she accidentally kicked Saedra's leg. Saedra moaned and rolled over to see what it was, blinking her eyes slowly.

"I'm sorry, my Lady!" Talia whispered in an alarmed voice. "I didn't mean to wake you!"

Saedra pushed her covers off of the rest of her body and sat up, saying, "It's no big deal. I might as well get up too. What time is it?"

"Probably around seven. I slept so late today!"

"Bullocks, girl! This is sleeping in for you?" Saedra grunted, getting off of the bed, rubbing her eyes, and going over to the trunk of dresses. "Well, we might as well get some fresh air and food. There's some water in that basin if you want to wash up first."

Talia hopped out of bed and went over to the basin eagerly, as if washing one's face was an exciting thing to do. Saedra washed her face as well, then changed into a dress and brushed and put up her hair.

Once the two of them were ready, they went out onto the deck. It was a bleak, bright day with a white sky that promised rain later. There was no land in sight, only the sea spread out all around them. A few sailors were going about their work on deck and would tip their hats to Saedra as she passed. They went across the deck to the galley and went inside.

Seated at the long table were Corin and Edmund, the only occupants of the room. When Saedra and Talia walked in, they stood up politely.

"You're up early, Sae!" Edmund commented, sitting down after they were seated and handing them plates. "I don't think I've ever seen you during this time of the day before!" Edmund was like his brother Peter and could get up very early with no problem.

Saedra laughed. "I'm still half asleep, believe me. What're you doing up, Prince?"

"I don't know. This is all too exciting to sleep through," Corin said through his stuffed mouth.

"You call waves that wouldn't disturb plankton exciting?" Edmund chuckled.

"What's plankton?" Corin asked, and Saedra wanted to know as well.

Edmund tilted his head. "I think it's the green stuff that floats on water. It's been a long time since I learned about it."

"Hmph," Corin said, still chewing. "Hullo, who's this?"

Talia had been sitting so quietly that Saedra had almost forgotten about her.

"By the Mane, you two haven't met Talia yet!" she exclaimed, then said formally, "King Edmund, Prince Corin, meet Talia. She's the former slave that I snuck out of the palace last night." (Corin gasped with excitement at that). "Talia, meet King Edmund and Prince Corin."

"A pleasure to meet you, Talia," Edmund smiled.

Talia smiled back shyly, unconsciously leaning towards Saedra. Saedra was filling their plates from the pile of bread and fruit that was on a platter in the center of the table.

"So you're a fugitive!" Corin said. "A real life fugitive!" He took another bite of bread. "You must have so many stories to tell!"

Talia only stared back, fascinated with the Prince.

"Here, Talia." Saedra put down a plate of food in front of her, and Talia's eyes opened ever wider at all of the food. After looking around and seeing the others eating their food, she tentatively took an apple and ate it happily.

Corin was still mesmerized with Talia being a fugitive. "So do you think your master will come up looking for you?"

Talia still didn't answer so Saedra said, "We hope not. Her master was Prince Rabadash."

"Rabadash! Wow!"

Talia had finished nibbling at her croissant and put it down on her plate.

"Aren't you hungry?" Saedra asked.

Talia shook her head and looked back over at Corin.

"Corin, why don't you show Talia here the deck?" Edmund suggested. "Would you like that, Talia?"

Talia nodded, a smile starting to break through.

"Well then, let's go," Corin said, completely forgetting his food and running around the table. He grabbed her hand and practically dragged her out the door.

"Don't do anything foolish!" Edmund called after him a second before the door slammed. He chuckled. "I hope he doesn't get her into mischief. She looks like she'd do anything he said she should."

"Well, she is used to taking orders. Prince Corin's a good boy, though. I trust him enough not to tell her to do anything unwise."

Edmund snorted. "I'm not sure I do."

She laughed. "Of course, you were never mischievous as a child…"

"Hey, hey, hey!" he protested. "I only teased you once, and after that I never did anything to you again!"

"I think putting a snake on my head is worse than anything Corin has done yet!" she pointed out.

"Well, I sure got what was coming to me, and that's what Corin needs," Edmund laughed.

"I don't think I will scare him if I yell at him, Ed."

"That's true…you aren't half as scary now as you were then," he grinned evilly. "Maybe it's because you've gotten a little prettier since then."

"Or maybe it's because you're taller than me now," she smirked. "You were always afraid of people bigger than you."

"Ah ha ha!" he said, standing up. "Is that so?"

She stood up and eyed him cautiously. "Yes, that's so."

He laughed and started running around the long table to get her, but she shrieked like a school girl and ran to the opposite end so that the table was still between them. They paused, laughing.

"You're pretty fast for a girl," he taunted.

"You're pretty fast…for an old man!" she said, unable to think of anything else to say.

"Who are you calling old? You're older than me!"

"Only by two years!"

Edmund laughed and lunged to one side of the table. Saedra instantly started running on the other side he had been aiming for, but he suddenly switched so that they were headed towards the same spot. She shrieked again and turned the other way.

He was less than half the table length away from her when the door opened. In the doorway was Susan, and when she saw Edmund and Saedra running around the room her jaw dropped.

"What in the world are you doing?"

They both stopped and looked at each other, grinning.

"Playing tag?" Edmund volunteered.

Susan was looking at them back and forth suspiciously. "I see Prince Corin and Talia talking outside all nice and quiet-like, and then I come in here and you two are acting like children!"

Edmund and Saedra just cackled. It was deliciously naughty to be playing around with someone her age. Saedra didn't feel as if she were the "mature" age of twenty-three, rather she felt a decade younger-if only for a brief instant. She'd missed this feeling.

"It was a pleasure having breakfast with you, my Lady," Edmund bowed to Saedra. "But I fear I have other business to attend to."

Saedra held out her hand for him to kiss, and he did so dramatically.

"Thank you, kind Sir. I shall continue dining with Queen Susan here."

Edmund bowed to Susan while trying to stifle a silly grin and left the room. Susan and Saedra watched him go.

"What's gotten into him?" Susan wondered. "I haven't seen him act that silly since we were children!"

Saedra smirked. "Oh, we were just having a little fun. You know, reminiscing about the good old days." Her stomach growled then, and she realized that she hadn't eaten much of anything yet. "Shall we have some breakfast?"

Susan continued to look at her curiously while they ate until they were joined by the other Narnians. When Peridan sat near them, Susan asked, "Are we safe yet?"

"Your Majesty, we were safe the moment we left Tashbaan. Nothing can catch us on this ship."

When she saw Susan's great relief, Saedra fully appreciated how worried her friend had been about being forced into marriage with Rabadash. She had been so concerned with Talia that she hadn't really thought about the implications if they were caught, besides the fact that Talia would be killed for running away.

The rest of the meal was light-hearted, for everyone was happy to be out of the heat of Calormen and headed north to cooler areas. The passengers spent the day on the boat deck or in their quarters, talking excitedly about what they would do when they got back home. The morale on the ship was very high and the days went by fast.

The evening before they reached Cair Paravel, Saedra stood on the west side of the ship over the galley, watching the sunset. She had been thinking about Peter, worried about seeing him. Down in Tashbaan it had been easy to shove him to the back of her mind, but now that she was headed north, it was highly likely she would see him.

Unless he is still fighting the Giants, she reminded herself. You might be able to avoid him if you leave Narnia before he finishes up there. For some reason, the thought of not seeing him didn't make her any happier.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" a voice said behind her.

She turned, startled, and saw that it was Edmund, standing with his hands clasped behind his back. "How long have you been standing there?"

"A couple of minutes," he shrugged, walking over and leaning against the railing. "You must have been deep in thought."

Saedra laughed uneasily. "Yes, I was…"

"Anything you want to talk about?"

Saedra paused, thinking. She trusted Edmund—perhaps more than she trusted anyone else in the world. He would have good insight into Peter's actions…But if she told Edmund how she really felt about Peter then Peter may find out.

"I don't know," she finally said. "It's about Peter."

Edmund didn't say anything for a long while, and she wondered if he had heard her. Finally he said, "If you want to talk about it, I'm here."

She turned her head and looked at him, and he looked up from where he was perched. A look of understanding passed between them and Saedra swallowed to clear her throat. In a low voice she summarized the whole episode with Peter from beginning to end. Edmund listened the whole time, watching the sun sink around the western edge of the world.

"…and now, I don't know what to do. I feel like I don't ever want to see him again, but then in another way I want to," Saedra said, blurting out what she hadn't wanted to admit to herself earlier. It was so easy to talk to Edmund. "I'm just so confused…Even if he doesn't want anything romantic with me, I would still like to be his friend, but now I don't think he even wants that anymore."

Edmund stood up and faced her. "Do you love him?"

"I don't know. I thought I did, but how can I love someone who treats me this way? I have too much pride and self-respect for that!"

With a new thought, she glanced at the young man standing next to her: the thoughtful, darker brother, and a fleeting thought crossed her mind that maybe...just maybe...she'd invested her affections in the wrong King.

"Okay, if you knew that he loved you and did what he did for a noble reason, would you marry him?"

Saedra swallowed and looked up into Edmund's dark eyes. "I don't know. If he ever asked…maybe…"

He turned away and walked to the railing above the galley's door. She was worried at first that he was upset, but he turned around with a calm expression.

"I think everything will work out, Sae. I can't say anything more than that, but things will work themselves out."

"That's pretty vague, Ed," Saedra said. "I don't want you to go be a matchmaker or some rot like that!" Perhaps she'd said too much; the thought of him interfering disturbed her more than she'd anticipated.

"I know," he said with a sympathetic expression. "But trust me. I think things will be fine when all of this blows over."

She desperately wanted to ask "Until what blows over?" but she could see that Edmund wouldn't say. He is probably in someone else's confidence too and doesn't want to betray them, she thought.

Edmund's words that evening were both reassuring and worrisome to her. Yet she was almost hoping to see Peter when they reached Cair Paravel.

Those hopes were dashed the instant they got into port, however. When they pulled up to the dock, someone was waiting for them. It was a stag.

"Chervy!" Edmund exclaimed as he walked down the plank. "What is that expression on your face about? Are you not happy that we have returned?"

"I am indeed glad your Majesties have returned, and it's not a moment too soon. We've just received word that Prince Rabadash and two hundred Calormene horsemen are on their way to attack Anvard, and may even be there this very moment!"