A Close Call in Narrowhaven

Saedra knew that she hurt Edmund by walking away, but she had no idea how much until the next day at lunch. If things before their midnight talk had been strained, now they were impossible. Edmund refused to look at her, and Saedra was aching with guilt at her insensitivity.

But what could she have done? If she had stayed, they would have either stood in painful, unbearably awkward silence, or would have done something thoughtless and rash. Either way, Saedra was glad that she had left, but she still felt terrible.

Even worse, she was now confused about her own feelings. She still cared for Edmund deeply, but the knowledge that he cared for her as well had changed something in her. He had been so long-suffering in his adoration of her, giving up his own happiness for hers…it made her feel unworthy, knowing that he was an infinitely better person that she would ever be. She continued to feel nothing but a dull pain in her stomach every time she thought of him, and she didn't know what that meant.

Edmund and Saedra's overcast moods hung over them during lunch, even affecting Peter and Lucy. Conversation continued around them, but their part of the table was uncomfortable and stifled.

"Felimath is beautiful, is it not?" Lucy said in a fake-cheerful voice, trying to make some conversation.

"Felimath?" Saedra asked, coming out of her daze and looking up from where she was picking at her food.

"Did you not notice the island when you were out on deck? We're passing the first Lone Island, and it is the prettiest little thing I have ever seen!" Lucy said, encouraged that she had at least dragged Saedra out of her stupor. "I should so like to walk on it! It has the sweetest grassy knolls."

"We probably can walk there, once we make contact with the governor in Narrowhaven," Peter said, joining the conversation.

"Speaking of which, what are we going to do now that we've lost the Forben?" Saedra asked. "We've diminished our impressiveness now, coming in with only one ship."

"If they're still friendly to Narnia, it doesn't matter if we're impressive," Lucy pointed out. "The problem is determining whether that is so or not."

"Perhaps we could send some people in to assess the situation," Saedra suggested. "When that person comes back and reports, we can decide what to do from that information."

"But who can do it? Only a human could go undetected, and we are few on this ship," Peter pointed out. "I would instantly volunteer, but I have the misfortune of being famous enough that I would probably be recognized."

"I could do it," Edmund volunteered, surprising them all by speaking.

"But you're a famous face too," Lucy pointed out, "As am I."

"Then it looks like I shall have to do it," Saedra said. "I'm not famous."

"You're the High King's wife!" Lucy said. "If anything, you're more famous than Ed or me!"

"The idea of me may be famous, but I doubt images of my face have surfaced here. Most importantly, though, is the fact that I look Calormene. I blend in well with the diverse blend of nationalities I've heard they have here and won't be given a second look."

"I don't like it," Peter shook his head, "but you do have a point. Someone should go with you, to pose as a husband and to keep you safe. Maybe I could adopt a disguise…"

"Your light hair would stand out too much," Lucy pointed out. "I think Ed should do it. He is the man with the darkest features."

Edmund did not like that suggestion at all. "Oh, I don't think that would work!"

"Why not?" Lucy asked. "It makes the most sense."

Edmund could offer no decent reason why not, so their impromptu plans were finalized.

The next day, Saedra and Edmund dressed up in common clothes that had been found deep in a trunk in the bottom of the ship. They were lowered in a rowboat over the side of the ship, and soon it was just the two of them with Edmund rowing the boat towards shore under the early-morning sun.

Saedra desperately wanted to talk to Edmund, to clear the air between them. "Edmund, I need to apologize about my rude behavior last night. It was-"

"Don't apologize," Edmund interrupted. "You did the right thing. Don't apologize."

"I could have been more considerate," she ventured.

"No, your actions were exactly what I needed at the time to shake me out of my dream world. The fact is that there is no way on Aslan's green earth that we will ever be together. I have brought this upon myself, and I need to pay for my rash decisions."

There was nothing Saedra could think of to reply to that, so they rode the rest of the way in uncomfortable silence.

After dragging their boat ashore and hiding it, they journeyed into Narrowhaven. It was midday when they reached the local tavern, hoping to overhear something that might tell them about the governor of the island. They sat at the counter on the high stools and sipped the hard drinks that they had ordered. The place was full of filthy laborers on their lunch break and questionably-dressed women.

"Well, hello there, missy," a grubby man who might have been the same age as Saedra said, slipping onto a stool on her other side. Some of his friends were sitting down on his other side. "What's a pretty lass like ya doing in here?"

"She's with me," Edmund said, leaning over, his face dirty from the mud he had smeared on it to blend in.

"Ah!" the man said. "'Tis a shame. Fine specimen of flesh as I've ever seen around here."

Saedra's face burned with embarrassment at the way he was talking, but only looked down at her cup. She had never been leered at before in her life. She had been offended by the looks she had gotten from the men in Tashbaan, but that was nothing in comparison to this.

"I'm willing to beat whatever this pal's paying ya," the man continued. "I'll give ya ten crescents."

His friends cackled and elbowed each other.

"Look, pal-" Edmund started angrily.

"I wasn't talking to you, idiot, I was talking to the wench! It's a free trade land, so she can take the highest bidder. Or, you could just have her when I'm done."

Saedra swallowed, aching to slap the man—at the very least. How dare he treat her like this!

Calm yourself! You can't act suspiciously. Besides, he has a whole gang with him.

"So whaddaya say, missy?"

Saedra looked up at the man for the first time since he sat down. He wasn't ugly, in fact he was pretty good-looking. He had the same coloring as her, looking like a mix of Northern and Southern.

"Thank you, but I'm with this man," she said simply and looked away.

He stared at her as if waiting for more of a reaction. Finally he poked her hard and said, "Are ya deaf, bitch?"

"No," she said numbly, hoping that Edmund would step in.

They had intended to pretend to be a married couple, but it was apparent that this was not the kind of place that married couples went to. In fact, the only women in the room were harlots or something very close. The people nearby were watching the incident with curiosity.

"Sir, kindly leave this woman alone," Edmund said.

"'Kindly leave this woman alone,'" the man mocked. "What are you, some kind of queer?" He focused back on Saedra. "I'm giving you one last chance not to do something you'll regret, bitch."

Saedra's face turned beet red, and she was quivering with anger. She gritted her teeth, formed a rude hand gesture, and stuck it right in the man's face. She had never done it before, but it felt good-at least for a moment.

He growled with rage, grabbed her neck, and slammed her against Edmund. There were gasps from the spectators, but no one moved to help. Saedra's eyes widened in shock.

Edmund stood up to fight the man, his face more furious than she had ever seen it before. But before he could do anything, the man nodded his head towards Edmund, and his friends went around and grabbed him so that he couldn't move. Edmund struggled furiously, staring at Saedra and yelling threats, but it was useless.

"Now you aren't so cheeky, are ya slut?" the man growled, squeezing her neck until she was sure she would have bruises.

Saedra shook her head quickly through his hands, longing to breathe fully. For the first time, she was actually worried about their safety. The feeling was completely foreign to her, the thought that she was in true physical danger.

"I daresay ya have changed yer mind," he continued.

She nodded her head wildly through his fingers, seeing sparks from her airway being cut off.

"Good. Then come with me."

He released her roughly and she rubbed her throat, gasping for breath. He grabbed her coughing form and pulled her towards the back of the tavern where there was a staircase that led upward to the inn's rooms. She looked around the saloon, hoping someone would speak up, but people were avoiding her gaze. He dragged her up to the second floor and threw her through the nearest doorway, so that she fell to the hard stone floor and banged her knees.

But as he turned to lock the door, she got up on her feet, ready to fight him. As soon as he turned around, she grabbed his shoulders and bashed her knees up into his groin. He howled and doubled over in pain, but before she could land another blow, he smacked his hand right into her chest, throwing her backwards against the side of the bed. She cried out in pain as her back smashed against the wooden baseboard.

He stepped forward and kicked at her, but she rolled out of the way just in time. His foot crashed into the baseboard, and he growled angrily. The force of his kick left him off balance, and that second was just what she needed to stand up and swing her fist at his face. Unfortunately, he saw her arm and ducked his head, so she missed completely. He grabbed her wrist as it passed his face and leered at her.

"Ya think yer so tough, do you? I'll make ya pay for yer cheek!"

He had pulled her so close to him that she could smell his foul breath. Unable to move any other part of her body to her advantage, she kneed him again in the same spot. His grip momentarily loosened and she wriggled her hands free. She spun around and ran to the door, fumbling with the locks.

All of a sudden, something sharp and cold was pressed up against her neck. She froze.

"Don't move an inch or I will slice that pretty little head off yer body."

He wrapped his free arm around her waist, turned her around, and then half-carried her back to the bed.

"Don't even think of screaming, or I'll make ya wish ya were dead."

If I can't get out of this, I will wish I was dead! she thought frantically, scouring the room for something that might help her. I should have brought a knife! I should have brought a knife!

Edmund was armed, but that did her no good now.

He pushed her face-down on the bed and started fumbling with the bottom of her skirt with his free hand. The knife was still pressed against the back of her neck.

As she started feeling his hands on her, hot, angry tears sprung up in her eyes. What's the good of being able to fight in battle if you can't even defend yourself from being violated? She had been hoping that Edmund might come in, but as the minutes had ticked past, that hope had diminished.

Her undergarments were being pulled off, and she was faced with the unbearable choice of whether she would let this happen to her or run the risk of being killed. Was it better to be raped or dead?

She decided to use the last card she had to play. "You—you have no idea what you are doing. I am a woman of noble birth."

He snorted. "And I am the King of Narnia."

The moment of decision had come. She could either fight a man with a knife or allow him to…do the unthinkable. The problem was that there was no way for her to turn her head or roll over without being sliced by the knife. She started panicking as she felt his weight shift as he came up behind her. She started seeing spots as the panic flooded her body, and she came near to fainting.

Suddenly, the door crashed open off of its hinges and there was the sound of fast footsteps. Her face was planted on the bed so she couldn't see what was happening.

"Hey-" the man started and he must have turned around to see who it was, but was stopped by another voice.

"Give me the knife," a cold, furious voice said. It took Saedra a moment before she realized it was Edmund.

The pressure behind her neck eased.

"Now get up slowly, and don't make a sound," Edmund ordered.

The man obeyed, and Saedra was able to turn over. She quickly pulled down her skirt, embarrassment and shame at being seen in such a position by Edmund burning on her face.

Edmund was standing, holding a dagger to the man's throat with the knife in the other hand. "Your life is forfeit for touching a Lady of Narnia, but because we've come for information, I'll allow you to live a moment longer," Edmund said coolly.

Shaking like a leaf, Saedra bent down to the ground for her undergarments and tried to slip them up in as dignified a manner as possible. The man looked alarmed, but his eyes darted over to Saedra eagerly as she did so.

Edmund jabbed the sword a millimeter into his neck and snarled, "Look at me, you filth! Saedra, close the door."

She got up to obey and locked it, then went to Edmund's side with her arms wrapped around herself. She breathed in and out slowly to calm her nerves.

Blood started seeping out of his neck, and the man said in a terrified manner, "What do you want?"

"Is Cecill still the governor?" Edmund asked.

The man blinked, thinking Edmund was mocking him.

"Answer me!" Edmund shouted.

"N-no! He died last year. His son Cedric is the governor now," he stuttered.

"Tell me about Cedric."

"He's about twenty…popular with the women…"

"Does he acknowledge the over-lordship of Narnia?"

"Huh?"

"Do you need me to repeat the question?" Edmund asked through gritted teeth.

"I don't know what 'acknowledge' means but his pa liked Narnia enough and they have the same views."

"So this Cedric does not have any ill-will towards Narnia?"

"No, I heard that he was crazy about it as a young'un, so I don't think he'd be against it now."

"Do you have anything else to ask him, Sae?" Edmund asked without taking his eyes off of the man.

"Yes. Are all men on this island as vile as you?" she asked with revulsion on her face.

The man laughed a bit, thinking she was joking, but when he saw the completely serious expressions on both of their faces he sobered up.

"Well?" Edmund asked.

"Er…I dunno."

"Anything else, Sae?" Edmund asked.

"Do I get to kill him or will you?" she asked.

The man's eyes widened.

"It is your choice," Edmund said.

"But ya said-" he started.

"I said that I would allow you to live for a few moments more, but what you were about to do this Lady is unpardonable, even were you are more couth man."

"You kill him," Saedra said, filled with just wrath and enjoying the fright on the man's face. "I've had enough of him."

"Very well," Edmund said. "What is your name?"

"Emit."

"Any last words, Emit?"

"Don't kill me! I didn't know that she was a Lady! Please, I beg ya!" His hands were in a prayerful position and tears started spilling out of his eyes at the thought of dying.

"Doesn't feel so good to be in the other position, does it?" Saedra asked.

"Have mercy!"

"It's more merciful to end such a pitiful and pitiless life," Saedra said scathingly. "Kill him, Ed. I've seen had enough of him."

Edmund ran the sword straight through Emit's throat, and Saedra watched without emotion as blood poured everywhere and his body crashed to the ground.

They stared at the body for a moment before Edmund cleaned off his dagger, slid it back into his boot, and turned to Saedra. She continued to stare at Emit's body.

"You all right, Sae?"

No, obviously she wasn't, but she knew that it would be rude of him not to ask.

"Thanks to you." She turned away from the body to look at him. "Ed, I was paralyzed. I couldn't do anything. I've never felt that helpless in my life!"

Edmund released his breath. "Looks like you put up a good fight." Parts of her dress were torn and her hair was a complete mess.

"I tried." But she made a silent vow that she would never allow herself to be so helpless again. Ever.

After spending a bit more time in Narrowhaven to confirm what they had learned from Emit, they went back to their boat and rowed toward the Splendor Hyaline as the sun began to set. The mood on their boat was different than it had been in the morning, as if the ice had cracked. But still there were things unsaid between them.

As Saedra sat with her arms wrapped about herself in an unconscious protective pose, she decided to take a risk and ask, "Ed, please let's go back to the way we were!"

Edmund looked at her in surprise.

She couldn't stop now, so she continued, "I hate not talking to you. I hate the stress of it all. We've decided that there's nothing we can change, so please can we be friends again?"

Edmund's mouth hung slightly open. "After what you just went through, this is what you are thinking about?"

"Yes. Please, Ed."

"Do you think it's possible?" he asked.

"Do you?"

He paused, then let go of one of the oars, reached out his hand, and said, "All right. Friends. Nothing more, nothing less."

She shook his hand. "Now, you better keep your word. If you get all mopey again, I'll dump a bucket of cold water on your head!"

Edmund's face broke into a smile, something she hadn't seen him wear in ages. "It's a deal."

As they grinned at each other, the aching that had been prevalent in Saedra's stomach lifted. Something good had come out of a miserable day. She and Edmund were friends again—or would at least try to be—and the dismal world she was in seemed a little brighter.