Author's Note: This chapter was good (for me) to write because I used my imagination in some parts of it. Plus, I wanted Aceline and Peter to get ever so slightly angry with each other. (Don't worry, they'll make up sooner or later.) Anyway, my dear readers, here's chapter ten.

Chapter Ten: A New Friend

"Stupid Peter, making me lose my sleep," Aceline mumbled, her ebony hair pulled back into a ponytail. She had probably only have gotten two hours asleep. She would have dozed on, but her grumbling stomach had woken her up. She walked past a company of dwarfs who were busily making swords and armor. One of them looked familiar...

"Hello, Reulel," she said with a small smile. The dwarf looked up at her.

"Hello," he replied, his tone cheerful. There was something like a sly twinkle in his eye. "Heard you went on a bit of a trip last night. Freed the Son of Adam?" The girl couldn't help but laugh.

"Yes, we freed Edmund. I probably would have gotten killed if it hadn't been for my sword," she told him, casting an appreciative look at her belt. Reulel followed her gaze. She was surprised to see his eyes go wide.

"May I see that?" he asked. She nodded, eyeing him questioningly. She unsheated the sword and handed it to him. The dwarf examined it, turning it this way and that so that the blade reflected the light.

"I'll be blown..." he said in a hushed voice.

"What is it?" she asked anxiously.

"I made this," he said, his tone awestruck. Aceline's eyes grew wide with shock as she examined the maker of her weapon.

"Really?" Reulel nodded.

"A dwarf never forgets what he makes. Never," he told her. She showed her acceptance with a nod.

"Wow. And here was I thinking that it had been made by Father Christmas," she said. The dwarf gave her an amused smile while handing back her sword.

"Have you learned how to use it?" he asked.

"No, not really."

"Well then, we're just going to have to teach you."

"Can we start now?" Her question was eager. She really wanted to learn how to use her sword properly. Unfortunately, her stomach had chosen that moment to let out a growl. Reulel looked from her stomach to Aceline, his bushy eyebrows raised.

"I think we should get some breakfast for you first." She followed the dwarf, who greeted most of his companions on the way. By now, she was clutching her stomach. Just when she thought that she would pass out, they arrived at a small table. Around it were five comfortable-looking cushions. On it was the one thing that she wanted: food. She raced over to it, sat down on a purple cushion and bit into a piece of toast.

"Time you woke up," a voice said cheerfully. She turned and saw the sisters walking towards her. Behind them, Edmund was trooping along. He had changed from his shorts and sweater into a tan, button-down tunic and dark brown breeches. He also wore a white shirt and brown boots.

"Morning," she said. Susan sat across from her on the blue cushion. Lucy and Edmund sat next to each other on red and green cushions. This arrangement left a seat between Susan and herself, which left Edmund next to her. She guessed that the boy must have been starved by the Witch, for he finished his first piece of toast in eight seconds flat. As he finished his second piece, Aceline spoke.

"Edmund, don't eat so quickly. You'll cough it back up again," she advised him.

"Yes, the toast isn't going to get up and walk away," Lucy joked. The girls laughed and even the boy grinned. The blonde girl stopped as she looked at someone coming towards them.

"Hello, Peter," she said with a smile. Aceline felt her body stiffen. Sure enough, the boy was coming towards. He ignored the only remaining cushion and instead grabbed the pitcher of juice and poured himself a glass. Then, he walked over to a boulder and leaned against, sipping his juice with a grave expression. An uncomfortable silence then followed. Susan glanced between her friend and her brother.

"Are you two fighting?" she asked. She gave off the air of someone who wanted to confirm someone.

"No," they lied in unison. Aceline resisted the temptation of glaring at him. But she couldn't help it that her eyes flashed.

"Well, that's not important right now," Peter added. "What is important is that we're leaving." She whirled around to look at him.

"Why?" Lucy asked.

"It's too dangerous here. All of you've almost been killed."

"Tough because I'm staying," Aceline said stubbornly. The boy glared at her and made a noise of protest. She got up and marched over to him.

"Look," she hissed at him. "You can't tell me what to do, Peter. It's my decision if I want to stay or not." Peter looked at her, but she walked off before he could reply.

Aceline didn't really know where she was going. Her feet led her away from the countless tents. She stopped as she realized where she was. She had somehow walked to where Peter had fought Maugrim. She walked over to a tree and sat under its shade. She closed her eyes and laid her head back.

"Aceline?" Her eyes snapped back open. She saw the last person she expected to see walking towards: Edmund. The boy plopped down beside her and turned to her.

"Hello," she said quietly.

"Hi," he responded in the same tone. He cleared his throat and said, "Peter's letting us stay." She looked at him in amazement.

"Who convinced him? Lucy?" she asked.

"Actually, it was me," he said.

"Your a born sweet-talker, Edmund," she replied reverently. The boy snorted.

"No, I'm not. That's Lucy. And Susan, come to think of it. But when I speak, people tend to do the exact opposite of what I say," he said. Aceline laughed. Edmund grinned but then he stopped.

"Care to tell me why you're fighting with Peter?" he asked. She considered him for a moment. Then she told him all about it.

"Well, he started ragging on me about how I could have gotten myself killed by saving you. So I started telling him how the same thing could have happened when he fought Maugrim. He started getting all conceited and told me how he had gotten knighted. Then he said that he wished I had fought with Maugrim instead so I could shut up for good. I smacked him and he told that if I ever touched him again, I would regret it." Her speech had been said in one quick breath, so she was left taking in deep breaths at the end.

"That doesn't sound like Peter..." Edmund mumbled.

"Yes, but I swear he was like that," she said earnestly. He nodded, a puzzled frown on his face. She sighed and closed her eyes.

"I don't think I shall ever be friends with him."

"Well, you have me as a friend if that's any comfort." Aceline turned to him in surprise, a smile on her face.

"That is a comfort. Thank you, Edmund," she said. She hugged him, feeling his body tense and then relax under her arms.

"Aceline! Son of Adam!" yelled a voice. They both broke apart and saw Reulel running towards them. He stopped short, thinking he walked on something private. Once more, the girl felt her friend stiffen at the sight of Reulel. She remembered the dwarf who had almost killed him.

"He's one of the good guys," she whispered to him.

"Aceline, I've found someone who can teach you to fight," the dwarf said. "And you even know him."

"General Oreius." The girl grinned.

"Would you like to learn, Son of Adam?" he continued, addressing Edmund. He nodded.

"Very well, follow me." The two children got up and followed Reulel.

I know what you're thinking: Isn't this Peter/OC? Why the heck did she put that in? Well, to answer your question, I'd just liked to say that it fits in with the plot. I realize that this chapter is a bit short, so I promise you a longer one to make up for the last two short ones.