Chapter Four

The Grieving Nymph

Edmund trotted slowly on Philip. The fresh air and sunshine in these woods had always given him a light-hearted feeling. It was his one consolation from being left behind instead of having an adventure in the Lone Islands.

Even though he found Cair Paravel beautiful and comforting, there was always something about Lantern Waste that appealed to him. He had always been an outdoors person and he didn't mind sleeping outside in this natural environment. If it weren't for his duties as King that kept him in the castle all day, he would have preferred to live in Lantern Waste. An idea struck him that perhaps he could.

"Say Philip, what do you say to me having a cottage here?"

"Here in the woods?" asked the horse.

"Yes. I could use a retreat. It's nice to stay with Mr. Tumnus' house every once in awhile but I don't want to impose too much on him every time I want to stay here overnight. I think I'd like a place of my own."

"I doubt if Queen Susan would approve."

Edmund snorted. His older sister was a constant worrier, particularly with him and Lucy. She always wanted to know where all of them were all the time. One time that Edmund didn't come home because he stayed overnight with some new nymph and faun friends in Dancing Lawn, she actually sent out search parties. He maybe only 12 years old, but he was also a king. It was rather embarrassing to be suddenly accosted by General Oreius and half a battalion and be brought back to Cair Paravel to be scolded by his older sister. It was the first ugly argument they had since the White Witch incident. Peter did admonish Susan for blowing things out of proportion, but he sided with her half-way and made Edmund promise to always tell Susan where he was going and at least have an escort whenever he left the castle.

"Well she doesn't have to know," said Edmund.

Philip shook his head and neighed as if he didn't believe him.

"What? You're not going to tell her, are you?"

"Edmund, I need not tell her. Your sister has eyes and ears like a hawk when it comes to your welfare or that of Queen Lucy's. If you have a house here, she will know. May I suggest you bid your time and wait until you are older? Perhaps then she will grant her blessings to have your own private home."

Edmund rolled his eyes. "I'm almost 13! How long do I have to wait?"

"Thirteen years is not so old. I do not blame your sister for wanting you near. I have a foal of my own and I would not want him to be setting up home so far away so soon."

Edmund huffed.

"Be thankful that your sister allowed you to be left at home this time."

"It's not like she let me alone. She ordered me to be escorted all the time." He jerked his head irritably at the three centaurs, two tigers and a fox that trailed behind them. "I'm supposed to be patrolling the border—like a KING should! Instead, I have them tailing me like a shadow."

"It is for your own safety, Edmund. You know there are still rumours of hags—"

"I know, I know…" Edmund gave a defeated sigh. He knew of course that his sister was right. It was still unsafe here in the Western Woods and he would have done the same to Lucy if she was the one left here alone. Still, his own adventurous longing to have more freedom was fighting with his sense of caution.

They passed several groups of fauns and nymphs who greeted them pleasantly. Edmund exchanged greetings and inquired about their well-being as he usually did whenever he patrolled these woods with Peter. So far, none had encountered any strange occurrences recently. Nothing was amiss.

It was mid-afternoon when they reached the lamp post. This was their usual last stop during regular border patrol. Philip made a move to turn back.

"Wait!" said Edmund, who suddenly had an idea. Ever since he had seen the maps of Narnia, he had always longed to see the wonder near the mountains that bordered Narnia called Caldron Pool. It was located away from his regular border patrol route and it was currently inhabited by faithful Narnian creatures so there was never any need to go there personally. He thought perhaps this would be an ideal time to see it for himself. "It's still early. Let's go south a bit." He signaled to their escort to follow them forward.

One of the centaurs rode up next to them.

"Sire?" he asked curiously. "Should we not be turning back?"

Edmund shook his head. "Just a bit further," he replied. "I've never been to Caldron Pool."

"Sire, there are assigned regular scouts who patrol that area and the creatures who live there give us regular reports that it is secure," said the centaur. "There is no need for you to tire yourself."

"Oh I'm not aiming to patrol. I just want to see it." He looked at Philip who looked like he was going to pitch in an argument. "And if there are regular scouts there, it's perfectly safe," he quickly added.

His horse whinnied in defeat. "Well, I suppose it is alright," said Philip. "The unknown danger lies west, not south. Besides, I have not seen the Great Falls either."

The argument settled, Edmund led Philip and his escorts southward from the lamp post until they reached the river. Edmund ordered for a rest and all of them settled down for a long drink. The sounds of tinkling laughter interrupted them and they all looked up in alarm.

"Show yourselves!" ordered Edmund's primary centaur escort.

Slowly, clusters of leaves appeared from behind the trees and formed into eight womanly figures. Edmund and his escorts relaxed. They were just nymphs.

"Forgive us your majesty," said the oldest one. "We were not aware that are aiming to visit us in our home." Edmund recognized her as among the nymphs who regularly came by at Cair Paravel. He was also familiar with two others but the younger ones who kept on giggling were fresh faces. The old nymph shushed at the young nymphs. They stopped laughing but didn't appear ashamed. Instead, they bowed low but confidently to Edmund.

"It is I who should beg pardon," said Edmund. "For coming unannounced."

"Oh, it is no trouble, your majesty," said one of the playful nymphs. "It is a pleasure to have you. What brings you to our home?"

"Just sight seeing," Edmund replied. "I wanted to see Caldron Pool. Pray, tell us, how much further is it?"

"You will be out of the woods in about three quarters of an hour," replied the oldest nymph. "From there, if you follow the river southwest for another hour you will reach Caldron Pool."

"Which allows us time enough to get there long before dark and enjoy the scenery," said Edmund. "If you do not mind, we'd like to rest for about half an hour."

"It would be an honour to have you here as guests, your majesty," replied another young nymph. "Would you like some refreshments? We could get for you the freshest berries. And some oats as well," she added with a smile towards Philip and the centaurs. "But you must pardon us for we have no meat." She nodded towards the tigers and the fox.

Edmund thanked them for their hospitality and told them not to worry. They had brought along packs of meat pies for their carnivorous companions. They brought them out and soon they were all eating contentedly while the nymphs serenaded them with songs.

When Edmund had his fill he told his companions he would take a bit of a walk. The oldest nymph offered to accompany him on a ten-minute stroll a short distance away from the path.

For several minutes they enjoyed breathing in the fresh wood air and listening to the noisy rushing of the river. His companion was quite talkative and made him laugh with anecdotes of the nymphs. Abruptly, she stopped by a tall tree. Unlike those around, this one look withered and close to dying. It was bare of leaves yet it remained standing like a defiant post. Beyond it, the trees appeared to be denser as if whatever nourishment the bare tree lacked the rest had taken in abundance.

"We must go back now, your majesty," she declared.

Edmund stared directly at the cluster of thick trees. "What's beyond those trees? It seems a bit wilder here."

"It's a private place for nymphs, Sire," she replied seriously. "No one male is allowed to go beyond this old bare tree."

"Why?"

"There is a nymph who stays there. She is currently in mourning and she has forbidden male company for a five and a hundred years since the coming of the long winter."

"But why?" asked Edmund. His curiosity was now quite peaked. He had never known that nymphs could mourn. He always found them jolly-spirited creatures. "Has some tragedy befallen this poor nymph?"

"That she did, your majesty. She is a widow who has lost her beloved husband the same time as her son. We have tried for years to console her but she is beyond consolation. Even after the hundred years winter ended, she refused to end her vow of bereavement. 'A hundred years I will pine for the husband I lost,' she said. 'And five more for all the seasons that I held my son in my bosom.'"

"How sad," said Edmund as he stared at the withered tree and imagined it to be the grieving nymph. Edmund had never completely lost anyone he loved though he knew how painful that could be based on his experience of almost losing his siblings. He shut his eyes and felt warm tears filling his lids. The air felt heavy and it was almost like he could feel pain in his own heart for this sad, sad creature.

"Sire," the nymph interrupted him. "We must turn back. Your companions await."

Edmund shook his head gently. "Give me a few minutes more. Will you go back and tell them to wait for me? I promise I won't go beyond the tree. I just want to say a prayer for her that grieves."

"Of course," she bowed low before disintegrating into leaves that flew back to the direction of their camp.

When Edmund was alone, he was struck by the utter silence of his surroundings. He never noticed it before, but here even the sounds of the river seemed to have faded completely though he knew the river was only nearby. No birds sang here, no sound of crickets and other tiny creatures. Yet the silence felt even more deafening. It was the sound that was left when there were no more tears to be shed, when there were no more cries to be uttered. It was the sound of anguish so great, that there was no sound left at all.

Edmund held his hand over the withered tree and felt warm tears stream down his cheeks. Suddenly, he felt like he was drowning in misery himself. He wanted so much to comfort and be comforted, but there was no one there but the old dead tree. He pressed his cheeks against the rough bark and held the trunk in a firm embrace. It smelled like apples and somehow that eased his pain. He inhaled the scent deeply, wanting it desperately to fill him.

Suddenly he felt a wave of nausea overcome him and he let go of his hold. He collapsed into the ground and felt himself land on a bed of moss. For a long time he lay there, confused and dizzy, eyes shut. When his world stopped spinning, he opened his eyes. The first thing he saw was a something round and brown way above him. For a long time he focused his gaze on the thing, puzzling what it was. He felt a strong gust of wind blew and the thing swung violently. Then it fell—right into his face!

"Owww!"

He brushed away the offending thing and realized it had broken on his face, leaving a sticky, smelly substance. It smelled of fruit—rotten, mushy fruit that just happened to be crushed when it impacted on his forehead!

He sat up and realized it was an apple. He looked up and realized he was sitting under a large apple tree in full bloom with dozens of apples. There was nothing unusual about that, he thought. Yet, he was suddenly afraid. For two questions entered his mind and he suddenly realized he was unable to answer them. The first question was 'what was he doing here?' The second and more important question was: 'Who was he?'

A/N: I know, you're all gonna kill me with that awful cliffie and confusing end. Don't worry, you'll get it in the succeeding chapters. Fledge, you're partly right. I did shift—but not to Peter but to Edmund. I thought I could hold off the suspense a bit longer. I've got evil ideas steaming in my head and they just keep getting written and ending up as cliffhanger chapters. I think I should warn you, you're going to get frustrated with more cliffhangers, but I hope it doesn't discourage you from reading further.