The small canoe rocked gently causing Alyssa to bump slightly into Edmund. She gripped her fishing pole and cast out the line. Behind her Peter was lecturing Lucy on the proper handling of her pole. The fishing trip had been pretty uneventful as far as catching anything but Alyssa was just happy to be spending time with her friends. Edmund had one hand on his own pole and one arm around Alyssa.
"Are you having fun?" She asked him quietly. She had suggested the fishing trip earlier that day. Her father hadn't let her go anywhere with Edmund for three weeks unless someone else was with them. So every date they had so far had been either a group outing or she and Edmund at her flat under her father's watchful eyes. She had been trying to find more outdoor activities now that the weather had turned nice. And she knew how nervous Edmund was in her father's presence.
"Yeah, I'm glad we came." His mouth was so close to her ear when he spoke that his made her shudder. "You alright?" She couldn't really tell him the truth so she just nodded.
"What are you two doing over there?" Peter suddenly shouted. Edmund still had his mouth close to Alyssa's face.
"I'm having a conversation with my girlfriend so bugger off." Edmund said over his shoulder. He turned back to Alyssa just in time to see her blush. "You don't mind do you?"
"Girlfriend?"
"Yeah.."
"Not at all. As long as I get to call you my prince charming."
"How many times do I have to tell you. I'm a king." He said touching his nose to her cheek.
"Right, Edmund the Just." She let out a short giggle. Suddenly her pole jerked nearly out of her hand. "Whoa!" She gripped the pole with both hands.
"Alright there?" She heard Peter ask. Edmund set his own pole down and put both hands on Alyssa.
"My pole! Something's caught on it!" Edmund let go of her and grabbed the pole trying to pull it up. The pole jerked back down violently. Alyssa felt hands on her and heard shouting but the voices sounded distant. She looked up and could see Peter and Lucy behind her trying to help her as the pole jerked down again. The canoe rocked back and forth nearly sending them all into the water. Alyssa could see something in the water swirling. The sight made her lean down to get a better look. Then she was being pulled down with Edmund, Peter, and Lucy following. She let go of the pole but she was still being sucked under. Then the tugging sensation stopped and Alyssa was able to swim to the top again. When she finally surfaced she could feel herself being tugged again. At first she fought against it until she realized that it was Edmund pulling her.
The first thing that told Alyssa something was wrong was the taste of the water. Some had flowed into her mouth and before she spitted it out she realized it was salt water. The river thy had been fishing in was not sea water. When she looked around her she didn't see the city to the east where it should have been. There was nothing but open ocean. As her head spun west she saw a beach, and beyond that was a dense forest. Too shocked to remember to kick she just let Edmund drag her to shore.
"We're back! We're back!" Lucy was jumping and shouting while Alyssa walked in a daze supported by Edmund. Peter was on his knees smiling and watching Lucy. Alyssa pushed Edmund away from her and took a few steps back. Edmund looked at her like he knew he had done something wrong. His expression only added to her paranoia. This was not right.
"Where in the hell are we?" Alyssa demanded. She usually didn't say 'hell' and actually caught herself off guard. But when she looked at the three people in front of her and how they gave her an "uh oh" look… Anger shot through her.
"Alyssa there's something we need to tell you." Lucy started towards her then stopped halfway. "We're in Narnia. It's real. All the stories we told you are real."
"No." Alyssa shook her head. "That's just a fairytale. You said it was."
"If we had told you it was real, would you have believed in any of it?" Peter asked trying to calm her down.
"Well, of course not!" She shouted. "This can't be real. I know the difference between real and make-believe!" She started walking back to the water. "I read fairytales, I don't live them!" She spun around and faced Edmund. "You're not a king! It's just a story! It's all made up! It has to be!"
"You need to calm down. You're being irrational." Peter said.
"Irrational!" Alyssa threw her hands up. "You just told me I'm in a magical land that wasn't supposed to be real and I'm being irrational? I think I have a little room to be irrational!" Alyssa took a few steps. "I'm not usually the type to faint but I do think I need to sit down." Edmund rushed towards her and wrapped his arms around her. She felt dizzy suddenly then found herself sitting on a large rock. Edmund stood beside her looking at her intently. She wished he would say something but he stayed quiet.
"Look," Peter spoke as he walked towards them. "If we are in Narnia, it's for a reason. Last time we were here Aslan told us we couldn't come back. So this means someone has used some way to bring us here. We need to figure these things out."
"He's right." Lucy rushed in. "We should try to find Caspian, if he's still alive…" Lucy looked pained for a second.
"Do you think you're alright to walk?" Edmund finally asked looking down. She waited till he finally looked back at her and she nodded. He helped her off the rock and steadied her as she stood. It was only then that she realized that her light blue sun dress was soaking wet and clinging to her skin. She tried ringing some of the water out of her hair. When she saw Edmund looking at her and self consciously crossed her arms over her chest.
"Do you know where we are exactly?" Lucy asked Peter while trying to wring some of the water out of her pink skirt and matching shirt..
"I think we're close to Cair Paravel. Someone there might be able to tell us what's going on." Everyone started walking but Alyssa trailed behind slowly.
"I thought that was destroyed." Alyssa spoke up. They all turned to face her but kept walking. "You told me it was attacked." She pointed at Lucy.
"It was. But the last time we were here, Caspian told me it was being rebuilt. The centaurs are supposed to be using it as an outpost of Telmarine castle. Hopefully not too much time has passed and they are still there." Alyssa shot Edmund a fearful glance then looked down. Edmund dropped back a few steps until he was right next to her.
"I'm so sorry." He whispered to her. They both slowed a little so Lucy and Peter were far enough ahead that they couldn't hear.
"It's not really your fault, I guess. Pete was right, I wouldn't have believed any of this could be real." She started to feel stupid, which made her want to be angry again but she mashed the feelings down. Edmund saw the emotions pass over her face.
"I promise to never lie to you again." His voice was hard. "I feel like I betrayed you or something. I'm so scared you're angry with me but you just won't say it."
"I'm not angry. I'm shocked, and little scared, but no, not angry." She blushed again. "I'm actually kind of excited too." She gushed. Edmund smiled and held out his hand. She took it and they walked a little faster, catching up with Peter and Lucy. Lucy looked back and saw them holding hands and smiled.
The walk to Cair Paravel was shorter than Peter thought it would be. The castle itself wasn't exactly as grand as it used to be, but it was still pretty impressive. They crossed the lowered bridge and just as they came to the main gates four huge centaurs came out with swords drawn.
"Who comes here?" The biggest of them asked.
"High King Peter the Magnificent." Peter answered back with a slight bow of his head. He extended his arm to indicate his brother. "And this is King Edmund the Just." Edmund bowed his head. "And Queen Lucy the Valiant." Lucy gave a small curtsy. The centaur stepped towards Alyssa.
"Am I to understand you are Queen Susan the Gentle?" He spoke softly to her, like she was a scared child.
"No, just Alyssa." She waved awkwardly. The centaur smiled.
"I am Kierlan. King Caspian assigned me this castle to protect the entrance into Narnia. Please, all of you are welcome here." He stepped aside and beckoned them in. Edmund took Alyssa's hand again and led her to the inner part of the castle. Once there Kierlan announced everyone's names. She blushed and almost hid behind Edmund when she was announced as "Lady Alyssa." Centaurs and humans made up most of the castle but there were also several fauns and minotaurs. Alyssa tried to take it all in without gaping openly. A woman wearing a regal looking gown stepped forward and offered to take Lucy and Alyssa to find some dry clothes. Lucy nodded to Alyssa and both of them followed the woman.
"So Caspian is still alive." Alyssa heard Lucy asked the woman while she changed behind a curtain. Alyssa herself was needing help getting into this strange garment. It had about five pieces to it. The white under-dress was easy enough to get into, but then came a sleeveless dress made of some kind of thick fabric. Alyssa liked the dark blue color.
"Oh yes." The woman replied. She had earlier introduced herself as Auralia. "He is married and has a son." Auralia smiled as she helped tie the strings on the back of the long-sleeved tunic she had just put on Alyssa over the dark blue dress. The tunic was pale blue with gold swirls stitched on it. Alyssa looked in the mirror and had never seen anything so pretty.
"Who did he marry?" Lucy asked stepping out from behind the curtain. Alyssa gasped. Lucy was wearing a dress that looked a lot like hers only it was dark green with a pale yellow tunic. Lucy had fixed her hair so that the sides were pinned back out of her face but the rest hung down her back.
"The queen's name is Liliandil. She is the daughter of the star Ramandu. Their son is named Rilian who is just five years.
"Liliandil! I remember her!" Lucy sat Alyssa down in a chair and started braiding her hair. "You'll like it much better out of your face."
"Liliandil? Wasn't she the blue star?" Lucy nodded. She braided Alyssa's hair so it would fall to the side instead of behind her back. "How can a star marry a… Never mind, I guess anything's possible here." She looked at her refection once more before leaving the room to find Peter and Edmund. The shoes she was wearing were actually more comfortable to walk in than her regular shoes. They were made of some kind of soft, but sturdy leather that came up high on her ankles almost like boots.
When they entered the great hall Edmund and Peter were already sitting at a large wooden table surrounded by food. They were both dressed in thick tunics and brown cloth pants with knee-high boots. Alyssa's stomach groaned reminding her she hadn't eaten since breakfast. She quickly sat on the other side of Edmund. Lucy took the seat beside Peter. Alyssa sat there unsure of what to do. Was it proper etiquette to eat before the kings? Edmund smiled and offered her a plate of what she hoped was chicken. When she saw Lucy start eating, she dug in too.
"So," Peter spoke to the men sitting down the table from him. "Is King Caspian at Telmarine castle?"
"No your majesty. I'm afraid not." The man looked down as he spoke.
"What's going on then?" Edmund asked.
"There is trouble brewing in the mountains of the Western Wild. King Caspian and several troops went out to see why so many narnians were disappearing out there. Messages for help had been sent back."
"How long has he been gone?" Peter asked.
"Weeks, your majesty. And not a word from him or anyone has been heard." Alyssa looked at Edmund. He had a stern but worried expression. She put her hand on his. "There was word of a man living there who was plotting to invade Narnia and overthrow the king. He had some kind of sorcerer who is loyal to him trying to bring back the White Witch." Edmund squeezed Alyssa's hand. "As soon as the king heard this, he marched off to try and stop it."
"So I guess it's up to us to go and find him." Lucy spoke barely aloud. This time Alyssa squeezed Edmund's hand and took in a sharp breath.
"It is probably why we've been brought here." Edmund seemed to speak only to Alyssa. "He would try to save us." Peter nodded his agreement.
"I'm going with you." Alyssa's voice told Edmund arguing would do him no good. "I can help. You know how many archery contests I've won. I won't just be a tag-along."
"She's right Ed." Edmund shot his brother a glare. "I know you want to keep her safe but we could use all the help we can get." Edmund scowled but kept silent. He knew he was going to be out-voted. "I've seen her shoot, she's better even than Susan was."
"Can you outfit her with a bow and arrows?" Lucy was already asking one of them men at the table.
"Of course your majesty." He quickly left the hall.
"I don't want you to do this." Edmund leaned in as he spoke to Alyssa.
"I got sucked into this world for a reason too. I'm not letting you leave me here like some… Some…"
"Damsel in distress?" Lucy offered. Edmund gave her a 'shut-up' look.
"Exactly." Edmund faced her again.
"Asking you to stay behind won't do me any good will it?"
"Has it ever?" Edmund just shook his head.
An hour later the four of them had set out on horses. Peter, Edmund, and Lucy all had swords and a dagger each while Alyssa had a quiver of arrows and a short-bow strapped to her back. She had also been given a pair of leather wrist braces. As they rode Edmund kept looking behind him as if he needed to check on Alyssa every five seconds. It was starting to get on her nerves so she prodded the horse gently to speed up until she was just ahead of him. He seemed to catch on to what she was doing and laughed.
"I can't help it." He said knowing she understood what he meant.
"I'm not helpless you know."
"I know, but… It's hard for me to let go of wanting to protect you constantly." He laughed again. "I just don't want to picture you in some battle. I like picturing you other ways."
"Oh really? What other ways do you mean exactly?"
"No! I didn't mean… I mean, not like that. I just meant." She held up her hand.
"It's okay. You can stop now."
"Thanks." They both laughed.