Chapter 9

Georgie leaned against the low garden wall that surrounded the apple orchard, her arms crossed on it in front of her. Although the moon had been gone when she had arrived outside, it had appeared when Aslan left, illuminating the land below. Georgie pondered what the Lion had told her, how she would save the kings and queens of Narnia. When she had asked him what she would save them from and when it would happen, he had slowly shook his head and replied, "It is not to be known right now. You must not go looking for obstacles from which to save them. You will know the danger when you see it and when they will need your help most." He had left her then, with parting words warning her to keep faith close to her and that her story was her own and for no one else. She was confused about her role she knew she would one day play, but had been left with an overwhelming sense of not to worry.

"Lady Georgiana?" came a voice from behind her. Georgie stiffened at the sound and turned to see a tall figure walking towards her. In the darkness she could not make out who it was. Funny, she thought, that it's light enough where I'm standing but yet not where he is. As the figure came closer towards her, she began to see him more clearly.

Edmund walked closer to where Georgie was standing, wondering about the oddity of the moonlight. "It's strange, the moon tonight. I don't think I have ever seen it's light shine in one spot but none others," he remarked, leaning next to Georgie, his back against the garden wall.

"I agree, Your Majesty. I was just thinking of that as you were walking. I couldn't make out your face until you got closer."

Edmund grinned and asked, "What exactly are you doing out here? It's really late at night."

Georgie blushed, bright enough to be seen in the moonlight.

Edmund's grin faded slightly. "Were you, um, meeting someone out here?" he asked slowly.

Her eyes widened at his question and she pushed herself away from the wall, walking towards a stone bench in the middle of the garden. Sitting on it she sighed and said, "I suppose you could say that."

"What do you mean? Explain," he commanded gently.

"I'm not quite sure if I can," she whispered, only just loud enough for Edmund to hear.

"Try," he persuaded.

"Well, I awoke from a rather disturbing dream earlier tonight and walked out onto my balcony. I looked down here into the gardens and saw a Lion standing, looking up at me." She heard Edmund quietly gasp and looked up at him, his face clearly showing his surprise. "He told me to come to him, so I hurried to the garden. We spoke; he had much to tell me."

Edmund pushed off the garden wall and went to sit next to her. He could feel her slightly trembling from recounting her encounter with the Lion. "You've seen Aslan," he stated.

Georgie nodded, "I was terrified, but felt safe at the same time."

Edmund chuckled, remembering his first encounter with Aslan. He had felt the same way so many years ago. "He has that effect on people."

"But he is good, right?" Georgie asked.

Edmund smiled sadly before answering, "Yes, he's very good. He found forgiveness for me after my traitorous acts with the White Witch (I remember reading something about her, Georgie thought, wishing she understood what he meant. But judging from his words, now is definitely not the time to pursue those questions), so I know him to be the very meaning of goodness. But," Edmund added with a slight grin, "I would not want to be on a side against him. He's not a tame Lion after all."

Georgie laughed, remembering the wildness she had felt from the Lion at first. Somehow she knew that he could have been dangerous, had the situation called for it.

"What did he say to you?" Edmund asked, pulling Georgie out of her thoughts.

"Oh. He, well, he told me my story was mine and for no one else. I think he meant for me to keep it to myself and not tell others."

"That makes sense," Edmund nodded. "He sometimes tells us things that only we are meant to know."

"He's told you things?"

"He has. Just before you arrived. I dreamed of him and he told me a visitor was coming, one that was friend to him. I suppose he meant you," Edmund teased, smiling at Georgie, causing her to smile in return.

"I hope Aslan considers me friend," she said quietly.

"I'm sure he does. Now, I say we get back to our beds. It's very late and getting colder out here," Edmund said, standing and offering his hand to Georgie. She hadn't noticed the coolness of the night until he mentioned it, a shiver running down her body almost as a reflex to his reminder. She placed her hand in his and allowed herself to be pulled up. Turning, they walked back towards the castle in silence.

When they reached her bed chamber, Georgie opened the door and turned towards Edmund. "Thank you for walking me to my room. Goodnight, Your Majesty," she said smiling at him. He nodded and she turned to walk into her room. Edmund grabbed her wrist, causing her to stop and turn back to him.

"Georgiana," he began, a smile slowly growing on his face. "I know that because of your station you have to call me 'Your Majesty,' but perhaps when it's just the two of us with no one else around, you should call me 'Edmund.' It's what I like my friends to call me."

Georgie smiled, happy to be considered a friend. "That sounds wonderful. Goodnight, Edmund."

The next morning Georgie dressed quickly and practically floated down to the dining room for breakfast. She could barely remember the last time she had felt this happy. She struggled to control the ridiculously silly smile that kept making an appearance on her face, in the end losing to its persistence. When she reached the dining room, she pushed open one of the heavy wooden doors. The kings and queens were already seated at the table, silence emanating from the room. Seated at either end of the long table were Caspian and Peter, both wearing identical dark scowls. Georgie's smile slipped when she noticed them as she walked towards the table.

"Georgiana!" Lucy cried, glad to see her new friend. The three kings stood as she approached the table and sat in her place next to Lucy, sitting back down as soon as she was seated.

"Good morning, Lady Georgiana," Caspian said, his voice tight but kind. She smiled in return and glanced across the table at Edmund. The corner of his mouth lifted in a half-smile before returning to the line it had been in previously. Caspian turned to the man standing next to the back wall door (the same one who had stood there during every meal Georgie had noticed) and nodded, indicating they were ready to eat. Trays of food were laid on the table and plates were quickly filled, the diners silently beginning to eat.

The tension in the air was stifling as Georgie began observing the siblings and Caspian. Susan would intermittently glance between her older brother and Caspian, sigh and scowl slightly. Edmund took bites of food, staring at various spots in the room as he chewed in an attempt to look anywhere other than at the others at the table. Lucy, Georgie worried, looked as though she would cry at any moment, the obvious worry for her family etched around her young eyes. Peter and Caspian, upon meeting the other's eyes, would deepen their scowl and quickly look away angrily. Had she not known them better, Georgie would have found them quite frightening.

"That's it!" Susan exclaimed, slamming her fork onto the table and standing. Lucy and Georgie both jumped at her outburst, Edmund only glancing at his sister, as though he was waiting for her reaction. Peter and Caspian both turned their scowling faces towards Susan, who seemed to slightly tremble at the force from their anger which was now turned upon her. Regaining her composure she started, "This behavior is unbefitting to our positions. There is something going on and one of you had better explain. Now!"

Caspian sighed and leaned back in his chair, pinching the bridge of his nose between his fingers.

"Peter?" Susan asked, turning to her older brother.

"The Council has called a meeting and wishes for all of us to attend. We'll meet with them after breakfast," he replied, trying to control the anger in his voice.

"All of us? But why?" Lucy asked worriedly. "Susan and I are hardly ever needed there, unless there is some matter of diplomacy or..." Lucy gasped. "Is there another threat to Narnia?"

Peter's eyes narrowed as he turned his head back to Caspian. "I suppose you could put it that way," he said seething.

Caspian raised his head, his dark scowl returning, and jumped up. "I have to do this! I swore it!" he yelled.

"You also swore to protect your country!" Peter yelled back, standing as well.

Edmund stood, ready to intervene if necessary, when Caspian let out a loud growl of frustration and stormed out of the dining room, slamming the door behind him. Peter swore at the slamming of the door and turned to his siblings.

"The meeting begins in an hour. Do not be late," he commanded before angrily walking out of the dining room after Caspian.

The four left in the room were frozen in silence at the scene that had taken place between the two kings. They had seen arguments between Caspian and Peter, but none had ever been as hate-filled as this one. "Well, I suppose we should continue eating. No sense in facing this meeting with empty stomachs," Edmund said, hoping to ease some of the tension from his sisters and Georgie. He sat down, and, after exchanging a nervous glance with Lucy, they all began to resume eating in silence.