Chapter 6

Anna fitted an arrow to her bow and took aim. She steadied her breathing and tried to focus. No worries. She had all the time in the world. Anna released the string, and the arrow pierced the wooden target... not in the center. Anna glared at the target in frustration. When had she let her archery skills slip? She didn't practice enough, that was her problem. This was why she didn't place at districts back home.

Anna raised her bow again and tried to focus. Think only of the target. Don't think of Edmund's nightmares. Don't think of the fact that Peter is starting to avoid you. Don't think that Lucy is becoming inseparable from Cadin.

The trip to Archenland wasn't exactly turning out to be the holiday Anna had hoped it would be. She missed Edmund and Susan dearly, and although she had Peter and Lucy with her, she found herself spending less and less time with them.

She wrote to Edmund in every spare moment. It didn't matter if she had anything to say. She wrote anyway. It made her miss him less. Anna hadn't realized how close she had become to Edmund until she was apart from him. It felt like being separated from a twin.

Thank Aslan, she hadn't been having her nightmares since she left Cair Paravel, but Edmund was a different story. Judging by his letters, his had been coming as much as before, if not more. Anna often found herself crying after reading his messages. Not all of the tears were for him. She found that most of the dreams he described were parallel to her own. She thought their situations had been different, but maybe they were more alike than she realized.

Ready. Aim.

The arrow struck the board by the first one. Anna was getting frustrated now. Why couldn't she do this? She nocked another arrow. She wanted to vow that she wouldn't leave until she got it right, but knew that there was probably a party starting soon.

It so happened that the Narnians' trip had coincided with the Archenland Independence Festival. Every three years, the country would celebrate for the entire season of autumn. Being in Anvard, Anna was in the middle of it all. It seemed as though there was a party every other night. Anna found herself wishing every time that Susan was there to show her what to do. She had learned things over the years, and of course she had Lucy and Cada to help her, but none of them had the Gentle Queen's magic touch. If Susan were here, Anna thought, She would make me gorgeous. Then maybe Peter would pay more attention to me...

Peter and Anna had been inseparable since their kiss in the garden after the Harvest Ball, but recently he hadn't been seeking her company as much. Anna worried he was growing bored with her, but Lucy said that it wasn't so.

"How would you know?" Anna had asked her.

"He's my brother," Lucy replied matter-of-factly, "I know him. He's been really busy, that's all. If anything, I think he's worried that you're getting bored with him."

"But that's ridiculous," Anna said, "Why would I be bored with him?"

"Why would he be bored with you?" Lucy had countered.

She had to admit, the Valiant Queen had a point.

Breathe. Focus. Steady now.

Anna shot the arrow, and it hit the target in the middle ring. She sighed and pulled another arrow from the quiver. Even Lucy was probably better than her now.

Of course, she wasn't sure. Anna hadn't been spending much time with Lucy lately. The young queen was often found walking the gardens with Cadin. Cada's younger brother hadn't been exactly what Anna would have chosen for Lucy, but she supposed they looked good together. They just appeared to be such opposites. Lucy was so innocent and full of life, but Cadin seemed to be dark and mysterious. Anna hadn't spent much time with him, though. Most of what she knew about him came second hand from Lucy or Cada.

Cada had turned out to be a surprisingly good friend to Anna. As Lucy and Peter had become increasingly busy with politics and parties, the Narnian Lady found herself spending more and more time with the Archenlandish Duchess. It turned out they both had similar interests: they both liked the Fauns & Satyrs' music, both were good at archery but attempted to learn fencing as well, and both more than once found themselves turned away at important political meetings.

Anna saw a person stand beside her out of the corner of her eye. They raised a bow and fired. The arrow struck the board just off center.

"I used to be good at this," Cada said.

"Me too," Anna replied with a sigh.

"I should probably practice more," said Cada. "But I only do archery for fun, though."

"I was in the archery club back - ... in Narnia," Anna amended quickly. "I used to practice with Susan and Lucy every day."

"When did you stop?" Cada asked.

"When Edmund got better at fencing then I did," Anna said with a smile. "I couldn't accept the idea of losing to him, so I asked Peter to sort of tutor me. He's in a level above Edmund and I."

"And because you were spending extra time with Peter, you started to fall for him?" Cada asked.

"I had fallen for him a while before that," Anna admitted. "I first started to like him when he saved me from drowning." She caught Cada's gaze. "I fell off a cliff," she explained.

"You fell off a cliff?" Cada laughed, "How did you manage that?"

"Oh, it wasn't that hard."

"How did Peter save you?"

A look of confusion crossed Anna's face. "I don't know, actually. He doesn't like to talk about it. None of the Pevensies do."

"Why not?"

"I don't know." She nocked an arrow and took aim. "I always thought it'd be one of those things we'd laugh about years later, but we haven't been doing any laughing. We haven't been doing any talking." She sighed, "About anything."

Cada gave her a sympathetic half-smile. "They're just busy. Once you go back to Narnia, you'll all be best friends again."

"I hope so," Anna said.

"I know so," said Cada. There was a moment of silence.

"Can I ask you something?" Cada said.

Anna fitted an arrow to the bow. "You already did."

"How are you courting Peter, when I heard you're engaged to Edmund?"

Anna released the string in surprise. The arrow went way wide of the target. "What?"

"So that's just a rumor?" Cada asked.

"Yes! They're saying this all the way in Archenland?"

"Um... yes."

"Ugh."

"You don't like Edmund?" Cada asked.

Anna shook her head. "No, I love him to death, but... like a brother. Or a friend. Not romantically."

"That's what I had thought, judging by the way you talked about him," Cada said, "But your reaction to the rumor him threw me off."

"No, no, he's my best friend. The idea of marrying him is just..." Anna bit her lip thoughtfully. What was the idea of marrying him just?

"All those letters you're always writing," Cada said, nocking another arrow, "Are those to him?" She pierced the target off-center.

"Yes," Anna said, "I miss him so much."

Cada studied her thoughtfully. "Anna, have you ever considered that you might be with the wrong brother?"

Anna raised an eyebrow. "No. Why?" A grin crossed her face. "This isn't some scheme to get me to break things off with Peter, is it? I see you sneaking looks at him." Anna laughed at Cada's embarrassed face. "It's fine. I know he's really handsome."

"You honestly don't care that I have a tiny, little crush on Peter?" Cada asked, joining in her laughter.

"As long as you don't act on it, then no," Anna said, completely honestly, "Not at all."

Dear Anna,

We're leaving Cair Paravel tomorrow. We should get there very soon, because it's only me, Susan and a few others coming and we're travelling on horseback. In fact, by the time you get this, it should only be a day or two more.

Anna? Did you ever get the letter I sent you while you were travelling? It was the one I sent to the postal office in Dryad's Glen. I addressed some... important issues in that and I really hoped I'd have a reply to it. It's been almost two months, and I have to ask. If you read it and are ignoring it on purpose, then I'd really like you to just tell me that you're not interested. If you need some time to think, that's fine.

I hope you've been practicing your fencing, because I've been getting good over these past few weeks. I'm going to crush you. (Also Oreius is threatening to move me to an advanced class, and you need to prove to him that you can move up with me.)

With love,

Edmund

"Lucy!" Anna called.

"Yes?" the Valiant Queen asked, poking her head through the open door.

"Did we stop in Dryad's Glen?"

Lucy thought for a moment. "No, I don't believe so."

"I didn't think so." Anna rolled off her bed and set the letter aside. "So, you want to do something?"

"Sorry, I have a thing to go to," Lucy said apologetically.

"Oh," Anna replied, trying to keep the disappointment out of her voice. She apparently failed, because Lucy gave her a sympathetic smile.

"I don't like it either. We were never this busy back in Narnia, and we're in charge there!"

Anna forced a smile. "It's fine. Maybe I'll just see if Peter wants to fence a little," she said, remembering Edmund's threat.

"Peter has to come too," Lucy said. "I'm sorry. Maybe we can do something later tonight." Lucy gave her a smile and disappeared from the doorway.

Anna flopped down on her bed and sighed. And I am invisible, she thought with a sigh. Again.

Anna clutched at the sides of the cart as they went over another bump in the road. She and Mary had been picked up at the train station by the Professor's housekeeper, Mrs. Macready. Unfortunately, the Professor apparently did not own an automobile. Instead, they were forced to ride in a horse-drawn cart. Mary didn't have it so bad. There was room for one of them to sit up front, next to Macready, and of course Mary had gotten it. Anna had the misfortune of sitting in the back, keenly feeling every bump in the road and clutching at the many bags of luggage - most of them Mary's - so that they didn't fall out of the open end of the cart.

"Are those your cousins?" Mary asked, pointing to two figures standing at the end of the Professor's dirt driveway. Anna craned her neck and squinted against the sunlight. "Yes, I think so," she said.

As they came closer, Mary looked them over appraisingly. "They are handsome," she decided. "Mostly the brown-haired one."

"That's Michael," Anna said. Michael was the older of the brothers. He was one or two years older than Anna; she could never remember which. William was born two years after his brother, so he was Anna's age or younger. He, like his cousin but unlike his brother, was blonde. Both had the same green eyes as Anna.

"Does he have a girlfriend?" Mary asked.

"How should I know?"

"You're his cousin."

"I barely ever talk to them." Anna grabbed wildly at one of the bags that almost slid off of the cart. "Mary, you said that it would be more fun to sit in the back."

"I lied," Mary said. "If it had really been better, do you think I would be sitting up here?"

Anna had to admit this was true. Everything went right for Mary.

The cart came to a stop beside Michael and William. Anna said hello to them, but neither noticed. Mary was flashing them one of her beautiful smiles that put them both (mostly William) under her spell. Anna sighed and dropped her head onto her arms, folded on the edge of the cart. "Even to my family, I am invisible," she muttered.

Finally William shuffled over to Anna, his eyes still locked on Mary (who was playing no mind to him, but chatting with Michael.) "Who's your friend?" he asked, "She's gorgeous."

Anna flicked him in the middle of the forehead.

"Hey!"

"You deserved it."

"Oh, you're interested in school!" Mary exclaimed. Anna raised an eyebrow. Her friend must have really thought Michael was good-looking. She hated school.

"Yes, I want to be a writer," Michael said.

"How fascinating!" Mary charmed. "I once won an award for an essay I wrote, you know."

"Really?" Michael asked, looking impressed.

Anna's eyes filled with hurt. She was used to Mary getting everything she wanted, but stealing Anna's own family was not alright. "Mary, I wrote most of that paper," she said in a quiet voice.

Mary laughed, and gave her a shut-up! look. "If you wrote it, why did I win the award?"

"I've been wondering that myself," Anna muttered, dropping her head back onto her folded arms.

"Don't be standing about! Get in the cart!" Macready crowed suddenly. Anna jumped. She had completely forgotten about the housekeeper.

Michael and William gathered up their bags and climbed into the back with their cousin.

"Anna!" Michael exclaimed upon seeing her, his face lighting up, "You're here! I was starting to think you were sick or something; I didn't even see you!"

"That's okay," Anna sighed, "Not many people do."

"Can it be?" Anna asked in mock surprise, "The elusive High King of Narnia?"

Peter laughed. "Hello to you too, Anna."

"Where have you been these last few days?" she asked.

He slipped his arm around her shoulders as they walked. "Incredibly busy."

"Where have you been these last few weeks?" she asked, some hurt showing in her voice.

Peter sighed. "I'm sorry. It's been hard to find time for just the two of us. That is..."

"What?" Anna asked.

"You know, if you still want there to be an us."

Anna pulled away from him. "What are you saying?"

"I want there to still be an us," Peter said quickly, "I really like you Anna. A lot."

Her heart fluttered, and a moronic grin crept across her face. "Really?"

"Of course," Peter said, looking surprised. "You didn't know that?"

"I suppose I did, but you never said... any..." They had been drifting closer and closer with each word, and now Peter was holding her in his arms. Her heart fluttered again as he pressed his lips against hers. She closed her eyes and leaned into the kiss. Peter pulled away sooner than she would have liked.

"So... you're not bored of me?" Peter asked.

"Of course not!"

"Good," Peter said. "I didn't think you would be, but you know."

"No," Anna replied, "I don't, actually."

"Well, I haven't had much time to spend with you lately." A smile played upon his lips. "Something I intend to fix. Meet me in the garden tonight."

"I will," Anna said with a grin.

Peter kissed her forehead. "I have to go meet some duke or lord now," he said regretfully. He pulled away from her. Anna half-considered asking him to skip his meeting, but decided against it.

"I'll see you tonight," Peter called over his shoulder as he strode away down the corridor. One of his dazzling smiles made butterflies fly around Anna's stomach.

Not thirty seconds after Peter turned the corner, Anna heard the sound of footsteps behind her. The beat was irregular, like someone was skipping. A knowing smile crossed the Narnian Lady's face.

"Hello Lucy," she called without turning around.

"Anna!" the Valiant queen cried, running forward and grabbing Anna's hands. Lucy bounced up and down in excitement. "You'll never guess what just happened!"

"You're right. Why don't you just tell me?"

"Cadin wants to escort me to the next ball!" Lucy exclaimed.

The two girls let out a squeal of excitement.

"Oh my gosh!" Anna said, "He asked you to the next party! That's tomorrow!"

"I know!"

"What are you going to wear? How are you going to do your hair? Oh gosh, I sound like Susan."

"Good," Lucy said, "Because I'm going to need you to be my Susan."

"Excuse me?"

"Just help me pick out a dress and do my hair," Lucy pleaded, "Please?"

Anna nodded. "Yes, of course. I owe you that much."

"Thank you so much!" Lucy said, giving Anna a quick hug. "You're a good friend," the Valiant Queen said, before turning and skipping down the hall.