AN:Sorry the times between posting has been so long. I'm hoping to speed up the writing process soon. Anyway, here's another chapter. It isn't my best, but there is a surprise at the end.

I want to thank all of those who reviewed, favorited, added to their alert list or read my story. You guys rock!

Chapter 9

"All I'm saying is that the phrase 'Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me' doesn't make any sense."

"And why do you say that?" Edmund asked.

"Because words can hurt!" Anna exclaimed.

"Give me one example."

Anna grabbed the closest book to her and threw it at him. Edmund winced as it struck him in the ribs.

"Ow!" he said indignantly.

"See," Anna replied matter-of-factly, "Words can hurt."

"Haha," Edmund said sarcastically, scooping up the fallen book.

"Being serious now, things people say can hurt you much more than a cut or bruise," Anna said. "Emotional pain lasts much longer than physical pain."

"Got that right," Edmund agreed. He turned the book so that he could read the cover. "What is this?"

"Just a book I got from the library," Anna said.

"About the White Witch?" He flipped the cover open. "Is it any good?"

"I don't know. I was scared to start it."

"Why? It's a book, it can't hurt you." Edmund winced as the cover poked him in the spot where he'd been hit with it a few seconds earlier. "Well, the content of the book can't."

Anna shrugged. "I don't know. I was just worried that I might find out something I would have been happier not knowing."

"Like that she could come back?"

"Yes, like that." Anna crossed the room and perched on the arm of Edmund's chair. "Does it really say that?"

"'Many Northern Witches have been rumored to have been resurrected after death by their followers. This usually involves the use of their wand and a drop of Son of Adam's, unicorn's, or centaur's blood,'" Edmund quoted.

Anna's eyes widened in fear. She gripped Edmund's arm, seeking for some sort of comfort. "You don't think... you don't think the Witch..."

Edmund squeezed her hand reassuringly. "It's alright. I broke her wand, remember? You were there."

"I remember," Anna said, "How could I forget? What with all the nightmares constantly reminding me."

"Well, you're not alone on that one," Edmund replied.

"Thank Aslan for that."

"By the way," Edmund said, looking a little uncomfortable, "I know this is a bit off topic, but did you ever get that letter that I sent to Dryad's Glen? I mean, I know how you're going to respond to it, but I just wanted to know..." He trailed off when Anna shook her head.

"No, we didn't to to Dryad's Glen. Pholus the Centaur knew a shortcut, and it didn't take us past there."

Edmund let out a sigh. "Oh, good."

"Why, what was in the letter?"

"Nothing much." Edmund watched as Anna absentmindedly played with the necklace Peter gave her. "It doesn't matter now, anyway. Let's both just forget the whole thing."

A knock at the door interrupted their conversation. "Hey, Anna! It's me!" called a familiar voice.

Anna crossed the room and opened the door. Cada stood on the other side of it, smiling widely. "Hi, Anna. You busy?"

"Not particularly."

"Good. You're taking me to meet Edmund! Do you know where he is?"

The king in question appeared in the doorway beside Anna. "I'm right here."

Cada grinned and held out her hand. "Hello, your highness! I am Duchess Cada, niece of King Lune of Archenland. How do you do?"

"I'm fine. Call me Edmund."

"Sounds good, Edmund. Hey, do you two want to take a walk with me?"

Anna shrugged. "I guess so."

"Wonderful! Come along!" Cada gestured for them to begin walking, and they did so. The Duchess quickly attached herself to Edmund's side and flirted unabashedly with him. Anna felt herself growing more and more uncomfortable as the attempts on Edmund's and Cada's part to include her in the conversation quickly died and she became the third wheel. She wasn't sure what bothered her more: that Cada was flirting with Edmund, or that Edmund was actually flirting back.

"So you're a really good fencer?" Cada asked.

Edmund shrugged modestly.

"That's so amazing," Cada gushed. "Me, I've always been an archer."

"Really?" Edmund asked. "I know a thing or two about archery myself."

Anna was shocked. "What? No you don't!"

"It's the application of that knowledge that I have trouble with," Edmund quipped.

Cada giggled flirtatiously. "Well, I've always wanted to learn fencing." She placed her hand on his arm and looked up at him with her big blue eyes. "Maybe you can teach me?"

Anna rolled her eyes.

Edmund grinned at Cada. "I'd love to."

Are you serious? Anna mouthed silently behind their backs.

"I'm looking forward to spending more time with you," Cada said.

Anna forced a smile onto her face and tapped the Duchess on the shoulder. "Um, Cada? Can I talk to you for a second?"

"Sure!" The two girls walked out of earshot of Edmund.

Before Anna had a chance to say what she wanted to say, Cada smiled brightly and hugged her. "Oh, thank you thank you!"

"For what?"

"For introducing me to Edmund!" Cada said, releasing Anna and waving flirtatiously at the Just King, who was glancing their way. "He's really nice and smart and funny... and so handsome. He's the one!"

Anna rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. "Cada, you've known him for fifteen minutes. How do you know if he's the one?"

"I can just tell," Cada said.

"Just like a month ago, you thought Peter was 'the one'?"

"Hey, that was before I knew you and him were together! Edmund is totally available." Cada looked at Anna suspiciously. "Unless the rumors are true and you two are already married."

Anna sighed. "No, Edmund and I are not married."

"Good, then he's available!" Cada grinned mischievously. "He won't be for long!"

Anna returned the smile half-heartedly. "Right. I think I'm supposed to meet Susan in the library now, so I'm going to go."

"Alright. We'll miss you! (Although I won't say I won't enjoy some alone time with the Just King.) I'll talk to you tonight and tell you all the details."

"I can't wait," Anna said unenthusiastically.

"Wonderful! See you later!"

Anna watched as Cada ran back to Edmund and linked her arm through his. The Just King cast one last glance back at Anna, his expression unreadable. Then Cada said something inaudible to the Narnian Lady, and Edmund turned his attention back to her. He laughed at something Cada said, and she gave him another flirtatious look. Anna couldn't take any more of it. She turned and fled from the garden, hoping Susan actually was in the library so she'd have someone to talk to.

"You are not."

"Yes I am!"

"No you aren't!"

"I am so!"

Anna rolled her eyes. "Edmund, there is no way you are strong enough to carry me."

"Is that so?"

"Yes."

Edmund slipped one arm under her knees and one behind her back and lifted her up. Anna frowned at the smug look on his face.

"Alright, so you are strong enough to pick me up. Now put me down."

Edmund appeared to be considering it. "Hm... No." He started spinning her around quickly.

Anna's peals of laughter echoed across the courtyard. She clung to Edmund, the only thing in the world that was standing still (from her point of view).

"Aren't you getting dizzy?" she gasped out.

"Yes, so?"

"How can you watch where you're -"

Edmund collided with the edge of the fountain and they both careened into the water.

"I'm all wet!" Anna exclaimed. "Susan is going to kill me."

"Well, might as well make it big as you can," Edmund said. He splashed her.

Anna gasped as the water hit her face. She glared at Edmund, looking both angry and amused. Without moving her gaze from his face, she smacked the water with such force that it flew all over Edmund. She smirked.

Then they were at it. Water flew in every direction as they splashed with all their might. Within seconds, both of them were soaked to the skin. When most of the water in the fountain was on them or the surrounding pavement, Anna tackled Edmund and pounded him with her fists. She knew she wasn't really hurting him, because the look on his face told her that he was laughing at her in his mind.

A movement at the edge of the courtyard caught Anna's eye. She paused, mid-punch. Both she and Edmund looked up to see Peter leaning against the wall. He said nothing, only looked at them thoughtfully.

Anna and Edmund were to their feet in an instant. They pointed their fingers at each other.

"She started it!"

"He started it!"

Then they both burst out laughing. "We're acting like we're little kids," Anna said.

Both glanced at Peter, expecting him to go into High King mode and say, "Yes, you are." Instead, he only gave them one last thoughtful look, and left the courtyard.

Anna woke up screaming. She quickly cut off the sound, lest someone should hear. The following silence rang in her ears. Images from the nightmare flashed through her mind. Anna pulled the covers up over her eyes and tried to block the thoughts. Mary was fine. Edmund was fine. They were all fine.

After a moment, she rolled out of bed and snatched up a quilt from the end of the bed. Throwing it around her shoulders, Anna felt her way to the door.

Edmund's door opened before she had time to knock. Seeing the look on her face, the Just King pulled her into a hug. "Hey, it's alright," he murmured comfortingly.

This was new. Their usual nightmare routine didn't involve embraces of any sort. Anna normally didn't like it when things changed, but decided she could make an exception for this.

A door opened and closed behind them. Anna turned herself so that she could see who was there, while still being in Edmund's arms.

In the darkness, it took them a minute to make out that it was Peter who stood across from them in the hallway. Both Edmund and Anna had "It's not what it looks like" on the tips of their tongues before Peter spoke up.

"Nightmare?" he asked gently.

Anna nodded.

"I was just going to sit up with her," Edmund explained.

"You've had a long day, and need your sleep. I'll sit up with her, if you like," Peter offered.

"No, I don't mind," Edmund said.

"I don't either."

Edmund considered. "Well... it might be better for me to stay up with her, because that's what she's used to."

"But I'm courting Anna," Peter said, "What if she and I are married someday? She'll need to get used to me sitting up with her."

Edmund held Anna tighter. She found it comforting. "You aren't married now," the Just King said, "And even if you do end up together, you'll still live at Cair Paravel, and so shall I."

"I want to sit up with her, though," Peter said.

"Why?"

"Because I love her!"

"Well, I lo-" Edmund cut off quickly and cleared his throat. "Well, she's my best friend."

"Why don't we just ask Anna?" Peter suggested.

"Why don't we?"

"Anna," Peter said, "Who do you want? Me, or Edmund?"

Anna looked from one to the other. With a guilty and apologetic look at Peter, she drew closer to Edmund. He ushered her inside.

Anna cast one last look over her shoulder at Peter. He forced a small smile. "I'll see you tomorrow Anna. Goodnight."

Edmund's room in Archenland didn't have a bench under the window. This bothered her, so Anna had dragged his desk chair to the casement and curled up in it. Edmund had long since fallen asleep, but she could not. Anna stared outside, just thinking.

As the first rays of sunshine were beginning to peak over the horizon, a movement in the garden below her caught her eye. Anna made out a light-haired figure wandering among the plants. A small grin crossed her face. Rising quietly to her feet, Anna stole out of the room and made her way outside.

A gentle silence hung over the gardens. The only sound was Anna's feet treading softly on the dew-laced grass. She wondered where Peter was. Without her birds-eye view, she had lost track of him.

"Anna?"

She turned to see Peter standing behind her. Anna smiled and went to kiss him hello. He turned his head at the last second, causing her lips to fall on his cheek.

"What's wrong?" Anna asked, a concerned look crossing her face.

Peter glanced down and took her hands. "Anna, I've been doing a lot of thinking."

"What about?"

"About us. Anna I have said I really like you - last night I said that I love you. And I do. But I don't think you feel the same way about me."

Anna laughed. "Of course I do -"

"You think you do," Peter interrupted. "But you don't."

Anna put her hands on her hips indignantly. "How do you know how I feel and how I don't?"

"The way you look at me," Peter said. "It's not the same way I look at you. Think, Anna. Do you really love me?"

Anna opened her mouth, but closed it again. She had always believed she loved Peter. But what was her response when Edmund confronted her with the same thing? If I don't love him, then I like him very, very much. Not a straight answer.

After a moment of silence, Peter nodded. "I knew it," he muttered, turning away.

"Wait!" Anna called, hurrying after him. "What does this mean?"

Peter faced her reluctantly. His face was impassive, but his eyes showed his heartbreak. "I don't think we should be together anymore."

Tears welled up in Anna's eyes. She forced them back. "Look, if this is because I chose Edmund over you last night -"

Peter looked away from her. "I was thinking about this a while before then, but yes, that did play a role in my decision."

"Well, I'm sorry!" Anna cried, "I'm sorry that I chose Edmund and I'm sorry that I don't love you. I can't undo the first thing but I can grow to love you, Peter."

"Can you?" Peter asked doubtfully.

"Yes! I'm almost there already! Please, Peter, please don't do this."

Peter shook his head slowly. "I'm sorry. I think it's best for both of us if we just go back to being friends."

"Fine!" Anna shouted. Tears poured unhindered down her face. She fumbled with the latch on the necklace he gave her, until finally it came free in her hands. "Take your stupid necklace back. I don't want it anyway. And by the way, the reason green looks good on me is because it's the color of my eyes, something you should have noticed." Anna drew her arm back and flung the chain and emerald charm at Peter's retreating form. It bounced off his back and disappeared into the grass. He cast a look backwards, regret and sorrow shining from his eyes. Then with a sigh, Peter walked away.