Ok back to the story! By the way, have you ever just sat back and listened to the How to Train Your Dragon Soundtrack? It's absolutely beautiful! Anywho….here goes!

That evening, I looked out the window and saw King Edmund riding through the castle gates and I wondered where he went to? I assumed hunting, but nothing about his state of appearance matched that, he had no mud splashed on his boots from a chase, no weariness in his movements as he smoothly dismounted his chestnut stallion and gave it a playful push on the face with a laugh. Actually, he seemed refreshed and, if I didn't know better, I'd say he had a glow about him. The only thing out of place or messy about him was his hair, it stuck up in odd places from the wind of the ride.

He looked up at the window I was in and waved for me to come down. I rolled my eyes and reluctantly made my way down to the courtyard.

"Brush him down good," was all Edmund said to me as he placed the reins in my hand with a wink and a smile. I watched him walk off with my jaw slack, trying to form the words my angry mind was forming in my brain.

"Just who does he think he is?" I muttered darkly. I was busy brushing away at the gleaming coat of the horse. At least, I noted with approval, Edmund took very good care of this animal.

"He's the king. But you should know that by now."

I jumped back as if I had been stung! That horse had just spoken to me! No…that's impossible. Come on, Natani, get a hold of yourself.

The horse turned his head to look at me with a great brown eye. I swore I saw intelligence in them. But then…

"Surprised?"

He HAD talked! He had looked RIGHT at me and SPOKE! I started to shake, disbelief filling every corner of my mind.

"You…you…you're a horse…you shouldn't…"

"Oh hush, human," the Horse said with a horsy laugh, "I'm a Talking Horse of Narnia, nothing strange about it! Many of us can talk, every horse in this stable actually."

"But how?" I squeaked.

"From the beginning of time," the Horse replied, "When Aslan first sung Narnia into being. He blessed many of the animals with speech. I was fortunate to be a descendant."

I looked around at the horses in the stable and I finally just realized that none of them were tied or shut in, nor did they have any form of tack on them at all. Nothing was keeping these horses in this stable, they WANTED to be here.

"I am so sorry!" I suddenly remembered shooting this beautiful creature on the battlefield and felt ashamed. "I had no idea you were…"

"My Lady, please," the Horse shook his mane, "All is forgiven! Just promise it won't happen again."

"Oh I wouldn't!"

"My name is Philip," the Horse continued, "I have been King Edmund's mount since his very first day of training."

When he said this, his large eyes settled on my face in a serious gaze.

"And I would protect him with my very life as he has often protected me," Philip's voice was low, threatening, "So I wouldn't treat him wrong if I were you."

I gulped silently. How did he know? He couldn't possibly know of my plans…could he?

I nodded, my mouth had gone dry. I laid the brush back on the shelf above Philip's trough and backed out of the stable quickly and backed into something solid.

"Whoa there, Natani, what's the rush?"

I sighed when I recognized the voice.

"I was coming to get new orders from you," I lied easily, turning to face Edmund.

"Well…what all have you done today?" he asked, looking past my shoulder and smiling at Philip. What an odd friendship…

"Well I woke you up, cleaned the dining room after breakfast and lunch, watered and fed the fowl and livestock within the castle, washed the first floor windows, and got a good start on picking the weeds from the courtyard."

"Wow…you've done way more than I thought you would," Edmund looked genuinely impressed.

"The hardest of all those things was getting you up and going," I mumbled, "I hope I don't have to do THAT every day."

Edmund's eyes twinkled with mischief and he leaned forward, his lips so close to my ear that his breath tickled my skin.

"Don't tell me you didn't like the view," he whispered quietly, teasing dripping heavily in his tone.

I rolled my eyes and turned my head, ignoring the little flip my stomach did. Stupid stomach, it didn't know ANYTHING. I wish he would just STOP breathing on my neck…argh!

"Well, the eyes can often betray the mind," I replied quietly, making my voice firm so it wouldn't betray the way my nerves were on edge and my skin was breaking out in goosebumps.

It worked. He took a step back. If I wasn't mistaken, he looked a little disappointed but he hid it quickly and smiled as I brushed past him. He followed right on my tail.

"You didn't let me tell you what I came out here for!" he said as he fell in step beside me.

"I'm listening." I said curtly.

"Well I was wondering if you would like to take a walk in the woods around the castle?" he asked, not demanding, but honestly wanting me to accept without having to make me.

I stopped walking and stared at him incredulously.

"What?" he asked, innocently. His dark eyebrows knitted together in confusion.

"Why would YOU want to walk with ME?" I asked, not trusting him.

"Well I just assumed you may want to get to know Narnia a little bit since you'll be here for a while…"he began his explanation, but when he said this, something inside me reared up.

My mind raced and my heart began beating rapidly. What was I doing? I was conversing with this Narnian as if we were equals, and that was NOT the case! Even if he was a king, he was nothing to me but an enemy and no amount of false chivalry, wooing, or fake kindness he showed me I would not be bought.

I knew that it was time. Time to do what I had planned all along. I would kill him. I would get out of here and back to my queen. I had to be careful about it though…he was sharp if nothing else.

"I would be…honoured," I searched for the right word, and it seemed to please him well enough so I went on, "When shall we depart for this adventure? I have one request, however."

Edmund looked at me with suspicion.

"What might that be?" he asked

"Can we ride instead of walk? I haven't been on a horse in years and I have missed it."

Edmund smiled. Oh, he was beautiful when he smiled…but I pushed that thought back angrily.

"Of course, my lady," he said, bowing gallantly, "Choose your steed."

He took my arm in his and I tried to fight the urge to pull back. Must. Maintain. Composure. I had a job to do! He pulled me ever so slightly towards the stables.

"Do you have any non-Talking horses?" I asked, my voice filled with false sweetness, "I don't think I could bring myself to ride such a noble beast as a Talking Horse."

Edmund chuckled but nodded towards a stable a little ways behind this one.

"We sure do."

We saddled me up a dappled stallion and I climbed happily onto the huge animal's back. I felt much more at ease on him than I really WOULD have felt on a Talking Horse. Edmund saddled a bay mare he seemed fond of and we set out at a easy walk toward the woods.

Poor guy, I grinned as I thought to myself "He had no idea what he was getting into".

Ok there it is, Chapter 7!

What do you think so far? Don't forget to take a moment to review and any suggestions or thoughts you may want to give would be very welcome :D

Thanks to all my current readers and welcome to all you who just stumbled onto this story!