SNOW DAY! Which means I'm going to spend my whole day writing, watching Pride and Prejudice with my best friend and studying for my Nursing Entry Exam tomorrow! Hopefully I will get a few chapters up today and tomorrow, well…maybe not tomorrow…but I'll try!

I guess I should start a disclaimer: I do not own The Chronicles of Narnia, it's characters, or anything about them (except for a few copies of the books!). These things all belong to C.S. Lewis (God bless him!) and I am glad, because he did far better with them than I ever would have! However, I do own Natani and I hope I do her justice!

"How long?"

I looked up and blinked at the tears forming in my eyes. Edmund was looking at me with distaste and disconcertion. I was too choked up to answer, the guilt of what I had almost done pressed on my chest so hard it took the air right out of my lungs. My brain screamed at me to answer him because my silence would only make it worse!

"Natani," Edmund said, his voice low and dangerous, "How long have you been planning this? And what else have you been planning?"

I sucked in a deep breath and willed my voice to come back to me.

"I…ever since I was captured," I said softly.

"Were you going to stop with me or were you going for my whole family?" Edmund's hand went to rest on his sword hilt, a threat I knew was serious.

"I didn't necessarily want to kill any of you," I tried to explain, "But I was prepared to take out whoever was in my way when the opportunity to escape presented its self."

Edmund seemed to relax a little, but not much.

"You treacherous little wench."

His words cut me deeper than any sword could ever have. I had never been spoken to like that and I found myself being more ashamed than I ever had.

"Please, King Edmund," I pleaded, tears finally spilling from my eyes. I tried to stop them, but they came despite my efforts. "Forgive me! I realise my folly now! Am I too late to seek your forgiveness?"

Edmund took a step back and just glared at me, his dark eyes aflame with disbelief and anger.

"I have already forgiven you once!" he said, his voice cold and emotionless, "I have given you your second chance and you threw it away. I always believe in giving people the chance to redeem themselves, but I'm not nearly foolish enough to let someone endanger my family or my people again."

I couldn't deny his logic. Would I have expected anything less? He was devoted to his family and to Narnia with a bond I have never seen before. It was a bond of love and genuine concern, not of fear and duty like my people. These Narnians…they were like nothing I had ever seen before.

Edmund drew his sword and my thoughts were cut short at the sound of cold steel sliding out of its sheath. My eyes widened as he stepped towards me, his eyes cold and deadly serious, and raised the sword to my throat. I sunk to my knees in fright, but never took my eyes off his. Even though my shame was great, I was a warrior of my people and I would die with bravery. Edmund stared right back as he placed both hands on the sword's hilt, preparing for a swift swing. I saw something in his eyes, the tiniest flicker of emotion, and, after staying in this position for what seemed an eternity, he sighed and lowered his blade.

He took a step back and sheathed his sword again.

"Go."

I let out the breath I had been holding and looked at him with disbelief. He was letting me go?

"Did you not hear me?" he yelled suddenly, "Go back to your queen! Return to your own lands and if I ever see your face in Narnia again, I will not hesitate to exercise my rights as King to execute you for the traitor you are."

He handed me the reigns of the dappled stallion I had rode out here on and mounted his mare. He watched me as I slowly pulled myself onto my horse and I pulled its head toward the South. I felt his eyes burning into my back as I forced the stallion into a full gallop out of the clearing and towards the plains I would have to cross to make my way home.

I was free. This was what I had wanted, right? So why, as I rode off through the mist of that night, did I feel like I had just lost everything?

Sorry it's short but I thought this was a good note to end on! More to come today very possibly so let me know what you think!