Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmkay, here's another chapter!

EDMUND'S POV

I don't know why I did it, honestly. But I felt like a humongous jerk now. I avoided Natani's eyes as we trudged back up the stairs. She kept clearing her throat like she had something stuck in it, but I think she probably just didn't like the silence that hung over us.

I tried to imagine what had possessed me to do something so forward but nothing came directly to mind. Ok, sure, she had a very nice body, I'll admit it! But why the heck did I have to start being all…typical and touch her like that?

"Edmund?" Natani's voice sliced through my thoughts and I looked at her.

"Hmm?"

"You ok?" she asked me, looking concerned, "You look…like you're going to kill something."

Myself, maybe. I thought.

"Sorry," I mumbled in reply, "No, I'm just thinking."

"Do you always look murderous when you're deep in thought?" Natani asked, I could hear the laughter in her voice and I smiled.

"Maybe," I said, "But I've really never been by a mirror when I'm deep in thought so I couldn't tell you."

Natani burst out laughing. She had to stop and lean against the wall, clutching her stomach and doubling over. I cocked an eyebrow at her and wondered if she had just flipped her lid. She was gasping for air and giggling and she slid down the wall and leaned there in a helpless, quaking heap. I couldn't help it…I started to chuckle.

And it grew to a ridiculous measure of hilarity. Before I knew it, we were both on the ground, arms on each others' shoulders, laughing like crazed hyenas.

"Um…King Edmund? Lady Natani?" a voice cut through our roaring laughter and we glanced over at the entrance to the stairway. A young deer was standing there, looking at us with confused eyes.

"Y…yes?" I tried to speak with my kingly air, but I couldn't quite manage it.

"High King Peter sent me to check your training progress," the deer was obviously uncomfortable.

"Oh well tell him we had a very effective practice," I told the deer, suppressing my laughter.

"Yes, my king," the deer did a little bow and backed out of the entrance, "I apologize if I interrupted your courtship rituals."

WHAT?

I looked at Natani. Oh, I see what he meant. We were on the ground, me slightly leaned over Natani, we had our arms around the others' shoulders and we did appear to be in a very close embrace.

"By the Lion's mane!" I yelped, standing immediately. How many times was I going to find myself compromisingly close to this girl? I was really going to have to think about my position anytime she was around. It was almost like some invisible force kept pushing us together!

Natani didn't seem as embarrassed as I was feeling. She just stood up, still giggling, and brushed off her pants.

"Oh, Edmund, don't look so frightened," she said, grinning at me, "It was an honest mistake. One can't really control themselves when laughter takes over."

Why was she suddenly being so nonchalant? She had nearly bitten my head off in the storage room! I shook my head, I would never understand how female thought.

"I guess we should get back to training," I said, continuing our walk up the stairs. Natani followed, still giggling.

"Oh come on," I grumbled, feeling out of sorts, "What was even so funny?"

"I don't even know!" Natani replied, "I guess I just NEEDED to laugh. Just like those days when you need to cry. Ever had those days?"

"Definitely," I replied. We walked through the courtyard and Natani kept walking, heading towards the doors of the castle. "Hey, where are you going?"

"I'm hungry," Natani replied over her shoulder. "Come on, Edmund!"

I smiled and shook my head. So much for training.

"King Edmund, you're bath is ready for you,"

"Thank you, Elora," I smiled at the dryad who curtsied and left the room. Oh there was nothing like a steaming hot bath after a hard days training! I stiffly pulled my tunic over my head and winced at the soreness of my shoulders. Swinging a sword around all day tends to do that to you. I kicked off my boots and stepped out of my leggings and slid into the hot water with a huge sigh. Aslan's mane, that felt so good. I closed my eyes and let everything fade from my mind as the tension started to leave my shoulders and legs.

When I felt sufficiently soaked and relaxed, I grabbed the towel next to me and wrapped it loosely around my hips. I walked into my room, singing a Narnian celebration song I remember hearing at our coronation years ago. I really didn't know why it came into my head but it just did.

"Come and hear a song of the spring after winter's snows were melted away," the lyrics were, of course written in our honor of defeating the White Witch, "A song of heroes from worlds away who…OH MY GOSH!"

I nearly jumped a mile. Natani was sitting on a chair in the corner of my room, grinning at me! I clutched the towel tighter around me and grabbed the tan breeches I had laid out on my bed and sprinted back into the other room.

I came back in and glared at her.

"What are you doing in here?" I asked, trying to keep my voice level down because I knew half the castle was asleep. I had already formed several reasons she could be in here, none of them I hoped were true.

"I needed to talk to you," she replied, standing up and pacing, "I'm sorry, I didn't realize…I just thought you weren't in yet and I figured I would wait till you came back."

I sighed, feeling a little bad for being so suspicious of her. Old habits are hard to break, I suppose.

"Well then?" I asked, sitting on the edge of my bed. She was just staring at me and it took me a minute to find out why. I looked down and blushed slightly. "I can put a shirt on if you would like…"

Natani sat next to me and sighed.

"You don't have to," she said, "Sorry I was staring. I just zoned out for a second."

"Sure you did," I didn't say it in a mean way; I left it open for her own interpretation whether I meant it that way or if I meant it for real. "What's bothering you?"

"I honestly don't know, Edmund," Natani's voice sounded a little strained. I looked at her and saw her face was scrunched in a pained expression. "I…I can't stop thinking about the battle…and…who I'll be fighting."

Suddenly it dawned on me what she was trying to say. She was scared. She wouldn't admit it, but she was. Why hadn't I thought of this before? She would be fighting against her own people!

"Oh, Natani," I whispered sadly, not really knowing what to say.

She turned her head and I saw that her normally dark green eyes had turned a more olive color due to the tears welling up in them.

"I won't betray you again," she said quietly, trying not to break into sobs.

So that was it? She was worried I still suspected her! I did the only thing I knew to do at that point, I pulled her into a hug.

"Natani," I whispered, brushing her hair back with my hand, "I never thought you would."

She sniffed loudly and buried her face in my chest. I knew I should say something else.

"I…I trust you, Natani. I know how hard it was for you to come back and you wouldn't have done so if you didn't care about what happened to us."

She nodded and put her arms around my waist, getting as close to me as she possibly could.

"I just wanted to tell you," she whispered very, very quietly. I had to strain my hearing just to hear her. "That I never want to see anything happen to you."

With that, she pulled back and smiled. She stood up and walked out of the room without another word. I just sat there, dumbstruck.

What was that about?

Alrighty I hope you enjoyed it! I enjoyed writing it! What was that anyway? Was that a confession of something a little stronger than friendship or was it just the concern of a friend? Well…maybe I'll tell you someday : )

Reviews are always fun!