Chapter 14
Lucy giggled softly as she watched Edmund shake his head back and forth like a dog as he entered Aslan's How.
"Its raining!" he announced and Caspian laughed, brushing the raindrops off his leather jerkin where they left little stains of dark brown.
"I would never have guessed!" Caspian cried and Edmund just smiled. Susan rolled her eyes.
"A few weeks ago you were mortal enemies! Now look at you." she said and the boys smiled and shook their heads in perfect unison. Susan laughed.
"I almost liked you better when you didn't trust each other!" she said, then pointed Edmund in the direction of a large piece of cloth.
"Dry yourself off." she commanded and Edmund mock bowed to her, then did as he was told. Lucy watched him leave, then turned back to her sister.
"Why aren't we progressing towards Cair Paravel?" she asked. "The Archenland army is days away and Edmund holds the power to put himself on the throne." and she pointed to herself and Susan. The elder girl smiled.
"I think Edmund wants to prove himself. Not just the Narnians he brought from Cauldron Pool, but the ones that trickle in from Archenland and across the sea as the news spreads that Miraz is dead." then Susan bit her lip, seeming almost embarrassed. "I also think he wants to prove himself to us. Well, me. You trust him but I- I don't." Lucy opened her mouth to protest and Susan raised her arms "No, I want to trust him! But I can't. He hasn't done anything for me and there is still that tiny, sensible part of me that reminds me he was raised as Miraz's son." Lucy placed her hand on her sister's shoulder.
"You've got to trust him, Su. He's done so much for me, I'd trust him with anything." Lucy told her and Susan looked at her sister.
"I know." she said. And watched her sister walk away. Susan frowned. She needed to know why Lucy trusted Edmund so much. And how Edmund knew so much about her little sister.
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Caspian pressed himself flat against the wall as he saw Lucy examining Edmund's sword. He thought about telling her to leave, knowing Edmund didn't appreciate people touching his stuff, but then Lucy would ask questions about why he was here. And she couldn't do that. Caspian trusted Edmund, yes, but... There was something about him. Something special. Caspian could see it in the way he could pick up any sword and fight with it like it had been the sword he had had all his life. In the way he could make anyone talk to him, how he seemed to look deep into your soul and know how to talk to you. Edmund was special. And Caspian was determined to find out why. Suddenly he saw the door open and Edmund came in. Caspian froze, pressing himself deeper into the shadows. He prepared himself for Edmund to start shouting, but instead Edmund just smiled.
"Hello Luce." he said and Caspian's mouth dropped as he saw the girl smile.
"What do you want?" Edmund asked, dropping onto a chair.
"To see you, of course!" Lucy said, and she gently massaged Edmund's shoulder's. Unseen, Caspian's eyebrows shot up.
"But you see me all the time." Edmund said, playfully and Lucy giggled.
"Oh, to love a man so cruel!" she lamented and she and Edmund laughed. Caspian bit down hard on his lip to stop him self audibly laughing, the tangy taste of blood just below the surface reminding him where he was. He turned his head back in time to watch Lucy and Edmund pull back from a kiss. Lucy sighed and she ran a hand through Edmund's hair. Edmund stood up and took Lucy's hand.
"Come with me." he whispered and took her towrads the door.
"Where are we going?" Lucy asked. Edmund grinned a mock evil grin.
"The forest. Need any more clues?" and Lucy rolled her eyes. Caspian watched them leave and swallowed, hard.
"So there is something going on between those two." he whispered.
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Edmund raised his arm as the eagle circled over head. It folded its wings and dropped quickly.
"My lord! You must come! The Archenlanders have crossed the Telmar River!"
"Are they armed for war?" Edmund asked.
"Yes, but they carry a white flag." the eagle said, as if this was of minor importance. Edmund looked quizzically up at the eagle.
"Then why must I come?"
"You must see this!" the eagle repeated and flew up into the sky. Edmund looked as it flew off towards the Telmar river.
"No one else want to see what all the fuss is about?" he asked and Lucy put up her hand and smiled. Caspian looked at Lucy and quickly stepped forward.
"Me." he turned to Susan. "Susan?"
"All right." she said, noticing the desperate look in Caspian's eyes. Edmund smiled and saddled up a horse. He turned and watched as Caspian helped Susan up onto a horse, noting the way he looked disappointed as she turned away. Edmund turned and galloped off, Lucy being the first to follow. He galloped hard, and he turn off from the Fords of Beruna and galloped towards the Great River. Suddenly he pulled up. He could see, crossing the Great River an Archenland army, nearly twice the size of Miraz's army. He whistled through his teeth, then gasped as he saw the person leading the Archenlanders. She wore a blood red dress rimmed with glittering silver that ran over it like a snake. She wore no cloak, nor any armour and her hair flew free under a silver diadem that was studded with rubies. She noticed Edmund staring at and smiled. She crossed the river, then dismounted.
"Edmund. Lucy." Ladine said, then she curtsied.