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"So, are you going to tell me what you were being so mysterious about the other day?"

We were sitting on a bench after school, sharing notes from our English lecture. Edmund scribbled something in his neat, beautifully scripted handwriting on a piece of paper. I glanced down at my own messy scrawl. "For a guy, you write really well," I told him, leaning over to watch him write the words in perfect script.

"Thanks – was that a compliment?" Edmund grinned, nudging me with his shoulder. I laughed with him. He looks really cute today. His hair stood up in a little tuft at the front and I longed to run my fingers through it. Instead, I clenched them together so I wouldn't do anything so crazy.

Leaning back, I closed my books and stared out at the view in front of me. We were on top of a hill, and the world was stretched out below us. Edmund looked at me, and smiled a little. He put his notes into his satchel and leaned back, too.

"Wouldn't it be weird if there actually were other worlds like Narnia," I mused. I sensed Edmund stiffen beside me, and I turned to face him curiously. "Eloise, I wouldn't worry about that," he said, almost shortly. But I persisted. "No, I want to know! Why does Narnia have this effect on you?" I asked, trying to catch his eye. Edmund leaned forward on his elbows and didn't say anything for a moment. When he finally looked at me, his face had completely changed. His eyes were like steel, and his strong jaw was clenched. He looked like… a man, not a schoolboy.

I stared at him for a moment. Then all of a sudden, it all clicked in. I knew why Edmund acted so strangely when I talked about Narnia. Why he shared the same name as the boy in the prophecy. Why he was able to find the book so easily the other day. And why he looked like he did right now.

I opened my mouth and a whisper came out.

"King Edmund the Just."

With that, everything started to spin around me like crazy, sending the papers on my lap flying. I grabbed hold of my hat. "What's happening?" I screamed in panic as my schoolbag flew from my grasp. I could dimly hear Edmund shouting something and I felt his hand clasp mine. Then we were plunged into total darkness.

…

When I opened my eyes again, I thought I was dreaming. Stretched out in front of me was a great expanse of soft white sand and beyond that, a sparkling blue ocean.

"Somebody pinch me," I said, closing my eyes. A firm pinch on my upper arm made them fly open again.

"Ow!"

"Well, you asked." Edmund grinned. Then his eyes lit up and he tapped me on my shoulder. "Last one to reach the water has to carry our shoes!" he yelled, running off gleefully.

"Crap," I laughed, flinging off my coat and tearing after him. He had nearly reached the water by the time I caught up to him, and with a final effort I flung myself past him and jumped in the water with a splash just ahead of him. He laughed and a splash of water landed full in my face. I splashed back and a fully-fledged water fight was underway. He came after me, and caught me just before I reached the sand. Before I realized what was happening, his arms slid around my waist and he lifted me up.

"Surrender or get an impromptu bath," he grinned, struggling to hold me as I tried to get down.

"Fine," I laughed with a final struggle. But suddenly I felt him overbalancing and then with a mighty splash we both toppled over into the shallow water and lay there laughing hysterically. The sun was warm on our faces and Edmund propped himself up on one elbow. He leaned over me and gently brushed some gritty sand off my cheek. I couldn't move. He was so close; I could feel his breath on my forehead. Suddenly to my disappointment, he tore his gaze away and looked up at the cliff behind us.

"Hey, what am I doing!" he said, scrambling up and holding out his hand. I took it a little reluctantly. "You're in Narnia and I haven't even given you the royal tour yet!"

"Wait, what?" I said, abruptly sitting up. "I'm in… Narnia?"

He grabbed both of my hands and swung me up. "Let's go! I have to show you Cair Paravel and heck, my brothers and sisters are waiting for us. We have to hurry, Lese!"

Did he just call me Lese? "Wait, your brothers and sisters are here? You mean Peter… and Susan, and Lucy?"

He nodded, his face alight with excitement. "I haven't seen them in a few months. C'mon, we have to go."

"But I don't get it," I said, pulling back. "Why were you in England while your family is still here?"

Edmund looked at me and smiled the tiniest bit. "It's a really long story. Look, I'll explain on the way. You ready?" He held out his hand and I took it, feeling the butterflies rise again.

I had the feeling it was going to be a long walk.