The first thing I saw when I opened my eyes was a dazzling drop right in front of me. I fought the urge to scream again and instead closed my eyes. This is a nightmare. I'm going to die out here, alone. I opened my eyes again and saw that I had fallen onto a ledge jutting out of the cliff. I looked up behind me. I'd fallen about three metres. But there was no way I could climb up the vertical rock face. It was getting darker, too, and the cold air was giving me goose bumps.
There was nothing to it. I was going to have to scream for help.
Suddenly, I heard the most welcome sound in the world.
"Eloise? Eloise, is that you?" It sounded like Edmund.
"Please, please get me out of here," I begged, tears of relief streaming down my face. I saw the long end of a rope snake down toward me, and I clutched it thankfully. "Tie it around your waist," my rescuer called out, and I hurried to obey. I held on for dear life as I was slowly pulled up. The rope burned and stung my raw hands, but I gritted my teeth and held on. I resisted the temptation to glance below; certain death awaited me if I let go.
After what seemed like a lifetime, I found myself being lifted by strong hands over the edge and onto solid ground. I collapsed on the grass, feeling waves of emotion wash over me. I was alive, and safe – and apparently I owed it all to my rescuer.
I lifted my head around to thank him. "Edmund, you…" my voice faded as I heard a deep chuckle.
"It's not Edmund," Peter said, moving his face toward the fading sunlight so I could see him.
"It was you who saved me?" I whispered, looking up into his eyes. They were focused intently on me and I found myself staring back and unable to break his gaze. The corner of his mouth twitched just a little.
"Well, yeah," he said in a husky voice. How come I never noticed how blue his eyes were?
"Thanks," I whispered. A gust of cold air whipped against the cliff side and I shivered involuntarily. Peter immediately noticed, his face clouding over with concern. He looked around him desperately, and finding nothing to wrap me in, he grabbed the corners of his shirt and begun to peel It off.
"You… don't have to do that," I said awkwardly, placing my hand on his wrist. He shrugged. "I'm actually rather warm at the moment." He grinned. "Saving people is hot work." He pulled the shirt over his head and knelt down to wrap it securely around me. I tried not to stare at the defined muscles on his chest, though he was so close. Talk about 'hot' work…
Before I could say anything, we heard the sound of voices in the distance and a lantern light shone out over the garden, before the carrier saw us and let out a yell. "There she is!"
In less than a minute, I was surrounded by people all talking and exclaiming at once.
"What happened?"
"What were you doing out here by yourself?"
"Feel her hands, they are freezing!"
"Leave her alone," Peter's strong voice carried through the noise. "She's still in shock." With that, he lifted me up in his arms despite my feeble protests and strode off firmly toward the house, Lucy hovering around us. He laid me in my bed and left immediately, without a backward glance.
"I need to thank him," I said weakly, as Lucy drew up a rug over my shoulders. "
"You'll get a chance later," she soothed, patting me on my shoulder. She blew out the candle.
"Get some sleep," she said into the darkness, and I heard the soft sound of the door closing behind her. I lay flat, staring at the ceiling. The night's events replayed through my mind, and I shuddered as I remembered the steep drop and… I felt my forehead. Already a bump was forming.
"Crap," I muttered, knowing that the morning light would most likely disclose a beautiful purple colour on that spot. I heard a chuckle.
"Who's there?" I called out. I felt my hand being gripped in a warm embrace. "Edmund?"
"Are you alright?" he asked in a whisper, squeezing my hand tighter. "I'll never forgive myself for not coming immediately after we missed you…" he groaned. I squeezed his hand back as tightly as I could.
"It's okay. Peter rescued me…" my voice trailed off as I had a sudden remembrance of Peter without his shirt on. Damn.
"Yeah," Edmund said shortly. "Peter rescued you."
"He was amazing," I said honestly. "He –"
"Well, never mind, the main thing is that you're safe," Edmund interrupted. His voice became soft. "And I am so glad you are." I felt the brush of his warm lips against my forehead before he got up off my bed. Pausing at the door, he looked back for a second and I stared at his silhouette framed against the light in the hallway.
"Goodnight, Lese." Then he was gone.
…
I trailed my hand listlessly over the beautifully embroidered rug covering me. I'd woken up that morning with a terrible headache and – as I predicted, a lovely purple blotch on my forehead. The short, elderly doctor had advised I stay in bed for at least two days. I seethed inwardly. What am I supposed to do in bed all day? But I merely smiled at the physician and lay back, looking the picture of obedience.
I still hadn't seen Susan since my fall. Lucy had told me that the high queen had been feeling unwell and had retired to her chambers for a few days. I wondered how much of her feeling "unwell" was due to me. I shivered as the memory of her angry face came into my mind, and I recalled the harsh words she had thrown at me.
"Cold?" a male's voice enquired from my doorway, and my eyes shot around to see who it was. Peter stood in the doorway, with a warm smile on his face. He gently pushed open the door a few inches. "May I come in?" he asked.
I let my lips fall into a smile and struggled to sit up straighter. "Please," I said, clearing my throat. He walked over toward my bed, and drew up a chair. I felt myself blush as his eyes wandered across my face, taking in my bruise and stopping to linger on my own eyes.
"How are we today?" he asked, still staring into my eyes. I felt a tiny bit breathless. Why did he have to keep doing that? But I liked the way he said "we". It was silly, but it made me feel accepted. After Susan's speech to me yesterday, my emotions were still rather fragile.
"Fine, thank you," I answered trying not to wince from the pain as I reached up to touch the bump on my head. He gently reached up and pulled my hand away toward the bed coverlet. But instead of letting it go, he held it there, cradled in his warm, strong hands. "I'm glad you're safe," he said low, his voice sounding gruff. Was that emotion I detected beneath the words? Why would he be emotional about me? And since when was the high king ever emotional?
"I never got to thank you yesterday," I began, trying to gently free my hand. It didn't work, because he just held on tighter. I felt my cheeks grow red, and I felt uncomfortable. Why was Peter being so friendly?
"You saved my life," I said eventually, after a little pause. "I don't know how to thank –"
"Don't," Peter said, raising his eyes to mine. "It was nothing. You were in danger, and I happened to hear you call for help." He shrugged, but his voice was warm. "I'm glad I did."
I smiled back at him.
"Why were you out there alone anyway?" he asked casually. It was natural that he would ask but I felt my insides twist and heat mount up to my forehead. Should I tell him what Susan said to me about Edmund? The words were on the tip of my tongue but then something stopped me. He was being nice to me now, but he still might react about me and Edmund. Even worse, he might tell Susan or even Edmund about it. That thought made me cringe and I quickly glanced up to see him watching me curiously.
"The sunset was beautiful," I began lamely, searching for the first excuse that came into my mind. Knowing that wouldn't be enough, I plunged on. "I've never seen one like it in England. It just captured me completely and before I realized, it was getting dark." I stopped for breath, and he gestured for me to continue. "I turned to go, and slipped on the loose gravel and fell. The rest you already know," I finished, holding my breath to see if he believed my lie. But thankfully, he seemed to.
"Next time you feel like gazing at sunset, take someone with you," was his only comment as he released my hand and slowly stood up. He smiled down at me. "I'd better get back to work. Try and sleep, it'll feel a whole heap better afterwards." He closed the door behind him, and I was left with my own thoughts.
Why was Peter being so friendly to me? He couldn't possibly like me, could he?"
Thoughts whirled around in my mind, and I shook my head impatiently. Maybe Peter was right. I should get some sleep, and see what happens next.
As I closed my eyes, the last thing I remembered wasn't Edmund, but Peter's steel blue eyes staring into my own.
What do you think guys? The last chapter was a bit dramatic, wasn't it? And yeah, Susan is a bitch, isn't she? But we'll see what happens... *wink* LOVE your reviews!