If anyone is good at writing song lyrics and would like to write the lyrics for Estelle's secret song, PM me and we'll talk. Like I said, I'm no good at it. I was going to attempt it, but now I think I'll just leave it to our imagination. Unless, of course, I get an offer from one of you.

Here's some more flirting for you, before we get some real action; things are going to begin picking up after this. ;)

The Water is Wide

Chapter 12

Tasks

As I walked down the hall away from the castle library, I found once more that my thoughts were being consumed by Estelle. It was becoming an increasingly difficult task to think of anything else in my spare hours. In our meetings today even, I found her slowly creeping in while I should have been focused on the treaty at hand. Fortunately no one seemed to notice my lack of concentration.

I thought about her smile mostly these days; it used to only be her stunning voice which held me captive. Now, I couldn't seem to get the image of her smile or the sound of her laughter out of my head. I thought of how bright her eyes would shine when she spoke of her sisters, and how quickly that light would fade when she realized she was talking about them. Today, however, I found myself thinking of her hands. They were small and delicate, but they weren't soft like the hands of every other girl I'd met; even Lucy's hands, though hard with work, were softened from years with a daily moisturizer. The palm of Estelle's hand was firm and tough, no doubt a result of her time at sea. Estelle told me she had spent many nights on the sea, fishing with her father and siblings. Estelle enjoyed being at sea.

Now, Estelle plagued my mind so fiercely I could even imagine her singing at that very moment. No! I wasn't imagining. She was really there. She had just left her room with...wet hair; she heading away from me, and she was singing softly. I tried to listen for the words but they were too soft to make out. I had to get closer. So I quickened my pace until I was beside her.

"Is that a new song?" I asked. She jumped and gave a small start as she placed her hand over her heart.

"Edmund!" she said my name with a breathless pant and my mind soared to places it shouldn't go. "Don't you know you shouldn't sneak up on people like that? You step so softly, one can never hear."

"My apologies, it was not my intent to cause you fright. Are you all right, or do I need to send for Salinus?"

"No, no I am fine. The fright is nearly gone now."

"I am pleased to hear it. So, was that a new song? Will you sing it for me now?"

"What?" she asked as her eyes grew a little larger.

"The song you were just singing. I didn't recognize it. I thought it might be a new one."

"I—I—I don't…" She stumbled over her words before finally choosing what to say. "Edmund, I think you need to get your ears checked. I wasn't singing any song just now." She tried to look completely serious, but I could see the laughter in her eyes.

"And I think spending so much time with my sister has finally begun to work on you. I do not recall you being this cheeky at sea."

"I don't know what you're talking about." She crossed her arms over her chest and tried to look away, but her eyes kept drifting back to mine. I stood silently and watched her expectantly, trying my hardest not to laugh at her obvious struggles. After some time she eventually caved, as I knew she would.

"Oh all right! I was singing, and yes it's a new song, but no, I can't sing it for you right now. It's not ready yet, so please don't ask me to sing it again because I don't think I could refuse a second time."

For a split moment I was tempted to ask her to sing it again just for the sake of hearing her sing, but I could see her desire to keep the song a secret for now. With great reluctance I let it go. "Very well, then. But you will sing it for me later?"

"Some days later, yes. When it is ready; I do not yet know when that will be."

"Well, I will try to wait patiently until then."

"Thank you, Edmund. Oh, and please, don't mention this to Lucy; she does not have your patience."

I laughed. "It will be another secret we share. Now, where were you heading, and may I escort you there?"

"I was just heading to Lucy's rooms. You may come along if you really wish to, but I do not wish to keep you from your own tasks."

"Well perhaps my own tasks were taking me to Lucy's any way?"

"Were they?"

I smiled but remained silent. In all honesty I was heading to my own rooms and had no intention of veering off to Lucy's today. However, if going to Lucy's meant more time seeing Estelle smile, or hearing her laugh, I would gladly take it.

"Well, come along then. I am already late as it is and do not wish to be more so."

Estelle began walking and I followed after her. We kept a simple conversation going between us. I asked how she enjoyed her lunch on Prelan with Salinus, and she asked how the meetings of treaty were coming along. Both answers were well. I confessed to her that I believed the treaty would be ready to be signed within the next day or two. She asked what would happen once the treaty was signed, and I told her there would be a ball to celebrate and then Lucy, myself, and the Narnians would return to Narnia. This seemed to excite her, though I don't know if it was the prospect of a ball or the return to Narnia which did it. When we arrived at Lucy's rooms, Estelle knocked on the door and Lucy quickly called out for us to enter.

"Estelle! There you are. I've been waiting over an hour for you," Lucy said.

Estelle smiled sheepishly. "I know, and I'm terribly sorry to keep you."

"That's all right. I passed the hour with Mr. Tumnus. Why is your hair wet?"

Estelle lightly fingered her hair. "I'm afraid that's why I'm so late. Salinus and I were out longer than anticipated and we were caught in the rain. I had to stop by my rooms first to change. And then I met your brother on the way over here."

"Edmund? What are you doing here?"

"Can a brother not visit his sister?" Estelle looked at me and smiled knowingly. She now knew that my tasks were not taking me to Lucy's as I had implied.

"Oh…I suppose," Lucy said "But I warn you, Estelle and I were going to be girls, and talk about girl things."

I grimaced. That prospect horrified me.

"Actually, Lucy, I was hoping that maybe we could put that off until later," Estelle said nervously.

"Why?"

"It's just…well…I was hoping to speak with Mr. Tumnus for awhile. I have a favor to ask of him."

"I would be delighted to help you," Mr. Tumnus said without hesitation. "What would you like me to do?"

"Oh, I…I can't ask you here," Estelle threw a look my way and suddenly I suspected this had something to do with her secret song. "Could we perhaps go somewhere more private, where we won't be disturbed and listening ears won't be tempted to hear?" She looked my way again, and this time I detected a warning for me to stay away.

"I hope you don't mind, Lucy," Estelle added.

"Oh, no. That's all right, I suppose," Lucy said as she tried to hide the disappointment in her voice. I detected it easily because I knew what to listen for, but I don't think Estelle suspected it at all. "We can be girls later. I'm glad you and Mr. Tumnus have become friends. I knew you would get along."

"Thank you, Lucy, and I promise, after dinner I'm all yours. Perhaps I'll even sleep here tonight so as to make up for our lost time this afternoon."

"I'd love that," Lucy said earnestly, all disappointment gone. "I'll make sure they bring some extra pillows."

"Great! Thank you, Lucy. And so you won't be alone, I'm sure Edmund won't mind staying for awhile. I'm sure you have tasks to discuss," Estelle said pointedly in my direction before turning her attention back to the Faun. "Shall we Mr. Tumuns? We don't want to waste a moment more."

"Certainly not," Mr. Tumnus replied. Then he and Estelle linked arms and left quickly.

"Hmm…how strange. I wonder what that was all about." Lucy said befuddled.

"She's certainly up to something," I replied.

"I see." I turned to back to Lucy to find that her puzzled gaze was no longer directed at the door but at me.

"Yes, Lucy? Is there something you'd like to say?"

"Actually, I was wondering if there was something you'd like to say, Edmund."

I knew very well what she was hinting at, but I refused to acknowledge it aloud. "I wanted to commend you on your patience and your wise suggestions today."

"Oh," Lucy's smile quickly vanished. "And here I thought we might talk about something exciting like what might be developing between you and Estelle?" She raised her eyebrows hopefully.

"I'm afraid you would find no excitement there, Sister. There is nothing developing between us apart from a solid friendship."

"All right, fine. If you do not wish to talk about it then I cannot force you into it. But please, may we also not talk of treaties and meetings? I have enough of such talk in our meetings of treaty."

"Fair enough, what should we talk about then?"

"I received a letter from Susan today."

"Oh? And how fares our eldest Sister?"

"She is well. She and Peter had lunch with the Beavers for his birthday."

"How quaint. I am sorry we missed it. Though, I was hoping she would host a feast in his honor so that I might be spared having to sit through another."

Lucy grimaced.

"What? What is it?" I asked.

"Susan decided to hold the feast until after we returned so that we might enjoy it together."

"Why?" I groaned. "She knows I do not like feasts and balls. And I know Peter shares my dislike to an extent."

"Yes, but these feasts aren't for us to celebrate; they're for the kingdom to celebrate."

"Thank you…Susan."

"Don't give me that, Edmund, or I will delve into topics you don't want to discuss. Besides, hasn't it been said that I should be a little more like Susan?"

"Who says that?"

"I'm not deaf, Edmund; I hear her quiet whispers."

"Never let anyone tell you that you are insufficient, Lucy. I don't want to hear such talk from you again. Is that understood?"

She smiled feebly and nodded. "Understood, and thanks."

"And I will speak with Susan when we return. I am sure she didn't mean it in the way it was construed."

"You're probably right. Thank you, Edmund." Lucy and I talked for awhile longer about nothing in particular, until it was time for dinner and we made our way to the dining hall. Throughout our conversation, I couldn't keep my thoughts from once more straying to Estelle.

Here's a sneak peek from from Chapter 13, Dark Waltz.

I was terrified. My heart was beating so rapidly in my chest I thought it would beat its way through. My palms were sweaty, my vision slightly blurry, and my knees were all but knocking together. All sound was muffled, as though I was hearing it through water. My breathing was erratic, despite how hard I tried to control it. I was terrified.

And a little excited too!

What has Estelle so terrified and excited at the same time?