The Water is Wide

Chapter 17

Admissions

"I believe, Philip, that what you smell is my brother's attraction for the young Maiden Estelle," Peter replied.

"Don't be ridiculous, Peter," I said as my head snapped to the side to look at him, before my eyes drifted back to watch Estelle. When I realized what my eyes had just done, I laughed softly and added, "Philip can't smell that."

Fortunately, Peter was wise enough not to say anything. He simply smiled, albeit a knowing smile, and slapped my back. Then we too began making our way back to the castle. I was sandwiched between Peter and Philip; both were walking as close to me as they could, but I didn't mind. Philip walked with us for as far as he could before breaking off to the stables, after I promised him a ride first thing in the morning. I followed Peter through the halls of the Cair, greeting the many friendly faces along the way, until we made our way to his study where he had a rather large desk covered in neat and organized piles of paper, very different from my own desk.

"Have you heard anything?" I asked, knowing Peter would know what I was talking about.

Peter took up his seat behind his desk but I remained standing. "The Governor's records confirm the departure of a small vessel by the name Estelle, but they have no record of its return."

"Which we knew. She saw the mast go up in flames, and she was nearly caught in them before she fell. She watched as those same flames were extinguished as the ship went under."

"And she told you all of this in song?" Peter asked, a single eyebrow rising. I'll never know how he managed that.

"No," I replied. "We have spoken of the incident privately. I'm not sure how much Lucy is aware of; you know how tender hearted she can be. What of the others?"

"Archenland and Galma have neither heard nor seen anything, but they promise to inform us the moment they do. I have not heard from Terebinthia as she refuses to return my letters. As for Calormen, well I thought it best to visit them and see for ourselves."

I grimaced. "I just visited Tashbaan. I don't fancy seeing it again for a while."

"Which is why I thought I might go myself."

"Alone?"

"I see no reason not to. We don't want to alarm them."

"True, but I'd feel better if you took one of us with you. Perhaps Susan? I know she was disappointed she couldn't sail with me this time."

"I will consider your advice." Peter smiled broadly. "I have missed it. Now please, sit and let us have a drink together, before Susan pulls you away from me. You can tell me all the things your letters did not," he said as he pulled out a bottle of Dwarvin Ale from a drawer and poured two glasses.

"I wouldn't know where to begin," I said as I took a seat across from him.

"You can begin…with Estelle." He held out a glass of ale for me. Oh, how I missed these nights!

I stood out on the balcony connected to one of the guest suites that overlooked the sea. It was a beautiful morning, my first morning in Narnia, and I was trying to commit my feelings to memory and song. I had already dressed for the day, with the help of a talking she-Badger who walked only on her hind legs. I was again wearing one of Lucy's dresses, this one being a beautiful deep green. Susan and Lucy said they would arrange a meeting today with the royal seamstress to take my measurements so she could begin crafting my own dresses.

A knock on the door followed by the immediate opening of the door, told me Lucy had arrived.

"Oh, good you're up and you're dressed," she said eagerly. I turned around and smiled.

"Good morning, Lucy."

"That dress looks better on you than it ever did on me. Edmund is sure to love it."

"Do you really think so?" I could feel the heat rush to my cheeks as the realization of what I'd just said hit me. Lucy's eyes widened to a size I'd never seen before.

"I knew it!" she exclaimed. "You like him!"

What was I to say? Deny it? The very thought of denying my feelings for Edmund made me feel…empty inside. On the other hand, what would it matter if I confessed my feelings for him? He was still a king, and I was no one of importance. Why would he ever return feelings for someone like me? So, I did neither. Or I tried to at least.

"I believe you came here for reasons far more important than a possible infatuation. It's time for breakfast. Now which way to the dining hall?"

"Oh, no, you are not going anywhere until you admit you have feelings for Edmund."

"Then I suppose I will have to find it on my own." I tried to walk past her, but she quickly jumped in front of the door and refused to let me by.

"Not until you tell me the truth," she insisted.

"Lucy, why? What difference will it make?"

"It will make all the difference, Estelle."

"How so? Admitting that I have feelings for your brother would make him no less a king and make me no more than what I am."

"He likes you, Estelle. I know he does. I'm his sister. I can see it in his mannerisms when he is around you. I can see it in his eyes when he's not around you. He likes you. More than he's ever liked any other girl before. Actually, I…I can't recall a time when he's ever really liked a girl before. He's merely tolerated their affections while trying to find a way to let them down gently."

"But why should he like me? He's a king, Lucy, and I'm just Aar…" I paused abruptly. I was about to say 'Aaralynn,' but fortunately I stopped myself just in time. "I…I'm just me."

Lucy's face turned sympathetic and she placed a hand on my shoulder. "I'm sorry you feel that way, Estelle, but I know Edmund likes you. Your status does not matter to him."

"Do…do you really believe that?"

She smiled. "I do. I mean, think about it Estelle. If he didn't fancy you then why would he always be trying to stand near you…or hold your hand?"

"How…how did you…" My cheeks were burning again, but for a different reason than other times. I thought we'd been careful not to hold hands or make contact while Lucy was around. Lucy was smirking.

"I'm not as blind as Edmund seems to think. And, he's taught me well, better than even he could imagine. I have those that keep eyes for me when I myself cannot."

"I…I want to believe you, Lucy, I do…but I…"

"Then don't take my word for it. Just give it a little bit of time, and he too will realize his feelings for you. Then, you can hear it from him. Now, you were right about me coming here to fetch you for breakfast, and we're quite late now."

Lucy turned for the door, but I felt the need to say more. "Lucy, wait." She turned back around. "You…you won't tell Edmund that I like him, will you?"

"Not if you don't want me to."

"Then please, don't tell him. I couldn't bear it if you were wrong."

"All right, I won't say anything. But you'll soon learn, Estelle, that I'm never wrong. Not about these things anyway." She laughed then and took my hand. And I couldn't help but hope that she was right.

I found it difficult to keep my thoughts from lingering on what Lucy had said about Edmund and his feelings for me. The possibility that my feelings might be returned was…well, it was a bit overwhelming and a little too good to be true, I thought. Fortunately, Lucy didn't like to walk in silence and so she talked all the way to the dining hall. She told me how her sister Susan had planned a magnificent feast at the end of the week in celebration of the High King's birthday, which had actually been several weeks ago while we were still in Redhaven.

When we entered the dining hall, the others were already there. I couldn't help but notice—or perhaps it was only me hoping—that Edmund's smile grew a little more when he saw me. Lucy apologized for our lateness, saying we took a moment to be girls. She used that excuse for a wide variety of topics whenever she didn't want Edmund lingering on the Splendor, and it seemed to work wonders. As we approached the table, Edmund and his brother both stood and made to move out our chairs; Edmund pulled mine out for me and pushed it back in before returning to his own place between his brother and Susan. I sat across the table beside Lucy.

"Did you sleep well, Estelle?" Susan asked once Lucy and I had fixed our plates.

"Well enough," I replied. Seeing her confused look I thought I should elaborate. "The first night back on solid ground is always the most difficult as one must adjust to sleep without the soothing rock of a ship."

Edmund chuckled. "Here, here."

"You speak as though you are familiar with sailing. Have you sailed often?" the High King asked.

I swallowed roughly and tried to remain calm. "Yes, Your Majesty."

"Please, call me Peter."

"Oh, I'm not sure I can do that, Your Majesty. You're the High King."

"That is more title than anything, Estelle. In truth, we four rule equally. If their name is sufficient enough for my siblings, then it is the same with me. Please, call me Peter, Estelle."

"All…all right, P-Peter," I said a little uneasily, but the High King seemed pleased.

"Thank you, now, Estelle, why did you sail so often?"

"Papa was a fisher. He could be gone for days at a time and only back for one before sailing again. If we wanted to see him, we had to sail with him." The High King grimaced at my reply.

"Peter's not much of one for sailing for an extended amount of time," Edmund explained. "Short trips here and there are about all he can handle. He could never live on the sea as you or I have."

"I see no point when I have a brother and two sisters who do it so well," the High King said.

"That's all right, Peter. I would gladly take your place aboard any sea faring vessel," Lucy said with a smile.

"I know too well that you would, Lu. You would sail beyond the Lone Islands if I let you."

"But there's nothing beyond the islands," I said. The High King looked at me with a smile and a single raised eyebrow. "At least, there's nothing on the map."

"Nothing anyone has found, at least…not yet," Edmund said with a gleam in his eyes.

"Do you think there could be other islands out there?" I asked.

"It's an awfully vast sea for there to be nothing." A sudden excitement gripped me.

"Could you imagine being the one to find them?" Lucy asked, sounding just as excited as I felt.

"Perhaps one day we shall." Edmund was still smiling at me, and, somehow, I knew he had included me in that 'we.'

"Perhaps you two could discuss your possible future sailing ventures after you've had breakfast?" Susan said. "And need I remind you, you only just returned from five months at sea."

"It wasn't quite five full months, Sister," Edmund said to which Susan simply gave him a look. "Very well then, Lucy and I shall put off any future sails until later. Speaking of later, Estelle," here his attention went solely back to me. "I was thinking that after breakfast…perhaps I could show you around Narnia a bit. Take you outside the castle and see the grounds. Perhaps even, begin a few riding lessons?" He sounded hopeful, and I felt it.

Perhaps Lucy was right.

"I…I would like that." And I would. There was one problem however. "But Lucy's already offered to show me around the castle after breakfast. I didn't see much of it last night. And then later, she and Susan have set a time for me to meet with the seamstress."

"We are going to give Estelle some of her own dresses to wear," Susan explained.

"Oh. I see," Edmund replied, the hopefulness gone from his voice.

"Perhaps," the High King began, "You and Estelle could go later, after the seamstress? It would give Philip a chance to rest after your morning romp, and if you are learning to ride, Estelle, there is no better instructor than Philip."

I could have laughed out loud at the High King's words and at the look on Edmund's face. I knew that he too was thinking back to our conversation on board the Splendor about learning to ride and instructors.

"Yes, I've heard that too," I said, trying very hard to hold my laughter.

"I do believe that is a challenge," Edmund said, his eyes trained on me. I shrugged in response. "After the seamstress, then?"

I nodded. "After the seamstress."

And so, Edmund and Estelle have made a...would you call it a date?...to meet up for riding lessons. However will this turn out? Oh, I'm such a tease sometimes. I hope you enjoyed this chapter.