The Water is Wide

Chapter 20

Breakfast and Meetings

Four days! That's how many mornings I'd been in Narnia. That's how many days had passed since Edmund first kissed me. And every time he'd kissed me since—I couldn't even begin to count how many times that's been—my body still erupted in that fire. It showed no sign of going away either. In fact, with each subsequent kiss, the fire burned stronger and lasted longer.

"There you are. I was beginning to wonder if you had forgotten our breakfast," I teased as Edmund finally joined me on the veranda. Every morning I would meet Edmund for breakfast on a little veranda, and he would tell me what he wanted to cover in my riding lesson that afternoon.

"How could I have possibly forgotten about having breakfast with you?" Edmund asked as he wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me close.

I shrugged. "I thought perhaps Mareena had been singing for you." Mareena was a Mermaid who lived in the bay; Edmund had finally introduced me to the Mermaids the day before.

"Silly Estelle," he said before kissing my lips softly. "Don't you know that yours is the only voice I hear anymore?" He kissed me again.

"Pity," I replied. "Mareena is a lovely alto. We could have sung harmony together."

Edmund's eyebrows rose. "Now there's a thought."

I laughed at his cheekiness before allowing him to kiss me again and pull out my chair for me. We sat down together and began loading our plates.

"I'm sorry I was late, I was talking with Peter," he said.

"Oh? And what did the High King have to say, or is it about information I am not privy to?"

"Estelle, he's asked you to call him Peter, and you said you would."

"And so I shall, when I'm speaking with him. But any other time well…it's still very strange for me, Edmund. Please allow me this one small comfort."

Edmund sighed. I knew he wished for me to call his brother by name, but I felt like something was holding me back from doing so. I didn't know what.

"We were talking about you, actually," Edmund said.

"Me?"

"He would like to meet with you, with all of us. He would like for you to share your story again. He wants to hear, from your perspective and not mine, about the storm and what happened."

"I thought you'd already told him everything I told you."

"I have, but he wants to hear it from you. I've tried to convince him otherwise, but he's insistent. I did convince him on one thing, however. I've brought parchment and ink with me. I thought, since I know how difficult it is for you to talk about it, that instead of telling Peter again you could write it down for him to see. Peter's agreed to this."

"You…you want me to write it out for him?"

"I thought it would be a little easier. Peter would still have the story from your words and you wouldn't…"

"I can't."

"Estelle, it will be all right. You won't have to keep repeating the story. It will be documented and if Peter had questions later he could refer to it, instead of having to ask again."

"No, Edmund. It's not that. It's just…I can't write it down for you because I don't know how. I can't read or write."

"I…I'm sorry," he said softly. "I didn't know, Estelle."

"It's not that important, Edmund. Reading and writing aren't important skills on the Islands, especially for the daughter of a fisher. There are many girls like me there."

"I highly doubt that, Estelle," Edmund replied with a smile. "They may be similar to you, in that they too can't read or write, but they are not like you. They can't be." He leaned forward and kissed me softly, almost sensually even; my heart fluttered and nearly stopped. His reaction must have been similar because he suddenly gave a little cough like he did when he wanted to defuse tension.

"Have…have you ever had any interest in learning?" he asked.

I shrugged and took a bite of food. "Mama tried to teach me when I was younger. There was a time when I could identify each letter by name, I could even draw them. But when they were put together to make words, they made no sense to me. When Heulyn and the twins were born, we didn't have much time to continue the lessons. I don't think I remember much of it now, except maybe a letter or two."

"Do you have any interest to resume your lessons? Because, it just so happens that I'm very skilled at both reading and writing." He smirked and I laughed. "Do you doubt my skills?"

"Not at all my liege. I'm sure you skills are…numerous." His eyes flashed in curiosity, and my heart began to race. "As much as I enjoy spending time with you though, I'm not sure it would be a good idea. You are already teaching me to ride, and I do not want to be the reason you are neglecting all your duties, unless of course, you wished to turn my lessons over to Philip alone."

He laughed. "Oh, I dare not. I would never hear the end of it if I did. Philip would see to that." He rubbed his thumb over the back of my hand. "Perhaps you are right, though."

"However, I think I might like to try learning." Edmund smiled and brought my hand to his lips.

"Well then, perhaps we can make an appeal to Lucy. I'm sure she would be interested in helping you learn."

"And then she cannot accuse you of stealing me away from her."

He laughed again; I loved to hear his laughter. "Indeed."

We finished our breakfast, slowly but surely; we were always hindered by our laughter and our soft kisses. Our breakfast was so ordinary, that I had forgotten about the High King's request until Edmund began leading me towards his study. When we arrived, Lucy, Susan, and the High King were already in there. I took a seat next to Edmund and across the desk from the High King. We wasted no time in beginning. It wasn't as difficult as I thought it would be, until the High King began asking for specific details. In particularly, he wanted a physical description of my siblings; that was the hardest part. When he was satisfied he dismissed us and Edmund and Lucy led me out.

I numbly watched as Edmund and Lucy led a distraught Estelle from my study. It had not been my intent to upset her so, but I needed all the information I could obtain. I knew asking for the physical description would be most difficult, both to ask and to be told. And yet, how could I possibly search for four children I had never met when I had no idea what they looked like. My thoughts on what to do with the information I had obtained were jumping around chaotically in my head. I pinched the bridge of my nose as a single thought emerged from the chaos. I knew what I must do.

"I know that look, Peter. What are you thinking?" Susan asked once the door behind Edmund and Estelle had shut. I sighed heavily and rose from my desk. I went to the window and directed my eyes to the south, towards Calormen.

"I have to find them," I replied.

"So what are you planning?"

"We've looked everywhere save for two places: Terebinthia and Calormen."

"Terebinthia won't answer our hails; you can't just arrive unwelcomed."

"Which is why I've decided to sail for Tashbaan."

"Calormen is a large country. If the children were found by merchants and sold, it is quite possible that they are no longer in Tashbaan or even near it, and they were likely separated."

"I know. I'm not saying it will be easy or that I'll even be a little successful. But I have to try."

"Why?" I've always known Susan to be the most practical of my siblings, but her question surprised me.

"What do you mean 'why,' Susan?"

She sighed and took a step closer. "It's been two, almost three months since they were lost. We have no reason to believe they even survived the storm, let alone three months as slaves. How long do we continue to feed her hopes and promises we cannot guarantee?"

"I haven't promised her anything," I refuted.

"Can you say the same for our brother?"

"No, I cannot." I sighed. "You're right, Susan." I pushed off the window and walked to where Susan stood. "You are right. I know you are. It is very likely that I will find nothing, but I have to try."

"Again, I ask why."

I sighed. "Because I understand her…need…to find them. As the eldest sibling the responsibility of protecting the younger ones falls to us. I know if I were in her position—as I have been once before—if any one of you were lost, I would stop at nothing to find you. If all three of you were lost…I would be out of my mind with worry and fear that the worst should have already happened. I know what the chances of finding them are, but I must try."

Susan closed her eyes and breathed for a moment before giving a single nod of her head. "Then you shall not be alone." As I looked into her eyes, I could see the wheels of a plan turning.

"You will take all the best spies with you, the birds and the smaller creatures who can pass unnoticed in Calormen," she continued. "We will send them ahead of your ship. When you arrive you will be there to wine and dine, only to wine and dine. You will partake in their feasts and drink merrily of their wines. You will schmooze with the Tisroc (may he live forever)—" she added with a brief roll of her eyes "—and his sons. You may take what pleasures you please, so long as you bear in mind whose you are. Most importantly, Peter, you will let your people work for you. They will report to you under nightfall. When you feel you have learned all you can, or when the Tisroc (may he live forever)—" another eye roll "—runs you out for drinking all his wine, then you may return home. Does this satisfy you?"

"When do we begin?" I simply asked.

"Today," she said as she handed me a roll of parchment and a quill. "You will begin writing your letter to the Tisroc (may…)"

"May he live forever…yes, I get it."

Susan smirked. "You are going to humbly request a time of relaxation and joviality in his court, for the many stresses of being High King have begun to work on your young years. Meanwhile, I will begin gathering your people and relaying to them their duties."

"And what of the Cair while I am gone?"

"Edmund, Lucy and I shall look after her. Well, Lucy and I shall; Edmund seems a bit preoccupied. Do not worry, Peter. Lu and I are quite capable of running Narnia in your absence."

"I know you are, but are you capable of running Edmund too?"

Susan smiled softly. "I will leave him in the hands of Estelle, for now. I will leave you to your writings, but don't forget about the feast tonight. I do believe tonight is the night at last in which Estelle will grace us with song."

"I have been looking forward to it."

"As have I, brother." Susan smiled softly again before leaving.

Oh wow! So sorry for the long wait. I did not intend for this to happen. We are down a few people at work and so things are a bit crazy on that end, and on the other I've been distracted with other things, like watching Netflix and new summer movies. (FYI, Iron Man 3 was very exciting and I'm so looking forward to the new Star Trek)

All these are just excuses though, and I'm very sorry. I hope this doesn't disappoint.