Thanks for all the love! Oh! How I've missed writing. I'm glad to be back.

The Water is Wide

Chapter 23

"My Wife!"

I was amazed by the kindness and aptitude for forgiveness by the Narnians. They were sad that I had lied to them—yes it was a lie; no matter how Edmund tried to phrase it to make me feel better, it was a lie. I knew that and I wasn't going to hide from it any more.—They were sad that I had lied to them, but they were glad that I had been the one to tell them the truth. I decided not to mention Peter's threat that if I didn't tell he would. There was the occasional slip when someone still called me Estelle; I don't know who felt more guilty then, me or them. Apart from that, things were going well.

Of course, contrary to Peter's will, I hadn't told Edmund everything. I thought about it, and I was going to tell him, but as I thought on it more I realized Peter couldn't have known. The only ones who knew were Papa, Liam, and I. Papa was dead. Liam was likely to be dead too. I had never told anyone, not even Heulyn or my sisters; I especially hadn't told Peter. So how could he know? If Peter didn't know, then I saw no reason to tell Edmund. If I told Edmund, everything, it would only hurt him more. Why would I want to do that?

Speaking of Edmund, he'd been acting odd ever since Peter's return. Not odd in a mistrustful way, but odd in an 'I have secrets of my own' sort of way. He's been more affectionate, openly flirtatious or kissing me when others are around. And he's been much busier. Suddenly he has meetings at odd hours of the day. There are times where he barely even recalls he was supposed to have a meeting. They are very secretive meetings too; I'm not allowed to know who with, or where the meeting is to take place or even when it is to be over. Edmund simply vanishes and returns at a later hour, and when he returns it is usually then that he's very affectionate. It's quite strange, but Edmund has assured me that everything is fine.

XOXOX

I shivered slightly and pulled the blanket tighter around me. Meanwhile, Edmund held me closer from behind with his head resting on my shoulder. We had taken a basket of food and several blankets to the precipice for a picnic dinner. That had been nearly two hours ago. It was now growing quite dark and cold, but going back to the castle would mean leaving Edmund's embrace and I wasn't ready to do that.

"Are you warm enough, my love?" he whispered sensually into my ear making me shiver for another reason.

"As long as you continue to hold me I will be quite warm," I replied with my head turned to the side so I could see him. Our lips met briefly for a deep kiss. "And as long as we continue to kiss like that, I'll be warmer still. I've missed these moments."

"What do you mean? We have moments like this all the time."

"Not recently we haven't. For the past week or so you've been quite busy, ever since Peter returned from the islands."

"Yes, well ah…" he paused suddenly and smiled.

"What?"

"You called him Peter."

"Oh, I suppose I did. Now will you tell me what's going on?"

"What's going on with what?"

"You know what. The meetings you've been having every day."

"Oh, that."

"Yes that."

"You don't want to hear about those."

"If that were true I wouldn't have asked."

"It's all very boring, very dull, very…"

"…Mysterious?" I offered.

"Unexciting," he replied cheekily. "Trust me, Aaralynn; you don't want to hear about them."

"So you're not going to tell me?"

"Nope," he said popping his 'p.'

I sighed. "Fine. Another time then."

"Not likely, but you can try."

I sighed again.

"Have I ever told you you're adorable when you pout?"

"No."

"Well you are, quite so too. The way your bottom lip pokes out just a bit, it makes me want to kiss it." And he did just that.

"That is so unfair."

"What is?"

"When you kiss me like that, I can't ever remember why I was mad at you to begin with."

"Then my kisses work as I intend for them to do."

"Like I said, so unfair." He smiled and kissed me again.

"What was that?"

"So very unfair."

Another kiss. "What?"

"Unfair…" I breathed heavily.

Kiss. "I didn't quite hear that."

"Un…"

Kiss.

"I—I can't remember."

"Then perhaps one more for good measure."

He kissed me again, this time deeper. His hand curled into my hair behind my ear while his thumb grazed my jaw line. I surrendered myself to the kiss. My own hands snaked around his neck to pull him closer. I turned in his lap and adjusted my legs so that they straddled him. When we parted we were both panting for air, and we both desired to go further but knew we couldn't.

"I love you," we whispered at the same time, and we laughed softly.

"Have you ever been to Archenland?" Edmund asked, somewhat unexpectedly.

"No. Why do you ask?"

"Winter is coming. Anvard is beautiful in the winter. The mountain sides are covered in white snow. It snows here a little, but nothing like it does there. My siblings and many of our close advisors do not much like the snow; it reminds them of…harder times."

"You mean the Great Winter? I remember something of it. But you don't mind the snow? It doesn't remind you of those times too?"

"It does, but it also reminds of the triumph that came after, the spring and new life that followed. That is why I like the snow."

"I remember the snow. It used to fall on Avra a little, but not since you defeated her."

"It wasn't I who defeated her. It was Aslan."

I knew Edmund only mentioned his Lion by name in hopes that I would talk about Him. He was always trying to get me to talk about the Lion, but I wasn't going to fall prey to that tonight.

"I think I'd like to see the snow again. And I'd like to see it with you," I said.

"Well then perhaps we can go to Anvard this winter and see the snow together."

"That sounds wonderful, Edmund, but why wait? When will the snow begin to fall?"

"Soon, I believe."

"Then let us go now, before it falls and we can see it from the beginning. I do not wish to wait. Come away with me."

"I would go to the ends of the world with you, Aaralynn, but we must wait."

"A week then? Will that be enough time to set your affairs in order? Can we go in a week?"

"A week?"

I nodded vigorously.

"A week will not be enough time to plan a…" He stopped suddenly as though he had said too much.

"Plan what?"

Edmund shook his head.

"What are you planning?"

"Nothing. Who says I'm planning something?"

"You did."

"Did not."

"Did so. You just said a week wouldn't be enough time to plan."

"Did I? I don't recall."

"Then perhaps you need to see Salinus if your memory is so poor. What are you planning, Edmund?"

He sighed heavily. "All right, if you must know."

"I do. I must know."

"We cannot leave in a week because…because we…have... a visitor coming."

"A visitor?" I asked. I couldn't deny that I was a little disappointed. I thought perhaps he had been about to say something else.

"Yes a visitor."

"Oh. I see. Well who is it? Are they very important, because if not I'm sure Peter and your sisters can handle them."

"It's a Lord from Terebinthia."

"Oh." My hope was deflated instantly. Narnia had been trying to make contact with Terebinthia for months, so if a Terebinthian Lord was visiting than his visit was very, very important. "Now I really see."

Edmund chuckled and kissed me playfully on the cheek. "But I promise you, Aaralynn, as soon as the visit is over and as soon as…all is settled, we will ride for Archenland at once."

"Hmmm…well I guess I can live with that."

"Can you now?"

"Perhaps."

"Perhaps? Perhaps? How's this for a perhaps?"

Suddenly he started tickling me. I squirmed and tried to get out of his reach but his hold was too strong. When he finally did stop, I was lying flat on my back with him hovering over me. He stared down at me, breathing heavily. I knew what thoughts were racing through his mind because they were racing through mine as well. Before he was too tempted to act on them though, he sat back.

He ran a hand over his face and spoke softly. "It will not be long now. Lord Silas does not strike me as a man who wastes his time."

"Silas!" I asked suddenly as I sat up.

"Silas of the Northern Shore, the Terebinthian Lord who's coming to visit," Edmund elaborated.

My heart was laden with fear.

"Do you know of him?"

I did my best at a smile and shook my head in what I hoped to be a convincing manner. "I am but the daughter of a poor fisher. Why would I know of a Terebinthian Lord?"

If Edmund questioned my answer he showed no visible sign of it. He simply nodded his head before suggesting that we head back to the castle, as it was now very late. I was suddenly glad for it for I feared that Edmund would see the truth in my eyes. In all my reasoning on why not to tell Edmund everything, I forgot one important detail. There was one other who knew everything: Lord Silas of the Northern Shore.

XOXOX

I decided that Silas' arrival in Narnia would not be a problem. He may know everything, but he didn't know me, or I him. Who's to say that I was the same Aaralynn? I certainly didn't feel the same. Still, it was probably best that I spent as little time with Silas as possible.

"Quickly now, Aaralynn," Balnair urged. "Lord Silas is already on his way to the castle with His Majesty, and King Edmund wanted you in the throne room when they arrived."

"Just one more," I said as I slid the final pin into my hair. I stepped back from the reflecting glass and smoothed out any stray wrinkles in my dress. I may have been trying to avoid Lord Silas, but I still wanted to be presentable. I was courting a King after all.

"All right, I'm ready. Let's go."

Balnair and I quickly made our way down to the throne room. Lord Silas of the Northern Shore had just arrived in Narnia. Edmund, since he had been the one to correspond with Silas while Peter was away, had gone to the docks to meet the Terebinthian. Then he was going to bring him to the throne room to meet his royal siblings and those of the court.

Balnair and I arrived at the throne room with little time to spare. We entered in through a side door and gently made our way to the front of the crowd that had gathered. Edmund came through the main doors with Silas and his party a moment later. Introductions were made and greetings exchanged. Then the crowd cheered and closed in around the Terebinthian party to make introductions of their own. Meanwhile, Edmund came over to me and kissed my hand.

"You look radiant."

"Thank you," I replied softly. "And you look very handsome today." He was dressed in his royal garb today, complete with red cape emblazed with a golden lion and his silver crown.

"Yes, I know, I… Hold on, today?"

I giggled and I was about to tease him more when, "Aaralynn?" A familiar voice caught my ear.

"Aaralynn? My child is that you?" It was a voice I knew only too well. Tears pricked my eyes at the sound of it and I turned to search for its source. My gaze landed on a face I believed to be dead.

"Aaralynn, it is you!"

"Liam? Oh Liam!" I cried and ran towards the old man who had recognized me. I threw my arms around his neck and hugged him close. He returned the embrace before pulling back to look me over. His hands came to my face as though he was trying to make sure it was really me and not a phantom. His eyes shone with the tears that mine ran.

"Liam, I—I thought you to be dead," I choked out.

"And I you, my child," he replied as he wiped away my falling tears. "The Lion does indeed favor us today."

"I…I don't understand. How did you survive? I saw the ship go down."

"Yes. It is true that the Estelle went under. But we managed our escape just in time. We were adrift for nearly a day when a Terebinthian rig found us. They took us on board and returned us to their Lord who gave us food and shelter."

"It was much the same with me, only it was Their Majesties who found me. Edmund! Edmund, come here!" I turned and found Edmund still standing where I had left him. He wasn't far from us and he had likely heard everything that had been said, but he kindly acted as though he hadn't.

"Edmund, this is my Papa's oldest and dearest friend and first mate of the Estelle, Liam. Liam, this is King Edmund. It was he who pulled me from the sea."

"Then I owe you many thanks, good Sir, to have rescued my dear Aaralynn. You need but to name your price. I haven't much gold, but Aaralynn will avouch for my work," Liam said as he went down on his knee and kissed Edmund's ring. Edmund clasped Liam by his shoulders and helped him to his feet.

"A young life saved is reward enough. I ask nothing of you."

"You are as kind as your words have led my Lord to believe."

"Forgive me, Sir. I could not help but over hear what you said of your rescue. Perhaps it escaped Aaralynn's notice, bit not my own. You used the term 'we.'"

Liam smiled. "Your Majesty, you are as perceptive as you are kind."

"Liam? What's the meaning of this? Who was with you?" I asked, I dared not to hope.

"I was in the dinghy with Heulyn and the girls."

My knees when weak beneath me, but Liam's hands, which held my arms, were as strong as they ever were. He held me up. I could not see for the tears that suddenly clouded my eyes, and my breath left me.

"Heulyn and my…my sisters are…are alive?"

"Yes and very well."

Again I felt like I couldn't breathe.

"And they will be overjoyed to hear that you are alive as well when I write the news to them."

"I will know their joy, for it is mine now. And Papa? What of him?" This time I did dare to hope, but Liam's smile disappeared and he bowed his head. I needed no other confirmation.

"Then I did see…"

"His heart could not take the storm. He is at rest now. Let us not think on such death though, when life has been given to us."

"You are right, Liam. You bring me news today that I have longed for. Where are my siblings now?"

"They are still on Terebinthia, at Lord Silas' estate. It was one of his rigs that found us. When he learned our story he offered us shelter. The Lion is indeed good. To think, of all that could have come upon us, we were found by the one Terebinthian Lord who would not sale an old man and four young children into slavery. My Lord is kind and generous. He will be glad to hear this news as well. Come, you must meet him!"

In my joy I had forgotten why I wanted to avoid Lord Silas, until Liam wrapped an arm around my shoulder and began to lead me to where Silas stood with Peter, Susan, and Lucy. Liam knew everything. I couldn't meet Silas like this. My heart thundered in my chest. I tried to twist out of Liam's arms, but I could not. I tried to insist that I didn't need to meet Silas right now, that it could wait, but Liam did not hear. Worse yet, Edmund was coming with us.

"Silas, my good Lord," Liam called as we neared the Terebinthian.

Silas tuned to meet us and suddenly I stood before a man whose face would have appeared young were it not for the golden, bushy beard that covered it.

"Liam, what can I do for you my good man?" Silas asked.

"I bring news of great joy," Liam replied, squeezing my shoulder. "This is the eldest daughter of my old friend. This is Aaralynn."

"Aaralynn?" the bearded Lord said as he turned his eyes to me. After looking at me for a moment as though trying to place the name, his eyes lit up and he laughed joyously throwing his head back as he did so. "Aaralynn! My wife!"