CH5.
As Reyna slowly pushed open the heavy oak door to her chambers, she had a small smile on her face. She carried her riding boots in one hand - they were soaking wet and blistering her heels with the friction - and in the other she held her dripping skirts away from the carpet. As she quietly opened the door, attempting to sneak through the common area Elise, her handmaiden, gave a small cry of dismay when she saw Reyna's disheveled appearance.
"My lady! What in the world happened to you?" Elise said while rushing over to Reyna immediately beginning to help her out of her clothes.
"King Edmund and I went for a ride and we got caught in a bit of a downpour." Replied Reyna, laughingly.
"My lady we must get you out of these soaking clothes and into a warm bath before you catch a chill!" Cried Elise, frantically stripping the wet garments from Reyna's shivering body. Reyna hadn't realized how cold she actually was. She had been too preoccupied thinking about her day out with Edmund to think about the fact that she was wearing an extremely thin dress that also happened to be covered in icy rainwater. Once Elise had gotten her out of her wet clothes, she wrapped her in a blanket and went to draw a bath. The bath was heavenly. It was exactly the right temperature and was infused with lavender and rose petals.
Once she was fully dressed again, this time in a simple cream dress, Reyna sat on her bed and began to brush through the tangled mass that was her hair. She heard a soft knock at the door.
"Come in!" She called. King Archibald's weather-beaten face soon appeared in the doorway. He smiled at her as he walked to where she was sitting.
"Well, Reyna, I heard you went riding today. How was it? Did you enjoy yourself?" Said her father with a knowing smile.
"It was lovely, papa!" Replied Reyna.
She was tugging at an extremely knotted part of her hair and made an exclamation of pain as she said this, which took a little away from the sincerity of her statement. Her father came to stand next to her and took the brush from her hair. It had been a long time since he had brushed her hair. It used to be a tradition between them that no matter how busy her father's day had been, he would always make time to brush her hair before bedtime. Unfortunately, that tradition has become rare in recent years. Reyna's heart ached as she remembered her childhood; feeling giddy with excitement on the days when she knew her father was returning from a trip, knowing he would come straight to her bedroom to gather her up into his arms to tell her about his trip and how much he missed her. As she grew older, the visits had grown shorter and fewer with the business of court-life taking precedence. Her maid servants became the ones who would brush her hair and take care of her needs. There was a long stretch of time where father and daughter saw each other only at meal times and occasionally around the palace. He was often busy with the responsibilities of running a country and she was often occupied with learning how to run a household and prepare for all the things that she would need to do as queen. Her father was quite a traditionalist at heart and didn't include her in many, if any at all, of the decisions made about the kingdom. She was pulled from her thoughts of the past when her father spoke to her softly saying, "It's been quite a long time since we have sat like this, you and me, hasn't it?"
"Yes, papa. It has." Reyna replied, a twinge of sadness in her voice.
"I had an interesting conversation today with the young king today..." He said. She turned around to face him and he stopped brushing her hair.
"Oh? What did the two of you speak of?" She said cautiously.I am almost positive this is going to just be more nonsense about my marriage. Wait for it…."Well, my child, it's about your marriage." He there is. "He was telling me about how things are done here in Narnia and how involved his sisters are in kingdom affairs. He has quite progressive views about women and men and their roles in society." He paused before continuing, "He reminded me of you and some of the conversations we have had recently." Reyna averted her eyes and blushed slightly.
"...Papa..." She began, but her father cut her off.
"Reyna, my child, do not be dismayed that King Peter spoke to me. I am quite aware of how your current situation discomforts you. I still believe, and I think you also believe, that it is for the benefit of Limea that you be sensibly and stably married."
"...Yes, papa, I know..." She began, the hope she had felt a moment ago quickly dwindling.
"However," she looked up, "King Peter had some very sound and reasonable arguments as to why it is beneficial for you not to rush into a marriage, arranged or not. I believe that he spoke with wisdom and understanding, and I am inclined to listen to him about this subject, as he is more in touch with the current diplomatic climate. I have decided to give you more time to adjust to the idea of marriage. I will give you a few months to explore your options and if you can find a suitable match by yourself - someone who you can love and will have the best interests of Limea at heart, then I will give you permission to marry. Queen Susan graciously offered to let you stay here at Cair Paravel during this time, as you will be able to come in contact with many different people here, who you would not be exposed to in Limea. When the peace conference is over, I will return to Limea and you shall remain here, if you are so inclined. I will give you six months to find a husband for yourself. You can fall in love, get your heart broken, whatever you wish. But you must find someone by then. When six months has passed, I will return for you. If I find that you have not procured for yourself a husband whom you love, or at least a fiancé, then I will choose one for you. Is that understood?"
While he had been speaking, Reyna's heart began to swell with excitement. She not only would get to see more of the world and be exposed to different people, she would get to remain here with her friends - instead of returning to solitude on Limea - and she was being given the opportunity to choose! Obviously, she would never have the freedom to choose like a normal woman would, she was a princess after all, but she was being given the opportunity to seek after a life that she could be happy in. She would at least be able to get to know her potential husband a little, which was better than just meeting on their wedding night. Although Reyna was relieved and excited to have some freedom of choice, she couldn't help wishing that her father had come to this conclusion without the guidance of another man.
"Oh, papa!" She exclaimed, throwing her arms around his neck. "Thank you so much for this!"
She pulled back from the embrace and looked him in the eyes, "It means so much that you are willing to trust me in this." He smiled gently at her, his eyes growing a little misty.
"My darling, you know I only want the best for you and for Limea. I realize since your brothers' death, I have been a tad overbearing…" Reyna quirked an eyebrow at this, "Oh, alright, quite overbearing. But you know that I do this only because I do not want to lose you.." He trailed off and Reyna could hear the unspoken "like I've lost everyone else" in the silence.
Reyna gave him a smile and a nod back. When he finally let her go he said, "I think you have someone else to thank as well." He said with a wink and a grin. She nodded and began searching for a shawl to throw over her dress, so she could run off and find Peter.
"Just a few words of wisdom, my love. Be careful, to whom you give your heart. Because once it is given away you cannot take it back. Many times, you will be left with a hole in your heart that is unable to be filled. Choose wisely." His eyes were somber and Reyna knew he was thinking about her mother. He was thinking about the hole that she left them both with. One that could never be filled by anyone else.
"You know," her father said as she was rummaging in her trunk, "I do like that young man. He is very well spoken and quite wise." She looked at him, "He also seems to be quite taken with you..." Her father continued. Reyna blushed and ducked her head.
"Oh papa! I'm sure he simply was just being nice. He is very kind-hearted."
"He seems so." Her father said, glancing slyly her way, "Perhaps you won't have to look far to find the man you seek." Her father gave her another wink as she walked past him, situating a purple shawl across her shoulders. Reyna just shook her head and smiled slightly before exiting her chambers and walking off to find Peter.
xxxxxxx
Reyna searched over most of the castle and it was only by chance that she had found him. She was just about to give up when she heard a few grunts coming from the courtyard. When she saw him, her breath hitched. It was a warm and humid evening now that the rain had passed, and Peter had removed his green tunic and white undershirt and had slung them over a railing near the entrance to the stables. He was sweating profusely and she watched as his muscles contracted with every swing of the sword. He was swinging at a practice dummy and fighting like his life depended on it. His breath was coming heavily, and sweat dripped off of his forehead and into his eyes. His hair was wet with perspiration and stuck to his forehead or sprayed when he whipped around on a blow. Reyna felt butterflies swirl in her stomach as she watched. She finally shook herself out of her stupor, sucked in a breath of air and began to walk down the steps into the yard. As Reyna walked closer, she felt (and heard) her feet squelch in the her eyes at herself for once again forgetting her shoes, she pulled her skirts off to one side and tucked them into her belt. If I get mud on this petticoat, Elise will have my tail – however, she would probably give me quite the lecture for allowing my ankles and calves to show right now in the presence of a man; but who am I to tell her? She continued to walk closer, relishing the feel of the cool mud between her toes. She stopped several feet away from him and stood there watching. Peter was so engaged in his training he didn't notice her. After several minutes, Reyna shifted, her feet making a loud sucking noise as she lifted them out of the mud. Peter faltered mid-strike, whipping around, a fire alight in his eyes, muscles engaged and poised for attack, sword raised. It took him a moment to recognize her, but she saw his eyes clear and his muscles visibly relax once he realized who was standing there. He exhaled loudly. His sword arm dropped and he swiped an arm across his forehead trying to wipe the sweat off. He smiled a lopsided smile at her - her heart skipped a beat.
"Rey," he stated simply, "what are you doing out here?" Reyna felt the familiar butterflies circle in her belly when he said her name.
"Actually, I was looking for you." She replied. His smile widened at this. He quirked an eyebrow. Planting his sword into the ground, he relaxed even further, leaning on it, his other hand raised out to his side and said "Well, you found me! What is it that I can do for you?"
Reyna took this as her que to move closer since he was no longer waving a dangerous weapon around. As the distance between them shortened, it became harder and harder for Reyna to breathe. She could see his extremely defined muscles twitching, still primed for a fight, and sweat slid down his chest and abdomen, distracting her. His trousers had slid down a bit while he was exercising, and she could see the tops of his hipbones peeking out. She slowly realized that he had been speaking to her and quickly tried to formulate a response, blinking her eyes, realizing she had been staring.
"Uh… well… I… uh" She cleared her throat again. "I wanted to say thank you for speaking with my father. He has agreed to let me stay in Narnia for a few months and offered me the freedom to choose." She blushed at the idea of mentioning marriage to Peter, not only because he looked like a half-naked Adonis, but also because of what her father had hinted at. She couldn't meet his eyes, so she focused on his shoes. Even though he was a proper distance away from her, she was intensely aware of his presence and could sense his every movement.
He straightened and took a few steps towards her, further closing the gap between them.
"It was the least I could do. I couldn't leave a fair maiden in distress like that, could I?" He said playfully, tugging on a piece of her hair lightly. She glanced back at his face and blushed again. "Besides, I think it is only fair to allow women the same privileges and agency as a man."
He walked past her to retrieve his shirt. She inhaled a deep calming breath, even though he was now fully clothed, when she closed her eyes the image of his toned chest still remained in her mind. He didn't put his tunic back on but left it on the fence and jumped up to sit on the top of it, looking back at Reyna.
"So, looks like you'll be staying a while with us. I do hope you won't get bored." He grinned at her widely, his dimples making an appearance.
She walked a little closer while saying, "Oh, I don't think you'll have to worry about that! I am quite enjoying my stay here in Narnia, and there is so much that I haven't yet seen!" Her feet continued to make sucking noises in the mud as she walked. The sound made her freeze and she looked back down at her feet, now covered up to her calves in mud. Her face colored crimson, as Peter started laughing.
"Misplaced your shoes, it seems." He said, blue eyes shining with mirth and chuckling. Reyna felt her flush continue down her face to her neck in chest. Seeing her turn as red as a tomato only caused Peter to laugh harder. She quickly walked over to the laughing man and before he could realize her plan, she shoved him off the railing and into the stall behind him. He toppled backwards, completing an entire somersault, before landing hard on his bum. Now it was her time to laugh. He looked absolutely confused at her boldness and sat for a second on the ground in the mud and straw. As soon as his wits returned he jumped up and barreled towards her. She had planned for this, however, and quickly picked up her skirts and began running away through the mud and around the yard. He was much faster than she had expected however, especially after such a rigorous training session, and caught up to her quickly. He grabbed her by the waist and swung her up into the air above his head. He ran over to a wheelbarrow of newly scooped dung and held her over it laughing and threatening to drop her in it. Reyna yelped and clung to him like a koala joey, refusing to budge.
"Peter, don't even think about trying to drop me in there. I swear, I'll take you with me if you do!" Reyna exclaimed, squeezing tighter as he tried to untangle her and plop her into the wheelbarrow.
"Oh, I have no doubt of that , Reyna." Peter laughed, his hands resting on her waist. Finally, giving up on trying to drop her, he swung away from the dung pile and Reyna allowed him to place her back on her feet. Glancing down at their wrinkled clothing now splattered with straw, mud, and dung they started laughing again.
After a few moments, they both were wheezing clutching at their sides trying to get their breath. They were bent over each other, Reyna with her hand on his shoulder and Peter with his hand around her waist as they regained control of themselves.
Suddenly, they heard laughter coming from somewhere else and saw Susan and Lucy standing in an archway also laughing at the scene that had just played out. Reyna began to blush, realizing they had had an audience, but Peter just continued to laugh and he motioned to his sisters gleefully. Reyna had only ever seen the girls at their most ladylike and regal, seeing them shed their queenly masks was a welcome relief. Susan ran forward, her eyes shone with mischief as she dug both fists into the ground and grabbed some mud before throwing both handfuls at Peter.
"Oh no you didn't!" He exclaimed, before running after her the same way he had run after Reyna. Susan was fast; however, she was like a nimble elf who could jump over obstacles and flit around gracefully without slowing down a bit. Peter was tired, after training and running after Reyna so he couldn't keep up with her. When Susan glanced back over her shoulder for him, Lucy came out of nowhere and tackled Susan to the ground, soaking them both with mud. The two queens rolled around in the mud a few times, completely forgetting decorum, shoving mud into each other's hair and smearing it along any clean area. It was quite a sight. Peter had jogged over to stand by Reyna and watch the spectacle.
Finally, when the four of them had all calmed down a bit, Peter spoke, "Luce, Su! Rey's father gave her permission to stay here with us for a little while! Isn't that great news?"
Susan and Lucy, still sitting in the mud, covered from head to toe, grinned white smiles at her and exclaimed,
"How exciting!"
"I am so glad!"
"We are going to have such fun!"
"I can hardly wait for all the adventures we will have!"
The two girls looked at each other again and laughed at their appearances. They got up and excused themselves, needing to go change and clean themselves up before dinner, which was in less than an hour. They shouted goodbyes to Reyna and Peter before disappearing. Peter chuckled again to himself.
"I think we will have to change as well, what a sight we are." He had mud stains on his trousers and pieces of straw stuck on him from when Reyna pushed him into the stall.
"Oh, I don't know, I think it might be fun to see everyone's reactions if we showed up to dinner like this." She gestured to their joint dishevelment and smiled widely while reaching up to pick straw pieces of straw out of his hair.
"Do you always fight your practice dummies as hard as you were earlier?" She asked, quietly. His face sobered a little before saying, "No, only when I'm frustrated or worried about something. It's a great way to let off steam."
"So, which is it this time, frustration or worry?"
"Maybe a little of both...more worry though." He frowned slightly, his eyebrows drawing together. She didn't like that look.
"Anything I can do to help?" She asked quietly. He looked at her shaking his head slightly, he took hold of her hand and gave it a quick squeeze.
"It is very kind of you to offer, but I think not. There is a situation along our northern borders that is worrisome, but I am hoping it will all come to nothing."
"And if it isn't nothing?" Reyna asked.
"Then my siblings and I will have some decisions to make regarding how we handle it."
"I spoke to Edmund regarding the dynamics of your monarchy. It seems there is a lot of trust and nuance that goes into your relationships. I am sure between the four of you, a solution to this problem can be found, do not you think?"
Still holding her hand, he shrugged slightly, "I'm sure he mentioned that we do not always come to a consensus on how to solve issues. Susan is very calm and level-headed, so she approaches things from a logical perspective. This is very helpful, because some of us can just zero in on one potential solution and don't always see the other avenues. Lucy is always thinking about how a decision will affect others, she's got a heart so big the whole world could fit, and then some. Edmund has a tactical mindset. He thinks in potential gains and losses. He is very detail oriented so his focus is usually the minutiae that may be overlooked. As high king, I have to look at the entire picture and see how it all will fit together." He sighed, running a hand through his disheveled hair. "Each individual fulfills a different purpose to create balance within the kingdom and I am so grateful for the help of my siblings… although, sometimes I do wonder what it would be like if only one or two of us ruled and had to make these decisions."
He was quiet once he finished speaking. Reyna could tell his thoughts were weighing heavily upon him. She squeezed his hand, still clasped lightly in his. His eyes flicked back to hers, a soft smile gracing his lips. He raised her hand to his lips, placing a gentle kiss on it before letting it go and walking to grab his tunic.
"Well, we had better go get ourselves cleaned up too, or else we will be late for dinner and get in trouble with all of the diplomats." He winked at her once before they both hurried off to get changed.
At dinner, she sat between her father and Edmund. She was pretty sure he switched the place cards because the rest of his siblings were sitting together farther up the table. The thought made her smile to herself. He asked how the rest of her day went after their morning ride and she told him about her father's decision to let her stay in Narnia and the mud-fight in the yard. Edmund laughed heartily during that part of the story and lamented the fact that he missed it. Reyna leaned towards him conspiratorially and assured him that they would most likely have many other adventures just like it while she stayed in Narnia. He didn't reply to that and looked away from her quickly, glancing down to his plate. She thought that was a little odd but didn't remark on it.
He quickly changed the subject to how the summit was progressing - Peter had filled him in on what he had missed while they were out riding. Edmund said that unfortunately he couldn't take her out again the next day because he had to be in attendance, in case everyone agreed, and the document could be signed. The peace talks were supposed to take up most of the next few days, so he regretted that they might not be able to see each other much. She assured him that she would be quite content to search around the castle on her own and she bet she could find a guide to go with her so she wouldn't get too lost. Edmund promised to introduce her to the Beavers, who he was sure would love to show her around the castle. For the rest of dinner, they talked and laughed together, enjoying themselves thoroughly. Edmund, wanting to play a prank on his siblings, so he showed her how to make a spit ball. Reyna had not played a game like that since she was young and trying to keep up with her brothers. She knew she would likely be scolded by Elise or her father after dinner, but couldn't help herself. It felt so freeing to do whatever she wanted for once without thought of how the rest of the world would interpret her actions. One that Reyna shot, hit Peter right in between the eyes, when he was in the middle of having an animated conversation with an Indian diplomat. Disconcerted, he looked around to see where it came from and saw Reyna and Edmund snickering behind their hands. Peter mouthed"I am going to get you two."to Reyna, but that just made them laugh harder. Edmund had his arm thrown over the back of her chair as they both clutched their sides attempting to calm their laughter. Reyna saw the whole table was giving them disapproving glances, but she didn't care. Being with Edmund felt like she was soaring high, free from all expectations or cares in the world. He brought out her playful side and she loved that.
When dinner came to a close, Edmund walked Reyna over to the two Beavers and introduced them. He asked if they would mind showing Reyna around the castle for the next couple of days during the peace talks so she didn't get too bored. They agreed wholeheartedly, declaring that they would "Be absolutely delighted to show the Princess Reyna around Cair Paravel." and "It would be their complete and utter honor to delight the Princess." The other Pevensie family members soon came up to join the group, Susan and Lucy standing on the other side of Ed and Peter coming to stand next to Reyna. His hand touched the small of her back briefly as he took up position next to her, making her hyper-aware of his presence. Edmund noticed the small gesture and she thought she saw him stiffen slightly.
When it was time for everyone to disperse and say their 'goodnights', Lucy and Susan hugged Reyna tightly. Lucy whispered, "I'm so glad you'll be staying with us for a while. It will be so fun to have another girl around." Lucy glanced sideways at her sister, "Not that I don't enjoy my sister's company, but a little variation every now and then never hurt anyone." She winked at Reyna as she pulled back Reyna smiled at this and gave her arms a gentle squeeze in response. Lucy was a few years younger than Reyna, but she could already tell they would become fast friends.
Susan hugged Reyna and kissed her on the cheek gently, saying "I am sorry that we won't be able to spend much time together in the next few days, but I am greatly looking forward to developing a friendship with you, Reyna." Susan was back to her proper, genteel "Queen-like" self, but Reyna thought she saw a twinkle in Susan's eyes as she pulled away.
Peter took her hand and made a huge show of bowing over her hand to kiss it, winking at her when he did. She giggled softly. When he straightened, he simply inclined his head a bit towards her and whispered, "Goodnight, Rey."
Edmund watched Peter's display with an odd feeling in his stomach. Peter and Edmund typically had a close relationship. The last few years they had grown together. They rarely ever argued anymore and if they did it was usually resolved quickly. They did most things together: training, ruling, riding, even their free time was often spent together playing chess or reading in the library. They'd had their quarrels when they were younger, especially when they first came to Narnia, but these days they were good mates. But, watching Peter kiss Reyna's hand and seeing Reyna's face flush and her eyes glow when he called her "Rey" made something in the pit of Edmund's stomach twist.
Reyna came up to Edmund and grasped his bicep lightly while passing him, she leaned close and offered him a small peck on the cheek before whispering, "Night, Ed, see you later!" Edmund turned to watch her walk gracefully away; the small sway of her hips swishing the material of her dress as she walked. Her back was straight, but relaxed and she seemed happy and content for the first time since she came to Narnia.
xxxxxxx
A few days later, in the morning.
Reyna slowly opened the door leading to her chambers from her bath room, a smile on her face. She was patting her long hair dry with a soft towel and humming softly to herself. She had had a wonderful couple of days. So far, her trip to Narnia had been nothing but lovely. She spent the past two days wandering around Cair Paravel with the two Beavers and their rambunctious children. The Beavers' knew quite a lot about Narnian history and filled her in on its creation and how the Pevensies became kings and queens in the first place. Reyna had been astonished to hear that they did not grow up in Narnia, and had only been ruling for a few years. She hadn't seen any of the Pevensies very much over the past few days, nor her father - they had all been shut up in the conference struggling to write out a massive peace treaty between the twenty-some nations in attendance. She was able to see everyone at dinner, however.
Last night she sat next to Lucy and was able to get to know her a bit more. Lucy was such a kind and confident soul. She wore her heart on her sleeve and loved everyone unconditionally. She always saw the best in people and had a spirit full of happiness and laughter.
Reyna asked Lucy all kinds of questions regarding how her and her siblings had come to Narnia - a story she had heard from the Beavers, but she wanted more details. It was all fascinating to Reyna. Lucy told her of their other life and the world they lived in before they came to Narnia, the battle with the White Witch and Aslan's sacrifice. Reyna was riveted by the story and hardly spoke a word during dinner, but to encourage Lucy to continue. Susan had piped in a little bit - she had been seated across the table from Reyna and Lucy and so was near enough to be in hearing distance.
Peter and Edmund hadn't come to dinner last night, which Reyna found odd. When she asked Susan where the men were, Susan replied with "Oh, not to worry, they're simply ironing out some details regarding policy." She didn't seem to want to go on, so Reyna didn't press her.
This morning, Reyna had put on a comfortable day dress of simple brown cotton, secured at the waist by a thick black belt. She walked to look out over the balcony. A strong breeze was blowing and the fresh scent of grass and wildflowers filled her nostrils. She went to open the doors but heard low murmurs coming from the hallway. She stared at the huge oak doors, curiously.
"…Elise… Is that you?" Reyna walked over to her chamber's door and was just about to open it when the door flew open hitting Reyna right in the jaw. She was thrown backwards landing a few feet away with a big thump, her towel flying.
"Owww!" Reyna tried to sit up does this always happen to her?She could already feel a big bruise begin to form along her . That will look lovely. Just what I to push herself up, she collapsed again, her hands coming to her head.
"REYNA! Oh my god! Are you okay? Oh gosh! I've really got to stop doing that!" Reyna could hear Edmund's worried voice. Then she felt strong warm hands wrap around her and lift her into an upright position. As she wavered a bit, his grip tightened, holding her up. She felt him pull her closer, using his body to support hers; she could tell they were moving inside. His hands pushed her up into his chest and abdomen. She desperately wanted to open her eyes to look into his calming chocolate ones but she couldn't. Her head was still spinning, and her jaw was throbbing.
"Reyna...?" One of his hands came up to cup her now swelling cheek, while the other remained steadily wrapped around her back. "Oh god! Did I knock her out? Elise, will you go find one of the healers? Quickly!" He said desperately. Reyna could hear the worry begin to seep into his , girl. Pull yourself together, it's just a little bruise,she thought.
Reyna was finally able to muster the strength to open her eyes. She looked up into Edmund's concerned face. He looked…beautiful. That was the only word to describe him. The sun was shining in through the curtains of her open balcony, the orange and pinks of sunrise reflected off of him, making Edmund look angelic. His deep brown eyes looked fathomless - as deep as an ocean - with rays of sunlight reflecting off of them creating a dazzling effect. A couple strands of his dark hair had fallen out of place and were now laying haphazardly in front of his face. In her hazy vision, the sunlight seemed to shroud him in light. She felt light-headed again. He was stunning, god-like, perfect.
"Umm… I'm sorry about that…" He said with a sheepish look. His hand caressing Reyna's cheek gently.
"You're pretty." She said airily. He laughed at that, his eyes crinkling.
"Well thanks, you're not too bad yourself." He winked. Reyna smiled slightly then groaned...Her jaw had swollen up quickly and looked almost like she had swallowed a baseball. The teasing look in his eyes was gone, and replaced with a worried one.
"Is my face all red?" Reyna asked in a quiet voice, talking made her face sore, but she tried to minimize her jaw movement. He laughed. "Yeah... Just a bit." He still had one arm wrapped around her waist, she could feel the pressure of his hand on her side, holding her upright. His other hand had drifted from Reyna's cheek to her swollen jaw, his fingers just brushing her skin. It was almost as if he was studying her. His eyes moved over every inch of her jaw, then up to her small ears, they lingered longer on her violet eyes but continued onto her nose, then finally his gaze came to rest on her lips. His thumb caressing her bottom lip. They were just the teeniest bit chapped, she licked them unconsciously. She tilted her head slightly as Edmund shifted his hand on her back. The door to her chambers opened and his eyes no longer were fixed upon her, but on the newcomers. The second his brown eyes left her violet ones, she sighed slightly. Lucy, Susan, and Mrs. Beaver all shuffled in and instructed Edmund to lay Reyna on the sofa. When his arms left her, Reyna felt as if some of her warmth had gone with them. She shivered. Instead of seeing Edmund in her view, Lucy replaced him, a bottle of cordial in her hands.
"Oooh, Reyna… That looks pretty bad... What happened?" Lucy asked, concern evident in her voice. She laughed lightheartedly, then clutched her jaw glancing at Edmund. He was blushing and looked at the floor wringing his hands.
"Edmund thinks that I need to toughen up. He knocks me over and beats me up to prepare me for any future dangers I might come in contact with." Reyna giggled, her eyes sparkling. All three women sent glares that could melt ice, at Edmund. If possible, his face went even redder, he looked as if he wanted to sink into the ground.
"…I… I'm sorry Reyna.. I really am!"
"It's okay, Ed. It wasn't your fau... oww." Reyna gasped in pain, Lucy moved forward and lifted her head, slowly she tipped a single drop of the cordial into her mouth and immediately Reyna could feel the swelling and pain in her jaw subside.
"Alright, everything looks good." Said a smiling Lucy as she rose. Reyna grabbed her hand and gave it a teeny squeeze. Lucy and Susan linked arms, gave Reyna smiles and waves and closed the door. As Reyna sat up, Elise ran over to her.
"NO, my lady! You need rest!"
"Oh, nonsense, Elise, I am perfectly well! Stop worrying!" Reyna waved Elise away as she stood. She walked over to Ed, who had shifted to the corner of the room. Reyna slipped her hand gingerly into his and led him out the door, her bare feet pattering on the tiled floor. After reaching the corridor, she looked around to make sure no one was there, then sent Ed a cheeky grin and bolted down the hall, Edmund in tow. They ran through all kinds of corridors, and through rooms filled with courtiers, who carried astonished and perplexed looks on their faces, as they flew by. It was quite a spectacle.
Edmund had surpassed Reyna and was now leading them outside. As he rounded the corner, he glanced back to look at her. She looked like a child, her damp auburn hair was tangled and flying all over her face. Her brown dress fit her slim figure in the top but let her skirts fly behind her. She had pulled up her skirts in the front to allow her to run freely. She looked like she had wings. Her violet eyes danced in their orbs as she laughed. The sound of her bare feet resounded off the castle walls. She looked happy. They both stopped in the West gardens, their breath coming in short pants and eyes alight with the joy of exercise. Edmund collapsed on the ground, his limbs splaying out to the side. He beckoned Reyna, she shortly joined him on the soft, cool grass. They had no fear of being found by anyone, these gardens were hardly ever walked; they were so deeply entrenched in them that it would be impossible for anyone to find them.
They just lay silent, their breath and hearts calming to a steady beat. Reyna turned her head to look at Edmund. He had his hands folded behind his head and his eyes gazing up at the clouds, studying them. He must have noticed her staring, because he turned to look at her.
"Ed, why were you talking to Elise earlier?" The calm and contented look on his face slowly fell away. His brows furrowed slightly and his eyes darkened.
"Oh, I was just looking for you. I needed to talk to you…" Reyna could tell something was wrong. He didn't want to talk about it. She flipped over so she could look into his face.
"Really? About what?"
"…Well…I'm... going away... for a while…" He wouldn't make eye contact with her. Instead, his eyes danced, looking at everything but her.
"…Away..?" Reyna felt something tight constrict in her chest.
"Yeah… As you might have heard, there is some trouble up North, with the giants and the four of us decided that I am to go and take care of them." He finally managed to look into her eyes, but swiftly looked away, a nervous look in his eyes.
"Oh, well you shouldn't be gone for too long then! You were making me worry. I have heard countless stories about your conquests in battle." She hesitated a bit before she spoke, unsure of what all this meant, but she had heard stories of him defeating giants from Lucy and the Beavers. He was quite the giant-slayer if the stories were to be believed. She didn't understand why he seemed apprehensive about leaving. It also didn't help that his apprehension was making her more and more anxious about the idea of him leaving.
"Well…you see… it's not just the giants…there's something else." His eyes darkened, he looked worried.
"…Something else…?"
"Have you ever heard the story of the White Witch?" He said hesitantly. Reyna nodded slowly, Lucy had told her a bit about this Witch, but Reyna wasn't sure she had the entire story.
"Lucy told me a bit about her at dinner last night and about how you and your siblings came to Narnia." Edmund's countenance darkened and he turned to look at the sky, watching the passing clouds.
"Well, I'm not sure exactly what Lucy told you so let me just tell you the story: the White Witch, Jadis, used to rule this land. She cast an enchantment over it that made it winter all the time, always winter but never Christmas. Time stood still for thousands of years, until Lucy came across a wardrobe in the house that we were staying at. Eventually all four of us got here into Narnia and we found out about this prophecy. Aslan had come back to Narnia to free it from the White Witch, he did this by sacrificing himself in the place of... a...traitor. Well, anyway this story is becoming quite long, so there was a big fight and Aslan ended up defeating her… We all thought she was dead... until now… We just got word that there is a sorceress up in the North, assisting the Giants, who has powers similar to hers. We believe that she is trying to regain her strength and mount an attack on us…That's why I must go to the North… to defeat her."
As Edmund was speaking, Reyna watched his face. It was interesting to see the array of emotions that crossed his face. She didn't quite understand it. This White Witch and he must have some history that he was not telling her. There was silence for a while, as they both lay on the grass contemplating Edmund's upcoming departure. She knew that there was a gravity to this, he wasn't telling her, but she didn't want to press him to reveal it if he wasn't ready. She didn't want him to leave, however. She had grown accustomed to him being around, even though she had only been in Narnia for a few days. After years of being alone in Limea and having no friends, Reyna finally felt like she was building some valuable relationships and she didn't want to lose that. Reyna broke the silence by asking,"…How long will you be gone...?"
"...I don't know." He replied, turning to look into her face.
"…When do you leave...?" She said this hesitantly, silently hoping that they could have a few more weeks together.
"...A few weeks…It will take that long to mobilize the forces I need to bring with me.. Hopefully, I won't be gone too long. I just wanted you to know from me, before you heard about it from someone else…" His eyes dropped from hers, sadness clear in his brown eyes.
"I'm glad you told me…" Reyna said with a sad look on her face. The idea of him not being around made her heart clench. She desperately wanted him to stay, she didn't know if he would even come back! Defeating giants was difficult enough, not to mention adding a sorceress into the mix. She didn't want to be alone again. Her father was leaving as soon as the final peace document was signed and she would be here trying to find her place. Well at least she had Susan and Lucy… and Pet...
Reyna's breath started coming faster and she felt her heart start to pound. What if Peter left too and neither of them came back? Peter had been such a kind and calming presence for her. Peter was like a protector for her. She felt like he would always look out for her best interest and would keep her safe. She couldn't lose both of them, not all at once. The Pevensies' had quickly become her closest friends and she cared deeply for them.
"Is Peter going with you?!" Reyna asked, attempting to be calm but urgency slipped into her voice nonetheless. She thought it might have been a trick of the light, but Reyna swore she saw something change in Ed's eyes.
"…No. He is staying here." Reyna breathed a sigh of relief. Her heart, however, still pounded in her chest, refusing to be quieted. Reyna calmed the panicked look in her eyes and then caught Ed's eyes again. Taking a deep breath, she tried to calm her torn emotions: relief Peter would be staying here safe, but panic at the idea of Ed being alone and potentially in danger.
"I'm going to miss you, Ed." Reyna said quietly. The wind rustled Ed's hair. He closed his eyes as she spoke, lifting his chin upwards slightly, feeling the warmth of the sun on his skin. Reyna reached out and softly brushed some of his hair away from his eyes. His eyes opened again and he propped himself up on both his elbows. His face now only a few inches from hers.
"I will miss you too, Reyna." A serious look on his face. Reyna couldn't quite place what emotion was in Ed's face.
"Promise me, two things, okay? One, promise me that you will spend as much time with me as possible until you leave. And two, don't do anything noble, don't get yourself killed, please." His hand found her neck and he lightly stroked her jaw in the place where he had knocked her with the door earlier. He then leaned in and softly his lips met her forehead. He lingered there for a moment, before pulling away.
"Done. And done!" He stood and then found her hands. Their fingers intertwined he gave her a comforting squeeze before he pulled her to him. Then they walked, hands still intertwined, through the maze of gardens back into Cair Paravel.