Serena leans forward, fidgeting with the branches Edmund had hastily adjusted. She focuses on tucking in twigs and packing fallen snow into the barrier, attempting to keep her mind occupied with the unnecessary task. Because if she thinks about how she has no idea what is happening outside, no way of knowing if Adan and Edmund have been caught, and no idea how much time has passed since the others left her here, she might just break down and cry.
Every sound from outside brings her movements to a halt and she holds her breath as she strains to hear footsteps in the snow. After several long seconds counting her own rapid heartbeats, she slowly returns to her task. The marginal increase in light as dawn forces its way into the dim shelter is the only meaningful change as the minutes pass by. She finally drops her hands to her lap, clutching the blanket and taking a deep breath.
I can't just sit here, she thinks, feeling like she's going mad from the stress, but what else can she do? She was told to stay. Even if she wanted to try to find them, she doesn't know which way Edmund and Adan went. Maybe she could follow their tracks in the snow? But she's doubtful about that, and what if she stumbled on someone else instead?
Serena shivers and yanks the blanket off her lap to wrap around her shoulders. She squints around the space under the tree as she pulls the fabric tight, and then her gaze snags on the pack to her left. It's sitting on the end of the bedroll where Edmund left it, where it sat all night just past her feet. Maybe there is something I can do. Shifting off the bedroll, she keeps her head low to avoid knocking into the branches above her. She clumsily knots the corners of the blanket around her shoulders, wondering briefly what happened to the bit of cord they'd been using yesterday, and then searches around the small space for the rope instead. It must be here somewhere. She hopes it's not inside the pack, because she doesn't want to go poking around in someone else's things.
Finally, she moves the heavy pack aside and finds the small coil of rope tucked underneath it. Setting it on top of the pack, Serena pulls bedroll toward her and starts to roll it up. She'd managed quite easily yesterday morning in the cave, but it's harder now in the cramped space to get it into a neat roll. In fact, her first attempt is atrocious and she quickly unrolls it. The second attempt is slightly better and she ties the rope around it with a few double knots, but then she stares at the branches. She wonders again how long she's been alone, but then she shakes her head and studies the outside of the pack. The bedroll was tied to the bottom yesterday, but she's not sure exactly what it was tied to. Serena tips the bag slightly and its heavy contents offer up a muted 'clunk'. She holds her breath and listens for any movement outside.
When there's nothing after she's counted 60 frantic heartbeats, she returns her attention to the bag. There are buckles on the bottom, and she decides that must be what the rope had been looped through. She pulls the roll closer and slips the rope through the first buckle. She's careful to avoid moving the bag too much, and she's so focused on her task that when she hears 'princess' whispered just outside the shelter she jerks her hands away from the bag.
Serena's heart thuds painfully as she pivots and sits back hard against the tree trunk. She sucks in a shaky breath and clenches her hands in the blanket as Edmund makes a small opening in the branches and quickly slips through. He eyes the bedroll and pack, and it's enough of a distraction to turn her panic to embarrassment. He stares at the half-finished and wholly untidy mess of knots as he brushes snow off his cloak and boots and Serena glances away guiltily.
Getting caught messing with his things— and the general mess of her attempt— nearly makes her forget the more important issues of the morning, at least until her eyes land on the opening behind him. She stares at the bright white, waiting for Adan's entrance. Edmund shifts toward it, though, and closes the gap in branches.
"He's not as noticeable," Edmund mumbles when he catches her eye. Serena frowns, not entirely sure what he means, but it's clear Adan didn't come back with him. She considers Adan's dark fur, thinking that it would actually show up pretty clearly against the white snow. But a Wolf knows how to stalk prey, right? Maybe the other humans wouldn't be able to see him coming. Serena shudders at that thought. Even knowing Adan is an ally of sorts, she wouldn't want to be hunted by him.
And is that what he'd been doing yesterday? Serena suddenly remembers how Adan had appeared from behind them at one point. The Wolf had been out of sight most of the day, in fact. Is it possible he hadn't actually been in front of her as much as she'd thought?
Edmund moves closer to the center of the shelter, and Serena quickly pulls her knees to her chest. When he moves to lean against the tree trunk as well, she can feel the cold radiating off him. She pulls the blanket tighter around her shoulders. Her gaze shifts to the small pile of snow he's left behind, but she still sees it when he drags the pack toward him and pulls the rope of the bedroll out of the buckle. Her cheeks heat up and she pulls the blanket up higher around her neck.
When Edmund passes her some dried fruit, Serena takes it with a quiet 'thank you'. Until now she hadn't given much thought to food, but she realizes after the first few bites she is rather hungry. She doesn't really focus on what they're eating, though, because Edmund is constantly glancing toward the opening he'd come through and shifting anxiously. His disquietude makes her previous apprehension return, and each time his shoulder bumps into hers she flinches.
"Who does Corsecant trade with?" Edmund's abrupt question is the first he's spoken in quite some time. Serena starts at the sudden sound of his voice, and then coughs to clear whatever kind of dried meat she's been chewing on from her throat. "I know Narnia," he continues, passing her the water skin, "But who else?" Serena takes a slow sip of the frigid water, trying to decide on an answer.
She knows some of the products that are not produced in Corsecant, especially things the land-locked country would have no access to. But as far as where specifically those items come from, Serena isn't completely sure. She leans her head back against the tree, staring up at the branches as she tries to recall half-ignored lessons she's sure must have involved the information. Finally, with a soft sigh, she's forced to admit she can't come up with it.
"I don't-"
"Look," Edmund whispers harshly, cutting her off, "I'm not asking for the terms or anything, just which countries." He leans forward, packing things away perhaps a bit too forcefully. "I know Narnia and Corsecant are still early on in our alliance, but I'm just trying to figure out how to keep us all alive right now." He sits back, knocking against the trunk hard enough to send some snow drifting down onto their laps. She watches the flakes land as Edmund runs a hand through his hair and then bows his head. Serena hesitates, still not sure how trade fits into this at all, but he doesn't give her much chance to reply anyway.
"I swear to you, whatever you tell me, it won't go any further," Edmund promises, staring at the ground between his feet. He sighs and drops his arms to his knees. "Not unless it endangers Narnia," he adds sternly.