Secret - Edmund Pevensie

chapter seven

Edmund arrived back at camp last night, but the boy barely got a second of proper sleep. He was too busy thinking about everything that's happened in the past week. He never wanted to cut off Maeve, but he's upset that she couldn't tell him the truth from the beginning. He told her practically everything about himself, including his past traumas with the white witch. It takes a lot for him to be vulnerable with someone and all he wanted was the same in return from the beginning. So much trust was put into another person and it immediately backfired on him. He tosses and turns in his bed yet again, sighing as he remains wide awake.

That all being said, he's not sure if he'll be able to keep her out of his life forever. She was more than just a simple love interest to him. Maeve was a light in the boys previously dark life and came when he least expected it. He felt connected to her in ways he hadn't felt with anyone else and now he's lost that completely. Maybe he just needs time. He's sure that he'll come around soon, but he's too proud and far too hurt to do any forgiving as of now.

Before he knows it, he can see the sun peeking through the corners of his tent. He may as well get up, it's not like he'll be able to fall asleep anyways. He rubs his eyes, throwing his blanket to the side and taking a step outside. Edmund decides to go back to the large oak tree to fully clear his head. Maeve always said that seeing the river flow and the trees sway in the wind would make all her worries go away, and maybe it's worth a shot.

The boy takes his time getting there, choosing to soak up the sky's changing colours and the birds morning songs. He's never really been a morning person, but right now it seems as though it's exactly what he needs to feel better.

In a weird way, Maeve is like the morning to him. She is bright and consistently open to change no matter how scary it may be. She takes a moment to warm up to you, but when she does you realize that she's the most beautiful person inside and out.

When he finally comes in contact with the large tree, everything from last night comes flooding back to his mind. He curses himself for being so hostile. Sure, he was angry, but he knows that it wasn't easy for the girl either. She was just doing what she needed to and he gave her little to no grace.

It's never been easy for Edmund to admit he's wrong, especially not now. But he's smarter now than when he first entered Narnia, and he realizes that maybe he should have given the girl more leeway. If Susan had forgiven her instantly then why couldn't he?

He's supposed to be over his ordeal with the White Witch now. She's died, twice. Aslan forgave him for his actions and so did everyone else, but that doesn't make it easier. He willingly betrayed his entire family for some false love and fake promises. It's what caused the war in the first place. Now he's torn between what he feels for the girl and what she now reminds him of.

The boy continues walking towards the tree only to see something on the ground he doesn't recognize right away. He makes an effort to jog up to it, the object becoming more clear the closer he gets.

It's Maeve's sword.

There's no way she would've forgotten to take it back to camp with her last night and there is even less of a chance that she would leave it there on purpose. She was so proud of that sword, spending hours carving small doodles into the medal in order for it to look its best. In the short time Edmund has known Maeve he knows that her sword was apart of her. Something had to be seriously wrong.

His breath quickens, looking around aimlessly as if she'll just be right there waiting for him. But she's not, of course she's not. He left her all alone last night. He stormed away from her while she was sobbing behind him, begging for him to come back.

Edmunds eyes full with tears as he walks around the tree. The boy tries his best to find anything that will tell him where the girl is. He keeps reminding himself she could be at camp. This could all be one big misunderstanding and she could be safe and sound right now. He tells himself that when he goes back there he'll see her. He'll recognize her bright smile instantly and everything will be okay again. But if the boy trusted that she was safe, he wouldn't still be looking for hints as to where she went.