A Different World ~ Sequel to The Heart Of Narnia

Chapter 6: Enough with the head injuries

"You're going to fall in if you're not careful." Alina turned her head to look at Edmund as he sat beside her within the boat. The girls had claimed the middle seat but they didn't mind it was more spacious in the aft of the rowboat anyways. Although edmund had to keep a hold of the rudder to ensure their safe travel.
"I can swim." She told him unperturbed as she sat on the bottom of the boat leaning against the side one arm draped over as she played with the cool water.
"That's not what he's worried about." Said Lucy grinning at her new friends oblivious nature. Something she had in common with Ella.
"Afraid I'll rock the boat?" She smirked at him.

"And get dragged down the current, not all naiads are friendly." He warned her honestly. Though his true fear was that he'd fail to resuscitate her this time.
"Im not afraid of them besides," she dipped her hand deeper into the water with a wistful look. "No ones seen a naiad for years now..."
"What-?"
"The trees aren't dancing..." Murmured Lucy looking up at them as they moved along the river.
"Their trees what do you expect?" Demanded Trumpkin.
"They used to dance." Alina's face had turned hard and her hand clenched in the water.
"It's because of my people. Theyre terrified of things they cannot explain-they-they destroyed so Much. Out of fear and spite for their differences." An angry gleam appeared in her eyes as she withdrew her fist from the water and looked up high at the trees. "It's their fault all this has happened. Now it's our turn to set things right."
Trumpkin regarded her for a moment before sighing.
"It happened shortly after your majesties left. The trees withdrew into themselves and the naiads well lord knows where they swamt off too."
Alina looked frustrated her nails digging deep into the wooden side of the boat forcing splinters into her nails as they split its top layer.
"Hey it's alright." Murmured Edmund pulling her hands away as Peter said something about not meaning to leave. "We'll fix this."
Alina looked doubtful as she peered up at the trees. "Can we?"
"We can." Said Edmund firmly. "The Telmarains might have caused this but we'll fix it I promise." For some reason this didn't return her smile to her face. Then Edmund had realized he had blamed her in part for the calamity.
"Not that all Telmarines are bad I mean look at you." She looked up at him with a small smile that told him it was okay she knew the truth.
"We're almost there." Said Peter grunting from the exertion. "One last stretch and we'll be-"
"EEEK!"
"What!?!" Yelled Peter and Edmund but the girls in the middle of the boat just kept screaming and thrashing around.
"AIIEEEEE!"
The boat was in deep danger of turning over and who knew what was causing them to panic the way they were. All at once three things happened at once. Alina leapt forward at the same time the boat dipped taking in some water and spilling Edmund overboard.
Before he could surface a pair of hands seized him by the shirt and hauled him to the surface. However just as he surfaced something hard slammed into his head knocking him unconscious and deep into the water.

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"ACHOO!"
"He's coming too!"
"Back up you two have caused enough problems!" Snapped Peters voice sounding cross.
"What happened?" Edmunds eyes opened to find himself laying down in the boat his head resting on something soft and wet, actually he was wet, soaked from head to toe.
"One of the oars caught in the current and hit you when Trumpkin tried to pull you out of the water." The face looking down at him was pale with wet dark brown almost black hair sticking to her in soaked waves.
"But the boat-" he protested only to be cut off by Trumpkin.
"Their majesties got spooked by some fresh water salmon jumping in the boat nearly capsized us."
This add Lucy turn her head down ashamed ly while Susan scowled.
"How are you feeling?" asked the brunette above him.



"He probably has a concussion." Said Peter watching on as he rowed along.
"By God Ed your becoming worse than Ella!" Sighed Susan as Lucy gave him a drop of her cordial. Instantly his head cleared and the world stopped throbbing in his eyes. The person above him much to his shock and embarrassment was Alina, she was the one who had pulled him from the river if her soaked clothes said anything.
"What do you mean?" Alina peered at all of them in confusion not noticing Edmunds blush her hand still gently stroking his hair the other on his chest unconsciously keeping him laying in her lap.
"Ella is a wonderful woman." Laughed Susan. "But she's a complete clutz!"
"Clutz...?" Alina looked even more confused.
"Uh yes clumsy someone who is inherantly clumsy." Explained Lucy with the smallest of smiles.
"Clutz is an understatement." Scoffed Peter. Everyone shot him half scowls or frowns but his own eyebrows were knitted together and he looked to be in his own world.
"I never would have dreamt any of you would be um a cluz." Said Alina with a amused grin ignoring the awkward moment.
"Clutz." Corrected Susan.
"Clutz right."
"Are you sure the cordial worked Lucy Time doesn't affect it right?" Asked Peter. Edmund instantly stiffened as his brother shot him a smug teasing grin, seeming to have returned from his own thoughts although the light did not fully return to his blue eyes.
"Of course it works why?" All eyes turned on Edmund including Alina's.
"You're face is scarlet are you alright? Do you have a fever?" Her hand quickly moved from his hair to his forehead. "You are a bit warm, Lucy-"
"I'm fine." He quickly sat up jerking free of her hands his face scarlet. "Let's get back on track."
"Highness you should probably be careful." Said Alina making him look at her again. Her grin was as dazzling as the sparkling water droplets clinging to her skin. "Wouldn't want you to fall in again."
"Uh-yeah sorry. Thank you Alina." She giggled leaning back against the side of the boat, tilting her head back up towards the sky.
"I'm just returning the favor." Edmund felt she was doing much more than that. The affection shed shown him by letting him rest on her while unconscious, running her hands through his hair and the way she always smiled with heartfelt warmth glowing in her expression...
He wanted to say she didn't need to return the favor, but the words died in his throat.
The way her smooth skin glistened with water droplets, how her wet dress clung to her curved figure as she leaned back a blissful gracing her features as she basked in the warm midday sun.
Alina was breathtaking. He had never understood how Peter could sit and watch Ella read while doing paperwork or studying for hours but now he finally had an idea why.
"Edmund!" He jerked looking back up at Peter in shock. "Turn left?" Realizing he had missed his brother talking to him he looked away just as she opened one eye to look at him.
"You sure you're alright your majesty?" She asked her brilliant piercing purple eye fixed on him.
"Yeah just lost my train of thought. We should be almost there." Edmund quickly changed topics not quite sure if he was okay with speaking about this just yet.
"You are positive your head is fine highness?" She had turned both eyes on him now a scowl tugging her pink lips downwards.
"Yes just fine. And I thought i said to call me Edmund."
Instantly a teasing and insubordinate grin spread across her face as she settled back down.
"That you did." She closed her eyes with that same smug insubordination and he just scowled at her as he carefully turned them around the bend.
"Just promise me no more head injuries for the two of you." Said Lucy giving both of them a pleading look.
"I believe that is accomplishable." Edmund just chuckled at Alina's way of speaking making her shove his leg, not bothering to open her eyes.
"You should dry out soon too with this sun, your lucky if it had been cloudy you might still be wet tonight." Scolded Susan who hadn't smiled once this entire time.