the girl from archenland | narnia

Chapter Nine

Nenya sat on the pile of straw in the corner of her cell. It was clean and dry. Far better than most prisoners would get. But she was still a prisoner.

It's a shard of the White Witch's wand! Edmund had screamed at her.

That would explain it's strange power to remain cold no matter what. She hadn't known that, however. And surely besides remaining cold, it didn't have any power. She couldn't hurt anyone with it.

So why were they doing this? She had never hurt any of them. Never done anything remotely wrong. They had no right to toss her in her like some traitor. She hadn't known the nature of the necklace.

This was going to ruin everything. Every little dream or plan she had ever had was about to come crashing down around her.

They would be within their rights to execute her for treason if they really thought she had brought the necklace here on purpose.

They were Kings and Queens. They could do that.

And even if they let her go her life as she knew it was over. None of the Pevensies would ever speak to her again. King Lune would never take her back. Her friendship with Corin would be over. She would be forced to leave everything she knew behind. It was all gone. Just like that. 

And she hadn't even done anything wrong.

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"Nenya!"

Nenya sat up, instantly awake. "Lucy?"

Lucy stood in the doorway. "Nenya hurry!"

Nenya scrambled to her feet. "Lucy? What is going on? What are you doing?"

"Shh!" Lucy held a finger to her lips. "I'm helping you get out. I know you didn't do anything wrong."

"But Lucy-" Nenya took a hesitant step forward. If the others awoke with her gone they would think she was guilty of whatever imagined crime they had created. But this also could be her only chance to escape.

"Come on!"

Nenya stepped forward. She had to take a chance.

Lucy led her through the darkened passages of the castle, avoiding guards and leading her to a door that would take her outside.

"Follow the path, at the water, there will be a boat. Take it. Get away as fast as you can!"

"Lucy.." Nenya looked at the young girl who had become almost a sister to her. "Thank you.." then she hugged the girl impulsively.

Lucy hugged her back. "I promise you'll be able to come back at some point. I'll make sure of it. The others aren't the only Kings and Queen you know."

Nenya smiled as she opened the door. "Thank you," she said again. "For everything." then, as if her life depended on it (as it quite possibly did) Nenya raced down the path.

When she reached the shore she looked around. Where was the boat?

There.

Right on the edge of the trees was a small rowboat. That had to be it.

Going a little slower this time she picked her way carefully over the sand until she reached the boat.

Looking up at the sky she tried to determine how long she had until dawn. the moon still appeared to be high in the sky, so she probably had several hours. Now she just needed to-

"Nenya!?"

No! No! No!

Nenya turned around slowly to find Peter's blue eyes staring straight into her own.

"Peter?" she gasped, stumbling backward.

"How did you escape? What are you doing?"

Nenya looked around wildly, trying to think of something, anything logical. But nothing was coming. All she could focus on was his eyes. All the emotion. All the decisions. All the pain. And something else. Something she couldn't exactly give a name to.

"I didn't do anything," she said her voice a whisper. "I didn't mean to hurt any of you." everything was going so, so wrong. "I swear Peter. I didn't mean for any of this to happen."

Then she turned and ran. Well, she tried to. but she tripped over the oar that lay on the sandy, wet beach.

"Nenya. Don't." Peter stepped closer. "Please. Just come back with me. We can sort this out."

"I wish I could," Nenya said. "But Edmund will never forgive me, and I can't cause an argument between the rest of you."

Peter reached out to her, offering his hand. "I'll make him see reason. I'm the High King, I'll do something. Please. Please don't go."

And she could see the pain in his eyes. The pain she knew was reflected in her own eyes. She couldn't take his hand though. She had to go. Staying would only cause more trouble now. It didn't matter her feelings. She had to go. So she willed herself to stand, to walk away. To stay strong. 

Because staying would only hurt everyone.

But she wasn't strong enough. So she took his hand.

And it was either the best decision she had ever made, or the world was about to come crashing down around her. But in that moment it didn't matter.

Because in that moment there was nothing but the sky, the sea, the sand, and Peter Pevensie's arms wrapped around her.

So she just breathed. Because in that moment there was nothing else she could do.