the girl from archenland | narnia

Chapter Thirteen

When Nenya finally emerged from her bedroom the following morning she decided to go for a walk, she wasn't quite ready to speak with any of the Pevensies. She needed some fresh air, and to clear her mind.

She was just starting on a path outside the castle that led into one of the forests when she heard footsteps behind her and turned around.

It was Edmund Pevensie.

"Oh. Nenya." Edmund seemed just as surprised to see her as she was to see him.

"Hi," Nenya said.

"Uhhh... Are you going for a walk too?" Edmund asked. 

"Yep," Nenya said. At least he seemed calmer than the last time she had seen him, what could have possibly changed his attitude so quickly?

"Should we walk together? Or did you come out here to be alone? I can take another path then." Edmund offered.

"It's fine. We can go together if you'd like." This was the Edmund she liked, the slightly awkward, kind one. He wasn't all guarded today. But then again, at this moment neither was she. She was to numb from her conversation with Peter to focus on being angry with Edmund. If he wasn't angry with her then she would just let it go. She was quite tired of angry Pevensies.

Edmund nodded and continued down the path until he reached her, then the two started on together. Neither talked for a long while, they just walked slowly along the rough path until it disappeared and they entered the more untamed forest.

"I'm sorry about the mess I caused," Edmund said suddenly, breaking the silence.

Nenya snapped out of her thoughts and looked at the boy, then she nodded. "I forgive you." then she kept walking. She felt as though she should apologize for something as well, but she could figure out what.

"Edmund?" she asked after a moment. "Is the necklace the reason you always would act so strange around me, One minute friendly and the next so cold and guarded?"

Edmund nodded. "I didn't know it then but I always had a weird feeling around you while you were wearing the necklace. I didn't trust you because I thought it was you that was giving me that feeling. I wanted to like you, I really did. But I couldn't help being suspicious."

Nenya nodded.

"How is Peter?" she asked after a moment.

Edmund shrugged. "I haven't seen him this morning. I'm sure he'll be fine now that you've left your room."

"No," Nenya said. "I... I told him yesterday that it can't be like that. We have to be friends. That's all."

"Oh."

"Yeah. I didn't want to hurt him later. But... I just ended up hurting him now." Nenya said, dragging her feet along the mossy ground.

"He'll be okay. He takes stuff hard at first but eventually, he'll be okay. And he'll be the better for it. " Edmund said. "What about you, are you okay?"

Nenya nodded. "I know it was the right choice. That doesn't keep it from hurting though. I really like Peter. A lot. But that wasn't the right path."

Edmund didn't say anything for a moment, then he looked up from the ground. "What is the right path?"

Nenya shook her head. "I haven't figured that out yet, I will though." she took a deep breath. "I think... I think I need to go back to Archenland."

"Oh."

"I think maybe that is where I belong. Maybe it was a mistake to come here. I don't regret it!" she said quickly. "But I think this isn't where I belong." 

"This will always be your home," Edmund said slowly. "But so will Archenland."

Nenya nodded. "Do you think the others will understand? I don't want to seem ungrateful. I really have enjoyed my time here."

"If they don't I'll help them understand," Edmund said.

Nenya smiled. "Thank you. Will you write and tell me if anything interesting happens?" 

"Wouldn't you want Susan to do that?" 

"No." Nenya laughed. "You know Susan she'll forget. She means well but she really has far too much going on."

"Alright, I'll write." agreed Edmund with a smile. "And You'll come and visit right?"

"Of course! Susan will want me to."

"If you practice your riding you could even come and visit often." 

Nenya laughed. "Oh please, I'm not that bad!"

"Sure." Edmund laughed back.

They walked on in silence for a moment, then turned around to head back to the castle.

"I'll tell Susan and Lucy first. Then figure out how I'm going to talk to Peter."

Edmund nodded. "I can help if you need me to."

"Thanks. I need to do it myself though."

They walked in silence for a few more minutes until Edmund stopped and picked a red flower from a bush and handed it to Nenya. "Here, a flower to remember Narnia by."

Nenya laughed. "Thank You but I don't need a flower to remember Narnia by. I could never forget you, Peter, Susan, Lucy or anything that has happened since I got here. I feel like perhaps where I am right now is a completely different story then where I started."

"Maybe it is. That's okay though, isn't it?"

"Maybe it is." Nenya answered with a smile.