The New Warrior (Book 1)

Chapter 21 What is courting?

"Peter!" Susan called as she dashed out of the room behind us, Lucy and Edmund on her heels.

"I need to think." He shouted back.

"How come Maggie gets to go with you?" Lucy asked. He stopped causing me to crash into his chest as he spun around.

"We should discuss our strategy with a few of the generals. " Edmund suggested, changing the topic. Peter looked at me, as if he was afraid I would disappear if he left.

"Yes. We should. " He squeezed my hand one last time before nodding to Edmund and leaving me with his sisters.

"Shall we take a walk?" Susan proposed. Lucy and I nodded and followed her down the hallway to the small dirt ramp leading outside. The new air was cool and the breeze caused my hair to swirl a bit.

"Can I ask you guys a question?" They both nodded and continued slowly walking. "What does it mean to court?"

They stopped dead in their tracks and spun around to face me. "Um- are you serious?" Susan laughed.

"Hey! I just moved to Finchly three years ago and no, I haven't heard anyone say that before."

"You've never heard of anyone courting before!"

"No! In America we call it dating."

Lucy looked at Susan as she began to speak. "Well I suppose they would be similar." Susan started. "It basically means that you hold hands and that's kind of all. You are allowed to hug in front of your parents, if they say it's okay, but no kissing until you're married."

I nodded slowly. "He kissed me on my cheek."

Lucy's jaw went slack. "He-he did? That's sort of against the rules. Isn't it?"

She looked at Susan. "Yes. It is. He's knows better than that." She shook her head and sat down in the grass.

"So, has he had other... uh girls that he's courted?"

Lucy laughed. "Absolutely not! Your the only girl he's ever shown any interest in whatsoever."

I smiled and laid back. "Good." They laughed. "How do you think this whole surprise attack thing is going to go down?"

"I suspect something will go wrong." Susan shrugged.

"Why would you say that?" Lucy asked her, perplexed.

"I don't know. Just a feeling I have."

"What will I do?" I asked, suddenly nervous.

"Nothing. You'll stay here with Lucy and a few others and wait for us to return."

Lucy opened her mouth to argue, but quickly shut it. "I guess I should wait incase I need to heal anyone." She patted the small pouch that was permanently attached to her dress waist.

"What's in there anyway?" I pointed to the small bottle.

"Firefly juice. Father Christmas gave it me during our first trip here. One drop can cure any injury, as long as it hasn't been too long."

I nodded. "Well look at you! Little miss life saver!"

She giggled and pushed my arm, joining me on her back in the grass.

"I'm sort of nervous."

"Why? You'll be safe here. Don't worry." Susan reassured me.

"No. Not for me. For everyone else."