Beyond the Sea

CHAPTER TWO: ANNALIESE

Annaliese opened the small wardrobe in the room she shared with her sister, while Lucy looked around her in wonder. "I'm sure you'll fit into some of our things; Kara and I are nearly the same size so on trips such as this we just share our clothes." She pulled out a clean pair of trousers—Kara's, from the looks of them—and one of her own shirts. "Here you go, Luce," she said with a small smile.

Lucy took them and, to Annaliese's amusement, lifted them to her nose and inhaled deeply. "They smell like Narnia," she murmured. "Like home."

Annaliese reached out and hugged her again. "I'm so glad you're back," she whispered. "I've missed you so much."

They stayed in each other's arms for a long moment, pulling back to laugh when both of them sniffed.

"I'll let you change," Annaliese said, heading out of the room. "Then we're supposed to meet Caspian in his quarters." At a nod from Lucy, she left the door open a crack and leaned against the wall outside.

"Speaking of Caspian," Lucy called through the door after a long moment, "have you two... you know... 'tied the knot' yet?"

Annaliese doubled over with a fit of laughter. "Not yet. But we're engaged." A tingle ran up her spine. She loved saying those words. "He asked me to marry him about a month and a half ago."

"What?" Lucy shouted. She flung open the door and her hair smacked Annaliese in the face. Annaliese was surprised at how fast she had dressed. "Annaliese! That's amazing!"

Annaliese giggled. "I know. It almost seems unreal."

Lucy clasped her hands and sighed, leaning against the wall. "How wonderful. Do you think you'd get married while we're here?"

Annaliese's heart jumped, and she grinned slowly. "Oh Lucy, I would love that so very much. I'll have to, um, see what I can do." She gave Lucy a little wink, who responded with an excited laugh and looped her arm through Annaliese's.

"Narnian clothes become you well, Lucy," Annaliese complimented her as they turned to cross to Caspian's quarters.

"Thank you." Lucy's face glowed as she took in the activity on board. "Oh, it is so good to be back."

"It's good to have you back."

"Wait." Lucy grabbed Annaliese's arm before she could reach to open the door. "About Kara. I want to talk to her later, but... does she still...?"

Annaliese immediately knew what she was asking. "She hasn't spoken much of Edmund," she said quietly, making sure no one was around to hear them. "I know she dreams about him, almost every night, but she doesn't... I think it has hurt too much."

"She's changed," Lucy said soberly. "She doesn't have that...spark."

"I know." Annaliese sighed. "The last three years have been hard on her. Hard on both of us, but I had Caspian. She lost Edmund, and I think she might be better if it weren't for the year we fought the giants. She led so many battles. And... don't tell anyone I said this but I've suspected for some time that honestly..." she paused a moment. "I think she misses home, the world we grew up in."

"Does she still love him?" Lucy asked now, even softer, after nodding in agreement.

"I think so. I stopped asking her a long time ago, because she would close off and avoid answering. But I saw... and you saw the way she looked at him when he boarded the Dawn Treader."

Lucy smiled sadly. "Her whole heart and soul was in that look."

"She still loves him, I'm sure of it," Annaliese said hopefully.