RUTH:

"Be glad it was natural causes that did that to you, Ruth," Edmund said a few mornings later as we played a quick game of double solitaire before breakfast. "If it had been a person, they would have hell to pay."

I laughed. "Same thing with you falling and hitting your head. I wanted to punch the clue to smithereens."

He smiled. "Good to know anything coming against either of us has strong opposition."

"Except for grass and heat, it would seem, so half of Narnia."

Now it was his turn to laugh. "So it would seem. Are you hungry this morning, Ruth?"

I shrugged. "Not really."

He frowned. "Well, that's not good. Ruth, you've barely eaten."

"I just haven't been hungry." Which was partially a lie. I had honestly not been hungry for about 12 hours after fainting, but after that, I had realized that if Narnia were to come to famine, I could help prevent that one meal at a time. So I maintained my "not hungry" game and continued to blame it on one thing or another.

"Maybe we should stay here another day or two, then, if you're not feeling well. You can't go for long on an empty stomach."

"No, no," I protested. "I'm alright. I don't feel ill or weak. Just not hungry."

He sighed. "Alright. Do you want to sleep a little more before we leave, then? You need all the strength you can manage."

I opened my mouth to remind him that I had only taken a nap the day I fainted and not since, but then I closed it. "I'm alright. I'll go down to talk to Ailey one more time," was what left my mouth instead. "Say farewell to Mericus for me."

"Alright. I'll come get you soon."

I made my way down the now-familiar path to the lake. Ailey rose to the surface and pouted.

"Where's King Edmund?"

"Hungry. Boys," I added with a grin. "But he'll be back, then we're going to leave."

"Following the clue?"

I nodded. I had told Ailey many things, and even in the short days I had known her, I now considered her a trusted friend. "I just hope it's not in vain. Am I crazy for following a branch and a stripe in the mud?"

"Yes," she answered immediately, "but justifiably crazy."

I smiled. "Thanks."

"You're welcome! I think King Peter likes that you're justifiably crazy."

"I suppose," I laughed.

"Will I be invited to your wedding?"

I blushed, and not because of the heat. "What?"

"Oh, no need for modesty with me, Ruth," she teased. "Will I?"

I blushed even more. "If it happens, of course."

She smirked and looked over my shoulder. "Well, here comes his brother. Who's also not a bad choice."

"Oh, Ailey!" My hands flew to my mouth as I giggled. "Are you saying what I think you're saying?"

She winked before turning her complete attention to Edmund. "Good morning, Your Majesty. Leaving so soon?"

He smiled. "I'm afraid we must. But it's been a pleasure getting to know you, Ailey. I hope to see you again soon."

Ailey winked at me again before extending her hand. "Until next time, Ruth."

We intertwined fingers, and I rose to my feet. "Until next time, dearest Ailey. Thank you for listening to my ramblings."

"And thank you for listening to mine. Farewell, friend."

"Farewell!"

I slung my pack over my shoulders and turned to Edmund. "Shall we?"

He nodded, his eyes strangely tender as he looked at me. "Let's go."

We slipped out of the camp's borders quietly, and headed off in the direction of the last clue. We had decided that walking would be safer in the heat, but we walked quickly, not wanting to lose any more time.

But when the day passed with no new clue and no camp in sight, we settled down for the night beneath the lamp post.

"Maybe tomorrow we can visit Mr. Tumnus and the Beavers," I said as I propped myself up against the pole, the flickering candles bathing the world around us in a warm glow.

"That sounds like a good idea," Edmund agreed. "I'm sure they'd enjoy it."

I smiled. "Have I ever told you about my first visit to Narnia, Edmund?"

"No, I don't believe you have."

"Well, it was at the beginning of winter. Confusing, I know," I added in response to his puzzled face, "but remember when I left for two weeks?"

"Yeah, I do."

"That was only a couple of days in Emeraldia. Quite funny, really, the way time works between worlds. Anyway, it was at the beginning of the long winter, and I actually got attacked by a tree."

"Attacked by a tree?"

"Well, not all of the tree spirits were good then. Some were spies for the White Witch. And when I said the name of Aslan, they attacked me."

"How did you know about Aslan?"

"Hm... oh, I remember! I had a dream about him, where I met him for the first time."

His eyes widened. "You knew Aslan before Narnia?"

I nodded. "I don't know why he wanted me to know him sooner than your family, but he did. I guess that's why it was so easy for me to follow him after your coronation when no one else would."

"I see." A shadow passed over his face, and he looked away.

"What is it, Ed? Did I say something wrong?"

"No, you didn't, it's just..." His voice trailed off, and he looked down at the ground.

"It's just what?" I asked gently, sitting up and moving closer to him.

He squinted up at the light. "If I had known Aslan before I had ever crossed paths with... her... what if things had gone differently?"

"Oh, Edmund." I sighed and rested my head against his shoulder. "We don't know what could have happened. And everything worked out just fine."

"But what if you had never had to go after me? What if Aslan had never had to die? What if-"

"Hey," I said softly. "Hey. It's alright. Just trust that Aslan had a plan, and has a plan, and will always have a plan."

"But what if there had been an easier way?"

"The easier way isn't always the right way." I lifted my head and met his eyes. "You were ten years old, Ed, in an unfamiliar place all alone. Whatever happened was just you being in the wrong place at the wrong time."

He bit his lip and glanced away. "You don't understand, Ruth."

"Then help me understand," I pressed, tipping his head so he looked into my eyes again.

He shook his head. "I've already said too much. Good night, Ruth."

"Good night, Ed," I replied reluctantly, pulling my beanie over my eyes and curling up in a ball next to the lamppost, the first sign of light and life I had ever seen in this land I now called home.

🦁

"Ruth? Edmund?" a voice asked the next morning. I jerked awake, only to see Mr. Tumnus in front of me. "What are you doing here?"

"Good morning, Mr. Tumnus," I said, grinning. I shook Edmund awake and rose to my feet. "It's a long story."

He smiled. "If you'd like to come with me to my home and Tulia, I have plenty of time."

Edmund yawned and opened his eyes. "Oh, Mr. Tumnus came to us."

I laughed. "So it would seem." I helped Ed to his feet and followed Tumnus.

"What were you doing over by the lamppost?" I asked.

"Well, funnily enough, that's where I first met Lucy. It's on my way home from my friend's house, just down the way. I couldn't believe my eyes seeing people there, no less a king and his brother's future queen."

I flushed while Edmund howled with laughter. He punched my shoulder lightly. "I don't know why you're so embarrassed, we all know it's true."

I flushed deeper. "Not yet."

This time Tumnus joined in the laughter. "You should have seen it, Ruth, at my wedding. He looked at you like you were the only person in the room."

"Well," I spluttered, "I mean, I mean, he-- yeah, I have nothing to say to that. He does that a lot when he thinks I'm not noticing."

They both got a good laugh at that. Tulia emerged from Tumnus's -- and now hers, I supposed -- house, laughing as well.

"Now what is so funny? Oh!" Her eyes widened. "Hello, Lady Ruth and King Edmund."

"Just Ruth and Edmund is alright, Tulia. Or should I say, Mrs. Tumnus," I replied.

She blushed and smiled sheepishly.

"I see you and my brother have similar taste in girls," Edmund teased Tumnus, who then laughed anew.

"I blush often too," I explained to Tulia, hugging her. "Your husband and my dear friend were just teasing me about it, and about Peter."

She giggled. "I know the feeling. I have three brothers, and they teased me about Tumnus for years."

I smiled. "We understand each other well, then. Oh, by the way," I said as we walked inside, the boys behind us, "I met your friend, Ailey! She was a delight to talk to these past few days."

"Oh, Ailey! We've been friends nearly all our lives."

"That's what she told me!"

"Not to interrupt," Tumnus said apologetically, "but I am most curious. What brings a king and a soon-to-be queen -- sorry, Ruth, but it's true -- to the Narnian mainland unannounced?"

Edmund glanced around. "Nobody could hear us, right?"

Tumnus and Tulia nodded emphatically.

"We've had a handful of, er, meetings here in the past few months," Tumnus explained.

"I would ask what about, but I'm sure you want your question answered first."

He nodded. "Please."

Edmund and I exchanged a glance, and I understood that he wanted me to explain. "Mr. Tumnus, do you remember the night the Pevensies were poisoned?"

Tulia's hands flew to her mouth in horror. "What?"

Tumnus laid a comforting hand on her shoulder. "They were alright. Ruth arrived just in time. I remember, Ruth."

"Do you remember the second vial? The silver one, with the blue liquid inside?"

His eyes bugged out of his head. "Yes. We put it under the tile, with Lucy's."

I nodded. "We were attacked. It was stolen. It's gone. Edmund and I are here to find it, as soon as possible."

After a pause, Tumnus said, "It probably will come as no major surprise to you, then, to learn that we've seen increased activity around the White Witch's castle."

Edmund's hand shot out for mine. I squeezed it back.

"I wish we were surprised," I said, trying not to wince as his grip tightened. "Is that what your meetings have been about?"

He nodded. "Debating whether or not to tell you or to take action ourselves. Trying to spy and determine what was going on. We obviously haven't reached any conclusions, but we're aware and keeping an eye on it."

"Thank you. That is encouraging to know." I rubbed my thumb up and down Edmund's hand. I glanced at his face. Pale. Eyes glazed over. I turned back to Tumnus, whose eyes darted back to Edmund before meeting mine again. I nodded. "Who all is involved?"

"Many people in this area. We have not yet informed any of the major camps, like the one where Tulia is from, but we rural dwellers are ready to take action at your command, and have considerable influence over the others if need be."

"That is also encouraging, thank you." I sighed. "We don't yet know what to do. We came here to find the vial, but we are now facing a famine and a kidnapping."

"Only one?" Tulia asked.

My stomach dropped to my toes. Edmund's head jerked upward.

"Only?" His voice was tight and almost squeaky.

She nodded gravely. "Dozens of Narnians have gone missing recently."

"How recently?"

Tumnus looked at his wife before answering. "In the past fortnight or so. Maybe a little more."

Edmund held my hand so tightly I feared it would break. He turned to me. "They have to be connected, Ruth. It's too much of a coincidence."

"I agree." I turned back to the satyrs. "Do you have any idea how they may be connected?"

They shook their heads. Edmund's hand went slack in mine.

"Please excuse me for a moment, I need some air," he said, slipping out quietly.

"Should you follow him?" Tumnus asked as soon as the door closed.

I closed my eyes for a second before meeting his gaze again. "No. I think it's best if he's alone for a moment." I sighed. "I trust him not to run away, and I think he needs to know that."

"Is he alright?" Tulia asked.

I sighed again, sinking down into a chair. "I don't think so. But he will be."