The Salle, Thursday Afternoon

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

It was cold. There was snow, too much snow, and cold and no power. The power thing didn't bother Edmund in the slightest. He packed candles to light the salle, which he set up and lit, before retrieving his sword. He kept glancing at the door to see if Molly was going to come as he went through his practice routine.

Comments

[grasshopper-mol.livejournal.com]

"No." She glanced up at him. "Why?"

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

"I don't have a good history with witches," he replied bluntly.

[grasshopper-mol.livejournal.com]

"Okay, first, I'm not a witch. Second, what does not having a good history mean, exactly?"

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

The relief might have been visible, even in the candlelight. "It's a very long story."

[grasshopper-mol.livejournal.com]

"I'm not going anywhere," she said, gesturing to the bench next to her, "and it's not like we don't have tons of time."

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

He stayed where he was, but he did look at where she had offered him a seat. "I don't mean to offend, but it's not a story I'm comfortable telling someone I don't know very well. But the short version for public consumption is that, in Narnia, witches aren't to be trusted and only bring trouble with them."

[grasshopper-mol.livejournal.com]

"No, I guess that's okay," she said, trying not to feel disappointed, "and that sucks, but is it really true of all witches where you're from? I mean, some wizards I know are really, really good."

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

"All the ones I know of." Meaning one. Maybe more, if hags really counted, or myths of the Northern Witches. The jury was still out on Willow. "Wizards might be different."

[grasshopper-mol.livejournal.com]

"So, like, if I was a witch or a wizard, which I'm so not," she added quickly, "Would that mean we couldn't be friends?"

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

"No," he said slowly, trying to word his response properly considering Molly was the first person he'd met here he would start to consider a friend, "but it would take some time to gain my trust."

[grasshopper-mol.livejournal.com]

"How much time?" She bit her tongue before asking if there was a test she could take.

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

Ed gave a slight shrug and maintained eye contact. He had his suspicions. "Depends on whether or not you plan on trying to take over my country."

[grasshopper-mol.livejournal.com]

"Why the heck would I want to do that?"

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

"The view from Cair Paravel is pretty impressive. Also, good skiing and health care."

[grasshopper-mol.livejournal.com]

"It sounds great, but, again, if it's so great, I don't want to ruin that by taking it over. Plus, then I'd actually have to work."

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

"Paperwork, mediating disputes, leading the Army, overseeing the construction of a Navy, border skirmishes, diplomacy with people who'd really rather kill you than talk..."

[grasshopper-mol.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, there's no way," she laughed, "But you really do that all the time? And you like it? Seriously?"

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

"There's always something to keep me busy," he reasoned. "I get to ride a lot and go hunting and fishing and travel. I didn't ask for this, but it's what was intended for me, and I try to be good at it." Again with the evasiveness.

[grasshopper-mol.livejournal.com]

Molly noticed the evasiveness, but he was right--they barely knew each other. She could push more later. "I bet you are good at it. That health care thing sounds very encouraging."

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

"It's nothing like here, but it's better than it was. More organised. But running the country is easier since there's four of us, plus there's plenty of Narnians to help."

[grasshopper-mol.livejournal.com]

"So, you're set, and it's not like you're abandoning things while you're here, since there's plenty of people to take over, right?"

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

He shook his head. "Peter studied here for two years and we looked after Narnia while he was gone. Susan and I came in the middle of this year, but now Susan's at home with Peter and Lucy and they have everything under control. I'd rather be there, but I've been asked to be here. I'm not sure why, but that's pretty much how things go."

[grasshopper-mol.livejournal.com]

"Maybe they wanted you to have a break and have fun? Y'know, relax a little?"

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

He shook his head. "It involves learning a lesson. It always involves learning a lesson. Of course, He doesn't want to tell me what that lesson is. I have to learn that for myself too."

[grasshopper-mol.livejournal.com]

"Maybe the lesson is that there's more to you than the guy who runs a country?" She suggested.