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𝑨 𝑹𝑬𝑼𝑵𝑰𝑶𝑵 𝑨𝑵𝑫 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑾𝑨𝑻𝑬𝑹 𝑫𝑨𝑵𝑪𝑬𝑹
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❛𝐈 𝐂𝐀𝐍 𝐓𝐄𝐋𝐋 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐇𝐀𝐕𝐄 𝐁𝐄𝐄𝐍 very worried about my well-being.'

Alexander's voice startled both Rosaleen and Peter awake, and Rosaleen practically shot upwards while Peter visibly paled and withdrew his hand from her lower back.

'Alex!' Rosaleen exclaimed, jumping up from the bed and sprinting towards her brother to envelop him in a tight hug. 'You're here, you're alright!'

'I'm still in one piece,' Alexander said, suppressing a groan as she had flung herself against his bruised body. He still embraced her back, though, and looked at Peter over her head.

The eldest Pevensie had clambered out of bed as well and he felt rather uncomfortable when he noticed Alexander's squinted stare in suspicion. 'Nothing happened, I swear it,' he quickly said, and Rosaleen let go of her brother, a slight blush appearing on her cheeks.

'Peter's right,' she defended him. 'I couldn't sleep; I asked him to stay.'

'How gracious of him to accept.'

Rosaleen's blush made way for an angry glare at Alexander, and she had to fight the urge to slap him. He was already hurt, she told herself as she observed his strained stance. 'Don't be so mean,' she said between clenched jaws but he shrugged it off.

Alexander limped as he walked farther inside the tent, his face contorting in pain every time he put his weight on his wounded leg. He carefully sat down on the other bed, breathing in sharply as every muscle in his body ached while he placed his twin swords against the foot-end.

'Did my brother come. . . Is Edmund here as well?' Peter dared to ask after a small silence, and Alexander nodded.

'Yes, he's still talking to Aslan outside.'

Peter spun around and shot past Rosaleen, eager to see his younger brother again.

Rosaleen smiled, looking at his back as he disappeared out of the tent, she was relieved they both had their siblings back. She sat down on her own bed again, observing her older brother sitting across from her. A deep but clean gash ran over the side of his face and parts of his clothing were ripped, revealing some bloodied bandages.

'What happened after the wolves captured you?' she wondered, feeling a bit light-headed after realising the bad state he was in. 'What did the White Witch do to you?'

Alexander avoided her gaze by laying down, biting his tongue to refrain himself from letting out a painful cry. 'Nothing.'

'That doesn't look like nothing.'

'I don't want to talk about it, Rose,' he snapped and she flinched at his harsh tone, yet she refused to give up that quickly.

'I'm your sister, you can─'

'I said I don't want to talk about it. Leave me be, go with your boyfriend. Right now, I just want to sleep.'

Rosaleen's shoulders slumped, she wished he would tell her what had happened but maybe it was better to let him rest for now. She stood up, gathering her swords as well, and in the tent opening she looked back at him one last time. 'He's not my boyfriend, though,' she said, which earned a chuckle from him before he waved her away with some strained movements.

She walked out of the tent, observing the reunited Pevensies; Lucy and Susan hugged their brother tightly, but Peter simply told Edmund to go get some rest ─ while he had been so eager to see him just a few seconds ago.

Edmund nodded slightly and Rosaleen's eyes fell upon his bloodied lip and bruised side of his face. The skin under his eyes was a dark purple from sleep deprivation and his usual raven coloured hairs had lost their healthy glint.

'Edmund,' Rosaleen said, stepping a bit closer to him before he could disappear in his tent and his brown eyes landed on hers after a small hesitation.

'I'm glad you're back with us, safe and sound,' she continued with a small smile, and Edmund carefully smiled as well.

'Thank you,' he whispered with a hoarse voice, and though Rosaleen wasn't sure if he could appreciate it, she gave him a quick hug. Edmund froze for a split second but then embraced her as well. He set course for his tent but curiously glanced over his shoulder when Peter called his name.

'Try not to wander off,' Peter said, and Edmund grinned slightly.

Rosaleen crossed eyes with Susan, raising an eyebrow in question, and Susan shrugged while mouthing, 'Brothers.'

Rosaleen chuckled, suddenly understanding that brothers displayed their affection for each other in a different manner than a brother and sister. Peter gave her a look, having noticed their exchange, and Rosaleen transformed her chuckle into a fake cough.

'Nice try,' Peter said, not falling for it and Rosaleen walked towards him as an idea popped in her head and she quickly went with it before she'd lose the nerve for it.

'I'm sorry,' she began with a chuckle, halting in front of him and looking up to meet his gaze, 'but you could have just hugged him. It's really not that hard; here, I'll prove it.' She threw her hands around him, one over his shoulder and the other under it, and she embraced him.

Peter froze, quickly glancing at his sisters to see their reaction, but both of them burst out into fits of laughter when they interpreted his frozen posture for truly forgetting how to hug.

'Your brother really is going to murder me,' he whispered in her hair, hugging her shortly before breaking their embrace again.

Rosaleen flashed him one of her innocent smiles but then the group decided to search for a place to get some breakfast as their stomachs began to rumble.

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𝐀𝐅𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐅𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐀𝐅𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐇𝐀𝐕𝐈𝐍𝐆 changed into a less fancy dress, Rosaleen wandered through the camp by herself and came across a large open training field where a few Narnians were perfectioning their fighting skills. She spotted Oreius, training some other centaurs, and a group of fauns challenging each other to javelins. But, as her gaze wandered towards the edge of the grassfield in the distance, she saw the vibrant blue hair of Saffira: one of the naiads who had helped her getting ready yesterday.

The water nymph seemed to dance over the grass as her thin swords ─ rapiers, to be exact ─ swung gracefully through the air; the blades sometimes appearing to be no more than a flash of metal.

Rosaleen walked towards Saffira, her eyes following the naiad's every movement, and though she tried to be quiet to not disturb Saffira, she noticed Rosaleen's presence nonetheless.

The naiad twirled around one last time before dropping in an elegant curtsy, the rapiers resting horizontal in the air, spread like the wings of an eagle.

'My Lady,' Saffira spoke with her melodic voice and her electric blue eyes were focussed upon the grass.

Rosaleen got caught off guard by the curtsy and she quickly stammered that such formalities weren't necessary.

Saffira rose back up. 'How can I be of service, my Lady?' she asked, sensing that the blonde wanted to ask her something.

'I was wondering,' Rosaleen began, 'if you could teach me some of your sword fighting moves?'

Saffira's eyes grew wide. 'Me? I'm only a simple water dancer, my Lady. Oreius would be more worthy to teach you, you're a knight of Narnia now.'

Rosaleen glanced at the centaur who just crossed swords with another. Their movements were strong, powerful and solid, yet they seemed to miss the elegance that Saffira had shown; the elegance that had drawn in Rosaleen, and she shook her head. 'No, I want you to teach me. I want to fight like you, it was beautiful, almost enchanting.'

Saffira smiled brightly, though a rose-coloured blush appeared on her usual pale cheeks. 'My Lady honours me. Very well, I shall teach you. Draw your swords and take off your shoes.'

'My shoes?'

The naiad nodded. 'Yes, I want you to try and be one with nature all around you. Our dance is about sensing and understanding your surroundings and using that to your advantage if nature allows it.'

Rosaleen wasn't sure if she could do that, she wasn't a magical creature after all, but still, she slipped out of her flat shoes and drew her swords while lifting the sheaths off her back as well. She cast them on the ground, and with her swords in her hands, she took her place next to Saffira. The grass felt soft and cool under her bare feet, and with every step she took, it was as if the green blanket tried to bounce her feet back up. A soft and warm breeze traveled through the air, and the sun warmed up her body. It was strange to think that these lands were covered with a layer of snow not too long ago.

'Your grip should be loose and relaxed,' Saffira said after observing Rosaleen's stance. 'Like this.' She enclasped Rosaleen's wrist with one hand, using her other to redirect Rosaleen's fingers around the hilt.

Rosaleen readjusted her grip on the other sword as well but it felt as if she could drop the swords out of her hands any time. Maybe the grip was appropriate for rapiers, but her twin swords were way longer and broader. 'It's too heavy. What if I drop them?'

Saffira chuckled, taking her stance next to her again. 'You won't, believe me,' she said. 'Now, the next thing you must do is to no longer see your swords as separate swords. They are one, two halves of one sword. Where one goes, follows the other.'

Rosaleen hummed, remembering Saffira's movements and how they had flowed into one another.

'Ready? Try to follow my lead.'

Rosaleen copied Saffira's movements as the hours ticked forth, surprising both of them how easily she took up the so-called water dance, and it truly felt like a dance as she twirled and spun over the grassfield. Her swords felt like extensions of her own arms, no longer tools or weapons, but truly a part of herself.

'My Lady is a natural,' Saffira said, excitedly clapping in her hands as Rosaleen showed her another newly-learned combination of flowing and slicing movements.

Rosaleen panted heavily, a few droplets of sweat sliding down her face, but her eyes sparkled like the ocean in the distance. 'I do have an amazing teacher, though,' she said as she sank down on the grass to take a break.

Saffira grinned. 'My Lady is too kind.' She sat down next to Rosaleen nonetheless and as the blonde tried to catch her breath, the naiad explained some other movements; describing it while drawing it with the point of her rapier in the air.

Rosaleen hummed every once in a while, but she startled a bit when Saffira suddenly jumped up. She had caught sight of someone coming towards them and she dropped in a curtsy, turning halfway around.

Rosaleen turned curiously around as well, still sitting in the grass.

'Here you are,' Peter said to Rosaleen with a smile, and he gestured to Saffira that she could stand up again. He too felt a bit odd whenever someone bowed to him, but a part of him also got used to it.

'Your Grace, my Lady,' Saffira muttered before spurting away to give them some privacy.

Rosaleen plucked some grass leaves, twirling them between her fingers as she watched Peter when he sat down with crossed legs across from her. His dark blond hair shimmered with a golden glow in the rays of the sun, and she stared at him, a bit mesmerized and not realising he was just as enchanted by her appearance until they both snapped out of it.

'So, what were you doing here?' Peter asked, focussing his gaze upon her hands that weaved the grass leaves together in some sort of rope. He had seen her talking with the naiad from afar, but didn't know what they had been talking about.

'Training,' she answered. 'Saffira was showing me some moves.'

'I suppose that means you want to stay and fight as well, then?' He met her curious gaze and pointed over his shoulder. In the distance, Susan was practising with her bow while Lucy stood by her side. Alexander and Edmund looked at Oreius as he slashed his sword in powerful movements through the air. Her brother still couldn't rest his weight fully on his wounded leg but he seemed determined to learn. She hadn't even noticed them entering the training field.

Rosaleen focussed upon Peter again, a thought clicking in her mind. 'We're going to help try to defeat the White Witch?'

Peter nodded. 'Yes. Ed and Alex are determined to see the witch fall after what she has done to them, and I can't talk my sisters out of it.' He sighed, resulting in Rosaleen frowning.

'What's wrong?'

'I suppose I cannot talk you out of it as well?'

Rosaleen shook her head and Peter held her gaze for a while.

'I just don't want you to get hurt. Neither of you.' He quickly glanced over his shoulder, at his sisters, by those last three words but his head snapped back at Rosaleen when she slid closer over the grass towards him and took his hands. She sat on her knees in front of him, the fabric of her purple dress spread around her like the petals of a rose. Their hands were intertwined, resting upon her upper legs and she smiled.

'We'll be alright. We can take care of ourselves,' she said, her words amplified when Susan almost hit the bullseye and Lucy's excited giggle traveled through the air.

Peter let go of one her hands, gently tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear and a pleasant shiver rolled down her spine when his fingers softly stroked past her jawline as well. He hesitated for a moment but then he allowed himself to drown in the depths of her ocean coloured eyes. He no longer cared that his siblings and her brother were near, he only wanted her.

Rosaleen had to remind herself to keep breathing when his hand stopped moving at the back of her neck and his face inched closer towards hers. Her eyes flickered between his and his lips, but the sound of galloping hooves headed towards them interrupted them before they could kiss.

Peter quickly withdrew his hands and Rosaleen pushed herself back over the grass, creating some more distance between them while their hearts hammered in their chests by the thought of what almost happened.

'Are you two coming to train, or are you going to watch how the grass grows?' Oreius bellowed at them, the centaur towering far above their sitting positions.

Both of them scrambled back on their feet.

'We're coming,' Peter said, his cheeks flustered while Rosaleen gathered her swords, looking heated as well.

Peter walked around the centaur, partly jogging to join his younger brother and Alexander in the distance, and Rosaleen looked up, sensing Oreius' glare at her. She had a feeling that the centaur didn't like her very much.

'We need High King Peter to lead an army with a clear head, not one filled with sweet-poisoned words,' Oreius said sternly at her, holding his sword flat-sided against her chest before she could join the others.

Rosaleen felt as if he had hit her across her face. 'Excuse me?'

'I do not trust you.'

Rosaleen searched for words. She hoped someone would come between them as she trembled under the touch of his sword, but Oreius shielded her from the eyes of the other's with his own large hind body of a horse. 'Why?' she eventually managed to bring out.

'We centaurs watch the stars, and I do not like what they have to say about you. You are destined to betray Narnia.'

An anger washed over Rosaleen and she forcefully pushed his sword away. 'I would never do such a thing,' she said between clenched jaws, the green in her eyes burning like wildfire.

Oreius appeared to be a bit caught off guard by her push, but then he scoffed. 'We will see. The stars never lie.'

Rosaleen was ready to draw her swords but then he allowed her to pass through, and she gave him one last angry glare before joining her brother's side. Peter and Edmund were already trying to duel with each other and they didn't notice her angry demeanor, but Alexander did.

'What's wrong?'

'Nothing,' she snapped at him, suddenly remembering how he had refused to tell her what had happened between him and the White Witch. This was no different; this was between her and Oreius, she would prove she was trustworthy.

Alexander opened and closed his mouth, not sure what to do, but Oreius came trotting back to them and told the Summers siblings to start duelling as well.

Alexander raised his swords, holding them cross-bladed in front of his face. He still stood a bit wobbly on his wounded leg, but if it hurt at all, he didn't show it.

'Show me your stance─,' Oreius began, directed at Rosaleen but he broke off his sentence when she twirled the swords around in her hands. Her right sword rested on the top of her underarm and pointed backwards while she had her left one raised diagonally in front of her.

'You're certain you want to do this?' Rosaleen asked her brother with a smirk when he lowered his swords a bit, perplexed. 'I've been practising since this morning.'

Alexander raised his swords again, an equally wide smirk appearing on his face. 'You know I never back away from a challenge.' He charged at her but Rosaleen broke through his attack with her left sword, forcing his swords down while her right one followed her other quickly; stopping it near his neck.

'Dead,' she said while pulling back her swords again and taking a few steps back.

'So violent,' Alexander joked as he tried to shake his perplexity off him. 'What happened to my sister?'

Rosaleen shrugged, taking in her stance again, and Oreius left them to their duelling. The centaur showed Peter and Edmund how to fight from horse-back while Alexander tried numerous times to get the upper hand but the naiad's lesson had Rosaleen in an advantage. She fought differently than her brother, who stuck to Oreius' instructions, but both felt that the style they fought in was meant for them.

Hours passed and the sun had long moved beyond her highest point in the sky when everyone turned their attention to Mr Beaver who suddenly came running over the grassfield towards the Pevensie brothers.

'Peter! Edmund!' the beaver shouted, raising himself on his hind legs, and Edmund's horse reared back to avoid stepping on Mr Beaver.

'Whoa, horsie,' Edmund said, holding tight onto his reins.

'My name's Philip,' the horse said and Edmund quickly apologised.

Mr Beaver looked at Peter who sat high and mighty on his white unicorn. 'You all better come quickly. The witch has demanded a meeting with Aslan,' he said. 'She's on her way here.'

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