(2) TELL ME TO STAY // Edmund Pevensie

THE DAUGHTER OF RAMANDU

'CATHERINE! CATHERINE, WAKE UP!'

Catherine jolted awake at the sound of Lucy's excited, perky voice and instantly clutched her head, groaning in annoyance as she realized that nobody was in trouble, and they weren't being kidnapped.

'We're making breakfast, would you like some?' Lucy said with a grin, allowing Catherine to look up at her, squinting at the light with a long sigh.

'Sure. Why not.'

Lucy seemed satisfied with her answer and ran off towards Gael and Mr. Rhince, who was speaking to Caspian about their next plans of action. Catherine felt like a knife had been cut through her head and she scanned her surroundings, furrowing her eyebrows in confusion.

She began to doubt if last night had happened, if she had really kissed Edmund or if it was another of the green mist's tormenting mind-tricks that the crew had been forced to grow accustomed to. As she noticed that she was sleeping where Edmund had set up camp the night before, she felt her stomach fill with butterflies.

Standing up, she wandered over to her brother, who noticed her arrival and grinned, estatically, quickly cancelling his conversation to walk over towards her.

'Ah, you're up!' He said in an excited flurry that made Catherine grown from exhaustion. 'How did you sleep?'

'Pretty well considering I didn't get kidnapped by invisible one-legged dwarves, have a nightmare about swords, or get sold as a slave to a man with a prickly beard.' She said before giving him a sarcastic smile. 'Overall, I'd say brilliantly.'

Caspian grinned back at her. 'I'm glad that you didn't get kidnapped, awoken, or sold either, my dear.'

Catherine furrowed her eyebrows in confusion as rubbed her face, tiredly. 'What's gotten you in such a good mood?'

This only made her brother grin brighter. Without saying anything, Caspian replied by turning his position next to her, stretching out an arm towards the sea. Catherine didn't understand.

'Caspian, I don't-'

Then she saw it.

The sky had been cleared and painted a luscious blue, reflecting down on the sea below it which rippled in rhythmic movements, dancing under the light of a simple shining star that was presented in the sky, so bright that Catherine found herself to be fully awake.

'You have got to be kidding me.'

Caspian nodded, staring up at it with a subtle nod, admiring the beauty of his achievement.

'Isn't it beautiful?' He said, his voice laced with awe. 'We're heading down there as soon as all the supplies are loaded onto the ship. I want to get there before nightfall, at least.'

Catherine nodded and watched her brother grin up to the sky, his thoughts finally clearing. She felt a small, proud smile tug at her lips and reached down to clasp his hand in here, giving it a reassuring squeeze.

'I'm proud of you.'

Caspian turned to her instantly, his eyes widening and his features softening from his awe-stuck expression before. His eyes glittered with hope and when he spoke, his voice was soft and gentle, adopting the mannerisms of a four-year-old. He squeezed her hand back, once.

'Really?'

Catherine nodded and wrapped an arm around him. 'Really.'

The bright grin that Caspian produced was much larger and more magnificent than the star, which twinkled above them with a soft aura of hope and admiration. Catherine felt it watching down on her, winking and grinning elegantly, and although it seemed to intrude on the soft moment the siblings were sharing, she didn't mind at all.