Metamorphosis || Edmund Pevensie

Chapter 10: Considerations

The unspoken topic in Aslan's Camp finally came up when Mistwhirl informed Dhruvika that Oreius wanted to have a talk with her. "He is looking at maps. He has not left his stand since morning. Believe me, he wants to have a serious talk with you."

Dhruvika stopped reading that day's book and walked over to the General's favourite spot in the forest under the trees. He was using the shade of the trees to mark specific spots on the map. He was frowning, and that was never a good sign. "You wanted to see me?" She called out as she entered the clearing, playing with a wreath of flowers that was handed to her to put in her final touches by the younger nymphs. They always needed a human's turn of the leaf to complete their works.

"Ah, Dhruvika." He rolled up the maps and made way for her to have a seat on the table. Or lean against when it came to her. "I'm afraid that we must talk about what we have been putting a pin on for this long."

Uh oh, she thought. "Oreius-"

"You need to understand that we want the best for you, dear girl." He continued. "You are like one of my daughters and I am grateful to have had the chance to train another stubborn child." The two shared a laugh. "I know that you don't like talking about this but I want to tell you to reconsider meeting the Kings and Queens. They can help you more than we can. You need to be with your people."

"This is my home, Oreius. I don't want it any other way. Narnians are my people, even if you don't feel the same way. Naan inge thaan irrupen."

"But-"

"Please." Tears started to form in her eyes when she realised that it was time; time to tell Oreius how she really felt. "I don't belong anywhere. The memories that I have are traumatic and painful and I am ignoring whatever has happened to me in the past. I want to look towards the future and I haven't belonged anywhere for a really long time. This is my veedu. You are my family. So stop trying to send me away because I am not leaving! I will not leave! Neenga ennai poga solla mudiyadhu!"

"I don't want you to leave, silly girl. I want the best for you."

"And that best is here."

Oreius sighed. He knew that she was just as stubborn as she always said she was. "And are you sure about this?"

Dhruvika pursed her lips as she decided to let out her emotions to him. He wanted her to talk to him? That was exactly what she was going to do. "Whatever has happened between the Witch and I," She shuddered at the thought that she was pushing away all the while. "That will stay in the past. I am not going to let it haunt me because everything that has happened to me. I'm not leaving. I was always Robin. That was the only name I ever knew. You gave me an identity, one that I shall always be grateful for. Please don't send me away from the only home I have."

Persistence was the key. "Now may I leave from here?" 

Oreius thought about it for a few seconds before answering. "Yes, you may." When she turned her back to him, he started. "Be careful with the boy that you're meeting."

Her eyes widened but she composed herself when she turned around to face him. "How do you know it is a boy?" She challenged him, her voice stagnant the entire time. She could be with a girl too. Or a Narnian. He couldn't know it for sure.

"Remember your training," he said before opening the map once again and leaving her question unanswered.

The travel to the castle had her have a lot of questions run through her mind. Did she finally talk back to Oreius? Did she finally make a stand and talk about her true feelings? Oreius was like a father to her. He was the one person that she never doubted or lied to, although hiding the truth was not exactly lying according to her.

When Robin transformed into herself in Edmund's balcony, she called out for him when she found his room to be empty. Where could he have been, she wondered. "Edmund?" She peeked her head into the room and looked for the tousled head, but the room was darker than it usually was. That was strange because she knew that he liked to have a bright room until it was time to head for bed.

"Hello, Dhruvika." She heard from behind her and turned around, startled.

"Aiyo!" Shouted Dhruvika, closing her mouth with both hands. "Gosh, Edmund! You scared me!"

"It was my turn to startle you after all." He shrugged. He was leaning against the railings of the balcony.

"How did you get there?" She asked, pointing to the place he stood at. He wasn't there when she arrived. Uh oh. What if he had seen her transform?

"Magic," he said before he crossed his legs over.

"What are you doing!"

"Scaring you for the second time." He said before letting his grip on the railings of the balcony go to fall backwards into the dark abyss.

"Tree!" She shouted, her feet carrying her to the edge of the balcony. Her eyes searched for him in the darkness and tears were forming in her eyes as anger boiled through her veins.

"Relax." She heard him.

"Where are you?" She was relieved to hear his voice but the anger in her was overpowering.

"Look up."

Her head turned up and her eyes opened up wide when she realised what he had done. "I hate you," she whispered, composing herself to prevent Edmund from making fun of her.

"I know. I'm too good to be true."

"Yeah, right." She scoffed. "So who is this brilliant griffin?" She asked as he flew down towards the other side of the balcony to be eye to eye with her.

"Marvin. My griffin."

"Your griffin?"

"Yeah! Where's the fun in being the King if I can't go where I want to?" He put his hand forward and she raised her eyebrows at him. "Come on." He beckoned.

"No way." She shook her head. Even though she was a part-time bird, she was still afraid of heights. Oreius found it very strange but even more funny when she told him about it. He told her that it was 'one of those things'.

"Don't you trust me?" His chocolate brown eyes looked deeper than usual as she realised that he was trying to use his acceptance trick on her.

"If you let me fall, I will kill you."

"After what I just did, I may deserve it."

"You won't die from my hands. Don't worry about that." He helped her sit down on the griffin, who was trying to adjust his wings for her comfortability. "This is....different."

He smirked. "You get used to it. Come on. I need to show you something."