Seraphina | Edmund Pevenise

Chapter 8

When Dad and I got back to camp, dusk was upon us. Looking over the campsite, I noticed Lucy smiling widely as she was reunited with her brother. Edmund glanced up at me with a small smile, a tint of red covered his cheeks as I waved at him. Lucy quickly turned her head to see what has her brother flustered and her smile only got wider at the sight of me, "Seraphina! Join us!"

My father walked to my side, "Go with them," he smiled as he stared at the little red headed girl, "But Sera, remember give Edmund a chance."

"I will father. I promise."

A small giggle escaped from me as I walked towards Lucy, Edmund, and Susan as Peter leaned against the rock next to their tent.

"Hello everyone," I said as I sat down in between Susan and Edmund. When I sat down, Edmund was quick to begin feasting on the food in front of him.

"Narnia's not going to run out of toast, Ed," Lucy sarcastically teased her brother.

"I'm sure they'll pack something up for the journey back," Peter yelled out.

My brows furrowed as I peered at the Pevenise clan, "Journey back?"

Susan placed her hand on my shoulder, sharing the same puzzled look, "We're going home?"

Peter pushed himself off the rock wall, "You are. I promised Mum I'd keep you three safe," he sat to my right as I shifted closer to Edmund to make room for him. "But it doesn't mean I can't stay behind and help."

"But they need us. All four of us," Lucy softly said as she nodded her head my way.

I looked at Peter, "We need all of you. This is a fight where numbers matter Peter."

Peter shook his head, "Lucy, it's too dangerous. You almost drowned! Edmund was almost killed!"

"Which is why we have to stay," Edmund said while his head hung low. Everyone peered at him, "I've seen what the White Witch can do. And I've helped her do it. Seraphina, had to endure her for a hundred years," his hand met mine under the table as his gaze met mine. This small, innocent act, had the power to make butterflies appear in my stomach. "And we can't leave these people behind to suffer for it," he peered at his siblings as he continued to hold onto my hand.

Silence fell upon the table. The Pevenise siblings were left to contemplate on their next move. Help Narnia fight a war, or leave to their home that is most likely safer than here.

Susan sighed as she pushed herself up into a standing position, "I suppose that's it then," and walked away from us.

"Where are you going," Peter called after her.

She picked up her bow and arrow as she turned to face us with a grin, "To get in some practice."

Peter chuckled a bit before he himself followed his sister to practice with his own weapon, while Lucy happily followed in suit, eager to see her brother and sister practicing.

I stood up and began to turn away, but was stopped as a hand grabbed onto my arm.

"Can we talk Sera?"

Looking down, I saw Edmund with vulnerability clear in his eyes. I nodded as I sat back down.

"I just, um," his head snapped back to the table as his began to get flustered, "I- I just want to apologize for everything. For the things I said back in the cell, but most of all I'm extremely sorry for all the wrongs I've done to Narnia... to you. Seraphina, forgive me?"

"Edmund," I placed my hand on his arm, "I've told you. You have nothing to be sorry for to me, but if it makes you feel better. I accept your apology."

His eyes met mine as I told him that I accepted his forgiveness. Happiness filled his once scared eyes. My mind was filled with thoughts of how I can make this boy go from being nervous to being happy in an instant. Perhaps the prophecy is telling the truth after all.

He smiled as a chuckle left him, "You deserve a better husband than me."

A blush crept onto my cheeks. He wasn't negative towards prophecy about us. "What I deserve is a man who will truly love me for me. If that is you in the future, then I'd be happy with the outcome, Ed."

"We need to get married though. It's in the prophecy."

I shook my head, "Edmund, I don't want you to marry me just because you feel the need to. Just because a prophecy told us we will, doesn't mean it will happen. Our choices that we make now, will determine if the prophecy does in fact happen."

I paused as I brought my hand to his face, to make him look at me in my eyes, "I want you to marry me because you really do love me Edmund. Nothing less than just pure love between us. Otherwise, it's not fair to either of us. We both deserve a future partner that we both will be loved and happy with, not have it be something that feels like an obligation just because we're being told to do."

His hand cupped mine that laid on his face, "You deserve a more worthy man than me. I don't deserve you Seraphina. I've made so many mistakes that I'm afraid that Narnia wouldn't accept me as their King. Hell, I wouldn't even accept myself as king."

I tilted my head as I stared into his eyes, "Narnia deserves a King that can recognize his mistakes. Edmund, we all make mistakes, even Kings and Queens, but it's how we fix them and make them right that matters. It's what makes a great leader. You hurt your kingdom, so how are you going to fix that?"

He nodded his head slowly, "I'm going to fight with Narnia. The right side I should've been fighting with the whole time, instead of against. However, I'd do everything all over again."

I furrowed my brows at him, "What do you mean? Why would you do it again?"

"Because if I did anything different. Didn't follow Jadis for that short while.... I wouldn't have met you."