The Call To The Old - An Edmund Pevensie fanfiction

Chapter forty-nine

After separating from the arms of Edmund, Talia made her way over to where Aslan was waiting for her. He stood deep in the forestry area of the palace gardens, underneath trees that were almost as great a sight as him. The lion blinked slowly upon seeing Talia walk towards him, and he bowed his head slightly as if to say hello, which Talia reciprocated.

"You asked for me?" Talia questioned, exhaustion still running through her. Aslan softly sighed, and the girl continued, "If you are going to tell me off for my stunt earlier, I apologise, I lost control, I don't know what-"

"I wasn't going to tell you off." Aslan interrupted, "I was going to tell you how extraordinary your powers are getting, and with the proper training you could possess some of the best magic Narnia has ever seen. I have an opportunity for you," he smiled, "I have made contact with the women who have the same magic as you: the kingdom your mother was once from. They can train you, and help you regain control, so that nothing like this has to happen again."

Talia broke out in a smile, the first one for a while, "Really?" she exclaimed, full of joy that finally the magic that ran through her could be maintained.

"You shall leave to visit them in two days, their kingdom was pillaged and now they live deep in the forest, I will accompany you on the journey." He spoke, watching the girl's face light up, "Caspian will remain in charge of Narnia, and the Pevensies will return home."

All of the happiness Aslan had just bestowed upon her was slammed away, her chest felt heavy and her shoulders fell, "Return home?"

"Yes, I have told Susan and Peter and I am yet to tell the younger ones," he paused, "I understand you have a connection with Edmund, do you wish to be the one who tells him?"

Talia was shocked at Aslan's disconnection from the situation, "No." she mumbled, under her breath.

Aslan nodded, "They will leave in the morning, and I shall tell them then, I suggest that you prepare some kind of formal goodbye."

Talia froze and swallowed the lump in her throat, as Aslan began to walk past her back in the direction of the palace. She stepped forward, "Oh Aslan please! Please let them stay!" she begged, now realising that if they left she may never get to see any of them ever again.

Aslan turned around to face the girl, "It is not a part of their pathway," he spoke plainly.

"Well, can't you make it so it is? I don't know, elongate the path? Add in a few more diversions?" she pleaded, tears threatening to elope from her eyes.

Aslan smiled sadly, "I can not. They have learnt all that they needed too in this journey."

"Then let me go with them!" she declared, eagerly.

"Is that really what you want?" Aslan frowned, and Talia was left silent. But Aslan already knew the answer, and he continued on his way, leaving the girl alone in the forest.

Talia didn't know what to feel, but she knew that she couldn't let her magic get the better of her again. Now she just stood empty, as though not even her magic could fill her. She found comfort in the trees that surrounded her, and the moon that shone down on her from above. The girl returned to where she had had her magical outburst and set her eyes on the tree she had made fall. It lay lonely on the grass, separated from all that it had once known, she felt kindred to it and made her way towards it. Talia rested her hand on it's body, as she stared sadly at it's fallen figure. She willed it to move, she willed it to return to where it belonged - the girl imagined in her mind the tree reconnecting with it's roots, in the soil it called home and she envisioned the life flowing through it once again. Through her hand she shot her power into the body of the tree through her fingertips, sharing the magic she possessed with the fallen tree. It wasn't long before the wind rose up around her and the nearby trees all began to dance. When the girl opened her eyes, the tree was back in it's position, and she could feel the life that flowed through it. Despite the circumstances, she couldn't help but burst out in a wide smile: her powers certainly were growing, now she could restore life.

From the window of his bedroom Edmund had watched Talia restore the tree to life, and he watched on in awe at the girl's ability. He adored her compassion for nature, and let his eyes follow the girl as she made her way back inside the palace. He couldn't help but notice the tried expression that fell over her face, lit up by the moonlight. But he brushed off his concern as he thought about all of the moments they would now be able to spend with each other, as the drama had now been halted. He thought about their future, the many more dances they would attend together, trips to the beach and journeys to nearby kingdoms. He pondered over how many more times he would remind her of his love, and hold her in his arms. The stories he still had to share with her, and the books they needed to read, the skills he wanted to teach her and the skills he needed her to teach him. All the words he still had to say to her fluttered through his mind, and he was excited to do so.

Meanwhile, Talia climbed the stairs to the bedroom quarters of the palace, unsure of where to go. It didn't feel fitting to not go to Edmund's bedroom to spend their last night together but then she still had words to say to Peter and Lucy, and even a few more left for Susan. She ran a hand through her hair and sighed, making her way to the one she wanted the most. As she approached the door, the same tightness in her chest returned, but she wiped the tears from her face and plastered on a smile, knocking three times on the great, wooden door.