definitely this time (e.p. fanfic)

Chapter 18

Sunlight dimmed its glow over the island, as dusk approached. An eerie calm settled over the island, as some of the crew members gathered on the shore of the island, gawking and trying to come to terms with the fact that Eustace was now a dragon.

Eustace squirmed, as something glinted on his arm, ahem, claw. As Raina stepped closer, she realised it was a bracelet of sorts, solid gold with some emeralds on it. It was quite beautiful, but her heart ached when she realised what led to it.

'He must've been tempted by the treasure.' Edmund pointed out, looking back at Lucy, Caspian before his eyes landed on Raina. She didn't return it, but somewhere deep inside, it was a cut to her heart, and if there's anything she'd succumb to, it would be death by a thousand cuts. Cuts she inflicted, on herself, at the expense of herself, because of Edmund, and how deeply she wanted to not fall back into a cycle that would hurt even harder. She felt tears build as she cautiously eyed him, his eyes turned away from her. She quickly wiped at her tears.

'Well, anyone knows a dragon's treasure is enchanted...' Caspian began, as Eustace's head snapped to him, annoyed and glaring, when Caspian stopped.

'Cas...' Raina mumbled, warningly.

'Well, anyone from here.' He concluded, trying to save himself.

'Smooth.' Raina whispered, as she turned back to Eustace.

'Are you alright?' Raina asked, somewhat dumbly, knowing he probably wasn't. Eustace gave her a look, that if he were in his human form, would be the definition of exasperated, a visual expression of the phrase 'ya think?'.

'Sorry.' Raina mumbled, as she looked down.

Lucy then walked to Eustace, and noticed him cringing, unable to put pressure on one of his claws, which bore the large bracelet. She carefully walked closer and stretched her arms out to take it out. Eustace adjusted as he reached his claw-like hand out, and Lucy abruptly pulled it off. Eustace let out a dragon-like yell and turned away, scratching his other arm. It was a little funny, as Lucy cracked a smile, and Raina snorted slightly.

Edmund's face spoke of emotions he never thought he'd feel for his cousin, and Raina saw it all. There was a speck of anger, as to why did my dumb mollycoddled cousin fuck up so epically?, along with an unexpected outpour of concern, as to I should've been there. I shouldn't have let him go, I shouldn't have let him make the mistakes I did. Raina wondered if she should read his thoughts, but she didn't need to, because she could feel it anyway. If there was one person in the whole world, who could understand him, who knew when to be with him and when to leave him alone, and who could read his thoughts without even trying, it was Raina. And what hurt the most? Is that she knew it, but she still felt as though she couldn't be with him, because she didn't deserve him. And for a moment, when Edmund saw himself in his cousin, feeling so deeply ashamed, hurt, and unwanted, Raina wondered if she was making the right decision leaving him for good.

'Is there any way to change him back?' Edmund asked, turning to Caspian.

'Not that I know of.' He admitted, looking at Drinian, before his eyes fell upon the High Queen of Narnia. She was lost in her thoughts, namely her decision to stay away from Edmund, and clearly didn't realise that she was looking at him, who stared back at her confused and shocked.

'Ahem.' Caspian cleared his throat, snapping Raina back into reality. She looked dazed, and shy, as she realised she didn't avert her gaze from Edmund when she began to mentally traipse down her decision making process with regards to him.

'Yep?'

Caspian made a face and gestured to Eustace, squirming in his new, scaly skin. Raina opened her mouth and shut it as she realised what he meant.