Fearless • P. Pevensie

Explanation

"Narnia's not going to run out of toast, Ed." Lucy tells her brother, causing me to smile just a little bit.

I look up at Peter, knowing what is about to happen. I wish we could just stay in this memory forever. Lucy joking with Edmund, Susan content beside me. Peter watching over all of us carefully.

But. Good things can't last forever.

"I'm sure they'll pack something up for the journey back." Peter starts, and I look down at my plate. I'm going to have to face it. I know I will.

I just don't want to.

"We're going home?" Susan asks him.

"You are." Peter responds.

"The three of you." I clarify, their eyes turning to me as I set down my breakfast.

Peter crosses over to us, sitting down. "I promised Mum I'd keep you three safe. But it doesn't mean that I can't stay behind and help. Rose is going to need all the help she can get. So, we decided it." He looks at me.

"Since when did you two make decisions together without us?" Edmund asks, looking between the two of us.

Well...

"Before you went and gave yourself to the Witch." Peter responds, snarkily. I give him a look as he sighs. "It doesn't matter. Rose has made her choice, and I've made mine. You three will be going home." He says.

"But they need us." Lucy tells him.

It wasn't a decision we easily reached. But, he's right. There's no room for a nine year old girl on the battlefield. It's his responsibility to care for them, and it's mine as well. I don't want them getting hurt. Not in my war.

"All five of us." Lucy looks around the table at us.

"Lucy, it's too dangerous." Peter tries to tell her, though I can sense his words aren't getting through to her. "You almost drowned! Edmund was almost killed!"

"Which is why we have to stay." Edmund looks up at his older brother.

I commend his bravery. If nothing else, that much is true.

"I've seen what the White Witch can do. And I've helped her do it. And we can't leave these people behind to suffer for it." Edmund decides.

When did he grow up? Where is that little boy that I coddled in my arms just last night!? It seems he has up and vanished.

"I-I don't know, Peter." I look up at him. I sigh. "We're all meant to be here. For one reason or another. Why would fate lead us here with the intention on getting us killed in a war? I...maybe we shouldn't send them away." I shake my head.

"Rose-"

"I suppose that's it then." Susan cuts her brother off, standing from the table first.

"Where are you going?" Peter calls after her. She crosses over to her bow and quiver, which sat leaned against a tree stump.

"To get some practice." She smiles.

Lucy's smile widens, her hands brushing against the table as she stands. Her and Susan head off, despite the protests from Peter, to go and do some training.

"Oh, come on Peter." I smile at him. "Is this really so bad? I mean, you and I made our choices to stay and fight. Why should either of us tell them that they can't do the same thing?"

He's quiet for a moment.

"I just...I don't want anything to happen to them." He says.

"It won't." Edmund assures his older brother with a smile. "Not as long as you're around to protect us."