The Just and the Wise

Chapter 16

Back aboard the Dawn Treader, we set sail straight into what, according to Coriakin, is our worst fears and temptations. We've been sailing for about day now, and an eerie heaviness has come over the crew. There's no joking, no laughs, and even Eustace has been oddly quiet. It feels like an emotional fog has fallen over the entire ship.

The majority of the crew is below deck rowing due to the horrifying lack of any wind. Caspian has been staring at the map in the study in the cabin since we re-boarded the ship, and Lucy hasn't left her room since last night. I leave mine and Ed's cabin to look for him, since I've just woken up and he woke up before me.

I find him sitting on the stairs that lead to the wheel on deck, staring solemnly out over the water. It's overcast outside, but not storming-yet. If you look to the West, there's certainly a storm brewing in the distance, heading to cross our path. I walk over to my boyfriend and sit next to him, leaning my shoulder against his.

"Morning," I say, nudging him with my elbow, "you got up early this morning."

Edmund doesn't respond-his eyes remain fixed on the storm in the distance.

"I missed waking up to you," I say, trying to get a response from him.

He still doesn't react to me.

"Edmund," I flick his forehead with my finger, and he pulls his head back and swats at my hand.

"Ow," he rubs the spot where my finger made contact.

"What's on your mind, Ed?"

Edmund looks at me and takes my hand in his right and puts his left arm around me, his face remaining serious.

"Edmund, what's wrong?" I ask, growing concerned at his seriousness.

"I don't know what the next few days hold, Y/n," he says, resting his head on mine, "I know what my fears are, and I know where my doubts lie. The next part of this journey might get...bad...and I-"

"Edmund," I stop him, "We're all scared about what lies ahead. We are all subject to the evil the mist holds, and we all are going to see the worst of each other."

"Yes," Edmund replies, "but I've been through something different in Narnia than you and Lucy. My experience here...I have a history with temptation."

I look at him, and I see traces of guilt in the worry lines on his forehead.

"Edmund, my love," I pull him into me and hold him in my arms, "we love you and trust you. Don't let the mistakes of before ruin you before the mist does. That's not you."

I play with his hair as he leans on me. I hold him tightly until I feel him relax.

"I love you, Edmund," I say quietly, kissing the top of his head, "nothing you could say or do is going to change that. And you know Lucy adores you. Caspian loves you like a brother, and Eustace...is...well, Eustace.

I feel him nod his head and snicker, and he sits up and looks at me. He leans his forehead against mine and we close our eyes, taking in the first moment of peace we've felt since we left the island. Edmund holds both of my hands in his, and he kisses me softly, romantically, intentionally.

"I love you, too," he says, "thank you, for always trusting me. From the very beginning, you gave me a second chance. Before we came to Narnia with you, back when it was just you and Susan, and our relationship consisted of badgering Peter and making fun of each other, even before we knew Narnia existed, you let me make mistakes. You let me have the benefit of the doubt when I didn't deserve it."

"Well," I say, looking into his beautiful dark eyes, "even then, Edmund, you were worth loving. That didn't change when you changed, you just realized it after the rest of us did."

Edmund smiles and laughs quietly.

"I got very lucky with you," he says, standing up and looking at me sitting on the stairs.

I put my elbows on my knees and rest my chin in my hands, grinning up at Edmund.

"Yup," I say with a proud smirk, "and so did I."

"Yeah," Edmund smiles.

"Yeah," I smile back.

I hear thunder clap in the distance, and we both turn our heads and see a wave of heavy rain moving towards us quickly. I rise and walk over to Edmund. We stand for a moment, watching the rain approach. I look to Edmund, who puts his arm around me and pulls me to his side.

"I love the rain, but this seems like more than a storm," I say.

"This is the beginning of the uphill battle," Edmund says, his eyebrows pushing together, "that's no average storm."

I keep my eyes fixed on Edmund's face as I grow more nervous. He looks down at me briefly and gives me a small smile, hoping to comfort me. I appreciate his effort and hug him tightly. He wraps his arms around me tightly.

"Let's go inside, love," he kisses the top of my head, "We need to talk to Caspian."

Together, Edmund and I enter the cabin, and I wouldn't rather have anyone by my side through this than him.