Hearts Connected As One

Chapter 3 - Vault Of Vanishing Ancient Relics:

"Shame you're not as fast as me, Ed!" Peter taunted, as he sprinted down the beach.

As the children ran towards the water, they all kicked off their shoes and socks, ripped off their ties and threw their blazers to the ground, leaving them lying in the sand. The sand tickled their toe and by the time the four of them reached the water they were in fits of giggles.

The Pevensies were so relieved to be free from the real world's conformity and rules, in Narnia they could be themselves. Here, they ruled and were known and respected by everyone. It felt absolutely wonderful to be home, this day couldn't get any better.

Enjoying the freedom, the children began to splash each other and have fun. The sound of them laughing and giggling filled the beach for around ten minutes before Edmund stopped splashing and looked up at the cliff beside the beach. He stood in the water for a moment and just continued staring at the grey wall of stone. Soon enough everyone began looking at him, noticing he was no longer joining in on the fun.

"Edmund," Susan exclaimed as she splashed at him playfully, but he took no notice.

The others started to get a bit concerned as they looked over at him. "Ed?" Lucy said softly and Edmund broke his gaze to meet his siblings for a moment before returning to the cliff.

"What is it?" Peter asked, everyone, taking a break from the splashing, all concerned with the cliff now.

"Where do you suppose we are?" Edmund asked and the others began to give each other worried and concerned glances.

"Where do you think?" Peter responded sarcastically with a grin.

"Well," Edmund stated as he stared at his siblings before turning back to the cliff. "I don't remember any ruins in Narnia."

As the three other siblings stared at the cliff face, they found what Edmund said to be true. There were no ruins in Narnia that they knew of other than the white witch's castle that they had destroyed during their reign to celebrate the ultimate victory over the white witch. Those who survived and fought alongside the witch surrendered unconditionally to the Kings and Queens, thus finally ending the war. But other than that, there were no other ruins, so they all stared at the remains of some large building on the side of the cliff.

They all made their way up the cliff, only to find a small apple orchard on the hillside. Peter plucked an apple off the tree, wiped it down on his shirt and tossed it to Lucy. She gracefully caught the apple with a smile as she thanked her brother and took a big bite out of it.

Once they reached the top, the four began to observe and get a closer look at what was left of this so-called building that used to stand. Whatever it was must have been a huge grand structure. Grass and trees now surrounded the area and weeds poked up through the cracks of the remaining marble floor.

Edmund observed the columns that remained; interested in their carvings. He felt along them, they each had a rough feel due to corrosion and brute force inflicted upon them.

Susan observed what remained of a half marble staircase that led to nothing considering there were no other floors left to the ruin. She then stubbed her toe on a tiny gold object glistening in the grass. When she picked it up, she saw a small golden centaur figurine. Lucy, who had already eaten her apple, continued to observe the landscape.

Everyone seemed to find something that struck their curiosity but the four were still trying to decipher the answers to the questions that were bugging them: What is this place or better yet what was this place?

Lucy walked towards what must have been the remains of a balcony. She felt an odd sensation that this place was familiar. The water, the boulders protruding from the waves, the trees, even the smell; she felt like she knew it all.