definitely this time (e.p. fanfic)

Chapter 22

'Ready, Raina?'

'Go for it, Lu.'

Lucy threw a rock high into the air, as a blindfolded Raina threw a bout of golden light at it, destroying it into smithereens. They came back to the ground as a fine powder.

'Damn, Raina. That was awfully cool.' Lucy said, with wide eyes.

Raina brought her hand to her chest, smiling gratefully.

'You're awfully cool, Lu.' She replied, before running up to her and embracing her tightly. They swayed from side to side like bestfriends do before pulling, still maintaining an arm around each other's shoulders.

Raina realised in that moment how grateful she was for Lucy. Well, not for target practice, but she was the sister she never had but always prayed for. The darkest times of her life that made her want to die, suddenly became worth it because she found her family. The family she chose.

The two of them made their way to the cliff again, finding Caspian sitting there. His head was hung low, as he stared at something in his hand. Raina was about to go ahead, when Lucy pulled her back.

'I'm going to go get some sleep. We only have a couple of hours here anyway. Go talk to him.' Lucy mumbled.

'Wait, what? Come with me. He needs you too!' Raina whisper-yelled. Lucy shook her head profusely, trying to hide the tears in her eyes.

'No. I'm not important.' Lucy whimpered, just as she quickly walked away.

Before Raina could stop her, Lucy had already disappeared into the trees. Raina sighed, heartbroken that the girl she considers her sister doesn't realise how little she thinks of herself. She shakes her head, sadly before turning back to the Telmarinian King of Narnia trying extremely hard to hold his tears back from the look and sound of it.

Raina slowly made her way over to Caspian, standing by him, only then she noticed the small picture he held in both hands, so delicately. It was faded by now, but it was clear that it was a hand drawn image of an older man and a young boy. On closer inspection she realised it was him as a boy and his father.

'Cas?'

Caspian's hands went to his face, rapidly wiping at his eyes and cheeks as inconspicuously as possible, before rubbing his nose, and turning to Raina with a tight lipped smile.

'Hey. What's up?' He tried to sound cheery but the cracks in his voice gave it away. So did his eyes. Raina sighed before sitting down next to him, legs dangling off the cliff.

'You don't have to pretend around me.' Raina said, softly, touching his arm reassuringly.

'I'm not pretending. Why do you think I'm pretending?' Caspian tried to act clueless. Raina felt a mixture of pain and annoyance for her brother, well, by choice.

'You want a list? Your eyes are red, your cheeks are puffed your lips are pink, your nose is red, you've been rubbing your nose and eyes way too much, your face is pale cause you've been crying, and your voice trembled so much I thought—'

'Okay okay! I didn't need a list, geez Raina.' Caspian replied in defense, as Raina chuckled wryly.

'Fine! I'm not okay. Does that make you happy?' Caspian raised his hands in defeat, before slumping his shoulders and letting out a shaky breath.

'You know it doesn't. But talking about it might make you feel better.' Raina replied. Caspian looked at her with tired eyes, before looking out at the sea, his hair falling on his face.

'I'm just tired. Tired of losing everyone I love. Everyone I've ever loved is either dead or...' He trailed off, his voice cracking. 'Never coming back.'