lunam et stellas

chapter one

the countryside...

Alex jumped out of bed, and grabbed her robe, running towards the bomb shelter.

She didn't really have the time to question the peculiar dream she just had, and followed after the Pevensie family with a newfound urgency.

The bombings had become more and more common throughout the last couple of weeks, and Alexandra had had enough. Edmund stopped, and Alex ran into his back.

"Edmund, come on!"

"Wait, Dad!"

Alex's eyes widened, and she looked at Peter nervously. Edmund ran back into the house, Peter right on his tail. She would have laughed if not for the circumstances. Alexandra went after them, but not without hordes of protests from Susan and Mrs.Pevensie.

"Alex, please!"

She stopped in the doorway and looked back at the sobbing little girl. She sighed and decided that she should comfort her dear little friend while Peter fetched his brother. Lucy needed her more right now. She ran back to the shelter, sitting down on the couch with Lucy in her lap.

She put an arm around her, shushing her sobs. "It's alright Lu. I was just going to help your brothers." Lucy hiccuped, and Alex hugged her tightly. "It's alright, really." 

Edmund's body fell through the entrance, and Peter quickly closed it before yelling at his brother. "Why can't you think about anyone but yourself? You're so selfish! You could have got us killed!"

"Peter stop it!" Mrs.Pevensie pulled her youngest son to her, glaring at her eldest. "He's just a boy." She comforted Edmund, who lay on the cot cradling their father's portrait. "It's okay."

Peter sat across from Alex and Lucy, and she tried to offer him a comforting smile, but all that came through was a broken one, full of fear for the future.

Their future.

...

Alexandra trudged along with the Pevensie family, regretting the fact that she had packed so much. It's not her fault that they didn't tell her how long they'd be staying. Then again, no one really knew how long they would be staying.

Mrs.Pevensie handed out their name tags, before kneeling down to put Lucys on. She smiled gently up at her daughter, who had already been crying all morning. She didn't want to leave her mother, and Alexandra didn't blame her one bit. Edmund sighed when his mother moved on to him and stared at the posters plastered on the walls. "If Dad were here, he wouldn't make us go."

"If Dad were here, it would mean the war was over and we wouldn't have to go."

Mrs.Pevensie finished putting the label on and spoke sternly. "You will listen to your brother, won't you Edmund?"

He stayed silent, and she got up, hugging him quickly. Edmund scrunched his face, and Alexandra fought the urge to scold him. He'd miss his mother's love soon enough. Lord knows she did.

Mrs.Pevensie hugged Peter, and then Susan, and then she came to Alexandra. She didn't expect a hug, she wasn't her daughter after all, but Mrs. Pevensie pulled her in tightly, whispering in her ear. "Please help keep the peace, my dear." She sighed. "I'm worried the boys will tear each other apart." A smile broke through Alexandra's solemn face, and she nodded.

"I will Mrs. Pevensie."

She smiled and stepped back. "Alright then. Off you go."

They nodded, and grabbed their suitcases, walking toward the conductor who would show them to their compartment. The woman sighed, clearing her throat. "Tickets please."