The High Queen Book Two

Chapter 19 - Problem

Third-Person POV

They look around the train station platform as the train arrives, a little shaken from their quick change into English life.

"Aren't you coming, Phyllis?" The boy from much earlier, talking to Susan, ask, standing inside the train. They quickly grab their cases, dashing into the train to not miss it.

"You don't think there's any way we can get back?" Edmund asks, remerging through his satchel. "I've left my new torch in Narnian," he smiles at his family, who all sigh, shaking their heads, while Tilly places a kiss on his cheek. Ed's eyes widen, and then he looks at his girlfriend.

"What are you doing? We're in public?"

"I was going to marry you. People can get used to it," she smiles as the train takes them all off to school again. The thoughts of Narnia and their friends left behind are fresh in their minds, but Susan and Peter feel whole now being home. Ed and Lu wish to go back but know their time will come. Tilly is simply happy to be with her family, but as always, she can't ignore that dying feeling inside every time she's away from Narnia.

Six Month Later

The past few months had been great for the family. They've just finished school; their father was back from the war after being relieved of duty to be stationed in America; with his family. After three months, Hellen went over to see her husband, leaving now 18-year-old Peter in charge of the four others. The only reason he could get out of service, even if he didn't like it, was because he was the guardian of his siblings and Tilly, and he would be leaving for America with Susan soon.

In fact, that week was this week. As such, Hellen had asked her sister, Alberta, and her husband, Harold Scrubb, to take in Edmund and Lucy while they settled everything in the States. The only problem, besides their insufferable cousin Eustace, was that they didn't want to take in Tilly. And that is where they were now, Edmund yelling at his brother, Susan and Lucy, on the phone trying to sort it out, while Tilly packs everything up with the two groups. One leaving for America and one moving in with family. While she stays... nowhere... with no one.

"I'm not leaving my wife here! If she's not going, neither am I!" Edmund yells, his voice ringing through the air.

"Technically, not you're wife."

"Definitely, not yours!" The two brothers snap at each other. Peter didn't want to leave Tilly behind, but it's not like they could just drop her on the doorstep and hope they took her in.

"Mum, please, there has to be something you can do," Lucy begs through the phone. "We can't leave Tilly. Edmund will die without her."

"I know, lovey. But I can't ask them to look after a child that's not theirs on top of you two." Lucy returns the phone to Susan, storming into the lounge to speak with her brothers, who still haven't stopped yelling.

The house is full of yelling, not a place to find peace or quiet. Nothing like Narnia. While time away from Narnia had been challenging in the past, this time wasn't as bad, telling Tilly Caspian was doing a good job, or at least she hoped so. After hearing something smash in the other room, Tilly gets up, taking the cases with her. She storms into the lounge where the four siblings are yelling at each other with their parents on the phone, the cord stretching from the kitchen.

"Enough!" She bellows, sick of the yelling which has filled their home since it was said Tilly couldn't go with them. "Pete and Susan are leaving soon, and they need time to finish up here after you two leave. And while I appreciate everything you've done for me, I can find my way from here." Tilly says, mainly into the phone with the parents on the line. "Ed, I'll be fine, and so will you. You and Lu will have each other." Tilly sighs and places the cases on the ground. "Please, don't fight anymore. I can't have the last dinner we're together by yelling."

"Oh, Darling,"

"Tilly," Edmund and Lucy say softly, the four moving forward, wrapping their arms around the girl they'll all miss dearly. But as the tears flow, a cough comes from the phone. It was Hellen.

"I just spoke to Alberta. Apparently, they've had a change of heart. Tilly, pack a bag; you are going with Edmund and Lucy." The older girl sighs in disbelief as Edmund wraps his arms around her excitedly while Lucy claps, hugging her sister and the couple. "But, you will have to help out. Not that you wouldn't anyway, but they've specially said leave have a list for you, so if you'd prefer not to...we understand." Hellen says knowing whatever is on her crazy sister's list can't be good.

"Nonsense, I'll be glad to go." She smiles even though they can't see her.

That night the family of five had the best dinner ever, very similar to the ones they had in Narnia, talking about the times they had there and much more. Peter and Susan dropped the three off, saying a swift 'hello' before lots of hugs and kisses goodbye, and they were off to the airport and then America. Edmund held Tilly's hand softly, giving it a small kiss as they headed back inside, where the three Scrubbs were waiting. List in hand.

"As you know, we've written a list for Ms Knight here as we open our home to you. Someone who's not family." Alberta says harshly, making Edmund grip tighter.

"I'm happy to help in any way. I can't thank you enough for allowing me to stay."

"I know. I was very generous of us." Harold says grumpily, annoyed this has taken up his TV time. Yes, he's an adult, not a child.

"You are on holiday break, and the war is preventing school for now. You shall get groceries twice weekly, cook five times a week, and clean every second day. Among other things," she drawls. Edmund and Lucy go to say something, but Tilly cuts them off.

"Perfect. Any chance I'd be allowed to grow a vegetable patch? As you are vegetarians, I'll need a lot of those."

"I see no problem as long as you care for it."

"That and the rest of the garden," Tilly assures, to which the adults nod.

"Aunt Alberta, if I may ask, what made you change your mind?" Lucy asks, wondering if all they wanted was a live-in, free maid.

"That was me." Eustace answers stepping forward. "Albert and Harold told me you would be staying with us," he says, meaning Lucy and Edmund. "And I ask to see a photo of the mysterious girl staying with my cousins." The three frown as the boy's parents lose interest, walking away. "When I saw you, I loved the idea of you staying in the room next door." Edmund tightly grips his wife's waist, pulling her into him. "Oh, yes, another thing. There will be none of that in this house," he motions to Tilly and Edmund's proximity and hands. "You are no longer a couple while living here." Tilly's eyes widen as Edmund looks ready to punch the kid, and Lucy is gobsmacked.

"Matilda, you have the night off but start in the morning. You two will be helping her with certain things, like groceries and cooking." The three glare at the boy, who only smiles, stepping forward. "How about that coz you're here for one minute, and I've broken up your relationship. Next thing you know, she'll be m girlfriend," he winks at the grossed-out girl before retreating to his room, where Edmund would be staying with him, while Lu and Tilly were across the hall.

The next six months or so couldn't be that bad. Right? Wrong.