𝐖𝐢𝐬𝐝𝐨𝐦 || Edmund Pevensie

VI

"Life is only precious because it ends, kid."
- Rick Riordan, The Son of Neptune

Narnia, 2315

The children started running.

They threw their shoes in the sand, took off their hats and bags without care. A race had formed to reach the ocean, Edmund and Peter trying to throw the other on the ground as the girls giggled and just tried to reach the water.

Edmund grabbed Olivia by her legs and threw her on the warm sea, making her gasp as her face reached the surface. Ties were off as they splashed each other, soaking wet with water on their hair and clothes.

Olivia jumped on Ed's back, making him fall into the sea. Her braids undid themselves, her wet hair making the scrunchie holding it together flow away. He laughed at Olivia, both sitting down and throwing water at each other.

It was much better than Latin and Algebra, much more fun and fluid as they spent time together in the Narnian waters. It was a feeling they had missed, things they could only imagine in their dreams.

Lucy jumped on Olivia's back, the girl spinning around in a piggyback ride. Lucy fell on the water, gasping at the cold feeling of the salt clinging to her skin. Lu grabbed the girl's leg, pulling her as well.

The youngest Pevensie boy suddenly dispersed, looking at the mountains with curiosity. It was a look Olivia knew well, one of a thought taking place in his mind.

" What is it? " Peter asked his brother, finally a smile on his face- something neither of them had seen in a while.

" Where do you suppose we are? "

" Nigeria! " Olivia exclaimed, appearing by his side. " Where do you think? "

" Well, I don't remember any ruins in Narnia. "

Edmund was right; there were none. There was to the south of Archenland, to the west of Calormen, to the east of Bellon. But there never were ruins in Narnia.

They dried themselves, deciding to go uphill and to the top of the mountain where the ruins were located. They put on their shoes, took off their uncomfortable vests and headed to the top.

During their walk, Olivia felt a tugging sensation on her right side. She moved her shirt only lightly and saw the white wound back on her skin. It was no longer a mere scar like it was in Finchley, but back to the stain filled with magic it had once been. She signed and adjusted her blouse.

Peter located an apple orchard on their way up, filled with juicy and succulent amounts of those little red fruits. Peter held up his hand and grabbed one, scanning it and rubbing it on his shirt to clean it a little.

" Lucy! " He called, throwing her the apple. The youngest thanked her brother, taking a bite and ceasing the storm raging in her stomach for not having breakfast earlier.

Olivia reached out and grabbed one, too, taking a delicious bite. She missed the great bread of her aunt, but this was also very good and tasty. Red apples were her favourite; she disliked the green ones.

" Does anyone still have their sandwiches? " Susan queered, trying to get over a rock in her path.

" Well, I left mine in my bag. " Peter explained, walking sideways like a little kid. " And I left my bag in the train station. And I left the train station in England. "

They reached the top of the mountain, seeing an empty field with various plants and ruins on the ground. It wasn't the kind of ruin that was deterred due to time, but the one that had been attacked and not fully destroyed.

Each of them went on to do their own search. Lucy came over to what had once been a verandah, asking herself and the others:" Wonder who lived here. "

Susan was leading herself to her sister but almost tripped over a small piece on the ground. She groaned, kneeling down and grabbing the thing that had almost made her fall. Initially, she thought it was a rock, but it was a little piece of a man riding a horse and holding a sword upwards, all covered in gold.

" I think we did. "

Olivia looked around, inspecting the place. It all felt so oddly familiar, the sweet scent of orchards and seaweed from the ocean. The various Eucalyptus and Bahia Grass caressing her legs and feet like they greeted her and said 'Welcome back'.

It was fresh; the sun kissing her skin like he was her old friend, the leaves moving in the wind and passing by her, circling around as if in a walk. Olivia almost swore she saw a wood nymph but shrugged, thinking it was her mind playing games with her due to her missing Narnia and its creatures.

Edmund appeared from behind a cracked set of stairs, furrowing his eyebrows at what Susan was holding.

" Hey. That's mine. " He said confusedly. " From my chess set. "

Except, that chess set hadn't been touched by him in a long while and had stayed in Narnia. How could the Knight simply appear there, in that specific location?

" Which chess set? " His brother asked.

" Well, I didn't exactly have a solid gold chess set in Finchley, did I? "

Olivia huffed, rolling her eyes as she grabbed the little piece from her husband's hands. " Well, even back in London, you wouldn't shut up about it. " The girl retorted, earning a laugh out of Peter.

Edmund playfully glared at her, and Olivia giggled and kissed him, the boy tasting the sweet red apple on her lips. " Doofus. " The girl said when she pulled away, Edmund grabbing her hand and pulling her back again for another quick kiss.

" Let's keep it family-friendly here, eh? " Peter chuckled, earning a slap on the arm from Susan.

" Let them be. " The eldest girl said.

Lucy had dispersed herself and was found near the cliffside, moving her head absently from side to side as if she were trying to figure something out. Her eyes seemed to find a focus point, making her heart skip a beat as her mind ran.

" Can't be. " Lucy whispered, running towards what she seemed to get her mind fixed on. Her siblings and Olivia ran after her, confused as they shared concerned glances.

She grabbed her brother's hand, looking at him in the face. " Don't you see?! "

" What? "

Lucy tugged on his arm, moving him to the side. " Imagine walls. " She pointed, grabbing her sister next. " And columns there. " Olivia moved to Peter's side, standing between the two brothers. " And a glass roof. "

Without even realising it, they stood in their old formation, the old placing of their thrones. Olivia looked at her bare feet touching the rocks, a hot sensation bursting up her legs as a single tear escaped her eye.

" Cair Paravel. "

Her home. Olivia had lived in Cair Paravel for fifteen years; she had her first kiss there, several balls and dances and lessons with Mrs Beaver and Tumnus the Faun. Her throat burned at the aching sensation it brought, standing on the ruins of what had once been her home.

It was a terrible feeling, her heart thumping against her chest repeatedly as if he tried to escape and walk away. The pain was simply too much to handle. She wiped her eyes, getting away from the platform where her throne had once stood and looked around again.