𝐖𝐢𝐬𝐝𝐨𝐦 || Edmund Pevensie

XVII

"It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye."
— Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince

Narnia, 2315

"What do we do now?"

"We train."

It was another day in keeping up with the Narnians.

The sun rose in the sky, giving the signal for the people to wake up and begin their routine. Rest time was over; now it was time for war.

As they bathed and changed their clothing into comfortable and washed dresses and tunics, the group of monarchs headed towards the field and into their respective training positions.

Olivia had gathered with the centaurs in the centre of the ruins of the field, right to the centre of the broad green camp. They all held maps and little tokens, discussing battle strategies and the signals of the night.

Edmund and Peter trained the others in the art of the sword, teaching Narnians' the way of the blade', as Olivia had mocked.

Susan was in charge of the archers; she had to take care of and train the ones with no skill in the bow. Perhaps the most challenging job. Olivia had given Caspian the task of dominating the crossbow, meaning that Susan and Caspian were near.

The Telmarine decided to take another shot at her. He watched as Susan trained her archers to hit a target Trufflehunter held shakily.

Olivia watched as Caspian gathered his courage, looking at Susan with the kind of lovesick eyes all the boys at school sent at the older girl. Edmund came near, stopping by Olivia's side as he watched the scene as well.

"I give it three seconds before she shoots him down." He said with a mischievous grin, still looking ahead.

"I give it two," Olivia smirked.

Edmund wasn't the kind of jealous brother; that was Peter. Despite being the sibling with the most relationship experience, he was quite oblivious to the crushes and little boyfriends of his sisters.

Peter was the overprotective kind; he could not see another boy five meters near Susan or Lucy, or he would flip out and get him away from her. But it was hard, given that every single boy ( and sometimes, girl ) of Saint Finbar's and Hendon House had a massive crush on Susan Pevensie, the beautiful blue-eyed swimming champion.

So, naturally, Peter was going insane with Caspian, given he already had seen his interest in his sister. Edmund and Olivia would just stay back and laugh as Peter embarrassed himself, sending dirty looks at Caspian every time he went near his sister. It was lucky now that the High King was too distracted playing professor to notice the Telmarine getting near her.

Susan moved her hand and gestured for the archers to shoot.

Arrows flew forward, but not a single one of them hit the actual target. Trufflehunter took a look at the target and signed. "Nope. Not a scratch." The badger shook his head.

Susan quietly hissed, but the Narnians didn't hear. "It's all right." She said encouragingly, "Rome wasn't built in a day. "

A minotaur looked at the Queen and furrowed his brows. "How long did it take?" He asked.

"It's just a phrase." She murmured, exhausted.

Suddenly, an arrow came flying by close to her and landed on the arm of the target, making Trufflehunter exclaim in annoyance.

She widened her eyes. "Nice shot." The Gentle confessed. "Which one of you-" Her sentence was cut off by her eyes landing on Caspian, holding a crossbow and sending her a smile.

"Good afternoon, your majesty." He said courteously. "I thought you could use some help."

Susan gave him a sharp look. "Things are well in hand. Thank you." She cut him off, looking Caspian up and down.

Olivia snorted, putting her hand over her nose and mouth. Edmund began laughing by her side, almost doubling over.

"We were both wrong. It took less than one second." He commented, making the laughter even louder.

Susan and Caspian looked over their shoulders to see Edmund rolling in the grass from laughing and tried pulling Olivia to the ground with him. The Telmarine tilted his head, furrowing his brows as Olivia fell on the floor right into Edmund's arms.

Caspian blinked back to reality. "I didn't mean to suggest otherwise," He said, regretful of his line. He was trying his hardest to impress this beautiful Queen from another world.

"I suppose you could do better." Scoffed the Gentle without gentleness.

Caspian grinned. "Pick a target." He said, readying an arrow.

Susan smirked. She scanned her eyes further into the trees, trying to choose the most minor and furthest target her eyes could find—they pointed to the tallest tree on their left, grandiose but with dry leaves.

"See that pinecone?" She gestured, and Caspian nodded.

The Prince took his aim, trying to think of the advice Olivia had given him on shooting. Susan giggled and moved to stand beside him. She adjusted his crossbow further upwards. "That one." She whispered.

Caspian furrowed his eyebrows and pulled the crossbow back. "Are you sure that's not an acorn?"

Susan grinned. "Too far for you?" She asked with a taunt. That made Caspian angry.

He repositioned his crossbow and took his aim. Pulling the trigger, the arrow flew right next to the pinecone/acorn but didn't hit it.

"Not bad," Susan commented.

Caspian puffed his chest, feeling proud suddenly. "Well, I was trained by the finest in the Telmarine army."

Susan grinned. "Well, if that's the best they've got," She readied her bow and took her shot, taking it down easily and without looking. "Than we might stand a chance after all."

Unfortunately, her shot went sideways. It revealed a Telmarine soldier hiding behind a trunk of wood. He assumed they were shooting at him, so he took a quick turn with his horse and tried running away.

The sudden movement caught their attention, making Susan and Caspian try and keep shooting at him, but the soldier galloped away further into the woods.

"Peter!" Susan called, getting her brother out of a duel with a centaur, both laughing giddy.

His attention was diverted to his sister, and he removed his helmet. "Everything alright, Sue?" His eyes darted to Caspian, who rushed right behind her. Peter ignored the role of the overprotective brother for a moment and let himself be the High King of Narnia.

"We've been discovered."

Glenstorm, the centaur general who had been duelling with Peter, appeared by his side with his eyes wide. He was a wise and intelligent fellow, and he understood time was short, and they needed more of it. The Narnians weren't trained enough, which would be a tough battle.

Peter gestured for Olivia and Edmund to come over, who hurried to him with their weapons still in his hands. He told them about it, making Olivia gulp and Edmund look at his wife expectantly. She was the big brains, after all.

"Gather the generals of each kind," Olivia said. "Stone table. Now!"