𝐖𝐢𝐬𝐝𝐨𝐦 || Edmund Pevensie

VIII

"Being a hero doesn't mean you're invincible. It just means that you're brave enough to stand up and do what's needed."
- Rick Riordan, The Mark of Athena

Narnia, 2318

After mocking Lucy for wearing Drinian's extra clothes, Caspian showed them around the boat.

He led them to the last room to be shown, the one where all their items from their golden age were stored and, somehow, very well preserved. Olivia still didn't understand how– maybe it was some blessing by Aslan. Whatever it was, she was content about it.

Lucy rushed to the Aslan sculpture in the room, running her hand through its golden mane. "Aslan," She whispered with a smile on her face.

Edmund moved to a corner, looking at a picture showing a nice memory. It was him, hunting in the Western Woods with his brother and Olivia. Peter took the lead, his golden crown shining like the sun, while Olivia and Edmund laughed at something together, their silver crowns shining like the moon.

"Look!" Lucy called their attention. "Susan's bow and arrows!"

As she was about to touch it, Caspian called her attention with items that would likely draw more of her attention.

Lucy gasped. "My healing cordial! And dagger." She moved to grab the items but stopped herself. "Oh. May I?"

"Of course. They're yours."

Edmund rushed to the other side of the room. "Peter's sword," he noted.

"Yes," Caspian said. "I looked after it– as promised. Here, hold it if you wish."

The boy took a deep breath. Maybe Edmund had woken up a tad bitter, but everything suddenly made him jealous. Peter and his wife, Peter and his bloody sword that he had given to Caspian– or, maybe, the problem was Peter.

"No, no. It's yours. Peter gave it to you." If Caspian noticed the way Edmund's jaw clenched as he said those words, he didn't show it.

Caspian snapped his fingers up, remembering something. "I did save this for you, though." He threw Edmund the old flashlight from their world, which the old King caught with both hands. Edmund lit up, closing his eyes from the brightness. Perhaps it hadn't been the most clever idea.

"Thanks."

The Telmarine guided them to the map/war room, with maps and sketches all over the walls and floor. His items were spread out unevenly, like a tornado had passed inside the room and left.

"By Aslan's sake, Caspian, you could try and clean up a bit." Olivia groaned, moving her feet carefully so she didn't step on any papers.

Captain Drinian entered the room, leaning against the door. "I've tried to convince him. But, your Highness is as stubborn as a mule."

Lucy and Edmund laughed while Caspian rolled his eyes. "You're worse than Reepicheep, Drinian." Pointed out the King.

"Well, after the meeting, you are going to clean this room, Caspian," Olivia commanded, pointing her finger at his cheek.

"Yes, ma'am."

Olivia nodded approvingly, Drinian raising his eyebrows disbelievingly. Edmund threw his arm around his wife's shoulders, a grin that read, 'yeah, my wife is a badass.'

"Update us."

"Gladly." Caspian nodded, opening a map of Narnia and the surrounding kingdoms. "Since you've left us, the giants of the north have surrendered unconditionally. And we defeat the Calormen armies in the great desert. There's peace across all of Narnia."

"Peace?" Questioned a surprised Edmund.

"In just three years." Nodded Caspian.

Olivia frowned. "What about our alliances?" She asked. The Warrior Queen had worked very hard on forging alliances with Garnoff, Calamari, Bellon and Archenland. It would be nice to know it was still intact– that her legacy was still being followed.

"Archenland and Bellon are very close to us" Caspian nodded. "I'm trying to forge an alliance with the Terabinthians, though; I expect you to know they are very complicated people."

"Very well," Olivia said.

Lucy licked her lips and tugged a strand of her hair behind her ears. "And, Caspian, have you found yourself a Queen in those three years?"

Olivia slowly turned her head, astonished and a little horrified. Was Lucy flirting with Caspian– the man her sister was still very much in love with, and she suspected he was still in love with Susan too. But, she couldn't deny Caspian was very handsome ( Olivia was married, not blind ).

Caspian smiled in a silly way, the same smile he used to shoot Susan whenever he stared at the girl. "No. Not one to compare to your sister." It made Olivia ponder how dense could boys be.

The Warrior Queen stuttered, still a little disbelieving. "Uh... have you considered marrying by alliance?" She asked. "I mean, if you married a Princess from Garnoff, we would strengthen our army and have access to their weaponry supply."

"Well... I plan on marrying for love." He said uncomfortably.

"Ha!" Olivia said. "When you're royalty, that doesn't exist."

Edmund looked and lifted an eyebrow. He felt the urge to laugh but held it back. Olivia widened her eyes. "But we were the exception, darling!" She said with a grimace. The boy chuckled and kissed the top of her head.

"Don't worry, love," He assured her. "I understood what you meant." he kissed the top of her head.

Lucy frowned. "Hang on," She said. "So if there are no wars to fight, and no one's in trouble, then why are we here?"

Caspian licked his lips. "That's a good question. I've been asking myself the same thing."

"So where are we sailing to?" Edmund asked.

"And I hope that's an answer to why the hell you've got so many drawings of men. Otherwise, we need to have a talk." His wife added.

The King suppressed a laugh. "Before I took the throne back from my uncle, he tried to kill my father's closest friends and most loyal supporters– the seven lords of Telmar."

He pointed to the drawings on the wall behind him, everyone scooching a little closer to Caspian to try and get a closer look.

"They fled to the lone islands. No one's heard from them since."

Edmund bit his underlip in thought. "So you think something's happened to them?"

"Well, if it has, it is my duty to find out."

The girl nodded. "Uh, Captain?" Called Lucy. "And what is to the east of the lone islands?"

"Uncharted waters." He answered. "Things you could barely imagine. Tales of Sea Serpents and worse."

"Sea serpents?" Asked a grinning Edmund.

"All right, Captain. That's enough of your tall tales." Caspian said with a laugh, taking a bite out of his green apple.