𝐈𝐍 𝐖𝐇𝐈𝐂𝐇
⸻ Cordelia Winterbourne's ordinary life with her mother was shattered by the onset of war, prompting Cordelia's mother to make a gut-wrenching decision by sending her daughter away for a while to keep her safe.
However, fate had a di...
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Preparing for Cora's first day at school was an absolute nightmare.
Releasing a sigh, Cora studied her reflection in the looking glass. She wore a black blazer paired with a white blouse, complemented by a necktie and skirt boasting black, white, and yellow stripes, all set for Hendon House boarding school.
Her hair, brunette with those telltale white strands up front, now cascaded longer than it had been two years prior. With a hat in hand, she gently nestled it upon her head, tucking her hair safely within. She was keen on avoiding any ridicule from the other kids about her unique locks.
It had been a solid two years since she last crossed paths with the Pevensie siblings. If only others could understand how deeply she'd missed them, her heart aching in their absence. It had also been a full two years since her time as the monarch of Narnia, reigning over that wondrous land for a remarkable 15 years.
Lost in her thoughts, Cora found herself pondering about the Narnians—the beavers, Mr. Tumnus—wondering how they were faring these days.
Especially Edmund Pevensie, the boy she'd fallen for but never dared confess her feelings to, fearing rejection.
His letter remained tucked under her pillow, a cherished keepsake that she turned to every night when her heart ached for his company.
Snapping out of her reverie, her mother's voice echoed from within the house. Although she's technically her aunt, she's been the one to raise and shield her, earning the title of 'mother' in her heart.
Returning from Professor Kirke's mansion and leaving the Pevensies behind, she refrained from sharing anything about her Narnian escapades with her mother. She sensed her desire to keep that part of their lives hidden away.
Even now, Jadis, her biological mother, continues to haunt her dreams. Nightmares visit her every night, jolting her awake, panting and sweating, her forehead clammy with fear.
Edmund's letter has been a solace; each time she reads it, it acts as a soothing balm, granting her peaceful slumber without the torment of nightmares.
"Come on, Cora, you're going to be late," her mother chimed in, her head peeking around Cora's door frame.
Without a moment's hesitation, Cora spun around, grabbed her brown messenger bag and her luggage for school, and rushed out of her room without uttering a word.
They headed to the train station in her mother's vehicle. While en route, Cora sifted through her belongings in the messenger bag, making sure she had everything she needed for school. Suddenly, their vehicle lurched forward as her mother slammed on the brakes, causing Cora's head to bump against the dashboard.
"Ow! What was that?" Cora hissed, massaging her forehead.
"Some two girls just dashed across without bothering to check for oncoming vehicles," her mother swiftly clarified before resuming her drive.
Unbeknownst to Cora, the two girls hurriedly making their way were none other than the Pevensie sisters, rushing towards the train station. Lucy urgently alerted her sister about Peter's scuffle, prompting a quickened pace as they moved with purpose.
Pulling up by the train station entrance, her mother paused, saying, "Love you, be careful out there." She planted a kiss on Cora's cheek before the girl exited the vehicle, reciprocating with an "I love you too" before heading off.
With her mother's vehicle out of sight, Cora made her way to the side where an old woman was selling bagels, her favorite.
After purchasing a few, she headed to the train station and took a bite of the bagel.
A ruckus in the middle of the train station hallway seized her attention. Students from various schools had gathered in a circle, repeatedly chanting the word 'fight.'
Intrigued, she approached the cluster of students to see what the commotion was about. To her surprise, it was the same three boys who had previously teased her about her hair, referring to her as a "freak."
Edmund and Peter lay sprawled on the ground, their faces concealed amid the scuffle from Cora's view who swiftly stashed half of her bagel within her satchel and hastened from the gathering of students, determined to put an end to the altercation caused by the three boys.
Just in the nick of time, she intervened, seizing the boy's elbow and hand as he aimed a punch at Edmund, who lay on the ground. Though she couldn't catch a glimpse of Edmund's face, her focus was solely on the boy. She pulled him away by his blazer, twisting his arms and forcing him to tumble to the ground with his arms pinned behind his back. Kneeling beside him, she ensured he remained subdued.
"Aren't you getting tired of harassing the others ?" she spat.
Meanwhile, Ed and Peter were taken aback as a girl emerged to aid them amid the boys' brawl. They couldn't discern her face, concealed as it was by her hat.
Suddenly, Cora sensed someone behind her. In a swift move, the boy yanked her away from his friend and snatched the hat from her head, revealing her hair.
A collective gasp echoed from the onlookers as they laid eyes on her distinctive locks. However, the two Pevensie boys stared in shock at the girl they hadn't seen in the past two years, just like the pair of Pevensie girls amid the crowd of students witnessing the unfolding spectacle.
Without a moment's hesitation, Cora instinctively elbowed the guy restraining her, breaking free from his hold.
"Oh, look, it's the freak!" he jeered, laughter rippling through the surrounding crowd. His laughter abruptly halted as Edmund suddenly stepped forward, delivering a punch to the guy's face, though Cora still couldn't see him, as his back was turned toward her.
The altercation came to an abrupt halt when the soldiers, with a blast of their whistles, commanded the surrounding students to disperse forthwith.
"Call her a 'freak' one more time!" Edmund exclaimed, his punches abruptly halted as soldiers pulled him away from the bloodied boy on the ground.
"Act your age!" the soldier exclaimed at the two Pevensie boys and the Winterbourne girl.
As the soldiers departed, Cora let out a huff, spinning about in search of her hat, only to find someone extending it to her.
She thanked the person without meeting their gaze, but as she accepted her hat and finally looked up, she found herself locking eyes with the one she had fallen in love with two years prior.
