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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As we ventured toward the path suggested by Trumpkin, our hopes were dashed upon finding the area swarming with Telmarines, diligently engrossed in some task or another.
Taking cover behind a multitude of logs, we observed their activities for a brief moment. Suddenly, a Telmarine passed by our hiding spot, prompting us to swiftly crouch down, seeking refuge behind the logs to evade detection. The tension in the air was palpable as we remained concealed.
We departed the area, forced by circumstance to retrace our steps, ruminating on an alternative path.
"So, exactly where do you think you saw Aslan?" Peter inquired.
"I wish you'd all stop trying to sound like grown-ups," Lucy retorted, visibly frustrated.
"It's not a matter of thinking. I saw him," she insisted firmly.
"I am a grown-up," Trumpkin muttered, unheard by most except Edmund and me, prompting a smirk from the brunette Pevensie at my side.
"It was right over..." Lucy's sentence was abruptly interrupted by a shriek as the ground beneath her gave way, causing her to tumble.
Susan urgently called out her name, and we rushed to her aid, only to find her seated safely on another section of ground, eliciting a collective sigh of relief from all of us.
"Here..." Lucy spoke, drawing our attention, and we gazed in the direction she indicated. A moment later, realization dawned upon us as Lucy discovered a path leading down to the river.
Navigating the descent was challenging, with numerous rocks obstructing our way, but we persisted, determined to reach the riverbank despite the obstacles. After a struggle, we successfully made our way down to the river, overcoming the impediments presented by the rugged terrain.
Navigating the river, our feet carefully found purchase on the slippery rocks, each step a deliberate movement along the makeshift path. Balancing with cautious strides, we steadily advanced, relying on the uneven and slippery surface to guide us across the flowing waters.
In an unexpected moment, as I stepped onto a particularly slippery rock, I nearly lost my footing. However, Edmund, quick to react, swiftly caught me around the waist, pulling me back against his chest, both of us struggling to maintain our balance on the precarious surface. His steadying presence prevented a potential fall, providing support in that fleeting moment of imbalance.
"You know, if it weren't for me, your head would've been planted on the ground by now," Edmund remarked, chuckling as I pulled away from him, regaining my balance.
I huffed, "As if I didn't already know that."
"You need to be more careful," he advised before continuing to walk.
"Aye aye, sir," I quipped sarcastically, concentrating on my steps. Unfortunately, I almost slipped again, and once more, Edmund caught me by the waist.
"I did warn you to be more careful, didn't I?" he whispered, his breath brushing against my ear as my back remained against his chest.
Suddenly, butterflies fluttered in my stomach, and I could feel the warmth spreading across my cheeks, grateful that he couldn't see my blush.
Silently, I withdrew from the proximity, clearing my throat before resuming my steps. I didn't need to glance back to sense the smirk playing on his lips.
In the heart of the woods, we opted to spend the night as the sun dipped below the horizon, transforming the sky into a dark canvas adorned with scattered stars and a gleaming moon.
As nightfall draped the surroundings in a cloak of shadows, we settled in for a rest amid the serene wilderness of Narnia. The crackling of the campfire and the rustling of leaves in the gentle breeze were our lullabies, accompanied by the distant hoots of owls and the occasional rustle of nocturnal creatures roaming the woods. Under the celestial spectacle, we found solace and tranquility, embracing the mystical beauty of the starlit night in this enchanted realm.
As the night deepened, slumber claimed them all. Peter lay stretched out on his stomach, Lucy peacefully resting beside Susan, curled up on their side. Trumpkin found his comfort, reclining on his back with hands clasped over his chest, embracing the serenity of the woods' nocturnal embrace.
The gentle rise and fall of their breaths harmonized with the whispers of the forest, creating a serene symphony under the moon's watchful gaze. In this tranquil repose, they were at peace, wrapped in the mystical embrace of Narnia's enchanting night.
As I reclined on the soft grass, using my folded arms as a makeshift pillow, I gazed upwards, entranced by the beauty of the starlit sky. The celestial display above was illuminated solely by the serene glow of the moon and the flickering flames of the central fire, casting an ethereal light upon us.
Not far away, Edmund assumed a position akin to his brother's, his stomach against the grass, head propped up by his arms, his face obscured from my view by the way he was lying. We both rested in silence, captivated by the enchanting spectacle painted across the heavens.
"Couldn't sleep?" Ed's voice broke the silence, surprising me as I thought he was already asleep.
"Yeah," I whispered back, stealing a glance at him. "You?"
"I was waiting for you to drift off so I could peacefully rest, knowing you're safe," he replied in a reassuring tone.
"You didn't have to do that, Ed," I gently replied, ensuring our voices remained hushed to avoid waking the others.
"But I wanted to," he responded before shifting closer to me, assuming a position mirroring my own.
Silence enveloped us as we continued to gaze at the stars. I turned my head towards him, and he mirrored the action.
"I remember back at Aslan's camp," I whispered, "when we both made a wish on a shooting star."
Ed was quiet for a moment before asking, "What did you wish for?"
There was a brief hesitation, but then I chose to share.
"Safety for Narnia," I confessed softly, my gaze shifting back to the stars. "But it seems my wishes didn't come true, considering Narnia is far from safe now."
"What about you? What did you wish for?" I queried, my gaze fixed on the stars above.
"I couldn't quite say just yet," he replied, prompting me to steal another glance at him. As he shifted, his stomach now on the ground beside me, his face slightly hovering over mine while I remained lying down, he continued, "Because my wish hasn't come true yet."
A soft smile graced his face, and his words held a tender optimism, echoing in the tranquility of the night.
The unexpected intensity between us lingered in the air, though I hadn't anticipated locking eyes like this.
His warm, chocolate-brown gaze met mine, tracing a path to my lips for a fleeting moment before returning to my eyes. Slowly, he began to lean in closer, but our moment was interrupted by Peter speaking in his sleep.
Edmund sighed softly, shifting back to lie on his back beside me once more. The brief, charged moment dissolved in the quiet night, replaced by a sense of what could have been.
Feeling the weight of weariness settle upon me, my eyelids grew heavy with the onset of sleep.
"Sleepy now?" Ed inquired, and I responded with a nod before adjusting, turning to face him.
"Good night, Ed," I whispered softly. I didn't catch his reply as I gradually slipped into slumber.
