( 𝗖𝗨𝗥𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗟𝗬 𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗥 𝗘𝗗𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 )
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...
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As night draped its dark veil over the land, we readied ourselves after Peter’s briefing, each of us assigned a crucial task.
In the quiet stillness that followed, I focused on braiding my hair—a small ritual of preparation against the uncertainty of the battle ahead. With each twist and weave, the braid took shape, until a few silver-white strands slipped free, softly framing my face like a gentle cascade.
Edmund's sudden voice jolted me from my thoughts, causing me to swiftly turned in surprise.
"Sorry," he apologized, before coming closer to where I stood.
"What is it?" I asked, my nerves tingling with a sense of anticipation for what lay ahead.
"I..." Edmund began, his voice trailing off momentarily before he gathered his resolve. "I need you by my side, all the time. Promise me you'll stay close?"
His eyes met mine, heavy with worry and unspoken concern. The intensity of his gaze pressed upon me, carrying a silent plea that seemed to echo in the quiet around us. There was a raw earnestness in his expression, a quiet urgency as if seeking reassurance amidst the looming uncertainty.
That vulnerability struck a chord within me, stirring a fierce sense of duty and determination to stand by him through whatever trials awaited. The dim light danced across his face, casting shadows that only deepened the sincerity etched into every line of his expression.
I held his gaze for a lingering moment, absorbing the sincerity radiating from him, before nodding slowly.
"I promise," I affirmed softly, the words carrying a weight of assurance and solidarity.
A sigh of relief escaped Edmund as he suddenly drew me into an embrace. Taken aback by the unexpected gesture, I froze for a heartbeat before instinctively wrapping my arms around him. The warmth of our connection bridged the silent space between us, conveying trust, comfort, and an unspoken solidarity.
Our fragile moment was cut short by Peter’s call. With a reluctant pull, we separated, yet our eyes lingered on each other, speaking volumes in the quiet exchange that words could never capture.
With Edmund's assistance, I mounted the griffin's back, settling into position before he mirrored my actions, positioning himself behind me, my back against his chest.
Once everyone had readied themselves, we embarked on our journey towards the Telmarine's stronghold. However, Lucy remained behind because the risk of the mission was deemed too great for her involvement.
The mighty flaps of the griffin’s wings carried us through the night, the wind roaring around us as we cut across the sky, our silence heavy with the weight of the mission ahead.
Time seemed to stretch as we flew, the darkness enveloping us in a tense quiet. Then, slowly, a castle appeared on the horizon—a Telmarine fortress, stark and imposing against the shadowed night, heralding the danger that awaited.
Following Peter's plan, he designated Edmund and me to head to the towers of the Telmarine castle initially, tasked with signaling them by using his torch.
designated solely for Edmund, I firmly rejected the idea of allowing him to face the dangers of the castle by himself. Aware of the risks, I insisted on accompanying him, unwilling to let him face the hazardous mission alone.
The griffin touched down quietly atop the tower, where a lone Telmarine lookout remained, thankfully unaware of our approach, his back turned to the roof.
As Edmund and I cautiously stepped off the griffin, the Telmarine suddenly spun around, alerted to a disturbance. Instinctively, we ducked behind the rooftop’s cover, the griffin following suit, keeping ourselves hidden from the guard’s watchful eyes.
Receiving Edmund's subtle nod, a silent directive to circle the roof with caution, I complied without hesitation. Moving with measured steps along the edge, every motion deliberate as I kept to the shadows, maintaining a low and careful profile.
In a decisive moment, the griffin swiftly descended upon the unsuspecting Telmarine guard who had turned around, seizing him in its grasp before swiftly soaring away into the night, leaving no trace of their departure. The efficiency and swiftness of the action left the rooftop eerily silent in its wake.
In synchrony, Edmund and I sprang to the spot where the Telmarine had stood mere moments ago, landing silently on the rooftop. We crept toward the tower’s edge, our steps measured and deliberate.
From that vantage, we peered down, eyes sweeping the courtyard below for any hint of movement or looming danger. The night wrapped around us like a shroud, our alert gaze taking in the shadowed expanse of the Telmarine stronghold.
Edmund swiftly initiated the signaling sequence, brandishing his torch to convey the predetermined message. As we waited in anticipation, a momentary pause ensued before, in the distance, three Griffins emerged into the night sky, bearing the two eldest Pevensie siblings and Caspian aloft.
As we maintained our watchful stance, I leaned briefly against the battlement, taking a fleeting moment to steady myself.
Edmund, ever alert, extinguished his torch yet kept his gaze sharp, scanning the shadowed perimeter for any hint of danger. Even in this brief pause, our vigilance never wavered, each of us attuned to the risks that surrounded our covert mission.
"Why does it feel like Peter's plan won't come off right?" I voiced, seizing his attention as he glanced in my direction.
“It’s the uncertainty that’s bothering me,” I admitted, my voice tinged with unease.
I adjusted slightly, leaning my side against the cold stone of the battlement as I turned toward Edmund, who remained silent, his attention still fixed on the shadowed surroundings.
"If things take a turn for the worse, Ed... I need you to trust me," I asserted, locking eyes with him.
“I will,” he responded quietly, breaking the silence. “And I’m counting on you—to keep your word, to stay by my side through it all.”
I turned away, letting my eyes drift downward, lost in the swirl of my own thoughts.
A heavy realization settled over me—I wasn’t sure I could truly uphold that promise.
Deep inside, an unshakable intuition gnawed at me, a gut feeling that defied logic and refused to be silenced.
