Our Long Awaited Return Book #8

Chapter 4 Our Chests



We walk around for a while aimlessly. I was upset with Edmund because he had interrupted me. I knew it was stupid, but I didn't like getting interrupted. It was the same for Peter as he was the leader. I was the intelligent one. Andrew was the artist of the family, it was his passion and I don't think he favoured academics, unlike his almost twin brother. Susan could if she wanted to, but she's the sensible one and she just studies to pass tests. She hates school and cares more about how she looks. Edmund, well, he's just Edmund, definitely not intelligent in my eyes. He's the least of all of us. He was the one, who betrayed us for Turkish delight.
Ruth was quiet and barely talked and was very much like Susan about her grades.
Lucy was the one with the faith. And Peter, yes, he was smart, but he was the oldest he was supposed to be. During our times in Narnia, he chose me to make the battle plans.
"Catapults!" Exclaimed Edmund, waking me from my thoughts.
He kneeled in front of a large stone, placing his hand on it.
"What?" Peter asked as we walked up to him.
He turns to look at us, "This didn't just happen, Cair Paravel was attacked."
Andrew knelt down beside him, looking at the object,"He's right, I mean this would be the most logical explanation."
"What else would've happened?" I remark sarcastically."It was obvious."
Susan punches me in the elbow, "Stop being such a bigot, Verity!"
I glare at her, "I'm just stating the obvious; surprised you all didn't realize it till now," I tell her smartly. I knew it wasn't true, but I rubbed my conscience away.
My sisters and I watch as my brothers push a movable wall away, behind it stands a rotted door. Peter breaks the lock, then swings open the door, revealing the steps for our treasure chamber.
He tears a piece off his shirt and ties it around a stick.
"How's that going to work?" I ask him doubtful.
He grins at me, "You'll see." He looks at Edmund and Andrew, "Don't suppose both of you would have any matches."
Both boys begin to dig in their bags.
"No," Ed answers ," but would this help." He shows us his new torch, which he had gotten for his fifteenth birthday a few months back. A grin on his face.
Peter shook his head and sighed, "You might have mentioned that a bit sooner."
He throws his useless stick away while Edmund leads the entrance to the chamber, his flashlight turned on, and we follow.
I see our treasure chamber, just like it used to be. Our chests stood in the order of our thrones. Statues of our older selves stood behind them.
"I can't believe it!" Exclaimed Peter a smile on his face, "It's all still here!" As he swings upon the gateway.
"Wonder if our chests are still full." Ruth muses.
"I'm sure they are," Andrew says,"No one except we knew about this place."
Lucy and I run forward and open our chests. At the top of mine, I find a big fat book. It's pretty old already, I remember writing Narnia's history in it. I find my dagger pen beside it and my sword.
"I was so tall," Lucy commented as she held one of her dresses that she had worn before we left Narnia up to her.
"Well, you were older than," Susan smiles.
"As opposed to hundreds of years later when you're younger," jokes Edmund, he's wearing a helmet that's too big for him.
"It's strange coming back as children again," comments Ruth as she takes out her bow and arrow.
I laugh, "Well, my handwriting is so different," as I begin to write
We've come back seems a hundred years have passed.
"You're only fourteen now; as you get older, your handwriting changes," Susan explains as she digs in her chest.
I continue writing in the most awkward position, but I decide to page through my book.
"I forget all about this," Andrew held up a portrait of all seven of us, that he had painted years ago.
"It's still so beautiful," Susan comments.
"Well, for being in here for over a hundred years, I'm surprised you even said it was beautiful," Andrew's responds, before placing it back in his chest.
"What is it?" Lucy asks Susan.
"My horn, I must have left it in my saddle the day we went back," Susan replies.
Peter who was looking at a gold shield of Aslan, finally walked up to his chest opened it pulled out his sword and unsheathed it
"Rhindon," I say as we look at it.
"When Aslan bears his teeth winter meets his death." He begins.
"When he shakes his mane, we shall have spring again," Lucy adds.
"You forgot the first part," I say, "Wrong will be right; when Aslan's in sight, at the sound of his roar, sorrow will be no more." I look over at Edmund, who lowers his head.
"When Adam's flesh and Adam's bone sit at Cair Paravel in throne, the evil time will be over and done." Adds Ruth.
"Everyone we knew, Mr. Tumnus and the Beavers all gone," Lucy says sadly, Andrew places a comforting hand on Lucy's shoulder
Peter puts his sword back in its hilt, "I think it's finally time to find out what's going on."
"Since we're in Cair Paravel, we'll have to go, oh where is that map of Narnia, "I search through my book.
"Wherever we find people," Andrew tells me.
"I suppose," I sigh, "Seems no one lives here anymore. Since Cair Paravel was attacked."
"Maybe there are people nearby," Ruth says, "Hopefully."
"Well, there doesn't seem to be a sign of anyone," Peter replies.
"Well, let's get dressed into our Narnian clothes first," Susan replies.
The boys go somewhere else to dress, while we girls dress as in the chamber.
I prefer to wear a shirt, trousers, and a vest, as we'll be travelling. Susan, Ruth, and Lucy, however, prefer dresses.
I put my pen in my bag, where I found my compass.
"Now isn't this helpful," I grin.
"I'm sure we all know our directions, Verity," Susan tells me.
"No, you don't. Didn't you fail that Geography test last semester," I argue back.
"I didn't know that made a person smart," Ruth comments.
Susan rolls her eyes in disgust, "And Just because you're "intelligent" doesn't mean we're as dumb as cows."
I ignore her, "Should I bring my book?" I ask Lucy.
"Wouldn't it get too heavy," Lucy answers, as she puts on her belt for her dagger.
"I suppose," I nod."Back to the compass..."
"What compass?" Edmund asks as he and Peter  and Andrew renter the room again.
"A compass I brought along," I answer; I turn to Peter, "Shouldn't that make our journey easier? Susan doesn't think so."
He nods, and he looks at Lucy and Susan."Are you all ready?"
"Yes," Susan answers.
She walks past me, glaring at me. And I follow with Lucy trailing behind me.
But Ruth pulls me aside, "Why are you acting like that?"
"Acting like what?" I retort.
"You know, you've changed and so has Peter and I don't like it one bit," she tells me.
"We haven't changed at all," I say to her, "Now, excuse me, I've to make sure Peter doesn't mislead us."
I run around to my brother. Taking no heed of what my sister has told me.