Our Long Awaited Return Book #8

Chapter 17 Changing Direction

Leona found her brother outside the house, but he was talking with Dr. Cornelius, so she left them be. She mourned over Nikabrik's death. Even though he tried to get the witch back, he still was her friend. He could still have had a chance to change, couldn't he?

She sat behind a tree in the woods, deeply reminiscing about the past few days.

"Finding a place to think," she heard Caspian say. He sat down beside her and put a strong arm around her. She laid her head on his shoulder.

"Yes, about everything that happened in the past few days," she nodded.

"You know I must have gotten so caught up with that competition with Peter that I forgot about my little sister," he told her.

"I'm sure your competition with the High King isn't the only reason. What about your further interest in his sister, Queen Susan?" she teased.

Caspian laughed. "I never said anything that I like her."

"Oh, but the way you look at her shows you do like her," she joked.

"Leona, there’s no girl I like better than you, my sister," Caspian defended himself.

She looked from behind the tree to see Susan and Ruth practicing archery with Trumpkin, a faun, and a minotaur. "Why don’t you show off your archery skills!" she teased.

They got up, and Caspian grabbed a crossbow.

" Nope, not a scratch," commented Trumpkin.

"Well, I'm sure we’ll improve. We did well yesterday," Ruth answered.

"Yeah, Rome wasn't built in a day," replied Susan.

"How long did it take?" the minotaur asked curiously.

"What is Rome?" asked the faun.

Leona couldn’t help but stifle a giggle. She watched as her brother got his crossbow ready.

"It’s just an expression," sighed Susan, as her brother shot his crossbow, which hit a bullseye at the target.

"Nice shot! Which one of you was that?" commented Susan.

"Well, it wasn't me," Ruth told her honestly.

"Good afternoon, your majesty," Caspian answered briskly, walking forward. "You could use a little help."

Leona grinned and walked away. Her plan had worked, but as she left, she caught sight of a Telmarine soldier.

**Verity pov**

I met Edmund at the opening of the how, sitting on a ledge. "I'm sorry, Ed," I said, sitting down next to him.

"What for?" he asked.

"Well, there are lots of things. I never thought you were intelligent like me; my own pride caused me to think I was superior to others. That almost led me to my death," I explained.

Edmund squeezed my hand. "You mean you thought I was stupid because I betrayed you all to the white witch for Turkish Delight?"

"I thought I had forgiven you, Ed, but I guess I hadn't..." I explained. "Until now."

"I haven't been able to forgive myself either," he told me. "I didn't deserve to live."

"But Aslan did it anyway; he also did it in our world too; he died there too," I reminisced about Calvary. "Edmund, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

I began to explain, then I felt tears fill my eyes. My discernment at our last adventure, I was able to discern the truth about Narnia, but this adventure only until now. "Oh, Aslan."