Once a Queen

Homecoming

Author's Note: This chapter and the next will be slightly shorter, at least until I come through and edit each of the chapters.

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Later that day, after the three girls had calmed down, they took to wandering through the tents, exploring within the safety of the confines of the camp instead of farther out. Elise's sword lay ignored on her bed, and she longed to use it, but she didn't know how. She was still too scared to use it against an adversary, and knew that would have to change. If it had really come down to it, would she have been able to do what Peter had done?

Her thoughts were broken up by Lucy yelling out their brother's name.

"Edmund!" she cried, leaping forward to go meet him where he stood speaking with Aslan. Elise's eyes widened, her heart in her throat as she looked at her younger brother. Even from where she was, she could see his pale features and sunken cheeks, his hair lifeless and his eyes dull. Her chest ached, her heart splintering at the thought of anyone going through what he had, let alone her little brother.

Peter reached for Lucy and held her back before she could keep going, giving her a look and shaking his head firmly. Just a few moments later, Aslan and Edmund finished their talk, walking down the hill towards the siblings.

"What's done is done," Aslan said decisively before walking past them.

There was a pause that hung in the air, stifling and full. Edmund broke it with a quiet, "Hello."

Lucy made the first move, now taking her chance to hug him. Ed's face immediately lightened with relief, and he bore a small smile as he hugged her back. Elise stood back, her heart breaking further as Susan hugged him next. How could he have ever thought that they would be anything more than happy to see him?

"Are you alright?" Susan asked him like the big sister she was.

"I'm a little tired," Edmund admitted.

Peter's face was hard as he looked down at his brother. "Get some sleep," he told him."

Edmund's face crumpled but he didn't say anything, steeling himself to walk by his brother and eldest sister, who had yet to say anything yet.

"And Edmund," Peter called before he could walk away. Edmund turned his head back nervously. "Try not to wander off." Peter's face broke into a smile, and Ed's responding one was just as bright.

"Don't worry, Peter," Elise said, stepping forward to wrap her arms around Edmund in a tight hug. "I'll keep my eye on him this time," she teased lightly, squeezing him closer.

Ed quickly reciprocated the hug, practically melting in Elise's arms. She held him tightly, determined not to let him out of her sight again. Normally, Edmund would be annoyed at his sister's overreaction, but after what he had gone through, he was grateful to know that she still cared and wanted to keep him safe.

Later on, after Edmund had rested for a little while and changed into new clothes, the Pevensies all gathered for lunch outside of their tents. They crowded around a short table, sitting on the grass carelessly as they indulged in their food. Ed especially seemed pleased with the picnic. He chewed hungrily on a piece of toast covered in honey.

Lucy watched him with an amused look. "Narnia's not going to run out of toast, Ed," she joked. Edmund smiled but kept eating.

Peter watched his family solemnly, thinking back to the conversation he had with Aslan before he had to fight Maugrim. Narnia needed help, but that didn't mean that he had to watch his family be in danger for any longer.

"I'm sure they'll pack something up for the journey back," he told his siblings.

Everyone paused in their eating. Elise watched her brother closely from where she was seated on the other side of Edmund. She knew where Peter was going with this, and while she didn't approve, she did understand. It had hurt her as well to see Lucy nearly lost in the river, and Edmund alone as he was held by the Witch, and even Peter, when he had stood alone against Maugrim and almost lost his life.

"We're going home?" asked Susan, confused by the turn of events. Just a few days ago, Peter had stood his ground that Narnia needed their help when he hadn't trusted the wolves, while Susan had been the one to demand they take their chance to go home. But now, so much had changed.

"You are," Peter clarified, and Elise felt her heart drop. "I promised Mum I'd keep you four safe. But it doesn't mean I can't stay behind and help."

What about Elise's promise to keep the family together? And together was where they were safest. She knew Peter wanted to help the Narnians, and keep everyone else out of harm's way, but there was no right way to do both. Even if he sent them back, she would just find her back through the wardrobe.

Lucy also understood that. "But they need us," she protested valiantly. "All five of us."

Peter only shook his head at her complaints. "Lucy, it's too dangerous. You almost drowned! Edmund was almost killed!"

Ed stiffened at the mention of his time with the White Witch, the memories still harsh and new. "Which is why we have to stay," he said gravely.

Everyone looked at him with varying degrees of confusion. Elise watched him with a mixture of grief and pride in her eyes, knowing that he had gone through something none of them could imagine, and now stood taller at the end of it.

"I've seen what the White Witch can do. And I've helped her do it. And we can't leave these people behind to suffer for it," he explained bravely.

When had Edmund become so just? Before Narnia, he might have scoffed and demanded they leave, but now, he wanted to stay and do the right thing for everyone. Elise had never been prouder of her little brother.

A moment of silence passed through the group, broken only by Susan standing up.

"Well, that's it then," she said decidedly. Elise understood, and grinned excitedly, joining her sister.

"Where are you going?" Peter asked them, confused.

Susan grinned slyly and snatched up her bow and quiver of arrows, turning back only to say, "To get in some practice."