The Cold and the Just | E. Pevensie

XIV

As we neared the Aslan's How, it became evident Susan and Lucy were not back yet from their solo escapade.
The centaur and the giant sauntered off, leaving Edmund and I alone.

"Do you see...Do- do you see Susan and Lucy?" he mumbled, almost to himself and not me.

"No," I replied, placing a comforting hand on the small of his back. "I'm sure they're fine. Susan is so brave, and Lucy can find her way out of any situation."

Edmund's face was still downcast, so I continued. "Aslan's watching over them, I'm sure of it!"

"Where's Caspian?" Edmund said softly. I gazed over the camp. "Inside, perhaps?" I answered.

"His horse is gone. The girl's took Peter's horse, and Caspian's horse is gone, he must- he must have gone after them-"

"Edmund, calm down," I soothed, "Caspian can take care of them. This is a good thing!"

Edmund sighed, still ignoring my statements.

"After everything I've said, you're still worried?" I asked him, moving a bit closer into his side.

Edmund looked down at me, his lips turned in a frown. His gorgeous eyes sparkled with pride, though.
"No," he said, "I just wished they had a bit more protection - like you. You could protect them in ways no one else could."

I guess he meant it as a compliment, but it didn't seem like one to me. Yes, I could protect them, but I also wasn't some sort of war machine they could use whenever they wanted.

Edmund spied my discomfort and grabbed my shoulders, turning me so I faced him. "(Y/N), are you- did I say something?"

I didn't answer right away, which was a mistake. "No, Edmund- I just, well, I told Peter the same thing. I'm not a weapon."

"I never said you were, (Y/N)!" He chided, taking a step away from me. "Are you'd saying you wouldn't protect Lucy and Susan?"

"Edmund, I never said that!" I replied, throwing my hands up a bit. "I would protect them with my life, you know that! I'm just sick of being treated like a piece of armor. I'm not an object-"

"(Y/N)! I know! I was just trying to-" Edmund started before stopping himself and taking a breath. "I was just trying to say something nice. But if that wasn't good enough for you-"

I crossed my arms, feeling my hands becoming frosty and chilled. "Edmund, it's fine, I just-"

Before I could finish, he took one more step back and put his hand up 'to stop me from saying anything else. "I'll be back later. Peter needs helping prepping for his battle."

He stomped off and I stood there, watching him saunter towards the How.

"Ugh," I grunted, to no one but myself. I stomped my foot, creating a small circle of ice.

"Trouble with the boy, eh?" Trumpkin's voice came from behind me. I turned and saw the dwarf slowly making his way over. "Maybe Edmund's not worth the time. The boy has a history of...betrayal."

I furrowed my eyebrows. "Don't say that, Trump. Edmund's past is not something I need to worry about, it's the present we have to focus on." I breathed deeply, shifting in my white armor. "Gosh, if we're talking about pasts, then I've got a worse one than he does."

Trumpkin raised his eyebrows. "Not really, Princess. You grew up in a royal castle, loved by everyone. Edmund betrayed his family. You simply left your family, your mother, behind."

"I'm not giving up on Edmund, it was just one fight for Aslan's sake!" I muttered, sitting down cross-legged so I matched the dwarf's height.

"Just...tread carefully." Trumpkin replied softly - almost...caringly.

I dragged my fingers through the green grass and said, "You've turned sappy, dwarf."

Trumpkin rolled his eyes. "No! I just want to make sure you don't, you know...get hurt."

Hm, I thought, maybe Trumpkin's actually trying to be helpful and not his usual sarcastic self. Of course, I'm not giving up on Edmund. Never.

We sat there (well, Trump stood, but he's so short it didn't matter) in silence, and I pulled uncomfortably at my armor. It wasn't heavy or hot (temperature-wise - my butt looked great), I just wasn't used to being in such...restricted clothing.

"Armor isn't really working for you, aye, Princess?" Trumpkin chuckled. "I liked the dresses better anyway."

"I can't fight in a dress. At least not in one of mine. Maybe one of Susan's-"

Suddenly Trump let out a bellowing belly laugh and wiped tears from his eyes. "You're kidding, right?!" He said through giggles, "you could fight in anything!"

I let out a soft laugh. "Sure. Watch the ice girl shoot snowflakes out of her hands, and she does all that...in a corset!" I pursed my lips. "I'm not fighting in a dress."

"Well, whatever you're wearing, you better change quickly. We've got company."

Trumpkin's words floated in the air as I watched in the distance as a wave of the Telemarine army flooded the field.

I got up from the ground and glanced at Trumpkin.

"Show time."

•••
WOW AN UPDATE?? AMAZING!
THERE WILL BE

TWO

UPDATES TODAY!
WOOOOOOOO

The Telemarines are closing in.
And you and Edmund aren't on good terms.

Hm.
Hm.
Hm.

See you in the next chapter, my lovelies!