Rule // Peter Pevensie [S.U.]

13 • Brave

     The group was quick to descend into the cave, light shining through holes in the ground above them allowing rays of light to guide them. Edmund and Caspian descended first, followed by each of their sisters behind them. The cave was silent, besides the few drops of water sounding throughout it, reflective pools of water laid at the feet of the monarchs, shimmering back up at them. 

Edmund stopped at a certain pool in particular and Caspian caught his curious gaze. "What's that?" The other three monarchs joined the High King's side, all staring at the figure beneath the surface of the water. "I don't know, it looks like some sort of gold statue." 

The Pevensie boy walked to a nearby wall, breaking off a dry root from it, and stalked back toward the water to try and reach for the statue. Edmund was quick to pull it back, however, when he saw gold beginning to creep up the wood, before encasing the entire branch. 

     Afraid that he too would become encased in gold, such as the stick and the figure- the high king shouted as he dropped the branch into the pool of water. The group of four gave each other looks of alarm and wonder, creeping closer to the water below them to stare at the statue- who they were all slowly starting to realize, wasn't just a statue. 

"He must've fallen in." 

Lucy frowned, moving to lean over Caspian's shoulder to gaze in. "Poor man."  Aubrianna stayed back, however, her eyes catching sight of the shield next to the man, just as Edmund did. "You mean poor Lord." Aubrianna nodded at the high king in turn, gazing back to the eery water. "The crest of Lord Restimar-" 

"And his sword!" Four pairs of eyes came to rest on the gleaming silver sword, untouched by the magic of the water it sat in. "We need it." Caspian nodded toward Edmund who then drew his own sword to dip into the water below. 

"Be careful."

Edmund was quick to grab the second sword from the water, in which Caspian grabbed Edmund by the sleeve to prevent him from falling it and suffering the same fate as Lord Restimar. "Your sword hasn't turn to gold." Lucy stared in awe at the realization, watching as Caspian grasped it by the handle once Edmund was standing straight again. "Both swords are magical."

     "He mustn't have know what hit him." Lucy watched as her brother sat his own sword down, looking down to the water with a gleam in his eye. "Maybe, or maybe he we on to something." Aubrianna frowned at his words, watching as Edmund knelt down to grab a shell on the floor of the cave. 

"What are you talking about?" Aubrianna sent her own brother a look of alarmed worry, silently warning him to be cautious with what he said next.

Edmund dipped the shell in the water, quickly setting it down onto the rocky floor, watching as gold encased it whole. Once the spreading of the gold had stopped, Edmund gaped- picking the object up off the floor with awe in his eyes. "What are you staring at?" Lucy had never seen this kind of look on her brother's features- and she certainly wasn't liking it. "Whoever has access to this pool, could be the most powerful person in the world.

Dread suddenly filled Aubrianna at the high king's words, her gaze meeting the mirrored expression of both her brother's and Lucy's. 

"Lucy- we'd be so rich, no one could tell us what to do, or who to live with."

      The gaze the older Pevensie boy gave to his sister drove Aubrianna to feel uncomfortable, causing the girl to take a step closer to her baby brother, grasping Lucy's hand to pull her along as she did so. 

"You can't take anything out of Narnia, Edmund." The high king turned away once more to look at the gold in his hand, ignoring the older king as he spoke. "I do." Aubrianna frowned, realizing that what over strange manner had come across Edmund- had come across Caspian too. She drew herself and Lucy away from the boys as Edmund glanced between the king and the gold, picking up his sword from the stone. 

"I'm not your subject."

"You've waited for this, haven't you? To challenge me. You doubt my leadership!" The girls watched as their brothers drew nearer- beginning to circle one another. "You doubt yourself."

     "You're a child!" By then, there was a wild and crazed look in both eyes of the kings, words of venom slipping out of they mouths and toward one another. "And you're a spineless sap." At that moment both girls rushed forward, each reaching for their respective sibling, calling out their name. "Edmund!" 

"Caspian."

They both got shoved off, Aubrianna albeit more gently then Lucy, but both boys were seeing red at the moment. "I'm tired of playing second fiddle. First it was Peter, and now it's you. You know I'm braver than both of you. Why did you get Peter's sword? I deserve a kingdom of my own! I deserve to rule!" 

A sting of heartache struck Aubrianna at the mention of her love, and she received an apologetic look from the High Queen next to her as Edmund mentioned his older brother. 

"If you think you're so brave- prove it!" 

     At his words, Caspian shoved the younger boy back, causing him to swing his sword up as the two engaged in a fight, Lucy pulled Aubrianna back from the two kings, but the queen was unafraid, reaching for her own sword. "No! Stop it! Both of you!" She raced between the boys with her sword drawn, pointing first at Edmund, before swinging it around toward Caspian. 

They had ceased in their swinging, but were still poised to launch themselves at each other and engage in battle once more. "Look at yourselves, can't you see what's happening- this place has tempted you." 

There was a sadness in the high queen's voice as she spoke, looking between her brother and dear friend. "It's bewitching you. This is exactly what Coriakin is talking about. Let's just get out of here." Realization of their action seemed to wash over both kings as they simultaneously realized what they had previously been doing.  

     Lucy stalked off toward the opening in which they came down through to the coves, pulling Aubrianna behind her as the older girl lowered and sheathed her sword. Caspian followed suite, leaving Edmund to throw the shell into the pool, and follow after his sibling and friends, not staying to watch as a green mist flittered through the water and away from the golden figure of Lord Restimar. 

Hola amigos and amigas, sorry for the wait. It's nearing summer so I hopefully will be able to update more frequently but between work and being out of town, we shall see. I definitely want to wrap the book up this summer, as I need to focus on other projects, such as Fille de Diana- my new Jasper Hale x OC.  What new ffs would y'all like to see? Another update soon to come xx