The Honest and The Brave // Narnia

Chapter 2

The train station is full of mothers sending their children to the country, most in tears. Not that I blame them. As I push my way through the sea of people behind my brother, my white hat suddenly falls off my head. Gasping quietly, I bend down and retrieve it only to loose sight of Andrew as I straighten myself up. Spinning around slowly, my eyes widen and my breathing quickens - my grip on my case tightening as I realise I'm alone. I've lost Andrew and my mum, all because of a stupid hat. All of a sudden, a hand clasps around my wrist causing me to spin in my heel with a loud yelp. Andrew smiles down at me chuckling slightly as I release breath of relief, our bodies pushing against the crowd to return to our mother. As I push past a woman in a red coat, I notice her four children teary eyed as they say goodbye. The sight causes me to imagine our new roommates at the Professor's house - will they be nice? Or will they make our lives miserable? I really do hope they aren't bullies. Before I can ask Andrew if he knows anything about them, I am pulled to a stop in front of our mum. I soak in her appearance for I know it's going to be a while until I see her again. In fact, it could be years. Taking in her yellow dress and grey coat, the matching hat standing out against her brown hair, my eyes begin to water.

"Alright, time for you two to hop on the train."

My mother tries to say, yet her voice comes out soft and quite - almost as if she's scared to speak any louder in fear of crying. I can already see a few tears trying to escape the pools of water in her eyes, but she wipes them away rather quickly as Andrew engulfs her in a hug.

"Please don't cry mum, we will be back soon."

His words are muffled by the tight contact between the two, but I can understand it slightly. Mum doesn't say anything in return, instead pulls away from him to squeeze his cheeks. I snort a little at this, knowing the action annoys Andrew to no end. However, before he even has time to react, she lets go and moves toward me. Letting a few tears drop onto my cheek, I hug my mum tightly as if there is no tomorrow. And for all I know, there could be. I breathe in her scent, trying to engrave the floral scent into my mind. Hesitantly I pull away, ignoring the large patch of water on her coat.

"Bye mum."

I choke out, struggling to speak as the tears start to fall faster and faster. However, she seems to understand me through the mess for she too grabs my cheeks and places a kiss on my forehead.

"Goodbye darling girl".

~

It isn't until the train leaves the station that Andrew and I start look for an empty compartment. It's not that we don't want to speak to others, it's just that we've been through so much that it feels odd to make friends now. Eventually Andrew finds one up the back and we both sit down, myself next to the window and Andrew next to me. I stare out the glass pane, watching the scenery speed across the glass. It begins as large buildings and compacted businesses, before changing to small suburban homes that appear to be empty. In the end, the only thing I can make out is grass. Just grass. Suddenly, a click from the compartment door echoes through the silent compartment, startling me. I glance towards the door to see the four children from the station, all with tear stained cheeks. Knowing mine are the same, I avoid staring as it's not right to judge. The eldest of the four gestures to the empty seats opposite Andrew and I, a hesitant look glazing across his face. I watch Andrew nod in response before returning to his drawing of mother in his journal. He's quite talented, but avoids showing a lot of people in fear of being teased. I think it's ridiculous. I watch the four children stumble into the compartment, each with a new found happiness on their faces. Without wanting to seem rude, I continue to gaze out the large window as loud thumps from their bags echo out. Suddenly, out of the corner of my eye, I notice the two youngest siblings sit down across from Andrew and I, accompanied by their eldest sister. The eldest of the group is no doubt sitting beside Andrew. There is an awkward silence that envelops the compartment before it disappears as suddenly as it came. After a while, my eyes begin to wander to the smallest child of them all, curious. She's a young girl, looking to be the age of ten. She has light brown hair cut just underneath her ears that is covered slightly by a brown hat. She has bright blues eyes that seem to be filled with wonder, and a few freckles sprinkled across across her face. She is gripping onto a stuffed toy dog while peering over the older girls shoulder. I smile at the sight. Next, my eyes glance to the youngest boy, who looks to be just older than myself - perhaps thirteen. He has dark brown hair and cold, brown eyes. A scowl is painted on his face giving off a sense of anger and frustration. His glare is aimed at the window, towards the speeding countryside that most definitely is not the cause of this anger. I notice a few freckles across his cheeks as well, but they aren't as defined as the younger girl. Before he notices me staring, I change my glance to the eldest girl in the compartment. She seems to be the second oldest of them, due to her motherly nature that radiates off of her. I smile slightly as I watch her read a couple of sentences to her younger sister. Her eyes are also brown but they appear to be lighter than her brothers, making them a little warmer and not as cold. It could also help that she is smiling and a little happier. Her skin is very pale, but that seems to add to her unique beauty. I wouldn't be surprised if Andrew tried to pursue her, as she only looks to be fifteen which is a year younger than him. I bite my lip to try and stop the giggle that tries to escape at the thought. I then peer at the last of the four, the eldest. He has the same bright blue eyes as the youngest but instead of having brown hair like his siblings, he has a mop of dirty blonde hair. He appears to be seventeen years old, which makes him the oldest. However, even just by looking at him, I can tell he is very protective of everyone in his family. I smile slightly as he reminds me slightly of Andrew. Sighing softly, I turn back to the window just in time to see that we have arrived at a station. It's the very same as every other that we've been passed and stopped at in the time we've been on the train. Once again, it isn't mine and Andrew's stop and due to the fact that the siblings haven't made a move to get off, it isn't their stop either. Suddenly, as we pull out of the station, I hear a loud huff. Turning towards the source, I see the younger girl looking around at us all, bored and a little fidgety.

"Silence is boring! Let's introduce ourselves. I'm Lucy Pevensie."

With a small, toothy grin, she sticks out her small hand for Andrew and I to shake. I smile at her bubbliness and gladly shake her hand, my brother following my actions just as the eldest girl speaks.

"I'm Susan Pevensie. It's a pleasure to meet you both."

Once again, Andrew and I shake her hand. Only this time, I'm less enthused as she frightens me slightly. I don't know why, but she doesn't seem as fun and carefree - almost as if she were going to judge me for being myself. Shaking off the thought, I glance at the oldest whomst hand is now outstretched.

"I'm Peter and that's Edmund."

I shake Peter's hand and turn to shake Edmund's but he simply glares at me. I retract my hand slowly, a little hurt by his harsh look.

"It's nice to meet you all." Andrew starts. "I'm Andrew Mason and this is my younger sister, Sophia."

I direct my body away from the cold boy in order to send a small wave toward the other three siblings. Only, as I do, I watch as Lucy's smile grows.

"Did you say your last name was Mason?"

I nod my head slowly, wondering why on earth that's important. It's not like we know of these children, unless they go to school with us. That could be likely but then again they would be in different forms to us. As if sensing my inner debate of confusion, Susan clears her throat - it's as though she is embarrassed.

"We were told that the Professor was taking in another family by the name of Mason. Are you two staying with Professor Diggory?"

With a wide grin growing on my face, I nod along with my brother as laughter bounces off the compartment walls. I sigh in relief, my fears from the station disappearing - these four siblings are going to be no problem. Well, most of them at least. Glancing at Edmund, I watch as his nose crinkles up in disgust causing me to sigh softly. He seems to hate the idea of sitting in the same compartment as everyone, let alone living in the same house. I can already tell that we aren't going to get along.