The Return of the Brave & the Honest // Narnia

Chapter 6

"How long have we been walking for?"

My voice carries out through the trees, my knees throbbing in slight pain from my constant tripping. I've never been one to complain, but for some reason this journey is taking forever - it's almost as if the forest has grown over thirteen hundred years. I catch Andrew smirking Ivor his shoulder, his eyes rolling to the back of his head in pure amusement.

"We've only been walking for 2 hours, Soph. Calm down."

My mouth drops open slightly at the time frame, groaning ever so slightly and praying we get to rest eventually. Yet I focus on the scenery around me, the tall trees and the few bluebirds dancing around the flowers. Despite this, I furrow my eyebrows in confusion for I don't remember this pathway to the Shuddering Woods - but then again, I never did really pay any attention, Midnight always seeming to know the way. Perhaps it's near Lantern Waste, or maybe Aslan's Camp - the name never quite changing after all those years. As I avoid a large rock, I hear Susan sigh aloud - her voice rather curious.

"I don't remember this way."

My eyes widen slightly at her words, for Susan always knew where she was going - a strange quirk practically. Although, as she hums in curiosity, I realise it's simply because of how long we've been gone. The forest looks different, that much is true, and our memories are accustomed to the old Narnia. Despite this, I hear Peter chuckle up ahead - his gaze flittering over his shoulder with an amused smirk.

"That's the problem with girls. They can't carry a map in their heads."

Rolling my eyes at his words, I gag slightly as Andrew high-fives him - their chuckles echoing throughout the forest. Before I have a chance to say anything, however, I see Lucy smirk - her voice catching her brothers attention pratfalls instantly.

"That's because our heads have something in them."

Snorting loudly, I wave sarcastically as Andrew raises his eyebrow toward me - serves him right for agreeing with Peter. He rolls his eyes before directing his attention toward the way we're heading, just as Susan's soft voice catches my own focus.

"I wish they would just listen to the D.L.F in the first place."

I nod slowly in agreement - perhaps a Narnian would be a better guide than an Old King. It's not that we don't trust Andrew or Peter, but we've been gone for a while - things aren't as they seem, as we've already witnessed.

"D.L.F?"

Edmund's voice causes me to jump in surprise, my gaze flittering over my shoulder to see him walking behind us. I send him a smile just as Lucy giggles slightly - her voice answering her brothers question.

"Dear Little Friend."

He raises an eyebrow in amusement, to which I simply shrug - the little acronym for our friend a little bit creepy but it simply means we adore him. As I focus back onto the pathway, I hear Trumpkin muttering something sarcastic - a few words along the lines of 'that's not at all patronising' which cause me to giggle ever so slightly. My laughter slowly disappears however, as I stare at the chasm before us all utterly confused. The trees have become scarce and large boulders take their place - creating a small chasm between the forest. I furrow my eyebrows, trying to piece together where we are but my mind has no recollection - it's almost like we never travelled here throughout our reign. Which cannot be the case, I remember specifically riding to every corner of Narnia as a part of the royal tour - a welcoming of sorts to the royal title. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Lucy and Susan appearing just as confused as I feel - which is not a good sign. Perhaps our confusion isn't because we've been gone for too long. Suddenly, I hear Peter sigh in frustration - my gaze snapping toward him to see the oldest Pevensie perched atop a rock in the middle of the chasm, no doubt in hopes of getting a better view.