Our Destiny

five

{ chapter five  -  a changed Narnia }

The wind blew circles around the married couple, pushing and shoving them together but neither of them where having it. Mila and Peter had had many fights before, especially when they where older and they would often go days without speaking to one another. Both where stubborn, and neither wanted to apologise because neither thought they where in the wrong.

Mila walked alongside Edmund, he held her hand in a comforting way. She wore the same sad smile she always wore when she and Peter fought in Cair Paravel. "He's only being overprotective," Edmund told the girl which caused her to scoff, but she didn't answer. She knew he was right, but she wouldn't care to admit it. Mila could fight her own battles, she didn't need Peter to stick up for her whenever a small problem came her way. Yes, Lucy was in danger, and yes, it was her fault, but Mila would have chosen to die long before that bear could grasp its claws around the younger girl. Peter just simply didn't understand that his wife was strong, independent, and very capable to watch after herself. After a few long moments, she let out a sigh before turning to Edmund, "I get that he's overprotective but he needs to understand I can take care of myself." She said, loud enough that Peter would partially be able to take the hint. "Mila," Ed mumbled as he stopped his friend. "I love you but you need to stop being so stubborn. You and Lu almost died! Peter would blame himself if anything happened and you know it." The young Queen was taken back, "He didn't need to shout at me though." She replied, a weak smile replacing the saddened but strong one she wore as Queen in Cair Paravel. "I don't like it when he shouts." Edmund wiped the loose tear from her cheek. "I know you don't. But that temper of yours needs to stop Mila. You are both as bad as each other." Mila chuckled as she rolled her eyes, "Is my dad possessing you or something?" She laughed as she knocked the side of his head. "Ha ha. Very funny. So... are you going to talk with Peter?" Mila's smile turned to a straight face. "Nope. As you said, Ed, I'm stubborn. Besides I don't apologise for something I didn't start." She said before rushing ahead to join Susan. Edmund watched her do this, he rolled his eyes. She was always going to be stubborn. He liked that about his best friend, his sister-in-law. He liked that she always stood her ground because she was a strong and independent ruler, who could also rule alongside her family and friends. He looked up to that. And he wanted to turn out just like her. He loved Mila, he was grateful to have such an inspiration to look up too.

"I have a feeling we're going the wrong way," Susan said as Mila caught up with the girls. "That's the problem with girls, can't carry a map in their heads!" Peter snarkily replied, a sympathetic look cast to Mila as he looked over his shoulder. "That's because our heads have something in them!" Lucy replied back, her humour and wits getting better the more time she spent with Mila back in Finchley. "I wished he'd just listened to the DLF in the first place," Susan muttered as Peter stormed ahead. "DLF?" Mila and Edmund said in union. "Dear Little Friend," Lucy replied. Mila chuckled, knowing Trumpkin probably didn't like being called little. "Well that's not patronising at all, is it?" She heard him say to Edmund, who chuckled in response.

Mila stopped in her tracks as she realised the group had met a dead end. "I'm not lost." The High King mumbled as he looked at the beautiful, yet unknown surroundings. "No, you're just going the wrong way." Peter snarled, "You last saw Caspian at the Shuddering Woods, the quickest way there is to cross at the River Rush!" Trumpkin rolled his eyes, it was obvious he was trying to remain calm and polite toward the King of Narnia. "If I'm not mistaken, there is no crossing in these parts." Mila watched as her husband smirked, "You're mistaken then."

He continued his way, roaming through the eroded rocks and soon into the beautiful trees as they swayed softly in the Spring winds. Mila walked ahead, alongside Peter but they still didn't speak. The Queen gasped slightly as she lost her balance, almost falling into the ravine that held the River Rush captive. "Careful!" Peter told her as he prevented her from plummeting to her death. "Thanks." She simply replied before the two went back to being stubborn and ignoring one another. "See, over time water erodes the earth and soil, causing deep..."
"oh shut up." Peter groaned interrupting Susan's attempt at a Geography lesson. "Is there a way down?" Edmund asked. "Yeah falling." The dwarf sarcastically replied. "Well, we weren't lost," Peter told the group, pretty happy that he wasn't wrong. "There's a bridge near Beruna. How do you feel about swimming?" Mila glanced at Susan. "Rather that than walking." The two girls replied before attempting their way from the danger of the cliff side to the safety of the trees. "Aslan?" Lucy gasped as the group began walking. "Look it's Aslan! He's over!... there." She paused for a moment, the lion she had claimed to see was now nowhere in sight. "Do you see him now?" Trumpkin asked, probably in disbelief that the lion was even real but instead a fairytale he would have been told as a child. "I'm not crazy!" Lucy said. "He was there." Mila smiled, "Are you sure Lucy? There are probably countless lions in these woods. Besides Aslan would have shown himself to all of us." Lucy sighed. "He wanted us to follow him." Mila shook her head, "Im sorry Lu, but I'm not following some random lion. What if he's like that bear? I'm not putting any of you in danger." The young Queen glanced at Peter, who's blue eyes followed her moves, "Not again." Lucy turned to the girl, "I think I know Aslan when I see him!" She protested, her voice raised slightly to get her point across. "Look, I'm not going to throw myself off some cliff for someone who doesn't exist," Trumpkin mumbled. "He exists Trumpkin. I'm just in doubt he would show himself only to you Lu." "Why wouldn't I have seen him?" Mila and Peter said, their suggestions overlapping each other. "Maybe you two weren't looking! You are both too wrapped up in fighting to have noticed him!" Mila rolled her eyes. "Hey, the last time I didn't believe Lucy, I ended up looking pretty stupid!" He said, giving his little sister a reassuring smile. Mila nodded, "Next time you see him, let me know." She said, making her way to Lucy as she did so. "But for now, I don't want to be putting you, or anyone else in any more danger."

Chopped down trees and angered workmen with hammers filled the once beautiful scenery. Mila let out a groan, "Maybe if I tell them who I am they'll stop ruining my beautiful landscapes!" She half yelled from behind a stack of chopped wood. "Or maybe they'd just kill you!" Trumpkin told her, which made her even angrier at the Telmarine men. "The memories we've had here! Ruined! We walked down here on our honeymo..." she stopped herself, still being petty over something stupid with Peter. "Nevermind." A few stallions and riders passing caused the group to duck. "Maybe we shouldn't have come this way after all," Susan said. Mila silently agreed with her, if they didn't end up getting caught and killed, she would go mad and slaughter as many men as she could get her hands on. Simply because they where destroying and manhandling the beauty of Mother Nature and her home.

After a short while, the group retraced their steps and found themselves standing on the cliff side. "Where did you think you saw Aslan again?" Peter asked, his youngest sister simply shook her head. "I wish you'd all stop trying to sound like grownups!" She told them. "I am a grownup," Trumpkin muttered to himself but his words were only heard by Edmund and Mila who concealed their chuckles. "I didn't think I saw him, I did see him!" She said as she paced the edge of the cliff. "Where? Where did you see him, Lu?" Mila asked as she joined the girl's side. She carefully linked her hand with hers. "Right over the.." her sentence was cut short as the ground broke from beneath her. Due to Mila's grasp on her hand, Lucy didn't tumble to the bottom of the ravine and essentially to her death. Not like she'd fall very far anyways. "There," Lucy said, a sigh of relief escaping her lips. Mila let go of her hand, which allowed Lucy to touch her feet on the pathway she had discovered. "Maybe you did see Aslan. He does like to leave clues before revealing the prize." Mila smiled, as she began to follow the girl down the pathway.

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edited - 20/04/2023