Together Forever - Edmund Pevensie x Reader

Chapter 4 - The New Narnia

Y/N's POV

We were all seated in the boat from before. Peter was rowing, Susan and Lucy sat on the bow with the dwarf, Trumpkin, and Edmund and I sat on the stern. I lay my head on Edmund's shoulder. I could feel his eyes on me. Then, he exhaled and lay his head on top of mine. I noticed that Peter was looking at us, from the corner of his eye, the smallest smile ever - yet still a smile - tugging at his lips.

"They're so still." said Lucy, interrupting the silence.
We all knew that she was referring to the trees.
"They're trees. What'd you expect?" Trumpkin said coldly.
"They used to dance." I informed him.
He looked at us sadly, "Wasn't long after you left that the Telmarines invaded. Those who survived retreated to the woods. And the trees, they retreated so deep into themselves that they haven't been heard from since."

My eyes filled with sadness.
"I don't understand. How could Aslan have let this happen?" Lucy said.
"Aslan?" Trumpkin said, as if the name meant nothing to him, "Thought he abandoned us when you lot did."
That sentence made us all quiet. Not that any of us were really talking anyway. But this silence was more noticeable.
"We didn't mean to leave, you know?" Peter finally spoke.
"Makes no difference now, does it?" Trumpkin said.
"Get us to the Narnians...and it will." Peter said, not looking any of us in the eye.

**********

When we finally reached the shore, Trumpkin got out first, followed by Lucy. Peter, Susan, Edmund and I began to pull the boat out by the ropes, while Lucy looked around.
"Hello, there!" she suddenly said.
We turned around to find Lucy talking to a Black Bear. I smiled at the sight. The Bear stood up on his back legs.
"It's alright. We're friends." Lucy reassured the Bear.

"Don't move, Your Majesty!" Trumpkin called out.
I furrowed my brows, as did Lucy. She then turned around to find the Bear charging straight at her, on all fours. Lucy looked at us with wide eyes and started running.
"Stay away from her!" Susan shouted, getting her bow ready.
The boys and I unsheathed our swords. Lucy turned around to look at the bear - all the while running - and tripped. She had fallen backwards onto her elbows.
"Shoot, Susan! Shoot!" Edmund cried.
The only thing louder than Lucy's high-pitched scream was the Bear's ferocious growl. But just as it was about to pounce on her, its body jerked midway and fell onto its back. We all looked to Susan, who was just as surprised. Our eyes then shifted to Trumpkin, who was walking to Lucy, his bow firm in his hand.

"Why wouldn't he stop?" Susan asked, putting her bow down.
"I suspect he was hungry." Trumpkin replied plainly.
Peter and Edmund ran ahead to Lucy. I stayed behind and observed Susan's face. I could tell that she was a little ashamed for not having been the one who rescued Lucy. Peter rushed to Lucy's side, helping her up, while pointing his sword at the dead bear. Trumpkin poked the bear with his bow a few times, as a precaution.
"Thanks." Lucy said.
Trumpkin merely looked at her, then back at the bear.
"He was wild." I said, catching up to the others.
"I don't think he could talk at all." Peter finished.
"Get treated like a dumb animal long enough, that's what you become." Trumpkin had a grimace in his voice, but his face was expressionless.
He unsheathed his dagger.
"You may find Narnia a more savage place than you remember."
And with that, he sliced into the bear, making Lucy, Susan and me turn away.