༄ 𝑇𝐻𝐸 𝑃𝐻𝑂𝐸𝑁𝐼𝑋 𝐴𝑅𝐶𝐻𝐸𝑅（𝐿𝑊𝑊）༄

Chapter 14- Edmund's Return

Sometime later, I woke up and found Susan awake as well. Lucy was still sleeping and I saw a small smile grace her older sister's lips. She truly cared for her, even if Susan had a strange way of showing it earlier. I held back my smile as I thought about it, but I couldn't keep the joy out of my eyes. So when Susan glanced over she frowned slightly at my expression until I glanced at Lucy. She seemed to get the message and her face softened.

Susan went in search of her shoes and during that time, Lucy woke up. I remained staring at the tent as I heard the two shuffle about inside. Moments later, Susan said that she was going to get Peter and then see us when we ate. I looked at her to acknowledge that I had heard just before she disappeared outside. Lucy followed shortly after, leaving me alone. I heard Lucy shout something, but it was muffled and I frowned in confusion but didn't move. The tent wasn't that thick and she couldn't have been that far away so I should've been able to catch what she said. However, her voice held no urgency so I was in no hurry to get up. Besides, I figured she was the safest in Aslan's camp than anywhere else.

As I climbed out of bed, I shook my head to clear it only to realize that was a mistake. Pain radiated through my skull and I had to stop moving for a moment. Once the pain settled, I glanced about the tent. My sandals weren't too far away, but it suddenly felt like too much of an effort to even get up. Though the initial pain had disappeared, I found myself with a headache that was steadily throbbing and didn't feel like moving about anymore. Eventually, I did because I wanted to search for a healer, hoping they could provide something to ease my headache. It seemed to grow steadily worse with every movement.

With some help, I did manage to find a healer. They informed me that my headache could've been from my fall when the wolves attacked. After acknowledging that I would take it easy, she gave me something to help with the pain. Then I wandered around the camp for a bit before realizing I needed to meet the Pevensies. We had agreed to eat breakfast together. So I headed back to our tents as that was where the meal would be set up. While I didn't care if they had decided to wait for me or not, I thought it would be nice if they did.

When I arrived, a small smile graced my lips when I saw all of them seated, but not eating. My eyes landed on Edmund and my smile grew wider. That must have been what Lucy had shouted about. When Edmund noticed that it was him I was smiling at, he glanced away seeming embarrassed or ashamed. I couldn't tell but decided not to say anything to him about it as I took a seat between Lucy and Susan.

"Sorry I kept you waiting," I apologized to them.
"It's alright," Peter informed with a smile. "We didn't mind." Smiles from the others confirmed that they agreed with his statement.

Edmund appeared absolutely ravenous as he ate. I sadly realized why he must've been so hungry but tried to keep my face emotionless. If not, I would have to tell them I suspected that Edmund had hardly been fed when he was with the Witch. She liked her prisoners weak so that it was very plausible that I was right. They appeared not to notice so we were able to eat our meal in silence rather than force one to relive painful memories. I was relieved, though. Besides the obvious hunger, and a few bruises on his face that were healing well, he appeared unharmed.

After we had mostly finished, Edmund began cleaning up the leftovers. It was noticeable to the others now that he was really hungry. As he grabbed for another piece of toast, Lucy smiled to her brother.
"Narnia's not gonna run out of toast, Edmund," she told him with a chuckle.

Edmund just smiled at her and continued eating. Peter, who had finished first and moved away, was now standing up and leaning against a boulder. He had been silent for awhile, sipping his water. But at Lucy's comment, he spoke.
"I'm sure they'll pack something up for the journey back."
"We're going home?" Susan questioned, confusion evident in her voice.
"You are," Peter explained. "I promised Mum I'd keep you three safe. But it doesn't mean I can't stay behind and help. I can't speak for Ana though," he amended with a glance at me.
"But they need us. All five of us," Lucy said.
"Five?" I asked, again doubting my importance.
"Yes. One of us three is what the other prophecy was talking about. Two of us are meant to help bring peace to this land by defeating the Witch while the other is meant to be the protector. Whether you believe it or not, you're just as important," she clarified while Susan nodded in agreement.
"Lucy, it's too dangerous. You almost drowned! Edmund was almost killed!" Peter argued.
"Which is why we have to stay," Edmund stated sadly. His eyes were distant as we all looked at him. "I've seen what the White Witch can do... and I've helped her do it. And we can't leave these people behind to suffer for it."

Lucy held his hand while I suddenly found the table very interesting. I knew it would be dangerous for them to stay and I wasn't even sure if I would fight in the battle. The prophecy said I was supposed to be their protector, but I was too afraid to fight. While I knew there were logical reasons as to why I should fight, I couldn't convince myself to join. I wasn't a warrior, but rather a coward...

"Well, I suppose that's it," Susan spoke, interrupting my thoughts.
"No. It's not," I corrected and they all looked at me. "If you stay, it would be very dangerous for you."
"We're well aware of that," Edmund pressed, wanting—no, I corrected—needing to help.
I nodded, knowing they'd say that. "And there's something you should know... I know who the other prophecy is about, who's supposed to be the protector and this great warrior..."
"But how could you possibly know? We don't even know," Susan pointed out.
"For two reasons. One, it makes little sense for it to be one of you two. Why would one be a warrior but the other be a Queen?" They seemed to understand this and gestured for me to continue. "But also because the prophecy says 'With wings of fire she'll protect them all. The warrior she'll become when she finds her true self, the phoenix inside that can no longer be contained. She'll take flight and become the friend and warrior to all the Narnians in the land'," I said quoting it. "It's not just figurative. It's referring to an actual phoenix."
"I still don't understand," Lucy said.

I sighed, hesitant on explaining. What happens if they hate me for keeping it from them? What if they don't accept me?
Taking a deep breath, I continued. "I'm a phoenix. Part human, part phoenix. It's what makes me a true Narnian."
"What?" They all asked confused, probably more than they had been.

I decided that the best way for them to understand was to show them. So I stood up and moved away from the table. After another moment of hesitation, I transformed for them. It was the first time in a long time that I transformed willingly, and for someone else. They simply stared at me in shocked and I grew nervous about their response. I transformed back so we could have the rest of the conversation face-to-face.

"So you're the one it's talking about? Not Lucy or me?" Susan asked after a beat of silence. I nodded in confirmation with an embarrassed glance at the ground.

They all looked at each other, the shock still present in their eyes, and I felt like I wanted to disappear. I kept my eyes focused on the ground. Everything would boil down to how they reacted at this moment, how our futures would go on from here. They could hate me for keeping it from them and I wouldn't blame them because I felt guilty for concealing it. These were my first human friends and they didn't even know the truth about me. But they could end up being glad that I told them. They could find it strange all together and not accept me, as Aslan told me. I wasn't even sure which one of their reactions would be the worse I was so anxious.

When I finally glanced up because the silence grew too much, they were all smiling at me. Even Edmund.
"You're our protector," Lucy stated what they all seemed to be thinking.
"I guess?" I replied to which they all laughed.

"So it decided then," Susan said in a neutral tone, sobering the mood. She stood up and walked to a nearby table. Everyone watched her, but it was Peter who spoke.

"Where are you going?"
"To get in some practice," she grinned as she picked up her bow and arrows. Then she turned and headed to the archery field.

With a smile, Lucy jumped up and grabbed my arm in excitement. She starting following Susan, pulling me behind her. I glanced over my shoulder and saw the two boys rushing to get their weapons as well. Now that they had made up their minds, they decided to get in whatever practice they could.

As I pulled my arm from Lucy's grasp, I decided a little practice couldn't hurt. But the time would come when I had to make a choice and it was a time that I feared. I was afraid I would make the wrong choice. In my heart, I knew what I should do but I couldn't see myself doing it. A small part of me hoped there was someway I could get out of this, avoid choosing. But an even bigger part knew that it wasn't possible. The time for war was quickly approaching, a fight for my very right to survive.