Caspian stares at him and averts his gaze when Edmund meets his eyes. "I..."
Edmund shakes his head. He can not hear him utter the words. "It was a pleasure going on this journey with you." Edmund whispers and he steps into Caspian's arms, wrapping his arms around the man. He feels Caspian's arms wrap around him as well and he never wanted to let go.
"I will miss you, more each day." Caspian tells him in a voice that only he can hear. "I wish I could ask you to stay."
Edmund closes his eyes. "I wish I could consider it." He whispers back. They needed to let go. They needed to set each other free but they can't. But... their duty... Caspian's duty... and it wasn't just their lives involved in this. They weren't selfish... at least Edmund wasn't. Edmund lets go first and Caspian reluctantly mirrors the action.
Lucy approaches them and hugs Caspian. "I promise to take care of him." Lucy whispers in his ear. Caspian felt the tears run down his cheeks. He didn't know if he's knees gave out and Lucy was struggling in keeping him up or he just felt weak. "He won't be unhappy forever." And that was all Caspian could ask for from Lucy. "Give him a proper goodbye."
Lucy pulls away and she turns around to see Edmund watching them. There was this longing and pleading look in his eyes. She steps out of the way. Caspian walks towards him, finally deciding that the frigid goodbye moments ago wasn't enough. "We're walking away from each other for all eternity." Caspian tells Edmund. "I cannot let you go with only that."
Edmund finally, finally closes his eyes and tears were running down his face. "Caspian, you idiot."
She walked over to Aslan and hugged the lion. "Would you let him stay?" Lucy asked. She can't bear to see his brother like this. "If Narnia's survival wasn't dependent on it?"
Aslan smiled softly. "It's a decision that must be made by your brother and Caspian." Aslan says.
"But..."
"You cannot decide for them, Lucy." Aslan says. He steps back and heads towards the water. Edmund and Caspian reluctantly let go with soft-spoken 'I love yous' and Edmund walked with his sister and Eustace.
"Will I come back?" Eustace asks the lion.
The lion smiles fondly at the young boy. "Perhaps one day."
Edmund looks at Caspian who was looking back at him. Aslan roared and a portal opened in the water. They walked inside it and turn back to Aslan and Caspian, watching as the water envelopes them. Moments later, they were back in the Cambridge.