Their eyes connected. And in those few moments when the brown stared unwavering into the golden orbs, Edmund felt as though he had succeeded. His sister was safe and his country still stood proud as ever.

"Edmund!"

Edmund pulled his gaze from the lion's majestic face as his sister launched herself into his arms, laughing joyously as fellow Narnians cheered triumphantly. The battle was over and Narnia was victorious.

Glancing back to where the proud king had stood before, Edmund sighed disappointed upon realizing that the mighty Aslan was gone.

The minatory army had been reduced to nothing but a few who were now being led away by some Centaurs who continued to cheer ceremoniously. Looking down at his sister, Edmund hastened to forbid the memories from his mind. Memories that had seen a knife against his sisters throat and her waist being clasped tightly by a burly, vulgar man from the other army.

Feeling his sister shaking in his arms, he pulled away, gave her a sportive smile, looking deep in her eyes and speaking with such sincerity and veracity that Lucy knew she could not object: "Protecting you is what I was born for."