The sound of planes echoed over head and soldiers rushed around the streets as I stood in a line, waiting to enlist to fight alongside the men. I stood waiting with boys that hadn't seen an inch of battle while I've stood on the front lines and commanded the ranks. Though as the recruitment soldier looked up at me he didn't see that, no he saw the boy.

"Are you sure that you're eighteen?" He asked with the doubt evident in his voice.

"Why do I look older?" I answered bluntly and he thankfully held out his hand as I passed him my aunt's stolen national registrar card.

"Alberta Scrubb?" He questioned.

"There's a typographical error," I spun him my story. "It's supposed to be Albert A. Scrubb."

"Edmund," I heard Lucy call from behind me and turned automatically at my name. I saw her looking at me with that expectant look that Mom, Susan, and even Eres gave me sometimes. "You're supposed to be helping me with the groceries."

I heard the guys behind laughing and wished that I could show them how to fight, I was better at it than all of them. The recruitment personnel folded the piece of paper back up and passed it back to me as the guy behind me, who was shorter than me might I add, reached up and actually patted my head.

"Better luck next time, eh squirt," I narrowed my eyes at him and adjusted my hat as I walked back to Lucy.

She turned and we headed back outside, "Squirt," I scoffed and took the crate of turnips from her. "He barely had two years on me. I'm a King…I've fought wars… and…and I've lead armies." I put the crate on the back of the bike as she put the bag in the basket.

"Not in this world," She replied.

"Yeah, but I'm stuck here doing battle with Eustace Clarence Scrubb instead of back there with Eres actually enjoying myself." I huffed looking back up from fastening the crate to the back of the bike to see Lucy with a faraway look as she stared off to the side. "What are you doing?"

"N-nothing," She answered dropping the weird look immediately, "come on now," She rushed taking the bike and moving forward. I looked back but saw nothing that would cause such a distraction. Confused, I followed along as we went back to our home while Susan was in America with Mum and Dad and Peter was with Professor Kirke studying for his university entrance exam.

"We're home!" Lucy called as we walked into the house only to be met with no replies back. "Hello!" She called again as we moved into the entry way I rolled my eyes and closed the door. "Hello, Uncle Harold," She spoke to the man I'm not sure was alive sometimes, since he hardly moved or spoke. "I tried to find some carrots but all they had were turnips. Should I start making soup? Aunt Alberta's on her way home…Uncle Harold." She sighed and glanced over at me as I rolled my eyes and stuck my tongue out at him.

"Father!" The annoying voice that haunted my dreams shouted and looked back seeing his squinchy face. "Edmund's making faces at you." Suddenly he raised a straw and shot a spit ball, hitting me in the neck.

"Why you little…" I muttered and raced up the stairs after him.

"Father he's gonna hit me!" he cried.

"Edmund look," Lucy came around the corner excitedly just as I raised my fist. "It's a letter from Susan," She held it up. I glared down at the annoying boy cowering on the steps and faked like I was going to hit him

"Edmund," Lucy admonished. With an eye roll, I continued up the stairs into Lucy's room.

"…I do wish you were here with us." She continued reading as we both sat on her bed. "It's been such an adventure, but nothing like our times in Narnia. America is very exciting, except we never see father, he works so very hard." With a small sigh I stood up moving over to a somewhat random painting over the mantle. "I was invited to the British consoles tea party this week by a naval officer, who happens to be very handsome. I think he fancies me. It seems the Germans have made the crossing difficult, and times are hard. Mother hopes you both won't mind another few months in Cambridge." At that I turned, shocked at the thought. "Another few months!" She exclaimed shocked herself as I sat back down. "How will we survive?"

"You're lucky, at least you've got you own room," I muttered grabbing the letter from her hands and reading over that they in fact would be staying over there longer. "I'm stuck with mullet mouth."

"Susan and Peter are the lucky ones, off on adventures," She sighed getting up off the bed. I moved over lying down on her bed, continuing to read of Susan's adventures-which were somewhat boring to me but better than here-and what was going on with Mother and Father.

"Yeah well, they're the oldest and we're the youngest," I sighed myself. "We don't matter as much."

"Do you think I look anything like Susan?" She asked out of nowhere. I slammed the letter down and went back to the painting thinking over what I had noticed before.

"Lucy have you seen this ship before?" I asked.

"Yes, it's very Narnian looking isn't it?" She smiled.

Narnia…Eres…it's had been two years since I had seen her, and who knows how long it had been for her. What if I went back and she was older and though I doubted she ever would, I couldn't expect her to grow up once more and not get married and have a family.

"I wonder how she's doing?" I frowned at the reminder of her.

"There once was two orphans," That annoying voice came back and we both turned to see him pushing open the door, "who wasted their time, believing in Narnian nursery rhymes." He moved in crossing his arms over his chest with a victorious smirk. "Thinking about your imaginary girlfriend again?"

"Please, let me hit him," I lurched forward.

"No," Lucy said, taking my arm and pulling me back.

"Don't you ever knock?" I glared instead.

"It's my house, I can do as I please. You're just guests." He retorted as we looked back at the painting, me dreaming of better things. "What's so fascinating about that picture anyway? It's hideous."

"You won't see it from the other side of the door," I commented angrily.

"Edmund, it looks like the water's actually moving," Lucy spoke dreamily.

"Oh rubbish, see that's what happens when you read all those fanciful novels and fairytales of yours."

I tipped back my head slightly wishing that he would just leave us alone. "There once was a boy called Eustace, who read books full of facts that were useless." I smiled over at Lucy who giggled slightly.

"People that read fairytales are always the sort who become a hideous burden to people like me. I read books that have real information."

I felt my anger rise again as I turned around, glaring at him. "Hideous burden," I lurched forward as he stood up. "I haven't seen you lift a finger since we've been here." I saw him moving for the door and slammed my hand over it closing it securely. "I have the mind to tell your father that it was you who ate all Aunt Alberta's sweets."

"Liar," He backed away as I moved forward menacingly.

"Oh really, I found them under your bed, and you know what? I licked every one of them."

"Ew," He shuddered. "I'm infected with you!"

Suddenly I felt something splash over my face and looked over at the where it was coming from only to set eyes on the rolling waves inside the sprayed out of it, pouting onto the floor and I heard Eustace complaining behind me but ignored him, smiling as I walked towards the mantle.

"Mother, mother!" He cried as I just watched the painting in amazement. "Fine I'll just smash the old thing!" He ran in between us and grabbed the painting from the wall.

"No Eustace!" Both Lucy and I shouted grabbing from him as he tipped the painting and water came pouring out into our faces. I struggled to get the painting out of his hands until he finally dropped it and water quickly started filling the room.

oOo

"Man overboard!" I heard one of the crew shout and quickly exited my room, which Caspian had graciously given up to me even though I offered to take one of the hammocks in the crew area. Over the three years he had been King we had developed a relationship similar to a brother and sister. Bonding over a mutual longing for a person in the other world along with stories and everything else I could tell from the Golden Years. Then I also helped him with diplomatic things, even giving him information about how Peter had dealt with the Ettins to help him in his similar problems.

I hopped out of the cabin, pulling on my boot at the same time just as I saw two crew members and Caspian dive over the side. Running over to the side I looked over to see not just one man but two along with a girl and instantly I recognized two of them; they were back, finally after three years.

A wide smile spread over my lips as I ran down and got blankets for all of them, then by the time I got back up Lucy and Caspian were being risen up on the lift. The crew pulled them in and Caspian lead her over to the side as I raced forward and pulled her into a tight hug.

"Eres!" She shouted happily, returning the hug as we stumbled toward the back of the deck.

"You're back," I grinned and leaned back taking in her older appearance, and quickly a small fear shot through me that it might have been longer for them.

"Eres!" I heard that familiar voice that was in so many of my dreams and also nightmares, and looked over so fast that my loose ringlets moved over my shoulder. Lucy as if sensing it let go as I raced forward towards him and in the same thought he opened his arms as I jumped into them. Instantly I felt at home as his arms wrapped tightly around me and heard him give a happy laugh, telling me that he was just as happy as I felt. And once more we had thed same thought as I pulled back slightly and he pressed his lips to mine in a loving kiss. "I missed you, Erie," he whispered against my lips as I felt him start walking even while still holding me in his arms.

I felt his wet clothes drenching my own dark red tunic and pants, but I wasn't about to care. "I missed you too, Ed," I grinned as I sadly felt his arms release but even as I moved over to his side, he kept an arm around me as we walked back towards Lucy and Caspian.

"Didn't you call us?" I heard her ask him.

"No, not this time," He replied honestly as we moved up beside them.

"Well whatever the case I'm just happy to be here," Edmund smiled, looking down at me. I leaned up pressing a soft kiss against his cheek just as the mood was broken by a shrill scream.

We all turned, looking over at a boy flopping around with Reep on top of him—no doubt trying to help—and then he actually threw Reep off and I gave a small gasp at his behavior and treatment of one of my closest friends.

"Reepicheep!" Lucy exclaimed happily as he skidded to a stop in front of us and he stood up, looking at them shocked.

"Your Majesties," He bowed gracefully.

"Hello, Reep," Ed greeted. "What a pleasure."

"The pleasure is all mine, Sir," Reep responded as my eyes moved back to the boy on the other side of the ship. "But first what do we do with this, this hysterical interloper?" He motioned over to the boy as he looked back at us, still on his hands and knees.

"That giant rat thing just tried to claw my face off!" He shouted, and my eyes went wide.

"I was merely trying to expel the water from your lungs!" Reep defended as the boy stood, looking around in shock

"He talked! Di-did anyone just hear that he just talked!"

"He always talks," I shrugged.

"Actually it's getting him to shut up that's the trick," Caspian added igniting chuckles from the crew.

"The moment there is nothing to be said, Your Highness, I promise you, I will not say it," Reep responded.

"That would be a sad day," I frowned.

"Thank you, Your Majesty," he smiled up at me.

"I don't know what kind of prank this is, but I want to wake up right now!" the boy continued to scream.

"What about getting him to shut up?" I whispered.

"Yes, perhaps we could throw him back?" Reep offered and Edmund gave a contemplative look.

"Edmund!" Lucy admonished and I let out a giggle as his arm tightened around my shoulders, pulling me into his side, chuckling.

Just then, I started to actually feel bad for the boy as he appeared to be near tears, racing across the ship in a fuss. "I demand to know just where the blazes am I?"

"You're on the Dawn Treader," Tavros informed him, "the finest ship in Narnia's Navy." Then, my jaw dropped as the boy just keeled over prompting laughter from the crew. Restraining his own laughter, but giving a smile, Caspian walked forward looking over the boy. "Was it something I said?" Tavros asked him.

"See to him, will you?" Caspian asked in an amused voice before turned back to us.

"Men!" He drew the attention as I stepped over standing at the base of the stairs he stepped up on them. "Behold our castaways: Edmund the Just and Lucy the Valiant, High King and Queen of Narnia." I smiled proudly as the crew dropped to a knee bowing before them.