Hello you all! I'm finally back with chapter two of Goldenflower :D I want to thank my faithful and amazing beta-reader adancewithdeath. She is so great, both as beta and as a personal friend - thank you, hun :)
Without further ado, I just want to mention (if anyone's curious or interested) to know my original characters' faceclaim, then I would like you to imagine Taylor Hardick as Cornelia, Dean O'Gorman as Andrew and finally Jason Durr (imagine him as Mike Bradley from the English series 'Heartbeat') as Cornelia and Andrew's father.
Disclaimer: I do not own The Chronicles of Narnia; this is simply fanfiction and is meant for pure entertainment. All rights and credit goes to the great C.S. Lewis, Andrew Adamson (for the two first films) along with the amazing cast and crew that made C.S. Lewis' chronicles come to life.
Enjoy ;-).
Goldenflower
Chapter Two – One Day:
Cornelia rocked back and forth along with the train, idly watching as the countryside zipped past in a blissful blur of greens that was interspersed with little cottages and the infrequent hamlet. The five Pevensies sat shoulder to shoulder in the compartment they shared with two siblings; a girl around the same age as Cornelia and a boy younger than Lucy.
This, Cornelia thought, was the exact reason as to why Lucy suddenly grabbed her teddy bear and offered it to the little boy, who took it and timidly thanked her. The eleven year old grabbed her cousin's hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. It was a sweet gesture; yet again, it was all in little Lucy's nature to do such a thing. Even though it involved her beloved teddy bear!
It was quiet in the compartment after the exchange; only the sound of Susan flipping through the pages from a book she was reading broke the monotony of the ride.
Cornelia, though, only amused herself by fumbling with the locket around her neck. It had been an early Christmas present from Andrew who had given it to her the day before. "In case I'm not home for Christmas," he had joked, though it hadn't exactly pleased his younger sister.
The silver, heart-shaped locket was smooth under her loving touch. Inside sat a black-and-white group photograph that had been taken on Aunt Helen's birthday the year before; although tiny, Cornelia could easily make out her cousins standing with their parents, and then her own immediate family standing to their left. Her father and uncle, two brothers who had an awfully close resemblance to each other, to the point that they could be mistaken as twins, stood side by side in the center of the group.
Andrew, having an arm wrapped around Cornelia's shoulders, would look forever handsome in his shirt and shorts. Cornelia pressed her fingers to her neck, wondering if the ghostly weight of her brother's arm was a product of her imagination or not.
She sighed quietly. He would be well on his way to Southampton right now.
The train slowed, and the siblings opposite them began to pull down their trunks. Peter immediately helped the girl with the heavy trunk, handing it over to her with a small smile. The girl tried to hide her blush as she led her brother out of the compartment.
Cornelia crossed her arms before pointedly looking away. Girls, she thought, pouting as Peter took his seat, always blushing at the merest smile or wink.
"Goosey Station. Goosey Station."
Cornelia was ripped out of her thoughts. She leaned forward to look out of the window, then promptly found the two siblings standing on the platform with an elderly couple, who were checking their notes. Both Lucy and Cornelia watched the golden teddy bear, now being held by the elderly man, until they couldn't see it anymore. The Pevensies then spread out in the compartment with Cornelia and Peter occupying the bench opposite Edmund, Susan and Lucy.
They shared a look as the train let out a painfully shrill whistle. Steam rose, a conductor called out to the few remaining bystanders, and they were moving again. Cornelia managed to doze off now and then, but even then she could sense how Peter watched over her, guarded her. In her sleepy state, she saw how a bored Edmund stared out of the window from his seat while Susan looked through a book with Lucy.
In her sleepy state, Cornelia saw the world pass by, and she thought she saw some sort of otherworldly landscape set in the surface of the lake. Such a place, safe and secure, would be heaven on earth but her logical side, one that sounded quite a bit like Susan, prevented her from continuing her daydream.
"Coombe Halt. Coombe Halt," was yelled as the train stopped once again. Cornelia let out a small, relieved sigh that the train finally had reached their destination. Standing on wobbly legs, she grabbed Peter's hand as they pulled down their trunks and left the compartment, heading towards the open doors.
As the train left, the wind picked up, and Cornelia, who was standing next to Peter, felt her hair flutter up and about. The train station consisted of a single platform that could have been easily missed and be deemed as trivial. Who on earth would be interested in a picket fence that had been painted with an odd mixture of white and grey, a green bench, a shed and a bin?
Suddenly, the unmistakable sound of an engine was heard, and the children quickly picked up their trunks and took off in a jog towards the end of the platform, where a couple of steps led them to the dusty ground.
The honking vehicle drove right past them. Lucy had her hand raised in greeting, but her disappointment was obvious when the driver didn't give them a second look.
Cornelia sighed. She set down her trunk before rocking back and forth on her heels, swinging her arms as she looked around. The muddy ground before her was bumpy with numerous tire tracks.
"The professor knew we were coming," Susan stated, quick to reassure her siblings and cousin.
"Perhaps we've been incorrectly labeled," Edmund chirped, checking the note on his coat just to make sure.
"Come on, hup!"
In unison, the five of them looked to their right. A white horse pulling a wooden cart suddenly appeared from behind a grassy knoll. In the driver's seat sat a stern-looking, bespectacled woman with hard, grey eyes.
Cornelia hooked an arm through Peter's. She felt him squeeze her hand comfortingly.
"And whoa," the woman reigned in the horse, coming to an abrupt stop right in front of them. "Whoa. "
Cornelia looked in wonder up at the two oldest Pevensies. The two siblings shared a silent look, and then Peter was clearing his throat, addressing the woman with, "Mrs. Macready?"
"I'm afraid so," the woman replied.
Cornelia stepped in front of Peter, who put a hand on her shoulder, squeezing it gently.
"Is this it, then?" the woman continued. "Haven't you brought anything else?"
"No, ma'am," Peter replied, looking at his relatives. "It's just us."
Cornelia and Lucy nodded eagerly in confirmation.
Mrs. Macready's lips curved up into the smallest of smiles as she muttered, "Small favors." She nodded her head towards the cart, telling them to get on.
Edmund went up first, then Susan, Cornelia, Lucy and Peter.
Mrs. Macready made a clicking noise with her mouth, the horse obeying immediately, beginning to move.
Cornelia looked around in wonder as they went down the cobbled lane, for the picturesque surroundings could have suited a fairytale. The children were quiet throughout the trip, the only thing being heard was the stern woman encouraging the horse to go faster. Cornelia didn't like the sound of the whip 'sshsh'ing through the air, then meeting the horse's flesh. The two youngsters held each other's hands, glancing uneasily at each other.
"Come on. Good girl. Come on. Come on." Mrs. Macready praised the horse as they crested a hill.
Cornelia gasped as a manor came into view; similar exclamations were sounded all around her, and she knew without looking that her cousins were as awed as her.
When they came up to the front steps, a young stable boy was already waiting for them. After being helped down from the cart, Cornelia picked up her trunk and gave the stable boy a timid smile before following her relatives and her hostess to the front doors.
"Professor Kirke is not accustomed to having children in this house," Mrs. Macready informed them as they came inside. "And, as such, there are a few rules we need to follow."
Cornelia shut the voice of Mrs. Macready out for a moment, as she looked around the large hall. There were so many doors and stunning sculptures and paintings all around her; each had their own little story, which she couldn't wait to make up.
"There will be no shouting." Cornelia had to stifle a giggle as their hostess spoke rather loudly.
"Or running. No improper use of the dumbwaiter," the woman continued as they followed her.
"No touching of the historical artefacts!" Mrs. Macready almost had a heart attack when Susan made to touch a face sculpture.
Lucy and Cornelia giggled quietly while Peter and Edmund smirked at each other. Susan, on the other hand, stared at the woman with dismay.
"And above all," Macready finished, turning to face them as she reached the landing. "There shall be no disturbing of the professor."
They walked on, quietly following their hostess, and only then did Cornelia realize that Lucy wasn't with them anymore. She turned around to see her youngest cousin staring at the bottom edge of the door they had just passed.
"Lu!" Cornelia hissed as if not to alarm Mrs. Macready.
Lucy suddenly gasped, walking hastily past Cornelia, who couldn't help but to give her a questioning look. Cornelia frowned, curiosity getting the best of her, and looked back at the door.
She waited, listening carefully, then let out a gasp when she heard the ominous creak of a floorboard. Someone was moving there, behind the door, and Macready's words about the professor echoed in her head.
~~~Goldenflower~~~
"German aircraft carried out a number of attacks on Great Britain last night," said a tinny radio voice later in the evening.
The Pevensies, all except for Edmund, who had gone to the bathroom, were in the girls' bedroom. Peter stood by the window, looking thoughtfully out at the manor grounds. Cornelia sat in bed, which she again shared with Lucy, and studied the sheets as she considered the night of the Blitz. Then she thought, yet again, of Andrew.
"The raids, which lasted for several hours…"
The radio connection cut off. Cornelia and Lucy immediately looked up. Standing with her arms crossed, Susan sent them one of her familiar admonishing looks before turning to her big brother. Peter frowned but then a look of understanding crossed his face as he and Susan approached their younger charges.
"The sheets feel scratchy." Lucy complained softly.
Peter sat down on the edge of the bed but Susan remained standing.
"Wars don't last forever, Lucy. We'll be home soon," Susan spoke, smiling softly at her sister in reassurance.
"Su's right, Lu. Andrew told me the very same thing," chirped in Cornelia.
"Yeah," Edmund interjected as he slipped back into the room, being the immediate, exact opposite of helpful, "If home's still there."
"Isn't it time you were in bed?" Susan asked tiredly.
"Yes, Mum," Ed replied sarcastically.
"Ed!" Peter spoke in a warning tone.
"Always the cheery one, aren't you, Edmund?" Cornelia asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm. She squeezed Lucy's hand gently under the blanket.
"Always the cheery one … blah, blah, blah," Edmund mimicked Cornelia, which prompted her to stick her tongue out at him.
"Enough you two," Peter ordered with a hard glance upon them both, his eyes softening as he looked upon his youngest sibling. "You saw outside. This place is huge. We can do whatever we want here. Tomorrow's going to be great," he added gently. "Really."
"Well, we should head to bed," Susan spoke up, circling the room to turn off the lights, leaving only the candle on the nightstand. "All of us," she added, looking pointedly at Ed, who merely sighed and left the room. She picked up her grey bathrobe, then turned to Cornelia. "Cornelia, would you blow out the candle when you lie down?"
Cornelia nodded. "Yes, Susan."
Her cousin smiled, satisfied, and left the room and headed off to the bathroom.
"Well, you two." Peter smiled, leaning over to press a kiss on Lucy's forehead before doing the same for Cornelia. "Sweet dreams."
"You too," Lucy replied softly.
"Pete." Cornelia stopped him when he was about to leave.
Peter turned back to them, looking at her questionably.
Cornelia smiled. "What if it will rain tomorrow?"
Her cousin smiled softly, reassuring her, "It won't, Lia. Don't worry."
The eleven year old smiled as they both listened to the sound of Peter's fading footsteps.
"Cor. Do you think there could be this… magical place somewhere?" Lucy suddenly asked.
Cornelia's eyes narrowed, meeting Lucy's innocent ones. "What exactly do you mean with magical, Lu?"
Lucy sat up straight. "I mean, with magical creatures, with kings and queens and such. And where there is peace."
"Well, it has not been confirmed that there is such place, but no one has ever dismissed it either."
"What do you believe, Lia?" Lucy asked.
"I believe." Cornelia brushed her fingers along the edge of the blanket. "I believe, or at least I want to believe that there is such a place, Lu. We just have to find it first."
Beside Cornelia, her cousin sighed sadly, looking directly into her eyes. "Do you really think that the war will be over soon?"
Cornelia sighed sadly as well. It would be so easy to tell her cousin a little white lie, but she knew she couldn't do that to Lucy, even though lying would always be easier in some cases. And that irritated her.
The eleven year old took a deep breath, staring off into space. "I hope so, with all my heart, but frankly Lu?"
"Yes?" Lucy looked at her curiously.
Cornelia smiled sadly. "I think it will be awhile."
"Do you miss him?"
The question immediately made her eyes smart with unshed tears. Cornelia pondered for a moment but looked up when Lucy held her hand. She sniffed wetly. "Very much, Lu."
Giggling softly, she continued, "I remember I was so mad at Andrew at first when he told Mum and Dad that he had been accepted into the Air Force. I was supposed to be asleep, but sat on the stairs instead."
Lucy gasped, mocking her. "Were you eavesdropping?!"
Cornelia giggled, "No! I was just….curious."
Lucy smiled softly. "I can't blame you, though. No one can. I would be angry if Peter went to war too. I would even be angry if Edmund went!"
"What do you reckon Susan would do?" Cornelia smirked.
"She would throw a fit and give them one of her speeches." Lucy laughed, and Cornelia quickly did the same.
"Probably."
As their euphoria faded, Cornelia stared at the window before looking seriously at her cousin.
"Be happy that your brothers are here with you, Lu," she told her bedmate, "I would do anything to have Andrew here with us."
Silence ensued as the youngest Pevensie mulled over Cornelia's words.
Cornelia eventually broke the silence with a sigh. "We should lie down before Susan gets back. Good night, Lucy."
Lucy squeezed Cornelia's hand before lying down, her face turning towards Cornelia.
"Sweet dreams, Sprout," Lucy muttered.
Cornelia looked at the candle. The flame was dancing beautifully. Cornelia swore she could hear some kind of melody as she lied down, but it must have been something in her head since Lucy didn't speak one word of it. The eleven year old shook her head before blowing out the candle, darkness surrounding her as she closed her eyes.
The Pevensies were having lunch in one of the dining rooms close to the kitchen. While most of them ate quietly, careful in their every move, Edmund used his cutlery without a care in the world, knocking his knife and fork loudly together.
"Ed! Be careful." Susan reprimanded while looking fearfully at the door.
"Relax," Edmund retorted. "It's not like the Macready can hear it anyway."
Cornelia looked up from her vegetables. "I wouldn't be so sure about that," she told her cousin, "I swear sometimes she has the ears and eyes of a hawk."
"Besides," Peter spoke up, "We're lucky to be here, to stay here, so respect the rules of the household. We owe Mrs. Macready and the Professor that much. We could have been separated."
Now it was Cornelia's turn to shudder. "I don't even want to think of that."
"Me neither," chimed in Lucy.
They were silent for a few minutes until Susan had found something else to stress about. "Ed. Eat your vegetables, please."
Edmund glared at his sister. "Yes, Mum." Then winced, jumping slightly as Peter visibly twitched, apparently kicking Ed in the shin.
"Apologize to Susan," Peter ordered sternly, putting down the silver cutlery in his hands.
"Not until she stops bossing around with me!" Edmund exclaimed, annoyed.
With a sigh, Cornelia rolled her eyes. "Here we go again," she muttered.
"I do not boss you around," Susan retorted, her voice shrill.
Cornelia looked at the door behind her. If Mrs. Macready hadn't heard anything before, she sure would now as her cousins' voices got louder and louder.
She looked over at Lucy, who huddled lower and lower into her chair. Cornelia knew she hated when her siblings fought.
"Edmund, just be a gentleman and apologize," Peter said, sounding exasperated as he tried to remain calm. "That is what Dad would tell you."
"Oh, don't try to manipulate me by using Dad. You've got no right to do that!" Edmund yelled, springing to his feet as he slammed his palms onto the table, the cutlery clinking loudly in response. Seeing the outburst as a challenge, Peter stood up to hover over his brother, only the table separating a potentially volatile clash.
"Stop it you two!" Susan and Lucy's pleading fell on deaf ears.
Cornelia had had enough. "That's enough!"
She slammed her palms onto the table as she stood up, flicking her steely gaze between her male cousins.
Peter and Edmund froze, dumbfounded by their cousin's raised voice.
"Sit," she ordered.
Peter slumped down in his seat, like a puppet that had lost the strings holding it up.
"I'm not a dog," Edmund stated, but Cornelia who was in no mood for any smart comments stared him down, speaking in a warning tone, "Ed. Sit down."
Amused, Edmund arched an eyebrow, but sat down reluctantly.
Cornelia sighed. "Good. Let's sum things up, shall we? Ed, stop ruining the cutlery. Peter, stop kicking Edmund's leg, and Susan..um, be less bossy towards Edmund. Can we agree to that? Edmund?"
Edmund held Cornelia's unblinking gaze. Neither wanted to back down.
'Don't challenge me, Edmund.' Cornelia thought.
"Ed?" Lucy asked quietly when Edmund remained silent, staring into his cousin's eyes.
Edmund shook his head as if he had been daydreaming. "Er. Whatever."
Satisfied, Cornelia nodded, then looked at her oldest cousin. "Pete?"
Amusement twinkled in Peter's eyes, but nevertheless he nodded, a smirk on his face. "Whatever you say, Sprout."
Cornelia nodded again, her eyes narrowing questioningly to Susan.
"Well, yes," the older girl replied. "I guess, but I'm not bossy!"
"Su." The other four sighed.
"What?"
Laughter erupted, and Mrs. Macready suddenly popped her head through the doorway, asking, "What on earth is going on in here?"
"Er. I'm sorry, Mrs. Macready!" Peter promptly spoke up to assure her. "It won't happen again."
"It better not," was the frosty reply. Mrs. Macready's heels dragged across the floor as she turned, and they listened as the sound of her retreating footfalls faded.
Suddenly, a rumble of thunder echoed above, and they could hear a light drizzle pattering on the roof.
"Peter, I thought you told us this morning that the weather would be good?" Susan questioned.
"It'll clear up," the oldest Pevensie assured. "I promise."
~~~Goldenflower~~~
Rain drummed on the windows while lightning could be seen in the horizon. So much for great weather. Today they were occupying one of the many living rooms, with Cornelia and Lucy seated by the window, Peter in an armchair, and Susan on the couch while Edmund lay on the floor.
"Pete," Cornelia cooed.
Peter bent his neck backwards, imitating his cousin's coo. "Lia?"
Cornelia tilted her head. "Is it now where I should say 'I told you so?'"
Her oldest cousin chuckled. "Oh, shut up, Cor."
"What?" Cornelia questioned, feigning pain. "It wasn't me who promised great weather, now was it?"
From the couch, Susan let out a small giggle – which earned her a half-hearted glare from her brother - before picking up the large book she had picked out earlier.
The Pevensies then started to guess what certain entries in the dictionary meant.
"Gas-stro-vascular," Susan carefully enunciated the word for Peter, but when he didn't answer, she quickly urged him on. "Come on, Peter. Gastrovascular."
Peter looked up. "Is it Latin?"
"Yes."
"Is it Latin for 'worst game ever invented'?" Edmund asked from his spot on the floor. Peter hummed in agreement, smirking at his younger sister.
"You're just jealous because you didn't guess any." Cornelia mocked her cousin.
Edmund snorted in response. Abruptly annoyed, Su closed the book with a loud bang.
Lucy rose from her seat, approaching her siblings. "We could play hide and seek," she suggested.
Peter looked up at Lucy before glancing at Susan. "But we're already having so much fun," he replied sarcastically, earning a loud giggle from Cornelia.
"Come on, Peter, please," Lucy pleaded.
"Pretty please?" Cornelia joined in from her spot at the window, the two of them giving him their best puppy dog eyes.
Peter waited a moment before smirking. "One, two, three, four…"
"What?!" Edmund exclaimed in disbelief.
"Five, six, seven, eight," Peter counted as he stood up. Cornelia and Lucy laughed uproariously as all the players fled the room to find a hiding place.
"Nine, ten, eleven."
Cornelia hadn't gone far before deciding to hide behind a curtain. At first she tried to use the window frame to haul herself up, but her arms were weak and she certainly didn't want to break the frame, so she decided to simply stand there, quiet as a mouse. It wasn't like Peter was that smart to look down, was he?
"Ninety-five…."
Cornelia tapped impatiently with her foot. Peter could be heard loud and clear, his voice slowly becoming closer to her position; her heart thumped in her throat as she smothered a hysterical giggle.
"Ninety-eight, ninety-nine, one-hundred. Ready or not, here I come!"
But he merely passed her, and Cornelia smirked. Boys.
"It's all right! I'm back!"
'What?' Cornelia frowned at the sound of Lucy's ecstatic but tired voice. What was going on, and what on earth was her cousin talking about? She quickly, thoughtlessly, stepped out of her hiding place.
"I'm all right!"
"You know," Peter could be heard drawling up ahead, "I'm not sure you two have quite got the idea of this game."
At the corner of a hallway, Cornelia met up with a thoroughly confused Susan. That look, she was certain, must have been echoing her own.
"Weren't you wondering where I was?"
The two girls rounded the corner, only to see an obviously confused Lucy, and a very annoyed Edmund. Peter stood with his back turned towards the two Pevensie girls.
"That's the point," Edmund explained with an exaggerated sigh. "That was why he was seeking you."
"Does this mean I win?" Susan asked as she and Cornelia reached their relatives, causing her cousin to roll her eyes.
"I don't think Lucy wants to play anymore," Peter reasoned.
"I've-I've been gone for hours?" Lucy explained, utterly confused.
Cornelia's eyes widened, and with one look she knew that her cousins were holding their breath. She wondered….
"What do you mean, Lu?" she asked softly.
~~~Goldenflower~~~
A magical land called Narnia in the back of the large wardrobe upstairs. A White Witch, a castle called Cair Paravel and a faun named Mr. Tumnus.
Cornelia's mind worked on high speed as Peter, Susan and Edmund knocked on the sides of the wardrobe, trying to find 'Narnia.'
Cornelia stood beside Lucy, who kept an eye on her siblings as if they could disappear at any moment. Cor shook her head, trying to collect her wits as Susan backed out of the wardrobe after a last examination.
"Lucy," Susan spoke cautiously, "the only wood in here is the back of the wardrobe."
"One game at a time, Lu," Peter added. " We don't all have your imagination."
At that, Cornelia stepped protectively in front of Lucy, her anger beginning to boil within her.
"Now, Peter," Cornelia spoke up to defend Lucy, but the three older Pevensies turned to walk away. "That's not exactly—."
"But I wasn't imagining!" Lucy exclaimed.
Peter turned around, suddenly looking tired to his bones. Both Susan and Edmund looked as though they had had enough of her 'game'.
"That's enough, Lucy," Susan told her sister off.
"I wouldn't lie about this!" Lucy continued, close to tears. Cornelia grabbed her hand, rubbing her palm tenderly with her thumb.
"Well, I believe you." Edmund wore a smug grin on his face. Cornelia shook her head, almost imperceptibly, knowing that it wouldn't end well.
Peter and Susan looked at their brother in disbelief, while Cornelia glared daggers at him.
"You do?" Lucy asked innocently, naively.
"Yeah, of course. Didn't I tell you of the field in the cupboards?" Edmund spoke sarcastically. Cornelia felt the urge to jump him.
"Will you just stop?" Peter pleaded. "You just have to make everything worse, don't you?"
"It was just a joke!"
"A very bad one!" Cornelia exclaimed, stepping in front of Lucy again.
"When are you gonna learn to grow up?" Peter continued.
"Shut up!" Edmund went near his brother's face in anger, Peter slowly taking a few steps backwards in shock. "You think you're Dad, but you're not!"
Cornelia winced, shutting her eyes; she had known, for some time now, that Edmund had always wanted to fling that comment at his older brother. Now, however, she felt bad as she watched Ed storm out of the room.
Susan gave Cornelia a look before turning to Peter. "Well, that was nicely handled," she deadpanned before turning on her heel, following her brother out of the door.
"But…it really was there."
Cornelia looked away, staring determinedly at her feet. Peter's gaze branded her skin; she could sense how he was pleading, begging her for help but Cornelia stood her ground.
"Susan's right, Lucy. That's enough," he said tiredly, and he too left the room.
Cornelia could only stare at the empty doorway in disbelief. She couldn't let Lucy stand alone with this, but she was still wrecked with uncertainty—her cousin was only nine, after all. There was a war going on, and Cornelia wasn't ashamed of the fact that she dreamt of going to a place like Narnia.
What if it was true?
Cornelia heard Lucy close the wardrobe door behind her.
"Why are you still here?" Lucy asked in a hurt voice.
Cornelia turned to her tearful cousin, not surprised in the least to see how hurt Lucy looked. "Because I, compared to the stupid bunch of teenagers you call your siblings, actually believe you. I want to go to such a place too."
"I'm not imagining it!" Lucy exclaimed again.
Cornelia winched, realizing that Lucy must have considered her words as insincere, that she was merely trying to placate her cousin.
"I know. Come on." Cornelia wrapped an arm around her cousin's shoulders and led her out of the spare room.
After a couple of hours spent in both 'camps', Cornelia let it out a relieved sigh as it turned darker outside. It was like she was the oldest, not Peter.
Hopefully, she thought, her cousins would warm up to each other during supper, though she knew how stubborn Lucy could be when she truly believed in something; which also convinced Cornelia more and more, that her youngest cousin maybe hadn't been playing an innocent game to get away from the real, terrible world at war.
They ate their supper in silence. Lucy didn't eat much, sticking her fork into the vegetables over and over again.
"Lucy, eat," Susan commanded, maybe a bit too harshly.
Lucy then left the table quickly without a word, but Cornelia could tell she was crying.
Cornelia glared at Susan, and then at the two boys.
"Well, that was nicely handled." Cornelia glared at Susan, repeating her words from earlier. She then stood up to leave, leaving her meal half-eaten.
"Cor…." Peter's voice stopped her.
"Oh please, Peter, would you please just stop sounding so innocent?" Cornelia snapped, her voice shrill, as she met her cousin's glances. Edmund was dumbfounded, a vegetable hanging from the corner of his mouth. Susan's mouth just stood open. Cornelia had never spoken to Peter like that before, which was clearly written upon his face.
Cornelia too was a bit shocked over her own words, but she continued nonetheless, knowing in her heart that she chose the right side. "You are the oldest, you are supposed to look at both sides. Not just the most logical one." Cornelia's eyes narrowed to Susan.
Peter put a hand up, stopping Susan who was about to say something.
"Cornelia, I know that you may not understand, but-."
"What do I not understand exactly? I understand perfectly that you have no imagination at all. She's your sister!"
"She's nine," Susan began, but Cornelia interrupted her.
"She's a child! Little ones need refuge when they're scared—I'm scared! Whether what Lucy has told us is true or not, the least you can do as her siblings is to support her."
Susan stood up, slamming her palms down onto the table. "That's enough, Cornelia. What would Andrew say if he found out how unladylike and mischievous you've gotten?"
Cornelia's blood boiled with anger. "You don't know a thing about what Andrew would say, Susan. He has always told me to support and look after my family, and that's what I am thinking of doing. So, if you would please excuse me, I'm going to clean up the mess you've all made. Again!"
Susan stood speechless for a moment before coming to her senses, having always been the person who wanted the last word. "Andrew's not here. And your brother told me to look after you, so you do as I say!"
Cornelia would have none of it. "You're wrong. Andrew told you to keep the boys in line for him, not me. I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself, thank you very much."
At that, a fuming Cornelia left the room.
~~~Goldenflower~~~
"Andrew, do I look like a lady?"
Nine year old Cornelia spun in the center of her bedroom, formerly Andrew's, and watched dizzily as the skirts of her new dress billowed out around her. Again and again she twirled, utterly delighted at the gold-like material, the long puffy sleeves, and the train that followed behind her. Her hair had been gently curled, bouncing up and down with her.
"Yes, you do, Lia." Andrew smiled from her bed. "The most fair lady in the entire kingdom."
Cornelia turned, tilting her head confused at her brother. "What kingdom?"
Her brother chuckled. "Any kingdom you'd like." He beckoned her closer.
"Let me see you, yes …" he mused as he took her hand, twirling her around slowly. Cornelia giggled uncontrollably.
"Straight back, shoulders down and chin up."
Cornelia followed the instructions the best as she could.
Andrew smiled softly. "Much better."
"What type of lady would I be?" she asked innocently.
"An adorable one?" Andrew suggested with a teasing grin.
"Andrew!" Cornelia exclaimed, slapping him lightly upon the shoulder.
"All right, all right." He chuckled. "Let's see."
In an unladylike move, Cornelia jumped onto her bed to sit beside Andrew, eager to hear his answer. Andrew's face lit up. "I got it."
He stood up, then knelt in front of her. "You will be Lady Cornelia Goldenflower, the Lionhearted."
"Why 'Goldenflower'?" Cornelia tilted her head.
Andrew smiled. "Simple. You are a beautiful, golden flower."
A blush crept up her cheeks.
"Why 'Lionhearted'? I'm not exactly brave."
Andrew laughed before brushing her bangs out of her face. "Sweetheart. If you were any braver, you could be mistaken with a lioness."
Delighted, Cornelia shot forward to wrap her arms around Andrew's shoulders, smiling into his shirt as she stared at the blinking Christmas lights. With a content sigh, she closed her eyes.
Cornelia woke up, immediately noticing that it was still dark. She had heard Susan go to the toilet and then head back to bed before dozing off into that odd dream.
Her eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness. Cornelia could just see the silhouette of a sleeping Susan. She was still mad at her.
Cornelia turned cautiously in bed to not wake up Lucy, but … the space where Lucy was supposed to be was devoid of heat.
Cornelia's blue eyes widened in the dark. Lucy wasn't there.
Cornelia sat up straight, searching for the matches on her nightstand. She found the box and lit one of the sticks. The flame illuminated most of the bed and some of the surrounding furniture. Susan was so sound asleep that she didn't stir at the sudden light. Cornelia eventually guessed that Lucy must have gone to the bathroom.
She lied down, staring at the flickering flame, finding it comforting.
Suddenly, the flame stirred, fluttering madly even though the door and windows were firmly shut. Cornelia's brow furrowed. She rubbed at her eyes, thinking that she was seeing things.
The images dancing in the flame seemed to move closer to her, and Cornelia could immediately make out a snowy landscape. Forests stretching far and wide; two cliffs connected by a thin, long mass of earth that acted as a bridge. And icicles formed what looked like a tower.
"You're not dreaming, little one."
Cornelia gasped and looked around the room, frightened. "Who's there?"
She debated whether she should wake up Susan or not.
"Do not wake up Susan yet, Cornelia. Lucy will make sure of that."
"How do you know my name?" Cornelia dared to speak a little louder.
The voice chuckled, its voice deep.
"I will answer you later, dear one. You just have to believe this, and keep on believing, for Narnia is real, Lady Cornelia Goldenflower, the Lionhearted."
Cornelia's eyes shone brightly at the title, putting the pieces together. "Whoever or whatever you are, you made me dream what I dreamt just before."
Again, the voice chuckled. "You are the wisest and bravest among your relatives, Cornelia, yet you are so young. Narnia will cherish your and your cousins' arrival."
The voice faded and the flame didn't stir again. Cornelia blinked a couple of times and pinched herself in the arm, just to make sure she wasn't dreaming.
Suddenly, the lights were turned on, and Susan groaned from the opposite bed.
"Susan, Cornelia. Wake up! It's real! Narnia is real. I went there again. I saw Mister Tumnus, and this time, Edmund was with me too!" Lucy's excited and cheery voice woke Cornelia up completely. What had she just said? Edmund had been in Narnia?