You know the drill... I OWN NOTHING!

All Alone

Chapter 3


When we finally arrived at home, the Narnians were extatic. Many of the Narnians had been killed in the battle. So of course the Narnians that had stayed would be excited for the ones that were coming home. Though they had obviously not gotten the news about Peter.

I tried to hold my head high, but that's hard when you're still relatively injured, tired, and grief striken. Instead, my head hung low, my eyes on the ground. The Narnians behind me held the same expression. The Narnians awaiting us stopped cheering and stunned silence filled the air.

"Where's High King Peter?" someone called out.

I looked up and saw Susan awaiting at the top of the steps, her hand over her mouth, unshed tears glistening in her blue eyes. I looked at Lucy beside me and she gave a faint nod of her head.

I took a deep breath. "There will be a meeting in the Throne Room in an hour. All Narnians must be there. It is of the utmost importance." I called out. I was surprised at the tone of my voice. It wasn't full of sorrow, but it was stronger somehow.

The crowd thinned and Lucy turned to me a proud smile on her face. "You'll make a great High King." she said.

"But Peter was better for the job. He always has been... and he always will be." I sighed, looking down once more.

Susan walked towards us and we dismounted. She stopped just in front of us and her shoulders began trembling. "He's gone... isn't he?" she choked out.

I bowed my head and closed my eyes. "Aye." I said shakily.

It had been three days since I had woken. I had held it in for three days. But when I saw my caring elder sister crying, and a tear snaking down the cheek of my beloved baby sister I finally believed that undeniable truth... Peter was gone. And he would never come back.

I felt the tears rushing to my eyes before they actually came.

Susan grasped me in her loving embrace and held me tightly.

I buried my head in her shoulder and simply let it out. I heard her doing the same and felt her tears on my own neck. When we pulled away Lucy stood silently to the side.

"Lucy?" Susan asked, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder.

Lucy shook her head. "The meeting will be soon." she started.

The statement had a bite to it and it caught both Susan and I off guard. She walked away without another word.

Susan and I exchanged a glance. "I think we've lost more than just our older brother." she stated sadly.

"Yes... we've lost the bright side of our sister. And we may never see it again." I said.

Tears sprang to her eyes once more. "And I can see a part of you lost... my little brothers gone as well..." she said.

"No he's not... I'm not... I'm still here." I said.

"But you're different. I can see it in your eyes just as I saw it in Lucys! You've both changed already! She's lost her bright side, and you've lost your sarcastic little pranky self. The part of both of you that made you yourselves! It left with him!" she said, crying once more.

"You didn't see him on the battlefield... not even Lucy watched him breath his last. And I'm glad she didn't. It's a sight that will haunt me for the rest of my life. But she did see him right after. And imagine how it would feel to just get there a few minutes too late... a few seconds too late!" I said.

She hiccuped and I sighed.

"You've got to calm down, Su... the meeting is in just a few minutes." I said.

She nodded and took a hankerchief, quickly wiping away the tears. She then looked back at me.

"The only thing that will help me sleep through the night... is knowing that you're safe. If both of you had died... I... I don't know what Lucy and I would have done." she said.

"You would have been better off if I had died and Peter had stayed." I said.

"Oh, Ed, don't say that..."

"You know it's true! He was so much better at being king than I was. He was a much better brother to you and Lucy than I am. And he didn't betray Narnia for... for candy! I did, Susan. I was the one who did that! He was magnificent as his title stated and tried to find me right from the start! He risked his life while I gave away information to protect myself!" I exclaimed.

Susan turned a deep red. "But would you do that now?!" she yelled.

"No..."

"Then that's all you need to know! Forget that! You're just as good a king! You're just as good a brother! And you risked and nearly lost your life to save him! You did lose your life, if only for a few minutes! You may have watched Peter breath his last, but watching you breath your last still haunts my worst nightmares! I thought I had lost my baby brother that day!" she exclaimed.

"Well maybe it would have been for the best!" I yelled.

She narrowed her eyes at me and completely reversed from her title 'the gentle' and slapped me across the face. "EDMUND MICHALE PEVENSIE! Don't make me spank you like mum used to!" she yelled.

I ran my hand over my cheek and looked at her. The look she was giving me made me want to crawl under a rock.

Soon her eyes softened and she sighed. "You've got to get over the past, Edmund." she said.

Lucy walked up to us. "It's nearly been an hour. Come on." she said turning and walking into the castle.

"Things will get better." Susan said.

But sadly her statement was false.