Disclaimer: If I owned Chronicles of Narnia, I would have lots and lots of money. Alas, I can barely afford to do laundry, so I clearly do not.


I woke up early again the next morning; the sun was barely up. I pulled on my dressing gown and made my way into the kitchen.

Edmund was sitting at the kitchen table, a steaming mug in his hands.

"I made hot cocoa," he said. "There's more on the stove."

I smiled at him and poured myself a mug before joining him.

"You are awake very early, my king."

Edmund sighed.

"My queen, I am awake 25 years too early."

Edmund stared into his mug. Then he looked out into the garden. The morning sun was gilding the leaves and grass. The sky was almost clear of clouds. It promised to be a glorious English day.

"I do no know who to be when we are here."

"Be yourself. Be my brother, King Edmund the Just," I told him pulling his hand into mine.

"This world does not see me as king. This world does not need me."

"The world can always use more justice," Peter said from the doorway. "But what use is there for magnificence?"

Peter sat next to me at the table, his elbows support him as he leaned forward. Both of my brothers looked defeated. The light within them had gone out. I didn't know what to say. I was struggling with my own doubt. England already how a queen. And no one liked valiant women. How was I supposed to show valiance anyway? They would never let a woman, let alone a little girl, any where near danger.

"Are we making this a ritual?" Susan asked as she came and joined us.

"We are wallowing, gentle sister, in self doubt," Peter told her. "For we do not our purpose in this world."

"You have discovered my fear, dear brother," Susan said, coming to sit beside Edmund. "I feel I have even less purpose than any of you. I am not valiant or just or magnificent. I am merely gentle, and what use is there for me?"

None of us knew what to say, so we sat in silence. I felt lost. At home, our purposes were clear. It was our job to lead our people. Peter and Edmund lead them from the front line, Susan and I lead from the hearth. But--

"We have purpose in each other's lives, don't we?"

My siblings looked at me. There was a look of hope in their eyes. I looked at Peter.

"Peter, you are still our protector and you will always be our High King. You were born to lead and inspire people, starting with your family. And maybe no one else will see that, but I, at least, always will."

Peter straightened in his chair, once again the king I knew. I turned to address Susan.

"You are the rock that keeps us together. You make home something worth returning to. This world can use all the beauty and gentleness it can get."

Susan smiled, and I could see in her the woman that many referred to as the most beautiful in the world. Now only Edmund was left.

"When can any world not use justice? You, dear brother, bring us balance. You remind us always that people deserve a second chance. That no one is beyond help. You bring us wisdom. A cool head, and subtlety in times of struggle. You are ever a voice of both hope and reason."

Edmund's head was raised. Here was my just brother.

"And once more, our youngest sister is the light in our darkness," Susan smiled.

"A beacon of hope, leading us towards a brighter future," Edmund added.

"A reminder of why we send people into battle, and why we fight to return home," Peter finished.

I beamed.

"See?" I said impishly, "We do have purpose. Even if it is nothing more than to finish each other's thoughts."

Edmund and I finished our cocoa just as Mum came in to make breakfast.

"Up early again?" she asked. "Is this something you learned in the country?"

We all agreed. This morning she let us sit in the room as she bustled about making toast and eggs for all of us.

"Girls, I left some money on the front table for you, so you can buy food for the week. Peter, if you and Edmund would go with them, I would feel much better about sending them to do the shopping."

"Of course, Mum," Peter agreed, kissing her cheek as he shooed her out the door.

Once she was gone, I felt free to roll my eyes. Edmund did the same, but Peter merely chuckled. The boys made their way to the back yard to begin weeding and Susan and I collected the money to go buy food and flowers.

We had just gotten to the end of the block when we heard Peter cry out from behind us. I turned to find him running towards us, his pen knife in his hand.

"Take this," he panted. "I know you could fight off old men at home, but you are smaller here. I know you can still use one of these though."

I took the knife, getting used to the feel of it in my hand. I had always been better with a dagger than Susan. It was smaller than my own little dagger, but as I twisted it in my hand, I determined that I could use it just fine. Peter smiled, looking relieved, and went back to the house.

Susan and I walked along to the market laughing and swinging our arms. We were both wearing dresses that Susan had added a few Narnian touches to. I felt very pretty, but very young. A pretty little girl. As Susan laughed, I could see in her the reflection of the woman she had been; the woman she would become.

The market was quiet this time of day, mostly older women who couldn't work anymore. Susan had faith that I could take care of myself, and so sent me off to pick out some fruit and vegetables while she argued with the butcher.

The woman behind the produce counter gave me a smile I returned as I felt the tomatoes for ripeness.

"Would you like me to pick some nice ones out for you?" she asked.

"No, thank you, ma'am."

"Where is your mother, darling? I can't imagine her letting a pretty little girl like you out of her sight."

I was beginning to get annoyed. I drew myself up, draping myself in a mantle of dignity, recalling the feel of being looked at with respect--awe even.

"My mother works. My sister and I do the shopping and the cooking to make things a bit easier. I thank you for your concern, ma'am, but assure you that it is unnecessary."

The woman looked a bit shocked, but let me go about my business without another word. Susan came up behind me and put a hand on my shoulder.

"Are you finished here, Lucy?"

I nodded.

"I just need to pay."

The woman gave me a discount, and bobbed in an odd sort of half bow as Susan and I left.

"What did you do to that poor woman, Lu? She seemed half scared of you."

"She was being incredibly patronizing," I explained. "I did nothing more than stand up straight."

Susan rolled her eyes.

"You made yourself look like a queen," she said, poking me playfully.

I stuck my nose in the air.

"I have the right. I am a queen after all."

Susan laughed and we linked arms as we walked to the flower shop.

We selected some hydrangeas, tulips, and lilies of the valley to plant in the garden. As we were taking our choices to the front to pay, a bright flower caught my eye.

"Susan! Look at this one!" I called kneeling down beside it.

It was a chrysanthemum, red, with a yellow center.

"Doesn't it almost remind you of our coat of arms?"

Susan smiled sadly and said nothing, but she added a few of them to our purchases.

After the flower shop, we walked home in silence. When we got home I told Susan I was going upstairs for a quick nap. She nodded and began to put away groceries after letting the boys know we had gotten home safe.

I went into the boys' room to put Peter's knife on his desk. Their room was neat and tidy. I couldn't help but think that it reminded me of a war tent--it was impersonal and easily left. I couldn't bear the thought of going into my own room, so I sat in their window seat and watched the boys work in the garden.

They had become very close in the years we were at home. I think it comes from being in battle together. Even now, the way they worked together seemed effortless. They seemed to anticipate the other's needs without talking, or even a signal. They just seemed to know. Susan and I had gotten closer, but our bond was no where near as close as the one between Peter and Edmund. I watched them work until they were I heard Susan call them inside for lunch, then I made my way downstairs to join them.


Yay for another chapter up!!

IMPORTANT NOTE!!! Next week's chapter will be posted on Saturday, instead of Friday. I have finals all week, and will not have time to post.

Now for reviews...

Eavis: Thanks for reviewing! I personally feel like mothers are much more smothering during times of trouble, such as war, especially when they haven't seen their children in a while. Also, no matter how not smothering a mother is, she will seem like it to a woman who has been without a mother for a while. As far as Lucy and Tumnus go...There is no romance in canon, but falling in love is such an important part of growing up, I couldn't leave it out. It will be pretty minor though, just small mentions of her marriage. I'm really glad you like the way they talk! I find it a bit hard to write, being American, and growing up today, to write the way royalty would speak, so I'm happy you think its coming out well.

Austra: I am so glad you like it so much! Enthusiasm is contagious! You always make me want to write more, so keep the reviews coming!

pselpenvensie: I have every intention of continuing, as long as my muse stays with me.

fromstargirl: I always thought it would be hard to go back to being a kid. I have to say, the biggest inspiration for actually writing this was going away to college. I had no idea it would be so hard to live without any parental supervision and then go home over break--and my parents don't treat me like a little girl anymore!

Fan of the Just King: Aw! Thanks so much!

Suka: I think you're pretty wonderful yourself.