"I'll miss you, Kassie!" Lucy cried as tears dripped from her chin to her already-wet neck. I hugged her back, crying just as hard.
Edmund was next and that goodbye was just as tearful. Susan was after him and more tears were shed.
I looked at Peter, before running to him and embracing him tightly. I sobbed into his shoulder and felt his own tears drip into my hair. It has been nine years (to us) since we've been separated for more than a day or two. This time it would be two full weeks. He gently wiped at the tear tracks on my cheeks before unexpectedly dipping me down to the ground and kissing me passionately.
I looked up and everyone was gone, no doubt giving us privacy.
"I love you!" We said at the same time.
"I'll miss you, Peter," I whispered, hugging him tightly.
"I'll miss you too, Kay." The other Pevensies came into the room and told us it was time for them to leave.
"Bye, Kassia!" Lucy yelled. "Write me soon!" I laughed. As soon as they got home, every single one of them would find a letter from me in their bags.
"I promise I will, Lu!" I hugged Peter again and they were gone.
It was six days before I got replies from my siblings. I opened Lucy's first.
Kassia,
I've missed you so much. I was so glad to find your letter in my bags when I returned home. I miss Narnia, we all do. Peter more than the rest of us. He misses you and spends most of him time pretending that he's okay when we know he's not. Mum has noticed that we've all been acting strange. Dad is different himself, but Peter told me that he talked to him. Mum does not understand how close we are, or why I act older than I should. She does not get why we listen to Peter so well or why we miss you so much.
I've got to go; Peter and Ed are to play chess again! It's been so long since we've seen them play. I love you!
—Lucy
I was in tears by the time I finished Lucy's letter. I opened Susan's next. I'd decided to leave the boys' letters for last.
Kassie, darling, I miss you. Peter is a wreck. To be honest, it makes me think of the time you taught Lucy how to fight with a sword. He was so angry that he yelled at the two people he's never yelled at before. You were so upset. I remember you running to your old room and locking all doors. We didn't see you for four days, not even for meals. Lucy was the only one you'd let in to see you. We didn't see Peter either. Eventually, with the help of Lily and Edmund, we locked you in your closets until you talked it out. This time, there is no closet and you aren't angry with each other.
We all feel so helpless, so disheveled. It's as if we are missing some essential part of our lives, you. I love you, dearest sister and I'll see you in a few weeks.
—Susan
I quickly scanned the letter from Helen that I had not noticed before; she wanted me to come a week early to stop her children from moping. She asked if she should tell Susan, but she wanted to surprise Peter. I recommend telling no one, they don't keep secrets from Peter. I decided to open Edmund's letter next. It said basically what Lucy and Susan's letters said, that he misses me and hopes to see me soon.
I slowly ripped open the letter from Peter, mentally and emotionally preparing myself.
Kay,
I hate being back in Finchley. England was almost bearable when I was with you, but I miss how life used to be, in Narnia. I wish I was still treated like an adult, one who knew what he was doing. Mum complains that I spend too much time brooding and not enough time with the family. It always makes her angry when I tell her that you are family and we all need you.
Lucy, Susan, and Edmund are behaving as usual. Mum and Dad are upset at how we've replaced them. They don't understand that we've spend fifteen years raising their children. That's longer than either of them has spent with any of them. Lucy's only eleven. Edmund was twelve when we entered Narnia. Susan's fourteen. We helped them with everything. Ed had nightmares for years after we defeated the witch. And who helped Lucy through puberty the first time? You did. And you helped Susan through dating and all of the other girl stuff that I'd rather not even mention.
Mum walked by and she mentioned how much my handwriting has changed. After fifteen years of having to write neat, official letters, it's no wonder I've developed calligraphic penmanship. I'm just glad she didn't see Lucy's or Edmund's.
Only eight more days, lovely.
Love,
High King Peter the Magnificent of Narnia
Lord of Cair Paravel
Emperor of the Lone Islands
I got out paper and a pencil to write my reply.
Your majesty,
If you get to use titles, so do I. I miss you too, all of you. Don't worry too much. I'll see you sooner than you think. Those eight days will pass and we'll be together soon enough, my love. I've always loved your penmanship. If she notices Lucy's or Edmunds, tell Helen that I taught you calligraphy. She'll be angry with me, but what else is new?
Elizabeth is here to see me, I must go.
I love you, always,
High Queen Kassia the Glorious of Narnia
Lady of Cair Paravel
Empress of the Lone Islands
Wife to High King Peter the Magnificent of Narnia
Postscript: I have more.
I technically didn't lie. Eliza was here, she just wasn't here for me. She came so Mum and Dad could watch little newborn Adeline. Addie was so adorable! She was going to come say goodbye to me, but I was busy packing. I'm leaving at eight in the morning, so I really needed to pack. As soon as I was done, I headed to bed.
"Kassia!" Susan yelled when I got off the train. I hugged her before turning to Helen.
"I said I was going to get groceries and Susan insisted on helping me," she explained.
When we got to their house, Susan went in first to give Peter my letter. I grabbed a bag of groceries and carried them inside. I didn't say anything or do anything to draw attention to myself.
"Why didn't Kassie write me a letter?" Lucy asked, sounding upset.
"Because she's standing in the kitchen," Edmund told her. Lucy and Edmund hugged me and all of the Pevensies left Peter alone with me. Within seconds I was in his arms, his lips on mine.
"I missed you," he whispered.
"I always miss you when we are apart," I responded.
~X~
Two weeks later, we were heading to boarding school and everything was good for a while. The schools were connected, but we weren't allowed to associate with the boys. Except for me. I'd skipped a year, early on, and they had me in the boys' math class.
I know that Peter has been in fights, it's obvious. Whenever I see him in math, he's bruised, or limping, or something. He hasn't mentioned it, but I know that he knows I know. Peter understands how finely tuned I am to him, so finely tuned that I would immediately notice any slight changes. It's been fifteen years after all.
The school year passed by slowly and it was hard on all of us. We were all frustrated that we were still in England. None of us particularly enjoyed being in England and treated like children. We much preferred Narnia and adulthood.
~X~
The streets on the way to the train station were busy, but we still got there in time. Peter and I were ahead of everyone else, Edmund shortly behind us. Lucy and Susan were off buying snacks for the journey back.
Some boy bumped into Peter, setting off alarm bells in my mind. Peter had been rather rash lately. Then said boy tried to make him apologize. Peter hit him. I sighed before joining the fight myself, keeping a keen eye out for any authority figures.
I'd gotten in a few punches when Edmund joined the fight. That was when I noticed the soldiers. I ducked the boy's punch, dropping to the ground in fake tears. I'd had years of practice, I could cry on command. The soldier told them to act their age before approaching me warily.
"I'm sorry, officer," Peter said. "I'll take care of Kay." The soldier ignored him and made his way toward me.
"Dear, are you alright?"
"I-I'm f-fine," I stuttered.
"Now, would you like to tell me what happened?" I nodded, continuing to fake tears. This was too easy.
"P-Peter and I w-were w-walking to the t-train when the b-boy said s-something u-unpleasant about my honor. I-it made P-peter angry and he was j-just d-defending me. I didn't m-mean to cause any t-trouble. And my b-brother j-joined in when he h-heard." Edmund looks more like my brother than Peter's so I figured that would help.
"She's lying, sir!" the other boy yelled.
"Now, young man, why would a poor, clearly frightened, and upset girl lie about that?" the boy was flabbergasted. Peter and I walked off, a disapproving Susan following behind.
"Really, Peter? Was that necessary? And you, Kassie, why did you help him? You know better than to fight."
"I fought beside him for fifteen years, Susan. It's my instinct to help him. I'm sorry if that displeases you." She rolled her eyes as Peter explained why he was fighting.
"Ow!" Lucy yelled suddenly. It felt as if something was grabbing onto all of us. I tightened my grip on my suitcase and Peter's hand. All of us linked hands as the train station disappeared. We were in Narnia.
They were so excited that they ran off down the beach to the water. I dragged my suitcase with me, the objects inside clinking. I opened it, the objects glinting in the sunlight.
"You might want these," I told them, holding up one for them to see.
"Really, Kassia? You brought our crowns? How did you even get a hold of them?"
"Mum gave them to me. I've had them all year, in case we'd ever need them," I said as I put my golden circlet on my loose curls. "I was right. We did need them." We all hugged joyfully; glad to be back to Narnia.
"I don't remember any ruins in Narnia," Edmund suddenly mused. I glanced up to see them, the crumbled remains of some once-grand building.
