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Chapter Seven
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A wave of nostalgia hits him in his gut as he trudges along the tall grass. Little balls of light were floating up to the sky around him, joining with the sun. It takes time for him to adjust his eyes to the blinding light.
He's home again.
But, at the same time, it didn't feel like home.
"Where... where are we?" he asks. His heart is pounding painfully in his chest.
He has to make sure that he isn't there. That he isn't dreaming this. That it isn't just a cruel trick to help him with his homesickness.
"Selcarim," she grins. "It's amazing isn't it?"
He merely nods his head, too speechless. He's still taking it all in. He can smell the salty sea air when a breeze brushes against his cheeks. He hasn't been near a beach since his days in Narnia. He's never found time to relax since most of his time went towards his studies.
"It is amazing," he says breathlessly.
"The castle's not too far," she tells him. "this place belongs to the gryphons and to the unicorns... to some extent."
"To some extent?"
"I've never really seen them," she admits, "but I know they're around. They're pretty shy."
A loud roar comes from above him and he thought it might've been Aslan for a moment. A golden bird emerges from the clouds and swoops down at them.
"Hello, Alden," Emily greets the magnificent beast.
"The others have missed you, little one," the gryphon says in a smooth, rich voice. He nudges her shoulder and purrs as she strokes the back of his ears. "they're always worried that you might not come back one day. "
"I'll always come back," her forehead barely touches Alden's beak.
"Who's your friend?"
"Oh!" she exclaims. "Alden, this is Peter! Peter, this is Alden."
"It's a pleasure," Peter waves awkwardly.
"Well, any friend of Emily's is a friend of ours," Alden hums. His golden eyes are examining him. "Are you here to help us?"
"Help you?" Peter frowns. "With what?"
Emily stiffens when he glances at her. She averts her eyes, burying her face in Alden's fur.
"We've been... having problems in this world lately," she admits. "A lot of the gryphons have been disappearing."
"Has there been a lot of fighting?" Peter asks, raising his brows.
"There hasn't been a lot of fighting," Emily admits. "But there are... dark creatures from another world. He only wears a cloak so we don't know what he looks like."
"I think it's best if we lay low," Alden sighs. "We don't know what they're capable of yet."
"Why would they harm the gryphons?" Peter asks. "Why even start a war if this is a peaceful country?"
"You can do whatever you want here in Selcarim, " Alden tells him. "Some just choose to take advantage of it."
"And they're hurting the others," Emily chimes in. "If you don't want to help you don't have to, Peter."
"If people are getting hurt, I want to help," Peter assures her.
"This is such good news," Alden trills excitedly, nudging his head against Emily's shoulder. "I'll tell the others right away!"
"Be safe, Alden," she tells the bird.
"I'm always safe, little one," Alden chuckles. "I'll be off now."
"Alden, wait!" he calls the bird as he wants for Emily to find the door. "Has the name 'Aslan' ever been mentioned at all?"
"Hmm, I can't say I have heard of it ," Alden replies. "I'll be sure to pass the name along to the others to see if they've heard anything. But don't get your hopes up."
"Thank you," Peter says heartily. "I appreciate it."
"Watch over her, will you?"
"I will."
Alden nods, flaps his large wings, and takes off to the sky with a loud, trilling caw.
"You coming, Peter?" Emily calls for him softly.
"Alright," Peter says hesitantly. He's been there for a few hours and he already doesn't want to leave.
He takes her hand and she guides him through the gate.
Then they're both in the real world. Moonlight glistens onto the street and a few streetlamps were lit up, casting an orange glow.
"Why would you show me that place?" he asks.
She gestures over to the swing set and they both take a seat, swaying back and forth but not going too fast. The cool air is welcomed after spending some time in the heat.
"Because you're different from the others," Emily answers. "and... you seem lost."
"Is it that obvious?"
"You hide it well but it's in your eyes," she bites her lip.
It's frightening how much she actually knew about him. Did he make it so obvious and his friends never told him?
"How long have you known that place?"
"Since I was a kid," her eyes are distant as she's remembering. "My father discovered the park. We used to live in Cambridge. He always took us here to because he loved it so much and before I knew it, we were living here. The bakery's his really. But... not after the war. My brother and my mum look after it for him."
"Brother?" Peter perks up at this.
"Brandon," she nods. "He usually goes out...we...don't get along that well."
He knows about sibling rivalry all too well. His chest tightens as he thinks of his brother, how he acted before Narnia. The magical country changed them all and he isn't even sure it's a good change.
"My father fought in the war too," Peter admits.
"Do you think they ever met?" Emily's lips quirk up as she giggles softly. "It'd be quite funny if they did, don't you think?"
"It'd be ironic if they did, yes," Peter agrees with a soft chuckle.
They both look up at the sound of laughter nearby. Peter nearly gags when he sees the couple flirting with each other. Noah and Karen keep staring at each other when they think the other's not looking. Margot's rolling her eyes and shaking her head at them.
"They're always telling me to be more "wittier", " she admits. "but I don't have a clue what that means."
He follows her gaze to where Margot and Karen are standing, giggling and nudging each other by the window.
"Hey, Emily?" he hopes to distract her. "You shouldn't listen to what Margot tells you. You're actually really easy to talk to."
"You are too. "
"Oi, better hurry it up, you two!" Noah calls out to them. They both jump at his voice. He's standing in the bakery with a brown bag in his hands. "Karen and Margot are almost done getting dessert!"
"We'll be there in a second!" Peter shouts.
He sighs heavily at the wolf- like grin on his friend's face. Noah goes back inside the bakery, leaving the two standing there awkwardly.
"Do you know a place called 'Narnia?'"
"What's a 'Narnia?'" her eyebrows knit together in confusion.
So much for that. How can he know if Aslan's calling for him again? He just didn't understand. Why even say he's not allowed back if he's called back?
"It's nothing... just a word I made up," he purses his lips. It hurt him, calling Narnia something made up. Aslan, forgive him.
"It sounds like more than just a word to you though," she frowns.
"Don't worry about it," he smiles at her. "alright?"
"... alright."
They walk towards the bakery together, hardly noticing how close they were to one another.
"You two have been gone an awfully long time," Noah comments when Emily's out of ear shot, practically grinning from ear to ear.
"Shut up."
Noah wriggles his eyebrows at Peter.
Peter merely ignores him as he searches the bakery for chocolate scones or biscuits to take home.
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GayathriK: lol, yeah Margot isn't likeable at all, she does have a small role in the series, but not until much later. The gate is there all the time but only Emily knows what's beyond it. Ooh, I should have made that clearer, Noah, Margot,and Karen are still getting sweets in the bakery. xD
