Ester spent the last few hours of light training before she was finally too tired to carry on. The faun, Ester now knew as Rupin, had even practised with her for a while. Ester had disarmed him and he was too impressed to be grumpy about it. Ester sat down and watched as the sun set. Ester was joined by Edmund who just sat beside her silently for a few moments.
"So," Edmund started gaining Esters attention. "I saw you training. You're really good."
"Thanks." Ester said looking at the beautiful shades of orange that danced across the sky.
"Aslan told me about you, being the Spirit Guardian or whatever. Lucy really needed a good sibling and I did something terrible to her. I still feel horrible about that." Edmund sighed and hugged his knees tight against his chest. "She needed a sibling like you."
"No," Ester corrected and Edmund scrunched his eyebrows together. "She needed a friend like me. Good chat with Aslan then?"
"I won't soon forget it." Edmund smiled slightly and looked at the sky with one eye squinted. "Everyone forgave me."
"You're their brother, of course they forgave you." Ester elbowed him and he smiled elbowing her back.
"Well, I'm going to go talk to Oreius before bed. I have questions about the Deep Magic or whatever it's called. See you later." Edmund said standing up and scurrying away.
Ester stood up and brushed off the back of her dress before going back to her tent. Ester wasted no time in changing into a nightgown and walking to Peter's tent. She whispered his name trying to see if he was decent before just entering. She heard something drop and then Peter call her in. Ester walked in to see Peter picking up his shield with a sheepish look on his face.
"Hi." Ester said smiling and pushing her hair behind her ear.
"Hey, Ester. You going to run away tonight?" Peter joked leaning his shield on the trunk beside the door.
"I never ran away. I just woke up early." Ester clarified smiling.
"I worry about you." Peter joked lifting up his blanket and gesturing for her to get in the bed. Ester happily walked over and slide into the bed and watched Peter crawl in after her and put the blanket around them both.
Peter laid on his stomach beside Ester with his arm draped over her stomach. Ester was comfortable on her back while looking over at Peter who was glancing back at her with a tired smile. He mumbled for her to sleep and closed his eyes snuggling into the fluffy pillow. Ester closed her eyes and easily fell asleep. Peter was fighting trying to stay awake to wait for Edmund to get back and into bed out of habit. When he heard a muffled shuffle behind him and he looked over his shoulder to see Edmund walking into the tent. Peter gave Ed a small nod and put his head back on the pillow before falling asleep wondering what Ester was dreaming about.
Ester woke up at the crack of dawn as she typically did. She tried to quietly sneak of Peter's grasp which seemed to have gotten tighter during their slumber. Ester had his arm slightly in the air when he stirred a little making Ester freeze and look at blond haired lad. When he settled she began to move again and let out a small puff of air when she let his arm down on the pillow she no longer occupied. Ester crawled to the end of the bed and stood up leaving the tent to walk back to her own. Ester changed into the dress she had worn the first day. Someone had cleaned it for her and she had no idea who to thank. Ester put on her weapon sheath and made her way to her training spot.
Ester got right down to it. She was kicking and swiping her sword quickly and effortlessly at this point. Ester had really gotten used to the feeling of swinging the swords but she couldn't even imagine winging them to purposely injure someone. She wondered if she was even going to participate in the war. Ester wanted to, there was nothing else she could really do to help. Ester got tired of training and walked back to her tent to see if Lucy was awake yet since she hadn't paid any attention when she was first in there. Ester flicked the drape like doors out of her way and saw both Susan and Lucy's beds empty. She tried hard to think if they had been like that before but she couldn't recall. Ester left the tent again and went to look by the water where they had been attack by Maugrim. No one was there except for Ester. Confused, Ester turned around and walked over to Rupin who had been on watch by the entrance of the camp. He nodded politely at her while she walked over.
"Hello," Ester said with a slight wave. "Have you seen Lucy and Susan? I can't seem to find them."
"Not since yesterday when the White Witch was here." Rupin replied tilting his head. "Are they missing?"
"I don't know yet, let me talk to Peter." Ester turned and rushed away from Rupin.
Ester quickly ran to Peter's tent and didn't bother with the formality of making sure it was alright for her to enter. Ester quickly went to Peter's beside and shook him awake which he groaned at. Ester said his name loudly repeatedly until he had no choice but to wake up. When Peter saw Esters worried face he pushed his covers back and titled his head at her. Peter sat up and Ester told him that she couldn't find his sisters. Just as they spoke petals floated into the room in a thick and swerved line. When they settled into shape it looked like a woman.
Peter went into protective mode and grabbed his sword near his bed. Peter pushed Ester behind him. With his weapon raised and his mind filled with confusion the figure began to speak.
"Fear not my princes. I come with tidings of grave news, from your sisters. Aslan has sacrificed himself, dear ones. Your sisters remain with him even after his life."
Ester pushed her way out from behind Peter and walked out into the fresh air. Peter left her be knowing she needed a moment, he had a few questions anyway. Ester walked to her own tent and crawled into her cot. Ester was alone for at least an hour when Peter walked in. He silently crawled next her her and looked at her quizzically. Peter sighed and used his strong arms to pull her closer to him. Ester felt his lips on her temple so she kissed the exposed skin of his neck affectionately.
"I'm leading them." Peter whispered and Ester felt his shudder at his own words.
"I'm not sitting out." Ester clarified and Peter chuckled.
"You knew I would ask?" Peter chuckled despite the seriousness of the situation.
"I assumed you would." Ester mumbled and pull back a little to look at his face.
Esters eyes danced over his features before she leaned in to give him a small kiss. Ester felt him relax under her touch and she smiled as she pulled away. Peter wasted no time before he pulled her back. He kissed her deeply to not only show his affection but also to distract himself. Ester shivered at the feeling of his tongue flicking over her lower lip. Ester brought her fingers up to graze over his cheek. When Peter pulled away she looked up at him with raised eyebrows but also a shy smile.
"What if I can't do it?" Peter asked showing the most vulnerability that Ester had ever seen.
"You can." Ester said giving Peter one more reassuring kiss. "I believe in you."
"Thanks, Ester." Peter said with a small smile and Ester smiled back.
Peter told Ester that he needed to finalize battle plans. He gave her temple another kiss and told her that there would be someone would be by later to give her further instruction. She nodded and immediately went to find Rupin to see if he wanted to practise. She found him practising where she typically did. He accepted her challenge and they both began to fight valiantly. Ester hit Rupin's shoulder with the handle of her blade. While he stumbled back a few steps, Ester stepped around him and kicked the back of his knee sending him to the ground. She pointed both of her blades at his back making him scoff, but surrender all the same.
"Rupin!" Edmund shouted walking towards the pair. "Peter would like a word."
"Alright." Rupin said climbing back onto his hooves and trotting away quickly.
"Need a sparing partner?" Edmund asked smiling and pulling out his sword.
"Absolutely." Ester accepted smiling.
Ester and Edmund both got into an offensive stance. Edmund counted down from three but Ester swung at two. Edmund slide to the left but it barely missed his arm. Edmund retaliated by swinging from above their heads but Ester put up both blade and blocked his attack.
"That's wasn't fair." Edmund scolded jokingly while Ester pushed with her blades sending him back a few steps.
"Life's not fair." Ester joked swinging low only to be met by Edmund's shield.
Edmund laughed but quickly got his head back into the match. Ester leaned back enough for Ed's sword to swing over her chest but no more than an inch. They swung at each for twenty minutes before Ester finally surrendered. Ed was a fantastic fighter and Ester had no chance of defeating him but he was still confident in her abilities. Edmund told her that he needed to go talk to Peter about battle plans and Ester nodded in reply. Ester returned to her training against the wooden targets until Rupin arrived back in the area.
"What did Peter want a word about?" Ester asked before practically throwing herself onto the ground.
"Oh, nothing, just minor details." Rupin mumbled and sat beside Ester shaking the thick hair on his knees with his hands.
"Oh I see, confidential information/" Ester joked smirking at the faun. "I understand."
"Your lucky." Rupin sighed looking at his hands as he clenched and unclenched his fists. "Having someone who wants nothing but to protect you."
"Are you talking about Peter?" Ester asked looking at him with furrowed eyebrows.
"Well, yeah." Rupin answered jokingly returning her expression. "He doesn't want you to fight at all but he also knows that's not an option. So, now you have a war partner."
"A war partner?" Ester asked lifting her head up to see the blue sky sprinkled with little white clouds.
"Peter wanted me to watch your back but how I see it," Rupin chuckled before continuing. "You'll be watching my back."
The conversation was cut short when the sharp sound of a horn was heard cutting through the air. It was time. Rupin hopped up first and held out his hand for Ester to grab which she did and she used it to pull herself up. They walked together silently to the large field where everyone was to gather. Everyone knew their place. Ester told Rupin that she would be a moment and she ran over to Peter who stood watching everyone go to their temporary place on the battlefield. Oreius moved over a couple steps to give a leopard some orders. When Peter noticed Ester walking over his expression didn't change but he walked over to her.
"No one will judge you if you leave now, and go somewhere nice and safe." Peter said as a last attempt to keep Ester as far away from the upcoming war as he can.
"I came over here for a hug." Ester said not answering his plea and he sighed softly pulling her into his arms.
"Be safe Ester." Peter whispered into Esters hair and she nodded slightly making Peters throat swell up. He didn't want this to be the last hug.
"Stop worrying, this isn't the last time we'll see each other." Ester clarified and he would of chuckled at her knowing what he was thinking but his thoughts weren't in a place that allowed smiling. When Peter pulled away and leaned in to kiss her forehead she grabbed his neck and pulled his lips to hers boldly. The kiss was short but had more meaning than any one before it. "And that won't be the last kiss."
Ester looked over Peters face one last time before retreating back to Rupin who walked beside her to their spot in the large army. Today was a day of war.
