"Issa! There you are I've been looking all over for you princess!" Lucy cried as she ran over to Issa and wrapped her arms around Issa and the sheer force alone was enough to knock Issa's circlet off her head. "You were right Issa! He's back! Edmund is back!"
"I'm glad to hear that Edmund has been returned to where he rightfully belongs but my question to you Lucy is why are you here instead of with your brother? I know that we both think highly of each other but I would have thought that you would of like to be with him instead of me." Issa questioned with a small chuckle as she removed Lucy's arms from around her waist so she could bend down and pick up her circlet to put it back on her head. Issa found the youngest Pevensie to be a delight and Lucy reminded Issa of herself – just by thinking that it made Issa feel very old and she had to remind herself that she was. She may still physically be thirteen but she was a hundred and fifteen years old.
"Well he's currently talking to Aslan and besides I want you and Edmund to meet!" Lucy exclaimed.
"I do not want to intrude on such a reunion, this is a time for you and the rest of your family Lucy and there is plenty of time for me to formally meet your brother, so there is no need to rush."
"Don't be so silly Issa!" Lucy said as she grabbed Issa's hand and pulled her along to where Susan and Peter were standing and watching Aslan and Edmund were talking and they all stood there and waited in silence until Aslan motioned for Edmund to join the rest of them and slowly following behind him.
"What's done is done. There is no reason to bring up the past with you brother." Aslan stated to the Pevensie children but the carefully hidden look that he given Issa suggested something different before he left the five children alone.
"Hello…" Edmund wearily began.
"Oh Edmund!" Lucy exclaimed as she ran over and hugged Edmund followed by Susan and Issa couldn't help but smile at the interaction and affection between them. Although it made her miss her own family, she was glad to see the Pevensie's reunited and happy despite everything they had been through since arriving in Narnia.
"How are you feeling Son of Adam or should I say Edmund?" Issa found herself to be asking as looked into Edmund's brown eyes and saw the weariness that didn't just come from being tired but of the suffering he had endured at the hands of the white witch. Issa recognized it because she was certain that her eyes held the exact same look.
"I'm feeling kind of tired." Edmund timidly replied.
Lucy let go of Edmund but took his hand and pulled him forward towards Issa before stopping when she was standing in between the two of them. "Ed, we'd like to introduce you to Princess Issa!" Lucy squeaked in excitement.
Before Issa could say anything Edmund was bowing and so she decided to curtsey back, after all it was the polite thing to do. "It is a pleasure to finally meet you Edmund and on behalf of my people, we are beyond happy to have you here and please call me Issa, unless you like your sister enjoy calling me both Issa and Princess Issa then you can call me either."
"I-It's nice to meet you too Issa." Edmund quietly stuttered and Issa couldn't help but smile at his nervousness, it wasn't surprising that he was feeling overwhelmed given everything that he had just come from. Sincerity and kindness were not some of the witch's best traits.
"That's a nasty cut you have on your lip Edmund, do you mind if I take a look at it?" Issa began and Edmund shook his head, so Issa walked closer to him and when she raised her hand he flinched slightly. So Issa quietly whispered some reassuring word into his ears that was only loud enough for the two of them to hear. "I promise I will not cause you any harm Edmund, just look into my eyes and it won't hurt anymore…"
There was something about Issa that Edmund immediately trusted; despite everything he had done she had greeted him with warmness and kindness. Based on what the witch had said, he was expecting someone else as the princess and not the girl with extraordinary beautiful girl in front of him. "I trust you."
Issa smiled as her blue eyes met Edmund's brown eyes and as they kept their eyes on each other, she slowly and carefully placed her thumb over the cut on his lip and brushed it gently before stepping back. "All better, I presume?"
Edmund touched his lip and found that it didn't hurt anymore and he turned to look at his brother and sisters in amazement before turning back to Issa. "How did you do that?" Susan asked when Edmund couldn't get the words out of his mouth.
"I have a gift, which allows me to heal the wounds of others and I have a duty to make sure everyone here is safe and well. What kind of princess would I be if I ignored the suffering of others around me and not use my gift to heal their wounds when their hurt?" Issa quipped.
"Issa, may I have a moment of your time?" Aslan called out from the distance.
"I'll take that as my que to leave, I hope you'll feel better Edmund and if any of you need anything from me don't hesitate to come and find me. If not I will see all four of you later." Issa said bidding them all goodbye before turning around and walking towards Aslan.
"Issa!"
Stopping in her path Issa turned around and was surprised to see Edmund running towards with an awfully guilty look on his face. "Edmund, what's the matter?" she asked.
"She knows." Edmund began nervously. "The witch I mean, she knows that your awake and that you're here."
"I know she does and given the history between Jadis and I have together, I'm not too surprised that she knows that I've woken up but thank you for telling me Edmund, I really appreciate it." Issa replied.
"I-I think it's my fault, she asked me and I told her! I didn't mean to tell her but she asked and it just came out. I am so sorry Issa, this is all my fault…" Edmund stammered as he looked down at his feet.
Issa took a step closer to Edmund and using both her hands she tilted Edmund's head up so she could look him in the eyes. "Edmund I don't blame you and I never want you to apologize for something that isn't your fault. The white witch would have found out I was awake anyway and if you didn't tell her she may have killed you. I understand better than anyone here what you've been through and suffered at Jadis' hands so you never have to apologize to me for doing what you did in order to survive because I for one and am glad that you here now and safe. So I hereby order as the princess of Narnia for you to stop apologizing for what happened in the past and look forward to the future."
"T-thank you."
"It was my pleasure Edmund, now go back to your family and get some rest. I'll check in on you in a short while." Issa said as she let go of Edmund and smiled as she watched him walk away. It was nice to see people get the happy ending they deserved especially Edmund after everything he had gone through, now she just had get that same happy ending for the rest of her people. And then maybe once her people got theirs, maybe she would get one too…
