It was mid afternoon of the day that the rescue party had gone off in an attempt to rescue Lucy and there was still no word on their progress. This greatly worried everyone, but especially Edmund and Anakin. While they were trying their hardest to concentrate on developing a defense strategy for Cair Paravel, they were still wondering how their siblings and friends were doing.
"I'm so worried about them. I hope they got Lucy." Edmund said.
"I'm sure they did, Ed. I just hope that Jaina and Jacen know how to use the Force well enough to get past the guards and those two evil Sith Lords." Anakin said.
"I hope so, too. I just wish I could be there with them, it would be the only way I could make this whole mess up to Lucy." Edmund replied.
"Edmund, for the last time, this was not your fault. Trust me; you would be dead along with those four guards if you had gone after Darth Sidious and Darth Maul. I'm sure Lucy knows that you tried to rescue her and she probably feels grateful for it. She doesn't hate you, believe me. I'm sure she still loves you and will be quite happy to see you when she comes back." Anakin said.
"And I love her, too. I won't feel better until I see her walk through those doors into Cair Paravel alive." Edmund said.
"I know, that's normal to feel that way. Now, if I may say so, we need to get back to work on this defense strategy." Anakin replied.
"Right you are, Ani. Now if those guards have those light guns like you said, how can the Narnian army defend themselves against that?" Edmund said.
"Oh, that won't be a problem. You see, even though the stormtroopers have armor on it doesn't protect them all over their bodies. I know that they don't have protection on their necks, so that will be a key target for the army." Anakin said.
"Sir Gadron requests permission to speak to you, sire." Gadron said and the two boys looked up to see the faun guard standing in the doorway of the conference room.
"Permission granted, Sir Gadron." Edmund said as he stood up.
"Sire, there are two visitors here to see you. They claim to have some vital information you need to know. Shall I escort them inside?" Gadron asked.
"Yes, escort them into the throne room. We will receive them in there." Edmund replied.
"Yes, sire." Gadron said and bowed before leaving the conference room.
Both Edmund and Anakin were wondering who these two mystery visitors could be, especially since Sir Gadron said that they claimed to have some vital information. They had a feeling that this particular information had something to do with the Sith's appearance in Narnia and wouldn't be news that they wanted to hear. But as Edmund took his seat in his throne and Anakin stood next to him, they were ready to hear whatever info these visitors had.
"Right this way, please." they heard Sir Gadron say to the two visitors.
What they saw next truly surprised them. As the other guards in the room snapped to attention, Sir Gadron entered with the two mystery visitors behind him. Edmund and Anakin's eyes grew huge when they saw the two visitors walk behind Gadron as he escorted them down the main aisle of the throne room. It was Anakin Skywalker and Yoda that had arrived at Cair Paravel.
"Sire, I present to you Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker and Jedi Master Yoda." Gadron said and stepped aside.
"King Edmund the Just, greetings to you. Come with something very important to tell we have." Yoda said.
"That is wonderful, Yoda." Edmund said and turned to look at little Anakin, who had a look of pure shock on his face.
"Grandfather? Is that you?" Anakin managed to say.
"It is me, grandson. I have come to see you." adult Anakin said with a huge smile on his face.
Everyone was quite surprised with what little Anakin did next. Almost as if acting on impulse, he ran right up to his grandfather and flung his arms around him for a huge hug. While adult Anakin was quite surprised that his grandson did this, he happily returned the hug.
"You have no idea how much I wanted to do this, grandson." adult Anakin said as he continued to hug his youngest grandchild.
"Same here, Grandfather. I thought I would never get to hug you but now that I can, I'm quite happy." little Anakin replied.
"Beautiful this is, warms my heart it does." Yoda replied and chuckled.
"Same here, Master. And I can't wait to see your brother and sister when they return." adult Anakin said with an arm around little Anakin's shoulder.
"Do you know anything about them? Is Lucy okay?" Edmund asked.
"Worry about your sister you mustn't. Safe from the Sith she is." Yoda replied.
"How do you know that? Are you sure she's okay?" Edmund asked.
"I would trust Master Yoda, sire. He is one with much wisdom in his years." Anakin replied, to which Yoda gave him an amused grin.
Edmund still looked a little unsure, though. While he had learned to appreciate Force knowledge a little bit better, he still would not feel better until he saw his little sister in person and knew that she was alive and well. And when General Oreius appeared in the throne room accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Beaver, he would realize he would get that chance.
"What do you have to tell us, Oreius?" Edmund asked.
"Sire, I have received word from the lookout. They tell me that the rescue party is in sight of Cair Paravel and Queen Lucy is with them." Oreius replied.
"Is she alive?" little Anakin asked.
"Very much so, Sir Anakin. She is alive, but I must recommend you and King Edmund make some preparations for her so she can feel comfortable once she arrives." Oreius said.
"Yes you must, King Edmund. I can't wait to see our beloved Queen again!" Mr. Beaver exclaimed.
"Very well. Oreius, I want you to stand at the main entrance to the castle so the rescue party can be greeted properly." Edmund said.
"Yes, your majesty." Oreius said.
"And beavers, I have some important assignments for you as well. Mr. Beaver, you are to go inform the kitchen staff to start preparing Lucy's favorite meal for dinner. Mrs. Beaver, you are to go tell Lucy's handmaiden to have a warm bath, clean clothes, and a cup of hot chocolate ready for her when she arrives." Edmund said.
"We will do that, sire." Mr. Beaver said and excitedly walked out of the throne room with his wife in tow, both of them smiling.
Edmund was also smiling brightly as he watched the beavers leave and Oreius make his way to the main entrance of the castle. He was happy that he would get to see his little sister again and hoped that she would not be mad at him for the kidnapping.
"This must be a very happy moment for you." adult Anakin said.
"Oh it is, sir. I can't wait to see my sister again." Edmund replied.
"Then why are you always constantly teasing her?" little Anakin asked.
"Because it's my own special way of showing that I love her." Edmund said.
Anakin snickered a little and watched as his grandfather and Yoda made their way into a side hallway, specifically it was the hallway where he had come across Jaina attempting to comfort a very emotional Susan upon their arrival at Cair Paravel.
"Attention!" he and Edmund heard Oreius exclaim and saw the other guards in the room stiffen up in true military style.
As the big double doors into the throne room slowly swung open, Edmund and Anakin felt quite excited at who they saw enter. It was Peter, Susan, Jaina, Jacen and Mr. Tumnus being lead by Aslan and Oreius down the long throne room aisle. In Peter's arms was a shaken up Lucy who had her arms around his neck and her head resting on his shoulder. It broke Edmund's heart to see his little sister in this condition; he could only imagine the ordeal she had to go through when she was held captive.
"Edmund, we have returned. I must now reclaim my title as High King." Peter said.
"You may do that, Peter." Edmund replied, which perked up Lucy a little.
The little queen slowly turned her head around and was surprised to see Edmund sitting in his throne, smiling at her. She was so happy that her older brother was still alive and started squirming around in Peter's arms excitedly.
"Edmund! You're alive!" she shrieked as Peter set her down.
As soon as Peter set her down on the floor, Lucy immediately darted over to Edmund and pounced on him, squeezing her arms around his waist in a tight hug. Even though Edmund was still a little sore from the lightning attack, he gratefully hugged his little sister back as he was happy that she was home safely.
"Of course I'm alive, Lucy. What makes you think I wasn't?" Edmund asked as he stroked his sister's head.
"Those mean men that took me, they told me you were dead. They even showed me your sword and shield and the sword had blood on it." Lucy moaned as she buried her face into Edmund's chest.
"And you believed them." Edmund said in disbelief.
"Sire, I told her the blood on your sword was faun blood. But she didn't believe me; I think she had to see this for herself." Mr. Tumnus said.
"Lu, the white witch couldn't kill me. Why would you believe that those two men could?" Edmund asked.
"I'm sorry, Ed." Lucy moaned as she started to cry again.
"Don't worry about it, Lu. At least you believe us now and you're home." Susan said.
Lucy tearfully nodded at her sister as she curled up in Edmund's lap and he continued to hug her. It was the first time in a long time Edmund did not push Lucy away when she tried to hug him and everyone was quite happy about that, but especially Lucy.
"I love you, Edmund. I missed you." Lucy said softly.
"I love you too, Lu. I'm glad you're home." Edmund replied.
Satisfied with the reunion between his little brother and sister, Peter turned to face the crowd gathered in the throne room as he had a very important announcement to make.
"Hear this, my fellow citizens of Narnia. Queen Lucy the Valiant has been safely returned to Cair Paravel where she belongs. As such, we may proceed with the birthday celebrations planned for tomorrow." he declared.
He was met with a happy round of applause from everyone in the throne room and a happy smile from Susan. She was thrilled that they could finally go on with her 15th birthday celebrations the next day. And someone else was happy that everything was right in Cair Paravel.
"A lovely sight this is." Yoda said and everyone turned to see him emerging from the side hallway with Anakin in tow.
"Yoda! You're here too!" Lucy squealed excitedly.
"Yes I am. Your kidnapping a terrible tragedy it was. Seeing you alive brings warm feelings to my heart." Yoda replied.
"Thank you very much, sir." Lucy said and grinned as she turned around to look at the others.
Everyone grinned back at her except for Jaina and Jacen, who had looks of pure shock on their faces as they stared at their grandfather. Adult Anakin couldn't help but grin at his two oldest grandchildren as they looked at him in amazement.
"Grandfather? You came?" Jaina finally managed to say.
"Of course I did, my dear granddaughter. I came to help you and your friends." Anakin replied.
Jaina and Jacen looked over at their little brother, who was trying not to snicker. But as he had done earlier, the twins ran over to their grandfather and wrapped their arms around him in a huge hug. Adult Anakin graciously returned their hug, happy that he got to hug all three of his grandchildren now.
"We love you, grandfather." Jacen whispered.
"I love you as well. I've dreamed of this day for so long." adult Anakin replied.
"That's so sweet." Lucy gushed.
"Yes it is, Lu. Now I think you need something to feel better and I know who can do that." Edmund replied.
At that moment, a dryad servant appeared from the side hallway and made her way up to the four thrones. Lucy perked up when she saw the dryad as she recognized her as her own handmaiden.
"Amelia!" Lucy shrieked and leapt off of Edmund's lap happily.
"It is good to see you again, my lady. Now if you would follow me, I have a warm bath, a clean dress, and a cup of hot chocolate waiting for you." Amelia said.
"Oh thank you so much. I do appreciate this." Lucy said.
"Oh don't thank me, my lady. Thank King Edmund, it was his idea to do this for you." Amelia replied.
Lucy gave Edmund a quick hug and said "Thank you, Ed." before Amelia lead her away to her chambers, where she would make sure Lucy would start to feel better after her long ordeal with the two Sith Lords. There was a glimmer of hope for Narnia with Lucy's safe return, even though they knew they weren't safe from the Sith just yet.