When he regained conscious, he was in a soft bed, and someone was sitting at the end of it.
"Fred?" He asked.
"Wrong guess! It's George. Common mistake. Well come on, then. Time to get up, sleepy head! We're waiting for you."
"Me? Why?"
"The coronation! I never witnessed a coronation, before."
"How... how long have I been sleeping?"
"Three days. Hermione stayed here watching you the whole time. We had to knock her off so that she would rest. You scared the death out of her, you know?"
"I know. I'm sorry."
Someone then knocked on the door, and then came in.
"Edmund!" Lucy exclaimed with pure joy. "You're awake!"
"Lucy!"
She was accompanied by the three other Pevensies.
"We're glad you're okay." Peter said in a gruff tone.
That was his way to express he had been sincerely worried.
"I'll be fine... High King Peter." He said with a smile.
"We're not crowned yet." Susan stated. "Aslan told us to wait for you to be ready to come."
"We think he's gonna send us home just after the ceremony." George explained. "And every one is starting to get impatient. So I suggest you get up, put on your narnian clothes, and come to join us in the throne room."
"We'll let you get dressed." Peter added. "Come on, everyone."
And so they left. Young Edmund stayed a little longer, though.
"So, erm... I just wanted to say. Thank you for not letting me be an idiot, he said. I understood you kinda sacrificed for me, so... thank you."
"I did the right thing. As for you, it was very brave to break Jadis' wand. It was stupidly dangerous, but it was brave."
Edmund had a laugh.
"I don't get it. What is it with you grown-ups to scold someone and thank him at the same time?"
"You'll understand when you're older." Ed replied with a wink.
Edmund had a corner smile, and then left. His older self took some time to get out of bed, and then dressed up in the ceremonial suit at the end of the bed, before going to the throne room, where everyone was gathered. There, he found Hermione, in a Narnian gown, looking radiant. She was waiting with the twins, who were also wearing traditional narnian outfits. Silent slowly fell upon the room, and Aslan started his speech, and then crowned the four Pevensie children kings and queens of Narnia.
"Once a king or queen of Narnia, always a king or queen of Narnia, he concluded. So, step forward, King Edmund."
The young man had a moment of shock, and then saw the smile on his younger self's and his younger sister's faces, the crowd respectfully moved aside to let him through, and he walked toward the Lion to kneel before him.
"Get on your feet, Edmund. From now on, and for saving this world from the alien evil that threatened it, I name you King Protector of Narnia. Whenever you need a haven or help, Narnia will be opened to you, no condition. Long live King Edmund the Old!"
"Long live King Edmund the Old!" The crowd chanted.
"Hermione Granger ! Come close, my child."
The intimidated young woman moved forward, and knelt in front of him. The Lion came closer to her, and blew on her.
"May the grace accompany you, and may my breath warm up your heart when you will doubt. Lioness heart, walk fearless, and you will vanquish. And when the time has come, you, and those you hold dear, will be welcomed to Narnia, and treated like the Queen that lies in you. Long live Queen Hermione."
"Long live Queen Hermione!"
A tear rolled down the young woman's cheek.
"Sir, dare I ask..."
The lion nodded, and she buried her face in his warm mane. She then got back on her feet, blushing a little, and sent him an apologizing look, to which he answered by a small laugh.
"And now..." he said, "I ask you to come to me... Fred and George Weasley."
The twins stood in shock for a moment, gave each other a look, and then stepped forward.
"Kneel." the lion ordered.
They hurriedly obeyed, and the lion put his heavy paw on their shoulder.
"For your bravery and your kindness, and for helping saving Narnia, I name you knight of the Lion's Order. Arise, Fred the Fearless. Arise, George the Undefeated."
The twin got up on their feet, and let out a surprised laugh.
"Did you hear that, Freddie? I'm a knight!"
"I am not Freddie, you peasant! I am Fred the Fearless!"
"And I am George the Undefeated! How darest thou insult me! En garde!"
And they all burst out laughing, and were soon joined by the kings and queens, which helped soften the atmosphere. This marked the beginning of the great ball, which Ed, Hermione and the twins enjoyed for a bit, and then it was time to go. After saluting the Narnians and saying goodbye to the Pevensies, they joined Aslan, who was waiting for them in the courtyard.
"The time as come for you to go home." the Lion declared.
"Are we all going together?" Hermione asked with hope.
"No, my child. I have to send your friends back to where they came from. Sending them in the world you're about to fight for would be too dangerous, and could break the fragile balance that is still holding it together. It is a sound world they left, and it is a sound world they will return to. But they will remember the time they spent here, and when all is back to normal, they will regain their memory of it. As for you and Edmund, I am sending you near the place your friends are currently held into."
Hermione bravely nodded, and Ed took her hand.
"Come on..." he said. "Let's go save your world."
And the Lion opened a door through the air.
"Go." he said. "Cross this door together. It will send you where you need to be."
Hermione ran to hug the twins, who whispered soothing words to her ear, and then they all crossed the portal.