Younger: Part III

"Adults are just obsolete children and the hell with them."
― Dr Seuss

"How did the wolf know?" Edmund asked from across the long, pine table, set in the middle of the airy room, which was ringing with hushed whispers of the council members. They were all well trusted, and Edmund was certain none of them would leak the information. No one answered his question, and the room went quiet when Edmund thumped down his glass of water onto the table, filling the room with a clomp.

"How did he know?!" Edmund shouted, leaving his cushioned chair. Seeing the many flustered faces, all staring at him with wide eyes, Edmund supposed that might have been a violent show of actions. He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I'm sorry. But dear friends, we need the High King back, especially with the Queens arriving with guests today. And I miss my brother."

Orieus stomped his hoofs on the wooden floor and gave him a consoling look. "I understand, King Edmund. But losing temper will not help with the situation. Rosh, fetch Tumnus, will you? I do think he must have found something."

The cheetah scurried out of the room in an instant and Edmund fell into his chair again. "If the wolf knew, there is no guarantee news hasn't reached Calormen by now."

"Calormen is too far south, Majesty. I do not think the fell have the means—"

Just then, the chamber's door flew open, making all eyes turn. "Mr Tumnus, do come in. Tell us, what have you found?"

Tumnus stomped his hoofs nervously, then looked up and said, "Nothing."

Peter hated nights. Especially the ones where he woke up alone. And this was one of those nights. He licked his dry lips and propped himself up on one elbow, glancing around.

It was dark. Except for the silver moonlight spilling in from the largest windows he'd ever seen. The curtains flapped and flapped and—

"Edmund!" Peter yelled, jumping off the bed, clutching to the corner of the bed-sheet. As he moved to the door, he dragged the sheet with him. "Edmund!" Peter cried, close to tears now. He hated being alone. Dad said he had to be brave. But how could he be brave when he was all alone?

So, he scurried out of the room, dragging the bedsheet behind him.

Susan had been looking forward to this. Sailing home. The waves crashed against the hull, silently bubbling 'neath it. The sails fluttered in the howling, cold winds, producing the every-pleasing dull buzzing sound. Noricheep, the Valiant Mouse, shouted from the crow's nest, "Land ho! Narnia's in sight, my Queens!"

Susan smiled at the Mouse and continued to stare at the silver sea. "Oi! Su, here!"

Following Lucy's voice, there was a disturbing, mushy touch on her bare shoulder and when Susan looked at it, she screamed, trying to brush off the lizard without ever having to touch it. She was shooing it. But it remained where it was. Didn't budge. And Susan whimpered, closing her eyes. She felt Lucy pick it up, and breathed again.

She gave her sister an angry glare and said, "Lucy! Just you wait, sister. I shall have my revenge."

"But it's a toy lizard!" Lucy exclaimed, holding up the lizard by its tail, it swayed in her hold lifelessly. Susan blinked. It was made of rubber.

"That's all the worse!" Susan shrieked, and then sighed. "I guess I can forgive you this once. I'm just excited to see home. And our brothers. Do you think Edmund is—"

Lucy came up beside her, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Trust in Aslan, sister."

"I don't have your faith, Lu. Nor your courage. But I believe He won't take him from us. Not yet."

Lucy nodded. "How do you think Peter is—"

"Bad, I can say. I just hope Orieus didn't let him do anything stupid." She turned to her sister. "How are our guests?"

Lucy sighed in exasperation. "Well, they're all well, except, you know, Princess Selene. She's been sea-sick ever since we set sail. But she's just as determined to meet Peter. Although I don't think Peter would share the sentiment, especially with Ed that sick."

Susan smiled, gripping the railing more tightly. "Selene has a good spirit, sister. Maybe she'll be the one to finally claim our brother."

Lucy's laugh echoed throughout the ship; Noricheep looked at her suspiciously. "Hardly, Su. He has enough to worry about. I mean, with the three of us, and a Kingdom to rule and defend."

"He's twenty-one, Lucy. He has to get married someday," replied Susan, rather sharply.

"If you think that, you don't know him very well." Susan raised an eyebrow at her sister's claim. Lucy turned to face the sea. "He doesn't need a second family. None of us do. I don't want to get married, nor do our brothers, I know. What of you?"

Susan cleared her throat. "Narnia needs an heir."

"No, Su. When we die, all four of us, Aslan will crown someone else in our place. Only He has the power to do so." Lucy turned to her again. "You wish to marry?"

Susan pursed her lips. "I don't know, Lu. One day, maybe. As long as I don't have to leave you three. You'd kill each other in a day without me."

"'Tis true, dear sister," Lucy chuckled, braiding her golden hair. A few strands fell over the side of her face, brushing against her fair skin. Susan smiled. At sixteen, her sister was a true beauty.

"I'm glad you do not wish to marry, sister. It would not be fair to the ones you reject."

Lucy laughed.

And then came a horrible shriek from the cabins below deck. Susan and Lucy exchanged one look before hurrying off into the direction of the terrible scream. The boat rocked, and Susan and Lucy supported themselves against the wooden walls, tracing the length of the hallways, following the screams.

When they reached the cabin that served as their source, Lucy giggled.

"Oh, the Queens Susan and Lucy, thank heavens you're here! 'Tis a terrible monster, trying to invade my rooms! You must immediately send for help! Go now!"

Lucy couldn't stifle her loud chuckles. Susan gave her a nudge and walked to the flustered Princess. Giving Rosel a consoling look, she sent the minotaur out of the cabin. Helping the Princess sit on her bed, she said, "He wasn't a monster but a minotaur, Princess Selene. He's the ship's captain. I thought you had already met him."

Selene blinked at her and then glanced at the still laughing Lucy. "But he had a…bull's head."

"Why, yes, he does. Hence the name minotaur."

Selene gulped, glaring at Lucy who was now clutching to her stomach, wiping her eyes. "I apologise, Queen Susan. I did not know that Narnia was inhabited by such…magical creatures."

Lucy had finally managed to stop laughing. She said, "It is of no matter. I see you've recovered from the sea-sickness."

Selene blushed. "It seems I have, Majesty."

"Oh, think of us as your sisters, Selene. I'm Lucy and she's Susan."

"Yes, Lucy," Selene smiled. "How much farther is Narnia?"

"I do think we're already here," Susan said. "Are you nervous?" she asked when the Princess bowed her head, looking down at her hands which rested on her lap.

"I haven't seen a man as handsome as your royal brother, the High King." Lucy coughed, but she was ignored by the Princess. "But I hardly think I am a match."

"Oh, he would be pleased to see you, Selene. Come now. Let's see Narnia."

Bedsheet still in hand, Peter staggered through the hallways, shuddering when he saw the shadows. They seemed so big, so scary, ready to eat you.

"Ahhh!" he exclaimed, sprinting to the more lit part of the corridor, scared of his own thoughts.

A large door, glimmering in the grey light, caught his eye. And he stopped, turned and gazed at it with an open mouth. He propped up on his toes and tried reaching for the doorknob with one hand, the other was still clutching the bedsheet. His fingers swiped past the cold metal, but he couldn't reach it. He tried to get taller by standing higher up on his toes, but no avail. So, he jumped. Once. And twice. And—

"Gotcha!" Peter exclaimed when the door swung open.

Entering the room, he could stare with a gaping mouth and wide eyes.

"Peter! Peter!" Edmund shouted, cupping his mouth.

"Peter!"

He had trekked back his chambers when the council had dispersed. On a grim note, he might add. Mr Tumnus had found naught. In the great library of Cair, after reading hundreds of books, of magic and of history, Mr Tumnus had found absolutely nothing. No spell. No incantation. No curse. No kind of magic that could de-age someone. Edmund was pretty sure he'd made up the word. And he was rather proud of it, so to say.

"Peter!" Edmund yelled, striding through the shadowed hallways.

His room was empty. Gone was Peter and with him, the bedsheet. It was curious. But Edmund hadn't given it much thought. But the possibility that his brother had been taken revolved in his mind. The fell knew. If the wolf had known, then surely his mates did, too. Edmund had prayed against it, but he could not deny it.

"PETER!" Edmund screamed, rousing all those who hadn't awoken yet, even when the morning light had touched the sky. "Peter, please!"

His knees crumbled under the weight of his worry and sank down. "Please. Oh, Aslan, please!"

"Edmund!"

Edmund's head snapped up. He fluttered his eyes. And stared.

"Edmund! Oh, are you crying? I didn't mean to! I swear I didn't. I didn't mean to break it. The armour, I mean. Please, please, don't cry. If you do, I'll start crying, too! I don't like to see grown-ups cry. When mum cries, I cry, too. Please, Edmund, please don't cry. I'll fix it. I swe—"

Peter oomphed when Edmund pulled him in for a rib-crushing hug.

"You bloody idiot! Why would you wander off like that?"

"Edmund?"

Edmund sniffed. "Yeah?"

"Mum says that's not a nice word."

Edmund chuckled. "No, it's not, Peter. Don't ever use it, alright? I was just scared, that's why—"

Peter pulled away, his eyes showing pure bafflement. "You were?!"

"Everyone's scared sometimes, Peter. I was scared I'd lost you."

Peter tilted his head. "What do you mean?"

"You know; I was afraid that I wouldn't ever see you again."

"Why did that scare you?" Peter asked, eyes twinkling.

Edmund smiled. "Because I love you."

"You do?"

He chuckled. "Yes, Peter. More than anything."

Peter gave an innocent smile and hugged him again, wrapping his small arms around his waist. His fingers didn't meet. "I love you, too! But not more than Eddie."

Edmund kissed his hair. "I understand," he said, laughing uncontrollably.

"Oh, your Majesties, it's wonderful!" exclaimed Selene, admiring the castle of Cair Paravel with wide eyes.

Lucy came up beside her. "What did I tell you, Selene? Lucy and Susan, please."

Selene flushed and nodded. "If it will please him, may I go see the High King now?"

"Peter!"

Lucy and Susan both felt the weight on their hearts lift to hear Edmund's voice.

"Peter, come back here!"

Susan grabbed her hand, squeezing it. She smiled at her sister, sharing the relief.

"PETER!"

Lucy thought she saw a small figure skitter down the hallway, passing the room in a second, giving them only a glimpse. Following him, Edmund ran down the same path but stopped abruptly to see his sisters and Selene standing in the Great Hall.

"Susan! Lucy!" he exclaimed, hurrying towards them with open arms. The sisters threw themselves at their brother, making him stumble and laugh.

"I do need to breathe, dear sisters!"

They both giggled, drawing apart. Then they gazed around. Lucy blinked. "Where's Peter? You were shouting for him just now—"

"Ed?"

Lucy looked past Edmund and jumped in sheer delight. "Oh! Oh! He's so cute!"

"Lu—"

But Lucy was already kneeling beside the boy—who was blinking at her. He looked every bit of an Archenlander. Hair even yellower than Lucy's (not to mention shinier), blue eyes packed with mischief, and a sound smile tugging at the corner of his red lips. Lucy had never seen a child so adorable.

"What's your name?"

"Peter!"

Lucy blinked.

"Uh…Lu?" Edmund said from behind.

"What's yours?" Peter asked.

"I'm Lucy."

"That's my baby sister's name!" She heard Susan gasp and Edmund chuckle behind her. Lucy only blinked again. "She sleeps and sleeps and sleeps and never wakes up! Oh, and she cries a lot! Mum says she only cries when she's hungry, but I think—"

Peter rambled on, and Lucy turned back to Edmund. "Is he really—"

"Behold, the High King of Narnia!"

"NO!" Selene screamed, making Peter cover his ears and Edmund flinch away. Susan and Lucy exchanged looks.

Peter walked to his brother; Edmund pulled him close.

Lucy knew it was intended to be a whisper, but they could all hear him. "Ed, is that lady…disturbed?"

Edmund choked, and Susan and Lucy held their breaths to avoid laughing. "No! Peter, that's rude! Apologise to her this instant!"

Peter looked hesitant, but said, "I'm sorry."

"No! What game is this, sovereigns of Narnia? Why would you say that child is your brother, a grown man? A man I love?"

"What?" Edmund exclaimed.

"This is foolery! Treachery! You have taken my love from me! My father will not be pleased to hear of this."

Lucy saw Peter shift closer to Edmund, tugging at his sleeve. "Edmund? Can we go? That lady is scary."

Edmund chuckled. "That lady claims she loves you, Peter."

Peter blinked. "She does?"

"Why don't you go kiss her?"

Lucy did not even try to suppress her snicker. Susan, too, was giggling softly, observing everything from a silent corner.

Peter took small steps towards Selene. The Princess only blinked at him. Then he took her hand, gracefully brought it to his lips, and kissed it. Selene blushed and knelt in front of Peter.

"You are adorable. Will you tell me where the real High King is?"

"You mean Edmund's brother?" Peter asked, eyes shining.

"Yes."

"I don't know. Edmund never told me."

Selene only growled in frustration. The rest chuckled. Edmund had a lot to explain.

To be continued...

Author's note: This chapter gave me a lot of trouble. It did not want to be finished. I did rush it a little, and it's not my best. But I really wanted to update today. Especially because I was so glad my tests went well! Do tell me what you think!