"Come, we have much to talk about."
As the Kings and Queens led their parents towards the courtyard in silence, the occupants of the courtyard bowed to them. The Kings and Queens led their parents into a separate part of the castle where there was a large dining hall.
"Come this way, Mother," said Susan. "We may sit and talk here." They sat at a smaller table, and a few minutes later came the tea. Helen and Henry were shocked once again, when they saw that the creature carrying the tray of tea and cookies was a beaver.
"Thank you, Mrs. Beaver," Lucy said, with a small nod and smile.
"Of course, my dears," Mrs. Beaver replied. She gave Henry and Helen an encouraging smile and left.
"So, tell me," began Helen, in a rush. "Where are we? Why are you older? Why are you called Kings and Queens?"
"Well," began Edmund. "This is our country of Narnia and we have ruled here for six years."
"Wait, you mean that you're –" Helen began.
"Yes. This is our country of Narnia," Edmund repeated, with a small smile, "but the King of all Kings, Aslan, rules over everything, including us."
"How do you do it?" Henry asked, astonished.
"Do what, Father?" Peter asked, taking a small sip from his tea.
"Rule," Henry said, gesturing wildly. "I mean, I wouldn't know the first thing about ruling a country."
"Well, when we first arrived," Peter began with a chuckle, "we had professors that helped us learn the ways of our country and certain measures and laws that had to be instated. They also helped us live up to our titles."
"Your titles?" Helen asked.
"We each have a title that accompanies our traits," Susan said.
"Which are?"
"Queen Lucy the Valiant," Edmund said, looking kindly at his little sister.
"King Edmund the Just," said Lucy, looking back at her brother lovingly.
"I'm Queen Susan the Gentle," Susan said shyly.
"And High King Peter the Magnificent," the three younger rulers said simultaneously, looking at Peter with love.
"High King?" Henry asked.
"Well, I'm assuming that Aslan called me that because I'm the eldest, but I don't really think about myself as better or more qualified than the others so –" Peter was suddenly interrupted.
"So, what happened?" Helen asked. "How did you get here? Why are you the Kings and Queens instead of someone else? Someone older? Why didn't you come home?" These were all questions the children had expected and so they answered them.
"Lucy, if you please," Peter said, gesturing to his youngest sister.
"Oh, yes, dear sister," Susan began. "So good are you at telling of stories."
"Very well," Lucy said shyly.
"Well, it all began six years ago when we were at the Professor's house in the country. Not much do we remember of the time before then, but we do clearly remember that. I entered a wardrobe while frolicking and I found myself here in Narnia." Lucy continued telling the story in wonderful clarity and with occasional interruptions from the other three when needed. Lucy fell silent however when she reached the moment when Edmund had left for the Witch. She intended to skim over that part and leave much of the turmoil of her brother out of it, but Edmund interjected and looked solemn.
"You soften the truth, Lucy," Edmund muttered. "You call me a wrongdoer, when I was really a traitor."
"Edmund, are you disobeying your own law?" Peter said quietly, trying to infuse some levity into their conversation.
"I suppose," Edmund replied, with a small smile.
"What law?" Helen asked curiously.
"Edmund," Susan began, "passed a law deeming that nobody was to be named a traitor, for no one could do worse than what he himself has done."
"Edmund," Helen said, turning to her son again, "what did you do?"
"I betrayed my family and my country. Granted, it wasn't my country yet, but I still betrayed my family and Aslan. I deserved the punishment wrought upon me by the Witch. I did not deserve the kindness granted to me by Aslan."
"What - what punishment did you get from the Witch?" Henry asked quietly, his heart hurting.
"I was tortured," Edmund revealed. "For weeks." Henry and Helen gasped and both pairs of eyes filled with tears at the revelation.
"My dears?" interrupted a kind voice. It was Mrs. Beaver.
"Yes, Mrs. Beaver?" Edmund replied quietly, please at the interruption.
"I apologize for the interruption, but it is nearly time for your training session with General Oreius, my Kings."
"Oh, thank you very much, Mrs. Beaver," Peter said, standing. "I apologize Mother, Father, but Edmund and I must leave shortly."
"What are you leaving for?" Helen asked.
"Peter and I," began Edmund, swallowing and fixing a small smile on his face, "have weekly training sessions with the general of our armies, General Oreius. You met him earlier. He is always improving our skills."
"You are welcome to attend if you wish," Peter added, as Edmund stood as well.
"I think I'll go with the boys, Helen," Henry said, looking to his wife.
"Alright, I'm going to stay here with the girls," Helen replied, smiling at her daughters.
"Very well, Mother," Peter said. "Come, Father."