Disclaimer - I don't own Narnia nor any of the characters. This marvellous world belongs to C S Lewis.
Recap:-
"You better run, you little troll!"
"Ed! Save me!" Lucy shrieked as her eldest siblings slowly advanced with wiggling fingers, promising a thorough tickling once they had her in their grasp. She started wriggling out of her brother's arms, struggling frantically to escape his iron hold.
Edmund looked down at her and then at his older siblings, shrugged his shoulders and loosened his hold on his little sister. He was never the one to pass up some free entertainment. He adjusted himself in his cosy blankets and then flopped down on his fluffy pillows, fully ready to watch a cat and mouse chase.
"I am going to get you, Lu!" Peter said with a mischievous grin as he got out of bed from the other side. Lucy shrieked and ran out of the bed chamber but just as she was about to escape through the huge double doors, the High King swooped upon her like an eagle and picked her up in his arms.
"You cheeky little monkey, you couldn't make your presence known before you scared the wits out of me and Su?" Peter asked humourously, his eyes gleaming with a rare, but well known boyish glint. He took his squeaking, wiggling bundle back to where the middle siblings were waiting for them. The nineteen year old dropped down onto the bed and started blowing raspberries in her dainty neck.
The youngest Pevensie shrieked with laughter at the tickling sensation and tried to get away from him but to no avail, for the High King's arms were like an steel trap around her.
"Peter, please stop! Pretty please stop!" Lucy begged, tears of laughter in her eyes while Susan and Edmund just looked on, laughing gently at her flushed face and messy hair. The High King finally stopped, allowing her to gulp in some much needed air. He looked down adoringly at her and unable to resist, bent down and kissed her soft rosy cheek.
"Just like when you were a baby." He murmured in a soft voice, lost in fond memories of the past. His mind took him back to the years when Lucy was a toddler, all bright eyed and full of giggles and Edmund, a cheeky and mischievous child, too curious for his own good. He distinctly remembered the nursery on the upper floor of their Finchley house, where he and Susan had spent many a hours playing with their younger siblings.
"ete? Peter?" came Edmund's voice to his ears and he shook his head to come out of the old memories, a slight smile on his lips.
"Are you okay?" Susan asked him and her eyes shone with concern as she had a fairly accurate idea about what he was thinking.
"Yeah, I am okay, love." He said, kissing the side of her head and she gave an understanding nod.
"Lu, let's go and get dressed." Susan said, turning her motherly gaze to her little sister, who immediately shook her head and buried her face in her eldest brother's warm neck.
" 'S too cold." She mumbled, nuzzling even closer to Peter who hugged her little body in a snug embrace. " Lucy, sweetheart, you will feel better after a warm bath. How about I give you a piggyback ride till your chambers?" the High King asked, gently stroking her hair.
At the mention of a piggyback ride, the youngest queen immediately pulled back, her eyes bright.
" Shall I take that as a yes?" Peter said, laughing as he jostled her lightly in his hold before cuddling her again.
" She has got you wrapped around her finger." Susan mumbled as she got out of bed and wrapped her thick robe around her. Her older brother simply smiled and secured his youngest sibling on his broad back before jogging out of Edmund's chambers.
"Come, I will escort you." Edmund said with a huge yawn. He held out his arm for her and she took it, interlinking their hands together while shaking her head at his lack of manners. Her younger brother dropped her off till her chambers before going off to his own.
When she reached her bath chambers, her lady in waiting was already there with a hot bath drawn up for her. She quickly shed her robe and nightgown and submerged herself into the warm water, sighing happily as it relaxed her muscles.
Her lady in waiting, a dryad named Arielle, started massaging her long dark hair with jasmine oil and she closed her eyes at the soothing sensation.
After about twenty minutes, she dressed herself in a lavender coloured gown, one of her thicker and warmer dresses to keep herself warm in the biting winds.
Arielle quickly and efficiently did her hair, braiding the thick silky strands with fresh moondrops; a fragrant white flower with numerous petals which only grew in low temperatures.
Once she was done, Susan thanked her and regally swept out of her chambers and made her way to the royals' personal dining room, a small chamber some ways off the monarchs' private wing.
When she entered the room, she saw that her siblings were already seated on comfortable cushions arranged around the low circular table in the centre of the chamber. Breakfast was already served so she quickly took the empty seat next to Peter, arranging her skirts around her.
"Bread rolls, Su?" Edmund offered, holding out the nearly empty bread basket to her while gobbling down his own roll.
"Sometimes I wonder how do you manage to eat so fast." Susan said, shaking her head with amusement.
" That's what I used to ask myself everyday, love. But then I found out that the answer to this question is simple; I am a growing boy." Edmund said with his usual smirk.
Upon hearing his answer, Lucy giggled while the two older siblings looked at each other with exasperation written all over their faces at his cheekiness.
"Are you sure that you will be warm enough?" Peter asked anxiously, looking up at his little sister who was seated on the back of her horse. He reached up and wrapped a thick woollen shawl securely around her slender frame.
"I will be fine, Peter. I promise." Lucy said with a bright smile. Sighing, the High King pressed a kiss to the back of her hand before mounting his own horse, a dark brown muscular steed. With a click of his tongue, the horse broke into a steady gallop.
The morning air was crisp and the monarchs breathed in deeply, enjoying its freshness. The kings were slightly ahead of their sisters, leading the way to the lagoon they had discovered a few days ago while on a ride by themselves. It was a little further away from Cair Paravel, hidden amongst the rocky cliffs that guarded part of the coastline.
They rode on steadily for about twenty minutes, before the kings slowed down and finally halted.
"Are we there?" Lucy asked excitedly as she immediately scrambled off her steed when she saw her brothers dismounting their own.
"Yes, come on, just a few minutes away." Edmund said, grinning at her excitement. The two brothers lead their sisters to a particularly uneven part of the cliffs which was covered in thick foliage. As soon as they reached a specific spot, Edmund walked forward and disappeared through some dense bushes. The queens, with an encouraging nod from their older brother, followed him and when they came through they couldn't believe their eyes. It was the most beautiful place that they had ever seen. The whole ground was covered with sweet smelling moondrops which glowed wanly under the early morning sun, the part of the sea entering the lagoon was calm with gentle waves breaking on the soft mud.
As if in a trance, the two queens moved forward while looking around in wonder, their eyes feasting on the gorgeous sight. With bright, happy laughter, they skipped through the fallen moondrops, exploring the various ancient trees surrounding them.
Their two brothers watched them from behind, their own lips curving up into broad smiles at the pure and innocent happiness on their sisters' faces.
They felt so incredibly lucky to have them and once again, they mentally thanked Aslan for blessing them with their most precious treasures.
A few minutes later, Lucy ran up to them and hugged them tightly around their waists before jumping up and giving them a big kiss on each of their cheeks. While Susan, who had patiently waited for her turn, took their hands in her slender ones and pressed soft kisses to their palms. The kings had simply smiled and brought them closer to themselves.
The four stood in a line, looking out to the sea with a steadfast gaze and at the moment, they had never felt Aslan's presence so profoundly.
Across the Great Eastern ocean, a magnificent golden lion stood beyond the Silver Sea, his great head facing the west.
"It is well met, my dear ones. Very well met, indeed." He said his rich deep voice, feeling the pure and sincere prayers of his chosen ones.
Phew!! That was a hard one to write!! I wrote and rewrote it so many times that I simply lost count!!
Well, hope you enjoy the chapter and do keep on reviewing. I would love to know what all of you think.
Cheers!!!