Disclaimer: I own nothing!
Authoresses Note: So we're almost finished, but not quit. I've still got a few more chapters in store. I already have a sequel planned out too! And a sequel for that sequel! Basically... this thing is going ALOT farther than I originally planned. But I promise that the sequel's will be better, and possibly longer! So enjoy! And review! They'll help me finish this one quicker!
The Return
Chapter 13
Edmunds POV
As we reached the river, I knew something wasn't right. I could see half of the Telmarine army facing us, the other half starring at the other side of the river. Peter and I exchanged a confused glance.
"CHARGE!" came a cry on the other side of the Telmarines. But they started moving away from us. Did that mean retreat?
A moment later a loud roar pierced through the silence.
"Aslan." I whispered, and I heard Alex whisper the same.
After a few seconds, the sounding of crashing water caught my attention. I looked further up the river only to see a giant nyad forming. He stared down at the Telmarines before ripping the bridge up. We watched him eat the bridge, and the last soldier that remained on the bridge... Lord Sopespian. I snickered to myself.
Before I could stop her, Alex dove into the water. I followed suit, my eyes set on Aslan and Lucy and I heard the other's following. We each arrived on the other side about the same time. I was beaming, I could feel it, but I didn't care. But instead of saying anything, I bowed.
"Rise, Kings and Queens of Narnia." I heard Aslan say.
I looked up and stood. Though when I looked down, Caspian had yet to stand.
"All of you." Aslan said.
This made Caspian look up. "I do not think I am ready." he stated.
"And it is for that very reason that means you are." Aslan said.
Caspian gave a slight nod of his head and stood.
A moment later the sound of music filled my ears. I looked down and saw a parade of mice. They had a stretcher carrying... Reepicheep! He must have been injured.
Lucy rushed forward and gave him a drop of her cordial. And after a moment he sat up.
"Oh, thank you." he said looking up at Lucy.
She looked up at me a grinned. I smiled back at her before Reepicheep caught my attention again.
"Hail, Aslan" he said with a bow, but he tripped forward. It was then I realized he didn't have a tail! "Oh! I am completely out of countenance!" Reepicheep exclaimed, holding his rear as if it would fall off as well, and backing away.
"It befits you well, small one." Aslan said.
"It's not just that. It's also good for balance." Reepicheep said before looking back up at Lucy "Perhaps just a drop more."
"I don't think it does that." Lucy replied sadly.
"You never know." Reepicheep shrugged, looking hopeful.
"If you don't mind, your majesty, we could never bare the shame of our chief." another mouse stood up, holding his sword to his tail.
"Not for your honor, but for the love of your people." Aslan said.
Reepicheep was giving Him a funny look when his tail suddenly grew back! He grabbed it and bowed to Aslan. "I shall treasure it always!" he exclaimed.
Aslan then looked up at Alex and I. "Well done, my son and daughter." He said with a small bow of His head.
Alex slipped her hand into mine and together we bowed our heads toward Him.
Aslan then looked at Lucy. "Now, where is this Dear Little Friend you were telling me about?" He asked.
Susan smothered a giggle and I had to look down to keep from laughing. Peter was smiling as well, but Caspian and Alex looked utterly confused. But when Trumpkin stepped up, Caspian snorted and Alex giggled.
"Dear Little Friend indeed." Caspian muttered to me.
"Don't look at me, Susan and Lucy came up with it." I whispered back.
"Though you had a hand in it." Peter said with a smirk.
"I urged it on, yes." I smirked.
"Much to Trumpkin's distress." Lucy giggled.
"You mean the DLF's distress." I said.
Here Trumpkin sent me a glare. Aslan roared right in Trumpkin's face, causing him to jump. Caspian jumped as well.
"Do you see him now?" Lucy asked.
Trumpkin rolled his eyes and sighed.
"I'll take that as a yes." Alex said.
Lucy giggled and looked up at Peter. "So, you believe me now don't you?" she smirked.
"Yes, Lucy." Peter replied with a smile.
"I knew we should have believed..." but I was cut off by Alex's sudden gasp. It wasn't a normal one either, it was a painful one. "Alex?" I asked when she gripped her stomach. She pulled her hand back to reveal blood. The graze! Lucy gasped and pulled the cork of her cordial, but Alex stopped her with a wave of her hand. "As long as I can stand and fight you, I am not taking that cordial." she said.
"Well, you should let me clean it." Lucy said.
"No Lucy, I plan on letting it get infected." Alex smirked, letting us know she was joking. Lucy rolled her eyes and put her cordial back in it's respective spot.
"Are you sure it's not life threatening?" I asked.
"Positive. To me or the twins." she replied.
"TWINS!" Susan and Lucy exclaimed.
"Twins!" I grinned.
Susan gasped, a wide grin on her face and Lucy squealed with delight, hugging me like there was no tomorrow. "Congratulations!" though it was muffled thanks to my armor.
"My baby brother is going to be the father of twins!" Susan exclaimed hugging me tight even though Lucy was still leached to me.
"Girls, I'm falling backwards! Girls! Let go!" I exclaimed, but it was too late.
The three of us fell back into the water. Well, acctually Lucy was getting a thorough wetting for the first time, but still. I spit some water out, giving both of them a dry look. I could hear both Alex and Peter laughing at us.
"Oh shut up." I snapped.
"Ed! You look hilarious!" Alex laughed.
"Oh yes. A King of Narnia, in armor, bloody from battle, soaking wet, sitting in a river, with his two sister's leached onto him, I FEEL SO DIGNIFIED!" I joked.
This only caused them to laugh harder. By now Caspian was joining in, and many of the Narnians, and Telmarines, were looking.
"Alright, get off!" I said to Susan and Lucy.
"You've never been one to be mushy." Lucy said letting go.
"I don't know. He get's pretty mushy with me." Alex smirked.
Lucy made a face, to which I laughed at. "And that stays between us." I said to Alex.
"I'd rather it stay between you two." Peter said patting her on the arm.
"Same here!" Susan said, standing up in the water.
She then helped Lucy up. It took both of them to help pull me up, but with a bit of a struggle we were both on our feet. Peter stuck his hand out to help me out of the water. I grabbed it and he pulled.
"Oh dear Aslan your getting heavy!" he exclaimed.
Caspian laughed and helped pull Susan and Lucy out. "Thanks for helping my sister, by the way." Lucy said hugging Caspian.
He had a slightly shocked expression. Apparently he wasn't used to signs of affection.
"Um, your welcome." he replied.
Susan laughed and hugged him as well. Now he looked utterly confused.
"Hey Pete, I dare you to hug him." I whispered.
"That would really mess him up." Peter said with a smirk walking over to him. Alex covered her mouth to suppress a giggle as Caspian found himself in a tight group hug. She soon joined in on it though.
"I hate to be the one left out." I laughed joining in.
"Please tell me you don't do this often." Caspian said, though we could tell he was joking.
"Oh every day." I smirked.
"Dear Aslan, I hope not." he laughed.
"Well we don't, but as long as we're here prepare for a hug from Lucy, at least. She makes sure everyone's greeted with a nice big bear hug, don't you Lu?" I said.
"Yep!" she replied happily, still smushed between Susan and Caspian.
Peter laughed. "And don't be surprised if she wakes you up, practically jumping on you." he said.
"Oh Aslan, that's always the worst!" I exclaimed. Finally everyone let go.
"And just for that, you'll be getting a wake up call in the morning." Lucy said poking her finger on my chest making me back up.
I stuck my hands up and glanced up at Alex, a smirk on my face. "You sure you want to do that Lu?" I asked.
She opened her mouth but closed it. "Nevermind." she muttered, turning red.
Alex laughed at this and leaned against me. I could tell she was extremely tired by now.
"To the castle?" Caspian asked, noticing that everyone now seemed tired.
"Yes please." Alex said with a yawn.
"Yes, if we are to get back before the sun set's." Susan said.
"The first thing I plan on doing is taking a long hot bath." Peter said his eyes glazing over as he stared in the distance.
"I think I'll take a nap." Lucy yawned.
"I think Peter was onto something when he said bath. Then a nap would be very welcome." Susan said.
"The first thing I'm going to do... EAT!" I said. This made everyone laugh.
"Still the bottomless pit, I see." Alex teased poking my stomach.
"I'm a teenager, sue me." I said.
"Yes, the growing boy needs nutrition." Lucy said pinching my cheeks. I gave her a dry look and she backed away.
"Back to the castle." Aslan anounced firmly. Destrier came up to Caspian. A horse named Kimer said he would take Alex and I. Lucy was now leaning against Peter, her eyes barely open. So a horse named Harnor offered to take them. And after finding no other horse willing, Susan consented to riding with Caspian. It would seem redudant if they were the only two riding seperately anyway. And that boy that had shown up, Eric is his name, found a horse that was willing to let him ride. And once everyone was mounted up, we set off towards the castle.
"So who's this Eric boy?" I asked after a while.
"Hmm?" Alex mumbled sleepily.
"Eric? Who is he?" I asked.
She yawned. "He's my brother. I'm still not sure how he got here." she said.
"I knew he looked like you." I said.
"He's 2 years older than me. He's alot like Peter... without the arrogant attitude." she said.
"I heard that." Peter muttered.
I snorted. "So he means no harm." I asked.
"Nope, he's harmless." she yawned.
"But I won't be if you even think about hurting my baby sister." Eric spoke up.
"I have no intentions of doing that." I replied. I pulled my arms tighter around her and she had soon fallen asleep.