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Authoresses Note: We're coming closer to the ending! As always, please review! They feed me inspiration!
The Return
Chapter 14
Alexs POV
"Call me when you get out, if you want me to bandage you up." Lucy said.
"I will. Thanks Lu." I said.
"No problem." she smiled "I mean really, how many times have you bandaged me up when I couldn't do it myself."
"More times than I'd like to admit." I sighed.
"We just could not stay out of trouble, could we?" she laughed.
"It never ended. Talk about partners in crime." I said laughing along.
"More like partners in goodness." she said.
"Yeah, that's it." I said.
She stepped into the bedroom, leaving me in the bathroom. I pulled the leather corset off that was holding the chain mail together, and gasped as sudden pain rushed to the wound.
"You alright?" Lucy called.
"Yeah, fine." I replied.
I carefully pulled the chain mail off. I tossed it to the side, sighing with relief as the weight was off my shoulder's. I looked at the welcoming steaming water and smiled. I knew the water would sting the wound, but after I got used to it, it would be no problem. When it came to pulling my dress of, I found I must have bled quit a bit considering I pretty much had to peel my dress off my mid section. But once below my waist it slid off easily.
I slipped into the water and bit my lip as the water hit the wound. But sure enough, it adjusted and I found myself not wanting to get out. I held my breathe and ducked under the water, wetting my hair.
When I came back up, I nearly screamed as I noticed someone was in the room.
"Hello." Edmund smirked.
"Edmund! I'm going to murder you!" I yelled.
"Why?" he asked.
"You scared the crap out of me! That's why!" I exclaimed.
I heard Lucy burst out laughing. Apparently she was still in the bedroom.
I sucked in my breathe and glared at Edmund. "What are you doing in here anyway?" I asked.
"Nothing." he smirked leaning against the wall.
"Ok, I know we're married, but seriously, this is ridiculous." I said, relaxing again.
"I'm just making sure no one tries to attack you like someone did Susan." he said seriously.
"What?!" I exclaimed.
"When Susan was taking her bath, a Telmarine that had taken a liking to her had hid in her bathroom. Peter, and I got in there just in time. Thankfully she was wrapped in a towel." he said.
"Thankfully." I repeated, glancing around the room.
"Needless to say, Peter's already stationed in Lucy's bedroom for when she takes a bath." Edmund said.
"If he thinks he's gonna be allowed in the bathroom, he's got another thing coming." Lucy said from the bedroom.
"No, but he will stay in the bedroom. Just in case." Edmund replied.
"He can stay there, but only there." Lucy said.
"Maybe guards should stay at Susan's door tonight." I suggested.
"Peter's already said he'll be sleeping in her room, whether he has to sleep on the floor or not." Edmund snorted.
"I wouldn't doubt he would." I said.
After a minute I finished and reached for my towel, but Edmund grabbed it. "Ed..." I warned.
"You gotta reach for it." he said pulling away.
"Edmund!" I exclaimed.
"Need some help?" Lucy called.
"Yes please." I said settling down in the water again.
A moment later Edmund was in the floor, in Lucy's deadly head lock. "Release the towel." she warned. He handed her the towel and she handed it to me.
"Thank you." I said as she walked from the room.
"Your welcome." she called back. I pulled the towel around me and stepped out of the tub. A moment later Edmund was staring at me, eyes wide.
"What?" I asked.
"Your bleeding again." he said, turning deathly pale. I looked down and saw a spot of blood forming on the towel. "Lucy, you better come bandage her up... and quick!" Edmund called.
She rushed in and gasped. "Sure you don't want my cordial?" she asked.
"Positive." I replied. Edmund clasped his hand over his mouth and walked out. "So much for 'able to handle blood'." I said.
"I can handle seeing blood... just not yours." he replied.
"Awe that's sweet." I said.
"Really, cause I feel like I could throw up." he said.
"Just bandage me up, Luce." I said looking at Lucy.
She nodded and once I was nice and bandaged up, I pulled a light Narnian dress on. I didn't care about Telmarine dresses, and was trying to avoid it as long as possible.
I felt a bit weak, probably from blood loss, but managed to eat supper before making my way back up to bed. Edmund still had to take a bath. I figured I would go on to bed anyway, but found I couldn't get to sleep. After a while, Edmund climbed into bed, pulling me tight into his arms. I rested my head on his chest. I instantly felt safer than I had felt in a long time. And within seconds, now that I had my knight in shining armor, I was asleep.
"We haven't had girl time in a long time!" Susan laughed.
"It's quit interesting having it this way." Lucy said.
"At least the creek's wide enough." I said.
We were currently walking across a shallow creek, barefoot, basically just taking in each other's company. We hadn't done this in a long time, and even so, it was usually riding, or archery, or something.
"Are you feeling alright today?" Susan asked me.
"I'm a bit tired. But the bleeding has stopped. So unless it starts again, I'll be fine." I replied.
"Good." she said with a smile.
As we walked along, I felt a sudden poke in my stomach. "Ah!" I exclaimed looking down. It wasn't painful, but I hadn't felt that before.
"Alex?" Lucy asked.
I felt the poke again. And a second later again. After a moment I realized what was happening. "The baby's are kicking!" I exclaimed happily.
Grins spread across both Susan and Lucy's faces. "Oh, can I feel?" Lucy asked.
I nodded and she put her hand on my stomach. She grinned wider a second later. "I felt them!" she exclaimed.
Lucy moved so Susan could feel. "Oh this is so exciting!" she exclaimed.
"I've got to go tell Ed!" I exclaimed sprinting up the bank.
"We'll see you at supper." Susan called.
I was too excited to reply and continued my jog. I heard the clang of swords on the training field and followed the sound. I saw Edmund and Eric fighting, more like Edmund gaining a wonderful advantage as Eric got the hang of using a sword.
My thoughts turned for a moment from the kicking children in my womb to a prank that would mess my older brother up... big time. Edmund could wait just a few more minutes. This was a once in a chance lifetime.
Silently, I grabbed a sword, tested it in my hand to make sure it would fit my style. I smirked to myself as I approached. Eric had his back to me, but Edmund could see me full well. I gave him a nod of my head and he smirked. Eric was obviously caught up in the fight. So after a moment, Edmund stepped away and I stepped in. Eric didn't even truely notice the change of spar partners. But when I tripped him and held the sword not but a few inches away from his neck, he looked up at me with wide eyes. My hair was dangling down, but that just made it all the more victorious. Let everyone know Alex Pevensie has defeated her older brother!
"Now would be the time to apologize for all those mean pranks when we were kids." I said.
"I'm sorry." he said quickly, and Edmund burst out laughing.
I put the sword aside and reached my hand down to Eric. "Come on. It can't be that bad loosing to me. I've had years of pracise where you've had... a day. You'll be able to beat me, soon enough." I said reassuringly. He took my hand and I helped him stand.
"Now, I'm sure you didn't just come here to prank your brother, what's going on. You looked really excited when you came up." Edmund broke in.
My face lit up once more. Instead of replying verbally, I grabbed his hand, placing it on my stomach. A moment later his eyes went wide. "That was..."
"Our baby's." I whispered excitedly.
"Their..."
"Kicking!" I exclaimed louder.
He picked me up and spun me around. "I can't believe this is acctually happening!" he exclaimed putting me down, now settling for holding me tight in his arms.
"It's happening, Edmund. It's really happening." I breathed onto his neck.
"Sorry to break up a... lovely moment here but... can I feel. I am the uncle after all." Eric said.
I pulled away from Edmund and nodded, the wide grin still plastered on my face.
"What's going on?" Peter and Caspian walked forward, but Peter was the one who voiced the question.
"In a second." I grabbed Eric's hand and placed it on my stomach. He had a bland expression for a moment, but after a few seconds he yelped and pulled his hand back. I snorted. "Well?" I asked.
"It kicked me." he said.
"Well they kicked me too, and I'm the dad so what does that tell you."
"Shut up, Ed." I said, holding back my laughter.
"The baby's?" Peter asked, though it was a statement, not a question. I nodded my head eagerly, feeling joy beyond words. I took his hand and placed it on my stomach. His reaction was much better than Eric's.
A smile spread across his face, but he remained calm. "I can't tell you how happy I am for you two." he said glancing between Edmund and I.
"Thanks Pete" I said hugging him tight.
"And Ed, your not in trouble, but I would like to talk to you alone." Peter said to Edmund.
"Goodie." Edmund mumbled.
When I let go of Peter, I looked over at Caspian. "You want to feel the twins?" I asked.
He smiled and nodded, but he had yet to say a word. I took his hand and placed it on my stomach. After a few seconds he smiled.
"It seems so strange." he said.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"I mean, I know of everything, but pregnancy is just a strange thing to me. Like a... little miracle." he said.
"That's basically what it is." I said stepping beside Edmund.
"Two little miracles in our case." Edmund beamed.
"Speaking of little miracles, I need to speak to this little miracle." Peter said pulling Edmund off.
"Since when am I a little miracle?" Edmund asked, confused. "Well... I could take this any number of ways... but I won't. I'm supposing mum never told you." Peter said.
"About what?" Edmund nearly snapped.
"Well, it was a bit of a difficult pregnancy..." but that's all I heard before Peter and Edmund rounded the corner. At least that's all I could make out. I was nearly tempted to follow, but it was most likely brother time, and they most likely wouldn't continue whatever they were originally talking about.
"Alex, can I talk to you?" Eric asked.
"Sure, of course." I replied. I pulled him towards the gardens, waiting for him to talk.
"There's something you need to know..." he sighed.
"What's that?" I asked, becoming concerned.
"It's... well da... I'll tell you when we get home." he sighed.