Chapter 3
Lucy had absolutely no idea what to get her brother for his birthday. Granted, it was usually hard to find a gift for Edmund, if only because he tended to want things that he needed, like socks. Or other boring things, considering that, when she asked him what he wanted, Edmund had suggested that he could use a new pair of scissors. This was decidedly unhelpful.
Her other siblings were no help either. Peter had also suggested a pair of scissors since, apparently, he was tired of Edmund always borrowing his (Lucy told him that, if he was so upset at this, he could be boring and buy Edmund scissors). Susan was equally unhelpful, saying that Edmund would love whatever she gave him just because it was from her. While Lucy knew this was true, she still wanted to give him something meaningful.
Especially after the past summer. Though she and Edmund had returned to Narnia for the third time, this time with their cousin Eustace, they had both been told by Aslan that they would not be allowed back again. While she knew Edmund had accepted Aslan's decree with his usual calm dignity, Lucy also knew that he was slightly depressed over the thought of never seeing Narnia again, even if he could find Aslan in England. She knew, because she felt the same way.
And birthdays were always hard, having already gone through them once before, and they brought back memories of years past. Therefore, Lucy dearly wanted to give her brother something to cheer his soul, to remind him that he would always be King Edmund no matter where he lived, to tell him she loved him. She just did not know what that gift was.
By the time Edmund's birthday arrived, Lucy still did not have a present. It was frustrating and worrisome, and she spent a good two hours walking through the market, praying to Aslan that she could find something to give her brother. Soon it was late afternoon, and Lucy resigned herself to having to go with her backup plan. She walked into a clothing shop and was browsing their collection of scissors when it caught her eye.
Turning, she bent closer to get a better look. Her breath caught. It was perfect. With a quick prayer of thanks, she hurried to make her purchase and raced home to be in time for dinner.
.
After supper, the four children gathered in the boys' room. Their parents had already given Edmund his birthday gifts (Mr. Pevensie had given him a book on law that Edmund had been practically salivating over. Mrs. Pevensie had bought him, not only scissors, but a stapler and a very nice pen.). The children, though, preferred to give their gifts by themselves.
Peter went first, as the eldest, grinning as Edmund jabbered excitedly over the intricately-detailed knife that Lucy knew he had scrimped and saved to buy. Susan had sewn a down-pillow for him, each corner embroidered with Edmund's royal seal. Edmund, who tended to view sleep as a science for him to perfect, obviously loved it.
Then it was Lucy's turn. She grinned in excitement as she handed him the small, wrapped box. Edmund unwrapped it carefully, opening the box with patient eagerness. His smile turned puzzled as he saw what the box held. "Um, Lu? Are you sure you didn't give me Susan's present?"
Lucy rolled her eyes. "It's yours, silly. Trust me."
"But…it's a hair ribbon." Peter hid a smile behind his hand at Edmund's pathetically confused voice, while Susan giggled and strained to look at the ribbon that Edmund now held awkwardly in his hand.
This did not daunt Lucy, nor did her smile fade. "The ribbon isn't the point, Ed. Look at the color."
Obedient, Edmund took another look at the ribbon. His confusion was slowly replaced by an understanding smile. The smile turned into a grin. "It's perfect, Lucy. How did you find it?"
Lucy gave him that special smile that always graced her countenance when thinking of one specific being. "Aslan. I wanted to give you something to remind you of Narnia. I saw the ribbon and remembered what you said about the color and I knew that Aslan wanted you to have it, to remind you to always, well, be you."
Edmund looked at the ribbon again, its indigo blue straight out of memory. His mind went back to the past, when he had set that blue and everything it meant as his life's goal. In this world, where blue was a color of grief, it did him good to remember the meaning behind this very shade. Still smiling, Edmund drew his little sister into a tight hug. "You know me too well, Lucy. I'll treasure it always."
Lucy hugged him back just as tightly, happy in his joy. "I know you will. It's your favorite color, after all."
Edmund laughed, a light, happy laugh, and decided that that had earned Lucy a good tickling. Peter and Susan were happy to help, and soon all four were collapsed into a heap of laughing, red-faced children, smiling in their joy at being together.
I thought this chapter should be happy to make up for the sadness of chapter two.
