'Now come on dear, you don't want to miss your train now do you?' Kardias mother called amongst the hustle of the busy railway. Kardia gripped her mothers hand tightly and pulled herself closer.
'Now, promise me you will keep these on. You will, won't you sweetheart?' her mum referred to the label fastened around her bag strap.
'Of course mum, promise me you'll write?' Kardia questioned, full of hope.
'Now, I won't promise anything, just in the case that something may happen. But when I can, I will my darling. Now come on, off you go!' she pushed her daughter gently toward the train.
'Oh mum!' Kardia turned and embraced her mum tightly into a hug, for she knew this would be the last time she would see her mother in person. The tears started to stream as she pulled away.
'I love you darling, please always remember that. You will Kardie-bug, won't you?' said her mum, using the nickname given to her as a child.
'Forever and always mum, forever and always' Kardia said pulling her mother into a last embrace before boarding the train.
She let go of her mums hand and slowly backed away.
'Tickets' Kardia felt her gaze being drawn to the soldiers, marching through the station. As if in a trance, she watched them. 'Excuse me! Tickets!' as the lady that seemed to be on guard snatched the tickets out of her hand, pulling out of her trance she looked back at her mother once more and smiled.
'Ok, move along now! Move along!' as the queue moved she felt herself being lifted onto the train, by a soldier, not much older than her. She smiled and thanked the Youngman before finding her way into an empty carriage, leaving her luggage on the seat she flew to the window, determined not to miss her mother as the train pulled away.
As her gaze dropped on her mother, she leant out of the window 'Goodbye mum! I love you!' she called loudly, making sure she would be heard.
While the train started to leave the station choruses of 'I love you!' and 'Goodbye!' were heard throughout the tunnel. Once the station was out of site, Kardia slumped into the chair by the window and frowned. She would never see her mother in person anymore.
As a tear fell down her cheek, she didn't realise there were other people walking into the carriage. 'Excuse me, you wouldn't mind us sitting here would you?' said a voice. Unmoving, she shook her head. Her constant view on the window.
'Come on, Lu! Sit down, get some sleep.' the voice spoke softly. 'You too Ed, you look exhausted!'
The seat moved down slightly as somebody sat beside her. Looking up, she looked at the 4 children that were now sitting in the carriage with her. The eldest looking had sandy blonde hair, with bright blue eyes and a beautiful smile. She turned to see who was sitting next to her, and saw it was a little girl not much younger than 10 with short blonde hair and fair skin. A boy huffed 'You can't tell me what to do Peter! You're not dad!' he yelled. The boy had fair skin, much like the little girl with slight freckles on his nose, but very dark hair.
'Edmund! Will you stop it right now?' it was an older girls voice this time. Kardia's eyes fell on a girl not too much younger than herself. She looked so much of the young boy, the hair, the skin, the freckles.
'I'm sorry about this, it's just been a hard time for us all' the girl turned towards Kardia.
Kardia wiped the remaining tears from her face and smiled gently.
'Oh, its alright. Its been a hard time for everybody.' she replied calmly.
'If you don't mind me asking, what's wrong? You seem.. sad.' the older boy said curiously.
'Oh don't worry its noth-' She was cut off abruptly. 'Isn't it obvious? Somebody's obviously died, haven't they?' the young boy said harshly.
'EDMUND! Say you're sorry!' the older girl screeched.
'Don't yell at him, honestly. It's fine, but yes it's.. it's my father. He was killed just last night'. Kardia said truthfully. Before she knew it, she was pulled into a tight but loving hug.
She was grateful for it, as it was the only display of affection she'd had in a long while, not even if it was by a stranger.
'My names Peter, by the way' the person holding her tightly mumbled. He pulled away and smiled.
'These are my two sisters, Susan' he looked at the older one, then at the sleeping child in the corner.
'And that, is Lucy.' he finished looking at the little girl with adoration. Susan picked up his sentence and looked at the younger boy in the corner, drifting off sleepily. 'And he is our younger brother, Edmund.'
Kardia smiled, 'its nice to meet you. I'm Kardia by the way.'
The 3 children smiled at each other as the train fell into a peaceful silence.
As the train pulled up to yet another stop, the 4 siblings started gathering up their things. Kardia took her bag that remained under her seat and placed it in her lap.
'Lucy. Lu. Lulu!' Susan whispered into her little sisters ear, shaking her gently.
Lucy murmured and sat up rubbing her eyes. 'Oh, are we here yet?'
Kardia looked at Lucy and smiled. There was a gleam in the young child's eye, followed by a beaming grin. 'Hello! My names Lucy!' she giggled. Kardia smiled and spoke softly. 'Hello, Lucy. I'm Kardia, its nice to meet you.'
'Are you staying at the professors house too?' Lucy asked hopefully.
Kardia checked her label that was hanging around her bag strap. 'Yes, yes I think I am.' she smiled.
'Great! Come on, lets go!' Lucy grabbed her hand and dragged her out of the carriage doorways and onto the platform, followed by the other three siblings. She laughed and hug her bag around her shoulders and walked down the 3 steps on the platform to where she was to be picked up with the four other siblings.
They waited for a while until Susan spoke up. 'The professor knew we were coming?' she questioned.
'Perhaps.. We've been incorrectly labelled?' Edmund spoke staring down at his tag, it had been the most he had said all morning.
The sound of horses hooves were heard, trotting slightly along the gravel.
As the horse pulled down to a stop right in front of them, a middle-aged woman stepped out of the carriage.
'Ms Mcready?' Peter asked, uncertain.
'Unfortunately, is this it? Haven't you brought anything else?' she said sharply, in a slight southern drawl.
'No mam, just us.' Kardia spoke softly.
The woman sat in silence for a few seconds before speaking once more. 'Very well then, small favours. Get on, we haven't got all day!'
Peter lifted Lucy onto the carriage, before helping Susan. As he went to help Edmund, he pulled away insisting he could get on it himself. Kardia walked forward placing a hand on the latch pulling herself up, but felt two hands gently being placed on her waist. With a quick push she was sitting in the carriage alongside the other three.
Peter came on after, and smiled at the four children sitting down and took a seat next to Lucy.
This is going to be a long summer, Kardia thought.