I thought of this chapter today and I almost didn't want to write it because it made me sad…but I guess I will anyway.

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EDMUND'S POV

I woke up knowing right away that something wasn't right in my domain. Natani was shaking me awake and when I rolled over to make a snide remark about not waking me up such hours I caught the look on her face. She had tears rolling down her cheeks and she was urgently saying my name.

I sat up immediately and grasped her arms.

"Natani what's wrong?" I asked sharply, "Is it Endirah? Is it Lucy?"

She shook her head and I felt relief wash over me, but it faded quickly when Natani threw my clothes in my face and shouted at me to get dressed immediately. I obliged and kept my eyes on her as I did so, she was wringing her hands and biting her bottom lip, two signs of great distress. When I had slipped on my boots, she grabbed my hands and pulled me out the door. Twelve year old Endirah stood holding her little sister's hand, her face was scared but she was being brave for Lucy.

"What's wrong, Daddy?" she asked me, her brown eyes searching my face for an answer. Natani told the girls to follow us and we all took off at a run towards the doors of the castle, through the courtyard and to the stables.

Natani finally turned me around, roughly I thought, and stood on her tiptoes to whisper in my ear:

"It's Philip. They say there's nothing they can do and he wanted to see us before…before…"

She faltered and I heard her choke back a sob. I closed my eyes, trying to hold back my own tears. Philip had been ill for a while and I had known this day was coming, I had no idea how quickly. I sighed heavily and knelt down in front of my daughters and told them that Uncle Philip was going to Aslan's own country today. They understood and they both began to whimper. But I told us all they we needed to go in there without tears, Philip needed us to be strong. So we composed ourselves, although Lucy could not quite stop the tears, and walked slowly into the stables.

I swallowed my pain when I saw Philip laying in the hay on the stable floor, his chestnut sides rising and falling quickly and unevenly. His whole body looked thin and tired and his skin twitched randomly. But when he looked up at us, I saw that they were bright and happy and…glad.

"Oh, Philip," I heard Natani gasp next to me.

I didn't hesitate. I sat in the hay behind my old friend and lifted his head onto my lap and stroked his mane out of his face. I felt tears pushing to be released but I blinked them away and took a steadying breath.

"Hey, Philip," I said lamely, not really knowing what to say. His whole head was flaming with fever and I wanted so badly to do something to ease his pain.

"Hey, Edmund," Philip's voice was husky and he gave a cough after he spoke, "How's your morning?"

I chuckled. I couldn't help it.

"Not looking so good, Philip," I replied, scratching behind his ears like he always enjoyed.

"Really? Because it's looking pretty promising to me," Philip replied, and he sounded serious.

"Uncle Philip?" Lucy's voice sounded so small in her sadness.

"Endirah, Lucy," Philip scratched a hoof on the floor and invited them to come over. They both walked over slowly and knelt down behind his front legs. He wrapped them around them in a hug only a horse can give and the girls burst into tears, leaning their faces to his shoulder and grasping his mane in their hands.

"Oh, Uncle Philip!" Endirah finally broke; her big brown eyes were so woebegone. "Please don't go!"

"Endirah, I'm not going too far," Philip said, and I lifted his head so he could look at them with one big eye. "Nowhere that you will not one day go yourself."

"Will we see you again, Uncle Philip?" Endirah asked hopefully.

"Oh yes," Philip nodded slowly, "And when you get there, it will only seem like a day has gone by."

The girls seemed satisfied and Natani knelt down to join us on the floor and stroked Philip's nose.

"Are you in much pain, Philip?" she asked, her voice tight. She was not going to let him see her cry.

"Not anymore, Natani," Philip gave her a horsey smile, "Today I'm going home. My real home."

We sat there for quite some time until Lucy began to nod off from being awoken so early in the morning and Endirah was told to take her inside and put her back to bed. Endirah knew that we didn't want them to be there when Philip went completely so she sadly kissed his face several times and said her final goodbye then led her little sister out of the stable. Natani stood as well, saying it was well that Philip and I be alone at this time. She gave him a huge hug and kissed his muzzle firmly. I knew she didn't want to let go of his neck, but she slowly did, rose, and left us alone in the stable.

"Philip…I don't know how I'm going to take this," I admitted, leaning my head on the post next to me.

"Edmund," Philip scolded, "You act like we will not see each other again!"

"But I'm not a real Narnian," I said, my voice full of melancholy. "I don't belong in Aslan's Country."

"Edmund!" Philip coughed after he snapped at me, and he laid his head back down on my lap, "You are between Aslan's paws. You were chosen and delivered by him. You belong in his country as much as any true Narnian for your heart and your soul are Narnian, your 'English' body does not matter."

I smiled. Of course he was right and I knew it.

Suddenly Philip gave a shudder and I knew he was going.

"Philip," I said, not wanting anything left unsaid, "You have been my most loyal and best of friends! I have been blessed to know you! May Aslan keep you. You will not be forgotten in Narnia while I live and breathe!"

Philip smiled and I saw his eyes take on a whole new look, a look I had never seen on this earth before or since.

"It's beautiful…" was the last thing he said before the light in his eyes faded, and then extinguished. He was gone. Aslan had called him home.

And now I could finally break. I buried my face in his mane and cried like I have never cried in my life except for one time. When I had lost Natani, only this time I knew Philip would not be returned to me.

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Philip was buried beside the many Horses that had died in battle because he had told me long ago that he wanted to take his place next to his ancestors and friends like an honorable Horse would.

I erected a statue in his likeness in the courtyard. It was made of bronze and the figure of Philip was standing there in his calm and easygoing way. The eyes were so much like his that I swore they looked like they would move sometimes. A plaque was attached to the marble base that stated: PHILIP. STEED AND BELOVED COMRADE OF KING EDMUND THE JUST. A NOBLE WAR HORSE WITH AN EVEN NOBLER HEART. MAY HE FIND HIS REST IN THE PASTURES OF ASLAN'S COUNTRY.

And I never could pass by that statue without a smile and a tight throat. Endirah and Lucy could often befound sitting on the statue's back and Natani would sometimes, when she thought no one was watching, stroke the bronze nose as she passed.

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Sad, yes I know. I cried while I wrote it. But I figured he was already an adult when he and Edmund first met and that had been a long time ago. He was very old by now.

Let me know what you think :D Review!