"But some truths wear like comfortable shoes"
-South by Sleeping at Last
—-
Edmund took Susan's hand as they stepped toward the stone archway Aslan had created, the sun rising behind it. Over his sister's head, he glanced at Peter, wanting that last piece of reassurance that this was real, that they were going home.
His brother, his king, smiled softly. That was all the assurance Edmund needed.
With Lucy on Peter's other side, they stepped through the archway into Narnia.
Sweet, Narnian air and birdsong flooded Edmund's senses. It took a long moment for his eyes to adjust, but when they did, he was staring at Cair Paravel's entrance courtyard, as if he was standing under its gate.
He was standing under its gate. Edmund blink, a slow smile spreading across his face.
Opposite him, Lucy took a couple steps forward, turning in a slow circle as she took in the courtyard. To Edmund's surprise, she was older, dressed in the same clothes she'd been wearing the day they'd left.
"Wait", he murmured, stepping forward to look at Susan and Peter. "We're the same as we were the day we left!" he finished.
People were beginning to take notice of them now, as all of his siblings inspected themselves.
Peter shook his head. "How do you suppose that works?"
Lucy laughed at his confused expression, grabbing Edmund and Susan by the hands. "Aslan works in mysterious ways Peter."
Laughing, Edmund let Lucy pull him toward the rest of the castle.
He could hear Peter and Susan calling after them, but he felt lighter than he had in years. He raced after Lucy into the throne room, marveling at how the sunlight slanted through the glass roof.
Peter and Susan burst in after them as Lucy pulled Edmund toward the thrones. A crowd of Narnians followed.
"Is it really them?" they were saying. "Have they really come home?"
Edmund caught his brother's eye, and smiled.
Yes, he thought. They were home.
If you haven't read the prequel to this, East, go read it now or this will be very confusing.
I was gonna wait longer to publish this, but I'm hoping some feedback will give me some inspiration to work on it.
As always, reviews are appreciated!