Author's note: Hey everyone! I'm back after the holidays! Did everyone have a wonderful Christmas? Did you enjoy my short Christmas stories? I think you did because I answered a great number of cheerful reviews. But here is the next chapter of "Born For This"! Hope you enjoy it! There's a little peek into Aravis's life before her father tried to marry her off. It's a picture of a broken family which I think many of us can relate to – whether we share similar experiences or we have friends who have.

Chapter 8 – Uncertainties

"It seems so strange to be here again without King Peter and Queen Lucy present," Aravis commented as she gazed at the land unfolding before her. The beautiful blue river stretched far to the west and the Shuddering Woods blanketed the south. Aravis leaned against the stone fortifications around the edge of the tower and breathed in the crisp air.

"Yes," Cor agreed. "The castle seems very quiet and uneasy. It's almost as if it is the calm before the storm."

"Do you think that King Edmund and Queen Susan miss their siblings?" Aravis wondered.

"Yes, something terrible," Cor answered. He glanced at the slim girl beside him. "That green gown brings out the color in your eyes. Is it new?"

Aravis turned her head to hide her slightly flushed cheeks. "Yes," she replied. "Queen Susan said it had been one of her old gowns when she was my age."

"It seems strange to think of Queen Susan as being our age once," Cor remarked as he returned his gaze to the land rambling towards the horizon.

"You can see it in her eyes sometimes," Aravis responded. "And when she laughs, I think I can see a young girl who loved to dream. She says there was a great war going on where she came from, and I sometimes wonder if her dreams were shattered and now she doesn't dare to dream such wildly wonderful things."

"Is she unhappy in Narnia?" Cor asked in puzzlement.

"Oh no," Aravis smiled. "Of course not. She loves Narnia dearly. But I think she misses her father and mother. The responsibility laid upon her is great." Aravis's smile faded and Cor turned back to her.

"You miss your family as well," Cor guessed.

"Yes." Aravis sighed wistfully. "It was such a loving place until my brother rode to war. After he died, everything fell apart. Father immersed himself in his business and Mother shattered into a thousand pieces. It felt like they had forgotten me. Until Father decided to marry me off." Aravis shuddered. "The only choice I had was to run away. But I'm so glad I met you, Cor." She turned grateful eyes to his honest face. "Your family has made me welcome a thousand times."

"It was Aslan who caused our paths to cross," Cor answered. He would have said more, but their conversation ceased as footsteps approached and Edmund stepped out of the doorway.

"Cor, can I ask you something?" requested Edmund, clasping his hands behind his back.

"Of course, King Edmund," Cor answered, rising to his feet. He gave Aravis an apologetic smile but she waved it aside. The two walked several paces away and Aravis could no longer understand their conversation.

"Cor, I leave for Beruna tomorrow," Edmund explained. "And I wanted to ask you about something that has been weighing on my mind heavily in the last few days."

Cor waited quietly for Edmund to continue. Edmund appeared deep in thought for a few moments. Cor had the idea that Edmund had temporarily lost himself in another time in another place where someone else had been telling him what he was about to tell Cor. When Edmund at last shook off the shadows of the past, there was an evident sadness about him.

"Cor."

"Yes?"

"Will you promise me something?"

"Of course," Cor answered honestly. "As long as it is within my power to keep it."

"Wise words, Cor," Edmund replied, clapping the lanky boy on the shoulder. "Your father is teaching you well."

"T-thank you," Cor stammered at the praise.

Edmund smiled and cleared his throat. "What I wanted to ask you, Cor, is about something very dear to me. Tomorrow I ride to war, and I do not know if I shall ever live to see this beautiful castle again. And if I do, perhaps it will not be the standard of Narnia that is flying from the towers."

"I am sure that Aslan will grant you success," Cor assured.

Edmund gave a faint smile. "I do not doubt Aslan's goodwill, Cor, but sometimes things do not always happen the way we would like them to." He paused. "While I am gone, I would like to know that my sister is looked after. Cor, should anything happen to me, will you promise to keep her safe in my absence? Will you be to her like another brother for Peter and me? You and Corin?"

Cor gazed with hesitance into Edmund's dark eyes so full of trust and wisdom. He felt too incompetent to accept the task laid upon him. But he knew he could not refuse.

"Will you, Cor?" Edmund pleaded.

"Yes," Cor replied. "Of course."

There was a quiet knock on his door. Edmund looked up from his desk. The candle beside him flickered in the dark. His hand subtly moved to the hilt of his dagger at his waist.

"Who is there?" Edmund called bravely.

The door opened softly and a young face peered in. "King Edmund?"

"Cor." Edmund breathed a sigh of relief. "What are you doing awake at this hour?" His hand slipped from his dagger and his guard relaxed.

"I couldn't sleep," Cor admitted. Edmund watched him closely and waited for Cor to inform him as to the reasons of his lack of sleep.

Cor took a deep breath before he began. "What if I am not the right person you should trust to look after Queen Susan?" he asked as he approached.

Edmund smiled. "I think you are, Cor."

"But I don't know anything about being you," Cor protested as he stood in front of Edmund's desk, not daring to look him in the eyes.

"You don't have to be me," laughed Edmund. "Nay, I don't want you to try to be me. You are a unique person who has been created by Aslan. We all have our own identities. You will handle things in your own way."

"But what if I let you down?" Cor asked, his eyes flickering upward for a brief second.

"Cor, I know you won't," Edmund assured. "But if it will confirm my decision to you, I will share a piece of advice that Peter taught me when I was your age." He waited while Cor hesitantly sat down on the edge of a chair in front of Edmund's desk. Then he began. "We live and die by the same rule: follow Aslan to the end. Never once have we ever walked alone. He is always there, Cor. You must remember that."

"He was with me when I took the news of Rabadash's attack to Father," Cor commented. "He spoke with me and told me how He brought Aravis and me together."

"Yes," Edmund agreed. "He is always with us."

"And He will be with us now," added Cor as he summoned his courage. "Thank you, King Edmund. I will try to my best to not let you down. I pray that Aslan will give me strength."

Edmund smiled. "You're welcome, Cor. I never doubted you." He placed a scrap of paper in the boy's hand. Cor lifted it to the light and smiled at the words.

Edmund stood in the courtyard, his helmet settled under his arm, as he awaited the dawn. He gazed upwards as the sun slowly began to wash the white towers with golden light. As the dawn spread throughout the courtyard and fell upon his face, Edmund solemnly bent one knee and whispered a silent prayer of thanksgiving and blessing for his country. His hand rested lightly over the lion emblem stitched on his chest. Then the golden light was gone, replaced by the simple early light of morning and the castle came to life.

The horses stamped and chomped at their bits as the stable hands brought them to the courtyard. The knights began to assemble, each bearing their respective emblem. The colorful flags fluttered in the soft breeze.

Edmund sighed reluctantly as the wind lifted his ebony hair and his silver chainmail rustled as he stepped forward. His eyes portrayed no evident emotion. His heart pounded steadily as ever in his solid chest. He felt a mixture of excitement and apprehension as he realized what the battles might bring in the future. Edmund turned around as he heard hooves approaching. Oreius stepped out of the shadows, his armor plating strapped on. He carried a sword on either side and one more was fastened to his back.

"Good morning, Oreius," Edmund greeted. "Is everything in order?"

"Yes, King Edmund. Everything is ready," he answered. "But are you sure that you are ready?"

Edmund's face was troubled as he glanced back at the castle towers gleaming in the morning light. He desperately wished he could see the golden griffin flying over the castle once more. Perhaps if his brother was here, it would not be so hard to ride to war.

"I know what I must do, Oreius," Edmund replied as he turned his gaze back to his general. "Even if I am reluctant to leave, I must set everything aside for the defense of my country."

"I know," Oreius answered, "for this is sacrifice." Edmund nodded gravely. Oreius gave a little nod with his head and stepped away to help with last minute preparations. Edmund looked over his shoulder as a conspicuous dappled pony was led into the courtyard by a small boy in chainmail. Edmund wove his way through the horses and seized the young culprit by the collar of his tunic.

"Corin! Where do you think you are going?" Edmund demanded.

"Can't I go with you, King Edmund? Please?" Corin turned his pleading blue eyes to Edmund's face. Usually Edmund gave in to the eyes that were so much like Lucy's. But not today.

Edmund's face softened into a gentle smile. "Nay, Corin. I promised your father that you would remain here – out of trouble!"

"Corin! There you are!" Cor came stumbling hastily down the stairs from the front door of the castle. "Corin!" he panted. "I thought you were sneaking away again!"

"He was," Edmund commented.

Corin hung his head in shame. But then he straightened and looked Edmund in the eye. "I just wanted to look after you for Queen Susan," he declared.

"Thank you, Corin, but I trust my brother to take care of himself," Susan interrupted as she appeared in the doorway, Aravis just behind her.

"Susan." Edmund stepped forward quickly. She gave him a sad little smile. She knew what the next few weeks would bring. She tried to convince herself that this was just like any other time Edmund had ridden off with a large force. But somehow, deep down, she knew that this time things would be very different.

"Are you sure you should do this?" Susan asked.

"Yes, I am," Edmund answered.

"Then I want you to have this." She pressed something into his hand. Edmund opened his gloved fist to see a golden locket.

"Susan," he protested, forcing it back into her hands. "I can't take it."

"I want you to keep it," she insisted as she reached up to clasp it around his neck. "Keep it for me." She looked into his eyes and her sadness was evident. "Return to me safely, Ed."

"I cannot promise anything," Edmund answered, thought he desperately wished he could. The weight of the necklace fastened around his neck was nothing, but the weight of the trust it carried burdened his heart. He took hold of her hand and looked into her eyes with earnestness. "But I will do my best to return safe and sound to you, Su. And should I return with a broken body with no breath left, know that my spirit lives with Him."

"I know, Ed," Susan answered bravely as she hugged him tightly. How she hoped that her brother would return unharmed to her!

Edmund tried to smile; attempting to summon his boyish grin he had so often worn in the past, but discovered he could no longer find it. He would never be a little boy again. He was a man and knew he must carry his responsibilities with the courage that he had learned in his past.

After a few silently shed tears, Susan stepped back, trying to swallow her fears and doubts. Edmund gave her hand a last squeeze of reassurance. She watched as he shook hands with Cor and whispered something in low tones. He patted the boy on the shoulder and moved on to tousle Corin's messy hair. He took Aravis's hand and gave her a warm parting smile, but at the last moment, she overcame her quietness and hugged him tightly.

Edmund gazed at them for a long, silent moment, etching their faces eternally in his memory. He gave no great speech or important words to remember. It was quiet and solemn because they all knew he could very well be riding to his death.

"Well, I'm off," Edmund said at last. "The Lion's blessings upon you all!" Then he turned on his heel and strode towards Oreius and his waiting company of soldiers and knights.

"Nai mornie alantie ore nuva man!" Susan called after him.

"The same blessing upon you, dear sister!" Edmund cried in response, raising his hand in farewell as he swung himself into the saddle.

"Be safe, my brother," Susan whispered as she watched the great company start for Beruna. "Be safe, Just One. And may Aslan bring you safely to my side once again."

Author's note: Well…I can't tell you what Susan called to Edmund, but I can only tell you that it is an ancient Narnian blessing. You'll have to wait till a future chapter to learn what it meant. As well as what was on the paper that Ed gave to Cor. Or you could just google it, if you really have to know. :D

Edmund is off to war at last and the really exciting things will begin to happen. Hope you enjoyed the chapter! Your thoughts are always appreciated.

This is my last chapter for 2012. Agh! But I'll have a lot more in 2013! Looking forward to another wonderful year with you!