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The End Of The Line
Chapter 6
Edmunds POV
I barely made it to the funeral. I was accompanied by two nurses, had to stay in a wheel chair and had to return to the hospital soon after.
It did hurt to see the caskets, but I knew where they were. I had seen the brightness in Lucy's eyes, the laughter in Peters, and the joy in Erics. And knowing they were happy was the one thing that kept me from breaking down.
Susan had visited me a few times, and each time she tried to convince me to divorce Alex and find someone else. Likely chance. . . when pigs fly, when hell freezes over, and when Alex forgets Narnia. None of which will be happening in this lifetime.
Alex and Lacey had gone home to check on things, but Erin had stayed.
He was currently lounging at the foot of the hospital bed, a book in his hands.
"Erin?" I said.
He immediately looked up at me.
"I know nothing will happen to me this time, but something may happen to me in the future. If it does, promise me you'll look after Alex and Lacey." I said.
He shook his head. "I won't have to." he said.
"But if it does. I need you to promise." I said.
He bit his lip and slowly nodded his head. "But I won't have to." he said again.
"Alright. How's about I rephrase it. If I'm ever to where I can't take care of them, will you promise to take care of them until I can?" I asked.
This time he nodded instantly. "I promise." He was able to say this much more assuredly.
"Why couldn't you promise so easily the first time?" I asked.
"We can't lose you, dad. You mean to much to us." he replied.
I smiled and held my arm out to him.
He hesitated.
"Come on. You won't hurt me." I said reassuringly.
He moved closer to me and hugged me as tight as he dared.
"I love you, son." I said kissing the top of his head.
"I love you too, dad." he replied.
I hoped I'd be well soon so I could play around with him again. I could see he wished the same. But I would be well soon, regardless. I didn't know why they were keeping me so long. I guess the doctors were afraid I would relapse. But I knew that wouldn't happen. Aslan said He would heal me. And if He heals me then I am healed, no matter what the doctors say.
I could soon hear Erins rythmatic breathing and realized he had fallen asleep. He seemed so small. I know he's only 6. . . but he is so. . . small. And yet I can see the fire in his eyes. He's not afraid to kill if it protects his family. I remembered with regret that he wasn't as innocent as he could be. He had killed in Narnia, for the safety of he and his sister. Lacey had killed too. And it broke my heart. But thankfully they had never been in battle or seen a blood strewn battlefield. For that is something you never forget.
I had been 12 my first battle, and I had barely known how to use a sword. But thankfully Erin and Lacey had never been exposed to that. Only 4 battles had rested during the time we had spent in Narnia, during Caspians time.
Of course our Golden Age was truly golden and only had 5 out of 15 years. But thankfully the 4 battles on Caspians time had been before Erin and Lacey were old enough.
I was brought out of my thoughts as he began waking up. I looked at the clock and saw that 2 hours and 45 minutes had passed.
Erin opened his eyes with a yawn and looked up at me. "Morning?" he asked.
I smiled. "Afternoon." I replied.
"Oh." he said with another yawn.
"It's still a few hours away until your mum and sister said they'd be back. Why don't you tell me of when you and Lacey went back to Narnia?" I suggested.
His eyes brightened and he sat up. "I can finally tell you?" he asked excitedly.
"Of course. It's just us. And even if a nurse walks in she'll think you're just telling a story. And I've been wanting to hear it. So go on." I smiled.
He nodded and began recounting story.
Erins POV
"Come on, Lace. Mum said we could go outside!" I said.
"I'm coming! Slow down." Lacey replied.
"But there's a surprise outside for you!" I said.
She looked at me. "What kind of surprise?" she asked.
"You'll see." I said.
She raced outside past me and I nearly ran over her when she stopped dead in her tracks at the back door.
It was open. . . but it wasn't our backyard.
"Erin. . . is that what I think it is?" she said.
"Cair Paravels courtyard!" I exclaimed.
"Should we tell mum and dad?" Lacey asked.
I shook my head. "They can't go back." I said. I looked back in the living room where mum and dad were sitting. "Come on." I said grabbing her arm and racing out the door, closing it behind us.
We stared around in awe.
"We're home." she whispered.
"And we're. . . thirteen again. . ." I said.
Lacey looked down at herself. "By the Lion! We are!" she exclaimed.
"Yes. And me without a sword... or dad. I hope we don't come by any men. . ." I said.
I heard a sword unsheathed.
"This should be fun." I muttered.
I turned around only to come face to face with a familiar looking man. He looked like. . .
"Caspian?" I asked.
The man tightened his grip on the sword. "How do you know my fathers name?" he asked.
"Your. . . what?" I asked a tad sheepishly.
"My father." the man said again.
"So they had a son. . ." Lacey said.
"Who? Alright. Stop this nonesense. I want answers. Who are you?" the man asked.
"Erin and Lacey." I replied.
He blinked a few times. "You mean. . . Prince Erin and Princess Lacey?"
"No need for formalities. For you are a prince yourself, right?" I said.
"Prince? No. I am King." he replied.
"King of what?" I asked, feeling my face drain of any color.
"Of Narnia." he said, looking confused.
"But for him to be King. . ." I said mostly to myself.
"Where's Caspian?!" Lacey exclaimed.
"He died over 20 years ago." the man said, his gaze dropping to the ground.
"No. . ." Lacey whispered shaking her head.
I could feel tears in my own eyes. I pulled my arm around Lacey only to feel her shoulders trembling. She buried her head into my shoulder, but I felt no tears, though she was blinking rapidly. After a few moments we composed ourselves.
I cleared my throat. "What is your name?" I asked Caspians son.
"Rilian." he replied with a bow.
"It is nice to meet you, King Rilian." I said bowing in reply.
Lacey curtsied from beside me.
"As you said before, my prince, there is no need for formalities between us." Rilian smiled.
I chuckled. "I believe you are being formal, when calling me 'my prince'." I said, mostly teasing.
Rilian was about to reply when a sudden crash caused the entire castle to shake.
"What was that?" Lacey asked.
"Sounded like a big boom to me." I said.
She growled at me in reply.
"Well you asked." I said.
"I meant specific, Erin." she said.
A centaur I knew as Glenstorms son came galloping towards us. "Your majesty! The castle is being attacked!" He then looked at us and I saw brief shock flicker in his eyes. "Your majesties! Tis a pleasure to see you again. I wish it could be under better circumstances." he said with a bow.
I bowed in reply. "It cannot be helped, Loudwind."
"I hate to ask this of you, your majesties, but how are you with swords?" Rilian asked, rather urgently.
Lacey and I exchanged a glance. "We used to be trained rather well. So there's only one way to find out." I said.
"Then maybe it would be wise if you stayed. . ."
"We will not stay in the castle, Rilian. We are old enough to fight, therefore we will." I said.
Rilian nodded. "Very well. We best get ready. We don't know what we'll face out there." he said.