Author's Note: Here is another chapter for you! A quick note: at one point Edmund says, "Gotted" instead of got. He is supposed to say that! Once again thank you to my wonderful beta, Queen Su!
Susan stood at the edge of the field, staring into the forest. She was nearly alone now, the majority of the brave soldiers had returned to the How for the night. The few that remained were those who kept watch while she practiced. Lucy sat back by the center of the field where the stone pillars had fallen. She often sat there for hours, staring at the night sky.
Trufflehunter lifted the practice target and stumbled due to its large size. "Are you ready, Queen Susan?" He puffed.
Susan pulled an arrow from her quiver; nocking the shaft onto her string, "Ready!"
Trufflehunter began to move behind the trees; Susan took her aim and fired.
Thwack.
Her arrow flew through the air and slammed into the target, causing Trufflehunter to fall. One of the fauns, who was on guard, ran out to help him up; taking the badger's place. Trufflehunter nodded to apologize for his fall before running towards Lucy. The faun lifted the target and prepared for Susan to fire.
Susan focused on the target and glared at it as if it were a real Telmarine. She was ready to unleash all of her anger, frustration, and depression.
"Ready!" The faun's muffled voice was heard.
Susan released another arrow. The shaft flew into the trees and dug into the head of the wooden 'Telmarine'.
The Gentle Queen let out a deep breath and continued to shoot, firing rapidly. With each shot, she let out a grunt of frustration, or allowed a tear to roll down her cheek.
Thwack.
Why Edmund? Susan asked herself this question many times, but she couldn't answer the question. Edmund was her little brother and she had to protect him. Peter spent a lot of time alone and Susan had to watch over everyone else.
Lucy had left her place of rest and rode up to Susan on a horse. Susan turned around with her bow raised and ready to shoot. She let out small gasp, "Lucy, don't scare me like that." She wiped the tears from her eyes. She was thankful that it was dark because she hated it when others saw her cry.
She lowered her bow as Lucy spoke, "I thought you would want to go for a ride."
Susan agreed and mounted the horse. Susan clicked her tongue, spurring the horse to action, "Go on Chennault."
The two sisters rode through the forest with watchful eyes and open ears. Lucy constantly rubbed Chennault to keep the sorrel mare calm.
"Lucy?" Susan asked, breaking the silence.
"I know what you are going to ask Su," she paused. "I still think Edmund is alive."
Susan remained silent until she pulled the reins back. Chennault stopped slowly. Lucy hopped down and then Susan followed tying Chennault to a close tree. She pulled out her bow and arrows in case of need.
They had arrived at the place where they first met Prince Caspian. Susan turned around and saw Lucy signaling for her to follow. Lucy led her to an area where a path of trees grew.
The area was filled with a magical presence as the two sisters wondered over to a large rock. The sisters took a seat before lying down on their backs to see the diamond stars.
Lucy seemed focused on something, so Susan chose not to speak and let her mind drift back to when they were still in England and before they had known Narnia existed.
--
"Susan! Please go with Edmund, dear!" Mrs. Pevensie called to her six-year-old daughter.
Susan turned and followed her younger brother towards the playground. He waited by the steps for the slide. She took his small hand and led him up the stairs until they reached the top.
Edmund took a seat at the top and sat impatiently as Susan sat on the slide next to him and smoothed out her skirt. He waved his hand and waited until Susan grabbed it before the two slid down. Edmund cheered as they reached the bottom.
"Can we go again, Suzy?" He asked in a small voice. Susan felt his hand wrap around hers and she pulled him in the opposite direction.
"After we have a snack," she answered.
They sat down next to the family. Susan glanced over to where her older brother was sitting on the grass with the two- year-old child.
When Mrs. Pevensie realized that Susan and Edmund had returned, she turned to the other children, "Peter! Lucy! It's time for a snack."
Susan straightened Lucy's bow and waited for her mum to hand out the cookies. Peter hugged himself and wiped his nose as a burst of cold air passed through the park.
Mrs. Pevensie handed a cookie to each of her children. She stopped at Susan and stared for a moment then asked, "Where is Edmund?"
Peter, Susan, and Mrs. Pevensie looked around before standing. Lucy held up her arms and waited for Mrs. Pevensie to lift her up.
Susan turned around as they spread out. Peter walked towards the playground and Mrs. Pevensie went to go check near the loo. Susan glanced back to make sure she could still see her mum.
She moved further away but still kept checking to make sure she could see them. She heard the sound of weeping coming from behind the trees.
"Edmund," Susan called out.
There was a pause and a tearful voice called back, "Suzy!"
Susan peaked into the woods. She took a step forward and her foot sank in the muddy leaves. "Edmund where are you?"
She saw some leaves move and ran forward to that spot. "Edmund, there you are!"
Edmund was huddled on the ground cradling his arm. "Suzy you found me!" he said through his sobs.
Susan bent down and inspected her four-year-old brother. "Edmund, what happened?" She asked placing a hand on his shoulder in an attempt to calm him down.
"I wanted to go slide," he gasped, "But I saw something and then I went too far away and gotted lost! I fell and hurt my arm!" Edmund held up his hand to show her his wrist which was bent in a strange direction and was swollen.
"Come on Edmund, we need to go find mummy!" Susan said lifting him up. She carried him a few feet but his legs kept slamming into her knees. She shifted her weight and tried to move him again.
She began to scream, "Mummy! Peter! Help!" Susan sat down and leaned against a tree and held her little brother.
Mrs. Pevensie came into sight and lifted Edmund off of his feet. Susan took her other hand and they moved out of the shadows. Peter stood with Lucy swaying next to him. "What happened to Ed?"
Mrs. Pevensie began to walk ahead as she whispered to her son and placed him in the car. "Edmund got lost, but Susan found him."
--
Susan turned over to make sure Lucy was still next to her. Susan had found Edmund. Why couldn't she do that again? Susan protected Edmund, she always had. When he was hurt then she would help like any older sister would.
--
"Shut up! You think you're dad, but you're not!" Edmund shouted into Peter's face. He turned swiftly and left the room.
Susan stared at Lucy whose eyes were red with tears and Peter who watched the door with a blank expression. "Well that was nicely handled." Susan stormed out and followed the direction that Edmund had gone.
She went to his bedroom and could hear movement on the other side of the door. "Edmund?" she asked.
"Go away!" he yelled through the door. Susan thought for a moment before walking in silently and sat down next to him on the floor.
"Ed," she started. "What happened back there?"
He didn't look up but mumbled a few words. "It was only a joke."
Susan listened, "You have been fighting with Peter a lot."
"He thinks he is charge!" Edmund looked up at Susan, "He isn't dad!"
Susan put her arm around him. He started to shrug it off, but then stopped, "Why did he have to go to war?"
"He had to help England. He did it to protect us."
"Why couldn't he protect us at home?" Edmund's eyes shifted to the picture on the side table then returned to Susan.
"Well," she thought for a moment before speaking. "Dad wanted to keep us safe. Dad trusted mum to keep us safe for him."
"We are far away from all of them!" Edmund responded with anger.
"But you have me to protect you," Susan said before hugging him.
--
Susan was frustrated with herself. She had found him when he was lost and protected him when he was scared or hurt. Now he was lost and hurt, she couldn't do a thing about it.
Susan turned and saw that Lucy had fallen asleep. She decided it was best not to wake her sister, so she looked up at the stars and wondered if her brother was looking at them too.
Suddenly, Lucy shot up and started to run towards Chennault.
"Lucy, what's wrong?" Susan called.
Lucy turned around, "I heard Aslan! There is trouble at the How!"
I hope you all enjoyed seeing more of the sisters. Please review, I love to hear from you all!