A Celebration of Thoughts

Peter's POV

To say our celebratory feast was grand would be an understatement.

All around, creatures and people danced merrily to the music as the badger band played on. The Great Hall had never been so lively and filled with jest. Susan really went all out with the decorations, with golden and silver streamers everywhere and flowers in every corner of the hall.

It had been a week since Jadis splendidly collapsed into a heap of ice, also known as the best day Narnia had ever seen. Since then, Susan sort of went a bit psychotic with her planning, sending out invitations that very night to every corner of the lands and planning the menu of the grand feast the very next day, not to mention all the flowers and streamers and lights and costumes and decorations.

Of course the entire kingdom could not be invited to the castle, which was why Susan even arranged for grand celebrations around all the villages and forests, with bonfires and music and general festivity all around.

There was even a fire sculpture of Aslan burning in the corner of the Great Hall, specially crafted by one of the phoenixes at Susan's behest, and thus inextinguishable.

I suggested an ice sculpture since that was the more common thing, which made my dear little sister almost chew my ear off.

I sipped my wine and watched as a dryad tried to get Trumpkin to dance, and while he relented at first, putting up his usual stern façade, he finally gave in and let loose, making me smile.

I was currently leaning against a pillar, watching my friends and comrades properly celebrate our victory. I took in a deep breath, relishing in the reason for our happiness.

Jadis was gone.

Once and for all.

The greatest enemy of my kingdom was dead.

Suddenly, I felt a hand go around my arm, and I turned to my right to find a beautiful set of violet eyes looking up at me.

"May I ask why my king is so lost in thought on what is supposed to be the happiest night of this kingdom?"

I smiled and held Serena's hand, noticing how her deep blue dress really made her eyes pop and contrasted her creamy complexion perfectly.

My, what a beauty.

"When your greatest enemy is finally defeated, you can't help but think about that fact constantly. It's almost hard to believe, because in the past we would think we defeated Jadis but-"

"Hey, enough." Serena cupped my cheek and made me look at her as my gaze had drifted to the ground while I was speaking.

"Jadis is really gone, there's no doubt in that."

"Yeah, but what about Jadin? We haven't captured him yet. And last time, he was the one who brought her back." I recalled just exactly how he did that, cringing at the memory of Ella being possessed. I remembered how shaken up Ed was, and then the thought occurred to me of the possibility of Jadin repeating history, possibly with someone else…

My head whipped back to Serena and before I knew what I was doing, I pulled her into my arms and hugged her tight.

"Whoa whoa! Pete-" Serena giggled, hugging me back, but I was not laughing at all. If what happened to Ella repeated with Serena, I honestly would never be able to forgive myself.

"I can't lose you." I whispered as I set my chin on top of her head, enjoying the feeling of her in my arms, wishing I could just stay like this forever.

I felt Serena tighten her arms around me for a moment but then she began to pull away, much to my dismay.

She had an amused grin on her face, no doubt because of my sudden paranoia, but it was adorable so I let it pass even though it was a knock at my ego.

"I'm right here. Jadin can't do anything to me. Remember, her forces were completely wiped out when she was destroyed. Even if Jadin is out there, he's definitely too weak for us and I'm confident we'll capture him soon."

I sighed and nodded, knowing Serena always focused on the positive and so no matter what worry I voiced, she'd find a way to make it okay. I held her shoulders and squeezed them a bit, so grateful to Aslan that he gave me such a wonderful wife.

"I love you, you know that right?"

Serena simply smiled her angelic smile and leaned on her tiptoes, giving me a sweet peck.

"Now come on!"

Before I knew what she was doing, I was dragged onto the dance floor and Serena was skipping around me to the upbeat music. I laughed and caught her wrist, spinning her around and engaging in a jovial couple dance. We were clapping and spinning and laughing, and all I could think of was how happy Serena looked, and how I hoped that look stayed forever.

Caspian's POV

I looked around the hustle and bustle of the Great Hall, seeking out Susan who oddly I had not seen the entire evening. There were just too many foreign delegates here that I had to meet for formality's sake, but now that I was finished with that, I wanted to spend the rest of my time with someone whose company I actually did enjoy, and the first person that came to mind was, of course, my wife.

I spotted Lorenzo by a pillar chatting up some pretty lady from Archenland and shook my head. While I was amused by his petty flirting, there was a part of me that was sad at the same time. I knew in all honesty that his heart was still broken from Camilla's death and it would be a long while before he could sincerely open himself up again to the prospect of finding love.

I continued scanning the room, looking past Peter and Serena dancing happily together until I finally found who I was looking for. With a grin, I made my way through the dancing crowds to the opposite side of the hall where a beautiful lady stood in a deep indigo dress, her hair in a demure bun and her face the picture of an angel as she watched the celebrations.

"There you are," I murmured, coming up beside her and putting my arm around her waist. She was startled a bit but the moment she realised it was me, she broke into a smile and leaned up, pecking me on the cheek.

"I was beginning to think I would not see you at all tonight." She spoke softly.

"Impossible." I replied, grinning down at how her eyes twinkled as if there was some magic in them.

"So what are you doing here in the corner alone anyway? Where are Ella and Lucy?" I asked, looking around and noticing both of my sister-in-law's were not to be seen.

"Well I think Ella is on the balcony and Lucy…" Susan trailed off, her gaze averting to the floor as she seemed to go into thought. She then looked around briefly before looking back at me, one of her brows crinkled.

"Strange, I actually haven't seen Lucy the entire celebration."

I frowned, for that was strange indeed. Lucy was usually, in fact, the life of any celebration, always either dancing merrily or chatting with everyone. But now, she was nowhere in sight.

"When did you last see her?"

"Well, I saw her talking to Lorenzo along a corridor as I was making the preparations earlier today. I would've talked to her but I was too caught up in everything that had to be done."

Susan bit her lip, looking to the ground again as she fidgeted with her glass of wine. I too started thinking and then realised that immediately after Ella defeated Jadis, Lucy was not there as well. Peter said she was probably in the forts, helping the wounded to heal as he instructed her to stay there. It was only when we were making our way back to the castle did we see her walking with Lorenzo , the two of them caught up in an intense discussion. I did find it strange that lately, Lucy was disappearing quite a lot.

"I'm sure she's just socialising around or perhaps outside getting a breather." I murmured, though I did not really believe my own words as I still felt a bit concerned.

"I don't know Cas, I'm a little worried…"

"Su, Lucy's a big girl. She doesn't need us fretting over her all the time. I'm sure she's alright." I put my arm around her shoulder and gave her a little reassuring squeeze. This was a night of joyous celebration and I did not like seeing Susan stress or fret.

She did enough of that on a daily basis.

It was not like I did not care about Lucy, I too was quite curious as to why she was not skipping around happily as usual. But then I also knew that Lucy often expressed her annoyance as to how everyone always babied her and worried over her, and how she was grown up now and could take care of herself.

So, I put my worry aside and just had faith that Lucy was fine.

Ella's POV

I sighed as I leaned against the balcony barrier, staring at the glistening waves lapping lazily against the shore. There was a soothing rhythm in their motion, and perhaps it was also my connection to water which made me feel really calm as I tuned out the celebrations and just listened to the periodic melody of the gentle sea and winds.

But as calm as my mind was, there was still a little nagging voice at the back of my head that refused to shut up.

I groaned, shaking my head and focusing intently on the sky now instead, this time trying to count the stars. It was an impossible task that required great concentration, and thus perfect to distract me from that annoying nagging voice.

I managed to get until 67, but then that voice came back and this time I was really annoyed. I groaned in frustration and dropped my head into my hands.

Stop it stop it stop it!

Just. Stop. Thinking.

"You know-"

I gasped and jolted, turning to the abrupt voice that startled me which was to my right.

"You look like a crazy person."

I let out a huff and rolled my eyes, realising it was only Edmund who was now beside me, his elbows propped up against the barrier so that he was in a similar position as me.

"Why is it that during every celebration, I always find you outside, thinking about something or the other?" He questioned with a quirked eyebrow, a smile tugging at his lips.

"Because I'm thinking of how to get away from you, isn't that obvious?" I sardonically replied, looking back at the stars.

"Hey that's fine, I'd rather be inside having a good time but you see, you're my wife and so appearances and stuff-"

"Well pardon me for not giving 2 sticks about appearances. I'm not that shallow a person you see."

"Could've fooled me! This coming from the woman who married me solely for my good looks."

"Good looks? Ha! Don't make me chuck. If I wanted to marry someone for their good looks I would've married your brother."

"Ah but see the problem then would be that your child would turn out to be half-monkey!"

"Edmund, if Peter's a monkey that means you're a monkey. Brothers and blood, remember?"

"Didn't anyone ever tell you? Pete's adopted."

By this point I burst out laughing. It was hard enough keeping up the banter with a straight face and just looking ahead, but finally I could not hold it in anymore. I heard Edmund laugh as well from beside me, but just as I was about to turn to face him, I felt a searing pain in my head.

Okay you stupid voice, now I can't laugh as well?

I stopped and rubbed my temples, the throbbing in the back of my head now pronounced and very painful to say the least, making me squeeze my eyes and clench my teeth.

"El?"

I felt Ed's hands on my shoulders, turning me to face him. I clutched onto his shoulders, feeling weak from my migraine. He cupped my cheek and lifted my head, and I knew he wanted me to look at him.

I knew he was really worried.

"I'm fine I'm fine, just a headache is all."

I finally opened my eyes and looked up at him. He was frowning intensely, his brows in a knot and his eyes fraught with concern.

"You know by now I can tell when you're lying right? Come on, that's not it. The whole week while preparations for tonight's celebrations were going on, you've been off. What's wrong?"

I was immensely glad for Edmund's strong arms in that moment as they held me tightly, for I felt more drained than ever. He was right, I was feeling strange the whole week but I always used the preparations as an excuse to avoid Edmunds' questions. By the look he was giving me, I knew he was not just going to let this go, and now I had no choice but to tell him the truth.

"It's…it's silly and well, it makes no sense but-"

"Ella, you know you can tell me anything. Now come on."

I took a deep breath and looked back into his dark eyes, tightening my grip on his arms.

"Something's wrong Ed. Ever since Jadis' defeat, I've just had this annoying nagging thought at the back of my mind that something's not right."

"Oh El, you're just not used to the idea that she's finally gone. I mean, this has been going on for so long and now suddenly, in a flash, this threat is gone. It's-"

"No, no you don't get it. It feels like, we haven't won. Like, there's something worse to come. Much, much worse."

"El-"

"No Edmund, I-"

"Shh," Ed put two fingers over my lips, silencing me immediately. He looked me deep in the eyes, letting me know that he really meant for me to keep quiet.

"Jadis is gone. Tonight is supposed to be a night of celebration, a happy night! If I were you, I'd rather spend this lovely evening with my lovely husband than out here fretting unnecessarily over needless worries."

I glared at him and smacked his hand away from my mouth.

"I'm not choosing to be like this, you dolt. You just said I can tell you anything, and now that I've told you, you don't even care! Honestly Edmund it annoys me so much whenever you do this, why can't you just acknowledge that maybe, just maybe, there's a chance I can be justified in feeling this way. Or perhaps just try to help me understand why I'm having these thoughts because I don't even understand myself and do you know what that's like, to think something but not know why you're thinking it. A husband is supposed to care about these kind of things that worry his wife and honestly if you love me at all you would at least-"

My rather hysterical rant was cut short as his lips suddenly covered mine. I stiffened for a moment, upset that he was trying to shut me up, but then I felt his arms wrap around my waist and pull me close to him gently. I felt all his love and affection as his lips softly caressed mine, and I finally melted, responding back with as much love.

He slowly pulled away after a moment and looked me straight in the eyes.

"Don't ever question my love for you Ella. Ever."

I sighed and looked down, a bit embarrassed at my rather heated rant, but he lifted my chin and forced me to look back at him.

"I'm sorry if I was a bit insensitive. You're right, I shouldn't just dismiss your concerns like that. It's just- Ella for the first time in a long time, I actually feel safe. I've wanted Jadis dead ever since I was 10, and now she finally is, for good. You remember what the Professor said, death by her own staff means there's no way she can ever return. Now I know that she can never hurt Narnia or my family, especially you and Talina. And thinking about all of this, I just wanted to be with you and celebrate and for once just not worry about witches and curses and danger and all of that. That's all."

I gave him a small smile, and internally berated myself for making Edmund think about Jadis on a night like this. I knew how troubled he was because of her, how he could never really forgive himself for what he did because of her as long as she was alive and a very real threat. And now that she was gone, it must have been like a huge mountain was lifted off his shoulders, and an age-long ache was cured.

And then I go and ruin his happy night.

Great job Ella.

"Listen, we'll figure out this…nagging thought of yours later. But for now, all I want to do is have a dance with my beautiful wife. Will you grant me that one wish?"

Edmund stepped back and extended his hand, bowing slightly with that adorable smirk on his face I loved so much.

"Cheesehead," I ruffled his hair and immediately ran away back into the Great Hall, giggling at his annoyed face. A part of me felt bad for leaving him there like that but I couldn't help it.

After all, I was Edmund Pevensie's wife.