Watching Silently

By SugarHighNutcase

This fic is dedicated to my girl, Gabi, who's completely awesome and sat through about three viewings of Narnia in less than 24 hours with me. Because I would so not have gotten that much inspiration without her. : ) Please leave a review. Enjoy!

Helen Pevensie watches silently as her four children board their train. She can see they are all upset, but they each handle it differently.

Lucy looks for her mother. She is confused and sad, and Helen would love to rush over and hug her youngest.

She doesn't.

Susan acts tough and business-like, making sure they all board safely. Helen wants to hug and comfort her daughter.

She doesn't.

Peter seems lost at first, but he composes himself and comforts Lucy, taking her hand and leading her to the train. Helen wishes she could let him know it's okay to be scared.

She doesn't.

Edmund is angry. Lately, Edmund is always angry. With his dad leaving, and him being sent to boarding school, Edmund seems to never be happy anymore. He pulls himself away from his siblings. Helen longs to hold him close, and tell him they all love him.

She doesn't.

When her four children leave on that train, Helen wonders if she's doing the right thing. She hopes they will be safe.

As her children leave, Helen says goodbye to her two distraught daughters, and her two sons who hate each other.

Helen isn't sure she's doing the right thing. She wants her children back. She wants to jump on that train and stop it from leaving.

She doesn't.

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Helen Pevensie watches silently as the train pulls up. She'll finally see her children again; Helen thinks she may cry.

She'll get to hug her innocent, little Lucy, her smart, beautiful Susan, her brave, strong Peter, her quiet, secluded Edmund.

Helen Pevensie does not expect to see her children step off the train as they do. For a moment, she wonders whether they really are her children.

Lucy jumps off first, then stands aside as a suitcase emerges, followed by Susan. Susan holds one case, and hands the other to Lucy. The younger girl takes it, and Susan is able to wrap an arm around Lucy's shoulders as they wait for their brothers.

Peter steps off next, holding two suitcases. He's laughing as his black-haired brother jumps after him. Edmund snatches his case from his big brother, and the four siblings walk away together.

Helen Pevensie is amazed. Edmund has gotten taller, and is nearing Peter's height. Her four children don't seem to be as young and innocent as they once were.

Susan is holding Lucy's hand tightly. The girls walk a step ahead of their brothers, who are lost in their own conversation. Helen watches, tears in her eyes, as Peter reaches out to Edmund. Edmund begins to duck away, laughing, but he does not escape as his brother wraps a protective arm around the younger boy. Edmund is pulled toward Peter in a kind of one-armed hug, and Edmund does not resist. Instead, Helen sees him look up at Peter, love and admiration in his eyes.

And Peter looks down, sees this, smiles, and drops a kiss on Edmund's forehead. And Edmund beams.

So when her four children reach her, Helen Pevensie is openly crying. And when she hugs and kisses Edmund, he doesn't pull away like last time.

During the ride home, Edmund's head rests on Peter's shoulder. Helen looks at her sons and sees the special bond they share.

And Helen Pevensie is amazed.