The sounds of kids chanting filled the Underground's tunnels as I pushed my way to the front, knowing that it had to be Pete. Sure enough there he was, fighting with three guys that we would later have to attend school with.

"Edmund!" Lucy protested as I passed and tackled the guy moving to hit Peter. I didn't particularly approve of this but I wasn't going to let my brother get clobbered. Struggling to get up, the guy moved into me, pushing me against the wall but I kneed him in the stomach as I saw the other two push Peter towards the tracks. Pushing away the guy, I moved towards the others and jumped on the one that kicked Peter in the stomach, and was struggling with him right as the sounds of whistles drowned out the chants.

A soldier pulled me off the guy and I moved back complying as Peter struggled to continue the fight.

"Act your age," The solder commanded pushing them apart as the group broke up. Sighing, I walked over to the abandoned bag, picking up my hat which had fallen off along the way and like a punch to the stomach She shot into my mine. I rarely allowed myself to think of Her, but when I went into these fights I could only imagine what she would say. She would probably be angry at first, but then would commend me on defending Peter. At least I think she would, it had been a year and I was starting to forget what her voice sounded like. Her laugh: I wanted to hear it so much. Closing my eyes for a split second I sealed over the hole in my heart pushing the hurt and sadness back.

I pulled my hat back on and grabbed the bags before walking back over to where the three of them were settled on a bench. "You're welcome," I remarked, to a sulking Peter.

"I had it sorted," He spoke sourly, getting up.

"What was it this time?" Susan asked, tired of this behavior.

"He bumped me," Peter replied simply, turning and looking at us.

"So you hit him?" Lucy asked in disbelief.

"No. After he bumped me, they tried to make me apologize. That's when I hit him." He answered as I looked down at the ground, shaking my head.

"Really? Is it that hard just to walk away?" Susan asked.

"I shouldn't have to. I mean, don't you ever get tired of being treated like a kid?" He retorted.

"Umm," I started speaking with some amusement, "we are kids."

"Well, I wasn't always." He exclaimed and then started back over to us sitting. "It's been a year. How long does he expect us to wait?"

"I think it's time to accept that we live here," Susan said the one thing I truly never wanted to accept. I looked down at the ground as the seal on the hole broke.

"Susan," Lucy whispered and I could feel the looks.

"I'm sorry but, it's no use pretending any different." She spoke leaving us in an awkward silence for a few moments. "Oh, no. Pretend you're talking to me." She spoke quickly.

"We are talking to you," I felt the need to point out cheekily.

"OW!" Lucy suddenly jumped up.

"Quiet, Lu," Susan murmured.

"Something pinched me!" She pointed to the bench.

"Hey! Stop pulling!" Peter suddenly jumped up looking at me.

"I'm not touching you," I argued as the train rolled quickly into the station.

"Look, would all of you just..." Susan started when I felt a sharp tug on the back of my shoulder. Both Susan and I jumped up looking at the bench. "What is that?"

"It feels like magic," Lucy spoke hopefully.

"Quick, everyone hold hands," Susan commanded.

I saw Peter look at me expectantly, "I'm not holding your hand!"

"Just..." He grabbed my hand. I looked around watching the train passed but, while it happened the station started to slowly deteriorate. Flyers flew off the wall, along with the ceramic covers of the bricks while everyone else just milled around, getting ready to board. Then as I looked through the blurring trains windows I saw full pieces of the wall disappear, replaced by a beach and blue water. Then suddenly we weren't in the station, but a sort of cave as the train passed by and disappeared with a whistle blow.

I looked out of the cave in amazement as the comfortable warm, air filled my lungs with the smell of the sea. Slowly we all walked forward towards the water and sunlight, and I couldn't help the smile that came to my lips as the thought of seeing her again filled me. Lucy moved out, looked at Susan in excitement, then they both let out a laugh and took off. Peter looked over at me, clapping my shoulder and both of us took off after them. All of us stripping off our extra layers that we had to wear in the cold fall weather back in England.

"Shame you're not as quick as me, Ed!" Peter taunted as I let out a laugh.

"Last one in is a rotten egg." Lucy shouted as I pulled off my scarf and jacket.

"Watch out! Here it comes!" Peter called as I ran past him, dodging his hands and went into the warm water. All of us for the first time in a long time actually enjoying ourselves, splashing in the water, and giving full laughs.

I smiled remembering doing this exact thing, a week before we had all gone back to England. Almost instinctively I looked up hoping to spot her, maybe she was the reason that we were back. I wonder what she would think of seeing me this young. Though, when I did look up I spotted the ruins of something.

"Ed? Ed!" Lu called though I ignored her as I furrowed my brows in confusion.

"What is it?" Peter asked.

"Where do you suppose we are?" I questioned.

"Well, where do you think?" He responded incredulously.

"Well, I don't remember any ruins in Narnia." I spoke and they all looked up spotting the remains too, all of us falling silent.

oOo

I had pulled off my vest and put my messenger bag back over my shoulder as we all walked up to the ruins barefoot, plucking apples off the surrounding trees. A feeling of déjà vu filled me as I looked around, phantom laughs filling my ears. As I ducked around a tree I looked up and spotted a flash of brown hair along with another laugh and stumbled back a few steps.

"You ok, Ed?" Pete asked.

"Fine," I murmured.

"Anyone still have their sandwiches?" Lu asked, taking a bite.

"Well I left mine in my bag…" Peter started. "I left my bag in the train station…and then I left the train station in England."

As we moved around the ruins the phantoms followed me, always just giving a laugh and a flash of brown hair but then disappearing before I could catch up.

"I wonder who lived here," Lucy asked as we all moved together.

"I think we did," Susan responded as she picked up something and I walked towards her, looking at what she was holding.

"Hey, that's mine," I recognized the piece. "From my chess set."

"Which chess set?" Peter asked, stepping up beside me.

"Well, I didn't exactly have a solid gold chess set in Finchley, did I?" I asked incredulously, taking the piece from Su.

"It can't be," Lucy whispered and took off running. Peter took chase as Susan and I exchanged a look before following. "Don't you see?" She asked coming to a stop on a large stone area with four raised sections.

"What?" Peter asked as I heard another laugh and looked over only to see nothing.

"lmagine walls," She turned him so he was facing the surrounding ruins. "And columns, there," She did the same to Susan. I turned facing the way she was pointing them, from my place beside Peter, "and a glass roof."

Licking over my lips I realized why I was hearing all of the laughter. It was my memories coming back to me, it was Her laughter. It was my way of recognizing my home.

"Cair Paravel."

oOo

"Catapults," I murmured, crouching down by piece of rounded rock, astounded.

"What?" Peter asked.

"This didn't just happen. Cair Paravel was attacked," I answered looking up at their equally astonished faces. Shaking his head slightly Peter continued to the treasure room, all of us hoping that something would lead us to what had happened and would tell us where everyone was. I almost didn't want to figure it out because just by the looks of these ruins it had been a long time ago, far longer than a year I had been through. With some difficulty we pushed aside the stone covering, revealing the wooden door underneath.

Once we got the door open I watched with Lu and Su as Peter tore off part of the tail of his shirt. Raising and eyebrow in amusement, I restrained a chuckle as he wrapped it around a stick.

"I don't suppose you have any matches do you?" He asked.

"No, but..." I smirked pulled my new torch out of my bag, "...would this help?"

"You might have mentioned that a bit sooner," He laughed slightly along with the girls as I smiled and moved down into the stairwell.

Peter moved ahead of me, pushing open the gate, "I can't believe it. It's all still here." He laughed slightly. Lucy rushed ahead to hers quickly followed by Susan and I going to our own. I quickly opened mine, placing the torch on the ground as I picked up my helmet.

"I was so tall," I heard Lucy speak as I put the now too big helmet on my head.

"Well, you were older then," Susan spoke, logically.

"As opposed to hundreds of years later... when you're younger," I responded, hiding my fear with a smart reply like I did so well and getting some laughter. I turned back to my trunk, taking off the helmet and picking up my sword and shield as I caught Peter, slowly walked towards his own trunk out of the corner of my eye.

"What is it?" I heard Lucy ask.

"My horn," Susan responded. "I must've left it on my saddle the day we went back."

He opened his trunk and pulled out Rhindon, slipping off the sheath as I had seen him do so many times before. "When Aslan bares his teeth, winter meets its death," He spoke solemnly.

"When he shakes his mane..." Lucy responded just as sadly, "...we shall have spring again."

"Edmund," called a soft whisper, almost as if it was the wind and I turned catching a streaking of ice blue and long brown hair. Not letting it get away this time I rushed into a room I had never seen before.

"Ed?" Susan asked as I pulled to a stop, my heart dropping. Right there was an archway, holding a statue, with a golden trunk, exactly like ours, then on a pedestal right in the middle of the room was a beautiful girl made of stone. I heard footsteps come in behind me as I read the plaque below it.

"Queen Eres the Resolute"

Quickly, I reached up and wiped the tears away before they could spill onto my cheeks.

"This means…" Lucy whispered, and I could hear the tears in her voice as she stepped up beside me. "Every-everyone we knew...they're all gone."

oOo

1281 Years Earlier

I winced as I walked over to the window of my room, watching as the soldiers left. Now unable to defend my country from the frontlines, I had appointed Lord Peridan as the commander. It wasn't considered to be good luck but we didn't have a choice and it seemed that they knew that. I hoped that they would all make it back alright. Our last fight against the Telmarines had been perfectly executed, and while a few had been sustained minor injuries those were the worst. Now we had word that they were moving to attack again, just above the Archenland-Narnia border, stronger than before.

"Queen Eres, you're not to be out of bed," Soli admonished walking over and helping me back into the bed. She moved my legs back under the covers as I grimaced, trying to get comfortable, even if I knew I wouldn't ever be.

"Soli, we've known each other for twelve years, and you have seen me at my worst. We should drop the queen thing." I spoke out of breath from the short walk. It was something I was used to, my health hitting a steady deterioration since I turned 26. "I mean I've attended your children's birthday parties."

"Yes, well, I'm very proud over what you've accomplished as our queen so I wish to acknowledge it," She smiled and leaned over, kissing my forehead. "Now please get some rest."

As much as I wished not to, and just sit by the window, my body wouldn't allow it and I nodded, lying down in the comfort of my bed. Like every time I pictured Edmund there, kissing me asleep and drifted off into a peaceful sleep within mere moments.

I woke to a sweet, warm comforting feeling washing over me and opened my eyes to see Aslan standing there.

"Am I dead?" I asked the first thing coming to my mind. It was a reasonable question that had plagued my mind for over a year now.

"Not yet," He answered with a small smile, but gave an understanding look. "Walk with me."

I started to say that I couldn't be a renewed energy filled me and I got up, looking out the window to see the sun just setting. I had slept the whole day. Moving my legs out from under the covers I smoothed down my dress and slipped on some shoes. For the first time in a long time not becoming winded from the simple movements, but the pain still moved throughout my body.

We walked in silence out of my room and towards the courtyard, "Aslan why are you here?"

"A darkness is about to fall on Narnia, my Child; one that cannot be conquered right now, even with all the power of both Narnia. I am here to take you out of it." We moved throughout the castle, meeting no one and it seemed weird; the whole place in complete silence.

"What do you mean?" I asked as we stepped out into the courtyard. He didn't speak, just moving towards the treasure room, the stone covering sliding open itself. Silently we descended the sixteen steps until we stood in front of the four statues and trunks which I had filled. My eyes drifted over three until landing on a fourth.

"I'm offering you a chance to see him again," Aslan spoke kindly. My eyes went wide, as I looked over at him. "Though, with what I'm offering you, you will have to go through all this pain again. Or you can come with me, either way you're leaving this world today."

"What about everyone else?" I whispered sadly, thinking of, now, King Cor and Queen Aravis, Prince Corin, and also Soli and Tumnus specifically.

"They will live out their lives," He nodded.

"I'll see him again?" I asked, making sure.

"Yes, but that life will be plagued with difficulties, both physical and mental," He spoke as if wanting to make sure.

"It doesn't matter," I whispered thinking of the sickness, "I'll endure this ten times over for him."

"I thought you might choose this," He smiled slightly and started walking through the archway that lead into my own treasure room. It had been a sort of surprise for my 25 birthday, a statue with trunk, but now there was a long rectangular pedestal which I have never seen. "Lay down, Child," He spoke softly and I moved up sitting on the hard stone before lying down while adjusting my chemise. A sort of fear ran through me as I let out a staggered breath. "Do not be afraid," He calmed me.

I took another breath and looked up at the ceiling as the same warm, sweet smelling wind blew over me as he let out a breath. Slowly the pain faded away, allowing me to truly relax for the first time in a long time. Then I felt the familiar ring, I hadn't taken off since that day start to become loose. A little worried I raised my hand up and saw that it was smaller, I was getting younger. Closing my eyes I let out another breath and put my hand back down, crossing them over my stomach, making sure that it would stay on my finger.

"When you wake," Aslan spoke though his voice seemed to be drifting away, "you will have what you wish." With those last words sinking in I finally felt at peace for the first time in seven years as I fell into unconsciousness.