Chapter 2

Edmund saw the Badger pull aside his sister. He was still a bit weary of the assorted Narnians. Not that he had never collaborated with Wolves or Siberian Tigers during their reign, but Minotaurs and Ivy Dryads would take some getting used to. Susan and Lucy seemed to take it all in stride and Peter had never fully accepted Wolves as allies anyway.

Was it any wonder that the young King watched his youngest sister so closely? That day, both Susan and Peter were off doing things, related to the coming battle. Peter was being surprisingly easy to work with. Edmund was a bit weary to relinquish his anger towards him, but it seemed Lucy had never completely lost her trust in him. She had left the plans to be made in his capable hands, to run off with her new cousins. There she had fallen in with the old Badger.

He reminded Edmund of the lovely couple that had once been frequent visitors to the Cair. He suspected Lucy thought the same. His eavesdropping hadn't left him feeling guilty until Caspian suddenly arrived at his side.

"King Edmund?"

Several ears perked and Edmund swore he saw his sister roll her eyes. "Edmund?" she called sweetly.

He hesitantly rounded the corner with Caspian next to him.

"Were you eavesdropping?" she asked with a patient smirk.

Edmund had never quite kicked the habit, but these days only did it when he felt it necessary. Not quite able to hide his scarlet blush, he nodded sheepishly.

Lucy smiled and beckoned them both closer. "Mr. Truffelhunter was just telling me about a secret statue not far from here."

Edmund knew this, as he had been listening at the time, but Caspian seemed genuinely intrigued. "A statue of who?" he asked the old Badger.

The Animal suddenly became very shy, faced with all the attention, and had to clear his throat. "It's best if I show you." He was indeed aware that asking Kings and Queens to take long walks in the forest on the eve of battle was a bad idea.

But his persistence and the golden glint in his eye had Edmund hooked. He had been cooped up with nothing to do for almost three days. Ever since the failed raid, he felt a little out of place. Perhaps a walk would do both he and his sister good. He didn't speak, but silently arched a brow at her.

Lucy smiled and seemed about to explode with excitement. "Oh yes, please!"

"We'll need to tell Peter. Get a couple of guards to come with us if they can spare an hour."

Truffelhunter nodded in understanding. Lucy was already simmering with joy and immediately engaged him in conversation as the King and Prince turned away. Edmund turned to find Caspian looking very shy and out of place. "You're welcome to come, Caspian." Edmund said. He felt it was redundant, since the young prince was there when the invitation was given. He had learned very early on in his reign never to exclude people. It was such a simple gesture, but it still had the capacity to hurt were it not given.

Caspian glanced at Lucy before he nodded mutely.

"Will you help me find my brother?"

Again he nodded and uttered a quiet "Of course."

The two of them found Peter rather easily. He was going over battle plans with Glenstorm, the Centaur, Trumpkin, the Red Dwarf and a wise Owl, named Noctus. "Hullo, Ed." he absentmindedly greeted as the two entered. When he noticed Caspian was with him, he noticeably shrunk. Well maybe only noticeable to Edmund.

"Lucy's heard of a statue nearby she wants to visit. I thought I'd take her."

This made Peter look up sharply. His eyes were filled with worry. "Take four guards minimum."

Edmund rolled his eyes, but nodded. He wasn't quite ready to accept Peter's attempts at mothering him. During their reign it had become second nature for the siblings to worry about the others when situation called for it. But sometime during their year in England, that had changed between Peter and him. Lucy still cuddled him sometimes, especially after a rough argument or one of the many fights Peter – and Edmund by extension – had gotten into. Susan too, but Peter had been mentally absent for almost nine months.

Edmund knew his brother felt guilty about that, but wasn't ready to forgive him just yet. He still felt betrayed after all the hurts that had gone unnoticed by his brother. "I was thinking we'd take a couple Great Cats and Tilly and Adelaide, the Boar twins?"

Peter thought about that for a moment and nodded. Edmund returned it a bit stiffly and turned to leave. He didn't take two steps before Peter had grabbed his arm. "Can I speak to you in private?"

Before he could answer, Peter was already pulling him aside. They entered one of the many side entrance tunnels to the Lion Chamber. "Is something wrong?" Edmund asked. He still worried about his brother, despite not letting said brother worry about him.

"I wanted to see if you were alright?" Peter's voice was so soft and frightened.

That failure in Beaver's Dam had really shaken him. As it had Edmund. "Yes. Fine." He arched another brow in silent query.

Peter quickly smiled and brushed him off. "I'm fine."

But the silence hung in the air. Edmund knew there was more, but wasn't going to expend any effort to pry it from his brother if he didn't want to talk. Too many times over the last year had he been bitten when he tried to extend a hand.

"I just. . ." Peter brushed back a stray lock of hair and rubbed his forehead. "I feel like we need to talk."

Edmund quickly shook his head. "No we don't. I don't." he corrected.

Peter nodded and looked up with a deep sigh. "I know, but Edmund-" He grabbed the dark-haired King just as he was about to leave. "I'm sorry."

The whisper was almost drowned out by its own echo in the cavern walls. Edmund froze. He found himself unable to meet the two, blue eyes he knew was staring at him. "I should go or Lucy will leave without me." He pulled free of his brother and left him standing alone.

Caspian was waiting patiently in the Lion Chamber. "Let's go." Edmund said before Caspian could ask any questions. He never did. Nor did he ever try to ask what was wrong. Edmund later suspected that everyone knew all along.

Lucy was ready with Truffelhunter when they returned. "Good Master Badger, will you find me Tilly and Adelaide?"

Truffelhunter nodded and quickly took off in search of the Boar twins. "Trouble?" Lucy asked.

He knew she hated bringing guards on every little outing almost as much as himself. "No trouble. Just Peter being overprotective," Edmund said and cast a look around the room. "We need a couple Great Cats as well."

"Oh I know two," Lucy said with a smile. She pulled Edmund along to a corner of the room where two Tigers rested. "This is Balis and Moreena." She turned back to Edmund with a smile. "They say they're relatives of Ricanus."

Edmund knew that every Animal from here to Anvard claimed to be a distant relative of their old Narnian guard. He doubted many of them were. But as Tigresses, Balis and Moreena stood up, his breath was swept away. They had the same golden color their supposed forefather had had. "Lovely to meet you both, good my cousins."

They smiled feline smiles in greeting and bowed in Great Cat fashion. "It is an honor, King Edmund." Balis said. She looked up at him with intelligent eyes. "Tales of our family's legacy have been told for centuries. Our parents won't let us forget them." she added with a smirk.

"Nor will we let our children." Moreena said. She was slightly darker than her sister. An indicator that she was older.

Edmund smirked a little and nodded once more. "We would be honored if you and your sister could spare an hour of your time?"

Both Tigers bowed again in agreement.

Edmund and Lucy thanked them and returned to find Truffelhunter, Tilly and Adelaide ready for departure. The eight of them set out at a slow pace. The Tigers ran ahead to scout for any Telmarines while Tilly and Adelaide stayed to guard the three sovereigns and Truffelhunter. They were quite talkative, the two Boars. Well, Tilly was. Adelaide had to fight to get a word in, though she happily nodded in agreement with everything her twin said. They had stories for every occasion. It seemed their family was quite extended and that they knew every piglet ever born.

"Ooh and Davvis used to jump and spring all day long," Tilly giggled. "He was such a spirited Pig."

"But if everyone loved him so much, why was he shunned?" Lucy asked in concern. She found every one of their stories riveting.

Edmund rolled his eyes with his back to them.

"Well, he wasn't exactly shunned. It was just hard for him, living outdoors as we Boars do, being half Pig and all." Tilly said seriously.

"Oh," Lucy said regretfully.

Edmund glanced over at Caspian and saw him hide a quick smile. He caught his eye and the two, young men shared smirks.

"But fret not, Queen Lucy. Me an' Adelaide go visit every month. He's found himself a lovely wife and spawned octoblets."

Edmund and Caspian barely smothered their laughs. "I do not believe that's a real word," Caspian whispered.

Edmund shook his head and made sure to keep his back turned. "It's not."

And on the conversation went for another ten minutes. Truffelhunter was walking at the head of the group, focusing on his surroundings. Lucy and the Boars were at the back, while Balis and Moreena were nowhere in sight. It always amazed Edmund how stealthy Great Cats could be.

"We're coming upon the clearing now, Your Majesties." Truffelhunter exclaimed.

Lucy and the Boars finally fell silent and jogged up next to Edmund and Caspian. "Who do you suspect made it?" Lucy asked with a laugh in her voice.

Edmund couldn't keep himself from smiling either. "Don't know. I'm more curious of who it is,"

"Perhaps Aslan?" Lucy suggested in awe.

"Or maybe a Telmarine Lord had it commissioned and it got lost somehow?" Edmund replied. Lucy's excitement dwindled severely at those words. She sulked. Edmund noticed and almost bit his tongue. He hated seeing his sister sad. It was his job to keep her happy when she couldn't. "I'm sure it's not, Lu. You're probably right. Aslan sounds most likely."

She glanced at him, but didn't quite smile. If her mood didn't lift by the time they got home, Peter would tear him to shreds. But he needn't have worried. "Just here," Truffelhunter said excitedly and hopped sideways while pointing down a little slope.

The three humans followed him down a small blackberry thicket. By the time they reached the bottom all three were covered in leaves and blackberry juice. But it seemed as if none of it mattered the second they laid eyes on the statue.

There, in the middle of the wilderness, the demure, little thing stood. Edmund's breath rushed out of him at the sight. It was Lucy alright. So young and wonderful.

"Oh my." Lucy breathed. She stepped closer. Over to where Truffelhunter was anxiously waiting. Her shoulders shook with her next inhale and Edmund knew she was crying.

It was so lovely. It reminded him of a little Dryad. Even though it was carved in rough granite and some of the finer lines had been worn down, it looked so delicate. So much like Lucy.

"It's beautiful." Caspian said in awe. He stepped closer, past Edmund, to get a better look.

Edmund too moved in to look. Lucy was trying not to sob openly as she gazed at it. "Who do you suppose made it?" Edmund asked.

None of them could rip their eyes away from the statue. "Isn't it obvious?" Lucy whispered.

Caspian and Edmund looked at her in question.

"Mr. Tumnus." she said and finally looked at Edmund.

"Does anyone know how old it is?" Edmund asked Truffelhunter.

The Badger shrugged sadly. "Several hundred years old. It has been there for as long as any of my ancestors could remember."

Lucy let out a little hiccup and hugged herself tightly. Edmund moved without thinking and enveloped her in a bear hug. She leaned into his embrace and started crying in earnest. All the sorrow she had felt, since first arriving and realizing all their friends were dead, was released. Edmund didn't know quite what to do. He wasn't the comforter of the family. That was Susan or Peter's job. His job was to make her smile again after she was done crying.

She turned and wrapped her arms around his shoulders.

"We heard crying." Tilly announced breathlessly as she and Adelaide caused a mighty racket coming down the slope. Moreena and Balis arrived as well, to the annoyance of Edmund.

Though he was denied the opportunity to ask for privacy when Lucy sniffed and straightened. "It's alright." She wiped her face and put on a brave face. "You should see it."

The four guards stopped in amazement when they noticed the beautifully crafted effigy. "Oh Goodness me." Adelaide said in a soft voice. Edmund noted absently it was the first time she had gotten a word in the entire trip.

"Aslan. . ." Moreena whispered into the air. She looked from the statue to Lucy, clearly recognizing the resemblance.

"You alright?" Edmund whispered. His mouth was right by his sister's ear.

She nodded and sniffed one final time. "I just miss him. I wish I could have spoken with him just once before we left."

Edmund let her lean back against his chest. Her breath was still slightly shaky, but she seemed better. Caspian had gone completely and utterly silent. Edmund suspected he was feeling a might bit misplaced. Edmund felt misplaced and he was the one giving comfort. Without a word, Lucy left his embrace.

She reached out and caressed the statue. Not as if seeing herself, but almost as if seeing her old friend coming to life before her very eyes. "He's in Aslan's country, Your Majesty." Tilly said in a stalwart voice. "You'll see him again someday."

Lucy turned to the Boar with a grateful smile before she quickly found her way into Edmund's arms again. He let her take all the comfort she needed. His eyes drifted up to the statue again. A deep sigh escaped him.

It looked so much like Lucy and yet not. They had all changed so much; even since the first time they were their present ages. Back then Lucy had still been an innocent and slightly naïve nine year old. Now, once again at the age of nine, she had lost that innocence. She was still fair and beautiful in every sense of the word, but something had been lost during those years. As it had in all four.

He realized what it was with a stunning jolt. It was her smile. All their smiles. Back then they had always been full of nothing but joy and happiness. Later on, and again now, they were always a little sad. There was always a sliver of sorrow after leaving Narnia. After seeing all they had during their time as Kings and Queens. He realized what they had all lost and, within seconds, found acceptance.

They had given it all, gladly, to serve their country and Her people. Had he the choice, he would've done it all again. As would Lucy, Susan and Peter.

Peter.

That was the reason for all his anger this past year. He had realized what had been taken from him – what Aslan had taken – and lost faith because of it. And then had come that defining moment. The raid upon Beaver's Dam where too many lives were lost. Something had changed within his big brother after that, but Edmund couldn't figure what. He seemed both broken and renewed. Had Peter's faith in the Lion been restored? Or was it guilt over the lives that had so recently been lost?

"We should go. Your brother will be wondering where you are." Caspian said quietly. The look he sent Edmund made the Just King slightly uncomfortable. It looked like Caspian was seeing straight through him.

Edmund nodded and gently nudged his sister along. But then suddenly stopped. "Wait. What if the Telmarines find this?" He glanced back at the pretty, little statue.

Truffelhunter approached him cautiously. "None have so far, Your Majesty." He glanced at Lucy who was safely tucked under her brother's arm. "And even if they should, I do not think they would have the heart to destroy such a beautiful thing." His gentle voice instilled the listeners with faith. Truffelhunter glanced back at the smiling Queen. "It has stood there for many years, but I don't think Aslan wants it taken down yet." There was a glint in his eye as he looked up at Lucy. "It might still have a purpose to serve." he said in that same quiet voice before he shuffled off.

Balis and Moreena followed Edmund's line of sight from the Badger and back to the statue. "Come, Your Majesty." Tilly calmly said before she nudged Caspian along. Her twin followed the future King while the Tigresses stayed behind. Two sets of golden eyes peered calmly up at Lucy and Edmund.

"I never imagined anything like this." Lucy said with her eyes glued to the statue.

"Like what?" Edmund asked with his own eyes fixed on her.

"That something like this would be left of me. That anyone would do this for me." She looked back up at her brother with tears again beginning to line her eyes.

Edmund just smiled and rubbed her cheek. "If Tumnus really did make this, I think it was for another reason entirely, Lu."

"Like what?" she asked softly.

Edmund nudged his chin towards the statue when he looked at it. "I think he did it for himself. Because he missed you. I think. . ." Edmund adopted a faraway look. "I think he did it for everyone who's stood here since. For everyone who still hasn't seen it, but are meant to."

Lucy's smile outshone that on the statue like the sun outshone a torch. She realized then, that since arriving, she had been far too focused on her two oldest siblings' lack of faith. Especially when her brother had faith enough for all of them. "I think I like that notion." she said with a smile.

"Yeah," Edmund sighed. He allowed himself to be pulled along when his sister turned. "I think I do too."

He didn't know if it was his imagination, or the grace of Aslan, but when they returned it seemed as if everything shone a bit brighter. Right from his brother's questioning smile to the daisies that littered the ground in front of the How.

"Everything alright?" Peter asked as they passed.

Edmund smirked and teased a smile from him in return. "It's good to be home." was all he answered.

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