Chapter 6✨

After walking for some time, the 6 of them reached Beruna, where Telmarines were working. They quickly hid behind a stack of logs, while peeking out at the scene. War machines, catapults, and a bridge were being built, for the purpose of war and further eradication of Narnians. Just as they were observing, two horses rode up, near them, forcing them to crouch low.

'Perhaps this wasn't the best way to go.' Susan mumbled to Peter. He looked around, uncertain. Susan peeked out again, before turning back around with the others.

As everyone made their way back to the cliff, where Lucy claimed to have seen Aslan, Raina hung back. She was trying to figure out how to summon her powers. She broke away from the group, and walked a few ways away.

She closed her eyes and searched deep inside her. Something stirred and warmth engulfed her. She opened her eyes, and she could tell they flashed blue. She looked down at her palms which now glowed with the same blue light. She smiled at the sight, which was soon disrupted by Edmund.

'What are you doing?' He asked, startling her, causing the magic to dissipate. She threw an annoyed glance his way, before gesturing to her now normal palms. He looked down in embarrassment.

'Thanks for that.' She said, pissed off.

'Sorry. Pete's calling for us. He's more pissed than usual.' Edmund spoke, not meeting her eyes.

'Right, coming.' She replied.

'So..' He began, as they walked back.

'So?' She asked, her eyebrows knitted together.

'Did you figure out how to do it? I notice you're not tired like you were earlier when..' Edmund trailed off, as he recalled how she fell into his arms. Raina gulped and met his gaze.

'Yes, I think I know now. I assume I got exhausted because it was instinctual, now if I can control it, I should be fine.' Raina explained and Edmund nodded. They walked in awkward silence back to the cliff, where Peter, Susan, Lucy and Trumpkin were waiting. Peter sent a glare their way.

'Where were you guys? Can't you stick to the group? What if you get lost?' He asked, slightly exasperated. Raina met his gaze before walking up to him.

'I was trying to figure out how to use my powers. I assume that's important. Don't you?' She said, unflinching under Peter's gaze. Everyone was a little stunned.

Something was different about Raina. She was more confident. She was already frustrated with Peter's ego coming in the way of every decision that had to be made. As the Narnian Protector, she is entitled to respect which Peter didn't seem to give, and Raina's patience was wearing thin.

Peter backed down slightly before speaking again.

'Sorry. Did you figure it out? Do you feel alright?' He asked, softly, his voice with concern. Raina too softened.

'Yes, I think earlier since it was wrenched out of me, I felt tired but now I'm fine. I think I just need to be prepared to use it, instead of it coming out of me at the last minute.' She spoke. Peter nodded, before turning to Lucy, who was staring out at the other cliff, sadly.

'So, where exactly did you say you saw Aslan?' He asked, uncertainty in his voice.

Lucy turned around, and from her face it was clear she was fed up.

'I wish you'd all try to stop trying to sound like grown ups.' She said, anger in her voice. 'I didn't think I saw him, I did see him.' she continued, as she walked towards the edge of the cliff.

'I am a grown up.' Trumpkin said, as Raina struggled not to laugh, as did Edmund.

'It was right over-AHHHH' Lucy started but then screamed, as she fell through the ground.

''LUCY!' Susan yelled, as everyone rushed forward to check on Lucy. Thankfully, she just felt a few feet before landing on the ground below, revealing a path to the other side.

'...here.' Lucy spoke.

Raina looked down and she was afraid. She was terrified of heights, and funnily enough no one knew. Not even Edmund. She did not want to go down that way. She tried to think of another less tedious and dangerous way to get across.

'Guys, I have a better idea.' She piped up, something coming together in her mind.

'What? What are you talking about?' Susan asked.

'Do you guys trust me?' She asked.

The Pevensies looked at each other and Trumpkin. They nodded, hesitantly.

'Good enough.'

She closed her eyes and once again, she found the power deep inside her as she began to channel it.

'Raina, what are you-' Edmund began, when she cut him off.

'This'll be fun.' Was all she said before blue light engulfed all 6 of them, and lifted them a few feet into the air and launching all of them forward.

'AHHHHHHH!!!!' was all that could be heard from everyone, except Raina, who had a smirk on her face, observing Edmund. He flailed around like a child. Before long, all of them landed safely on the other cliff. Everyone but Raina, was panting from the adrenaline and the fear, as they looked at her, anger, awe, and fear written all over their features.

'What?' She asked. 'Don't tell me you didn't enjoy that.' She said, innocently.

Peter was about to say something, but he closed her mouth after some deliberation, as did Susan and Trumpkin. Lucy had a smile on her face, clearly having enjoyed it. Raina looked to Edmund who was a little shocked.

'Edmund, you looked like you had a fun time.' Raina told him, sarcasm dripping in her voice, as she recalled his unforgettable facial expressions. He glared at her.

'GIVE US SOME WARNING RAINA FOR GOD'S SAKES!' Edmund yelled in a high pitched voice. He clearly didn't expect it, as the rest of the group laughed hysterically. Edmund began grumbling to himself, and kicking rocks.

'I'll keep that in mind for next time.' Raina replied in between laughs.

'How did you do that?' Trumpkin asked, awestruck.

Raina mulled it over before answering.

'I just willed it into happening, I guess. It's not really clear cut.' She shrugged.

'We could've just walked down, you know.' Susan said matter-of-factly. Raina gave her a side-eye.

'I'm tired.' Raina said, somewhat dramatically. Peter, Trumpkin and Susan collectively rolled their eyes. Lucy laughed and Edmund stared at her in disbelief.

'Hey, I saved you lot from walking and potentially tripping and falling. Thank me later.' Raina said sweetly. Edmund looked at her and raised an eyebrow, not believing her.

'Okay, and I'm afraid of heights, and wanted to get it over with.' She shrugged, as everyone nodded.

'We should get going.' Trumpkin spoke up, as everyone nodded and walked forward.

Daylight began dimming as they walked. They entered a clearing where Peter decided they retire for the night. Everyone agreed, tiredness taking over.

'We need a fire. It's getting chilly.' Susan spoke, rubbing her arms. Peter nodded and gestured to everyone to procure firewood. Edmund, Lucy and Raina went off, as did Peter, Susan and Trumpkin. As Raina gathered some pieces of wood, she bumped into Edmund.

'AHHH!' She screeched, barreling into him. He fell on the ground and she fell on top of him. Their faces were inches apart, as Raina cursed herself for being clumsy around him again.

'I'm sorry.' She said, timidly, as her prior confidence faded and shy nature took over. Edmund too was looking down, hiding what appeared to be a dusting of red on his cheeks.

'I-It's alright.' He said, shyly. They heard someone giggle, and they immediately looked up to see Lucy, trying to keep a straight face. They sprung apart so fast, you'd think they'd have hurt themselves.

'Well, I'm going back, why don't you guys get the rest of it?' Lucy asked before walking back to the campsite. Once she left, an awkward silence settled over Raina and Edmund. Neither one would meet each other's eyes.

'I'm sorry about..earlier.' Raina began.

Edmund looked up.

'You already apologised for that.' He said, with a small laugh.

'I know, but still..' Raina's face lightly contorted in pain as she recalled her twisted ankle from the beach. Hours of walking clearly didn't heal it.

Without speaking again, Raina picked up the firewood and began walking back, Edmund trailing behind. Many thoughts were running through his mind at that moment. Is there something she's not telling me? She's different. I wonder what happened, he thought. He was right, she was hiding something from him, and from Lucy, Susan and Peter. She was harbouring feelings of anger and hurt against them. She had every right to, didn't she?

Thoughts clouded Raina's mind too. How am I supposed to act like I'm okay around him? She wondered. But she's changed. She's gained confidence, perhaps it had something to do with being in Narnia, but she still had the heart of an introvert, and a usually quiet one at that. Maybe it has something to do with Narnia. She thought. She convinced herself to just stay on polite terms with the Pevensies, because it wasn't worth arguing and feeling hurt all over again. Once she's done whatever she's supposed to in Narnia, she can go back home to Finchley, and forget the Pevensies ever existed, just like she did when they stopped talking to her.

Trumpkin got the fire going, as everyone lay on the ground trying to fall asleep. Peter and Trumpkin fell asleep first, followed by Susan and Lucy. Raina was still awake, and so was Edmund. Both of them had too much on their minds to sleep. As Raina thought about how to not lose her temper around Edmund, he thought of how to go back to being how he used to be with Raina.

The only thing that could force Raina to forget about Edmund, would be to probably vilify him. There were many instances that could help with that. That's her only choice. She can't let herself get in too deep. It hurt too much the first time.

1 year ago

'Edmund why on earth are you acting like this?!' Raina yelled at him, frustrated. He had just punched the wall repeatedly, getting bruises, as Raina tried to pull him back. He shoved her off of him.

'Raina leave me alone! I just-' He didn't complete what he was about to say.

'No! I'm not doing that! Just calm down and talk to me. Please.' She pleaded with him. He appeared to calm down a tad, but he still wouldn't look at her.

'Dad has to go.' He said softly before looking out of the window. Raina understood what he meant.

'Mine too. He left a few days ago.' She said, softly, causing Edmund to look at her. An understanding passed between the two of them.

'They'll come back. I promise.' She said, and that's what angered Edmund again. He met her eyes, rage bubbling.

'YOU CAN'T PROMISE THAT RAINA!' He yelled at her, cruelly. She flinched at the tone of his voice. By this point, Susan and Peter stood at the doorway, enough to eavesdrop but not be seen.

Now it was Raina's turn to feel hurt and angry. All she ever did was try to help him. But she chose to push her emotions down, even as the tears fell.

'I'm sorry.' She mumbled before leaving. She passed Susan and Peter in the doorway. They threw sympathetic glances her way, whilst throwing angry ones Edmund's way. And with that she left. The guilt washed over Edmund this time. He turned around to see Susan and Peter glaring at him.

Raina never realised how hurt she was over that. That was the last conversation she had with Edmund before they were evacuated. Maybe they were supposed to fight that way. Maybe that's the way Raina can finally move on from someone who treated her cruelly. She needs to process what happened between them, before finally leaving. Even if all she wanted was to tell him that-

'Hey, you up?' Edmund stirred beside her, interrupting her chain of thought. She jumped slightly before turning to her left to face him.

'Yeah. Why're you still up?' She asked him, looking at the fire.

'Just thinking.'

Raina hummed in response as she stared at the fire.

'I'm sorry.' He said, sadly.

Raina looked at him, a frown on her face.

'What? What do you mean?' She asked, as the past came rushing back to her.

'I'm sorry for everything I said when Dad had to leave last year.' He said, not meeting her eyes.

'Oh.. I should be apologizing anyway I pushed you, said the wrong-' She started, but Edmund cut her off by coming closer.

'No. You don't have anything to apologise for, alright? I was an arse.' He ended, causing Raina to giggle slightly. He smiled too.

'It's alright, Edmund. It was a long time ago. I don't even remember it.' She said, even if she remembered it like yesterday. He searched her face. Raina sent a curious glance his way as if asking 'what're you doing' but he gave no response.

'You've changed, Raina.' He said, simply.

Raina thought of an answer.

'Well, sometimes life throws curveballs at you, and you have no choice but to adapt. Whether that's a war, losing people, or..both.' She said.

Something flashed on Edmund's face for a moment. It's like something stabbed him in his heart, which he tried to mask with his grumpy face.

The two of them just lay awake, watching the stars. Raina turned her head slightly, to see Edmund looking at her, his brown eyes were sparkling in the glow of the fire. If Raina wasn't trying to push him out of her heart, she would melt into them completely, if she hadn't already.

Raina no, be strong. You got through this before, you can do it again. She said to herself.

'What're you looking at?' She asked, somewhat annoyed. Edmund maintained a straight face.

'Just thinking about how time changes everything.'

Edmund lay flat on his back, as Raina turned away as well.

'Goodnight Raina.'

'Goodnight Edmund.'

As she tried to sleep, she realised,

'This boy is going to be the death of me.'

(A/N GUYS SO THAT' CHAPTER 6 WHOOOO ITS 2500 WORDS!! so as you can tell, there is considerable tension between Raina and Edmund. She still has some anxiety, anger and pain against him. i mean, she does have a right to. their relationship is going to be a little different, former friends trying to navigate who they are now, of course fighting in another war, in another world, with one of them being a demigod, no biggie. this is going to get sad sometimes and y'all might hate Edmund and Raina in some instances, but remember they both have their own demons, and they both have walls up. I HOPE YOU GUYS ARE ENJOYING IT SO FAR THO!! Raina is no longer going to be quiet, that's for sure. In a way, you can think that she'll try to use her confidence to keep people at bay, especially Edmund. I hope you'll stick around to see how it goes!!)

to everyone reading, i humbly ask you to vote on the chapters as it would really help my fanfic.