Chapter 18✨

Everything was a blur. As Glozelle went down, Raina gasped for breath as she bled. She tried to use her new healing power, but she was too tired and she was losing her grip on everything. Her swords fell out of her hands, as she vaguely noted a man made of water taking Lord Sopespian down, as the Narnians emerged victorious. She lay on the floor, limp. She placed her hand on her wound, and it was covered with blood. Her eyelids grew heavy.

She was suddenly back where she was with Jadis thousands of years ago. She felt herself leave her mortal body. She mentally whispered, but not to Aslan.

On the river banks, everything calmed as the Telmarines surrendered. Aslan had returned, with Lucy, as Edmund stood with Peter, Susan and Caspian. They heaved sighs of relief. It was over.

'We did it, we won.' Edmund sighed.

Edmund suddenly heard a shrill ringing sound, as he clutched his head. He stumbled, almost falling into the river.

'Ed! What happened?' Peter asked, worriedly, steadying his brother.

Edmund didn't respond. The ringing dulled down, as he heard a voice in his head. A faint whisper, desperate.

'Ed..please help..I'm just-' It choked out.

There was only one person he knew with that voice, which he could recognise in his sleep.

'Ed! What's wrong?! Are you hurt?' Susan asked, when Edmund grabbed his sword and ran towards the tree line. He called her name.

'Raina! Raina, where are you?!' He screamed, Peter and Caspian hot on his heels.

'Raina!' Peter called out, his eyebrows knitted in worry.

The three boys kept looking for her, when Edmund's eyes landed on something a few ways away. A sword.Edmund picked it up, as his eyes widened.

Raina's sword.

Edmund took off, calling out to her repeatedly. He noticed someone lying on the ground, near a tree.

'No..no no no no no..' Edmund thought it himself. 'Please let it not be..'

As he came closer, his eyes fell upon Raina's face, contorted in pain, her eyes squeezed shut.

'RAINA!' Edmund screamed, as he ran to her and dropped to his knees, and cradled her against his chest. He saw a large wound in her chest, as she was bleeding out rapidly.

'Ed...' She choked out, 'Sorry, I uh..got a headache and Gl-Glozelle he-' She couldn't complete her sentence as a violent cough ripped through her.

'Hey hey, it's okay, you're going to be okay.' He turned back to where Peter and Caspian were still looking.

'PETER! CASPIAN! WE NEED HELP!' He yelled at the top of his voice. As they turned around, their hearts collectively dropped at the sight of Raina on the ground. They quickly made their way over to Edmund, who was holding Raina in his arms.

'We need to get to Lucy.' Peter urged, as Edmund nodded furiously. Caspian quickly called a few centaurs over to assist them. The centaurs helped carry Raina above the water, to the other side. Edmund rushed forward, and took her in his arms.

'Edmund..this is not how...I planned on...spending today..' She let out a weak chuckle.

'It's not over yet.' Edmund maintained.

'Lucy!' Susan called out, but Lucy was standing some distance away, laughing at something Aslan said.

Raina's breaths were getting fainter. Her eyes were fluttering closed, as Edmund carried her.

'No no no, stay with me. Stay with me, Raina.' Edmund said, softly, tears pricking the back of his eyes.

'I-It's okay, Ed...I already died once...I've been here before..' She laughed slightly at her own joke, before letting out a pained gasp.

'Raina, NO. Don't you quit on me. I can't lose you.' Edmund implored, trying to sound angry but he was breaking on the inside.

Edmund observed the trails of Raina's blood in the water, his heart crumbling at the sight, as his lips quivered. Raina's eyes were drifting shut.

'Raina no no no, STAY WITH ME PLEASE!' Edmund's pained voice rang out, as Raina opened her eyes with visible effort. She smiled slightly.

'It's okay, Ed... In case I don't get to say it again..' Raina began, and started coughing.

'Raina, you'll get to say it again I promise.' Edmund maintained, his tears threatening to spill.

'I-If I don't get to say it again...Ed..' Raina said in a small voice.

'You made the world go away, Ed.' Raina whispered as she went limp in Edmund's arms.

'No no NO!' He screamed.

'Where's Lucy?!' He asked, angrily. Edmund turned away and saw Lucy talking to Aslan.

'LUCY!' Edmund screamed. 'LUCY GET OVER HERE!'

Lucy finally looked up, gasping at the sight of Raina on the ground, as she ran over. She dropped to her knees, tears falling from her eyes.

'RAINA!' She screamed.

'LUCY GET YOUR CORDIAL!!' Edmund yelled, his tears falling freely now. He let out a sob, as Peter, Caspian and Susan sat near him, all sniffling.

Lucy uncapped her cordial, and let a drop fall into Raina's mouth. Her faint breathing stilled, as her skin had completely paled. Edmund's chest was heaving as Raina looked lifeless. He grabbed her hand, to see it was ice cold. He didn't drop it, he just held it to his lips, as the tears rolled down his cheeks. His eyes were squeezed shut as he remembered every moment he spent with Raina. He didn't realise how much they had meant to him, until then.

He didn't realise how much she meant to him.

A voice spoke suddenly, breaking the silence.

'Surprise, this isn't a cheesy rom com.'

Edmund's eyes shot open to see Raina staring at him, an unamused look on her face. Edmund let out a quivering sigh of relief, as did everyone else. Edmund bent down and hugged her ever so tightly. Raina's heart fluttered at the action, as she clung to him. She felt a jolt of pain in her chest, as she yelped.

'OW!' She said in a small voice.

'I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry.' He whispered as he pulled away, still holding her. His eyes sparkled with tears as Raina reached up and wiped them away. She smiled at him, sheepishly.

'You know...is there any chance you didn't hear what I said earlier?' She asked in a small voice, as Edmund chuckled.

'Not a chance.' He whispered.

Without a second thought, he lowered his head and kissed her. Raina's eyes widened but they drifted shut, as she clutched his shoulder. She felt a kind of warmth envelope her, and her heart fluttered as Edmund smiled into the kiss.

'Ahem.' A voice spoke.

Edmund and Raina sprang apart, eyes widening as they realised what they'd just done.

'Shit.' Raina muttered, as she buried her head in Edmund's shoulder.

When the two teenagers finally looked up, Peter, Caspian, Susan and Lucy watched them, arms crossed and exceptionally wide smirks on their faces. It was dead silent for a few moments.

'I KNEW IT I TOLD YOU I KNEW IT!' Lucy screeched at Susan. Susan shook her head at her little sister, and turned her gaze back to Raina.

'So this is what we were interrupting that night at the How...interesting.' Susan mused, as she struggled to contain her smirk. Raina just buried her head in Edmund's chest, embarrassed. He wrapped his arm around her, as he chuckled slightly.

'And Edmund here, was adamant on Raina viewing him as just a friend. Oh, how the tables have turned. It's about damn time, Jesus you lot do not know how to be subtle.' Peter said, both annoyed and amused.

Caspian was about to speak, when Raina sent a pointed glare his way, before eyeing Susan. His eyes widened as he shut up. Susan looked at him strangely, wondering why he didn't join in. She shrugged it off.

'Guys..' Lucy began, gesturing to a majestic lion standing some distance away from them.

Raina got up, with Edmund's help, smiling sheepishly to herself. Caspian and Edmund stood on her right, while Peter and Susan on her left. As Raina met Aslan's gaze, she immediately bowed, automatically feeling a connection to him, a connection as old as time. The others bowed along with her.

'Rise, Kings and Queens of Narnia.' Aslan spoke, reverently. Susan, Peter and Edmund stood up, while Caspian and Raina didn't.

'All of you.' Aslan continued. Raina looked at Caspian before standing up.

'I do not think I am ready.' Caspian said, looking at the ground.

'It is for that very reason, I know you are.' Aslan replied.

Caspian slowly got to his feet. Aslan then turned to Raina, a calm smile on his face. Raina felt instantly at ease in his presence, feeling as though she has known him for the longest time.

'Welcome back, dear one. I am glad to see you.' He said, kindly.

Raina slowly walked forward.

'Aslan, it's been so long I.. there's so much I can't even remember..' Raina sighed.

'Raina, what happened in the past does not have any sway in your future, I can assure you. But you will be able to remember, in due time.' Aslan replied. Raina was surprised.

'My name was Ranin, wasn't it?' She asked, curiously. Aslan chuckled slightly.

'Ranin was who you were, dear one. Raina is who you are. It does not do well to dwell on the past, as it cannot be altered. You must focus on who you are, and who you ought to become.' Aslan said, thoughtfully. Raina pondered his words.

'Raina, you were brought here for the purpose of protecting Narnia. I can safely say you have more than fulfilled it. You are a Narnian Queen in every way.' Aslan said kindly, as a smile made its way to Raina's face.

'Aslan, I understand I was created to protect Narnia, that I was entrusted with the responsibility of being the Protector, but now that I have been here, all I can say is that I did what any Narnian would do. Narnia's protection lies in the hands of its people, that responsibility does not lie in the hands of just one person. It is everyone's duty. I believe I did what any Narnian would do for its own. I don't believe I am a Protector, I believe I am, at best a warrior. Someone, who would fight tooth and nail for Narnia, regardless of any responsibility or duty.' Raina explained. A smile made its way to Aslan's face.

'Dear one, you are wise beyond your years. Although, you do possess the wisdom of a 2000 year old demigod.' Aslan chuckled, as did Raina.

'You shall make a fine Queen. Narnia is overjoyed to have you.'

Raina smiled widely, as she bowed to Aslan. The sound of bagpipes caused everyone to turn around. A group of mice walked forward, two of them carrying a stretcher. Raina gasped at the sight of an unconscious Reepicheep on it. As the stretcher was placed on the ground, Lucy rushed over, uncapped her cordial and let a drop fall into his mouth. After a few tense seconds, Reepicheep suck in a sharp breath as he regained consciousness.

'Thank you, your majesty..Thank you.' Reepicheep replied, breathlessly as another mouse helped him up. Reepicheep suddenly straightened at the sight of Aslan.

'Oh! Hail! Aslan, it is a great honour to be in-' Reepicheep began and bowed, but stumbled. He turned around to see his tail cut off, and let out a gasp.

'Oh, I'm completely out of countenance! I must crave your indulgence for appearing in this unseemly fashion!' Reepicheep quickly spoke, as he looked up to Lucy.

'Uh..perhaps a drop more?' He implored.

'I don't think it does that.' Lucy replied, sadly.

'You could have a go.' Reepicheep asked and shrugged.

Aslan chuckled at that.

'It becomes you well, small one.' He responded.

'All the same, great king. But I regret that I must withdraw, for a tail is the honour and glory of a mouse.' Reepicheep said as he unsheathed his blade, and offered it to Aslan.

'Perhaps you think too much of your honour, friend.' Aslan commented.

'Well its, it's not just the honour. It-Its also great for balance! And climbing! And grabbing things.' Reepicheep rambled. The other mice unsheathed their swords and brought it to their tails.

'May it please, your High Majesty, we will not bear the shame of wearing an honour denied to our chief.' A mouse spoke up.

Aslan chuckled again before speaking.

'Not for the sake of your dignity, but for the love of your people.' He said, kindly and in a moment, Reepicheep's tail grew back. He turned around, shocked and exclaimed with joy.

'Look! Thank you! Thank you, my liege. I will treasure it always. From this day forward, it will serve as a great reminder of my huge humility.' Reepicheep exclaimed, earning chuckles from everyone. Raina turned to Reepicheep.

'That tasted awful, didn't it?' She asked.

'Well, I mustn't say.' He said, sheepishly.

'You can say, Reep.' Lucy joined in.

Reepicheep looked up before speaking in a small voice.

'Queen Lucy, it was not something I would use my tail to steal.' He said, as Raina practically snorted. Aslan laughed too, before turning to Lucy.

'Now, where is this Dear Little Friend you've told me so much about?'

All eyes turned to Trumpkin, where he directed the Telmarine soldiers to surrender their weapons. He did not meet Aslan's gaze at all. He walked up to where everyone had gathered, placed his sword on the ground, and bowed to Aslan.

Aslan let out a loud roar, as Trumpkin was startled by the sound. Raina and the others watched with thorough amusement. The one person who did not believe in the great Aslan, now quivered in his presence. Raina met Lucy's gaze, both of them thinking the same thing. Raina gestured to Lucy to do it. Lucy looked to Trumpkin and asked,

'Do you see him now?'

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